Vegas + DL

[wdw&sonny]

How do I do Vegas and DL in one week?
Family of 4 from Ohio. Thinking about taking my wife and 2 older boys to Vegas and DL for 2017 spring break. We are WDW veterans.

What are the logistics: Should we fly to Vegas? Drive to DL? Fly home from LAX? Or reverse? How many days at each? How's the drive? What should we do or not do to make the logistics of the trip better?
Can you tell me what you think works best from logistics, finances etc?
Thanks.

 

[cruisehopeful]

What are you planning on doing in Vegas? I think 3 or 4 days is enough for most people. Same with Disneyland - 3 or 4 days.

I would fly to Vegas and then drive to DL, but you are looking at around a 5 hour drive. If you could afford to fly from Vegas to DL, that may be more enjoyable. It's mostly a desert drive and while it is beautiful, it can get be a bit much when you are on the long parts with nowhere to use a toilet or find shade.

It will help to know what you want to do in Vegas. It isn't the greatest place to bring anyone under 21, but there are things to do (nature parks, mob museum, shows, etc).

 

[Scootypuffjr]

It's hard to answer your questions without knowing what you'd like to do in Vegas. The best advice I can give you is don't drive from DL to Vegas on a Friday and don't drive from Vegas to DL on a Sunday or you will sit in a lot of traffic the whole way. Also, I would look into flying into Orange County/Santa Ana as it is much closer, smaller, and convenient for travel to Disneyland. I grew up in Orange County and lived in Vegas for 5 years, so if you have more specific questions let me know.

 

[agamble]

We used to live in Las Vegas and we had APs. The drive was only 4-hours for us (and we were a good 20 minutes further out than the strip) as long as traffic wasn't bad. I suggest driving early in the morning or later at night. And as Scootypuffjr said, don't drive to DL on a Sunday or from DL to Vegas on a Friday. That's when all the Californians are going to or from Vegas for their trips.

When is your spring break? Many schools have the week before or after Easter off, though it looks like Vegas schools have moved their spring break up to the last full week in March. The entire county is all one district, so different schools are not out on different weeks. Expect any of those three weeks to be busy both at DL and in Vegas.

I personally think 2 or 3 days is more than enough time for Las Vegas, but others would disagree. I could easily spend 4 or 5 days at Disneyland. I think 4 is the number needed to do most things, and three is doable.

EDIT: No Vegas spring break is still the week before Easter. When I clicked on the calendar it still showed me the previous year calendar. So it's mid-April.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

To echo what everyone else is saying, do not drive from DLR to Vegas on Friday or Vegas to DLR on Sunday (the opposite direction is fine). Also, avoid driving during morning and evening rush hours in Southern California at all costs.

I probably go to Vegas every year for a weekend with friends. Fly in on Friday and fly home on Sunday. I find that is usually plenty of time. The problem with Vegas is that it's great when you have money, but it's the worst place in the world when you run out, LOL.

How old are your boys? Are they older than 21? For those under 21, there's really not much to do there IMO other than see the hotels on the strip, which you can easily do in a day or two. It (I guess the strip specifically) is becoming less and less family friendly as time goes on. Vegas is primarily shows, gambling, clubs, eating and hanging out at the pool. For minors, much more to do in Southern California TBH.

I would say 2 days at Vegas, 5 days at DLR. If you've never been to California, maybe 4 days at Disneyland and spend a day exploring southern California.

 

[Airplanes]

I am from the LA area and used to live in Vegas for school. Flying is less stressful (to me) but probably not as cost-effective for a family. If you do fly, consider flying from SNA or LGB instead of LAX - both are closer to Disneyland and smaller than LAX. LAX has been kind of crazy lately, especially in security.

Seconding, thirding etc. NOT driving into Vegas on Friday or back to California on Sunday. I would say if you absolutely had to drive on those days, an early morning Friday drive to Vegas (I mean leaving at around 4-5 am) is doable. Same with Sunday, that's when my parents like driving back to LA. Also take into account that if there's an accident on I-15 this will prolong your driving time severely. It's a really boring drive 4-5 hour honestly. Maybe it's just the countless times I've made the drive but there's nothing to look at besides the desert and the cars around you.

Yes, if your kids are under 21, there's really not too much for them to do. I agree with 2-3 days in Vegas and the rest in Disneyland. If I spent more than 3 days on the Strip I would feel like I'm stuck in a nightmare

 

[MouseLover]

We flew into LAX, spent 4 days @ Disneyland. Drove ~4-1/2 hours to Vegas and flew out of LAS. We have done the same thing twice.
I would prefer to fly into SNA but it was much cheaper for both flights & rental cars using LAX.

 

[nikerbokers]

I am a huge fan of Disney AND Vegas. My biggest piece of advice is don't bring your kids to Vegas. But if that is not an option... I can do 3 nights in Vegas before I have to tap out. I'm a gambler and like to have a few drinks too and try some restaurants. Vegas is not really a family friendly town (at least the touristy areas are not) so you may be fine with 2-3 days. Then drive to DL, spend 3 days there. Fly home from the LA area.

