Planning for DL visit.... help!

[psimon]

We are used to WDW. We have been going for years. This year we wanted the same, but something different... so we are branching out and going to DL.

My wife keeps telling me 2 days at DL is too much. I was planning a day at DL, a day at Knotts, then a day at DCA, and then another day at DL. Should I scratch one day at DL? I know there are things at DL that aren't at WDW and visa versa.

All thoughts appreciated....

----Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Amy&Dan]

In my opinion, 3 days total for Disneyland and California Adventure is the minimum. Our first visit we did just that and left feeling like we had missed so much. Also, you need to figure in the time of year you are visiting into your plans. Disneyland will become very crowded this spring and nuts this summer with the 50th. While the Disneyland Resort is much more compact than WDW there is still a whole lot to see and do, so you won't be bored and ready to leave early, I promise!

 

[Amberle3]

I think a lot of it depends on when you're going. If you're going during a premium time, like the holidays, you might be lucky to get on 5 or 6 rides a day.

 

[Judy from Boise]

4 days at the resort would be a nice number....add more days if planning to go offsite.

 

[psimon]

In my opinion, 3 days total for Disneyland and California Adventure is the minimum. Our first visit we did just that and left feeling like we had missed so much. Also, you need to figure in the time of year you are visiting into your plans. Disneyland will become very crowded this spring and nuts this summer with the 50th. While the Disneyland Resort is much more compact than WDW there is still a whole lot to see and do, so you won't be bored and ready to leave early, I promise!

Sorry... should have added that. This trip would be within the first half of November. How does that change things?

Here are are total plans:

Day 1 Fly into San Diego area
Day 2 San Diego zoo
Day 3 Tour the area and then drive North to Anaheim area.
Day 4 DL
Day 5 Touring, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, LA
Day 6 Knotts Berry Farm
Day 7 DCA
Day 8 DL
Day 9 Fly home

Any thoughts on this? Seem reasonable?

Thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[DiaDeGuadalupe]

Sorry... should have added that. This trip would be within the first half of November. How does that change things?

Here are are total plans:

Day 1 Fly into San Diego area
Day 2 San Diego zoo
Day 3 Tour the area and then drive North to Anaheim area.
Day 4 DL
Day 5 Touring, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, LA
Day 6 Knotts Berry Farm
Day 7 DCA
Day 8 DL
Day 9 Fly home

Any thoughts on this? Seem reasonable?

Thanks...

---Paul in Southern NJ

Hi there, sounds like you've got lots of fun in store with that itinerary! The only thing I'd change around a bit would be days 5-8. DL and DCA are literally right across from each other. If you got park hopper passes, you could go into one park, leave it, and walk 5 minutes to get to the other one. The DLR isn't on a sprawling property like WDW is, so there are no worries about taking a bus, boat, or monorail to get from one to the other.

That being said, I'd do DL and DCA in a 3 day block, then decide which days to do Knott's and touring the L.A. area.

My family will be "going home" to DLR right after Thanksgiving, and we'll be spending 3 days there. We can't wait! I *love* their Christmas decorations even more than WDW's (gasp! )

Oh, since you'll be there in the beginning of Nov., you CANNOT miss the Haunted Mansion Holiday! IMHO, there's no other way to do the Haunted Mansion

 

[Alison Wonderland]

I am a WDW regular and I went to DL last year. I don't think 2 days at DL is too much.

 

[Amy&Dan]

That time of year is a great time to go. We were there the first weekend in November in 2004. That was the first weekend they did holiday fireworks and Haunted Mansion was awesome! I would still plan on at least 3 days though. I also agree with a previous poster about doing a three day block. You will definitely want to hop back and forth between parks it is so easy! Have fun with your planning. I love San Diego too but since we started doing Disney we can't seem to ever go anywhere else in California!

 

[psimon]

That time of year is a great time to go. We were there the first weekend in November in 2004. That was the first weekend they did holiday fireworks and Haunted Mansion was awesome! I would still plan on at least 3 days though. I also agree with a previous poster about doing a three day block. You will definitely want to hop back and forth between parks it is so easy! Have fun with your planning. I love San Diego too but since we started doing Disney we can't seem to ever go anywhere else in California!

Are you suggesting I give up an San Diego and just do the LA area? My wife is really interested in seeing San Diego. I would prefer just to stay up in the LA area. Any thoughts on the zoo in SD? Worth the time? I know it has a reputation as being the best. That is why I built the first full day in my schedule for the zoo, the second day for touring the area and then moving up to the DL area.

Thoughts, please..

