One full day only at DL. What kind of tickets would you get?

[boys2enough]

We plan to visit DL for the 3rd time this July (over the July 4th weekend. ). DH will be at a conference in LA (Universal City?) and me and 2 kids would be joining him at the tail-end of the week. Because my job restriction, we can only fly in on Friday, arriving at noon, and then leave soon on Sunday (2 pm flight), that would only leave us one full day to enjoy DL. (But we will take what we can get... )

What makes it worse is that DH will not be able to join us till late afternoon Friday, and I am wary of going to the park by myself with 2 kids. Also, since my kids are 5 years apart, we will need to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure...

What would you seasoned DL fans do if you were in my situation? (Ok, I know first of all nobody in their right mind will only come for one day... )

Do I just get 4 1-day Park Hoppers? Do I buy 2-day Park Hoppers? Is there an option to pay more so that these tickets will have no expiration date, i.e. we can consider buying multiple-day tkts and then plan on coming back again in the future?

Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thank you so much!!


p.s. My apology if this is a question that has been asked to death. I did a search first and read a dozen threads, but didn't see similar questions. (Could be that I didn't use the right keywords or that nobody hardly ever visits only for one day... )

 

[Teki]

When I was a kid my grandmother would take me for one day every summer, infact I didnt start going for multiple days until I was in my teens. Normally I would say just get a DL pass and stay there all day, but nowadays its simply a better deal to get a 1 day park hopper. Also since your only there one day, make sure you know what you want to accomplish and dont expect to do everything. Enjoy your day in the DLR I hope you have fun!

 

[DahliaRW]

Yup, 1 day PH is the way to go. And use ridemax or the unofficial guide to come up with a touring plan and stick to it so you get to do what you want.

 

[mystic_path]

Yep Id totally get the park hopper, that way you can switch parks for a change of scenery and you have the option of going on the rides and seeing a parade or show and not having to worry about kicking yourself later for not being able to have the opportunity to see it.

 

[pixiewings71]

Personally, I'd probably get at least a 2 day hopper. You're getting in early enough on Friday that you could spend a "full" day at DL and DCA. DL will probably close at midnight that Friday so if you were in the park from say 2-12 that would be a full day. At least for us it would be. But if you don't want to do that then yes, go with a 1 day park hopper, you'll be glad you did once you see DCA.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I agree with the 2-day because even with only a few hours, you can still get a lot done. I don't know your kids and their dynamic, but maybe you could sit them down and have them each pick out one ride in each park that they want to do that you guys could go off and ride while your husband's in Universal City (which is next to Burbank). If one gives you trouble about going on the other's ride(s) then you can skip the troublemaker's ride choice as punishment (or just threaten to do so). My mom used to do that when I was a kid and she'd take my brothers and I to the park (back in the days before DCA, we were ap holders and so she had time to get the handling of 3 kids at the park alone down to a science).

 

[bethy]

We plan to visit DL for the 3rd time this July (over the July 4th weekend. ). DH will be at a conference in LA (Universal City?) and me and 2 kids would be joining him at the tail-end of the week. Because my job restriction, we can only fly in on Friday, arriving at noon, and then leave soon on Sunday (2 pm flight), that would only leave us one full day to enjoy DL. (But we will take what we can get... )

What makes it worse is that DH will not be able to join us till late afternoon Friday, and I am wary of going to the park by myself with 2 kids. Also, since my kids are 5 years apart, we will need to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure...

What would you seasoned DL fans do if you were in my situation? (Ok, I know first of all nobody in their right mind will only come for one day... )

Do I just get 4 1-day Park Hoppers? Do I buy 2-day Park Hoppers? Is there an option to pay more so that these tickets will have no expiration date, i.e. we can consider buying multiple-day tkts and then plan on coming back again in the future?

Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thank you so much!!


p.s. My apology if this is a question that has been asked to death. I did a search first and read a dozen threads, but didn't see similar questions. (Could be that I didn't use the right keywords or that nobody hardly ever visits only for one day... )

I'd get at least a 2 day hopper if not 3! No WAY could I miss out on a Friday evening at DLR. It will be open till 11 or midnight and so you can get a lot of enjoyment in. Including the nightime entertainment which is my favoritie. Also that time of year it will be very crowded and so things take longer. Thus it might be nice to have the extra opportunities to do a couple special things.

Edited to add that as someone who does a lot of single parenting due to DH's work schedule I can't think of many better places to have to be alone with my kids!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would get a 3 day for you and the kids, and a 2 day for hubby. I'd figure out the BEST rides to go on, or just see what there is to see, with you and the kids on Friday night, and do that. Don't get swayed by the momentary wants (like I do with DS), have a really good plan that should make them both as happy as possible, and go for it.

Spend the whole day in DL and DLR. You can split up if you want/need to b/c of the age difference, or just split up for individual rides, with one unit going on Dumbo yet again, and the others getting in a ride on Matterhorn (assuming the younger is too small, noting the height req is only 35", or too scared...or heck, the reverse, if the older is scared but the younger is big enough and brave), and so on.

Then I'd go in the morning on Sunday, too, having packed the night before and gotten all ready before the flight out. That can be a time to hit the faves.

Call me crazy, but that's what I would do.

 

[pixiewings71]

I don't know about a 3 day tho guys. She said their flight leaves at 2pm, that doesn't leave too much time for checking out and getting to the airport. I think if it was me (and I didn't have an AP and wasn't a DL freak of nature LOL) I'd go with a 2 day....UNLESS I could get a flight out later on Sunday. Which I would try to do.

 

[boys2enough]

Dear All, thank you all very much for the much appreciated comments. Yup, I would prefer a later flight out but unfortunately (or fortunately) we are using miles for tkts so the choice was slim: I am not going to complain though: it is free, and it is non-stop...

2-day Hopper sounds like a great idea. Thank you for the encouragement and support. "Yes, I can do it by myself!!" And thank you for sharing your childhood memory! Now I feel better about the very short visit even though it surely will result in lots of whining from the kids, "I don't want to go home. Why can't we stay longer? Whine whine whine..."

Thank you!!

 

[lntsmom]

Soarin' and Toy Story Mania. However, if you have young children, don't bother. You'll have kiddos who are too small to ride them.