Spring break (gasp!) trip to DL - 1 day or 2 days - worth it?

[ewasilau]

Hi -

I'm new to this board, and my family has never been to Disneyland before (with the exception of my husband, who went as a kid, ages ago!). We have been to WDW, but last time was 2.5 years ago. Kids loved it. They were 5, 7 and 9 at the time, and by this March will be 8, 9 and 12.

We've used FF miles to book a fun spring break trip to San Diego (12 year old can't handle missing school), arriving Wed. evening 3/23 and leaving Wed. afternoon 3/30. We know it's a crazy busy time of year, but other weeks are not an option and we are good at taking advantage of getting to attractions early. We have annual passes to Busch Gardens in VA that give us free access to SeaWorld, so definitely going there. Would like to hit SD Zoo as well, plus see the city a little. Before we book a hotel in SD, we are deciding whether to go to DL at all, and if we go, whether to make it a 1 or 2 day mini trip. I think it's about a 90 min drive between SD and DL, but tell me if I'm wrong.

So, any advice? Is it absolutely crazy over spring break? So much so that it's not worth the trip (it is pricey, of course)? We live in Maryland and love WDW, so the idea of being so close to DL makes us want to see it. If we went for one day, we might just make it a day trip. If we did it for 2 days, we would spend at least one night by DL. We could go straight from airport and see DL on Thurs 3/24 and Fri. 3/25, or see it at the end of the trip, Mon. and Tues. 3/28 and 3/29. Or go in the middle, but probably only if we were just making it a day trip - don't want to check in and out of too many hotels in a short time.

Is the park hopper useful for a 1-day trip? Or only if you have 2 days? Which park is better? Would it possibly be less crowded on Easter day? Would love to have the thoughts of some seasoned California travelers!!

Thanks so much!!!

 

[disneyjunebug]

Just a note.... The NCAA regional finals tournament (Sweet Sixteen) is in Anaheim on March 24 and 26. Found that out during our research for our trip March 19-23. We are combining Las Vegas and DLR and decided to do Disney first because of the basketball games and the chance of crowds.

 

[94bruin]

Regarding the 90 min drive - it all depends on which part of SD you stay. We were just there and drove down to the northern part of San Diego for the day to meet friends. It look us under 90 mins, but we went there was no traffic when we were on the road. If you drive during rush hour, all bets are off.

If it were me, I'd do Disneyland for at least two days, staying one or two nights in Anaheim, either at the beginning or end of the trip. There is just so much to do and see at Disneyland, one day is not enough!

 

[ewasilau]

Thanks for the advice. But is Disneyland worth driving from San Diego for when it's supposed to be so crowded for spring break? Can anyone compare to really crowded days at WDW? (We've always tried to avoid those - we've only been to WDW in January and at the end of Aug.)

 

[sunflare]

I'd do the two day with hoppers (especially since the kids are older so it'll be easy to hop). You have a better chance of getting fireworks on a weekend night, though they may have reverted to everyday fireworks by then for the high season. Honestly, it's always crowded at DLR unless it's raining, so I'd just suck it up, make rope drop (especially useful on the west coast since DLR is much more local-centric), and have a good touring plan and make liberal use of fastpasses. Remember that DL feels a LOT more crowded than it may actually be, because the pathways are so small. Have fun!

 

[Speechphi]

We went during spring break last year, the Mon & Tues before Easter. Got to the parks at opening both days, and rode EVERYTHING in fantasyland twice without a wait. Afternoons were busy, but not insane (thus was before the 60th kicked off). It was the best!

 

[ewasilau]

Thanks so much for all of the replies. We are now thinking of doing the Mon and Tues after Easter (I know, crazy) because it works better than the Thurs and Fri before Easter (and we want it on one end or the other of the Wed-Wed trip, for logistical purposes). If we fly into San Diego Wed evening, we think we'd be setting ourselves up for disaster by immediately driving to Anaheim, checking into a hotel late, and then doing two days at DL. So, instead, we will enjoy SD for a few days, then drive up Easter evening and do the parks Mon/Tues, driving back to San Diego on Wed for a 1:30 pm flight. And we are now inclined to get the park hoppers - might as well! Especially if you can just walk between the parks - so different from WDW!!

Now I have hotel questions, but will start another post . . . .