California with kids - and no Disney?!

[hereandnowtoday]

We're keen to go to California in October half term, there's some great flight prices and we have family near San Francisco. DC will be 9 and 7. Would we be mad to skip Disneyland?

My main reason against is cost and distance - the holiday would be well within budget if we stay with family (maybe a few nights travelling around) and they would lend us a car. But add in travel to LA, hotel, Park fees etc it would become astronomical.

Would it be better to save up and go the whole hog when they're a bit older? I'm not sure they would forgive us if we went all that way and didn't go to Disney!

Haven’t done Disney. Was very underwhelmed with Universal in LA. I’d enjoy the holiday close to San Fran rather than travelling all the time.

If you do go. We found it much cheaper for my us based brother to buy the tickets.

My kids are off to Pheonix and San Francisco in July on their own meeting up with my DB.

Wouldn’t bother — I think it’s dreadful. Though if you do fancy going they are the right ages, I was too old for Disneyland at 13 so wouldn’t wait until they’re older.

Disney totally overrated. We were in California by chance about 15 mins from Disney we went for the day was good but not the quasi religious experience some English people seem to think it is. The Californians we met see it as just another theme park there are other good ones too. Have a google bet there are others near SF.

You would be bonkers to drive there the driving was awful massive traffic jams everywhere we went. We tried to drive from south LA to Yosemite and gave up and went back would have taken 9 hours with traffic. California same size as Germany

Luckily it’s way too far to combine with only a week in SF. Save it for a time when you’re much nearer.

Would save Disney for when you are actually in Anaheim and not in SF.
Overall cost and driving distance are not worth it.

Have you thought of the jet lag? Is it worth it all that way for just 1 week? California is beautiful, there is so much to see and do. But don’t think it’s worth it for just such a short period of time.

Thanks all for the advice and tips, looks like Disney would be a drive too far.

We are in Scotland so half term is 2 weeks, not one. And school no fines so we can go for longer.

"I was too old for Disneyland at 13 so wouldn’t wait until they’re older."

I first went to Disneyland at 27 and loved it. There are people of all ages who enjoy Disney.

I was too old for Disneyland at 13

I loved it at 14 and 20, probably more so as I could go on all the rides alone if my family didn't want to!

here out of interest which flights were so cheap

BA flights which I found on Skyscanner for early/mid October (our half term), was £1200 for 4 of us.

I'd skip Disney in California, and if you get the chance another time and want to go maybe try make a trip to Orlando for Disney! (I'm not a huge Disney fan but love it! It's not for everyone though!)

San Fran is great but also a place called Carmel by the sea that's a little further south is worth a drive to, it's beautiful! The small town and the beach is stunning!

We're in California for 3 weeks end of sept/beginning Oct with our 2 DS (3&1) and will give Disney a miss!

@hereandnowtoday fancy sharing some flight details. I'd LOVE that trip!!

Sorry, just saw BA.

I live in California, have kids the same age and haven't been to Disney :-). It may be amazing, but it's way too far from SF if you're just there for a week. None of our visitors have been either.

Thanks SummerLightening that's interesting. We would have 2+ wks but still would rather avoid the drive to LA and back, having done it before.

@hereandnowtoday May I hijack your thread for tips? We're seriously tempted now we've looked at the flights but we normally Airbnb (family of 5) and hire a car....