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My friend lives in Long Beach, CA and has been begging us to visit for years. However, with our family size, flying isn't an option. We already have a WDW trip planned for next year, but I'm thinking about a road trip from TN to CA and back for 2017, hitting lots of the tourist sites along the way. I'm planning a day at DL and one at CA in the middle of our trip. Is one day per park enough? Should we do one more and split it? Our kids would be 9,6, and 4, by then.
Depending on when you go and the crowd levels at that time, I think you could hit the highlights of each park with one day in each.
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Originally Posted by faline
I agree. However, if your family enjoys parades, shows, fireworks and such it would be a good idea to add on an extra day. And your kids' tendencies of course will be a factor. Do they need a lot of down time or are they the go-go-go type?
Will you go during the summer months? If so, I really suggest 3 full days due to large crowds. That will be a good amount of time to get a full experience. Plus, the fireworks tend to get canceled often due to high winds. 3 days will give you enough of a chance to actually see them one night.
I was thinking late September, and we typically are open-till close kind of people in the parks. We don't have to see it all, but I would at least like to see the differences between DL and WDW.
Hmm, the only issue is that late September park hours during the week are usually 9 or 10am to 7pm. You can't do as much. If you go on a weekend, you will get longer hours but also larger crowds. It's tough to say which is a better option.
Also, there are NO fireworks shows Mon-Thurs in the off season.
I went for the first time last October. I was there for 4 1/2 days and there are still things I didn't get to do or see.
If you want to just do the highlight , you could do it but how will your kids be if they go to one park say DL the first day and don't get to do everything they want to do?
If they would be fine, two would work. If not I would either add a day or maybe if 2 is all you can do focus on one park and leave the other for another time.
I agree with what everyone said. I think you need at least three days and a hopper. That way you can fit in anything you didn't get to on the first two days into the third day (half day at each park).
My very first trip was two years ago in August. I only visited two days, one day in each park. It was enough to hit the highlights. This is why I went back last year and hope to go again this year. Ideally, this will become an annual visit for me.
I was there just last month for my first trip and I did it in 2 days, I got to see and do a ton! Get there at opening and avoid the park that has early entry for hotel guests. Use fastpass and take breaks, especially with the young ones in tow. I was staying in Long Beach for the week but I got a hotel in Anaheim so I wouldn't have to deal with traffic and parking, etc. The CA freeways are ridiculous.
Have a very magical time!:mickey:
You really need at least 3 days to enjoy yourself. They have a Halloween Party in late September which will cause early closings at one park and more crowds at the other.