Southern Califorina Trip Advice

[rosscoe]

Was planning on heading back to Japan with a side trip to Seoul for Jan/Feb 2010, but those plans have changed and now have a chance to head back to LA for the first time since 1988.

 

Only have about seven days ( 28th Jan on ) , plan on going to

 

Six Flags Magic Mountain.

 

Universal Studio's

 

Knott's Berry Farm

 

and maybe both Disney parks.

 

Will not be hiring a car, was thinking of staying at the Hilton Universal City, would it work to stay the full seven days there or move hotels?

 

I know that LA finally got a metro system, could I use this or are day bus tours easier.

 

If I get a Gold Flash Pass at Magic Mountain, should I be able to do the park in one day or would two be better ( this will be my first visit )

 

Since I went to Tokyo Disney/sea last year, should I do the Disney parks or can I skip them?

 

Any help would be great.

[Crazy4Coasters!]

Well the good news is that you're coming in the off season and crowds shouldn't be too bad except for probably the Disneyland parks. The bad news is that without a car going to parks will be a bit more hectic trying to use LA's metro system. I really recommend renting a car for get around park to park. I hope everything works out for you.

[downunder]

Rosscoe, there are tour companies that pick up from the hotels like VIP tours, and should work out cheaper than hiring a car. I looked at the public transport situation myself, and it's quite difficult and time consuming to get to SFMM. The tour companies usually pick up to take you back around 6pm but SFMM is only open until 7 or 8pm in Feb.

 

With the gold q-bots at SFMM, it is has a $10 per ride per person upcharge for X2, so if you get there early enough go straight for X2 and try and get some rides in before the line builds up.

 

Also bear in mind that SFMM will only be open weekends in February (I found Sunday was the better day crowd wise) and check with Knotts that none of the major rides will be down for scheduled maintenance. Knotts should be dead if you go on a weekday, 2-3 hours, it might even be worth ducking out to Knotts while doing a long day at one of the Disney parks to save an extra trip down to Anaheim.

 

I think California Adventure should be able to offer enough stuff that is different from the Tokyo parks but I'm not so sure about Disneyland.

[RCFreak]

Yeah, LA's Metro system is by no means anywhere near useful.

 

Universal Studios is actually the easiest pak to get to without a car as there is a subway stop for the park off of the Red line as well as shuttle service from the Anaheim area (clicky)

 

All the other parks are definitely not as easy. SFMM is very difficult without a car and being able to actually visit the park (which will be only open weekends only at that point.) I'm pretty sure there is a way to get up to the park with public transport, but it will take several hours both ways to catch the right combination of trains and busses. If you where to stay near Universal, you would have to catch the Red line to Union Staion, then catch a Metrolink train up to Santa Clarita, then the right busses to get you to the park itself. Also keep in mind the park has limited hours and you'd have to make sure you can get back.

 

Disneyland and KBF are close enough to each other that public transport would actually help. And again, if you were to stay near Universal the whole time, you would need to catch the Red line to Union, then grab a different metrolink train over to Anahiem. The stop is actually behind Angel's Stadium, which is a little too far to walk from the park, but they do provide a shuttle that goes directly to the park.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

You will need the following buses to get you to and From the train stations to the parks.

 

Knotts (Oceanside metro link line) (Buena Park Metro Link Station) #29 bus

 

Disney (Oceanside metro link line) (Anaheim Metro Link Station) #430 bus

 

( Saturday only) Six Flags (Antelope Valley Metro link line) (New Hall Metrolink Station. Then take the #14 or 4 bus to Mcbean Transfer Station. Bus #3 from Mcbean Transfer Station to SFMM) And if you rent a Gold Flash Pass you will have no problem getting the park done)

 

Taxi to the train station at the end of the day or take a bus to the transit center to get on another bus to Santa Clarita or Newhall Metro link train stations.

 

To Disneyland and Knotts

 

http://www.octa.net/schedules_maps.aspx

 

Six Flags

 

http://www.santa-clarita.com/cityhall/admin/transit/routes&schedules.asp

[rosscoe]

You guys are wonderful.

 

I have driven in the states before, but that was from Orlando to Tampa. Are the stories about driving in LA correct? If I was to hire a car, to get me from Universal to Six Flags/Disney. I would only need to drive up or down a couple of freeways, yes?

 

I had a feeling that Magic was going to be opened on weekends only during that time.

[RCFreak]

^Disney and Six Flags are actually on the same freeway (Interstate 5) and pretty easy to get to. Disney's offramp leads directly to a parking lot (does it still with all the Carsland construction, any local know?) Six Flags is a simple turn to the left off of Magic Mountain Parkway. You can also access Knott's off the 5 (Exit Beach Blvd turn right and head down to the park) the only one that's no easily accessable off the 5 would be Universal which is on US Route 101, which connects to the 5 to the south of where Universal is.

 

LA is tricky cause there are a ton of freeways that are not that different or can get you places "quicker" but the easiest would be to stick with the 5. And yeah it is as bad as you've heard lol.

[rosscoe]

Just got a wonderful deal at the Garden Inn Hilton at Anaheim, so will stay down near the Disney Parks.

 

Has anyone done the Six Flags VIP tour, is it worth $299.00 or would I be better off with just the Gold flash pass?