We have two sons, ages 4 and 6.5, and were thinking of driving to Legoland, California this summer. It should take 24 total hours to drive there which we would probably split into 3 days. Based on our vacation schedule, we could go at the beginning of July or the beginning of August. Does anyone have tips on what the most affordable time would be and how to go about getting the best deals on hotels? Most of the nearby hotels seem to be around $200 a night (or more), plus parking fees. I did notice that Legoland has a ticket deal right now where you buy one day admission ($100) and get four free for all of the parks nearby which seems like a good idea. Is it possible to get to Legoland from some of the nearby hotels besides driving (sidewalks, shuttles, etc)? Any advice is appreciated! We have never been on a long trip with our boys and would like to take 2-3 weeks off this summer. Finally, is it worth driving almost 1000 miles to go to Legoland? Thank you for your time!
We just got back from our trip to Legoland and drove 3000 miles and took 3 weeks for the round trip. We went through 7 states and had a great time! The boys had a blast at the park and really loved it. We ended up waiting for most of the rides for 30-60 minutes, but we bought the 5 day pass, so we got to see a lot. The aquarium and water park were great, too! We mostly stayed at Hilton hotels which worked out well although we didn't have any discounts. It was totally worth it to go on our trip, and we would do it again if we had the time off and money. Maybe take a plane next time, though! LOL
Flights from Seattle to Long Beach, CA are remarkably cheap (and non-stop)! I would suggest running the numbers to see if flying/renting makes more sense. You could even stay at a less expensive motel in the area for a few days (the extra days you have because you are not driving), and go to the beach for a couple of days.
Sounds like you got a couple of good answers regarding hotels. I just wanted to chime in regarding your vacation to Legoland...yes, Sea World and the Zoo aren't too far away. Also, the San Diego Wild Animal Park isn't far away either...if you go north about an hour, you also have Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. Disneyland is way pricey, Knott's more affordable. The beaches in Torrey Pines/La Jolla are awesome and deserve a visit. Also, there is snorkeling at the Cove in La Jolla...lots to be see, just a few feet into the water.
Legoland is really cool, especially for the ages your kids are. I think you would really enjoy it.
The fancy hotels nearby ARE quite expensive, but there are also a couple Motel 6's literally RIGHT there across the freeway (like less than a mile away). And yes, you could walk from there if you really needed to, but I'd hop in the car and pay for parking if you can afford it. (Volvos get free parking at Legoland, just an FYI.) Check the reviews online to see what people think of those hotels. And you could stay in a nearby beach town down the road, they are all pretty nice, like Encinitas, Leucadia, Del Mar, La Jolla. The only neighboring city that still has questionable areas is Oceanside, but it's cleaned up quite a bit since I lived in San Diego 20 years ago.
What parks give you free admission when you buy the Legoland tickets? Is it literally 4 free tickets for every admission you buy? I might have to do that! SeaWorld is just down the freeway about 30 minute drive, and it's super cool now, they have WAY upgraded that place.
Also, there are great family beaches, and you might want to take a surfing lesson at La Jolla Shores. I own a surfing instruction business, but unfortunately we are 1 hour 45 minutes away in Los Angeles, but I could probably recommend a good business that teaches in La Jolla.
BTW, the deal you found sounds fantastic, but other Legoland deals I am aware of are homeschoolers get in for $20 on Mondays during the offseason. Also, if you have a subscription to Lego magazine, they usually send buy one adult, get a child admission free coupons with every issue. I probably have a couple if you need them. Feel free to email me. We go the homeschool route when we go because we are homeschoolers. Have fun! :)
I think your boys would enjoy Legoland. It is really aimed at younger children like your sons, although I understand there are plans to make more features to interest older children. The huge Lego cityscapes in the middle of the lake are amazing!
In addition, Sea World and the Zoo aren't that far away. Neither are the beaches. You might like to go up the the historic pier at Oceanside. If you are interested in dogs, you could contact the Canine Companions for Independence training center, also at Oceanside, and ask if it's possible to get a little tour. (That's a plug! CCI is the reason we go to California.) Half an hour or so south is San Diego, which has all sorts of interesting things to see and do.
Contact Legoland and ask for info about nearby accomodations. Yes, it's going to be pricey. If you're just using your hotel as a base, you won't need anything fancy - just something in a safe area (and with a pool, of course!). Keep in mind that just because a hotel is listed as being in a different city doesn't mean it's far away. The towns all crunch up against each other and you can travel to nearby ones quickly.
