Disneyland California will I ever get there?

[Button]

So we've done The World a bunch of times and am now seeing it through my sons eyes which is a blast. But I really want to try California and with Cars Land looking amazing I'm wondering how feasible a trip would be. I've literally no clue where to begin. We would need to fly from London but to where and how long is flight? Anyone know roughly how much a flight would be. We normally go to Florida in March for 2 weeks minimum but last couple of trips we added extra days. We stay in timeshare so we could see if any resorts we could exchange with through RCI. Not set on March, anytime reasonable weather is good with me.

Our son turns 3 in January. Maybe he's a little young although I know he would go mad for Cars Land.

Oh I'm probably just living in cloud cuckoo land

 

[consumermonkey]

I was VERY lucky to be there on 2003. Wanted to return ever since.

LAX direct from Heathrow is the flight, numerous carriers. Flight time is 10 1/2 to 11 hours, so maybe a bit much for a small child, but if you have managed the orlando flight, only a few hours more

There is no DME as such, but there is a chargeable shuttle from LAX to the Disneyland area.

I have been keeping an eye on prices and locations on exedia and as always reccomend the "Unofficial Guide" books as they do one for Disneyland too.

With "just" two parks and much less land to cover you dont need to spend two weeks there, but you are in California. San Diego is not too far away and of course you are even closer the the REAL Hollywood. I stayed a few nights in Hollywood too and that was a dream come true for me. The real Universal Studios, Hollywood sign, Mann's Chinese Theatre etc etc.

When you get there, have a wonderful time.

 

[consumermonkey]

Just re-read your OP. I visited in the week before xmas and weather was nice enough for me. Even got a bit too much sun a few days too.

As the suggestions all go, Plan, Plan, Plan some more and when you think you have planed enough, plan a bit more again.

Prices were a bit more, but that is down to the flights IMHO. I found a 10 day trip would cost roughly what I would be looking to spend for 2 weeks in WDW.

 

[wayneg]

We have been a couple of times, once from Heathrow direct other time from Manchester indirect, for us the indirect is for easier option but living near London direct will be better.
Just had a look for random dates direct were showing at £611pp direct, a few year we went (paid about £450) so thats probably about the going rate.

Do you drive over in the States? when visiting WDW you can get by without a car, Disneyland is more difficult, yes you can get from the airport to Anaheim(Disneyland area) but there are only 2 parks there, Los Angeles sights (and Universal) are a hour drive away(3 hours in bad traffic) San Diego & Seaworld 2 hours away.

Disneyland hotels are very expensive compared to WDW, we stayed just outside, you can walk to Disneyland from many hotels its not like WDW miles from offsite. We stayed at the HoJo, 10 min walk cost us £35/night, no doubt gone up now.
Need to goto work, ask if there is anything else you need to know.

 

[scottishgirl1]

We went in October 2008 and at that time Aer Lingus flew direct from Dublin (we were on their last direct flight on that route on our way home).

Our youngest just turned six at the time and we stayed 6 nights at Anaheim and 8 nights in San Diego.

We stayed in the Camelot just across the road from Disneyland and really enjoyed walking in and out of the parks. We picked this hotel as the family room suited us with 3 kids and it was basic but would use again if we return.
We did have a car but the only other place we visited was Universal in LA.

We found San Diego fab with the kids and would love to go again but not sure if they would enjoy the attractions so much 2nd time around.

We visited Legoland, the Zoo, the Wild Animal Park and the Midway and a couple of the small museums which I think were in Balboa Park.

We were there second half of October and weather was beautiful. We spent some time on beach near the Del in San Diego and it was lovely and quiet that time of year.

Hope this helps

 

[A Small World]

Weve done 2 trips there recently - Oct 2010 and Dec 2011. We got APs in December so Im hoping for another trip back before they run out.

