The Renaissance is a cat 4 and is the best Marriott property near the airrport. Do not try to walk it at ten pm with two small children. Take the free shuttle.

I think shopping with a 2 and 4 year old sounds like a nightmare- especially in Beverley Hills. Maybe one parent can take the kids to a park and the other can shop.

The train museum at Griffith Park is GREAT for kids that age and if you go on Sunday they can also ride the live steamers little train- which has a signifigant Disney connection.

2 days at Disney/CA is just about perfect with that age. I would splurge a little here and stay on property.

Las Vegas with kids that age- personally I wouldn't do it.

Definitely try to get to the Natural History Museum and California Science Center (next door to each other), La Brea Tar Pits is great as well and you don't even have to go inside.

Kidseum in Pasadena is awesome for little kids.

I reccomend a couple of days in San Diego- especially f you skip Vegas. Do Legoland on the way down and the zoo the next day.

Oh- and if your older kid is a girl- tea at the American Girl Place is a blast. I think mine was 4 the first time she went. But expect to walk out with your pckets signifigantly lighter.