DL, Tours around town/taking shuttle service?

[yecats]

Hi to all,

I am thinking about gong to DL this year (it will have been 17 years since my last trip there - I was a teenager then and didn't plan the last trip) around the Nov. time (not Thanksgiving week). As such I am thinking about staying at the Hojoanaheim as it seems to be the closest offsite hotel near DL. This will probably be a solo trip with at least 3 days to spend at DL/DCA. Then there will be another 4 days that I also plan to stay and would like to revisit KBF, possibly Universal and at least take a tour of downtown LA. I don't intend on renting a vehicle (don't care to spend any amount of time trying to figure out freeway system around LA) so am looking for advice on how others got around town, ie. bus/shuttle services and cost for same and if service was good.

I've seen one service that picksup from DLH (round trip fees to KBF and Universal seemed resonable) but I would think that there are services that would pick up directly from Hojo for touring or dropping off.

Any advice is welcomed and certainly appreciated. Are there any tours that you would recommend and provide cost as well. Thank you for your responses.

 

[missmulan]

L.A. TOURS & SIGHTSEEING
P. O. Box 3599
Los Angeles, CA 90078
Toll Free: 800-881-7715
Website: www.latours.net
A fleet of new vehicles including vans, mini-busses and coaches with experienced tour operators.
Credit Cards Accepted: AMEX DC DISC MC VISA

OR

LOS ANGELES SIGHTSEEING TOURS AND CHARTERS
1434 Second St.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Toll Free: 800-870-1886
Website: www.lasightseeing.net
Ground transportation for groups of all sizes. Our comfortable, air-conditioned, late-model fleet of 25-passenger mini-buses and 57-passenger motor-coaches can readily accommodate individuals, business meetings, conventions, or private groups.
Credit Cards Accepted: AMEX MC VISA

 

[yecats]

Thank you MM for providing great links for info. It really provided a lot of the info I was looking for. However, I still have questions regarding how others have toured (using these services) thoughts on local hotels, best combo tickets, etc. I am also wondering if after 3 or 4 nights staying in hotels right outside of Disney if it would be best to then move to a hotel in LA/Hollywood for the rest of my trip (that way no communting the 30 miles each way every day. If so, how safe is the LA to walk around (not renting a vehicle) and a nice hotel to stay at (I've pricelined before and could probably afford to stay at a 4* or resort in the area). Now please don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be walking the streets after 10 or so, but I am known to go walking a few blocks to a nice restaurant or shopping area. Or would you suggest that I just stay at the original hotel around Disney and bus from their everyday. Lastly, anyone stay on the Queen Mary? I would love to take a tour of her, submarine and the aquarium with possibility of sleeping one night on QM (unless I get freaked out that the ship may be haunted). Any suggestions, help, tips. Thank you.

 

[missmulan]

i wouldn't suggest walking around los angeles after dark unless you are in a touristy area like well lit hollywood & highland complex, universal citywalk, etc.. downtown los angeles gets pretty quiet & empty fast after 6:00 pm.

as for the queen mary, i'm a fraidy cat and i've watched the program on the queen mary being haunted so i won't go & stay overnight there. i did eat lunch there once...only because i had no choice, the boss wanted to but it was beautiful.

i know this doesn't answer your question but once i read your post, i had to put in my 2 cents about walking in LA...