7-days in Anaheim, no car - get-away ideas?

[CocoCoops]

Hoping to avoid renting a car while in Anaheim so plan to use DisneyExpress from LAX to our hotel & back. Hoping to spend 2 or 3 days at Disneyland then the rest of the time is completely open. Two adults, two kids ages 7 & 9.

So - let's hear your recommendations . . . any good get-aways I can arrange without having to rent a car? I know there are day-trip tours to the other theme parks (which sounds good), but I'm most interested in knowing if there any other tours or travel agencies that can arrange an overnight trip somewhere fun with a return to Anaheim that won't break the bank or be too much of a hassle?

 

[c&m]

I've looked into avoiding the car rental on past trips...but after checking the cost of day-trip tours to other theme parks and the possibility of taking public transit to explore the other parts of Orange County, I realize that the car rental was the best way to go in terms of time and cost. Things to consider: If you are doing a week-long trip, do you really want to wait for public transit and waste valuable vacation time; as a family of four, you'd have to pay per person for each day-trip tour you take (that adds up). Anyways, that's just my 2 cents. Hope that helps you. Have fun planning your trip!

 

[aristocat65]

I have to agree with C&M. It is really hard to do much in Anaheim outside of DLR without a car-especially with a family. We actually are NOT renting one for the first time on our next trip in Feb, but that is because we are only going for 3-4 days and staying at GCH and don't plan to leave DLR this time.

The one thing I can think that might work out is taking one of the Carnival Cruises out of Long Beach. They have either 3 or 4 days and the prices are very reasonable, cover your meals, accommodation (really cheap if you opt for inside cabin). They usually stop in Ensenada and Catalina Island depending on the number of days. They have great programs for kids too.

 

[skiingfast]

Seeing as your from the north you could do a beach day. A taxi ride to the Amtrak/Metro station is a couple miles. You could take Amtrak or the Metro/Coaster in SD county. If you go down toward San Diego maybe a night and day at the beach in Ocean Side or Solano Beach would be nice. If you go all the way down to Old town SD or Downtown SD a short cab ride from the station is Seaworld or the SD Zoo.

You might look at Citypass For either the Socal or Hollywood one for inspiration.


Also know you can rent a car at DTD Alamo and at a couple of the hotels on Harbor Drive.

 

[jodeja]

I have never rented a car for our Disneyland trips – I’m too scared to drive down there! A couple of times we stayed near or at Disneyland for a few days then took Amtrak down to Carlsbad and stayed 2 nights there to go to Legoland. Sounds like your kiddos are the right age to enjoy Legoland, especially if they are into Legos. The last time we went, we stayed the whole time at the Disneyland hotel but took Greyline down to Legoland for the day. This option was much easier and cheaper than Amtrak because you have to take a cab from the hotel to the outbound Amtrak station and then another cab from the destination Amtrak station to wherever you’re going. But, the train is a bit more exciting, and the second half of the ride is along the ocean which was really fun.

 

[jlmarr]

Here's the Gray Line Anaheim site - lots of day trip tours:

http://www.coachamerica.com/graylineanaheim/tours_ana.cfm

Lux Bus has tours to Las Vegas:

http://www.luxbusamerica.com/index.php