Florida or Cali ?

[Claire L]

Yes agree USH is much better than the Studios at USF. For one USH has a great backlot tour along with some great shows such as Waterworld and the Spiderman show.

Claire

 

[paulh]

as outjers have stated 14 days is a long time in cali.we did a drive up to vegas for a 5 nights.Found that universal orlando is beter than florida one.Disney at first wa a disapointment (think seeing the smal castle did it)found Knots berry a good park,and san deago zoo well worth a trip.
You could do disney easy in 3 days,1 day for universal,1 day for san deago zoo, 1 day knotts berry farm and a week in vegas
dont go in may as its a bit chilly in the water aug is hot and dry,vegas hot all year round
Paulh

 

[wideeyes]

we are going to California this year, spending 7 nights in Anaheim for the parks and then 3 nights in San Francisco, we are also going to Boston and NYC. We won't be driving so touring other cities seemed the best option as we can't really get around California easily without a car, I we don't really want to spend two weeks stuck in Anaheim as it looks like it would get a bit boring.

 

[lyn9856]

Have been to both and agree with everything thats been said already, and here's my thoughts to add on!
Florida is very much a full on PARK experience, and definitely has the slick edge for that. More family, more laid back perhaps. Easy driving. Bigger commercialism all together. Easy to spend the whole 2 weeks in the parks and still miss half of it.
California is less park and other must do's, Santa Monica, the ocean, San Diego etc etc. More edgey. Faster. Harder driving. The Universal studios is absolutely better than Orlando as others have noted, mainly imho due to the escalators and views? And Donkey is there!!! Disneyland again perhaps more cute, sharp and neat. Less time parks more time doing other things also.
Both fantastic in their own right.

Lyn

 

[paulh]

. The Universal studios is absolutely better than Orlando as others have noted, mainly imho due to the escalators and views?
Lyn

Just reminded me when we did the bus tour and we walked down inbetwen the escalaters,bloke atbottom with mike was gobsmacked,said over mike"these folks must be european as then can use the non moving escalaters without using the rails"
Paulh

 

[Kevin Stringer]

California is definitely a 'must do' for all Disney fans at least once. It's the birth place of all Disney parks and I must admit I enjoyed the Disneyland Magic Kingdom more than the Florida one. It has it's own 'feel', more intimate and easier to walk around, although the crowds can be an issue.

DCA is also getting a big makeover with many new rides. I'll definitely be going back sometime in the future.

Other attractions in LA are worth seeing too. There's the standard Hollywood stuff of course, but one overlooked experience is a trip to see the Walt Disney Concert Hall. It's a wonderful building.

Kev

 

[lyn9856]

Oh wow yes!
Forgotten that..the Disney concert hall building is truly amazing. Would post a photo but its stored away on a CD requiring effort...
We saw other things too.............George Michael's "toilet"

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have done both, and I am off to California again this year in August I stayed at GCH before which was great this time is Disneyland hotel.


I find the weather better in August in California, no hurricanes dry heat not humid, many original rides makes it special, and far more compact, no buses, to get anywhere, its all there next to you.

Dow-side is Disney's second park Californian adventure was a let down, but getting better. WDW has more parks and places to eat, but I like going to Cali in rotation.

 

[DCDMarkyG]

And Donkey is there!!!
Lyn

Donkey is in Florida now too ! We had a conversation with him and he is just like the films. When we went back at the end of the day he recognised us, I guess us British are quite memorable ! He didn't fly though....must be out of fairy dust !!

 

[TinkTatoo]

We're planning a side trip to San Diego and DL next summer and I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[sallybrealey]

We always go for the standard 14 nights. Usually 10 days in parks and 4 shopping days/exploring days.

In October when we were last in Kissimmee there seemed to be a lot of closed businesses and a feeling that the whole area was starting to get a bit run down. Probably due to the near recession the US is in. I don't picture LA as the same. Feel free to put me straight on this.

I had a great time in Califonia when I went for 16 nights on a driving holiday BUT some parts are a lot more dumpish than Orlando. Hollywood Blvd makes Kissimmee or I drive look like a dream, its awful and you can drive round LA for hours really seeing nothing (and wondering why anyone would live there)

Outside of that Disney is amazing, we moved hotel constantly so stayed just across the road, I loved the feel, the cuteness and the also the history of the park.

Also loved Santa Monica when we headed there for the day. Oh and LA has a great farmers market at the weekend which is a must visit for me.

I would say overall its a very different holiday, Orlando in some ways is easier as its all there and geared up a lot more than LA where you really need to swap hotels and plan an itineray before you go.