Travelling advice please.

[Disneybub]

My fiancée and I, will be travelling in the states for 3 months next year, starting in San Antonio Texas and working our way around and then spending as much time in Orlando as possible, we'll be travelling by bus and train.

I was wondering should i visiting DL CA, people i have spoken to have said once you've been to WDW, DL doesn't seem as good (Not my opinion as ive never been).

Also does anyone have anywhere or anything that you think i really need to go see or do.

I'd love as much help and advise as possible please.

Thanks :kiss:

 

[DAKOTADISNEY]

In my opinion if you are a big Disney fan you should go to Disneyland. It's the original and has a few different rides/attractions to offer.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Yes - go see Disneyland while you have the opportunity

 

[wild01ride]

Disneyland Resort would be well worth the trip! It's definitely not as spectacular as WDW, but it's a great time.
One of the Imagineers on a "History of WDW" program said it best:
"Disneyland is charming, but Walt Disney World is spectacular" (or something very close to that).
Anyway, I would recommend dedicating a long weekend out of your trip to the L.A. (Los Angeles)/SoCal (Southern California) area in general.
Particular recommendations:
*Disneyland Park (of course)
*Disney's California Adventure (of course)
*Hollywood (you can see a LOT of the most typical tourist stuff in a few hours)
*Go to one or more beaches - my personal favorite (from limited experience) is Huntington Beach (about 20min. from Anaheim/Disneyland). It's probably the most popular surfing beach in California - you can regularly see "average, everyday folks" surfing there. While you're there, go to "Duke's" (http://www.dukeshuntington.com/) for dinner and watch the sunset. The place is one of a couple restaurants named after Duke Kahanamoku, "The Father of International Surfing" who came from Hawaii - You can get a little experience of Hawaii while you're there.

Enjoy your trip to the States - sounds like it will be an amazing one!
(I wish I had the opportunity to take such a trip!)

 

[lscott933]

well if you starting out in texas and going to california and then back to florida. i would visit the grand canyon and go to vegas to if your going to be going that way. if your going to l.a. then i would go to venice beach. it is going to be hard to go to a lot of these places as we don't have the train and buses system like you all have over there. if you went to vegas they have day trip to canyon and hoover dam. have fun and enjoy.

 

[disneymyway]

I think I would be thinking about plans and routes that made sense and then decide.

It would be fun to go to California, but what else do you want to see while you are here? Is this your first visit? Do you want to see things on the way to California? DL is great, and there are so many other things to see in CA and in the neighboring states.

Buses and trains aren't the same here in the US. For one thing, the country is so big that it just takes so much longer to travel with them. Also, the schedules just aren't as good as they are in Europe, and the trips can be very tedious.

I'm not saying not to do it, I'm just saying to not plan the trip from Hell!!:ROFLOL:

Why don't you take a look at http://www.randmcnally.com/, a map website. You can play around with destinations - I always use it to plan road trips and I think it might be helpful to you too.

You'll have a wonderful trip no matter what.

 

[Disneybub]

Ive only ever been to Orlando, Im on my 7th trip this year.

But as for the rest of the states its all new, i want to see as much as i can.

as for the trains and buses, would you suggest i fly state to state instead then? Because the only issue with that is from what ive seen, they use a lot of the smaller aircrafts and my partner is quite worried about the turbulence on the smaller planes.

 

[Neilo]

Hey thanks for that link it looks like it could be very usefull.We are not to keen on hiring a car but what you guys are saying about public transport we might actually have another think about the car.
Thanks for all the help peeps

 

[smk]

I love Disneyland! GO!! I agree that transportation is an issue in this Country so renting a car is the best idea for the areas that the train does not cover. Go to Amtrak.com and look around that site, it will give you a good idea of traveling by train. I also agree about Venice Beach CA, it is fun and very wierd, full of colorful people, a must see! Drive up the CA coastline for beautiful scenary and then go back down to LA/Anaheim area for DL. Vegas is another place of colorful people but if this is the only time you have 3 months to visit you can do it all!! Grand Canyon is breathtaking, Sedona, Arizona is wonderful and Colorado is a mountain lovers paradise. See them all!! Have fun planning!

 

[UKHelen]

I have been once and would definately go again given the opportunity. The only thing that puts me off is the longer flying time from the UK over to the west coast. The 9.5 hours in a small seat to Orlando is enough for me!!! Saying that there are so many states I would like to visit, it's just that WDW is such a big pull!

