[aaronf1991]

I'm going to Southern California for my 18th birthday for a week. I was wondering if anyone had any general tips about my trip. Does it look like I'll have enough time at each park to hit every big "must-do" attraction? If not, any suggestions on how to change things (I can't extend time in SoCal or add days, just move days around basically; except the first and last days, those days are set in stone.) What are some of the top 3 or 4 attractions at each park? Are food prices comparable to SFOG and Carowinds? (I'm assuming they are, but I don't know for sure). Also, I'm getting around using public buses/trains/subway, considering the fact that I'm 18 and will be going on this trip alone, so I can't rent a car. Anyway, heres my rough itinerary:

Wednesday - Disneyland (3 pm - Midnight)

Thursday - Disneyland (8 am - Midnight)

Friday - Huntington Beach (About 11 am - 3 PM) & Knotts Berry Farm (About 4 PM - 10 PM)

Saturday - Universal Studios Hollywood (10 AM - 7 PM)

Sunday - Universal Studios Hollywood (10 AM - 7 PM)

Monday - Family Feud Taping @ 11 AM and Explore Hollywood till about 6 PM

Tuesday - Six Flags Magic Mountain (w/ Flashpass) (11 AM - 6 PM)

[Jonathan]

That's quite an adventure trying to use public transit to do all that in that area (not that I have any first hand experience).

Are you going to California Adventure one of those Disney days, or both at Disneyland? From what I understand of Universal Hollywood, two days is probably going to be huge overkill. There doesn't appear to be much there.

[aaronf1991]

I'm going to both parks (I bought a 2 day park hopper). My actual 18th birthday is the 8th, and I'm going to try to take of advantage of their birthday fastpass promotion (I believe you get 4 instant fastpasses with it, but the exact details seem sketchy, Ill wait and see when I get there). And yes, from what I can tell, riding public transportation is going to be a huge pain, but I'm used to it when I go visit my dad in Detroit. The biggest issue is making sure I don't miss the last bus/train/etc. and getting stranded. And 2 days at Universal was the special ticket they had online. 2 days for the price of 1. It did look like there wasn't much to do, that's why I decided to do that park on the weekend cause the extra crowds shouldn't affect anything, but I'd love to get any first hand advice from anyone thats been to any of those parks.

EDIT: Forgive me if there's bad grammar or this is incoherant. I've been u for almost 20 hours straight and I'm very tired, lol.

[Jonathan]

You can get into Disney parks free on your birthday this year.

[DaveVan]

At Knott's you have to ride the Calico Mine ride. I know most folks under 30 think it's time has past....but this ride belongs in the Smithsonian. It was opened in 1960 and I rode it first in 1962 and that is what gave me my love for theme parks. Disney may have sealed the deal but Knott's started it. Take into the fact the ride is almost 50 years old it is a must for any theme park fan and/or historian. The log ride is also the first flume ride with a theme and scenery so I put it on the list too. Most of the modern rides are standard 'order from a catalog' rides in my book.
2 days at Universal is one day too many IMHO only!
PS...I grew up in So Cal and go back every few years....I have not been in 5 years....wish I was going! Have a good trip!

[swampfox43]

At Knott's the log ride is also the first flume ride with a theme and scenery so I put it on the list too.

Still the best log flume in the USA, IMO. You must ride it!!

[coasterdave]

Since I go atleast once a year and for some strange reason I have a Disneyland Pass let me add you in your trip.

Disneyland: If you want to ride the Nemo subs then by all means hit those first thing when you enter the Park. The line can get really long and it is not a Fast Pass attraction at all. Another ride that is a must is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (DW took their's out for a really bad version of Pooh) for is there a kid's ride that takes you to hell and back? I would also make sure you hit Fantasy Land early in the morning or late in the evening for it can get really crowded in that area. I would also take the walking tour of the Castle since it just reopened after a number of years being closed.

Their version of the Pirates of the Cartib. is a longer version and in my eyes abit better as there Haunted mansion is pretty good and they did not cut corners when they did the rehab like a park in Orlando did. Also make sure you take a spin on Indie located near the Jungle Cruise not that after you get to see fire and a snake in a ride.

