Need an opinion here

[thymed]

We are flying into Long Beach Airport on Monday June 17th to spend 7 days in CA. We want to spend most of our time at Disneyland but want to visit Hollywood also. I have seen comments hinting that bus tours are not the way to go. We were thinking that staying in Anaheim the entire time was the ticket, now I am wondering if it would be best to visit Hollywood first and spend one or two nights then head to Anaheim for the rest of the vacation. Would that make more sense or doesn't it matter? I am thinking of the horrible traffic everyone keeps referring to. Any opinions?

 

[thymed]

Anyone?

I have been reading about this and am thinking maybe we will rent a car at the Long Beach Airport and schedule a Warner Brothers VIP tour (instead of a trip to Universal Studios) then head to Hollywood & Highland parking garage and spend the rest of the day visiting the Hollywood area and when we are finished with that sight seeing head to Anaheim and check into our hotel and either turn in the car or keep it and use it to travel to Newport Beach the following day for a day cruise to Catalina Island.

My friend keeps asking about visiting Sea World but I have read that that is about 80 miles away from Anaheim and it seems we would spend the majority of our day traveling. Anyone have any input on this???? Any ideas appreciated!

 

[sherilaine]

I can't help you as I thought Holloywood was AWFUL! I am sure others enjoy visiting it but for us it was the low point of our trip last year!

Newport Beach on the other hand we really enjoyed.

 

[pennyring]

What were you planning to do in Hollywood for 2 days? I can't imagine spending more than a couple of hours there...

Look at Grauman's, look at some handprints, get the heck out.

 

[Spwhoney]

Anyone?

I have been reading about this and am thinking maybe we will rent a car at the Long Beach Airport and schedule a Warner Brothers VIP tour (instead of a trip to Universal Studios) then head to Hollywood & Highland parking garage and spend the rest of the day visiting the Hollywood area and when we are finished with that sight seeing head to Anaheim and check into our hotel and either turn in the car or keep it and use it to travel to Newport Beach the following day for a day cruise to Catalina Island.

My friend keeps asking about visiting Sea World but I have read that that is about 80 miles away from Anaheim and it seems we would spend the majority of our day traveling. Anyone have any input on this???? Any ideas appreciated!

Having done something similar this april, this sounds like a good plan to me. I was not impressed with Universal Studios. Traffic can, is, horrible, but you are not far from Anaheim. Stay late in Hollywood and travel to Anaheim in the late evening to avoid traffic. We also went to Newport beach, its a nice beach. The drive wasn't to bad. Just prepare yourself for bad traffic, Get everyone drinks and treats before you hit the road and hunker down. Our drive from Universal to San Diego was 4 hours, it was a Friday though. We went to SeaWorld on Sunday and traveled up to Anaheim on that day, Sunday. Traffic was great. If its a must do, go on a Sunday, leaving early. SeaWorld for us was a half day thing. Hit the shows first thing.

 

[jenpace]

What were you planning to do in Hollywood for 2 days? I can't imagine spending more than a couple of hours there...

Look at Grauman's, look at some handprints, get the heck out.

I agree...it's not my favorite area. We sometimes try and have lunch at Cantors and then leave. A couple of years ago we had to stop because Danny Bonaduce was jaywalking in front of our car. That was the extent of the celebrity sightings...ew.

 

[thymed]

I can't help you as I thought Holloywood was AWFUL! I am sure others enjoy visiting it but for us it was the low point of our trip last year!

Newport Beach on the other hand we really enjoyed.

Thanks for the input! I was trying to determine if Newport was a good beach to hang out! We will take off from there to visit Catalina. Is swimming something many people do in CA in June??? I have heard rumblings that the water is somewhat cold and a full day at the beach may not be the ticket.

 

[thymed]

What were you planning to do in Hollywood for 2 days? I can't imagine spending more than a couple of hours there...

Look at Grauman's, look at some handprints, get the heck out.

