Visiting San Diego from Disneyland

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

So for those who fly into Disneyland...how do you get to the San Diego attractions? Do you have to rent a car or are there transportation services available? I see on the Disney site you can add the option to your package for tickets/transportation to some of the more popular places in CA so does that mean there are places that do shuttle back & forth or is this just a "through Disney" option?

Thanks for any help...we are planning an April 2006 trip but I know my dh would not like to drive in that kind of traffic being our first visit.

Dawn

 

[happytraveller]

Hi, i hope to do this trip next year in august.I have been told the Amtrak goes to San Diego from anahiem.The route is suppossed to be very scenic.

 

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

Very COOL! thanks for that...we were looking into taking the train all the way out to CA but it turned out to bevery expesive so this might be a small taste for us!

I checked the site and see there is a San Diego Zoo stop right on the Amtrak but when I put it in it didn't work...anyone know if this is only a once in a while stop or what?

Also, does anyone know how far the Amtrak station is from Disneyland area?

Thanks again!
Dawn

 

[stich626]

Next week I will be spending 3 days in San Diego and 3 days at DL. We rented a car from Dollar. It was 100 dollars. We got a immediate sized car and get a free upgrade from joining the club online(forgot the name). We figure this was the best way for us since if we are late, its our own fault. lol
I will let you know how it worked out.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I don't know where you are from but driving in San Diego and interstate 5 really isn't all that bad. It is busy and big but you get the hang of it, especially in San Diego. I was there in July and honestly if I can drive in it I think anyone can. I don't remember seeing an Amtrack near the zoo but I know the trolley stops there if you are going to take public transportation. Have a wonderful trip.

 

[Janomi]

Living in CA. I would have to agree with others pushing the car route. Though Amtrak is nice, it isn't the most convenient thing. A car allows you to go at your own schedule and not on the train's.

 

[hockeypop]

1) The Anaheim Amtrak station is about 2 or 3 miles from Disneyland (it is acutally at the Angel's baseball stadium).

2) The San Diego trolley does NOT go to the San Diego Zoo. The zoo is a couple of miles from the closest trolley station (the one at 11th and C St.).

3) With normal traffic, the Zoo is about 2 hours from Disneyland.

Let me know if you have more questions about San Diego (born and lived here for 39 years.)

 

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

Okay, so how would you 'hockeypop' recomment getting to the Zoo from Disneyland area. I'm still confused about this whole Amtrak thing..it says on their web site they have a station/stop at the San Diego Zoo???

Still looking for some suggestions...Thanks!

Dawn

 

[kkgunn]

rent a car at the airport and drive to San Diego, stay a few nights and then drive back to the airport and leave. The train is too complicated, too expensive and too inconvenient.

 

[lark]

Okay, so how would you 'hockeypop' recomment getting to the Zoo from Disneyland area. I'm still confused about this whole Amtrak thing..it says on their web site they have a station/stop at the San Diego Zoo???

Still looking for some suggestions...Thanks!

Dawn

I'd be curious to know what you're looking at, but I don't think there's any amtrak stop at the zoo. Maybe you saw something about connecting motor coach service or something? The amtrak route is called the pacific surfliner, and the only two station stops in san diego are old town and the downtown station -- neither of which are at the zoo.

I've taken the amtrak to disney from the san diego area and I think it's great. But it's a little easier to go the opposite direction from how you're going. That is, you take it from San Diego -- you don't need a car so much once you're in Anaheim, but it's harder to go without a car in San Diego and still do the San Diego attractions.

If all you want to do is the zoo, it shouldn't be too hard. Just take the train from Anaheim to the San Diego station and then take cabs. The other way to do it would be to take the train then rent a car in San Diego, although I'm not sure how easy it is to get to a car rental place from the train station.

 

[Dobie]

If you just wanted to go to the zoo, WDTC has package that covers a motor coach from DL and your ticket.

If you want to do other attractions, I agree with previous posters that you're better off staying a couple of nights in SD and renting a care

 

[Disney Mama 2 Two]

Dobie: I did see this listed as zoo admission plus transportation - do you know what form of transportation this is and how you'd find out the specifics such as time of travel and how flexible / in-flexible it is?

lark: On the Amtrak site where you can pull up station lists by name under "S" there is one listed as San Diego Zoo...I did call the 1-800# today and spoke with someone about this and apparently Amtrak offers a "tour" package of sorts where you'd take the train to SD then a tour shuttle to the Zoo from there and back again. Sounds like a neat deal....but the times are pretty narrow...you have to leave the zoo by like 4:20pm

I see what you all mean about the rent a car and do a couple days in SD but I just don't see that in our plans...I don't think dh would want to drive around and although I'd love to do some sightseeing I'm not sure about this trip.

Does anyone know if there are 'other' tour companies that would take you to the SD area for the day to see the Zoo or other attractions?

Thanks again for all your help!
Dawn