Off days or buy additional park ticket?

[gappedout]

We did the Griffith Observatory yesterday, it was awesome. Watched one of the planetarium shows and took photos of the Hollywood sign. Was scared about parking but there was plenty pretty close to the top. My bigbthing was going to the Griffith Park merry go round where Walt thought up Disneyland. Those horses go fast! Then went to the Santa Monica pier. Lunch was at the Farmer's Market. The tar pits are really close, so is the Lacma and the Petersen auto museum (love it even as a non car fan). You could also do a movie at El Capitan.

Thank you! Those were all sites that I have noted down to visit if we go this route!

 

[DizneyMommy]

Thanks for your perspective! I was there on a solo trip for less than two full days last year and was amazed how close the parks were. We never park hop in WDW but it was so easy there.

No specific must-see's. Was just really trying to figure out how to best fill the second off day that we have. I really wanted to do one of Anaheim Bus Tours but none of them operate on Sunday. But don't want to swap Knotts Berry to the weekend as I feel Monday would be better.

Knott's is a toss up on Monday or Sunday really. It is NOT a crowded park, like at all. But they do a lot of school field trips towards the end of the year and day camp trips in the summer. There may well be hoards of large groups of young kids all over the park on a Monday! Sunday actually might be quieter, as the type of locals park it is a lot of people go during the week in the summer when they need to entertain the kids.

 

[starry_solo]

OK, maybe Griffith Observatory, Graumann's Chinese Theatre (it's now TCL Chinese Theatre), followed by a trip to El Capitan Theatre (and the Disney Studio Store Hollywood and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain next door)

 

[tzeitel]

Yeah - I will definitely be making my husband drive! I was hoping a Sunday it would be slightly less awful but seems like it doesn't really matter when you go.

Traffic on Saturday was not really that bad. We had a couple of slow spots but mostly it was a good ride.

 

[agamble]

If you don't plan to come back to Disneyland a second time in 12 months I wouldn't get the AP. Your 1 full day and 2 partials was not the best way to visit, but having 5 full days you can do a lot.

We just visited Knott's a few weeks ago for the first time. The crowds were so calm compared to Disneyland and it was easy to do everything in a day. Your 16 y/o will probably love the big rides and thrilling coasters.

We went to Griffiths Observatory too. Go early or parking is a problem. It was a neat place, our kids were a little young and we couldn't do the show because they don't allow younger than 5 and we have a 2 y/o. We wanted to go see the stars on the boulevard afterward, and the locations are close, but we got too late of a start as it was our drive home day. You could definitely do both and also get dinner somewhere. Just be prepared for a long drive and traffic.

 

[smartlabelprint]

5 days is most likely enough.

 

[gappedout]

Knott's is a toss up on Monday or Sunday really. It is NOT a crowded park, like at all. But they do a lot of school field trips towards the end of the year and day camp trips in the summer. There may well be hoards of large groups of young kids all over the park on a Monday! Sunday actually might be quieter, as the type of locals park it is a lot of people go during the week in the summer when they need to entertain the kids.

Good to know! Will certainly take that into consideration.

 

[gappedout]

OK, maybe Griffith Observatory, Graumann's Chinese Theatre (it's now TCL Chinese Theatre), followed by a trip to El Capitan Theatre (and the Disney Studio Store Hollywood and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain next door)

Yes! All attractions I have noted down! Thanks!

 

[gappedout]

If you don't plan to come back to Disneyland a second time in 12 months I wouldn't get the AP. Your 1 full day and 2 partials was not the best way to visit, but having 5 full days you can do a lot.

We just visited Knott's a few weeks ago for the first time. The crowds were so calm compared to Disneyland and it was easy to do everything in a day. Your 16 y/o will probably love the big rides and thrilling coasters.

We went to Griffiths Observatory too. Go early or parking is a problem. It was a neat place, our kids were a little young and we couldn't do the show because they don't allow younger than 5 and we have a 2 y/o. We wanted to go see the stars on the boulevard afterward, and the locations are close, but we got too late of a start as it was our drive home day. You could definitely do both and also get dinner somewhere. Just be prepared for a long drive and traffic.

Yes - my 16 year old is a roller coaster junkie! He is very excited to try out the coasters at Knott's!

I have read that about the parking. My youngest is 7 so we should be ok then. Currently I have a rental for our whole trip but won't need it for our DL days. Really only need it for to/from airport, if we drive to LA and our Knott's day. I am thinking of canceling it and doing Uber and currently have a one day rental booked at DTD for the LA day. Still a toss up on what we our going to do.

 

[gappedout]

5 days is most likely enough.

Thanks!

