Kids and Mice

Wordy Wednesday

2012-02-08T01:30:00.000-08:00

While visiting Disneyland, be sure to visit the Main Street Cinema. Located on Main Street, U.S.A.

Holiday Time at Disneyland

2011-12-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

The holidays are in full swing at Disneyland. The Very Merry Christmas Parade returns with twice daily performances.

Bring the kiddos to meet Santa Mickey as well as the real Santa Claus, appearing at both DCA and Disneyland through the holidays. After dark, "Believe in Holiday Magic" fireworks complete with the snow finale. It's really something special to experience. The snow fall is only on Main Street, in front of the Castle and in front of Small World. I've found that the Small World plaza is the best spot to be.

My favorite thing about this time of the year at Disneyland is the chance to buy tamales and freshly made candy canes. It's a real treat. Take the family out and experience holiday magic, Disney style!

D23 Events for 2012

2011-12-04T23:46:00.000-08:00

The crew from DayTrippingMom and Kids and Mice had the opportunity recently to visit the Walt Disney Studios for a preview of coming events for members of D23, The Ultimate Disney Fan Club. With each passing year of the club, more and more exciting activities have been planned. 2012 proves to be no exception.

First up in 2012 is the Smoke Tree Ranch Roundup. In case you don't know, Smoke Tree Ranch was where Walt Disney had a vacation home, located in Palm Springs, California. According to the internet, "STR is a very private resort, membership is by recommendation of a committee only. To prove his love of the ranch, Disney had his designers design and build three cottages on the ranch, and they let him join. Those cottages are still there today. There are plenty of homeowners still living there that were friends of Disney and knew him well." D23 members are invited to take part in a weekend getaway to STR in January 2012. Surprises are guaranteed.

D23 Fanniversary events will be held throughout the year. Everyone has their favorite Disney "thing." Well every year there are various anniversaries of those "things." D23 enables everyone an opportunity to celebrate their favorites with special events and activities. Next year will feature anniversaries of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pirates of the Caribbean and even Duck Tales.

Right on the heels of the second D23 Expo, the club has announced that the Destination D events will now be annually held. If you've never been to a Destination D event, you're in for a treat. There are panel discussions and meet and greets with all sorts of Disney personalities. It is somewhat similar to the D23 Expo but on a much smaller scale.

Destination D returns August 11-12. This year it will be held in Anaheim.

The extremely popular studio tours are returning in 2012. They will be held February 11-12, April 28-29, September 8-9 and November 10-11. They are doubling the number of opportunities to visit the studio. Don't miss out.

If you aren't already a member, join now. If you are, why not give the gift of D23 to that special Disney fan in your family?

Edible Plants in Tomorrowland

2011-11-01T00:26:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that most of the decorative plants in Tomorrowland are actually edible plants? It's called Agri-Future! I'm not sure if we'd actually want to eat them, but I've spotted lettuce plants,

dwarf chili plants,

strawberry plants,

cabbage plants, rosemary bushes, sage plants and many more. I just think that's plain cool and it makes for a great teaching opportunity for the kids while you are waiting in line!

What ones have you spotted while waiting in line for Astro Orbiter, Finding Nemo Submarines or Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters?

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T00:17:00.000-07:00

Be Safe Everyone!

Halloween Screams Fireworks

2011-10-24T00:25:00.000-07:00

Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade - Mickey's Halloween Party

2011-10-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

In this unique parade, exclusive to Mickey's Halloween Party, you can see all your Disney favorites decked out in their favorite Halloween costumes. Surprises included seeing the County Bears and a certain famous female pig star! Make sure you watch the entire parade to catch all the surprises. Just a few days remain. Get you tickets ASAP.

Jack Skellington and Zero - Halloween Screams Fireworks

2011-10-10T00:05:00.000-07:00

The Halloween Screams fireworks are not to be missed, however, they are only displayed during Mickey's Halloween Party. Tickets are going fast. Get yours here.

Halloween Time at Disneyland

2011-10-05T01:22:00.000-07:00

Hanging Out at Mickey's Hallloween Party

2011-10-03T00:05:00.000-07:00

Not-so-scary scarecrows are just part of the entertainment at Disneyland during Mickey's Halloween Party throughout October.

Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland

2011-09-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's already that time of the year? Yes! Fall is upon and the Disneyland Resort is crawling with thrill, chills and smiles for Halloween Time.

Mickey's Halloween Party
$49 per person for Advance price (September 30, October 3, 11, 18 & 25)
$59 per person for Day-of-Event price (September 30, October 3, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21 & 25)
$64 per person for Premium price (October 18 & 31)

Some unique features of this event include:

Halloween Screams fireworks spectacular (9:30 each night)
Photos with favorite Disney Villains
Special treat stations offering both candy and healthy goodies
Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade (8:30 and 10:30 each night)
Piratepalooza in Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, kick up your boots with Goofy and other swashbucklers
Buzz Lightyear's Intergalactic Space Jam -- a high-energy dance party that goes to infinity and beyond

See you there!

Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives at D23 Expo

2011-08-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

One of the many highlights to visiting the D23 Expo is a visit to the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. Last time in 2009, there were costumes from Mary Poppins, Captain Eo and Enchanted, to name a few. This year the archive display was more than twice as big with even more artifacts from over the years. Here are some recognizable items from the display.

from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

The actual book from the opening sequence of Sleeping Beauty.

The costume display from the original Tron.

Annette's Mickey Mouseclub costume

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree at DCA from D23 Expo

2011-08-23T23:50:00.000-07:00

At the D23 Expo, inside the Carousel of Projects, was a full size vehicle from the upcoming ride in Cars Land, set to open next year. Mater's Junkyard Jamboree is a "whip-style" ride that should be accessible to kids of all ages. The Expo also gave previews of upcoming additions to Walt Disney World and Shanghai Disneyland.

Magic Mondays

2011-08-22T00:16:00.000-07:00

D23 Expo is here!

2011-08-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

c Disney

In just a few hours, hundreds of Disney fans from all over the world will converge on the Anaheim Convention Center for the D23 Expo - The Ultimate Disney Event for Fans. Daytrippingmom Media will be there to cover all things big and small, especially the models and information on the additions to California Adventure.

We were able to attend in 2009 and had a fantastic time and are looking forward to all the surprises that this weekend holds. The Expo is kid friendly and there is even a Baby Care Center, similar to those found in the parks, available. Tickets are available at the door. You DO NOT have to be a D23 member to come to the Expo (but why aren't you?).

We'll see you there!

A Goofy Place to Live

2011-06-26T23:59:00.000-07:00

Main Street Penny Arcade

2011-05-23T01:30:00.000-07:00

Esmeralda the Fortune Teller

What once was a dime now costs you a quarter, but regardless, Esmeralda remains an icon of the Main Street strip.

Captain Kid the pirate goat at Disneyland

2011-05-16T01:24:00.000-07:00

Visit him at Big Thunder Ranch

Magic Monday

2011-04-25T01:25:00.000-07:00

Disneyland Resort Parking

2011-04-18T01:07:00.000-07:00

Next time you visit the park, I highly suggest skipping the Mickey and Friends parking structure and head down Harbor, past the old main entrance, pass over Katella and turn left when you reach the Toy Story parking lot. It uses OCTD buses and moves swiftly to bring you to the old Lion King drop off area at the east end of the entrance promenade. Parking is simple and now you can even purchase your tickets there at the parking lot (credit or debit cards only).

The other perk too is that if you are staying at a hotel in the area and they do not offer a shuttle service, you could walk over and take the buses, without any cost.

Did you know? This property where the Toy Story parking lot is, will be a third Disneyland Resort, if and when, they ever decide to build one.

Magic Monday

2011-04-04T01:21:00.000-07:00

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Magic Monday

2011-03-28T01:14:00.000-07:00

Monstro - Storybook Land, Disneyland

Magic Monday

2011-03-21T01:18:00.000-07:00

Trader Sam - Jungle Cruise

Magic Monday

2011-03-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Pinocchio's Daring Journey - Disneyland

Magic Monday

2011-03-07T01:09:00.000-08:00

Mickey's House - Toon Town

Big Summer at the Disneyland Resort

2011-02-25T14:35:00.000-08:00

It's now official! Star Tours - The Adventure Continues will open to the public on June 3, 2011. For those that love Disneyland parades, Disneyland will debut the all-new Mickey's Soundsational Parade, Memorial Day weekend.

The premiere of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure will also happen on June 3rd. I guess we should start lining up now.

The Magic, The Memories and You!

2011-02-01T09:15:00.000-08:00

(c) Disney

‘small world’ Becomes a Big Canvas As "The Magic, The Memories and You!" Projection Show Conjures Vacation Memories at Disneyland

The façade of “it’s a small world” in Disneyland park is being transformed each night into a breathtaking display of moving, ever-changing photography, video, animation and music as Disneyland celebrates guests’ memories with an innovative new show – “The Magic, The Memories and You!”

Guests of all ages will be reminded of their Disney memories, and may even see themselves in the nightly show, as a kaleidoscope of larger-than-life images is projected onto the classic Fantasyland “it’s a small world” attraction. Included in the thousands of photographs each night will be approximately 500 photos of guests who made memories in Disneyland that very day – resulting in a different “The Magic, The Memories and You!” presentation every night.

“Disneyland has been making very special memories for families and guests of all ages for more than 55 years,” said Disneyland Resort President George A. Kalogridis. “Now guests recalling and cherishing those memories will become stars of the show as well.”

After the sun goes down, the 10-minute spectacle combines that day’s photos with photos and videos taken from Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” online hub, and brings them to life with the help of amazing new projection technology that transforms the architecture of “it’s a small world” in never-before-seen ways. Classic Disney music is woven into the new “Let the Memories Begin” theme song and, via some magical effects, even the singing dolls from inside the “it’s a small world” attraction find their way outside to appear in the show. The finale features a burst of fireworks over “it’s a small world.”

“We’re really taking it to the Nth degree and we’re doing it for our guests,” observes show director Alan Bruun, associate creative director, Disney Destinations Entertainment. “Some guests will spot their own photographs in the show, and yet our goal is for everyone watching the show to be able to say, ‘These are my memories. I recognize that moment, that emotion.’ ”

The visual and musical journey that takes place in “The Magic, The Memories and You!” traces the family vacation experience, from planning and travel all the way through arrival and fun in Disneyland. The show closes, appropriately, with a classic Disney memory. A similar show featuring guest images projected onto the soaring spires of Cinderella Castle premiered Jan. 18 in the Magic Kingdom park, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida.

