LA etc trip

[RichardinNZ]

After what has already been a hard year (redundancy and starting my own business) we are planning a trip to LA/Disney and then a road trip to Las Vegas and Grand Canyon etc. This will have to be in early January, which is when our schools are closed for the summer and New Zealand pretty much stops for a few weeks.    So far we've not got beyond planning 3 days at Disney....

Does anyone have an itinerary and route that has worked well for a family trip?  Where else should be head to?

Does anyone know whether there will be a 2015 Cruise into the New Year that I should try to fit our dates around?!

Many thanks
Richard

[jick]

If, like many of us, you have an interest in Hotrods & customs too, then you should definitely go to the Grand National Roadster show in Pomona, January 23rd- 25 in 2015...( if it's not too late in January for you?) .. It's an incredible ( and vast!) show.... We have a pretty good scene here in the UK, but nothing prepared me for what I saw there....the quality and variety of cars & build styles on show was mind blowing....
It's on the same site as the Wally Parks NHRA museum too!

Jick

[richie]

Pomona swap meet is always a good one, more like a car show than swap meet, its 18th January, I like a day or so up in the mountains above LA, usually enough snow for some fun, and you can leave the mountains and be at the beach in about 2 1/2 hours which is always sureal
How long is your trip? how tolerant are the family of car related stuff? 

cheers Richie 

[mg]

some tips to avoid the lines at the Tragic Kingdom or Dismal land as it was called when I worked there. 
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/28/news/la-trb-disneyland-in-a-day-02201228

[RichardinNZ]

Thanks for the information everyone.  I need to confirm the dates (not sure what day school starts back) and then start planning.  With three daughters there is a limit to car related stuff!   But I'll start to put an itinerary together.  Richard

[Fiatdude]

All cars all the time LOL

http://socalcarculture.com/events.html

Every Thursday night racing at Irwindale Too

[RichardinNZ]

Thanks for this.  Sorry for the delay I've had the flu and now head down catching up with work!

[draven898]

just a heads up the grand canyon is pretty cold that time of year you might want to check out the us parks web site and see what sections are open. as far as disneyland, 3 days is enough to tackle both parks one a day then decide which attractions you want to hit on the 3rd day at that point you should have a good idea on how to get around for more disneyland info try the app called "mousewait"

[draven898]

some tips to avoid the lines at the Tragic Kingdom or Dismal land as it was called when I worked there. 
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/28/news/la-trb-disneyland-in-a-day-02201228

that article is out of date once you have a fast pass you have to wait i think an hour to get another pass the only pass not connected is world of color

[mg]

that article is out of date once you have a fast pass you have to wait i think an hour to get another pass the only pass not connected is world of color
[/quote]

Perhaps some of these tips are still relevant?
http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/cadisneyland/a/lines.htm

[Jos]

If you're able to visit any of the national parks I would recommend it. Yellowstone and Sequoia are two you do t want to miss. (I've always wanted to visit them myself)

[draven898]

that article is out of date once you have a fast pass you have to wait i think an hour to get another pass the only pass not connected is world of color

Perhaps some of these tips are still relevant?
http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/cadisneyland/a/lines.htm
[/quote]
those are better and in january the crowds are a little lighter with the cool weather and holidays over

[RichardinNZ]

Finally got the main details sorted...dates, who is looking after 5 Guinea Pigs for us etc so now time to plan the itinerary!

I'll look through all of the links...thanks everyone.
Richard

[RichardinNZ]

Unfortunately the time we can spend away from home has shrunk and our list of places to visit has grown, so there is going to be little time for Vws on this holiday! 

However I still plan to visit Bergs and also catch up with Bill S who I met when we stopped over at Disney when we moved from England to New Zealand in 2007.  We will also get to see Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon and San Diego so really looking forward to the trip.
Thanks
Richard