Questions about length of stay

[izzy]

I'm a DVC member who is hoping to go to DL first on my way to Aulani next May. I've been reading up on DL, but did have a few questions:

Initially, I was considering on flying in from the east coast on a Sunday, and having park days on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I'm planning on flying to Oahu on Thursday morning. Then, I thought as long as I was going out there, I might as well add an extra day and fly in on Saturday, which would give me four days in the two parks. One of the guys in my office said that he thought three days was way too much time, but I can also say that he really doesn't like anything related to Disney. (The horrors!) Do y'all think 4 days is too much time for the two parks? I am traveling solo, if that makes any difference.

I've had a few other people tell me that I really should go to Universal Hollywood Studios for one of those days. I really don't want to get a rental car out there - the thought of driving in the California traffic scares the you-know-what out of me. Are there any services that would pick me up and take me back, like there is for going to USF?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Inga]

I don't think 4 days is too much...however, I have read on this site how crazy the weekends are to visit DLR because of the large number of locals that visit in California (as compared to WDW) and so you will need to consider whether you will get the additional days you might be looking for by being there on a weekend...

My two cents!

Inga

 

[taaren]

3 days is minimum at DLR, prefer 4 if you want to see everything. (Though solo does make everything go faster). I'm not a fan of Universal there, I prefer either Magic Mountain 6 Flags but that's quite a drive, or Knotts is pretty close, or Sea World in SD .... Carsland won't be open yet in May, but there's still a lot to see that is packed into those two parks. Hydroguy has a good thread about DLR for WDW vets ... will see if I can find the link...

 

[llump41]

If you are trying to see/do everything then 4 is a better number. My wife and I just got back from a 3 day stay. We saw everything we wanted to but skipped the parades and most of DCA.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I definitely don't think 4 is too much. We typically do 6. In May I wouldn't worry about crowds on the weekends. In fact, fireworks and Fantasmic! typically only shows on Friday-Sunday evenings in May. So I'd definitely come a day early to see them.

 

[PrncesKMW]

Just got back from my first DLR trip, as well as my first solo trip. I had all day Wednesday and Thursday in the parks, as well as Saturday evening and a good chunk of Sunday - and I wished I would have had more time.

I by no means rode all the rides at both parks, though I did get at least one ride on each of the rides I wanted to. In addition, part of the fun for me is having some sit down meals and some pool time. I had about 30 minutes of pool time and two sit down meals, both at breakfast, during the park time I had. I also by no means saw everything in Downtown Disney, nor did I get a chance to explore GCH or DLH like I would have wanted to.

So long story short - if $$ isn't an issue, go for 4 days - you won't run out of stuff to do!

 

[stormygoddess]

taaren, I hope you will come back and update with the link if you find it. I have been to WDW twice in two years and feel like I'm an expert at it (heh, not really) and am completely befuddled with DL/DCA as will be my first trip there and I JUST booked tickets Thursday night and will be there Sep 2-5, just 2 adult trip. But I haven't had much time to really dig into the info here yet other than hydroguy's exhausting WoC thread.


Edited to add: OH hey self-service. I found the link for WDW vets, it's in the main sticky post. (since my post count is too low, I can't actually link it) -- but go back to the Disneyland forum and click the thread titled "DLR Info/Links - Maps, Hotels, DISer Reviews, Hydroguy's tips, NEWBIE INFO here!" and then it's towards the top in the section "HYDROGUY'S FANTASTIC TIPS".

 

[aristocat65]

3 or 4 days are fine. There is so much packed into the 2 parks to see. I would skip Universal if you've been to the Orlando one. It really pales in comparison. It is interesting as a real operating movie studio and with regard to film history, but as a theme park it has much less than Orlando.

 

[izzy]

Thanks, everyone! Four days it is! I knew that they only did some of the shows on the weekend, which is one reason why I thought adding that extra day might make sense.