Universal studios is a one day deal - you don't need two days - there is a sheraton right there - I would suggest staying right by Universal - http://www.sheratonuniversal.com/

Are you spending the night in Santa Barbara? I am unclear on that.

As far as your question on should you stay another night at the hotel in Hollywood? I would say it depends on how late you want to be at Universal Studios - if you want to be there at night etc. You will have to check out in the morning before you go to the park if you don't want to stay another night.

Personally, being at Disneyland first thing is a good thing... the parks get very crowded as the day progresses, but I am not sure how early your family will want to get up and go even if you spend the night - depending on what time you arrive?

Universal studios Hollywood is not as "nice" as the one in Orlando and we were happy to be there for about 5-6 hours.

I would also suggest 1 night in Universal City (I think there's a Hilton there as well) but is the following day a Friday? I've lost track of the days. If so, you'll encounter very heavy traffic leaving Universal for the drive to Anaheim in the afternoon/early evening so perhaps it would be better to stay another night and leave early morning Saturday instead.

Yes, there is a Hilton right there as well.

Regarding Yosemite, since you have 3 days total with drive times, I'd skip Tuolumne Meadows and perhaps Mariposa Grove to free up time doing all the things the valley has to offer. Mariposa Grove is beautiful but far away from the valley and the Big Sur area will give you some time in the redwoods.

A thought on Las Vegas with kids - I have taken my two children twice to Las Vegas and we have had a wonderful time. We stayed at the Tahiti Village - it has a wonderful pool area and activities to enjoy - you can get a room with a kitchen to cut down on meal costs. Ride the roller coaster, visit Madame Tussaud's, have a gondola ride, see a Nascar track, see Hoover Dam, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel tower, watch a volcano erupt, a pirate show or the Bellagio fountains. Side trips are easy from Las Vegas - the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead paddleboat cruise ( swim in the hottest lake ever!), Red Rocks and of course the Grand Canyon. We drove to Williams and then took the train - its corny but fun. We visited Disneyland for one night - great hotel across the street - Best Western Park Place Inn & Mini-Suites.

Keep Mariposa Grove in. The giant redwoods in the Sierra Nevada are a different species then the coastal redwoods. You should experience both.

saywithballoons

What time of year were you & your kids in Las Vegas?

Ties333 will be there in late July. This year in late July the daytime temps hit 110F/43C. Maybe others can tolerate high temps better than I can, but I would not want to take a roller coaster ride outside and do all of the stuff you did with that kind of heat. A European (ties333) might not be impressed with replicas of the Eiffel Tower, Venice type gondola ride, & Golden Gate Bridge (he will have visited San Francisco by then).

Stu Dudley

Momddtravel2, yes, I am still planning to stay a night in Santa Barbara after coming from Big Sur. When leaving from Santa Barbara in the morning of Thursday 17 July, we drive past Santa Monica (maybe check out the pier), visit Rodeo Drive, check out Hall of Fame and the Hollywood sign, and find a hotel in West Hollywood. The next morning we go to Universal Studios. Driving to Anaheim on Friday evening will be a nightmare, so we stay another night in West Hollywood, and leave very early on Saturday morning to Disney. We will check into our Anaheim in the evening.

Can anyone recommend a nice affordable hotel with pool in West Hollywood?

sayitwithballoons, the Tahiti Village hotel is already fully booked for 26-28 July 2014. I found the Palms Place Hotel Spa just off the strip which seems quite nice and affordable. Do you know this hotel?

How about Best Western PLUS Hollywood Hills?

Ties I have not stayed in west Hollywood - sorry no recommendations there.

We have enjoyed 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica of you decide you want to get out and walk around ... Walking down to Venice beach area is always a fun thing... Seeing muscle beach ... Lots of what you see in TV shows/movies

Adding if you decide against a Disneyland property - check out this hotel - walking distance to the parks a s gets high ratings on the Disney boards and has a fun pool area
http://www.hojoanaheim.com/

If you select it, there is a Mimi's Cafe right across the street that has great reasonable food - better than what is in downtown Disney for a less expensive sit down meal ... Breakfast there is awesome!

My nursing school was right up the street

Just spent three days near Tuolumne Meadows. Definitely spend a day here bit is gorgeous.

The Valley is stunning but it will be insanely crowded in July. Some of the falls may have dried up by the time of your trip. So one day there would be fine.

