First Trip to Disneyland from the UK

[Mazzy]

Hello!

This is a great forum for Disneyland and area, thanks so much to all the people who have posted fantastic information and photos, they've really helped in my planning.

We have been to WDW 5 times but our next trip will be to Disneyland, incorporating other places over a 2 week holiday.

The rough plan at the moment is:

*Fly into San Francisco, stay 4 nights

*Hire a car to drive to Monterey, stay 3 nights, DD wants to do a horseride on Pebble Beach which looks fantastic!

*Drive over to San Jose Airport for direct flight to Las Vegas (no direct flight from Monterey Airport as far as I can see, but check me if I'm wrong!)

*Las Vegas (including trip to Grand Canyon) for 3 nights

*Fly to Orange County Airport, staying for 4 nights, hopefully a Disneyland hotel, but not sure which one yet, any advice greatly welcome on the best one to stay in - children are 12 and 16 and love swimming, so the pool is important.


We will be arriving in San Fran 23rd September, so will be at Disneyland 3-6 October, which incorprates a Friday night, so any idea of opening hours would be great.

As this is our first ever trip to the West of America, I would appreciate any help you could give me with the itinerary - do you think it's OK? We won't have a car in LA (we just don't fancy driving in the heavy traffic), so any advice on tours, transportation, to get us to Universal Studios, Hollywood, and Newport Beach (love The OC!) would be great.

Also, do the Disneyland hotels have codes like WDW has, for reduced rates? We have annual passes for WDW, but think a DL AP would be too expensive for a 4 night stay, I guess it depends on any AP rates which come out?

Sorry, I've rambled on somewhat, but WDW is so easy for us now as we've been so many times, and I'm finding planning this trip quite complicated!

 

[LucyKate]

Hi Mazzy,
Just over a year ago we did pretty much the same holiday as you, though in the opposite direction with Disneyland at the start.

Please have a look at our travel diary - http://www.ballofdirt.com/journeys/5333.html - for our experiences and some good advice.

Also this website - http://dominic.kelly.site.net.au/ - by another Australian family has superb practical advice about visiting the US.

In short:
- San Francisco is superb and 4 days there is probably about right. make sure you check out Muir Woods (tall trees) Sausalito and take the fire engine ride across the bridge.
- Monterey is nice, but the best scenery is to the south of Monterey, along 17-mile drive (which will cost you $8.50) to Pebble Beach and Carmel, and then, of course, Highway 1 to LA.
- 3 days in Vegas with a day for the Grand Canyon is spot on - make sure you spend at least 1 day just waliing "the Strip" and seeing the amazing casinos and their free attractions like the Fountains Bellaggio
- Yosemite is sensational - any chance you could fit this in?
- San Diego is also a worth a visit for the Zoo and Seaworld
- We stayed "off site" at Disneyland at the Howard Johnson and loved it. It was just as close as the Disneyland and Paradise Pier hotels.
- We were disappointed with LA, but Hollywood and the walk of fame are worth a visit. Newport, Manhattan and Huntington beaches also sound worth a visit.

If possible, try to avpoid Disneyland across the weekend as crowds will be much, much bigger than midweek.

 

[Mazzy]

Lucy Kate - what can I say but WOW!!! What a fantastic trip report, I've enjoyed reading it so much, and your photos were brilliant!

Thanks so much for sharing it with me, it really has helped so much.

We were going to stay at the Holiday Inn in San Francisco, but now I've seen the Argonaut we just HAVE to stay there, it is so fantastic, especially the location and views.

Your time in Vegas was really well-spent, especially the tour of the hotels - we will probably be staying in the Luxor, so hearing of how your toured the other hotels from there is really helpful.

Once again a BIG thankyou to you for sharing, the past hour has been a little bit of escapisim for me - but now the housework awaits!

 

[happytraveller]

Hi Mazzy if your planning on any vegas hotels do sign up with them on their websites for special offers.Myself and Rio, are staying at the luxor in july and will be booking on their website.It's cheaper and they throw in perks as well.

 

[Mazzy]

Hello! What a Small World this www is!

Yes I am going to sign up with the Luxor, as I think that is the hotel we will be using, as it looks great! Hope you get a good deal, how far in advance do you book, do the special offer emails come regularly, or do they ask you when you are visiting and send them just before your date?

