Palm Springs & Disney?

LindsayB0505 · January 2012

My IL's rented a house in Palm Springs for the winter and we are going down next month along with BIL, SIL and our niece for about 10 days. It's a big 5 bedroom house with a pool and I'm looking very forward to getting out of this ridiculous -40 weather we are having here now.

I have two questions:

1) Does anyone have any recommendations of things to do in and around Palm Springs? I also plan on doing some serious shopping if you can recommend places to do that.

2) The IL's offered to watch the kids so the four of us can make a day trip to Disney. I've never been, DH once when he was quite young. Do you think it's worth it to try to do Disney in one day including the drive?

NittanyLionLaura · January 2012

I don't know anything about Palm Springs, but as far as Disney goes. You'll be under 3 hours from there. If you have never been to Disney..I think it's worth the drive to experience it. The hard part will be picking the park you want to spend the day at! I'd probably recommend Epcot or Magic Kingdom (or see what a 1-day hopper pass costs, but I dont know if it's worth it because you really need a whole day to spend at both of those parks).

krissyrose210 · January 2012

3 hours each way is a long drive to do in 1 day. However, you know I am all about Disney and I think everyone should go once. If you guys are looking to experience the 'Disney magic" then I would say MK over Epcot. However, some people love 'traveling the worlds' in Epcot, so if that is what you are looking for then that would be a good choice.

alissa2128 · January 2012

I am with Krissy and LOVE Disney, we just got back from there. Like she said, if you want to do "Disney" and what everyone pictures, head to Magic Kingdom. My favorite is really Hollywood Studios because of the rides-- Tower of Terror, Rockin Roller Coaster, Toy Story Mania, although I do love the rides at Magic Kingdom as well. Epcot is also really fun and has really good food in the worlds. DH and I decided to drink around the world one of the days that we were there and split a drink in every country, it was really fun! Basically I don't think you can go wrong with any of the parks! It just depends on what you are looking to do.

yvdukana · January 2012

Isn't Palm Springs in CA? If so, wouldn't your only choice be Disneyland? I'm not super familiar with DL or CA since I grew up in FL. DW in Orlando, FL has the 4 parks the other girls were mentioning (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom). You might want to ask our CA nesties for more shopping and DL advice. For some reason I think someone may have confused Palm Springs for Palm Beach, FL as far as how far the drive might be to the parks. Or I'm just super geographically challenged and my google skills stink :-p Either way, hope you have a great time!

indomesticbliss · January 2012

Have fun! I have been to palm springs a few times, but it's always been for golf tournaments-my aunt and uncle have a house at PGA West-and we rarely go off the course. There are a ton of great places to eat in the area also.

Re:Disney, personally, I wouldn't go, but I'm not a big disney person. I would take he day and go to one of the local spas. ... Though disney is one of those places you have to go once in your life.

NittanyLionLaura · January 2012

ha, yeah..I was totally thinking Palm Beach. The sad part is..mapquest totally validated my wrong state. I typed in Palm Springs, FL and it gave me directions to Orlando from there, so I never even thought about it!

If it is indeed Palm Springs, CA...then that is even closer to Disney than Palm Beach, FL is to that Disney!

CurlyGirlyGirl · January 2012

LindsayB0505:
My IL's rented a house in Palm Springs for the winter and we are going down next month along with BIL, SIL and our niece for about 10 days. It's a big 5 bedroom house with a pool and I'm looking very forward to getting out of this ridiculous -40 weather we are having here now.
I have two questions:
1) Does anyone have any recommendations of things to do in and around Palm Springs? I also plan on doing some serious shopping if you can recommend places to do that.
The Cabazon outlets are not too far from Palm Springs. Desert Hills outlets are directly next door.
There are also Indian casinos if you're into that thing. There are loads of great restaurants (the gay bars are really fun too), and if you want to go out for a drink at a swanky bar, stop by the Hotel Zoso.
There's a tram out there as well you might want to check out, but I've never been on it.
Thursday nights are fun because they have a huge street fair with bands and local artists selling some really neat goods. Pomme Frittes is a great restaurant on that road too.
I go to Palm Springs each year for a conference, so I don't get much down time. If I think of anything else I'll let you know.
2) The IL's offered to watch the kids so the four of us can make a day trip to Disney. I've never been, DH once when he was quite young. Do you think it's worth it to try to do Disney in one day including the drive?
Yes, I would make a trip to Disney. However, when are you planning on going? Just know that if it's the week between xmas and new years it's insanely busy there and they often have to close the parks because they reach capacity. Make sure to leave plenty early to beat LA traffic, but I would estimate it would probably take less than 2 hours to get there.
I probably wouldn't bother getting a park hopper, so just stick with Disneyland.
We never eat in the park - we usually stop at Mimi's right across the street - it's quiet, less expensive than the sit down service in the parks, you get free refills on your drinks, and it's a much better meal. There are also several places in downtown disney you could check out.
Get there when they open. You can usually hit up quite a few rides before 11am. Plan strategically at night, as some rides and areas close to prepare for fireworks and the Fantasmic show.
Use your fastpasses and they will work wonders for you.
do not miss the Haunted Mansion this time of year - they completely overhaul it inside, and it's decorated like the Nightmare Before Xmas movie. It's the most popular ride in winter.

