Disneyland/LA - Advice please!

We are debating a last minute trip to Disneyland in mid Jan before school starts again in Feb. It would only be for 2 weeks plus travel time - we are coming from Perth.

Am after any advice about anything Disneyland and LA related!

We are thinking of doing the 5 day pass and are hoping that will be enough time to also do the park next to Disneyland - I think it is called Disney California Adventure Park? Is this enough time? Then down to San Diego where we would have around 4-5 days to do Legoland, Seaworld and San Diego Zoo. From there it would be back up to LA and we would most probably only have 4 days there - once again is this enough time?

It all sounds so whirlwindish I am not sure if we can do it or if we are asking too much from the kids? Our kids are intrepid travellers having been overseas a lot and are used to planes and travelling so I am hoping it should be ok?

Once again any advice whether it be on hotels, tours, travel times, theme parks etc is welcomed!:D

Awesome we are going in February. We have a 3 day pass to Disney land staying at the howard Johnson plaza as its cheaper but right next to Disneyland.
We are going to San Diego to do the zoo and legoland too.

Mid January is a great time to do Disneyland as the crowds are not a big as some of the other months. I think it would take 1.5days to do Disneyland and 1 day to do the California Adventure Park. 1 day for San Diego Zoo, 1 day for Legoland (I haven't done Legoland but have friends there at the moment and they did Legoland yesterday and spent almost a full day there, they liked it better than Disneyland) and 1 day for Seaworld.

I wish it was me who was going! Have a great time!

sounds exhausting but doable and oh so much fun. Knotts Berry Farm in LA is awesome too but lots of stuff maybe too big for your littler kids. A trip to Venice (Muscle) Beach really is a must - its the boardwalk beach you see on all the movies and is an amazing collection of street performers and just plain great people watching. Santa Monica pier is great and again, great street performers up the boulevard a bit. Universal Studios is another great day trip. I didn't do LA disney with kids but we went to Hong Kong Disneyland last year with them and it was fantastic staying at a Disney hotel - free shuttle buses that run constantly so we went back to our room every afternoon so the kids could have some quiet time, then back for the evening. I agree with Boomba though in that around LA Disney there are heaps of hotels that are still in Disney precinct, run the shuttle buses and will cost significantly less than the affiliated Disney hotels.

If you wanted some snow (cos we get so much of that in Perth!!) you could take a drive out to Big Bear Lake. Really pretty holiday sort of town and you would be able to play in the snow for a bit.

San Diego is gorgeous and reminds me of home in many ways. The zoo and Seaworld are fantastic. Didn't go to Legoland but I'm sure its great.

Sounds like a really great trip for you and your kids. Hope you have a great time.

I'd be staying in Santa Monica when in LA. it's got some really pretty playgrounds, the pier (for Buffy the vampire fans it's a must lol), great places to eat and good, easy access to all sorts of shopping. it's an easier place to relax IMHO as it is a bit more normal and not OTT touristy. it still provides chances to spot the stars if you are into that sort of thing (i barely recognise anyone but when we were living there managed to work out a couple of stars lol). easy enough to get to the touristy stuff as well (ie universal). but after all the theme parks, i reckon i would want to just vege out when returning back to LA!

Sounds busy but awesome!!

I'm going to LA next week ;)

We are flying out of Sydney on 10 December and have LIMO transfers from LAX to Beverly Garland Holiday Inn, Hollywood. Three days there (Hollywood + Universal Studios).
We then get limo transfers down to Carlsbad (Hilton, Homewood Suites) and have two days there (Legoland).
On 15 December we are heading (limo transfer again lol) back to Disney Grand Californian Hotel. It was about $100 a night more expensive (I got a super deal through my friend the travel agent) than the other hotels, and given that it's a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, I thought I'd spend the extra. We are there for five nights.

So we're doing it all in ten days. I'll let you know how it went when we get back!

If you guys don't mine me asking, what sort of budget do you think would be reasonable for a 2-3 week holiday to the locations you've mentioned?

(Minus the limo rides Divvy! lol)

I'm so jealous, take me with you? :lol:

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If you guys don't mine me asking, what sort of budget do you think would be reasonable for a 2-3 week holiday to the locations you've mentioned?

(Minus the limo rides Divvy! lol)

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Janine - here's the "budget"...
Flights (premium economy, return) normally $2,500 per person. I got pilot's rates because I'm traveling as part of a pilot's family. About a quarter of the price ;)
Limos (about the same cost as a taxi!) $800.
Accommodation: Hollywood (3 nights) $1200 (2br suite). Carlsbad - Legoland (2 nights) $800 (2br suite). Disney Grand Californian (1 room - 5 nights) $3200.
Entry into Disneyland (5 day pass, 3 people) $1200. Entry into Legoland (2 day pass, 3 people) $274. Entry into Universal Studios (3 day pass, 3 people) $510.

Budgeted for spending money $8000. Not including food.

Total - $23,500.

PS - everything is top shelf. Everything. I figure this is the trip of a lifetime so why not spend the money. I think I could have got away with it for half of that cost.

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(Minus the limo rides Divvy! lol)

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:rofl:

We are going for nearly 4 weeks LA, Orlando and NYC.
Thetrip is costing us $18,000 and then $5000 spending money roughly. It's much cheaper in feb.
in that price is all accommodation flights transfers and entry to Disneyland 3 day unversal studios in La legoland, the zoo, Disney world 5 day pass, unversal Orlando 3 day pass. Oh and car hire
thats for 2 adults and 2 kids :-)

the kids and the big kids can't wait! Like divvy said its a once in a lifetime trip so you can't scrimp lol

Thanks so much for the info guys!

We won't be going for a few years yet, most likely when the boys are 8 and 5, possibly even older. I'd like them to be able to remember it! Think I better start putting some money aside now!

Thanks for all the awesome ideas guys. Keep them coming ;)

Divvy and Boomba both your trips sound amazing, I really hope that we will be able to do this. We are just awaiting confirmation from DH's work that he will be able to get the time off.

We are lucky cause it seems to be that prices for some things are a bit cheaper at that time of year.

Divvy - I see you are doing 2 days at Legoland -we had only allowed for 1- had you been recommended 2?

Lulu - Thanks for the tip on big Bear Lake, like you said Perth doesn't exactly have an abundance of snow;). Like you I think the kids may be a bit young for Knotts Berry Farm and I figure we can't do everything.

Cassius- love the idea about staying in Santa Monica

Booma - will look at Howard Johnson Plaza, thanks for that tip.

Now to keep researching and looking and crossing my fingers!:D

I was worried about them remembering it too but they will cause we will have lots of photos :-)

if you really want to do it save now :-) x

awesome Ang I really how you get to go :-) we are only doing one day at legoland. I was told it has heaps of big kid rides so we have little ones so that why we are o ladling one day:-) and I think it maybe be closed for certain days in the slow times?

Sorry - meant to say that the last time I was there was mid to end of January and the weather in southern California is fantastic - I might have just been really lucky but generally a smidge warmer than a Perth winter. Obviously if you go to Big Bear that's a different story, but I remember the day I went to Disneyland I was in a tshirt, and only went back to get a jacket around dinner time. Great weather to be doing heaps of walking around, but not getting too hot doing it.