Owen,
Car is very much king in LA, unlike San Francisco and Vegas so I would definitely consider car hire for the duration of your stay in LA. Anaheim would be a good choice to base yourself, especially if you want to do Disney. Remember there are two parks, and from personal experience I would say you need 2 days to do both justice, maybe 1.5 if you get going early both days. It would also be very difficult to fit Universal into a half day in my experience, it's not as easy to get around as Universal Orlando.

If you are looking at 3 days for theme parks it still leaves you 3 for other sightseeing. Definitely do a city tour that includes Santa Monica, Long Beach and Venice Beach. Try and include Hollywood into the tour as well, it really isn't that great so a special trip there would be a waste in my opinion. If of course you like the look of the beaches you can return for a proper day at the beach on another day. Don't forget also shopping at the Block at Orange (not far from Anaheim).

Finally, something worth considering is the location of your hotel in Anaheim. If you can find a property close enough you could walk to Disney and save on a couple of days car hire. We stayed at the Sheraton Anaheim and it was a 10-15min walk to Downtown Disney and there was a free bus to the parks laid on as well.

I have stayed in the carousel inn and suites, but this year we have opted for the cortona inn basically because it has free breakfast. It has quite good reviews and i personally like reading the management response on trip advisor to all the people who have written a report. Good or bad, he always writes.

Quite true majority of the hotels/inns are within walking distance to Disneyland, we see it from our breakfast room. Carousel inn and suites is a really nice hotel as is the camelot. It takes 20 secs approx to hit the gate, that is how close you are. The hotel we are going to is a block or so, but will only take 5-10 mins walk. Raddison i wouldn't really recommend , it is in dire need of refurbishment, and the hilton is quite a way to walk. There are trolley buses (ART) to take you to the theme park and back. If your hotel doesn't have a stop, then the next hotel will.

Buying a fast pass would speed up the day for you for a little extra, that way you maybe able to fit more in.

Although i do not mind driving abroad, i wouldn't fancy it in LA LA Land, LA is renowned for not having the best exit signs etc to understand and few a part. Sat Navs are a must really.

Universal is about an hour away. You can get tickets cut price on the web through disneyland site, in Anaheim most if not all will sell you tickets to which ever park you want to go to. Also for an additional charge will offer you transport, a coach, ART or the metro link. Metro link will certainly be cheaper than going on a tour bus.

We are going in June, don't be worried when you get there and its foggy its the smog, eventually it does clear, but in the mornings it can look like the UK

HTH

Michelle x

San Fran & Vegas hotels are fine stayed in both but if you can I would change the anaheim one to the Sheraton as its the only one with balconies that over look the park and you can watch the fireworks in the evening from your balcony.

If you Dont want to Drive in LA you could always take the super shuttle service which is outside arrivals to your hotel,we stopped at the holiday inn buena park which is away from the hussle and bussel of aheneim,and it was a lovely hotel the staff are great theres a mini bus service which takes you to disney and also knotts berry farm and the local mall with a big muti plex cinema if the kids want to see a film,its cheaper to eat and drink than aheneim as well.But the downside is you are a longway,away from the tourist bits of hollywood and star homes etc...if you want a day at the beach also....theres a bus service outside the hotel which will take you to Huntington beach.if you wished and didnt want to drive the hotel would book up a tour for you which includes universal and a hollywood tour,but if you really want to see the real hollywood you do really need a car....its up to you what you wish to see on your time in LA.

Also stopped 2 times at the Handrley San fran,nice hotel had a much better room this time than the first visit,just be a little cautious at night around union Square alot of vagrants and tramps hanging around pestering....more of a nuisance than a worry,but some do look a bit worrying.