I am glad to have this information. I was not certain if there was so much to do in Hollywood that we would need to spend the night. Sounds like a stop off after a studio tour, catch some sights maybe get something to eat and then head out and not feel like we have missed anything.
Want to see El Capitan and Disney Soda Fountain but that shouldn't take too long!

 

[jujubees333]

I found that hotels in Hollywood were pricier than Anaheim. We're just going to spend one day there, no night...mostly to visit the American Girl doll store.

 

[thymed]

Having done something similar this april, this sounds like a good plan to me. I was not impressed with Universal Studios. Traffic can, is, horrible, but you are not far from Anaheim. Stay late in Hollywood and travel to Anaheim in the late evening to avoid traffic. We also went to Newport beach, its a nice beach. The drive wasn't to bad. Just prepare yourself for bad traffic, Get everyone drinks and treats before you hit the road and hunker down. Our drive from Universal to San Diego was 4 hours, it was a Friday though. We went to SeaWorld on Sunday and traveled up to Anaheim on that day, Sunday. Traffic was great. If its a must do, go on a Sunday, leaving early. SeaWorld for us was a half day thing. Hit the shows first thing.

We are thinking of bypassing Universal and Sea World (I can catch both in Florida) We do think a day at Catalina would be great, did you swim at Newport? Was there much to do there? My husband is not stoked about driving in CA but it would be a way to get from the airport to Warner Brothers and then to Hollywood and finally to the hotel plus a place to store our luggage since we arrive at Long Beach Airport at 9 am. Thanks!!!!

 

[thymed]

I agree...it's not my favorite area. We sometimes try and have lunch at Cantors and then leave. A couple of years ago we had to stop because Danny Bonaduce was jaywalking in front of our car. That was the extent of the celebrity sightings...ew.

Good to know I don't need to spend too much time in Hollywood.

 

[sherilaine]

Thanks for the input! I was trying to determine if Newport was a good beach to hang out! We will take off from there to visit Catalina. Is swimming something many people do in CA in June??? I have heard rumblings that the water is somewhat cold and a full day at the beach may not be the ticket.

We were there beginning of May and plenty of people were swimming.

 

[Spwhoney]

We are thinking of bypassing Universal and Sea World (I can catch both in Florida) We do think a day at Catalina would be great, did you swim at Newport? Was there much to do there? My husband is not stoked about driving in CA but it would be a way to get from the airport to Warner Brothers and then to Hollywood and finally to the hotel plus a place to store our luggage since we arrive at Long Beach Airport at 9 am. Thanks!!!!

We did not swim at Newport, there were many people there playing in the water. I would not use the bathrooms at the pier, at the entrance of the pier, YUCK. My kids really wanted sea shells and they had plenty along beach. DD even found a sand dollar. It was really crowded for parking, but drove around a bit and found a spot. Traffic wasn't bad when we went, a Thursday.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

WebmasterLeah was just out here with her family, and spent two days in the Hollywood area. We are going to be talking to her and her husband about their visit, and she does have ideas regarding staying in the Hollywood area versus Anaheim area when visiting Hollywood.

They visited the Burbank area, Walt's grave, Tam O'Shanter restaurant (Walt's favorite), Travel Town (outdoor train museum with Walt's Barn, though we didn't go in Walt's Barn), the carousel at Griffith Park (where Walt would take his daughters and came up with the idea for Disneyland), Hollywood and Highland, and some other places. They did end up running out of time, and this Thursday, you can listen to their experience on the podcast.

 

[VandVsmama]

There is a really nice beach in San Diegi on Coronado Island callef Silver Strand State Beach. It costs $10 to park and there was no "rif raf" aka gang bangers therr. Lots of families, not crowded, parking is RIGHT THERE and decent bathrooms. I was just there yesterday and highly recommend it!

 

[VandVsmama]

Diego not diegi. I cannot spell today!

 

[Sherry E]

thymed -

I wholeheartedly endorse a Catalina Island day trip (see the blue link in my signature below)! I've been a big Catalina fan for 25 years (and am going there again next month to take advantage of the Catalina Express Free Birthday Round-Trip boat ride promo, which has been running for 3 consecutive years).

