Desperate UK Bloke on 1st Family trip seeks friendly US advice for perfect trip!

[Hornetboy84]

I am very curious to hear you say this. I have business trip to Spain and France coming up and was thinking seriously about doing DLP solo for 2-3 days. I know the park got off to a rough start, but it is my understanding they have got things going in a good direction now. Is there something I don't know?
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Trey (aka HydroGuy)


Thanks for all the info .... I think I know what we want to do and will firm it up as we go along. I keep knocking days off DL and then thinking "no - I will want more" .... so i'm really relying on the gut feel of the forum here.
Our last day in DL is also our DD Hannah's birthday.... (day 7 in DL --- Day 15 of 18 day trip) - should we sort a character dinner the night before (Saturday) or go for breakfast at Goofys on our last day.... my gut says the latter !

Re: Yosemeti --- I am owed a favour here and will be mightily pissed if we cant find anything in the valley..... this was meant to have been sorted and I have chased for 3 months - knowing its a tough call --- this was meant to be the centre piece "wow" of the trip. I'll let you know what they say to me.

On EuroDisney - sorry DL (Paris) --- Its not for me to say really as I have not been .... but I guess you would enjoy it as an alternative experience. I just want the kids to have REAL Disney first and then maybe we will take a trip. Its so much more expensive though. We worked out we could pay for flights to Florida and have a day trip there just as cheap.

Really they should always have built the resort in Barcelona... better weather -- nicer people !!

 

[LucyKate]

To follow up on a few of your additional points:

1..We stayed in the Yosemite Valley Lodge and we had a great time. Accommodation is basic, but clean. It's quite a drive into the Park each day from the outside accommodation so if you can get accommidation inside take it. We went in December so we didn't have any problems with bookings. We had only 2 nights. On your timeframe I think 3 would be perfect. 2 nights gave us just one full day, which was not enough.

2. You realise that will involve a very long drive and a lot of doubling back? You'll pretty much have to drive the entire distance back to SF (or Monterey to be precise) to start the drive? Unfortunately it was blocjkd when we were there. We also decided to miss Heart castle, guessing it would take up too much time and not be that interesting for kids.

3. I think 8 and 3 for Disney and SD would be fine. Personally, I'd finish in Disneyland. I'm assuming you fly out of LA, so that's less hassle, plus, dismneyland was the highlight of the whole trip for us so it would be great to keep that for the end. You can easily see Hollywood etc in a day trip from Anaheim, it's about 70 minutes drive. perhaps consider Universal studios? But this is mainly aimed at kids older than yours.

4. Our kids (then 5 and 9) loved both vegas and the Grand Canyon, but totally see your reasoning here.

5. We went to DLP last year when in Paris and loved it. I'm glad we went to the original one first, but we were very impressed with DLP and had a great time there. It was also a very useful pressure valve for the kids after weeks of driving round Europe.

Please feel free to contact me direct, or check out our trip diaries if you have further questions.

http://www.ballofdirt.com/journeys/5333.html

 

[limace]

A couple of other things:
-Universal Studios and LegoLand both might be great. I love US, but your girls might be a little young. Haven't tried LegoLand yet, but I think they are the perfect age.
-DD means "dear daughter"...you can figure out DH, DS, and DW for yourself, I bet
-I liked the Paradise Pier Hotel, unlike the poster above who had a really bad experience. We're doing HoJo's this time, as I don't think PP or DLH are really nice enough to justify all the money. If you're staying 10 days, though, you might want to try a hotel with suites, so you can have a little more room and relax.
-My australian friend who was recently in SF loved the exploratorium for her kiddo.

 

[tinkermell]

WOW!!! What a great and wonderful trip!!!

Now for my 2 cents for what they are worth...
I think the first part of your trip sounds just right. 2 hotels that I have stayed at in SF are the Handerley and the Villa Florence. Both right smack dab in the middle of Union Square. Perfect for shopping and grabbing a trolley, bus or cab to other sites. They are both older hotels, but kept up very nice for the money. And the restaurants in both are also very good! My dear friends and I go every year in December for Christmas shopping, and it has worked out perfect. Oh, and don't forget to try the Cheesecake Factory above Macys for eats. YUM YUM!!!

I live about 2 hours from Yosemite. It is truly gorgeous as you know, and hopefully you will see some of the big trees on that trip. They are spectacular!!! We live in the valley below the Sequoia National Forest. That is where the biggest trees are, if you already didn't know that. Have fun there and good luck on the ressies!!

