Disneyland California for a week?

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by cherub85

Cornish frog boy… will definitely be back on here asking for tips when we do decide to go! Also have a couple of old school guide books that we bought a few years ago when we first began thinking about the trip! It’s quite overwhelming as there is so much to see so will be a case of prioritising parts!

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Glad to hear!

I wouldn’t worry over much with the guide books.

It does look overwhelming at first, but the easy way to look at it is that for most, it is a straight line from San Francisco to the northern edge of Los Angeles.. at this point, some stay on the coast whilst some go round the back (think M25). Round the back are 6 Flags, Universal, Warner Bros and then Anaheim whilst sticking to the Coast is the Beaches.
From then on, it is down the Coast to San Diego.

The main adjunct to this simple route is that some head off inland to Yosemite.

Like being on a self driven bus route, it is for you to decide where to stop off on the way and for how long. 90% probably follow exactly the same route until reaching Los Angeles.

As for the flying bit. You can arrive direct at San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego.
You can go indirect into or out of San Luis Obispo, Burbank (near to Universal and Warner Bros), John Wayne (Close to Anaheim) and doubtless others.

It really is simply about reading the trip reports of others and making up your own itinerary. Some reports are one day, one thread and others are a continuous running thread. Pre trips are also good sources of information.

I have the link to my 2018 report and my 2021 ore trip report in my signature and also my two California cancellations are in the California pretrip report section.
All are pretty short, single thread and hopefully a source of ideas involving Flights, Car Hires, internal flights , hotel choices and attractions.

Hoping that helps!

[landandword17]

People have done it, people go to Vegas for long weekend stag/hen parties. I’m another who isnt interested in theme parks in California because there’s too much for us to do but yes I would do what you have suggested. I’d do 3 days in Disney max, probably 2, one day in Universal and then the rest visiting the coastal towns of Laguna and Newport Beach. Without a car I’d go down to San Diego. Pre Covid I probably would have said to you wait and go for 3 weeks in the future but now you just never know and with a 20 year old who may not want to travel with you in a few years? I’d be on the plane ✈️

[cherub85]

Originally Posted by landandword17

People have done it, people go to Vegas for long weekend stag/hen parties. I’m another who isnt interested in theme parks in California because there’s too much for us to do but yes I would do what you have suggested. I’d do 3 days in Disney max, probably 2, one day in Universal and then the rest visiting the coastal towns of Laguna and Newport Beach. Without a car I’d go down to San Diego. Pre Covid I probably would have said to you wait and go for 3 weeks in the future but now you just never know and with a 20 year old who may not want to travel with you in a few years? I’d be on the plane ✈️

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Good point about our daughter. I don’t think she would want to come if we are doing lots of touring, that’s why we thought maybe just the week at this point focusing on the parks and then we can return as a couple and explore other parts at our leisure! We had thought our Disney trip in 2020 would be our last big family trip but of course that didn’t happen, and neither did its replacement in 2021! The money from that trip has been used for two weeks all inclusive in Mexico next Easter. She is so looking forward to that as she won’t have been abroad then for over two years and is used to going a couple of times a year!

[megaflyer]

I have done San Diego for just 2 days (work) but equally flown to Palm Springs (LA then car to PS) for New Year - a few days. Easily doable infact going to LA, once we can, with my sister and her hubby for a long weekend

[Bozza]

We've taken to doing February half-term Saturday to Saturday (landing back Sunday) trips and although all of these, to date, have been to Orlando, we wouldn't hesitate to go to the West coast if we found flights at the right price.

As others have said - plenty of people go to Vegas for long weekends, so fly nearly as far and stay for less time.

People often fly indirect to Florida too, with a total flight time of 12-14 hours, less time than it will take to fly to the West Coast direct.

The time difference is the one factor that I would suggest is significant. We know we can handle that fine, but not everyone may be the same.

But, in short, if we could snag decent flight prices, we'd happily do a West Coast week. We did four days at Disneyland, staying at the Disneyland Hotel on our last West Coast trip and, to be sure you really have the time to take it all in, I'd suggest at least three days. One day would be enough for Universal, leaving you with a few days to maybe chill on the coast at Santa Monica, or similar. Sounds a lovely trip to me!

[pritch]

While in Anaheim knots farm worth a day, a different theme park