I am ready to plan another trip to DLR for next year, but I need help!!!

[jacobsmommy]

Okay, dh and I have agreed that we loved DLR much more than WDW. I would love to plan another trip for next summer, but we would need to add on some other part of the west coast for my dh. We have already done San Diego, but we haven't seen anything else on the west coast. I guess we would do 3 or 4 days at DLR and then move on to somewhere else within a reasonable driving distance. Any suggestions? He would love to see San Fransico, the Redwood Forest, Yosemite, Vegas...

Also, for if we decide to go back next year-when is the Little Mermaid ride supposed to open?

 

[MVBowers111]

I have a DH who gets tired of always going to Disney. What I've tried to do on the trips where he's going to be with us is to plan some other parks as well. One year, we got the Southern California City pass. So, we did three days at Disney, a day at Universal, a day at Sea World and a day at the beach. The next year, we did three days at Disney and a day at Knotts. For our next trip, we'll do three or four disney days, and then drive up to Magic Mountain. There's so much other stuff to see that I just balance it out so he's not so bored.

 

[skiingfast]

San Francisco is the best tourist city in the US hands down. I would spend two days there. If you drive south from there to Santa Cruise you can visit a Red Wood Forest. The Monterrey Bay aquarium is excellent as is Monterrey and Carmel for some nice shpping and history. Highway 1 south from there is a phenomenal scenic drive, but a commited day long drive. You can't go over to 1 for a while and then get back to the interstate. Hearst Castle is on the way down as well they have tours that take a couple hours, you can't tour it on your own.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

San Francisco is the best tourist city in the US hands down. I would spend two days there. If you drive south from there to Santa Cruise you can visit a Red Wood Forest. The Monterrey Bay aquarium is excellent as is Monterrey and Carmel for some nice shpping and history. Highway 1 south from there is a phenomenal scenic drive, but a commited day long drive. You can't go over to 1 for a while and then get back to the interstate. Hearst Castle is on the way down as well they have tours that take a couple hours, you can't tour it on your own.

All of these are great suggestions. Just expect a lot of driving. Disneyland to San Francisco with little kids and little traffic has got to be at least a 7 hour trip. San Francisco to Santa Cruz at least 1 1/2 hours. We just recently spent a great weekend in Santa Cruz, beach, boardwalk, little museums, very relaxing and lots of fun. Didn't make it to the Redwoods though. Monterey Bay aquarium is huge, very impressive, very crowded, definitely worth a look if you've never been, drive from San Francisco probably about 2 hours, drive from Santa Cruz about 45 minutes. We wanted mellow and low key this last Santa Cruz trip so just went to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in Santa Cruz rather than driving out to Monterey. Seymour Center is part of UC Santa Cruz, not comparable to the scope of Monterey Bay Aquarium in any way, but wonderful for a taste of marine life without crowds and hassle. A few tanks with fish and a small touch pool for the kids. Beautiful view of the bay from there. A full whale skeleton on display outside. Was a really nice experience. Never been to Hearst Castle. DH has though and keeps telling me we should wait until DS10 and DS8 are a little older so they will be more interested in the experience.

 

[DisneyJewel]

We go camping in the redwoods every year (we are in Nor Cal). I think the best place for visitors to see the redwoods is at Big Basin State Park. You don't have to camp -- it is in the Santa Cruz mountains and you can do a day trip from Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is a fun little town for an overnight -- a combination of SoCal beach towns w/ NorCal hippie vibe. Nice boardwalk and lovely beaches. Big Basin is about a two hour drive from SF. It is a wonderful, wonderful park with lots of hikes, including a totally flat, simple hike starting at the ranger station that takes you to see some of the biggest trees in the park. My kids have been doing it since they were toddlers, and you can even take strollers on it. There are lots of more advanced hikes too if you like hiking.

I love Monterey too, but if you are combining w/ a visit to San Francisco (such a great place to visit -- that's my 'hood) and a visit to DLR, I'd pick the redwoods/Santa Cruz OR Monterey, not both. But it all depends if you are flying in and out of the same place (do you fly to Cali or drive?) or if you can arrive from one place and leave from another. If you are at Disney, then drive up North, and then need to take a flight out back from So Cal, that would be a pain.

Okay, dh and I have agreed that we loved DLR much more than WDW. I would love to plan another trip for next summer, but we would need to add on some other part of the west coast for my dh. We have already done San Diego, but we haven't seen anything else on the west coast. I guess we would do 3 or 4 days at DLR and then move on to somewhere else within a reasonable driving distance. Any suggestions? He would love to see San Fransico, the Redwood Forest, Yosemite, Vegas...

Also, for if we decide to go back next year-when is the Little Mermaid ride supposed to open?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Okay, dh and I have agreed that we loved DLR much more than WDW. I would love to plan another trip for next summer, but we would need to add on some other part of the west coast for my dh. We have already done San Diego, but we haven't seen anything else on the west coast. I guess we would do 3 or 4 days at DLR and then move on to somewhere else within a reasonable driving distance. Any suggestions? He would love to see San Fransico, the Redwood Forest, Yosemite, Vegas...

Also, for if we decide to go back next year-when is the Little Mermaid ride supposed to open?

What do you consider a reasonable driving distance? SF is 6+ hours from Disneyland.

Little Mermaid is set to open in May, but for Disney that could be June or later!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Little Mermaid is set to open in May, but for Disney that could be June or later!

Yeah, remember when WOC was going to open early spring, then late spring, then summer? I would plan on later rather than earlier if that new ride is important to you.

 

[jtown]

Tijuana! The kids will love it.

Seriously, tho, did you see everything there is to see in San Diego? Having covered pretty much all of SoCal, I think SD makes an excellent companion destination for a Disney trip. It's only an hour and a half away and there's so much to see and do.

