Questions about getting between DL/other parks

[Infamousmare]

We are now leaning toward visiting DL for our next extended family vacay (likely Sept. or Oct. 2012) - we've done WDW and we're used to the transportation issues...but we'd like to know how easy it is to go from DL to, say, Universal Studios or Lego Land?

We're thinking of 4 days/3 nights at DL, then going on to Sea World, Universal and/or Lego Land. Here are my questions:

1. Should we do DL first, or another park?
2. Does DL offer any sort of transportation to other parks?
3. If not, how do you get from one to the other?
4. How many days should we budget for Universal Studios? For Lego Land? (I'm going to assume that Sea World is one day, right?)
5. Where do you recommend we stay for the aforementioned parks?
6. Is it feasible to stay at the same hotel where we'll be for DL and do day trips to the other places?
7. Would you recommend we visit another park in lieu of or in addition to the parks I've mentioned?

TIA for your help! It's always so nice to get opinions from others who've BTDT.

 

[skiingfast]

1. Save the dessert for last and finish on a high note with DLR.

2. No, but Grayline does to all of those with transport and ticket packages. It's ok, but you loose flexibility and hours.

3.To Universal a car or taxi, train, subway, then taxi. To LL a car of taxi, train, train then taxi. To SW the same as LL. A car would be best if you want to do all of these. Though you might consider a night in San Diego instead of going back and forth.

5. For DL withing walking distance. There are lots of option literally across from the parks withing 10 minutes. For Universal maybe stay in Anaheim or there are a couple nice hotels next to the park. For San diego there are a lot by LL, and semi close to SW, nothing you can walk from, except a Sheraton with an entrance into LL.

6. Yes but like I said if doing a couple days in San Diego you may want to stay there.

7. LL is for little kids 10 and under. Also the one that just opened in Florida appears to be much better for a whole family rather than just kids it may be a better option if you are going back to WDW rather than adding it to DLR. Like wise US in Hollywood is different but has no IOA like USO. You may also want to consider visiting the San Diego Zoo and or Safari Park.

 

[Infamousmare]

Thanks for that info. ) My kiddos will be 7, 5 and 14 months when we go, so I think Lego Land will be a good fit; however, I was not aware that there was a LL in FL! Of course, I'm only listing this as an option b/c the kids are chomping at the bit to go - do you think it's worth it?

Same with US - I thought US Hollywood was supposed to be so great. Is it worth going if we're going to wind up at DL, anyway? 2 of the adults going (sister and BIL) really want to go there; however, I'd be happy visiting the San Diego Zoo for the day.

It sounds like this *could* turn into a logistical nightmare if not planned well.

Really appreciate the input - thanks again!

 

[Katiepotatie]

Sounds like you are planning a similar trip to us so here's what we are doing: Staying at Hojo which is walking distance from DL. We have ten days. We are planning on several days at DL and CA (getting 14 day park hopper), one day at legoland and one day at universal - for both those trips we plan to use the grayline tours - mainly because it just sounds easy as they pick up and drop off from the hotels. We are not planning to do anything else in San Diego at this stage but we are open to planning that when we are there if we feel like it (like Seaworld perhaps). We plan a shopping day at Citadel outlet mall (again theres a hotel shuttle for that) so we aren't bothering with a rental car - so we don't have to bother with parking etc. We have a list of things we might do and arrange while there if we feel like it but they are not 'must dos' for us, like seeing Hollywood, Medievel times, Pirate dinner etc. We are not doing Knotts Berry or San Diego Zoo - just not our thing.

 

[carnival kid]

We did all of these when we were there this year.

We mixed our days at DL, LL and SW.

We had a car so drove ourselves to San Diego for LL and SW. It took a long time in the car so would take even longer by greylines bus... will your kids be OK on a bus for a few hours each way??

One full day is more than enough to do universal and LL

Twice we have stayed at Farifield Inn by Marriott. Just across the road from disney.

 

[skiingfast]

Thanks for that info. ) My kiddos will be 7, 5 and 14 months when we go, so I think Lego Land will be a good fit; however, I was not aware that there was a LL in FL! Of course, I'm only listing this as an option b/c the kids are chomping at the bit to go - do you think it's worth it?

Same with US - I thought US Hollywood was supposed to be so great. Is it worth going if we're going to wind up at DL, anyway? 2 of the adults going (sister and BIL) really want to go there; however, I'd be happy visiting the San Diego Zoo for the day.

It sounds like this *could* turn into a logistical nightmare if not planned well.

LL in FL is brand new as in it just opened, so you will probably get the marketing blitz soon. It just showed up in the last Lego Club magazine, do you get this? It has buy an adult ticket, get a free child ticket. But with your kids ages you should probably do it now before the oldest is too old.

USH is like USO, just with a few different attractions and no IOA. They aren't carbon copies and neither is superior when you don't include IOA.

I'd suggest. Start in SD for a couple nights. Zoo is a 1/2 to 2/3 day and then take in some other SD sites. Leave stopping at LL(it has semi short hours. Drive that night to Anaheim. Perhaps that day you take DS and BIL to a train station so they go to US while you at LL. Or once in Anaheim do DL a day, do a US day then finish your other 3 days at DL. Because you probably want to fly in and out of the same spot, you might do a DL day before going down to SD.

Because of when you are going DL you will want a weekend day or two in DL, to see the fireworks and F!, and possible WoC, during offseason entertainment is often limited to weekend. Also Disneyland may have Mickey's Halloween Parties going on. LL runs Brick or Treat on Saturdays in October. US does some scary Halloween stuff. Not really for the kids.