Southern California Choose my itinerary!

[lauraleh]

We are flying into LAX in early June and I have two options for an itinerary. Just a bit about us. There are 5 of us (husband, me, 6 year old girl, 3 year old boy, 1 year old girl). We live in DFW and are used to some traffic so we aren't afraid to drive in LA.

Option 1: Fly into LAX. Arrive at 7:00 AM
Arrival day: Drive to SD. Beach day at La Jolla.
Day 2: Coronado, Balboa Park. Drive to Anaheim at some point.
Day 3: DL
Day 4: DCA
Day 5:Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, Depart LAX at 6:00 PM


Option 2: Fly into LAX. Arrive at 7:00 AM
Arrival day: Laguna Beach
Day 2: Extra DL day or extra LA day?
Day 3: DL
Day 4: DCA
Day 5:Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, Depart LAX at 6:00 PM

What would you do? It is worth the drive to go to San Diego? Should we do another DL day? Thank you for your help!

 

[VandVsmama]

I'd go with option #2. Go with a 3rd Disneyland day. Doing so will allow you to get a Magic Morning entry if you get your tickets ahead of time (i.e., not at the ticket booth), so you can enter Disneyland 1 hour early on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. That's really helpful for children your kids' ages.

 

[PHXscuba]

Option 2 doesn't appear to require changing hotels, which is a major bonus traveling with children. But I certainly wouldn't go back up into LA the day after coming down from LAX.

PHXscuba

 

[cruisehopeful]

I'd do the second option. Since you are packing so much in only 5 days, it will be easier with the young children. I'd do the extra DL day.

 

[oakleycat]

Definitely option 2. If you're arriving at LAX on a weekday at 7 you will have traffic all the way to San Diego, and back. Not a good way to start a vacation!

 

[lauraleh]

Thank you for all your responses! We did decide on 3 DL days after we briefly thought about a Universal Day but decided against it because of height requirements. 20 days until the trip! Can't wait!

 

[lauraleh]

Little update though, we decided to do Santa Monica and Griffith Park on day 1, then DL days 2-4 , then Laguna Beach on day 5. Hopefully that minimizes our driving a bit.

 

[Rabb it]

I would go with 2