2 or 3 days for first (possibly only) trip?

[StarSeven7]

With a young kid and during spring break crowds, I would say 3---- but what are your other plans and what do you have to give up?

We want to also hit up San Diego area and Joshua Tree National Park. I think we'll take a look at our itinerary and see where we can consolidate a bit.

 

[ktlm]

We arrive on Tues and leave on Sun, though so I'm also trying to decide whether I should shift things to the weekend so we can spend 1.5-2 days in Santa Monica or somewhere along the beach for another, different taste of SoCal.

We want to also hit up San Diego area and Joshua Tree National Park. I think we'll take a look at our itinerary and see where we can consolidate a bit.

We typically go south from DLR and we were not fans of Santa Monica beach/pier when we went north in 2019 (we did love the Warner Brothers tour and Universal etc). We find the beaches from Newport Beach down towards San Diego to be much nicer. We haven't been in March, but I will say in early June (June gloom), the weather is not always warm enough to be good beach weather. Nice to walk up and down in a long sleeved shirt and jacket or sweater, but sitting out in a swimsuit or swimming might not work. Someone else that has been in March can chime in on the weather that month. If you are looking for a beach close to DLR, Newport Beach is a nice area. There are also a lot of places between the Disneyland area and San Diego on the coast that are nice.

Have never been to Joshua Tree- you might be looking about a 3 hour drive to get there.
The whole area around San Diego is really nice. Depending on where you go it can be anywhere from an hour and a half to a two hour drive from Disneyland. We have made that drive many times. For years, we would spend half the week in the Disneyland area and the other half in the Carlsbad to San Diego area because we had good friends that lived in that area. There are a lot of things to do in the San Diego area, and it is fun just to see that area too.

 

[StarSeven7]

We typically go south from DLR and we were not fans of Santa Monica beach/pier when we went north in 2019 (we did love the Warner Brothers tour and Universal etc). We find the beaches from Newport Beach down towards San Diego to be much nicer. We haven't been in March, but I will say in early June (June gloom), the weather is not always warm enough to be good beach weather. Nice to walk up and down in a long sleeved shirt and jacket or sweater, but sitting out in a swimsuit or swimming might not work. Someone else that has been in March can chime in on the weather that month. If you are looking for a beach close to DLR, Newport Beach is a nice area. There are also a lot of places between the Disneyland area and San Diego on the coast that are nice.

Have never been to Joshua Tree- you might be looking about a 3 hour drive to get there.
The whole area around San Diego is really nice. Depending on where you go it can be anywhere from an hour and a half to a two hour drive from Disneyland. We have made that drive many times. For years, we would spend half the week in the Disneyland area and the other half in the Carlsbad to San Diego area because we had good friends that lived in that area. There are a lot of things to do in the San Diego area, and it is fun just to see that area too.

Thanks for the feedback! Yes, it looks like about 3 hours to Joshua Tree from San Diego. I was thinking March wouldn't really be beach weather. I would like to do the San Diego Zoo and maybe something else in San Diego in town. We might stop at a beach on the drive down but I'm not really planning on it being warm enough to swim (at least for me! Lol) Nothing in LA is looking especially exciting to me so I would probably prefer to spend that time in San Diego and Joshua Tree since we really like natural areas/national parks, etc. Lots of options though!!

 

[magsnwonderland]

@StarSeven7

Thanks for the feedback! Yes, it looks like about 3 hours to Joshua Tree from San Diego. I was thinking March wouldn't really be beach weather. I would like to do the San Diego Zoo and maybe something else in San Diego in town. We might stop at a beach on the drive down but I'm not really planning on it being warm enough to swim (at least for me! Lol) Nothing in LA is looking especially exciting to me so I would probably prefer to spend that time in San Diego and Joshua Tree since we really like natural areas/national parks, etc. Lots of options though!!

If you want to do beach things that aren’t swimming, it’s be seal pup season so might be worth a stop in La Jolla to see them. It’s a good time of year to see the tide pools also.

 

[StarSeven7]

@StarSeven7


If you want to do beach things that aren’t swimming, it’s be seal pup season so might be worth a stop in La Jolla to see them. It’s a good time of year to see the tide pools also.

That was for sure on my list!!

 

[Pluto468]

I'd do three days with hoppers. That way you don't have to rush, and it's easy to repeat some things that you really loved. It also gives you more chances to get any ADRs you might want.

Santa Monica is nice, also the beaches in Malibu.

I love Joshua Tree! Worth it if you have the time.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I would like to do the San Diego Zoo and maybe something else in San Diego in town.

The San Diego Zoo is fantastic. I have been there and it is next level amazing. There is also the San Diego Safari Park. I am not super into military history, but I really enjoyed the USS Midway and also the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

 

[StarSeven7]

The San Diego Zoo is fantastic. I have been there and it is next level amazing. There is also the San Diego Safari Park. I am not super into military history, but I really enjoyed the USS Midway and also the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

Thanks!

 

[Jason2015]

Greetings. Sounds like you're planning a fun trip. I'd like to echo others, 2 days is doable but 3 days is better for DLR. Though my family has always found that if we only are doing two days that we prefer not park hopping. We spend the full day in one park and just focus on its attractions and rides. We like not running back and forth between parks even though they are so close together. Also, it saves a bit of money. We usually do DCA on the first day and DL on the 2nd. If we are fortunate enough to have 3 days we will park hop on the 3rd day and catch what we missed.

There are a lot of good beaches between Anaheim and San Diego. Close to Anaheim is Newport Beach and Balboa Island. Oceanside is a nice little stop between Anaheim and San Diego and has a fun pier to visit.

I'd agree also with the San Diego advice. The Zoo is great. The Gaslamp quarter has some nice restaurants and shops. We also like Old Town San Diego a lot.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[StarSeven7]

Greetings. Sounds like you're planning a fun trip. I'd like to echo others, 2 days is doable but 3 days is better for DLR. Though my family has always found that if we only are doing two days that we prefer not park hopping. We spend the full day in one park and just focus on its attractions and rides. We like not running back and forth between parks even though they are so close together. Also, it saves a bit of money. We usually do DCA on the first day and DL on the 2nd. If we are fortunate enough to have 3 days we will park hop on the 3rd day and catch what we missed.

There are a lot of good beaches between Anaheim and San Diego. Close to Anaheim is Newport Beach and Balboa Island. Oceanside is a nice little stop between Anaheim and San Diego and has a fun pier to visit.

I'd agree also with the San Diego advice. The Zoo is great. The Gaslamp quarter has some nice restaurants and shops. We also like Old Town San Diego a lot.

Enjoy your trip.

Thank you so much! We're trying to figure out which area is best to stay in San Diego. Would you recommend Old Town?

 

[Jason2015]

When we stay in San Diego we usually try to stay in the Gaslamp Quarter or somewhere near the beach or harbor. Old Town is a fun visit but I'm not sure what type of places they have to stay.

 

[StarSeven7]

When we stay in San Diego we usually try to stay in the Gaslamp Quarter or somewhere near the beach or harbor. Old Town is a fun visit but I'm not sure what type of places they have to stay.

Ok thanks!

 

[Becca1007]

Thank you so much! We're trying to figure out which area is best to stay in San Diego. Would you recommend Old Town?

We stayed at the US Grant and we really loved the hotel. But not sure what your budget/needs are for a hotel.

 

[StarSeven7]

We stayed at the US Grant and we really loved the hotel. But not sure what your budget/needs are for a hotel.

Thanks! We never really budget for hotels...our budget is as cheap as we can find while still being well located and a decent hotel. Lol!