Opinions/Suggestions on Southern California Itinerary - The DIS Discussion Forums

bamagirl@hrt · 09-15-2012, 09:23 PM

My family of 4 is beginning to plan our first trip to Southern California next June. Our kids will be 15 and 11 at the time. My husband has a conference in San Diego, so that determines the time of our trip. This is my first stab at our itinerary:

4 night at DL Hotel w/ park hopper tickets. This part will be "free" as we will use Disney Reward dollars to pay for the package.

2 nights in LA/Hollywood - want to see typical Hollywood tourist stuff, Griffith Park, hopefully something at Hollywood Bowl, maybe a Dodgers game

3 or 4 night in San Diego. Thinking of staying on Coronado, but will decide for sure when we get DH's conference info. We want to go to zoo and Padres game.

What do you think? Anything not on my list that we shouldn't miss?

Thanks for your help!

sonnyjane · 09-15-2012, 09:31 PM

I'm on my phone so can't write much, but one thing that stuck out to me was your potential choice of Coronado for your San Diego stay. That's not the most convenient location as far as getting to the attractions you mentioned is concerned. It's a beautiful place to stay, but you'll have to cross the bridge each time you want to get somewhere which can really be a pain depending on the time of day. For access to Sea World/the Zoo/downtown I'd probably look at hotels downtown or hotel circle unless you really want a beach location.

Also, you don't mention it, but definitely plan on renting a car.

bamagirl@hrt · 09-15-2012, 09:43 PM

Yes, we definitely will be renting a car. We will probably shuttle from the airport to Disney, and then rent a car before leaving Anaheim.

Coronado is just an idea. I really want to go see the Hotel Del. I thought the kids and I might like beach time while DH is at conference. However, I'm definitely open to other suggestions of things to do then.

Escape2Disney · 09-15-2012, 09:55 PM

In San Diego, we love going to Balboa Park and the SD Zoo. We also fell in love with the beach in Oceanside...not sure why, but it always seems to be on our 'go to' list.

rsleleux · 09-15-2012, 10:17 PM

We stayed in La Jolla and loved it! Definitely visit the Hotel Del Coronado, it is beautiful but I agree with Sonny Jane, it is not convenient. We went to Coronado on our first day and spent a few hours at the Del then ate dinner at Il Fornaio. I liked La Jolla because it seemed centrally located for all that we did! We went to Coronado, Zoo, Balboa Park, Seaworld , Birch Aquarium,Mission Beach and Legoland during our stay in San Diego. Then we drove down to Anaheim for 3nts/days in DL &DCA. We went to La Jolla Cove to see the seal lions and had an amazing breakfast out there before driving to Anaheim, we drove PCH 1 and stopped at Laguna Beach for a bit. Then we went to Downtown Disney for dinner at Catal. the next 3days were strictly Disney. It was an amazing trip! You will have so much fun!

sonnyjane · 09-15-2012, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamagirl@hrt

Yes, we definitely will be renting a car. We will probably shuttle from the airport to Disney, and then rent a car before leaving Anaheim.

Coronado is just an idea. I really want to go see the Hotel Del. I thought the kids and I might like beach time while DH is at conference. However, I'm definitely open to other suggestions of things to do then.

I agree that you should see the Del. It will make for a nice afternoon of looking at shops and seeing the beach.

I see you're planning a trip in June? There is a phenomenon here in San Diego called "June Gloom" of which you might want to be aware, not because it will ruin your trip by any means, but it might affect how you plan your activities. During the month of June, while much of the rest of the country is warming up for summer, we here in San Diego can actually have a pretty mild and cloudy month. We get a lot of "marine layer" that tends to stick around until late in the afternoon. During that time, the temperature can be in the very low 60's, and the water temperature isn't much different than the air temperature! In other words, while the beach is a lovely place to see, it's not, especially in June, like Florida beach where you can hang around tanning all day and go swimming. Now admittedly, I'm a big wimp and a local, and there are plenty of tourists that decide to swim and hang out at the beach, but you might want to have some daytime activities planned should your kiddos decide it's a little too brisk

Sherry E · 09-15-2012, 11:47 PM

I moved this thread over to the Southern California forum.