The only thing I would tell you is that I don't recommend taking the Catalina Flyer out of Newport Beach to get to Avalon because the departure and return schedule is very limiting and it will really cut down on what you can do with your time there. My friends who live in Orange County (which is where Newport is) don't even take the Flyer there for day trips because the return time is too early and they can't go out to the Island at the time they want.

The only time I recommend taking the Flyer out of Newport to Catalina is if you plan to spend the night (or multiple nights) on the Island. Then it is much more worthwhile, in my opinion.

For one-day trips without overnight stays and to maximize your time, Catalina Express is 100% better. The Express has many more departure and return times -- out of Long Beach and San Pedro, but Long Beach is the one I recommend. (There is an Express terminal right near the Queen Mary, the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shoreline Village.) Yes, the price is higher for the Express (though you can sometimes find small discounts online) than the Flyer, but it's because you get more flexibility with when you want to go to the Island and when you want to return from the Island.

If you're going to be in Newport Beach, I would just stay in Newport and enjoy what that wonderful city has to offer. In fact, fellow DIS'er pixarmom has a great thread with detailed Newport Beach photos and information - here.

I live reasonably close to Hollywood. Actually, I am extremely close to The Grove/Farmers Market, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Petersen Auto Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits, etc. (Those would all be great places to visit on your Hollywood day, if you have time.) Canter's Deli is just a quick dash up Fairfax. The famous Pink's Hot Dogs is a few minutes away, on La Brea. Melrose, Santa Monica Blvd. and Sunset Blvd. are all within minutes. Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive are a few minutes to the west.

My immediate area is good (with The Grove and LACMA and all of those places). I like it. As for Hollywood -- personally, I used to spend much more time on Hollywood Blvd. in my younger years (there were a lot of cool collectible shops for musicians and/or music fans). Now? Eh...not so much! Even though there are parts of Hollywood Blvd. and shops that are interesting and should be seen at some point (like the Chinese Theater), the overall area is often kind of on the 'sketchy' side and it scares people away, I think. There have been "clean up Hollywood" efforts in the past, and those work for a brief time, but then the area goes right back to being sketchy again!

Fellow DIS'er DizNee Luver described her not-so-great experience in Hollywood in her December 2012 Trip Report. She had a multi-day trip (like you will have) to Disneyland -- and one of the days was spent in Hollywood. I'll have to find the link to that particular post in her TR so you can read about it. Let's just say that she regretted going to Hollywood and not taking my advice to visit The Grove and Farmers Market instead!

Have fun planning!

 

[Dolf]

I like what everyone has said so far because for the most part everything is true. I think 7 days is a lot of time to do SoCal, but it does sound like you are trying to get a lot done.

Warner Bros. is great, keep in mind they only do them on the weekdays, and I personally think the earlier tours are generally better than the afternoon ones. Also keep in mind there are no guarantees as to what you are going to be able to see at any of the studio tours. One tour may run into Conan O'brien, cast members from 2 & A Half Men, Big Bang Theory, and Mike & Molly, and another tour will just me wandering around aimlessly around an empty lot. Nonetheless the tour guides will try to be entertaining and informative.

As for Hollywood, I guess you really might have to ask yourself what you really want to see before you plan to get here. Some film buffs would like to visit the historical parts of Hollywood and find where certain things were filmed or where stars use to live. Are you into current pop-culture entertainment news such as TMZ? I know that the boring tourists tours are always there, but TMZ shows you the Hollywood of today, like where Lindsey Lohan likes to party (Disney tie-in ). The Grumman's Chinese Theatre is cool to look at. I once saw a movie and sat right next to Cameron Diaz, and we were sharing the same arm rest the entire movie. Seriously that happened.

I do recommend watching a movie at the El Cap, mainly because it is a movie going experience that you are probably not going to find at home. They usually have some kind of pre-show with an organist, the movie theatre is an old school one with a balcony, and it's right next door to the Soda Fountain place, which the theatre allows you to bring food there.

