How many days do I need?

[KCheatle]

Although I've been to WDW many times, I have not been to DL since I was a kid. I am trying to plan a surprise trip to DL in May with my DH, DD (9) and DS (5) and stay at the Grand Californian. Looking at the park maps, it looks like DL/DCA have taken all of our favorite rides from WDW + some and put them all in 2 parks -- so this is very exciting! But, I wonder, how many days do you think we need? I was thinking 5 days/4 nights - but is that too little? too much? or just right?

Any comments are appreciated!!

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Four days and three nights are usually enough. But, with your little ones along for the ride you just might need that extra day.

 

[belle717]

I think 5 days is quite generous, but probably about right with two kids. I don't have any, but I'm guessing they'll want to do things that can take a good chunk of the day (e.g., lining up for meet n' greets). It also allows for some break time, and parades and shows if you guys like those. You'll be able to really experience all of both parks and repeat a few favorites as well.

 

[UofMGuy423]

Four days is enough, 5 would be plenty. Either way, you can't go wrong. With younger kids, you'll feel that you can do everything there and then some and not be exhausted or worn out during that 5 day period (unlike only doing 5 days at WDW).

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

When in May are you going? Be aware that some big attractions like Peter Pan's Flight, Matterhorn and Soarin' are closed through May 15 or thereabouts, and the big 60th anniversary celebration with all of its new stuff officially opens May 22. Some of the new entertainment (like Paint the Night Parade, Disneyland Forever fireworks and World or Color Celebrate) may have preview performances between the 15th and 22nd, but that's not confirmed.

Also, take a look at this thread - you might find it helpful in planning:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/guide-to-dlr-for-wdw-veterans.875596/

 

[TP2000]

I am trying to plan a surprise trip to DL in May with my DH, DD (9) and DS (5) and stay at the Grand Californian.

Take the advice from @GiveMeTheMusic very seriously and do some research on that linked thread. Your timing in May is going to be key, due to the Diamond Celebration not starting until May 22nd.

The amount of time you want to spend at the Resort seems perfect, especially with young children. You must come to grips with the simple fact that there are just as many rides, shows and attractions packed into the two Anaheim parks as there are in all four WDW parks combined. And those two Anaheim parks sit side by side and you can walk from one end to the other in 20 minutes. And beginning May 22nd, there are more parades, fireworks and night spectaculars scheduled daily in the two Anaheim parks than in all four WDW parks combined. The Disneyland Resort is packed full of rides and entertainment, and very different than any existing park in WDW.

Consider those facts about rides and major entertainment, then look at this side-by-side map of identical scale that shows the entire Disneyland Resort is comparable in size to the Epcot complex of park and two adjacent hotels. You've got some homework to do!

Also, realize that Disneyland is just one sparkling jewel in the crown of famous sights that the world knows as "California". Hopefully your kids can also see and experience non-corporate and non-theme park marvels when in gorgeous and glamorous Southern California. This is the thread you'll want to digest for that portion of your trip. http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-official-explore-southern-california-thread.872243/

 

[KCheatle]

When in May are you going? Be aware that some big attractions like Peter Pan's Flight, Matterhorn and Soarin' are closed through May 15 or thereabouts, and the big 60th anniversary celebration with all of its new stuff officially opens May 22. Some of the new entertainment (like Paint the Night Parade, Disneyland Forever fireworks and World or Color Celebrate) may have preview performances between the 15th and 22nd, but that's not confirmed.

Also, take a look at this thread - you might find it helpful in planning:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/guide-to-dlr-for-wdw-veterans.875596/

Thinking May 12/13-May 16??

Thanks for the info!!

 

[Little Green Men]

The amount of time you want to spend at the Resort seems perfect, especially with young children. You must come to grips with the simple fact that there are just as many rides, shows and attractions packed into the two Anaheim parks as there are in all four WDW parks combined. And those two Anaheim parks sit side by side and you can walk from one end to the other in 20 minutes. And beginning May 22nd, there are more parades, fireworks and night spectaculars scheduled daily in the two Anaheim parks than in all four WDW parks combined. The Disneyland Resort is packed full of rides and entertainment, and very different than any existing park in WDW.

/

I know there will be more parades in DL (one more) but how many fireworks shows/ night spectaculars are there going to be? Just the 60th anniversary one and new WOC or additional ones?

 

[TP2000]

I know there will be more parades in DL (one more) but how many fireworks shows/ night spectaculars are there going to be? Just the 60th anniversary one and new WOC or additional ones?

