6 nights in LA/Anaheim, 3 in SF

[willymaykett]

Hi all,

We (4) are going to LA/Disneyland in April 2011 for 6 nights and then off to SF for 3 nights before moving on again.

I have scratched out the following plan:
Day 1 - arrival in LA (9:45am)
Day 2 - full day
Day 3 - full day
Day 4 - get from LA to Anaheim
Day 5 - full day (Disney)
Day 6 - full day (Disney)
Day 7 - from Anaheim (LA) to SF - depart LA around 16:30pm
Day 8 - full day
Day 9 - full day
Day 10 - depart SF (10:45) for next leg.

Need some advice on:

1. Place to stay in LA (resonable rates with 2A and 2C -15&12). Clean and place to put head down.
2. Going from LA to Anaheim.
3. Place to stay in Anaheim (as above)
4. Place to stay in SF (as above)
5. I have no real desire for car rental.

I think I can keep us busy during this time.

Any other suggestions welcome (including changes to LA/Anaheim days).

Thanks in advance!!

 

[AV8]

Unless you have a great desire to stay in LA I would head straight to Anaheim - can either hire a car at LAX or arrange for a shuttle pick up. We have stayed at Disneyland Pan Pacific some 15 yrs ago and more recently at Marriott serviced apartments (2 br/2ba) - Residence Inn/Garden Grove - about 4 blocks away from the noise/mob at Disneyland - can get bus to Disneyland. Tours back to LA (Universal etc) can be done easily from Anaheim or drive (TomTom a must). Recently stayed at Fairfield Inn Millbrae (about 10 mins from SF Int Airport) but also had a hire car. If going to Alcatraz you must book your tour at least 2 weeks BEFORE - can do on web and collect tickets at Pier - recommend night tour.

 

[cove]

If you stay around Santa Monica you can catch the Big Blue Bus to the city and sporting events and it is lovely on the coast. Santa Monica has a relaxed shopping precinct that most of our friends really like.
LA can be difficult without a car so you can use Serfty's suggested Arguscarhire.com site to trawl a great price (include insurance and a GPS for directions).
We use PrimeTime to get to places that are difficult.
Keep away from Mexico border and east LA unless you are devils for punishment.

 

[Postcode]

I'll be spending six days in LA in the new year. I never liked the place until three years ago when I decided to stay in the Hollywood area. I had a wonderful time watching TV shows being made and so on. So close to Universal Studios which I enjoy so much. Not too far from good shopping at the Beverley Center. (their spelling, not mine). Consider it. A long bus ride but spend a few hours in Venice

Perhaps spend a few days in different areas of the city. It's huge. If doing the Disneyland thing, stay close and get in as early as possible and avoid on weekends. Metro rail from Hollywood to Anaheim is so easy. Long though.

Some people enjoy driving and some don't. I don't but that's just me. My Honda is lucky to do 8 000 km a year.

I agree with the above, Santa Monica is a great place to stay.

To be safe I'm spending my final night in LA in an airport hotel as I have a mid morning flight the following day. It really is an amazing city and quite enjoyable. Do some planning and make the most of the place.

SFO hotels tend to be on the expensive side but for a few extra dollars stay central and near public transport as there are some unsavoury areas in the city. Neighbourhoods change from one side of the street to another.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[cove]

Having previously lived south of LA in Irvine and Laguna Beach we now have our place about 15 minutes north of LAX at Marina Del Rey.
Santa Monica is a beachside location where you can hire a bike and ride on a track north or south and really enjoy places like Venice and Muscle Beach.
We drive to Beverley Center and that is a great spot for shopping.
Always consider a business hotel on weekends which tend to start on Thursday night and finish Sunday morning. My partner wanted to shop pre Xmas so she stayed at Westin on Bristol in Costa Mesa which has an overpass walkway to South Coast Plaza.
The room including tax was $115 Aust rather than over $300 Aust.
Now of course you can get cheaper places but picking up a room for a third of the weekday rate works for us.
When picking a hotel I always research the comments made by guests on a good hotel booking site like expedia or priceline.

 

[Maca44]

This map might give you an idea about hotels in Anaheim. I have stayed at the Carousel Inn & Suites and Howard Johnson, and both are about 5 mins walk to Disneyland. It comes in handy when you want to have a break, go back to the hotel for a short swim and return to Disneyland. With the Adventure park there is a lot to see, and I agree to get there early.

Anaheim California Hotel Aerial Location Photo and Reservation System

 

[willymaykett]

Thanks everyone for the tips .

It is quite confusing trying to get my head around all the locations, transport and where to stay. Been up till 2:30 AM for the last 4 nights trying to piece together a plan (preferably without a car).

We arrive on the Thursday AM from Sydney, then leaving LA/Anaheim on the following Wednesday afternoon to head off to San Francisco for a few days before heading out to London.

Not sure if I should go straight ot Anaheim on the Thursday, few days there then back to LA or stay in LA for a few days, then to anaheim. Either way, I got a weekend in one or the other.

Any suggestions as to what would be the best way, considering I want ot avoid a car if possible?
Thanks everyone.

 

[Alanslegal]

Los Angeles is a very big city and travelling without a car - and loads of luggage - is going to be an adventure in itself. That's why if you have a reluctance to drive there, now here's a chance to reconsider Nowadays using a GPS, driving is pretty much a breeze once you get use to (takes around 5 minutes) driving on the other side of the road.