 

[cruisehopeful]

If I spent more than 3 days on the Strip I would feel like I'm stuck in a nightmare

I usually feel that way on one day.
I did stay at the strip last year and it was very convenient to walk around and collect cards of naked ladies and hear the loud speaker asking if I liked boobies, but we spent the majority of our time away from the strip and because of that, I would rather stay away from the strip. I had 3, 18-20 year olds with me and they all hated the entire place.

Things I love about Vegas are Red Rock Canyon, the wild burros walking around Bonnie springs Ranch, Valley of Fire, the Mob Museum. I did enjoy the titanic exhibit but it is an overpriced one and done type of thing, which is typical being on the strip. I still need to see Lake Meade, the Hoover Dam and the boneyard. All of those things would be boring to kids.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

We did a 4 night trip to Vegas and saw 5 cirque shows in those 4 nights. It was amazing and my recommendation for what to do in Vegas for those who can't drink, but you have to like Cirque Du Soleil

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

. I had 3, 18-20 year olds with me and they all hated the entire place

Haha, yeah 20 y/o is probably the absolute worst age to be in Vegas. You're old enough to WANT to do all the stuff that Vegas offers, but not old enough to actually do any of it, LOL. At least if you're 10, you can just look at the pretty lights and the fake Eiffel Tower and be happy.

Of course, when you're 21 y/o, Vegas is amazing (though maybe not when you're with your parents )

We did a 4 night trip to Vegas and saw 5 cirque shows in those 4 nights.

Pre-kiddos, my wife and I loved going to Vegas. We watched shows most nights as well, slept in everyday. Rolled out of bed, walk to great restaurants. My wife would hit the spa. Vegas is actually quite relaxing for couples. I'm really a sucker for magic shows, LOL, and we watched Cirque as well. I saw The Producers there with Tony Danza, can't say I was very impressed but fortunately I had seen it on Broadway before.

 

[bcla]

Yes, if your kids are under 21, there's really not too much for them to do. I agree with 2-3 days in Vegas and the rest in Disneyland. If I spent more than 3 days on the Strip I would feel like I'm stuck in a nightmare

It's not necessarily an ideal place for kids, but there's a lot more now that can accommodate kids. We took our kid to the show at the Excalibur. Circus Circus has an indoor amusement park. We've been to Vegas with a young child, and most hotels (even the Bellagio that technically has a restrictive child policy) was fine. There's a children's museum, and depending on time of year the Nevada Railroad Museum in Boulder a City has train rides.

Here are some ideas:

http://www.lasvegaskids.net
https://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/awesome-things-to-do-with-your-kids-in-las-vegas

We also went to the Ethyl M candy factory in Henderson.

Spring might not be a good time, but my kid loved Death Valley, which was less than two hours from Vegas. We stopped at one of the major sand dunes, although we didn't have a bucket or sand toys.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I appreciate the replies and good ideas.
My boys will be 22 and 19. Their spring breaks coincide this year in the first week of March.
We will be flying from Cleveland. I think it is economically not feasible to fly from Vegas to DL.
We are not gamblers. We would be more likely to spend the day at the pool, nice dinner and a show. We love La Nouba at WDW.
Again, big WDW fans. So, likely to do 2-3 days Vegas and 4-5 days DLR.

We are active not passive...that is, we are more likely to "do stuff" than to "view stuff". We aren't into touring museums or factories, but would like to zipline off a building, for example.

Keep the suggestions coming for shows, attractions, hotels and travel plans.
Much appreciated to us newbies to the left coast.

 

[BadPinkTink]

but would like to zipline off a building, for example.
.

well then if thats what you had in mind maybe this Vegas hotel is for you http://www.stratospherehotel.com

Their attractions are

http://www.stratospherehotel.com/Activities/SkyJump
SkyJump is a heart-pounding, scream-inducing, open-air leap from 829 feet above the neon Strip. You’ll zoom toward the landing pad at speeds topping 40mph, while the crowds below gasp and applaud your bravado.

http://www.stratospherehotel.com/Activities/Big-Shot
Strap into the Big Shot and prepare to be shot 160 feet in the air at 45 miles per hour as you overlook the majestic Las Vegas Valley. In a matter of seconds, the Big Shot thrill ride catapults 16 riders from the 921-foot high platform up the Tower's mast to a height of 1,081 feet and down again. Before you catch your breath, you'll be shot back up again at forces unmatched by other Vegas thrill parks!

http://www.stratospherehotel.com/Activities/Insanity
Insanity the Ride is a truly mind-bending experience! A massive mechanical arm extending out 64 feet over the edge of the Stratosphere Tower at a height of over 900 feet, this Vegas ride will spin you and several other passengers in the open air at speeds of up to three 'G's. You'll be propelled up to an angle of 70 degrees, which will tilt your body into one position — straight down!

http://www.stratospherehotel.com/Activities/X-scream
Ever played on a giant teeter-totter, 866 feet above the ground? With X-Scream, you can! Its space age, yet simplistic design resembles a massive teeter-totter or a Vegas rollercoaster unlike any other ever seen. X-Scream propels you and several other riders headfirst, 27 feet over the edge of the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower.

