Yay! Planning a trip!

[dr&momto2boys]

We are now "officially" planning a trip to So. California in October. I have a conference in San Francisco on the 2nd. Looks like we'll fly into San Diego on the 3rd, make our way up to Anaheim by the 7th, and leave on the 11th. It looks something like this:
(Any suggestion on different hotels or itinerary?)

Fri. Oct. 3rd: Fly to San Diego, go to the Zoo, Stay at Hilton at the Airport

Sat. Oct. 4th: SeaWorld, Drive to Legoland and stay at Sheraton

Sun. Oct. 5th: Legoland (Halloween Party), Drive to Universal City and stay at Hilton

Mon. Oct. 6th: Universal Studios, Drive to Anaheim and stay at Grand Californian for the remainder of our trip

Tue. Oct. 7th: DL +/or DCA

Wed. Oct. 8th: Knott's Berry Farm (Gotta have the chicken!)

Thur. Oct. 9th: DL +/or DCA

Fri. Oct. 10th: DL +/or DCA and Mickey's Trick or Treat Party

Sat. Oct. 11th: Fly out of Orange County Airport

Can you believe this was all prompted by a one day obligation in San Francisco? I guess we were really anxious to go to Disney!

We haven't been to DL since our honeymoon almost 14 yrs ago. The kids have been to the WDW once--this will be their first trip to DL! Yay!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

That certainly sounds like a jammed filled trip to Southern California. Looks like your hitting all of the high points. Have a great trip.

 

[farmfresh]

That sounds like a very good plan. You'll have early entry on the tuesday and thursday.

The only thing that I think is optional is the Universal Studios visit. By all means go ahead, but if you felt you neeeded a day off parks and travelling, I think you could easily skip this, based on the age of your kids and the nature of Universal's attractions. You might find that many of them are just too much for such young kids...I'm thinking here of jurassic park, and the mummy, terminator 2, the house of horrors... and even some portions of the studio tour, such as the plane crash site. We didn't make it to backdraft, but then my 6 year old was quite paranoid about fire etc, and whilst the 8 year old was happy enough on the muummy, once was enough for the 6 year old.

Might be just as much fun, and a lot less driving, to check in a day earlier at Disneyland, and enjoy the pool etc.

 

[disney-inspired]

Wow, that sounds like a whole bunch of fun! I agree with the PP, with kids as young as yours Universal sounds like too much and they might not have fun meaning you might not have fun. It would be nice to just relax, check in a day earlier. You can enjoy the pool and DTD.

 

[Disneylvrforever]

OMG I LOVE KNOTT'S CHICKEN!!! lol. But just in case if the line for Mrs. Knott's is super long, you can go to PoFolk's just down the street across from Mideval Times and get some really good chicken too w/ sides and everything. You can get it all there except for the boysenberry.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Wow, that sounds like a whole bunch of fun! I agree with the PP, with kids as young as yours Universal sounds like too much and they might not have fun meaning you might not have fun. It would be nice to just relax, check in a day earlier. You can enjoy the pool and DTD.

I agree, but DH really wants to go! With CityPass you get a 3 day DL/CA park-hopper, 2 day Universal Studios incl. priority passes for their backlot tour, 1 day SeaWorld, and 1 day San Diego Zoo for $249 per adult and $199 for our 3 year old. DH really wants to go on those rides at Universal. I can't go on many because I'm pregnant. I'll take the kids to the Curious George section and we'll play, while DH checks in once in a while. We went to US & IOA in Florida last year and had a great time.

If I'm just too exhausted we'll either make it a short day or just not go. I think the CityPass is a good deal whether or not we use ALL the tickets.

Thanks for the input!

UPDATE: I just talked to DH and told him several people commented not to do Universal. He said maybe that's a good idea. We've been on all the rides anyway except Simpsons which we can do in 2010 when we go back to Florida, and there's not that much for the kids to do! So that's cool--a little break in our schedule will go a long way!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

OMG I LOVE KNOTT'S CHICKEN!!! lol. But just in case if the line for Mrs. Knott's is super long, you can go to PoFolk's just down the street across from Mideval Times and get some really good chicken too w/ sides and everything. You can get it all there except for the boysenberry.

Good to know...I'll keep that in mind, thanks!
I fell in love with Knott's biscuits and jelly last time we went. I don't like any other biscuits! I love theirs! Not enough to wait too long though.

