Best way to day-trip from San Diego?

[Kitty-chan]

I'll be in San Diego on business for three days next January. Amusingly enough, I have meetings on Tuesday and Thursday of that week, but nothing on Wednesday. So, I plan to spend the day at Disneyland.

Having done a bit of research, it seems that the best way to do this is either to rent a car for the day, or to take one of the bus tours that will pick you up at your hotel early in the morning. I'm leaning towards the bus tours at the moment, as it would be an awfully long day to pick up the car, drive to DL, spend the day, drive back, drop off the car, etc. (Of course, it could also be a very long day driving around to various hotels for pick-up and drop-off on the bus line.)

Amtrak sounds pleasant, but my hotel's about 6 miles away from the station, and I won't have a rental car.

Am I missing any good options? I'd also be very interested to hear about experiences with the bus tours.

 

[kim3339]

If you can, I think driving would be the best. The tour bus thing probably would be a lot of drop offs and pick ups like you stated. SD has great public transportation, so depending on where in SD you are staying, you could take the trolley or bus to the train station. Plus, your hotel might have a shuttle that could take or at teh very least a cab. If I remember correctly there is a trolley stop at the train depot. As for driving, It really isn't that bad. Once again, depending on where in SD you are, just hop on Hwy5 and drive N for about 90 miles/ 1 1/2 -2 hours. You won't hit LA traffic, b/c you are south of downtown. Plus, half of the drive is along the ocean, and that could never bea bad drive!

 

[JaxsonsMom]

Are you solo?

If so, then I wouldn't plan on driving if you want to get there at opening, you will hit traffic. If you want to leave extra early or a little late it might work to your advantage.

I would look into the bus thing a little more and even the train, it's a beautiful ride up the coast. Like the PP said, the trolley's and buses can get you to the station.

Have fun!

 

[Kitty-chan]

I will probably be solo, which is one reason why the possibility of 4+ hours in the car at the start and end of day doesn't appeal (plus getting to/from car rental place on the same day).

All this advice is good food for thought, thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

Where is your hotel? The trolley goes to a couple stations that the commuter trains stops at.

Also you aren't limited to Amtrak, In SD there is the Coaster and you transfer in Oceanside, CA to the Metrolink, these trains run about every 30 minutes.

I know what you are saying about the bus. It would be better to go on your own schedule as much as you can, and not be at the mercy of the bus pickup/dropoff schedule.

 

[usschmidt]

Personally I'd check into doing a tour bus. We just got back from Hawaii and our hotel was down near Wakiki. We took a tour bus to the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is at least an hour away depending on traffic. Before we booked our seats, we asked how many stops it made to pick up people. They stopped at only 4 points, our hotel being stop 2 out of 4. It was so nice to not have to make that drive back, in the dark, after a full day. Just my 2 cents...

 

[Kitty-chan]

This is all great advice, thank you!

I think I'm leaning towards a tour bus at the moment, even if only for the simplicity of arrangements. It looks like it'll also be a lot less expensive; when I recently priced out a one-day rental along these lines, it was about the same cost as a three-day rental I'd priced in San Diego for the previous weekend.

If I hit the lottery, though, I'll just fly out a few days early, drive to Disneyland, and spend a couple nights there before the meetings even start.

But yeah, in the absence of lottery winnings, at least I can nap on the bus there and back, and get to spend a day with Mickey in the middle of a business trip.