DL/LA/San Diego without a car!

[abnihon]

I want to take my son alone to DL and possibly see some of LA and San Diego but am terrified of driving in CA! Lol.
Is this possible?
Is there a Disney airport transfer to DL? (Like Magical Express?)
Is there a private tour company that would pick us up at our hotel and take us to La Brea Tar pits, Natural History Museum etc?
Is there a way to get between San Diego and DL without a car and could we get around San Diego to go to zoo, museums etc easily?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Which airport would you be using (LAX, SNA, LGB, etc.)? There is the Disneyland Express bus (not owned by Disney), Uber/Lyft -- if you don't need carseats or boosters, Lansky's Car Service -- very good reviews on this board & includes a short grocery stop on the way to your hotel (will provide car seats and boosters), taxi, Super Shuttle, etc. You can look online to compare prices for these options. This thread has good information: Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information ~ 3TinksAndAnEeyore.
For SD -- there is Amtrak. The train station isn't far from DLR, so you could use Uber/Lyft to get there (as long as you don't need car seats or boosters). Car service is another (expensive) option. Once you get there, use Uber/Lyft to get around.
For L.A. - there is public transportation (station in Fullerton -- again, not too far from DLR). Uber/Lyft are options, too. Many posters here use Uber/Lyft for sightseeing. If you get to a major tourist site, e.g. Hollywood & Highland, you can catch a tour bus that will take you to several sites, e.g the Hop On, Hop Off bus.
If a booster seat is needed, look into travel boosters like Mifold or Bubblebum. They get good reviews here.
There are tour companies that service the DLR area hotels, but you will be restricted by the tour schedule. It is easier to use Uber/Lyft or to rent a car (which I know you said you don't want to do).
This trip could get very expensive doing things this way. The cheapest way to do all this really is to rent a car.
ETA: I see from your signature that your son is 5, right? Then check to see if he will need a booster according to CA law.

 

[abnihon]

Not sure yet which airport.
Have to look into prices.
Would I need a car seat for the Disneyland Express bus?
I have a foldable one so could bring it.

Maybe we could do this tour for the SD Zoo.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...ransport_from_Anaheim-Anaheim_California.html

Maybe would skip the stuff in LA and do another time..

This trip would possibly be this summer.
Obviously want to see Star Wars.
And Fantasmic and World of Color should be running right?
Is Main St Electrical parade totally gone now?
Thinking of staying at HOJO because have seen it recommend and splash pad looks fun.

Would probably only have 6 days which isn’t long when you practically lose 2 days for travel from East Coast...
So maybe 3.5 days at Disneyland and 1 day for the zoo.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Not sure yet which airport.
Have to look into prices.
Would I need a car seat for the Disneyland Express bus?
I have a foldable one so could bring it.

Maybe we could do this tour for the SD Zoo.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...ransport_from_Anaheim-Anaheim_California.html

Maybe would skip the stuff in LA and do another time..

This trip would possibly be this summer.
Obviously want to see Star Wars.
And Fantasmic and World of Color should be running right?
Is Main St Electrical parade totally gone now?
Thinking of staying at HOJO because have seen it recommend and splash pad looks fun.

Would probably only have 6 days which isn’t long when you practically lose 2 days for travel from East Coast...
So maybe 3.5 days at Disneyland and 1 day for the zoo.

No car seat or booster needed for the Disneyland Express bus, but I would bring the folding booster if you want to use Uber or Lyft. If you want to visit this summer, start planning now. Hotels in the DLR area are already booking up. The HOJO gets very good reviews here and there is a DIS discount, too! The MSEP is gone now. We are hoping that PTN (the super electrical parade that debuted for DL's 60th) will be back this summer -- no official word on that yet. F! should be running. No official word on a return date for WOC -- we're hoping for May (fingers crossed). Keep reading this forum for updates and accurate news. With SWGE opening and all the crowds expected this summer, you're going to need to be on top of things. Can you do 4 days (2 days for each park), 1 day for the zoo, and 1 day for the pool and resting?

 

[abnihon]

Thanks for the info!
How does the HOJO Dis discount work?
It’s walking distance to the parks right?

Won’t know exactly when we can go until my summer visitation schedule is set with my ex husband in April.

But I guess I can book a room at the HOJO for a couple different weeks and cancel what I don’t use.

Anything else I’d need to book far ahead?
Dining?

Because of joint custody we’d leave on a Saturday morning and come back on Thursday night or Friday morning.

What are the latest rumors of SWGE opening date?

 

[ashley0139]

Why are you terrified of driving in CA? I promise it's just like driving anywhere else. With all the things you want to do it would be much easier to rent a car. San Diego, LA, and DL are all pretty far apart from each other.

 

[ktlm]

The drive between Disneyland and San Diego is not bad at all. It is Interstate, and not different than driving on the interstate anywhere else. We have never tried it during absolute prime rush hour, but outside of that, the traffic doesn't seem different than anywhere else to us.

The San Diego Zoo is great, but we prefer the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. It is outside of San Diego in Escondido. The zoo and the wildlife park are about 30 miles apart.

 

[Geemo]

I want to take my son alone to DL and possibly see some of LA and San Diego but am terrified of driving in CA! Lol.
Is this possible?
Is there a Disney airport transfer to DL? (Like Magical Express?)
Is there a private tour company that would pick us up at our hotel and take us to La Brea Tar pits, Natural History Museum etc?
Is there a way to get between San Diego and DL without a car and could we get around San Diego to go to zoo, museums etc easily?

In the earlier years my husband and I would drive with the kids and then the grandkids for a DLR trip.
But he doesn't like the 20hr drive from Oregon and won't fly. Besides he isn't a Disney fan.
For about the past 15 years I've been flying down with the grandkids. My trips can be with one or four grandkids.

A rental car would give you so much flexibility.
You will be able to move at your own pace and not at the schedule of the driving service.

I do not like to drive period.... and I found driving in the LA area is a breeze.
Compared to driving in my home area Metro-Portland, Oregon - The driver's in California are far more friendly in lane changes and so on... They must be use to tourists in rental cars on the roads.

Using navigation and/or map quest, you will know how to make your way around.
For trips when I'll rent a car, I always print out and study the maps at home a few days before we go.
This helps me to know the routes we'll be taking.

There is so much to see and do in SoCal, a rental will really open the doors to explore.

However, if it isn't an option for you there are so many options to choose from. Try to choose ones that give you flexibility of when you come and go. The set transportation options can be very limiting.

Good luck

Geemo


edit..

I found it hard to find our rental car once in the parking lot of Universal Hollywood.
They all look so much alike and there are so many levels to the parking lots...

Now when I rent a car I always do the following things.
I take a picture of the car's license plate so I'll know which one is ours.
When I park at a busy location I take a picture of the parking location.

I also do this when I park my car at PDX airport.
That way when I get home I know where I left my car.