koko1

It's our 1st family trip to Cali. We have 4-5 days to spend at Disneyland, Sea World, San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park (which one is better?), Legoland, and universal Studios (maybe). I'm hoping to take my kids to a museum to check out the Dinosaur Exhibit (San Diego natural history museum?). My kids are 4 and 2 years old. I don't know where to start/stay and how long to spend at each attraction. My travel agent booked my stay at Carousel Inn, Anaheim---or should we stay in San Diego? Oh, is it cheaper to do that pass thing?

dfrostnh

It's 87 miles between Anaheim and San Diego, an approx 1 1/2 hour drive if the traffic isn't bad. Maybe it would be better to just stay in Anaheim for 4-5 days, not try to do too much, get plenty of naps. I've seen lots of kids up very late at Disney. Otherwise, it might be best to split your time between the two places and change hotels. Or maybe change your plans to all 4-5 days in San Diego.

halfapair

I would pick one location - either San Diego or Anaheim and just do activities in that area. I would not commute from Anaheim down to SD with 2 small children and then expect them to have a good time.

They will be too small to go on the rides at California Disney park. But they will enjoy Disneyland itself. That should take about 2 - 3 days to see.

Allow time in the afternoons for them to go back to the hotel to nap, swim, rest. Disneyland is overwhelming for small children.

Take a stoller they can both sit in or rent one at Disneyland. They will get tired of walking and want to ride.

In San Diego I would choose the Zoo over the Wild Animal Park. The children can get closer to the animals and see them better. The Zoo is huge. It might take 2 days to see it with small children.

Sea World would be awesome for small children too! They have fountains for the kids to play in.

You could easily make a 4-5 day trip out of San Diego alone. Make sure your hotel has a pool for the kids to play in. Beaches are great there too!

halfapair

Also, I think Universal Studios is more aimed at older kids/teenagers. I don't think 2 & 4 yr olds would like it that much.

Just my opinion.

trippinkpj

At those ages I'd pick San Diego for San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Sea World and Legoland. And when they are older, do the Disneyland, Cal Adventure & Universal Studio trip.

mlgb

There are lots of rides in the Disney parks that have no height or age limits, especially in Fantasyland and Toontown.

elnap29

Your 4-year-old will like Disneyland, but the 2-year-old isn't quite ready. If you wait 1 or 2 years, the whole family will have more fun. You can still do it now, but 1 or 2 days will be max - you will all be exhausted! Then head to San Diego to relax and enjoy the beach.

POlson

If possible I would pick one area (hard to go wrong with either) and enjoy a leisurely stay or if you must see both divide the time between the two, but don't commute. I would also look to see if there are other local activities geared toward young children, such as a children's museum.

My little one loves Disneyland (Fantasyland, seeing Mickey, Its a Small World, Buzz Lightyear, riding the train) and California Adventure (Flik's Fun Fair, the Wilderness playground, the carousel and boardwalk, and most recently the small rollercoaster). We usually stay at the resort, go to an early character breakfast, and get in the park right when it opens to ride the popular rides (such as Dumbo). We head back to the hotel for naptime and spend the afternoon at the pool. Also, downtown Disney has a Build-a-bear and Rainforest cafe which are big hits. I agree that Universal Studios tends to skew older.

In San Diego, we've had lots of fun at Seaworld and Legoland (with many repeat visits). The animal park and the Zoo were both enjoyable but perhaps more so for me than her. We stayed at the West Inn in Carlsbad recently and thought it was a great location for Legoland and Seaworld is not too far. We really enjoy Carlsbad but you may want to be in closer. Others here can probably recommend other SD hotels.