Should we base ourselves in Anaheim? (and other exciting questions)

[Smokering]

We're going to California for a two-week trip next March. Currently I'm thinking of staying at HoJos for the whole trip, but we'll only be at Disneyland itself for 5 days. I'm notoriously rubbish at geography, so can anyone tell me how central/public transport-friendly Anaheim is to these activities?

Universal Studios
Pantages Theatre
Six Flags
SeaWorld
Medieval Times
Huntington Library and Gardens
The Museum of Jurassic Technology

We're also going to San Diego Zoo and WAP, but I was intending to do those as two separate day trips (unless anyone can give me a good reason to do otherwise!).

I don't want to switch hotels for the sake of it, because it's a pain with luggage and all - and we won't have a car - but I don't want to spend half our holiday trying to navigate an unfamiliar bus system either, if Anaheim is ridiculously out of the way. Would it be better to stay somewhere in LA proper for part of the trip? Complicating the issue, we'll probably be doing Disneyland in two chunks during the trip, not all at once.

Also:

Has anyone here gotten media passes for any of the SoCal attractions? I'm a freelance writer and have one commissioned article based on the trip, plus I'm trying to arrange another with a different magazine. I've found the media forms for Universal, Disneyland etc, but was wondering if anyone knew any ways to get more freebies? The Disneyland rules are pretty draconian, and I was hoping that was because lots of writers would only mention DL in passing in an article about other issues - but I'm writing a travel piece largely about DL for a major publication, *and* my editor has given me permission to exchange advertising contra for media assistance. So... what are the odds they might give me a discount on an on-site hotel, or a free tour, or something awesome like that? (My gut says "not great", but it's worth asking... maybe... right?) Is it worth ringing someone to ask, or would I just come across as obnoxious?

Anyone know how long it takes to de-jet-lag from a flight from London to LA? Not for me, for my sister. She's coming over to meet us and gets a tad psychotic when she's tired, so I don't want to overload her with activities and walking as soon as she gets off the plane. Would one "slow" day be enough? (I don't know what time her flight would be, but assume it was a bad time, getting in at 4 AM or summat.)

Thanks!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

San Diego is about 90 miles from Anaheim and it looks like you're planning at least 3 days there. I think you'd be better off staying somewhere in San Diego while you visit the zoo, animal park and SeaWorld. Otherwise, you're looking at a lot of long drives back and forth.

I don't know what kind of transportation you could arrange since we usually drive to So. Cal. so I can't help there. My only advice would be planning to stay in San Diego for those activities. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[iKristin]

Six Flags is far from Anaheim but it's far from everything lol so you won't be able to get there without renting a car. It's over an hour away.

 

[jlwhitney]

Six Flags is closer to 2 hours plus especially with rush hour (which is like all day long). Overall in my opinion it is not worth the money. The rides are bumpy and horrible service. And it is so far from anything else you want to do.

 

[prncssmel]

With traffic around LA, I would stay in LA for visiting Universal, Pantages, Jurassic Museum and if you do any Hollywood stuff -just easier than the long drives in traffic. Same for San Diego, stay there for the 3 days .

 

[sonnyjane]

San Diego is about 90 miles from Anaheim and it looks like you're planning at least 3 days there. I think you'd be better off staying somewhere in San Diego while you visit the zoo, animal park and SeaWorld. Otherwise, you're looking at a lot of long drives back and forth.

I don't know what kind of transportation you could arrange since we usually drive to So. Cal. so I can't help there. My only advice would be planning to stay in San Diego for those activities. Hope you have a great trip!

This. Without a car, I think you're going to have to be really creative about getting around, and I'm not very familiar with public transit in Anaheim. I definitely agree with staying in San Diego for the 3 days that you'll be doing activities here though. I'll also warn you that while the Wild Animal Park (now called Safari Park as of a few days ago) is in "San Diego", it's about 45 minutes from the Zoo and Sea World and very far off the beaten trail, so that's another thing that might make it logistically difficult. I would strongggggggggggggggggly encourage you to look into renting a vehicle.

 

[Smokering]

Uh, yeah, we don't drive. At least, I should have my restricted licence by then, but I definitely won't be confident enough to drive on the wrong side of the road in LA traffic! So renting a car just isn't an option.

SeaWorld is in San Diego? Okay, I didn't know that - thought it was in LA. The plan was, DH, DD and my sisters were going to go to SeaWorld while I went to Six Flags (on account of I have a phobia of whales and they don't like extreme rides). I wanted to go to Six Flags to get a taste of more intense rollercoasters than Disneyland provides. Would Knott's Berry Farm be a better idea? Is it closer, and more to the point, does it have some exciting coasters? (Ie, more extreme than California Screamin'?)

Anyone recommend any good hotels in San Diego? We want cheap, big enough for four adults and a toddler (who might be sleeping with two of the adults), and preferably with facilities for making our own food - even just a microwave. Close to the zoo would be a bonus too.

