Planing Disneyland trip after MLK day 2019 kids first time

[vdze510]

Hi all! Just joined today.

For the past 5 years our family of 5, My wife and I and our 3 daughters ages 7,6,5 have been taking trips to Legoland in Carlsbad and now they are bored of that place

Im planning a 3 day disneyland trip after MLK day. Will be visiting the Disneyland parks 1/22 , 1/23 and 1/24.

Will arrive in So Cal from Nor Cal Saturday 1/19 and will probably visit my wife's Alma Mater at UCLA and do other activities until Tuesday 1/22 and visit the parks when the crowd calender's say its not as crowded.

Is 3 days enough for first timers? 2 days at Disney and 1 day at California Adventures. My daughters are not into roller coasters or anything scary. The only rides I want to do for sure for myself is Radiator Springs at Cars land. My wife hates crowded places and long lines so I didn't plan any park visit days MLK weekend just after.

Is Max Pass needed for non crowded days?

Has anyone gone in January that purchased the dinner packages that has reserved seating for the night shows/parades? I plan on doing something like that to save time on waiting in line but haven't seen any packages or show schedules for 2019

Sorry for so many questions. First time planning a Disneyland trip and there so many blogs and sites that im trying to soak in.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Disneyland daily is a great site for planning and strategy.

You can use free fastpass instead of $50/day maxpass.

Nighttime entertainment will be limited that time of year. The schedule won’t be out until 60 days in advance. You don’t need a dining package for paint the night if that’s still at dca. Plenty of seats available.

Is it possible to afford parkhopper tickets? I’d do that before paying for maxpass.

3 days is cutting it close for a first timer imo. We go every year and now 4 days is our sweet spot. We have done 5-7 each of the previous times. I’d go with 5 days with hotel breaks for pool or such. I recommend homewood suites completely. There’s bunk beds and all of the kids would Have a separate bed. If you want closer look at springhill suites, Camelot inn, best western Anaheim inn I believe has a suite—or best western park place inn. Park vue inn. Desert inn & suites for budget and close. Book now!!!

 

[smartlabelprint]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=1&year=2018

 

[TinkerTay]

Those are good ages for a first trip to DL, my youngest was 3 the first time, and I don’t think he remembers much, lol... January is usually pretty quiet after all of the holiday stuff is over, but just be aware, there are typically a lot more refurbs in Jan/Feb. I think 3 days is ok for a first time, 4 would be better. (Esp with the shorter Jan hours) But if you plan on doing this yearly, you’ll figure out the time that’s best for your family. Parkhoppers are highly recommended if you can do it, it’s SO worth it, in my opinion. I’ll be there in a week, and using MaxPass for the first time, (skipped it last year) but everything I’ve seen/heard gives it 2 thumbs up. The fact that we won’t have to run around to all the FP machines alone is worth it to me! You could always try it out for just a day or 2, as it’d be an extra 50 bucks a day for your family.
Are you looking at staying on site or off site? If you’ll need to take a midday break, check proximity of hotels. I like to actually google street view things to get an idea of where I’ll be. It seems like a lot, but once you get your hotel and tix figured out, it’s all easier from there! Oh, bring ponchos, as often Jan and every Feb I’ve ever been there has had rain, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it clears the parks

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Welcome to the DIS Boards!
This thread will give you good information on choosing a hotel at DLR: www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/.
As mentioned above, January is usually considered low/non-peak season. That means: shorter hours, lower staffing, more refurbs and construction, rides running at lower capacity, nighttime entertainment running on weekends only (Fri., Sat., Sun.), etc. With shorter hours and a tighter entertainment schedule, you might want to add a day or two to your trip. More days can give you an easier pace that can help you avoid crowds to some extent. For example, if your wife really does not like crowds, plan on getting to the parks first thing at opening each day and doing as much as possible by noon or so when the crowds start showing up. Then take an afternoon break for a nice lunch or a show (like Frozen at DCA) or some pool time. Return in the evening for a show or parade and a few rides with FP/MP. You may not do as much each day, but your wife won't get overwhelmed or stressed either. You'll know more when the entertainment calendar is released around November. If you choose to do a dining package for a show, I would recommend doing one for F! -- the reserved viewing area for that (all ground seating up front and center) has the best views of the show with the shortest waits. If PTN is still running in DCA, you won't need a package for that. The parade route in DCA is almost a mile long -- plenty of good viewing spots for free! Be aware that it is possible that IASW or HM will be down during your trip dates for removal of the holiday overlays.