Planning first trip to DisneyLand, please help I'm so lost!

[palmtreegirl]

Hi all! We decided to take our first trip to California next December! Whoo hoo! But I'm feeling very overwhelmed right now, I've checked out all the links in the top threads but I'm still feeling lost.

We'll be staying from December 2- 10, Friday-Saturday and will be there over my 35th Birthday .

How many days do you think we should spend at Disneyland? Would 4 nights/5 days be good or too much?

We'd also like to spend some time in San Diego, go to the Zoo, see some sights maybe go to a beach.

How do you think I should divide this up? We're should we stay in San Diego? I think I decided on the Paradise Pier at Disneyland, we'll be staying on DVC points.

Any advice you could give me on how you'd plan this trip would be greatly appreciated. I'm a pro at planning a trip to Disneyworld but this Disneyland thing has thrown me for a loop!


Thank you very much, I'm so excited that we decided to go!

 

[lkohawaii]

If you can plan WDW I'm sure DL will be a breaze. Visit mousesavers.com. Mary gives you a lot of info. We drive to San Diego when we go but my friends have taken the Amtrak ( I think that's what the train is called). Here in Hawaii we have no trains like that so to ride a train like that is another experience...if it's not biggie to you then drive it takes just as long. Don't stay at the Howard Johnson down there. It was a rat hole. We stayed at a Holiday Inn down there on Sports Arena Blvd. ( I think that's what it's called). It was nice and newly renovated. Still had new carpet smell. If you stay on Sports Arena Blvd. you'll probably feel much safer than off that main street that comes off the freeway. Hope this helps.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Hi palmtreegirl,

I think you're on the right track. 4 nights/5 days should be just about right to fully enjoy DL and DCA. It could be slighty crowded because you'll be there starting on a Friday and then through the weekend. Crowds are much lighter during mid-week (Tues, Weds, Thurs).

Paradise Pier will be a great place to stay. Wonderful views, nice rooms and a good location to the parks and DTD.

Also mid-December is a nice time to go because all the Holiday decorations and lights are up. They are so pretty and will make your visit seem more magical.

I wish I could recommend somewhere to stay in San Diego, but I've never actually stayed in a hotel there. Whenever we go Sea World, the Zoo, etc, we've always driven from our hotel in the DL area. However, because of the heavy traffic between San Diego and L.A., it can take 90 minutes or more to drive it one way, so staying in San Diego is a much better alternative if you're planning on doing several activities there. I recommend going to www.tripadvisor.com and read the reviews on San Diego area hotels to get an idea of where to stay.

Hope I helped you a little. Have a great Holiday Season and hope you have a terrific time on your trip next December to Disneyland!

 

[palmtreegirl]

Hi palmtreegirl,

I think you're on the right track. 4 nights/5 days should be just about right to fully enjoy DL and DCA. It could be slighty crowded because you'll be there starting on a Friday and then through the weekend. Crowds are much lighter during mid-week (Tues, Weds, Thurs).

Paradise Pier will be a great place to stay. Wonderful views, nice rooms and a good location to the parks and DTD.

Also mid-December is a nice time to go because all the Holiday decorations and lights are up. They are so pretty and will make your visit seem more magical.

I wish I could recommend somewhere to stay in San Diego, but I've never actually stayed in a hotel there. Whenever we go Sea World, the Zoo, etc, we've always driven from our hotel in the DL area. However, because of the heavy traffic between San Diego and L.A., it can take 90 minutes or more to drive it one way, so staying in San Diego is a much better alternative if you're planning on doing several activities there. I recommend going to www.tripadvisor.com and read the reviews on San Diego area hotels to get an idea of where to stay.

Hope I helped you a little. Have a great Holiday Season and hope you have a terrific time on your trip next December to Disneyland!

Thank you!

If we go to San Diego first then we can avoid the weekend, so I'll plan it that way instead. That way we'll spend Fri-Sun in San Diego and then Mon-Fri at DisneyLand. Thanks for the tip!

If you can plan WDW I'm sure DL will be a breaze. Visit mousesavers.com. Mary gives you a lot of info. We drive to San Diego when we go but my friends have taken the Amtrak ( I think that's what the train is called). Here in Hawaii we have no trains like that so to ride a train like that is another experience...if it's not biggie to you then drive it takes just as long. Don't stay at the Howard Johnson down there. It was a rat hole. We stayed at a Holiday Inn down there on Sports Arena Blvd. ( I think that's what it's called). It was nice and newly renovated. Still had new carpet smell. If you stay on Sports Arena Blvd. you'll probably feel much safer than off that main street that comes off the freeway. Hope this helps.

Thank you!

 

[avoiding work]

We just returned from our first trip to DL, having made many trips to DW. In one word, it was incredible! There are so many fun and different things to appreciate while you are there. I really enjoyed how many of the rides start outside, such as Small World and Pooh. Actually, Small World for Christmas was absolutely amazing.

The park is definitely smaller than DW, which is great for the fatigue factor. It seems like there is so much detail everywhere you look.

We went the weekend of Dec. 3-5. The weekend was also for the candlelight procession, which we missed because it was cancelled on Sunday due to rain. Friday night and Saturday were pretty crowded, but with fast pass and doing the most popular rides in the early morning, we never waited more than about 20 minutes for any ride. (Peter Pan had the longest wait - but it was so much better than the one at DW).

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of things about DW that are better, but DL was awesome.

 

[vjc715]

Everytime we would go to DL, I would also incorporate a visit to San Diego. Depending upon how many days I would allot for vacation...... We found that, 3-4 days at DL and 2-3 at San Diego. One of those days set aside for DL would sometimes be replaced with a drive to LA, Universal City, or Hollywood. It all depended upon how much we got done.