 

[Judy from Boise]

Hi, on our Dl trip report boards we also have a series of reports by fellow Brit Kevin Stringer.....who took a trip very similar to the one you're planning.

 

[LucyKate]

My pleasure (I'm a pom as well by the way from Manchester - temporarily exiled in Australia for 37 years!!)

Can I suggest you NOT stay at the Luxor? We found it a little far from the action, a little too big and the service not that good.

I'd suggest staying more in the centre of The Strip - perhaps Aladdin, Paris, Tropicana or Caesars. And, if you can afford it, Bellaggio, which is sensational.

But book direct through the hotel wesbites - there are very good deals mid week (Friday to Sunday is peak time).

Argonaut in SF was sensational - superb hotel. Again, book direct through their website, which has some great deals.

Also, check out www.tripadvisor.com for hotel ratings.

Enjoy!

 

[Mazzy]

Thanks Judy -will have a look at that.

Lucy Kate - Oh what a coincidence, I am from Salford originally, now living between Stockport and Disley. I can't imagine how different Australia is, it must be a fabulous place to live - it's another grey overcast day here.

Thanks for the tip re The Luxor, I've just found a map of The Strip on another website, and see what you mean about this hotel, so will have a look at other options. Yes I've used trip advisor in the past, it's great isn't it?

Oh, can I just say that I looked into availability for The Monterey Inn with Expedia (the hotel's own website hasn't got availability for September yet), and it came up that the maximum number of children was only 1. What kind of beds did you have in your room? I don't know whether this is just because Expedia has limited access to rooms, but we need 2 double beds as the children are teenagers.

Thanks

 

[Judy from Boise]

I second the thought on the Luxor.......it is pretty "low end".

 

[LucyKate]

Wow, this is getting seriously spooky - I'm also from Salford - born in Hope Hospital and grew up in Swinton before emigrating. (It's 95 here today and was 98 yesterday BTW).

We actually stayed in the Monterey BAY Inn. The room was small, and we had a double bed and a sofa bed for the kids - but the location and view were senational.

Many websites like expedia have problems booking kids into rooms, which was why we went direct the hotels. Find the best price you can on places like expedia then approach the hotel and ask them to match it. The Argonaut, for example, offers to beat any price you find elsewhere.

 

[Mazzy]

Judy - thanks, I think we are liking The Venetian very much at the moment - those suites look very tempting!

LucyKate - thanks for the tip re the rates. It sounds like the rooms at the Montery Bay may be too small for us, as DD is already adult size, and DS is catching up, unless we can get two connecting rooms at a good rate, worth a try. I am sending you a PM re the spooky stuff!

 

[simba_one]

As this is our first ever trip to the West of America, I would appreciate any help you could give me with the itinerary - do you think it's OK? We won't have a car in LA (we just don't fancy driving in the heavy traffic), so any advice on tours, transportation, to get us to Universal Studios, Hollywood, and Newport Beach (love The OC!) would be great.

I second any info. on tours of Newport Beach. I'm a HUGE O.C. fan and would love to see some of the places used or that are similar tho those used in the show. Drove around areas we thought were near in 2004 and just that was brilliant but knowing exactly what things are would be great.

So either tours or if any of you locals know of anywhere they use or places similar to what you see in the show and how to get to them, etc. that'd be excellent!! I'm personally gonna have a few days where we can do whatever we want (doing the whole three weeks in Anaheim/L.A. this year so we can say checkout TV locations in the moring and then have Disney in the evening, etc.) with no worries of wasting valuable time in parks. I know a lot of the stuff is filmed elsewhere (i.e. Malibu, etc.) but some of the stuff must be done in the real OC?

Thanks to our Virgin Holidays rep we checked out Venice High School back in 2004. Seeing the place they shot scenes for Grease and the 'Baby One More Time' video - - was really cool.

I'd like to see Mount St. Mary's College in L.A. too as that's their Harbor High School. Suuuuuch a Film/TV geek.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I would think there is some website out there that keeps track of "locations" used in films......
The Venetian is fabulous! Great location, Great resort.

