10 Things To Consider When Deciding Where to Stay In Disneyland Resort

There are a lot of choices out there for guests visiting Disneyland Resort and where they will lodge.  For a first time guest it can be confusing when trying to determine the right place for your family.  Cost vs. location vs. facilities. vs. ya da ya da ya da to much information to sort through!  I thought I would try and break it down into 10 different categories to consider when making your final decision.

1.  Disneyland Resort Hotels: The resort offers three hotels on their property for guest to choose from The Grand Californian,  Disneyland Hotel, and  Disney’s Paradise Pier.   One of the primary benefits to staying in one of their exclusive hotels is the early admission to the parks utilizing the Extra Magic Hour perk.  Guests at the resort hotels gain entrance one hour earlier than general guests into one of the parks.  This extra hour can really pay off during the busy seasons allowing you to get on rides quickly that you would otherwise wait in long lines for (Guests of the Good Neighbor Hotels who book a vacation package with Disney will also receive an Extra Magic Morning.)  The other benefit to staying on their property is the close proximity to the parks and Downtown Disney.  Everything is within walking distance.  They even have exclusive private access into the parks for Hotel guests to use.  This means you don’t have to wait in the lines at the front of the park’s entrance.  And of course the wonderful Disney Theming through out the hotel only makes your stay all the more magical. You might even spot a Disney Character roaming your halls.  The hotels have their own gift shops that sell Disney merchandise so you are able to shop with less crowds.  They also include their own restaurants and Character Dinning experiences.  

2.  Walking Distance: How close do you want to be to the parks?  Is it important for you to be within walking distance? One of the things I like about being walking distance from the parks is how easy it is to go back to the hotel in the middle of the day for a break. This is a very nice treat on a warm Summer day when the park is very crowded. Being within walking distance also allows us a little more freedom when we need to split up because the baby is needing a nap and the older one wants to still ride rides.   It means I don’t have to pay extra for the shuttle or live by the shuttle schedule.  I also avoid paying the fees to park in the parking garage and don’t have to wait in the extremely long lines for the tram when I’m coming and leaving at peak times.  We have enjoyed staying at the Howard Johnson on Harbor Blvd. directly across from the parks. They have an incredible pirate themed water play area for the kids to cool off in and a great pool for me to relax by on those hot Summer afternoons.  You can also see the fireworks from some of the balconies. However, there are many hotels to choose from along Harbor Blvd. that are within walking distance and among the Disneyland regulars they could all name off their favorites for various reasons.  Check out the Good Neighbor Hotels listed on the Disney Website you can use the filters on the left hand side to find one within walking distance from the parks.

3.  Parking Fees: Here is something to consider when looking at hotels.  Many hotels in the Disneyland area now charge a parking fee for you to park your car on the premises.  This fee varies but can be as much as $15.00 per day.  Couple that with the parking fee at the theme park which is $16.00 and that can really add up.  I can remember how shocked and bummed we were one year when we scored a great deal on Priceline for a 5 star hotel near Disneyland only to find out our savings were swallowed up with an unexpected parking fee for our car.

4.  Shuttles: Many of the hotels provide shuttles for their guests to the parks.  Some are free and some charge a fee for this service.  The Anaheim Resort Transit System also offers a shuttle between many of the hotels and the parks for a fee based on the number of days you wish to purchase.  A one day pass is $5.00 per adult and $2.00 per child.  When we compared the cost of paying for the shuttle vs. paying the parking fee in the theme park garage we found that it was cheaper for us to pay the parking fee.  Make sure you look at what the cost are to use the shuttle for your family when booking your hotel.

5.  RVs: We have taken our RV many times to Disneyland it is a great way to bring a little bit of the comforts of home with you and save a bit on lodging as well.  One of the first times we brought our RV I also brought along our crock pot and I can remember how wonderful it smelled and felt to step into our trailer after a full day at the park with dinner ready to go.  It was almost as good as maid service!  There are actually several RV parks in the area to choose from.  Those that are closest to the park are generally the older ones and have very small spaces for your RV. They typically are mostly pavement with very little or no grass in between spaces.  We have stayed at a few of them and find that most of the time we are not able to open up our awning because they are so small, which makes dinning outside not quite as comfortable.  In the Winter these places are just fine because we are not outside our RV much.  In the Summer it is nice to have a little bit more space around you and in order to get that we have had to find RV parks a little further out from the resort.  This website has a great list of RV parks in the area. 