Disney Halloween App for Facebook

2010-10-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is almost here and I thought I'd share this fun Facebook Application directly from Disney:

Turn yourself into a villain

Disneyland -> http://apps.facebook.com/disney-villainize-dl/entries/new
DisneyWorld -> http://apps.facebook.com/disney-villainize-dw/entries/new

1. Select favorite Disney villain and scene
2. Add a photo (either from FB or uploaded)
3. Position the photo to fit in the image
4. Share your “villainized” self with friends and family

Be sure to comment on the Kids and Mice Facebook fan page here so we can all see your Disney Villain photo!

ElecTRONica at Disney California Adventure

2010-10-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

To commemorate the release of Disney's Tron: Legacy this December 7, 2010. Disney California Adventure park is now featuring the dynamic music and dance, fun food and drink, and the computer-world environment of “TRON: Legacy,” the “ElecTRONica” festivities take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights this fall, plus all week Thanksgiving week, Nov. 19 -28, and nightly during the Christmas vacation period Friday, Dec. 17, through Sunday, Jan 2. “ElecTRONica” is expected to continue through mid-to-late April 2011.

The adventure will begin in Sunshine Plaza at a “TRON”-themed stage where, at 6 p.m., an exciting music, video and dance show welcomes you to enter the world of TRON. When the high-powered Sun Plaza welcoming show has concluded, the party will transition into Hollywood Pictures Backlot. You pass through an “ElecTRONica” archway to a street alive with a computerized color grid. There, they will have the sensation of being digitized and transported into the computer mainframe world of “TRON: Legacy.”

Some exciting features include Laserman, a performer who does amazing tricks to music with impressive lasers and light as well as a re-creation of Flynn’s Video Arcade from “TRON: Legacy.” At Flynn’s, gamers will shoot for the highest scores as they enjoy classic 1980s arcade games. Another feature is the “TRON: Legacy, Exclusive 3D Sneak Peek” (inside Muppet*Vision 3D). This is a 3D preview of the new movie and it has special effects exclusive to this theater.

All of this Tron excitement is in addition to the weekend performances of World of Color.

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort

2010-09-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

Today is the first full day of Autumn and last weekend HalloweenTime began at the Disneyland Resort. At Disneyland, this means the return of Haunted Mansion Holiday with new effects and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy with the same cool effects from last year.

Fireworks will be presented weekends but the Halloween Screams fireworks show that debuted last year, will be presented this year only during the Mickey's Halloween Party, which is featured at Disneyland this year and is a separate ticketed event.

Due to construction at DCA, Disneyland received the vast majority of decorations for Halloween this year. Main Street has never before had so many jack-o-lanterns and just about every other land in the park feature a Halloween display.

HalloweenTime is lasting a full six weeks this year and will likely continue to grow in the years to come.

Self Serve Stroller Rental

2010-08-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

From DisneyParks blog:

The Disneyland Resort has made stroller rental easy. There are now four self-service stroller rental kiosks at the Stroller and Wheelchair rental booth in the Esplanade, located just to the right of the Disneyland entrance.
It's easy to use, just bring a credit card, go to a kiosk, select your language (English or Spanish) and rent up to five strollers for up to six days.

See you there.

World of Color at Disney California Adventure

2010-06-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

The premiere of Disney World of Color took place on June 11th. I don't think I can properly describe or rave enough about the amazing and beautiful show. World of Color is Disney California Adventure's newest attraction and it will definitely not disappoint! The new water show is made up of different color lights, your favorite Disney characters and the most incredible music.

The show features 1200, new animation projected on one of the world's larges projection screens and which is 380 ft by 50 ft high. It is an incredible show to watch and one that the entire family will love. The show features some of my favorite Disney characters such as Wall-E, the gang from Toy Story and The Little Mermaid. My kiddos were able to watch the streaming podcast from the premiere and they haven't stopped talking about and are looking forward to watching it in person!

There are a couple of ways to watch the show. The first is to pick up a FASTPASS at Grizzly River Rapids. If you are planning to watch the show this way, make sure to get your fast pass early, because there are limited tickets available and they will run out fast.

The second and in my opinion the best way, because you can take care of two things at once, is to order a picnic lunch with comes with reserved viewing. Picnic meals are $14.99 and include dessert and choice of beverage. Children's meals include a Souvenir World of Color light-up bracelet. Pick up orders or purchase picnic meals at the Sonoma Terrace between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. You can order your picnic lunches up to 30 days in advanced. Annual Pass holders will receive an additional discount. To order your meals head over here.

The third option and one that we hope to try out next week is to receive preferred viewing from Ariel's Grotto or Wine Country Trattoria. There will be two seatings. One for the first show from 4pm to 7pm for the first show and from 7:05pm to 830 for the second show. Reservations can be made by callingcall (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463.

The show is 25 minutes long and show times vary each day. For example there are two shows scheduled for today, one at 9pm and one at 10:15pm. To check the schedule, make sure to visit the daily calendar by clicking here.

Since opening, the show has also announced 11:15 PM performances which following the park's extended closing hours of 11 PM. A Fastpass is also needed for the 11:15 PM performance.

New Tram? - Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Spotted this new style of Tram car at Disneyland Resort ...

World of Color Premieres June 11, 2010 at DCA

2010-04-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

“World of Color” debuts this year at Disney's California Adventure as part of “Summer Nightastic!” (the resort's summer nighttime entertainment lineup) which includes Disney fan favorites Fantasmic! and "Magical" fireworks. “Summer Nightastic!” will run from June 11 through August 29. “World of Color” will continue entertaining guests year-round at Paradise Bay.

Kids And Mice will have a review posted for you prior to the big public debut. Stay tuned for details!

Finding Nemo Ride Waterfall at Night - Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous night time picture of the waterfall coming out of the Finding Nemo Submarine ride at Disneyland...

Strollers at the Disneyland Resort

2010-04-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

There is now a central stroller location found just to the right of the main entrance to Disneyland. This now allows you to rent your stroller before entering either Disneyland or DCA. You can pay at the rental locations or at the ticket booths when you buy your passports.

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 just by showing your receipt.

Remember that regardless if you are renting or using your own stroller, use a type of marker to easily identify it in a crowd of strollers, such as tying a ribbon around the handle. Disney will provide you a name card to place on the roof of your rented stroller. Since many strollers are similar, the ribbon 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.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-24T18:37:00.000-08:00

Mickey Waffles at the Carnation Cafe on Main Street in Disneyland... Yumm!

All you wanted to know about the give a day, get a day promotion

2010-02-23T22:54:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of the give a day, get a day promotion from Disney Parks? In case you haven't here is the 411 on this fabulous promotion.

Disney Parks is giving away free admission to one of the theme parks of the Disneyland Resort or one of the parks of the Walt Disney World Resort when you sign up and complete a day of volunteer service with a participating organization. Ticket numbers are limited, so you will want to sign up and volunteer as soon as possible.

The first thing you need to do is head here to sign up. You pre-register and search for a volunteer experience that inspires you or is the right fit for your family. Local schools are participating and organizations such as your city's paint the day or Save Our Beach cleanup.

Once you sign up, you are ready to volunteer. Once you volunteer, the participating organization will let the Disney Parks know when you've completed your day of service. Once the organization has verified your service with the park you will receive an email with your voucher.

It's a wonderful opportunity for service with your family and also be able to earn a fun day at the park. For additional information head over here. Have fun volunteering!

Captain EO returns

2010-02-22T22:36:00.000-08:00

Captain Eo returns for a limited engagement to Disneyland, this Tuesday, February 23rd. It's exciting news to have this attraction back. I can't wait to watch this again! However, Captain EO is not recommended for the little ones. It's loud and there are some scary images. This attraction is definitely recommended for older children and adults.

From the official Disney Parks Blog: "While it’s not possible to replicate some special effects elements from the original presentation, it will boast a new 70mm print of the film, and it will sound better than ever thanks to acoustic enhancements made to the theater since the film last played there in 1997." There are no plans for it to return to any other Disney park, at this point.

Rumor has it that the moving floor system from HISTA will be implemented. No word on whether the lasers, fog or pinwheel will be back too. For now, the run is open-ended with no set ending date set for the movie.

Here is the original commercial from 1986 to enjoy:

Wordless Wednesday - Small Scale Splash Mountain

2010-02-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

Jedi Training Academy at Disneyland

2010-01-25T23:02:00.000-08:00

The Jedi Training Academy at Disneyland is one of our family favorites. My boys are big Star Wars fans so being "officially" trained as a Padawan is heaven for them. Being picked to be one of the Padawans can be tough if you go at the wrong time, but we've learned a few tricks. Think of it this way... when Disneyland isn't busy - neither will the Jedi Training Academy and your children's chances of being picked sky rocket! Although I have to admit there is something about the energy of the crowd on a busy day when the viewing area is packed! The Jedi Master is always very entertaining and every show is slightly unique thanks to the creativity of the young Padawans.

If you have bashful or hesitant kids grab lunch or an early dinner and watch one of the shows first. They serve burgers (including veggie), chicken tenders for kids, sandwiches and the usual walk-up window foods.

Jedi Training Academy normally runs about 6 times a day, (about once an hour- 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, etc.). Be sure to check the exact starting times on the Disneyland website so you can plan accordingly.

Below are several clips from our most recent trip:

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-13T20:28:00.000-08:00

Do you know where this is? :)

2fer is Back for SoCal Residents

2010-01-05T19:17:00.000-08:00

I just found out that 2fer Tickets are back at the Disneyland Resort! If you aren't aware of the 2fer's, they are pretty simple, pay admission in to one park and you can return on another day to the other park free through April 12th. If you've got friends, family or other are looking for a great way to enjoy both parks, this is a great deal.

More information about the 2fer Tickets can be found here.

Enjoy!

-Katie

Winner of Family 4 pack of Disney tickets

2010-01-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you are all having a great start to the New Year.
The winner of the Disneyland 4 pack of tickets is Mormishmom. Email mom@ocmomactivities.com or mom@daytrippingmom.com.

Thank you all for commenting and entering!

New Year's Eve at Disneyland and DCA

2009-12-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

We love ringing in the New Year at Disneyland and DCA. We have celebrated New Year's Eve at Disneyland and DCA on a couple of nights in years past. Disneyland's New Year's Eve Celebration is a blast but is definitely busy and the trams stop running at midnight. In my opinion although it is a busy night, it is one of the best places to ring in the New Year.

If you are planning on spending New Year's Eve at Disneyland or DCA here is some updated info:
Disneyland will be open from 8am to 2am. Disney's California Adventure will be open from 10 am to 1pm. Both parks will host countdowns to the New Year.

