Please help me with early planning for DL

[Cynister]

We're just starting to think about a DL trip, probably in 2018. I'd love your thoughts about planning & itinerary. These are a few questions I can think of but please share anything you feel might be helpful.
1. How many days should I plan to spend in DL, DCA, DD?
2. Is everything walking distance?
3. What things/places are "must see"?

It will be me, DH, & DS(14 then). I have been to DL before, but about 30 yrs ago. DH & DS have never been. We've been to WDW a number of times so we're just about at the pro level there. We tend to do pretty busy vacations (head to the parks within an hour of RD, & then pretty much stay there at least until dark, if not closing the park. We like to see a lot of different things. We aren't huge show people, but do enjoy seeing a few. We do lots of rides, however I have my limits. I've done ToT once & probably never again. Same with Mission Space. Everything else we've done & for the most part I'm fine with.

 

[BadPinkTink]

1. How many days should I plan to spend in DL, DCA, DD?

4 or 5 days and you will see everything comfortably. I only do 2 and still get a huge amount done.

2. Is everything walking distance?

Yes both parks entrances are on opposite sides of the plaza. Park hopper tickets are a must as most people vist both parks multiple times in a day, depending on show times, line wait times etc

3. What things/places are "must see"?

That depends on your personal preference for rides and attractions, but Paint The Night parade and Fireworks on the Castle in the main park and World of Colour in California Adventures are must dos

Also Disneyland California has legacy paper fast pass and ADR are from 60 days out. There are only 3 onsite hotels which most people find are more expensive than the onsite resorts in WDW. Most people stay off site as many offsite hotels have a shorter or similar walk than the onsite hotels. The offsite hotels all have shuttle transport , either their own or ART.

 

[Cynister]

4 or 5 days and you will see everything comfortably. I only do 2 and still get a huge amount done.

4-5 days, really? Wow, we were thinking they were a lot smaller parks & it would be only 2 or 3 tops.

Also Disneyland California has legacy paper fast pass and ADR are from 60 days out. There are only 3 onsite hotels which most people find are more expensive than the onsite resorts in WDW. Most people stay off site as many offsite hotels have a shorter or similar walk than the onsite hotels. The offsite hotels all have shuttle transport , either their own or ART.

We are DVC members, so we'll likely be at the Villas onsite. Is DD within walking too?

 

[figment_jii]

We're just starting to think about a DL trip, probably in 2018.

Honestly, 2018 is so far into the future that it's hard to say if things will be similar or different from how they are currently. Honestly, I would ask again much closer to your trip because things can change considerably in the next year and a half to two years (depending on when you're going).

1. How many days should I plan to spend in DL, DCA, DD?

If you were going this year, I would say 3 to 5 days to do everything comfortably, including shows. If you were willing to skip shows (including the nighttime entertainment) and characters, then probably two days would get you through much of the parks.

2. Is everything walking distance?

Yes. Think of DL like Epcot's FW, DCA as Epcot's WS, and DTD is located just outside of International Gateway. You can see into DCA from DL's ticket gates (and vice-a-versa) and you can see DTD from the area between the two parks (the Esplanade).

3. What things/places are "must see"?

This is the one that is mostly likely to change between now and when you're going. It also depends a lot on when you're going (e.g., there are attractions with holiday overlays), different entertainment may be offered depending on the season, etc.

 

[BadPinkTink]

4-5 days, really? Wow, we were thinking they were a lot smaller parks & it would be only 2 or 3 tops.

Even though the footprint is far far smaller than WDW, there is a huge amount still packed into the relatively small area. I do 2 days and while I pack alot in, 9am to park close, approx 14 hours each day, to do the parks better and not be as go go go, 4 days would be much better. The wait times can hit 60 or 70 minutes for many rides and attractions , depending on the time of year.

We are DVC members, so we'll likely be at the Villas onsite. Is DD within walking too?

That I do not know as I am not DVC

 

[tlovesdis]

Everything is walking distance at DLR! The parks are directly across from each other and DTD runs from the parks down to the Disneyland Hotel! There is an entrance to the Grand in the middle of DTD!

 

[HydroGuy]

4-5 days, really? Wow, we were thinking they were a lot smaller parks & it would be only 2 or 3 tops.

As @figment_jii says, things may change by 2018. The Big Kahuna is Star Wars Land being built at DL and rumored to be opening in late 2018. That will change everything we know about DL as far as crowds. DL itself has not had anything like that ever, and the closest thing was probably the opening of Indiana Jones in 1995. But that was only one ride not a whole land. DCA has CarsLand added in 2012, and that scale is similar to SWL. But it was DCA not DL.

Prior to SWL I do not expect things to be much different from now. And now 4 days is about right to visit DLR. For a first timer though, 5 days is a little better. It also depends on time of year you visit. Check out this thread on that:

"Choosing When To Visit DLR: Summary of High and Low Season and When Each Happens" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36509602

I would compare a four day visit to DLR to a 7-8 day visit at WDW - enough time to have a very solid visit and experience most everything you want.

Do not get too focused on DLR's smaller physical size. It's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks put together. And its major shows are frankly better than the major shows at WDW. You don't want to miss them and will need three nights just to see the major night shows WOC, PTN parade, DLF fireworks and Fantasmic (better at DLR and worth seeing for sure).