Can't decide if we should do Disneyland - Help! About This Page:

[Mickey Lover]

Hello Everyone,
I have been a big fan of WDW in Orlando since 1999. We are planning a trip for March 2008. I actually have hotel reservations already in Orlando, but my DD says we should try something new! So, I am contemplating hitting Disneyland but a little scared of making this big change in our spring plans since we have gone to MK the last 7 or 8 years during spring break, and I am just "comfortable". If we decide to go to DLR instead, I'm thinking this would be a big move for us, and since we would be visiting California for the first, and perhaps for the only time in our lives, I'm wondering if we should do more than DLR. It will be myself and my 21 year old daughter traveling alone. What do you think? I've never rented a car while on vacation before, but wouldn't be opposed to it. Should we do a couple of days at Disney, then hit San Diego as I've seen mentioned on these boards? I'm not much of a geography buff either, so what else is close by that we should see and do? It is a really hard decision for me to make - stay with what I know and am comfortable with, or break out of my shell and get adventurous, try something new, and see another part of our great country. 30 years ago when I was just out of high school, some friends and myself flew to San Francisco for 4 days, then to San Diego for another 4 days, then to LA for a week - wow, did we see and do a lot, though it surely is a distant memory now. We were young, had money to burn, and saw a lot. I would love to recreate some of that trip for my daughter 30 years later. Our trip will only be 6 or 7 days, but I sure would love to share a memorable trip with my daughter, and see lots of sights. I would love to hear from all of you with your thoughts. Thank you so much!

[chezp]

I wouldn't miss Disneyland - it's very different from Orlando and I loved the fact that it was the original park that Walt built. If you're going out there, I can thoroughly recommend San Diego - we absolutely adored the place and it's also worth taking a tour of Los Angeles as well. We did a two week holiday and also flew up to San Francisco to see that city and Yosemite and visited Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Vegas is about four or five hours drive away.

[Mickey Lover]

I like the idea of visiting LA, SF, etc. About how far are these other cities from Anaheim? Thanks!

[DebiDebiDebi]

Originally Posted by Mickey Lover

I like the idea of visiting LA, SF, etc. About how far are these other cities from Anaheim? Thanks!

San Francisco is 371 miles from Anaheim.
LA is 24 miles from Anaheim
San Diego is 88 miles from Anaheim

I would definately recommend at least 2 days at Disneyland, 3 if possible. With 3 days, you can hit each park a day each, then use the 3rd day for hitting the highlights of both parks, and shopping at Downtown Disney. San Diego would fit into your week schedule, but San Francisco would be difficult.

[DopeyGirl]

San Diego is, roughly, an hour and a half drive (about 80-85 miles) from Anaheim . . . whereas SF is something like just over 5 1/2 - 6 hours, depending on the route you take. I think it would be kind of tough to fit SF into a 6-7 day trip, though.


You won't get any opposition to visiting Disneyland from me! I definitely recommend going, ESPECIALLY if you've not been yet! Where there are many similarities to the MK, there are so many more DIFFERENCES (including Disney's California Adventure park!) I recommend at least 3 park days at Disneyland. 2 for Disneyland park and one for DCA. That way you have the chance to see most, if not all, of the attractions and shows.

As long as you are so close, I also recommend seeing San Diego for at least a couple of days. Definitely visit the Zoo!

If you do decide that you definitely are going to make the trip, be sure to check out the trip reports and threads in the DL forums about DL and San Diego (and SF as well ). There's lots of info around the boards to help plan!

[snoozy]

I say go for it. There is so much to do in our beautiful state you will not be disappointed

[doombuggy]

You have to do this! You will have a great time!

I took my first trip to DL back in 1998 when a friend of mine was a finalist in a trivia competition that the company used to have for TDS CMs - Carol actually won the competition that year. We did not have a car and spent all 5 days at DL (no DCA back then) but loved every minute (well, I don't think John liked getting up at the crack of dawn to stand in line to get that day's tickets for the Fantasmic Buffet...).
WE went back in a larger group a year later, rented a car and went to a local beach (froze our butts off at sunset in shorts...) and to the Disney Studios (we were all cast members, so we could get in there). In 2002 I drove from Las Vegas for the weekend with my cousins. It's a 4 hour drive, and I also had a great time there.
Last year we went in Aug. and we had a car, but spent 1/2 our time in the LA area. We toured Beverly Hills will the son of one of the ladies on the trip - his girlfriend is from BH, and they live in the Hollywood Hills. Driving a full-size car up and down those hills made me nervous, and I wasn't crazy about driving around LA, but that's me. We went to a club in Hollywood called the Magic Castle (loved it) and we also spent the day at the Warner Bros. Studios (aforementioned son used to work on the Gilmore Girls).

Whether you go to San Diego, Laguna Beach, etc...or Los angeles, there is so much to see and do! Go for it! Next time, you can do northern Calif, such as San Francisco, Monertey, Carmel ~ they were beautiful (went in 2004 when my cousin got married in Pebble Beach).

[Deb Willis-Woods]

ABSOLUTELY you should come to sunny southern Calif. DL & DCA are really a lot of fun. Also, approx 20 min away is Knotts Berry Farm and about 40 min away is Universal Studios. San Diego is an hour an forty five min drive from Anaheim and of course there are the beaches, Sea World, San Diego Zoo etc.. Break out of your shell and come visit us in California - it really is beautiful and I am sure you will have a blast!

[JennyK]

I went to DLR in 1996 and DH and I are going back this April. I cannot wait to go and see it again, it was my first Disney park! DH lived in Pasadena then and he can't wait to go back and visit all his old "haunts." I say go for it, California is an adventure (pardon the pun) and I have heard that San Diego is beautiful. Besides, it's Walt's place and there's no escaping that magic.

[Never Enough Mickeys]

DL is the original park and just being there gives you a good feeling of how it all started. It's a definitely MUST-DO for all Disney fans! And when you're there, take the tour, A Walk in Walt's Footsteps! It's goosebumps city for those who are diehard Disney fans.