DisneyLAND and OC Questions

[thejen626]

I'm so excited for a Disney board!!

We are going for 7 nights in the beginning of April. Rented a condo and will have a sweet minivan rental. DD1 will be turning 7 on this trip, and DD2 is 3.5.

Since we'll be there for so long, we are thinking of going on a day trip to a beach or maybe the SD Zoo? We love our local zoo and it might be cool to see new animals. Any other family friendly recs?

Our favorite babysitter will be flying down for 3 days to hang out with our kids and let me and DH sneak away for some alone time. I'd love any ideas to get away from Disney Madness for an evening. Would it make sense to drive to the beach for dinner? If we left around 3:30-4pm, is traffic a total nightmare? We don't mind a road trip and we really love the beach. We'd love some great mexican food, or any semi-casual, not super kid friendly restaurant recommendations.

Any thoughts or advice is appreciated! We haven't been to Disneyland since 2011!

[waterchurch]

The San Diego Zoo is going to be kind of a long drive. What about the Long Beach Aquarium?

[Deleted]

San Diego Zoo Or Safari Park are nice. About 2 hours from Disney
Aquarium of the Pacific is about 45 minutes away in Long Beach- where there is also s great downtown and beaches
Newport or Huntington are very close- you could definitely do a half or full day at the beach easily

I will tag steph196 for restaurant recs

[Deleted]

If you want to do another amusement park Knotts Berry Farm is probably 20 minutes from Disney, lots of big roller coasters and camp snoopy would be fun for your younger DD

WAAAAAAY less crowded than Disney

[Deleted]

I'll be at Disneyland on April 4 and 5 for DD's birthday!!!

Sorry, I'm just going to keep posting in this thread as I think of things

[Deleted]

Across the street from Disney in the Garden Walk is a really fun indoor play area for both of your kids ages. You can look it up and get more info, it's called Billy Beez

[steph196]

Dinner at the beach is definitely easy. My favorite Mexican restaurant near the beach is Javier's in Newport Beach (Crystal Cove). They have another location in Irvine, but that isn't near the beach. I also like Cannery and Rusty Pelican in Newport. You will hit a bit of traffic through the Orange Crush (5/57/22 freeways), but it won't be bad.

We drive to San Diego from North OC all the time, so the zoo is totally doable. I would leave early and have breakfast in SD and stay late (don't leave SD until 7). The Safari Park is about 30 minutes closer than the zoo, but there is way more to do if you go to the zoo. It is in Balboa Park, which has a ton of things to do. If you don't get your Mexican food, you could go to Old Town for some great Mexican before heading back up to Orange County.

[thejen626]

Mar 5, 2016 22:13:02 GMT -5 ladybug said:

I'll be at Disneyland on April 4 and 5 for DD's birthday!!!

Sorry, I'm just going to keep posting in this thread as I think of things

April 5th is my girl's birthday too! We should meet up for a drink at California Adventure!

[thejen626]

So I talked to DH and he said no to the zoo, but yes to the beach day with the kids, and beach for date night without the kids. I'm thinking Huntington Beach for daytime playing? I found a cool bar called The Rooftop in Laguna Beach for evening cocktails? It will be a Weds night so I'm thinking it shouldn't be too crowded?

[thejen626]

Mar 5, 2016 22:20:33 GMT -5 steph196 said:

Dinner at the beach is definitely easy. My favorite Mexican restaurant near the beach is Javier's in Newport Beach (Crystal Cove). They have another location in Irvine, but that isn't near the beach. I also like Cannery and Rusty Pelican in Newport. You will hit a bit of traffic through the Orange Crush (5/57/22 freeways), but it won't be bad.

We drive to San Diego from North OC all the time, so the zoo is totally doable. I would leave early and have breakfast in SD and stay late (don't leave SD until 7). The Safari Park is about 30 minutes closer than the zoo, but there is way more to do if you go to the zoo. It is in Balboa Park, which has a ton of things to do. If you don't get your Mexican food, you could go to Old Town for some great Mexican before heading back up to Orange County.

Is Javier's fancy or casual? Our kids are used to eating out a lot but I don't want to take them anywhere kids aren't welcome, you know?

[Deleted]

Mar 5, 2016 22:24:12 GMT -5 thejen626 said:

Mar 5, 2016 22:13:02 GMT -5 ladybug said:

I'll be at Disneyland on April 4 and 5 for DD's birthday!!!

Sorry, I'm just going to keep posting in this thread as I think of things

April 5th is my girl's birthday too! We should meet up for a drink at California Adventure!

We're doing breakfast at ariels grotto on the 5th! Are you doing any character meals?
Is she going to be 4?? Mine too!!

ETA: never mind- I see its your older DDs birtbsay

[thejen626]

Mar 5, 2016 22:27:52 GMT -5 ladybug said:

Mar 5, 2016 22:24:12 GMT -5 thejen626 said:

April 5th is my girl's birthday too! We should meet up for a drink at California Adventure!

We're doing breakfast at ariels grotto on the 5th! Are you doing any character meals?
Is she going to be 4?? Mine too!!

ETA: never mind- I see its your older DDs birtbsay

We are eating at Ariel's Grotto twice this trip lol, but not on Tuesday. I booked the Wine Country restaurant for lunch for the World of Color fast passes that night...

[Deleted]

Mar 5, 2016 22:27:42 GMT -5 thejen626 said:

Mar 5, 2016 22:20:33 GMT -5 steph196 said:

Dinner at the beach is definitely easy. My favorite Mexican restaurant near the beach is Javier's in Newport Beach (Crystal Cove). They have another location in Irvine, but that isn't near the beach. I also like Cannery and Rusty Pelican in Newport. You will hit a bit of traffic through the Orange Crush (5/57/22 freeways), but it won't be bad.

