Help me plan a surprise trip to California and take a cruise as a HS graduation present

[vinmar4]

Hello all,
My DD will be graduation this coming June from HS. She really wants to visit California, more specifically where the movie stars are, Hollywood , fun beaches...
I was born in CA but moved when I was a baby so don't know anything about planing a visit there. We will be flying from DFW and would love to also take a short cruise ( also for the first time ) from CA. We would prefer a Disney cruise because I heard great things about them, but other ideas and suggestions would be welcomed.
We would like to visit for 2-3 days and then take the cruise, I would think that we would need to rent a car, no idea where to stay or how to go about it at all.
Any help would be really appreciated.
TIA!

 

[bcwife76]

For the cruise portion, does the trip have to take place in the summer? Because right now Disney only sails out of San Diego and those cruises are limited to March/April/May (sometimes not even as late as May) and September/October/early November. In the summer months the Wonder (which right now is the only ship that sails from California) is in Alaska, sailing round trip from Vancouver BC.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We would prefer a Disney cruise because I heard great things about them, but other ideas and suggestions would be welcomed.

I'll also point out that the trip from the Disneyland area to San Diego (where DCL sails from) could take up to a couple of hours one way. You'll need to factor that into the time equations. Are you flying into LA? Orange County? Long Beach? Ontario? The travel time between there and the places you want to go should be considered.

 

[vinmar4]

We will probably fly into LA so we visit the places that she would like to visit, we could also just sail out of Galveston upon our return, or even fly from LA to FL to take the cruise from there. We could always stay at a DVC resort if we go the Florida way. We are also trying to save some money if we can, so trying to put together a doable plan and save if we can.

 

[Pixarfans]

Would you visit Disneyland & California adventure? You need a (very long) day for each (some would say even more).

 

[AgentMama]

If you're just visiting LA, and that area, I would probably choose to ride share instead of renting a car. Driving can be congested and most hotels will charge you to park overnight.

 

[Quellman]

We will probably fly into LA so we visit the places that she would like to visit, we could also just sail out of Galveston upon our return, or even fly from LA to FL to take the cruise from there. We could always stay at a DVC resort if we go the Florida way. We are also trying to save some money if we can, so trying to put together a doable plan and save if we can.

My mom took me on a Disneyland Trip for my highschool graduation. It is a great memory. We did Hollywood and stuff like that too. You won't be on a Disney Cruise if you go in June. A fun extra surprise would be at the airport when you return from LAX to home. Instead of going home, you continue to Orlando, Spend 1 day at the parks and then do a 3-4 day cruise.

 

[Adventurelawyer]

My mom took me on a Disneyland Trip for my highschool graduation. It is a great memory. We did Hollywood and stuff like that too. You won't be on a Disney Cruise if you go in June. A fun extra surprise would be at the airport when you return from LAX to home. Instead of going home, you continue to Orlando, Spend 1 day at the parks and then do a 3-4 day cruise.

Or fly into Houston, have a limo waiting to take you to Galveston, and board the ship from there. Since your Texans, after all.

 

[Quellman]

Or fly into Houston, have a limo waiting to take you to Galveston, and board the ship from there. Since your Texans, after all.

There won't be a Disney ship out of Galveston that time of year. Others sure.

 

[Adventurelawyer]

There won't be a Disney ship out of Galveston that time of year. Others sure.

Ahhh ok.