 

[mariezp]

Sounds like a great fun filled trip.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

So revised schedule looks like this: (Still open to suggestions/comments/tips)

Fri. Oct. 3rd: Fly to San Diego, go to the Zoo, Stay at Hilton at the Airport

Sat. Oct. 4th: SeaWorld, Drive to Legoland and stay at Sheraton

Sun. Oct. 5th: Legoland (Halloween Party), Stay at Sheraton again

Mon. Oct. 6th: Drive to Anaheim, Have pool day and visit Downtown Disney, stay at Grand Californian for the remainder of our trip

Tue. Oct. 7th: DL +/or CA

Wed. Oct. 8th: Knott's Berry Farm (Gotta have the chicken!)

Thur. Oct. 9th: DL +/or CA

Fri. Oct. 10th: DL +/or CA and Mickey's Trick or Treat Party

Sat. Oct. 11th: Fly out of Orange County Airport

I'm so glad to be planning another Disney trip!

 

[Hound 109]

If it was me, I'd reduce the number days of packing/unpacking (especially with kids). Also look at the price difference between 3 day hoppers & 4 day (or preferrably 5 day) hoppers.

Heck...If you're paying for the GCH....have hoppers that you can use at DLR on arrival day & possibly on "fried chicken" day.

While you are shopping at DTD on arrival day.....let dad & the kids romp thru Redwood Trail in DCA (about 15 yards from the GCH entrance) or enjoying the Bugs life area.

So revised schedule looks like this: (Still open to suggestions/comments/tips)

Fri. Oct. 3rd: Fly to San Diego, go to the Zoo, Stay at Hilton at the Airport

Sat. Oct. 4th: SeaWorld, Drive to Legoland and stay at Sheraton

I'd pick a nice hotel near the zoo/seaworld....maybe the Hilton/Airport? But I'd stay an extra night there. Then drive to Legoland Sunday morning.

Sun. Oct. 5th: Legoland (Halloween Party), Stay at Sheraton again

Is the Halloween party at night? If not, possibly drive to Anaheim Sunday night.

Mon. Oct. 6th: Drive to Anaheim, Have pool day and visit Downtown Disney, stay at Grand Californian for the remainder of our trip

Even if you plan a "pool day" on arrival day, consider buying a 4 (or preferably a 5 day) hopper. Don't look at it as "days in the park" look at it as having the wonderful ability to hop in & out of the park (in a few minutes) since you are staying a few feet from DCA & a few yards from DL.

Park Hopping at DLR is nothing like WDW....you can hop to DCA for an hour. Back to the GCH in 2 min. .....rest......hop to DTD in 2 min......hop into DL in 2 min.....enjoy DL for an hour & then 5 min. later your back in the GCH. The same "hopping" at WDW would take hours as opposed to minutes.

Tue. Oct. 7th: DL +/or CA (Do MM for FantasyLand or Nemo)

Wed. Oct. 8th: Knott's Berry Farm (Gotta have the chicken!)

Stop into DL early or late for an hour.....or slip into DCA at rope drop & do the new Toy Story ride. & or stop in DL when you get back from eating chicken.

Thur. Oct. 9th: DL +/or CA Do MM for Fantasyland or Nemo.

Fri. Oct. 10th: DL +/or CA and Mickey's Trick or Treat Party

Sat. Oct. 11th: Fly out of Orange County Airport

I'm so glad to be planning another Disney trip!

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[perlster]

There was (and I hope is) another place at KBF where you can get the fried chicken - it's called Mrs. Knott's Chicken Express - in Fiesta Village. I can't be sure it's still open, but I found that it is listed in one place on the web site, but not on the F.V. page.

 

[Sy-]

Fri. Oct. 3rd: Fly to San Diego, go to the Zoo, Check into Hotel

Sat. Oct. 4th: SeaWorld

Sun. Oct. 5th: Check out of hotel drive to Legoland (Halloween Party), Drive to Anaheim check in GCH

Mon. Oct. 6th: Universal Studios

Tue. Oct. 7th: DL +/or CA

Wed. Oct. 8th: Knott's Berry Farm (Gotta have the chicken!)

Thur. Oct. 9th: DL +/or CA

Fri. Oct. 10th: DL +/or CA and Mickey's Trick or Treat Party

Sat. Oct. 11th: Fly out of Orange County Airport

This would be my suggestion. Because 1 Legoland is 1/3 the whay to Anaheim. No sense driving 30 min back to San Diego when Anaheim is only 1 hour away. Also this way you could keep Universal on the schedule. And for tickets you could get the Southern California City pass. This will get you 1 day at the SD-Zoo, 1 day at Sea World, 1 day at Universal, and 3 Days at Disneyland... all at a huge discount. Then you only need to buy tickets for Legoland and Knotts!

Also rather than changing Hotels every day why not just check into 1 hotel when you get to San Diego. If you stay somewhere near Hotel Circle you'll only be 5 min from the Zoo and Sea World. You can check out of your San Diego Hotel on Oct 5 and still drive to Legoland in time for its 10:00 opening!

