Looking for some holiday help!

[DramaGeek]

Hi fellow Aussies, I could really use some help!

I'm starting to plan our second trip to the USA and the choices are overwhelming.

My fiance and I are trying to plan our honeymoon but are having trouble deciding between two options:

- A week at Disneyland, 3 in LA, 5 days in San Francisco and a weekend in vegas

or

- 10 days at WDW, a week in NY and 4 days in LA/DL

or even something in between the two options.

We have already been to NYC, Washington D.C and WDW.

My fiance feels - and I'm sure you'll agree - with what it costs for us to get over to the states we should do a lot while we are there.

So, with that in mind - what would you do? Which of these places have you guys visited? How many days would you spend?


Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[battymum]

For me, it's a no brainier - do the east coast!!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Since you have already been to NYC and WDW I would take the Second option unless you know for sure you are going back!
We haven't been to San Francisco yet because we haven't been able to give it enough time I think 5 days there sounds great.
Although I do love NYC.

 

[aussietravellers]

I'd do DL/LA/SF/Vegas option. As you have already done NY and WDW, it would be nice to do something different.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Congratulations on the engagement and good luck with your wedding plans and future lives together.

You haven't mentioned what time of year you're going but if you've already been to the East Coast, I would do something different.
If you want to head back to the East Coast, then maybe consider heading towards Eastern Canada. Quebec is a stunning location for a honeymoon and you might want to go see Niagara Falls (I know, it's cliche, right?).

Alternatively, if you haven't seen California, then you might want to do this option instead. Personally, I would cut down the number of days at DLR and spend 2 - 3 nights driving up the Pacific Coast Highway towards San Francisco. I absolutely love San Francisco; so the more time there, the better.
And if you like the outdoors, you might want to check out Yosemite NP and head to Napa Valley; instead of Vegas.

 

[Busy Busy]

Obviously any Disney is fabulous!! But, I say....

East Coast!! After 3 trips to NYC in ten years I still have bazillions of things to do and see there!! Maybe you could do a cruise from Orlando, or, we popped over to the Bahamas for 5 days - less than an hour on the plane and we were in paradise! Depending on what time of year you do it - the prices can be amazing!

Having said that, Las Vegas and San Francisco are both so much better than you can imagine!! You would love them both. My friend and her family did LA, Sedona, Las Vegas, Yosemite and San Francisco last year and loved it.

So......I have been absolutely no help - I think you should go everywhere!! . Good luck!!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

While you can't go wrong with either option, I too would probably tend towards the West Coast since you've already been to the East.

Of all the places you've listed, Vegas is my favourite and I don't think 2 days there would be enough for me. It's cheesy and crass, but once you get beyond that realisation, it's SO much fun (and I'm not even a gambler). To me the whole city was like an adults Disneyland and I think you should make the most of a visit there before you have any kids. The hotels are an attraction in themselves, the shows are fabulous, the shopping great, and there is always heaps to do in the surrounding area (e.g. Grand Canyon) if the bright lights become too much.
I think a better split would be 5 days Disney, 3 days LA, 4 days SF and 5 days Vegas. 4 days SF would be plenty for me, but I'm in the minority of people who didn't really love SF.

If you're set on a trip to WDW, I would probably try to do as previously suggested and squeeze in a Caribbean cruise to add a nice relaxing aspect to your holiday. Perhaps a week (or more) at WDW, a week on a cruise, and 4 or 5 days in Vegas on the way home.

Happy planning. I actually really love that early part of the holiday prep where you have all these places to pick from and heaps of reading and research before you decide.

 

[zanzibar138]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding

I love your first itinerary just as it is

I haven't been east, but Disneyland has such charm, and sometimes you can just imagine Walt wandering around. We were there for a week (although only had 6 days in the parks) and I was nowhere near ready to leave yet.

I haven't done LA, and TBH it doesn't really interest me. But I know there's heaps to do and you could easily fill in 3 days (especially if you do Universal as part of your LA stop, not from Anaheim).

San Francisco is lovely. We had 3 nights there and it really was a ridiculously short time to see everything. We left feeling a bit ripped off. I would definitely do 5 nights.

Vegas is something completely different and kind of amazing. But it's more of a novelty than anything else and I don't think it would take long for the novelty factor to wear off. We stayed just one night on our way back from the Grand Canyon, and saw The Lion King at the Mandalay. I wouldn't have minded one more night (mainly because we were so overwhelmed the first night we didn't really get a chance to take it all in), but DH was pretty glad to leave. If you don't think you'll be getting back to the US before you have kids, I would definitely make it part of your honeymoon

Actually, I take back my earlier comment about loving your itinerary just how it is. I would do it in reverse! I found it really hard to leave the Disney bubble and I think I would have appreciated the theming and attractions in Vegas more if I hadn't been comparing them to Disney

The drive up the Pacific Coast and Yosemite NP look amazing too, but you have to draw the line somewhere. If it was me I'd probably look at ditching LA and taking that time to drive up to SF, but I'm more into nature and the outdoors than big cities.

