My "Truth" about DLR

[Alex2kMommy]

I have NEVER understood the attitude of "3 days is good enough, 4 tops or you'll get bored" that I am told so frequently, even when I try to explain that spending $2000 just to get to DLR means this is an extremely rare, probably once/lifetime trip for us. The shows alone mean you need lots of days.

I agree, if all you want to do is rides, I'd be bored after a couple days. I like to see the shows, watch parades, visit characters, give the kids time to just run around (ie. Redwood Creek Trail, waterfront at DCA, and the island, Tarzan's Treehouse, and Toon Town at DL. Oh, and time to shop!

 

[alleycatmom]

We live 9 hours from Disneyland and are fortunate enough to have been three times -- but only for one day each time We're just happy we're able to go at all, and we pack a LOT into that one day. We have never even been to California Adventure!

We're going for one day again in July (we'll be at a wedding 20 minutes away and I told DH there's no way we're driving 9 hours to Orange County and not going to Disneyland -- LOL ) DS is 7 and ACHING to see the new Star Tours.

But it is my GOAL to save up enough money to not only go for more than one day and to see California Adventure, but to stay "on property."

 

[runr]

I'm in the 3 days is enough camp, but longer is great!

We would rather use our yearly big vacation to go to Hawaii, so we just go to Disneyland for long weekends. Also, as PPs pointed out it definitely makes a difference knowing that our trips are not once in a lifetime trips since we can usually fit one in every other year depending on how many miles I can rack up thanks to work travel . Maybe when the kids are older we will go for longer but for now we just do the rides we can, pick 1-2 shows/parades that we can't miss and do 1-2 character meals. We also stay on property just to make the entire "short" trip seem magical and also it has worked well to just go to the character breakfast at the hotel on our last day (usually a non-park day).

This is why WDW overwhelms me, I know it's not possible to feel that you did enough in a long weekend. We will be planning a WDW trip with our E. Coast relatives in the near future and I know after the long travel time coupled with the pressure to fit it all in since we likely won't go back until the kids are much older it doesn't make sense to go for less than one full week.

 

[jakoky]

We are doing our 4th trip to Disneyland in the last 6 years....we only have a 2 1/2 hr flight, but much more travel time ( 3-4 hours driving and 2 hr ferry)... We have always done 10 nights in Anaheim and 5 days in the park...this year we are getting 7 day passes ...I figure if we are spending all this money to get here, we are going to make the most of it...I know we will not do 7 full Days, but love the option of doing just an evening or whatever we want while we are there!!!

 

[furb & dez]

Oh, and time to shop!

I only wish there was something to shop for! The past dozen times that I've been, there's absolutely NOTHING worth purchasing. It's either poorly made but expensive clothing, pointless plush, cheaply made trash doodads...

...or it's supremely tacky plaster statuary, pins, or useless vinyl.

Give me something substantial and interesting to buy! I bring money for this and end up taking most of it home with me!

 

[jakoky]

We are doing our 4th trip to Disneyland in the last 6 years....we only have a 2 1/2 hr flight, but much more travel time ( 3-4 hours driving and 2 hr ferry)... We have always done 10 nights in Anaheim and 5 Amy's in the park...this year we are getting 7 day passes ...I figure if we are spending all this money to get here, we are going to make the most of it...I know we will not do 7 full
Days, but love the option of doing just and evening or whatever we want in there!!!

 

[disneychrista]

So I should only spend 1 day at Disneyland or is it two since I am about 600 miles from Disneyland?

 

[mommamonster]

I propose that the hours of driving rule does count and here are my reasons:

1) The closest airport that I could find that flies to Anaheim during my upcoming trip is approx 2 hours away drive time.

2) It's a connecting flight that would take about 4 hours total (just to go from NorCal to SoCal, sheesh!)

3) The flight costs the same amount as our 5 night 6 day vacation package!!

Our drive time is 8.5 hours non-stop versus a drive to the airport and arrive early to do all the hoopla of check-in and then stop in SF and get on a different plane and continue more hoopla. We'd spend just as much time dealing with the flight than driving! Also, if we could only fly, sadly we would not be able to afford to go in the first place. So I don't really consider driving a choice

Any yes, next trip I want to try for at least a week in DLR and maybe go to Legoland and San Diego too while we're down south. I'd love at least 8 days of vacation and even though its been a long time since I have been to DL, I don't think there is a threshold where I would get bored there!

 

[pixiewings71]

So I should only spend 1 day at Disneyland or is it two since I am about 600 miles from Disneyland?

No, that only counts for flying. LOL altho since it's a 6 hour drive for us (and more for you) we should count driving hours imo.

It doesn't seem to matter what the time difference is when I travel or how I travel, I'm still "jet lagged" after we get back, even if we drive. lol

 

[taabros]

That would mean I should stay 8 days... I can't get that much time off from work