Walt Disney World Resort
2 Parades - Festival of Fantasy (2014), Main Street Electrical Parade (1977)
1 Fireworks - Wishes (2003)
2 Water Spectaculars - Fantasmic! (1997), Illuminations (1999)
Total = 5

Disneyland Resort (beginning May 22nd)
3 Parades - Pixar Play Parade (2008), Soundsational (2012), Paint The Night (2015)
1 Fireworks - Disneyland Forever (2015)
2 Water Spectaculars - Fantasmic! (1992), World of Color Celebrate! (2015)
Total = 6

Interesting what DLR packs into those two tiny parks, isn't it?

And what's even more interesting is the in-park entertainment WDW offers in those four GIANT parks with double the annual park attendance of Anaheim, 20,000 more Disney-owned hotel rooms, 4,000 more DVC villas, and the "blessing of size" that the massive Florida property offers.

 

[Little Green Men]

So really shouldn't you say DL and WDW have an equal number of fireworks and water spectaculars (debatable if Illuminations counts as fireworks) and DL has one more parade? They do have a lot of streetmosphere in WDW in MK, EPCOT and DHS mainly, doesn't that count as entertainment? I know they have that as well at DL, but I'm not sure if it's as much as WDW. The marachi band, Chinese acrobats, Germany band at the biergarten, the new flag show in Italy, Voices of Liberty, drummers in Japan, acrobats in France, new Morocco, UK, and Canada shows. Not to mention shows like Spirit of Aloha, Hoop de doo Revue, Cirque du Soleil La Nouba, etc.

 

[TP2000]

So really shouldn't you say DL and WDW have an equal number of fireworks and water spectaculars (debatable if Illuminations counts as fireworks) and DL has one more parade? They do have a lot of streetmosphere in WDW in MK, EPCOT and DHS mainly, doesn't that count as entertainment? I know they have that as well at DL, but I'm not sure if it's as much as WDW. The marachi band, Chinese acrobats, Germany band at the biergarten, the new flag show in Italy, Voices of Liberty, drummers in Japan, acrobats in France, new Morocco, UK, and Canada shows. Not to mention shows like Spirit of Aloha, Hoop de doo Revue, Cirque du Soleil La Nouba, etc.

The amount of major entertainment at WDW, parades/fireworks/water shows, is less than the amount of those things at Disneyland Resort. The point being that there's technically more of those offerings at Anaheim's two parks than there are in all four of WDW's parks combined. For planning purposes, especially with children with bedtimes, that will be important for @KCheatle to consider.

As for atmosphere entertainment, Epcot is wonderful, and is really the only WDW park that meets or sometimes exceeds the atmosphere entertainment of the Anaheim parks. There's a long list of similar atmosphere entertainment and smaller stage shows in Disneyland and DCA, plus major stage shows Aladdin or Mickey's & The Magical Map and a few entertainment concepts they don't even attempt on WDW's sprawling property like Mad T Party or swing dancing to live orchestras, etc.

Disneyland Resort certainly has it easier being able to tap into the LA entertainment industry and the vast pool of talent looking for gigs. Anaheim's mariachi band isn't just good, they are the famous Mariachi Divas who've won multiple Grammy Awards in recent years, and yet TDA still gets them to play to lunch crowds in DCA's Pacific Wharf food court! Grammy Award winning bands playing at a theme park food court?!? Only at Disneyland.

The most unfortunate comparison for WDW is the level of atmosphere and stage entertainment in WDW's Magic Kingdom Park compared to Disneyland Park. Heck, they don't even do the All-American College Band any more at WDW, but Disneyland still does.

You gotta wonder what they're spending their money on out there in Orlando. But that's another thread. Suffice it to say, first-timers like @KCheatle and her family will want to plan their visit around some truly spectacular parades, fireworks and water shows while they are at the Disneyland Resort. Good luck!

 

[Little Green Men]

Absolutely! Not trying to turn this thread into a DL vs. WDW debate, DL has a lot of great shows. @KCheatle when I first went to DL I spent four days and had enough time to do what I wanted, this was pre DCA expansion though.

 

[mgat5]

We did Disneyland the first time with our then 5 year old boy in three days, we got a park hopper... dedicated one full day to each park and left the last day to do our favorite rides from both of them.
The second time we took my niece, so we had two kids... 6 and 7 years old. It was her first time at the parks. Again, we did three days. Same plan plus a Halloween party during the night and a character dining.
While we could have definitely used an extra day with both kids, I think they were just happy we were there. They both did what they wanted to do and us adults made it all about them. At one point we did split up so she could meet all the princesses and he could ride Star Tours 5 times in a row.