Last Minute Trip

[Saimaeve]

We had originally planned on not going to Disney this year as we have 2 cruises planned next year and did a Land and Sea last October.

But my daughter's 10th Birthday is coming up at the end of April.

We had talked about doing a party similar to what we did last year but I'm not sure. My husband and I were talking last night and thought that we could instead surprise her with a trip to Disneyland. (We've only done Disney World before. My husband has been to Disneyland but not in a long time)

Due to schedules for work, camp, school and ballet recital rehearsals, we'd only be able to do 3 days.

Am I too late to pull it off with only about 2 months to prepare? Is it even worth doing if we only have 3 days. (We'd only be doing Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure)

We priced it out and it's a bit more expensive than a party but comparing it to last year's party not by a huge amount.

Would you do it?

 

[Diszona]

I would do it but we go to Disneyland several times a year and it is our go-to family vacation spot. 3 days is plenty to do a lot at Disneyland, particularly compared to WDW. The parks are about 100 yards apart and there are hotels/motels directly across the street from the resort entrance (about a 5 min. walk). DL doesn't require close to the amount of planning that WDW does (no FP+, no 6 month ADRs) and there are a ton of people here that can give you great advice. Good luck on whatever you decide!

 

[smartlabelprint]

Where are you from? 3 days isn't much.

 

[tlovesdis]

I would! 3 days is plenty of time and end of April should be pretty nice crowd and weather wise!

 

[jammyjam25]

Disneyland and California Adventure are the only two parks at Disneyland Resort (you said you are “only” doing those two so not sure if you thought there were more).

I think three days is plenty of time to explore the parks, especially if you get park hoppers, as they are just right across the esplanade from one another. And what a great birthday present for your daughter! J

 

[sherilaine]

We are going to Disneyland this Friday and made the decision to go at the end of the year, so I don't think two months is "last minute" at all - that is loads of time to plan. But I'd get your hotel booked asap and I'd go ahead and buy your tickets as prices are rumored to increase any time now since it's been a year since they were last raised. After that you have lots of time to plan, provided you don't also have to book a flight.

 

[Saimaeve]

I'm in Phoenix. So it's a 5-6 hour drive I think?

And I say only as opposed to say adding in Sea World or Universal

 

[smartlabelprint]

Oh I'd definitely go for it then! As long as you have 3 full days in the parks. that's plenty!

Our trip next week was planned in 1 month. Eek! Was hard finding lodging. Plane tickets were ok but I probably could have gotten a better deal earlier. Last minute is so unlike us!

 

[Geemo]

I'm in Phoenix. So it's a 5-6 hour drive I think?

And I say only as opposed to say adding in Sea World or Universal

Universal has Harry Potter opening the first part of April, the 7th I think.

 

[Minniekins]

We had originally planned on not going to Disney this year as we have 2 cruises planned next year and did a Land and Sea last October.

But my daughter's 10th Birthday is coming up at the end of April.

We had talked about doing a party similar to what we did last year but I'm not sure. My husband and I were talking last night and thought that we could instead surprise her with a trip to Disneyland. (We've only done Disney World before. My husband has been to Disneyland but not in a long time)

Due to schedules for work, camp, school and ballet recital rehearsals, we'd only be able to do 3 days.

Am I too late to pull it off with only about 2 months to prepare? Is it even worth doing if we only have 3 days. (We'd only be doing Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure)

We priced it out and it's a bit more expensive than a party but comparing it to last year's party not by a huge amount.

Would you do it?

I think this is a great birthday surprise for your daughter! What a lucky girl she is! My DD25 and I are WDW vets and planning our first visit in May, and so excited! We will do a week there, but I think 3 days is great if that's what you have, and certainly not a reason not to do it! Then, when you can you can always go back and do more if you want. But you can have a great trip with 3 days in the park - a 3 day bday party is awesome! If you can, I'd go with Park hoppers so you can go between the parks throughout the day if you want, and get the most out of your 3 days! Plus are you planning weekdays or weekends? Weekdays would be good for less crowds, but the weekend, you'd be sure to have the nighttime shows going on such as the Fireworks and the Paint the night parade. And of April is off season and the shows usually are only on the weekends, Fri-Sun nights. But, then again the weekends are more crowded, so a tradeoff. Or so I've learned in this forum as I try to plan my trip, lol! I would try to get your room booked soon though! I know things looked pretty booked up when I was trying to check for any other deals out there. But I'm happy with what we got, a good deal at Tropicana. Are you planning on staying at a DL resort or a good neighbor hotel?
If this trip isn't hugely more expensive than last year's party, then last year's party must have been pretty good! And this 10th bday trip will surely top that, I bet she'll be super excited!

 

[Nevada Jen]

Three days is plenty. Especially if you stay on site so you get the EMH everyday. (you could also stay one night on site (and get 2 EMH's out of it) and then use the early entry on your tickets on the third day.) But even if you don't, you will have a really great 3 days. Likewise, 2 days is plenty of time to plan. Go on the Disney website and check out dining reservations. I think you will be able to get everything you want. Blue Bayou would be a really run Birthday dinner!

 

[mich311e]

I'm in Phoenix. So it's a 5-6 hour drive I think?

And I say only as opposed to say adding in Sea World or Universal

I am from Phoenix. It takes about 6 hours to drive, depending on traffic. We usually get 3 day park hoppers and stay at a hotel for 3 nights. We save money by staying off-site on Harbor or (Manchester! most recently the Quality Inn).

I think you have plenty of time to plan a 3 day trip. Have fun!

Oh, we've found the traffic leaving the Anaheim area to be really bad on weeknight rush hour. BUT, the traffic coming into the valley on I-10 near Salome/Tonapah/Wintersberg can be terrible on Sunday nights!

 

[Dr. G]

2 months is plenty of time to prepare. Sounds like you are driving so all you really need to plan is the hotel. You could look at a package (hotel and park tickets) through someone like GetAwayToday or look at booking it yourself. We like several hotels right there on Harbor Boulevard across from the park and walking in each morning beats parking and shuttles. There's really not much to planning a Disneyland visit!

 

[my*gracie*girl]

Do it! Totally do-able, but book your hotel right now. You will have fewer choices if you wait much longer. We decided on 2/3 to go on 3/19, and are driving from the Portland, OR area....you can do it and it will be a GREAT surprise for your dd!

 

[ktlm]

We love both DLR and WDW. Disneyland does not require near the level of planning that Disneyworld requires. Dining reservations are made at 60 days out as opposed to 180 days and even the popular places don't fill up fast. 2 months is more than enough time to plan a trip. We like to spend 4 or 5 days in the parks, but 3 days is definitely plenty to do a lot of things and have a wonderful time. My DD would have gone nuts if she had gotten to go to DLR for her recent 10th Birthday- I say go for it!!!

 

[MrDisneyFan]

Plenty of time. 1, 2 or 3 days is better then 0 days at Disneyland and DCA!