Expert: Steve Summers - 9/11/2008

Question
Hi Steve

I'm writing from Johannesburg, South Africa and I will be in Los Angeles for 5 nights with my little boy (7yrs). I want to stay in Anaheim and do at least 2 days at DL and then Universal as well as take a look At Hollywood, Venice Beach.  My questions are as follows
1. should we stay in Anaheim the entire 5 nights and sight see from there or should we move to an area closer to the other attractions. e.g down town LA

2. Is it better to jump in a taxi and go to universal or should we take guided tours from our hotel. (I'm not really the guided tour type I don't like being herded around in a group)
3. Is it easy to get from Anaheim to Venice, Universal, Hollywood etc.
4. where do we buy Disneyland passes and how much should we expect to pay.
5. any hints and tips about Disneyland, like what time should we get to the gate etc.
6. we will arrive next week Sunday 21 sep 2008. what the weather like at the moment.
7.Are there any other "cool" things a seven year old should not miss out on?
8. lastly I would like to do some shopping (clothes, shoes, toys for all ages) is there a great mall in Anaheim?

Thank you Steve I would appreciate your expert advise
regards Lindsay  

Answer
Hi Lindsay,

Those are some very good questions. However, I have some good answers for you.

1. Most people outside of LA can't really grasp the scope of how spread out the LA area is. The City of LA is about 500 square miles (about 1300 sq KM), and the general LA metro area is about 10 times that. For example, Universal is about 36 miles (58 KM)from Disneyland. Since both parks work best if you arrive early, I tell people to spend a few days in one area, then go to a hotel closer to your area of exploration.

Since LA is so spread out, there is no single place that is close to EVERYTHING. Most people who come here tend to stay in Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Anaheim.
In Hollywood, I recommend the Renaissance Hotel at Hollywood and Highland, the Best Western Sunset Plaza, or the Holiday Inn Walk of Fame. The Renaissance is right next to the sights you want to see: The Chinese Theater, the Walk of Fame, and the El Capitan.
In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced.
In Anaheim, I recommend the Howard Johnson (HoJo) Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. If you want to splurge and make this a most memorable trip, stay at Disney’s Grand Californian. You get the full Disney experience. If you aren't going to do one of the Disney Hotels, then definitely do the HoJo. It has a pirate-themed pool area your son will love.

2. You don't really NEED a guided tour, although some people enjoy them. You get a little more of the history of the area that you wouldn't necessarily find out on your own. If you stay at a hotel around Hollywood & Highland, you can just walk over to where the tours meet. Some meet right at the hotel, others meet 1/2 away at the Chinese Theater. Check out LACitytours.com or starlinetours.com to see if any of those tours strike your fancy.

3. It's not very easy to get from Anaheim to Venice, Hollywood, etc, which is why I recommend staying in Anaheim for several days while you visit Disneyland, and then stay in Hollywood. From the Renaissance, you can just hop on the Red Line Subway to go to Universal Studios, one stop away. There is a free shuttle that takes you up the hill. Just cross the street and you will see it. It's easier to get to Venice Beach from Hollywood, especially if you rent a car.

4. You can buy Disneyland passes at the gate, but it's much better to buy them in advance. You can get them at disneyland.com, but I have found them cheaper at funex.com. The price depends on how many days you go to the Disneyland Resort (DLR). Three days is usually a good starting point. You can see most of both parks, and repeat anything you really liked. A 3-day park hopper is about $169/$139. However, a much better deal is the CityPass, which includes 3 days at Disneyland, a day at Universal, Sea World, and the San Diego Zoo. Price is $247/$199, at www.citypass.com.

5. IMHO, the best hotel for families are the ones closest to the resort. Here's the deal: On busy weekends like that, parking & shuttle from the lot can easily kill 30-45 minutes.  Same with a hotel shuttle. You NEED to stay CLOSE to the park. I recommend the Howard Johnson (HoJo) Anaheim and Candy Cane Inn, which are both highly rated. Of the two, the HoJo is closer. Not only do you avoid all the hassle of parking in the structure and the shuttle, you can walk back to the hotel in the afternoon for a nap or a swim. If you have young ones, make them take a nap so that they don't miss the best regular fireworks show on the planet. I've seen it over 300 times now, and I still get goose bumps.

Recommendations:
-Arrive early (before opening), to get on about 3 or 4 rides before it gets crowded. Then slow down in the afternoon, see the parades, and save your energy so that you can see the fireworks in the evening. A day at Disneyland is a marathon, and some people and kids melt down under the pressure and fatigue. Check disneyland.com to find the hours of operation.

-Call 714-781-DINE to make your dining reservations in the park. If you want to make this really special, eat at the Blue Bayou, which is inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It's expensive, but worth it on a one-time visit. Otherwise, you should eat at Cafe Orleans (where you can order the famous Monte Cristo sandwich, the EXCELLENT fries, and get the kids some very good Mickey Mac n' Cheese) or Carnation Cafe on Main St (where you can get the kids a fun PB&J that they can build themselves). Making reservations saves a LOT of time.

-Eat a late (7:45) dinner at Cafe Orleans (outside on the patio) or at the Plaza Inn, which is in the hub. It gives you a chance to rest, and by the time you are done eating, it will be time for Fantasmic or the fireworks. Cafe Orleans has a good viewing spot on the right side of the patio for Fantasmic. Any place on the patio at the Plaza Inn is great for the fireworks. Get the chicken dinner. It's the second-best chicken in SoCal (Mrs. Knott's is the best, bar none).

-Use FastPass. Get a Fast Pass as soon as you get into the park, but hold onto it for later. Read the time on your FastPass. Once you reach that time, don't go on the ride yet, but get another FastPass. This way, you can have several passes for the afternoon.

-California Adventure is a great place for the afternoon. See the Aladdin show, and be sure to ride Soarin' Over California. Get a Fast Pass.

6. The weather right now is WONDERFUL. The summer heat is dissipating. Today's highs in Anaheim will be about 80, and the lines will be short. Next week might be a little warmer. Keep an eye on weather.com for the latest weather. I would pack shorts, don't forget the swimsuit, and maybe some long pants for the evenings, which are cooling off to the low 60's. If you go to the beach, it will be a bit cooler.

7. If you had a girl, I would have strongly recommended going to the El Capitan Theater to see the exclusive engagement of Tinkerbell. However, I don't know if your son would really be into it. Tink is a new franchise, and I'm not sure she'll fly with 7YO boys, pardon the pun. The El Capitan is from Hollywood's Golden Age, and is still worth a visit. They have an organist who plays before the show, and the theater is incredibly beautiful. Check it out at www.elcapitan.com.
-You should make a point to stop by the Chinese Theater, where people come in costume to pose for photos. Your son could get a photo with Darth Vader, Spider Man, or whoever shows up. They basically work for tips.
-Close to Hollywood, you have Griffith Park, where you have the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage, pony rides, train rides, Travel Town Rail Museum, and the Griffith Observatory.
-At Disneyland, be sure not to miss Pirate's Lair at Tom Sawyer Island. It's a place where kids can run around and explore, especially the cave and Dead Man's Grotto.

8. No great mall in Anaheim, but you do have the Block at Orange, which is a fun outdoor mall. For serious shopping, you should either go to the Brea Mall or South Coast Plaza. SCP has enough stores to keep you busy for days.

Have fun!