 

[sherilaine]

Of our last 4 trips for 8 or 9 nights each, we found the two trips where we had APs, we were less efficient with our park time than the two trips where we had the 5 day PHs. We enjoyed having the two off days to do something else - it really lets you disconnect and appreciate the days in the park. It's great to be able to go to the parks any day you want and sometimes we only went for a few hours, but having two full day breaks really helped us to not over do it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Your concern about jet lag doesn’t track for me. Going west you’ll be able to get early starts andnit wont feel early to you. You might tire after dinner, but going to bed early for CA time just means another early start can happen.

We have never been to the area so was considering just driving there on the Sunday and taking in all of the tourist sites.

Gotta figure out what the tourist sites are...

Currently I have a rental for our whole trip but won't need it for our DL days. Really only need it for to/from airport, if we drive to LA and our Knott's day. I am thinking of canceling it and doing Uber and currently have a one day rental booked at DTD for the LA day. Still a toss up on what we our going to do.

Please do all the math first. Could be cheaper overall to just keep the car the whole time even if you don’t feel you need it.

 

[gappedout]

Of our last 4 trips for 8 or 9 nights each, we found the two trips where we had APs, we were less efficient with our park time than the two trips where we had the 5 day PHs. We enjoyed having the two off days to do something else - it really lets you disconnect and appreciate the days in the park. It's great to be able to go to the parks any day you want and sometimes we only went for a few hours, but having two full day breaks really helped us to not over do it.

Good perspective! Our current plan has two park days, two off days and then the last three park days.

 

[mom2rtk]

That is kind of how I am feeling too. Maybe because when we do WDW, we have a full 10 days and still feel rushed. I was in DL last year for less than two full days by myself and feel like I got nothing accomplished. So by adding additional days, we can really take our time and go at our own pace. The nights were killer for me. I am an early bird as it is and staying up three hours past a normal bedtime was so hard!

You sound very much like me. We are from the middle of the country, so the time zone change always has me up and waiting for the parks to open, but running out of steam fairly early at night. We also were regular WDW visitors for a long time before swapping over to DLR. So I still fuss about the 5 day limit on tickets.

Everyone is different. I think a lot of it has to do with how often you get to the parks and what you like to do when you're there. We love to do it all. All the shows. All the attractions. And many of them repeatedly. My favorite trip ever we did 7 park days. That included a couple shorter days, but I loved it. Nothing like being able to take your time and sleep in, do some shopping, then pop into the parks for dinner and a show. It's a great balance. I know I can do that any time I want, but with fewer days I never want to give the time up to do it.

 

[siskaren]

Just to offer some balance here, we have done at least 5 days on each of our annual trips since 2013. When we "only" have 5 days, I leave feeling like I had been too rushed and wishing I had more days. In 2014/2015 we had APs and visited just inside of a year apart to use them for both trips. We did 6 or 7 days in the parks each of those trips and loved it. We felt like it allowed us to do everything we wanted, but slow down the pace a little and get off our feet with shorter days a couple times each trip.

Yep. When I went in December, I got a package with a 5 day park hopper, and then bought a 1 day non-park hopper so that I could do 3 days in each park, plus I did a no park day in the middle. I wish APs were as cheap as they were when I got one in 2005 - I paid $200 to get 6 park days that trip!

 

[DizneyMommy]

Yes - my 16 year old is a roller coaster junkie! He is very excited to try out the coasters at Knott's!

I have read that about the parking. My youngest is 7 so we should be ok then. Currently I have a rental for our whole trip but won't need it for our DL days. Really only need it for to/from airport, if we drive to LA and our Knott's day. I am thinking of canceling it and doing Uber and currently have a one day rental booked at DTD for the LA day. Still a toss up on what we our going to do.

Keep in mind in CA kids are required to be in a booster seat until age 8. You’ll need to make sure Uber drivers have one or request one with your rental car. Or grab something like the Mifold that can stash in a backpack!

 

[NewbieMouse]

I think 5 days is plenty. We usually get 5 day hoppers but this year are downgrading to 3 days. I would explore LA on your off days. We always do - there is tons of stuff to see. We usually go to Griffith Observatory and see a Planetarium show, rent bikes and bike the beach path at Santa Monica, go to the Farmer's Market, catch a movie with the organ show at El Capitan, etc. One year we went and saw the Space Shuttle. Last year we toured Hollyhock house. Tons to do.

 

[gappedout]

Keep in mind in CA kids are required to be in a booster seat until age 8. You’ll need to make sure Uber drivers have one or request one with your rental car. Or grab something like the Mifold that can stash in a backpack!

Thank you! We will bring our own if we rent. If not, we will purchase a bumble bum or whatever it is called (the blow up one)!

 

[momof2n2]

We have eight days in SoCal and are using four at DLR and four to see parts of SoCal. There is so much to do besides the mouse!!! I had a hard time whittling down what to do on our four non-park days. Then again, when we do WDW we don’t “go to WDW”; we go to FL and visit WDW.