I have never seen the big attraction of the Corvette Diner.

While it's much more pleasant to spend the night at Disneyland, many, many people from San Diego go in the morning and come home late at night. You're now taking three days for your one-day Disneyland trip. However, if it is Easter weekend that you'll be here, the traffic will be very bad all weekend, but especially Friday and Sunday. Sunday morning traffic to LA (only "light" in comparison to the rest of the week!)usually flows well. If you are going more slowly than others, please, please move over to the right.

Have you booked your flights? If not (hah) you could fly into Orange County/John Wayne airport (SNA), go to Disney, then drive down to San Diego and fly home from San Diego. It would make your trip flow more smoothly, but you've probably already booked.

I'm a big fan of George's, but the main dining room is not a place for young children. They might enjoy the Terrace, which is a great place for lunch.

The Wild Animal Park has recently retired its monorail which used to take you all round the park in 45 minutes. This has been replaced by a 20-minute tour through the African part of the Park. You do not see as much, but what you do see is much closer. The cost of this tour is not included in the basic entrance fee, but is included in the packages, I believe.

San Diego is fabulous! The zoo is wonderful, but I would not consider it an 'easy' day. It's exhausting!

Although I am a fan of the San Diego Zoo, I think it would be a great idea to do the Wild Animal Park because they just changed the structure of how you visit the animals as Barbara indicated. You no longer are on a tram, but rather you ride in a vehicle (forgot which kind) right up the the animals. It would be a very unique experience. I know folks who work there and it is getting very good reviews. Also I believe there is a combo ticket between thet zoo/wild animal park and the zoo. You could visit the Wild Animal Park on your way upt to Disneyland.

If your wife likes shopping in La Jolla, then prospect street is the main drag for clothes/art shopping and Girard Street (upper girard street near Pearl) is the shopping for decor/house. My favorite stores there are Mermaids, Seaside Home, Girard Collection and the Cornerstore. While she is shopping you could take the kids on a walk at coast street which hugs the beachline to see the sea lions on the rocks.

For eating places in la Jolla, Alfonso's Mexican Restaruant might be a better choice since you have the kids (try the carne asada and nacos with chorizo-then go exercise to get rid of those fabulous calories). Also Karl Strauss Brewing Company with a trip next door to Marble Slab Cremery might also be more kid friendly.

While wife is shopping, kids and you could go to La Jolla Shores, very nice beach and a park. You could pick up lunch at The Cheese Shop or Jeff's Burgers in La Jolla Shores. Also kids could visit the Birch Aquarium which is nearby.

I have stayed at the Lowe's in Coronado (our house got invaded by bees and we had coupons for a free stay so we let experts deal wtih our house while we fled-the joy of owning a historic house) with our kids and they liked it. See if they have events scheduled for that time-we did the dive-in movie. Plus rent a bike and follow the trail into the main part of Coronado and catch dinner at the Brigatine, the chart house if it is still open or Miguels-Those restaurants are on the Lowe's side of Corornado and very doable by bike which is what we did.

I'd like to make it clear that I simply outlined the changes at the Wild Animal Park. Personally, I think it's a rip-off. Most of the Park is now unavailable to visitors. When the summer crowds begin, not that it's quiet now any time of year, how are they going to deal with the huge numbers of visitors who will want to take this tour? One of these trams cruising through "Africa" is lovely, a constant stream of them will not be so lovely. The animals will quickly learn to stay away from the trail that is used.

Regardless of this change, I always believe that the Zoo is more fun for kids. There is much more for them to see and do-and it's much closer. Plus, if you're not totally exhausted after trecking up and down the hills in the Zoo, there are many museums in Balboa Park to visit.

OK...the zoo it is..thanks for the input. Now my question is can I blow off sea world since the kids don t really know about it.
Its seems like its coming down to a day of biking which sounds like something my wife and I would enjoy or Sea World? Considering we are doing Disneyland and the Zoo I dont feel too guilty about missing it unless the consensus is that I am doing my poor deprived children a grave disservice by not taking them there.
Thanks for all the responses I am feeling much less stressed about planning this trip and hope I can pay it back with some NYC advice sometime.

Hey scoooter..
You can blow off Sea World since you are doing the Zoo and Disneyland..
Biking around the bay is a wonderful idea and the boardwalk goes all around Mission Bay/Mission Beach/Pacific Beach from bay to ocean..you can rent bikes at Hamels across from Belmont Park..
You all are going to have so much fun!!
Flying this week to tape a show in Midtown/NYC and want to know if the Campbell Apartment is a must for a couple of drinks?
Since you asked.. :)

Tams...The Campbell Apt has been on my to do list for a long time but I havent made it yet. I have heard great things from people I know who have been there plus you get to see Grand Central and have some oysters in Oyster Bar downstairs which is a NY institution.
The Campbell Apt also just finished an extensive renovation which left all the historical details intact.If you are going to be in that neighborhood I would definately go for a drink.
BTW bring a warm coat and if you are coming Mon or Tues probably some boots,we have slush puddles up to your knees.You can leave the sunscreen home:)

Thanks scoooter!
We arrive on Wednesday..hopefully the slush puddles will be gone.

just one thought...the Loews hotel is quite a distance from the beginning of Coronado. I was a little disappointed at how far out they put a hotel. It took us about 15-20 min. from the Del, so keep that in mind when you arrive. I almost thought I was lost! Its a great resort and situated in a beautiful area.

Tahiti Tams suggestion for renting bikes at Hamels is good. Also there is an amusement park there which your kids might like, with attractions such as Pirate Cove (building with slides, bouncy ball pits etc.) the roller coaster and bumper cars. If the boardwalk is too crowded for biking, then go across the street to the bay- its usually the less crowded option.

If you haven't told the kids about Sea World, then I would skip it in favor of the Zoo and Disneyland. Around Spring Break, Sea World gets very crowded. If you have a free evening, then you could do Sea World at night since it will be open late during the first two weeks of April. Fireworks are shown in the evenings.

If you want to watch surfers, here are some places:

Wind and Sea in La Jolla at the base of Nautilus Street.

La Jolla Shores

Ocean Beach at the Pier (you and kids could stop in Hodads for some great shakes).

In Coronado, we usually rent bikes at Bikes by the Bay at the Ferry Landing, however I would check to see if it is still open since they are remodeling that area. You could take the ferry from that point across the bay to downtown. Its just a 30 minute ride and then you could bike along pacific highway to the airport and the Spanish Landing.

Tahiti Tams, what show are you attending a taping of? Will you make the big screen. Have fun. We went to NYC in January and since we just got cable tv, we ate at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, it was very good.

Hi itsv..
Yes, its the big time..
Thanks for your thoughts!