6.  Free Meals: Who doesn’t love a free meal?  One of the things I always look for when booking a hotel is those that offer a free breakfast in the morning.  Many of the economy hotels in the area offer some sort of complimentary breakfast.   It can vary from just being fruit and Danishes to a full scale hot meal.  One of my favorite complimentary breakfasts is the one offered by Embassy Suites Anaheim North.  They serve omelets cooked to order along with bacon, sausage, and pancakes.  Their breakfast beats most sit down restaurants in the area and when you can find a good deal for this hotel using one of the many discount travel sites this can be a very good value.  One year when we were on the shuttle headed back to our hotel I overheard a gentlemen next to me talking about the free dinner the hotel he was staying at was serving that night.  I bravely interrupted the conversation to find out about this place.  It was the Homewood Suites by Hilton! Needles to say on our next visit we stayed here.  They do indeed offer a free dinner to guests Monday thru Thursday evenings.  What a great way to save money.  Not only do they offer dinner but they also have a full kitchen in their suites so you can cook your own dinner on the nights they don’t offer it.  Many of the hotels will offer Manager’s Specials two or three nights during the week that might include drinks, snacks, or even meals. 

7.  Dinning Options: The great thing about Disneyland Resort is that it is surround by the city of Anaheim and there is never food very far away.  However, it is good to consider what dinning options are near by and convenient for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner and at what types of price points.  Although I love to stay at the Disneyland Resort Hotels one of the draw backs I find is there are not enough quick service dinning places near by for breakfast.  Your nearest dinning options are on the Hotel property, Downtown Disney, or inside the park.  Since most of the restaurants in Downtown Disney aren’t open for breakfast my options are even more limited and the resort hotel doesn’t serve complimentary breakfast.  My preferred location for a hotel is somewhere on Harbor Blvd. most of the affordable dinning options are on that side of the Disneyland Resort property.  If I am staying within walking distance I will have a good choice of restaurants to choose from as I walk to the Main Gate each morning.   Another great thing to remember is that the Monorail is a short ride to Downtown Disney.  We have easily hopped on to it in Tomorrowland and got off in Downtown Disney for lunch and diner.  One of our favorite places to go is Earl Of Sandwich.  They are generally pretty quick very tasty and a good value.  Using the Monorail makes this a very easy place to eat.

 8.  Number Of People In Your Party: My family consist of four, my husband, myself and two children.  Generally we don’t have to think about the size of the hotel room we rent as long as we have two beds.  However, I realize that many families don’t come that size some are much larger and a room that only sleeps four is not going to cut it.  I found a great list for hotels near Disneyland that will accommodate families of all sizes and price ranges. 

9.  Staying Further Away From The Park: There have been many times where we decided to go to Disneyland at the last minute but only if we could scrape up enough loose change to do so, literally.  In order to make our change go further instead of staying close by and only being able to afford the equivalent of a one star motel we chose to Priceline our stay and ended up staying at a four star Sheraton about 10 miles away.  It was worth it to us to have a nicer room and give up staying so close by.  Sometimes the trade off of staying further out can be worth it if you are dealing with limited budget dollars like we were.

10. Traveling With A Car Or No Car: Most of the time we drive to Disneyland.  It’s about a six to seven hour drive for us and we like the convenience of having our car.  A couple of years ago we scored some great prices on plane tickets for us all to fly to Disneyland.  We were excited to experience the transportation from the Airport to the Resort in Disneyland.  We were very familiar with Walt Disney World’s complimentary transportation from the airport and around their parks and property.  We love how easy it is to get around once you land at the Orlando airport and step onto the shuttle to your hotel.  First of all unlike the Magical Express in WDW where they claim your bags for you and take them straight to your hotel we had to claim our own luggage and haul it to our bus stop.  The shuttle ride cost us about $60.00 per person round trip to travel from the airport to our hotel.  Which is about $240.00 more than ZERO dollars in WDW.   We also had to make a transfer at one of the hotel stops along the way to reach our destination.  We didn’t do a ton of research ahead of time to find the cheapest most efficient way to get from the airport to our hotel.  So, there may be some other alternatives out there.  For the rest of the trip we found we did not need our car and really didn’t miss having it. 

