Canadians visited LA and Disneyland in Aug 2017 - Amazing Trip!

This was the absolute perfect trip report I was looking for! We're headed to SoCal for the first time, with kids similar ages, and have a tentative plan very similar to yours. A couple of questions... How much do you estimate to have spent Uber-ing around? Trying to weigh the cost of renting a car. Was there anything you'd leave out if you were doing it again? We're in the same boat with the Hollywood tours, where staying right near the walk of fame so we wouldn't need a tour of that area. But I would love to see the stars' homes. I'm also debating the combo passes for the wax museum, Ripley's, and the Dolby theater tour. Would you recommend all? I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the trip. As a WDW vet, I try to prepare myself for how much smaller this is, but I know it's hard to comprehend until you get there. Thanks to your TR, I know I will take advantage of park hopping!
 
This was the absolute perfect trip report I was looking for! We're headed to SoCal for the first time, with kids similar ages, and have a tentative plan very similar to yours. A couple of questions... How much do you estimate to have spent Uber-ing around? Trying to weigh the cost of renting a car. Was there anything you'd leave out if you were doing it again? We're in the same boat with the Hollywood tours, where staying right near the walk of fame so we wouldn't need a tour of that area. But I would love to see the stars' homes. I'm also debating the combo passes for the wax museum, Ripley's, and the Dolby theater tour. Would you recommend all? I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the trip. As a WDW vet, I try to prepare myself for how much smaller this is, but I know it's hard to comprehend until you get there. Thanks to your TR, I know I will take advantage of park hopping!

Hello. Thanks for the comments. So nice to hear that my report has helped you in your planning. Where are you staying in LA?

To answer your questions...for Uber, I looked at our uber summary and it comes to $347 USD. This is uber from our LA hotel to sites (Universal, Warner Brothers, Santa Monica Pier, LA hotel to Anaheim). From LAX we grabbed a taxi as we had never used uber and didn't know where to go. Also from our LA hotel to Anaheim hotel and from Anaheim hotel to LAX we used UberXL as we didn't know if the basic uber would hold our luggage. Otherwise, we used basic uber. We were quite happy using uber and not having a car as it's so easy and we didn't have to worry about LA driving, parking and gas, but it's a personal choice.

There are many tours out there and some just with star homes. We selected the Guideline one since it seemed like good variety and it went to Griffith Observatory and Farmer's Market (and covers star homes too), but you do have the Hollywood Blvd stop in there as well. So many options out there.

Guess you'd have to work out the budget but we enjoyed the combo pass of Ripley's, Wax Museum and Dolby Theatre Tour. Our kids were into America's Got Talent so it was neat to see that in person (and set being up and prepping for next show). They of course cover lots of things of Oscars too.

And yes, DL is smaller but you'll see how great it is to have to 2 parks right across from each other (and downtown there too). There are some unique rides and sections too such as Indiana Jones and Carsland. And don't miss WOC. Amazing. As in my report, I really love both.

Have an amazing trip!
 
Thanks so much. So nice to see people still reading my report. :-)
Disneyland is so much fun. Great that you'll be going again in a couple month. Have a great trip!
 


Thank you for leading me to your trip report! It was really fun to read and super helpful.

Re: MaxPass. I can’t justify the $....but would you say if we were doing it just one day to do it day #1 or our last day?

Thanks!
Erin
 
Thank you for leading me to your trip report! It was really fun to read and super helpful.

Re: MaxPass. I can’t justify the $....but would you say if we were doing it just one day to do it day #1 or our last day?

Thanks!
Erin

Hello. So glad you had a chance to take a look and found my report useful.

Yes...that's the beauty of MaxPass. I agree...it can get pricey...especially if there are a few of you. You purchase it by the day so you can give it a try and lessen the overall expense vs having to purchase it for the whole trip. From your days...is there one that is considered busier in terms of crowds? Or is there one where you are doing a character meal or something where you can take advantage of the photopass that comes with MaxPass? Or is there a day where you will be there the longest? Or if one day is hotter than another, then it will save you walking. Any of those are factors that come to mind for selecting a day.
 
Hello. So glad you had a chance to take a look and found my report useful.

Yes...that's the beauty of MaxPass. I agree...it can get pricey...especially if there are a few of you. You purchase it by the day so you can give it a try and lessen the overall expense vs having to purchase it for the whole trip. From your days...is there one that is considered busier in terms of crowds? Or is there one where you are doing a character meal or something where you can take advantage of the photopass that comes with MaxPass? Or is there a day where you will be there the longest? Or if one day is hotter than another, then it will save you walking. Any of those are factors that come to mind for selecting a day.

Hi! No character meals, our kids are 12 and 15 so we are past that stage. However, I’m thinking we will do MaxPass on day#1 and then decide if we need it. It’s just pricey, and then for 5 days...with the exchange...ouch... but, I may find it helpful as it’s going to be busy (July) and might be hot.

I’m nervous about universal. I get motion sickness pretty badly...wondering if I’ll be able to do any of it!

:) Erin
 


Hi! No character meals, our kids are 12 and 15 so we are past that stage. However, I’m thinking we will do MaxPass on day#1 and then decide if we need it. It’s just pricey, and then for 5 days...with the exchange...ouch... but, I may find it helpful as it’s going to be busy (July) and might be hot.

I’m nervous about universal. I get motion sickness pretty badly...wondering if I’ll be able to do any of it!

:) Erin

Yes...5 days for 4 people is pricey...and yes, our dollar hurts. We did day one without it...then tried MaxPass on day 2 (but problem was...that we loved it so ended up purchasing it for the rest of the trip). Whatever you decide, it'll work out, and you'll still get FastPasses either way.

For Universal, I didn't try much because I was being cautious due to medical history with my eyes (saved the "risky" rides for Disneyland). So I just went on the tram tour (which I loved) and there is a stationary bike on Despicable Me (but only when they opened up both sides). I will say that the first attraction we went to was Harry Potter (good idea if you go early as it gets busy). My husband went on it and was done for the day as he has a sensitive stomach too. But even the castle walkthrough is amazing and the whole Hogwarts area...like you are there in the movie. I can't talk for other attractions (but the walking dead is neat if you like that stuff)...but my kids just took a break midway and then they were fine.
 
Amazing detailed TR, you really gave some great descriptions of the places you went and with DLR, the rides and shows you enjoyed. Thank you for sharing it!
 

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