 

[DramaGeek]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply and your congratulations

This trip is part one of a two part USA trip over 2014/2015 - so we will be doing all these things eventually.

We are leaning towards itinerary 1 but also throwing in some time in NYC (we are both from a theatre background so the musicals are a big draw for us), and possibly cutting Vegas (my fiance doesn't drink or gamble and I'm only 22 so I'm sure I'll have time to see it before I have kids )

Those of you who like San Francisco - what were your favourite things to do there?

Also - we are thinking of staying at the Disneyland Hotel. Have any of you stayed there? Was it worth the money?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[PrincessInOz]

San Francisco?


Here's a thread that might help.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2451585

 

[zanzibar138]

San Francisco?


Here's a thread that might help.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2451585

PIO that's great! Putting that one in my favourites for later


Back to the question at hand...

We did the night tour of Alcatraz. It meant we got to see the sun set over the city and experience the island at night (which adds a bit to the creepiness), but it was FREEZING! There are a few areas they only open at night, and I thought it was worth the extra few $$.

We stayed in the Fisherman's Wharf area and walked up to the Golden Gate bridge. It was a long walk It's definitely worth taking a walk over the bridge though, and around the area.

Unfortunately we didn't realise the Walt Disney Family Museum was closed on Tuesdays. I was disappointed we didn't get to go.

Next time I plan to spend more time in the Presidio/Golden Gate area, maybe hire bikes and ride across to Suasalito.

 

[Minniemum]

Those of you who like San Francisco - what were your favourite things to do there?

Welcome to the ANZ boards Drama Geek.

SF is such a fantastic city with so many interesting things to see and do. Our top 3 are:
1. Alcatraz tour
2. Hire bikes and ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, stop for lunch and take the ferry back.
3. Muir Woods

Also have a read of PIO's 2012 TR (link in her signature). It's a source of inspiration for the uniqueness of SF and it's surrounds.

 

[Busy Busy]

What is it about places being closed on Tuesdays?? In 2003, my DH and I were very excited to go to the Louvre and see some gorgeous art (well I was anyway!!). We approached the entrance and in my VERY limited French I read the sign that said "closed on Tuesday" - grrrr!! Admittedly this was before my planning obsession reached it's current heights!!

We tourists don't take Tuesdays off....we hit it hard EVERY day!!

PS....in San Francisco - clam chowder in a bread bowl.... We even had it at the airport!

 

[Toy Story]

We have not done the west coast yet - the lure of NY is too strong. After reading MsShuttergirls rip report - Washington is on my list of places to go.

 

[DramaGeek]

Sorry to resurrect a reasonably old thread but our planning has taken another turn and I would love some more feedback.

We are now looking at a 7 days WDW, a 7 night Disney Cruise, 5 nights NYC, 2 nights Vegas, 3 nights San Fran and 4 nights DL/LA.

My main question is - is this too much Disney? Do you reckon we will out Disney ourselves?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sorry to resurrect a reasonably old thread but our planning has taken another turn and I would love some more feedback.

We are now looking at a 7 days WDW, a 7 night Disney Cruise, 5 nights NYC, 2 nights Vegas, 3 nights San Fran and 4 nights DL/LA.

My main question is - is this too much Disney? Do you reckon we will out Disney ourselves?

You're asking us???

Us....who are on a WDW DISNEY Forum?









The short answer.....

No. There is no such thing as too much Disney.

 

[ssour]

There's such a thing as too much Disney?

I don't think so, having so much Disney time means you can take it easy and soak it all in, no need to rush around and wear yourself out.

 

[sdnotto2009]

Your trip sounds fantastic. I'm currently living here and have done all you're planning except the cruise. But I did book a DCL for next year and I'm so excited. In short, it's never too much and each experience will offer something different. I'm looking forward to Castaway Cay the most!

 

[zanzibar138]

Too much Disney? No way!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Sorry to resurrect a reasonably old thread but our planning has taken another turn and I would love some more feedback.

We are now looking at a 7 days WDW, a 7 night Disney Cruise, 5 nights NYC, 2 nights Vegas, 3 nights San Fran and 4 nights DL/LA.

My main question is - is this too much Disney? Do you reckon we will out Disney ourselves?

Nope its not to much Disney last year we did 5 night DL, 5 night DCL, 7 nights WDW 2 nights DL it wasn't to much at all we did have a week in between DL and DCL.
This year 5 nights DL, 14 night DCL, 5 nights DL we didn't go in the parks all that time we did other things as well but we still weren't 'Disneyed' out