Need lots of advice...1st trip to DL

[basketrn]

First off...I have read all the sticky threads on DL...and they are great!!

I am looking for input. We are taking our 1st trip to DL. We will fly from Indy on Thur 3/24. I just made ressies with DVC for GC 3/24 - 3/27. On the 27th we will be doing the DCL 7 day MR cruise, then my plan is to stay at the GC and checking out on 4/4 or 4/5.

So here are my questions...

I am planning on doing DL/CA on Fri & Sat..we could possible fly in Wednesday night and have all day Thursday too. Which parks would be best on which days?

Also my teenager wants to see "Hollywood". I know that what he imagines is not really what it is, but is there any type of tours would anyone recommend.

Then I was thinking on that Sunday driving to SD to go to the zoo.

I know it is actioned packed..commando, but we don't have much time with me in grad school, my husband in nursing school and then the teenager is middle school.

Any other thoughts or suggestions are welcomed!!!

Dawn

 

[HydroGuy]

First off...I have read all the sticky threads on DL...and they are great!!

I am looking for input. We are taking our 1st trip to DL. We will fly from Indy on Thur 3/24. I just made ressies with DVC for GC 3/24 - 3/27. On the 27th we will be doing the DCL 7 day MR cruise, then my plan is to stay at the GC and checking out on 4/4 or 4/5.

So here are my questions...

I am planning on doing DL/CA on Fri & Sat..we could possible fly in Wednesday night and have all day Thursday too. Which parks would be best on which days?

Also my teenager wants to see "Hollywood". I know that what he imagines is not really what it is, but is there any type of tours would anyone recommend.

Then I was thinking on that Sunday driving to SD to go to the zoo.

I know it is actioned packed..commando, but we don't have much time with me in grad school, my husband in nursing school and then the teenager is middle school.

Any other thoughts or suggestions are welcomed!!!

Dawn

Usually "which parks" on "which days" is a bit blurry at DLR because the parks are so close and most people park hop every day. A better question is really "which park should I start at on which day?" and "when should I do the major shows like World of Color, Fantasmic and fireworks?".

Where to start each day depends on whether it is a Magic Morning at DL, and whether you have MM privileges that day.

If you have the energy it is best to start each day at DL because it opens earlier (8AM) than DCA (10AM) during high season times like Spring Break. If you need a late start morning to sleep then the best days for that are days when DL has Magic Morning and you do not - so you can just go to DCA at 10AM.

What will be challenging for you is that in March you will have three night time shows and you should not miss any of them. World of Color you must see at DCA. The probable fireworks show will be Remember Dreams Come True at DL which is frankly far better than any of the fireworks shows at WDW - and is much more than a fireworks show. Do not miss it. And then there is Fantasmic. If you have seen it at WDW it is the one of the three to skip, IMO, if you must. But it is better at DL than at DHS and you should try and see it if you can. So that means you need three evenings - unless you double up - which you can do but will require a late night.

As for Hollywood, I have never done a tour personally. My wife did a few years ago. At a minimum you must spend a couple hours walking Hollywood Blvd. From there you can take a 2-3 hour tour of Beverly Hills.

Hope that helps!

 

[basketrn]

I am leaning more of flying in Wednesday night. So this way we have thursday, friday and sat and the following sunday all day for parks, zoo, or what ever we do.

If we fly in Wednesday night, does any one have a hotel suggestion that is clean and safe close and fairly inexpensive to LAX. Really just somewhere to sleep.

 

[HydroGuy]

I am leaning more of flying in Wednesday night. So this way we have thursday, friday and sat and the following sunday all day for parks, zoo, or what ever we do.

If we fly in Wednesday night, does any one have a hotel suggestion that is clean and safe close and fairly inexpensive to LAX. Really just somewhere to sleep.

Here is where we stayed a couple times (as recently as April) before a morning flight out of LAX. It has an early breakfast and free 24-hour shuttle, as well as some rooms that can handle up to six (which was important for us).

http://www.bestwesterncalifornia.com/hotels/best-western-suites-hotel/

 

[rtravels]

My partner went on the Warner Brothers tour recently (in Burbank/adjacent to Hollywood) and loved it. He actually just got the tickets day of (then again, he was by himself). He got to sit on the Friends set that they preserved, walked into the Ellen set, saw a bunch of Harry Potter stuff, saw sets from Chuck. I was really jealous I couldn't go cause it sounds amazing.

 

[eeyoremommy]

I wish I hadn't read this post. If my husband finds out that he can see sets from Chuck, we will have to do this tour when we visit in early March. It will be the first trip for DH and DS to DL as well