Ideas For First Non Park Day

[chris&adrimom]

Ideas of things to do for our first day in anaheim which will be a nonpark day. We will arrive in the early afternoon, but don't want to go to the park untill the next day. Thanks in advance!

 

[lucky1]

Do Goofy's kitchen for dinner... It is a great way to take in the Disney spirit without entering the parks. You can wander around DTD enjoy the time without feeling rushed to get in the park.

 

[Stacerita]

Hang out in DTD, eat at one of the Hotels, see a movie, or head over to garden walk.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Will you have a car? You can always drive to the Disney Warehouse for some fun pre-park stuff..then wearing it walk around DTD!! FUN!

We also go to Red Robin or Joe's Crab shack right up the road!

 

[Dis-Ted]

Assuming the weather is decent, you dont want to be @Disney and you have a car why not...

Head down to Laguna Beach and spend the evening watching a sunset, checking out the odd stores and having a bite to eat?

Try Medival Times for a very comical (yet strangely fun) dinner?

Go to the Irvine Spectrum or South Coast Plaza and laugh at the yuppie mall (or just see a movie after window shopping)?

Attend a sporting game at Angel stadium (cheap tickets are real cheap)?

Or better yet, catch something on tv, eat dinner and prepare for your adventure!

 

[TheParsec]

We always Walk around DTD and the 3 Disney Hotels. Just enjoy the area! Go To the top of the PP hotel (Pool area) and watch the fireworks!

 

[Zoemakes5]

We have lots of different things we do on non park days. When we've gone on Sat, or other blackout days, we've played in the hotel pool, then go to DTD. We've done Rainforest and ESPN Zone (a place we were really impressed by the last time.) The kids (even my older ones) really like going to Build a Bear, too.

 

[dmked]

DTD is fun! Haven't been there in a while though since we spend every waking moment in Disneyland Next time we go, I want to get there in the afternoon though, just to make time for DTD! Build a Bear is fun, they have stuff you will only find at the DTD location. Love Rainforest Cafe also.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We pretty much do the same as all the previous posters:
We go to the Disney Outlet Store & start our purchases early. We walk around DTD, eat at ESPN Zone or the Rainforest, go do the Build-a-Bear & go sit between the parks to watch the fireworks. You still get the Disney feeling with out actually stepping thru the gates.

My kids loved it & we do it every trip now!!

 

[LavenderPeach]

You can also go look at the koi pond area at DLH and you can go check out the lobby of the GCH.

 

[evandmp]

This is what we did. We got to dlr about 3 or 4.

Check into our hotel and got all our stuff inside and situated. Spent some time admiring the room and hotel.

Walked around dtd. Took the kids to build a bear. Then to the lego store.

Checked out goofys kitchen and made ps for the following night.

Ate at the Jazz restaurant at DTD and listened to some Jazz music outside. DS and DH danced a little.

Went back to the hotel and got everyone ready for bed and were asleep by 10.(well, everyone but me)

 

[pixiewings71]

We really like walking around DTD. To be honest that's one thing I miss about having an AP, when we get there we hit the parks because we've already paid for admission. I miss the DTD wandering that we used to do.

Oh, if you've booked a package and you get the free pearl from The Pearl Factory do that!!! It's so much fun and you can get a nice simple necklace setting for $9.99. DBF took the 3 of us to get new pearls there earlier this month (we have really fancy ones from a couple years ago) and we love picking out pearls and seeing what we get. DD9 has 2 blue pearls.

 

[KelliLee702]

You can always drive to the Disney Warehouse for some fun pre-park stuff..?

Just wondering? We have one here in Las Vegas, but maybe Anaheim will have different stuff???

Thanks!

 

[chris&adrimom]

These are all fantabulous ideas! I can't wait to get there!

 

[pixiewings71]

Just wondering? We have one here in Las Vegas, but maybe Anaheim will have different stuff???

Thanks!

Orangefair Mall, just a few miles down Harbor.

 

[tyluvsdis]

My family loves to go to the beach. We live in an area where there is no ocean around us. We are so excited to see the ocean, and don't even care that it's not all that warm. One of the highlights of the trip each time.

 

[DReynolds86]

Drive to San Diego? Awesome beaches, awesome zoo.