Traveling from DLR to San Diego Zoos

[Magic4UsZ's]

We are trying to plan our first trip to Disneyland. I would like to also go to one if not both of the San Diego zoos but am wondering what it would be like to drive down to San Diego on two seperate days? What are the REAL drive times? how much of a hassle is it?

Is there good public transportation back and forth?

Or should we just pack up camp and stay in San Diego?

Also how far is Universal from Disneyland?

Thanks in advance for your replies!!!!!

 

[lcasa]

The Zoo and Wild Animal park aren't actually that close to one another! The zoo is in San Diego proper - in Balboa Park. The Wild Animal park is not as far south but further inland - in Escondido. You could consider maybe staying just north of San Diego -- check out google maps to get an idea. It wouldn't be impossible to do both from Anaheim, but you would waste a lot of time travelling. I think I'd drive down eary in the morning to do the zoo, stay nearer the wild animal park that night, and then drive back to Anaheim after the wild animal park. I have DL AP and zoo membership - and live in Huntington Beach so have made these trips many times.

I generally allow 90 min - 2 hr to get to San Diego from that area. Escondido also about 90 mn. Traffic of course changes the travel time - I've been in traffic jams that made it take 3-4 hours to get to SD!

Both the zoo and wild animal park are great - you'll need more time at the zoo. I'd say 4-5 hrs at the WAP would be plenty to see it all - but the zoo is an all-day affair.

Don't shortchange DL either - there's so much to see/do - just because we have less land than WDW doesn't mean you can't spend 4 days there easily.
There are Amtrak trains from Anaheim to San Diego, and transportation to the zoo from there - but they take a while and are kind of $$. I don't think there is any public transportation to the Animal Park.

Universal is straight up the 5 to the 101 from DL - if no traffic, 40 min or so. But there is usually traffic - so more like an hour. Unless you have a lot of days I would skip it ( had APs to Universal last year - there's not all that much to do there. We only went 3 times - I go to DL 2x a month usually)

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

Thanks elcasa!!!!!

I dont know what I'd do without you great people of the DIS!!!
Your knowledge is wonderful!!!

Im beginning to think from your post to stay at DLR for four nights, then like you said drive down to SD for the zoo's.

I love your insight as to how long it would take to see each park, really helpful!!!!

Anyone else have an opinion?

 

[VallCopen]

Magic4UsZ's we are kinda in the same boat as you and we are trying to figure out where else to go while at Disneyland. We are trying to decide between Catalina and SD Zoo. I have a Thread too so maybe you can check it out to see what others are saying. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2218906

I will admit though I am starting to think like Icasa, that we shouldn't short change Disneyland. There really is a lot to do and depending on where you stay, especially on site you can enjoy so much of the resort (pools, DTD, AMC theater, ESPN zone with a huge arcade for kids and adults, lots of shops, great places to eat and beautiful grounds you could wander forever especially at the Disneyland Hotel). If you only have a few days at Disneyland you might want to stay and enjoy the resort as a whole, there can be a lot of time lost in travel. We are going for 11 nights, and have been to Disney several times, and we are still thinking about staying put now. Whatever you decide have a fun and safe trip.

 

[krash2501]

Hi,
This is my first post but I have been browsing for awhile. I went to DL last Dec. for a week and went to 4 places. 3 days at DL/CA, then went to Legoland, then to Seaworld, Then the zoo. I am going back again in sept. 16-23 and we will be doing a week just at DL. Don't get me wrong all those places were great but the $$$$ and traveling spent was IMO not worth it. DL there is so much to do and see 3 day wasn't enough. My case may be diffrent because i have 3 young kids and Legoland was boring for them, Seaworld was to old for them and they just wanted to ride the rides and could careless about the shows. The zoo was great but again the kids would have had a better time at DL.

This time we spent the same amount of $$$ and bought plane tickets, 6 days in the park, and are staying at PPH with the meal deal and still are saving $350 over our last trip.

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

Anyone else?

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

We drove to San Diego multiple times in our last trip and it was fine. I would leave early no matter when you're going, or try to plan to avoid rush hour traffic. We didn't stay in SD, we went back to Anaheim each time. There is construction on parts of the I-5 going towards LA, but we managed to avoid it and never had any problems.
I think it really depends on the age of your kids. We have an adult son, and we all really enjoyed Seaworld. We got there late on a Saturday because we left late and there was some traffic going there. (Ended up taking a somewhat scenic route to avoid freeway traffic.) We saw all the shows and exhibits (except the Sesame Street one) and didn't bat an eye about missing the rides. Would I have liked to ride them, yeah, it looked fun! But the shows were incredible. Big respect for the trainers, whales and dolphins. It took us all of an hour and 45 minutes to get from Anaheim to San Diego and vice versa. We went to Barona Casino one night too, so we did this trip twice.

If you have kids-young adults in your party, everyone will enjoy Knotts and it's practically right down the street from DL. I highly recommend Knotts especially for teens who like thrill rides, but they also have a camp snoopy for young kids.
So that's my take on it. You don't have to stay in SD if you are used to driving far distances and have no issue with driving, at most, a couple of hours back to Anaheim. If you are not used to long distance driving and the LA freeway system, or are not comfortable reading a map, or do not have a GPS, you may want to rethink this idea. We didn't have a problem with it.

 

[SSRJen]

San Diego is so beautiful and there is a lot to do here. I do suggest if going to the Wild Animal Part to book one of the extras to get up close and personal with some of the animals. I love the caravan tour. Heck, you could even sleep at the Wild Animal Park overlooking the Safari. It is an amazing experience and if you would need a hotel anyway...

Jennifer

 

[mikayla73]

We have driven to SD for the day on our longer trips to Anaheim (7-10 days). But it was usually a day trip only, to do SW or zoo, not both. Although we did do that once ... and I wouldn't do it again. If you want to do more than one thing in SD, then I'd stay down there overnight, then go to DL.

As others have said there's lots to do and see at DL, so you can easily spend all of the time there, but I do like to mix it up a little sometimes.

If you're want to see the Zoo and Wild Animal Park, then I'd do it either at the end or beginning of your trip and stay overnight.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

On our last trip (8 nights) we drove to San Diego (Legoland and Seaworld) from anaheim on 2 different days (wednesday and saturday if it makes any difference).
For us it seemed to be more of a hassle to pack everything up then it was to drive the extra drive. The drive was not bad at all.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

On our last trip (8 nights) we drove to San Diego (Legoland and Seaworld) from anaheim on 2 different days (wednesday and saturday if it makes any difference).
For us it seemed to be more of a hassle to pack everything up then it was to drive the extra drive. The drive was not bad at all.

That's the same way we feel! I'd drive it. And we drove on a Thursday and Saturday. Saturday we hit some traffic going but we left late. (Slept in...) I think as long as they plan around Rush hour traffic, they should be fine.

 

[Mkrop]

We just went in June and drove down for the Zoo one day and then drove to Sea World the next, each day returning to Anahiem. If you dont mind driving, it wasnt bad (my DH loves to drive). My boys really loved both the Zoo and Sea World, they are 11 and 6. I would recommend Sea World druing the week, on the weekends they get so busy they seell a front of the line pass.

 

[Dis_Mom]

I live in San Diego and drive to Disneyland at least once a month, but more like every week. It is an 1 1/2 hour drive and traffic is only bad in the (LA) northern part of the drive. If you have any questions send me a PM I have been in San Diego over 30 years and can answer most any questions.