Need some DL Help

[mermaid&cinderella]

We have been going to WDW every year and this year we thought we would head down to DL. I know nothing about DL so I need alot of help. How many days does DL take? We want to be in Cali for 2-3 weeks, what else should be do and see? Our DD is 7 years old. I know there is Sea world and Universal, how many days do those take? Is there a good website that can help me? I am soooo lost!

 

[carebee21]

Can you give us more info? What time of the year are you planning on coming? Are you going to have a rental car? Are you just planning on staying in Southern CA for those 2-3 weeks?

I'm just going to assume you're coming in summertime and based on that I'd say you will want 4-5 days in Disneyland and California Adventures. In the off season you can usually get by with 3 days between the two, but with lines and crowds you'll want the extra day or two.

Seaworld is in San Diego. So if you have a car, I would recommend changing hotels and just staying down there for part of your trip. I would recommend doing San Diego Zoo, Seaworld Coronado Island for the beach and cutesy shops and Old Town for cute mexican inspired shopping and yummy mexican food. Seaworld can be done in a day, but the past couple of years they have run buy 1 day, get a 2nd day free promo so if you want, you can break it up into two days for the price of one. Also, the zoo can be done in one day, but it's a huge zoo and lots of walking so be sure to be there at opening and stay until closing and be prepared to walk all day! Also, in that vicinity you have Legoland and The Wild Animal Park. I'm not a huge fan of either but just throwing a few things out there to look into.

In the LA area you have universal studios, knotts berry farms (and a water park right next door but I can't remember the name now) and magic mountain. Depending on how big of a thrill seeker your daughter is would determine the best theme park. But it's something else you can look at their websites for.

And also (again assuming it's spring/summertime) if you're a baseball fan, you have LA Dodgers, Anaheim Angels and San Diego Padres games you can check out while you're in town.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Can you give us more info? What time of the year are you planning on coming? Are you going to have a rental car? Are you just planning on staying in Southern CA for those 2-3 weeks?

I'm just going to assume you're coming in summertime and based on that I'd say you will want 4-5 days in Disneyland and California Adventures. In the off season you can usually get by with 3 days between the two, but with lines and crowds you'll want the extra day or two.

Seaworld is in San Diego. So if you have a car, I would recommend changing hotels and just staying down there for part of your trip. I would recommend doing San Diego Zoo, Seaworld Coronado Island for the beach and cutesy shops and Old Town for cute mexican inspired shopping and yummy mexican food. Seaworld can be done in a day, but the past couple of years they have run buy 1 day, get a 2nd day free promo so if you want, you can break it up into two days for the price of one. Also, the zoo can be done in one day, but it's a huge zoo and lots of walking so be sure to be there at opening and stay until closing and be prepared to walk all day! Also, in that vicinity you have Legoland and The Wild Animal Park. I'm not a huge fan of either but just throwing a few things out there to look into.

In the LA area you have universal studios, knotts berry farms (and a water park right next door but I can't remember the name now) and magic mountain. Depending on how big of a thrill seeker your daughter is would determine the best theme park. But it's something else you can look at their websites for.

And also (again assuming it's spring/summertime) if you're a baseball fan, you have LA Dodgers, Anaheim Angels and San Diego Padres games you can check out while you're in town.

Thank you for yor reply

We are thinking end July/August to go down and yes we will have to rent a car for the full period. We wanted to be in the LA area and also go down to the San Diego area. DH is a scuba diver and he will take a few days to do that. We love the beach so I wanted to spend a week straight at the beach. Which are good beaches for kids? WOuld love to get a condo on the beach also.

Is DL busy during the time I plan on going down there? I didn't want to do Legoland since DD isn't into that and I am not a fan f waterparks, woudl rather just go to the beach.

So would you saw 4 days for DL and California Adventure? Are they right next to each other?
Which DL resort is better and why?
Universal one day?
SeaWorld 2 days?

We go to the local zoo here every year and its a pretty good zoo so I would skip the zoo down there.

Thanks

 

[Judy from Boise]

I am posting a link to one of our "sticky" threads at the top of the page. It might help answer many more general questions.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276

 

[Judy from Boise]

I am posting a link to one of our "sticky" threads at the top of the page. It might help answer many more general questions.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

DL can be busy all summer long. We go at Spring break, Christmas and Oct every year and sometimes sneak in a summer visit. I much prefer it WDW but it is different. Everything is so compact and close together. The two parks literally face each other and are separated by only aprox 50 yards. I think DL is the best park to look at (although I am a big fan of the AK park). Princess Aurora's castle can be a little underwhelming to those use to Cindy's spectacular abode in FL, but it has it's own charm and the rest of the park out shines it's East Coast counterpart. I like the in the park monorail and the subs and the Matterhorn (things you don't see at WDW). Make sure to check out Indiana Jones and the show at the horseshoe saloon. I think the Grand Californian is the best way to do DL. It has it's own private entrance into DCA and is very close to DL and Downtown Disney. I love the Arts and Crafts design and the Grand room (lobby) is spectacular (make sure to do the free hotel tour). Most people say 3 or 4 days is about right for DLR, but I like to stay 6 or 7 when I can. We catch an occasional baseball game at angel stadium which is very close to the park. San Diego is nice but I haven't been there in years. Mostly I just do DL when in socal.