Suggestions for which parks & F! or WOC

[CPAmomX2]

I am currently working on planning our Southern California summer vacation. Have been reviewing past threads on this site for advice as well as reading up from many other sources

My husband and I will be traveling from the midwest (Nebraska) with a 9 year old boy who loves rides and a 2 year old girl.

So far my plan looks something like this:
July 21 (sat)- arrive John Wayne airport 10am. Head to timeshare rental at Buena Park area to get settled in. Get to Disneyland/California Adventure by 3 to use day one of 3 day park hopper, explore the parks some, and hit some rides and shows.
July 22 (sun)- legoland
July 23 (mon)- 6 Flags MM
July 24 (tues)- Knotts Berry Farm & Midevil times
July 25 (wed)- Disneyland (stay late for fireworks)
July 26 (thurs)- California Adventure
July 27 (fri)- Seaworld
July 28 (sat)- ocean- fly out at 3 pm

Does this itinerary seem totally unreasonable? Does anyone have recommendations for different days? Will this allow us to explore any other areas (ie Hollywood, coastal areas, etc).

Thanks so much in advance for any guidance you may have!

See post below for revised plans. THANKS

 

[sonnyjane]

Nothing glaringly wrong with it other than it is a LOT of driving. I'm assuming you're aware of that part though?

ETA: Just going by mapquest, Buena Park to Legoland will be 90 minutes each way, Buena Park to Magic Mountain will be about 75 minutes each way, and Buena Park to Sea World is going to be just about two hours each way.

 

[rtfelt]

This is a ton of driving. MM may only be 60 miles away, but you have to go right through LA to get there. If you're trying to get there for park opening, so you're leaving before 8 or so, it can literally take you 3 hours to get there during a weekday morning traffic--especially a Monday.

I've had AP to Legoland in the past. It took us 40 minutes to get there, and we're 20 minutes south of DL, so it should take you over an hour, maybe 1.5. If you leave after 8:30 or so, you shouldn't hit very much traffic--except close to where you're staying. Once you hit south Orange County, it should be fairly clear all the way.

Also keep in mind that Saturdays at DL are generally very busy because so many locals with AP go there for the day. If you're used to WDW, where weekends are not that much worse than weekdays because most of the guests are tourists, you will be greatly surprised. I tend to avoid weekends--especially Saturdays at all costs, but I understand why you would use this day for the park that's geographically closest to you. Just set your expectations accordingly. FP this late in the day, won't get you a whole lot. Many of the big ones may be gone.

Knotts is also very busy on weekends because of the local traffic. We had AP there several years back and were astonished by the difference is is crowd levels on weekends versus weekdays. Almost every weekday we were there most of the rides were walk on, but on Saturday, the lines would be over an hour.

My only suggestion would be to go to the beach on the Saturday you arrive. You'll for sure avoid any possible morning marine layer, that can make the beach cold in the morning and use the last of your DLR passes for the Saturday morning you leave. Get to the park before it opens, so you can more effectively use the FP system. In the end, do what you think is right. It's just my 2 cents. Good luck

 

[CPAmomX2]

Thanks for the input, don't know how to avoid the drive- hopefully we can try to avoid some of the worst traffic and hopefully the kids will be able to nap on the drives. Things are all being changed around now as bil & sil will be at conference in SD Tue to Fri and grandma & grandpa are coming too! Any suggestions for which park to try to do on Sunday and/or suggestions of itinerary now that sd days are going to have to change?

 

[DisneytheKid]

Good to know you have planned in the drive! I'm sorry, are you not going to SD now or you are? I didn't understand the post

 

[CPAmomX2]

Sorry to be confusing. Yes we are still going to SD however the days have now changed (we have to focus our SD days on M-TH). Our itinerary now looks like:

Sat- fly in arriving around 10 am, get checked in and pick up groc, etc., Knotts Berry Farm
Sun- DL/ DCA break in afternoon, try to see Fantasmic in the evening
Mon- Seaworld
Tues- early entry DL, use park hopper ticket throughout day, Medievil times dinner
Weds- DCA, park hoppers ticket throughout the day, possible WOC
Thurs- Legoland
Fri- 6 Flags MM
Sat- explore, coastal drive, ocean, etc. Fly out at 3

Any suggestions for rearranging the parks to different days? Wish we didn't have to hit any park on Sat/Sun but if we want to "do it all" will have to try to make it work.

With a 9 & 3 year old does trying to see Fantasmic & WOC seem like a good idea?

Would DL be a good option for Sat (our arrival day) if we book the F! dessert package? Would moving a different park to Sun be a better idea?

YIKES!!

 

[Lissame]

I replied to your post on the other board--with the young ages of your kids I'd really recommend against going to Magic Mountain. They won't be able to ride a great majority of the rides, and it's kind of a scary place in general--more single young adults, NOT families, bad behavior...

 

[CPAmomX2]

Thanks for the input..will look at eliminating Magic Mountain!

We have been to 6 Flags in St. Louis and found it enjoyable for everyone but sounds like the California version is a different experience.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

I know a lot of people like the Midevil Times dinner....but I don't think it's magical enough to cut short your time at DL to go to....it's the same show you can see in Branson, MO or Pigeon Forge, TN or Excalibur in Las Vegas. But that's JMHO!