Need input on Disneyland length of stay

[freckles04]

A little background info: Me (age 30) and DS 10. I am looking at an arrival date of 7/6/15. First DL trip. We are WDW vets and the perfect trip length for us there is about 8 days, any longer and we are worn out and ready for home.

I know there are only 2 parks at DL and no water parks (we devote time to those at WDW). But I also know there is a lot to see and do in those 2 parks!

I am looking at either:

1.5 days in Disneyland
1 day in California Adventure
1 day to choose which we want to go back to (or hop between both)

OR

2.5 days in Disneyland
2 days in California Adventure

Is the second option honestly too much time in the parks? Will we run out of things to do? We are staying in an off-site motel, without a car, so "resort time" won't be an option like we do at WDW. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[thewelts]

We are planning our 5th trip to DL. 3 trips have been 4 days/3 nights and 2 trips have been 5 days/4 nights. We have a short 2 hour flight to Anaheim so 3 nights feels perfect to us.

We spent 7 nights in WDW last year. It was exhausting!

I highly recommend staying on-site if your budget will allow (The Grand Californian is hard to beat). We rent DVC points and stay for approx. $250/night. If you stay off-site, make sure your hotel is very close (e.g. Park Vue Inn).

Hopper tickets totally make sense in DL, especially if you stay at the Grand Californian. You will walk through DCA to get to DL. We bought hoppers at WDW and it was a total waste of money. We never hopped once!

Hope this helps!

 

[Indiana Scott]

I vote for more days. 1.5 days at DL is way too short - remember that though DLR is smaller in area, it has more attractions than all of WDW. Also, that time of year is very busy.
A five day PH is your best bet because it's better not to be tied down to either park.

 

[KateDrake]

I agree that a 5-day PH ticket would be best! We go every year, and our trips just keep getting longer! We are planning for next year and may only get to do 3 days, and I am already panicked about what we will miss!

The great thing about DLR is that the parks are so close together, you can treat them as one large park. And if your hotel is close enough, you can actually WALK back to the room for a rest!!!! It makes a break much more feasible than in WDW, where you have to waste so much time if you hop or go back to the hotel (even on-site) for a nap.

Hope you guys have a great trip!

 

[SplashMo]

Go for the five day park hopper... Rope drop the parks. Arrive early (45 min early for DCA and 30 min early for DL).

You will do things more than once but you will also get to see more things. Important to park hop each day. Parks are very close to each other...

He will likely want to see the lego stire in DTD.

 

[disney world dreamer]

i've been to WDW many times and went to DL in the end of june/beginning of july 2013 for the first time.

personally i'd recommend a 3 day park hopper.
1 day in DL
1 day in DCA
1 day to go to return to both.

i really don't think either park needs more than 1.5 days total.

 

[Nicolette11785]

I think at least a 4 day hopper (5 days would be even better). I went in June with my son as well and we had 7 full days and we did not run out of things to do.

 

[wdwfan22]

You will NOT run out of things to do. There are so many attractions at the DLR. You will be amazed how many more there are in 2 parks in DL than any 2 parks in DW and about the same as all 4 parks in DW (minus the water parks, which we love too)!

In my experience, lines are shorter at many rides in DL (not all, but most), but the walkways are small and get congested very easily and makes it tiring fighting the crowds, at least for me. When you have more days, you can take breaks and recharge with a break at your hotel. If you pick a close one on Harbor, it is a super short walk to go to your hotel and take a break. In many cases, it's as close as walking to the farthest bus stops at DW. In the summer, with long hours, (longer than DW's hours) it's nice to relax for a while mid day.

I have been for 9 days, and am going for 10 in January. I know most people don't stay that long, but I personally like to ride my favorites multiple times, and I really like to ride everything and see all the shows. I also like the freedom to just sit on a bench on Main Street, relax, and eat an ice cream and take in the atmosphere.

 

[krispin41]

I would go with your second option (more days)

And The parks are literally facing each other, just a short walk across the Esplanade...you can park hop several times a day.

WDWFan has the right idea. My solo trip next week is 3.5 days, I really wish it could be longer but it's hard to get time off at this time of year when you work in retail.

 

[tarheelalum]

4 day park hopper.

 

[freckles04]

Thank you guys SO MUCH for all the replies!

I would LOOOOOVE to stay on-site, but can't stomach the prices! We stay value or moderate at WDW (WITH discounts), but the DLR hotels (even Paradise Pier) are much higher. Even renting DVC points, if I could get my hands on some, would be out of my budget.

I have my eye on Best Western Park Place Inn, or Park Vue Inn. I like that they're both across the street from the entrance and have free breakfast. Obviously I have never been to either place, but from pictures, the pools look small and just not really like a place we'd want to hang out a lot in the off-time. (Hence me worrying about too long of a trip). I looked at the HoJo, but it's a further walk and I think the water play area looks a bit too babyish for my 5'2" DS10.

 

[SMD]

You could do a 1 day car rental and add a beach day or a side trip. Or do a short excursion in a cab. There a water parks in the area, the closest is probably Knott's Soak City. You can take ART or OCTA to Knott's.

I think you only need 3 days, but it depends on where you do the half day. Starting on a half day on your first trip is different than ending on a half day after you've seen most of each park and just want to hit highlights or something. I think with a 10 year old you can get a lot done hopping in just 2 days. You can use single rider where it's available. And some people would prefer to see things outside the parks rather than add a 4th or 5th day.