Did you see the zoo, the animal park, sea world, Balboa Park (Air & Space museum, Model Railroad Museum, Science Center, Natural History Museum, and I know I'm forgetting some stuff), Mirimar Air Show is usually in early October, Legoland (on the way down).

No, I don't work for the SD Chamber of Commerce. It's just such a good fit for a trip to DLR.

If you're not opposed to a bit of travel to the second half of the vacation, there's the Grand Canyon. Roughly 8-9 hour drive. Zion National Park in Utah is a similar distance. They're both about the same driving distance as San Francisco (which would also make an excellent destination).

 

[tinkermell]

Hi! Glad you enjoyed DL!

I don't know how long you have, but here are some friendly suggestions.

If I were you, I would fly into the LA area, and then make your way up on Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. It is a beautiful drive all the way to San Fran. Along the way there are many sights and things to see. At times the highway combines with Highway 101. It will take you through Malibu, (peel and eat shrimp at Neptunes), through Ventura area and into Santa Barbara. Stearns Wharf, the pier there is alot of fun for the whole family to walk on. Santa Barbara is one of my favorite places in California.

From there you will travel north by our favorite campground right on the beach, Refugio State Park. About 30 miles north, is a a cute town called Solvang, about 5 miles inland from the freeway. Very Danish with lots of windmills and all. Try one of their round donuts with fresh rasberry jam. Called an abelscever. (I just massacred the spelling)

Keep driving north through some really pretty area that takes you inland for a while. Stop in Pismo Beach. Be sure to eat at Splash Cafe. Very well known for their clam chowder. Also has great burgers. Down the street from Splash towards the pier, is a place called Hot Lics. They have been on the Travel Channel for the candy filled with bugs. Kids love to look at them. Pismo Beach is also one of the very few places that they will allow you to drive your car on the beach. If that interests you, be sure to check around for the entrance. Another good eat are the cinnamon buns in town. Anyone can tell you where to find them.

Keep going north and you will come Morro Bay......to the sea lion harem. Next will be Hearst Castle, then Carmel with the famous 17 mile drive and so on. Oh and the Big Sur area. Beautiful! The Monterey Aquarium is absolutley wonderful.

Eventually you will get to San Fran. I go there every year to Christmas shop with my friends. But locals should have alot more info on that than me. I know they have some great museums and Alcatraz. Like one poster said....it truly is a great city to visit. The best shopping I have ever seen, bar none. And I have been to NY, Chicago and Orange County.

From there you should make your way back down south to Yosemite. One of the most beautiful places in the US if you ask me. Breathtaking! After you have enjoyed the park, make you way back down the valley, where I happen to live, and end your trip at DL.

Yay! A good way to end your stay.

OK, just some suggestions. Have fun planning!

 

[50sjayne]

San Francisco is the best tourist city in the US hands down. I would spend two days there. If you drive south from there to Santa Cruise you can visit a Red Wood Forest. The Monterrey Bay aquarium is excellent as is Monterrey and Carmel for some nice shpping and history. Highway 1 south from there is a phenomenal scenic drive, but a commited day long drive. You can't go over to 1 for a while and then get back to the interstate. Hearst Castle is on the way down as well they have tours that take a couple hours, you can't tour it on your own.

Hi! Glad you enjoyed DL!

I don't know how long you have, but here are some friendly suggestions.

If I were you, I would fly into the LA area, and then make your way up on Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. It is a beautiful drive all the way to San Fran. Along the way there are many sights and things to see. At times the highway combines with Highway 101. It will take you through Malibu, (peel and eat shrimp at Neptunes), through Ventura area and into Santa Barbara. Stearns Wharf, the pier there is alot of fun for the whole family to walk on. Santa Barbara is one of my favorite places in California.

From there you will travel north by our favorite campground right on the beach, Refugio State Park. About 30 miles north, is a a cute town called Solvang, about 5 miles inland from the freeway. Very Danish with lots of windmills and all. Try one of their round donuts with fresh rasberry jam. Called an abelscever. (I just massacred the spelling)

Keep driving north through some really pretty area that takes you inland for a while. Stop in Pismo Beach. Be sure to eat at Splash Cafe. Very well known for their clam chowder. Also has great burgers. Down the street from Splash towards the pier, is a place called Hot Lics. They have been on the Travel Channel for the candy filled with bugs. Kids love to look at them. Pismo Beach is also one of the very few places that they will allow you to drive your car on the beach. If that interests you, be sure to check around for the entrance. Another good eat are the cinnamon buns in town. Anyone can tell you where to find them.

Keep going north and you will come Morro Bay......to the sea lion harem. Next will be Hearst Castle, then Carmel with the famous 17 mile drive and so on. Oh and the Big Sur area. Beautiful! The Monterey Aquarium is absolutley wonderful.

Eventually you will get to San Fran. I go there every year to Christmas shop with my friends. But locals should have alot more info on that than me. I know they have some great museums and Alcatraz. Like one poster said....it truly is a great city to visit. The best shopping I have ever seen, bar none. And I have been to NY, Chicago and Orange County.

From there you should make your way back down south to Yosemite. One of the most beautiful places in the US if you ask me. Breathtaking! After you have enjoyed the park, make you way back down the valley, where I happen to live, and end your trip at DL.

Yay! A good way to end your stay.

OK, just some suggestions. Have fun planning!

Oh gosh. All good suggestions. I would say if you have never seen the redwoods you must see the redwoods. Period. But jeez--Hearst Castle is wonderful, Santa Cruz-- I love Santa Cruz, the boardwalk is wonderful, especially for little kids. San Francisco is it's own trip in my opinion....Unfortunately I've never been to SanDiego.