DL/San Diego Experts..how does this sound?

KyMattDisney

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Joined
Sep 4, 2001
Messages
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Hi all..this will be our first vacation to California..specifically SD & DL....how does this tentative plan sound? Family of four...2 boys, ages 5 & 10

Leave from Newark..fly into Orange County airport on Friday June 24
Stay in San Diego (not sure where yet) from Friday-Monday...to do Sea World (including breakfast with shamu), Zoo, Trolley Tour...Padres game.

Monday June 27-Sat. July 2nd-drive to Anaheim..stay at DL hotel using DVC points and cash..get either 4 or 5 day hopper....might also do Lego land or other local sites....

Sat. July 2nd-fly home

Thanks!!!!
 
Sounds like fun. My only suggestion is to do Legoland on the day you are travelling from San Diego to Anaheim. Carlsbad is the half way point between the two and would cut out driving time.

If you need San Diego hotel ideas send me a pm and I will help you find the perfect spot to stay with your family.
 
Sounds like a pretty good plan too. My only question for you is what time are you arriving in Orange County? Traffic down to San Diego could be miserable depending on your time of arrival. Not meaning to scare you but, just so you're mentally prepared.
 
Sounds good to me! Just one word of warning. The weather in San Diego even sometimes in to late June can be what we call "June Gloom". What I mean is warm, but overcast for a good part of the day. You probably won't have any problems with the weather, as it usually clears up by my birthday (June 28), but the condition can last until the 4th of July

I don't say this to put a damper on your plans, just so you realisticly know what to expect. Have a backup plan for any beach days you might be planning. The museums in Balboa Park are fun. I think the kids would enjoy the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center and the Natural History Museum. Enjoy my hometown!

Melissa
 

Hey,

We are going to DL/SD for the first time April 15 - 23. We are staying at the DLH and plan to drive down one day to SW in SD. Can anyone please let me know in general what times and days is traffic the worst from Anaheim to and from San Diego? We haven't decided which day to go yet...

Thanks for your help
 
Well, since traffic is bad most of the time. I'd say your best bet is to try and travel any weekday except Fri. between 11 AM and 3 PM. Be sure to check treaffic reports on the radio and if you have computer access check sigalert.com before you go. Do not, do not, do not travel down to San Diego on a Sat. The traffic onthe 5 stops around Oceanside and remains a nightmare for about 10 mi. Hope this helps!

Melissa
 
I was planning to drive from SD to Anaheim on a Sunday night. Is there any problem with that plan?
 
Thanks for the suggestions. That is a cool website. We also plan to go to Universal one day so that will come in handy. Thanks again.
 
was planning to drive from SD to Anaheim on a Sunday night. Is there any problem with that plan?


Probably not. Good luck!

Melissa
 
My family is doing the same vacation in Oct. We are flying into LAX Friday night. We will stay by the airport Fri night and drive to Legoland Sat morning. We will then go to SD for 3 days, zoo, sea world, etc. We have an open day (Wed) to drive to DL. This way we can site see and have time to get to DL. We will be at DL for 4 days and fly out Mon morning. We will be there Oct 14 - 24.

What is the weather like in Oct?

Any suggestion where to stay in SD near zoo? We are on a budget but don't want to stay at a dive.
 
What we did this summer was fly into San Diego. We're in Chicago, so you can get great direct rates on Southwest there. We stayed one night at the Good Night motel in SD - it was cheap and it showed! The room was fine, but the area (right next to a strip club) not so much.

Still, I really like flying into SD. The airport is big, but not too busy. One of the few I've been to post 9/11 where they can still take your baggage to be scanned for you (obviously had enough room for the bigger scanners in back instead of out front, as many airports are now doing).

The drive is great - just straight up I-5. Sea World is by the airport, the wonderful (but very hilly) San Diego Zoo is nearby, and Legoland is halfway up the coast to DL. We didn't encounter much traffic at all. Congested around a couple of the cities, but mostly wide open.

I'd pick a decent (read not the cheapest on Expedia!) place in SD, do a day or two there (a drive to Coronado to see the Hotel Del Coronado is well worth it - we spent our last day walking their beach before going to the airport). Do Sea World, maybe the zoo. Drive to DL. Do as many days there as you feel (although because it's much smaller, you don't need the amount of time you would at WDW - even when it's crowded, we've seen most everything in 2-3 days). One the way back, spend time at Legoland (or vice versa).
 
Is any familiar with Paradise Point Resort in Mission Bay? It looks like a nice hotel on the website with cute little bungalows on the bay! Any suggestions?
 












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