Disneyland will have the regular fireworks at 9:25 and then the special New Year's Eve Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at 11:30 PM. Also featured is Jump, Jive, Boogie Swing Party Featuring Doc Anello and the Swing Machine at the Plaza Gardens Stage, running shows hourly up through 1 AM.

Over at DCA you'll find several dance parties with different themes. They are each sponsored by Southern California radio stations:

Power 106 New Year's Eve 2009 Dance Party

Hollywood Pictures Backlot

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Super Estrella New Year's Eve 2009 Dance Party

Pacific Wharf Stage

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

104.3 MYfm New Year's Eve 2009 Dance Party

7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Also, DCA will be featuring the last Electrical Parade of the year at 8:45.

If you are planning on heading to either park make sure to arrive early as both parks fill to capacity and they will turn people away at the gate. If you can get it in it really is a fun family extravaganza!

One Last Holiday Post...

2009-12-28T22:10:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I'm sad that the holidays are coming to an end. It's become a tradition in our family to sneak back to Disneyland one last time before they take down the holiday overlays, stop the Christmas Parade, take the tree down and change the fireworks. There's just something magical about seeing the parades at night.

I've uploaded a couple videos from our trip earlier tonight to YouTube and embedded them below for you to enjoy. After this, I promise no more holiday postings until next year. :)

Tree lighting on Main Street:

Mrs. Claus:

and finally Santa Claus (with the Reindeer of course!)...

Happy Holidays!
-Katie

Castle at Disneyland - Wordless Wednesday

2009-12-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Storybook Land Canal Boats

2009-12-22T01:51:00.000-08:00

Storybook Land Canal Boats at Disneyland have recently re-opened. They were closed down for a draining of the canal (imagine the dropped cell phones, keys, toys, etc. that were at the bottom!) while they replaced the Casey Jr. Train track.

It is one of my favorite rides in the park (okay, so most of them are favorites of mine...). There's just something about riding in the boats through the small scale world of fantasy that mesmerizes me. Disneyland never ceases to amaze me with the attention to detail. Notice in the pictures (sorry they are a tad blurry because the boats move) that there are tiny Christmas trees and decorations throughout each scene!

Whether it's Cinderella's Castle, complete with pumpkin carriage, Princess Jasmine's Palace...

The dwarf's house from Snow White...

Pinocchio's village...

Or the Three Little Pigs house made of bricks...

The Storybook Land Canal Boats are great for everyone in the family, young and old. Make sure you keep a close eye on young children though because unlike some of the other boat rides, the water is quite deep - not the normal couple of feet that most rides have. Also note that the ride closes down 30 minutes before and 5 minutes after the parades go through to prevent the line from blocking the flow of traffic because it is so close to the parade route.

Disney's Electrical Parade is back

2009-12-21T00:24:00.000-08:00

We love Disney's Electrical Parade and are excited to share that the parade is playing nightly until January 3rd. The parade will be play nightly starting at 8:45pm. It will be a while before it makes an appearance again. Make sure to catch it if you can. The park will be super busy during the next couple of weeks but DCA is usually not as busy as Disneyland. We are packing a bag and heading over tomorrow night. Hope to see you there.

Handicap Friendly Attractions at Disneyland

2009-12-17T23:01:00.000-08:00

Going to Disneyland is a magical experience, but sometimes it is easy to forget how challenging a theme park can be if you or a family member is handicapped. But when you look at this list I am sure you will see that it can still be a magical experience with a little bit of research! (A question from my son's teacher prompted me to write this post)

On several rides Disneyland offers what is called an "alternate experience" in which you can still experience much of the aspects of the ride without needing to climb up or down stairs.

Disneyland offers an Audio Tape Tour, Braille guidebook and written aids for several things around the park. If you are looking for more assistance you can always go to City Hall on Main Street in Disneyland and there is a special guidebook available to guests with disabilities at the Information Centers throughout the parks.

Here are the attractions where a wheelchair can roll right on to the ride (either by elevator or other mechanism and you don't need to be able to transfer to the boat or vehicle):

The Tram from the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure
Disneyland Railroad (use the New Orleans, Tomorrowland or Toontown entrances/exits)
Main Street Cinema
The Disneyland Story featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
Frontierland Shootin' Exposition
Mark Twain Riverboat
Big Thunder Ranch
The Golden Horshoe Stage
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Enchanted Tiki Room
Jungle Cruise
Goofy's Playhouse
Mickey's House and Meet Mickey
Minnie's House
"it's a small world"
King Arthur Carrousel
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (Alternate Experience)
Pixie Hollow
Disneyland Monorail
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (alternate experience)
"Honey I Shrunk the Audience"
Innoventions
Starcade
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Additional rides that you can go on as long as you can transfer from the wheelchair in to the ride seat:

Fire Engine
Horseless Carriage
Omnibus
Pirates of the Caribbean
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Splash Mountain
Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes
Indiana Jones Adventure
Gadget's Go Coaster
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Alice in Wonderland
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Disney Princess Faire
Mad Tea Party
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Peter Pan's Flight
Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Snow White's Scary Story
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Astro Orbiter
Autopia
Space Mountain
Star Tours

Did I miss anything? Any other tips for guests with Disabilities?

-Katie

Wordless Wednesday - The View from the Top of Mickey's Fun Wheel

2009-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

(Image taken by Katie)

Giveaway time! Family 4 pack of tickets to Disneyland

2009-12-13T20:52:00.000-08:00

The Holidays are in full swing and Kids and Mice has an amazing giveaway to celebrate the season. We are giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to Disneyland to one lucky reader. Want to know how to enter? well here is how.

First things first-This giveaway ends 12/31/09

Here's how to enter:

Mandatory First Entry:

•1 Entry for leaving a comment letting us know which is your favorite Disneyland ride and why.

Additional Entries:

•1 Entry (each) subscribing to the Email Feed of Kids and Mice, following through Google, RSS Feed Subscription or any other form of feed.

•1 Entry for following Kids and Mice on Twitter

•1 Entry for Tweeting about this giveaway. Be sure to come back and say that you have, to gain the extra entry.

•1 Extra entry per day when you leave another comment.

Winner will be selected using random.org

Good luck !!

*****Quick UPDATE: We've now added the email subscription link, so you can count that as an extra entry now too, just be sure to comment about it. We're loving all your stories about what rides you love!

Thanks!
- Katie

Wordless Wednesday - Holidays at Disneyland

2009-12-09T21:40:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite signs that the holidays are here at Disneyland...

-Katie

Innoventions

2009-12-08T22:32:00.000-08:00

Last week the kids and I decided to head out to Disneyland on what was a very busy day. I love visiting Disneyland and yes, even on a busy day. One of the keys to enjoying the Happiest place on earth on a busy day is to head to the attractions that are the least visited. We decided to check out the Jedi Academy and then head over to Innoventions.

Innoventions, is located in Tomorrowland, next to Pizza Port and across from Tomorrowland Terrace. You enter through one of four themed doors to experience a vision of the near future. The kiddos and I walked right up and did not have to wait longer than two minutes to walk in through the doors.

The first floor and your fist stop on your walking and self guided tour is the house of the future. We loved exploring every inch of this area. My kiddos were particulary facinated with one of the kids bedrooms that featured a mirror of the future and which they became obsessed with.

They also loved the table of the future that featured a touch screen plate setting. It was a huge hit with the fam!

After we explored the fist floor we headed upstairs to catch Honda's robot attraction and my daughter wanted to play with the different video games and stations. My parents were with me and they loved checking out the different health exhibits and also the video games.

It is a great place to let the kids unwind and take advantage of the air conditioned surroundings. We spent 45 minutes minutes exploring and it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours. It's a great place to visit on a busy day or if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Wordless Wednesday at California Adventure

2009-12-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

Santa Claus and Reindeer at Big Thunder Ranch Disneyland

2009-11-29T11:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, the holidays are here and Big Thunder Ranch at Disneyland is a mandatory stop during the holidays. If your kids haven't seen real reindeer up close and personal, be sure to make a stop in to Big Thunder Ranch (behind Big Thunder Railroad). You'll also be able to stop in to get pictures with the Disneyland Santa Claus (our favorite in Southern California and the only Santa Claus we visit in our household!). It's all free and if you time it right you won't have a long wait.

You can bring your own camera or have a photo taken on the PhotoPass system.

Small World Holiday

2009-11-26T09:05:00.000-08:00

I love Disneyland during the holidays.. Who am I kidding? I love Diseneyland pretty much any day of the year but especially during the holidays. I think my absolute favorite thing about Disneyland during the holidays is the tranformation of Small World to Small World Holiday. I absolutely love it and waited last year almost an hour to ride it.

If you are planning on heading to the parks during the next couple of weeks and you want to visit Small World Holiday, I would either go very early or head towards the end of the day(about 45 minutes after fireworks). I personally love heading there at the end of the day, when it is alive with color, lights and a show every time the clock strikes 15,30,45 or the top of the hour.

Not only is Small World Holiday an incredible ride, it is one of the best spots to catch the firework show and watch the snow fall. Small World Holiday is definitely worth the wait!

Turkey Time at Disneyland

2009-11-25T21:13:00.000-08:00

What happens to the Presidentially pardoned turkeys? Well, if you've walked through Big Thunder Ranch in Disneyland's Frontierland around Thanksgiving time in the past few years you know they now go to the Merriest Place on Earth - Disneyland!

I spoke with a Disneyland cast member at the ranch yesterday and she confirmed that the turkey is set to arrive today with their entourage (which could be considered the highest trained security team a turkey could ever dream to have). It's been reported that the plane it arrives on is temporarily named "Turkey One".

Pop on over and say hi to "Courage" the official White House Turkey "pardoned" by President Obama earlier today!

-Katie

Finding Nemo Submarine Adventure

2009-11-24T20:35:00.000-08:00

We've loved this ride since the first day it opened. Scratch that, since before it was even announced it was going to be there. I can remember when Finding Nemo first came out in theaters and was a smash hit, thinking that it would make the perfect ride in the (at the time) vacant lagoon in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. We watched and waited in anticipation for the ride to be completed and yes, you may have guessed it - we waited in line for 3 1/2 hours on the opening day to be some of the first people to ride it. Yes, then we went back a couple days later and waited another 3 hours. The kids loved the ride that much. It really is a cute ride, even after 3 1/2 hours of waiting in line.

It's great for families with kids of all ages (only thing to note is there is one short scene where the lights go out and there's a pretend electrical issue - this could scare some smaller children). Be prepared to climb down the very narrow curved staircase to enter the boat. There is also a non-moving special viewing area for handicapped guests.

The technology used is state of the art and is actually tough to figure out how they make certain effects work. For those curious, there are silk screens with images/videos projected on to them to give the effect of the actual characters moving around and swimming with you under water blended with actual underwater scenes.

