First Trip- Disneyland at the beginning or end of trip?

[drea21]

So if anyone is bored and wants to give some input on my trip I would appreciate it! We are cancelling a February DCL Fantasy cruise and doing DL/SoCal instead, and it's our first time.

We want to do Disneyland, Legoland, and maybe just relax at the beach for a day or two (we know it's going to be cold, but just to experience the beach, as it's our first trip to California at all)

We fly into LAX and land at 4:15pm on a Saturday, we fly out of LAX at 11am the following Sunday, so 8 nights.

I planned on renting a car and going straight to Disney, staying 4 nights (first of which is kind of a bust after arriving later in the day), driving to Legoland and staying for 2, then to a beach convenient to LAX (Santa Monica?) for the last 2 nights. Essentially being busy at the beginning and relaxing at the end.

Now I'm reading that a lot of the entertainment at the parks is only on the weekends, so with that plan we would really only be in the parks on Sunday of a weekend. Throwing another wrench in the issue is it looks like Legoland is closed Tues/Wed in the off season, making our first day at Legoland with that plan just being in the hotel, not the park, with one full day for the park.

That leaves us with going straight to Legoland, two nights there, two nights at a beach (now proximity to LAX isn't an issue) then the last 4 nights being at Disney, allowing us to be there a Friday and Saturday night. We would then be leaving straight from Disney to fly home out of LAX.

So I guess my question is (sorry, I know this has to be hard to follow!), is it worth being less convenient to LAX the day we leave to be in DL over a weekend? Will we even be missing nighttime entertainment by just going during the week, it seems like everything is being cancelled or closed anyhow? Would lower weekday crowds be better than weekend entertainment? Ugh! Thanks to anyone who made it this far!

FYI- Kids will be 3 (turning 4 on trip) and 6, they are both very flexible as far as sleep/schedule etc.

 

[Winnowill]

From everything I've heard (I haven't been there, myself), Legoland is something of a letdown after Disney, so I would go there first and hit Disney last, especially given the weekend entertainments at Disney.

 

[ADisneyFamilyof5]

My kids are never that into nighttime entertainment, so we would choose lower weekday crowds over weekend schedule hands down. We are rope drop people, so we rather be there first thing in the morning and don't always stay until close. It's just up to the kids.

I would also mention that we did not enjoy Legoland (we went in 1st week in March of 2015 when our boys were 7, 5 and 1). The lines were extremely long. We were there open to close and got on 2 rides! We are happy we tried it, but won't go back. I was thankful that we did Legoland at the beginning of that trip, so we were able to go Disneyland after and end on a good note.

 

[drea21]

Perfect! Thanks guys! Legoland doesn't look like my cup of tea, and I've had friends that had similar disappointments at the FL park too, but the kids BEG for it, and the hotel looks like something they would love. I guess we could also do Legoland-Disney-Beach, but there would be no weekend days at Disney that way. We love Wishes/Celebrate the Magic/Star Wars fireworks/and to a slightlylesser extent Illuminiations, at WDW, so having nothing at night would be a little disappointing, but heck, I can't even tell if there is anything even happening in the evenings at DL this winter, even on the weekends!

Anaheim to LAX on a Sunday morning shouldn't be TOO big of a headache I'm guessing??

Thanks again!

 

[Dr. G]

We also didn't care too much for Legoland in terms of the rides compared to Disneyland. It was cool to see everything made of Legos though. I always like to end with Disney since it's my favorite, but I'm a geek that way.

 

[4Siamese]

Personally I would do 1 day @ Lego land (all we needed when we took it in) and then spend the extra day going to either Seaworld or the San Diego Zoo. You could then also fit in your beach day(s) in the San Diego area (there are lots of nice beach's) and then end your trip in Disneyland.

I know you said your kids are looking forward to the hotel but for me the legoland hotel while cool is to kitschy and really not worth the price for that reason (just my 2 cents).

