How long is too long?

[nathan detroit]

Is it possible to have 'too much of a good thing'?

How long is too long when it comes to staying at DLP?

Taking out any visits to nearby places (apparently there is a city nearby with one or two places of interest), how long is the optimum visit to the resort?

(My longest stay was 6 nights/7 days and quite frankly I was more than ready to come home by the end of it)

[fizzog]

Good question...I'd say if it's just DLRP, 3 days is a good figure depending on where you're staying/how you wanna take things etc. Maybe 4 at a push. (away for the weekend, ta-ta)

[davewasbaloo]

Hmmm, I have done 2 weeks, but it included visits elsewhere. I think after 8 days I may (just slightly) look forward to doing something else. But bear in mind I like table service meals (2-3 hours), swimming, cocktails in hotel bars, golfing (is a part of DLP) and live entertainment.

[malice]

any trip over 2 days could possibly be considered excessive.

[davewasbaloo]

Originally Posted by malice

any trip over 2 days could possibly be considered excessive.

No way, I would consider that WAY TOO short (when travelling with kids and being a fan)

[pussnboots]

I think that after three days, most people will be pretty much done with the rides unless they're roller coaster fanatics or similar. Phantom Manor is a fun ride, but the sixth time around in a single trip you'll be playing "count the broken effects" or seeing how it looks with sunglasses on or after a bottle of wine (the answer is "hilarious").

It's one of the reasons why Splash Mountain might be a good addition to the park, I think, because it's such a repeatable ride.

But after three days, it's time to pull a Dave and go for a big meal and a swim or something. And you can keep that up for quite a while…

But I don't know if this is just me, but my top reason to have had enough is sore feet. You just do so much walking at Disney. Or do those awful flip flops and Crocs and whatnot really work?

[Malin]

I think three full days is enough, unless you wish to add a day for the Sealife centre or Paris.

[davewasbaloo]

Hmmmm, not sure.

If quiet, maybe. But we had 6 days at DLP during a busy time:

Day 1, in the park for 10:30 and left at 11:30pm after fireworks (did have a 2.5 hour meal at Silver Spur, checked in and swam for an hour in the afternoon)

Day 2 10-3:30 - swam and changed for Buffalo Bills - back in room at 10:30 pm and watched fireworks from the room (awesome)

Day 3 EMH at 8am, nice swim and 45min nap followed by a meal at King Ludwigs (2 hours). wife and kids left at 9:30, I left just after the fireworks 11:15

Day 4 - Studios for opening, 4pm reservations at Steakhouse (2.5 hours), shopping in the Village, swim, cocktails at HNY, and fireworks from the room

Day 5 - 1 hour of EMH, dinner at Walts (2.5 hours), left the park at 9, packed and watched the fireworks from our room.

Day 6 - check out, 1 hour EMH, left park at 12:00 for 2 hour lunch at Annettes - left resort at 3pm.

Now we missed because of timings or queues:

Crush
Tram Tour
Armageddon
RNR Coaster
Lion King
HISTA
Nautilus
Labrynth
Legends of the far West
Tree House
Shave and a hair cut

Only repeats:

PM x 2
BTM x 2
PotC x 3
IASW x 4
Pinocchio x 2
Tea cups x 4
Buzz x 6
Space Mountain x 2
Cars x 2
Parade x 2
Fantillusion x 2

The key is take your time and enjoy!

[davewasbaloo]

Originally Posted by Malin

I think three full days is enough, unless you wish to add a day for the Sealife centre or Paris.

when travelling without kids in moderate crowds without table service restaurants, yes.

[Malin]

Originally Posted by davewasbaloo

when travelling without kids in moderate crowds without table service restaurants, yes.

That I will agree on, the time of year and who your traveling with does have a huge impact on how much time is needed. But also it depends on how old your kids are too, and what sort of agenda you have. If your only after thrill rides I think you could be ready to go after only one day. Also we have to accept that despite how great Disney's Once Upon A Dream Parade is, not everyone is interested in seeing parades or shows.

[davewasbaloo]

Absolutely, I am a disney fan because I like about 80% of their offerings (sadly used to be closer to abou 99%). I hate the idea of Disney becoming a minly thrill or kiddy experience because that is not what it's about.

You want kid stuff, go to Gulliverland.

You want thrills, 6 flags or Merlin Parks (some) would fit the bill.

I like Disney because you can have some of those.

But I never felt WDSP, DAK or DCA were half day parks either, but I know I am wierd.

[Japper]

In summer season, 4 days is great because you don't have to worry that you have to do everything on 1 or 2 days.

In the morning you go to the magic hours , take your time untill it gets very busy at 1 pm.. you go back for a break at your hotel or at the village and then you visit the parks from 4 pm till 12 pm with a good meal!

It was great and we still didn't see everything..

[nathan detroit]

Although I love the Disney experience, I find that it is better in smaller doses. Especially in DLP where after a couple of days you are sick of seeing the same tat in every single shop in the resort (I know a bone of contention for many of us - where has the joy of 'treasure hunting' in the shops gone?!).
Go in high season and after a couple of days you are growing tired of the crowds.
Go in low season and you quicky get everything done and start to grow weary of repetition (POTC was the one that I quickly grew bored with - so sue me!).
And Puss is right - Disney holidays are tiring and sadly the healthy effect of all of the walking is more than counter-acted with the unhealthy effect of all of the delicious food!
the only beauty of a longer trip is that after the initial rush to get as much done as possible, I found it nice to spend a day or two walking the parks, admiring the details and pitying the poor sods that were rushing around like the proverbial flies.

[davewasbaloo]

But I find DLP an awesome vacation location. 50 trips and I still have not done everything in the area. really great options to break up the days at DLP:

Provins
Rheims
Chantilly
Compiegne
Parc Asterix
Pierrefonds
Versailles
Vaux et Vicompte
Fontainblue
Barbizon
Paris
Arras
Amiens
Val de Europe
and so many more.....

[nathan detroit]

My first trip to DLP was a day trip there as part of a 10 day Honeymoon in Paris. Since then I have always stayed at the resort and never ventured off the property. If I'm paying for Disney resort prices I'm damn sure I'm gonna make the most of my stay there!