Hi
I am coming over to LA in septemeber with my cousin we are 22 and 23. We are only staying for 4 nights so our schedule will be pretty tight therefore we only really ahve time to do either Disney or Universal which one would you reccomend?
Also we are stayin at the Hyatt Regency Century City, anyone know of anything good to do around there and how easy it is to get into hollywood etc as we are not hiring a car.
We were also wondering where is the best club to go on a Saturday night? We heard it was Les Deux can anyone suggest any place else?
Thanks
Universal or Disney?!
If you can change your hotel, do so (even if you have to pay a small penalty to cancel the reservation) or hire a car!!
The Hyatt, while a beautiful and highly-rated property is in the Century City area of Los Angeles. This neighborhood, fashioned out of the former backlot of the 20th Century Fox Studios is a grid of streets populated by highrise steel and glass skyscrapers. There is nothing to see or do there except for a shopping mall in the corner of the neighborhood which, in my view, you could skip without upsetting your visit.
After 18:00, the office buildings shut down and there is no one walking on the streets (which ban parking, btw). It%26#39;s just steel, glass and concrete plazas as far as the eye can see.
THe only public transit here are the buses some of which do not run through the neighborhood. This requires you to walk to either Santa Monica Bl to the north or Olympic Bl; to the south to catch one.
Getting to Disneyland from Century City requires taking 2 buses in succession. Total transfer time: around 3 hours EACH WAY. We can fashion an alternate route for you using buses, and a commuter train but those three conveyances will still take around 2 hours each way!
Getting to Universal isn%26#39;t a lot better.
1. You still have to walk to Santa Monica Bl to catch the bus
2. You still have to take either 2 buses or a bus followed by the metro rail
3. The transfer will still take about an hour, 15 minutes plus the time it takes to wait for and ride the free tram ';up the hill'; from the public transit station to the gates of Universal.
Ordinarily, I am a big proponent of public transit for visitors to our city but, in your case, I am making the exception.
If, on the other hand, you change your hotel to the RENAISSANCE HOLLYWOOD -- the only 5-star property in Hollywood, the commuting times are much better:
1. Universal%26#39;s metro rail stop is 4 minutes from the metro rail stop closest to the Renaissance.
2. Transfer time to DL is about an hour.
Between DL and US, it has a lot to do with what interests you. DL is the ';Magic KIngdom'; -- so if seeing Mickey Mouse and friends will tug at your heart, then DL is the way to go. Universal, on the other hand, is a working movie studio. Admission to Universal includes a tram tour of the studio which also involves driving through natural disasters (floods, avalanches, etc). There are also shows and movie-themed rides.
BTW, if you are thinking of taxi taxis to get around, keep in mind that:
1. Taxis do not roam the streets of our city. You must call a taxi company to order one or pick one up at a major hotel, or at a major entertainment area (like the Sunset Strip)
2. They are expensive. L.A. is very spread out. A taxi to DL, for example would be about $100.
Have fun!
Universal or Disney?!
Thanks for your reply!
I think I will give Disney a miss as I have been to other Disney Parks before anyway...
I don%26#39;t think I can cancel my booking so will have to stay with the Hyatt. I had a look at the other hotel you reccomended and didn%26#39;t like it as much anyway.
I am hoping the weather will b nice and we can walk a bit as we enjoy walking, failing that I guess we will have to book taxis.
Weather will be perfect in september, sunny, low 80%26#39;s, no rain. So no need to worry about that
As for clubs, Les Deux is impossible to get in on a saturday night. I can hook you up for tuesday nights as i have a contact that night there. As for saturdays, just message me the week when you come out here and i can see what i can do for you ;-)
I would say Universal or Magic Mountain.
Travis, there are dozens of hotels to choose from that are better situated than the Hyatt. Unless you%26#39;ve prepaid your entire stay there, cancellation will not exceed one night%26#39;s rent. Taking taxis for 4 days and nights could easily cost the price of one night%26#39;s stay.
Travisdog,
I have been advised to do Six Flags Magic Mountain if it is rollercoasters you are after.
I have done Disney and Universal in Florida before and Six Flags looks fantastic.
Regards
Mo
Hey Six Flags does sound quite good where abouts is this located?
Universal Studios has less to do than Disneyland/Disney%26#39;s California Adventure. However, if you%26#39;ve been to a Disney park before, try something new!
Magic Mountain is in Santa Clarita. It%26#39;s all about the roller coasters! Try not to go on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday unless you like big crowds. It can be accessed via public transit, but like most tourist destinations, is not terribly easy to get to from Century City.
Knott%26#39;s Berry Farm is in Buena Park. I consider it a cross between Disneyland and Universal Studios, but I haven%26#39;t been to it in years and it may be completely different now. It can be accessed by public transit, but again not easily from Century City.
Try the trip planner at http://www.metro.net to see how to get to these destinations. If you have further public transit questions, I would be happy to help, as long as you have specific travel dates in mind.
Is Universal Studios horribly crowded on a Sunday?
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