We've now been on this ride dozens of times since it opened, but one time that stands out in my mind as just really neat was the time that the fireworks were just beginning as we were loading in to the submarines. It was a Disney Magic Moment. Riding Finding Nemo at night time is also a different experience than during the day because in the beginning, the lagoon is lit up with colorful lights and it adds to the magic of the ride. If you haven't been on the ride at night, try it, you'll see what I mean!

-Katie

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

2009-11-22T00:38:00.000-08:00

One of our family favorite rides at Disneyland is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. You have to be over 40 inches tall to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the castmembers will check any children close to that height several times (use the Baby Switch passes if you have young children). We love this ride because it is a lot of fun and doesn’t have big drops. You mostly experience a lot of g-forces as you go down several sudden small drops then around the curves. You have one lap bar per row, so I always wrap my arm around Kyle (who is a little smaller) because during some of the sudden drops younger kids bounce up an inch or two. By wrapping my arm around him it solves the problem completely. Do remove any hats- I have seen quite a few almost blown away. Good to note that one adult can sit with two children in one row.

Our biggest tip about this ride is to be sure to make use of the Fastpasses. You rarely have to wait more than an hour after picking up your Fastpass and in that time you can go ride another ride. Fastpasses are distributed throughout the day unlike Space Mountain. When you are about to enter the queue line to use your Fastpass- get another set of fastpasses. You can do this as soon as you are 1 minute in to your return time window. You’ll be able to get two rides in a very short time no matter how long the queue line is.

Have you ever heard of the “Goat Trick” on this ride? I’m not sure where it really started and I don’t think I actually ever heard of it anywhere before I figured it out, but the first time I heard a reference to “The Goat Trick”, there was no question I knew what it was! Now be very careful not to over think this one, it really is quite simple, just follow a few simple steps the next time you are on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and you’ll soon be sure to be in on the trick!

As you begin to climb hill number two (this is the long climb with the snakes and turtles on the left), position yourself comfortably in the left corner of the seat so you are at an angle looking out the right side of the train. Be sure to stare at the Billy Goat on the raised area on the right and look at it absolutely as long as you can, literally until you can’t see it anymore. You’ll end up really dizzy and disoriented by the end of the turn and it’s just lots of fun.

We highly recommend sitting in row 15 (or close to it), because the ride is more fun that way. Sitting too close to the front of the train, makes for a much less thrilling ride in our opinion. As you crest the hills you are left slowly going over them while the back of the train finishes the climb. You can ask a castmember to seat you at the back of the train, you may have to wait for the next train, but it only adds a couple minutes at the most. Well worth the wait if you ask my kids.

Have you tried the Goat Trick? Post a comment about it!

-Katie

Picking Rides for Kids and Babies at Disneyland

2009-11-15T00:10:00.000-08:00

Going to Disneyland is a magical experience for the whole family and not just the older kids. Juggling the wants of older kids to ride rides and babies is always tough. One of the questions that I am frequently asked is what rides are okay for babies. We started taking our kids well before their first birthdays, so I got pretty good at knowing what my boys were comfortable on. Be sure to read about the baby care centers here, they are a lifesaver when you're at the parks with babies!

Here’s a list of ones that I think are fine to take babies on…

Disneyland Railroad: Great for all ages. A great way to give the kids “down-time” and still ride a ride.

Small World: Great for all ages. Nothing scary at all.

Storybook Canal Boats: Great for all ages. Just plain cute.

Finding Nemo Submarines: Great for all ages. One small scene where the lights briefly go out and there’s a loud sound, but should be fine for most.

Alice in Wonderland: Great for all ages.

Tiki Room: Great for all ages.

Jungle Cruise: Great for all ages.

Winnie the Pooh: Great for all ages.

Casey Jr. Circus Train: Great for all ages.

Peter Pan: Great for all ages.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Mostly great for all ages. You know the temperament of your kids. Don’t take them on this if they are skittish or have a tendency to get spooked. There are two small drops, but as long as you are holding on to them, it’s fine. I’ve seen newborns sleep through the ride in their mother’s arms but I’ve also seen one year olds cry from the moment they got in the boat to the time they get out of the boat.

For when you want to tackle some of the "big" kid rides, be sure to read up on the Rider/Baby Switch program here.

-Katie

The Merriest Place on Earth is back!!

2009-11-14T00:14:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love the holidays and it is my absolute favorite time of the year at the Disneyland Resort. From now through Jan. 3, 2010, the holidays shine more brightly than ever at Disneyland. The holiday season is in full effect and this holiday season, you will be able to enjoy the return of special holiday versions of “it’s a small world” and Haunted Mansion, along with the beautiful holiday décor, “A Christmas Fantasy” parade and a nightly snowfall on Main Street. California Adventure will also be celebrating the season with beautiful decorations and the return of the Electrical Parade on Dec 18th.

I can't wait to head to the park tomorrow. I want to hear from you. Do you love the Resort during the holidays? What is your favorite thing about Merriest Place on Earth? Do you think it's too crowded? We would love to hear from you!

Aracely

Winner of Disney Bucks!

2009-11-13T23:53:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late, but better late than never. Thank you all for entering and for your wonderful suggestions and comments.

The winner of the Kids and Mice $50 Disney bucks is.....(selected by Random.org) True Random Number Generator

Result:

19

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

comment #19 which is... Erin said...

This sounds great! we just got passes so we can take our little one. i will join your facebook page too. I would love to hear about some of the more "hidden" aspects to the resort. things you might not know about just walking in and riding the rides.

Email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info and stay tuned for another fun giveaway. I have two passes to Disneyland to giveaway! Details coming soon!

Disneyland MouseWait App for the iPhone

2009-11-12T20:21:00.000-08:00

I’m the proud owner of an iPhone (and iPod Touch) and whenever I find an App that makes my life easier, I rave about it to anyone who will listen… but when it’s one that makes your day at Disneyland far more productive, well let’s just say it’s priceless! The best part is this one really is a free App and its called Disneyland MouseWait by app316.com (direct link to iTunes store here).

You can get real time waits for all the rides at Disneyland and California Adventure (as entered by other park guests). I love that it tells you what time the wait was posted at so you can make an estimate as to how accurate it still is (i.e. if a Parade has just ended you know a ton of people are going to be making their way to all the rides and will cause an increase in waits). I’ve used this App many times to plan out what rides have the shortest waits so when you head to next ride you don't find out the wait is too long (my husband hates waiting in line, let’s just say it was the boys and I that waited in line for 3 ½ hours on the day the Finding Nemo Submarines opened! I knew there was no way my husband would wait in that line…)

I’ve used this handy App many times trying to figure out how crowded the park is. We frequently head to Disneyland for dinner and a few rides).

One thing that sets this App apart from the other wait time Apps is that this one has far more features than I have seen on the others (I have several now). There are blackout date calendars, live chats and park hours. You can automatically post Facebook status updates, Tweets on Twitter and monitor real time discussions about the parks in a number of ways. You’ll just have to play around to find all the hidden jewels this App has to offer!

More information about the App can be found here.

The reliability of the App is dependent on guests entering accurate wait times, so the more people use the App – the better!

I’m anxious to hear if any of you are also using it!

-Katie

Pizza Port at Disneyland and Introduction to Katie!

2009-11-11T23:57:00.000-08:00

I was more than a little excited when Aracely asked me to blog over here on Kids and Mice (you may recognize me from OCMomActivities). I think it’s because I’m about 95% obsessed with Disneyland (the other 5% of addiction goes to CoffeeBean & Tea Leaf). We are huge Disneyland fans around our house and go on average of once a week if not more! I’m a working wife and mom of two amazing boys (Brett is 7 and Kyle is 6). Over the years I’ve learned lots of fun tips and tricks about Disneyland and am thrilled to have the opportunity to share them with you! Enough about me - I’ll just dive right in…

The Pizza Port in Tomorrowland is one of our families’ favorite places to eat dinner. There are great options for the entire family at a reasonable cost and we love sitting in the outside eating area at the back (near the entrance to Space Mountain). They have a great selection of fresh salads, excellent pizza (by the slice or whole pizza) and super yummy pastas.

Brett and Kyle love getting the kids spaghetti (with sauce & meatballs on the side). Awhile ago they switched to using whole wheat pastas, which I love. Each plate comes with apple slices and carrot slices and a drink. They also have kid sized pizza and chicken & rice for toddlers. For the adults they have wonderful alfredo pasta, penne pasta and spaghetti.

I always get a fresh salad. My favorite one is posted below (Starfield of Greens), but they have caesar salads, oriental chicken salads and several other choices. As you can see it’s made with real salad greens and super sweet tomatoes and has an Italian Vinaigrette dressing. I love it!

My husband always orders the pizza, below is a picture of the BBQ chicken pizza that is so good! They also have Hawaiian pizza, pepperoni, cheese pizza and other favorites by the slice or whole. Be sure to grab some of the amazing focaccia bread & dipping sauce…

What I absolutely love about eating there is that we as a family of four can eat there for $25 (using the 15% AP discount)!

What’s your favorite thing to order at Pizza Port?

What to do when everything is too busy at Disneyland

2009-11-07T00:06:00.000-08:00

Visiting Disneyland is always fun, except when it is super busy. I hate waiting in lines... well really, I don't know anyone that likes waiting in one. After many visits, I have discovered that I can have fun with my kiddos, even on the busiest holidays.

One of the first things that I like to do on a busy day is catch a ride on the Disneyland Express. It's the perfect place to people watch and you can get a pretty good idea of how truly busy the park is by riding it all the way around. We love riding the train and the kids and I like to point to the different attractions, hidden Mickey's, characters, etc..
Another favorite attraction on a busy day is to catch a show at the Tiki Room. Not only is this show timeless and fun, it is the perfect place to rest and cool off on a hot summer day.
I love having the kiddos enjoy the play areas in the park. Tom Sawyer's Island and Tarzan's Treehouse are perfect for the older kids, while the play area in Toontown is a big hit with the little ones.
Head over to Tomorrowland and explore Innoventions. There are a variety of activities for the entire family to enjoy. You will find everything from Dance Dance Revolution Stations to building and viewing your own fireworks show.
Take the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough. You will be able to enjoy the story of Sleeping Beauty, told by a series of illustrated storybook pages and 3D animation scenes. It's a must visit if you have a princess fan in the family!
Sit back and enjoy Honey, I Shrunk the Audience 3D show. This air conditioned show is the perfect place to sit down and catch a breather.

There are so many other things to do on a busy day that I think I will write a second part to the post. I want to hear from you. What is your favorite thing to do at Disneyland on a busy day?

