Disneyland with teenagers -- 2-day itinerary suggestions?

oops -- that would be almost 15 & 13 years old . . .

Yes, your question is very open ended. Can you make it more specific?

I am not at all sure what your are asking. You say you are staying at DisneyLand for 2 days, yet want suggestions for a 2-day itinerary.

Are these two additional days -- or just the two days you are planning for DL? If they are the DL days -- what sort of itinerary would you want? You arrive at DL in the morning and leave in the evening. Next day arrive at CA Adventure in the morning, then hit Downtown Disney and leave in the evening. = Two days.

OR - if you are talking about two additional days - what sorts of things do you enjoy?

There are numerous hotels across the stree to choose from and you can easily do both Disney Parks in 2 days.

I am a bit confused on what you are asking as well?

I have stayed at the fairfield Inn across the way (walking distance free parking) to the parks - as well as California Grand (lovely/expensive) and the Paradise Pier.

What time of year are you coming?

I have a 12 & 16 year old (soon to be 13 year old) and they LOVE the parks - they really enjoy California Adventure because of a few of the rides - and it is generally less crowded.

We stayed at Howard Johnson. It was very nice, but there are other decent "good neighbor" hotels out there too. Mimi's was a great restaurant in the HoJo's parking lot. Check the trip report under my name.

You might mention when your trip will be. Worth going the fantasmic or fireworks shows at Disneyland, but they're weather dependent even if they are scheduled to be on that night. There are also special events for Halloween and Christmas but I have never gone during this time and cannot advise.

Would definitely include California Adventure for teens. Tower of Terror, the roller coasters on the Pier, Soarin' over California, and also Grizzly River Rafting if it's not too cold. Your girls also might like that blues cafe at Downtown Disney but we didn't make it there.

As mentioned in my report, the one thing I'd avoid is the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney.
Good luck! Five Alive

I second and third the avoid Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney..

Thanks everyone for your input. Just to clarify a few things you've brought up: we are spending 4 nights in So Cal -- driving down and arriving late and staying somewhere near Hollywood or Melrose or somewhere else(night 1), spending the next day window shopping and driving that afternoon/evening to a Disneyland-area hotel, spending the night (night 2), going to DL the next day, spending the night at same hotel (night 3), going to CA Ad the next day, spending the night at the same hotel (night 4), leaving town the next day to drive back to No Cal.

I think on our open first day in So CAL we just want to be tourists window shopping (not beuying in one of the upscale shopping districts -- we are open to suggestions as we have yet to figure out where we will stay this first night . . .

We are going down during the winter break, so, sometime before or after Dec 25.

I have been to the Rain Forest cafe in SF and I do not need to relive that experience!

I am also wondering if anyone can suggest hotel/ticket packages they thought were a good deal -- I am surfing the net, but, thought I'd ask, e.g we plan on staying at the same hotel for our 3-night stay near DL/CA ad and there must be some hotels offering discounts off of the entrance to the parks with a 3-night stay . . . thanks again everyone!

Jennifer

Jennifer - I have never heard of discounts to the parks outside of AAA - it has been my experience that Disney offers its own best rates but that would be a higher season for them. It is a black out date for most of the parks passes outside of the one that has NO black out dates. (annual passholders) So it is high season..
I do suggest trying AAA or calling disney directly.