You can cross over to the coast from there and see some of that beautiful scenery. You can still drive down from San Simeon, even if you don't stop at Hearst Castle. I'm thinking to myself, that here you are contemplating a trip to a castle, when you come from the land of REAL castles. Geesh, can I trade places with you???? Anyways, down the coast from San Simeon is an elephant seal colony that is really cool, and I think your Dear Daughters would love it. Our 3rd graders from school always take a field trip the see the colony. That's how I learned about it. Going down the coast is so much to see, but if you plan it right, stop at Pismo Beach for lunch and have clam chowder at Splash Cafe. Very fun and well known. Another must do is Hot Licks for their weird candy. Lolipops with bugs in them and so forth. They've been featured on the Travel Channel in the states. Oh an one more stop, is the cinnamon roll shop. Sooooo good. Just ask anyone and they'll tell how to get there. All within walking distance. Now down the beach just a little ways, you can drive your car on the beach. One of the very few places in the states that it is allowed.
You've been to Santa Barbara, so you know how beautiful it is.

Neptunes in Malibu for great shrimp and so on. Been around for years and you can tell.

Now to DL and SD. I would also do SD first. If your children love animals, take them to the zoo. Probably one of the best in the world. Also Sea World. Legoland would be fun for your DD's ages.

Back to DL... I would probably stay at the DLH, for the atmosphere and benefits. One of the most important ones would be, Early Entry for all of the days it is offered. If you stay off site, I believe you would get a voucher for only 1 day. FYI... yes the GC is more expensive than DLH, but also right next to DCA and DL. There is a gate from the GC that goes right into DCA!!!!! We stayed there last time and loved it. Next time we will be staying at the DLH for the first time since all of the Downtown Disney changes. Looking forward to that experience too.

And yes...Peter Pan, make a honest woman out of Wendy, while you are there!!!!

 

[Hound 109]

I wanted to add my opinions. Since i have family in CA. i have visited over 15 times over the past 25 years. I mention this because I am sure you will get plenty of tips on SF, SD, LA & Yosemite, but i wanted to add to what Tinkermell, the very knowledgeable Central California poster has mentioned.

You can cross over to the coast from there and see some of that beautiful scenery. You can still drive down from San Simeon, even if you don't stop at Hearst Castle.

I believe the drive down from Monterey/Carmel (including the 17 mile drive through Pebble Beach) all the way to San Simeon, is mind blowingly beautiful. Stops along the way would include Monterey, Pebble Beach, Nepenthe (glass of wine & a sandwich) in Big Sur, Julia Phieffer (sp?) beach, the elephant seal colony, San Simeon. This drive is a must do (imo) & then a few miles south is Cambria (a logical place to stay).

I'm thinking to myself, that here you are contemplating a trip to a castle, when you come from the land of REAL castles. Geesh, can I trade places with you????

I agree. And the castle tours are 4-6 hours (heck it takes over 45 min. just to get up the hill) and (imo) might be better enjoyed as adults. But stop in the museum/gift shop & at the old pier & town. (note: San Simeon is a tiny town.)

Anyways, down the coast from San Simeon is an elephant seal colony that is really cool, and I think your Dear Daughters would love it. Our 3rd graders from school always take a field trip the see the colony. That's how I learned about it.

I SO agree that this is very cool to see with kiddos (heck, i loved it too) & they make quite a racket.

Also, just south of San Simeon & the Seal Colony is Cambria, a beautiful little town. We have stayed twice on Moonstone Beach, where there are a dozen or so B&Bs.


20 miles south of Cambria is Morro Bay which has a great fishing villiage, great seafood restaurants (duh ) & a very cool rock. Again, our kid had fun here (& we had a great meal).

Going down the coast is so much to see, but if you plan it right, stop at Pismo Beach for lunch and have clam chowder at Splash Cafe. Very fun and well known. Another must do is Hot Licks for their weird candy. Lolipops with bugs in them and so forth. They've been featured on the Travel Channel in the states. Oh an one more stop, is the cinnamon roll shop

I'm gonna have to try that on our next trip. In fact on my next trip down the coast, I'm going to have to ask Tinkermell about additional stops & tips since she seems to recommend the same type of things that i enjoy .


A couple of other stops (that we enjoyed for food & for kiddo) was (Jocko's) in Nipomo (portuguese bbq sandwiches) & that Danish touristy town. To get some pastries and a cup of coffee.


The reason i mention all this is that the drive on the PCH from Monterey to Santa Barbara is filled with a neat "stops" virtually every 20 - 40 miles, & is a perfect 2 day drive on a beautiful coast road.


In regards to Santa Barbara...I am of the Yogi Berra school of thought: "Nobody goes there anymore...because it's too crowded".

If your children love animals, take them to the zoo. Probably one of the best in the world. Also Sea World. Legoland would be fun for your DD's ages.

San Diego is definitely worth a visit for the World Famous Zoo, Old Town (& if you've never been) Sea World. (But..my family's opinion of Legoland was that it is "Lamoland". )

And yes...Peter Pan, make a honest woman out of Wendy, while you are there!!!! :bride

Poor guy... he asks for travel advice & all the women here are working him like the ladies in Fiddler on the Roof.


Have a great time and try to commit Hydroguy's FP rules (& other rules) to memory (then you won't have to pack so much paperwork).