California fly drive advice

pcg2001

Miles16v, I see you are beginning to close your bookings and preparation. Could you update us on your budget for this trip when everything is more or less closed? I have been dreaming of doing a similar trip but the costs seems to daunting for me. But you seem to be doing your homework and getting great deals on accommodation. If you have the time, i would love to read and save for future reference a more detailed list of your itinerary with hotels and costs. Thanks in advance.

Miles16v

Thanks for all the tips.

pcg2001 wrote: »

Miles16v, I see you are beginning to close your bookings and preparation. Could you update us on your budget for this trip when everything is more or less closed? I have been dreaming of doing a similar trip but the costs seems to daunting for me. But you seem to be doing your homework and getting great deals on accommodation. If you have the time, i would love to read and save for future reference a more detailed list of your itinerary with hotels and costs. Thanks in advance.

Happy to post it up.

I'm spreadsheet anal so no worries about keeping a record!

I've also ordered currency at 1.769!

Are Universal Studio's worth a visit?

ferf1223

We liked Universal Studios - some fun rides...the studio tour was OK - Warner Brothers was much better in this respect, though it's not a theme park.

We had the front of the line pass which were handy. It wasn't crowded when we were there - so really didn't get that much benefit out of them, but can really, really see where they're worth the money during busy times.

Miles16v

jaypr wrote: »

If you're there on a Thursday then the Palm Springs Villagefest is great. It's an evening market type thing where they close off the road and sell lots of art and craft type stuff. There's lots of atmosphere and tasty stuff to eat like oven baked corn on the cob, kettle corn, massive sweet strawberries.

We're going to be there on a Thursday.:j

pcg2001

ferf1223 wrote: »

We liked Universal Studios - some fun rides...the studio tour was OK - Warner Brothers was much better in this respect, though it's not a theme park.

We had the front of the line pass which were handy. It wasn't crowded when we were there - so really didn't get that much benefit out of them, but can really, really see where they're worth the money during busy times.

We also enjoyed Universal Studios, but thought it was a bit of deja vu, except for the studio tour. It was similar to Universal Port Aventura in Salou, Costa Dorada Spain. The mechanics of the rides was the same, the story changed a bit. It really depends on whether you adore theme parks. I have also read many happy reports on the Warner Brothers tours, which is more of a Hollywood tours. If I am ever back in California I will try to do this and be part of a tv series audience or a talk show. In NY we were able to secure tickets to the Colbert Report and the Daily Show and these were the highlights of our trip. The Universal studio tour went through Wisteria Lane, sets from the plane crash in War of the Worlds and some other famous movie sets, but to be honest I wasn't overly impressed.

By the way, Disneyland in Anaheim was a huge disappointment for us. We have been often to Paris and as soon as we arrived, we noticed all the attractions were exactly the same... We immediately went to the customer desk and they happily exchanged the tickets for the California something Disney park on the opposite side. The rides were different and wacky, though it was not really a full day of rides since it is much smaller.

I would say these types of theme parks depend on how much you value them and on whether you have days to spare.

Miles16v

Are we talking theme parks like Alton Towers or Thorpe Park, or are these something different?

jaypr

Miles16v wrote: »

Are we talking theme parks like Alton Towers or Thorpe Park, or are these something different?

Pretty much the same as Alton Towers or Thorpe Park, but so much more.

Disneyland in Anaheim was the first Disney park to open in 1955. Opposite is the much newer Disney’s California Adventure. If you like theme parks then are a few to choose from.

Disneyland http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage&bhcp=1

Knotts Berry Farm http://www.knotts.com/

Universal Studios http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/

Six Flags Magic Mountain http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/index.aspx

All are great, although Disneyland has the tamest rides and will cost you $200 for a 1 day 2 park ticket for 2 people.

Six Flags has the most extreme rides, followed by Knotts Berry Farm and then Universal Studios.

As mentioned before most studios do a real(ish) studio tour. We did the Paramount tour which was pretty good, but not great.

Jason

ferf1223

Miles16v wrote: »

Are we talking theme parks like Alton Towers or Thorpe Park, or are these something different?

The Warner Brothers tour is not a theme park - it's all studio...we thought it was great.

Miles16v

We're of the theme park generation. She loves scary rides.

Would be good to combine a theme park with studio, so Universal Studio's sounds good.

pcg2001

pcg2001 wrote: »

By the way, Disneyland in Anaheim was a huge disappointment for us. We have been often to Paris and as soon as we arrived, we noticed all the attractions were exactly the same...

Please notice that I said we have been several times to Disneyland Paris, so opted to switch to Disney California Adventures next door. If you love theme parks and have never been to a Disneyland, then go for it, it's the original one and I love all Disney attractions especially Space Mountain (do ride in the front) and It's a small world! In California, we felt we had travelled all the way around the world to repeat rides (which we adore), but we could easily go back to Paris for these, so we thought our few days there were better doing somehting different. Even though the rides are fewer, I really enjoyed how different they were - the roller coaster california screaming looked extremely scary, but was one of the smoothest rides with loops I have experienced (we had done New York New York coaster in Vegas a few days back and despite loving it, my OH had bruises on his shoulders); the hotel tower (ugly sight from a distance) is pretty scary, the toy story ride was pretty original (you fire at funfair attractions and can compare scores with your OH since you are sitting together; Mulholand (?) drive is a carzy ride full of rapid swings and curves: loved California soaring (?) this was a movie where you feel like you are really flying or paraglyding over the landscapes of california (a bit like what you find in the Futuroscope).

I would not advice getting a 2 park 1 day ticket if you have never been to Disneyland - costwise. There really is a lot to do there, the parades are really nice as well. In Paris we always arrive when it opens and leave after the fireworks and leave stuff to do. Howeever the single ticket for California adventure is the same price, but the park is smaller (not fair) and closes earlier, so you should be allowed to then swtich to the main park - but can only do that with a 2 park ride ticket (really unfair). Well, food for thought!

Miles16v wrote: »

Are we talking theme parks like Alton Towers or Thorpe Park, or are these something different?

jaypr has already anwered that. And it came as a surprise for us that Universal Studios was mostly a theme park with a studio drive through. And as I mentioned the other rides were similar in mechanics to the Universal Port Aventura in Spain. Still enjoyable though.
I can't compare with the UK parks, since I have never been. But both Univeral Studios and Disneyland are a full day's activity for adults who don't pass on any ride.

Not sure if you know the tip for theme parks: start at the end and work your way back to the entrance. Only 2 adults without children can have the discipline to cross the whole park and refrain from entering the first interesting thing they see. Families work their way from the entrance to the back. In Universal Studios this means start at the bottom level of the park, where the Simpsons Ride is (it had just opened in 2008, so it was bound to be popular), then work your way up the park.

If you're into rollercoaster, do the New York New York ride in Las Vegas (I think LV is still in your itinerary) at night. It is brilliant!! We thought it was pretty rough as mentioned, but the experience is unique. Having said that, we saw the videos from the Stratophere rides on youtube and decided were are not as radical as we thought :rotfl: But have a look if you/she likes extreme rides!

I need to stop reading your trip plans, since I am getting so envious....