trip itinerary help needed

[BurleyGirl]

We're looking at going in September of October of next year. (Our DS will be 6 then.) We are in Texas, so are looking at a 22-hour drive. We also want to do Legoland and Universal Studios.

(I'm the one that asked the idiotic question about Carlsbad Caverns being California--anyway, now I know, and we might try to go there on the way.)

Anyway, would it be best to do Legoland first, (as my research shows it's about 1 hr prior to arriving at DL), and then do Universal the next day, and then finish our trip off with 2 or 3 days at DL? Or, should we reverse it, and start off with DL and end with Legoland on our way back?

Also, it's been 10 years since we've been to DL, and I know it's about 45 min to get to Universal. Would it be better to have a hotel near there or stay at DLH for that night (which is where I'm hoping to stay)?

Any other advice you can give me would be appreciated!

 

[almostGoofy]

I vote for doing Legoland and Universal first. Let DL be your "grand finale".

Traffic going to Universal can be quite bad, especially compared to ten years ago. You can make the commute from DL but I would bet that it will take you longer than 45 mins. due to traffic. I'd give yourself an hour minimum.

 

[daannzzz]

I agree with doing Legoland and Universal first. Hopefully you will have a rest day in there somewhere as well.
For the drive from the Disneyland area to Universal in the morning you should allow an hour and a half just in case. If you get there early you can meander through Citywalk. It doesn;t feel good to start out your day at a themepark by arriving late.

 

[BurleyGirl]

Thanks for your replies.

Clarification, please. If we're doing Legoland, say on Sunday, should we drive onto Anaheim Sunday night after Legoland closes (I'm assuming it will close 6:00p-ish in Sept/Oct) and check into DLH, and then be ready to get to Universal early Monday morning; or, should we stay another night near Legoland, and drive into Universal Monday am, and then check into DLH Monday evening?

 

[daannzzz]

Definately drive up to the Disneyland area. The closer you are to Universal the better. It really might be a good idea to drive up to Hollywood and spend the night there. My Ex boss stayed at the Hilton and said it was good. You probably will hit much less traffic Sunday than you would Monday morning. When you leave Universal you could drive down to Anaheim and check into your hotel. The drive will still be a bit long in lots of traffic but the later you drive down to Anaheim the better. I have been arriving in the LA area around 8:00 and it is much easier to ho down to Anaheim after 8:00 - 9:00 than anytime during the day.

 

[BurleyGirl]

Let me make sure I understand: drive to a hotel close to Universal (which, will be Hollywood?) after we leave Legoland for the day, and then after Universal, drive to DLH. Instead of leaving Legoland, driving to DLH, next morning driving to Universal and back to DLH? (p.s., really thanks for your help/insight)

 

[almostGoofy]

Leaving Legoland and driving up to the Universal City area instead of DLH is a good idea. Daannzzz is right, traffic Sunday evening will be much better than Monday morning. The downside is that your drive will be about two hours from Carlsbad to Universal City but if that's doable for you, it will save you some headaches by avoiding Monday morning traffic.

BTW, look for a hotel around Universal Studios, not Hollywood. With the exception of hotels around Highland and Hollywood Blvd., the rest of Hollywood you DO NOT want to stay in. It can be very seedy.

 

[iceskatejen]

There's a fairly new Hilton near Universal along with a somewhat older Sheraton (I've stayed at the Sheraton). I agree that other than the Hollywood & Highland area to stay away from Hollywood hotels. The H&H area has been recently made a lot nicer and it would be ok to stay in. I know there's one old hotel next to (or very near) the El Capitan theater that's rumored to be haunted by some late Hollywood celebrities. Don't know if it's open to overnight guests (I think it is) but I know they give tours and there's a restaurant & bar.

 

[maci]

Hey Burley Girl!

I am doing the drive you are talking about on Saturday!!

I will be glad to give any help on that when we get back! We are doing the grand canyon on the way.
I have done carlsbad caverns before too, and it is really a neat place! It is ALOT of walking down, down, down, so not sure if your 6 year old could do it??

Anyway, we are only doing disney and the beaches so cant comment on the other parks. I agree disney should be your big finale though!!

 

[Douglas Dubh]

I'd vote for just staying at the DLH or a nearby hotel, rather than having to worry about finding, securing reservations, checking in, and checking out of multiple hotels, especially when you have young children that can't carry their own luggage. Also, I'd agree with others that said do Legoland and Universal first. The only exception would be if you wanted to see fireworks or parades or Fantasmic at Disneyland, and you needed to move your schedule around a little to accomodate that. Legoland and Universal are not so far apart that you couldn't check into a hotel near DL, do DL the first day, Legoland the next, DCA next, then Universal, and then a DL finale.

