Any Feedback On This Itinerary?

[hobbit]

I'm an aussie and am planning this trip for my husband (he's too busy to plan) and son (almost 10) and me. Comments, constructive criticism, suggestions or tips on this plan so far? This will be our first time to DL and the US:

Mon 9th May - Leave Perth (west Australia) 9pm
Mon 10th May - arrive very jetlagged at Anaheim (around 3-4pm) after 2 nights in plane, one day in Auckland in between (they were cheap tickets!).
Tues 11 Disneyland - staying at Park Vue Inn
Wed 12 Disneyland
Thurs 13 Disneyland
Fri 14 Disneyland
Sat 15 Drive to Williams near Grand Canyon, stay at Railway Hotel.
Sun 16 Williams - GC - Williams
Mon 17 Williams - Las Vegas by midday hopefully: Flamingo Hotel
Tues 18 Las Vegas - Sequoia; Buckeye lodge
Wed 19 Sequoia - Yosemite; Wawona Hotel (with no private toilet! )
Thurs 20 Yosemite; cycling, trekking, wwrafting
Fri 21Yosemite
Sat 22 Yosemite
Sun 23 Yosemite to SFrancisco; Marines Memorial Hotel
Mon 24 SF
Tues 25 SF
Wed 26 SF to Camarillo - arrive probably in the evening. Visit a friend
Thur 27 Camarillo to Legoland; Holiday Inn (in the evening)
Fri 28 Legoland
Sat 29 Maybe we'll see the peir and beach? We have to be at LA airport at about 5pm. Then we leave for Perth around 9pm.

Any feedback?

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Looks like fun to me! Just make sure you give yourself enough drive time. Also, I have heard legoland is better for little kids...there is also Seaworld, the zoo, and a animal park in SD. As for the Yosemite... LOVE IT! Just make sure you rest....looks very action packed!

Do you have things planned each day in SF?

 

[hobbit]

I've heard mixed reviews about LL, and now I wish I hadn't booked it. But I only read that after I impulsively booked a hotel and LL package with a non refundable thingy! So I thought of shopping that day while dh and ds go by themselves, as our son loves lego, and dh loves it as well!

We don't have much of a plan for SF yet, but Alcatraz, GG bridge and a tram ride are on the list. Any other ideas welcome.

 

[geekypeach]

Are you driving from Las Vegas to Yosemite, or flying to a near-ish airport? That is a day long drive on it's own, be prepared! The drive from San Francisco to Camarillo and then to LL is going to be long too. You may be far tougher than I though! It sounds like a fun itenerary, although busy. Have you thought about doing LL before Las Vegas so you're not criss-crossing? Or does that not really bother you?

 

[geekypeach]

Oh, and while you are driving south of SF, there is a beach/place called Half Moon Bay. It is GORGEOUS. You can stop on your way. It was in the news a day or two ago for having waves that battered surfing spectators, but it's never been that way on my own visits. If you have the time to drive Highway 101 on your way back south, you will see tons of spectacular beaches.

 

[HydroGuy]

Oh, and while you are driving south of SF, there is a beach/place called Half Moon Bay. It is GORGEOUS. You can stop on your way. It was in the news a day or two ago for having waves that battered surfing spectators, but it's never been that way on my own visits. If you have the time to drive Highway 101 on your way back south, you will see tons of spectacular beaches.

I agree. I think driving Big Sur out of SF and taking 101 down through San Simeon, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara (my alma mater - go Gauchos!) is totally worth it. Worth skipping Legoland for if you are time limited.

Overall I love the trip you have planned. Here are some more "stream of conciousness" comments...

If you still have date flexibility I would consider doing DLR on the back end of your trip. Early May BTMRR will be down and maybe some others. Less rides are likely to be in refurb later in May. Plus there is a better chance of catching the new World of Color show.

Yosemite - do not spend all your time in Yosemite Valley. Either take a day trip to Tuolomne Meadows or, maybe better, when you drive to SF leave out the east entrance of Yosemite. It is breathtaking up there in the high country. Also, do some hiking.

We have done the Williams/Grand Canyon thing on the train with our kids. Lots of fun but not very much time at the GC. Are you planning to drive to GC from Williams or take the train? If the train and you only have one day at GC I am afraid to tell you it will not be enough time and you will feel shorted. We took the train one day and the next day we drove to GC from Williams and spent more time.

Las Vegas - see the fountains at the Belaggio at night. Every 15 or 30 minutes. Maybe see a show? Magic or something for your DS?

 

[Judy from Boise]

Just want to make sure you drop by our other planning boards for more tips and info

Vegas board

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=175

California and the west board

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=131

 

[oc_tony]

We don't have much of a plan for SF yet, but Alcatraz, GG bridge and a tram ride are on the list. Any other ideas welcome.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is in SF. My family and I will be visiting it this weekend, so I'll report back on our experience. If you do plan to check it out, tickets can be purchased on line.

 

[hobbit]

Have you thought about doing LL before Las Vegas so you're not criss-crossing? Or does that not really bother you?

It was one of my planning mistakes, so we're stuck with LL at the end of our 3 weeks.

If you still have date flexibility I would consider doing DLR on the back end of your trip. Early May BTMRR will be down and maybe some others. Less rides are likely to be in refurb later in May. Plus there is a better chance of catching the new World of Color show.

Awwww, I was firmly told by other american friends to book "out of season" ie mid May. What is the BTMRR?

Yosemite - do not spend all your time in Yosemite Valley. Either take a day trip to Tuolomne Meadows or, maybe better, when you drive to SF leave out the east entrance of Yosemite. It is breathtaking up there in the high country. Also, do some hiking.

Thanks. We'll definitely be hiking as we love to move about rather than sit around.

Are you planning to drive to GC from Williams or take the train? If the train and you only have one day at GC I am afraid to tell you it will not be enough time and you will feel shorted. We took the train one day and the next day we drove to GC from Williams and spent more time.

We will be driving Williams-GC-Williams, and plan to have dinner at the El Tovar, unless you have a better recommendation? Yes I thought 3 hours at the GC via the train wasn't enough.

Las Vegas - see the fountains at the Belaggio at night. Every 15 or 30 minutes.

sounds great; thanks

 

[HydroGuy]

Awwww, I was firmly told by other american friends to book "out of season" ie mid May. What is the BTMRR?

BTMRR Big Thunder Mtn Railroad. See "DLR Abbreviations List" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520784

People have different strategies. IMO going "out of season" works much better for those who visit DLR on a more regular basis. For those on infrequent or once-in-a-lifetime visits it is often better to consider high season when you have more entertainment options and more ride availability. See

"What You Should Know About Off-Season at DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18462889

"HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199852