There are four major amusement parks -- Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knotts Berry Farm. Their sites all offer packages including hotels and/or airfare. Knotts and Disneyland also offer packages that give you admission into each other's parks as well as parks in San Diego,
Here is a brief description of the 4 parks as well as directions by car and public transportation. Please consult the parks' individual sites for more information.
A. DISNEYLAND RESORT (disneyland.com)
To purchase tickets to the parks with or without hotel or air, click on the appropriate circle under plan your stay" in the center of the disneyland.com page. 3-day,4-day, and 5-day 'Park Hopper' tickets allow you admission to both Disneyland Park and Disney's California Adventure. Downtown Disney is free to enter (no admission charge).
The resort consists of three locations in Anaheim, California:
a. Disneyland Park -- the original amusement park. Visit Mickey and the Gang at Disneyland
b. Disney California Adventure -- Shows, parades and attractions celebrating California's storied past and exciting future. From the gold rush to Hollywood's golden era to the timeless allure of the beach, discover the vast and diverse Golden State.
c. Downtown Disney -- Restaurant, shopping and entertainment complex along the lines of Universal City Walk
If you have questions about local hotel accommodations or operating practices at Disneyland, it is recommended that you post your question on the TripAdvisor Forum for Anaheim. Their direct link is: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-...
DIRECTIONS to the Disneyland Resort -- By Car (check the disneyland website for more details):
Take I-5 (Interstate 5) south. Exit Disneyland Drive and turn left (South). Then...
for... Disney's California Adventure™ and Disneyland®:
Proceed across Ball Road. Use the left three lanes to access the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure.
for ... Downtown Disney® District:
Continue on Disneyland Drive, staying in the far two right lanes. Follow the signs to the most convenient parking area.
for ...Disneyland® Hotel:
Continue on Disneyland Drive, staying in the far two right lanes. Turn right (West) on Magic Way and follow the sign to the hotel entrance on the left.
for... Disney's Grand Californian Hotel®:
Continue on Disneyland Drive, staying in the far two right lanes past the Disneyland® Hotel. The hotel entrance is located on the left at the second traffic signal.
for... Disney's Paradise Pier® Hotel:
Continue on Disneyland Drive, staying in the far two right lanes past the Disneyland® Hotel. The hotel entrance is located on the right at the second traffic signal.
DIRECTIONS to the Disneyland Resort -- By Public Transportation...
... from LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAX): Go to anaheim.coachusa.us/airport.cfm for information. The fare is $14 one way for adults.
... from Downtown Los Angeles -- Follow the information in the SECOND paragraph below (see "FROM UNION STATION TO GET TO DISNEYLAND")
(if you are staying outside of downtown Los Angeles, you must either travel into downtown first or you may travel to LAX to pick up the airport bus from LAX to Disneyland as described above): If you wish to depart for Disneyland from Union Station (downtown Los Angeles), take the "red line" metro train to Union Station. (The redline runs through Hollywood, Koreatown and Mid Wilshire and downtown. You may also connect to the 'redline' from one of the other metro train lines that run from Pasadena and Long Beach. If your hotel is in Santa Monica, Beverly hIlls or elsewhere, take a bus to Union Station. (For bus information, go to mta.net. In the right column of the screen, under metro planner, type your hotel's address such as "3332 Wilshire Blvd" (but omit the quotation marks (or type in the closest intersection like "Main street / 23rd Avenue" (but omit the quotation marks but include the slash if you are specifying an intersection). Next to the word "TO" type Union Station. If you are taking at least 3 bus or metro rail trips in one day, buy a "day pass" for $3 rather than individual tickets for $1.25. NOTE: if you travel on two different metro lines (for example, the 'blue line' and then connect to the "red line") that is considered two different trips and requires that you purchase TWO DIFFERENT TICKETS. There are NO FREE TRANSFERS between metro RAIL lines. Instead, buy a $3 'day pass' and you can ride unlimitedly on the metro trains and the buses.
FROM UNION STATION, TO GET TO DISNEYLAND...
