question about getting around when we visit Disneyland

[heatherwillmom]

Please forgive my stupid question, but I have never been to California & don't know much about getting around there. We are thinking about a trip to Disneyland & California Adventure in the next 1-2 years. We were thinking about 2 days per park. We were trying to decide what would be the best to do the rest of the time. I would like to see the Disney Family Museum & maybe Sea World. I know that I heard Pete say you could take a train from Disney to San Diego but is there one to San Francisco as well? I really don't want to drive since it would be too long of a drive for a day trip. I appreciate any help

 

[skiingfast]

Please forgive my stupid question, but I have never been to California & don't know much about getting around there. We are thinking about a trip to Disneyland & California Adventure in the next 1-2 years. We were thinking about 2 days per park. We were trying to decide what would be the best to do the rest of the time. I would like to see the Disney Family Museum & maybe Sea World. I know that I heard Pete say you could take a train from Disney to San Diego but is there one to San Francisco as well? I really don't want to drive since it would be too long of a drive for a day trip. I appreciate any help

Not a stupid question, but I'll give you a stupid answer.

Yes there is a train to SD, Amtrak, and you can take a commuter that requires a tranfer. The station is a few miles from the resort.

To SF, you can take Amtrak, also will require two transfers, Amtrak doesn't go to SF itself. You can by a ticket like that and it will have a bus at the end into SF. You can also take BART(lightrail commuter) into SF.

You can get rental cars in the resort area very easily too, so consider that. The drive to SD is easy and it's a good place to have a car. The train to SF is long, but you don't need a car once there.

 

[heatherwillmom]

Which would you suggest? I know it would be a long drive if we rented a car.

 

[Belle Ella]

If your goal to go to SF is the Walt Disney Fmaily Museum I should point out that if you take a train/bus/BART combo that you'll then also have to add MUNI to take you to the Presidio and then their shuttle to get you to the museum. I always choose to drive (have had some bad experiences with BART and MUNI in the past) so I'm probably not much help as far as which one you should choose.

 

[the donut]

I'd probably fly from Long Beach to get up to SF rather than train, which is super slow. Jet Blue often has sales (I've seen fares as low as $9).

 

[skiingfast]

Which would you suggest? I know it would be a long drive if we rented a car.

A car is at least twice at fast. But it gives you the opportunity to drive scenic highway 1. Something to consider in itself, though it makes it two days to SF, not all driving lots of sites to see.

I would only take Amtrak if it's on the Coast Starlight. It runs from LA Union Station, up the coast to San Louis Obisbo(the senic section) then inland to Oakland. The other trains require more transfers of inland transit.

I'd probably fly from Long Beach to get up to SF rather than train, which is super slow. Jet Blue often has sales (I've seen fares as low as $9).

If not up for the drive this is what I would do.

Try looking for flights from LAX, ONT, LGB and SNA to, SFO and OAK to get the best price.

 

[heatherwillmom]

I might be up for the drive if it's a scenic one. I had just thought that my kids might get a kick out of going Amtrak but not if it's a longer trip. The cheap flights might be a good possibility too.