Opinions requested for DLR first-timer itinerary

[Zippa D Doodah]

Reading the threads in this forum has been an abundant amount of help in my planning. Thank you so much for you DLR folks who so generously share you expertise! My family and I are tried and true WDW vets, now ready to make our pilgrimage to DLR. As I am now about ready to book all the pieces of this trip, I would appreciate any input, particularly glaring mistakes you may see. I will try to annotate my details below in a somewhat cogent way...

Travel me, DW, DD14, DS11
Dates: June 13, 2011 -June 21, 2011

Monday, June 13 -arrive LAX at 4pm; rent convertible ; make way to Candy Cane Inn
-LAX is by far the cheapest airport for us to fly into
-I researched just about all the Good Neighbor hotels both here and on Trip Advisor (plus other sites to boot), and believe CCI is the best choice for us. The short walking distance, shuttle, pool, and breakfast all seem attractive.
-We are renting a convertible just because it seems like a cool thing to do

Tuesday, June 14 -DL
-I am still developing our exact touring plan, but maximizing rides won't be our goal so much as maximizing the fun and adventure

Wednesday, June 15 -CA/DL
-see above

Thursday, June 16 -DL/CA
-see above
-This is a Grad Night, but I think we'll pretty much wrap up the DLR leg of the trip by the time the park closes at 9

Friday, June 17 -sleep in; leave CCI and check in at Hampton Inn in Burbank; some Hollywood touring
-HI in Burbank looks like a good headquarters for the second leg of our trip; great reviews on Trip Advisor; reasonable price
-I am buying the Hollywood City Pass (includes Tussaud's wax museum; a couple of star tours; plus Kodak Theater tour). We will do one or two of those that afternoon if we feel like it

Saturday, June 18 -Universal Studios Hollywood; further Hollywood touring
-I figure Saturdays at USH will be crowded, but my expectations are low. Hopefully we can at least just do the studio tour and anther ride or two
-Maybe finish up whatever is left on City Pass
-Probably visit a cemetery or two (I know... we are a weirdo family)

Sunday, June 19 -attend church at Saddleback; tour coastal towns
-It will be a 1.5 hour drive from Burbank to Lake Forest that Sunday morning, but I don't really mind
-The idea is to leave Lake Forest and catch the coastal highway at Newport Beach, then spend the rest of the day working our way up the coast to Santa Monica -stopping and exploring wherever we feel like it. I know this is probably the part where you SoCal vets are snickering at my ambitious planning for this day. Can I get much done in that afternoon/evening?

Monday, June 20 -USH; Hollywood and Beverly Hills odds and ends
-This might be a day where we catch the taping of a TV show, stroll along some fancy street, or whatever
-We will begin the day by doing whatever we missed at USH on Saturday. If we miss something altogether, who cares...

Tuesday, June 21 -travel back home
-Our flight leaves at 11am, so I am hoping for a smooth drive from Burbank to LAX

So how does that sound?

 

[DizNee Luver]

Sounds like an exciting trip!!

When in Hollywood, check out the Disney Soda Fountain, which is next to the El Capitan Theater!!!

With having a car to use, you might want to add in a drive to Burbank to see the Disney Studios (from outside the gates, but still a neat thing to do).

We've never done any of the tours....pretty much gone off on our own to explore but with definite spots we wanted to hit (like the ones mentioned above).

We've never stayed at the Candy Cane Inn but have read some very favorable reviews.

 

[sonnyjane]

-I am still developing our exact touring plan, but maximizing rides won't be our goal so much as maximizing the fun and adventure

I think that's a great attitude! Since it's your first time (unless I read that wrong), I do wish you had another day at the park, since one of your nights is a grad night. I would have suggested getting a four-day hopper and going to the parks for a few hours on Monday night when you arrived, but I see you're using the City Pass (therefore 3-day hoppers). Since rides are not paramount for you, however, I'm sure you'll find you'll accomplish a lot in that time. Make sure you see as much of the nighttime entertainment as possible (WOC, Fantasmic!, fireworks). They are all so great!

As far as the other part of your itinerary, I can't help much. I am more of an expert on San Diego.

I do hope you have a great trip!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Sounds like an exciting trip!!

When in Hollywood, check out the Disney Soda Fountain, which is next to the El Capitan Theater!!!

With having a car to use, you might want to add in a drive to Burbank to see the Disney Studios (from outside the gates, but still a neat thing to do).

We've never done any of the tours....pretty much gone off on our own to explore but with definite spots we wanted to hit (like the ones mentioned above).

We've never stayed at the Candy Cane Inn but have read some very favorable reviews.

Disney Soda Fountain and Disney Studios in Burbank... good ideas! Thanks.

I figured the "star tour" of Hollywood will pretty cool. The kids will want to see where Katy Perry (or whomever) lives, and it will be a far more relaxing day for me if we're all four riding around in an open-top Tour van, than me trying to navigate LA streets using some smudged star map I'd have to buy on the street corner.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I think that's a great attitude! Since it's your first time (unless I read that wrong), I do wish you had another day at the park, since one of your nights is a grad night. I would have suggested getting a four-day hopper and going to the parks for a few hours on Monday night when you arrived, but I see you're using the City Pass (therefore 3-day hoppers). Since rides are not paramount for you, however, I'm sure you'll find you'll accomplish a lot in that time. Make sure you see as much of the nighttime entertainment as possible (WOC, Fantasmic!, fireworks). They are all so great!

As far as the other part of your itinerary, I can't help much. I am more of an expert on San Diego.

I do hope you have a great trip!

Hmmm... that's actually an idea I might consider. I am getting the Hollywood City Pass, which is just for a handful of minor attractions in Hollywood -not the SOCal Citypass that includes DLR tix plus USH and San Diego attractions. My DLR tix are a separate deal, so I am not locked into three days. If I think we might be up to it, I may plan to hit DL for a couple of hours Monday night. I was already perusing alternate entertainment/dining options. Why not DL? Hmmm...

Thanks for the thought