Thanks for all your comments. Here is the 'final' plan:

Sat. 5 July: Flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco
Sun. 6 July: San Francisco: recover from jetlag, dinner/browsing Union Square
Mon. 7 July: San Francisco: golden gate bridge, tram, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s wharf -harbour trip/ sea lions pier 39, Alcatraz night
Tue. 8 July: San Francisco: Coit tower view, Embarcadero, nobb hill, north beach. Pick up rental car.
Wed. 9 July: Drive to Yosemite NP early morning (4 hr drive). Relax for the rest of the day. Stay at Yosemite Rose B&B.
Thu. 10 July: Yosemite: Mariposa Grove, Mist Trail to Nevada Falls and a drive to Glacier Point. Stay at Yosemite Rose B&B.
Fri. 11 July: Yosemite: Yosemite Valley (e.g. bike riding). Stay at Yosemite Rose B&B.
Sat. 12 July: Drive to Monterey early morning (4 hour drive). Visit Carmel Beach, wander through Carmel shops, Spanish Bay, Pacific Grove. Stay at Asilomar Conference Grounds (meals are served camp-style in the large dining hall)
Sun. 13 July: Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, 17 Mile. Stay at Asilomar Conference Grounds.
Mon. 14 July: Drive to Big Sur. On the way, visit Point Lobos. Stay at Big Sur Lodge.
Tue. 15 July: Have lunch or dinner at Nepenthe and visit Pfeiffer State park, Pfeiffer Beach and Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park (hike to McWay Falls). Stay at Big Sur Lodge.
Wed. 16 July: Drive to Santa Barbara (4 hrs). Stop at Piedras Blancas for the elephant seals on the way, and spend the rest of the day in Santa Barbara (restaurants, beaches, historic Mission, wine tasting rooms, etc.). Stay at Ramada Limited Santa Barbara.
Thu. 17 July: Drive to LA. Visit Santa Monica (pier/beach), Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Hollywood sign and Hall of Fame in West Hollywood. Stay at Best Western PLUS Hollywood Hills.
Fri. 18 July: In the morning (after rush hour), drive to Anaheim and visit Disneyland / California Adventure. Stay at Howard Johnson By Disneyland Park.
Sat. 19 July: Visit Disneyland / California Adventure. Stay at Howard Johnson By Disneyland Park.
Sun. 20 July: Visit Disneyland / California Adventure. Stay at Howard Johnson By Disneyland Park.
Mon. 21 July: Leave at 6am to drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (7 hour drive + stops) via Hoover Dam. Stay at El Tovar and see the sunset.
Tue. 22 July: See the sunrise and explore the South Rim. Do the Bright Angel Trail hike (up to 1.5 mile rest house) and/or follow Junior Ranger program. Catch the California Condor nature talk with the ranger. Stay at El Tovar.
Wed. 23 July: Drive via Marble Canyon, along the Vermillion Cliffs and House Rock Valley to Bryce Canyon/Tropic. Stop at the old highway bridge over Marble Canyon, now a pedestrian walkway. Stay at Bryce Canyon Lodge.
Thu. 24 July: See the sunrise at Bryce Point, and do the Navajo Trail/Queen's Garden hike. Check out the Junior Ranger programs. Stay at Bryce Canyon Lodge.
Fri. 25 July: Head for Zion NP really early (just after sunrise). Go through the tunnel for the stunning scenery. In Zion, do the Riverside Walk/Narrows hike from bottom up. Check out the Junior Ranger Programs. Stay at Zion Lodge.
Sat. 26 July: Drive to Las Vegas (3 hour drive). Go via Valley of Fire SP. Return rental car. Stay at Tropicana Las Vegas a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Resort.
Sun. 27 July: Full day in Las Vegas (the lights at night, the pirate ship, Circus Circus, the swimming pools, aquariums in the casino lobbies, child friendly show). Stay at Tropicana Las Vegas a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Resort.
Mon. 28 July: Flight from Las Vegas to Amsterdam

Sounds like a fantastic trip!

Sounds great. But try to stay in Yosemite Valley. The Yosemite Rose is in Groveland, too far to be driving back and forth.

Mostly looks really good -- except for the B&B. Sorry but Yosemite Rose is NOT a good base for Yosemite. It will take about 1.5 hours each way from the B&B to Yosemite Valley. Three hours lost to just commuting each day. Definitely try for a booking at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls in the valley. Much MUCH more convenient.

Also a quick comment about the drive to Yosemite Even though you will be driving the opposite direction of the worst commute traffic -- on a weekday morning it will take more than 4 hours because the first 50 miles or so could take two hours.

To clarify my 2nd paragraph -- that is about the drive from downtown SF to YNP.

Re: your Southern California portion - looks great! Would be happy to give you feedback for your time at DL - we had passes for many many years... and went all the time

janisj, I will take up your advice and stay in the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls instead (if available). Would you suggest to leave to Yosemite after the rush hour? Would that be around 10am?

I'd either leave VERY early in the AM or around 10 or a bit before.

Re Yosemite Lodge - even if it is full when you contact them- keep trying. There are frequent cancellations because folks book so far ahead and plans change.

If you can't get into the Lodge, I'd make a cancelable reservation at Yosemite View Lodge or Cedar Lodge (Preferably Yosemite View)in El Portal while you keep trying for Yosemite Lodge. That way if you don't get into Yosemite Lodge you'd still be in much closer location than Groveland.