help with LA or San Diego travel?

fruitcakes · April 2010

Next month we're going out to California with my parents to go to Disneyland. We're staying at a Disney hotel for the first 3 nights, but wanted to stay an extra day in LA before Jake, O and I go down to San Diego.

Any area recommendations for trying to find a hotel in San Diego or LA? I'm a bit overwhelmed by the choices right now.

And, yes, I realize we're a bit Disney obsessed - we're just trying to fit things in while my dad is a cast member. Smile

mrs.melluvslogan · April 2010

When you say your dad is a cast member, what exactly does that mean? He works for the Disney company or he actually dresses up in a costume like Tigger or something?

I have no recs., sorry. I just wanted to know that. lol.

amstep · April 2010

ditto pp. No help, but would love to hear about your dad, lol!

fruitcakes · April 2010

LOL - he's not Tigger. He's a seasonal employee and works on Main Street operations in the Magic Kingdom. Mostly doing turnstile greeting or parade control.

He's retired and has ALWAYS loved Disney and been fascinated by the operations of the parks. He and my mom went down to FL last year to help my sister out with rent and he just loved it so much that he wouldn't quit when they moved back. Seasonal employees only have to work 40 hours per year to keep their benefits and he goes down maybe once every month or so for a few days to work.

Strange? Yes. But he loves, loves, loves it and with my sister down there it's a win/win for he and my mom.

My sister and my dad can't quit their jobs until Olivia is too old to care about things like Disney. LOL!!

fruitcakes · April 2010

Oh and they call every single employee cast members, not just the costumed characters. Smile

lemen99 · April 2010

That is SO cool and I am SO jealous of all your trips :-)

amstep · April 2010

If we ever end up near Disney, I'm totally doing that!!! Awesome!!! Your dad is my hero!

IU_baby · April 2010

My ILs good friends retired from teaching and moved to Orlando a few years ago to work at Disney. They drive the monorail.

DH used to travel to the Santa Monica area for work and he always stayed at The Georgian Hotel. It's vintage boutique hotel close to the Santa Monica Pier.

fruitcakes · April 2010

IU_baby:
My ILs good friends retired from teaching and moved to Orlando a few years ago to work at Disney. They drive the monorail.

DH used to travel to the Santa Monica area for work and he always stayed at The Georgian Hotel. It's vintage boutique hotel close to the Santa Monica Pier.

Um, I think my dad would kill to drive the monorail. LOL!

And thanks, I'll check into that hotel!

mrs.melluvslogan · April 2010

That's awesome! Bummer he's not Tigger or something, but aweseome the same still Wink

.

CiaoBella07 · April 2010

Hey Kelley! I love that your dad does that....it's just so cool, and I bet you get awesome perks. My cousin worked for Disney for awhile in college (he was actually a character..aladdin and then tarzan i think) and I loved talking to him about all the "behind the scenes" secrets of the park!

Anyway, LA can be super overwhelming because it's so darn spread out! Are you guys going to have access to a car? Do you already have an area in which you're hoping to stay? If you just have one night, I might suggest finding a place in Santa Monica because you would have the ability to walk to the pier and to 3rd street (lots of fun shopping and restaurants). You'd also be right at the beach (though the water there is not what you want to swim in), but you could definitely get a good walk and sunset!

I grew up there and know some about the area. I'm less knowledgeable about hotels since I never stayed in them there, but I would love to help you out if you need restaurant recs, ideas for things to do, or anything else! Feel free to email me at jlandgraf AT alumni DOT nd DOT edu.

fruitcakes · April 2010

CiaoBella07:
Hey Kelley! I love that your dad does that....it's just so cool, and I bet you get awesome perks. My cousin worked for Disney for awhile in college (he was actually a character..aladdin and then tarzan i think) and I loved talking to him about all the "behind the scenes" secrets of the park!

Anyway, LA can be super overwhelming because it's so darn spread out! Are you guys going to have access to a car? Do you already have an area in which you're hoping to stay? If you just have one night, I might suggest finding a place in Santa Monica because you would have the ability to walk to the pier and to 3rd street (lots of fun shopping and restaurants). You'd also be right at the beach (though the water there is not what you want to swim in), but you could definitely get a good walk and sunset!

I grew up there and know some about the area. I'm less knowledgeable about hotels since I never stayed in them there, but I would love to help you out if you need restaurant recs, ideas for things to do, or anything else! Feel free to email me at jlandgraf AT alumni DOT nd DOT edu.