 

[happymom52003]

Also, if you want to go to California you might want to consider starting out there vs. San Antonio. I would decide on all of your destinations first, and then map out the route that makes the most sense. Also look up the travel times between locations.
Alot of people who have never traveled in the U.S do not realize how spread out it is. For example, Texas is so huge that it is nearly an 8 hour drive just to get from San Antonio to El Paso, TX!

And I agree with others about our transportation system, especially our train system. I live in central Texas, and I hardly get anywhere by train without going way out of the way.

For example, I can't get to Orlando by train without going to Chicago first. If you are familiar with the geography of the United States, that is just insane!

If you can, if would be great to rent a car. With your own car, you will have so much more freedom, and you will save quite a bit of time.

Also, if flying is an option for you, you might be able to do a combination of flying and driving. I understand how your fiance feels....I also do not like to travel on the smaller planes.
But if you are flying between two major airports, you can probably get on a regular plane. I would map out your route, and then see if flying between any of the cities could be an option.

Have fun!

Also, try to plan to see some our our National Parks, such as Yellowstone. And like others have said Las Vegas is fun. And I'm sure it is on your list, but Washington D.C. is a must. Also try to make it up to the New England area, and New York City and Niagra Falls. Oh, there is just so much! You are going to have so much fun!

 

[PhilharMagician]

Here are some idea's

• The Grand Canyon
• Las Vegas
• Yellowstone National Park
• Crater Lakes National Park
• Disneyland
• Washington DC
  • Smithsonian
• New York City
  • Museum of Natural History
  • Central Park
  • Disney store
  • Statue of Liberty
• WDW (of course)
• Kennedy Space Center

I would get out a map of the US and mark it up with places to see and try to plan out as many stops that you can.

 

[eroyee]

To me, it sounds like renting a car and driving most places is the best way. You wont have to worry about flights, train schedules, slow busses, etc. Have a wonderful vacation in the good old U.S.A........welcome........Personally, I would spend the whole time in WDW....Just kidding!!:lol:

 

[Eyorefan]

As a person who has made trips from Texas to DL and from Texas to WDW. My advise is that you don not start your trip in San Antonio if you decided you want to visit both coast.

If I were you I would fly into DL and rent a car. We have horrable public transpertaion in this country, its even bad in most cities. So the only way to see anything would be to fly or drive on your own. Personally, I think the idea of a coast to coast trip is pretty appealing. Its going to take a lot of planing though!

Let us know how things work out!

 

[disneymyway]

Ive only ever been to Orlando, Im on my 7th trip this year.

But as for the rest of the states its all new, i want to see as much as i can.

as for the trains and buses, would you suggest i fly state to state instead then? Because the only issue with that is from what ive seen, they use a lot of the smaller aircrafts and my partner is quite worried about the turbulence on the smaller planes.

I used to hate the smaller planes too but they usually aren't as scary as they look. Yes, I'd fly, or drive. Honestly, the greyhound buses can be excruciatingly tedious.

Have you thought about a road trip? American roads make fun road trips!!! You can really see a lot. And you can really get the feel of the country better.

 

[hansel1]

Rent a car and purchase a GPS unit to take with you. The new GPS units, especially garmin units have "items of interest" along your route.

Also, Don't forget about GRACELAND in memphis TN.

 

[maryszhi]

we bring our gps system when we go to disney and rent a car!
they are a god send for those who stink at directions and getting lost !!!!

 

[disneymyway]

Rent a car and purchase a GPS unit to take with you. The new GPS units, especially garmin units have "items of interest" along your route.

Also, Don't forget about GRACELAND in memphis TN.

Some rental companies offer these.

LOL I love how we are all trying to talk you out of completely changing your plans!!!:ROFLOL:

 

[Cubs Brian]

Don't forget about the Midwest. I've been all over the the world and(slightybiased)believe Chicago is one of the best cities on any continent,museums, parks shopping great restaurants, friendly people.

 

[smk]

Here are some idea's

• The Grand Canyon
• Las Vegas
• Yellowstone National Park
• Crater Lakes National Park
• Disneyland
• Washington DC
  • Smithsonian
• New York City
  • Museum of Natural History
  • Central Park
  • Disney store
  • Statue of Liberty
• WDW (of course)
• Kennedy Space Center

I would get out a map of the US and mark it up with places to see and try to plan out as many stops that you can.

Oh how I love Crater Lake! I grew up going to Oregon every summer (from Indiana) to see my Grandparents, my Mom was raised in Oregon, very close to Crater Lake and we always stopped there, hiked down and took the launch out...what a great memory. We never did go to DL but we traveled around California and Oregon.