Leaving on Sunday and ready to buy tickets...

[Nikisha421]

...this will be our first trip to California and to DL...trip will include my DD6 and we are staying at GC...we have nothing planned but to be fully immersed in our DL vaction...we will arrive on the 14th and will leave on the 19th how many days should I buy on my tickets??? I was thinking three days would be enough, but I am not sure especially since this will be our first trip....the only thing I can say about our park habits would be that we never get up early enough to make it to the parks before 10 or 11 AM...So what do you think??? How many ticket days shoudl we buy???

 

[tiffntwins]

I think you should buy 5 day hoppers. With the "everyone plays for kids price" promo that is going on right now, it is very affordable. You could go into the parks the evening you arrive with a 5 day. If not, I would buy 4 days, that way you are not rushed, and as stated, you would be arriving later in the morning as the crowds get heavier.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[nana50]

I'd like to mention if you want and are "Disneyed" out, you can hit the San Diego zoo, legoland, or universal studios

 

[Queen Elisabeth]

It sort of depends on your touring style, but if you're going to miss most of the mornings and you want to see and do everything, I would say 4 or 5 days (5 is my suggestion).

 

[heatherleigh]

I would get a 6 day park hopper. That way, you can go the day of arrival as well.

 

[Eeee-va]

I think at least 5 is best as well. If you look at prices, the cost to add on a 4th or 5th day is quite low compared to the cost of a 3-day hopper.

3 days - $149 ($49.67/day)
4 days - $161 ($40.25/day, or Day 4 = $12)
5 days - $169 ($33.80/day, or Days 4-5 = $10 each)
6 days - $173 ($28.83/day, or Days 4-6 = $8 each)

You sound kind of like you don't want to spend 6 days in the park, but if you're in the Grand Californian and want full immersion, then I don't see why you wouldn't be interested in at least poking your head in for a couple hours every day. Especially if those extra days may cost as few as $8 per person each.

Have a great time!

 

[samkj]

I would get a 6 day park hopper. That way, you can go the day of arrival as well.

We are there the same time and this is what we bought!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would buy a ticket long enough to go every day you're there.

And I would buy them online now, to get the prepurchase discount from disneyland.com.

 

[Nikisha421]

thanks for all of the advice everyone...
... I will buy the tickets online because I noticed that we would not get as much of a discounted rate if we didn't do so...
...How far is the San Diego Zoo, Universal Studios and Legoland away from the GC??? We won't have a rental car so I wouldn't be able to get too far away from the parks area..
...I will let everyone know what kind of ticket I end up purchasing later on today...Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[Eeee-va]

thanks for all of the advice everyone...
... I will buy the tickets online because I noticed that we would not get as much of a discounted rate if we didn't do so...
...How far is the San Diego Zoo, Universal Studios and Legoland away from the GC??? We won't have a rental car so I wouldn't be able to get too far away from the parks area..
...I will let everyone know what kind of ticket I end up purchasing later on today...Thanks again everyone!!!

I don't know distances from experience, but I think you might need to get one of those bus trip deals to go to any of them. (Unless you wanted to rent a car for one day, which I THINK you can do in Downtown Disney? or Enterprise says they'll "pick you up"?)

Per Google it's around 30+ miles to Universal Studios Hollywood from Disneyland, 60+ for Legoland, and 90+ for the San Diego Zoo.

I full well understand if you want to do something besides Disneyland for part of your trip, but Disney doesn't exactly go out of their way to make it easy if you don't have a car.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Since you're 3 hours ahead of Pacific time hopefully you'll have an easy time getting to the park at opening ~ believe me it is so worth it to be there for the 1st two hours the park is open, by showing up at 10 or 11am you'll get there when everybody else does ~ you can always take a nap/mid day break if you need to.....

Take advantage of your MMs ~ you're paying to stay onsite, to me the MM benefit is probably the best thing about staying onsite.

 

[Nikisha421]

Since you're 3 hours ahead of Pacific time hopefully you'll have an easy time getting to the park at opening ~ believe me it is so worth it to be there for the 1st two hours the park is open, by showing up at 10 or 11am you'll get there when everybody else does ~ you can always take a nap/mid day break if you need to.....

Take advantage of your MMs ~ you're paying to stay onsite, to me the MM benefit is probably the best thing about staying onsite.

I will try our best to get out of the bed on Tuesday or Thursday the MM hours...I dont I ever made it to EMH @ WDW but there is always a first time for everything

I don't know distances from experience, but I think you might need to get one of those bus trip deals to go to any of them. (Unless you wanted to rent a car for one day, which I THINK you can do in Downtown Disney? or Enterprise says they'll "pick you up"?)

Per Google it's around 30+ miles to Universal Studios Hollywood from Disneyland, 60+ for Legoland, and 90+ for the San Diego Zoo.

I full well understand if you want to do something besides Disneyland for part of your trip, but Disney doesn't exactly go out of their way to make it easy if you don't have a car.

I fully dislike driving...which I most likely the reason I never have a rental car on vacation...so I probably won't make it too far away from the resorts...unless the price is right from enterprise then I can maybe shooet over to Universal

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I will try our best to get out of the bed on Tuesday or Thursday the MM hours...I dont I ever made it to EMH @ WDW but there is always a first time for everything

We also avoided parks that had EMH for our WDW trip last Oct. ~ but MM at Disneyland are wonderful ~ no reason to not get up for those!

 

[Nikisha421]

I am sorry it took me so long to update everyone...I ended up buying three day park hoppers...the first day we were hear Sunday our room wasnt ready for several hours...we hung out by the pool...on Monday we headed to DCA it was very crowded and my DD was not pleased all she wanted to do was go to the pool we did that for awhile then head to DL to see the fireworks...since we had taken a nap we ended up staying until the park closed at midnight..on Tuesday jet lag kicked in and we slept pretty much all day...went to the pool again DD choice and then went back to the room...feel asleep and now its the middle of the night...we plan to spend the entire day at the parks on Wednesday or Thursday if my body allowsI seem to be really tired on this trip...thanks for all of the advice everyone

 

[Eeee-va]

I'm sorry you're so tired this trip! I hope you have some light crowds later and a delightful vacation! How great that you got to stay for fireworks--that's my favorite fireworks show ever.

(It does sound like you're at least doing a good job relaxing and enjoying yourselves in that lovely hotel. )