Planning help

[cooniez]

Hi all! Many of you have seen my numerous threads about our upcoming DL/Seaworld/Universal Studios trip. I was hoping all you Disney veterans might help me plan which parks to do on which dates (recs. for specific rides and/or other attractions/shows to aim for would also be fantastic!).

Here are our dates & hotels:

Disneyland Hotel: Check in Sat, June 9th / Check out Wed., June 13th

San Diego hotel: Check in Wed., June 13th / Check out Fri., June 15th

Back to DLH: Check in Fri., June 15 / Check out Sun., June 17th

** I am thinking June 9th since we'll arrive around 7pm that we can't get much done...maybe go to dinner?

** We have 1 day at SW & 1 day at USH...was thinking Seaworld on Thur., June 14th (Since DL will be overcrowded & we'll be close since staying in a San Diego hotel)...but what about June 13th? Should this be the USH day? OR should we do DL on the 13th and do Universal another day?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer me!

 

[HydroGuy]

How many days will you have on your DLR ticket? Be sure to get a parkhopper.

I will take a cut at this.

June 9-13, spend time especially on DL and getting everything done there and all shows. Then when you go back to DLR June 15-17 you can focus on DCA and Cars Land - the new stuff closed before June 15.

Regarding June 9, yes, go to dinner and get to sleep early. Then the next day get there early for Magic Morning by 6:30AM.

June 13 at USH seems like a lot of work with your schedule as you would need to drive there on the morning of June 13 and then to SD that night for SW on June 14. But I can't think of a better idea as it will be very busy no matter what you do. Maybe you could work in June 15 as an off day to rest?

I guess I am having a hard time answering because it seems like you are trying to do too much. I would tend to give up on USH just to allow things to be more relaxed. If you really want to do USH then, yes, probably June 13.

 

[cooniez]

How many days will you have on your DLR ticket? Be sure to get a parkhopper.

I will take a cut at this.

June 9-13, spend time especially on DL and getting everything done there and all shows. Then when you go back to DLR June 15-17 you can focus on DCA and Cars Land - the new stuff closed before June 15.

Regarding June 9, yes, go to dinner and get to sleep early. Then the next day get there early for Magic Morning by 6:30AM.

June 13 at USH seems like a lot of work with your schedule as you would need to drive there on the morning of June 13 and then to SD that night for SW on June 14. But I can't think of a better idea as it will be very busy no matter what you do. Maybe you could work in June 15 as an off day to rest?

I guess I am having a hard time answering because it seems like you are trying to do too much. I would tend to give up on USH just to allow things to be more relaxed. If you really want to do USH then, yes, probably June 13.

Thanks for your response! We bought the CityPass & DH and DD1 (13 yrs old) are really looking forward to USH so I figured we should go for it since it came with the CityPass anyway. The CityPass comes with a 3-day PH I believe, so I'll probably need to upgrade that.

I do feel like we will be very busy during this vacation, but since we don't take true "vacations" away from home often (and don't foresee going back to DL for at least another year)...I am determined to make this work!

 

[Huff]

Your schedule has you using up a lot of vacation time driving back and forth from DL, SD and USH. Any way to reorganize your days to limit driving?

USH is 35 miles north of DL and SW is 100 miles south of DL. As you are coming from the north can you plan a night near USH on the way south or on the return trip home heading north?

We usually start our trip in SD for 2 nights to visit beach and SW, then head north to DL and take 1 day to visit USH, returning to DL for evening.

 

[cooniez]

Your schedule has you using up a lot of vacation time driving back and forth from DL, SD and USH. Any way to reorganize your days to limit driving?

USH is 35 miles north of DL and SW is 100 miles south of DL. As you are coming from the north can you plan a night near USH on the way south or on the return trip home heading north?

We usually start our trip in SD for 2 nights to visit beach and SW, then head north to DL and take 1 day to visit USH, returning to DL for evening.

I know. Originally, my plan was to spend only the night of Sat., June 9th in San Diego. The night of June 14th was not available at the DLH and so the travel rep. suggested I shuffle my trip. I REALLY did not want to keep checking out of the hotel, but because of the opening of Carsland I was not able to book that stubborn June 14th night at DLH.

