Planning our first trip to Cali

[rubyjackxx]

Hi guys, happy new year!
So I am just beginning to look at an October trip to Cali for our 40th and my sons 21st.
We are a fam of 6 including my fit 70 yr old mom n dad.
We are staying for 10 nights in October.
We would usually drive and stay in a villa when we visit the world.

When we are there we want to do Disney, universal and HHN. We would also like to do the usual Hollywood stuff!

Does anyone have any recommendations on where to stay? Should we change accommodation when visiting Disney? I know the traffics bad.

Any advise would be massively appreciated as I don’t know where to start!

[KarenG]

Hi, so do you just want to do LA and Anaheim rather than California the state?

Villas which are cheap and plentiful in Orlando aren’t really such a thing in LA. If you can find one it will be pricier than you’re used to. I’d consider suite type accommodation eg a two bed condo but you may find that too intimate given your family dynamic?

Good idea to split across two locations rather than travelling.

[400ixl]

10 days does not really give you much time to other things.

Disney is in Anaheim which is south of LA. Universal is near Hollywood and not so far distance wise but 90 minutes each way in traffic.

It is best to stay on Anaheim for Disney for however long you plan to do that and then move north for LA sights.

[rubyjackxx]

Thanks for the reply’s. This will be just a Disney and universal trip. We do not have the time or budget to do a full on trip taking in other parts of the state, we are going to Florida in April.

We know we will not get any villas like in Florida. So happy with hotels. Just not really sure where is safe, good locations for Disney and then where to move to for universal.

Thanks x

[klr15]

We’ve never been before, but we have a similar trip planned.

We are flying into LAX and heading over to Anaheim for 6 nights and staying at the best western Stovalls inn.

We had a look at the good neighbour hotels for Disney when trying to pick our hotel, most of the hotels within a mile of Disneyland seem to be a good option as you can walk.

We are then moving on to the Hilton at universal city in LA, we are spending three nights here. We want to do universal one day, the Warner bros studio tour and see the usual touristy things there.

[danisleigh]

We wanted to be close to Disney in Anaheim so looked at the hotels on south harbor blvd and managed to get a decent price for the grand legacy at the park which is almost across the road from the entrance. LA we have booked the Hilton universal city which is next to Universal studios but it didn’t come cheap. We have tickets for universal for one day with express pass and also warner bros studio tour and a day tour of LA before we move on up the coast.

[400ixl]

Many stay in Burbank for Universal, Warner Bros and Hollywood.

Then use Uber to get around.

[rubyjackxx]

Fab thanks for the advise. Def gives me somewhere to start.

Aside from the size of Disney land compared to world.

We’re those of you who have been been disappointed in comparison? Thanks x

[400ixl]

Much prefer Disneyland California over WDW in Florida.

Original park, much better weather and is a few days in a much wider and better holiday. West Coast just beats Florida every time.

[KarenG]

Although there are only two theme parks, we prefer the intimacy and ease of access at DL to WDW.