 

[freckles04]

We do have non-Disney things planned, I didn't mention that before. (Using Anaheim Tour Company). Here are my two itineraries...

Option 1
Day 1 - Arrival day, half day in DL
Day 2 - California Adventure
Day 3 - Hollywood Tour
Day 4 - Disneyland
Day 5 - Beach day
Day 6 - DL or CA, choose which/hop
Day 7 - Departure day

Option 2
Day 1 - Arrival day, half day in DL
Day 2 - California Adventure
Day 3 - Hollywood tour
Day 4 - Disneyland
Day 5 - Beach day
Day 6 - California Adventure
Day 7 - Disneyland
Day 8 - Departure

Worried that Option 1 is not enough time in the parks, but worried Option 2 is too much! lol. Of course Option 1 is easier on the budget...

I tried to arrange park days to avoid the Early Entry/Magic Morning days.

 

[SMD]

Do option 1. Buy 4 day hoppers. Hop every day, except for the first half day if you don't want to. If you get back early from your beach day, go into the park at night for fireworks, upgrade to a 5 day hopper.

 

[YukonMommy]

Well coming from a family who can spend 2 weeks at Disney and not get bored, I would say go for the 5 day hopper!

Have a magical time!

 

[Indiana Scott]

You wont go wrong with either of the hotels you mentioned. We have stayed at both many time.
I would give a slight nod to Park Vue because of their better breakfast selection (great fresh waffles!).

 

[SplashMo]

Here is how I see it with park hoppers:

one day: Too short. Possible rush trip/better than nothing
two days: Ok for both parks but you will be very rushed.
three days: Good for a second or third visit in a pinch. Or on a budget
four days: A solid visit. in particular for someone that his been before
five days is my current favorite and recommended for folks who have not been.

With two people you will move faster. You have a half day planned.

If you go with four days make them four full days. Or go for 4.5 days or 5 days...

 

[jetskigrl]

A little background info: Me (age 30) and DS 10. I am looking at an arrival date of 7/6/15. First DL trip. We are WDW vets and the perfect trip length for us there is about 8 days, any longer and we are worn out and ready for home.

I know there are only 2 parks at DL and no water parks (we devote time to those at WDW). But I also know there is a lot to see and do in those 2 parks!

I am looking at either:

1.5 days in Disneyland
1 day in California Adventure
1 day to choose which we want to go back to (or hop between both)

OR

2.5 days in Disneyland
2 days in California Adventure

Is the second option honestly too much time in the parks? Will we run out of things to do? We are staying in an off-site motel, without a car, so "resort time" won't be an option like we do at WDW. Any help is greatly appreciated!

My advise is to go for the 5-day park hopper. You will not run out of things to do (unless you are only interested in the headliner rides). We have been passholders for 13 years and there are things that we still haven't done.

1 or 1.5 days in each park will probably get you the headliners, some smaller rides, a parade and a nighttime show. If you really want to spend time enjoying the other areas of the parks, you will need the 5-day.

Since it is just the two of you, you will be able to move quicker from one ride to the next (vs. a larger group with strollers, etc). So that will work in your favor. You still won't see everything in 5 days, but at least you won't feel as rushed to get your "must sees" done and you may even have some time to go back and repeat your favorites

 

[mfleeting]

A little background info: Me (age 30) and DS 10. I am looking at an arrival date of 7/6/15. First DL trip. We are WDW vets and the perfect trip length for us there is about 8 days, any longer and we are worn out and ready for home.

I know there are only 2 parks at DL and no water parks (we devote time to those at WDW). But I also know there is a lot to see and do in those 2 parks!

I am looking at either:

1.5 days in Disneyland
1 day in California Adventure
1 day to choose which we want to go back to (or hop between both)

OR

2.5 days in Disneyland
2 days in California Adventure

Is the second option honestly too much time in the parks? Will we run out of things to do? We are staying in an off-site motel, without a car, so "resort time" won't be an option like we do at WDW. Any help is greatly appreciated!

We just took our first trip and I would say the first option would probably be best. We spent 1 day in California Adventure and we only missed out on 3 things we wanted to do (the ferris wheel, WOC, and Soarin Over California) we actually had time to do these things we just decided to call it an early day and head back to the hotel about 530pm. We did not do California Screamin but there were not long lines that day and you can fast pass it.

We did however need more time in Disneyland. We did almost everything we wanted to do in Disneyland 1 time in 1.5 days but we didn't do everything. We didn't even go to toon town at all since we saw the characters on Main Street and barely saw anything at Innoventions. We would have done more at Innoventions but the kids wanted to go swimming this day so we left Disneyland at 4 and didnt do anything else until 730.

The 1 day being a hopper would be really helpful to help do other things you want to do again. Also, if you could extend it by 1 more day (or the other half of the day) it would probably be much easier on you all.

 

[SweetAlex]

We leave for our third DLR trip this afternoon and we have always gotten 5-day park hoppers. If you've never been and want to make sure you hit everything, definitely get a minimum 5 days. We often leave wishing we hadn't missed certain things or wished we had time to do certain things again... and again... and again.

We hop every day... just because we can and because it's so quick and easy. To us, just knowing the option is there is worth the extra cost. Plus, we like to "wing" our Disney vacations so hopping works great when we decide on the fly what we want to do next. If you're a planner and are happy or more comfortable scheduling every moment, you could likely get away without hopping.

You'll have a fabulous time!