visiting anaheim with 3yo and no car?

[Poptarts]

Anaheim Resort Transit

Getting from Disneyland to the train station is easier than ever with the start of regular shuttle service between the Anaheim Amtrak station, the Disneyland Resort and Anaheim Resort hotels.

The shuttles, which will cost $4 for adults and be free for children 10, will meet all northbound and southbound Pacific Surfliner trains. The trains run ten times daily between Los Angeles and San Diego, with some trains continuing to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo via Oxnard and Ventura. The ART schedule will be posted at www.rideart.org, according to the organizers.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/rail/go/amtrak...heim/index.cfm

[Poptarts]

Where are you staying? Downtown can be near Harbor and Lincoln 3 miles away near Disneyland. Can you please tell us the major cross streets?

[bhcompy]

Adventure City is a few blocks west, open friday-sunday I believe. Mini amusement park for the younger kids, not terribly crowded I don't think and very affordable(10-15$ admission). Adventure City would be the website I believe

[geomom]

Thanks for some great suggestions!

We're staying on S. Harbour near Katella.

After talking about it more, my husband thinks that little one and I should get a mulit-day pass to Disney, which seems prety expensive to me, but I guess since we're going to be RIGHT there and are unlikely to return, we might as well do it all. Adventure City looks great, too, as does the petting zoo, etc. off Amtrak.

So is the beach really just super crowded in general, even on weekdays? It looked like we could potentially get to Huntington, Newport, or take the train to San Clemente-- are any of those areas less crowded than the others?

[IloveOC]

May I make a suggestion - since you may not get to return, take LOTS and LOTS of pictures. Specially with the little one in them and she will enjoy looking at them when she is older. And you will have them to enjoy.

When I made my last trip out there - I took lots of photo's, but now I wish I had taken more. But I grew up out there and love the area so now I am sorry I didn't get more.

And I love Knotts Berry Farm and there are lots of little places shops there too. My kids loved the candy store where they actually made the candies in front of you. I have no idea if that even exists anymore, since I have been gone for many years.

Whatever you do - enjoy your trip.

[anthonyr]

As a Long time visitor to the area, and I mean 10 times a year, I would suggest instead of getting a disney pass, (asking for punishment with a 3 y.o.) I would get a rental car- then you don't have to deal with catching busses, or trains etc.... You will spend the majority of your time on a bus trying to get to the beach, and by the time you get there, you'll have to turn around and go back-Seriously, don't do it!!

[bhcompy]

On top of the Disney passes, they also sell a So Cal pass that gets you admission into Disneyland, Knotts, and some other places. Food for thought

As far as beaches, I imagine San Clemente would be the least busy, simply because Huntington is a primary youth hangout in the summer and Newport is still fairly central. San Clemente is a less populated area

[Bunjee]

Gee, if you're gonna make it to the train (and it'd be really easy to get there), I'd be torn between stopping at San Juan Capistrano and going all the way to San Clemente. I guess you could do both...