 

[littlegreydonkey]

Oh I'm so glad someone is as sad as I am - although my addiction was 90210 and I spent a day walking up and down one of the beaches trying to find Donna's beach house (no joy, I was probably on the wrong beach). We did get to the soundstage where they filmed, but even the 'but I'm English thing' wouldn't get the security guard to let me have my photo taken by the 'after dark' sign. I also drove past Torrance high school which was 90210 and Buffy (anyone else worried by addiction to teen television)

Anyway re the OC - the only thing I've heard and watching season II on DVD yesterday (I'm another relocated Pom and we're about to get season 3 so I'm revising) I think it's right is that the bait shack exterior is actually the building at the end of Manhattan beach. There is an office in Hollywood that you can go into a pick up shooting schedules for the week that tell you where TV and films are shooting - can't remember the address but I'm sure a diligent Google search will find it.

Oh, and Mazzy, I second the opinions re the Luxor - it's a bit too far if you don't have a rental car. We love the Mandalay bay but only stay there if we have a car - without one we stay at treasure island (you still need comfy shoes though, you walk miles).

 

[Ella1]

We're going to be staying at the Luxor and we won't be driving. Don't think it's too far to walk to anywhere, we were going to stay at the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel, but that was a bit too far out for the strip.
Love Ella

 

[simba_one]

Oh I'm so glad someone is as sad as I am - although my addiction was 90210 and I spent a day walking up and down one of the beaches trying to find Donna's beach house (no joy, I was probably on the wrong beach). We did get to the soundstage where they filmed, but even the 'but I'm English thing' wouldn't get the security guard to let me have my photo taken by the 'after dark' sign. I also drove past Torrance high school which was 90210 and Buffy (anyone else worried by addiction to teen television)

Anyway re the OC - the only thing I've heard and watching season II on DVD yesterday (I'm another relocated Pom and we're about to get season 3 so I'm revising) I think it's right is that the bait shack exterior is actually the building at the end of Manhattan beach. There is an office in Hollywood that you can go into a pick up shooting schedules for the week that tell you where TV and films are shooting - can't remember the address but I'm sure a diligent Google search will find it.

Oh, and Mazzy, I second the opinions re the Luxor - it's a bit too far if you don't have a rental car. We love the Mandalay bay but only stay there if we have a car - without one we stay at treasure island (you still need comfy shoes though, you walk miles).

I know, it's so sad isn't it? It is a good show though. And season 3 is excellent. You're gonna love it. I've been watching with the Americans so I've seen up to ep 12. Very interesting. A lot goes on. But I won't give anything away.

My sister was absolutely crazy on 90210. She is older though... I tried watching a couple fo repeats a couple of months back but it didn't really do it for me. I guess you had to be a fan at the time. I can relate to The O.C. so much more so I guess that's why I'm addicted to it.

This office in Hollywood that has shooting schedules for the week sounds excellent!! I'll try searching for it. Fingers crossed. If I do I'll post on here.

And how security wouldn't let you near the sign. Despite your "but I'm English" thing. Lol. Normally works though. I'm hoping it does this year to get me some access to Desperate Housewives areas. Hopefully I'll get to walk on Colonial Street/Wisteria Lane by doing the V.I.P. Experience at Universal too though.

 

[littlegreydonkey]

OOh let me know - everyone here (in NZ) will be so jealous if I get my photo on Wisteria lane. We're off to D/L in Sept and will probably do Universal too as we haven't been for about 8 years.

 

[simba_one]

OOh let me know - everyone here (in NZ) will be so jealous if I get my photo on Wisteria lane. We're off to D/L in Sept and will probably do Universal too as we haven't been for about 8 years.

You can definitely do it if you do the V.I.P. Experience. It's $149 but being a Housewives fanatic (and movies in general - you get to check out the Bates Motel too and soooooooooo much more) I'm more than happy to pay that. Just depends on whether they're using that area of the backlot on the day you take your tour. I'm planning on going on August 9th too (my birthday) so I can hopefully use that to my advantage too. Cheeky I know but come on... when else am I gonna be able to do such a thing?!

I went down Colonial Street once on a tour back in 2004. But it was the normal studio tour and the show hadn't hit screens at that time. I went on the tour god knows how many times during our three weeks there and we went down there once. And that was only because they were filming near the log cabin (which is Camp Hennesey in DH) place with the huge blue screen behind it so they had to divert us and give us something else to see. But to walk on Wisteria Lane? OMG!!!!!!!!!!! It'd make my day. Totally.

I hope you get to do it too. And the studios are great. There's been a few changes since you last visited so it'll be like a whole new discovery for you.