Which theme park(s) for a vacation?

[katespade]

I'm planning/pricing out a hypothetical vacation with a lot of variables because, duh, it's kind of hypothetical at this point, and I'm looking for opinions/advice/help/whatever.

Originally, I was thinking about a trip for my birthday since I'm turning 30, but it's the weekend before Thanksgiving and plane tickets are ridiculously expensive. So now I'm just thinking about sometime in the winter months instead. Dec/Jan maybe. I haven't even mentioned it to H, though, so I have no idea when/if he could get time off work or if he would want to go. It would be a short trip - I'm thinking 4-5 days total, including travel days. 

The first question is which set of theme parks to go to - California or Florida. 
California - 2 hour flight, nonstop, $150 round trip (each), a lot of flexibility on dates at that cost
Florida - 6 hour flight, nonstop, $425 round trip (each), much less flexibility on dates at that cost

Then there's the question of which park(s) would be the most fun to go to - 
No matter what, I would want to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. That would be, like, the #1 purpose of the trip.
The WW in Florida is bigger than the one in California, but they'll both have special Christmas stuff going on if we were to go in Dec.
I've been to Disneyland in California (once, when I was 10) but I've never been to Disney World in Florida. I don't know if there's a big difference between the two.
If we went to Cali I don't think we would bother making the trip to Disneyland, since it's over an hour away from WW. 
If we went to FL it would be easier to go to both WDW and WW, because they're so much closer together.
I don't do rides. I get motion sick extremely easily, so the trip would be for sightseeing rather than going on rides.

Some thoughts/questions I have -
Is it worth going to FL to visit WDW if we wouldn't go on any rides while we were there? What about WW?
Has anyone been to either of the WWs? Would it be a fun place to go for sightseeing and not doing rides? Is it worth the extra distance to go to FL to see Diagon Alley? (Cali only has Hogsmeade, and the Hogwarts Express isn't functional).


What would you do if you were me?

[estrellita]

There is a huuuge difference in Disneyland and Disney World! Disneyland is just the main park plus California Adventures. WDW is 4 parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom). There are plenty of tame rides if you want to try a few. My mom gets motion sickness easily too and she has surprised me at some of the rides she will go on (Test Track being one of them). Epcot is great if you want to go to a park and not go on rides. The food and drinks are worth it alone! Animal Kingdom would work too, you can see animals and shows. I suppose it's like a zoo though. I've been to both Disney parks, fairly recently (this year for land, 2014 for world) and many times so feel free to throw some questions at me (or the others that go there more often!).

I've never been to WW so I can't really comment on that, but I think it would be fun!

[krystee]

If you are not a ride person, I would probably do FL and do Harry Potter (both parks) and Epcot (focusing on World Showcase).

[awick14]

I would do Florida. (But I've been to DW in California as a child.)

But something I would consider for you is the flights. I know you flew by yourself already and you can do a flight but could you do a 6 hr one? With potential of lay overs (if there is any)

[katespade]

Jul 18, 2017 1:42:16 GMT -5 awick14 said:

I would do Florida. (But I've been to DW in California as a child.)

But something I would consider for you is the flights. I know you flew by yourself already and you can do a flight but could you do a 6 hr one? With potential of lay overs (if there is any)

The flight is definitely a concern for me. We can get a nonstop flight to Florida, but it's a much longer flight and so much more expensive than flying to California. Round trip to Fl would cost a minimum of $900 for both of us and round trip to Cali would be $300, which is a pretty substantial difference. Having an extra $600 to spend on other parts of the trip could be really helpful, but Florida also seems to have a lot more to see/do.

[wanderingenough]

There is a ton to do a WDW if you aren't a rides person, especially around the holidays--but both WDW and the Universal parks will be super crowded. So make sure to consider that. I'm sure that's true with the CA parks too though.

I actually went to one of WW parks with major Harry Potter fans right before Christmas last year. I've never seen any of the Harry Potter movies or read the books (for shame, I know) but it was still really cool! Lots to do and see while my friends explained everything to me (like the muggle I am).

[estrellita]

What wanderingenough said about crowds is true, but we've had good luck the first week or two of Jan. If you go right after New Years, the Christmas stuff is still up but it's less crowded. I think they usually take it down by Jan 3 or so. And try to visit parks on weekdays if you can, also less busy!

[katespade]

estrellita - Yeah, I'm guessing it would be less busy AND cheaper if we went on weekdays rather than over a weekend. My thought was to fly out on a Monday or Tuesday, have 2-3 weekdays there, and fly home on a Friday.

[awick14]

I would honestly do California. Mainly because of the cost of flights and the ability to be able to do more in that area. (And your anxiety)

You can think of it as a smaller step instead of a giant leap. Lol.

[wineandcheese]

I've never been to California so can only speak for the Florida theme parks. I love Disney World and any chance I get to go, we go lol. I loved both HP areas of Universal. I even got to do the choosing of the wand in Olivander's.

