There's No Better Combination for a Family Vacation than Disneyland and California Beaches
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is a top family vacation destination, but unlike Walt Disney World in Florida it doesn't require spending an entire week. Compared to the mind-boggling size of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Resort is much smaller and far more compact, meaning you can easily have a great vacation experience there in only three days. But you don't want to go to California for only three days, so what should you do with the rest of your week's vacation? California has some amazing beach destinations with beautiful waterfront hotels. We have two unbeatable options that can make for an exceptional seven-day California vacation when combined with three days at Disneyland Resort. We do both of these options every couple of years and we recommend either one of these as a great way to round out a week's stay in sunny Southern California.
So with that in mind here are two California itineraries that have each proven to be an excellent combination of Disney experiences and California sightseeing. The best part about these vacation options is that the seven nights end up feeling like a two-week vacation. By the end of the second leg we always feel like we've been away for longer than just a week because you cover more ground and get to see and experience two very different areas.
So consider both options and pick the one that appeals most to you. You can always try the other one on the next time around. Disney + California Beach Itinerary Option 1: Three Nights at Disneyland Resort and Four Nights at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego This option begins with a three-night stay at Disneyland Resort. We recommend staying onsite at either Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa (our first and recommended choice) or the Disneyland Hotel. Listen to the podcast for a fun discussion about what to see and do at Disneyland, but after your three nights at Disneyland, take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from Anaheim to San Diego. It's a great scenic route of mostly California coastline. Buy first class tickets (they're not that expensive) and try to sit on the upper level on the right side of the forward motion of the train. That will give you the best view of the coastline. In San Diego, spend four nights at the historic and stunning Hotel Del Coronado, located on the beach on Coronado Island. This hotel has an added bonus for any Disney fan: it was the design inspiration for Disney's Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World. The Del opened in 1888 -- 100 years before the Grand Floridian opened in 1988 -- and has a rich history of celebrities and event a resident ghost. Listen to the podcast for all the fun details! There is much to do at the Del, on Coronado Island and in the Greater San Diego area, so a four-night stay here is fun and entertaining for guests of all ages. Plus, the spectacular Coronado beach and California sunsets are second to none. In this option, you will fly in to the Los Angeles area and fly out of San Diego Disney + California Beach Itinerary Option 2: Four Nights at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach and Three Nights at Disneyland Resort This option begins with a four-night stay at the luxurious Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach. In this itinerary, you will fly in and out of the L.A. area, as Huntington Beach is located close to Disneyland in Orange County and is only an Uber or Lyft ride away from Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Huntington Beach is Surf City U.S.A. and is a fantastic spot for a true California beach vacation. The Hyatt here offers a full list of upscale amenities and is great for all ages. Plus, the beach is also very nice and the Huntington Beach Pier is a great destination and an easy walk along the water from the hotel. At night, the Huntington Beach area near the pier really comes to life and in the summer there is a night time festival hear that is great fun to adults and kids alike. Amelia and I discuss all the details in the podcast, so be sure to listen. Following your four nights in Huntington Beach, head to Disneyland Resort for the three-night stay as we noted above. Two Great Options to Make a Disneyland Vacation into a California Beach Vacation If you you're thinking of planning a Disneyland vacation, we highly recommend either of these tried and true itineraries that we created. Pick the one that sounds best to you and you're sure to create a lifetime of memories. There's a reason that we go back to both of these options again and again. For More Information, Read the Following Posts from the Luxury Disney Travel Blog
Amelia and I Thank You for Listening Thank you very much for listening to this episode of our Disney travel podcast; Amelia and I hope that you enjoyed it. If you did, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, or whichever app you choose to listen. A brief review about what you liked most about an episode truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes each week. Contact us at 1923 Main Street Thank you for listening to the Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. We continually strive to be one of the best Disney travel podcasts out there. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for future episodes. Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Thank you for listening and have a magical day! Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic Co-Hosts, 1923 Main Street®: A Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast
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A Look at Disney Deluxe Villas and Why You Should Stay in One Instead of a Hotel Room
If you're planning a Walt Disney World (or other Disney) vacation, did you know that traditional hotel rooms are not your only option? Disney Deluxe Villas are a separate category of accommodations that are part of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) suite of properties (DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare program). Deluxe Villas tend to be less well known to Disney travelers (who are not DVC members). There are Disney Deluxe Villas at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort and other destinations away from Disney Parks. What many people don't realize, however, is that these upscale accommodations are available for booking by non-DVC-members, making them a great option to consider -- particularly in three specific scenarios. I often describe the Deluxe Villas as being the Disney equivalent of a condominium, so you can think of these villas as Deluxe Disney condos. Most of the properties at Walt Disney World are linked to a corresponding Disney Deluxe Resort, but there are three standalone villa properties as well. Villas are available in several configurations, including studios (similar to a standard hotel room), one-bedroom villas, two-bedroom villas and grand villas, which are the largest. There are also several very unique options among Disney Deluxe Villas, including the Bora Bora Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, the Cascade Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and the Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. Here's Why You Might Want to Consider Staying in a Disney Deluxe Villa There are three main reasons why you might consider staying in a Disney Deluxe Villa instead of a traditional Disney Deluxe hotel room:
There are other great benefits to the Disney Deluxe Villas as well, but these are three common reasons as to why you may wish to consider the Villas as an option for your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation. Where are Disney Deluxe Villas Located? Deluxe Villas at Walt Disney World:
Disney Deluxe Villas located beyond Walt Disney World Resort
Amelia and I Thank You for Listening to 1923 Main Street
Amelia and I hope that you listen to the full episode and that you enjoy it. We hope that you will learn something that you didn't know and that you will find our discussion as both fun and informative. If you enjoy the show, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify Podcasts, or whichever app you choose to listen. A brief review about what you liked most about an episode truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes each week. Contact 1923 Main Street Thank you for listening to the Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for future episodes. So please do not hesitate to contact us. Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Thank you for listening and have a magical day! Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic 
Having trouble choosing between two Walt Disney World Deluxe Hotels? Not sure which one is right for you?
If you are planning a Walt Disney World vacation, but you can't decide on which Disney Deluxe Resort Hotel to choose, this episode of the 1923 Main Street® Disney Travel Podcast is here to help. Disney Deluxe Hotels are the top tier onsite hotel properties at Walt Disney World. The challenge, however, is that with so many great choices from which to choose, how do you know which Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort is right for you? In this episode of the Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast, Amelia and I try to help with your decision making by giving you our opinions on which hotels we would choose. We put two hotels at a time in direct head-to-head comparisons -- some of the most common "this or that" hotel decisions faced by Walt Disney World travelers. We have stayed at each of these hotels many times over the years and we have our own opinions on all of them. Our discussions will hopefully provide you with additional information to help your make a Disney hotel decision. In this episode of 1923 Main Street, we rate each Walt Disney World Deluxe Hotel on five criteria:
The Walt Disney World Deluxe Hotel pairings that we cover:
Listen to the podcast to hear our perspectives on each of these Deluxe Disney Resort hotels and find out which ones we think come out on top in head-to-head battles.
More About Helping to Choose a Walt Disney World Deluxe Hotel
For further reading on picking a Walt Disney World hotel, be sure to read these posts from my Luxury Disney Travel Blog, which I mentioned during the podcast.