$50 in Disney Bucks!

2009-10-31T09:53:00.000-07:00

To officially launch kids and mice- we are doing a giveaway. All you have to do is let me know what you want to would like to discuss as an annual passholder on Kids and Mice and that's it! Winner will be selected at Random. You can leave multilple entries for

Leaving a comment (1 entry)
Become a follower of Kids and Mice (1 entry)
Become a fan on Facebook of Kids and Mice (1 entry)

You have until Friday, November 6th to enter.
Good luck!

Disneyland Resort Annual Passes- Which one is right for you?

2009-10-17T03:22:00.000-07:00

I was chatting with a good friend yesterday about annual passes. He is looking to buy passes for his family and was asking for my opinion. Which pass should I get? I say it depends on your financial situation, how often are you planning on heading to the parks and location.

I have had the Premium Pass for over a decade. It works for my family for a number of reasons. We live about a 20 minute drive from the park, we have quite a few family members that live outside the area and like to come down to Disneyland during the holidays, we are big Disney Geeks, we hate crowds and we love the freedom it provides of visiting any day of the year without restrictions.

Here is the scoop on the Premium Annual Passport:

• 365 consecutive days of admission to both theme parks.
• 10% merchandise discount at select locations throughout the Disneyland® Resort
• Exclusive benefits at select Downtown Disney® District locations
• Free annual parking pass for the Mickey & Friends parking structure. ($79 value)
• 10-15% dining discount at select Disneyland® Resort restaurants
• Special rates at Disneyland Resort Hotels

The Premium Passes are very expensive. The pass is $429, however you can use the payment plan option, guests will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket - $72-upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

If you don't want to splurge on the Premium- I highly recommend the Deluxe Annual Passport. Most of my friends and family have this pass.

Here is the scoop on the Deluxe Annual Passport:

315 days of admission. Most Holidays and some peak season Saturdays are blocked out.
10% dining discount at select Disneyland Resort Restaurants
Special Rates at Disneyland Resort Hotels
Parking is NOT included- $79 for parking.

The Deluxe Annual Passport, is a little pricey at $289 . However it does offer many admission days and if you plan on using your pass frequently, it could be your best option. As with the Premium Pass, you can use the payment plan option and you will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket -$72-upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

The other two options are more affordable options but have many blackout dates.

Here is the scoop on the Southern California Annual Passport:

227 days of admission. Most of these days are off peak season. All Holidays and Saturdays are blocked out.
10% dining discount at select Disneyland Resort Restaurants
Special Rates at the Disneyland Resort Hotels
Parking is not included -$79 for parking pass
This pass differs from the Southern California Select in that Sundays are allowed. The pass is $194, and as with the other passes you can use the payment plan option. You will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket - $72-upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

The least expensive of the passes is the Southern California Select Annual Pass. Here is the scoop on the pass.

176 days of admission. This is a weekday pass only! All Holidays, weekends and most peak times at the park are blocked off.
10% Dining discount at select Disneyland Resort restaurants
Special Rates at the Disneyland Park Hotels
Parking Pass is not included
The pass is $144 and as with the other passes you can use the payment plan option. You will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket-$72- upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

My friend decided to purchase the Deluxe Annual Passport since he wants to bring his kiddos down on Saturdays. I want to hear from you. What pass do you have? Do you love it? Use it often?

Extended Halloween Hours

2009-10-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

During the month of October you can enjoy extended Halloween Hours at the Disneyland Resort. This week you can head over to the park as early as 8am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. You can also head over as early as 9am Monday thru Thursday and stay until 9pm on these days. There will be nightly firework shows.

Hours at California Adventure will be limited due to Mickey's Trick or Treat.

Seaworld's Halloween Spooktacular

2009-10-06T22:36:00.000-07:00

Halloween is definitely one of my favorite holidays. I love decorating, the costumes and of course the treats! If you love costumes and treats, you might want to check out Seaworld's Halloween Spooktacular.

Halloween Spooktacular is taking place every weekend from now until November 1st. Your kiddos can dress up and trick or treat along sea inspired pathways in Seaworld's own Candy Garden. The sea lion and otter stadium celebrates with a specially themed Halloween Show and Sesame Street Bay of Play features Countdown to Halloween featuring Count Von Count.

The kiddos can come in costume and enjoy a fun day at the park. The best part is that Halloween Spooktacular is included with general admission. If you have an annual pass/fun card, make sure to take advantage. We hope to head out next weekend for a day filled with sea life and treats!

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort

2009-10-04T23:43:00.001-07:00

I love Halloween. it has to be my favorite time of year. The crisp weather, fun decorations, candy and costumes- It can't get better than that! Halloween Time is in full effect at Disneyland Resort from now until November 1st.

Some of the fun happenings at the Disneyland Resort include:

Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy with haunting music and new visual effects
Haunted Mansion Holiday- My absolute favorite! Enjoy the Haunted Mansion as it transformed into the Nightmare before Christmas.
Main Street Pumpkin Festival- check out the hundreds of pumpkins and meet your favorite Disney Character in their Halloween Costume.
Big Thunder Ranch Halloween Roundup- Meet Woody and Jessie, make fun Halloween crafts, watch a Disney Artist create pumpkin designs
Mickey's Trick or Treat Party at Disney's California Adventure
And an all new AMAZING Halloween Firework Extravaganza! You can catch the firework show every night during Halloween time.

Still not convinced? Here is a little sneak peek of the Halloween Firework show courtesy of the Disneyland Resort.

I'm going to be hitting the resort at least twice during the next couple of weeks to keep you informed and take pictures of the festivities. Hope you can all make a visit soon!

Mickey's Trick or Treat Party

2009-10-04T23:41:00.000-07:00

We had a blast at Mickey's Trick or Treat Party at Disney's California Adventure last Friday night. This annual, special ticketed event happens throughout October on the following nights: 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 and 31.

This unique party lets adults and children alike dress up and trick-or-treat inside DCA. The kids loved getting to pick up candy at 25 Treat Stops located throughout the park. There was some terrific candy, including Ghirardelli chocolate! There was also healthy treats like apple slices and Craisins to be had.

My daughter was fond of the princess photo locations, while my son seemed to favor the Disney villains. The kids rocked out at Candy Corn Acres just inside the Sun Plaza, where they were able to dance to all the top 40 hits.

The Pacific Wharf area became Pirate’s Wharf, which featured a photo location, craft area and games. The Hollywood Pictures Backlot also had dancing and characters to meet. All the favorite rides and attractions were also open for the event which ran from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM.

Tickets purchased in advance are $32 most days, while tickets purchased on the event day are $39. For Oct. 30 and 31, all tickets are $42. If you are an annual passholder you can purchase tickets for $26. Special Passholder Discount are available for these Dates: October 8, 15, 21, 22, 28

And don't forget that now through Dec. 19, 2009, you can save $400 when you book a 4-Day/4-Night Disneyland Resort vacation package, featuring either Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Paradise Pier. Each of theses packages includes four-day park hopper tickets and includes one Magic Morning admission per person. Mickey's Trick or Treat Party tickets must be purchased separately.

Fun for all! (note: this is not our family!)

Disney Parks Blog

2009-09-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

Did you know that there is now an official Disney Parks Blog? The new blog is DisneyParksBlogs.com

The Disney Parks Blog will feature Cast members from Disneyland Resort blogging from and about Disneyland. There will be a number of other Cast Members from all areas of Disney Parks. The Blog will be a source of information on our destinations that Guests can rely on to learn about new attractions, new programs, and experiences that make a Disney vacation so magical.

You'll also find exclusive video and images, coverage of in-park events and profiles of unique cast members who make magic for our guests every day.

The Disney Parks Blog will allow comments, but like many corporate blogs, they will be moderated. The purpose of the moderation is to keep the conversation clean and on-topic.

Fantasmic Dragon is finally here!

2009-09-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to catch Fantasmic and the much anticipated new dragon this weekend. Let me just say this- She is absolutely amazing! The crowd went wild with excitement as the dragon made her grand appearance and she did not disappoint. The new dragon who was originally set to appear in the summer nightastic shows has had some pretty major technical difficulties. She is absolutely worth the wait. The addition of the dragon takes Fantasmic to a new dragon. I wanted to include my pictures of the dragon and a video courtesy of the Disneyland Resort.

Catching the Dragon is a great reason to head to Disneyland. You will not be disappointed!

Disneyland Magic Mornings

2009-09-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can enjoy admission to Disneyland on select days before the park officially opens?

On select days, Disneyland offers Magic Morning early admission to the park when you either stay at any of the Disneyland Resort Hotels (Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian or Paradise Pier Hotel), purchase a Disneyland Resort Vacation Package or purchase a special Disneyland online ticket that includes the Magic Morning Admission. Magic Mornings are also included with the purchase of a 3-5 day Park Hoppers. Magic Mornings are held only at Disneyland and not at Disney's California Adventure.

Here is how Magic Mornings works. Magic Morning admission allow guests to enter Disneyland one hour before the park opens to the public on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.Guests are allowed to enter Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Select shops and restaurants will be open during Magic Mornings.

If you are planning on heading to Disneyland during one of the busy times of the year(Summer Season, Christmas Season or Spring Break), Magic Mornings would be the perfect option to maximize your visit to the Disneyland Resort.

For additional info head over here.

Taking the kids to D23 Expo- Our review!

2009-09-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I packed a bag, stroller and costumes and headed to Disney's D23 expo with the kids. The kids were super excited to head out. I don't really know what they were expecting but they knew it had to do with Disney and they were beyond excited.

We spent three hours but could have easily spent more. I'm not exaggerating here- The kiddos did not want to leave the main exhibition hall floor. We spent hours walking through the Disney Consumer Product Pavilion and the kids couldn't get enough!

My daughter fell in love with the Disney Beauty Booth and begged for a makeover. We didn't have to wait for very long and my princess received the royal treatment. My son, a Toy Story fanatic, could not get enough of the Crayola Animation Booth which featured Andy's Bedroom from Toy Story. An animator will lead you and your kiddos through a 45 minute lesson on drawing your favorite Disney Characters. We had a blast.

The kiddos loved dancing at Radio Disney's booth. They were in their own kiddo dance heaven! Fun music played while Radio Disney stuff handed out Disney "swag" to those on the dance floor.

There is also two rooms that every parent of young children should be aware when heading to the expo. First is the Expo's baby care center located on the second floor and the Baby Einstein Room which is a perfect place to decompress and let the kiddos play and relax. It's the perfect place to hang out with he kids in between events.