However, I'd suggest heading straight to Anaheim on arrival, getting there around midday. Check-in and rest a little or shower/change, head to one of the parks if you have the energy (drink some Red Bull if you need ) so you get to spend thurs afternoon, all day friday + saturday enjoying the parks, then sunday mid-morning/noon head back to the Los Angeles city where you spend the rest of sunday, Monday, Tuesday and part Wednesday. Having a car will make it soooo much more convenient getting from place to place, eg. Getty Centre, Griffith Observatory, then the beaches (Santa Monica,Venice), Hollywood, Beverley Hills etc.

 

[willymaykett]

Thanks Alanslegal

Your plan sounds pretty good looking at it, might make better use of time too.

What would be considered a "reputable" car company to use? I have read some horrors about car rental in La, especially with so called "upgrades" and all the insurances etc.

What size US car would I need for 4 people and 4 bags?

 

[chrisb]

Incase you're not aware:

Within Anaheim: Anaheim Resort Transit

and getting to/from airport/ship: SUPER SHUTTLE LAX SFO DEN PHX DFW TPA JFK BWI IAD SAN DCA SMF MCI IAH LGA MSP EWR AUS SNA HOU BUR DAL OAK BNA ONT LGB RDU SJC AZA ISP PTP PIE CDG ORY BVA Airports

Tours out of Anaheim: http://coachamerica.com/graylineanaheim/tours_main.cfm

BTW: i'm not sure what you're into, but i'd class 2 days as the Minimum for Disney - One in the main park and one in California Adventure. Definitely get the Park Hopper incase you decide to move between them.

 

[AV8]

I have hired from Thrifty a Dodge Durango in the past for 4xAV8's with cases + carryons. I have a separate insurance policy to cover LDW etc from Car Hire Insurance | Car Rental Excess Insurance

 

[Katie]

Be mindful (depending on just when in April 2011 you're talking - near Easter or not), that weekends are traditionally the busiest days at Disneyland. On the upside: the parks are open longer, there can be more parades, and the fireworks are on. On the downside: more people, more queuing.
We went to Disneyland and DCA in May this year, and only spent three days there with our then 3.5yo. We could have spent 5 days there, especially as Disneyland was only open from 10am til 8-9pm (no fireworks, it wasn't dark enough) on the Weds and Thurs night, and we flew back to Aus on Fri night, so missed the Fri night fireworks. We spent two days at Disneyland, and one at DCA. Extra days would have allowed more re-riding of certain rides by Little Miss 2.

The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland is a MUST read if you've never been to Disneyland before. If you don't like their tour plans, that's fine, but there's heaps of other tips on times to visit, opening times, food from the various stalls and restaurants, etc.
If Disneyland is open 9am-11pm on the days you visit (hours are only likely to be confirmed about 4-6 weeks in advance), then I'd highly recommend considering going back to your room for a nanna nap, depending on the ages and staminas of your party. We didn't this last trip because of the short opening hours, but we did on our first trip to Disneyland in 1996. Made it much easier to get through the night, while other people and families around us were wilting.

This year, we stayed at Disney's Grand Californian, the closest of any hotel to the two parks. Well worth the splurge, and we got some good discounts with summer specials they offered, and matched even after we'd booked. Our room was lovely, and Miss 3.5 though the bunk beds were cool, even if by Californian law she was too young to go in the top one.
Also, if you do any of the character dining (breakfast with Mickey and friends at the Paradise Pier hotel, Breakfast with Goofy and friends at the Disneyland hotel, lunch/dinner with the Princesses at Ariel's grotto in DCA park), don't bother lining up to meet characters you've already met or will meet in a dining experience. You get more time and more photo ops in those sessions anyway. If you have a princess fan in your crowd & want to do the character dining, Ariel's grotto is great bang for buck - Ariel at entry, and then the big four come to every table during your meal (Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle).

I mention a bit about Disneyland in my trip report of our trip this May.

 

[willymaykett]

Thank you all for the great information. I really do appreciate it all.

As we have only a few day, given our whirlwind tour, we have decided to go from LAX (7 April) straight to Anaheim, then we will transfer on the Sunday up to LA. That will give us the Thursday arvo (depending on how well we are up to it) then 2 full days and the Sunday half day before going to LA.

This will give a feel for the place, so next time when we go, we can spend more days at the places we enjoy the most.

Thanks all for the help, will report back in May how it all went !

 

[Carlous Moochous]

We spent about 6 days in LA last year (well year before last now, happy new year) and this is how we spent it:

Day 1 - Arrival - Cab into downtown/convention Centre (partner had a conference). I checked out the LA museum and planetarium... Was ok but LOTS of loud school kids... Afternoon we hit santa monica beach Then out to Universal City for the night.

Day 2 - Universal Studio's - All day (get the front of the line pass.. worth every cent). That night we headed by town car to Anaheim (very long drive in peak.. never again)

Day 3 & 4 - Disneyland and California Adventure Park.. We stayed at the disney resort that opens onto california adventure park.. Was great location but a little pricey (but thats disney for you).

Day 5 - Day trip to San Diego Zoo - Hotel pickup and bus ride down the highway to San Diego Zoo. They call it "world famous".. its good but you don't really need a full day.. Maybe try Sea World?

Day 6 - Disneyland during the day then late afternoon shuttle bus to the airport for our 22:30'ish flights back to Oz.

I didn't like downtown LA too much, and the freeways seemed pretty chaotic. Originally I had planned to use Public Transport all the way, but after a few bus rides I opted for taxi's (which were pretty dodgy too). The cost of town cars is pretty high, so next time I'd hire a car and just take it easy..

Hope this helps.. Once you get to Anaheim tho its pretty easy to just walk around or get shuttle buses.

Enjoy!