Help needed for June 23-28 DL trip

[LuvEeyore]

Trying to get plans made for June 23-28, 2008 trip. Myself (43) Mom(73) amd two teenage girls age 13 and 14
None of us have been to DL or even California
Will be arrive at Bob Hope Airport at about 12:15 p.m after a 5 hour flight from the east coast.

Questions:
1) How do we best get from Burbank to DL?
2) Where would you stay? I am thinking in a hotel with in walking distance of DL? Where you you suggest? (most bang for fewest bucks)
3) Is a three day park hopper enough? Why or why not?
4)What else would you put on your do not miss list for this trip? And how do we get there?
Any other great tips would be appreciated

 

[LuvEeyore]

OOps, We will be leaving John Wayn at about 10 am on Saturday. These girls do late night well with rest during the day.

 

[madfelice]

Got no advice, but we'll be there between the 21st and the 28th onsite at PP!

 

[HydroGuy]

1) How do we best get from Burbank to DL?

I do not know of anything better than renting a car. Since you want to visit other SoCal places a car would seem to be a good idea.

2) Where would you stay? I am thinking in a hotel with in walking distance of DL? Where you you suggest? (most bang for fewest bucks)

You will get lots of suggestions around here. I too prefer walking distance hotels, and most of your options are discussed in the links here:

"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862

We have settled on BWPPI for off-site. It is the closest good neighbor, and their mini-suites have two queens and a rollout queen. And they have a fridge and microwave.

13) Is a three day park hopper enough? Why or why not?

Barely enough. I would recommend four days. I was there that exact same week in 2007. You are full into summer season by late June - which is not a bad thing IMO - but it will be busy that week. Further, DLR has some excellent shows that most would agree are better than WDW. This includes the RDCT fireworks/laser show, Aladdin stage show and Fantasmic. When you throw in some of the other shows and parades, it will be more relaxed for you to fit them in over four days. If you decide on three days you will still have a great trip but will miss more things IMO.

4)What else would you put on your do not miss list for this trip? And how do we get there?
Any other great tips would be appreciated

Outside DLR you will not have many more days - especially if you opt for four days at DLR.

Depending on your interests, lots of people like to see Hollywood. Walk Hollywood Blvd and take a bus tour of some of the celebrity neighborhoods.

If you want more theme parks, there is USH and Sea World San Diego.

Or spend a day at the beach at Newport Beach.

I understand there are shuttles to USH and bus service to the beach (I have never used either) . If you decide to rent a car then driving will be easiest. But do your driving on weekends or other times to avoid some of the massive SoCal traffic.

If you have not see it yet, here is some more reading material for you:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

Have a great trip.

 

[Hound 109]

LuvEeyore, are you arriving on a Sat. in Burbank & departing the following Sat. out of John Wayne?

Where do you like to stay at WDW (& why?)

Are you considering seeing anything else? (Hollywood, Beaches, San Diego?)

DO READ all of HydroGuy's tip threads (& print most of them).

I agree renting a car is best, & a minimum of 3 nights 4 days at DLR. (4 nights/5 days might be better). & a couple of other things to consider:

- time change will help you get up early the first couple of days.

- Early on Sunday morning is a GREAT time to drive around /tour, etc.

- Read HydroGuy's tips. (i already said that...didn't I? )

hound -

 

[LuvEeyore]

At WDW we usually stay at one of the moderate resorts for price. We like French Quarter for size, location.
We are arriving about noon on Monday and leaving on Saturday morning.
Hollywood tour and San Diego Zoo sound good to us since the girls are the age they are and one says she is going to VA tech to be a vet!!

How is traffic going to compare to DC traffic? That is what I am worried about in renting a car. In fact, I have considered just renting a car for a day so we could drive say to San Diego or the beach.


Keep the tips coming and thanks so much for all the info. Hydroguy, thanks for all your tips. I have read and am reading the threads.

 

[Tink33]

My DD13 has 2 pastimes: shopping and the beach. Would they be interested in either of those?