 

[WonkaKid]

FWIW, I always like to save Disney for the end of a trip. When I went to Japan a few years ago, I saved my last full day in Tokyo for Disney. It was a nice way to end the trip -- knowing that I wouldn't have to worry about getting around and being sure that I'd experience something familiar. I realize this is a different kind of trip, but that's my take on the subject.

Have a great time!

Rob

 

[drea21]

Personally I would do 1 day @ Lego land (all we needed when we took it in) and then spend the extra day going to either Seaworld or the San Diego Zoo. You could then also fit in your beach day(s) in the San Diego area (there are lots of nice beach's) and then end your trip in Disneyland.

I know you said your kids are looking forward to the hotel but for me the legoland hotel while cool is to kitschy and really not worth the price for that reason (just my 2 cents).

Haha! Believe me! I hear you on the hotel! It would definitely be something we would have to suck up for the sake of the kids. It will be my son's 4th birthday and he is Lego OBSESSED! San Diego beaches is definitely something to consider now too! I liked the Loews in Santa Monica with it's view of the pier/amusement park, it just looked so "California" to me, but with ending in Anaheim, I don't necessarily need to do a beach near LAX, so now this is another decision!

Even staying onsite at DL, a nice beach hotel, Legoland hotel, rental car, and generous food allowance, we are still coming in around $1000 LESS than the 7 day cruise would have been, and that's without any DL hotel discounts for winter yet.

Thanks everyone! I have WDW down to a science, this is all so foreign to me!

 

[WonkaKid]

Thanks everyone! I have WDW down to a science, this is all so foreign to me!

Hope you have a great time! I've only been to WDW twice and DL about 50. I like DL far better. Things are much closer than at WDW. And the weather's better ;-).

 

[drea21]

Hope you have a great time! I've only been to WDW twice and DL about 50. I like DL far better. Things are much closer than at WDW. And the weather's better ;-).

Thanks so much! We just got nonstop flights to LAX on Southwest, so DL is a lot more accessible now! I'm going to miss my World Showcase in Epcot, but so excited to try Disneyland!

 

[smartlabelprint]

I'd fly into San Diego and leave from Santa Ana airports.

Moving is stressful & wastes time. 2 hotels max. Do your beach time in San Diego.

 

[GatorChris]

So, all that advice you're getting about Legoland being no good and whatever... all wrong. At least as far as I'm concerned. We actually just went there on our last trip to DL in Nov 2015. We did DL for 6 full days (AP pass) and then drove down to Legoland on a Sunday afternoon to stay at the Legoland Hotel. It was an offseason, so it was a really good price on a Sunday and Monday night. Let me tell you, Legoland Hotel is awesome. Your kids will LOVE it! The little shows they have in the evening, the lego building contests, the Bricks cafeteria, the themed rooms, ... everything! It really made our trip there worth while. Legoland was closed on Tuesday, so we just headed back home on that day. But we did get a half day on Sunday and all day on Monday. The kids still talk about it they loved it so much. Now, it's not a place you can spend day after day in like DL, but it's a really fun experience.

I hear ya on the nighttime entertainment. I HATE that DL only does the cool stuff on the weekends. Being a WDW vet, I got used to doing a nighttime show every night of the week. Hoping that DL will one day quit being cheap, quite using the "residential" excuse of not being able to do it each night (debunked during the 60th), and just give us something to do each night like they do with WOC.

As for what I'd do, I'd arrive on Saturday, get a hotel near Seal Beach or somewhere along the coast between LA and San Diego/Carlsbad. Have a nice evening after a long flight, hit the beach in the morning, then drive down to Legoland for a Sunday-Tuesday stay. Hit the park for a day and a half while staying two fun nights at their hotel. Then head on Tuesday to DL for 4 nights ( I think that's what you said). You'll get good crowds on Wed and Thurs and then get the entertainment on Friday and Saturday. After that, you can relax at the beach again or maybe head to Hollywood to see the sights. Then unfortunately, you'll have to head back home to reality.