 

[lkohawaii]

Go to Legoland first. We went to DL first and they have such and orgaized system for loading an unloading the rides. After being used to such an efficient system it's a bit frustrating to go to Legoland's seemingly "prehistoric" loading and unloading. No fault to Legoland it's just that Disney has perfected the loading and unloading. Hey, can someone tell me about the Carlsbad Canyons never heard of it.

 

[maci]

Carlsbad Caverns is in New Mexico. It is a huge system of caves/caverns. It takes several hours to walk to the bottom, and then you take a elevator ride back up. You can go to the entrance of the cave in the evening and watch thousands of bats come out of them every night as well.

 

[Katy Belle]

Not that you want more info on Carlsbad Caverns, but....we just did it a few weeks ago. We did the "natural entrance" tour, in which you walk to the bottom of the cave. It took about an hour and a half. We had three little boys with us, 4,7,and 9. They all had no trouble with it, but our legs were tired at the bottom. They have more aggressive tours, but not for little kids. We also toured the "Big Room" as well, which was all level ground, but another hour walk. It is great, by the way.

I got it in my mind tonight to plan a DisneyLand trip. Your thread planned my trip for me!!! Thanks!!! Now I start saving my pennies!

Katy Belle

 

[lkohawaii]

Thanks guys....I thought Carlsbad caverns was in Carlsbad by Legoland..no wonder I never heard of it LOL! I guess now I'll have to plan a trip to New Mexico...sounds like a lot of fun. I'll write Carlbad Caverns down on my trip to go list.

 

[BurleyGirl]

When will you be planning your trip for? We're hoping to go next September or October--and now we may fly instead of drive the 22 hours, but my husband really wanted my son to see the Caverns and watch the bats come out, so not sure what will win out--convenience or sight-seeing!

 

[lkohawaii]

I know this is off the thread subject but since you guys got me interested in the Carlsbad Canyon what else is there to see around there. We would be flying in from Hawaii so we've got to find something else to do besides see the canyon for a day.

 

[Katy Belle]

BurleyGirl,

I don't have a CLUE when we will go! Maybe summer of 2007?!! Talk about planning early! We did our first trip to WDW about 4 months ago and I seem to have caught the "Mickey Fever." I just can't get it out of my head.... BUT we already have plans for the next two summers, so it will be a while. We, DH and I, are trying to visit all 50 states in our lifetimes and haven't hit California yet, so it will fit right into the plan. I think I have 10 to go at this point. That was part of the reason for visiting Carlsbad Caverns too. We drove from Houston to Carlsbad, to Albuquerque, to Coloarado Springs, then through KS to visit family in Nebraska, then home-traveling through KS and OK to get there! With that 50 hour car trip accomplished I'm thinking of FLYING to California when the time comes.

Ikohawaii, there isn't much else other than the cave in New Mexico. Albuquerque was nice, but I think it was about 6 hours from Carlsbad. We did go to the Alien Museum in Roswell, NM too, but I wouldn't fly from Hawaii to see it!! I can't wait until I get to visit your state. It will be a while yet.

Katy Belle

 

[Firefly777]

Originally posted by Katy Belle
BurleyGirl,
Ikohawaii, there isn't much else other than the cave in New Mexico. Albuquerque was nice, but I think it was about 6 hours from Carlsbad. We did go to the Alien Museum in Roswell, NM too, but I wouldn't fly from Hawaii to see it!! I can't wait until I get to visit your state. It will be a while yet.

Katy Belle

Don't forget Santa Fe. I haven't been there myself, but it looks like an interesting place to visit.

 

[lkohawaii]

Katy Belle- You wouldn't recomend we fly in from Hawaii to see the bats on the way to somewhere...but I don't kow where? The info I got on the web looks really interesting. I would like to go on the way to WDW but being that we need so many days at WDW I don't know if we could spare a day. Anyway, we'll be waiting for you to come and visit our Aloha state. Come when you're sick of the cold. It's usually warm and sunny here... we always have a lot of our "aloha spirit" to go around. If you need more info about us PM me anytime.

 

[Katy Belle]

Ikohawaii, I guess what I was saying is that the cave isn't close to anything else. There is a lot to see, if you are willing to drive. Albuquerque was nice, and interesting. As another person mentioned, Sante Fe NM is nice too, but its another hour+ from Albuquerque. We drove to Colorado and did the Colorado Springs area, Pikes Peak mountain, etc. That is really nice, but once again a drive! I think we drove 7 or 9 hours from Albuquerque to Colorado Springs. But if you are wanting to do Colorado at some point, it is do-able with New Mexico. Also, there is Arozona. Phoenix is supposedly very nice, but I have not been there, yet. AND you could drive to California and visit Mickey and Minnie at DisneyLand! But, once again, it is a big drive. There is a lot of other stuff to see in California too.

I don't expect us to make it to Hawaii until the kids are much older and won't mind us going without them. We are planning a trip to Italy for our 20 yr. Anniversary, in 5 years. Maybe we will do Hawaii in the year 2019 or something like that! Planning ahead is good.

Katy Belle