With the recent launch of a new direct flight between Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, CA, Air Canada teamed up with the folks at Disneyland and the tourism boards of Orange County, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach to send a select group of Toronto-based media to tour the West Coast paradise in order to get a feel of what there is to do and see over the course of a week. And there is something for everyone.
In the first entry about my travels to Orange County I’m going to focus on family fun at Disneyland. Where to stay, which rides to spend your time waiting in line for and what to avoid, and what to expect if you’ve never been. This article has been split into two parts for easier reading (read Travel Orange County: Family Fun at Disneyland Part 2 here).
Getting there
Our flight departed Toronto at 5:50 p.m. EST and landed at 8 p.m. PST. You are allowed to check one bag per person for free on this flight and carry on one bag each. If you wish to purchase food or beverages you must use a credit card as they will not accept cash. Round trip ticket, per person, runs about $550 CDN to $650 CDN, depending how long you book in advance and where you book your flight from (Expedia, Air Canada, etc.).
Disneyland is a 20-minute drive from the John Wayne Airport. We used the Karmel Shuttle service to get to our resort. Their van service runs about $34 USD for two adults and a child with three pieces of luggage and travels to any of the hotels located at Disneyland. The driver we had was knowledgeable, courteous, and hilariously personable, giving us a great welcome to the area with tips and information we never would have thought to ask for. If you want more style, you can request a Towncar/Sedan from them for $75 USD. You can book in advance and check all service offerings and pricing at karmel.com. Options for cabs and airport shuttle or bus service to Disneyland are also available at comparable pricing.
Where to stay
There are many hotels near Disneyland that are much more affordable than the ones on the Disneyland grounds. However, to have the best experience possible, I highly recommend staying at one of the Disneyland hotels or resorts. We were put up in the absolutely stunning Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, an arts-and-crafts style resort. From its grand lobby and multiple pools, to the hidden Mickey Mouse heads in the carpets and little Disney-themed chocolates left on our pillows, staying there was as much a treat as going on the rides in the park. Luxury comes with a price, of course: a three-night stay for two adults and a child will cost you anywhere from $1,600 USD to over $4,000 USD, depending on the type of room and package you request. The Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel both offer rooms for a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Grand Californian.
Keep in mind: The one major benefit of staying at a Disney hotel or resort is that if you or your children need a break (and chances of this are highly likely), you can easily go back to your room and rest before heading back out for more fun. This is a huge plus, especially when you’ve been on your feet all day and still want to see the fireworks or go on more rides at night.
What to expect when you first get to the park
Having just visited Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, a few weeks before visiting Disneyland, my first impression was how small Disneyland is compared to its East Coast counterpart. For one, there are only two areas at Disneyland -- Disneyland Park and Disneyland's California Adventure Park. Compared to the four theme parks and two water parks that Walt Disney World offers, Disneyland is more like a Canada’s Wonderland-style theme park while Walt Disney World is like being on another planet. The one thing Disneyland has going for it is that Walt Disney himself built it, overseeing the most minute details, and there is definitely an element of heightened magic to the park because of that.
Tickets to the park
You will need a Park Hopper pass in order to access both Disneyland Park and Disneyland's California Adventure Park if you’re staying for more than one day and want in-and-out privileges. For kids aged 3-9, a three-day pass is $165 USD if purchased online in advance, or $185 USD at the park. Adult tickets are $186 USD if purchased online in advance, or $206 USD if purchased at the park. More information on the passes and pricing can be found on the Disneyland website.
Keep in mind: Some hotel packages include a Park Hopper pass. You should check with the hotel before purchasing your passes online in advance.
Where to eat
I strongly recommend starting the day off with a Character Breakfast at the Storytellers Café located in the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Kids and kids-at-heart love seeing and meeting the characters walking around and making table visits while you eat, and the food offered at the buffet is very tasty, traditional Americana (bacon, potatoes, omelettes, eggs Benedict, etc). They also do Mickey Mouse-shaped waffles (pictured above), which got everyone at our table oohing and ahhing.
Keep in mind: It’s a good idea to carry snacks and a water bottle with you as the time between breakfast and lunch could be long if you get distracted having fun.
Lunch options vary between the two parks. We found that the chicken strips at the Bountiful Valley Farmers Market and the chicken burrito at the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, both located in the Disney Californian Adventure Park, were great budget-friendly choices while working the parks. We also heard the chili bread bowl at the Pacific Wharf Café was to die for but didn’t get a chance to try it ourselves.
Keep in mind: To beat the lineups at lunch, plan to eat around 2 p.m. We noticed that places appeared to be a lot more busy around early lunch (11-12) and before dinnertime (3-4).
Downtown Disney offers many great dinner choices including the Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, which serves delicious and reasonably-priced gourmet pizza. There is also a House of Blues, Rainforest Cafe, and ESPN Zone if you want more traditional American food like burgers, steak, and chicken.
For ice cream and coffee, The Haagen-Dazs store in Downtown Disney can’t be beat. They serve Peet’s Coffee (my choice of coffee on the West Coast) and, of course, offer many amazingly mouth-watering ice cream options.
Keep in mind: Disneyland has tons of food choices no matter what your budget or taste. Most restaurants will accommodate vegetarian or vegan requests as well. You can plan your menu ahead of time by reading up on all the options on the Disneyland website.
Learn about what activities to do, what rides to take, and find out about the Toronto connection to Disneyland in Travel Orange County: Family Fun in Disneyland Part 2.
Have you visited Disneyland? Share your stories and favourite moments with us in the comments below, on our Facebook page, or via email at brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com.