 

[Hound 109]

At WDW we usually stay at one of the moderate resorts for price. We like French Quarter for size, location.
We are arriving about noon on Monday and leaving on Saturday morning.
Hollywood tour and San Diego Zoo sound good to us since the girls are the age they are and one says she is going to VA tech to be a vet!!

How is traffic going to compare to DC traffic? That is what I am worried about in renting a car. In fact, I have considered just renting a car for a day so we could drive say to San Diego or the beach.


Keep the tips coming and thanks so much for all the info. Hydroguy, thanks for all your tips. I have read and am reading the threads.

Just to clarify....flying into John Wayne (Orange Co.) on Monday noon & out of John Wayne on Sat. morning?

If so, quick thoughts:

- Monday noon. Into SNA - Take cab/shuttle to hotel at DLR.
- M/T/W night at either CandyCane (because of shuttle), Best Western or Camelot at Crosswalk, or Paradise Pier (on site).....given your Moderate preference & the fact it's all female travelers....others will offer suggestions too. I think Hojo would be too far a walk for all females at night, fwiw.
- Touring DLR Monday night & Tues, Wed., & Thurs. morn/afternoon)
- Rent a car at DLR or cab to SNA & rent a car (weekend rate after noon i think). (Easy drive straight shot down I 5. 90 - 120 min.)
- Drive to SD and stay near Zoo/Old Town.....or possibly near beach. stay Thurs & Fri night.
- Friday - Zoo early. Beach, late afternoon.
- Sat. morn. drive back to SNA. (note - early Sat. morning traffic won't be bad, but i guess it depends on when your flight departs on where you stay Friday night.)

Others can offer advice on what's best to do with 1-2 nights & 1-2 days in SD.

Have fun planning a trip to Walt's Park.

Note - Might want to share when your flight leaves Sat. Also, if Seaworld is of interest. (I prefer the zoo, fwiw.)

 

[LuvEeyore]

we are flying in and out of Bob Hope Airport in Burbank

Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming

 

[Hound 109]

we are flying in and out of Bob Hope Airport in Burbank

Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming

LuvEeyore, my San Diego itinerary above doesn't work (or make sense) coming in & out of Burbank. sorry.

I'd consider a first night at a beach hotel. (Maybe in Santa Monica) The following day at the beach (Santa Monica / Malibu possibly). Then 3 or 4 nights at DLR (at the hotels mentioned above). Good luck!

 

[Dobie]

I flew in to Bob Hope around 12:30 ish on a Monday afternoon in late October, and was walking through the turnstyles into Disneyland at 1:45. We rented a car, and traffic was not bad at all.

There are no shuttles that I am aware of from Bob Hope to Disneyland, and cab fare, one way, was quoted as approximately $100. You can get a car for a week for a reasonable rate--I am thinking we paid maybe $150-175?

If you are going to rent a car, make sure the car rental agency has an on site lot--most of them are further away.

If I were planning this trip, I would change my flight so I was flying into John Wayne--this is much closer, and cab fare is only around 40 bucks one way.

I have only ever stayed in a resort hotel, so I can't recommend an off site one. Paradise Pier is very reasonable and pretty close. Plus, if you stay on site, you can have early entry every morning it is offered, which is a nice bonus in summer. Being from the East Coast, getting up early won't be hard for you--the 7:00 am early entry will feel like 10:00.

 

[HydroGuy]

I flew in to Bob Hope around 12:30 ish on a Monday afternoon in late October, and was walking through the turnstyles into Disneyland at 1:45. We rented a car, and traffic was not bad at all.

Comparing traffic experiences in SoCal is sort of like comparing weather. "We were there in April and the weather was sunny, warm and great" goes right after the post that says "We were there in April and it rained every day". Whenever I can get from A to B in SoCal without traffic I feel lucky. You were lucky. Others will be lucky too. But some will not. Those traffic gods like to disappoint and frustrate us at random.