Best Disney Add-On Cities for Families
A lot of families treat Disney like a one-park bubble: land at the airport, ride, sleep, repeat, fly home. That works, but it also means you’re leaving a huge amount of potential magic (and value) on the table.
The sweet spot? Choose one home base Disney park, then add one perfectly chosen city with beaches, museums or food that fits your crew. Fewer check-ins, deeper memories, same airfare.
Book flights, beds & backup plan first
Before you fall in love with half the cities on this list, protect your future self: secure flights, a place to sleep, and a “what if we get sick?” plan.
Open these in new tabs, heart a few favorites, and then come back to match add-on cities to the Disney park you’ve chosen.
Pro move: store all confirmations in a shared family album — so when someone asks “what time is our transfer?” the answer is not “I don’t know, ask Mom’s inbox.”
Your Disney superstack on Stay Here, Do That
This post helps you answer: “Where else should we go while we’re there?” Layer it with these guides so you’re not guessing on weather, budget or which park to choose in the first place.
Big-picture Disney planning:
- Disney Parks Around the World — Family Guide
- Which International Disney Trip Is Right for You?
- Ultimate Disney Parks Comparison Chart
- Disney Parks Weather Guide (Month by Month)
- Best Time of Year to Visit Each Disney Park
- How Many Days You REALLY Need at Each Disney Park
Core park deep dives:
- Walt Disney World Orlando with Kids
- Disneyland Resort Anaheim with Kids
- Disneyland Paris with Kids
- Tokyo Disney Resort with Kids
- Hong Kong Disneyland with Kids
- Shanghai Disney Resort with Kids
- Aulani Disney Resort Hawaiʻi with Kids
- Disney Cruise Line with Kids
Make the most of the trip:
- Disney on a Budget: Real Tips for Real Families
- Disney Parks Ranked by Sensory Load
- Best Disney Parks for Neurodivergent Families
- Disney Tips for Autistic or Sensory-Sensitive Kids
- How to Do Disney Without Meltdowns
Fun stuff that sells the add-on:
- Which Disney Park Has the Best Food?
- Best Disney Rides for Families (All Parks)
- Best Disney Parades & Shows Worldwide
- Disney Resorts Ranked by Pool Quality
- Cutest Disney Merchandise by Park
- Top 25 Disney Snacks Around the World
- Best Disney Hotels for Families (All Parks)
- Best Off-Site Disney Hotels to Save Thousands
- Disney Cruise Line vs Disney Parks for Families
How to use this add-on list
Don’t try to stack four cities and two parks into one week. Instead:
- Pick one Disney hub (Orlando, Anaheim, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Hawaiʻi, or a cruise).
- Choose one add-on city that fits your kids’ ages and energy.
- Give Disney 3–5 days and your add-on city 2–4 days, depending on flights.
Think of Disney as the “hook” that gets everyone excited to go — and your add-on city as the part of the trip they talk about for years.
Best add-on cities from Walt Disney World (Orlando)
Full guide: Walt Disney World Orlando with Kids
1. Clearwater & St. Pete Beaches (Florida Gulf Coast)
- Soft sand, calm water and no park lines.
- Dolphin cruises, sunset piers and paddleboarding for big kids.
- Easy drive from Orlando with a rental car.
Book a few nights in a beach hotel or condo via Booking.com, then add a dolphin cruise on Viator as a low-effort finale.
2. St. Augustine (America’s “oldest city”)
- Cobblestone streets, a real fortress to explore, pirate stories for days.
- Great change of pace after loud parks; easy to wander at kid-speed.
- Works well as a 1–2 night add-on with a rental car.
Look for family inns inside the historic district and use a hop-on trolley tour to save little legs.
3. Tampa & Busch Gardens Combo
- Good for older kids and coaster lovers who want one more thrill day.
- Aquariums, zoo, and riverfront walks on non-park days.
- Easy drive from Orlando; you can also fly home from Tampa to avoid backtracking.