Shows that are a must are of course Fantasmic which people start finding a place about 4 or 5 hrs before the first show and 'Billy Hill and the Hillbillies' at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon.

As for food it is plane and simple the 'Blue Bayou' which is located in New Orleans Square and is what you see to the right when you first get on Pirates. I would go with the Monta Cristo Sandwich and you might even get a chance to see the Door for Club 33 open.

DCA: Please note that alot of the rides have Single Rider Lines and I would use them. Also note that there is alot of improvements going on with DCA to bring it up to what it should have been when it opened afew years back. You will find this park not as crowded as Disneyland is and will close before Disneyland.

Knott's Berry Farm: I would say you have more then enough time to hit all the coasters and some of the other rides. It has been a number of years since I have been to a regular day for I am always there for Haunt but as people have said make sure you ride the Flume.

Universal Studios: Will say I have only been there for Halloween Horror Nights and for work. I have never been there for a regular day. Can tell you that the Mummy ride there is more of a Coaster ride with a longer stretch of backwards than the Florida Version and is almost a complete storyline. Make sure you hit Backdraft for it will soon be closed to Transformer's Ride coming. If you where there for Halloween Horror Nights then I could give you more advice sorry.

Six Flags Magic Mountain: Would be a great idea to bring your walking shows for it is not called Magic MOUNTAIN for nothing. You will be using Flash Pass so you should be good there.

[aaronf1991]

Thank you everybody for your advice! I'll be sure to ride the log flume . And I got the feeling Universal Studios for 2 days would be overkill, but that's how they were selling the tickets online. Makes me wonder why they bother selling front of line passes. I'll be taking craploads of pictures on my trip, so I'll prolly post a PTR later on.

[aaronf1991]

I'll be posting a PTR soon, once I figure out how to upload my pictures.

[Jay]

I would suggest getting an account at http://www.flickr.com. Its free for the first 200 photos and after that, they just get pushed off the photostream. They aren't deleted though so they would still show up in forums and such. You could also pay for an account I think its only 20-25 bucks a year.


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[aaronf1991]

Alright, PTR TIME!

Day 1 (July 8, 2009) - Disneyland/DCA

After a quick flight to Chicago, followed by a long flight to Orange County, I arrived and it was about 12:30. On the shuttle ride to my hotel, I couldn't believe how many palm trees there were. Outside of Carowinds, I've never seen palm trees (sad I know, lol). I took a picture of some:



More from the van ride...WE DROVE PAST IT AND I FRIGGEN LOST MY MIND! lol



I arrived at the first of two hotels that I stayed at during this trip...not much, but it was clean and served its purpose



After checking in, I went out to wait on the trolly to take me to Disneyland! 15 minutes seemed like hours!



I was so excited, I didn't take any photos on my way into the park. It was already 1:30 and I had to get into the park ASAP! After getting my birthday fastpasses (which were instant fast passes for 6 rides), I went straight to ride Space Mountain. I stopped to take 1 photo of the Tomorrowland entrance



The only photo I took inside Space Mountain. The birthday fastpass took a 65 minute posted wait down to about a 10-15 minute wait.



When I was a kid, Buzz Lightyear was my favorite Disney Character, so of course, the next thing I did was go ride Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters using the regular fastpass I picked up on my way to Space Mountain, since the return time was about 30 minutes later.



Next, I went to see Honey I Shrunk the Audience...which should've been called Honey I Put the Audience to Sleep. After that, I went to ride Star Tours, which was fun, despite the slight motion sickness I experienced.



Then I rode the Disneyland Railroad over to New Orleans Square and on the way, we passed through the "Grand Canyon"

[aaronf1991]

Holy Crap, I just posted my unfinished PTR to see how it looks, and all the pictures are huge. Can anyone tell me how to reduce the size? I don't wanna do the entire thing and then have to fix it, so I'm gonna leave it as it is until I figure out how to fix that.

[coasterdave]

We going to see the rest of this PTR?