Thanks Jocelyn, I'll try not to bug you too much since you're going to have a baby soon!!!!!!!

I'm going to do a little research on Santa Monica because it sounds like that would be our best bet. Oh and we will have a car the entire trip.

Mrs.Ashley · April 2010

First of all, your dad is the coolest dad and grandpa, EVER. Second, I've only been in San Diego for a long weekend, but if I could move anywhere in the US (and have a job, have my family move with me, etc), it would be to San Diego. It's one of my favorite places. When we went, we spent one night at a Hilton Resort (Michael was on business and gov't was paying) and then we moved to the Navy hotel on base on Coronado Island for a few nights. If you still had those benefits, I would recommend that because the island is amazing and the hotel is cheap. However, the Hilton was really, really nice. It was set aside from other hotels, right next to a park with luscious green grass and palm trees and there is a small island (accessible by causeway) right offshore, which is a nice place to go for a walk or run.

CiaoBella07 · April 2010

You would not be bothering me in the least! I'd love to offer my $.02.

I can't remember if you've been there before and if there are other things you guys would be interested in seeing. Since you have a car, you could always drive Pacific Coast Highway (you can take it pretty far north, but even a drive to Malibu would be gorgeous!)

There's always the alternate Hollywood/Beverly Hills/Sunset Blvd type of trip, but since you'll have Olivia (and hopefully good weather) it might be nice to stay more where there are outdoor options and more "real" people around (don't know if that makes sense or just sounds shallow)

In any case, feel free to page me or send an email!

Also, when are you going to be there? DH and I are planning a trip too - we're leaning towards July but it's still up in the air. We're doing disney too, even with a LO! So I will probably be paging you with tips on how to do that when it gets closer!

KAVBRIDE · April 2010

I second the Coronado Island... My brother was stationed at the naval base and it was sooooo pretty, you won't be able to stay on base at the hotel I think you have to have active status with someone! Hotel Del Coronado is amazing.. Good luck!

Heavncentt · April 2010

I was born and raised in Southern Ca, a very native Disney girl!! My husband and I moved here to Indy 4 years ago.

If you guys are staying at Disneyland and then going to San Diego, Santa Monica is too far away and in the wrong direction. You would want to stay in maybe Calabasas or something. If you do anything Los Angeles, Malibu, Santa Monica....you are talking MAJOR traffic and you will be at least an hour from Disneyland if not more, then tack on another 2 hours or so to San Diego. I worked in downtown LA and lived in Irvine, it took me at least 45 minutes each way to work every day.

As far as Disneyland, love the place! We have been many times and that is where we actually go engaged...at their fancy restaurant off grounds The Napa Rose.

If you have any other Disneyland or Southern California questions, feel free to email me at heavncentt at gmail dot com.

Have fun!!

CiaoBella07 · April 2010

Heavncentt:

If you guys are staying at Disneyland and then going to San Diego, Santa Monica is too far away and in the wrong direction. You would want to stay in maybe Calabasas or something.

Actually, Calabasas is further north and more inland than Santa Monica. I'd say that it's about 45 minutes away, outside of the city. But you're right to say that any of the places discussed here (Santa Monica, anywhere in LA, etc) is father away from San Diego. On a good day my family can make it from my parents' house (in the Valley, technically LA city but on the northwest limit of it) to Disney in about an hour and 10 minutes. But with traffic it could be two and a half hours.

fruitcakes · April 2010

Thanks everyone! I'm not super worried about traffic/distances because I know we're going to be all over the place anyway. We'll probably have to even make a separate trip back to LAX at some point between LA & San Diego unless my sister gets her own rental car and leaves at the same time as my parents. It's very confusing right now Since we only need a hotel in LA for 1 additional night, we actually might just stay at the Disney hotel even though it might be further out, we don't have to worry about switching hotels.

Or we may eliminate the extra day in LA and head down to San Diegon on Thursday and stay near LAX on Saturday night so that we can get to the airport quickly on Sunday.

We've tentatively planned out our itinerary as follows, but clearly sounds like it's going to change...

M - 6am flight, get car, check-in at disney hotel, relax, early dinner

T - Disneyland

W - Disneyland

Th - check out of hotel, sightsee, check into 2nd hotel

F - check out of hotel #2, drive to San Diego, check into 3rd hotel

Sa - zoo

Su - drive back to LAX, afternoon flight home

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