Now that you've sold me on DLR, can you answer a few ?'s

[Rufus T Firefly]

Sounds like a great trip. What time of the year are you planning on going? The reason I ask is the San Diego Safari Park is actually located well inland from San Diego and can become intensely hot during the summer months. Temps could range from the high 90's to the low 100's. Food for thought.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Sounds like a great trip. What time of the year are you planning on going? The reason I ask is the San Diego Safari Park is actually located well inland from San Diego and can become intensely hot during the summer months. Temps could range from the high 90's to the low 100's. Food for thought.

It'll be just like Animal Kingdom!

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

It'll be just like Animal Kingdom!

Without the humidity

 

[Wilt Dasney]

After seeing your trip itinerary, I only have one question....can I come too?


Seriously, it's great that you've widened the scope of your trip and gotten suitable answers to your anxieties about transportation, queuing accommodations, etc. Now you and your family will have a fair basis to decide whether more trips to California are worth the investment, and if this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for you, you'll have lots of great memories!

 

[captainkidd]

After seeing your trip itinerary, I only have one question....can I come too?


Seriously, it's great that you've widened the scope of your trip and gotten suitable answers to your anxieties about transportation, queuing accommodations, etc. Now you and your family will have a fair basis to decide whether more trips to California are worth the investment, and if this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for you, you'll have lots of great memories!

I did until some members of the other Disney board pretty much told me that even with a GAC, we will still have to wait in line for as long, if not longer, than standby at Disneyland. Everyone seems to be unanimous about that. So, it seems this trip probably won't happen after all.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

I did until some members of the other Disney board pretty much told me that even with a GAC, we will still have to wait in line for as long, if not longer, than standby at Disneyland. Everyone seems to be unanimous about that. So, it seems this trip probably won't happen after all.

If that were true, then there wouldn't be so many APs with GAC cards. Al Lutz reported that as much as 1/3 of the Fastpass queue for Radiator Springs Racers was taken up by GAC holders.

 

[captainkidd]

If that were true, then there wouldn't be so many APs with GAC cards. Al Lutz reported that as much as 1/3 of the Fastpass queue for Radiator Springs Racers was taken up by GAC holders.

It sounds to me like Disney is going to start doing away with GAC's unless you are literally, disabled and have proof of it. Only way to stop the rampant abuse. It's a shame as I love Disney, but it is what it is. Hey - There's a big world out there. Plenty of excellent vacation spots where you don't have to stand in line.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I did until some members of the other Disney board pretty much told me that even with a GAC, we will still have to wait in line for as long, if not longer, than standby at Disneyland. Everyone seems to be unanimous about that. So, it seems this trip probably won't happen after all.

I don't know who told you that, but as an ex DLR attractions CM, I can tell you that is NOT true.

I worked in Fantasyland and my GAC lines were never long. The only exceptions would be Pan and Alice. Pan's line would reach up to maybe ten people in the GAC line, simply because the ride is so dang popular. Alice's line would reach up to maybe seven or eight GAC users in line at once because most of them were in a scooter or wheelchair, we could only have one scooter or wheelchair guest on at one time and Alice is nearly four minutes long, unlike the other dark rides, which are two-two and a half minutes.

Like I said, there was no way in heck my GAC riders waited just as long as my standby riders. I know I can only speak for the Fantasyland attractions, but I've never heard of such a thing to occur anywhere in either parks. Where did you get this info?

 

[stlphil]

I can't speak to the GAC issue, and hope that doesn't turn out to be a deal breaker for you.

But I would like to comment on driving in SoCal. I have driven in almost every major city in the country, including Manhattan, and the only one that leaves me a complete nervous wreck afterwards is Boston. If that is your normal I can understand why there may be anxiety issues, but driving in Southern California is a pleasant walk in the park by comparison. As somewhat else mentioned, the drivers are relatively courteous and proficient and the roads are good and easy to navigate. Just avoid the rush hours, and note that the evening rush hour can last until 7pm or even later, especially the further north you go from Anaheim towards LA. Going south (toward San Diego) is usually much less problematic.

 

[TP2000]

But I would like to comment on driving in SoCal. I have driven in almost every major city in the country, including Manhattan, and the only one that leaves me a complete nervous wreck afterwards is Boston. If that is your normal I can understand why there may be anxiety issues, but driving in Southern California is a pleasant walk in the park by comparison. As somewhat else mentioned, the drivers are relatively courteous and proficient and the roads are good and easy to navigate. Just avoid the rush hours, and note that the evening rush hour can last until 7pm or even later, especially the further north you go from Anaheim towards LA. Going south (toward San Diego) is usually much less problematic.

Thank you. I used to live in Boston's northern suburbs, and had to commute to the Prudential Center daily for several years. Boston traffic is quite literally the worst I have ever experienced in all my decades of driving, either on the freeways or on the urban streets. Just horrible and nerve-racking.

You can blame some of it on the fact that many of Boston's current freeways started their lives 200 years ago as winding trails worn into the ground by migrating cattle. Seriously. But some of the blame has to fall on the drivers themselves. And Bostonians take the cake when they are behind the wheel. Get them out of their cars and they can be some of the most gracious yet uniquely New England people, but put them behind the wheel on Route 128 and it's like the Battle of Normandy.

LA has nothing on Boston, and Orange County freeways are far more mellow and modern than the LA freeways to the north. San Diego can get more congested because it's such a linear city paralleling I-5 and I-15, but San Diego is still sweetness and light compared to Boston on a good day.

 

[Figments Friend]

But I would like to comment on driving in SoCal. I have driven in almost every major city in the country, including Manhattan, and the only one that leaves me a complete nervous wreck afterwards is Boston. If that is your normal I can understand why there may be anxiety issues, but driving in Southern California is a pleasant walk in the park by comparison. As somewhat else mentioned, the drivers are relatively courteous and proficient and the roads are good and easy to navigate. Just avoid the rush hours, and note that the evening rush hour can last until 7pm or even later, especially the further north you go from Anaheim towards LA. Going south (toward San Diego) is usually much less problematic.

I agree....if you can put up with driving in Beantown, you can drive anywhere!