Take either the Metrolink Train (metrolinktrains.com) or the Amtrak Train (amtrak.com) to either Fullerton or Anaheim. Both trains run on the same tracks and stop at the same stations. (Note: The Metrolink is an above-ground commuter train line that is not related to the 'metro rail' below-ground metro lines). Metrolink trains might be a little less expensive depending on the number of children in your party. Also, MOST IMPORTANTLY, Metrolink runs VERY FEW trains compared to Amtrak, so if there are no metrolink trains on the day and time you wish to travel, ask for an AMTRAK train. You may not purchase tickets for metrolink in advance online. You MAY purchase Amtrak train tickets in advance online. Trains take approximately 37 minutes to get to Fullerton and 42 minutes to get to Anaheim. Even though Disneyland is in Anaheim, in most cases it is better to take the train to Fullerton (rather than Anaheim) since the bus connections are better out of Fullerton. There are exception to this as follows:
1. If you plan on taking a taxi to Disneyland from the train (rail) station, go to Anaheim as it is a closer station.
2, If you are planning to arrive at Disneyland by NO LATER than 9 o'clock in the morning, there are EXPRESS BUSES (Route #430) that will take you from Anaheim Station to Disneyland ($1.25 / a 12 minute ride). These buses depart Anaheim rail station at 6:31, 7:01, 7:237, 7:52, 8:31, and 8:45. In the afternoon/evening, the buses depart from DL to the Anaheim Rail Station at 3:48, 4:19, 4:56, 5:15 and 6:01. The fare is, again, $1.25 and the ride (a slightly different route) takes 14 minutes.
If you plan to arrive at Disneyland after 9 am or depart DL before 3:48 or after 6:01, you should use the Fullerton Rail Station since coming into the Anaheim rail station during those times will necessitate taking 2 separate buses (the #50 Westbound from Katella-Douglass to Katella-Harbor followed by the #43 Northbound from Katella-Harbor to DL. The ride will take 20 minutes.
If you arrive at Fullerton, here are the bus directions:
Take the #43 southbound, The buses depart from one of two locations: either the #1 Transit dock (Parking space #1 for the buses) adjacent to the rail station or down the road to the west a short walk at the corner of Harbor Bl and Santa Fe Avenue (northwest corner), The buses alternate between these two starting points. The fare is $1.25 and the ride is 21 minutes.
For information about local buses for Disneyland, go to: www.octa.net and click on trip planner. Enter AMTRAK as the starting point and DISNEYLAND as the ending point. The system will ask you to clarify WHICH Amtrak station you want (click on either FULLERTON or ANAHEIM. The system assumes ANAHEIM unless you change it).
Total travel time from Union Station: 1 hour and 7 minutes at a cost of between $8 or $9.75 depending on whether you take Metrolink or Amtrak. (Amtrak offers a discount on children's tickets).
(Hotel + Universal Studios packages are at www.univacations.com/index.asp)
At the above site, be sure to look under Universal Studios HOLLYWOOD for the Featured Deal for Universal Studios Hollywood (Do not click on Universal Studios, ORLANDO, FLORIDA, by mistake).
DIRECTIONS to Universal Studios Hollywood -- By Car (check the Universal website for more details):
Take the Hollywood (101) Freeway north from downtown or Hollywood to either the Lankershim Bl or Universal Studios exits. Follow the signs to the parking lots.
DIRECTIONS to the Universal Studios Hollywood -- By public transportation:
Take the 'red line' metro to North Hollywood. Cross the parking lot, then cross Lankershim Blvd and wait at the bus stop on the right side of the road for the free shuttle up the hill to Universal. Alternatively, you can walk up the hill (about a 10-12 minute walk). If your hotel is not near the 'red line' metro, get bus and metro rail info at mta.net. In the right column of the screen, under metro planner, type your hotel's address such as "3332 Wilshire Blvd" (but omit the quotation marks (or type in the closest intersection like "Main street / 23rd Avenue" (but omit the quotation marks but include the slash if you are specifying an intersection). Next to the word "TO" type Universal Studios. If you are taking at least 3 bus or metro rail trips in one day, buy a "day pass" for $3 rather than individual tickets for $1.25. NOTE: if you travel on two different metro lines (for example, the 'blue line' and then connect to the "red line") that is considered two different trips and requires that you purchase TWO DIFFERENT TICKETS. There are NO FREE TRANSFERS between metrorail lines. Instead, buy a $3 'day pass' and you can ride unlimitedly on the metrorail trains and the buses. Warning, individual tickets for $1.25 expire 2 hours after purchase. If you plan to use individual tickets for both directions of your trip, do not purchase the return tickets until you are ready to board the train for the return trip.