4. Space Coast (Cocoa Beach & Kennedy Space Center)
- NASA launches, rockets and beaches all in one zone.
- Perfect for STEM kids and space-obsessed parents.
- Works beautifully as a front- or back-end 2–3 day add-on.
Best add-on cities from Disneyland Resort (Anaheim)
Full guide: Disneyland Resort Anaheim with Kids
5. San Diego, California
- Zoo, beaches, sea caves and laid-back neighborhoods.
- Easy train ride or drive from Anaheim.
- Great for younger kids who need a slower landing after high-energy park days.
Pair a beach apartment via Booking.com with a simple harbor cruise or zoo day.
6. Los Angeles “Highlights Only” Stop
- Hit Griffith Observatory, the beach, and one kid-friendly museum.
- Avoid the trap of trying to see all of LA in 48 hours.
- Stay near one area (Santa Monica or Hollywood) to reduce time in traffic.
Use a guided half-day tour to handle driving while you focus on snacks and sunscreen.
Best add-on cities from Disneyland Paris
Full guide: Disneyland Paris with Kids
7. Paris City Stay (obviously)
- Split your time: 2–3 park days + 2–4 Paris days.
- Pick one area (Latin Quarter, Marais, Eiffel Tower zone) and stay put.
- Do one “big thing” per day: Eiffel Tower, boat on the Seine, Louvre or Orsay.
Combine a central apartment from Booking.com with a Seine river cruise and simple bakery breakfasts.
8. London, UK (easy Eurostar hop)
- Ride the train from Paris, spend 3–4 days in London, fly home from there.
- Big hits: Tower of London, parks, kid-friendly theatre, Harry Potter extras.
- Very good option if you’re visiting Europe for the first time with kids.
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Canals, bikes, pancakes and science museums.
- Easy train ride from Paris; smaller scale than London.
- Best with school-age kids and up.
10. Bruges or Ghent, Belgium
- Storybook streets, chocolate shops, boats on canals.
- Perfect calm-down after overstimulating park days.
- Works as a 1–2 night mini-break between Disneyland Paris and your flight home.
Best add-on cities from Tokyo Disney Resort
Full guide: Tokyo Disney Resort with Kids
11. Tokyo Neighborhood Stay
- Give Disney 2–3 days, then move into Tokyo proper for 3–5 days.
- Pick one area (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Odaiba) rather than park-hopping the whole city.
- Layer in one “wow” per day: teamLabs, sky deck, character cafés, kid-friendly shrines.
12. Kyoto & Osaka Combo
- Use the bullet train to reach Kyoto’s temples and bamboo forests, then hop to Osaka for neon nights and street food.
- Great for school-age kids and teens who can handle a slightly faster pace.
- Give Kyoto 2–3 days and Osaka 1–2 days; fly home from Osaka if flights line up.
Check guided Kyoto day tours and family hotels near Kyoto Station to simplify logistics.
13. Hakone or Kawaguchiko (Mt. Fuji views)
- Onsen towns, lake cruises and possible Fuji views on clear days.
- Wonderful decompression stop between park chaos and long flights.
- Best for kids who can handle train transfers or bus rides.
14. Hiroshima & Miyajima (older kids & teens)
- Powerful history at the Peace Park plus a magical torii gate on Miyajima Island.
- Better for older kids who can understand the context.
- Fly in or out of Hiroshima to avoid extra backtracking.
Best add-on cities from Hong Kong Disneyland
Full guide: Hong Kong Disneyland with Kids
15. Hong Kong City Stay
- Swap castle fireworks for skyline views from Victoria Peak.
- Ride the Star Ferry, explore markets, and walk the harbor promenades.
- Stay 2–4 nights; keep one full day “empty” for kid-led exploring.
16. Lantau Island & Beaches
- Combine Ngong Ping cable car, Big Buddha and quieter beaches.
- Perfect low-stress add-on if you don’t want to switch hotels too many times.
