Help WDW vet, doing DL have to see hollywood

[mom4graceandlogan]

Ok so we are major WDW vets. over 130 nights at wdw with 3 kiddos. I have some how been blessed with 2 disney gifts this year, first time on DCL in september and now we are using some delta credits to help get us to finally see Disneyland in June. We will also be going to see Yosemite for 5 days( i know they are not close but it is a dream to see that also). We will be at Disneyland 4 days. We are flying in to LAX and I have a daughter whose lifes goal is to see LA. It does not appeal to the rest of us, but would love to take her to see Hollywood sign, Rodeo drive, and maybe a tour that includes chinese theater. We could stay in Hollywood first night or last night. ANy tips on plannng and highlights of things that are must do's? We are family of 5, kids 14,11, and 6 and have not booked anything yet. Planning to stay at Paradise Pier DL when at DL. Doing LAX to disney, Yosemite/Kings Canyon, long drive back to LAx we will hav a car. Help me work Hollywood in. So far we are limited to 9 days. Never been to California (except connecting flights)

 

[HydroGuy]

Are you set on doing DLR first and Yosemite after? You should have a blast at Yosemite, BTW. IMO the most beautiful place in the world.

In any case, I am not a big fan of the L.A. area. If you want to do DLR first, you could leave DLR to go to LA. Visit LA. And then move on and stay the night somewhere further north. So that would be 4 days at DLR, spend the last night, leave early, visit L.A., drive aways towards Yosemite, stay the night, and reach Yosemite all the earlier the next day.

If you do not have your DLR days set in June, then pay attention to the issues with visiting this June. Look in my signature line for info on the 60th celebration at DL.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

You can see many of your desired sites in one place. Drive to the Hollywood & Highland shopping center (located at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland). Parking is, I think, $2 for 4 hours with a validation (available from any shop, Starbucks, guest services). You can see the Hollywood sign from the viewing area (3rd level?), the Dolby Theater (home of the Oscars) is in that center, the Chinese Theater is right next door, the Walk of Fame is right outside in front, Jimmy Kimmel tapes across the street, Disney's El Capitan and a Ghirardelli's are across the street. For celebrity sightiings, drive to the Grove (very nice, outdoor mall -- located on Fairfax, south of Beverly). You will find nice shopping, dining, fun outdoor fountain, and the Hollywood Farmer's Market right next door (more fun dining, shopping, and possible celebrity sightings). Rodeo Dr. is farther west. From the Grove or H&H, you can head west on Sunset Blvd. (thus seeing the Strip) into Beverly Hills. When you see the Beverly Hills hotel, you can go south on Rodeo (warning: bizarre intersections). The area between Santa Monica Blvd. and Wilshire contains most of the shops and restaurants. There is public parking available. If you plan well and don't need to spend a long time in each place, you can do all this in one day. Maybe you could eat a later dinner to avoid the heaviest traffic, then head back down to DLR (if you plan to do your Hollywood day during your DLR days). Hope this helps.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

One of the best views of the Hollywood Sign can be had at the Griffith Observatory. At Griffith Park, you can also see the merry-go-round that Walt Disney took his daughters to, where he came-up with the idea for Disneyland. The merry-go-round is still in operation. Then head up to the observatory for the view of the Hollywood Sign and some great views of the cities below, including Hollywood. The observatory has some nice exhibits inside, and admission is free as well. From there, you can drive down the hill and head into Hollywood to explore some of the sights.

From Disneyland, Griffith Park is about a 40-minute drive (depending on traffic), and it's a straight shot up highway 5. You could do a day in LA, and still return to Disneyland.

 

[Geemo]

Do Hollywood first. We went to Hollywood on our last day of one trip.
My group - me, D-DIL35, DGS19, DGD15, DGS11 and DGD9. The grandkids had been asking for several trips to see Hollywood. So I drove them up.
They weren't too impressed. We were there maybe all of an hour or so. We drove over to Rodeo Dr. They liked all the fancy cars parks along the curb.
But in about 2-2.5 hours and they were done. I wish we'd used the time to walk around DTD instead. I paid $15 bucks to park in a structure lot around the corner from Chinese Theater. Parking was nasty.

If you do Hollywood first and it doesn't take all day, you can move on to DLR and start your time there.

Geemo

 

[sheetz]

Hollywood isn't interesting if you just drive thru it, but there are interesting things to do if you take the time to look for them. I always recommend seeing a movie at the El Capitan Theatre, visiting the Griffith Observatory, and having lunch at the Original Farmer's Market on Fairfax.

