S.D. Zoo or Soak City? On a weekend?

[sitkamom]

We have about 9 days to see DL and do a few other day trips. Won't have a car, so will take the grayline or other bus tour to San Diego Zoo and another day take the bus to Knottberry Farms Soak City Waterpark. Of those days, there are 2 Sundays and one Saturday. Does anyone have any recommendations as to which to do on the weekend days? I assume all will be busier on weekends, but which are worse? I thought maybe DL would be okay on a weekend since we would have other days to spend there as well, but I'm still not sure. Any opinions or experiences would be appreciated--it's our 1st time to Anaheim (familiar with WDW, just not DLR).

 

[sonnyjane]

Are you talking about the Soak City in San Diego, or the one near Knott's in Anaheim? If the one in San Diego, I wouldn't go to it period! Not my idea of a clean or safe park. I haven't been to the one near Knott's, but it at least looks a little better than the one here in San Diego. The zoo gets a little busier on weekends but it's not that big of a deal since you don't have to wait in lines for anything other than the bus tour (which runs continuously) or the restaurants.

 

[lcasa]

Never been to the Knotts park either, but my son has and says it's not that nice - nothing like a Disney waterpark.

The zoo on the other hand is a world-class zoo - really beautiful( they say the plant collection is worth more than the animals).

 

[Dizneydaz]

Another opinion on Soak City-
Palm Springs-never going there again. The theming is basically how much concrete can we use? And don't even get me started on the food! Expensive, gross, takes for every to get. Also Knott's doesn't allow any outside food in. Too bad.
Buena Park-better than PS but still not that great. The lazy river is pretty much a joke. Have to be in a tube and when it's busy, or the employees show up late to work, they make you want, in groups, to enter. Add you had to be in a tube, no swimming allowed. Only reason we went was we had a Knott's AP and I added the SC option. I won't make that mistake again.
San Diego-haven't been, don't plan on ever going after doing 2 of them.

Tubes at SC will cost you extra. They have some for free but if the park is busy you'll have to pay for them.

Biggest problem with SC is it is not a Disney waterpark. We love BB and TL at WDW! The best! The theming, the rides, the food, all of it.

There is one other waterpark in O.C. Wild Rivers in Irvine. DD's Girl Scout troop went in late May last year and the girls loved it. It still wasn't as nice as Disney, but much better than Soak City. Their lazy river was much better than SC. And so much closer than San Diego. Actuall SC San Diego is located in Chula Vista, almost to the Cal/Mexico border. 110 miles from DLR.

I would take the bus to the Zoo (or how about Wild Animal Park-which we love) but I wouldn't take the bus another day to go to SC. That's alot of time on a bus. If you are going to take the bus to SD twice, have you considered getting a rental car for 2 days. It may be cheaper than the bus.

Instead of SC how about Knott's Berry Farm? It's actually a pretty nice park, contrary to many opinions here on the board. No, it's not Disney, but it's good for what it is--America's 1st theme park. And the fried chicken is really good!

If you are set on going to a Soak City, go to the one in Buena Park. You'll save about 3 hours travel time and you could still have Knott's fried chicken!

Have fun no matter what you do.

Oh, weekends at the zoo will be more crowded than weekdays. I would go on a weekday. Don't know about SC but I would think the same.

On more thing, based on your ticker it looks like you are going in early June. Be prepared that the weather may not participate in your plans. They don't call it June Gloom for nothing! While today is will be in the 90's, early June may be cold and gloomy. The day we went to Wild Rivers it was pretty much cold all day. Spent a lot of time in the "warming pools"

 

[sitkamom]

It's been so helpful to hear everyone's comments! We were thinking of the Soak City near Anaheim because we can take the local bus and maybe a cab home pretty cheap (and many have said it's easy to do that). I really don't want to drive as it will be just the two of us and I've never been to the area. We loved the Disney waterparks and know it won't be even close to as nice, but living in Alaska--we love to visit waterparks in general and would still enjoy SD.

The trickiest part of all this is deciding which days to do which parks (DL, SD Zoo, Soak City, etc.)--which parks are most impacted by crowds on weekends. Still not decided on that note--hoping to hear more feedback on that note. The weather will probably influence us as well.

I wonder if doing the Zoo on the weekend would be better since we wouldn't be waiting in line for rides?

 

[Dizneydaz]

The zoo can get really busy on weekends. The zoo opens at 9 a.m. everyday. What time can you get there by bus? You're right, there aren't many rides with lines. The bus and the Skyfari. I would suggest using the Express Bus. You can jump off and on at 5 different stops in the zoo. The zoo has a lot of walking, and hills.

If you do go to the zoo on the weekend, get there are early as possible, same goes for DLR. DLR will definitely be more crowded on the weekends so if you can do DLR on the weekdays you will definitely save some time. During June DL closes earlier on a few days but most days they are open 'til midnight and most entertainment is on the schedule.

Glad you decided on the Buena Park SC. It will save you alot of time. The park is pretty fun, you'll have fun, especially if you don't go expecting to see TL.I would try to do this one on a weekday.