Except the difference in price would affect my decision. Depending on our budget for the full trip would influence which I would pick.

[wanderingenough]

@wineanecheese - Funny story about the choosing of the wand. My friend and her BF were like "oh look, no line at Olivander's...let's take Wandering and maybe she will get chosen." So they have you stand at the little entrance before you walk in and I'm talking to the two employees (also huge Potter fans). I'm like "so what's back there? Wand stuff?" They seriously almost died laughing. They were like "I don't think I've ever met anyone who knew as little about HP. From now on, we are just calling it all 'wand stuff." Haha! Unfortunately, they chose some little kid to do the choosing of the wand! Saved me money though because I probably wouldn't have told myself that meant I should by it!

[luv2rn4fun]

I'm just a little biased but I would do CA. Cheaper, shorter flights and there is a ton to do outside of theme parks...and the weather is awesome year round! But, I did go to WDW when I was a young teenager and loved it as well! Lots to do and see both places but the travel would be the decision maker for me, especially since you only plan to stay for 2-3 days.

[luv2rn4fun]

Oh, and definitely only plan to go during the week. I have an annual passport for Disneyland and am blocked out on holidays, weekends, and summer....which is great because I SAH and would never choose to go on any of those days since it's super crowded. When we go rob disneyland we have had really good luck with short lines if we get there as close to when they open as possible. The lines just get longer as the day goes on (but maybe shorten at a certain point? Not sure since we always leave by 2p to beat traffic going home).

[katespade]

I talked to H last night and, surprisingly, he's on board with a California trip!


luv2rn4fun - How far away from DL do you live? Do you know what traffic is like between the parks? I think the plan I'm working on would be flying into Burbank and staying at a hotel near Universal Studios, so I'm trying to decide if it would be worth attempting to make it down to DL or if we should just focus on one area/park since it will be a short trip.

[luv2rn4fun]

Jul 19, 2017 9:23:42 GMT -5 katespade said:

I talked to H last night and, surprisingly, he's on board with a California trip!


luv2rn4fun - How far away from DL do you live? Do you know what traffic is like between the parks? I think the plan I'm working on would be flying into Burbank and staying at a hotel near Universal Studios, so I'm trying to decide if it would be worth attempting to make it down to DL or if we should just focus on one area/park since it will be a short trip.

I am 30 min from Disneyland in the opposite direction. I am assuming you would be going against traffic from LA to disneyland but don't hold me to it because there seems to be traffic everywhere in SoCal (but in general people are heading to LA in the morning hours).

The other thing about Disneyland is that it can take a good hour just from arrival to get into the parking garage, onto the tram, and into the park. So take that into consideration...if it opens at 9, plan to arrive at 8 to get in the park at 9.

All that said...you can totally do both, even if you plan to stay in LA. Or you can plan to do something more local one of the days (hike, beach, restaurants, etc).

[katespade]

Jul 19, 2017 11:17:48 GMT -5 luv2rn4fun said:

Jul 19, 2017 9:23:42 GMT -5 katespade said:

I talked to H last night and, surprisingly, he's on board with a California trip!


luv2rn4fun - How far away from DL do you live? Do you know what traffic is like between the parks? I think the plan I'm working on would be flying into Burbank and staying at a hotel near Universal Studios, so I'm trying to decide if it would be worth attempting to make it down to DL or if we should just focus on one area/park since it will be a short trip.

I am 30 min from Disneyland in the opposite direction. I am assuming you would be going against traffic from LA to disneyland but don't hold me to it because there seems to be traffic everywhere in SoCal (but in general people are heading to LA in the morning hours).

The other thing about Disneyland is that it can take a good hour just from arrival to get into the parking garage, onto the tram, and into the park. So take that into consideration...if it opens at 9, plan to arrive at 8 to get in the park at 9.

All that said...you can totally do both, even if you plan to stay in LA. Or you can plan to do something more local one of the days (hike, beach, restaurants, etc).

Oh man, I didn't even think about the beach. That would be reeeeeeeeally nice. 

[pooh8402]

Jul 18, 2017 9:56:50 GMT -5 wanderingenough said:

There is a ton to do a WDW if you aren't a rides person, especially around the holidays--but both WDW and the Universal parks will be super crowded. So make sure to consider that. I'm sure that's true with the CA parks too though.

I actually went to one of WW parks with major Harry Potter fans right before Christmas last year. I've never seen any of the Harry Potter movies or read the books (for shame, I know) but it was still really cool! Lots to do and see while my friends explained everything to me (like the muggle I am).

HP (the books >>>>> movies) is the actual literal best imo. I learn something new every time I read them.



I ditto the others that FL has more to do and closer together, but I agree that the flights are a big factor. fwiw, I did WDW and WW in FL for my 30th as well. we went to Magic Kingdom at rope drop. I got a birthday button to wear, and they let me open the park!