I hope this list gives you some things to think about and a better understanding of where you think your family will be most comfortable for your trip to Disneyland Resort.  For some other great tips in Disneyland Check out these links.

10 Ways To Avoid Long Lines At Disneyland Resort

10 Things To Know For A Better First Visit To Carsland

My Top Five Things To Experience At Disneyland Resort During The Christmas Season

Our Top Disney Treats

10 Ways To Avoid Long Lines at Disneyland Resort

Over the past 12 years we have visited Disneyland Resort approximately 35 times.  I know Crazy huh?  It just was such an easy place to take our kids when they were little we just kept going back.  So, needless to say we have our favorite tips that we have learned to make the most of our day and not spend it waiting in lines longer than necessary.
First take a peek at my tips for your first visit to the New CarsLand here.

1.   Make good use of your Extra Magic hours if you are staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel.  This is extra hour in the Park will be the least busy time of the day and will let you walk on to many rides especially in the Fantasyland area where as the day unfolds always gets extremely busy.
2. Get your Fastpasses early.  No matter how long the Standby Line is the Fastpass Line rarely gets longer than 30 minutes.  So on those rides with an hour and half wait the Fastpass is the way to go.  However in order to get your Fastpass for this ride it is best to go early.  Some of the newest rides such as Radiator Springs in CarsLand can run out of Fastpasses in as little as two hours after the park opens.  So, do not put off getting your Fastpasses for those main attractions.  Also, make sure to abide by the time on your ticket once your Fastpass window has expired they will not let you use your ticket. 
3. Fastpass Tip: When you get a Fastpass you can not get another Fastpass for at least two hours or until  your Fastpass time has expired whichever comes first.  However there are two rides in the Disneyland Resort Area that are not connected to the Fastpass grid.  In Disneyland it is “Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin” and in Disney California Adventure it is “Grizzly River Run”.  If you get a Fastpass for either of these rides you can still go and grab another ticket without any problems.
4. When getting Fastpasses for your party not everyone has to wait in line with you to get them.  Only one person needs to wait with all of the tickets for your party.  However, everyone in your party wanting a Fastpass must be inside the park. 
5. Use the Rider Switch Pass:  If you are with a child that is not tall enough to ride the attraction you can receive a Rider Switch Pass by asking the Cast Member at the ride entrance for a Switch Pass.  They will ask to see the child who is not tall enough to ride, the person waiting in with the child and the person waiting in the line.  When the first rider comes off the ride the person who waited then takes the Rider Switch Pass back to the Fastpass entrance to go through the line.  They are also allowed to take one other person with them.  When our kids were little we took full advantage of this. 
6. Another great way to make your Fastpasses go further is to combine them with the Rider Switch Pass since only one Fastpass is needed for the first person that waits in line you can use the other persons ticket to get a Fastpass on a different ride. 
7. Single Rider Line: If everyone in your party is old enough and comfortable enough with riding the attraction by themselves you can all stand in the Single Rider Line.  This line is generally no longer than the Fastpass line and you don’t need a special ticket to use it. 
8. The lines for the rides are the shortest in the morning and in the late evenings.  As the day unfolds the park will get very busy from about 10:00am to early evening.  A great idea is to get their early at rope drop and stay until early afternoon then go back to your hotel, swim, nap, eat, and wait to come back until after dinner and stay late.  This is the best way to save your sanity on those really busy days. 
9. Another idea to do as the park gets busier through out the day is to chose attractions that can allow you to sit down while you wait.  Such as, The Enchanted Tiki Room, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Hanging out in Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, The Animation Academy, Disney Jr. Live on Stage, Muppet Vision 3D.  These are just a few of the rides that will have the shortest waits and allow for some sit down time as well.
10. A great time to get in line for a ride is when there is a major event happening in the park such as the Firework show or Fantasmic, or the Parade.  These times will always be a little bit lighter as they generally draw huge crowds.  Another thing to consider is going off season. Off season time is late August through September, after Thanksgiving through the fist 2 weeks of December, Mid January through mid March.  This will be when the park is less crowded and going midweek will also bring down the crowds.  Not to mention save you money.

