Advice on latest plans?

[Snurk71]

Here are our latest plans:

Sunday 5/11 - Fly from Bloomington, IL to Chicago to SNA (actually got 3 FF tickets this late), arrive around noon

Stay GCH Sunday - Tuesday night (GCH isn't available Thursday night)

Stay DLH Wednesday and Thursday night (DLH isn't available Sunday night)

Friday morning take off for day at San Diego zoo

Stay Friday night at the Del Coronado in San Diego

Saturday 5/17 - Fly from SAN to Chicago around 1:00 and drive a rental back to Bloomington


My question surrounds our transportation in CA. In past trips we've not ventured off DL grounds and taken Super Shuttle from SNA to the resort and back. Now that we have to go from DL to San Diego (and not come back to DL), we're trying to figure out the best plan for getting around. When we add up the cost of shuttles and taxis, it looks like renting a car for the week and skipping all of the shuttles will be more economical.

Any advice to push towards or away from renting the car?


This whole thing should teach us to schedule a trip 2 weeks out. We're actually not doing too bad considering the short lead time. Though we haven't looked into any dining reservations yet.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

Rent a car and call it a day.

It will make things easier instead of this taxi and that taxi and everything else in between.

 

[bumbershoot]

Any kids in your group that might require carseats or anything like that?

If you don't need a rental car during all your days at DLR I wouldn't do that. (though we don't really do rental cars anyway) Though of course if you can get a great deal, ignore the following.

There's still the supershuttle idea to the resorts, and then a way I'm interested in to get to San Diego is by Amtrak. Of course you'd need a taxi to the Del and from there to the zoo and back, unless you're interested in looking at bus options.

But I really don't like the drive to SD, and yet in 28 days we'll be doing it in my SIL's car she's lending us while we are down there. Ugh. (and I don't want to THINK about the gas this is going to cost us in her beast that requires premium...)

anyway, Amtrak is just an idea.

There's an Alamo office at DTD, in case you didn't know that.

 

[fenfur]

Personally, I would get a car, it would make things SOOOOO much easier. Costs wise, look into doing a rental, since it's for a week the rates should be pretty decent.

Enjoy the Del, DH took me there last year for my birthday loved it , in fact we are going back in July . After going to the Del I have NO NONE ZIP ZILCH desire to stay at The Grand Floridian in WDW, lol, it just couldn't compare. The buffet breakfast is AMAZING, it will be a nice start to a long travel day.

 

[Snurk71]

After going to the Del I have NO NONE ZIP ZILCH desire to stay at The Grand Floridian in WDW, lol, it just couldn't compare. The buffet breakfast is AMAZING, it will be a nice start to a long travel day.

Ruh-roh, Shaggy. GF is our home hotel (we go to WDW more often than DL). That's actually why we're staying at the Del - thought it would be interesting to stay at the hotel that inspired the GF. When DD7 saw pictures of the Del she said it was the GF (just seeing the white buildings and red roofs). Too bad we're only staying the one night.

DW has been running the rental car options. Looks like $190 for the week vs. $30 SS to DL + $130 for the car Thurs-Sat. For $30 difference and taking part of the hassle of driving out from SNA to DL, I'm leaning towards SS and just getting the car to take to SD on Thursday afternoon.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Since you are flying into SNA, check out Fox car rental. They have super good rates and shuttle you to their site and back (5 minutes or so). We used them last September and got a really great free upgrade because they didn't have the car we requested. They also gave us a great map of the area which we used quite a lot. Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[fenfur]

Ruh-roh, Shaggy. GF is our home hotel (we go to WDW more often than DL). That's actually why we're staying at the Del - thought it would be interesting to stay at the hotel that inspired the GF. When DD7 saw pictures of the Del she said it was the GF (just seeing the white buildings and red roofs). Too bad we're only staying the one night.

Well I haven't actually stayed at the GF, so maybe I can't compare But the Del is beautiful and amazing and I love that you can feel the history around you (odd angles in hallways, slightly sloping hallway floors, nothing bad, heck it IS a 100 year old wood building), Make sure you have enough time to go out to the beach for a bit.