Start or finish at Disneyland?

[OFF TO WDW!]

As some of you may have read my posts, our family has decided to also visit San Diego on our trip to California.

My question to everyone is that we have the opion of doing Disneyland first (or last along with San Diego (first or last). From experience is there any preference of which we should do first (or last!) and why.


Thanks!

 

[nunzia]

I like to end with Disneyland, becuase I think that is ending on a 'high note"

 

[specialks]

DLR last!

 

[the donut]

What days of the week are you traveling?

 

[lovebug33]

I would end with San Diego. It's a lot less exhausting, so it's a good end to the trip.

 

[donkthemagicllama]

As some of you may have read my posts, our family has decided to also visit San Diego on our trip to California.

My question to everyone is that we have the opion of doing Disneyland first (or last along with San Diego (first or last). From experience is there any preference of which we should do first (or last!) and why.


Thanks!

We did something similar a year ago, and did DL last... we're going again this fall and doing DL last this time too.

Our thinking was that since we were spending more time at DL, we'd be more rushed to do things in San Diego, and that would be better at the start of our trip.

We were also hoping to end on a "high-note", but we stayed at Hotel Del Coronado, which has gotta be the best non-Disney destination we've ever been to, so the whole trip was great.

 

[ktlm]

We like to do DL first and then spend the last half of the week in the San Diego area with at least one day just hanging out relaxing on the beach. If we did San Diego first I don't think we would get as much out of it because everyone, especially DD (5), would just be antsy wanting to get to Disney. It is nice to have a few slower days to wind down after Disney too.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I learned my lesson after doing DLR first on a few trips. I actually get a little depressed after leaving DL and don't enjoy the other places as much. I constantly compare DL to whatever we do next. I compare the attractions, the service and the atmosphere and I always end up disappointed. I now know that after DL, I have to go straight home. Next month, we're doing Universal, then DL, then heading home. It may sound weird, but I can't do it any other way.

 

[OFF TO WDW!]

What days of the week are you traveling?

If we go to San Diego first, we would be there on a Thur Fri and Saturday and head to DL From Mon-fri.

 

[Jynxed]

Disney wipes me out and I usually need a vacation from my vacation, so I would save San Diego for the end of the trip, that will give you time to wind down and relax before getting back to the real world.

 

[Hawleys]

I'm struggling with the same issue planning a trip for 9 people in June 2012. I was leaning toward going to DLR first so that we could decompress at the beach afterwards. However, we will be vacationing from Saturday to Saturday. I really want to avoid Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at DLR (when the SoCal passholders will not be blocked out). So right now I'm leaning towards San Diego on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, travel day to Anaheim on Tuesday and DLR on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

 

[OFF TO WDW!]

I learned my lesson after doing DLR first on a few trips. I actually get a little depressed after leaving DL.

I know that's how we get when we leave WDW. I have to thank you because I didn't even think about that!

 

[ktlm]

If we go to San Diego first, we would be there on a Thur Fri and Saturday and head to DL From Mon-fri.

That would rais some issues for me. It depends on the time of year you are going. Are the annual passholders blocked out over the weekend? Will all the entertainment (particularly Aladdin and Fantasmic be going during the week)? We have been the last 2 Junes. We have found that Saturday and Sunday were low crowds, and Monday and Tuesday were crazy busy. This year were were still there for half the day on Wednesday and the crowds were lower again that day. In June, the entertainment is going full swing. Others can tell you better, but I think there are times of the year when some of the shows run primarily on the weekends.

 

[rentayenta]

I'd end with Disneyland. That's what we are doing. We are planning on 3-4 beach days and 3-5 Disney days. My kids will sleep during the drive home after the days at Disneyland.

 

[lillybug]

I would say San Diego and then Disneyland. I like to save the best for last!

We went to San Diego after one of our DLR trips back in 2007 and we really regretted it. The kids just wanted to go back to Disneyland and so did I! Everything seemed very underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful and I'm sure we would have loved it all if we hadn't just come from Disney.

 

[papamouse1]

One more vote for doing DL first. My reasoning is simple... almost every year, when we do Disney, we start out gangbusters, then later in the week, gets much harder to get up early, stay late, etc. I would rather do DL while we are fresh and then do SD last at a slower pace. Much of the things in SD are less time demanding than DL IMO, so easier to sleep in, go home early, etc.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[the donut]

If we go to San Diego first, we would be there on a Thur Fri and Saturday and head to DL From Mon-fri.

That sounds like a good plan to me, especially if it's this summer where the midweek DL entertainment schedule won't be at all limited. If Legoland is part of the San Diego itinerary, I would advise Legoland for a non-weekend day. Lines are very slow and painful there, so it's best to go when they will be at their shortest.

 

[marcemc]

Another vote to endyour trip with Disney, it's just more magical

 

[taaren]

I'd do DL last ... partly because if we go to other parks we notice the 'reality' more ... trash on the ground, etc. If we go to Knotts/Magic Mtn/etc first I don't notice the lack of pixie dust.
And as PP's have said, mid-week is less crowded at DL though I try not to go during the summer so not familiar with crowd patterns then.

 

[Dobie]

Oh, Disney for sure last!

Two summers ago, my mom and I went to WDW and then up the coast to St Augustine. We felt like we were leaving vacation paradise and going into a war zone--dealing with road construction, surly waiters, trash on the ground...