Please help me plan my NYC / Cali Trip

[Dhukka]

Hi there,

 

after finally graduating from university one week ago, I'm right now in the final planning stages of my big and well deserved graduation holiday.

I'm gonna fly to NYC on May 13th, stay there for 6 days and then will do a four week camping road trip to San Francisco with TrekAmerica. Afterwards I'm gonna travel California alone for three more weeks. I haven't been very active coasterwise in the last years, but those last three weeks in Cali are reserved for my old passion.

From June 16 to July 6 I want to visit Disney (3 days), Universal (2 days), Knotts (1 day), Sea World (1 day) and SFMM (1 or 2 days). I'm gonna do some sightseeing along the way too and have to divide the parks between those days now.

Is there any advice when I shouldn't (crowd wise) or when I should (event wise) visit a certain park on a certain day? Should I skip the weekends?

What about July 4th? I know, it's a big holiday. Would it be a good / bad idea to visit a park on that day (especially MM since I'm gonna be in that area at that time perhaps).

One more thing about July 4th. I'm right now unsure whether I should stay in a hotel or a hostel then. If there's a lot of partying going on, it would be better to visit a hostel instead of sitting in the Motel alone. What would you recommend? Where's the place to go on July 4th in LA?

 

One more thing:

While I'm in NYC I think it would be dumb not to visit SFGA. But I don't have a car then. So, does someone know, if there's a way to get there by public transportation? And if yes, how long does it take and how much does it cost?

Again, should I go on Friday May 16th (Park open till 6 pm) or on Saturday May 17th (park open till 10.30 pm, but maybe more crowded)?

 

I know, it's a lot, but I hope that the community can help me plan my trip right.

Thanks in advance.

[RaptorBoyASU]

July 4th is a very good day to go to SFMM. I did so in 2005 and 2006, and both times, the crowds were fairly light. AVOID DISNEY on the 4th of July weekend though.

[larrygator]

Great Adventure bus information