How long at DLR is too long?

[CHAPPS]

Originally posted by RU42
We need to be careful on how we define terms; expecially in regards to the original poster. What does 'a day' mean?

Let's assume the poster will be in the Park from 10:00 to 1:00 and then from 6:00 to 9:00 (that gives then 5 hours for lunch, dinner, pool, and relaxing time.) That is 6 hours of in park time. If they catch Aladdin that is 1 hour gone. If you add the Electric Parade that is another hour gone. (just using round numbers here.)

Can they do the rest of the park in 4 hours? Maybe, just depends on how many of the other attractions they want to ride. Let's say the Christmas week wait/ride/walking time for the major 4 is 30 mins each. Doing Screaming, Soarin, Grizzly, and ToT and that is another 2 hours gone. That just leaves 2 hours for everything else.

I think there is more to do at DCA then many people give it credit for. Sure, some of the stuff we might not experience a second time (Tortilla or Sour Dough Bread comes to my mind) but since it is their first trip they will probably want to do it - just for the full experience. Then you have other things like DUH, ITTBAB, Golden Dreams, and other misc attractions; which together is easily more then 2 hours (plus the time to walk from place to place and any shopping excursions.)

Also depends if they want to ride something multiple times (like they mentioned in a previous post that they have done that before.) My inlaws came out in April and wanted to do a second full day at DCA because they had so much fun the first day - they couldn't stop raving about Soarin. (Full day meaning open to close in this case.)

So, we may be discussing the same point - DCA is about a 10-12 hour event. If someone thought all of DCA could be done in 6 hours then I would have to politely disagree - but then again, it all depends on 'style.'

RU

Well once again, I think you're just coming up with ways to stretch out the time so that you can support your claim that it takes 6 days to see DLR. For example, going from 10am to 1pm and then leaving and not coming back until 6pm (that's FIVE HOURS) seems a little unusual. If that's what the original poster is planning to, then I guess I'd have to acquiesce and agree that it will take 6 days to visit.

But my point is that before you even broke it down like this, you were all too quick to say, "Of course it will take 6 days". That just seems a little misleading to me. It makes DLR out to be much more than it really is. I mean, I could do the same thing and say that it takes TWELVE DAYS to see all of DLR, and then later break it down by saying, "Well, that's if you spend about an hour a day in the parks and the rest of the time in your hotel room." It just seems like playing with the numbers a little in order to support your point.

Also, regardless of how you define "a day", there's really no way you can reasonably define "a day" to support that it takes a full day to explore the hotels. That seemed kind of silly.

 

[RU42]

LOL - I know you don't like my 'day' to explore the hotels, but again, I was not referring to 10-12 hours of doing that. I 100% agree that would be over kill.

Even 6 hours is probably a bit much, just depends on how much they want to walk, look, and stop. I was thinking the morning shift to look over the 2 cheap hotels and then the evening over at GC. Even if it didn't take the '6 hours' that extra time could be still used at the pool, relaxing the tired feet, having an extended dinner, or whatever.

I will agree, my initial answer was a bit brief - I had all the justification in my head but not written down. I was in an extreme hurry in the morning that I read that post. And I am not playing with the numbers really (not then nor now), their initial post said the afternoons would be spent at the pool.

We like to do parkie things in the morning, hang out at the pool/GCH lobby in the afternoon, and do parkie things in the evening before an early night (9-10ish.)

Not that I am trying to beat this thread to death, but that was in my mind when I posted my original response which was a response to the original parameters they set themselves. If I had time to detail it like I have since then, then my guess is we would have been saying the same thing all along - for the most part.

Anyway, good exchange of ideas.

RU

 

[ToTBellHop]

THREE days at the Disneyland Resort during one of its busiest seasons? LOL! You'd see half of the stuff. I don't really view "seeing everything at DCA that most locals don't visit every time they go to DCA" as trying to stretch your time. They are all attractions, and if you have never seen them before, you do them. It's like TriceraTop Spin at Animal Kingdom...rode it once when it opened, cuz it was new, and now I don't ride it...you have to experience everything once!

 

[ToTBellHop]

Also...for those of us who plan vacations to California, it is a waste of money to fly there and only stay for 3 days, then fly back. It is far more cost-effective to go for a week.

 

[CHAPPS]

Originally posted by ISTCNavigator57
THREE days at the Disneyland Resort during one of its busiest seasons? LOL! You'd see half of the stuff. I don't really view "seeing everything at DCA that most locals don't visit every time they go to DCA" as trying to stretch your time. They are all attractions, and if you have never seen them before, you do them. It's like TriceraTop Spin at Animal Kingdom...rode it once when it opened, cuz it was new, and now I don't ride it...you have to experience everything once!

Well, for starters, you and others keep referring to Christmas time as "one of the busiest seasons". I'm not debating that fact, but I can tell you that I was at DLR at Christmas time last year. You could have fired a cannon down the middle of DCA and you wouldn't have hit anyone. DL was a tad more crowded, but DCA was about the same as always. So while it may be "one of the busiest seasons", I don't believe our original poster is going to see huge crowds at DCA. Therefore, he and his family can easily see the whole thing in under a day.

