Hotels Make Play for Children

Parents won’t hear that dreaded phrase, “I am bored!” when they stay at one of four local luxury hotels where children are given the royal treatment. Realizing that happy children make happy parents, the Anaheim Hilton, Dana Point Resort, Hyatt Regency Alicante and the Ritz-Carlton all provide action-packed programs that cater to the special interests of their “young guests.”

“Our resort is ideal for families,” said Penny Elia, spokeswoman for Dana Point Resort. “We have two swimming pools and a 2,500-slip yacht harbor with every sport you could possibly think of and still after Day 2 kids will ask, ‘What is there to do?’ The demand for such a service--a kids camp--was apparent to us within the first few months that we opened. It just seemed an absolute necessity.”

Dana Point Resort opened in September, 1987, and soon put together Camp Cowabunga.

“Camp Cowabunga?”

Relax, parents. This is not the home of those green, mutated reptiles but a dream come true for younger guests of the resort.

Youngsters start each day by decoding a secret message from Camp Cowabunga. Then they work on arts and crafts projects including kite-making, T-shirt art, mural painting and puppets.

Daily excursions may include a tour of the tall ship Pilgrim, the Orange County’s Marine Institute or the Doheny Beach State Park Interpretive Center, where children experience the wonders of the sea.

Supervised pool play, water safety instruction, a group tennis lesson or a “spot of tea” in the lounge fill the afternoon hours.

The evening camp features dinner parties, crafts, video games, movies and a visit to the park’s amphitheater, where children enjoy stories under the stars and a marshmallow roast.

Camp Cowabunga is for children ages 5 to 12 who are guests of the resort. The day camp runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The daily cost of $25 per child includes lunch. The evening program, which includes dinner, runs from 6:30 to 9:30 at a cost of $12. Dana Point Resort is at 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point. (714) 661-5000.

At the Anaheim Hilton and Towers, guests ages 5 to 13 can join Kids Klub, a complimentary program. The royal treatment begins upon arrival. Children “register” at their own decorated registration desk, where they receive a club button entitling them to participate in all Kids Klub activities. Each new member also receives a coupon for a giant cookie and a glass of milk at the Cafe Oasis restaurant plus a raffle ticket for a monthly drawing. The prize is an Indianapolis-style mini-racing car.

At the Kids Klub clubhouse, children can participate in arts-and-craft projects, play board games and make new friends under the supervision of experienced recreation leaders. Group activities include volleyball, badminton and a ring toss.

Disney movies are shown daily at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Children’s Theater. Big, bright film posters decorate the walls, and Disney music plays while Kids Klub leaders serve popcorn, punch and cookies before show time and during intermission.

Starting at 4 each afternoon, club members can discover the inner workings of the hotel kitchens, grand ballroom, laundry and engineering departments when they sign up for a behind-the-scenes tour. Parents are invited to join the group.

Kids Klub runs through Labor Day at the Anaheim Hilton and Towers, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim. (714) 750-4321.

Camp Hyatt at the Hyatt Regency Alicante in Garden Grove offers cooking classes, museum tours, sports activities and movies.

Hotel guests 3 to 15 years old can enroll in Camp Hyatt for the day or select individual activities. Upon check-in, children get a welcome packet that includes a Camp Hyatt passport, registration card, room service menu and Camp Hyatt cap.

A special evening program on Friday and Saturday gives parents the chance to slip away for a quiet dinner while their children enjoy arts and crafts, sing-alongs, movies or puppet shows.

Membership is $5 per child, per hour, or $25 for the day. The evening program costs $4 per hour. Camp Hyatt is available year-round at the hotel, 100 Plaza Alicante, Garden Grove. (714) 971-3000.

“Putting on the Ritz” means gymnastics, lawn olympics, kite-flying, pool games, arts and crafts and movies for children 2 and up at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point.

During the arts-and-crafts sessions, children make jewelry, paint T-shirts and design sculptures out of clay. Lawn olympics for 2- to 4-year-olds features relay races, obstacle courses and silly skill games.

Children can participate in supervised activities and classes Thursday through Sunday. The cost is $40 per day, $20 for a half-day or $5 per activity.

“Kids’ Night Out” is a combination dinner and movie for children ages 5 to 12. It’s offered Friday and Saturday nights from 6 to 9. The cost is $25 per child. The children’s programs begin June 22 and run through Labor Day at the Ritz-Carlton, 33533 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point. (714) 240-2000.