 

[MillauFr]

Our family just got back from Las Vegas and DL. We flew into Las Vegas on a Saturday and stayed at Mandalay Bay. The location isn't the best but the pool is great and the rooms are nice. We went the Michael Jackson and the Beatles Cirque shows. They were great. We also loved the restaurants too... We enjoyed Mon Ami Gabi, Charlie Palmer Steak, Veranda, In & Out, the food court at NY NY, and Chada Thai and wine.

We drove to DL on Monday. We left at 11:00a and the traffic was fine except for a 10 mile back up at the Yermo agricultural check station. That cost us about 30 minutes. We also stopped for lunch in Barstow at In & Out. One warning is that both rest areas in California are closed. We made sure we stopped in Primm which is about the last place you can stop before Barstow. No traffic in Los Angeles or Orange County. We got to DL at 4:45p.

We spent the next five nights at DL. We always stay at the Candy Cane Inn. Decent price, very nice employees, free breakfast, free parking, close to the park, and very clean.

We also went to Universal after DL and then flew out of Burbank.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

. I think it is economically not feasible to fly from Vegas to DL.

Flying is not necessary. It's an easy drive as long as you avoid the times mentioned.

Vegas Hotels - I am partial to Wynn/Encore or Venetian/Palazzo personally, but the hotels on the strip are all generally nice hotels. I think if you can get a good deal on any of them, you'll be fine. I probably wouldn't stay at Excalibur or Circus Circus though. also Stratosphere is kind of way out there, the location is not all that great. As a budget "I just need a room" kind of option, my friend said he thought the "Station" hotels (Palace station, etc) were decent, but they are off strip.

Shows - if you like Cirque, Vegas is the right place to be. I've seen most of them (including La Nouba), and I think different people will have different opinions on which one they like. my buddy likes the Beatles and Michael Jackson due to the music. I liked O I think, it has a water stage, but to be honest I don't find them all that different. There's also a show called La Reve in the Wynn that is similar to Cirque du Soleil which was also good. The theater is smaller and a bit more intimate. I've also seen David Copperfield and Penn and Teller there (like I said, I like magic shows, lol), Blue Man Group, Phantom of the Opera, probably some others I don't remember.

Transportation - You can rent a car obviously, or take a taxi. The hotels on the strip used to all have free valet parking for everyone (not just hotel guests) but I've heard this may have changed. I typically take a taxi since I don't usually leave the strip (I actually rarely leave the Wynn/Venetian area). Its a bit of a hike if you are going from the north strip to the south strip, so you may need to drive in between hotels to shows and such. If you take a taxi from the airport to the strip, DO NOT LET THEM TAKE YOU ON THE HIGHWAY. It's the biggest scam in Vegas. What should be a $15 cab ride becomes $35. There are also buses that go up and down the strip, as well as a monorail (but I would not recommend the monorail as a serious mode of transportation since the location is not convenient). If you are leaving the Strip, you will want to rent a car.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

My sister is doer as well when she visits Vegas. They went to the Bonnie Spring Ranch and rode horses and visited the town. They really loved it. They also did the zip line on Fremont Street. A tidbit she learned: she's really thin so didn't have enough weight/ momentum to take her all the way down the zip line; she had to be rescued halfway down! She said hanging for 15 minutes above the street while people cheered for her was an experience she'll never forget!

 

[bcla]

Flying is not necessary. It's an easy drive as long as you avoid the times mentioned.

It can be done. Sometimes Southwest has some really cheap fares. Once I was flying from San Jose to Las Vegas with a quick stop (no plane change) at LAX. There were a lot of passengers flying LAX-LAS. LAS is the 10th most popular flight from SNA. I've found flights on Southwest as cheap as $42 one-way.

 

[GoBears 1980]

Two nights is plenty for Vegas.

Get a three day park hopper for Disneyland and then plan on two days to see the area. Maybe head to Huntington Beach or Laguna Beach or both or all three if you throw in Newport Beach.

Maybe do one day in LA to see Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Beverly Hills, etc.

 

[StyledSugar]

We have done this, twice. Once with kids and once on our own. The first time we stayed four nights in Vegas before driving to DL for another five nights. The second time we flew into Vegas for five nights and flew to DL for another four. We loved the flying option but with kids, driving and renting a car is definitely cheaper! The drive really isn't that bad.

With seven days, I would do three in Vegas and four in DL (three if the last day is a travel day). It's definitely enjoyable and we are doing it again in October! We're doing six days in Vegas (we are getting married, so we definitely needed the extra days) and then five in DL. We are driving this time and looking very forward to it!