Stay late in Hollywood and travel to Anaheim in the late evening to avoid traffic.

Stay away from the 5, the 405, and 101 between the hours of 7AM-9AM, and 4PM-7PM. For whatever reason also, Tuesdays and Thursday are the heavier traffic days.

I am glad to have this information. I was not certain if there was so much to do in Hollywood that we would need to spend the night. Sounds like a stop off after a studio tour, catch some sights maybe get something to eat and then head out and not feel like we have missed anything.
Want to see El Capitan and Disney Soda Fountain but that shouldn't take too long!

I see it as a 1 day excursion, but not an overnight thing.

I found that hotels in Hollywood were pricier than Anaheim.

God only knows why Real Estate is at a premium in Hollywood.

WebmasterLeah was just out here with her family, and spent two days in the Hollywood area. We are going to be talking to her and her husband about their visit, and she does have ideas regarding staying in the Hollywood area versus Anaheim area when visiting Hollywood.

They visited the Burbank area, Walt's grave, Tam O'Shanter restaurant (Walt's favorite), Travel Town (outdoor train museum with Walt's Barn, though we didn't go in Walt's Barn), the carousel at Griffith Park (where Walt would take his daughters and came up with the idea for Disneyland), Hollywood and Highland, and some other places. They did end up running out of time, and this Thursday, you can listen to their experience on the podcast.

This is all great stuff. Can't wait to hear the podcast. Just so you know, I spend most of my drive time around LA and OC listening to the DisUnplugged, both coasts.

thymed -
For one-day trips without overnight stays and to maximize your time, Catalina Express is 100% better. The Express has many more departure and return times -- out of Long Beach and San Pedro, but Long Beach is the one I recommend.

I recommend leaving out of Long Beach too. I've done this twice, and also there are other cool things to do in Long Beach if you are so inclined. Beside the Queen Mary and the Aquarium, they have The Pike which has shops and restaurants, but they also have a Laugh Factory. If you wanted to go see comedians and not want to be in Hollywood, this is the place. (They have one of these in Hollywood, but why go to Hollywood for this one?)

I live reasonably close to Hollywood. Actually, I am extremely close to The Grove/Farmers Market, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Petersen Auto Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits, etc. (Those would all be great places to visit on your Hollywood day, if you have time.) Canter's Deli is just a quick dash up Fairfax. The famous Pink's Hot Dogs is a few minutes away, on La Brea. Melrose, Santa Monica Blvd. and Sunset Blvd. are all within minutes. Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive are a few minutes to the west.

My immediate area is good (with The Grove and LACMA and all of those places). I like it. As for Hollywood -- personally, I used to spend much more time on Hollywood Blvd. in my younger years (there were a lot of cool collectible shops for musicians and/or music fans). Now? Eh...not so much! Even though there are parts of Hollywood Blvd. and shops that are interesting and should be seen at some point (like the Chinese Theater), the overall area is often kind of on the 'sketchy' side and it scares people away, I think. There have been "clean up Hollywood" efforts in the past, and those work for a brief time, but then the area goes right back to being sketchy again!

I feel the same way too. I'm 36 now, but I'll say that 15 years ago, Hollywood means something to me different now than it did when I was chasing the dream of being in the entertainment industry. I do have a business in Hollywood (a local theare company, but that's a whole different topic.) Although Hollywood is being re-gentrified, it is a slow but sure process. As far as "sketchy", though there are parts that seem like it and feel like it, if you stay around the Hollywood and Highland area or west, you'll be fine.

Also, if you happen to like music stores, one of the last ones in the area still exists called Amoeba Music on Sunset and Ivar. This place can be dangerous in the sense that you'll walk in with money, and walk out with tons of CDs, Records, or DVDs.

