First trip to DL - need advice

[NHmomof2boys]

I am planning a trip for my family of 4 (me, DH, DS8, DS5) this August and need advice. The boys and I have never been to CA and DH only has twice, on business, so I'm not sure what to do. We would like to not only go to DL, but also to San Diego, actually DH would prefer just to go to San Diego, but since I'm doing the planning, we go to DL too

I am not sure what to do first, San Diego or DL. We can be there from 8/18 - 8/26, but not any longer. What makes the most sense? How much time do we realistically need at both places? In San Diego, we want to go to the Zoo and Sea World.

My next question has to do with where to stay. DH won't stay anyplace that would be considered economy, don't ask, it's just a thing. At DL I would like to stay at GCH, but don't have a clue where to stay in San Diego.

Thank you!

 

[TheZue]

Well I know when we went to the zoo last time we were done early but didn't see the whole thing. We got through half the zoo by around noon though, and by then DS was tired and it was a good day anyways Sea world is about a one day thing too. So realistically you could spend four or five days at disneyland then spend the others doing San Diego. Also the drive to San Diego is really really managable. We have always just driven from Anaheim to get to the zoo or Sea World.

 

[tracys2cents]

Keep in mind that driving is usually much easier on Sat and Sun out there, so plan accordingly whenever possible. Also, Sun Mon Tues are generally the busiest days at Disneyland........and since some schools start up around Aug 26........saving Disney towards the end of your trip might work best since people are getting ready for return-to-school etc.

Check out Paradise Point for San Diego

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Are the 18th and 26th your travel days? If so this is what I do. The main reason is I'm putting you at the place on that second saturday where saturday crowds will hurt you the least.... The zoo. I also don't have any cross town LA commutes to other parks on the weekdays. You're not in DL for the weekend days unless you choose to go to DCA that Sunday. There is also a special so-cal city pass that gets you 3 days at DL/DCA, one at Universal, one at Seaworld and one at the Zoo. There's a price break on this off of buying tickets to each individually.

18th Sat. Arrive Check in at GCH
19th Sun Universal or the beach or mostly DCA.
20th mon DL/DCA
21st tues DL/DCA
22nd wed DL/DCA
23rd thurs Check out of GCH, travel to San Diego
24th fri Seaworld
25th sat Zoo
26th sun Depart.

As to deluxe hotels in San Diego. There is the hotel the Grand Floridian is copied from, Hotel Del Coronado.
http://www.hoteldel.com/
I don't think he could complain about "economy" there.


Others can give you some more realistic non-economy options for San Diego. I'm mainly the economy guy when my main purpose is theme parks.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Also, Sun Mon Tues are generally the busiest days at Disneyland.

Saturday is the busiest followed by Sunday. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the least busy on average.

 

[HydroGuy]

Are the 18th and 26th your travel days? If so this is what I do. The main reason is I'm putting you at the place on that second saturday where saturday crowds will hurt you the least.... The zoo. I also don't have any cross town LA commutes to other parks on the weekdays. You're not in DL for the weekend days unless you choose to go to DCA that Sunday. There is also a special so-cal city pass that gets you 3 days at DL/DCA, one at Universal, one at Seaworld and one at the Zoo. There's a price break on this off of buying tickets to each individually.

18th Sat. Arrive Check in at GCH
19th Sun Universal or the beach or mostly DCA.
20th mon DL/DCA
21st tues DL/DCA
22nd wed DL/DCA
23rd thurs Check out of GCH, travel to San Diego
24th fri Seaworld
25th sat Zoo
26th sun Depart.

As to deluxe hotels in San Diego. There is the hotel the Grand Floridian is copied from, Hotel Del Coronado.
http://www.hoteldel.com/
I don't think he could complain about "economy" there.


Others can give you some more realistic non-economy options for San Diego. I'm mainly the economy guy when my main purpose is theme parks.

I agree down the line here. I used to live in San Diego. There are some nice hotels in La Jolla which is an alternative to Hotel Del. But if you are going to use your days in SD to do the Zoo and Sea World, you may not want to stay in a super nice place if you will not even be at the hotel very much. I would look for a nice hotel down near the zoo and SW. For example, there is a Sheraton plus other nice hotels along San Diego Bay sort of near the airport. There is a Hilton on Mission Bay. Those will be nice and closer to the zoo and SW.

As far as hotels near DLR, of course the GCH is very nice but also more pricey. There are many other options if you look at the links in this thread (see Bret's link for links to hotel websites): "HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Assuming you may end up with other questions about DLR, here are some other links that will give you some ideas:

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[dweitzel0]

Legoland in San Diego is a great place for kids as well if you can squeeze it in.

 

[CanuckMouse]

Disneyland will take you 2 to 3 days depending on what rides you go on, i know with myself and dw took 2 days to go on basically every single ride although we dont have any kids yet so it will take longer with kids although you may not go on all the rides so you would save time there. We found that DLC isnt more than one day and that was with seeing all the shows so i would plan 3 days at DL and i would do 2 at disneyland and then 1 at Califorinia Adventure then go back to DL for the last day that will allow you to do what you have missed on first two days and allow you if you need more time you can go to California you can go back in the afternoon. Hope this helps

 

[NHmomof2boys]

I agree down the line here. I used to live in San Diego. There are some nice hotels in La Jolla which is an alternative to Hotel Del. But if you are going to use your days in SD to do the Zoo and Sea World, you may not want to stay in a super nice place if you will not even be at the hotel very much. I would look for a nice hotel down near the zoo and SW. For example, there is a Sheraton plus other nice hotels along San Diego Bay sort of near the airport. There is a Hilton on Mission Bay. Those will be nice and closer to the zoo and SW.

As far as hotels near DLR, of course the GCH is very nice but also more pricey. There are many other options if you look at the links in this thread (see Bret's link for links to hotel websites): "HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

Assuming you may end up with other questions about DLR, here are some other links that will give you some ideas:

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

Thank you so much for this info! We don't have to stay in a super nice place (don't need 5 star), I think that a Sheraton or Hilton would be good. I know that I will need more answers to questions that I don't even know that I have yet, so I will be sure to check out the links you have.

I'm not sure that we'll get back to DL again, at least not for a long time, so I'd llike to try to stay at GCH, but it might be a little too pricey, so I'm thinking DLH would be good, too.

I know we won't be spending a lot of time in the rooms, but the boys (all three of them, the big one too) will probably still need to rest or nap in the afternoons, especially with the jet lag we are sure to have, so I want to make sure we stay some place nice so DH doesn't have anything to complain about

Thank you everybody for your advice, opinions and ideas. I like the schedule Cannot_Wait_4Disney. I think that would work out very well. Keep the great ideas coming, I can never have too much information.

 

[ShawnaF]

Lol....my husband has a thing too. Never done the Coronado but we've done plenty of the hotels since my girlfriend lives there and for business. These are the nicer ones that I'd recommend

San Diego hotels -

Lodge at Torey Pines in La Jolla (great golf course too)
Rancho Valencia (resort & spa - great facilities)
Coronado
Marriott at the Marina (beautiful views!)
US Grant (this is in downtown - fun place to be)
Hilton La Jolla (great location)
Manchester Grand Hyatt (incredible views)