Amelia and I Thank You for Listening to 1923 Main Street Thank you very much for listening to this episode, Amelia and I hope that you enjoyed it. If you did, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes (or on whichever app you choose to listen). A brief review about what you liked most about an episode truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes each week. Contact 1923 Main Street Thank you for listening to the Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for future episodes. Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Thank you for listening and have a magical day! Mike Belobradic 
Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, Disneyland Paris. (Photo Mike Belobradic)
A Guide to Disneyland Paris for the Walt Disney World or Disneyland Traveler
If you are a regular or frequent traveler to Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort, at some point, you've probably thought about taking a trip to France to visit Disneyland Paris. As frequent travelers to the North American Disney Parks, Amelia and I have done just that and in Episode 2 of the Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast at 1923 Main Street® -- Disneyland Paris for the Walt Disney World Traveler -- we share our thoughts and insights on how Disneyland Paris compares to the parks in Orlando and Anaheim. How much is Disneyland Paris different...or the same? While the parks and atmosphere are similar, there are some key differences that are worthwhile knowing in advance. We start the show with some practical tips and advice on how to get to Disneyland Paris from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris (it's important to note that there's no Magical Express for DLP) and we also discuss where we like to stay onsite: Club Level at the Disneyland Hotel (Castle Club). There are some very valuable benefits to staying there, so it's good to know what you get for the extra price. You will also hear our take on the two parks that make up Disneyland Paris (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios), including how some of the local ambiance and Cast Members differ from what you are used to at Disney World and Disneyland. There's a Disney Village there as well, but is it really as good as (or better) than Disney Springs or Downtown Disney? The answer may surprise you. No podcast on Disneyland Paris would be complete without recommendations on must-do dining at and some tips to help you and your kids get the most from your Disneyland Paris vacation. Listen in to get our take on both of these...and whether or not we agree.
So, is Disneyland Paris worth the trip to France?
Yes, we think so. But only as part of a longer trip to France. It won't likely be a frequent destination for your Disney travels from North America, but as fans of Disney Parks and Resorts, Disneyland Paris is definitely worth a visit. 
Walt Disney Studios, Disneyland Paris. (Photo Mike Belobradic)
More Information About Visiting Disneyland Paris
For further reading, I mentioned the following the blog posts during the show (which can be found on my Luxury Disney Travel Blog):
As always, Amelia and I would like to thank you for listening to the Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. We appreciate that you take the time to listen each week. If you liked this episode, we would truly appreciate if you could take a moment to rate the show and leave a brief review about what you enjoyed about it on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, or wherever you listen to podcasts. These ratings and reviews truly go a long way towards helping the show move forward by exposing us to new listeners. We very much appreciate the positive support, so thank you! We also love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for future episodes. So feel free to reach out. Thank you for listening and have a magical day! Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic  Each Episode Brings a Parent's and Child's Perspective to Disney Travel
The first episode of 1923 Main Street®: A Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast is now live and available online. You can stream the program directly from 1923MainStreet.com, or through your favorite podcast player, including Spotify and Apple (coming soon). In the first episode, you'll get to know us, your co-hosts, Mike Belobradic and 11-year-old daughter Amelia Belobradic. Together we form the dad and daughter team that will greet you each week to discuss our unique perspectives on Disney travel. On 1923 Main Street, we'll cover travel to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Vacation Club properties (including Disney Aulani in Hawaii), Disneyland Paris and much more. So be sure to subscribe and listen in as we cover the fun-filled world of Disney travel. We don't always agree, but that's all part of the fun. Send Us Your Questions and Show Suggestions We also love to hear from our listeners. So if you have questions, feel free to send them along and we'll do our best to answer them on a show. If you have a show idea and want to hear more about a specific Disney travel topic, we'd love to hear that as well. Listener feedback is important to us. Even though podcasts are recorded, we'd like to make 1923 Main Street as interactive as possible, so your questions and suggestions are always welcome. We hope that you enjoy the show here at 1923 Main Street: A Daddy Daughter Disney Travel Podcast. If you liked this episode, we would truly appreciate if you could take a moment to rate the show and leave a brief review about what you enjoyed about it on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, or wherever you listen to podcasts. These ratings and reviews truly go a long way towards helping the show move forward by exposing us to new listeners. We very much appreciate the positive support, so thank you! Amelia and Mike Belobradic |
About the Editor
Mike Belobradic is the founder of the 1923 Main Street® Disney Travel Podcast and the Luxury Disney Travel Blog. Archives
January 2021
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