We flew direct from Heathrow to LAX (Los Angeles) and then got the shuttle to the hotel.
First yr we stayed at Hojos offsite. As Wayne said its about 10/15 walk - they offer discount to Dis members
2nd time we stayed onsite at Grand Californian - it was a surprise for me. I thought we were at Hojos again

There are only 3 Disney hotels which all tend to be on the more pricy side but there are loads of offsite hotels within walking distance - a lot of them closer than the onsite ones

We didnt have a car while we were there. We used Grayline to do non disney days to SeaWorld San Diego and Knotts

http://www.graylineanaheim.com/

There may be only 2 parks but there are more rides and attractions in those 2 than in WDWs 4 and they are only minutes from each other. You dont need a car and no buses etc back to hotels at the end of a long day.

 

[catherine]

We've been to DL CA more times than I can count but we always fly into San Francisco and then drive down as we spend lots of our time in N. CA (DH is a native Californian and grew up in San Jose so all his friends are there). I have never been and had bad weather! It gets really hot during the summer months. We once went at Christmas and the weather was beautiful. Don't know whether you like Nightmare Before Christmas, but if you're a fan Going around the Halloween/Christmas period is great as they theme the Haunted mansion to NBC Jack is the Host Ghost! I don't think that 3 is too young to go we started taking our DDs when they were 6 months! In fact we have a great photo of our oldest DD (who was 18 months at the time) stood looking up at Goofy as he looked down at her! DL is way different to WDW but if you go I'm sure that you'll have an awesome time!!

 

[mollies_mum]

We really want to go to Anaheim Disneyland as well, probably 2014/2015. HoJos seems to be a popular offsite hotel, I've had a look and they have a great kids suite for a decent price. The California Disneyland part of the disboards has loads of info for newbies like us

 

[Button]

Thanks all direct from Heathrow would be perfect as live in Reading so just down the road. I'm gonna do some research and start dreaming. I'd love to explore San Francisco oh it's lucky us Disers love to plan.

My little one has been to WDW 3 times already (11 months, 17 months and 26 months) so I know we can survive the flight.

Yes we always get car so getting about would be covered.

Here's a thought I could do 1 week Orlando and 1 week California. Imagine the planning Yeah I know sounds exhausting don't worry I'd never get that one through he who pays.

Going to check my lotto numbers

 

[dixonsontour]

We've done california once before we had DD.

If you are going i'd be tempted to combine disney with other california sights and save orlando for another trip.

San diego is lovely and has the zoo, seaworld and legoland.

or maybe head north and do Yosemite (just don't do what i did eand book to stay in a tent cabin in the deep snow - we went end of March - have never lived that down!)

 

[catherine]

or maybe head north and do Yosemite (just don't do what i did eand book to stay in a tent cabin in the deep snow - we went end of March - have never lived that down!)

Love Yosemite but in a tent cabin in March

 

[torsie24]

There's loads to do in Southern CA and area.

You probably only need 3/4 days at DLR but you can spend loads of time visiting other parts.

We're desperate to go to DLR. I went back in 2005 but World of Color and now Carsland means I keep checking for last minute flight deals. Wish we hadn't gone to DLRP and had the £800 that it cost towards DLR.

Oh well, you live and learn. Will just have to get saving again!

We might sneak a few

 

[TheFram4]

Hi,

We have done the west coast and DL twice each time we have got the train up to San Francisco a city I LOVE
The Coast Starlight runs from union station LA up to SF once a day departing around 10.30 am and arriving 'around' 10pm, first class sleeper cabins can be booked quite cheaply and include 2 good quality full service table meals. Anaheim station is a short taxi ride from DL and connects to union station, at the SF end a coach takes you over the bay bridge from Portland station into the city and the driver on each occasion has been very accommodating dropping off at hotels.
I would highly recommend this train journey the views are superb and it is an extremely relaxing way to travel

 

[tinkerpea]

We did Disney calafornia in 2009 just Dh and myself since we had all our family with us on our honeymoon with the wedding being at Disney we even did Egypt the month after and still took the kids