I also thought since we are coming from the north and SD is the furthest point in our trip that it would be best to start in SD, but unfortunately I couldnt carry out my original plan.

 

[skiingfast]

Perhaps you could drop the 9th from your DLH reservation and stay north? Then check in on the 10th to the DLH after visiting Universal.

For USH.
Transformers First thier new ride.
One problem I'm predicting with this attraction is how it's going to make the lower lot crowded and overflow into the other rides there.
So.
Mummy and Jurrasic Park second.

Then the Studio Tour. After this most of your day will be over even though it's just 4 attractions so far.

Then either the Simson's Ride or Water World show depening on the time.

Then the rest for other attractions/displays.


For SW
Manta first, thier new coaster.

The other rides get long lines, especially if it's hot, so it may be good to do them early also.

Pet's Rule and The Sealine and Otter shows are best. I would watch the later one at night. The other attractions have a lot of walk through exhibits so you can sprinkle them in while you wait on the big shows.

For DLR.
I'd really wait and see what the hours are for post Cars Land. Before do like suggested and get as many big attractions and DCA attraction in before Cars Land opens.

 

[cooniez]

Perhaps you could drop the 9th from your DLH reservation and stay north? Then check in on the 10th to the DLH after visiting Universal.

Hi Skiingfast! I'm glad you decided to chime in on my latest thread! You have always been super helpful on all my other ones. Do you mean I should find a hotel closer to USH and stay there on the 9th?

 

[skiingfast]

Hi Skiingfast! I'm glad you decided to chime in on my latest thread! You have always been super helpful on all my other ones. Do you mean I should find a hotel closer to USH and stay there on the 9th?

Exactly. Like Huff is suggesting, but since it doesn't work out for the 14th for you at Disney, at least you could do it half right.

As weird as this may sound, because of traffic in LA. You could stay in that hotel on the north side or the grapvine and be just as close to USH as you are in Anaheim. I'm not suggesting you stay there.

If you are giving up a night at the DLH, try a night at the Hilton or Sheraton that are next to USH and have a shuttle to the gate. You could probably roll upto them at night and in the morning not need to get back in your car.

 

[cooniez]

Exactly. Like Huff is suggesting, but since it doesn't work out for the 14th for you at Disney, at least you could do it half right.

As weird as this may sound, because of traffic in LA. You could stay in that hotel on the north side or the grapvine and be just as close to USH as you are in Anaheim. I'm not suggesting you stay there.

If you are giving up a night at the DLH, try a night at the Hilton or Sheraton that are next to USH and have a shuttle to the gate. You could probably roll upto them at night and in the morning not need to get back in your car.

Just saw your updated post - thanks for the recs on which rides to do first!

I can talk to the hubby, but not sure how keen he will be on adding another hotel to the list! lol As it is we're doing DLH > SD > DLH. Crazy, I thought I was okay calling in February (was it?) to book the hotels for June, but I didn't know about CARSLAND yet, and our vacation dates happened to fall right in that opening week! (For those who didn't see my other posts, my dates can't be changed as I'm needed for a work project the later part of Summer).

If we need to keep the hotels as is, do you have any other suggestions? or is it best to just do USH and Seaworld on the 13-14 since DL will be packed on June 14th anyway?

 

[skiingfast]

If we need to keep the hotels as is, do you have any other suggestions? or is it best to just do USH and Seaworld on the 13-14 since DL will be packed on June 14th anyway?

If he doesn't want another hotel, which is understandable because simple is often more enjoyable, I would go on the 11th or 12th. Go to DLR on the 13th and enjoy the AP blockout day with lower crowds, then the other area on the 14th as planned.

 

[cooniez]

If he doesn't want another hotel, which is understandable because simple is often more enjoyable, I would go on the 11th or 12th. Go to DLR on the 13th and enjoy the AP blockout day with lower crowds, then the other area on the 14th as planned.

Just got off the phone with DLH Reservations. The rep. found an availability the night of the 13th & 14th and right when she went to book for me (and add on to my existing ressie for 15+16), the availability disappeared. So disappointed.

Thanks for letting me know about the AP blockout day. We will probably do USH another day, and do DL on the 13th with 14th = SW as planned.