Although DL will most likely be more crowded than usual, there's still no reason why a person can't see everything in under two days. If it takes more than that, then it's not because there's "so much to see" there. It would be due to DL being inefficient in ride capacity and crowd control.

You have to remember that DLR is great, but it simply is not as large as WDW. I think you feel that I'm somehow slamming DLR by saying that you can't see the whole thing in 3 or 4 days. I mean to do nothing of the sort. I'm simply saying that it is not so vast as to take 6 days to see all of it. You're trying to make it out to seem much larger than it is, but what you're essentially saying is that DL is slow at moving guests through attractions if you really think it would take 6 days to see it.

 

[CHAPPS]

Originally posted by ISTCNavigator57
Also...for those of us who plan vacations to California, it is a waste of money to fly there and only stay for 3 days, then fly back. It is far more cost-effective to go for a week.

Why don't people get that when they make arguments like this, they're only reinforcing my point??

So okay, making a trip to CA and only staying for 3 days is not as cost effective as staying for a week. I'm not debating that. But don't you see that by saying this, you're not supporting that there's actually a week's worth of stuff to do at DLR and THAT'S why you'd stay that long. You're saying that you'd stay that long because it's more cost effective. So in other words, "It's more COST EFFECTIVE to stay for a week (or 6 days), so I'll STRETCH IT OUT".

 

[ToTBellHop]

Originally posted by CHAPPS
Why don't people get that when they make arguments like this, they're only reinforcing my point??

So okay, making a trip to CA and only staying for 3 days is not as cost effective as staying for a week. I'm not debating that. But don't you see that by saying this, you're not supporting that there's actually a week's worth of stuff to do at DLR and THAT'S why you'd stay that long. You're saying that you'd stay that long because it's more cost effective. So in other words, "It's more COST EFFECTIVE to stay for a week (or 6 days), so I'll STRETCH IT OUT".

We are just beating a dead dog...the original poster already said that his/her family likes re-riding E-Rides and is going to relax a lot, so for that family, 6 days will work. The rest of this discussion is just a difference in tastes, so tell you what--you take your 3 and 4 day trips, I'll take my 8 day trip to California for the 50th Anniversary, and everyone will be happy

 

[CHAPPS]

Originally posted by ISTCNavigator57
We are just beating a dead dog...

(That's code for... "Gee, I don't have a response to your valid points")

 

[ToTBellHop]

Originally posted by CHAPPS
(That's code for... "Gee, I don't have a response to your valid points")

No, it's code for "everyone else on this forum agrees with me except you, including the original poster, so we don't really care what you think anymore. Take your 3-day trips and we'll enjoy our 6- and 7-day ones"

 

[CHAPPS]

Originally posted by ISTCNavigator57
No, it's code for "everyone else on this forum agrees with me except you, including the original poster, so we don't really care what you think anymore. Take your 3-day trips and we'll enjoy our 6- and 7-day ones"

The original poster hasn't even taken his trip yet. How can you say he agrees with you?? And if you go back and read the thread, you'll find there are others who felt you're exaggerating.

 

[CHAPPS]

Originally posted by ISTCNavigator57
Take your 3-day trips and we'll enjoy our 6- and 7-day ones"

You must agree with me to some degree. You've already reduced your trip time by 1 or 2 days (i.e. Earlier in this thread, you said you were going to take an 8 day trip)

 

[ToTBellHop]

Originally posted by CHAPPS
You must agree with me to some degree. You've already reduced your trip time by 1 or 2 days (i.e. Earlier in this thread, you said you were going to take an 8 day trip)

I am making an 8 day trip. 6 days at the Disneyland Resort, one day at Knott's, one day at Universal Hollywood.

 

[dobiedadorf]

Speaking as the original poster:

Thanks so much for all of your help and suggestions! This is the plan, after consideration of all the feedback:

1. Fly in Monday, 12/20. Check in around 10:00. Spend the morning at DCA, afternoon at GCH pool, evening at DL.

2. Tuesday, Wednesday: spend mornings at DL, afternoons at pool/DTD, evenings at DL/DCA. Rotate between pool and GRR fastpasses (we will swmin down to 60 degrees outside if the pool is heated!) Ride TOT, Soaring, Indy, California Screaming, PC multiple times. Force DH and DD to ride Small World with me (major bribing involved.) Fantasmic dessert buffet one day, PS lunch at Blue Bayou one day.

3. Thursday: spend early morning at DL, ride Splash/BTMRR multiple times, leave park 11ish, head to beach for rest of the day (via taxi.)

4. Friday, XMas eve and Saturday. Xmas day: enjoy the festivities/atmosphere in hotel and both parks. Hit e tickets at rope drop. PS for goofy's kitchen Xmas eve dinner, PS for Storyteller's Xmas dinner.

5. Sunday, spend morning in DL/DCA, head out after lunch.

I'll let you all know if the trip was too long!

PS (the original poster is a "she"!