Hope this helps a bit.
(P.S. Yes, Oceanside is a lot better than it used to be. As a military town it had a very bad reputation, but we have been there often in the last ten years or so, and have had no trouble at all.)
as someone who just returned from a driving trip to santa cruz with 2 kids 7 & 9, i would vote for flying. it feels sooo much longer with kids with all the bathroom breaks, plus you're spending a good amount on hotel and gas anyway.
we've done a legoland trip a few years ago. we flew into SD and got a shuttle to our hotel in carlsbad. the hotel had a shuttle to legoland so we didn't have to pay for parking. we didn't hit seaworld or the animal park since we didn't have a long time to stay down there nor the $ to do it all.
legoland will be perfect for your guys tho. have fun!
We did this 2 years ago, and it was really fun for them. My boys were 8 and 6, and my daughter was almost 2 so she didn't factor into the cost so much. We got the same deal (buying one day admission and getting four days for all the parks). Most of the hotels are too far to walk from. Except for the Hilton Resort (time share) which was so much more expensive, that is wasn't worth it. Some may have shuttle, but I don't remember. We stayed at the Homewood suites which included a breakfast and a light dinner (Mon-Thurs). They also have a full size fridge and kitchenette, so you can cook your own meals. It also has two rooms, so we had a King bed, and the boys slept on a sofa bed (both rooms had a TV). There was no fee for parking at the hotel, but there is a parking fee for Legoland. The way we got around that was to buy a membership for our oldest son. It was the same as parking for 4 days, plus 20% off restaurants (not the stand alone carts) and gift shops in the park. I thought it was worth it.
There are plenty of shows (live and on screens), playgrounds, and most rides are interactive (pedaling, driving etc.).
I only wish we had better weather so we could take advantage of the water park more. It was 60 and cloudy most of our stay (1st week of July).
By the fourth day we were pretty much done with the park, and were ready to leave by 2:00 (it opens at 10:00).
If you have some things to do on the drive down I say it's worth it. We got to see my parents on the way down and back. Find fun places to stop along the way. Hope that helps
Legoland is awesome and your kids are the perfect age for it!
My only advice would be to check into flying there instead. With the cost of gas and extra nights at motels on the road it may actually be a cheaper option.
We went to Legoland last summer with our children. They were ages 11, 9, 7, 4, and 22 months at the time. All of them loved Legoland. We did the 5 day pass. We only used 3 of them, but it was a better deal despite the wasted days. There are a lot of rides and fun little things to look at. I'm glad we took multiple days to enjoy it all.
We stayed in a hotel about a half hour away and drove to Legoland each day. It didn't seem to be a problem for us. If you can't find anything decent near Legoland, you can try as far away as north San Diego and still be in driving distance. Good luck in the planning and have fun.
One last thing - try Granny Smith's apple fries. They are delicious. We all loved them so much, I tried to make them again when we got home.
We stayed at a Ramada Inn in Carlsbad when we were there last summer. It's a lot cheaper than other places in the area. It's very, very basic (plain furnishings, thin bedding), but clean and in a safe area. The complimentary breakfast area is too small and crowded, but the options are good. If you're not looking for anything fancy, you might look into this. Plenty of free parking and about a five minute drive to Legoland. Also, Legoland has a lot of parking and it wasn't crazy Disneyland crowded when we went in June, so the parking situation isn't a big deal.
I wouldn't drive 1,000 miles just to go to Legoland. It's a fun place for young kids, but take advantage of other sights in the San Diego area when you're there and it will be worth it.
There are a lot good hotel deals around San Diego and it's not that long of a drive.
You may also want to check out San Diego Go Pass:
http://www.smartdestinations.com/san-diego-attractions-an...
I think Costco has good deal on passes, too.
Have fun!
If you are traveling 1000 miles make sure you do more than just LegoLand (your boys will love it!). Perhaps you could do Sea World. The idea of staying in Carlsbad is a great one if you can find affordable lodging. Carlsbad is beautiful and the views of the ocean are wonderful. Carlsbad also seems to be a hot spot for surfers and my sons really enjoyed watching them.
We LOVE the San Diego area! My hubby and I always say "if we win the lottery, we are moving to San Diego"!!
Have Fun!
M
