End of August vs. first week November 2020 AND plan help please!

[ErinsMommy]

What is the general touring weather like around these dates? The preferable date is end of August-September because our daughter hasn't gone back to school yet. November will be tougher due to her school schedule but we can make it work.

Also I'm really struggling with planning this trip as I've never been to California before and know so little about what's there and fun to do (will have a couple of 13 year olds and a 17 year old in tow) but this is my thought:

Day 1: Arrive mid-afternoon on Saturday - check into hotel (looking at Fairfield Inn Anaheim but the kids want a FUN pool, so not sure on this hotel), relax for rest of day. Looking for something fun to do at night.

Day 2: Disneyland Day #1 (full day)

Day 3: Disneyland Day #2 (full day)

Day 4: Pool day and relax. Looking for something fun to do at night though.

Day 5: Uber to/from Universal (consensus on the board seems to be its a one day park or should we add a day #2?)

Day 6: Disneyland Day #3 (full day) - or is this too many days in Disneyland?

Day 7: Some kind of sight seeing tour of Hollywood area/piers/hollywood sign - any recommendations?

Day 8: California Adventure or Knotts Berry/Soak City - which would be better for teens?

Day 9: Catch mid-morning flight back home.

Thanks for any advice/input!

 

[Pamela M]

If you have teens I would get park hoppers (it's VERY easy to park hop) and if you can only do 3 days at DL/ DCA I would do that. For teens 3 days between the 2 parks is the way to go. DCA has the more intense rides.

 

[mouschievous]

It is very easy to hop from one park to the other. I don't think you should miss DCA, but I also don't think it's necessarily a full day park. It's more like 2 morning and an evening for me! I would get hoppers and max pass. That way you can pull fast passes for rides in either park and go back and forth depending on interest and crowds. If you did that, I would do something like this

Day 1: Arrive mid-afternoon on Saturday - check into hotel (looking at Fairfield Inn Anaheim but the kids want a FUN pool, so not sure on this hotel), relax for rest of day. Looking for something fun to do at night.

Day 2: Disney Day #1 (full day)

Day 3: Disney Day #2 (full day)

Day 4: Pool day and relax. Looking for something fun to do at night.

Day 5: Uber to/from Universal (consensus on the board seems to be its a one day park?)

Day 6: Knott's Berry Farm

Day 7: Any good suggestions? Want to stay within Uber distance of resort in Anaheim.

Day 8: Disney Day #3 (full day)

Day 9: Catch mid-morning flight back home.

I might also change things around depending on what shows are available on which days.

Also, I think I heard that there is a tour bus thing that goes from Anaheim to Universal and back, and yes, it's definitely a one day park.

 

[Paigesmom2013]

On your free day 7, what about going to the beach? You can Uber there.

 

[Pamela M]

For you pool/ rest day - maybe do the Void experience that day. I've heard good things about it but never done it.

 

[ErinsMommy]

On your free day 7, what about going to the beach? You can Uber there.

Kids are not really beach kids - more active and want to do things.

 

[ErinsMommy]

For you pool/ rest day - maybe do the Void experience that day. I've heard good things about it but never done it.

I’ll check it out thanks!

 

[Aurora0427]

Kids are not really beach kids - more active and want to do things.

Some of the beaches have paddle board rentals etc, our beaches are pretty amazing here. Great for boogie boarding and maybe a surfing lesson. Lots to explore in Newport Beach. The Void is also a great suggestion.

Weather in August will be hot. It will cool off at night, but it won’t be cold. We were at Disneyland over Labor Day weekend this year and temps hit 96 on Labor Day. It was freaking hot. That being said, if we get a Santa Ana wind event in November, it could be very warm, although it will cool off at night. We were there November 16thish this year, and it was close to 90 during the day, but I needed a jacket at night, which was nice. I preferred it to August weather wise.

 

[Absinthe]

Another item of note is that Star Wars Celebration is in Anaheim this year, August 27-30th.

This could mean much higher crowds around that time.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Some of the beaches have paddle board rentals etc, our beaches are pretty amazing here. Great for boogie boarding and maybe a surfing lesson. Lots to explore in Newport Beach. The Void is also a great suggestion.

Weather in August will be hot. It will cool off at night, but it won’t be cold. We were at Disneyland over Labor Day weekend this year and temps hit 96 on Labor Day. It was freaking hot. That being said, if we get a Santa Ana wind event in November, it could be very warm, although it will cool off at night. We were there November 16thish this year, and it was close to 90 during the day, but I needed a jacket at night, which was nice. I preferred it to August weather wise.

Thank you super helpful! How is the California heat vs Florida heat? I don’t mind the heat but the humidity is what kills me

 

[Aurora0427]

Thank you super helpful! How is the California heat vs Florida heat? I don’t mind the heat but the humidity is what kills me

It’s way better. You don’t have to change clothes three times. We are native Houstonians.... humid city. After a full day at Disneyland in August, we are definitely tired, but it’s not as bad as Florida. You get a break at night and the mornings are nice, whereas in Florida it’s awful 24/7 until December.

I just read that Star Wars Celebration is going to be in Anaheim starting 8/27. That’s going to increase crowds and hotel rates.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

For DLR at the end of August, be aware that HM will probably be down for the installation of the Halloween overlay (this is a long refurb), Space Mt. goes down sometime after Labor Day if the Halloween overlay is being installed (this is a short refurb), the lower AP blockout lift starts at the end of August -- this has a BIG impact on crowd patterns, not everyone is back in school by the end of August (DLR is affected by a very large number of districts in several states and by the local universities), and the parks usually go to the low season/non-peak schedule by the end of the third week of August (which means shorter hours, less staffing, more refurbs, less entertainment, nighttime entertainment on weekends only, etc.). Keep these things in mind when planning your dates. With your November dates, HM will be up and running in all its NBC glory (so fun!), but IASW will probably be down for the installation of its holiday overlay. There may be a few parts of the park blocked off for the holiday parade taping -- but maybe not -- it all depends on when the taping happens.
For a hotel with a "fun pool" for teens, if you are looking at Marriott properties near the parks, look at the Residence Inn Convention Center, the Springhill Suites Convention Center (I've heard that they let you use the RI pool next door), the Courtyard, and the Sheraton Park (older, but has a nice pool area with a snack bar).