- Can be done as day trips from a single Hong Kong base.
Best add-on cities from Shanghai Disney Resort
Full guide: Shanghai Disney Resort with Kids
17. Central Shanghai
- Split time between the Bund, Pudong’s skyline, and older neighborhoods.
- Do river cruises at night when the city lights up.
- Best for older kids and teens who can handle big-city energy.
18. Water Towns (Zhujiajiao, Suzhou, etc.)
- Canal towns with boats, gardens and slower streets.
- Great “exhale” after intense park days.
- Look for half-day or full-day tours that handle transport for you.
Best add-ons from Aulani, A Disney Resort in Hawaiʻi
Full guide: Aulani Disney Resort Hawaiʻi with Kids
19. Oʻahu Road-Trip Days
- Base at Aulani and add day trips to the North Shore, Honolulu, and windward beaches.
- Great compromise if you want Hawaiian culture, but kids love the lazy river too much to leave.
- Rent a car for a few days to explore at your own speed.
20. One More Island (Maui, Kauaʻi or Big Island)
- Short inter-island flights turn one trip into a two-island sampler.
- Best when you have at least 10–14 days total.
- Keep it simple: 3–4 nights Aulani + 4–6 nights on your second island.
Best add-on ideas with Disney Cruise Line
Full guide: Disney Cruise Line with Kids and comparison: Disney Cruise Line vs Disney Parks for Families.
21. Orlando or Miami Before/After Caribbean Cruises
- Pair a short Walt Disney World stay with your cruise out of Port Canaveral.
- Or keep it simple with a South Florida beach & pool stay near Miami.
- Book one hotel for both ends of the cruise if flights allow — fewer repacks.
22. Vancouver + Alaska Cruises
- Explore Stanley Park, Granville Island and the seawall before sailing.
- Easy to keep kids moving with bike rentals and aquariums.
- Fly in a day early to buffer flight delays.
23. Barcelona for Mediterranean Cruises
- Gaudí architecture, beach boardwalks, tapas and markets.
- Stay 2–4 nights pre-cruise while everyone adjusts to jet lag.
- Keep one “nothing planned” day for wandering and playground stops.
24. Copenhagen or Rome for European Sailings
- Copenhagen: bikes, Tivoli Gardens, canals and castles.
- Rome: ruins, gelato, and piazzas — better for older kids.
- Fly into your embarkation city 2–3 days early, leave directly after the cruise.
Step 4 · Choose your add-on in 10 minutes
When everything sounds fun, decision paralysis is real. Here’s a quick way through:
- Write down your chosen Disney hub (Orlando, Anaheim, Paris, Tokyo, etc.).
- Circle two add-on cities from the section linked to that hub.
- Price-check flights + hotels for each combo using the Booking and flights links above.
- Cross off the one that blows your budget, your energy, or your available days.
- Commit to the winner and stop scrolling other options — your nervous system will thank you.
Around here we call it the “Extra Snacks & Sunscreen Fund” — it keeps the kids in Mickey bars, the adults in coffee, and this giant pile of Disney planning guides free to use while you build your own dream trip.
What to read next
Once you’ve picked your Disney hub and add-on city, these will help you dial in the details:
- Ultimate Disney Parks Comparison Chart — make sure you chose the right park for this season of life.
- Disney Parks Weather Guide (Month by Month) — avoid melting down in the wrong month.
- Disney on a Budget — keep the numbers sane while still saying yes to some magic.
- Best Disney Rides for Families (All Parks) — plug in a ride list by age and height.
- Top 25 Disney Snacks Around the World — build your snack scavenger hunt for both your park and your add-on city.
If this helped you pick an add-on city, I’d genuinely love to hear what you chose. Drop a comment on the blog or share your recap and tag stayheredothat.blogspot.com so I can cheer your crew on from my couch.
📌 Pin this for later: Save this list to your Disney planning board or drop it in the family group chat and let everyone vote on their favorite add-on city.
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