Happy New Year 2009!

If you are planning to visit Disneyland today, you should have already left for the park. Today is often the busiest day of the year with the turnstiles being closed frequently throughout the afternoon and evening. If you are in the park and have to leave, be sure to have the hand stamped, even if you are an annual passholder.

Those of you who do attend will be in for a big treat. Also, if you are not up to crazy crowds but still want the Disney experience on your New Year's Eve, try DCA. They are also open till the new year and it will feature mass amounts of entertainment.

Happy New Year To All!

Christmastime At Disneyland

November 21st marks the kick-off to the Holiday Season at the Disneyland Resort. This includes more extensive Christmas decorations, the special holiday fireworks show complete with a snowfall.

Also its a small world Holiday will be presented. Its a small world has been under renovation for most of the year, so it will be exciting to see it refreshed.

Haunted Mansion Holiday is also around through the New Year. Young children even get a kick out of this since most of the scare is replaced with holiday fun.

Happy Birthday Mickey

80 years ago today, Steamboat Willie opened. This date is also recognized as Mickey's Birthday. Happy Birthday Mickey!

11/18/08

Mickey's Trick or Treat Party - 2008

I can't believe summer is already over and the Fall is creeping in. Back to school also means that Halloween is just around the corner. It also means Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort.

This year, the newly named "Mickey's Trick or Treat Party" held at Disney's California Adventure will be held on October 3, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, and 31.

Advance tickets, on sale now are $29. The Friday nights always sell out quickly as well as the dates closer to Halloween. Costumes are permitted, but not masks.

Passholder discount is available for the following dates: October 3, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29

There is no discount available for the October 31 event. All tickets for that date are $37.

Tickets available on-line at http://www.disneyland.com/tickets
Or by calling 714-781-4400
$3.00 shipping charge

Discounted tickets available to Annual Passholders on Disneyland's Annual Passholder web site: http://www.disneyland.com/ap

No charge for kids age two and under.
Limit of 8 tickets per event.

Go Princess Crazy

If you have a daughter, no doubt she is enchanted with the Disney Princesses. My three year old loves them, especially Cinderella. She frequently demands that we take her to the Princess Fantasy Faire. It's held at the Fantasyland Theater, where the Snow White musical was held a few years ago.

The Princess Fantasy Faire is laid out into several sections. There is a Meet and Greet section, Craft section, Dress-up and Makeup section, Storytelling, and the Coronation.

The Royal Coronation

The Royal Coronation runs several times a day and the show times are listed on the daily entertainment guide as well as at the entrance to the fair. This portion takes place on the stage and the floor below. The first part of the ceremony teaches young Princesses and Princes important royal things like how to bow and curtsy. Next, three Princesses will descend the red-carpeted staircase and be introduced to the crowd below. We saw Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Cinderella but I've heard Belle is sometimes in the mix too. Dance poles are brought in and each child is directed to grab onto ribbon, similar to a May Day pole. Each Princess will go to a different pole and then the dance begins. As the Princesses leave confetti and streamers are shot out into the arena for the grand finale.

Princess Crafts

The craft area is set up with tables and seats and has crowns to color and decorate. These tables are set up in full view of the stage so even if a child is working on a craft, he or she can see the Royal Coronation. This is found house-left.

Princess Shopping

This area is to the right of the arena. Here you can purchases dresses, tiaras, shoes and more for your little Princess. There are also makeup mirrors your Princess can be completely made up before going to meet the Princesses.

Meet and Greet

The most popular part is the Meet and Greet, which is set up so that you have one line to see three Princesses or Princes. There is a person at each station to take pictures and give you a Photo Pass card. The line forms behind the stations so while in line you will not see which characters are waiting to meet you. This area is usually held on the theater floor in-between coronations and storytelling.

