Shhhhh....It's a surprise!!

wanttobeinvienna

Mouseketeer
Joined
Aug 19, 2010
Hi friends! I haven't had the chance to post on the DL side of the world yet, we are east coast, avid WDW people, and go about once a year!

BUT - this summer (August 16-23) we are majorly surprising our 3 kids (DS16, DD15, DS2) for a week in LA. The big kids have been begging to go for years, and I finally was able to make it happen! We've told them we are going to Columbus, OH for a week vacation (I have family there). Instead, we will take a connecting flight from Raleigh to Houston to John Wayne airport. Between the early morning hours, and Beats on their ears, and the fact that we're not flying into LAX, I am really not sure when they will figure out we are actually going to LA!

AND I CAN'T WAIT!! Also, this is my husbands first time being a part of this big of a surprise for the big kids, it's our first year wedding anniversary & our baby's 2nd birthday. It's like- all the good things in one trip.

We are staying at the Anaheim Portofino - it seems like it's easy walking distance & every kid gets a bed :D

When we get to CA, we will be telling the kids that we are leaving after 4 days, but instead of leaving, we will take them to US and then have 2 more free days after that. As you can tell, I like lying to my kids - HAHA :D (real reason is that means about halfway through our trip, everything will have to be packed & reorganized- BOOM- clean hotel room for a minute LOL!)

Anyways- We will be spending Saturday (8/19) at DL and Sunday (8/20) at DCA. It's been since the mid- 90's that I was last out in CA, and these boards have always been the best about advice, tips, tricks, etc. I have a spreadsheet and have scoured this board with a fine tooth comb- but I would LOVE anything you have to offer specific to DL or DCA or the Anaheim/LA area in general!

TIA! Pic for attention, from our last WDW with my mom & sister included :D

Couple of edits: I forgot to mention, we have BB/Fantasmic package reservations for Saturday evening.
And HOLY MOLY- I need to update my info at the bottom- that is SUPER OLD!!
 

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Yay this sounds so fun! I love surprise trips. So much that we are surprising our kids next week with a Disneyland trip too! We are driving though and telling them we are going to the aquarium and waiting to see if they notice when we blow by it. My advice would be to film their reactions when they realize where they’re going. That would be a precious memory to keep!

If you are thinking of hitting the beach, one of our favorite things to do outside of Disney is eat at Ruby’s on balboa pier and then hang out at the beach for a few hours. We just love Newport Beach and think of it as a must do every summertime trip. Don’t forget to grab a balboa bar!
 
Love the family photo! Everyone was looking AT the camera (I know how hard that is with a big group :D).

Have you figured out what you will be doing your 2 free days? We always try to do a day or 2 off property. This past May we went to the Griffith Observatory - it was amazing! There are shows (we watched Water is Life and it was really good) and special events - some at night which is on my list for our next trip. The Observatory is free except for the shows. There is also a great view of the Hollywood sign. We also (finally) went to the Griffith Park Merry go Round where Walt dreamed up Disneyland. DD and I got on it and it was a treat - those horses go fast! After that we went to the Farmers Market for lunch - this is my favorite place for lunch in the area but I did notice that 2 shops I loved last year closed down.

Really close by are the La Brea Tar Pits, the LACMA, and the Petersen Auto Museum (I am not a car person and still really enjoyed it). The LACMA has free entrance for students (and 1 adult per student) if they sign up for their NexGen program (can do it by mail or in person, we did by mail and got the id in about a week). http://www.lacma.org/kids-families/nexgen-fast-facts

We went to the Santa Monica Pier on a Monday around noon and it was not crazy crowded, it started to get crowded by around 2pm. On Saturday we tried to go back (the day we did the observatory/mery go round) but it was a madhouse. We also stopped by Venice Beach on Monday but it was not great.

In one day you can easily do the Observatory, Merry go Round, Tar Pits, Farmer's Market with time for a movie at the El Capitan (Christopher Robin will be playing on your dates). If you are into film the Egyptian Theater (American Cinematheque) has older movies playing. They are one night only events so every day is a different theme.
 


We did a surprise trip to WDW in 2015. I planned the trip for months; it was SO hard to keep the secret, but so well worth it. We literally woke our boys up (at 2 am, as we had a 6 am flight, and the airport is an hour away) and told them to get in the car. We filmed their reaction and it was priceless! Our youngest DS was certain we were playing a Jimmy Kimmel prank! :jester:

Enjoy every minute of your family surprise vacation!
 
That sounds awesome!!

Are you checking bags? They might figure it out then as the attendant confirms your final destination as Orange County so be ready for that secret to blow fairly early if they are around that process. If not my money is on while you’re at the gate for the Orange County departure, should be fun watching as they sleepily start to figure out “hey, wait a minute...”
 
congrats!
3 day parkhoppers are considered the minimum for the parks. If you buy your tickets on lastminutetravelclub.com you may find they're the same price as what you're already looking at. Since you have another free day I'd probably buy 4 day tickets. ;)
 


That sounds awesome!! I hope you do a trip report over on this side of the boards!
 
Yay this sounds so fun! I love surprise trips. So much that we are surprising our kids next week with a Disneyland trip too! We are driving though and telling them we are going to the aquarium and waiting to see if they notice when we blow by it. My advice would be to film their reactions when they realize where they’re going. That would be a precious memory to keep!

