Anaheim Convention Center – All-Day Activities

When you’re planning a trip, it can be tempting to pack as many activities as possible into one day so you feel like you’re getting the most out of a place. Sometimes it’s better to slow down and spend one day with one major attraction or tour.

From local festivals to conventions at the Anaheim Convention Center, you’ll have a lot of ground to cover. However, there are still activities you’ll want to devote to a full day. When you’re in Anaheim, there are a few notable experiences that require an entire day. So which of these sights will get your full attention?

Disneyland Resort

It’s hard to hear Anaheim and not think of Disneyland Park. With all of the different attractions inside the park and in Downtown Disney District, this is a destination that you really have to spend the whole day exploring. You’re already in Anaheim for an event at the Anaheim Convention Center and Disneyland Park is only a mile from the venue, so why not make a day to visit the happiest place on Earth?

The best way to guarantee you’ll get the full experience of both Disneyland Park and the adjacent Disneyland California Adventure Park is to buy a Park Hopper ticket. This will allow you to move freely between both parks.

Start the day at Disneyland California Adventure Park. This is where you will find a number of amusement park rides, such as the Grizzly River Run, Incredicoaster, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! and Monsters After Dark. Before you head over to Disneyland Park, make sure you stop at Cars Land and become immersed in the world of Radiator Springs.

Spend the rest of the day in Disneyland Park. You’ll walk through different distinctive lands, such as Tomorrowland and the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. In Disneyland Park, you’ll be greeted by the classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald, and the princesses. The rides you’ll get to go on include Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Snow White’s Scary Adventure, Tarzan’s Treehouse, and much more.

Both parks have a ton of dining options, so you won’t have to leave when you get hungry. Most of the eateries are have a Disney theme, so even your dining experience will be special. When you’re done with park attractions, head over to Downtown Disney to continue the night with drinks and shopping.

No matter how you split up the day between the two parks and Downtown Disney, you will absolutely need the full day to see and experience everything Disney has to offer its guests.

Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach

There are a few beaches that are quite close to the Anaheim Convention Center. Two very popular beaches that are within a 30- to 40-minute drive from Anaheim are Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach. Both are gorgeous destinations for a day out in the sun.

Huntington Beach is a 30-minute drive from the Anaheim Convention Center and a beautiful spot to spend the day. You can press your toes into the sand, sunbathe, and swim in the ocean. If you love to surf, this is a perfect chance to bring or rent a surfboard because Huntington Beach is known as Surf City. Additionally, whale-watching tours are offered year-round.

When you’re ready to leave the beach, you can walk the iconic Huntington Beach Pier, which is Huntington’s most famous landmark. It is a great spot for photography because you will have panoramic views of Catalina Island, Newport Beach, Long Beach, and San Pedro.

After a day by the ocean, head into Pacific City to enjoy shopping at surf shops and boutiques. You can also find nighttime entertainment like art galleries and live music happening throughout the city. Before heading back to Anaheim, grab dinner in Huntington to enjoy oceanfront dining and local craft beer. Have a burger at Simmzy’s or some fresh seafood at Slapfish.

The second beach option is Laguna Beach, which is closer to a 40-minute drive from the Anaheim Convention Center. However, this premier coastal destination is well worth the trip when you plan on spending the day in Laguna Beach.

Much like Huntington Beach, you can spend the day sunbathing and swimming in the ocean, and then at night shop around and enjoy delicious cuisine. But what makes Laguna Beach special is its seven miles of sea caves and tide pools for visitors to explore. Also, for those who love to bike or hike, there are 20,000 acres of protected wilderness to traverse.

The Best of Los Angeles Tour

Getting to Los Angeles from the Anaheim Convention Center doesn’t take as long as you would think. The ride to Los Angeles should be no longer than an hour. If you traveled to Anaheim for a convention, you might not have a car with you to get to Los Angeles. Good news is that The Best of Los Angeles Tour from Anaheim with Lux Bus America has transportation included. This tour includes stops in Los Angeles, Hollywood, and two beaches.

Lux Bus America offers a very customizable experience for The Best of Los Angeles Tour. There are two options for your first stop of the tour. Regardless of which you choose, you will depart from Anaheim at 9:30 a.m. You can opt for three and a half hours of free time on Hollywood Boulevard or have your time split between the farmers market and Hollywood Boulevard. For lunch, you can either find an eatery on your own or upgrade the tour to include lunch at Hard Rock Cafe.

The second half of the day will be spent at a beach of your choice for two hours. One option is Santa Monica. You don’t have to be on the beach the whole time either. Santa Monica has shopping and dining on Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place Mall. If you’re looking for some thrilling amusement rides, visit Pacific Park.

The other beach you can visit is Venice Beach. While you’re at Venice Beach, you can walk along the boardwalk and Muscle Beach, viewing street performers and artists. If you want to explore outside of the beach and boardwalk, you can head to the Venice Canal Historic District during your two hours.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Lux Bus America also runs the Universal Studios Hollywood trip with transport from Anaheim. To reach Universal Studios Hollywood from the Anaheim Convention Center, the drive will take just over an hour. It is early pick up, either 7:45 a.m. or 8:45 a.m. depending on the time of year, but you will be able to rest up and nap on the bus ride there.

Transportation, the admission ticket, and a behind the scenes tour of the studio are all included in the ticket price. Your day will start with the studio tour, which will give you an inside look at moviemaking secrets. You’ll get an insider’s view of a movie set in Hollywood and see how special effects are created. Obtain further insight on special effects through the Special Effects Show where famous movie scenes are recreated before your eyes.

Next, visit the world of King Kong, home to the intense King Kong 360 3-D experience. This is the perfect ride for those who love thrills. You will feel as though you are right there experiencing the terror of encountering the one and only King Kong.

To continue the heart-pounding fun, head to the Revenge of the Mummy ride where mummy warriors wait inside to scare you as you. Afterward, keep the adrenaline pumping at WaterWorld: A Tidal Wave of Explosive Action. Watch death-defying stunts and a display of pyrotechnics up close and personal.

Before you head back to the Anaheim Convention Center, make sure that you try to visit all the rides in Universal Studios Hollywood, including the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Jurassic World Attraction, The Walking Dead Attraction, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Transformers: The Ride 3-D, The Simpsons Ride, and much more.