Help! Our trip is in 17 days!

[daughtersrus]

Our plane lands early (8:00am) at LAX. I thought we would use Super Shuttle but it's actually cheaper for us to rent a van ($60 vs $90 for 6 of us). The only time we've rented a car at an airport was for DD's Make A Wish trip to Hawaii and it was quite a haul to get to the rental counter. I'm hoping that's not the case at LAX. All of us are adults so we can handle our own bags but DD has a few extra with medical stuff plus her wheelchair.

We have hotel rooms booked at Candy Cane Inn for 3 nights. Our plan was to hang out at Disney Springs before the rooms were ready at but now that we will have a van, we thought about seeing some sites too. Is the Santa Monica Pier worth seeing? We have Navy Pier here in Chicago so I'm not sure if it's a must see. Any other recommendations?

We plan to do one day at Disneyland and one at CA. We go to th parks open to close.

We will get a DAS for our DD on Saturday so we won't have to waste park time. I spoke with them this week and they said GAC will be good for all of us. They said we will not need FP for parades or fireworks because all of us will be allowed in the wheelchair area. I understand DAS is only for rides/shows DD will participate in. We're looking for FP recommendations for rides that she will not be allowed to go on. She is 22yo but only about 4 ft tall. She can not transfer herself but she can sit next to us or on our laps.

We don't like to waste time on TS and prefer to eat CS.

We've been to WDW several times but this is the first DL trip for us. I went in '81 but it's s long ago, I don't count that.

After the 2 days in DL, we are renting a van and driving to San Diego for the rest of the week. We have booked a condo via Airbnb. We're planning on the zoo one day and a bbq with friends one night but really don't have other plans since our friends will be working during the day. I've read that there are beach wheelchairs available at the beaches in San Diego so we're hoping to go to the beach at least once.

We LOVED Wishes and the light show at Epcot but we're not fans of Fantasmic. We really want to see the night shows/parades at DL/CA

I just feel so unprepared compared to our WDW trips!

 

[rentayenta]

DTD is similar to but not as big as Disney Springs in WDW but it is fun. Santa Monica is fun but the ride home during rush hour can be brutal.

 

[daughtersrus]

DTD is similar to but not as big as Disney Springs in WDW but it is fun. Santa Monica is fun but the ride home during rush hour can be brutal.

We fly in on a Saturday. Will traffic be horrible? We live in the suburbs of Chicago so we're use to traffic but we don't want to waste 1/2 a day sitting in it. Are the road freeways or will we need to pay tolls?

 

[SMD]

There is a toll road on the way to SD, but you don't have to take it. F! is down until next year, so that won't be an issue. There are no FP for parades or fireworks offered, so DAS is not used for those. There are wheelchair areas, but I know for fireworks they fill up early. For parades I believe that there are more than 1, but for PTN followed by fireworks, you'd want to be in the one closest to fireworks because there's only a few minutes between them. They don't do DAS outside the park at DLR. The tablets are only located in the parks. It might be worth paying for a 3rd day for you half day, then you'd get a Magic Morning (not sure if you'd get it if you already have the tickets and upgrade at the booth, you'd have to check on that). Then you can get the DAS on the half day. The only 2 rides with height restrictions near 4 ft are Indy (46 in) and CA Screamin (48 in). Both have single rider. There are several rides that require riders to transfer, though. There is accessibility info on the DL site and I believe there is a sticky thread on the DISabilities board on this site.

 

[melk]

I can't help with too much but we were there just a couple of weeks ago. We arrived early on a Sunday morning and went to Santa Monica pier that afternoon. It was pretty crowded and the pier itself was really hot. We don't regret going but honestly, it wasn't anything special.

We drove back to our hotel in Burbank and the traffic was very heavy. The next day we did the Warner Brothers Tour which we all enjoyed. Not sure if that would be in your budget for your arrival afternoon but we liked it.

Also, we were never on any toll roads, in LA or Anaheim.

 

[SMD]

Also, at LAX all car rentals are off site, which means you will have to take a shuttle. It would probably be easiest to send 1-2 people to pick it up while everyone else waits for luggage. Then either drive back for curbside, or I'd recommend parking in the hourly lot across from the terminals and going back inside to meet up. I believe it's $3 for 30 minutes or maybe even a whole hour. Then you don't have to worry about meeting up in the loading zone.

 

[DisneyPhans]

Depends on your travelling style and many other things. I see nothing wrong with flying in, loading the van up with bags, checking out the local area.

I feel it's better to get settled and into your spot in Orange County -- grind through any traffic, get home to Candy Cane and establish your bearings first. It will also be crowded in Orange County on a hot Saturday and you will see people all over the place. They will probably let you leave your bags for awhile and possibly even have a room available before 3pm.

THEN, There's PLENTY to do in Orange County if you wanted to, with superior beaches.. The immediate area around DLR has more than enough to keep you busy if people are feeling tired from the morning travel. No one is going to argue with Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Huntington, Laguna. Then, you'll be in SD where there's also plenty to do. Could always hit Santa Monica on your way back - it's nothing special compared to the OC or SD beaches.

I'm a Southern CA native to OC and I've been through enough sunburn and sunpoisoning to call it enough for a lifetime. I'd prefer Chicago myself. If you're coming from Chicago it sounds like you are going to love the sun, surf, and sand.

I was just in Orlando a few months ago, OC and SD aren't going to be that different of a driving experience... actually there's far less toll roadsl.

 

[WonkaKid]

Is the Santa Monica Pier worth seeing? We have Navy Pier here in Chicago so I'm not sure if it's a must see. Any other recommendations?

