Traveling to San diego vs staying in San diego - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I am now debating about extending my trip to include Sea World, the Zoo, Seal tours. Has anyoine stayed in Anaheim & made the trip to San diego a couple times in the week. My other choice is to stay in SD , do the all the things we would like to do there , then head up to DLR for the last leg of the trip.
ANy thoughts ?
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We spent two nights in San Diego, enjoying everything that there is to see there, before heading up to Disneyland. We really enjoyed doing it that way.
I've never travelled round trip between San Diego and Disneyland, but I'd caution you about traffic. During the week, you deal with commuters (all the way through Orange County and around San Diego.) For some of the way there's carpool lanes, but even those clog. On the weekends, especially in summer, traffic is even worse as all the locals head to the beaches. Last year, we did take a day trip to Legoland and it took us over two hours on the way down. I was so frazzled, that it took much of the afternoon to unwind. I'd highly recommend staying where you're visiting and then just travelling between your new hotel destinations. Plus, San Diego's a great place to stay for a couple of nights!
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In all honesty, it'd be much easier for you to stay in San Diego and do all the things you'd like to do there, then move on to Anaheim. It's about an hour and a half drive each way. So if you want to maximize your touring time, it's best to stay there!
We have a daughter who lives in Oceanside, so yes, we have done the back and forth drive several times. You just gotta remember traffic can be hectic at certain time of the day and evening.
i did a super trip going from LA to San Diego and a lot of things inbetween. i didn't drive at all, but i couldn't imagine commuting unless your hours are limited at DLR and you're tolerant of traffic. given how many affordable hotels are literally across the street from DLR, i could never fathom the need to commute to anaheim for it.
As someone who grew up in Orange County & made the drive many times, I can not recommend trying to make San Diego as a day trip. You'll spend 1.5 - 2 hours or so each way on the freeway, which is 4 hours of play time that is, in the words of Kermit the Frog, "Gone with the Schwinn."
Find a nice place to stay in the San Diego area & enjoy it - then land close to DLR & enjoy it as well.
We did the zoo and seaworld as part of a trip a few years back. We stayed in a hotel across from Disneyland to save costs and took a bus to San Diego on two day trips. Whilst I don't think the drive was boring, the second trip was better than the first one as the bus was full of tourists and the driver was a jolly old fellow who entertained us with heaps of fun facts and stories! On telling friends we took two day trips we realised we could have stayed in SD for the cost of the transport. Doh!
While we haven't driven to San Diego for a day trip from Anaheim, we made a similar reverse trip. We landed in San Diego and drove to Anaheim. We took the trip at 3 pm on a Sunday afternoon and traffic on I-5 was bumper-to-bumper several times. The trip from San Diego to Anaheim took about 2 hours. On the return trip, we travelled at noon on a Friday and traffic was much better.
We then stayed a couple of nights in San Diego to enjoy the sights there. I live in Texas and drive a lot to get anywhere, but I agree with the others posting. I would stay in San Diego and enjoy the sights. That way you'll be better rested and will be able to enjoy DLR more.
We have done SD and DLR several times in the same trip and we recommend staying in SD while you do those things and then traveling to DLR to do Disney. Without traffic, the trip is 1 1/2-2 hours each way and the traffic can be horrible. Too much time away from the Magic for us! We have found some affordable hotels in Old Town or Hotel Circle. For a splurge, we like the Dana across the street from Sea World.
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Katie - WDW - August 2011
My fiance and I are planning to do Disney and Sea World when we take our honeymoon in April, we are going to Disney first, then ride the train to San Diego - stay there for a few nights, then fly back home from San Diego!
going 1st trip in march-a solo bday trip, i booked already and included the tour bus where they pick you up at hotel and bring you there and back and included admission, i thought out every possibility for ME, AND I DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE OR SWITCH HOTELS, so this was a lifesaver for me
We're actually thinking of splitting our vacation time next summer between Anaheim & San Diego. Our son will be 4, and I'd love to know if there are any fun stops between the two cities. And, is there a "scenic route?"
We're splitting our vacation this year: 5 1/2 days in Disneyland and then taking the Amtrack to San Diego for another 5 1/2 days. Once we get to SD we'll rent a car
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It's about an hour and a half drive each way. So if you want to maximize your touring time, it's best to stay there! 
Now, Beakie, we'll just flip this switch and 60,000 refreshing volts of electricity will surge through your body. Ready?
OR SWITCH HOTELS, so this was a lifesaver for me
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