I always stayed at the Hyatt Islandia. I really like this hotel. You can either choose a room with an Ocean View or Marina/Coronado bay bridge view. If you choose the marina View...you can witness Sea World fireworks. Sea World is only 5-10 minutes from the hotel. Coronado island is a nice place to visit, and the beach the Coronado Hotel sits on is fabulous. Also...old town san diego is a tourist shopping trap, but nice to walk around and get some great mexican food. One place has 100's of selections of tequillas for a wonderful tasting margaritta, and homemade on the spot tortillas w/butter!

The conceirge room is facing the ocean. So....typically I would book the concierge level w/marina view, but had the ability to sit and relax overlooking the ocean.

Nice pool and jacuzzi too!
Here is a link
http://islandia.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

 

[denyd]

A couple of things to add to the great advice already given.

San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park. Balboa Park also contains 30+ museums you might find enjoyable. There are museums for Air & Space, Model Railroading & Sports and well as the Rueben H. Fleet Planetarium and IMAX theater. Besides the San Diego Zoo, there is the SD Wild Animal park and Seaworld. You'll probably want a full day for the Balboa park (zoo & museums) and then dinner either in old-town (a tourist attraction depicting the area as it was in the 1800's) or down by the waterfront. On the second day a drive through the SD Wild Animal Park can be followed by a trip to Seaworld (home of Shamu, who does a pretty good show). There are also likely to be many holiday specials going on in the area. You might want to leave a block of time open to check out something not yet announced.

As for DL & DCA, unless things change between now and then, DCA would be closing around 6pm M-TH and DL at about 8pm. I would reccommend a day for DCA followed by a couple of hours in Downtown Disney. This is also a good day to plan on that special dinner at the Napa Rose in Disney's Grand Californian. You'll probably want 2 days for DL, so you won't have to rush or skip anything. You should be aware Toontown closes early (about 6pm) to prepare for the fireworks show. If you end up with extra time, Knotts Berry Farm, Medieval Times (just down the street), Universal Studios Theme Park & Universal City Walk (similar to Downtown Disney) are all quite enjoyable.

Just noticed I cross posted with previous poster. Glad to see we mention a lot of the same things.

 

[iceskatejen]

I personally wouldn't even dream of attempting the SD Wild Animal Park (which you don't drive through, btw) and Sea World on the same day. First--they're about 45 minutes drive from eachother. Second--I consider each a full-day park to do and see everything. I also consider the SD Zoo a full-day experience and would do Balboa Park museums on a different day.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Thank you very much for all the great tips!!!

 

[palmtreegirl]

vjc715- I just booked a room at the Hyatt! I was able to get a AAA rate of only 187.00 a night, very excited! Now I just have to wait a year to go.

 

[vjc715]

That's awesome and a great rate for that resort! Other resorts may be less, but the views you have are awesome! If you can, ask to be on the floor under conceirge level. 12 or 13 I think. You will be able to overlook everything. If you are on the ocean side, you will be able to see a sunset. I've stayed at alot of hotels trying to find out which I like the best including the view/cost.... I like the hyatt because you could have breakfast on your patio, and have breathtaking views. I think it's worth the extra money, because I find myself spending more time in my room than if I would have booked a room without a view. If you did get concierge level, you can bring the pasteries or goodies to your room and enjoy privately too!

If you are driving from Disneyland. I always get on the 5 and take the scenic route at take PCH highway. During your drive you could stop at the Carlsbad outlet malls, Encinitas which reminds me of a hippie town sometimes has street bazzars that are really neat, then you can go through lajolla. But the entire PCH drive, you will have the Ocean view on the right hand side of you.
Gorgeous!!!

Do take the time to drive to Coronado Island if you are looking for a nice relaxing beach. You can park your car infront of the million dollar homes on the beach. The sand is beautiful with flecks of gold. And they keep it very clean. I always found this a very comfortable place. Also, you can stop and go inside the hotel of the Coronado Hotel. They have gift shops/storestoo you can check out that have some really neat stuff.

Here is another site to visit for some info on san diego.
http://www.sandiego.org/

I'm soooo excited for you! I love doing DL and San Diego together! They have always have been wonderful trips/memories there!!!

You can email or PM me, and I will be more than happy to try and help you out!
Have a awesome time!

 

[lark]

I actually think 4 nights/5 days is too much for Disneyland, if those are days you could be using to do the other San Diego attractions. That's just my opinion, but that's a long long time. We recently did a southern california vacation, where we made Carlsbad our home base and travelled up to DL for one night/2 days. I could have seen stretching it to 3 or 3 and a half days, but not much more and I'm pretty tolerant of disney style entertainment. With the beach and all the other stuff there is to do in southern california, I would have felt like 4 days was too much.

Not sure if you have kids, but if you do and they are seven or younger, the other attraction not yet mentioned in this thread is legoland. The scripps aquarium is also a nice half day kind of thing.

 

[vjc715]

I stayed on DL property that entire time, but would take a day to go to knottsberry farm, hollywood or universal studios.

 

[Buttercup26]

Since this is your first trip to DL I would definitely spend at least 4 days there. There is so much detail and wonderful little things to see and do.

Be sure to eat at Blue Bayou, the restaraunt inside POTC. Book the earliest lunch PS you can and request a table next to the water. Request it when you make your PS and again when you arrive for your PS.

I would also recommend taking one of the tours. The holiday tour is good and so is the Walk in Walts Footsteps.

The San Diego Zoo is always a FULL day for us as is Sea World. We usually just get up early and drive down, do one or the other and drive back late - total punishment on the driver! Staying in San Diego is DEFINITELY the way to go! Sounds like you got a good hotel too!