SoCal Vacation - DL & San Diego

[HannaBelle]

Hey y’all! I am in the process of planning a June 2013 trip for my extended family and I have been perusing the DL boards for several months now. I would like to post my basic plan with our cast of characters and get some constructive feedback!

Cast of Characters (kids ages at time of trip):
Grandparents – 60+ and active seniors
DB + wife, DS11, DS9 & DS5
Me + DH, DS20 & DD15
DB2 + wife, DS6 & DS6

We are WDW vets, love to stay on site, love character meals, but don’t tour the parks as a pack. We get together at least once a day for a character meal or show to get in our “family” time.

Here is our basic plan:

Saturday, June 8th - Fly from DFW to LAX and check-in to the Grand California Villas, dinner at Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles? (DS20’s choice)
Sunday, June 9th - Sight seeing/beach day, surf lessons and whale watching, dinner together some where local (any suggestions?)
Monday, June 10th - Park Day
Tuesday, June 11th – Park Day
Wednesday, June 12th – Park Day
Thursday, June 13th – Visit La Brea Tar Pits, short drive down the PCH to San Diego, check into the hotel, Any local dinner suggestions?
Friday, June 14th - Sea World
Saturday, June 15th - San Diego Zoo or San Diego Zoo Safari Park or beach day
Sunday, June 16th – Fly home

At DL, I will plan for a family “event” each day. We will probably opt to do the World of Color dining package as well as the Fantasmic premium viewing dessert package. These will make it easier for us to spend extra time together. We will also choose a character breakfast, I am leaning towards Goofy’s kitchen. I am hoping the parks won’t be too busy and we can relax and take our time in the parks.

All of our kids are animal lovers and are really into science. When we get to San Diego, we definitely want to do Sea World, but I am considering doing the safari in San Diego over the zoo. Anyone have a thought on this?

All dining venues need to be family friendly and casual, but nice. My DB’s are a bit snobby.

What are the best beaches for surfing? Is LA or SD better for surfing in early June? Any suggestions on lessons?

I don’t think we are interested in Universal, Hollywood or China Town.

TIA for the suggestions!

 

[GrandBob]

Leaving only 3 park days may make it a bit of a rushed DLR park experience. Ideally, I'd like 4; especially next year after CarsLand opens. But considering everything else you're wanting to squeeze in to your week, it may be a reasonable trade-off. Have a blast!

-Bob

 

[chttyangel]

Your tour plan is almost the same as mine; except we are starting in San Diego and then heading back to DL.

I like Newport Beach and have surfed here. I already knew how thou so can't help on the lessons part. It is a nice beach and interesting tourist area.

We decide to skip the Safari Park. It got great reviews and came highly recommended but after a full day at Seaworld and the zoo; figured that was enough. Plus all the special tour there were $$$. We used the money saved to do a behind the scenes animal encounter at Seaworld instead. There was no question for me between the zoo and SP; hands down I wanted to do the zoo...but that was just my choice.

If it is your first trip to CA; Hollywood is really interesting and you could easily get your fill in an hour or two on your way to/from beach...just a thought.

I don't know many places to eat in LA outside of DTD and the Gardenwalk. In San Diego I have heard to check out the gaslight district and old town for food/drinks. I go in two weeks and let you know if I find anything good!

 

[HannaBelle]

Thanks for the responses!

GrandBob, my original plan included 4 days in the parks because I don’t want to rush all over but then everyone wanted more days in San Diego and voted to squish it to 3. It is possible to hit the parks on check-out day if there is something we missed or really wanted to do again.

Chttyangel, I will look forward to hearing about your trip! Do you have 3 or 4 park days planned? Is there somewhere special you like to eat in DTD?

 

[chttyangel]

Thanks for the responses!

Chttyangel, I will look forward to hearing about your trip! Do you have 3 or 4 park days planned? Is there somewhere special you like to eat in DTD?

We are going for 3 days; well actually an evening and 2 full days. I live 6 hours away thou so it would be easy to come back and actually have plans to go again at Halloween. Usually when we are there for just DL and DCA; we do a full three days in the park and that works perfect for us. This will be my first trip to San Diego thou other then a drive thru to catch a cruise. So that was the main focus this time.

In DTD I have kids so they love Rain Forest Cafe. I think it is over-rated and over-priced. DH is a Chef so we get to eat well allot and most chain places don't stack up. I did enjoy the steakhouse in the DL Hotel thou, ESPN is good for "bar food" and Tortilla Joes for Mexican. We usually hit Goofy's Kitchen and Blue Bayou for the scenary. I also really had fun at the BBQ by Big Thunder Mountain (not DTD but thought I would mention). Cute show and great BBQ.

 

[PHXscuba]

Depending on what time you fly in or out of LAX, maybe hit the Tar Pits while coming or going from the airport. It's a long drive into LA traffic for just one thing, on a day you're going to switch hotels and drive all the way down to San Diego afterward. You have time on your side when you fly west.

PHXscuba

 

[DSNY4ever]

It looks like the zoo/and or safari park are up in the air? I would choose one of those over Sea World. Looks like a fun trip! For restaurants, where are you staying? What area? We love to eat at The Mission (open for breakfast and lunch only- best breakfast!). There are some good (but a little touristy restaurants in Old Town). Moo Time Creamery is divine! We are going back in a few weeks and I have a new list of restaurants to try. I will let you know if any are good

 

[HannaBelle]

It looks like the zoo/and or safari park are up in the air? I would choose one of those over Sea World. Looks like a fun trip! For restaurants, where are you staying? What area? We love to eat at The Mission (open for breakfast and lunch only- best breakfast!). There are some good (but a little touristy restaurants in Old Town). Moo Time Creamery is divine! We are going back in a few weeks and I have a new list of restaurants to try. I will let you know if any are good

We will be staying near HWY5 & HWY8. Sea World is a must for us, all of the grandkids are animal lovers and the youngest 5 have never been to Sea World.

Touristy is fine with us, I would prefer a locally owned restaurant. I would love to hear about where/what y'all ate!

 

[ncc1701]

Huntington Beach isn't too far from DL for your beach/surf day. I not sure but I think you may be out of the window for whale watching.
If you're in Huntington Beach for a meal Ruby's on the end of the pier is good (they do breakfast, lunch & dinner) as is the Sugar Shack. (I think they stop after luchtime). If you want to go upscale in HB we loved sunset dinners at Duke's (at the start of the pier) We've enjoyed all 3 while there on our vacations