Need help - 4 or 5 days in the park

[jessandtwo]

We are thinking of coming to Disneyland 8/12 - 8/17 or 8/18. We will be staying at either the Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier. We're flying in from Texas so we won't have a car. I have a soon to be 7 yr old boy and a 5 yr old boy. We went last summer at the beginning of June and spent 4 days in the park, which seemed to give us plenty of time to do things. The park only felt crowded on Friday, but Tues/Wed/Thurs were pretty relaxed days.

I'm concerned that it will be more crowded in August, so I'm trying to decide whether we should go for 5 days Mon-Friday or for 4 days (Mon-Thurs or Tues-Fri). Any help from you guys would be great. Also, if you think 4 days is still good which days would you do (Mon-Thurs or Tues-Fri)

Thanks a bunch,
Jessica

 

[silence]

i think it depends on the pace you want to take in the parks.

it will be hot and summer crowds. are you trying to get as much done as possible?

for us, we came for 5 1/2 days and we are taking the relaxing approach. we still have a day and a 1/2 left, we have ridden every ride at least once in both parks, some multiple times, but we don't feel like we have to race off to the next thing each time.

today is a friday so we are taking in all the shows and resting our poor tired feet! tomorrow everyone will get to pick 1 ride before we hit the road.

FYI...we are at the paradise pier and we are loving it. i don't find the walk much longer than disneyland hotel. though, the monorail has not be open at park opening once this week....so instead of taking the shortcut through the grand each day we have had to walk through downtown disney.

 

[HydroGuy]

We have never done more than four days, and usually go in July or August. This year everyone said four days was "too much" so we are planning 3 to 3-1/2 days. But we spend a lot of time at the parks and do not lollygag around. We are in the parks 11-13 hours per day. We do not rush everywhere - we just are in motion a lot and experiencing things. Some people like a really slow pace, so maybe more days would be better for them. For us 3-4 days is about right in the summer.

 

[mystic_path]

Well I would definately say either is good. I have to agree with other posts above that it depends on how fast you want to tour the park with 2 little boys. I found that in offseason (Early Oct) that we saw everything at a leasurly pace after 4 days. By the 5th day we had time to return back to all our favorites and see them again.

But I guess for you since its gonna be in the summer with the crowds you might wanna consider a 5 day so your boys dont get too tuckered out. If your debating between a 4 or a 5 day LOL Id just go with a 5 day. One extra day at DL never hurt anyone

Its true though that the crowd levels during the week are generally slower, but since its peak season there are going to be many families on vaca during that time.

 

[bclydia]

When it comes to Disneyland - More is Always Better!!!

 

[RMH]

We've done 5 days in October before and by Day 5 everyone is pretty tired. Since the hours are limited we are there from opening to closing, but we didn't rush to do anything - it was a focused moderate pace. If you can stand taking it very slow on Day 5 I would say go for it - the price for a 5-Day Park Hopper is only $10 more per person than a 4-Day Park Hopper and even if you are doing NOTHING it is better than a day at the office !

 

[ShawnaF]

We do 5 days, 4 or less is too short for us now. We have a 2 year old so we go at a slower pace and stop for naps too. By Day 5 we're all exhausted but still very happy.

For the money, I'd probably say PP over DLH. If my husband hadn't insisted we switch our October trip to the GC, we'd be staying at PP.

 

[mikayla73]

When it comes to Disneyland - More is Always Better!!!

Exactly!!

We are doing a 9 day trip this year,with one day at SW and one at the beach, the rest are for DL! My very first trip we did 10 days, it was wonderful!! I know that you can "do" both parks in less days, but I just enjoy being there!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I think 4 days is good, it's typically what we do. We've done 5 days once and we were all SO exhausted after that trip, we needed a vacation from our vacation! LOL

We usually go in early June, from what we've experienced the crowds are less then in July and August. But I still believe 4 days should be plenty. It's also hotter then in early June, since So. California gets those "June gloom" days that I happen to love so much. With it burning off in the early-mid afternoon to pleasant warm weather. Won't have that in August, so if you feel an extra day might be good because of the heat and more crowds go for it. But I still think 4 would do it.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

With the heat and crowds of summer months, I'd go 5 days. Collect fastpasses in the morning as you ride rides. Go back to your hotel in the afternoons for a swim and a rest.Then use the fastpasses you collected earlier in the day when you come back to the parks. We went the last week in Aug '06 and taking a break in the middle of the day was great. Not sure if you've chosen your hotel yet, but my votes for DLH, esepcially in the summer months. Their pool is a lot bigger than at PPH and the Neverland theming with slides is usually a big hit with a 5 and 7 yo and the fact that there is a second pool at DLH also helps. We've stayed at all 3 DLR hotels, and will rank DLH's pool the best, with GCH second and PPH third.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Exactly!!

We are doing a 9 day trip this year,with one day at SW and one at the beach, the rest are for DL! My very first trip we did 10 days, it was wonderful!! I know that you can "do" both parks in less days, but I just enjoy being there!

Glad we arent the only ones who love a long Disneyland stay. We have 10 days total at DL (two before that in San Diego). I know we'll do the beach a couple of times but mostly we'll be at Disneyland. People call me crazy but I know I"ll still cry pitifully the last night during Remember since I won't be ready to go home!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Oh forgot to add to the OP I would probably do five days, its nice to have time for your hotel pool, DTD, etc. But four days is just fine, by most people's standards that is a long stay at Disneyland! I think as others have said, it just depends on what pace you want to take and how much you want to repeat the favorites. Crowds will be a factor but the hours are long which helps in that regard.