7 or 10? Stay or Go?

[I-Bike]

Another newbie question. We're staying in CA for 10 nights either way and intended on 7 in Anaheim and 3 in San Diego (after we cut out the Vegas idea). I should back up though. I really do not like switching hotels, I like to get there and stay. I'm also a horrible back seat driver, especially in cities I'm unfamiliar with so I'd like to avoid having an argument with DH. Is the drive from Anaheim to San Diego white knuckling it?

All that said, we've never been to CA and intend on visiting several areas. I know Anaheim is a city and we wanted a little relaxation which is why we're splurging on the GC. Would you spend 10 nights in Anaheim and take day trips to the various locations (ie. LaJolla, Knotts, San Diego Zoo), or spend the 7 nights and move? We are going to do those little tours to Hollywood, etc from the Anaheim location. We are flying in and out of LAX.

 

[sonnyjane]

I would do everything that you want to do "up north" (Disneyland, Knott's), while staying in Anaheim, but I would get a hotel in San Diego for La Jolla, the zoo, Sea World, etc. My advice, however, would be to END your trip with Disneyland, since the other attractions just don't compare. The drive from Anaheim to San Diego is 90 miles, about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic (and in BAD traffic could be even more). You're not going to want to spend 3-4 hours commuting each day to visit the San Diego attractions. The drive is not bad (basically just take the I-5 from one city to the next), but it is long, ESPECIALLY after a long day of visiting tourist spots. You'll feel much better staying locally.

ETA: I see that you are already flying into LAX. I really would consider going straight from LAX to San Diego if you don't like changing hotels often, because, as I said, if you start with Disneyland, everything else you do will look inferior. The other option, if you can muster changing hotels twice, would be to spend a few days in Anaheim, change to San Diego, then return to Anaheim to finish your trip. You could spread out your Disneyland days that way.

 

[blackjackdelta]

If you are use to driving in larger cities than no problem. The freeway to SD is always busy, just lessor so mid day. They also have carpooling part of the distance. I agree with Sonny Jane may just be easier to go to SD straight off. We have always done the trip in the middle as a break from Disney.

Jack

 

[DSNY4ever]

Move to Sand Diego. If it was my choice I would do 5 nights in Disney/Anaheim, 5 in San Diego.

 

[I-Bike]

Move to Sand Diego. If it was my choice I would do 5 nights in Disney/Anaheim, 5 in San Diego.

This is what DH suggested. He thinks we should do the less expensive portion of the trip in Anaheim and splurge in San D ( I was hoping DL would come out with late summer discounts). I need to do some more research on hotels.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

id do sd first then go to dl for 7nights

 

[Huff]

Our upcoming trip will be 5 nights in Anaheim and 3 in San Diego. We'll be going to Disneyland then beach and Sea World. We've been many many times so nothing is new for us, just good ol fun times!

 

[Zoemakes5]

I live in the San Diego Area, and frequently go to Anaheim and LA, and I would say drive straight from LAX to San Diego. Or pretty close to that, spend a few days in San Diego and then go to Anaheim and use that as your source point. I'd say generally 3-3.5 days in San Diego and the rest in the Anaheim/LA area. I would STRONGLY avoid traveling TO San Diego on a Saturday during the day and would avoid traveling FROM San Diego on a Sunday evening. Also, the trip into Hollywood area on Saturday is miserable. I'd maybe even recommend having fun and catching the train at Anaheim stadium, switching to the Metro at Union Station and then you get off right at Hollywood and Highland. Avoid the battle of the drive and do something fun while you're on the train.

 

[akcire]

First let me say our trip was predetermined by my husband's business requirements.

Last week, we flew from Chicago to San Diego. He had two days (Mon & Tues) of meetings in San Diego (I spent two days thawing out & sightseeing).

Wednesday he had meetings in LA. We just left SD in the am and drove to LA. It was about 90 minutes, and the drive was pretty. He did all his meeting stuff--I spent the day with a friend of mine. That night we slept in Anaheim.

Thus/Friday were our Disney days. We slept down the street from Disney, and did not even drive the rental car.

Saturday morning we flew home from John Wayne.

The only "downside" to our plan was the cost of the rental car, since we picked it up in SD and returned it to John Wayne--since this was a part business trip/part personal trip we will reimburse his company for part of the rental car. We also changed hotels in Anaheim so our Disney hotel, was not co-mingled with his business hotel (we could have stayed in LA one night, but Anaheim was $100 less for the recommended company hotel).

If you are flying in and out of LAX you will not have the extra rental car expense. I would definitely move hotels. I would even consider moving hotels if you plan to do anything in LA, to save yourself the drive in bad traffic. You will not want to commute to San Diego from Anaheim to visit an attraction.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I'd do everything out of the hotel in Anaheim... but... I'd skip the Zoo, and do the Wild Animal Park instead (half the distance). Knotts is near DL, and I don't know what you want to see in LaJolla. The only real draw in San Diego is Sea World but you didn't mention it, and that's the only thing I'd drive 2 hours for! (But not after seeing "The Cove")

 

[BealsRwe]

We spent 10 nights in S CA about 5/6 years ago. We had our DD with us, and she was 18 months old. We flew from Orlando to LAX, and went straight to the DLR. We spent 3 days at DLR (off property), went down to San Diego for 3 days-only about a 2 hour drive. We did Sea World the day we drove down. Spent the night in a hotel near Old Town. We enjoyed dinner in Old Town both nights...and enjoyed the San Diego Zoo for a very full day. We then traveled back to DLR area for our final 4-5 days. We loved Disneyland and DCA so much we never even made it over to Knott's or anything else. We hung out at Disneyland, and enjoyed it so very much. I am glad we did it that way. We flew back out of LAX...great vacation, and can't wait to take DD out there next Dec to see everything for Christmas, and of course Haunted Mansion Holiday...we loved that when we were out there. DH and I are heading out this Sept for the Disneyland half...sad to think DD won't be joining us on this trip...but 2 adults playing at Disneyland...we are spending 5-6 days out there, and can't wait! (To make it easier on us, we stayed at the same hotel in Anaheim, before and after our San Diego trip...they were great!)

 

[Disney Dider]

I would stay in anaheim and day trip to san diego.