Mickey's Magical Getaway #1-Directly Across Disney, Stylish and Fully Remodeled!

"About a 20 minute drive south on the 5 freeway. Irvine Spectrum is a beautifully designed, outdoor entertainment and shopping complex that has lots to offer for all ages. The kids especially love the ferris wheel and merry-go-round and mom can spend an entire day shopping. There is a huge variety of restaurants (most rather pricey) and a massive movie theater that has an IMAX. We especially like going to the Improv on weekends for great comedy shows. "

"Off the 405 Freeway, exit Bristol. About a 20 minute drive from the condo. This is your place for HIGH END shopping! From Armani, to Chanel and Gucci - this mall is Orange County's very own "Rodeo Drive". However, they also have all of the regular brands, furniture stores and great restaurants in and around the mall. So be sure to plan a whole day here, because you will shop until you drop!"

"It's about a 30 minute drive from the condo. We actually only recently discovered the beach at Corona Del Mar for our family and love it! Parking is $15 if you want to park right on the beach, or you can park in the residential area atop the cliffs and walk down. They have several fire pits on the beach which are fun for bon-fires and roasting marshmallows when the sun sets. If you climb over the rocks on the north side of the beach, you will find a little cove from where you will have a spectacular view of Newport Harbor and Balboa Island with its multi-million dollar mansions. There are lots of rocks and caves and the kids love to climb on them. The place is packed on weekends, but a great place to visit mid-week or during off-season. We always stop at "ZINC CAFE" off PCH, my all-time favorite vegetarian restaurant to pick up some amazing food and have a picnic on the beach. "

"During the summer month's the OC Fair is hosted here. Not a huge fan, since it's usually really hot during that time of year and visiting the fair gets really pricey, but the kids seem to have a good time nonetheless. When the fair is not on (e.g. the majority of the year), they host the OC Swap Meet each Saturday and Sunday which is a fun place to visit. Lots of vendors selling lots of different stuff and reasonable prices. "

"Many locals think that Crystal Cove is THE BEST BEACH in Orange County. I think it's nice, but definitely challenging to get to, since you have to park across from PCH and take a shuttle down to the beach. It's a scenic beach with some restored, historic cottages and a nice, but pricey restaurant right on the beach. Further down their are some rocks with tide pools - great place for watching crabs. We like to stop at Ruby's Shack off PCH on top of the cliffs and have one of their famous shakes. "

"Incredible Architecture!"

"About a 20 minute drive from the condo. Irvine Park is actually located in the city of Orange and should not be missed! The perfect place to offset the madness at Disneyland! Just a beautiful, serene, all round great park to take the kids. It's $3 per car to get in, or $5 on weekends, although I would recommend you try to visit mid-week, since weekends can get busy. Pack a picnic or buy some food at the snack bar. Be sure to bring some bread for the ducks. The railroad is pricey, but cute and kids just love it. They also have pony rides, various playgrounds, a small but wonderful, local zoo, bike and boat rentals and a nature center. There are also horse stables on-site and you are going to love watching the peacocks that roam around the park. The park has 2 lakes in the center which I think is the most beautiful area and our girls like to climb on the rocks below the bridge that connects them while I set up a blanket for a picnic. Bike rentals are not cheap, but still worth it. The kids love that they get to try out tandem bikes and the park is big enough that you can easily ride around for an hour. Highly recommend this place!"

"This is one of our favorite places in Orange County and a great place to spend a late afternoon and get dinner. A REAL Old Town with gorgeous 100+ year old homes, a fabulous town center with a beautiful fountain and a ton of adorable antique stores and restaurants. Personal favorites include: Rutabagorz, a very reasonably priced family "health" restaurant with a great patio area and a huge menu, El Ranchito - a Mexican restaurant that is housed in an old church (fabulous interior), Watson's Drugs - an original 50s diner (food is not great, but it's a real trip into the past...), Felix Café - great Cuban Food, located right on the Orange Circle, The Filling Station - a converted gas station, great for breakfast, Café Lucca - a funky Café with a fairly limited menu, but great décor and real Italian gelato that is to die for and lastly Bruxie's - a waffle stand that sells the most scrumptious waffles, both sweet and salty."

