Hi, Gerry. Welcome to
planDisney! I’m so glad to answer this awesome question. As a Disneyland local who has never lived more than about 30 minutes from the parks, this may be a hard one for me to answer, but I’ll try to give you some things to think about, as well as some options.
First thing to think about - what does the word “enough” even mean? I mean, is there ever enough magic, or joy, or happiness?
Disneyland Resort has a surplus, to be sure. I don’t think there is a length of stay that you could describe as "too long."
The next thing to consider is your level of detail and how intense you want your vacation to be. I would say two full days in each park would allow you to explore and experience most of what the parks have to offer if you plan carefully. If you’re doing four park days, I’d then consider a resort day to relax, shop, spend some time by the pool (you can do that most of the year here), and take it easy. So in my opinion, a thorough trip would be 5 days.
Many guests claim three days is the sweet spot. One day in
Disneyland, one day in
Disney California Adventure, and a park-hopping day to experience any must-dos you missed on the first day. Purchasing the
Lightning Lane Multipass for these days will help you get through a good portion of the attractions you want to experience. If you know what you like and just want to hit the highlights, you could try for a two-day trip, but I would definitely say you’ll need to look up which rides you want to experience and prioritize. A Lightnight Lane Multipass, if not a Lightning
Lane Premier Pass, is a must on a two-day trip. You will most likely not get to do everything you want to, which could be okay if you see yourself returning someday.
Gerry, I’ve talked a lot about attractions, but I want to make sure you really consider the magical parts of Disneyland Resort. The live entertainment experiences are so great! Catching a tune from the Straw Hatters on
Main Street U.S.A., learning to speak turtle at
Turtle Talk With Crush, or bustin’ a move at
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off will be a special part of those lasting magical memories. I’d also suggest slowing down from the hustle and bustle of attractions to reserve a table service meal. A cup of chicken gumbo and the Monte Cristo sandwich from
Cafe Orleans is a meal worth stopping for. There are so many excellent food and treat options to experience. No one has ever uttered the words “I’ve had enough
churros.”
However many days you choose to visit, I know they’ll be special. I love the parks dearly and hope you find them as special and charming as I do. If you have any other planning questions, I’m here for you! Bring those questions to planDisney any time of day!
Corey