BTW I'm doing a very similar trip from Oct 7-17!

 

[disney-inspired]

I agree, but DH really wants to go! With CityPass you get a 3 day DL/CA park-hopper, 2 day Universal Studios incl. priority passes for their backlot tour, 1 day SeaWorld, and 1 day San Diego Zoo for $249 per adult and $199 for our 3 year old. DH really wants to go on those rides at Universal. I can't go on many because I'm pregnant. I'll take the kids to the Curious George section and we'll play, while DH checks in once in a while. We went to US & IOA in Florida last year and had a great time.

If I'm just too exhausted we'll either make it a short day or just not go. I think the CityPass is a good deal whether or not we use ALL the tickets.

Thanks for the input!

UPDATE: I just talked to DH and told him several people commented not to do Universal. He said maybe that's a good idea. We've been on all the rides anyway except Simpsons which we can do in 2010 when we go back to Florida, and there's not that much for the kids to do! So that's cool--a little break in our schedule will go a long way!

Are you members of Costco? You get the So. Cal City Pass at a discount, it's great!

If you are fine going with your little ones to the Curious George section, maybe your DH can decide what major rides he MUST go on. That way you're all happy.

 

[Hound 109]

.... Because 1 Legoland is 1/3 the whay to Anaheim. No sense driving 30 min back to San Diego when Anaheim is only 1 hour away. Also this way you could keep Universal on the schedule.

.....Also rather than changing Hotels every day why not just check into 1 hotel when you get to San Diego. If you stay somewhere near Hotel Circle you'll only be 5 min from the Zoo and Sea World. You can check out of your San Diego Hotel on Oct 5 and still drive to Legoland in time for its 10:00 opening!

BTW I'm doing a very similar trip from Oct 7-17!

This was pretty much what i was thinking. Check out of the SD hotel (after 2 nights) drive the 45 min. to Legoland for 10am opening (very little traffic). Spend a few hours in this (imo) 1/2 day park. Continue on the 45 min. to an hour to the GCH in Anaheim Sunday night.

(unless you decide to add Universal, then i would drive to a hotel next to US so on Monday morning you don't have to deal with LA Monday morning traffic.)

 

[Capt.Bane]

I cant comment about distance and stuff but it sounds like you've got a good plan going...

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I would second the International Drive Hotel in San Diego. That way you have two nights in one place and can go straight to Legoland from there. If you are doing Hotel points (I have a chunk of HHonors from when I used to travel for work), then I totally understand the need to flip hotels.

I can comment as far as traffic to Universal and how the drive goes. - I live 5minutes from there in Burbank and we drive to DL every other week or so.

If you skip Universal, I would definitely add another night on to the GCH reservation, if it's available. You got a deal on those passes, but you just might like a chill day with shopping and the pool. (I've been pregnant with a hard schedule like that and was grateful for the break. The Discovery Cube kids museum is just down the 5 (right on the freeway - has what looks like a wire Rubik's Cube on top of it) and is a great alternative to a theme park day.

If you do decide that adding Universal is worth it (Citiwalk is really nice -although the parking is pricey for the locals), you will be better off with the traffic coming north from Carson on Sunday night instead of Monday morning. The folks who escape LA to go to San Diego split their returns between Sunday night and Monday morning and the normal daily traffic on the 5 mid-day going north into LA just reeks all day until 2pm or so - then it stinks due to rush hour. (We see this when we go down to DL on week days for a 5 hour visit.) There is currently construction on the 5 just north of the 91 - rebuiling/adding lanes/new bridge, so that doesn't help the northbound lanes.

As far as driving down to DL, I would drive down between 7-8 pm at night, after your day at Universal. Rush hour will have passed and it should take only about 40-45 minutes. On an empty traffic Sunday morning, it takes 35 min. If you have a smart phone, check www.sig-alert.com before you go (my husband has his phone set with pre-determined routes from the website so we can check what our best option is before we leave). Just don't automatically give in to the temptation to take the 101 freeway, which runs next to Universal. It runs straight through downtown and potentially awful traffic. Alternately, you can take the 134 freeway to the 5 and go around the mess. Another route (if the 5 is messed up) is to take the 134 (which merges and becomes the 210) to the 57 and then take that down to Ball or Katella or the 5. This is carpool all the way and can be as fast as the jammed up 5 - which has no carpools until below the 91. It puts you out on the 5 south of Disneyland, but the drive back north is well marked.

Hope that helps!
Nancy

 

[honeymom]

There is a Hilton in Mission Bay. That would be a little north of the airport.