Princess Storytelling

The storytelling takes place on the floor of the area. Times are listed on your daily entertainment guide. Each day they have each Princess tell her story twice. Carpet circles are laid out for children and parents to sit for the story. On our day, we heard a story told by Snow White. She also has a prince-type character assist her as narrator. This is the same experience that used to held in the Tinkerbell Toy Shoppe just before the Princesses exploded in popularity.

Our daughter loves to dance and thoroughly enjoyed the coronation. If you have younger children, they might be a bit overwhellmed by all the activity, but all will enjoy the storytelling.

Tips For Visiting Disneyland With Kids

We visit Disneyland or Disney California Adventure at least a couple of times a month. Usually we try to visit at least once a week. Through trial and error , I could easily say that I have learned what it takes to have a fun and stress free day at Disneyland. Here is what I usually bring with me to have a fun day and general tips on making the most out of your visit.


What do I bring with me??
1. You need a good backpack - I'm usually prepared with a great backpack- I never leave home without one .
2. Bring a stroller if you have small children. If you can, make sure to bring a light or umbrella stroller. They are easier to fold up and store- and this is always a plus if you have to take some sort of tram to the theme park entrance. Make sure to have some kind of labeling on you stroller to help yours stand out in the sea of strollers. If you prefer don't bring a stroller and rent one at the front of the park. I usually avoid this at costs but if you can't bring a stroller and want one this is a good alternative and trust me a stroller is indispensable.
3. Make sure to pack a jacket /sweater/blanket. - I've left home without one thinking that there was no possible way that I would be cold on a summer day. Boy was I wrong!! The nights cool off and there is nothing worse than shelling out $50.00 for a sweatshirt because your three year old is cold. Trust me on this one!!
4. If you have little ones make sure to pack a couple of snacks. I usually bring a baggie or two of
goldfish and fruit snacks. Just keep it simple.
5. If you can bring a bottle or two of water. I usually freeze mine the night before and throw them in a Ziploc bag- I pack them in at the bottom of my bag and they have been a lifesaver!!
6. Bring baby wipes. I always carry them even if I don't have my youngest with me. They are great for sticky hands and clean ups. I think they are a necessity !!
7. Make sure to pack a blanket if you plan on watching Fantasmic.
7. Last but not least I always pack my camera to make sure to capture my little one's smiling faces.


How can I make my visit stress free and as smooth as possible?
1. I think the most important thing to do is to be prepared and do a little research- Make sure to visit the park's website . There are other websites that I think are filled at the rim with information and are a must read if you plan on visiting. Mouseplanet.com is a great resource.
2. Get there as early as possible. You've heard the saying "the early bird catches the bird" and this holds quite true with Disneyland. . You will be able to make the most out of your day this way.In my opinion it's the best time of day to ride your favorite attraction-you usually won't have to wait in line and if you do- you won't usually mind because it will be nice and cool.
3. Pick up a map/event guide at the front entrance- The first thing I do is try to plan out my day as soon as I have the map in my hands. Head to the most popular attractions first and plan out your day with the help of your map/event guide.
4. Avoid the lunch time rush. I would try to stay away from eating between 11am to 2pm. Usually the lines to attractions are shorter at this time because everyone is heading out to lunch. If you can , try to eat before 11 am and after 2pm.
5. Avoid attractions between 2 to 4 pm. This is usually peak time at a theme park. We usually use this time to grab a bite to eat and catch a couple of shows. Most restaurants and shows are air conditioned and it's a great time to take a break. If you have little ones- it's the perfect time to catch a snooze in the stroller.
6. Maximize your visit by taking advantage of the Fastpass system.
7.Make sure your family is well rested the night before and also well fed before you arrive at the your park of choice. There is nothing worse than dealing with cranky and hungry kids.
8. Last but not least- Enjoy yourself- Don't feel rushed. If you're visiting on a super busy day- odds are you probably wont' be able to take everything in one day and that's fine. It will give you the perfect reason to come back- or even better- upgrade your one day pass to an annual pass and come back as often as you like.