10 Things To Pack For Your Disney Alaskan Cruise

1.  Binoculars: Before our trip we found a great deal on Amazon for binoculars for the whole family.  We got them small enough to fit in a pocket and our kids loved whipping them out to view the wildlife up close.  From just getting a closer look at a glacier to spying bears, and eagles they enjoyed them.

2.  Telephoto Lens: Bring the best camera you’ve got and if you can get a telephoto lens for it bring that too.  You will absolutely want to take pictures of the amazing scenery in Alaska.  I’m just an armature photographer but the Alaskan exposure is great for taking pictures.  The overcast days keep out harsh light and the perfect combination of blues and greens in the mountains, ocean, and glaciers is stunning in pictures.  Take that telephoto lens so that you can get a close up picture of the things you see through your binoculars.

3.  Knit cap, scarves, and gloves: I had been to Alaska before in the summer and from what I remembered it was not all that cold.  When I was there they were having a heat wave and the weather was in the high 70’s and low 80’s. Perfect weather!  What I didn’t take into account was that on my previous trip I was mostly inland not near the ocean.  Out on the decks on a cold misty day you will want your knit cap and gloves. Here’s my account of our cold and misty day on deck.  As for your scarf, you should plan on wearing these as fashion accessories the weather will always be breezy enough to appreciate them. 

4.  Rain proof coat: As I stated I was not really expecting it to be very cold and was planning on only bringing a windbreaker.  Thankfully my husband talked a little sense into me and I brought a heavier jacket.  You don’t have to bring your parkas but certainly something heavier than a windbreaker could be nice to have on those unexpected rainy days.  And yes make sure it is water resistant. 

5.  Tennis Shoes: Comfortable shoes are a must.  And no, your flip flops and sandals won’t really work for Alaska, that’s another cruise.  Something water resistant and good for walking is what you need.  Keep those tootsies warm and dry, you and the little ones you travel with will be much happier.   

6.  Your Dining Attire: This was one of the best things about the Alaskan cruise.  The dining room was much more casual so bring a couple of outfits for the formal and semi formal evenings but the rest of the time your jeans and tennis shoes will be just fine.  No last minute rush to scramble and get ready for dinner after a day of sight seeing and excursions. 

7.  Swimsuits: The pools are heated on board and trust me your kids will swim.  On those at sea days even when you are using the warm fleece blankets provided for you on deck your kids will be in and out of the pool and the hot tubs.  And, if you are truly brave at heart you may just want to join them. 

8.  Cell Phone: Because when in Alaska you’re on American soil and if you have a smart phone it works.  When at the ports and on land in Alaska you are able to text home and access the internet using your phone.  It is great for sending photos back to your family and friends at home, or finding your way to a destination point at your port.  Being able to use our phones on a cruise was a first for us and we loved it.  Just remember to stow it away when out at sea and in Canada.

9.  Pirate costume: Don’t bring it!  Because pirates are not environmentally friendly.  While sailing up the inside passage you are in environmentally protected waters and so the ship has to follow specific rules in relation to noise on deck.  There are no movies played on the Tunnel Vision or outdoor deck parties including fireworks.  However, do be ready for some Pixar Party fun indoors in the main atrium.

10. Reservation for Palo: Unlike the Caribbean cruises when you are out at sea and there is really nothing but open sea to look at in Alaska you are surrounded by Mountains, glaciers, and wildlife.  A meal at  Palo with all of its windows will be extra special.  You can go in the morning for brunch one our favorite things to do or the evening for dinner since it won’t be dark till at least 11:00 you can still enjoy the views.

Bonus Tip:  While on the ship you really won’t be bothered with mosquitoes you may still want to bring some insect repellant for those wilderness adventures you will be going on while at your Ports of Call.

Now be sure to check out my other articles on 10 Things To Pack For A Better Cruise and my biggest tip for the Tracy Arm Fjord day at sea. 