There are plenty of restrooms, bathrooms and even a place to rent strollers, if you don't feel like bringing yours.Parking is plentiful and $12. I would bring cash for parking and snacks. Better yet, pack some snacks and save some $.

We had an incredible time and I hope you do too! I will be heading back with the kiddos tomorrow afternoon. If you see me, please stop and say hello. Have an incredible time!

Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Baby Care Center

2009-08-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

The Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure Baby Care Center is one that every parent with infants or young children should become familiar with. This is a place that might be overlooked or unknown.

Those of you visiting Disneyland or DCA with babies and/or 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. Disney's California Adventure baby care care center is located directly next to their first-aid station which is found by the Mission Tortilla Factory in the Pacific Wharf area.

Inside, there are toddler sized toilets, changing tables and in my opinion best of all, glorious air conditioning. It is the perfect place to rest with the little ones on a hot summer day.There is a cast member that makes sure only a few people come in at a time to ensure this peaceful and non-chaotic place remains that way.

They sell about every baby necessity you may need. Everything from bottles, pacifiers, formula, diapers, diaper rash ointment, baby food and more. There are even bottle warmers if you need them.

My son is not yet potty trained and we use the Baby Care Center often to change his diapers. My daughter who is 4, loves using the toodler sized toilets and sinks. The centers are usually not crowded and you can change your baby or take your toddler to the restroom without having to worry about a thing.

It is also the perfect place to nurse a baby. I have nursed both of my babies at the center. It provides a calm private setting where you can lull the little ones to sleep.It also an ideal place to feed babies. There are a couple of high chairs at your dispoal and a kithcen area to wash up.

My son has sensory issues and he can be over stimulated easily and have horrendous meltdowns. The baby care center has provided an invaluable service to us. The place is a wonderful retreat when your baby or child has to calm down from a day of over-stimulation. I can't tell you enough how many times I have used the baby care center. It has been a lifesaver.

I love the Baby Center and I can't recommend it enought. It's an essential when you have the little ones.

2009-08-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon!

Mickey's Trick or Treat Party at Disney's California Adventure

2009-08-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

This October, Disney's California Adventure will hold it's fifth year of Mickey's Trick or Treat party, a special ticketed event. The park adds additional decoration, special entertainment and trick or treat stations throughout DCA as it closes the park to the general public.

In the Sun Plaza, there is a giant candy corn and a DJ playing music that you can dance to and several other dance party stations. We have had the opportunity to attend almost every year and have had a blast. One of my favorite parts of Mickey's Trick or Treat Party is that there are several character greet and meet photo locations throughout the park. Our daughter's dream came true last year as she was able to meet Cinderella, who took her hand, posed with her and walked around a bit of the park with her. Needless to say it made her night and she was thrilled.

Be prepared for a couple of bagfuls of candy. You are given a bag at the entrance of the park and you will easy fill it up. My kids love trick or treating and this was definitely the highlight for them. Of course the fact that the park limits the amount of guests and it is closed down to the general public doesn't hurt to the appeal. It's my favorite part of the evening. Here is a tip -if you can, make sure to buy tickets for a weeknight. I've gone on both a weekend and a weeknight and we had a better experience on the weeknight. There are less crowds and the party has more of an exclusive feel to it.

This event invariably sells out every single year. Tickets go on sale in the beginning of summer and are usually sold out by the end of September. It is an amazing event for the kiddos. Kiddos and adults are encouraged to wear their Halloween costume to the park. I love it because it allows the kiddos to wear their costume on more than one night. It runs for four hours either from 6:30 to 10:30 or 7:30 to 11:30 PM depending on the night of the week.

If you have never had the opportunity to attend Mickey's Trick or Treat Party, make this the year. Your kiddos are going to love it!

Ticket Prices and Event Dates*

Advance purchase by Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members and Disney Visa card holders for selected dates: $26.00

Annual Passholder/DVC/Disney Visa discount is available for the following dates: October 2, 8, 15, 21, 22, 28

Advanced Purchase Ticket Prices
$32 Regular Admission Price for These Dates — October 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29

Day-of-Event Ticket Prices
$39 If Purchased and Used on These Dates — October 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29
$42 If Purchased and Used on These Dates — October 30 and 31

Ages Two and Under: No Charge

For additional information head over here

2009-08-20T06:24:00.001-07:00

Disneyland Resort FASTPASS System

2009-08-20T06:24:00.000-07:00

If you are heading over to the pass and want to avoid waiting in long lines make sure to take advantage of the FASTPASS system. Basically a Disney FASTPASS allows you to cut your wait time at certain attractions by standing in line for you electronically. The FASTPASS system is included with your admission/annual pass and one that you will want to use whenever you are heading over to the Disneyland resort.

Here is how it works- You head over to one of the rides(I included a list at the end of the post) that uses the FASTPASS system. Once you are there look for the distribution area near the entrance of the attraction. Check the return time (be sure to get your passes early because on very busy days they run out!) and insert your ticket or annual pass into the FASTPASS machine. Once you insert your ticket/annual pass a ticket will print out with your return time. When it's time to return to the attraction enter through the FASTPASS line/queue and you will avoid the long wait.

It's simple, painless and will save you time!Once you have your ticket in hand head out to enjoy the other attractions. We usually grab a FASTPASS and catch a show or ride an attraction with a minimal wait line.

Here are two things that you should also know about FASTPASS.

You can only have one FASTPASS ticket to one attraction at a time. This means you can't head over to Splash Mountain and pick up a FASTPASS then walk over to Big Tunder Railroad and pick up another while you wait. You can grab another FASTPASS as soon as your return time comes up.
Your FASTPASS tickets don't expire. I met my sisters at the park a little late last week only to find them complaining about their FASTPASS tickets expiring. There is no such thing. Your recommended time is printed on your ticket but you are always welcome to come after that time on the day of your visit.

Here is the list of attractions at both parks that utilize the FASTPASS system.

Disneyland

Autopia
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Indiana Jones
Haunted Mansion(holidays)
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Splash Mountain
Space Mountain

Disney's California Adventure

California ScreaminGrizzly River Run
Mulholland Madness
Soarin Over California
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Have a terrific rest of the day and use a FASTPASS next time you are heading over to the parks!

Haunted Mansion Celebrates 40 years of Haunts!

2009-08-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

The Haunted Mansion celebrates 40 years of Happy Haunts. Check out this fun little video from the Disneyland Resort about this classic attraction. Enjoy!

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

2009-08-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is definitely my almost three year old's favorite attraction. If your kiddos love Toy Story this is a must ride attraction.

You and your space ranger will blast off to "infinity and beyond" as you join Buzz Lightyear on his quest to defeat Emperor Zurg. This ride is an interactive dark ride that allows you to compete with your fellow space rangers for the ultimate score. You and your co-pilot will be able to shoot at different targets with your laser blasters. Two people are allowed to ride per space vehicle and one is able to rotate and spin around.

It is so fun to compete as a family. We love comparing our scores and trying to out do each other. It is an amazing family ride.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is located in the immediate entrance to Tomorrowland from Main Street. It is a popular ride and tends to have somewhat of a wait. I would not wait more than 15 minutes for this ride. If the wait is longer than 15 minutes, go ahead and take advantage of the fast passes and come back without having to wait. Better yet- head over towards the end of the night and you will rarely have more than a 5 minute wait.

Don't forget to stop and email your free picture and score back home as you exit the ride.

Flik's Flyers

2009-08-09T23:34:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite attraction's at Disney's California Adventure is Flik's Flyers. The attraction which is located inside A Bug's Land is a must ride attraction when visiting the park with the little ones.

Flik's Fliers is a spinning bucket attraction. The buckets are all made to have the appearance of various containers including a Chinese food box, animal cracker box and a raisin box. The ride is approximately 90 seconds long. There are 8 boxes that can seat up to 4 people.

Kids of all ages will enjoy this fun little ride. It is primarily geared to younger children but I've yet to meet anyone that does not love this fun little ride.

Wait time is minimal and less than 5 minutes. I have never had to wait (even on New Year's Day) longer than 10 minutes. If you are heading to DCA make sure to stop and take a ride. You will love it!

Disney's Electrical Parade

2009-08-09T23:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are all having a fantastic Sunday with plenty of fun and relaxation. For this week's installment of Disney Sunday I wanted to write about my favorite parade - Disney's Electrical Parade in Disney's California Adventure.

The parade is back this summer big and better than ever. Among the new surprises is the new lead float featuring Tinkerbell. She sprinkles her pixie dust along the parade path and it can be seen sparkling along the sides of many of the floats.

Another fabulous feature is the return of the Pinocchio floats and the Seven Dwarf's mine float. Both of these went MIA after the parade's visit to Tokyo Disneyland. If you are a fan of the Parade you will also notice that the music has a new layer on the background and I think it's better than ever.

We found some terrific seats just outside the Golden Vine Winery facing the Fisherman's Wharf area, just 30 minutes before showtime. I've usually caught it at the entrance of California Adventure and it usually one of the busiest locations to catch a glimpse. If you head further down the parade route there are plenty of seats and in my opinion a better view.

We sat down and waited for a few minutes for the parade and as we waited you could feel the anticipation and excitement in the crowd. There is nothing quite like experiencing the parade up close with the kiddos. My family loved every single minute of it.

I want to hear from you. Do you love the parade? If you do what is your favorite part of it? Where do you usually sit? Would you love to see it return to Disneyland?

The parade is running nightly through August 23, 2009. It's the perfect excuse to head over to California Adventure. It then will go on a hiatus for a time. Rumor has it that it could wind up back at Disneyland next year as part of the 55th park anniversary. We'll have to wait and see.

Parking at the Happiest Place on Earth

2009-08-09T23:03:00.000-07:00

I love going to Disneyland and DCA, as you have probably figured out. The one thing that I do not like is having to deal with parking. I usually don't mind parking in the Mickey and Friends parking lot(the big structure) unless it is a busy day. On busy days parking and then riding the tram to the entrance of the resort can feel like a bad nightmare. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people almost scuffle over their place in the "stroller line".

The stroller line is found on the very first car of the tram and the very last car. It allows you to ride without having to fold your stroller. It is very popular and the wait for a spot in the first or last car is usually long. In fact the wait on a busy days for a tram can take a long long time. It is definitely not what you want to be doing when you have tired and cranky kids and have to be around other cranky people. It's just not a good combination.

Here are a couple of alternatives to parking in the Mickey and Friends parking lot($12.00) and taking the tram.

My favorite option for parking on nights when I know that I will be spending less than 3 hours is to park in Downtown Disney. If I'm heading over for the evening- I will usually park in the Downtown Disney lot. Parking is free for the first 3 hours. When I park in the DD parking lot I either take the monorail to Disneyland or walk through the Grand Californian Hotel to the DCA hotel entrance. It's easy, painless and only a short walk.

