GCV/Cali Plannning Experts: HELP!!!

[Grumpygrandpa]

It just depends on what you like. Personally I would save DL for last. Kind of like dessert, you know save the best for last. Of I go to DL so often that I never feel rushed. I am just happy to be there and don't need to do many rides. I usually spend a lot time in the pool with my grandkids. So I always come home relaxed.

 

[crisi]

We did the Disney California parks in two days - well a day and a half. We spent additional time in DTD (we were at a conference at the Marriott hotel there). And we had time to spare.

BUT, we are not huge thrill ride people - we did maybe three or four attractions at DCA - no need for the thrill rides. There was a ton of Disneyworld stuff that we didn't feel an overwhelming need to go on (but we did all of our favorites - and really enjoyed the changes).

 

[kikiq]

THE BIG QUESTION NOW: Start in San Diego and end with DisneyLand???
Or go from all the action of Disneyland to a slower, more relaxed pace in San Diego????

Having lived in San Diego for 19 years and now in Orange County (CA, 30 min from DLR) for 15 years, I would say start in San Diego first. then DLR. There's a lot to do in San Diego. And personally, if I had a choice to end my vacation spending a day at the SD zoo or spending a day park hopping at DLR....I would pick a Disney day.

 

[pycees312]

in regards to where you should end your vacation I think depends on your arrival and departure dates.
If this will put you in Disneyland during a weekend I suggest doing San Diego on a weekend verses Disney.

 

[Inkmahm]

in regards to where you should end your vacation I think depends on your arrival and departure dates.
If this will put you in Disneyland during a weekend I suggest doing San Diego on a weekend verses Disney.

That's how I figured out our schedule for August. We arrive on the 15th, a Saturday. The first two nights are in San Diego. Then we spend M through Th nights at the GCH. We go back to San Diego for Fr and Sat nights before heading home on Sunday. I wanted to do Disneyland on weekdays as much as possible. On Friday, all we are doing is the Segway tour of DCA.

 

[bumbershoot]

The Red Head- May Gray and June Gloom? Here I thought the weather was perfect in SoCal every month of the year... July or August it is!



CastilloMom- How cool that GCH has its own entrance to DCH... Gotta love that!


THE BIG QUESTION NOW: Start in San Diego and end with DisneyLand???
Or go from all the action of Disneyland to a slower, more relaxed pace in San Diego????

FWIW, the June Gloom is hardly bad when I've experienced it. Then again, I live in the pac NW and like it, but still, we were in SD for 18 days in June and we swam outside every day except for the days we went to Anaheim. And got a nice little tan, so it's not like we were freezing.

The entrance is from GCH, but it's not only for GCH guests. Any Disneyland hotel guest can use it, and really, after the main opening rush, ANYONE can use it.

San Diego Zoo is a LONG, hot, slog of a day. There are hills in the zoo, and lots of 'em. And it's enormous. I would do that while you're fresh, then do WAP, which I believe is a drive-through type place, not a walking place. But don't take my word on that one...I could be wrong.

Then take a day and go to DLR. In fact, you could stay right in SD downtown area for the zoo part of the trip, then drive the 30-45 minutes on the highway up to the WAP area and stay at a hotel there, do WAP, spend the night, then go up to Anaheim.

Just remember, SD is huge, and what residents consider to be SD is bigger, LOL> My brother is in Chula Vista but addressing an envelope to SD gets the letter to him anyway, but it's probably half an hour longer than if we were to leave from his wife's law firm (which you can see in Soarin', LOL) in downtown. People say Legoland, for instance, is San Diego, but it's actually Carlsbad, and it's the same sort of thing with the Animal Park. Big distances (though my brother has now been there about 6 years and it's nothing to him...it is to me, though!).


And if you check out my sig with all my DLR trips, you can imagine how I feel about people saying that 2-4 days is sufficient for a trip to DLR. I still haven't gone on everything I want to nor have I seen everything I want to, even with all those trips...

 

[nunzia]

We did WAP outside SD many years ago and it was a long hot hilly day. It seems they did have a riding thing, but we spent a heck of alot of time walking..still, it was nice and worth it. I actually like doing Disney first and then do the relaxing SD thing on the way home. That way I'm not counting the minutes when I leave SD for DLR

 

[bwvBound]

San Diego Zoo is a LONG, hot, slog of a day. There are hills in the zoo, and lots of 'em. And it's enormous. I would do that while you're fresh, then do WAP, which I believe is a drive-through type place, not a walking place. But don't take my word on that one...I could be wrong.

The San Diego Wild Animal Park is not a "drive-through type of place." (You might be thinking of the former Lion Country Safari in Irvine, CA?) As for extremely long, hot, hilly walks, expect your first such adventure as you mosey from your car's parking space to the Park's Main Entrance.

Just remember, SD is huge, and what residents consider to be SD is bigger, LOL> My brother is in Chula Vista but addressing an envelope to SD gets the letter to him anyway, but it's probably half an hour longer than if we were to leave from his wife's law firm (which you can see in Soarin', LOL) in downtown. People say Legoland, for instance, is San Diego, but it's actually Carlsbad, and it's the same sort of thing with the Animal Park. Big distances (though my brother has now been there about 6 years and it's nothing to him...it is to me, though!).

Both Chula Vista and Carlsbad are located in San Diego County. I'm guessing that driving from the SW corner of the county (near US/Mexico border on I-5) to the NE corner (Anza-Borrego State Park) could easily require a 2 hour drive at normal speeds. It's all San Diego, beautiful San Diego ...

 

[wideeyedwonder]

We too are thinking of using our points to stay at GCV next summer, do you think it will be hard to get a reservation at the 7 month mark for a studio? Would a 1BR or 2Br be easier?

Ask far, we've made resservations at the GCVs at 7 months and at 3 (!!!) months! These are both 2br lockoffs, Sunday through Wednesday. The 3 month may be a fluke, as it is a lucky proximity to the newly anounced early opening of the GCVs.