Here we go again; travel advice needed!

[S.o.a.r.]

Like the subject title implies, I've requested help from you members before, so therefore I'm hoping you'll help out once more. 

Sometime next year, around March-April, I'm planning on going to either California (again) for two weeks or to Orlando for one week by myself. The places I feel I need more information and suggestions about are Orlando and San Diego. If I go to California I'll be doing one week in San Diego and one week in San Francisco; this would make it my third visit in SF so I know my way around there.

~ San Diego ~
* What area would be optimal to live in to be fairly close to attractions and shopping malls?
* Apart from Sea World and San Diego Zoo, what else do I *need* to visit while in SD? (My first visit)
* What's the ultimate shopping mall for the best shopping experience?

~ Orlando ~
* How "easy" is it to get around town without a car? Only depending on busses and/or walking...
* Planning on getting a 2-day-ticket for Disney World, but I would like to explore Universal Studios or SeaWorld; which one would you recommend? Or name another attraction worth going to?
* I would like to live somewhat close to stores and restaurants but that would mean far from Disney World; any ideas on how to best solve this problem?

+ Bombard me with all the advice and suggestions you can think of. I won't be doing this trip for quite a while but I wanna be prepared and know as much as possible before making my decision.

[kaoskat]

We never had trouble getting around Orlando in a car.

[S.o.a.r.]

We never had trouble getting around Orlando in a car.

The thing is, I won't be using a car. Even though I plan on having my driver's license by then, I wouldn't dare drive around in Florida, so I was hoping to hear that taking the bus (for example) in Orlando is as easy as in California...

[kaoskat]

Never done that, but I know they have a lot of bus stops and buses roaming around so it likely is. The city is made for tourism so they do try to make things like that rather convenient.

[melodys_angel]

We had to use a taxi and he was very accommodating 9Disney misplaced our luggage so we had to scramble to get basic clothing and such).

Other then that, I don't think I can help much>  We stayed inside WDW itself.

[ghouldilocks]

I recently went to the Orlando area to visit with family who had flown in from London for a vacation. They had rented a house in Kissimmee which was right around the corner from tons of shops and restaurants and only a few minutes' drive from Disney. I didn't really spend any time inside Orlando "proper," though, and I'd rented a car...so I'm not sure what the bus situation is like. You can probably find out more about their public transit on the city website? I know there are some folk on here who live in Florida, too...they will probably have good info for you as well.

[S.o.a.r.]

Yeah, I'll be doing some research on San Diego/Orlando travel websites especially regarding commuting within the two cities. But it would be nice to hear about other interesting facts about these places from people who have visited or lives there.