We drive to San Diego from North OC all the time, so the zoo is totally doable. I would leave early and have breakfast in SD and stay late (don't leave SD until 7). The Safari Park is about 30 minutes closer than the zoo, but there is way more to do if you go to the zoo. It is in Balboa Park, which has a ton of things to do. If you don't get your Mexican food, you could go to Old Town for some great Mexican before heading back up to Orange County.

Is Javier's fancy or casual? Our kids are used to eating out a lot but I don't want to take them anywhere kids aren't welcome, you know?

We go to Huntington for beach days (between beach Blvd and the pier) steph196 goes to Newport usually but they're both fine for playing with kids, Etc

[steph196]

Mar 5, 2016 22:27:42 GMT -5 thejen626 said:

Mar 5, 2016 22:20:33 GMT -5 steph196 said:

Dinner at the beach is definitely easy. My favorite Mexican restaurant near the beach is Javier's in Newport Beach (Crystal Cove). They have another location in Irvine, but that isn't near the beach. I also like Cannery and Rusty Pelican in Newport. You will hit a bit of traffic through the Orange Crush (5/57/22 freeways), but it won't be bad.

We drive to San Diego from North OC all the time, so the zoo is totally doable. I would leave early and have breakfast in SD and stay late (don't leave SD until 7). The Safari Park is about 30 minutes closer than the zoo, but there is way more to do if you go to the zoo. It is in Balboa Park, which has a ton of things to do. If you don't get your Mexican food, you could go to Old Town for some great Mexican before heading back up to Orange County.

Is Javier's fancy or casual? Our kids are used to eating out a lot but I don't want to take them anywhere kids aren't welcome, you know?

It's nicer than your typical Mexican restaurant, but it isn't super fancy. I've seen plenty of kids there.
They have the best margaritas and I love their lobster enchiladas!

[ksun]

I second Javier's and yes, kids are fine.

[thejen626]

Sounds like Javier's is the winner, thanks ladies!!

Any suggestions for a semi romantic bar that has great ocean views?

[thedahliharpa]

Mar 5, 2016 22:37:35 GMT -5 steph196 said:

Mar 5, 2016 22:27:42 GMT -5 thejen626 said:

Is Javier's fancy or casual? Our kids are used to eating out a lot but I don't want to take them anywhere kids aren't welcome, you know?

It's nicer than your typical Mexican restaurant, but it isn't super fancy. I've seen plenty of kids there.
They have the best margaritas and I love their lobster enchiladas!

Yeah, I was coming here to suggest Javier's as well, ha. There is also Las Brisas in Laguna as well as Eva's which is a tiny Caribbean restaurant. Eva's is on PCH but is not beachfront. I really enjoyed it.

[steph196]

Mar 5, 2016 23:34:45 GMT -5 thedahliharpa said:

Mar 5, 2016 22:37:35 GMT -5 steph196 said:

It's nicer than your typical Mexican restaurant, but it isn't super fancy. I've seen plenty of kids there.
They have the best margaritas and I love their lobster enchiladas!

Yeah, I was coming here to suggest Javier's as well, ha. There is also Las Brisas in Laguna as well as Eva's which is a tiny Caribbean restaurant. Eva's is on PCH but is not beachfront. I really enjoyed it.

I forgot about Eva's! That is a delicious spot. I am still partial to Javier's though. Now I'm having major food cravings!

[thedahliharpa]

Mar 5, 2016 23:46:48 GMT -5 steph196 said:

Mar 5, 2016 23:34:45 GMT -5 thedahliharpa said:

Yeah, I was coming here to suggest Javier's as well, ha. There is also Las Brisas in Laguna as well as Eva's which is a tiny Caribbean restaurant. Eva's is on PCH but is not beachfront. I really enjoyed it.

I forgot about Eva's! That is a delicious spot. I am still partial to Javier's though. Now I'm having major food cravings!

Yeah, Javier's wins for the views and margaritas but Eva's has those rum drinks and is so off the beaten path & quirky.

It's Saturday night..we should bust out of our pajamas and go somewhere delicious.

[alleinesein]

Mar 5, 2016 22:10:15 GMT -5 ladybug said:

San Diego Zoo Or Safari Park are nice. About 2 hours from Disney
Aquarium of the Pacific is about 45 minutes away in Long Beach- where there is also s great downtown and beaches
Newport or Huntington are very close- you could definitely do a half or full day at the beach easily

I will tag steph196 for restaurant recs

The Wild Animal Park/WAP (aka safari park) is approximately 80 miles from Disneyland.  I live 78 miles from the Simba Parking lot at Disneyland and the WAP is less than 3 miles from my house  It is only a 2 hour drive if you hit traffic; on a good day you can do the drive in about 80 minutes. I do have a bit of a lead foot so if you actually drive the speed limit it will take a bit longer.

[alleinesein]

The Food and Wine Festival is back this year and it will be going on in April.  The majority of the events are on fri, sat and sun but if those days coincide with the days your babysitter will be down to help you might want to hit up a few tastings.

For something a bit different regarding San Diego- you can always take the train down.  The ride along the coast is nice and it beats sitting in traffic.  If you take it into downtown you can then cab or uber it to Balboa park and hit up the SD Zoo.  Or you can visit Legoland in Carlsbad for the day.

[Deleted]

Do the San Diego zoo and dinner in old town. If you do the zoo I recommend doing the bus tour first then go back to what exhibits you want to see closer or again.