If one of your main reasons to visit is to see Universal, recommend staying at the Univesal Hilton or Universal Sheraton (note: Its actually a fine place to saty.). By staying at these 2 you can walk (easy walk) or take a shuttle and be there right when the park opens. Go directly to the backlot tour and then see waterworld. This will make for a great way to see the theme park and avoid the expense of a Front of the Line Pass.
C. Six Flags Magic Mountain and adjacent 6 Flags Hurricane Harbor
NOTE: Hurricane Harbor is closed during the Fall and Winter Months
Amusement Park known for it's fast moving thrill rides. (May not be suitable for small children).
DIRECTIONS to Six Flags Magiic Mountain -- By Car (check the Six Flags website for more details):
Take the Hollywood (101) Freeway north to the 170 Freeway north. Take the 170 Freeway north to the Interstate 5 Freeway north (the 170 Freeway automatically ends at the I-5 north). Take Interstate 5 north to Magic Mountain Parkway. Exit Magic Mountain Parkway, turn left at the traffic signal at the bottom of the exit ramp going under the Freeway overpass. Proceed along Magic Mountain Parkway to Parking Toll Booths and entrance to Six Flags California.
DIRECTIONS to Magic Mountain -- By Public transportation (check the Magic Mountain website for more details):
There is a coach that will pick you up at your hotel, drop you at Magic Mountain and pick you up at the end of the day and return you to your hotel. Go to Alllosangelestours.com and enter SIX FLAGS in the search box in the upper right corner of the home page. At the time of this printing, the cost was $80.99 and included admission to Magic Mountain (and, of course, you are spared the experience of driving and finding parking).
D. Knotts Berry Farm (www.knotts.com) includes the amusement park plus Soak City (which is the adjacent water park):
DIRECTIONS to the Knotts Berry Farm -- By Car
(For additional info, check the Knotts website under 'plan a visit', then 'theme park' then 'directions'. On the page with the map, click on 'directions to knotts' at the bottom of the page):
Directions: Proceed South on Interstate 5 from downtown Los Angeles. Exit at Beach Blvd. Turn right (south) onto Beach Blvd. Proceed five blocks until you reach Knott's.
DIRECTIONS to the Knotts Berry Farm -- By Public Transportation
Your trip will commence from downtown Los Angeles at the northwest corner of Flower Street and 7th Street. (You may reach this intersection easily by taking either the 'red line' metrorail train or 'blue line' metrorail train to the 7th Street metro center station (where the two lines meet). If your hotel is not close to one of these metrorail lines, take a bus. Bus info is available by going to mta.net and specifying your hotel's address after the word 'from' in the right column of the main mta.net page. Next to the word "To" type the following: Flower Street / 7th Street (being sure to include the slash between the two streets). The website might ask you to verify this intersection by providing a list of intersections with similarly sounding names. Be sure to select the intersection with 90017 as its zip code.
Emerge from the 7th Street station and walk to the corner of 7th steet and flower street, take MTA bus #460 to Anaheim and get off at Knotts about an hour (or a little longer) later. (You may use mta.net to find a schedule of times for this bus route. Simply enter 7th street / flower street after the word 'from' and type in Knotts after the word "To").
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET TO THESE PARKS
In additon to public buses, metrorail and trains, the major coach tour companies offer trips to Universal, Knotts, Six Flags and Disneyland that include door-to-door service from your hotel as well as the admission to the park. Go to starlinetours.com(click on the area that you will be departing from) or www.grayline.com
Information based on forum thread:
