A visit to Anaheim can include much more than theme park days. With several Southern California beaches within driving distance, families can build an itinerary that combines time at Disneyland® Resort fun with afternoons by the pool and a full day along the coast.
The key is allowing enough time for each experience. A six-day itinerary gives families two dedicated theme park days, a hotel recovery day, a beach day, and unhurried time at the beginning and end of the trip.
Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel provides a convenient home base for this type of vacation. Guests can use the complimentary Dream Machine Shuttle to reach Disneyland® Resort, then return to spacious accommodations, on-site dining, the Majestic Pool, and peaceful garden spaces between outings. The hotel’s amenities and location make it easier to balance busy park days with the slower parts of a Southern California vacation.
Choosing a Beach Near Anaheim
When families search for the closest beach to Disneyland® Resort, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach are typically among the most practical options. Newport Beach is approximately 18 miles from Disneyland® Resort, while Huntington Beach is approximately 19 miles away. Laguna Beach is farther south at approximately 24 miles. Drive times will depend heavily on the day, time, and Southern California traffic, which is known to add a few minutes to any trip.
The best beach near Anaheim will depend on how your family wants to spend the day.
Huntington Beach is a strong choice for a traditional Southern California beach experience. Its wide sandy shoreline, pier, paved beachfront path, and nearby restaurants make it easy to plan a flexible day with plenty of time by the water.
Newport Beach and the Balboa Peninsula are well suited for families who want additional activities beyond the beach. Depending on your schedule, you can pair time on the sand with a ride on the Balboa Island Ferry, a visit to the Balboa Fun Zone, waterfront dining, or a whale-watching excursion.
Laguna Beach is known for scenic coves, coastal views, and tide pools. It can be a rewarding option for families interested in exploring the shoreline, but parking and beach access may require more advance planning.
The following itinerary uses Huntington Beach as the primary beach-day option because it offers a straightforward mix of sand, ocean views, dining, and space to explore. Newport Beach can easily be substituted based on your family’s interests.
A Six-Day Anaheim and Beach Vacation Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive and Settle Into Anaheim
Keep the first day of your Anaheim vacation open and flexible. Even when travel goes according to plan, checking in, unpacking, and getting familiar with a new area can take more time than you would expect.
After arriving at Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, settle into your room and spend some time exploring the hotel. Walk through the gardens, take in the castle-inspired setting, or visit the Majestic Pool. A relaxed afternoon gives everyone an opportunity to recharge before the first full theme park day.
For dinner, consider staying on the property. Hanagi Japanese Restaurant offers a convenient option for enjoying a complete meal without adding another drive or outing to the schedule. Afterward, return to your room and prepare anything you will need for the next morning.
Bonus tip: Review your tickets, theme park reservations, transportation plans, and priority attractions before going to bed. Guests ages three and older currently need both valid admission and a theme park reservation for the same date and park, subject to availability.
Day 2: Spend a Full Day at Disneyland® Park
Begin your first theme park day at Disneyland® Park. Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel’s complimentary Dream Machine Shuttle provides direct transportation to Disneyland® Resort. The ride generally takes about six to ten minutes and does not include stops at other hotels.
Taking an early shuttle can help your family arrive with enough time to enter the park and begin working through the attractions that matter most to your group. Rather than trying to cover every area immediately, choose a few priorities for the morning and allow the rest of the day to develop around wait times, dining plans, and everyone’s energy levels.
A full day in the park may work well for older children and adults. Families with younger children may prefer to return to the hotel during the afternoon. A few hours in the room or at the pool can provide a valuable break before heading back for dinner and evening entertainment.
Because the Dream Machine Shuttle travels directly between the hotel and Disneyland® Resort, a midday hotel break does not have to bring the day to an end. Check the current shuttle schedule in advance so you can plan the return trip around any dining reservations or evening experiences.
Bonus tip: Keep the morning focused on priority attractions. Save shopping, photographs, and lower-priority experiences for later in the day, when attraction wait times or energy levels may influence the schedule.
Day 3: Enjoy Pool Time and a Slower Anaheim Day
After a full day at Disneyland® Park, leave the next morning open. A slower day allows families to recover without giving up an entire vacation day.
Sleep in, enjoy breakfast, and spend the late morning or early afternoon at the Majestic Pool. Families can also walk through the hotel gardens, relax in their room, or enjoy the property without needing to follow a strict schedule.
Later in the day, consider visiting Downtown Disney® District. Located outside the theme parks, the district offers dining, shopping, and entertainment without requiring a theme park ticket. It can be a good choice for an easy afternoon or evening when your family wants to remain close to the resort area without committing to another full park day.
You can also keep the entire day centered around the hotel. Order a relaxed meal, spend more time at the pool, visit the or have dinner at Hanagi Japanese Restaurant. Building this flexibility into the itinerary can make the remaining park and beach days more enjoyable.
Bonus tip: Avoid filling the recovery day before the trip begins. Keep a few optional activities in mind, then decide what to do based on the family’s energy level that morning.
Day 4: Explore Disney California Adventure® Park
Use the fourth day for Disney California Adventure® Park. Taking the Dream Machine Shuttle again allows you to avoid starting the morning with parking, navigation, or a longer walk to the entrances.
As with the first park day, identify the attractions and experiences that are most important to your family. Begin with those priorities, then leave time for meals, entertainment, and breaks throughout the day.
Some families may choose a Park Hopper® ticket and visit both theme parks during one or both park days. The entrances to Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park are located across from each other, making it relatively simple to walk between them once park-hopping access is available for the day.
However, a Park Hopper® ticket is not necessary for this itinerary. Spending one full day in each park can create a more manageable pace and reduce the amount of time spent moving between locations.
A midday return to Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel remains an option. Families can rest in their room, spend a short time at the pool, or have a quiet meal before deciding whether to return to the park for the evening.
Bonus tip: Consider making the second park day slightly less ambitious than the first. A later start, longer meal, or earlier return to the hotel can help maintain everyone’s energy for the beach day that follows.
Day 5: Spend the Day at Huntington Beach
After two theme park days and a hotel recovery day, the fifth day is a good time to explore the Southern California coast.
Leave Anaheim after breakfast and plan to reach Huntington Beach earlier in the day. An earlier arrival can provide more options for parking and give your family plenty of time to enjoy the beach without feeling rushed.
Bring what your group needs for several hours near the water, including sun protection, towels, comfortable footwear, and a change of clothes. Once you arrive, the day can remain relatively unstructured. Spend the morning on the sand, walk along the shoreline, or explore the paved beachfront path.
The Huntington Beach Pier offers another way to enjoy the coastal setting without spending the entire day in the water. Restaurants and shops near the beach also make it possible to take a break for lunch before returning to the sand or beginning the drive back to Anaheim.
Families who prefer more scheduled activities can choose Newport Beach instead. A Newport Beach day could include time along the Balboa Peninsula, a ride on the Balboa Island Ferry, a visit to the Balboa Fun Zone, or a prebooked whale-watching trip. Newport Beach offers approximately ten miles of coastline along with several waterfront areas to explore.
Whichever beach you choose, allow flexibility for traffic in both directions. Returning to Anaheim before the busiest evening travel periods may make the drive more comfortable, but current traffic conditions should guide your plans.
After returning to Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, keep the evening simple. Dinner at the hotel or nearby can provide an easy conclusion to the day, with no additional major activities required.
Bonus tip: Check the weather, surf conditions, water-quality notices, and any posted beach advisories before leaving Anaheim. Conditions along the coast may be different from conditions near the hotel.
Day 6: Enjoy a Slow Morning Before Departure
Avoid placing a major attraction on the final morning unless your departure schedule leaves plenty of time. A more open morning makes it easier to pack, check the room, and prepare for the trip home without unnecessary pressure.
Enjoy breakfast, take one final walk through the gardens, or spend a little more time near the pool. Depending on your checkout and travel times, you could also make a brief stop at Downtown Disney® District for a meal or last-minute shopping.
Before checking out, make sure beach items have had time to dry and that tickets, identification, chargers, and travel documents are easy to access. Leaving time for these practical details can make the transition home smoother.
Bonus tip: Review the hotel’s checkout time and luggage-storage options before departure day. This can help you decide whether there is enough time for another activity after leaving the room.
Make Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel Your Home Base
A balanced Anaheim itinerary depends on having a comfortable place to return to between theme park visits and day trips. Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel is positioned to support each part of this six-day vacation.
The complimentary Dream Machine Shuttle provides direct access to Disneyland® Resort, helping families simplify their park-day transportation. At the hotel, spacious rooms provide room to settle in and organize everything needed for theme park and beach outings. The Majestic Pool and garden areas offer places to slow down, while on-site dining makes it easier to plan quieter evenings.
The hotel’s Anaheim location also makes it possible to enjoy the coast without changing accommodations midway through the trip. Families can spend the day at a beach near Disneyland® Resort, then return to the same room and prepare for the next part of their vacation.
By allowing time for theme parks, poolside breaks, and the Southern California coast, families can experience more of the area at a comfortable pace. Plan a longer stay at Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel and create an Anaheim vacation with room for both adventure and downtime.