Disneyland Vacation add on - San Diego, Laguna, Los Angeles?

[Courtney Disney 2019]

We are planning our 2022 Disneyland trip for the end of August. We would like to add 3 non Disneyland days. Any suggestions?

 

[Dr. G]

I'm not as familiar with the area as the locals, but we love San Diego. The zoo there is top-quality and very worth visiting. The park area it is in is very pretty. We love Coronado Island there: north beach and Coronado beach. We also really enjoy Sea World.

Newport Beach is fun. Haven't been to Laguna in a long time but loved it back then. We aren't city people or Hollywood types so haven't ever gone up into LA.

 

[ktlm]

Really depends on what you want to do. Want a more relaxed area and some beach time after keeping a fast pace at DLR, head south to the San Diego area. We love that area. There are a bunch of great beaches up and down the coast between DLR and San Diego, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park are great, and there are just a lot of things to do in that area, or you can just sit on the beach and do nothing. There are places where you can order pizza and have it delivered to you on the beach itself- we have done that many times.

If you are really into the Hollywood stuff and don't mind the traffic and hustle and bustle continuing after DLR, you can go north and go do things like Universal, the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, Griffin Observatory, Hollywood etc.

For us, going south towards San Diego is a most of the time thing, and going north is an every few years thing.

 

[Steven G]

Another recommendation for San Diego. Besides the stuff already mentioned, going to La Jolla and the beaches there is highly recommended, as well as the gaslight quarter in downtown.

 

[felice]

Another recommendation here for San Diego - the USS Midway Museum, which is based on the retired aircraft carrier of the same name that is in the harbor at San Diego - prices are not too high and it is definitely value for money, with the aircraft and other historic items on board. Some of the older retired soldiers who served on the ship when she was at sea also give talks about their work.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

I will pile on and recommend San Diego. There is a lot to do to fill your 3 days depending on what your interests are. Great beaches in Carlsbad, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and Coronado. It also has Legoland, the World Famous San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, SeaWorld, and Sesame Place (opening in March 2022).

 

[abnihon]

I haven’t done it yet but we’re planning a trip where we fly to Vegas, drive to Palm Springs, spend a few days there and then do DL and fly home from there.
I also want to do a San Diego/DL combo someday exploring more of the coast.

 

[magsnwonderland]

We’re doing the SD/Disneyland combo when we (DS-7 and I) go in April. The San Diego vibe and attractions were enough for him to be pumped about the trip before I surprised him with the Disney part.

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

There’s also tons of stuff to do in LA, but it really depends on your interests. La Brea Tar Pits, Peterson Auto Museum, Getty Museum, a studio lot tour (Universal, or Warner), fantastic restaurants, shopping on Rodeo Drive. It really depends on what you’re looking for post Disney.

 

[Kit Jackson]

There's tons of fun stuff in LA and San Diego. Since someone mentioned the USS Midway, it reminded me of the Maritime Museum, which is old tall ships. I did both on the same day it was facinating to compare them.

Some questions to help you think: What are you interested in? What are you looking for? What kind of post-Disney trip do you want? Are you interested in museums or the beach? Do you want to do Hollywood/movie themed stuff, or do you want a break from pop-culture centric stuff after Disney?

I've been to LA and San Diego and both cities were fantastic. I would go back to each city to do things I missed on previous trips as well do new things that weren't there on my last trip.

 

[IslaLila]

We usually do a mixed stay of Laguna Beach and Disney. We absolutely love Laguna. We live in a landlocked state so we really value spending some time on the coast. We also love Newport Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente, Oceanside, and San Diego.

 

[oakleycat]

Of those three San Diego for sure. I love Laguna too if you just want to sit by the beach and relax, but for a variety of activities, great restaurants and the beautiful beaches San Diego is the best in Southern California (especially if you've never been and/or have kids with you). Plus far cleaner/safer/more relaxing than LA right now.

 

[sjmac42]

We are planning our 2022 Disneyland trip for the end of August. We would like to add 3 non Disneyland days. Any suggestions?

It depends when these 3 days are. Are you planning something before/after Disneyland or are you planning a park day, a day trip, another park day, another day trip etc?
If these 3 days are day trips while you’re staying in Anaheim, then I’d suggest Newport Beach,
Laguna Beach or even LA as a day trip. If these days are before or after your park days, then moving hotels to LA or San Diego would be my suggestion, probably San Diego for the kids if you can fly home from there. If you’re in and out of LAX or SNA, then I’d suggest LA.