My second option would be to park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Take the tram in but on the way out, only have the driver in your party head on the tram(they will usually be able to squeeze right on to a tram). The rest of the party will head over to the 15 minute parking on Harbor blvd(just follow the walkway to Harbor Blvd- it's the parking lot on the right hand side) and be picked up from there. This is what we usually do on a busy day.

The last option is to park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Take the tram on your way in and at the end of the night, walk the path back to the structure. It's a nice walk and on a busy night you will get to your car faster walking, then waiting and loading for the tram.

Guest post- Disney Dollars

2009-08-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

This guest post comes from the fabulous Lisa, founder of the wonderful blog and website Babes in Disneyland. Lisa is a former Disneyland tour guide, teacher and mother of two little ones. Her website is a must read if you love Disneyland or are heading to the park for the first time with the tiny tots. It's a wonderful resource and filled with fun facts about the park.
Lisa writes
Disney Dollars save the dayDisney Dollars can easily save the day when visiting the Disneyland Resort. You don’t have to get stuck paying ATM when you need cash for items like popcorn, churros, and balloons from the outdoor vendors. Instead, stop by City Hall (located on the west side of Main Street) or the Guests Services lobby (located right inside California Adventure to the east) and purchase Disney Dollars with your credit card, check, or Visa/Mastercard ATM card. Disney Dollars are bills that come in ones, fives, and tens and can be used as cash (the same dollar for dollar exchange) at the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, Disney Stores, or on Disney cruise ships. At the end of your visit, you can cash in any unused dollars for regular cash or save a few for souvenirs.

I have found that Disney Dollars can save the day in one more fun way that I call the “Disney Dollar Budget.” Purchase an inexpensive Disney-themed wallet before your next trip and fill it with Disney Dollars. (Such wallets can often be found at dollar discount stores.) Kids who want to spend, spend, spend at Disneyland will (hopefully) think twice before parting with their Disney bucks and once they are gone from their wallet, they are gone. Disneyland does sell gift cards, but as an elementary school teacher, I feel that Disney Dollars offer a far more teachable moment for you and your child to discuss budgeting and having to make correct change when purchasing items from store cashiers.

Favorite restaurants at Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure

2009-07-27T00:31:00.000-07:00

Today I wanted to write about my favorite places to eat inside the park. I've pretty much tried every restaurant or stand in the park and I wanted to share with you my favorite places at both parks.

Top picks for Disneyland
1. Tastiest and filling treat- This is a seasonal item- The yummy turkey legs!
You can find the delish turkey legs in Frontierland. The cart is usually located directly across from the Mark Twain Landing and next to Rancho Del Zocalo Mexican restaurant. They sell for $7 and the carts only take cash. You can also find them by the Matterhorn entrance. They are very filling and make a great lunch!

2. Favorite dessert- Funnel Cakes! - The Hungry Bear Restaurant
Disneyland's fruit topped funnel cakes are out of this world! You will love them. I also love pretty much anything that The Hungry Bear serves. It's a great place to relax and catch a bite to eat in a beautiful setting(you can watch the ducks and boats go by- it's lovely in the evening- perfect for date night! ). The Hungry Bear Restaurant is located in Critter Country - you can't miss it!

3. Favorite restaurant- Rancho Del Zocalo- Pretty good Mexican Food!
I love Rancho Del Zocalo. As a girl that grew up on fresh homemade Mexican food - I have to say that I find the food at Rancho Del Zocalo to be quite tasty. My favorite is their enchilada plate. It's really good. A little on the pricey side-(around $9-13) but the food is great, excellent seating and one of my favorite places to hang out on a cold night-wonderful heating lamps! My born in Mexico parents love the carne asada plate.

4. Favorite drink-Mint Juleps(non-alcoholic)- Mint Julep Bar
I love love the Mint Juleps that are found at the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square. They go for around 2.50 and they are a yummie and refreshing treat. The Mint Julep Bar is located across from the New Orleans Square train station.

5. Tastiest and least expensive way to feed a family- Redd Rockett's Pizza Port in Tomorrowland.You can buy a whole pizza for $31.99- not bad for a theme park. It's a good way to feed the family and the pizza is actually really good! The Hawaiian is one of my fav's!

6. Soup to die for!- Clam chowder sourdough bowl- Royal Street Veranda
The soup at the Royal Street Veranda is amazing. A little pricey($9) but so worth it. The Royal Street Veranda is located in New Orleans Square. It's that little place across from the parasol cart and visible while you wait in line for Pirate's of the Carribean.

7. Last but not least- my absolute favorite treat- Dole Pineapple Whip
I love love DPW. It is a must in the summer. Yummie. You can buy one at the entrance to Adventureland, right next to the Enchanted Tiki Room,

Top picks for Disney's California Adventure

1. So good but so bad for you treat- Full Throttle Fries- Taste Pilot's Grill
These frieds are amazing. Perfect for sharing and incredible. The fries are loaded with cheese, chilli, onions, tomatoes and sour cream. The downer- probably not good for the waistline or your heart!

2. Best Hot Dogs- Award Wieners
I love the hot dogs at Award Wieners. The hotdogs come with chips and the combo's are under $6. A tasty and reasonable treats. Award Wieners is located directly across from Playhouse Disney in the Hollywood Back Lot

3. A refreshing treat- Schmoozie's Smoothies!
I'm all about fun drinks and Schmoozie's Smoothies are made to order and absolutely delish! You can find Schmoozie's Smoothies in the Hollywood Back lot- Directly across from the animation building

4. Favorite Ice Cream- Burr-Bank Ice Cream-
My family loves the ice cream at DCA. It's less crowded than it's Disneyland counterpart and just as tasty! You have to try their sundaes- Delish! Burr-Bank Ice Cream is located near the entrance of Disney's California Adventure.

Free Stuff at Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure

2009-07-12T15:11:00.000-07:00

I wanted to list a couple of fun and FREE things you can pick up while visiting Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure. Make sure to try or pick up one of the freebies next time you are at the park. Enjoy!!

1. Free entrance to either park on your birthday. Just register online and show up with your birth certificate or ID. If you already have an annual pass- head to the ticket booth to pickup your $69 gift card for merchandise or a family pack of 6 fast passes to every attraction at the park of you choice. Another tip- turn your free admission at the end of the day into an annual pass. All you will have to do is either pay the difference or sign up for the installment plan. It's a great deal!!
2. Pick up a free pin from City Hall in Disneyland, DCA guest services or the information booth. You can get a Happy Birthday pin, Happy Anniversary,Just Married,Family Reunion,1st Visit,Happily Ever After and the I'm Celebrating button which could be used anytime!
3. Pick up a fresh, warm and delicious tortilla from the Mission Tortilla Factory tour in Disney's California Adventure. If it's your birthday make sure to pick up your free dozen.
4. Try a taste of Sourdough bread from The Boudin Bakery tour in DCA. It's located right across from the Mission Tortilla Factory Tour.
5. Animation Academy- Head over to DCA's Hollywood Backlot and try your drawing skills at The Disney Animation building. You are provided with drawing pencils and pads and taught by Disney animators a series of simple steps that enable you to create your own character drawings. You can take your drawings home or better yet- ask nicely and usually the Disney Animator will be more than willing to give you their fresh character sketch.
6. Head over to Disneyland's Tomorrowland and ride Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters. While you ride you will have your photo taken and at the end of the ride you can e-mail your Astro Blaster score and photo home. It's a fun and free souvenir!
7. Free stickers - make sure to head over to Toontown and meet Mickey and Minnie. You will receive a free sticker when you meet them.
8. Free beads at New Orleans Square- Head on over to New Orleans Square when the bands are playing. The beads are usually thrown out by cast members and are a fun treat. Best of all they are Free!!
9. Last but not least- My daughter's Favorite- Head over to Autopia and pick up a Free License. This is sometimes hit and miss. However, I've received one every time I have ridden Autopia.

Pixar Play Parade at Disney's California Adventure

2009-07-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

My kiddos are big Pixar Movie fans. In fact, we play at least one Pixar movie a day in our home, sometimes even two or three. As you can probably imagien Disney's California Adventure's Pixar Play Parade is a big hit with my kiddos.

The parade is led by Lightning McQueen from Cars. It then goes on to feature a Monsters inc float that is driven by Sulley. It's followed by the Incredibles foat, Ratoutille float, a Finding Nemo float that features everyone's favorite turtle- Crush, A Bug's life float and ends with a Toy Story float that is out of the world. It is a three part float. The first part features the green toy soldiers, the second features Buzz Lightyear and the final section of the float holds Woodie, Jesse and Slinky Dog. My kids absolutely adore Toy Story and the end of the parade is their favorite.

The parade has a water element that is a welcome surprise in the summer. The floats feature small water jets that shoot water into the crowds. The parade entertainers also squirt the crowd with water guns. The kids go bonkers over this and love getting "hit" by the floats/entertainers. A warning to those that don't want to get wet-If you are sitting or standing in the front of the crowd- You will get wet!! If you don't want to get wet, head over towards the back of the crowd.

The Parade runs from The Sunshine Plaza to the Paradise Pier. We usually like to catch it in The Sunshine Plaza and we will usually plant a blanket and sit down to enjoy the fun. I would recommend you do this about 15-20 minutes before the parade starts. The parade averages about 12 minutes. There is usually only one parade and it usually happens around 5pm. Check your entertainment/parade guide for exact time.

Haunted Mansion

2009-07-05T23:54:00.000-07:00

Disneyland's Haunted Mansion is a 7 minute dark ride that is a must visit on a first visit to Disneyland. It is considered a classic and an icon by Disney Geeks. I absolutely love this ride and I usually try to sneak in a visit every time I head over to Disneyland.

Although I love this ride, it can be a little scary for younger children. I'm not going to sugar coat it- It can be very scary for the little ones. My two and a half year old refuses to ride it. My 4 year old clutches on to me and I have decided that this ride will have to wait when I visit the park with the kiddos. I have even seen school aged children freak out a bit. This is a ride that is geared towards older children and teenagers/adults.

If you have an older child or a younger kiddo that doesn't easily get scared- head over to this classic ride. The lines move fairly quickly and you will usually be riding with less than a 10 minute wait. Even on a busy day- expect to wait less than 40 minutes.

The ride takes you on a tour of the mansion where you are first brought into a waiting room. The lights go out and you are led down to rest of the mansion. You are led into the dimly light hallway into a doombuggy that will take you on your ghostly tour. Your tour will take you through the endless hallway, a seance room, the "lively" ballroom, the attic and finishing off through a stroll in the graveyard.

