9 Things to Do With Your Family in Anaheim

Disneyland Park, built in 1955 by Walt Disney, features 9 themed areas that are packed with rides, colourful characters, live music and street parades. Located on Disneyland Drive, it’s one of the largest theme parks in the world.

Thrill seekers can enjoy exhilarating rides at the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain, while families with young kids can explore the Sleeping Beauty Castle and meet Disney princesses at the Royal Hall. To make the most of your trip, download the official app, which offers exclusive content, dining reservations, show times and more.

Universal Studios Hollywood features many themed rides inspired by Hollywood blockbusters such as Fast & Furious, Jurassic Park and Transformers. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is where fans can explore Hogwarts, including the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom, Dumbledore’s office and the Room of Requirement.

The Studio Tour is a popular attraction, as you get to visit original film sets from the likes of Jaws and War of the Worlds. Fans of Mario should compete for the Golden Cup on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, while little ones can run riot in the Minions-themed Super Silly Fun Land. We recommend purchasing the Hollywood Plus Pass, which allows you to visit Disneyland and other LA attractions with just one ticket.

Disney California Adventure Park offers plenty of adrenaline-filled rides, from simulated hang gliders to rope bridges surrounded by evergreen trees, all based on their famous films. Located in Disneyland Drive, you get to experience Walt Disney’s life back in 1923 by enjoying a trolley ride through Buena Vista Street, a vibrant walking street that’s filled with Art Deco buildings, retro restaurants and cafés.

The Pixar Pier features classic rides, such as midway games, a roller coaster, a carousel and a Ferris wheel decorated with characters from The Incredibles, Inside Out, and Toy Story. Purchase a Park Hopper ticket if you'd like to visit both Disneyland and the Adventure Park.

Adventure City, on South Beach Boulevard, is one of Anaheim’s most visited theme parks. It dates back to 1994 and features 17 themed rides plus live shows and activities for visitors of all ages. The theme park’s centrepiece is an elegant 1940s carousel with 20 wooden horses and benches, making it ideal for young ones and the young at heart.

Introduce the kids to the thrills of a roller coaster, climb a 24-foot tower or cuddle rabbits, chickens and sheep at the petting farm. Tickets to Adventure City offer unlimited access to all rides and shows, except the climbing wall and arcade. What's more, parking is free.

Anaheim Ice is an indoor skating rink that offers youth ice hockey programmes for visitors aged 4 and above. It’s also the official practice rink for the Anaheim Ducks and the University of Southern California club hockey teams. If your kids are new to ice hockey, the rink offers various programmes, courses and lessons, complete with equipment such as skates, shin guards, helmets and jerseys. 

If the little ones aren’t planning to go pro anytime soon, they can watch professional ice hockey and figure skating competitions during their visit. Daily public skating sessions are also available.

K1 Speed Anaheim is an indoor go-kart racing centre that features high-speed go-karts for thrill-seeking kids. These vehicles accelerate to maximum speeds of 45 mph almost instantly, so you and your family are sure to have an electrifying time.

The Arrive and Drive junior karting programme lets your little ones learn about on-track etiquette and racing skills such as drafting, overtaking and throttle input, so they can zoom around the track with safety and skill. They then get to race on high-performance electric go-karts and receive printouts of their lap times afterwards. If you're looking for even more high-speed fun, check out the awesome arcade with new and retro games, prize machines, air hockey and more.

Sky Zone is an indoor arena that features a variety of obstacle courses within its expansive wall-to-wall trampoline courts. The Warrior Course lets you and your kids test your agility, speed and strength with over 10 challenging routes, while the Ultimate Dodgeball attracts sports enthusiasts looking to enjoy a fun time dodging attacks from the opposing team.

There’s also a freestyling section where you can safely practise gravity-defying moves such as flips and somersaults. Active kids of all ages will love the opportunity to bounce as high as they can, and the adults might too.

Located within the Anaheim Hills, the Oak Canyon Nature Center is made up of 3 adjoining canyons, which contain a total of about 4 miles of trails that are suitable for hiking and jogging. The park is also home to a variety of plants, including western poison oak, California buckwheat and California live oak.

Families can enjoy many activities in this beautiful reserve, especially in summertime. The Discover Nature Family Programme is an hour-long weekend hike through Oak Canyon Nature Center. It includes a wonderful live animal demonstration by one of the park’s naturalists. Why not give archery a go while you're here? Or undertake an exciting hike in the dark on every third Saturday.

For an unusual but thrilling evening, consider Pirates Dinner Adventure, where you can enjoy dinner with entertaining stage performances by swashbuckling pirates. The stage is a recreation of an 18th-century Spanish galleon atop an indoor lagoon, while actors are dressed up in elaborate pirate costumes.

Each show is unique and features impressive stunts and musical numbers that will entertain everyone, from the little ones to the big ones. General tickets include soup or salad, an entrée and dessert, as well as unlimited soft drinks, while premium tickets include more perks like accessories and photos. Check-in begins 90 minutes before the show and we advise arriving early for the best seats.