Hey! I'm a native Chicagoan too. Just returned to LA from there on Saturday. Is the pier worth seeing? Yes, it's kind of cool, especially if it's important to you/your group to also see the ocean. There are a number of nearby restaurants and that part of SM is nice. There's ample metered parking around there and there's also a large public parking lot on 2nd street (one street in/east from Ocean). Parking is way cheaper than Chicago. I believe the first two hours at the public lot are free. That may have changed in recent years but it's still far cheaper than Chicago -- something like $2-$4, as opposed to Chicago, which runs around $18 for the first half hour.

May I recommend driving to the Griffith Observatory? There are great views up there and plenty of free parking. If you'd like to catch some awesome improv, Upright Citizens Brigade is only a few miles from there. Not sure what days you'll be in LA, but the Monday 7:00 show (The Smokes) is amazing and only $5. Bangarang! Fridays at 8:00 is also excellent but is $10. Lastly, Sentimental Lady Saturdays at 7:00 (an astonishingly cheap $5) is also fantastic. Tix must be booked in advance via the UCB website. Note that there are two UCB theaters in LA. The newest is on Sunset. I recommend the one on Franklin. It's older and everyone I know likes it far better. All of the shows I recommended above are at the Franklin theater.

If you can swing it, the Warner Bros studio tour in Burbank is well worth the cash. I think it runs around $50 but is close to three hours. I think you can find discounted tix online.

We plan to do one day at Disneyland and one at CA. We go to th[e] parks open to close.

Open till close is a great idea. However, I'd recommend doing both days at DL. In the last ten or so times that I've been to the park, I've skipped CA. There are a few cool rides there but DL is infinitely better (IMO)

We've been to WDW several times but this is the first DL trip for us. I went in '81 but it's s long ago, I don't count that.

I've been to five of the six Disney parks in the world (until a few weeks ago when Shanghai opened, I could say I've been to all of them) and DL is by far my favorite. You'll have a wonderful time!

I just feel so unprepared compared to our WDW trips!

You've got nothing to worry about. It's a much smaller (and better, since it's the original) park. Let me know if you have other questions!

Rob

 

[WonkaKid]

We fly in on a Saturday. Will traffic be horrible?

Here's the thing about LA traffic: it always has the potential to be bad. Early weekend mornings are fine but if you're driving east from Santa Monica anytime after 2:00, you'll almost certainly have trouble.

Are the road freeways or will we need to pay tolls?

Almost all are free. I've lived in LA for three+ years and have never paid a toll. Heading south on the 110, there are toll lanes but I think some kind of transponder is required. I've never seen a toll booth.

If you plan to hit DL the following Sunday, I'll be there. I almost always go on Sundays ;-). Let me know if you have further questions .

Rob

 

[smartlabelprint]

I'm pretty sure they won't give you a DAS since she's in a wheelchair. So, don't bother standing in line. You can go to city hall to get a map that shows which attractions you access through the exit though.

 

[daughtersrus]

Thanks for the tips!
One or two of us will go get the van while the rest wait for luggage. We'll probably park since we have to disassemble DD's wheelchair to get it to fit in the van. If LAX is anything like Chicago airports, they won't want us having the car that long at the curb

I called Disney again today. Apparently the CM I spoke with before was wrong. They do have a walk up window for guest assistance outside the gates but they will not issue a GAC there. We will have to get it the day of the park. I was hoping to avoid that because we waited over 2 hours last year at Epcot because the line was so long.
Does Disneyland have different criteria than WDW for GAC? We had no trouble getting one there but now I'm worried that we will need documents from her doctor to explain her medical condition. Her physical disability is just part of the genetic disease that she has.

I feel so unprepared!

 

[tlovesdis]

Thanks for the tips!
One or two of us will go get the van while the rest wait for luggage. We'll probably park since we have to disassemble DD's wheelchair to get it to fit in the van. If LAX is anything like Chicago airports, they won't want us having the car that long at the curb

I called Disney again today. Apparently the CM I spoke with before was wrong. They do have a walk up window for guest assistance outside the gates but they will not issue a GAC there. We will have to get it the day of the park. I was hoping to avoid that because we waited over 2 hours last year at Epcot because the line was so long.
Does Disneyland have different criteria than WDW for GAC? We had no trouble getting one there but now I'm worried that we will need documents from her doctor to explain her medical condition. Her physical disability is just part of the genetic disease that she has.

I feel so unprepared!

If she is in a wheelchair or ECV you do not need a GAC. You will get return times at rides, they will scan your tickets, and then you come back and use the handicap entrances. As a side note, they cannot ask you for any kind of paperwork or proof of disability, that violates ADA laws!

 

[Nevada Jen]

Hop over to the disabilities board here and read the sticky on disneyland. Bring you wheelchair hang tag for the van. Parking is generally free in ca with it. I wouldn't waste time at Santa Monica pier if you are going to San Diego. I would do a half day at disney instead. That will allow you to get the lay of the land a bit more and get your Das pass. They may not give you one if her disability is fixed by using the wheelchair but most rides at dl you enter through the exit with a wheelchair anyway. Absolutely without a doubt go to a beach with the beach wheelchairs. I would venture to say that will be the highlight of your dd'so trip, if not her life. It is really that amazing. She can take it into the ocean and catch waves. People not in chairs don't get how huge that is. If you Google San Diego beaches and wheel chairs you will find a map of where they have them. I wouldn't skip dca. Toy Story has a car she can go on in the wheelchair as does little mermaid. If you can lift her, rsr is really a great ride and the car is completely pulled off the track so you can take as long as you need to get in and out.