How to plan a trip to LL and SD

[2wildchildzmom]

OK trying to plan a trip to SD along with our trip to Disneyland.

If we rented a car would you do a one day trip and just do Legoland (a must for my Lego crazy 12yo DS) OR

would you rent a car and get a hotel for a nights stay and do LL and Seaworld?

What's better Seaworld or SD zoo (I haven't been to either since 1986, I remember liking both)

What hotels do you recommend? Ones close to LL? Anyone done the package deals, hotel and tickets?

Thanks for helping us plan!

 

[dismsn]

I haven't been to Legoland in many years and understand it's grown quite a bit over the last few years. So . . . I don't know how long it would take to get through the entire park. When we went, we just stopped at Legoland on our way to San Diego.

We were in San Diego and DL last month and stayed three nights in SD and four in DL. We visited SeaWorld (it was my second time to SD SeaWorld and 4th time to SeaWorld overall). If you have never gone, I would suggest it. Having been several times, I don't think I'd visit again.

We visited the SD Zoo many years ago and were not impressed. If they have made improvements, I would visit again but last month we visited the SD Wild Animal Park (not actually in SD) and LOVED it. We did not have enough time to see most of the park (we were headed back to LAX) but I liked it much better than the zoo.

 

[phishy25]

We just did all three. My kids loved Lego Land but they are 3 and 5. There really isn't much for the older kids, ride wise. You may want to do LL before Disney just so it doesn't seem really lame for them. We got there at 10 and stayed all the way until 5 and just barely got to do everything.

Out of the 3 I preferred the zoo but that's just me. I've wanted to go there my entire life and seeing the gorillas, koalas, and pandas was incredible.

Sea World was really fun too albeit crowded. We didn't stay at Sea World as long as planned because we got super wet on a ride and when the sun went down it was really cold. So make sure to bring a poncho or a change of clothes!

 

[phishy25]

We just did all three. My kids loved Lego Land but they are 3 and 5. There really isn't much for the older kids, ride wise. You may want to do LL before Disney just so it doesn't seem really lame for them. We got there at 10 and stayed all the way until 5 and just barely got to do everything.

Out of the 3 I preferred the zoo but that's just me. I've wanted to go there my entire life and seeing the gorillas, koalas, and pandas was incredible.

Sea World was really fun too albeit crowded. We didn't stay at Sea World as long as planned because we got super wet on a ride and when the sun went down it was really cold. So make sure to bring a poncho or a change of clothes!

 

[lcasa]

It is mainly for younger kids - but I also have a 12 year old lego maniac and he does love it. We've tried a couple of times to get the Mindstorms classes but they're always fully booked - you may have to call in advance ( not sure - worth a try for a 12 year old though ). If they don't take advance reservations, get there at opening and head right for the Mindstorms building. Mindstorms introduces them to computer programming, so it's a good next step.

Both the zoo and the wild animal park are fabulous. The Wild Animal Park is closer to Legoland - neither is in San Diego. Animal park is easier to do than the zoo - smaller, much less walking. They have a great lion exhibit - they can get real close ( behind glass though).

I'm not much of a Sea World person...the staged shows with the animals are just too forced, not natural enough for me. But I seem to be the exception.

 

[2wildchildzmom]

Thanks for the advice, Ian definately wants to do the mindstorm class. His friend at school has told him all about it. We are having a Lego Birthday party on Sat. and his Brickmaster package just came so that will be exciting. I think that if we can I will try and plan to do LL before DL.

 

[godalejunior]

We rented a car at Alamo in DTD and went to Legoland for the day during our trip in January. Hit slight traffic on the way home about three miles from our exit back to DLH. It is very doable in one day and we actually left before Legoland closed.