Where should I take the kids before going to Disneyland?
August 16, 2012 5:08 PM Subscribe
Where should I take the kids before going to Disneyland? Our family of four, including a tween and young teen are scheduled to arrive in Anaheim on a Saturday about noon, and we are going to the park the following day. What can we do the afternoon and evening of arrival? Huntington beach? I don't want to wear anyone out the first night.
Response by poster: We're driving. While hanging out would be just fine with me, I want the kids to enjoy themselves. They would be bored silly browsing around the town without a real destination.
posted by nedpwolf at 5:31 PM on August 16, 2012
posted by nedpwolf at 5:31 PM on August 16, 2012
Best answer: If you're Disney freaks (in a good way), or if this is a once-in-a-childhood event, why not take them out to dinner at Downtown Disney? (You can park in the Disney lot and take the tram, which will probably be fun for them.) Or even better, eat at any of the restaurants at the Grand Californian, which is open to all and inside, at least, is the best-looking edifice in Disneyland, since it's a rip-off of the Ahwanee in Yosemite. (I am loathe to tell you this, because it is my own Special Parental Disneyland Coping Secret, but the bar at the Grand Californian serves the coldest beer in Anaheim, and has a pub menu that is genuinely decent. Kids welcome.)
posted by turducken at 5:35 PM on August 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by turducken at 5:35 PM on August 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
How about California Adventure or Universal Studios if you're coming from Northern California? Both are easy to do in an afternoon and early evening.
posted by cnc at 5:35 PM on August 16, 2012
posted by cnc at 5:35 PM on August 16, 2012
Response by poster: Something like Universal Studios would be great, but we're coming from Las Vegas. That's a bit of a detour.
I like the Grand Californian idea. That would give them "a taste" of the following day.
posted by nedpwolf at 5:42 PM on August 16, 2012
I like the Grand Californian idea. That would give them "a taste" of the following day.
posted by nedpwolf at 5:42 PM on August 16, 2012
Best answer: A caveat about Universal Studios: depending on traffic, that might be further than you're willing to drive after a day of driving. If it's on your way to Anaheim, then maybe, but I think you might get worn out if you drive to Anaheim, drive to Universal Studios, stay at the park, then drive back that evening.
If you're not doing California Adventure the next day, I'd say go there. There's less to do than Disneyland proper, but enough for an afternoon-early evening's worth of rides. Another theme park you could visit in the afternoon that's about half an hour from Anaheim/Disneyland is Knott's Berry Farm. Lots of rollercoasters of varying terror levels, and it's not a huge theme park. Not sure how worn out that might make you all though.
I'd say the most low-key, low-effort thing you could do would be to wander around Downtown Disney the afternoon/evening you get in.
posted by yasaman at 5:50 PM on August 16, 2012
If you're not doing California Adventure the next day, I'd say go there. There's less to do than Disneyland proper, but enough for an afternoon-early evening's worth of rides. Another theme park you could visit in the afternoon that's about half an hour from Anaheim/Disneyland is Knott's Berry Farm. Lots of rollercoasters of varying terror levels, and it's not a huge theme park. Not sure how worn out that might make you all though.
I'd say the most low-key, low-effort thing you could do would be to wander around Downtown Disney the afternoon/evening you get in.
posted by yasaman at 5:50 PM on August 16, 2012
Response by poster: I just googled Downtown Disney. I didn't even know it existed. That sounds like a great idea!
posted by nedpwolf at 5:53 PM on August 16, 2012
posted by nedpwolf at 5:53 PM on August 16, 2012
Best answer: Downtown Disney has a LEGO store, fun for all ages. There's also a Disney store so you can get basic souvenirs outside of the park, rather than carrying all the stuff around inside the park (well, you still need to carry the autograph book and pen, but you can probably leave the mouse ear hat in your hotel room and every bit helps).
posted by anaelith at 6:13 PM on August 16, 2012
posted by anaelith at 6:13 PM on August 16, 2012
As an FYI, California Adventure is no longer a half day park, with the addition of Carsland. You really need a good 4 days if you want to really cover the parks
posted by purenitrous at 6:31 PM on August 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by purenitrous at 6:31 PM on August 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I vote for Downtown Disney and dinner then back to your hotel for a swim. It seems to be *finally* cooling off here a bit so that an evening swim should be delightful. Then early to bed and up EARLY to get to the park first thing.
posted by jvilter at 7:08 PM on August 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by jvilter at 7:08 PM on August 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
When I took my kids to Disney, the thing they wanted to do most was to stay at the renatl house and swim in the pool.
posted by CathyG at 7:06 AM on August 17, 2012
posted by CathyG at 7:06 AM on August 17, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rainbowbrite at 5:24 PM on August 16, 2012