We LOVED our holiday and will definatly take the kids back Bugs life section is AMAZING!
we flew from Heathrow to LAX it took around 11 hours i think and was £740 for the 2 of us it was a great flight with British airways we stayed around 8 miles away from Disney and would definatly stay right at the Disney area next time!They have a whole strip of hotels and restaurants.
You would not need more then a few days we did 5 and that was plenty! we then headed to Universal Hollywood and although we didnt enjoy that park as much as the Orlando one " its much smaller and not many rides bk stage area ride is Fab as its still a working set!the City walk area made for a brilliant relaxing trip we stayed at the Hilton Universal and it was insane staying on 14th floor and seeing the sights of the hills Id stay again in a heartbeat plus our room overlooked City walk and Universal, We also got Live taping tickets from Universal as they offer a number of shows at the entrance we went to a few of them they are off site and it was a really great experience plus it was free!
If we did it again I would drive and do the beach seaworld Disney then hollywood!!

They did have rides at Disney that made me want to go again like the Nemo underwater ride! I kept saying to Dh wish the boys was here

 

[Disneymad]

Hi,

We have done the west coast and DL twice each time we have got the train up to San Francisco a city I LOVE
The Coast Starlight runs from union station LA up to SF once a day departing around 10.30 am and arriving 'around' 10pm, first class sleeper cabins can be booked quite cheaply and include 2 good quality full service table meals. Anaheim station is a short taxi ride from DL and connects to union station, at the SF end a coach takes you over the bay bridge from Portland station into the city and the driver on each occasion has been very accommodating dropping off at hotels.
I would highly recommend this train journey the views are superb and it is an extremely relaxing way to travel

I've toyed with taking that train route before (that and the California Zypher from Chicago -> SF), you make it sound amazing, don't suppose you have any pictures do you?

OT. I've been to DL twice, it's a different atmosphere to Orlando but well worth a visit and I'm tentatively looking to go back myself in 2014. If you drive (or are perhaps willing to take the train as mentioned above!) then I heartily recommend going to SF (fantastic city and very pedestrian friendly) and driving down to LA (if Highway 1 via Big Sur etc then I'd definitely overnight somewhere along the way, but think it took us about 9 hours to go via the Interstate). We did 1 week split stay at each place. Flew in to SF, home from LA.

I have some of the best memories when I did that trip!

 

[WiganTony]

We are planning a West Coast holiday next year, and looking to visit San Francisco (4 nights), drive down the Pacific Coast Highway via Pismo beach (4 nights) to LA/Anaheim including Disney/Universal (5 nights) and San Diego (Seaworld - 3 nights).

With regard to flights, this is easy to check/book using the multi city options on most airline booking sites - just use LON-SFO for the outbound, returning LAX or SAN (San Diego)-LON. Flights are around the 10-1/2 hour mark (direct).

I found loads of useful info on the Disneyland board for both the parks and California in general - worth having a look at some of the threads.

 

[TheFram4]

I've toyed with taking that train route before (that and the California Zypher from Chicago -> SF), you make it sound amazing, don't suppose you have any pictures do you?

ok here goes for trying to post photos from the Coast Starlight train which we took from LA to SF I am quite technically adept but have never tried this before!

This was our room on the train, actually two rooms with a partition open between the two. Each room had a bench seat with a fold down bed above (DS 15) and a single seat facing (DH) also a shower/toilet and a small sink. Amtrak site shows layout and connecting rooms need to be booked via phone (easy process)

The next photo shows the 'first class' parlour car with comfy seats at the front and dining tables and bar toward the back:

View from train as it follows the California coast in the first part of the journey:

Me scoffing:

Photo at San Louis Obispo station where train makes a long stop:

As you can see the train is a double decker and our rooms were on the top deck with great views.

 

[Disneymad]

Thank you so much!!

I was planning to drive down but letting the train take the strain just seems so appealing right now

 

[Disbabe]

We did Disneyland CA last year for the first time and was worried how I'd feel not going to WDW instead. We thoroughly enjoyed it and are determined to go back again at some point.
Been down in the dumps as no disney this year due to new kitchen and bathroom, but as I just booked next year to WDW - mood has definately improved (back to planning! YAY!!).

We did 8 days Anaheim, staying at HOJO - fantastic Hotel and 6 days in westwood at a Best Western taking in the best of hollywood. We had a fabulous holiday and would definately recommend it and one we will repeat!