Last minute vacation... Help please!

[kaylleigh]

Anything would be great! I really dont' know how to put anything into words anymore since this is last minute!

Our traveling Dates: Sept 2 - 9th
3 Adults, 3 Kids (Male 6 & 12, Female 14)
So we have the first 4 days and 3 nights on our own until we meet up with my brother on the 5th.
I'm not sure where to go, and what to do!
I found a website "smartdestinations.com" that sold different city cards for entrance to various attractions.

San Diego card
..................Adult........Child
1 day $65.00 $50.00
2 day $95.00 $80.00
3 day $125.00 $104.00
entry included Knott's Water Park and Legoland.
(2 of the places the boys wanted to visit)

As for my niece, she wants to visit Seaworld. Of course, this is not included in the San Diego card so we'd have to purchase these tickets separate.

My question is, are these 3 attractions close to each other?
If so, how long would the drive be from one to the other?
I know that from LAX to San Diego is about 3 hrs drive.
So if we were to start at the farthest attraction, which one would it be? (Legoland?)
From that attraction, we would then work our way back towards Anaheim. Which would the second and third be?

Other than that, would you recommend other places to go to save time and money?
Do you know any good deals for last minute booking for hotels in San Diego and maybe even on those admission tickets? (if we are visiting Legoland/Seaworld/Knott's Water Park, where should we stay?)
We don't want to drive that long, because we went to Cali last year too, visited Disneyland, Seaworld and Universal Studios. We spent most our time driving because we didn't have a schedule to do stuff and because it was our first trip to Cali from Canada!

Sept 2 -
Sept 3 -
Sept 4 -
Sept 5 - Heading back to LA to meet with my brother & cousin.
Sept 6 - Disneyland
Sept 7 - Driving to Las Vegas
Sept 8 - Tour Vegas (I guess)
Sept 9 - Heading home!

I hope it's not to confusing! I really don't know how to put all of what I'm currently thinking inside my head into words... Things are juts floating around, one after another. I just can't seem to decide on one thing/place to another...

I'd like to thank you all for your time viewing this post and those that replied!

I wish everyone a wonderful week!

- K.

 

[endy]

The furthest from LAX would be Sea World, then Legoland.
Legoland is roughly 1/2 way between SD & Anaheim.
So if you drove to SD the first night, did SeaWorld & stayed the night you could stop at Legoland and up to Anaheim. It's likely cheaper to stay in Anaheim then Carlsbad. Or you could stay the night and get a couple of quick hours in at the outlet mall, it's just a couple of minutes from LL & the 14 yr would be in heaven (if she's a shopper.
You may want to check the schedule for LL, they have shorter hours and are closed a couple of weekdays.

If you stop at a Carl's Jr you may find some buy the adult ticket get the kid free coupons for LL.
At McDonald's they were in cohots with SeaWorld & had coupons for $15 off adult & kid tickets. Also check at McD's if they have free copies of SD child or SD family magizine- there was pay adults get kids free coupon. It will be on a rack somewhere free for the taking.

 

[Hound 109]

Only one day at DLR???

& that one day is the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend???


Have you been to DLR before? If not, I'd plan 3 days minimum (2 nights) & do them during the week if possible (avoiding labor day). Fit the other minor attractions around DLR.

Also, you might want to post your inquiry on the Disneyland (California) board. (20 times as many people posting than the SoCal Theme Park board)

 

[kaylleigh]

Only one day at DLR???

& that one day is the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend???


Have you been to DLR before? If not, I'd plan 3 days minimum (2 nights) & do them during the week if possible (avoiding labor day). Fit the other minor attractions around DLR.

Also, you might want to post your inquiry on the Disneyland (California) board. (20 times as many people posting than the SoCal Theme Park board)

Thanks for your time and reply!
My sister, niece & nephews and myself visited DLR just last year. We`re stopping by DLR this year juts for the 2 little kids that are coming with my brother. They`re both only 2, so there`s not much for them besides seeing all the characters up front.

I didn`t take the Sept 6th into consideration. I`ll let my brother know that it`ll probably be very packed as it`s a Sunday and also long weekend.

 

[kaylleigh]

The furthest from LAX would be Sea World, then Legoland.
Legoland is roughly 1/2 way between SD & Anaheim.
So if you drove to SD the first night, did SeaWorld & stayed the night you could stop at Legoland and up to Anaheim. It's likely cheaper to stay in Anaheim then Carlsbad. Or you could stay the night and get a couple of quick hours in at the outlet mall, it's just a couple of minutes from LL & the 14 yr would be in heaven (if she's a shopper.
You may want to check the schedule for LL, they have shorter hours and are closed a couple of weekdays.

