Disney California and Hollywood where do I start.

[1 pink princess]

Hi just been thinking that it's time for a major change have done Florida for the past 20years and was wondering where to start on the Disney California side. This is what we would like to do but don't know where to start so:
We need flights
Hotels
Park tickets
Transfers
Oh and how long is recommended for Disney park
Like to do Hollywood walk and not sure what else..
What time of the year for California (stuck to half term).
Is it best to stay on site or are there close hotels with shuttles or even walking distance.?
If anyone can throw some ideas my way I would be greatful.

[Guest]

Disneyland and California Adventure - 3 to 4 days will cover it but we like more.
Buy tickets when you get there. So much easier.
Disney run buses from LAX airport (fee payable) to the parks.
There are loads of neighbourhood hotels to Disney - all within ten minutes walking distance:

disneyland.disney.go/hotels/good-neighbor/

There are 3 hotels on site: Paradise Pier / Disneyland Hotel / Grand Californian.

Disneyland site here:

disneyland.disney.go/

Hollywood / Universal Studios / Warner Bros tour are a forty minute to an hour drive but your hotel can set you with a bus tour if you don't want to drive.

[Disney Wishing]

Are you stuck to just half terms or any schools holidays? We tend to stick to August and combine it with other places in California as part of a longer trip but California has good weather most of the year. Summer and Christmas will mean less things being closure for refurb but Halloween in October Half Term would be a lot of fun.

Maybe read some of the trip reports in the west coast section to give you a feel for things.

[jdouds]

Hi if you have done floida for the last number of years then dare I say don't bother going to Disney in LA, far to many fantastic things to do on the west coast. Some will disagree but after Florida Disney LA not a patch. What else would you like to see, San Fran , coast road, yosemite , vegas, Grand Canyon

[daytonababe]

We stay in a good neighbour hotel less than 10 mins from Disney , we spend 2 days there, 3 would be ample imo.

There are lots of hotels to suit all budgets , onsite ones are pretty expensive even the cheapest one Paradise Pier .

We love Disneyland California far more than we do WDW ..next year will be our fourth year in a row to Anaheim

Universal is about 35 miles away but it can easily take 90'mins due to traffic , a split stay is better I think.Anaheim for Disney elsewhere for universal etc . Better to move hotels than spend a lot of time sat in traffic .

What other places do you want to visit ? Maybe read some trip reports to get some ideas .

[1 pink princess]

Thanks for all your replies.

I've been looking over a few days the tar pits,Hollywood walk,universal and well what ever I can fit in really. I'm thinking of maybe 7-10 nights. Just didn't know how long would be enough but not over kill.
So Geoff mentions 3-4 nights for the Disney park ,would I best stay at Disney area 1st then maybe transfer to some other hotel nearer those other locations.

[daytonababe]

Yes Anaheim for Disney and then somewhere like Burbank for universal or maybe Santa Monica ..

Personally one day sightseeing in LA is enough for me.

Have you thought of adding in somewhere else like San Diego , Vegas, San Francisco ?

[Macca04]

For us 3 days in LA was enough. We stayed at a hotel close to Universal. Did Universal, Warner Brothers tour we enjoyed both. Hollywood Walk of fame big disappointment. Dirty pavements with people in your face trying to sell you tours. The Observatory was great and so was Santa Monica. We did not do Disney. Thinking of going back next year but will give LA a miss.

[Guest]

Another who can take or leave L.A. It doesn't do it for us. However, Santa Monica is a great beach area you might want to consider and San Diego is only a train ride away.

[Guest]

I've just returned from a 6 night Anaheim stay, I had a 5 day hopper and I found that was a great amount of time in the parks, I met up with friends on 2 days so it was nice not to be frantically riding things.
I stayed in a good neighbour hotel - Quality inn and Suites (there are 2 I was on South Manchester.) my walk each morning was 8 mins door to gate.
I also did a day trip from viator to LA, it covered Hollywood and LA area and 2 hours on Santa Monica beach or Venice beach (you had a choice) I also added in a trip around the Hollywood homes.
So that I did not have to hire a car I booked a shared supershuttle from LAX to the hotel and back.