Other Disney Alaskan Cruise related articles: Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan

 

10 Things To Know For A Better First Visit To CarsLand

We couldn't wait for our first trip to see the new CarsLand in Disney California Adventure.  Even though we had traveled all day and were wiped out the first thing we did after check-in was head straight for the park to check it out.  Our first impression left us feeling like we had walked right into the movie. Once there we excitedly went directly to the Radiator Springs Racers ride and found that the line was 3 hours long for standby, and the fast passes were all gone for the day. So, we bit the bullet and got in line.  We waited and, waited and, waited.  In order to pass the time we played word games and checked out the new decor in the queue line which isn't all that exciting. We also said that the next day we would have a better plan for getting on this ride. Here are the things you need to know to make sure you don't have to wait in the standby line if you don't want to.

1. Radiator Springs Racers: This ride is awesome and, anyone over 40 inches can ride. There are a couple of options if you don't want to wait in the standby line. The easiest option is to wait in the Single Rider line. This line is generally about the same wait time as the Fast Pass line. The ride sits 3 passengers to the front seat and 3 passengers in the backseat. This leaves a lot of open seats for them to fill with single riders.  My kids were 8 & 11 at the time, plenty old enough for them to sit by themselves and enjoy the ride. You still wait together as a party in the line and only get separated at the platform. In many cases you may even end up in the same vehicle. We did this option several times and think it is the best way to ride with out a Fast Pass. Your next option is the Fast Pass. These require some real planning to get because they run out of them quickly. To ensure that you get a Fast Pass it is best to get to the park when it opens so that you can go directly to the Fast Pass line. If you were fortunate enough to get an Extra Magic Hour in California Adventure with your hotel package this would be a great way to get to the very front of line.  I’ve written more about the benefits of booking a package with Extra Magic hours in my article on Choosing The Right Place to Stay in Disneyland Resort. The Fast Passes are distributed at the front of Bugsland and the line will wrap back to the front and down Buena Vista Street. Don't be intimidated by the length of the line, as long as you are there by the opening of the park you will get a Fast Pass. Only one person has to wait in the line to get the passes but, in order to get a Fast Pass for every person in your party they must be inside the park.  Here’s more information on How to Avoid Long Lines in Disneyland Resort

2. Luigi's Flying Tires: As you enter Casa Della Tires you see the display of European tires and hear the voice of Luigi in the background. The ride is surprisingly enjoyable as you use your body by leaning and shifting your weight to direct the tire. Watch out for others as you bump and and get bumped on the Air pressured platform. Disney fans may recognize this attraction as a remake of the old Flying Saucer Ride from the early sixties.

3. Mater's Junk Yard Jamboree: This is along the lines of a tilt a whirl or tea cup ride so avoid this if you don't particularly care for those type of rides.  If you are familiar with any of Mater's Tall Tales episodes you may spot some items in the queue line from these stories. A bit of trivia is that Larry The Cable Guy recorded the original sets of music for the ride along with the background musicians Billy Hill and The Hillbillies from Disneyland's Frontierland fame. Listen for the blooper reel that was created from outtakes during the recording session.

4. Sally's Cozy Cone: Sally has transformed her iconic motel into a snack shack for the new CarsLand. You can get treats like Pop - Cone, Ice Cream Cone, Chili-Cone-Queso. It is also the spot where you can meet your favorite Cars Characters such as Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, and Sally.
 


5. Receive a free Cars pin: At Ramone's House Of Body Art (the souvenir shop) you can receive a free Cars pin by answering a trivia question about the Cars Pixar Movies. Just approach a Cast Member and ask about the pin, they will gladly give you a question to answer.
 

6. Check out the Neon: One of the special Disney touches is when dusk rolls around and the neon lights begin to light up. Station yourself along Route 66 and watch them come on one by one with the background music "Life Could Be A Dream" from the scene in Cars where they cruise the newly paved strip with the neon lit up. Only Disney can integrate a movie/theme park experience so well.

8. Flo's V8 Cafe: Our family enjoyed this restaurant for breakfast one morning. They served a classic diner inspired breakfast with eggs, bacon, and potatoes. Although it is a quick service establishment it does serve meals with dishes and silverware giving it a much nicer feel. There is seating both inside and out and has some of the best viewing of Radiator Springs Racers while you dine. On the inside you will find the walls decorated with memorabilia of Floe's life as a singer back in the day.
 