If you stop at a Carl's Jr you may find some buy the adult ticket get the kid free coupons for LL.
At McDonald's they were in cohots with SeaWorld & had coupons for $15 off adult & kid tickets. Also check at McD's if they have free copies of SD child or SD family magizine- there was pay adults get kids free coupon. It will be on a rack somewhere free for the taking.

Thanks for taking a few minutes in viewing my post & giving me some type of info to work from. We still haven`t decided what we`ll be doing, but cost-wise I guess we won`t be visiting Sea World this year (unless we find those coupons ). However, we`ll be purchasing the San Diego card and maybe visit the attractions available. LL, Knott`s and maybe the zoo and even have some time for shopping at the outlet! (heaven! here we come )

Thanks again ! I wish you a wonderful week & weekend!

 

[annacali]

The zoo is definitely the farthest thing away...about 45 min further than Legoland.

Last month, on a Friday morning starting about 10:30 it took us about 75 minutes to drive from LAX to Carlsbad (where LL is located). That was with no major traffic.

Not a lot at Legoland for the 14 year old unless she really likes Legos, the 6 and 12 yo will probably love it. We went with 12 and 14 year old girls once...they tolerated it and liked a couple of the bigger rides and were there because of the little ones we were with, so they had fun taking them on rides, but they wouldn't go back just for themselves.

 

[lcasa]

Be careful - you say the kids want Knott's water park - are you sure you don't mean Knott's Berry Farm? I haven't been to Knott's Soak City but my son didn't like it much. Also they won't let you on the slides if you have ANY metal on your swimsuit - so watch out for that ( a small stud even ).

Sea World is the furthest. There are CityPass tickets available that include that and Disneyland - Costco sells them at a discount.

My kids just did Orange County to Vegas in 5 hours without traffic, 8 with ( a friday evening). I drove to Legoland this weekend in about an hour and 10 from Huntington Beach - so you're not talking great distances as long as you avoid rush hour.

 

[kaylleigh]

Be careful - you say the kids want Knott's water park - are you sure you don't mean Knott's Berry Farm? I haven't been to Knott's Soak City but my son didn't like it much. Also they won't let you on the slides if you have ANY metal on your swimsuit - so watch out for that ( a small stud even ).

Sea World is the furthest. There are CityPass tickets available that include that and Disneyland - Costco sells them at a discount.

My kids just did Orange County to Vegas in 5 hours without traffic, 8 with ( a friday evening). I drove to Legoland this weekend in about an hour and 10 from Huntington Beach - so you're not talking great distances as long as you avoid rush hour.

Is there a difference between Knott's Water Park and Knott's Berry Farm?
I did a google search and it both takes me to Knott.com ..

 

[lcasa]

Yes - they are across the street from one another, and require separate admissions. Soak City is the water park - it's the cheaper of the 2. All water slides and the like - wear a swimsuit!

Knott's Berry farm is generally considered the original theme park - Walt went there to see what they had done ( another Walt too - Walter Knott). It's full of coasters and what my kids used to call "PG" rides - puke generators! It does have some old fashioned rides too - an old mine train, passenger train, and stagecoach. They also have a kid's area called Camp Snoopy. At Halloween they charge separately at night for a very scary looking Halloween Haunt - bloody body parts and costumed characters wandering around - not for little ones at all ( or even me!)

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks for your time and reply!
My sister, niece & nephews and myself visited DLR just last year. We`re stopping by DLR this year juts for the 2 little kids that are coming with my brother. They`re both only 2, so there`s not much for them besides seeing all the characters up front.

I didn`t take the Sept 6th into consideration. I`ll let my brother know that it`ll probably be very packed as it`s a Sunday and also long weekend.

Cool.

I know that so many folks who are WDW vets post over here thinking that DLR is a 1/2 day visit & are SO disappointed that they didn't give themselves more time (especially if it's there only shot on the west coast).

I'm sure you know this, but which ever day you decide, be sure & get there EARLY (at least 30 min. before park opening).....since the kiddie rides are also the slow loading rides & can be enjoyed with much smaller lines early.

IMO, you can get as much done the first 90 min. of opening as you can if you arrived at 11am & left at 5pm. Plus after touring the rides for 90 min. you can then go character hunting.

Also, since you won't have MM (early entry) it might be better to avoid the MM days (Tue, Thur, Sat. & Sun). That way, Fantasyland won't already be jammed when you arrive.

Have fun.