Still waffling - 2 days or 3 for DLR?

[klam_chowder]

I'm heading to LA in March and DH suggested I check out DLR while I'm there

So I posted here and asked is going to DLR from downtown LA "worth it" for a day. I rec'd a resounding, "YES!". So in my reading/research, I decided to spend 2 days in Anaheim to explore DLR.

Now I'm wondering if I need to make it 3? Ackkkk, I can't decide. Any thoughts?

Background
Coming solo, active and healthy, and am a "commando tourist" type Staying at a Good Neighbor hotel. I will be at DLR before rope drop. And while a morning person, I can go-go-go til late at nite. I plan to take an afternoon break.

The dates are inflexible: For 2 days in DLR: arriving Thurs evening - checking out DTD - in the parks Fri & Sat (Mar 20 & 21). For 3 days, arriving Wed eveing. Both scenarios leaving VERY early Sunday am for downtown LA.

I like rides & parades, do not like scary things so won't go to Haunted Mansion. Plan on attempting the evening Trifecta mentioned on these boards. I think 4 nites at DLR without DH might be a little greedy since I am already going to spend 8 days vacationing without him in LA (mtg up with a gf). Hmmmm, what to do...

cheers,

 

[dmked]

I think since you will be solo, 2 days would be enough. You don't need to stop for crying/hungry kids and you can go at a pretty fast pace.

 

[Leofoenget]

I would do 3 days but go in half day Thursday. That's what I have done solo.

 

[bethy]

If you are solo and commando style and don't want to do all the rides then you should be fine in two full days. The only issue I can think of is that Mid March is smack dab during Spring Break season and so the crowds will be higher rather than lower. Maybe 2.5 days?

 

[avalon451]

I love the coming in Wed. scenario, because that puts you there on a weekday and you can take advantage of lesser crowds on Thursday. Also, if you do it in 3 days, you can get a 3-day hopper and get a magic morning. Or, suggestion: get your 3 day hopper through GetAwayToday and get 2 magic mornings; (same cost and use discount code "podcast" to get the $10. processing fee waived) then you can have MM on both Thursday and Saturday, to maximize your crowd-beating potential.

I would love 3 days to do the parks on my own. How fun! Time to relax in the afternoons and you can see as much as you want to, parkhopping when you want to.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be a really enjoyable trip!

 

[NWPrincess]

I would also go with 3 days. You might be able to do it in 2, but I think with 3 days you'd have a lot less rushing around and be able to enjoy some of the finer points of DL (if that's what you are looking for ). If anything, it will give you some time to relax and have fun!

 

[klam_chowder]

Thx a mint for the all the replies! Esp appreciate the tip on waiving the order processing fee

I guess I'll have to wait a bit until airfares are out for this to finalize so I can tell whether I can come in and do 2.5 days...never thought of that

cheers,

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I'd go with the 3 days option. I think you need a good 2 days to properly experience Disneyland and half a day to hit the best the DCA has to offer(the other stuff isn't really worth hitting). While you can do it all in 2 with solo commando touring, I think you'll be able to soak up the atmosphere better with 3 days, plus you have more wiggle room if you end up missing something for whatever reason.

 

[avalon451]

I like rides & parades, do not like scary things so won't go to Haunted Mansion.

By the way, HM is not really scary. Only a preschooler would be scared, really. It's not like a haunted house with stuff jumping out at you, or a horror movie (I don't do those, either!) It's more oldie classic creep show stuff, with some funny touches. Think the Munsters or Addams family. However, some of the effects are so fun and cool! If you're not sure, watch a video on youtube, maybe? I'd say it's not to be missed.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well Avalon...I did find it awfully spooky, going on it all alone at night! No, it shouldn't make a difference when you ride it, but it did for me. And since I hadn't been on the non-holiday ding dang thing since I was a child, it really affected me! The corridor of doors, the heartbeat in the attic....augh.... LOVE it, but the only time we could go on it was at night on our recent trip, and the adults had to go alone b/c the small one refused it...and, well, I wouldn't go at night again.


OP, go for the 3 day ticket.

 

[avalon451]

Well Avalon...I did find it awfully spooky, going on it all alone at night! No, it shouldn't make a difference when you ride it, but it did for me. And since I hadn't been on the non-holiday ding dang thing since I was a child, it really affected me! The corridor of doors, the heartbeat in the attic....augh.... LOVE it, but the only time we could go on it was at night on our recent trip, and the adults had to go alone b/c the small one refused it...and, well, I wouldn't go at night again.


OP, go for the 3 day ticket.

Yanno, while I was writing that, I was thinking about your trip report and wondering, "Well, Molly did say that when she was by herself the heartbeat thing kinda freaked her out, maybe it IS a bit freakier than I'm thinking!" Maybe my memory of it is more tempered because I was busy making sure my DD10 wasn't scared. She was like, "Mom, get a grip. This isn't scary. Let go of my hand, for pete's sake."

 

[PigletGurl]

Definitely do 3 days. 2 days would be pressuring yourself to fit in all the rides and shows. Anyways, you can never have enough of DL, right?

 

[klam_chowder]

By the way, HM is not really scary. Only a preschooler would be scared, really. It's not like a haunted house with stuff jumping out at you, or a horror movie (I don't do those, either!) It's more oldie classic creep show stuff, with some funny touches. Think the Munsters or Addams family. However, some of the effects are so fun and cool! If you're not sure, watch a video on youtube, maybe? I'd say it's not to be missed.

Thx for the heads up...but the next poster confirmed my inkling If I went to the HM at any time, I would be scared in my hotel room and not be able to sleep. Seriously.

Let's put it this way, we went and saw Prince Caspian last nite and out of the entire theatre of people, I was the only one who screamed!

Okay, I'm leaning to 3 days, 2.5 at least - thx a mint all for your replies

cheers,

 

[Sleepless Knight]

You're welcome. In terms of 2 vs. 3 days, before DCA opened, my family always did 2 days of marathon touring at Disneyland in the summer. We managed to get everything done once, with a little bit of time to hit the highlights a second time.

Keep this in mind as well. Despite having 2 parks to WDW's 4, the DLR has about 9 fewer total attractions between it's 2 parks than WDW's 4 parks. The DLR may be a lot smaller than WDW, but it really uses what space it does have well.

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

Another day at Disneyland is ALWAYS better!!!
3 days is my vote

 

[Hound 109]

Thx for the heads up...but the next poster confirmed my inkling If I went to the HM at any time, I would be scared in my hotel room and not be able to sleep. Seriously.

Let's put it this way, we went and saw Prince Caspian last nite and out of the entire theatre of people, I was the only one who screamed!

Okay, I'm leaning to 3 days, 2.5 at least - thx a mint all for your replies

cheers,

If the .5 day means an extra morning......do it.

2 - 3 hours of early morning DL touring followed by brunch at Carnation Cafe (or lunch at the Trat in DCA) ending with a final ride on Soarin' over California (or Screamin') is the perfect way to end a DLR visit.