 

[momto3pirates]

We did the Hollywood tourist stuff a couple of years ago. We stayed at the Lowe's at Hollywood and Highland. It was very nice. We could see the Hollywood sign from our room. From there, you can walk to the Chinese Theater, Madame Tussauds, the Disney soda shop and the Hollywood museum. We had purchased the Go Los Angeles card. We also did the Warner Brother's tour and spent a day at Universal Hollywood. I believe we stayed there for 3 days then went to DLR.

 

[Filipina]

I would go to Griffith Park observatory to get best view of LA and sign. If you want to feel nostalgic, since you are in Hollywood, go to the Caraousel that started it all, it's there at Griffith Park. Then you can walk the stars and find Walt Disneys star. You can take a tour if you don't feel confident driving yourself but it's really not that hard to drive your own and go at your own pace. I like the Hollywood Museum at the old Max Factor building. And watching a movie at El Capitan theatre. It's right next to Jimmy Kimmel studio. Also can take a tour of Dolby theatre and Chinese theatre.

 

[sasywtch]

I get the impression the daughter is interested in celebrity/typical touristy Hollywood stuff. I would do as a pp said, go to DL first and then Hollywood for the day on your way out to Yosemite. Rodeo Drive was fun to walk and look, seeing the BH Hotel, drive the Sunset Strip,Chinese Theatre with footprints, Dolby with the Hollywood sign and The Grove. There are some hotels by Universal as I'm not familiar with hotels in the Hollywood area. Maybe a hot dog from Pinks (is it Pinks that has the hot dogs?) The next morning you could leave for Yosemite

 

[SMD]

I think that it's best to do a day in LA between DLR and Yosemite. But if your dates aren't already set, I'd consider doing Yosemite first. Maybe even flying into an airport near there and flying back from LA. It's a lot more forgiving to drive to LAX to catch a flight from DLR than it is from Yosemite. If you already have Yosemite booked, then it might be worth doing Hollywood last. You can add more or less to a day there based on what time traffic gets you in and what traffic looks like on your way to the airport. If you're ending in Hollywood, consider returning home from Burbank instead of LAX.

 

[pirate_smiles]

I get the impression the daughter is interested in celebrity/typical touristy Hollywood stuff. I would do as a pp said, go to DL first and then Hollywood for the day on your way out to Yosemite. Rodeo Drive was fun to walk and look, seeing the BH Hotel, drive the Sunset Strip,Chinese Theatre with footprints, Dolby with the Hollywood sign and The Grove. There are some hotels by Universal as I'm not familiar with hotels in the Hollywood area. Maybe a hot dog from Pinks (is it Pinks that has the hot dogs?) The next morning you could leave for Yosemite

Yes it is Pinks.......Most delicious hot dogs EVER!!!!

I think that it's best to do a day in LA between DLR and Yosemite. But if your dates aren't already set, I'd consider doing Yosemite first. Maybe even flying into an airport near there and flying back from LA. It's a lot more forgiving to drive to LAX to catch a flight from DLR than it is from Yosemite. If you already have Yosemite booked, then it might be worth doing Hollywood last. You can add more or less to a day there based on what time traffic gets you in and what traffic looks like on your way to the airport. If you're ending in Hollywood, consider returning home from Burbank instead of LAX.

Unfortunately there isn't an airport that is really close to Yosemite. Your looking at Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, or the smaller Fresno. You will still have a 3-4 hour drive to Yosemite from all any of these airports. Yes I agree it will be a lot more forgiving to drive to LAX from DL or the Hollywood area on the return trip. I would start with Yosemite since it will be the longest leg of the trip driving wise, that way you are still fresh with excitement and energy. And end with Hollywood or Disney.

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

OP here! THese are great! Thank you! We actually added a few days and are now doing a loop. DL first, then Kings Canyon, then Yosemite, then Pacific Coast Highway. We have almost two weeks and have never been to California. SO excited! I know it will be exhausting, but just like DIsney World, we are hoping to find another place we love and cant wait to get back too! Thank you for all the tips! I forgot about Pinks, I had seen it on tv before! Thanks so much for all the advice.

 

[KCmike]

Yosemite is my Heaven on Earth for National Parks. When in June are you going? I hope you get to see the waterfalls in full ROAR! Also if I may ask where did you choose for your lodging?

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

We are going June 4, staying at scenic wonders. Very little lodging available in park.