My two cents.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I actually think 4siamese's plan is the very best one. LEGOLAND is definitely a one day park. Really, its a one day, one time in your life park Lowe's Santa Monica is my very favorite hotel in the world (yes really). But it is not at all kid friendly (and I regularly take my kids to very fancy hotels). Its glass and hard edges and quiet stuffy business people. I would actually highly recommend the San Diego Marriot MArquis and Marina at that time of year with that age of kids. It is super easy to navigate from there to places (Childrens museum, zoo, gas lamp district, seaport village (you could take a DUCK tour!!). I think you will find San Diego much more relaxing at that time of year. You can wander around in a much more family friendly environment on the water where you can actually relax rather than worry about someone darting into traffic or a naked spear juggler riding by on a unicycle. If you were going to actually go to the beach and like sit on it all day and build sand castles and go in the ocean, Santa Monica might not be a bad idea but it will be way to cold for that at that time of year. If you really must go to an ocean beach, you can take a tender over from the Marriot to Coronado. And definitely put Disney at the end.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I agree with just doing San Diego and then Disney - San Diego has nice beaches and also lots of fun family stuff (Balboa Park, etc. in addition to things like the zoo and Sea World).

You mentioned the nighttime entertainment - it could very well be nonexistent in February. Unless they're running the Electrical Parade, there won't be a nighttime parade, and the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks show is literally four minutes long. WOC should be happening at DCA, though. So, while I think ending at Disneyland is fine, I wouldn't necessarily say that the nighttime entertainment is worth planning for the way it would have been for the last year...

 

[Nonsuch]

I agree with others, and would save Disney for the end of the trip.

...When I went to Japan a few years ago, I saved my last full day in Tokyo for Disney. It was a nice way to end the trip...

Sorry to go OT: I was in Tokyo on business, but the last day's meetings were cancelled and so came home a day early. I regret not staying the extra day and visiting Disney.

...Lowe's Santa Monica is my very favorite hotel in the world (yes really)...

I assume you mean Loews Santa Monica
We love Loews Portofino at Universal Orlando.

 

[Flickor]

I would do legoland on that first Sunday, then Disneyland on Monday then do some other touristy stuff then finish the week with Disneyland again

 

[drea21]

Oh my goodness, you all have been SO helpful!! GatorChris, you made my day that there might be some saving grace to Legoland, lol! Your review of the Legoland hotel is very much in line with the Tripadvisor reviews, obviously you wouldn't stay there for an adult only vacation, but it sounds like kids absolutely love it. And I agree about the nighttime entertainment, I was REALLY surprised that it doesn't run every night, or doesn't even exist at all.

Such good info on the Loews Santa Monica! Thanks! I don't know why I had the impression of Loews in general being kid friendly, so it's good to hear your view, Nevada Jen, I will definitely check out that Marriott!

Unfortunately, we are pretty stuck with LAX, it's by far the cheapest and our only non-stop option flying Southwest from our airport. I'm a big fan of non-stop with the kiddos.

WOC was mentioned as being the entertainment that we have a shot of seeing, does that run every night in the off season, or is that a weekend thing too??

I feel better, now I know Disney at the end, Legoland at that beginning, and go from there! Thanks again!

 

[drea21]

relax rather than worry about someone darting into traffic or a naked spear juggler riding by on a unicycle.

And this made me literally laugh at loud, it definitely painted a TOTALLY different picture than what I was imagining, haha

 

[WonkaKid]

Sorry to go OT: I was in Tokyo on business, but the last day's meetings were cancelled and so came home a day early. I regret not staying the extra day and visiting Disney.

Disney Tokyo is my second favorite of the parks .

 

[Nonsuch]

...WOC was mentioned as being the entertainment that we have a shot of seeing, does that run every night in the off season, or is that a weekend thing too??...

WOC runs nightly, year round.