09-15-2012, 09:23 PM	#1
bamagirl@hrt DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 1,501	Opinions/Suggestions on Southern California Itinerary My family of 4 is beginning to plan our first trip to Southern California next June. Our kids will be 15 and 11 at the time. My husband has a conference in San Diego, so that determines the time of our trip. This is my first stab at our itinerary: 4 night at DL Hotel w/ park hopper tickets. This part will be "free" as we will use Disney Reward dollars to pay for the package. 2 nights in LA/Hollywood - want to see typical Hollywood tourist stuff, Griffith Park, hopefully something at Hollywood Bowl, maybe a Dodgers game 3 or 4 night in San Diego. Thinking of staying on Coronado, but will decide for sure when we get DH's conference info. We want to go to zoo and Padres game. What do you think? Anything not on my list that we shouldn't miss? Thanks for your help!

09-15-2012, 09:55 PM	#4
Escape2Disney Friendly Neighborhood Disney Fanatic! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 928	In San Diego, we love going to Balboa Park and the SD Zoo. We also fell in love with the beach in Oceanside...not sure why, but it always seems to be on our 'go to' list. __________________

09-15-2012, 10:17 PM	#5
rsleleux Mouseketeer Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 498	We stayed in La Jolla and loved it! Definitely visit the Hotel Del Coronado, it is beautiful but I agree with Sonny Jane, it is not convenient. We went to Coronado on our first day and spent a few hours at the Del then ate dinner at Il Fornaio. I liked La Jolla because it seemed centrally located for all that we did! We went to Coronado, Zoo, Balboa Park, Seaworld , Birch Aquarium,Mission Beach and Legoland during our stay in San Diego. Then we drove down to Anaheim for 3nts/days in DL &DCA. We went to La Jolla Cove to see the seal lions and had an amazing breakfast out there before driving to Anaheim, we drove PCH 1 and stopped at Laguna Beach for a bit. Then we went to Downtown Disney for dinner at Catal. the next 3days were strictly Disney. It was an amazing trip! You will have so much fun! __________________

09-15-2012, 11:47 PM	#7
Sherry E Willing victim of the Disney Snowball Effect... Okay so after a coffee and lunch break I am back! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 13,417	I moved this thread over to the Southern California forum. __________________ Christmas Time Trip Reports "The Evil Chair & The Peppermint Cone of Death - A 2010 Christmas Tale" (begins on Page 83/Post #1244; ends on Page 110/Post #1641) "Aunt Betty's Weepy, Wacky, Wonderful Christmas Trip to Disneyland- Dec. 2011" (begins on Page 189/Post #2825; ends on Page 213/Post #3181) CHRISTMAS PHOTOS OF CARS LAND & BUENA VISTA ST. - 11/12/12 (begins on Page 222/Post #3328; ends on Page 231/Post #3464) "Candlelight & Cannonballs! (MANY MARDI GRAS MASK PICTURES!) -12/9/12 - 12/12/12" - begins on Page 235/Post #3524 (in progress!) Halloween Time Trip Reports "The Return of the Masked Mouse & His Diabolical Twin- Halloween Time 2011" (begins on Page 145/Post #2170; ends on Page 155/Post #2312) Other Trip Reports: *Catalina Island/Avalon - My Solo Day Trip, in Photos (LOTS of Photos!)- 7/21/12*

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09-15-2012, 09:31 PM	#2
sonnyjane DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 4,519	I'm on my phone so can't write much, but one thing that stuck out to me was your potential choice of Coronado for your San Diego stay. That's not the most convenient location as far as getting to the attractions you mentioned is concerned. It's a beautiful place to stay, but you'll have to cross the bridge each time you want to get somewhere which can really be a pain depending on the time of day. For access to Sea World/the Zoo/downtown I'd probably look at hotels downtown or hotel circle unless you really want a beach location. Also, you don't mention it, but definitely plan on renting a car.

09-15-2012, 09:43 PM	#3
bamagirl@hrt DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 1,501	Yes, we definitely will be renting a car. We will probably shuttle from the airport to Disney, and then rent a car before leaving Anaheim. Coronado is just an idea. I really want to go see the Hotel Del. I thought the kids and I might like beach time while DH is at conference. However, I'm definitely open to other suggestions of things to do then.