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nancyg
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/10 729 total posts
Name:
Nancy
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First CA trip: Disneyland, Universal, Legoland?
I'm planning a trip for myself, my DH and two boys (1 and 4) to go to California for the first time ever. We're going b/c my 4 yo is obsessed with Disney's Cars and we want to see Raditor Springs in California Adventure. We'll be there for 4 solid days and a half day when we arrive.
What should we see and how long at each place? My first thought was:
Arrival 1/2 day: ???
Day 1: California Adventure
Day 2: Universal
Day 3: ???
Day 4: Disneyland (Must go this day, it'll be the first day of the Holiday decorations)
The tickets I plan to get allow for 3 days in Universal and 3 days between the Disney parks. But should we see Legoland? Should we visit CA outside of theme parks? Any advice would be much appreciated. TIA!!!
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Posted 7/29/15 11:11 AM  |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: First CA trip: Disneyland, Universal, Legoland?
I am going to follow this thread because we want to go to CA next year to do DisneyLand since I can't bring myself to do Orlando without getting hives.
Would love ideas as well!
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| Posted 7/29/15 12:01 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: First CA trip: Disneyland, Universal, Legoland?
I am on my phone so I can't link, but search my sn and California. I wrote an entire review of our trip which should answer a lot of your questions.
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| Posted 7/30/15 7:55 AM |
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dlj97
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
Name:
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First CA trip: Disneyland, Universal, Legoland?
I personally would save California Adventure for day 3 - I would rather have two days in a row of the Disney feel, and if he loves cars then I would not go there the first day - everything else will be a letdown!
When we went we did Knotts Berry Farm and the kids had a good time.
I personally think 1 and 4 are young for Universal - I don't think there are many rides they will be able to go on.
Legoland is like 1-2 hours from Disney.
We didn't do any LA touristy things while we were there, since the time not spent at the parks we visited family and friends. We did wish we had more time to do other things, but no suggestion of what else to do.
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| Posted 7/30/15 1:20 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: First CA trip: Disneyland, Universal, Legoland?
Posted by dlj97
I personally would save California Adventure for day 3 - I would rather have two days in a row of the Disney feel, and if he loves cars then I would not go there the first day - everything else will be a letdown!
When we went we did Knotts Berry Farm and the kids had a good time.
I personally think 1 and 4 are young for Universal - I don't think there are many rides they will be able to go on.
Legoland is like 1-2 hours from Disney.
We didn't do any LA touristy things while we were there, since the time not spent at the parks we visited family and friends. We did wish we had more time to do other things, but no suggestion of what else to do.
Can I ask where you stayed?
Did you stay at one of the 3 Disney resorts?
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| Posted 7/30/15 2:37 PM |
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dlj97
LIF Adult
Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
Name:
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Re: First CA trip: Disneyland, Universal, Legoland?
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by dlj97
I personally would save California Adventure for day 3 - I would rather have two days in a row of the Disney feel, and if he loves cars then I would not go there the first day - everything else will be a letdown!
When we went we did Knotts Berry Farm and the kids had a good time.
I personally think 1 and 4 are young for Universal - I don't think there are many rides they will be able to go on.
Legoland is like 1-2 hours from Disney.
We didn't do any LA touristy things while we were there, since the time not spent at the parks we visited family and friends. We did wish we had more time to do other things, but no suggestion of what else to do.
Can I ask where you stayed?
Did you stay at one of the 3 Disney resorts?
Sorry - don't check this board often.
I would have to look, but we stayed at one of the hotels across the street. They are much closer to the parks than the Disney hotels and much more affordable. I recommend the HoJo - it was next to where we stayed and had a great water area (like Eden I think). We stayed somewhere that we used points to pay or we would have stayed at the HoJo. I recommend one of the hotels right in that area - they are SO close to the parks and much less expensive than the Disney hotels.
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| Posted 8/4/15 8:17 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: First CA trip: Disneyland, Universal, Legoland?
Thanks! We are seriously looking into this for next year.
I was talking to my SIL who has been to both Disney's and she was like, Oh Disney Land is SOOOO disappointing. It's nothing like Disney World.
It's so small, it's like a regular small amusement park, you can do it all in one day, etc
I said- that is EXACTLY why I want to go there! Sounds like a dream come true for me! 
No "dining reservations", no fast passes, no crazy planning, see it all in one day, DD gets the experience and off to bigger and better things to see in CA!
Message edited 8/4/2015 12:26:48 PM.
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| Posted 8/4/15 10:41 AM |
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AliceCullen
LIF Adult
Member since 6/08 1497 total posts
Name:
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Re: First CA trip: Disneyland, Universal, Legoland?
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by dlj97
I personally would save California Adventure for day 3 - I would rather have two days in a row of the Disney feel, and if he loves cars then I would not go there the first day - everything else will be a letdown!
When we went we did Knotts Berry Farm and the kids had a good time.
I personally think 1 and 4 are young for Universal - I don't think there are many rides they will be able to go on.
Legoland is like 1-2 hours from Disney.
We didn't do any LA touristy things while we were there, since the time not spent at the parks we visited family and friends. We did wish we had more time to do other things, but no suggestion of what else to do.
Can I ask where you stayed?
Did you stay at one of the 3 Disney resorts?
We've stayed twice at the Grand Californian. It is expensive but so nice and the location can't be beat. You walk out of the hotel and there is a private entrance to California Adventure and Disneyland is just across the lot.
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| Posted 8/4/15 12:22 PM |
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nancyg
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/10 729 total posts
Name:
Nancy
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Re: First CA trip: Disneyland, Universal, Legoland?
Thanks everyone for the advice on hotels but we are staying at the Embassy Suites South in Anaheim on points.
Any advice on what parks to hit and how long we'll need for each?
Is Legoland worth the 1.5 hr drive?
Can we do the LA sites in a half day possibly?
TIA.
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| Posted 8/4/15 12:54 PM |
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