Universal/DL Help

[jonsmom57]

Hi

I am planning my first vacation to DLR next year. We plan on visiting DLR for 4 days then travelling over to San Diego via Amtrak train. We may purchase So. Cal ticket and my question is: Is it easier to take a bus tour from DLR to Universal or wait til we get to San Diego where we will have a rental car and travel to Universal from there.

Thanks so much.

 

[spencem]

Universal is quite a way north of DLR and San Diego is about an hour and a half drive south, so if you wait until you get your car you will drive right back past DLR to get to Universal.

That siad I have no idea how you would get from DLR to Universal without a car.

 

[mousiemom]

we are going june 5th and we are doing the so.cali city pass along with the 4 day pass from greyline bus tour. we are getting this pass for $129 ea. i didn't want to rent a car cause one-i would get lost and 2-you have to pay to park everywhere so we just did this instead.
good luck!
mousiemom

 

[bradk]

going directly from universal to disneyland via mass transit is fairly straightforward, although awkward.

there's a bus that runs between downtown LA and right outside disneyland's gates on s harbor. in downtown LA, you can connect to the red metro line which goes to universal city and universal studios operates a free tram that runs between the station and the park.

 

[jonsmom57]

going directly from universal to disneyland via mass transit is fairly straightforward, although awkward.

there's a bus that runs between downtown LA and right outside disneyland's gates on s harbor. in downtown LA, you can connect to the red metro line which goes to universal city and universal studios operates a free tram that runs between the station and the park.

Sounds to me like even if I bought a So Cali pass, I may "pass" on Universal. DOn't want to be theme-parked out.

 

[bradk]

my first socal trip was in 2005.. i started out in LA and did USH amongst a bunch of other things, moved down to anaheim for disneyland, then san diego for the wild animal park, legoland, the zoo, sea world and more.

i have a fondness for USH personally, but i'm into that type of thing. i'm actually doing the VIP tour again next month

 

[jonsmom57]

my first socal trip was in 2005.. i started out in LA and did USH amongst a bunch of other things, moved down to anaheim for disneyland, then san diego for the wild animal park, legoland, the zoo, sea world and more.

i have a fondness for USH personally, but i'm into that type of thing. i'm actually doing the VIP tour again next month

How long do you usually spend in CA (I see you are from the East Coast)?

We were planning 10 days but I want to do other stuff besides theme parks. My son is too old for LegoLand but I really want to go the zoo and SeaWorld.

What is USH like? Is it a full day?

 

[bradk]

i think that trip was 11 days.. i went back to disneyland only in 2006 for 5 days. this is my next time back in april as part of the adventures by disney tour, but i'm extending it on either side too.

USH is is a bit of a theme park on top of a working studio. its major attraction is the studio tram tour which actually takes you through real sets along with some added surprises. it has some other attractions on top of it, but with exception to maybe revenge of the mummy and jurassic park river adventure, you can go without (and even then, you have CA Screamin and Splash Mountain at disneyland).

there's also citywalk, which I believe has more of an advantage than downtown disney does for shopping.

the most recent changes include a 3d simpsons motion simulator ride (replaced back to the future) coming later this summer. they have already rethemed a restaurant to a krusty burger and made the gift shop into a kwik-e-mart

so yes, to do most everything, it's about a day. plus whatever time spent at citywalk

 

[jonsmom57]

Sounds like a "must do" and my itinerary, though still in the early stages may need some tweaking.

Thanks Brad.