Laguna Beach is beautiful - stunning. And it's very charming.

Huntington Beach is really awful, in my mind. No charm at all, tacky, sits on a busy highway. However, you're likely to find family friendly resort hotels there, kids can spend all day at the pool. But if you're looking for scenery, this isn't it.

Newport Beach is pretty but nothing like Laguna, it doesn't have the charm. However, it's more accessible to all the places you want to go, easier to get onto the freeway.

Thanks for all the input. Laguna Beach looks like what we are looking for. Are there any "resort type"hotels? We definitely want a pool. We are coming from Canada so need to have an outdoor heated pool. We would like to spend under $200.00/night. Maybe we don't need to be on the beach, just close by.

Also, we are arriving at 11pm Friday night at LAX. According to google it would be a 1hr from LAX to laguna beach? Does this seem accurate considering the time. It is also only 1hr from Laguna to Disney, does this seem right. We live in Toronto so driving an hour or two is not unreasonable to us.

Laguna Beach is "artsy-fartsy" but has a nice beach and scenery. Fewer things for the kiddies to do outside of playing on the beach. The big resorts are VERY expensive. So, after seeing what you can get for your budget, you may choose one of the other locations.

Newport has more kid- friendly activities such as whale watching, boating around Newport Harbor, looking at the seals, etc. However the resorts are inland on the bay.

Huntington Beach isn't all that exciting but has a good beach and two big resort hotels (the Hyatt and the Hilton) that are just across PCH from the beach. It usually represent a good value for a resort.

I would allow at least 1 1/2 hours from Laguna to LAX. Two is safer especially during commute times . Don't forget you have to negotiate the traffic around LAX, and if it's nice, beach traffic.

I think you'll make it to Disneyland in an hour, easily.

For Laguna Beach and your price range, its good you are coming in March as its low season. In high season this area is very $$$$ due to Pageant of the Masters and the gorgeous location. For your price range you might like to check standard (not fancy - but good location) places like Laguna Riviera

http://www.lagunariviera.com/

There are much fancier hotels in this area so you might also want to check what is currently available on one of the hotel discount sites (i.e. expedia and so forth).

By the way Huntington Beach and the resorts there are very nice. We and many others love our stays there. Both the Hyatt and Hilton are fabulous.....and we would highly recommend them. Best Western also has a good location, but a little more street noise. Given your wish of stores and restaurants, Laguna Beach is still fabulous. But Huntington Beach is not really awful - and the resorts there are fabulous and the beach area is family friendly and lots of fun. (this is unlike Santa Monica where there are some imported palm trees, but not family friendly area.)

Since you are arriving at 11:00 pm at LAX, you should be able to make it to Laguna in an hour. It will just be straight down the 405 freeway south to Laguna Canyon Rd. You won't hit any traffic. From Laguna to Disney should only be about 30 minutes. You just have to get up Laguna Canyon and then you will be on the freeways. It is very easy. You will love Laguna with the kids. Main Beach is great and lots of shopping and fun restaurants nearby. the kids may love Johnny Rockets for burgers or BJs Pizza, both across the street from Main Beach. Check the Pacific Edge HOtel. It is on the beach. they have some great oceanfront rooms with kitchenettes. My dad used to stay there years ago when it was under another name but loved it because it was right on the water.

I don't think you can go wrong with Laguna.

We love the Laguna Reef Inn, it is right across the street from the Montage where we have also stayed. LRI has a nice outdoor, heated pool and is across the street from a beautiful beach. The rooms are nice and they do offer complimentary wi-fi and breakfast, and they do not charge extra for parking here which is a nice perk.

We have also stayed at the Hotel Laguna which is directly on Main Beach. The rooms are not that great but the property does have a private beach area reserved just for hotel guests and complimentary lounge chairs. There are two great restaurants at the Hotel Laguna, Terrace Cafe and Claes. We like to book reservations on the http://www.lagunabeach.com website, rates are about 10% cheaper than the rates on the hotels' website. Enjoy your time at the beach! :)

Hmm, not nice words about Huntington Beach.

Huntington Beach has a good tourist area, best nightlife and two nice beachfront hotels that are still somewhat affordable. Newport Beach really has no beachfront resort hotels, Laguna Beach has some really nice hotels but they are very expensive.

They are all kinda different but close together.

Places like The Montage and Surf and Sand are expensive, we received a great rate at the Hotel Laguna for $135/night on the 4h of July weekend, rates at the Laguna Reef start at $135/night also. There are lots of great restaurants in Laguna: Sundried Tomato Cafe, Splases, the restaurants at The Montage, Ristorante Rumari, Hush, The Cliff and Las Brisas are a few of our favorites. :)

Many of the great replies seem to consider adults, and not the 7 and 10yo. Although Laguna is certainly nice and has interesting scenery the town itself doesn't have much to offer for kids. Places tend to be bistros, art galleries, boutiques, antique stores, etc....pretty boring for kids. If you just need a place to stay and will fan out from there then no problem. BTW about 12 miles north of Laguna up Hwy 133 is a mega-complex called Irvine Spectrum. There are places there that will interest the whole family (mega-arcarde at Dave and Busters). Last comment, Laguna has a very large gay population. Some out of state relatives were chuckling because they had to explain to their 6yo why two guys were kissing. :)

South of Laguna in Laguna Niguel and Dana Point are a cluster of 4* and 5* resorts if that's in-budget. Montage always gets good comments though I've never stayed there being local.

Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Capistrano Beach, and San Clemente are south of there, laid-back suburban beach towns that might hold more interest. Also they have easier access to I-5 for trips out of the immediate area.

I also disagree on the comments about Huntington. Yes, it's part of LA suburban sprawl with the usual shopping centers, Starbucks, tanning salons, Taco Bells, etc. But there are some nice hotels along the beach, which goes for miles and is nice and sandy. The city has the debated motto of "Surf City USA" and does a lot to uphold the image (world class surf competitons, etc). A very family-oriented city and area. Years ago there was definitely a bad element that is long gone.

The fact that everyone here has promoted every place on your list says you won't go wrong with any of them.