Storybook Land Canal Boats

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.

Pinocchio's Daring Journey

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.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

If you have a little princess or you are a princess at heart, you might want to check out the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland. This is found where the former princess shop was located. Some of you may even remember it as the Tinkerbell Toy Shoppe. There are three options for girls and one for boys:

• The Coach Package – for $44.95 plus tax, includes hairstyle, shimmering make-up, princess sash, princess cinch sac and body jewels.
• The Crown Package – for $49.94, includes everything in the Coach Package, as well as nail polish.
• The Castle Package – ranging from $195.85 to $205.85, includes everything in the Crown Package as well as princess gown of choice, wand, shoes and portrait package courtesy of Disney's PhotoPass® Service. The price range varies and is determined by the gown and shoes chosen.
• The Knight package for boys is $12.95 and includes a costume shield and sword, plus a hairstyle with colored hair gel and confetti.