Plans for Memorial Day Week - Please Help!

[pjtm]

I am new to the whole CA thing! I am planning a trip for my family for next May.

I need an expert Ca person (or persons!) to make sure I am doing this correctly.

Here is a tentative schedule:

Thurs - may 21 - travel to CA
Friday - May 22 - Legoland
Saturday - May 23 - beaches in San Diego?
Sunday - May 24 - Seaworld
Monday - May 25 (Memorial Day) travel up to Disney?
Tues - May 26th Disney Land
Wednesday - May 27th - CA Adventure

We don't travel home until Friday. What else am I missing?

I will have a 6yrd, 4yrd and a 3 yrd with me.

Also, how far is Legoland and DL? I was thinking it is about 3 hours? Is that correct?

I am so excited to be working on this trip. I am going to book hotels today. Once I figure out what city I need to be in!

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

Thurs - may 21 - travel to CA
Friday - May 22 - Legoland
Saturday - May 23 - beaches in San Diego?
Sunday - May 24 - Seaworld
Monday - May 25 (Memorial Day) travel up to Disney?
Tues - May 26th Disney Land
Wednesday - May 27th - CA Adventure
I am so excited to be working on this trip. I am going to book hotels today. Once I figure out what city I need to be in!

Im going to tell you what we did the first time going to disneyland with our dd 2 yr old in aug 2007.

We went to the aquarium in long beach and we did knots berry farm and did disneyland. It just was to much scambling around trying to fit too many things in 1 trip.

The next 4 trips we made from dec 2007 to oct 2008 we just did 5 days at disneyland each time. I skipped all the extra stuff and spent my time doing disneyland and california disney it was nice to just relax and do things as we wanted.

Im not saying dont do anything else but I would maybe do 3 or 4 days disneyland and do seaworld or legoland but not all 3.

Everyone is different but I like not trying to be everywhere at once.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I would try to arrange three days at Disneyland. Also don't plan a day for Disneyland and a day for California Adventure. It is much better to park hop back and forth during the day. We always start at DL then hop over to CA in the afternoons, then back to DL in the evening. If you had 3 days, you would be able to get in most of what you want and some favorites in a few more times. With small children you may also want time to go back to the hotel and rest at some point during the day so allow for that too.

My boys liked Legoland when they were 6. Personally, I would skip the beach, but that is just me. Anyway, I would try to figure out which other activity to leave out so you have three days at DLR.

 

[HydroGuy]

Well, you didn't specify whether the "Ca person" had to be current or former. I am former after being born there and living there for 28 years.

Even in mid-summer the water at the SoCal beaches is pretty cold (68 degrees on a good day - 70+ on a really good day). In May it will be colder and probably not that enjoyable for your young children. If you want to do the beach for the experience and do not plan to go in the water then I am sure you will have a good time. There are lots of options in San Diego (I lived there for many years). La Jolla Shores would be a good choice.

Leogland is a bit closer to DLR than is Sea World. SW is maybe 80 miles away but that could take anywhere from 75 minutes to 3 hours to drive to DLR. Try to make the drive mid-day or after 7-8PM and it will probably be faster.

I agree with Pink about planning three days for DLR and not dedicating entire days to DL or DCA. Parkhopping all or most days is usually a good idea.

Finally, with such young children it may not matter to you, but after Memorial Day entertainment will be reduced. Only in high season does DLR have maximum entertainment on weekdays. So you will probably not be able to see shows such as Fantasmic unless you schedule some days over the weekend.

The Aladdin show at DCA is dark on Mondays and Tuesdays and that is a must see for adults and children alike. Here were the park hours and entertainment for May 2008 for reference:

http://www.laughingplace.com/Guide-Cal-dlr2-200805.asp

 

[pjtm]

thank you so much for the replies. It is so helpful!

One more question - can I stay at one hotel for both Legoland and SW? I was thinking I needed one in that area and then drive up for the Disneyland/CA Adventure one. I am hoping to go HoJo for that!

 

[HydroGuy]

thank you so much for the replies. It is so helpful!

One more question - can I stay at one hotel for both Legoland and SW? I was thinking I needed one in that area and then drive up for the Disneyland/CA Adventure one. I am hoping to go HoJo for that!

Sure. They are 30-40 miles apart. On weekdays the traffic along that corridor (Interstate 5) is terrible. Really terrible. On weekends it is not a problem. Again, mid-day and late evening is the time to drive.

Since SW is so much further south, if I were you and I wanted to do DLR after San Diego I would be tempted to stay further North around Legoland and then drive to SW first and do Legoland last. Then your drive from Legoland to DLR would be much shorter - maybe 50 miles. If you like that idea we have stayed many times in the Oceanside/Carlsbad area on vacation since leaving SoCal. Here is a place we liked in Carlsbad - Best Western Beach Terrace Inn. It is right on the ocean and has a pool.

But then if it were me there is no way I would spend a day at Legoland and only have two at DLR. I would skip Legoland altogether and take three days at DLR.

 

[pjtm]

thanks for everyone's input:

I think here is the new plan:

Thurs - travel
Fri - Seaworld
Sat - Legoland
Sun - ?? in San Diego
Mon - travel to DL
Tues/Wed/Thurs - DL & DCA
Fri - travel home

I am going to call HoJo today when they open and get that booked.

Does anyone know of a good Marriott property by Legoland/Seaworld? I have so many points to use there!

Also, will Legoland be crazy crowded on a holiday weekend? A little worried about that.

Is there stuff do at DL on Moday w/o buying park tickets? I need to look into 3 day vs 4 day ticket prices. Is there a dowtown disney like area?

Thanks for all the input. I am excited to start booking things!

 

[HydroGuy]

thanks for everyone's input:

I think here is the new plan:

Thurs - travel
Fri - Seaworld
Sat - Legoland
Sun - ?? in San Diego
Mon - travel to DL
Tues/Wed/Thurs - DL & DCA
Fri - travel home

I am going to call HoJo today when they open and get that booked.

Does anyone know of a good Marriott property by Legoland/Seaworld? I have so many points to use there!

Also, will Legoland be crazy crowded on a holiday weekend? A little worried about that.

Is there stuff do at DL on Moday w/o buying park tickets? I need to look into 3 day vs 4 day ticket prices. Is there a dowtown disney like area?

Thanks for all the input. I am excited to start booking things!

Can't help with the Marriott question or Legoland crowds.

DLR does have a DTD which is smaller than WDW's but still has a movie theater and lots of restaurants and shopping. The extra cost to go from a 3 day ticket to 4 days will be about $10 a person, so it might be worth it to get the extra day and then use it to see a show or something inside DLR. Heck, that would be the cost of seeing a movie at DTD.