New to DL~ HELP!

[kcmyluv]

We are planning a family trip to San Diego in April. It will be My DH, and 2 DS (7). We have been to WDW many times and want to try DL. We will arrive in SD around 4ish. How will the drive to Anaheim be?
Also would we be better leaving after the park closes and drive to our hotel down in SD or better to leave in the morning?
Thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

San Diego is a very big city so driving depends a lot on your location. Generally 7 am to 9am and 4pm to 7 pm, you don't want to be driving. The drive should otherwise be 1 to 2 hours.

Leave after the park closes is surely best. Though not the same day you get there after the 3rd day. Why 3 days? Read the thread linked below.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[Huff]

Can you explain your itinerary in more detail? Are you flying into SD, then driving to DL for the day and returning to SD in the evening? That would make for a very long day considering SD to DL is an hour and a half drive if perfect traffic conditions which is rare (very early AM, midday or late night on weekdays, weekends are hit/miss). Usually 2-3 hours each way otherwise.

 

[kcmyluv]

Here's my plan-
Arrive on Sunday- 4 pm
Drive to DL Also should we use our points and stay at The Grand Califorinan or stay at the Park Vue. We will not have time to use the pool or anything.
Monday- DL
Tuesday- DL
Wed.- Torrey pines park, La Jolla
Thursday- Wild Animal Park
Friday- Fishing, and USS Midway
Sat- Legoland
Sunday- Open
Monday-Go home

The reason I was only think 2 days is that we have done WDW a lot.
Plus was trying to cut down expenses a little. And the boys have been asking to go to Disneyland. Thought we could try to hint the things they do not have at the World.
Thought about doing the City pass, but we have done SW already. So not sure it would be worth it.

 

[skiingfast]

The reason I was only think 2 days is that we have done WDW a lot.
Plus was trying to cut down expenses a little. And the boys have been asking to go to Disneyland. Thought we could try to hint the things they do not have at the World.
Thought about doing the City pass, but we have done SW already. So not sure it would be worth it.

Understandable that cost can always be an issue. CityPass would work but also includes Universal Studios. Both US if you've been in Orlando and SW are similar but different than the eastern versions. So you could go either way on them.

While the thinking of just go to DLR to do what's different is fine. Almost every attraction is different. For example, TSM and TSMM are the same, but one has a 45 minute wait and the other 100+ minutes. But POTC is very different, and even Peter Pan is a little different. So it will take a lot of time to experience the differences.

 

[kcmyluv]

Good to know that they are different. Never would have thought of that. I think we will do our favorites. TSM, POTC and Peter Pan are of course on the list. Now just have to talk DH into.

 

[Huff]

Two days is not enough to see all of DLR but enough to hit the major rides especially if you have hopper passes rather than try to do one park each day. Remember, the two parks are only 5 minutes walk at most between them. Not like WDW hopping!

Several rides exist at both DLR and WDW but are not the same. POTC is considerably longer with more scenes than WDW. Space Mountain is far superior than WDW's with in car sound (like RRC), seating side by side and much smoother track. Big Thunder at DLR I believe is a mirror image track than WDW' so while very similar provides a different experience. Haunted Mansion has a few minor differences including a real elevator. During late Sept. thru New Years its rethemed for Nightmare Before Christmas, very different!! Space is also rethemed for Ghost Galaxy during this time.

Fantasmic to me is far superior at DL than WDW's since its on rivers of America and uses the full sized Mark Twain and Columbia ships in the show. The dragon is also incredible!!

Jungle has only small differences from WDW. Splash is also very similar although I give the edge to WDW's. Tower is slightly better at WDW although for some reasons the kids prefer Disney's.