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[nuts4sn00py]

Psimon: Just my .02 cents, but I wouldn't eliminate San Diego. It is absoultely beautiful there! I loved San Diego Zoo, & can't wait to go back! Than again, I go to the zoo no matter where we are, but San Diego Zoo is definitely one of the nicest zoos I have ever seen! We will be going back to DL in August & I am planning 3 days between DL & DCA. I haven't decided on the rest of my time in Cali. yet, as we will have family out there & will schedule some time with them. I think your schedule looks fine, but again that is just my opinion. Again, I really feel San Diego is a not miss choice. Good luck in your final decisions! Kathy

 

[DiaDeGuadalupe]

Are you suggesting I give up an San Diego and just do the LA area? My wife is really interested in seeing San Diego. I would prefer just to stay up in the LA area. Any thoughts on the zoo in SD? Worth the time? I know it has a reputation as being the best. That is why I built the first full day in my schedule for the zoo, the second day for touring the area and then moving up to the DL area.

Thoughts, please..

---Paul in Southern NJ

Don't give up SD, the zoo is the best! I'd just say that doing DL and DCA in a block rather than split days would be better. Keep SD in your plans, definitely!

 

[lap3]

To reiterate what the others have said, the San Diego Zoo is very good and a must-see. However, it is rather hilly(and steep) so be prepared to walk a lot. If you choose not to walk, you can take the guided tour. Also, the Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Old Town, Seaport Village, Scripps Institute are other places to see and do in the area.

 

[Buttercup26]

I agree with other posters, you should definitely do 3 consecutive days for DL/DCA. 3 days will NOT be too much. Also, the SD Zoo is amazing, I wouldn't skip it. It's a full day itself, although not more than one full day.

Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[poohj80]

I wouldn't give up SD either but I also wouldn't try to squeeze both SD and LA into one trip. Both areas have SO much to see and do that they each warrant their own trip if at all possible or you may feel like you missed a lot in both cities.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Definitely do not give up San Diego if you have that kind of time. With us, we usually only have 3 or 4 days total so now we just do Disneyland. The next time we have a week or more however, we will go back to San Diego. One reason we don't go there much is that DH often commutes between Denver and San Diego and does not wish to vacation there too!

 

[JeffPort]

San Diego is our favorite as well. The zoo is the best zoo we have ever visited and Sea World down there is built the way Sea World is meant to be -- it is right on the ocean with beautiful vistas, and the focus is on the wonderful sea creatures.

If you have never been to Disneyland before, 3 days should be a perfect amount of time to enjoy the area. Just like some others have said, you should definitely treat the 2 parks as a single theme park -- switching back and forth as you see fit. DCA has some very nice attractions, but if you try to spend an entire day just in that park, you may come out a bit disappointed. We like to consider DCA as an additional "land" to Disneyland and we visit it accordingly (much to Disney's chagrin!). Disneyland, while smaller in size than WDW Magic Kingdom, is actually much bigger in scope, with many more attractions than its Florida counterpart and many attractions that are superior to Florida (ie: same name does not equate to the same ride).

My advice ... if you need to scale back, skip the visit to Hollywood & Santa Monica -- you are likely to be underwelmed by that experience and you will be in for a rude awakening when you try to navigate the LA freeways all the way across town from Anaheim. Knott's doesn't hold much appeal for my family either. It's been turned into a Six Flags kind of experience. An alternative would be to enjoy a day at the beach down at Newport or Laguna Beach (which is only about 20-30 minutes from Anaheim).

 

[LucyKate]

That itinerary looks fine to me - as posters have mentioned, 4 days is about right for DL and DCA, so 3 is definietly NOT too much.

In my opinion you need 2 days at DL and 1 a DCA, with a 4th to revisit your favourites at both parks. But, as mentioned above, using your park hopper you can easily move between the two parks - so stick to your 3 days.

DON'T miss San Diego - the zoo and seaworld are superb, and the town well worth a look. If anything I'd miss LA, which we found very disappointing.

Your plan sounds very good, just be prepared to perhaps spend a bit of time in DCA as well as DL on that final day so you can redo favourites in both parks.

 

[karylrocks]

I am curious why is is suggested to do all 3 Disney days consecutively. I was planning to split all our 3 days up with other activities in between (Knotts, Magic Mountain).

 

[pcryan]

I would do the zoo, Sea World, skip Knotts and do 3 days at DL/CA. What airport will you be leaving from? That will determine a lot. If it is LAX get a hotel there for the last day and do Hollywood/Santa Monica. If you try criscrossing LA freeways you are going to loose a lot of time. If you do DLand first and then go to Knotts I think you would be disappointed. We were when we did that. I think Sea World is a better option and then you get to see more of SD.

Remember the parks probably won't be open as late in Nov so it will take longer to do things.