Going to Disneyland - need some advice

[ChisJo]

Hey everyone,
It's been so long since I have been on the boards....been really busy lately. Next year, my sister and me were going to go to WDW, but decided instead to go to Disneyland, San Diego Zoo, Tiajuana, Universal California, etc, etc. I am kind of excited to go because I have never been to sunny California. I have many questions, but mainly, I would like to know if anyone has ever driven it from Edmonton - or from anywhere else around this neck of the country. We are currently looking into either driving or flying. We could probably get a rental car (don't want to put the km on our own cars) for about $400 for 10 days (or less, I am thrifty after all) or get airfare for around $800 (depending on how much the airlines change their prices). Then, we would have to rent a car anyways from there. We figure gas for the trip would be around $300. I am not a car traveller enthusiast, but we are trying to save money. I am the night person and would drive at night and she would drive during the day, of course resting when need to. I know the trip is around a 30 hour drive. That takes about 2 days each way, taking about 2 days out of our holiday (factoring in 2 days for flying). Just wanted to get feedback from anybody else who has done this. What would you do, and/or how was the drive?

Additionally, I would love any information about California parks as well as things to do not mentioned in travel books.

Thanks everyone, I am sure I will have more questions, but will also check out the Disneyland board here.

Jo

 

[c&m]

We're not from Alberta, but we've driven from Richmond, B.C., to Anaheim and San Diego, California, twice before. First time, we took the scenic Pacific Coast Hwy (Hwy 101), and that was a trip in itself. The second time, we took I-5, which was faster (took 2 12-hour days, the midpoint being Redding, California). We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Redding overnight (included a free breakfast that got us on the road faster).

Key places we enjoy to visit when we go to California are (not in order):

1. Hearst Castle in San Simean
2. Balboa Park in San Diego
3. Coronado beach and the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego
4. San Diego Zoo
5. Wild Animal Zoo in Escondido, San Diego
6. Beaches in La Jolla and Del Mar
7. Newport Beach
8. Huntingdon Beach
9. Carlsbad Factory Stores (like a Belz factory outlet) (next door to Legoland)

If you are budget-minded, like we are, you may want to consider using Priceline.com for your hotels. We've had amazing hotel bargains using them for our friends and ourselves in California -- as low as $26/night at the Hyatt Orange County for our Disney stay and $58/night at the gorgeous Hyatt La Jolla for our SD stay.

Have fun planning your road trip!!! If you have any specific questions, please let us know!

 

[bev r.]

Jo,

We just flew to LA the first week of March. We spent $1536 on airfare for 5 people. If you have flexibility as to when you are planning to go, you may want to watch for a air special. We flew down on Air Canada, and returned using America West. Believe it or not, it was cheaper to book 2 separate one way tickets. Part of our rational for this was that we were going on a cruise. This allowed us to fly down the in the morning and head to the pier. Our 6:00am flight from Edmonton got us into LA at around 11:00am, via Vancouver. Coming back, a late departure allowed us to spend the day at Universal Studios after we got off the ship. Last year we also went to S. Cal for spring break. We spent 5 days in LA and 2 in San Diego. Car rentals were reasonably priced.

We've driven from Edmonton the the Red Woods in Northern California in 2 days.

 

[CrazyDisneyMom]

We live just south of Edmonton and have Driven 3 or 4 times. We have never flown. My inlaws are leaving next week and driving. This is probably at least there 10 or 12 trip of driving. We usually drive to Great Falls Montana or Dillon the First Day, then to Nephi or Cedar City, Utah the next and then to Anaheim the next. We stop and shop and eat as we have small children that need to get out and stretch and run around every so often. It has always been cheaper for us to drive then fly, even with the extra hotel nights.

Have Fun!!!