If you are thinking of hitting the beach, one of our favorite things to do outside of Disney is eat at Ruby’s on balboa pier and then hang out at the beach for a few hours. We just love Newport Beach and think of it as a must do every summertime trip. Don’t forget to grab a balboa bar!
Aw! I can't wait to hear their reaction! How old?

Just put ruby's on balboa pier on our list! Thanks for the tip!
 
Love the family photo! Everyone was looking AT the camera (I know how hard that is with a big group :D).

Have you figured out what you will be doing your 2 free days? We always try to do a day or 2 off property. This past May we went to the Griffith Observatory - it was amazing! There are shows (we watched Water is Life and it was really good) and special events - some at night which is on my list for our next trip. The Observatory is free except for the shows. There is also a great view of the Hollywood sign. We also (finally) went to the Griffith Park Merry go Round where Walt dreamed up Disneyland. DD and I got on it and it was a treat - those horses go fast! After that we went to the Farmers Market for lunch - this is my favorite place for lunch in the area but I did notice that 2 shops I loved last year closed down.

Really close by are the La Brea Tar Pits, the LACMA, and the Petersen Auto Museum (I am not a car person and still really enjoyed it). The LACMA has free entrance for students (and 1 adult per student) if they sign up for their NexGen program (can do it by mail or in person, we did by mail and got the id in about a week). http://www.lacma.org/kids-families/nexgen-fast-facts

We went to the Santa Monica Pier on a Monday around noon and it was not crazy crowded, it started to get crowded by around 2pm. On Saturday we tried to go back (the day we did the observatory/mery go round) but it was a madhouse. We also stopped by Venice Beach on Monday but it was not great.

In one day you can easily do the Observatory, Merry go Round, Tar Pits, Farmer's Market with time for a movie at the El Capitan (Christopher Robin will be playing on your dates). If you are into film the Egyptian Theater (American Cinematheque) has older movies playing. They are one night only events so every day is a different theme.

It seriously takes a miracle to get everyone looking!!

So in total we will have 3 whole days and 2 half days. The Observatory and La Brea are definitely on our list- and I want to go to the LACMA! We have a photographer scheduled to meet us at Santa Monica Pier for family photos. Thanks for letting me know we can accomplish a lot of those in one day, that's so helpful!!
 
We did a surprise trip to WDW in 2015. I planned the trip for months; it was SO hard to keep the secret, but so well worth it. We literally woke our boys up (at 2 am, as we had a 6 am flight, and the airport is an hour away) and told them to get in the car. We filmed their reaction and it was priceless! Our youngest DS was certain we were playing a Jimmy Kimmel prank! :jester:

Enjoy every minute of your family surprise vacation!
That is so cute! I wish we could have waited until the day of, but with the big kids work schedules, we had to get something on the books!

That's funny he thought it was a Jimmy Kimmel prank!!!
 
That sounds awesome!!

Are you checking bags? They might figure it out then as the attendant confirms your final destination as Orange County so be ready for that secret to blow fairly early if they are around that process. If not my money is on while you’re at the gate for the Orange County departure, should be fun watching as they sleepily start to figure out “hey, wait a minute...”
That's a really good point, I didn't even think about the luggage! But I agree, I kind of feel like it will be at the gate in Houston- and we keep debating which kid will figure it out first. DD15 is a HUGE Beyonce fan, so she will be super excited to be in Houston. DS16 HATES flying, so he will either be hyper observant, or completely unaware!!
 
congrats!
3 day parkhoppers are considered the minimum for the parks. If you buy your tickets on lastminutetravelclub.com you may find they're the same price as what you're already looking at. Since you have another free day I'd probably buy 4 day tickets. ;)
I like the way you think......
 
Your trip sounds great! I surprised DD en route to Orlando once. I have a funny picture of DD leaning on our luggage with the DME tag hanging there clear as day. She caught on when we landed in Atlanta and the gate agent asked me where we were going.

In CA, in addition to Disney and Universal, DD and I really enjoyed the WB tour. If you have Harry Potter fans, you get closer to the memorabilia that you do at any of the other HP exhibits I have visited (including the studio tour in London). It is also great for Back to the Future and Gilmore Girls fans - some really fun sets to see.

Someone else mentioned the El Capitan theater - its neat. If you have time to catch a movie, this is a fun way to do it. Be sure to get there a few minutes early - they have an old timey organ performance before the show.
 
congrats!
3 day parkhoppers are considered the minimum for the parks. If you buy your tickets on lastminutetravelclub.com you may find they're the same price as what you're already looking at. Since you have another free day I'd probably buy 4 day tickets. ;)
OK- can you tell me more about this? It seems like you can get a year membership for free, But what happens after that year? Any guidance or advice you have would be greatly appreciated!!
 
20 yrs ago,I told my sons and a friend we were goin fishin. I handed them tickets for DL and my oldest and his friend freaked. My youngest son was 'upset',,,he wanted to go fishin.
 
So, as SmartLabel said, I'd consider doing at least 3 full days at DL, and making your tickets Parkhoppers. Portofino is a bit of a walk, but you'll get one Magic Morning/Early entry into Disneyland with parkhoppers, and it sounds like that would probably be on Saturday. There's so much to see and do, and one day in each park will leave you wishing you had more time, and/or missing some of the "must-do's". Especially since it is a weekend and will be busy, and quite hot. You may want to hit the parks early, getting there before opening, and take a midday break back at the hotel during the worst of the heat and the crowds.

Hope you have a wonderful time!
 

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