Need your knowledge & opinions!

[bellazachmom]

Hello!!

We are WDW regulars, planning our first family trip to DL. I have been a few times in my single past, but am now married with 3 small kiddos, ages3,5, &7.

We are looking to travel either the week leading up to Memorial Day (May 24-29) or the week after (June 1 - 6)

We are DVC members so will be staying at the DGC.

Any thoughts on which week might be better and why? How many days should we plan on staying? Is 5 enough, too many?

Which airport is the better to fly in to? We are traveling from Omaha, NE.

Anything else you think I should know?

Thanks for the help!

 

[skiingfast]

Hello!!

We are WDW regulars, planning our first family trip to DL. I have been a few times in my single past, but am now married with 3 small kiddos, ages3,5, &7.

We are looking to travel either the week leading up to Memorial Day (May 24-29) or the week after (June 1 - 6)

I would take the later, almost all kids will stll be in class but it will be summer season so you will get longer hours. Plus you are more likely to catch Star Tours 2.0 and Little Mermain which open late Spring.


We are DVC members so will be staying at the DGC.

Any thoughts on which week might be better and why? How many days should we plan on staying? Is 5 enough, too many?

5 I would say is the max you would want. But you might want to do other things like a beach day in there. I would spend at least 3 days.


Which airport is the better to fly in to? We are traveling from Omaha, NE.

John Wayne is the closest also consider Long Beach too before LAX.
Anything else you think I should know?

Thanks for the help!

Also take a look at this post by Hydroguide, Tips for WDW vets going to DLR. If it won't help you maybe DH.

 

[DisMike]

One bit of advice if you do decide to hit the beaches in CA. I grew up in Jersey and spent a fair amount of time at the Jersey shore. The first time I went to the beach in CA I was excited thinking about the whole beach culture in CA. I was shocked when I went in the water. It was COLD. Even compared to Jersey. I later found out the reason. East coast water flows up from the Caribbean via the Gulf Stream. The west coast water flows down from the Gulf of Alaska.

West coast water is much colder than east coast at the same latitude.

 

[marciemouse]

For lower crowds, I'd take the first week. If you want longer park hours and more "entertainment" then I'd go the second week. We went over Memorial Day weekend this past year (it was also our first trip to DL). LA schools were out on Friday and the lines got quite long by early afternoon. It was opening day for Magical (fireworks) and Fantasmic, so the night was really crowded. I think it was also the last day fo the food and wine festival over at DCA. If your little ones won't make it to the night shows anyways, then I'd go for the first week when you'll have possibly shorter park hours but less crowds. Give at least 3 days but no more than five, especially if you only intend to do Disneyland and not the beach.

 

[MVBowers111]

I'm going to chime in here and say that either week you go I think are good weeks. We've been over the Memorial Day holiday and found the crowds to be manageable. We've also been the first week of June and found the crowd level low then as well. As for how many days...when our kids were younger, we'd usually get five day tickets and then tour something like this.

Day 1...Disneyland all day
Day 2..DCA all day

those first two days, we wouldn't worry about seeing the shows or collecting tons of autographs. If we saw a character and the kids wanted to wait, we'd wait.

Day 3...we hop between parks, doing the kids favorite rides at each park. Collecting autographs
Day 4...we focus more on shows, autographs, let the kids spend downtime at the hotel swimming
Day 5...work in the absolute favorite rides, if they want to see a parade or fireworks again we do that, do all shopping etc.

We usually hit the parks hard the first couple days and then relax more the last three. If the kids want to sleep in, we let them. If we think they need a break, we head back to the hotel.

Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip!! Your kids ages are the perfect ages to go to Disneyland. My kids are now teens and while they love the parks, there's just something magical about taking young kids there. Have a great time!

 

[wdwfan22]

I would try for John Wayne/Santa Anna airport first. It is the closest and easiest.

How long you want to stay depends on you. How long do you stay at DW? Some people like to stay longer and do shorter park days. Some go commando. I suppose with 3 little ones, you do a lot of naps and shorter days and pool play time. Especially staying at GC. It is great for all those activities.

Just know that there is a deceivingly large amount of rides packing into DL. And a couple new/remodeled ones will be open in DCA, and that park should be looking pretty good.

If it were me, I would stay for at least 5, or more is great too. I am going for 9 with my adult son this November. We have some rest time built in, and are also going to Knott's. But we like to ride our favorites at DL multiple times, plus just take time to sit and relax and take in all the amazing details at DL. It is truly a magical park.

What type of ticket will you have. All passholders, except premium and premier will be blocked out May 28th & 29th, so those should be good days to go. I think I would go for the first week then. (or stay a couple extra days )

Whichever you choose, I'm sure you will have a magical time!!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Did you try booking your dates for the May 24th? You should make those already then (since you can) then move them to June 1 if you change your mind... What are you wanting to book, 2br, 1br or studio? That may be a tough reservation, that's when summer starts for a lot of families!

 

[bellazachmom]

One bit of advice if you do decide to hit the beaches in CA. I grew up in Jersey and spent a fair amount of time at the Jersey shore. The first time I went to the beach in CA I was excited thinking about the whole beach culture in CA. I was shocked when I went in the water. It was COLD. Even compared to Jersey. I later found out the reason. East coast water flows up from the Caribbean via the Gulf Stream. The west coast water flows down from the Gulf of Alaska.

West coast water is much colder than east coast at the same latitude.

Good to know!!

We are native Texans and are used to swimming in the Gulf of Mexico -- usually pretty warm.

 

[bellazachmom]

Thanks everyone for your very helpful advice -- keep it coming!!

I called Member Services this morning and was able to get a dedicated 2BR for 7 nights, starting the 25th!! We are very excited!! (Thought it was best to book the first week and possibly move to the second if that was the majority opinion)

7 months seems like a very long time to wait -- good thing we have a WDW trip to look forward to in November to celebrate Thanksgiving and my 40th birthday.

We usually spend about 10 days in Florida when we go each year, and hit the parks most days. Usually getting there at rope drop and staying until lunch then heading back to the resort for nap/pool/etc. Often we head back in the evenings, but try and keep the kids on a schedule as close to their normal one as possible. We'll probably try and stick with this at DL, too. I am really looking forward to being able to walk back to our room so quickly!! What a plus!! Even when we stay at a resort at WDW that is within walking distance of a park or two it's not as close as California.

Thanks again!