California Trip next year

[Robsie71]

Contemplating California either 2018 or 2019 after a couple of trips to Orlando but been out of the loop for a few years (last went in 2010 when it was just the 2 of us!)

Any hints, tips, must do's etc - looking at few days Disney, few days Universal and Warner brothers tour then maybe head to San Diego or a beach somewhere.

Any recommendations / good reads to get up to speed e.g. front of line passes / benefits by booking certain things / airports to target to get a little cheaper.

2 Adults, 1 7yr old boy

Many thanks

Nick

[Macca04]

We did Universal and the Warner Brothers tour when we went in 2013, we stayed at the Beverley Garland Hotel, which is now called The Garland. Close to both places they even do a free trolley bus to Universal. Nice hotel but it was close to the freeway and a bit noisy if you had a room on that side.

We are thinking of going back next year too, but will be giving LA a miss, really like the look of San Deigo and hope to go there for a few days.

[Guest]

If you want information on the San Diego area see Aims' "Sticky" threads:

https://DIBB.in/6436320 and https://DIBB.in/12846746

You'll find plenty of info in all the posts here in the California in the Disneyland California and West Coast Trip Planning forum.

Also - have a read of some of the trip reports to give you ideas:

Disneyland California and West Coast Trip Reports

And just to say re Disneyland - you can reserve meals at 60 days (they are NOT ADRs), book tours at 30 days and they still use the legacy fastpass system - no Magic Bands.

[JLC]

We did SFO down to LAX. Loved San Fran, the mountains (and death valley) and then finished it up with some theme park fun at Universal and Disney. Best holiday ever.

I search endlessly for a bargain, particularly on the flights (tend to fly premium) - being flexible on dates helps here!

But other options with LV and SD too...

[daytonababe]

The Warner tour has a age restriction of 8, not sure if the other studio tours do .

[Robsie71]

Great advice everybody - thanks. Do universal hotels do FOLP similar to Orlando?

[Doowop]

We're looking at this for 2019, also going to take in San fransisco, Yosemite and some whale watching, we'll have an 11 year old who knows that if she wants Disney she's going to have to bite her tongue to a few days walking in woods and uphills. We've just bought a book of 33 California trips, they have trips of 2 or 3 days that you can piece together and longer ones too, I also bought a travel planning journal from Amazon for �3.99 so am making a start.

Also read the wandering round the west coast trip report which had some good ideas in

[daytonababe]

Originally Posted by Robsie71

Great advice everybody - thanks. Do universal hotels do FOLP similar to Orlando?

See more...

No because they aren�t actually universal hotels .

There are two in walking distance of the park , the Hilton and the Sheraton .


You can buy express passes in the park , but you might not need them , it�s only park and we did everything in a day . Got there for park opening and left at 4.30:having done all the attractions .

[berneslai]

I'm not sure if the Universal studio tour has an age restriction but it flipping should do. My 6-year old son was been scarred for life by Kong and Jaws back in August!

[daytonababe]

Originally Posted by berneslai

I'm not sure if the Universal studio tour has an age restriction but it flipping should do. My 6-year old son was been scarred for life by Kong and Jaws back in August!

See more...

No it doesn't..

But when we did it last year there was a little girl of maybe 5/6 and she really didn't like parts of the tour like Jaws, and the water bit.

She was also bored silly on the bits where you drive around looking at props etc.