Strollers at the Disneyland Resort

update:
Thanks to reader Stace- if you present your Disney card at the counter you will receive a free stroller rental.
If you don't plan on bringing your own stroller you can always rent one when you get to Disneyland or DCA. You can take your rented stroller back and forth between the two parks, but you cannot take the stroller into Downtown Disney.

Strollers can be found inside Disneyland's main entrance just before the east passageway under the railroad tracks or at the Star Trader located in Tomorrowland. . At Disney's California Adventure, the strollers can be rented across from Guest Relations near the Entry Plaza, or in Condor Flats at Fly 'n' Buy. They rent for $10 per day.

There are many benefits to renting a stroller. It can be difficult to get on and off the tram with your own stroller or you may not wish to bring your expensive carrier to the parks. Disneyland's strollers are very easy to maneuver and you don't have to worry about it getting stolen. If your stroller is taken, you can get a new one free of charge.

Whether you are renting or using your own stroller, mark it somehow to easily identify it in a crowd of strollers like tying a ribbon around the handle. Disney will provide you a namecard to place on the roof of your rented stroller. Since many strollers are similar, this will make yours easily visible, and also keep someone else from mistaking it as their own. We experienced this with the popular Winnie the Pooh umbrella stroller sold at Target stores.

Heimlich's Chew Chew Train

Heimlich's Chew Chew Train has to be one of my daughter's favorite rides at Disney's California Adventure. It's a fun and short train ride that takes you on Heimlich's food adventure.

Heimlich, everyone's favorite caterpillar/butterfly takes you with him on his food hunt. The ride is very short but very swet. Your kids will love everything about this ride. From the actual train cars(you ride on Heimlich's back) to the different smells you will experience on your little adventure. The ride is located inside A Bug's land- which is designed for the little ones. This ride is geared for the tiny tots , but kids of all ages will enjoy this cute little ride. The best part about this ride is that the waiting area is very shaded and the lines are usually short. I would however only ride this if the line is 5 minutes or shorter. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!!

Playhouse Disney @ Disney's California Adventure

The Playhouse Disney Show at Disney's California Adventure is a must visit if you have little ones. Last Friday my daughter and I caught an afternoon show and boy did she love it. The show is about twenty minutes long and your kids will be jumping for joy!! Your kids will dance and sing along to their favorite characters from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Winnie the Pooh and The Little Einsteins. The stage opens up and the show begins with the planning of Minnie's Surprise Birthday party. It's followed by a revolving stage that brings your kid's favorite show to life. My daughter loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins. She couldn't get enough!! She danced and sang through the whole show. The Playhouse Disney show is geared for toddlers and preschoolers. It's a must if you have a toddler or preschooler.

For additional information click here

First things, First

This is a place that might be overlooked or unknown. Those of you visiting Disneyland with babies and small children should definitely take advantage of the baby care center. It is located down a sidewalk at the end of Main Street on the right hand side just past the photo store. Inside, there are toddler sized toilets, changing tables complete with wipes and, perhaps best of all, air conditioning. They will only allow one adult per child to enter the station. There is a cast member that makes sure only a few people come in at a time to ensure this peaceful non-chaotic place remains that way. They sell about every baby necessity like bottles, pacifiers, formula, diapers and more. There are even bottle warmers if you need them. Nursing mothers can also come here for some privacy. The place is a wonderful retreat when the baby just needs to calm down from a day of over-stimulation.

If you go a bit past the baby care center, you will find the park first-aid center.

DCA also has a baby care center located directly next to their first-aide station which is found by the Mission Tortilla Factory in the Pacific Wharf area.

Why Disneyland with Kids

I decided to start this blog because our little family loves Disneyland . My husband has had an annual pass for over twenty years now!! We visit Disneyland often and have learned a thing or two along the way about visiting the park with kids. I figured someone out there could find our tips useful and more importantly it would be a fun new blog. I also blog at daytrippingmom.com- It's a Southern California guidebook and event guide for families with young children. We hope you come back often!!