"Your closest full sized, indoor mall that includes all the major chain stores & also has a $2 movie theater - "Picture Show at Main Place". Not the most beautiful theater, but at those prices, you really cannot complain! Perfect place to spend a rainy or extra hot day. The Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) has a shuttle service from the main Disneyland Transportation Center for those traveling without a car. "

"We LOVE Laguna! A very picturesque sea village that you reach by taking the 5 South to the 133 South. You follow the street all the way until you hit the water. It’s a gorgeous drive through canyons and the town itself has lots of cute little stores and restaurants. It’s an artist colony, so you will find plenty of galleries as well. The beach itself is a bit small and rather crowded (particularly on weekends and in the summer), but the scenery makes up for it… There is a children’s playground + bathrooms at the left end of the bay. If you are not staying all day, you might just want to park in a metered spot – they all accept credit cards. The parking structures can be quite pricey, although they might be a good choice if you are staying all day. "

"Doesn't have the MAGIC of Disneyland, but a fun Western theme. It is definitely a fun place for thrill seekers, since they have a few crazy rollercoaster way beyond what Disneyland offers, but they also have Camp Snoopy for the little ones. Quite a bit cheaper than Disneyland, so worth checking out. "

"A good 45 minute drive from the condo. They have some really amazing exhibits!"

"Of all the Outlets in the area, this is my personal favorite! 1 hour and 10 minutes from the condo. It does get HOT in the summer, but this Outlet has the best selection of stores, including some really high end stores that most other Outlets won't have. If you like to gamble, Morongo Casino is right next to the Outlet center."

"It's only a 10 minute drive from the condo, so DEFINITELY worth checking out. Not the same selection as some of the larger Outlet Malls that are an hour drive away, but it does have some of the bigger stores. It also includes several restaurants, a bowling alley, a skate park, a Dave & Buster's Arcade and a HUGE movie theater. Great place to spend a non-Disney day..."

"Ladies, if you want to get pampered and money doesn't matter, this is the place!"

"I think these guys offer the best value and location for whale watching and fishing cruises. Even if you don't care about whales, it's just such a nice cruise through Newport Harbor and out into the ocean along the coast. You are likely to see at least one whale and some dolphins (EXCITING!) and if you don't, they actually give you a free ticket to come back - how awesome is that! Make sure you call for an advance reservations. During the summer I recommend the late cruise for some spectacular sunset views! Be sure to bring a jacket - even on the hottest days it does get cool out on the water... And make sure you look online for a coupon or book your tickets through Goldstar Events!"

"Balboa is a peninsula that is part of Newport Beach and not only houses multi-million dollar mansions, but also some great, wide beaches and a huge yacht harbor. It has lots going for it: For one, you can find plenty of paid parking right next to the beach that can be paid for with a credit card, so no need to bring quarters and if you are lucky you might even find free parking in one of the residential side streets. Just take Balboa Blvd for a couple of miles and turn right onto Palm Street. There is a wonderful playground for kids of all ages right on the beach, so the parents can work on their tan while the little ones play. The surf in this area is a bit rough, so parents should keep a close eye on their kids. It's a popular place for skim boarders and they are always fun to watch. There is a bike rental place on the corner of Palm and Oceanfront that has bikes of all sizes. If you walk away from the beach (take Main Street) and cross over Balboa Blvd, you will have a wonderful view of Newport Bay with all its’ yachts & sailboats. There are several boating companies that offer private rentals (including sail boats and kayaks) or you may also take a whale & dolphin watching cruise from there. There are also several touristy stores, restaurants, as well as entertainment for the kids (Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, arcade) at the Balboa Fun Zone. So you can easily spend a whole day on Balboa Island. "

"If you or your kids like dogs, you should plan a visit to Huntington Beach's DOG BEACH (where Goldenwest meets Pacific Coast Highway.) Don't plan on relaxing on the sand - the dogs won't let you!! - but it is just so much fun to watch every breed of dog on the planet parade along the beach, play catch and interact with each other. The beach itself is narrow and not the most beautiful, but again, if you are a dog lover, this is definitely a fun place to visit, especially if you have kids. Afterwards you can always head further north to Sunset Beach where the beach is much nicer and wider for some actual beach time!"

"For those traveling without a car or just not wanting to go explore on their own, check out Starline Tours' website - they have lots of sightseeing options available for you by coach. "

"LEGOLAND is located half way between Los Angeles and San Diego, a good hour drive from the condo. Driving there (taking the 5 South), you'll enjoy some spectacular scenery along the California coast. LEGOLAND is a great place for those little Leogmaniacs, although it definitely does not compare to the thrills and magic of Disneyland. It's fairly small, laid back and just a great place for a more relaxed outing. I would recommend a visit if you have kids between 3-6 and it's fun for both boys and girls. In the summer, you might want to bring a swim suit for the little ones, since they have a fabulous, interactive music fountain area that kids just love! As a person who enjoys travel and architecture, my personal favorite are the little cities they rebuilt from all around the world - incredible! BTW, LEGOLAND is just a few minutes drive from the Carlsbad Outlets, so you might want to stop there for a little shopping after your visit to the park."