Stay in DL or move hotels!

[princess33]

Hi all. We are planning our first trip to DL after many trips to WDW. This may be our only time to California so we want to see as much as possible.
We plan to spend 3-4 days at the two DL parks, 1 day at legoland, possibly another at universal. We would also like to spend a day or two at a beach and exploring LA.
We have two young kids (3 & 6) and will have a car. Our plan is to visit in July.

Would it be better to stay in one central spot at DL (thinking about HOJO) or change hotels to LA? Or elsewhere? We have 12 nights total. Changing hotels is annoying with kids but I know things are much more spread out compared to Orlando. Budget is a big concern too.
Thoughts?

 

[sherilaine]

We have stayed for over a week all three times we've visited Disneyland and rented a car each time. We found being located near Disneyland and doing trips to LA, the beach etc. was very easy. It is not that big of a deal to drive in the area, even into LA and back I found.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I disagree
Anaheim where Disney is located is about a 90 minute drive from Hollywood, depending oin the time of day and traffic. It is really best to stay in Anaheim for Disney and then move to do the LA part.

I have been travelling to LA each year for about 6 years and I always move hotels. I have stayed in Santa Monica and Downtown LA and then moved across to Anaheim.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would stay in Anaheim for Disneyland, Carlsbad for Legoland, and LA for the LA stuff. Otherwise you're just wasting gas, time, and patience.

 

[Ckkk]

Agree with bumbershoot. As an LA native, traffic is awful and getting hit with an hour plus drives after a day of vacation is not fun.

 

[corinne76]

our last trip, we stayed across DLR and drove one day to Legoland, and another to Sea World. It's doable, but definintely not ideal. The drive out to Carlsbad can take 1.5 hrs or more. then you have to drive back at night. Unfortunately, Hollywood is another direction so if you are going to switch hotels to stay closer to each park, it would have to be 3 different hotels.

My kids are 8 and 4, so I understand how changing hotels can suck.

this next trip, we're doing 5 days at DL, then packing up, moving to Legoland hotel and visiting the park and San Diego zoo.

I know you want to see as much as possible, but I have to ask: are your kids interested in Universal at those ages? We haven't visited yet, mostly cause my kids aren't interested at all. The only thing they're love to see is the Minions but that can wait since I'm not wasting a trip there if they're going to get bored. Also, Harry Potter will be opening in April, so I'd expect July to be PACKED!
I'd love to see HP but will wait til the craziness dies down and the kids are a bit older to enjoy the rides the park offers.

 

[MNtwinsplus1mom]

I would stay in Anaheim for Disneyland, Carlsbad for Legoland, and LA for the LA stuff. Otherwise you're just wasting gas, time, and patience.

This is what we are doing for our upcoming (1st) DL trip: 7 nights in Anaheim, then renting a car and driving to Carlsbad and staying there at Legoland Hotel for 2 nights for Carlsbad/San Diego area stuff, then driving north to Burbank hotel for 2 nights for sights around there before returning car to DTD area. We plan to use Lansky transportation from/to airport to limit car rental days (don't want car in Anaheim).

 

[princess33]

Thanks for the suggestions and comments. I will have to give it some thought. But this helps. We haven't done universal yet in Florida and would like to try it, we might wait though till 2017 when we are back in Orlando if it will be busy/far.

Any suggestions for kid and budget friendly LA hotels?

 

[BadPinkTink]

Hi @princess33
In Anaheim I have stayed at Motel 6 Main Gate https://www.motel6.com/en/motels.ca.anaheim.1066.html Basic clean Motel, large beds and rooms, ART shuttle to the park

In LA I have stayed at Kawada Hotel on the edge of Little Tokyo in Downtown LA http://www.kawadahotel.com/ Budget friendly but not really that nice an area. I stayed here as it was close to good public transport - Metro and bus, as a I dont drive.

I have also stayed at Comfort Inn Santa Monica , family and budget friendly, great location for seeing Santa Monica and Hollywood http://www.comfortinnsantamonica.com/

 

[Chris9ty]

We had 10 days in Anaheim- stayed at Hotel Indigo on Katella and based out trip from there. The 5 day DL park hopper is only $15 more than a 4 day park hopper so it seemed cost efficient to do an extra part of a day there. I knew my kids would not sleep well if we changed hotels and I didn't want to repack.
Really look into Universal before you decide to go. My 6 yr old is short and could only ride a few rides- and they were simulation rides that he wasn't too into. There are some scary parts of the Studio Tour- we took my 2 yr old - but covered his eyes a few times. We woild go again, but when the kids were older.
The animal actor show was cute and if they like Harry Potter it would be neat to check out.
We spent a couple days at Knotts Berry Farm- very family friendly- but we are coaster park fans.
I need to finish up my trip report one day.