East-Coasters headed to DL for the first time

[HHMcG]

As a first-timer, I feel like I have so many questions I decided to start a PRE-trip report. (Is that a thing over here? I know I did them as a newbie, way back when over on the DW side.)

Some background: (Or skip to the next post for questions.)
Who:
We Are…
Me - Heather - 52 - Efficiency expert & control freak. Part time engineer / part time stay-at-home mom who’s life revolves around her kids. I need a hobby beyond vacation planning.
DH - Bill - 56 – Penn State loving, laid back, happily lets me do all the planning. Dedicated, hard-working dad, husband and also an engineer.
DD - Lucy - 18 - Thoughtful, organized, bossy (especially to her two little brothers) but also anxious. Freshman at Penn State.
DS1 - Jack - 17 - A typical teenage boy. Super athletic, rough around the edges and doesn't communicate much. Loves Disney second most in the family (after mom). High School junior
DS2 - Quinn - 13 (14 at trip time) - Sweetheart or terror, can change in the flip of a switch. Very active and very social. 8th grader, headed to HS next year.

What:
We are coming from New Jersey. Arriving in San Fran, spending one day/night. Traveling to Yosemite for 3 nights, staying in the park. Next Kings Canyon/Sequoia for 4 nights. 1 night somewhere along the coast for some beach time. Then 3 park days at Disneyland. This trip is combining two of our favorite things - NPs and Disney.

When:
In CA August 1–14
DL August 10-14

Where:
Four nights at Pixar Place and 3-day Park tickets

 

[HHMcG]

Question #1:
We will have a rental car for the first half of the trip obviously. Right now, I am planning to return it at SNA once we start the DL part of our trip. I am planning for us to Uber to LAX on departure day.
Is there any reason why it would be better to hold on to the rental car and return it on departure day at LAX?

Returning it early saves us $400 in rental and parking minus the Uber to LAX (worst case $100). Would we miss it while staying at DL? For perspective we rarely have a car on our DW vacations and have no problem with that.

 

[HHMcG]

Question #2:
Only have time for 3 park days. Was planning on getting 3-day parkhoppers with multi pass. However, after reading reviews of the parks, I wonder if we would be fine with 2DL days and 1 DCA. Dropping the parkhopper would save us $450. Thoughts?
I guess which parks have early entry could be an issue also. Are those set days?
And if I don't get parkhopper can I add that on once we are in the parks? (I know paying the full price)

 

[irlandaise]

@HHMcG , I never read the Trip Reports subforum, and I suspect that many other Disneyland forum readers don't, either. I only noticed your posting because it was listed in a sidebar. I suggest that you move your thread to the main Disneyland forum.