How many days for a Disneyland Trip?

[andypooh]

We will be going to Disneyland next summer with DS9 and DS7. It will be their first trip. How many days should we plan to do the 2 parks? We like to do just about everything that is there and the things the kids really like will be done 2 or more times. We plan on staying at the Grand Californian. We get to parks when they open, often return to the hotel for an afternoon swim, and then stay in the parks until 8-9pm or so. We will probably spend about 9-10 hours a day in the parks. Thanks for the input.

[BrerGnat]

You want to do everything? 5 days at least. I would plan a full week onsite and use the two other days to head to the beach or maybe Legoland. Get park hoppers.

Summer hours are VERY long so that really helps and there is an extra magic hour at one of the parks every morning (the parks alternate). Summer crowds tend to swell around 11am so taking advantage of the morning hours will help you get a lot done. Also, stating at the Grand will make it super easy to go back and forth to your room. Great choice there!

[Butters]

We went with the same intentions, but since we are regulars at WDW we agreed to skip anything that was an exact replica unless the line was short. In 4 full days we felt like we had seen everything we wanted to see.

[andypooh]

We are currently planning on 4 days which I think or at least hope will be sufficient

Which rides are exact replicas as WDW? I know a number of rides are similar, but not exactly the same

Thanks

[BrerGnat]

There are only a VERY small handful of "exact replicas". You would be missing out majorly if you skipped the attractions with the same name. The exact duplicates are: Little Mermaid, Soarin over California, Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Tours, and Teacups (to an extent). That's it. All the other "duplicates" have major differences from their WDW counterparts. Most DL versions are superior.

[BrerGnat]

4 full days will be good.

[Carol]

There are only a VERY small handful of "exact replicas". You would be missing out majorly if you skipped the attractions with the same name. The exact duplicates are: Little Mermaid, Soarin over California, Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Tours, and Teacups (to an extent). That's it. All the other "duplicates" have major differences from their WDW counterparts. Most DL versions are superior.

What she said! Same name does not mean "same ride".

[andypooh]

We will certainly hit everything, including the exact duplicates once. Whatever the kids like, especially the ones that aren't exact replicas, will be done a few times I am sure

[Hog]

We just spend 2 full days open to close at DL/CA, no park hopper. We rode ever single ride aside from the bugs land rides. I do agree the DL versions of Pirates and Haunted Mansion etc were way better. The lines were very short compared to DW and allowed us to see things much quicker than I would imagine they will be in the summer. I would just like to mention the cast members at the world are much nicer and go much more out of their way to make an enjoyable experience for guests.

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[BrerGnat]

We just spend 2 full days open to close at DL/CA, no park hopper. We rode ever single ride aside from the bugs land rides. I do agree the DL versions of Pirates and Haunted Mansion etc were way better. The lines were very short compared to DW and allowed us to see things much quicker than I would imagine they will be in the summer. I would just like to mention the cast members at the world are much nicer and go much more out of their way to make an enjoyable experience for guests.

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Glad you were able to get so much accomplished! Summer crowds do make that much more difficult, but the upside is 16 hour park days, which really is quite a lot of time to work with.

[buzznwoodysmom]

We recently took our first trip to Disneyland. While we did not get to do and see everything due to getting sick while there. We feel that our 3 day military hopper was enough for us, had we all been able to use all 3 days. 4 days would probably be perfect, but 3 days would have worked just fine for us.

[LandFan]

Personally I think a 5th day is nice. That way if you need a break in the middle somewhere you won't feel like you can't take it.