susanfward

I am just starting to plan a trip to southern California for my family and not sure on how to organize our days. I was wondering if anyone had any inside into the best schedules to use. Thanks you for any information.

We are going in June and want to do 3 days at Disneyland, Lego land, Universal, San Diego Zoo and the beach.

What order would you recommend doing things?
What airport do we fly into (coming from DC)?
How many days at Universal and Legoland?

Thanks for your help

Jean

What is the total number of days you have, not counting arrival and departure days?

Are these the only places/activities you're interested in seeing/doing?

In order to understand how ambitious you can be with your timing, how old are your kids? Also, FYI, some theme park rides have height and age requirements.

DebbieDoesDulles

Age 7 is about the limit for LEGOLAND, although an older child who's still crazy about legos might enjoy a half day there. Universal on the other hand is for maybe 10 and older, not much for the little ones there though you could certainly go if the adults are interested...just understand that young children won't make the height requirements for most rides, some of which might give them nightmares. Also if Universal is your only reason for visiting the huge city of Los Angeles, you're going to be in really heavy traffic driving up from Disney for the day, and traffic on the way out too. I think I would save Universal for when the children are older....either Florida or Hollywood.

If there are decent nonstop airfares into San Diego I would fly there, and fly home from Los Angeles. Check the one-way car rental rate before finalizing the airfare however.

3 days at Disneyland would mean 4 nights stay in Anaheim near the park....you'll want to arrive the night before your first visit so that you can get an early start that morning. If the children are under 6, you'll want one of the hotels closest to the park entrance so that you can take an afternoon break/nap/swim and then walk back to the park for evening fireworks or whatever.

If your return flight from LAX is on a Sat or Sun, you shouldn't have much traffic from Anaheim in the mornings.

janisj

DebbieDoesDulles' info re ages is important -- you say 'young' -- what are the actual ages? That would make a difference - especially for advice re LegoLand and Universal.

mlgb

Universal has the Harry Potter world which the younger kids like although the rides are problems for EVERYONE... Has your crew ever been on a 3D ride? A lot of people can't handle them..either they don't see the effects (I found them blurry) or they get motion sickness.

I think I'd focus on Disney (3 days isn't too much with crowds) and then several days in San Diego for the zoo, beaches, and Legoland (assuming you know your own children's interests) BTW there is a big Lego store in Downtown Disney..I wonder if that would be enough?

nanabee

I've been to Lego Land in Oceanside and it is ok for very youngish children. Our GK went a few years ago (under the age of 6) and enjoyed it a lot. Older kids (lets say older than about age 8 and up) would not be interested.

If all you want to do in LA is Universal Studio and Disneyland then I would spend a day at each. Maybe two for Disneyland (unless you have been to Disney World then I might not bother).

I would spend one day at Lego Land if you go and one day at the Zoo (but there are two Zoos - one is called the Wild Animal Park/Safari Park the other is just the SD Zoo).

I would spend some time at the beaches in SD.
Coronado Beach http://coronadovisitorcenter.com/

La Jolla Beach (the La Jolla Cove and La Jolla Shores) http://www.lajollabythesea.com/activities/beaches

Pacific Beach (which might include Mission Beach and Mission Bay if you have time)

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=bea...an+Diego%2C+CA

nanabee

http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/

http://sdzsafaripark.org/

https://www.legoland.com/california/

Oh by the way, during the summer the San Diego Zoo is open in the evening until about 8 or maybe longer. It is so much nicer (it stays light) and it is cooler weather wise, fewer crowds and more child friendly events. I highly recommend it.

jamie99

I agree with only one day at Legoland if the kids are age 8 or younger, we took our GD there when she was 5 and although she liked a few of the rides she FAR preferred the Wild Animal Park (now renamed Safari Park) which we visited the next day.

bachslunch

San Diego also has SeaWorld, which is fun for kids, though you may need to save it for another time.

Both the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park are excellent.

Depending on how thorough you are, you could easily spend a couple days at Disneyland -- one day at the original park and one at California Adventure makes sense. There's also Knotts Berry Farm nearby, another theme park you can explore (haven't been).

nanabee

I would skip Knotts Berry Farm.

janisj

>>I would skip Knotts Berry Farm.

tom_mn

I thought native San Diegans laughed at the tourists who visit in June because it's the worst weather of the year, the June Gloom?

aliced

Good advice from Nanabee. I would suggest checking fares in/out of Orange County; you would be at Disneyland in well under an hour, perhaps stay night or two there (for Universal which is further north than Anaheim), but then finish up your stay out of San Diego. LAX is always MUCH more a hassle than is SAN, but frequently I'll take a one-way in/out of Orange County airport if prices are good. But I think Encinitas' Moonlight Beach has it all over LaJolla's which are pretty to see from above bluffs. Well, see where you end up. Check out the Catamaran on Mission Bay in SD, always fun location, or the Best Western Encinitas which overlooks Moonlight Beach and very convenient for points north and south (particularly Legoland). Then there's the quintessential beach town of Laguna Beach at which to spend the day en route from LA to SD, the town beach smack in middle of town can't be beat, and the views from the park above flanking Las Brisas can't be beat IMHO.

nanabee

tom mm - I agree June is overcast and gloomy. Right now it is the end of July and we are still (along the coast) having very cool (low 70's) and gloomy weather (but on and off sun). August - October are our hottest months (which can be uncomfortable due to the hot desert winds that blow from the desert). Our best months surprisingly are Jan-April early May.

janisj- I only mentioned skipping Knott's because they seem to have a limited number of days for a long list of theme parks or at least a number of choices from Disneyland/Legoland/Universal/SD Zoo/SeaWorld, and only 3 days in San Diego.

aliced, I haven't been to Moonlight Beach for many years - will have to make it up there this summer. I mentioned La Jolla Shores primarily because there is a lot to do for tourists with the seals/sea lions/caves/kayaking/diving/snorkeling/etc.
I would second the Catamaran on Mission Bay. It is really a great location.

mlgb

I like the North County beaches better also, and since you have Legoland in your itinerary you could include them on the way to Anaheim.