San Diego for a day

[luckyman_apd]

My wife will be traveling to San Diego the 24th to the 27th of June for work. We are from the East Coast, and have never been to the West. I am arriving via LAX very late on the 25th with both in kids in tow, 2.5 year old boy and 6.5 year old girl (I must be nuts flying cross country with 2 kids by myself ). After our flight arrives and I drive to San Diego (and with a little luck the late night travel will help the kids adjust to the time change) we were thinking of going to the Zoo on the 26th. We live near Philadelphia and my daughter just loves the Philadelphia zoo, and anyone I know who has traveled out to SD has said the Zoo is a must. On the 27th we are driving to Anaheim to do Disneyland for a few days.

My question is, is the Zoo the best place to take them? or should I try Legoland (something I know my kids would enjoy as well). We have 1 day tour San Diego, but since my wife is working until the mid afternoon, the zoo seemed like the best choice. We COULD do something on the 27th, but I know my wife will be antsy to get to Disneyland as we are surprising our daughter with it. I would like to maybe see the beach too, but not a much. We are going on a beach vacation in NC this summer, so just seeing the sunset on the water would be cool. Any suggestions?

 

[Camonkeygirl]

The Zoo opens at 9 AM, and you can figure on 4 to 6 hours to see and do everything. We will also be on the summer hours by then, so we will be open until 8 PM. My suggestion would be to go to the Zoo, and then Disneyland. I have only gone to Legoland once, just after it opened, and I work at the Zoo so I may be a bit bias.

 

[luckyman_apd]

The Zoo opens at 9 AM, and you can figure on 4 to 6 hours to see and do everything. We will also be on the summer hours by then, so we will be open until 8 PM. My suggestion would be to go to the Zoo, and then Disneyland. I have only gone to Legoland once, just after it opened, and I work at the Zoo so I may be a bit bias.

Thanks. The zoo was most likely my best choice. After all the travel the day before, my kids may just need to lounge and enjoy the hotel in the morning, and do the zoo in the afternoon/evening. Maybe my wife can meet us after her "work" day is done on Tuesday.

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

If you're going to have the two kids by yourself, the zoo would be pretty easy. Do the bus tour of the entire zoo, then walk over to the Children's zoo area.

 

[llump41]

I'd second the zoo. We have a 2.5 year old grandson and the hgt requirements are a killer.
Your 6.5 may be able to ride a lot, but only with you in tow and not with your son.

I love Night Time Zoo. For one it's cooler and the extra shows are well worth it. Since you haven't been to the zoo I would recommend the bus tour first thing. It gives you a great overview of the exhibits and then you can decide what you have to see up close after that.