First USA trip - Anaheim

[aussiemumma101]

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[darrenf67]

Hey there - a trip to Disneyland is very exciting - good for you!
I am thinking that a 5 day park hopper would be plenty of time to explore the two parks and still leave you seven days to do other stuff.
My top things (in no particular order):

* Universal Studios (Transformers ride is awesome)
* Visit Hollywood Blvd and Santa Monica Pier
* Shopping at Citadel Outlets and Outlets at Orange
* Eat at Bubba Gumps (Seafood and themed from Forrest Gump - there's one in Anaheim near disney)
* Griffith Observatory has great views

There's a lot more and if you need any other tips or help with any thing feel free to private message me. I'm happy to help

Have great trip!

 

[darrenf67]

Me again!
I would re consider the car idea. LA is difficult to navigate on public transport - we were told you can't really go across county lines!! The distances are great and the driving is easy. It would allow you to do so much ore and get everywhere as you want to. My wife drives in LA no problems. The costs are pretty good too.

 

[aussiemumma101]

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[aussiemumma101]

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[CAFarmerGirl]

Do you have a beach day?

Unfortunately, public transportation isn't that great here....but, I am from Northern Ca, so maybe it is a bit better down in LA? I just know every time I have thought about flying down there, I know I would include a car rental in my budget. Maybe someone from So Cal can chime in on that. I believe you can do daily car rentals from downtown Disney. So, you could rent one for your beach day and never even have to drive on the freeway.

There are also the La Brea Tar Pits and Little Tokyo (have not been myself, but they are on my list for the next visit).

 

[Ryan120420]

For public transit these links will be helpful:

Trip Planner:
http://socaltransport.org/tm_pub_start.php

LA Metro:
http://www.metro.net/

OCTA:
http://octa.net/

Metrolink:
http://metrolinktrains.com/

if you take Metrolink read this carefully, it will save you money in LA!

http://metrolinktrains.com/howtoride/page/title/transitconnections







There are two ways to get to LA from Disneyland.


Take Metrolink train from Fullerton or Anaheim to LA Union Station OR take LA Metro Route 460 to Downtown LA.

Once in Downtown LA, you can connect to the buses and trains that will take you around the city and surrounding areas.




Routes that will benefit you:

OCTA:

43, 543, 430

LA METRO:

460, METRO RED, GOLD, BLUE, PURPLE, EXPO, GREEN Lines.

Metrolink:

Orange County Line, 91 LINE.

 

[darrenf67]

The citadel outlets have hundreds of stores and usually having a sale of some sort.
http://www.citadeloutlets.com

There is also a Westfield near Anaheim probably more expensive than the outlets.

There is also a Walmart centre 10 mins from Anaheim - huge and amazing process - my wife gets all her make up and cosmetics here at half price the Australian versions.

On South Harbor Blvd theres a Target that is also great shopping.

Where are you staying in Anaheim?

 

[darrenf67]

There is a shuttle service from Anaheim to the Citadel - that will make getting there far easier too

http://www.citadeloutlets.com/info/shuttleanaheim

My wife has used this and its quite easy.

 

[SMD]

You should consider moving to a hotel near Universal for that portion of the trip. It will take hours each way to get to Universal, Warner Bros and Hollywood. Universal has a red line subway stop, and you can easily get to Hollywood that way and take a bus or cab to WB. There are also hop on, hop off buses in Hollywood. You could buy a pass and use that to get to many spots (maybe even WB), including The Grove for shopping and Santa Monica Pier and 3rd St Promenade for more shopping.

 

[aussiemumma101]

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[mellyB]

Hi Darren, thanks for your reply, we are quite excited.....we went with the 10 day pass, as it is only $10 dearer than the 5 day pass and for the extra $10 we get 5 more days, so we thought that would be better, so we could pop back on any day we wish....$354 for 5 days compared to $364 for the 10 day one...

on the car thing....I am a nervous driver in places I don't know, I know I will get myself so stressed, I will ruin the holiday for myself and daughter, I have taken into account the cost for taxis within my spending budget, so it isn't a drama..

Thanks for those ideas, will check them out....my daughter has already decided on the Bubba Gump shrimp place, that was picked before Disneyland actually....lol.....are there many shops at the Citadel outlet??? Enough to satisfy a teenage girl??

Thanks again

I'm also from oz & am looking to purchase the 10day hopper passes. Can I ask where you got yours from. Thanks
PS your trip sounds great, we're heading not heading over till dec 2015, and shopping is high on my agenda

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

thanks everyone for your tips,

CAFarmergirl - the thought of hiring a car just for the day, has crossed my mind more than once, just don't want to drive on those hwys - Scary.. and would love to have a beach day, we just don't know what beach area yet...

Darrenf67 - we are staying at BW stovalls inn....and have arranged a shuttle from LAX to accommodation return....i will check out the shuttle for the Citadel shopping centre mentioned...

SMD - We won't be doing Universal studios, as my daughter isn't interested in that, the tour for the Warner Bros picks us up at anaheim, so that isn't a drama

Ryan120420 - thanks for those public transport links, i will check them out...

Huntington Beach....use google maps to find the directions from Disneyland to Huntington. It is about a 40 minute drive down Harbour Blvd. (no freeways) it is a really easy drive...nice and slow. You could even stop at Target on your way back.

 

[aussiemumma101]

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[mellyB]

Thanks, going to a flight centre travel expo on Sunday, I'll see if they are selling them & would love to hear your shopping tips.

 

[aussiemumma101]

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[Tanzanite]

My brother visited me from London took buses all over he had no problem just have to allow more time. Santa Monika has a lot of nice shops and has a nice newish mall .If you have a spare day one of my favorite places is Knotts Berry farm its a short bus ride from Disney there is a large Flea market where you can get cheap suitcases there. Mrs Knotts chicken lovely.one of my favorite malls Beverly centre .

 

[Tanzanite]

There is a shuttle service from Anaheim to the Citadel - that will make getting there far easier too

http://www.citadeloutlets.com/info/shuttleanaheim

My wife has used this and its quite easy.

that's a great bus for $16 good deal very easy.

 

[aussiemumma101]

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