Questions about first trip to California?

[johde]

I'm planning my first trip (solo) to California For September 3rd-13th (or so). I'm trying to make it a fairly budget trip. I know everything is expensive though. I am a DVC member and have enough points for 6 night onsite. So far, I have the following things I'm thinking about doing.

1. Disneyland 1/2 marathon
2. 2 or 4 days at Disneyland/DCA (Using 2 WDW days if budgets tight, 4 days if buying new tickets probably with marathon Discount).
3. 1 day Universal studios. (free from mycokerewards.com)
4. 1 day Knotts Berry farm or Six Flags (I enjoy thrill rides so maybe both).
5. 1 day or part of it at the beach.

What I'm looking for ideas of this things to do, other than themeparks, to get a flavor for the area? I'm planning on getting a rental for only part of the trip (probably a long weekend rental the second weekend till end of trip). So, I'm not completely tied in to stuff right around Disneyland.

 

[skiingfast]

1. Disneyland 1/2 marathon
2. 2 or 4 days at Disneyland/DCA (Using 2 WDW days if budgets tight, 4 days if buying new tickets probably with marathon Discount).
3. 1 day Universal studios. (free from mycokerewards.com)
4. 1 day Knotts Berry farm or Six Flags (I enjoy thrill rides so maybe both).
5. 1 day or part of it at the beach.

What I'm looking for ideas of this things to do, other than themeparks, to get a flavor for the area? I'm planning on getting a rental for only part of the trip (probably a long weekend rental the second weekend till end of trip). So, I'm not completely tied in to stuff right around Disneyland.

I would go to Santa Monica Pier/Venice beach. Hollywood Blvd. Maybe San Diego.

Skip six flags, unless you really want roller coasters it's not great for much else, and Knotts is an overall better experience.

If you go after the 1/2 marathon and Labor Day Weekend the parks will be quite slow. Rehabs will ramp up and some great attractions may be down. In particular Space. You may be there late enough to see it and HM reopen in Halloween fashion. Highly advise that.
Either way if you go slow days solo you can get a lot done in two days. Note the Fireworks and F! may only be on the weekend Fri-Sun and are better than the WDW versions. So far WoC has been nightly.

 

[Maddie2]

We were there a couple of weeks ago and wished we had time to go to the Griffith Observatory, but did not. You may want to check into that.

You can get tickets to TV shows at www.tvtickets.com. We have kids, so our options were limited, but did we go to a taping of "Bucket and Skinner's Epic Adventures" in Hollywood. There are la lot more choices for adults - including Wheel of Fortune, Price is Right, Dr. Phil, etc. Check it out!

We also went to the San Diego Zoo, but found it a bit disappointing. We have great zoos within a 3 hour radius of where we live and though we had high hopes and expectations for the SDZoo, it wasn't all that we thought it would be or what it is marketed to be, IMO.

We just enjoy going to restaurants that we don't have at home and could spend a portion of each day just doing that! People watching in DTD is fun too. Have fun planning!

 

[perrinej]

Thanks Maddie2 for the idea of tvtickets.com. My daughter and I are going to DL for our 1st trip in June. We will have 8 days of fun and thought about doing a few non disney things, only if time allows. This might be just the thing. We'll have to look at dates and shows as time gets a little closer!

 

[johde]

Thanks for the ideas. I had thought about doing a TV taping. I'll probably need to wait until closer to see park hours and show schedules. I want to make sure to see WOC and Fantasmic. I'm hoping Fantasmic is playing on Labor day. I know it will be more busy than during the week.