Mousesavers is a BUDGET site, so they have selected the HOjo as the best budget choice near Disney. I would check to see how recently it's been renovated.

Tar pits for 2 and 3 year olds I would pass. Maybe L.A. Zoo near Griffith Observatory, or the kiddieland at Knott's Berry Farm which is closed to Disney. Toddlers like the train ride, the TeePees, the petting zoo here, it's a nice 3 or 4 hour afternoon.

easytraveler - I want to stay below $150 per night. since we have the kids, i just need clean with a convenient location. breakfast included helps too since it just makes it easier. if it were just hubby and i, then i would go for classier :) but those 4 hotels appear to be within walking distance of the beach which is important.

clarkgriswold - the hojo anaheim has great reviews on all the sites i visit. i think the boys would love the pool area. it's located near, priced the same, and better reviewed than the fairfield inn which is why i started leaning that way.

Rizz- I drove by the Hojo on my way to school in anaheim - it is right next to the Fairfield inn (the Fairfield is technically closer to the parks for what it is worth) The "water park" you are talking about is a pool area - it is nice/fun but it is not by any stretch of the imagination a water park. Cannot imagine after D-land there is going to be much time for the pool.

I would limit myself to two hotels - one at DL and one in San Diego.

Lego Land is in North County San Diego - I would see if your schedule allowed it to get up and head south from Orange County and go to Lego Land - and then check into your hotel later that day. From Coranado to Lego Land is a decent drive (I would have map it but i am guessing 30 minutes with no traffic... If you stay in North County - La Costa was recently redone and often has great rates and they have a wonderful pool area. You cannot walk to the beach from there - it is a 5-10 minute drive.

Loews Coranado is a more isolated area - you will need to drive to get to places as well.

Rizzo,

Since you'll be based in Anaheim you could make a very easy day outing to Newport Beach Balboa Island Fun Zone with the kids and Laguna Beach for Mom &Dad. The Knott's Berry Farm idea with kids sounds fun too.


Agree with MomDD if you're planning on doing Legoland and will be staying further south, then hitting Legoland before you check into your hotel will be a time saver also.

Some thoughts about your hotel picks:

Loews' is very remote from everything except you could walk to the beach from there if that's a high priority. Another plus, it's a resort setting on the bay. Personally, I think it is too removed.

While the BW Coronado Island is more central in town I wouldn't call it exactly walking distance to the beach, especially with little ones. However, it's a unique little spot in San Diego. Very family oriented too.

Clarion Del Mar is fine for Legoland but distant from the Zoo, Downtown, Coronado Island, Sea World etc.( I think I'd take this one off the list for practical purposes)

More central to all of it would be your La Jolla choice. IF you do Legoland on your way down to San Diego then being closer to Legoland doesn't matter. I'm pretty sure you have to go down quite a hill and distance to access the ocean from the BW. OTH, La Jolla is a very pretty area and you can walk to shops and restaurants.

One thought is to look at the BWPLUS Blue Sea Lodge rates in the Pacific Beach/Mission Beach vicinity. You'd have the beachfront, there are restaurants within walking distance and a boardwalk. The area does attract a younger crowd though. Weekdays should be calmer.

The last thing to consider in your thought process is- don't be surprised if it's a bit cool at the beach in May. Our weather for the last two seasons has been really off. So, you could plan around staying within walking distance to the beach and never want to use it. Hopefully, for everyone involved that won't be the case!

But for a $125.00 a night I'd be happy anywhere!

thanks! i live in a tiny state...NH...so i'm having a hard time grasping distances and drive times. i think the idea of hitting legoland on the way down to sd is a great idea. i will check out the bwplus blue sea and i'm also going to check out the residence inn la jolla.

The Residence Inn in La Jolla is not "in" La Jolla - it is close to the 5 freeway in a business type area - behind a restaurant close to UCSD. I would not stay there.

Your kids are so young, I'll bet they would be just as happy at the beach as at a more structured Sea World or Legoland.

Why not make it less stressful for all, (and less expensive) and just hang with them at the pool and the beach? In our experience, kids that young aren't terribly impressed with the big parks, except maybe Disneyland's classic rides. Otherwise, they can get overwhelmed and cranky.

The Ritz Laguna Niguel is a fantastic property. You can ride their shuttle down to the beach directly below, or walk all the stairs up and down if you prefer.

If I were you, I'd stick to two hotels and two parks: Disneyland and the San Diego zoo. Otherwise, lots of beach time.

okay, updated:

i would really like to visit disney. at this age they LOVE mickey and it will be fun to see their excitement. then when they are around 7/8 we will do disney world. i only need to do each park once...dh and i are NOT disney lovers.

Day 1: arrive around noon. get to the hotel and just hang by the pool.

Day 2: disney

Day 3: sleep in, maybe some pool time and then check out of hotel. start down the coast enjoying the view. have a picnic. leisurely day. check in to the ritz just because it's only $125/night :)

Day 4: head to legoland and then continue south to hotel. stay in la jolla or pacific beach area. i know pacific beach can get loud, but spring break is over so maybe it's okay?? thoughts??

Day 5: beach day

Day 6: San Diego Zoo

Day 7: probably another hang day...maybe visit the tide pools and/or balboa park.

Day 8: leave

That gives us a busy day followed by a slow day all through the week and I think it hits the highlights without stressing the kids out.

I know it's 3 hotels, but we are very used to travelling and moving about due to our jobs.

We will likely be visiting some family friends (well, more friends of my MIL) while there too so we can put that in one of our leisure days.

oh, and the reason i was looking at pacific beach was the flat, nice beaches for kids. the pics i've seen of la jolla seem "cliffy" and "rocky". am i correct?

Sounds like a good plan!

The Ritz for $125/night?! Yikes, what a good deal. I'd stay there, and skip the third hotel.

Correct. My immediate thought with preschoolers would be Mission Beach/Pacific Beach. The Boardwalk is fun and lively and the beach is great. Mission Bay is fabulous with toddlers and it is just a block or two east of the beach. Mission Bay has a great walking/biking path, a lovely beach all around, calmer water and many activities. I took note of a couple of hotels while visitiing a friend there, but I'll have to look them up. One is right on Mission Bay and the other at on the border of Pacific/Mission Beach, possibly a Best Western.

The Ritz is also $125.00???? Wow.
I'd base myself there for the first 3 nights and make the 35-40 minute drive to Disneyland! Sure it's fun staying at the park but the Ritz for a $125.00? that's too good of a deal to pass up. Plus, you'll wake up at the beach the next day and won't have to drive or pack up anything.

Your itinerary looks great!

I agree - stay at the ritz and drive to Disney - anyway you can fly into John Wayne?

MomDD - I can fly into John Wayne, but LAX is direct and I'd prefer to just take one flight rather than chase toddlers through ORD, MDW, or DFW.

ugghhh, the ritz is gone...well, the deal anyway. should have booked last night!

Yes, that is true Rizzo - I traveled with 4 children for many years - direct is always best.. I just hate LAX.

Sorry the deal at the Ritz is gone - that is a huge bummer. Plan B.