LA/SD trip questions

[BrianL]

I'm looking for some suggestions for what days and how many to stay at the parks below. Although I'd like to experience SFMM at night, I'm thinking it best not to go on Saturday, or is it just as busy there any days compared to Saturday?

-arriving Santa Ana Monday 3/23 ~1PM

-departing Monday 3/30 (park trips through Sunday)

 

*Six Flags Magic Mountain

*Pacific Park

*Universal Studios Hollywood

*Knotts Berry Farm - I'm planning on doing KBF furthest toward the end of the week as we can work in, so maybe Xcel will be open. Is Jaguar still down too? If both are down, we may skip KBF.

 

*Legoland

*Belmont Park

*San Diego Zoo

 

Thought about SeaWorld, but SWSD just doesn't seem like enough bang for the buck.

[BrianL]

BTW, here are the park hours for those days.

 

Mon 3/23:

SFMM 10:30-6

USH 10-6

KBF 10-6

PP 12-7 LO (ltd. ops)

 

LL 10-5

BP 11-8

SDZ 9-6

 

 

Tue 3/24:

same as above

 

Wed 3/25:

same as above

 

Thr 3/26:

same as above

 

 

Fri 3/27:

SFMM 10:30-6

USH 10-6

KBF 10-6

PP 12P-6P LO, 6P-12A FO (full ops)

 

LL 10-5

BP 11-10

SDZ 9-6

 

 

Sat 3/28:

SFMM 10:30-10

USH 10-7

KBF 10-10

PP 11-12 FO

 

LL 10-5

BP 11-10

SDZ 9-6

 

 

Sun 3/29:

SFMM 10:30-8

USH 10-7

KBF 10-7

PP 11-9 FO

 

LL 10-5

BP 11-10

SDZ 9-6

[rcdude]

I do not know if this is the best way to do it but here is what I would do.

 

Monday: Arrive at Santa Ana. No park this day.

Tuesday: Go to Universal Studios Hollywood in the morning and Pacific Park in the evening. Universal Studios only really requires a half-day to do everything. Also, most schools around here have spring break the week after your visit or maybe even the one after that unless they have it this week, so crowds shouldn't be an issue on weekdays. I am assuming you are only going to do the roller coaster and maybe a couple other rides at Pacific Park so you probably only need an hour or so there. Limited operation is usually the coaster, one other major ride and two minor rides.

Wednesday/Thursday: These are days at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Crowds at that park can be variable, so you probably do not need two full days. If you want, you could even use Thursday to drive down to Carlsbad as it is a bit of a drive. As for Magic Mountain at night, it really isn't worth it to go on a Saturday just to get night rides in my opinion, as the average wait jumps from less than a half hour to at least an hour on the major coasters even if it isn't a holiday or during a school break. To give you a comparison of my recent visits, on a Sunday I got 20 rides in 8 hours while I only got 12 rides in 12 hours on a Saturday. Of course, if you get the flashpass the crowds won't really matter too much, but it is expensive.

Friday: This is the day I would use for Legoland California. Although the park isn't usually too crowded, the rides are mostly low capacity so lines move slowly. A Friday will not be as crowded as a weekend, although it will be slightly more crowded than a weekday.

Saturday: This is a good day for the San Diego Zoo as crowds don't matter as much since lines aren't a problem. You will be able to see plenty here regardless of the day you visit. After the zoo closes, or whenever you leave if you don't stay until closing, go down to Belmont Park and ride the Giant Dipper. There is nothing else worth doing here so you only need a half hour.

Sunday: Go to Knott's Berry Farm. Sundays at this park are usually not much more crowded than a weekday, and you will get a good number of rides (15-20) done in the nine hours you have. As for Xcelerator and Jaguar, I am pretty sure Jaguar is scheduled to be open, so unless it has some type of problem or it is raining the ride should be running. I don't know about Xcelerator, but based on what I have heard it has about a 60% chance of being open with one train operation. If you are trying to ride all the coasters, you should be aware that Boomerang is scheduled to be closed but if you don't care about getting all the credits it probably doesn't matter.

Monday-Depart. Since there are no parks left, you don't need to do a park this day. If you are flying out, it would be impractical as well.

 

This is just what I would do. If you want to try something different then go ahead. It probably doesn't matter too much as long as you avoid Magic Mountain on Saturday unless you are getting flashpass and go to Knott's on your last day for the best chance of Xcelerator. With the exception of Knott's and Magic Mountain, the other parks will be crowded on Saturday but not to the point that you won't be able to do everything worth doing. The weekdays will probably be close to empty most places.

[Sir Clinksalot]

^ I actually like your plan, but with one small change:

 

Tuesday: USH and Pacific Park (agreed there)

Wednesday: SFMM (don't need 2 days at SFMM)

Thursday: Knott's

Friday: Legoland

Saturday: SD Zoo/Belmont Park (although BP can get PACKED on a Saturday, so maybe even Sunday morning???)

Sunday: Park Free Day in either San Diego or OC. PLENTY of stuff to do. Or even maybe Castle Park???

Monday: Fly Home

 

And just FYI, Hotels in San Diego are not cheap, even something like the Days Inn or something. I'd suggest staying in Carlsbad on the Friday night. There is actually quite a nice Motel 6 there with a Benihana (or at least the Benihana was there last time we were down there). Good food.

[BrianL]

Thanks a ton, guys.

 

Looks like we're only going to do one day at SFMM anyway (not my choice, LOL). Probably nitpicking here, but is by chance any day Tue-Thr generally less crowded at SFMM? BTW, no events shown on their calendar.

 

Can USH really be done in 1/2 a day without rushing around? The girlfriend is tired of me rushing around from coaster to coaster, so we need a few relaxing days, and save the rushing for SFMM. Plus we'll have a 10 year old with us, so we'll have do any older kids stuff that might be there.

 

Also is PP and BP safe at night or should we hit PP after getting there Monday afternoon instead of after USH, and do BP on the free day (Sun or Thr)?

 

KBF on Sunday would be good because of the increased chance of Xcel being open by then, but I'm not sure I can swing having to get a 3rd hotel to stay back up near it. Also KBF is open 1 hour longer on Sunday (though probably a more crowded day than Thr).

 

Can anyone recommend some hotel zones that are safe, and/or some to stay away from? If SD is that expensive, is there another area nearby (or between SD and LA) that isn't?

 

Gregg, feel free to mention some cool things to do in San Diego or OC.

 

Brian

[robbalvey]

Can USH really be done in 1/2 a day without rushing around? The girlfriend is tired of me rushing around from coaster to coaster, so we need a few relaxing days, and save the rushing for SFMM. Plus we'll have a 10 year old with us, so we'll have do any older kids stuff that might be there.

With that information, I'd say no.

 

Perhaps take a relaxing day at Universal. Do the WaterWorld show, see Shrek 4D and Terminator, and by the time you do the tram tour and the lower lot stuff, and maybe even take a stroll around CitiWalk and a nice sit down lunch, you're looking at a 6 hour day minimum.

 

Belmont is absolutley safe at night. Good crowd down there. PP is a little sketchy, but I would highly doubt you'd have ANY trouble.

 

--Robb

[Sir Clinksalot]

I agree with Robb. 6 hours at Universal should do ya fine unless the park happens to be REALLY busy on the day you go. Just make sure you do The Simpsons first (as the line/loading is SLOW) and then the Tram Tour.