Need help organizing our trip!

[KarenB]

We will be flying into John Wayne airport around noon on a Thursday in late July and heading home the following Friday. It will be DH, myself, and DSs age 20 and 22. We need some help in organizing our trip as we keep adding more and more ideas to our list. We will be based out of a 2 bedroom at the Grand Californian, have a car, our second trip to the area. Here is what we want to do:

Disneyland of course! We bought a 5 day park hopper for the price of 3! We would probably use a day on our arrival day, then another full day. The rest would be spur of the moment trips into the park.
Universal Studios (1 visit)
Farmer's Market (swing by LeBrea Tar Pits?)
Red Sox game (night game)
Taping of a show (put in for Leno tix as a back up)
Venice Beach
Marina Del Ray
Hollywood and a tacky bus tour
Beach at a surfing town/spot
Hiking at Torrey Pines (is this possible?)
Wine tour? What about the 20 year old?

Our kids are into film, movies, and good travelers. we love to hike as a family. They are content and enjoy a nice dinner, so we really need some meal suggestions. Anything you feel we should skip or add to the list above?

Whew....thanks!
Karen

 

[PFopma]

I will also be in CA end of July with nephew 16. You have similar interests. Nephew is also into movies and acting and we are planning to do a tv show taping and are also waitlisted for Leno. One thing you should consider is Warner Brothers Studio tour. I've done this tour several times over the years. Gives you a more up close and personal vew of the fim/tv industry than Universal which I consider just another theme park. The tour is 2.25 hrs and well worth the price of $48. There is also a longer tour that includes lunch.

Whenever I have done this tour we have always been able to watch filming of a TV show or upcoming movie although not guaranteed.

http://www2.warnerbros.com/vipstudiotour/

You could do one of the early tours around 9 am and then head over to Universal for the rest of the day/night. They are only a few miles apart.

At Universal on my last trip 5 years ago there was a kiosk at the entrance where you could sign up for TV tapings (It may have been Audiences Unlimited). They provide transportation and the good thing about going with them is you don't have to get to the studio early and wait in line. You are guaranteed to get in.

If you sign up a few days in advance you could plan some of your sightseeing around being near Universal on that day and then head over to the entrance where the bus picks you up at the time they tell you to meet.

We are also planning a dinner at Dukes in Malibu.