For the most part, I think Hollywood is what you make of it. You have to know what you want to get out of it and do it. I would keep asking around from other people as to what they think. Check out some of the Podcasts that the DL Team have done. Nancy does a very good job covering a lot of great information. Heck, though you may just have your hotel stay in Anaheim the entire time, you might wind up heading up to Hollywood twice! Happy travels

 

[Sherry E]

I recommend leaving out of Long Beach too. I've done this twice, and also there are other cool things to do in Long Beach if you are so inclined. Beside the Queen Mary and the Aquarium, they have The Pike which has shops and restaurants, but they also have a Laugh Factory. If you wanted to go see comedians and not want to be in Hollywood, this is the place. (They have one of these in Hollywood, but why go to Hollywood for this one?)

I feel the same way too. I'm 36 now, but I'll say that 15 years ago, Hollywood means something to me different now than it did when I was chasing the dream of being in the entertainment industry. I do have a business in Hollywood (a local theare company, but that's a whole different topic.) Although Hollywood is being re-gentrified, it is a slow but sure process. As far as "sketchy", though there are parts that seem like it and feel like it, if you stay around the Hollywood and Highland area or west, you'll be fine.

Also, if you happen to like music stores, one of the last ones in the area still exists called Amoeba Music on Sunset and Ivar. This place can be dangerous in the sense that you'll walk in with money, and walk out with tons of CDs, Records, or DVDs.

For the most part, I think Hollywood is what you make of it. You have to know what you want to get out of it and do it. I would keep asking around from other people as to what they think. Check out some of the Podcasts that the DL Team have done. Nancy does a very good job covering a lot of great information. Heck, though you may just have your hotel stay in Anaheim the entire time, you might wind up heading up to Hollywood twice! Happy travels

Dolf -

I think that in your above post you accidentally broke up my comments so that it looks like part of the text was said by me (where I am talking about heading to Catalina out of Long Beach), and part of it was said by Spwhoney (the part where I am talking about living close to Hollywood, The Grove, Farmers Market, etc.). I'm not sure how that happened, but I just wanted to point out that Spwhoney did not make the comment about living near Hollywood, The Grove, etc.

Anyway, yes, Long Beach is a fun little area in and of itself. However, I think that if Catalina Island is really going to be a viable option for a day trip for thymed, and if the Express out of Long Beach is a possibility, it's best to skip the other Long Beach things on that specific day and just do Catalina. I would do most of the other Long Beach things on a separate day.

In this case, I think that Long Beach is the best terminal from which to catch the Express because of the frequent Summertime departures and returns. That kind of flexible schedule would work if, for example, thymed wanted to do the extra-fun Flying Fish tour (and Flying Fish are part of what Catalina is known for). There's no way to do that tour unless you take a nighttime boat back to the mainland, and the Catalina Flyer out of Newport Beach simply doesn't have a return time anywhere close to being conducive to that.

I think that if Newport Beach is a definite part of thymed's plan, then Catalina should be skipped that day and the focus should just be on exploring Newport Beach.

Amoeba is a great store! Tons of things to look at. There used to be so many tiny, hole-in-the-wall music stores and interesting independent music stores around Los Angeles years and years ago. I used to frequent stores like The Rock Shop in my Hollywood heyday way back when. I also used to hit the Rock & Roll Swap Meet every month at the Hollywood Roosevelt (and later, the Hyatt), then would grab some food at West Castle (the West Coast equivalent of White Castle at that time). Ah, the good ol' days.

Although I'm glad that Disney has a solid presence in Hollywood via the El Capitan and the Studio Store/Soda Fountain, there are definite spots that are sketchy!

I think this thread is feeling more like a Southern California thread and not really a Disneyland planning thread. Thymed, I think I will move it over to our SoCal planning forum (in the California & the West section), with a redirect!

 

[thymed]

There is a really nice beach in San Diegi on Coronado Island callef Silver Strand State Beach. It costs $10 to park and there was no "rif raf" aka gang bangers therr. Lots of families, not crowded, parking is RIGHT THERE and decent bathrooms. I was just there yesterday and highly recommend it!

Thank you for the information. I am not sure we will get as far as San Diego but if we do that sounds like the beach for us!