Dobe

 

[RU42]

Sounds like fun! But we have to wait 6+ months for your trip report - not fair! :lol:

RU

 

[ToTBellHop]

Sounds perfect! Looks like you went with a nice long trip Good choice...have a nice, relaxing trip (except for Indy and Tower of Terror )

 

[CHAPPS]

Originally posted by ISTCNavigator57
Sounds perfect! Looks like you went with a nice long trip Good choice...have a nice, relaxing trip (except for Indy and Tower of Terror )

I think the length of the trip was already a "given" and she was just asking for ways to fill the time.

 

[CHAPPS]

Originally posted by dobiedadorf
Speaking as the original poster:

Thanks so much for all of your help and suggestions! This is the plan, after consideration of all the feedback:

1. Fly in Monday, 12/20. Check in around 10:00. Spend the morning at DCA, afternoon at GCH pool, evening at DL.

2. Tuesday, Wednesday: spend mornings at DL, afternoons at pool/DTD, evenings at DL/DCA. Rotate between pool and GRR fastpasses (we will swmin down to 60 degrees outside if the pool is heated!) Ride TOT, Soaring, Indy, California Screaming, PC multiple times. Force DH and DD to ride Small World with me (major bribing involved.) Fantasmic dessert buffet one day, PS lunch at Blue Bayou one day.

3. Thursday: spend early morning at DL, ride Splash/BTMRR multiple times, leave park 11ish, head to beach for rest of the day (via taxi.)

4. Friday, XMas eve and Saturday. Xmas day: enjoy the festivities/atmosphere in hotel and both parks. Hit e tickets at rope drop. PS for goofy's kitchen Xmas eve dinner, PS for Storyteller's Xmas dinner.

5. Sunday, spend morning in DL/DCA, head out after lunch.

I'll let you all know if the trip was too long!

PS (the original poster is a "she"!

Dobe

Oops! Sorry, Dobe, for referring to you as a "he".

Sounds like a good time (and adding up the total amount of time spent in the parks, roughly 3 or 4 days' worth of time). You definitely found ways to "stretch it" (LOL) to 6 days! Well done!

As a sidenote, I'm sorry some members were more concerned with sticking to their guns and proving their points than sincerely helping you. But all in all, it sounds like you got the answers you needed.

Have a great time!

 

[Merlin]

Originally posted by ISTCNavigator57
I am making an 8 day trip. 6 days at the Disneyland Resort, one day at Knott's, one day at Universal Hollywood.

Sounds like a great trip! I actually went to Knott's a couple times last summer and I was pretty impressed. It was the first time I'd been there in over a decade. The Ghost Town section was exactly the way it was when I was a kid. The themeing of that area is excellent! The rest of the park is more like your typical Six Flags type park, but it has some great rides. Also, I was really impressed by the employees (not sure if they call themselves "cast members" or not). But every one of them was great, particularly in the Ghost Town area. There were a couple of older gentlemen working in the old saloon. I ordered a sarsparilla from them and they made me feel like I really was in the Old West. Then I was in another shop talking to one of the employees and she was telling me how Walter Knott would be so proud of how that part of the park had not changed. It made me wonder how many CMs at Disney these days would talk about Disneyland/WDW with that kind of pride. Anyway, have fun!

PS: I hate to say it, but I kind of agree that 6 days at DLR is kind of long. But I'm sure if I were "stuck" there for 6 days, I certainly wouldn't get bored. Although I'd prefer it if Space Mountain were already open.

 

[Merlin]

Originally posted by dobiedadorf
Speaking as the original poster:

Thanks so much for all of your help and suggestions! This is the plan, after consideration of all the feedback:

1. Fly in Monday, 12/20. Check in around 10:00. Spend the morning at DCA, afternoon at GCH pool, evening at DL.

2. Tuesday, Wednesday: spend mornings at DL, afternoons at pool/DTD, evenings at DL/DCA. Rotate between pool and GRR fastpasses (we will swmin down to 60 degrees outside if the pool is heated!) Ride TOT, Soaring, Indy, California Screaming, PC multiple times. Force DH and DD to ride Small World with me (major bribing involved.) Fantasmic dessert buffet one day, PS lunch at Blue Bayou one day.

3. Thursday: spend early morning at DL, ride Splash/BTMRR multiple times, leave park 11ish, head to beach for rest of the day (via taxi.)

4. Friday, XMas eve and Saturday. Xmas day: enjoy the festivities/atmosphere in hotel and both parks. Hit e tickets at rope drop. PS for goofy's kitchen Xmas eve dinner, PS for Storyteller's Xmas dinner.

5. Sunday, spend morning in DL/DCA, head out after lunch.

I'll let you all know if the trip was too long!

PS (the original poster is a "she"!

Dobe

Smart idea taking a trip to the beach while you're there. Do you know which beach you'll be going to? Even in December, it should be nice (although you probably won't be spending much time in the water). Have fun!

 

[ToTBellHop]

I spent 6 days at the Disneyland Resort last March and was never bored...since I only get one big Disney trip each year, I have no problem having fun for the entire duration of the trips. And last I checked, we were all trying to help the original poster with his trip.