A few questions about Disneyland/San Diego trip..

[BLTLDZ]

Ok, so after much deliberating back & forth about California, when to go, weather etc....

We are now thinking Early may...May4,5th or 6th-12th.
4 full days would be staying at the Grand californian, and then 4 nights in San diego. Flying from NYC into john Wayne/Orange couty airport, renting a car and driving to Anaheim. Then flying out of San diego back to NY. So far, the airfare looks pretty decent, so I would like to book this sooner than later...
In Anaheim, we obviously plan to do disney, Universal & sea world. Is 4 days enough to accomplish this?

San Diego we intend to visit as much as we can while there,,not sure when we would get back.

Any input is much appreciated

 

[perlster]

Ok,
In Anaheim, we obviously plan to do disney, Universal & sea world. Is 4 days enough to accomplish this?

SeaWorld is in San Diego!

 

[jlmarr]

... so you'll have two full days for DL and DCA, then a full day for Universal. IMO Universal is not going to be a full day park. You might consider other sightseeing in the LA/Hollywood area. This hop-on/hop-off tour hits a lot of the highlights:

http://www.grayline.com/United_States_-_Los_Angeles/Hop_On_Hop_Off_Double_Decker_Bus_-_24_Hour

Note that Universal Citywalk is stop #14, so I presume you could pick it up there.

 

[buyerbrad]

I'd spend one less day in San Diego and do one extra day in LA. I'd suggest the hop-on-hop-off, going to see a show (Ellen, Leno or Kimmel) and/or doing a Studio Tour (we did Warner Bros.).

In San Diego, I suggest going to a Padres game if they are in town.

 

[Anaheim boy]

Yeah, you'd have to spend at least 2 days just for Disney, one for each park. Universal isn't a full day for me either, you could probably tie in other HWD sights with that trip. Seaworld is down in San Diego. You've also got the Zoo, Wild Animal Park and Legoland about half way (roughly) in between Anaheim and SD. You could probably cut off a day in SD and move it to Anaheim, cause you probably could do 3 days at Disney alone depending on how much of a Disney fan you are.

 

[3monkeys4me]

For our San Diego/Disneyland trip we have planned for August we are doing 4 days in San Diego and 3 at Diseyland. We were hoping for 5 in San Diego and 3 at Disney but Dh couldn't get the days off work and we have a family wedding we are planning the trip around.

Our plan is 4 days in San Diego. I am driving down from the Oakland area (The kids and I will be flying in to stay with family the week before the trip) with the kids and DH will be flying meeting us there.
In San Diego we are planning on visiting the USS Midway, the beach, the Zoo, SeaWorld and Legoland.

Legoland is planned for the last day and we will check out of our San Diego hotel and check in to the DLH that day.

We then have 3 days at Disneyland and will be driving up to No. California for the wedding plans.

We decided to skip US this trip since I don't think we have quite enough time for it. It has been several years since I have been there but I don't remember anything that my kids will be sad about missing.

Happy Planning!

 

[gabsandalex]

I would keep the 4 days in San Diego and do the following: 1 day at Sea World, 1 day at the Zoo, and one day doing this tour:

http://www.trolleytours.com/san-diego/

You could do a Midway tour, explore/eat lunch in Old Town, shop at Horton Plaza & Seaport Village, visit Coronado and come back for dinner in Little Italy.

The 4th day could be Legoland (further north in Carlsbad), the Wild Animal Park or visiting La Jolla or another beach day.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I too might skip USH. What is the make up of your group? Any kids, what ages, etc. Thrillseekers or ?

We've only taken DD to USH once and there wasn't enough for a full day, for us. She was about 5 at the time and we went in May and the weather was pretty crappy-too cold for her to do the waterplay area. She was terrified of Back to the Future. We ended up cutting our mini vacation to LA/USH short (from 2 nights to 1) and came back to Anaheim and stayed at Embassy Suites and went to DL using our AP. Way more fun.

If you like coasters you might consider Magic Mountain or even closer to DLR, Knott's. I love KBF for what it is. It doesn't compare to DL but then what does. BTW that same DD (now 12) has loved going to KBF since she was very young.

Have fun!

Our favorites, in order, in San Diego are:

Sea World
Safari Park (formerly Wild Animal Park)
The Zoo.

 

[Judyfun]

I am doing the Disneyland/San Diego the end of May, with my 17 year old granddaughter. 5 nights at Disney, then 4 night in San Diego. We are still trying to pick a hotel in San Diego. We are staying at the Grand Californian at Disney.
This will be our second trip to California, with the first time visiting from San Francisco to LA (10 days). We are WDW heavy weights and want time at Disney to explore every corner we can. Any hotel ideas in San Diego would be helpful.
And I will check out the tour that was mentioned. Also Granddaughter really wants her passport stamped (Mexico). Is this a smart/safe option?

 

[Huff]

I disagree that USH is not a full day park. While its not an 8am-midnight park such as Disneyland, we easily have plenty to do on a 10am-7pm day at USH.

Its not a good park for small children. Our girls, ages 11-12 loved it, including the Tram tour which they rode twice but I don't think theres enough for kids younger than that. The shows are a ton of fun as are the rides although my wife and I don't care for Simpsons as its rough but the kids sure did.