"30 Miles from Disneyland" a Anaheim Travel Page by AkiSan

I don't have kids, I'm not very fond of "the mouse", and I remember getting sick on the patio under the People Mover many years ago, but I like Disneyland. I like the whole Disney empire. It's hard to explain, but when it hit me that one guy, Walter Elias Disney, came up with this silly little idea that is now so prevalent in business, entertainment and economics, well I had to become interested.

It also doesn't hurt that I work for a corporation that has ties with Disney and get a psudo-insider's view from time to time. No, I don't work for Disney - OK I got hired once but my position got eliminated before I even started - long story.

I really feel bad when tourists don't have fun because they have so much planned for that "once in a lifetime" trip. Visiting Disneyland and California Adventure can be hectic, I know I made my parents crazy when I was a kid. I think planning is just as important as flexibility. Rides break down, it rains, it gets hot, you can't control everything.

My experience with guests I've taken to Disneyland and DCA has led me to a few tips that will hopefully be of use.

1) Don't push your kids - if they're tired, they're tired. Go back to the room, sit in the shade, etc. If the fact that Mickey and Minnie are 3 feet away and your kids still can't open their eyes or stand up, the kids need a break more than a photo with a character.

2) Don't push yourself - if you're tired you will not have fun either. It is ok to take a break, to sit down and have a drink. The atmosphere at the parks is all part of the experience.

3) Write down your "must haves" and "must dos" - this will be helpful and will allow you to plan time to do the things you want to do instead of running around the park. If your kids are old enough see if they can make lists of their own and this will help the entire family.

Although I live in LA, we have one or two overnight trips to Anaheim a year. I consider myself lucky since I can go whenever I want to for any reason: to see a special show, to meet friends, etc. I don't have to plan for months to make a special trip.

We've celebrated NYE at Disneyland twice, NYE 2002 and NYE 2003. Each time we stayed at Anaheim hotels so we wouldn't have to fight traffic or tiredness on the way home. I consider Disneyland and DCA great places to celebrate since the party atmosphere is incredible, and everything you want is right there - lots of different music venues, fireworks, dancing, great food, etc.

Luckily we were able to dine at the super exclusive Club 33 for New Year's Eve 2003. It was the absolute best time - except I couldn't keep our waiter :(

You can only get into Club 33 if your company or the company of someone you know has a membership. There are also personal memberships available. It's pricey, $3000.00 to sign up I think? I actually put myself on the wait list for a membership, who knows, by the time I get off the list I may have the money!

I wouldn't do NYE with young kids, or with a full agenda since most of the time you will be waiting in a line somewhere. O

Here is our NYE strategy:

1) Make advance dinner reservations - The Blue Bayou is a favorite, DCA has The Vineyard (it also serves alcohol!) - this is important, this may be the only time you get to sit down the whole night!

2) Get into the park - sometimes they close admissions based on attendance, they are serious about preventing overcrowding, so get in and stay there :) DCA is supposed to be less crowded, we usually go to DCA first and then go over to DL mid-afternoon. I love DCA, I just love Fantasmic! more!

3)Prepare for crowds - It was so crowded last time, we tried to walk from Main Street to Club 33 - after 35 minutes we had only made it to the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (I don't care that Tarzan moved in), so we walked back to Main Street and waited for the train to New Orleans Square.

4) Don't plan on riding anything unless you use the FastPasses

5) If you can, come NYE and the day before or the day after, it will be a little less crowded and you can do things on the extra day that you couldn't on NYE.