 

[sonnyjane]

SeaWorld is in San Diego? Okay, I didn't know that - thought it was in LA. The plan was, DH, DD and my sisters were going to go to SeaWorld while I went to Six Flags (on account of I have a phobia of whales and they don't like extreme rides). I wanted to go to Six Flags to get a taste of more intense rollercoasters than Disneyland provides. Would Knott's Berry Farm be a better idea? Is it closer, and more to the point, does it have some exciting coasters? (Ie, more extreme than California Screamin'?)

Oh my, yes, Knott's would be a much better idea. Sea World and Magic Mountain are 150 miles apart, and in opposite directions from each other if you were based in Anaheim. Knott's has more thrill rides than Disneyland for sure and a few pretty good coasters.

I live in San Diego, but I'm not a very good source of information as far as hotels go. I actually work at the zoo. It's pretty close to downtown and the airport, so if you look at lodging near Balboa Park (where the zoo is), downtown, or Hotel Circle you will be pretty central to most things in San Diego. I will say just plan your trip strategically and start saving money for your transportation! There is a train that goes from LA/Anaheim to San Diego, but after that you'll need to rely on buses, trolleys, or taxis. I'm pretty familiar with our taxis and trolleys, but not the buses, and the trolleys don't have service to where you'd need to go. If you stay in San Diego, the zoo and Sea World shouldn't be too bad as far as getting around is concerned, but as I said in my earlier post, the Safari Park (the new name for the Wild Animal Park) is much farther away and off the beaten path. If you're not in for the adventure of getting there, which might get pricey, you might want to scrap it and just stick with the zoo and Sea World.

 

[bumbershoot]

I personally would stay in San Diego for the SD part of your trip, as that ride is going to make you crazy, even if you are just in a coach bus (like through Grayline tours) or a train (Amtrak's surfliner takes you to downtown SD and then you could catch a cab).

If your phobia to whales is just seeing *actual* whales, I would recommend you still go to Seaworld. Because you can easily avoid the big huge stadium where the orca show is, and just know that there are pilot whales in the dolphin show. And the dolphin show is BEYOND cheesy, especially that awful beginning part, so I don't go to that anymore, either. (I don't go to the orca show anymore b/c I keep imagining "is THIS the time "Shamu" is going to lose it in front of us?")

If it's to pictures of orcas, then don't go, as "Shamu" is everywhere, or at least the picture is.

But the BEST show at Seaworld, in my family's opinion, is the Pets Rule show. You haven't lived until you've seen pigs and birds and CATS all trained and working happily (for treats and love) together.

 

[Smokering]

bumbershoot: It's a pretty severe phobia. Put it this way: I won't be going on the Storybookland Canal Boats.

sonnyjane: OK, I'm kind of glad to hear that! I didn't want to do Six Flags, Knott's Berry Farm *and* Disneyland on the one 14-day trip because it seemed like theme park overkill, but Knott's Berry Farm sounded like it had a cooler history - I was just hoping to get the maximum number of roller coasters. But if Six Flags is going to be a pain, I'll happy go to Knott's instead!

 

[darren123]

The plan was, DH, DD and my sisters were going to go to SeaWorld while I went to Six Flags (on account of I have a phobia of whales and they don't like extreme rides). I wanted to go to Six Flags to get a taste of more intense rollercoasters than Disneyland provides. Would Knott's Berry Farm be a better idea? Is it closer, and more to the point, does it have some exciting coasters? (Ie, more extreme than California Screamin'?)

Hi Smokering if you are going to do Magic Mountain may I suggest

http://www.allanaheimtours.com/body.asp?tour=ANA-B0014&page=TourDetails

Yes they have some very extreme roller coasters like X2 and Tatsu and well worth the visit even though it is not Disneyland, Magic Mountain can have a very different atmosphere e.g. we have seen line cutters and some very rude people and smoking in line. It is not as bad as some people make it out to be the park is looking a lot cleaner and most of the riff raff have been kicked out be prepared to stand in line for an hour or two best advice I was given was to start at X2 very easy just follow the crowd running up the hill I do not mean to scare you but you should be told the truth.

We are doing 11 days in November going to Knotts Berry Farm, Magic Mountain,Universal Studio Hollywood with a 14 day pass to Disneyland theme park overkill yes and We love it.

 

[Lasty K]

Hi Smokering if you are going to do Magic Mountain may I suggest

http://www.allanaheimtours.com/body.asp?tour=ANA-B0014&page=TourDetails

Yes they have some very extreme roller coasters like X2 and Tatsu and well worth the visit even though it is not Disneyland, Magic Mountain can have a very different atmosphere eg we have seen line cutters and some very rude people and smoking in line. It is not as bad as some people make it out to be the park is looking a lot cleaner and most of the riff raff have been kicked out be prepared to stand in line for an hour or two best advice I was given was to start at X2 very easy just follow the crowd running up the hill I do not mean to scare you but you should be told the truth.

I concur with this.

All the bad experiences some have talked about on here, I have never dealt with. All my MM experiences have been smooth and fun.

Going there and back has never been a problem either. Always left early to go and never have I encountered traffic. This is coming from the Orange County area as well.