It is a classic that is not to be missed!!

It's Tough to be a Bug

2009-07-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's Tough to be a bug is a 9 minute 3D experience that is located inside Disney's California Adventure's - A Bug's Land. The show gives you and your kiddos an insight on what life is like as a bug. Flick is the host of the show and introduces us to a different point of view- Why we should view bug's as friends vs enemies.

I personally like this ride for two reasons. On hot days it is perfect place to beat the heat and because of minimal wait lines. I also love the special effects that the show produces. However, it can be a little too intense for the little ones. My two year old son hates this show and I avoid it when we visit the park. My 4 year old daughter however loves it and thinks it's a riot. I would definitely skip It's Tough to be a Bug if you have a child that is 3 and under. If your kiddo is between 4-5 - I would still be a little cautious. I think this is attraction is best suited for 6 yrs olds and up.

It's a great little show and a little tip- sit towards the middle and latter part of the theater to enjoy the best visual effects. Enjoy!!

What to pack when heading to the Disney Resort

2009-07-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

What to pack when heading to the Disney Resort.

I try to head over to one of the parks at least twice a week during the summer. Through much trial and error I have learned what to pack with me to be able to enjoy a day at the park and not shell out much money. Here is my essential list-

What do I bring with me??
1.Make sure to pack a couple of snacks. Some good ideas are - cut up fruit, individual baggies of cookies/chips, grapes(a big favorite of ours)goldfish and fruit snacks. I try to avoid buying snacks at the park at all costs. It can get pretty expensive!! You will also 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. Make sure to have some kind of labeling on you stroller to help yours stand out in the sea of strollers. If you really don't want to hassle with bringing one (although I strongly recommend it)- 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 if you have kids under 5.
3. Make sure to pack a jacket /sweater/blanket. - The nights cool off and I've had to leave once or twice because I had a cold kiddo- I've also had to drop $50 on sweatshirts because mommy didn't prepare efficiently. Learn from my mistakes and pack a sweatshirt or two.
4.Bring a bottle or two of water per person- 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!! You can also bring your own insulated water bottles and refill them at the park.
5. Bring your own soda- I usually bring a can for each of us and then head to one of the local restaurants and ask for cups of ice. This has saved us so much money!!
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. Bring some sandwiches-If you are planning on staying for more than a couple of hours- they are a must. Cheap and easy to transport!!
8. Bring a dollar or two to the park. My kids are used to one tradition when we head over to the park. On the way out we always stop by at the last souvenir kiosk and buy a 50 cent Minnie Mouse heart sucker. I only spend $1.00 and the kids absolutely are happy as clams on the way out. A little sticky but happy- and that's what it's all about!!

My love affair with Disney's California Adventure

2009-06-29T00:40:00.000-07:00

Disneyland is a classic and untouchable. There is no debating that. However, when looking at California Adventure- it's important to not compare it to its iconic next door neighbor. When you look at DCA as a whole, by itself - it is a really impressive little theme park and one that I just happen to be in love with.

Here are the top ten reasons why I think Disney's California Adventure is a fantastic place for the kiddos and why I am madly in love with DCA.

The kiddos can get wet-We love the Irrigation Station and Princess Dot Splash Pad in the Flick's Fun Fair Area. It is the perfect spot on a hot spring/summer day.
I hate waiting in line. I mean really who does?? I love that the attractions in Flick's Fun Fair have minimal waiting lines and are a big hit with my kiddos. They love every single ride - especially Flick's Fun Flyers.
If your kids love the Disney Channel's cartoons then they will absolutely love The Playhouse Disney Show- my kids LOVE it!!
Who loves Free stuff? I do- I do!! I love that you can get a fresh warm tortilla from the Mission Tortilla Factory tour and a sourdough taste from Boudin Bakery.My kids love the fresh tortillas and I'm not going to lie, so do I. Here's a little tip- on your birthday pick up a dozen free tortillas from the Mission Tortilla Factory. Just show them your birthday pin and you are set!
They have an amazing baby center. Not as big as Disneyland's but still great.
DCA is home to Disney's Electrical Parade. Love it. It's new and improved and a must see!!
They are home to three amazing shows that your kiddos will love-MuppetVison 3D, It's tough to be a bug and Aladdin.
In my opinion, DCA is home to one of the BEST(if not the best!!) attractions in the Disneyland Resort, Toy Story Mania.
They have a pretty spiffy Ferris Wheel. You can either pick a gondola that moves or is stationary.
I love that I can park in the Downtown Disney lot ( free for 3 hours)- walk over to the DCA entrance at the Grand Californian Hotel in Downtown Disney(next to Sephora) , spend a couple of hours there and then I don't have to deal with taking a tram back to the parking lot. I love love that I can do this, especially on a crowded day.

DCA is in the middle of a major expansion - which includes a new water show, a Little Mermaid Ride and sure to be a big hit with my son- A thrill ride- featuring the characters from CARS!! The expansion should be complete by 2012.

There are so many other things I love about DCA but I tried to limit myself to my favorite 10. Next time that you are heading over to the Disneyland Resort make sure to show DCA some love ! It deserves it!

Walt's Magic Kingdom

2009-06-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

If you get a chance, pop over to my husband's website WaltsMagicKindom.com. He finally got around to installing Microsoft Expressions Web onto his laptop and he updated the site for the first time in ages. Lots of good stuff there!

The Enchanted Tiki Room

2009-06-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Enchanted Tiki Room has to be my favorite show in the park. The 17 minute musical show is a perfect place to cool down on a hot summer day. It's a great little show and one that the little ones love. The show features four parrots- Jose, Pierre, Michael and Fritz. They will lead you on a musical adventure that your family won't soon forget.

I love to sit in the back row of the theater to be able to take it all in - but really any seat in the house will do. Did I mention that this was air conditioned and always cool? It really is a great way to give your tired feet a break and cool off.

There is nothing really scary about the attraction and even the tiniest of tots will get a kick out of the show.

Enjoy!!

Jungle Cruise

2009-06-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite rides in the park as a family has to be The Jungle Cruise in Adventureland. This ride even on busy days has a pretty short line. It's perfect when you have the little ones in tow because we know they hate to wait. The longest I have ever waited is about 15 minutes.

This original attraction(been around since opening day) will leave you with a different experience every time you ride. The journey begins on a riverboat that takes you down the major rivers of Africa, Asia and South America. Your skipper will usually tell silly jokes (my kids eat them right up) along the 7 minute ride. You will come across elephants, lions, zebras, man eating piranas and of course- the back side of water.

This a ride that you will most definitely want to experience more than once. We usually try to ride it twice a day-during daytime and then at night. Totally different experiences but equally enjoyable.

There are no height restrictions on this attraction- we have taken our newborns on this ride before(yes we are obsessed!).

Jungle Cruise is located in Adventureland between Indiana Jones and Aladin's Oassis. Enjoy!!

How to keep cool at Disneyland/DCA

2009-06-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

My family loves to visit Disneyland/DCA often and yes we are a bit crazy, even in the busy summer season. I've picked up a thing or two from my many visits to the parks on hot summer days. Here are some of the things I've learned to stay cool at the parks on sweltering days.

During peak times I try to avoid waiting in line for any attraction. This is the time when we usually head to catch a show. A favorite of our family is the Enchanted Tiki Room- Nice and cool and a great way to sit back and relax. Other great ones- Honey I shrunk the audience, Bug's life @ DCA.
We always take a ride on the Disneyland Train to check out how busy the park is and judge from there. It's also a great way to cool down and I've been known to take it two or three times around the park on a hot summer day. If you have heavy sleepers like I do- great place to let them take a nap.
Pack a swimsuit for the kids and head over to the irrigation station at Disney's California Adventure. Let the kids run around at Princess Dot Puddle Station. Make sure to pack towels and an extra set of clothes because the kiddos will get soaked!!
Keep hydrated- 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!!
If your tots are tired and need a nap- head over to the seating area in the Hungry Bear Restaurant. It's located between New in Critter Country. I head towards the back, grab a little something to eat and enjoy the shade and watching the Mark Twain go by. It's always nice and cool. Usually my youngest falls asleep in the stroller. It's a perfect spot and way relaxing.
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 four year old is cold. Trust me on this one!!
Take advantage of the Baby Center if you have little ones. It's a great place to feed the teeny ones and I have even rocked both of my babies to sleep here. Best part- super cool in there!!
Peak times are from 2-4pm at both parks. This is the best time to grab a bite to eat and not have to fight for a table.
Head to rides that have the least waiting time. Top of our list-all in Adventureland/New Orleans Square- Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, taking a stroll on the Mark Twain and of course a ride on the Disneyland train.
Enjoy yourself and remember to take it easy and have fun!!

Pinocchio's Daring Journey

2009-06-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Pinocchio's Daring Journey, located in Fantasyland, is one of my family's favorite attractions. It is a traditional "dark ride" in every sense. So I must warn you - the under 3 crowd might be a little scared. My son who is two and daughter who is 4 absolutely love it. However this has not always been the case. It has taken some time but it is now a favorite.

Each car has two rows and can hold up to 4 people. You will Join Pinocchio on his adventurous journey into Pleasure Island and much more!

The ride is very short and the lines are usually very small. It's a 3 minute ride and there is no height restriction. You could bring a baby on without a problem. This is a ride we often visit in the park since the lines are usually not too bad. Save this one for the end of the day since the lines tend to be shorter at night than during the day.

3 Day Summer Fun Pass for $99

2009-06-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

If you are planning on heading over to the Disneyland Resort this summer- there is a deal that is too good to pass up!! The 3 day Summer Fun Pass for $99. Here is basically how it works- The offer is good for Southern California and Northern Baja residents(however if you are out of the area- you can probably have someone in line who is a resident buy it for you- just bring cash!!).

With this special ticket, local residents can play at the Disneyland Resort for three days within a 45-day period, for just $99. Guests who live in zip codes 90000 through 93599, and 21000-22999, will be able to enter both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, enjoying three days of fun for only $33 per day.

The 3-day Summer Fun Pass is available for sale at Disneyland.com, Disney Stores and at the Disneyland Resort box office. Resident ID is required.
To skip ticket lines and enjoy straight-to-the-gate convenience, the 3-Day Summer Fun Pass is also sold at local supermarket and retail chains such as Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Stater Bros., Food 4 Less, Gelsons, Dearden’s and Toys ‘R’ Us.

The best part is that on the last day of your visit you can take your season pass to the ticket booth and upgrade to an annual pass. You can pay the difference or you can make monthly payments- Simple as that!! It's a fantastic deal!!