Trying to plan our trip and I need help!

[A10560]

We are flying out to California the beginning of March. It will be myself, dh, ds5 and ds3. We will be going on the Mexican Riviera Cruise March 6 - 13. We know we want to go to Disneyland at least one day if not two. We have talked about taking a drive down to San Diego and hanging out for the day. What we don't know is how many days we should come out before the Cruise. We are flying from Cincinnati, Ohio and will probably not do this again. Are there any things that are a must see or do? We also don't know where we are going to stay. We would love suggestions for the good neighbor hotels. Originally we were going to use our DVC points but hotel is booked up for all days around our trip.

Thanks for any suggestions... I am stressing out about this and have no one to help me plan this big adventure!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Looks like your post got buried without getting seen..try the trip reports for "southern california theme parks" to see what other families have done and plan according to your kids interests. If your 5 year old likes dinosaurs don't miss the la brea tar pits and San Diego wild animal park is an experience so unkie a zoo you wont believe it...most little ones love the animals there are a 100 things to do in southern california juat pick what works for your family. You could spend a year there and not do everything so just pick out what REALLY interests your family.

As far as DLR goes I would do 2 days as little ones like yours don't move very fast

And Have Fun no matter what

 

[skiingfast]

You, though not the little ones may like Hollywood. A beach day would be good either in LA or SD.


In SD they are good age for Legoland. Seaworld. In addition to the Wild Animal park, now called the Safari Park, the SD zoo is great. You can go on an old aircraft carrier in SD harbor if the 5yo and DH like planes. There is also a Air and Space museum near the zoo in Balboa park.

For DL at least 3 days, if it overlaps a weekend I would add a day.


You will probably want a rental car to go on these outings.

 

[kailuagirl]

Since you aren't going there again for awhile, I would try to spend as much time as you could. There is so much to do in So. Cal. I agree with the at least 2 days at Disneyland. There is so much to see and do, and with little ones you really have to go at their pace. Have a great trip!!

 

[BlueJade]

Wow! You have an amazing adventure ahead of you. Just as a thought, I would plan a kind of down day after the cruise. Relax at one of the great parks along the beach. Let the boys play in the sand -- which will appeal to them immensely. If you are going to San Diego, we loved LaJolla (eating at restaurants, seeing the sea lions, walking the beach) and we also liked going to the national park that's at the Point (someone else will know the name). With boys that age, you might like LegoLand, which my son adored when he was 5 and still talks about years later. There are many parks in LA. Also, check out one of the books on traveling with families to Southern California. That will give you some ideas. You could then find some specific entertainment ideas and come back here and ask questions. Finally, I have been doing a lot of research on hotels in LA, and I think that the prices of hotels around Anaheim are good. You might also find a nice place along the ocean.