LindsayB0505 · January 2012

CurlyGirlyGirl:
LindsayB0505:
My IL's rented a house in Palm Springs for the winter and we are going down next month along with BIL, SIL and our niece for about 10 days. It's a big 5 bedroom house with a pool and I'm looking very forward to getting out of this ridiculous -40 weather we are having here now.
I have two questions:
1) Does anyone have any recommendations of things to do in and around Palm Springs? I also plan on doing some serious shopping if you can recommend places to do that.
The Cabazon outlets are not too far from Palm Springs. Desert Hills outlets are directly next door.
There are also Indian casinos if you're into that thing. There are loads of great restaurants (the gay bars are really fun too), and if you want to go out for a drink at a swanky bar, stop by the Hotel Zoso.
There's a tram out there as well you might want to check out, but I've never been on it.
Thursday nights are fun because they have a huge street fair with bands and local artists selling some really neat goods. Pomme Frittes is a great restaurant on that road too.
I go to Palm Springs each year for a conference, so I don't get much down time. If I think of anything else I'll let you know.
2) The IL's offered to watch the kids so the four of us can make a day trip to Disney. I've never been, DH once when he was quite young. Do you think it's worth it to try to do Disney in one day including the drive?
Yes, I would make a trip to Disney. However, when are you planning on going? Just know that if it's the week between xmas and new years it's insanely busy there and they often have to close the parks because they reach capacity. Make sure to leave plenty early to beat LA traffic, but I would estimate it would probably take less than 2 hours to get there.
I probably wouldn't bother getting a park hopper, so just stick with Disneyland.
We never eat in the park - we usually stop at Mimi's right across the street - it's quiet, less expensive than the sit down service in the parks, you get free refills on your drinks, and it's a much better meal. There are also several places in downtown disney you could check out.
Get there when they open. You can usually hit up quite a few rides before 11am. Plan strategically at night, as some rides and areas close to prepare for fireworks and the Fantasmic show.
Use your fastpasses and they will work wonders for you.
do not miss the Haunted Mansion this time of year - they completely overhaul it inside, and it's decorated like the Nightmare Before Xmas movie. It's the most popular ride in winter.

Thanks! You are my go to travel person apparently. You helped us out a ton when we went to Maui too.

We will be in California, not Florida Smile

I am not totally sold on making the trip to Disney. Mapquest tells me it is an hour and 40 minutes. We definitely plan on going when Kenzie is a little older so we can take her and experience the whole thing. So I just don't know if it's worth it to try to make a day trip. I guess I'll just wait and see what BIL, SIL and DH think when we get there.

We will be there Feb 11th to 19th.

NittanyLionLaura · January 2012

LindsayB0505:
CurlyGirlyGirl:
LindsayB0505:

Thanks! You are my go to travel person apparently. You helped us out a ton when we went to Maui too.

We will be in California, not Florida

I am not totally sold on making the trip to Disney. Mapquest tells me it is an hour and 40 minutes. We definitely plan on going when Kenzie is a little older so we can take her and experience the whole thing. So I just don't know if it's worth it to try to make a day trip. I guess I'll just wait and see what BIL, SIL and DH think when we get there.

We will be there Feb 11th to 19th.

I think it is worth it to go without her once to experience it on your own. I made DH go a few years ago so he had the experience without a kid wanting to buy everything they see, etc. It's a COMPLETELY different experience...both great in their own respect, but completely different. When you take Kenzie..you might not be able to ride all the stuff you two might want because you'll be on Dumbo, etc (which are awesome, but so are the roller coasters!)

Just my two cents!

LindsayB0505 · January 2012

Good point! Thanks. It'll be a good excuse to get a full day break from my IL's too

alissa2128 · January 2012

Ok, even though it's not Disney World and I have never been to Disneyland, I would still highly recommend doing some kind of Disney experience as an adult without kiddos, it's so much fun! I don't think you'll regret it, if I was only going to be an hour and 40 mins from Disney I wouldn't hesitate! lol

shortycole2 · January 2012

I would totally do Disneyland for a day trip.

Actually, the first week of February, David and I will be driving 1.5 hours from San Diego to do Disneyland AND California Adventure in the same day. But we're crazy.

As a reference point, Disneyland is tiny tiny tiny compared to Disneyworld. Plan out the highlights you want to hit, and you'll have a great time.

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