This Anaheim itinerary is designed specifically for families. It balances two full days at Disneyland Resort with breathing room, including a dedicated beach day, a visit to Knott’s Berry Farm, and a classic Southern California convertible drive. You’ll also find space for easy wins like the Anaheim Packing House, an afternoon out at the ballpark, and a fireworks-view dinner without needing another Disney ticket.
Above all, this itinerary is realistic. It assumes tired legs, hungry kids, and the occasional change of plans. Think of this Anaheim itinerary as the equivalent of a “choose your own adventure” book, except the pages are sticky with churro sugar and someone’s always asking for a toilet break. One that helps your family experience Anaheim beyond the obvious, while still delivering the moments everyone came for.
Set in the heart of Southern California, Anaheim offers far more than theme parks. Within a short drive, you’ll find relaxed beach towns, family-friendly food halls, iconic sports stadiums, and scenic coastal roads. With a little planning and a well-timed rest day, it’s possible to enjoy the excitement and keep everyone functioning by the end of the week.
Before you start: a few simple Anaheim itinerary planning tips
- Stay walkable to Disney if you can. It makes the whole trip calmer and reduces “carry me” negotiations with young kids.
- Use ART shuttles if you’re staying in the resort area and don’t want to drive everywhere. It runs throughout the Anaheim Resort District and goes to the main Disneyland transportation hub.
- Plan a proper rest day after your first Disney hit. Your feet (and your patience as a parent) will thank you.
7-Day Anaheim itinerary for families
Day 1: Arrive + Downtown Disney + an easy first-night dinner
Morning/afternoon
- Arrive, check in, and do a quick unpack.
- If everyone’s got a bit of energy, head to Downtown Disney for an easy wander. You’ll experience the magic of Disney vibes, shops and snacks without committing to a full park day.
Dinner
- Keep it simple near your hotel or grab something casual and call it a win.
Evening
- Early night. Tomorrow is a big one.
Day 2: Disneyland Park day
Morning/afternoon
- Arrive as soon as the park opens if you can (especially with younger kids).
- Prioritise your must-dos early while energy is high.
- There are plenty of lunch options within the park to take a breather.
Dinner/evening
- Stay for the nighttime atmosphere and the fireworks if your family is up for it. If not, there’s no shame in tapping out and ordering room service. You can catch the fireworks another day.
Parent tip
- Bring a foldable stroller for younger kids, even if they never use one anymore. Disneyland has a way of humbling us all. You’ll be pleased with your step count for today.
Day 3: Rest day at a beach (keep it chill)
This is your recovery day. It breaks up the theme park intensity on this Anaheim itinerary and stops your family holiday from turning into a seven-day endurance event. I recommend choosing just one beach (we loved Huntington Beach and Newport Beach), no ambitious multi-stop plans.
Huntington Beach – aka Surf City, USA – is around a 40-minute drive from Disneyland, California and surfing here is practically a religion. It’s no problem if you’re not a surfer, though; the Huntington Beach Pier is a lovely spot for a seaside stroll and fish and chips.
Newport Beach (the city) wears the crown of Orange County’s family-friendly beach capital, boasting boat rides, boardwalk fun and boat rides. Also, it’s only a 25-minute drive from Disneyland. Don’t miss Balboa Island, where every day of the week the vibe is as laid-back as a Sunday afternoon. Newport Beach itself is home to a long wooden pier with stroller-friendly shops, cafes and beachside restaurants. This is our top pick for your Anaheim itinerary beach day!
Day 4: Disney California Adventure day
Morning/Afternoon
- Arrive early and hit Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy and the Incredicoaster as early as you can – the lines get ridiculous.
- Prioritise your must-dos early while energy is high.
- There are plenty of lunch options within the park to take a breather.
Dinner/evening
Just like your Disneyland Park day, stay for the nighttime atmosphere and the fireworks if your family is up for it. If not, you won’t be the only family to tap out and order room service.
Day 5: Knott’s Berry Farm day (more relaxed, still mega fun)
Knott’s Berry Farm in nearby Buena Park is the perfect third theme park on this Anaheim itinerary because it’s fun but feels less intense than Disney. We visited Knott’s Berry Farm on a busy day, and it still felt easier to manage than Disney. If you were to ask my kids, they would tell you they enjoyed Knott’s Berry Farm more than Disney, and I would agree with them!
Morning/afternoon
- Camp Snoopy for littlies
- Coasters and scarier rides for teens and brave parents
- Don’t skip the boysenberry everything and the classic food options
Evening
- Low-key dinner back in Anaheim (or early night if the kids crash the second they hit the car).
Day 6: Hire a convertible and beach hop
This is your “SoCal movie moment” day on your Anaheim itinerary and it’s also a great way to see more without feeling like you’re just doing parks on repeat.
Morning: pick up the convertible
- Do a scenic drive out towards and up the coast.
Choose 1-2 coastal stops (not five – you’ll hate yourself):
- Newport Beach or Balboa Island (whichever you didn’t visit on your beach day)
- Laguna Beach if you want prettier scenery and coves
- Santa Monica Pier if you want to check out this classic icon (we did)
Late afternoon
- Head back, quick freshen up at the hotel.
Dinner: Anaheim Packing House
- This is your crowd-pleaser meal. The Packing House is a foodie wonderland bundled up inside a restored citrus packing warehouse. There’s an amazing mix of eateries so everyone can choose what they want. Parents get something decent and kids don’t have to commit to one menu. Also, the vibe is fun without being too much.
Day 7: Catch a game and the Disney fireworks
This Anaheim itinerary day works best if your travel dates line up with a game, but even if they don’t, there are plenty of things you can do in its place.
Option A: Angel Stadium game
- If the Los Angeles Angels are playing, this is a top-tier family afternoon or night out. It feels very “America” with stadium snacks and big atmosphere.
Option B: Easy daytime alternatives
- Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) for a marine-life break from rides
- Bowers Museum for culture without boredom
Dinner with Disney fireworks views
- Book a table somewhere you can see the fireworks from outside the parks (you’ll need to get organised and book this in advance). It’s one of those holiday highlight moments that feels special without another full Disney ticket day.
- Restaurants in Anaheim with Disney firework views include The FIFTH Rooftop (we went here and loved it) and RISE Rooftop Lounge.
Optional swaps and tips
- There is no rule that says you have to hit up both Disney parks. You still get all the magic from choosing just one park and this will free up your Anaheim itinerary for a less exhausting activity.
- Those with younger kids might like to add hotel pool time and shorten driving days.
- Older kids/teens may like the more thrilling rides at Knott’s or to spend some money on shopping/entertainment at GardenWalk.
- If you’re doing Disney hard, move the beach rest day to Day 5 and do Knott’s Day 6.
What else can you do in Anaheim?
There’s no doubt about it, there is plenty more to do in Anaheim for families beyond Disney. From local attractions and museums to easy beach day trips and food spots that don’t involve queueing for 45 minutes, Anaheim has far more to offer than theme parks alone. That said, this itinerary is intentionally not about cramming every possible attraction into each day.
Disney days are physically and mentally exhausting, especially for parents. Between the walking, crowds, planning Lightning Lanes, managing meltdowns (kids’ and adults’), and staying switched on all day, even the most magical day can leave everyone completely wiped.
By building in breathing room, this itinerary gives families space to actually enjoy Anaheim and not just survive it. It allows time to recharge, sleep in, or simply do nothing for a few hours without feeling like you’re wasting your holiday.
If you do want to extend your stay or mix things up further, the Visit Anaheim (official tourism) website has a great range of family-friendly ideas to explore that can easily be slotted into a rest day or added onto a longer trip.
Where to next?
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