7. Read the road signs in front of the Radiator Springs Race Track: The signs are styled after the old Burma Shaving Cream adds from the fifties and have a message to read both coming and going from the area. This part of the park is generally less crowded too, which makes it a nice break from the crowds.

9. Fillmore's Taste -in: This snack vender sells items to keep you refueled. From chips and soda to fresh fruit and water. We also found it quite fun to walk around Fillmore's psychedelic dome and let the kids pose for pictures with the different hippie background decor.

10. Shortcuts in and out of the area: Finally, as much traffic as this land gets you're gonna want to know how to get around more easily. There are two back entrances into the CarsLand area. One connects you with Bugsland and then Buena Vista Street through a shortcut located by Hollywood Tower Hotel. This is the quickest way get to CarsLand from the park's entrance. The other shortcut connects you to the food court in the Pacific Warf area by way of the path that travels past the front of the Radiator Springs race track. This is generally a less crowded path and much easier to navigate.  As you travel through these areas to get in out of CarsLand make sure you try some of our Top Disney Treats. Such as the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Trolley Treats on Buena Vista Street.  If your lucky enough to go during the Christmas Season check our Top 5 Things To Experience At Disneyland During The Christmas Season.  Have a wonderful first visit to CarsLand.

10 Things To Pack For A Better Cruise

Recently a friend asked me for some advice on what to pack for her upcoming cruise. Here are a few things that are good to pack for any cruise on any cruise line. 

1. Water bottles: They are great for your excursions. You can fill then up with water from the sink in your cabin and save a bundle instead of purchasing bottled water.  I love the collapsible ones that you can pack easily such as these.

2. Snacks: Although on most ships food is plentiful it is not the case while on excursions. Those of you who are moms realize that young children should never be to far away from a snack.  They can save you from a major meltdown.  At the breakfast buffet make sure to grab a couple pieces of extra fruit to take with you. Also, pack your own snacks. Fruit rollups, and nuts are easy snacks to make room for. It is said although, I have never done it you can also call room service and have them make you some sandwiches to take with you.  Most cruise lines will let you bring on your own bottled water or sodas, some may even let you bring on your own alcohol.

3. Soft sided cooler: Once again, great for excursions.  Pack your picnic and your water bottles for the day and head out to your port destination.  You will have everything you need to keep everyone happy. Here’s another great article on how to choose the right port excursions for your family.

4. Over the door shoe organizer: Perfect for hanging over the bathroom door in your cabin. You can store hair accessories, sunscreen, cameras, ties, socks, all sorts of small items.  It helps for a quick clean up of your room when trying to tidy up before they come in to turn your beds down.  You can read more about fun things to do with the doors to your cabin here
 
5. An extra luggage tote: There is no weight limit for luggage on the cruise ships or a maximum number of bags you can take. My friend decided that if she packed an extra bag in her suitcase once off the plane the night before she boards the ship she would make a run to the market for her extra snack purchases.  It may also come in handy for those priceless treasures you end up purchasing at your ports of call.  Another way to make the most of your luggage space is by utilizing packing cubes.  I wrote more about my experience using them here.

6. Carry on bag: The day you board the ship you will not have access to your luggage for a few hours.  We always carry our swimsuits and sunscreen in our carry on with us so we can head straight for the pool.  Get started now by taking a virtual ride on the Aquaduck aboard the Disney Dream

7. Clothes steamer: Since irons are not allowed in the staterooms it is much more convenient to bring a steamer.  Most ships have irons in the laundry area but I have not found them to be very accessible. 

8. Laundry bag:  Packing light is a necessity these days with so many restrictions on luggage.  So, plan to do laundry half way through your trip and make sure you bring a laundry bag with you.  It makes it much easier to tote to and from the laundry area.  We always bring a pop up hamper with us.  It fits in the closet and gives us a place to put our dirty clothes.

9. Plastic bags for wet suits or clothes: My kids want to enjoy every last minute they can in the pools since we don’t have one at home.  Having a plastic bag to store wet suits in my suit case or carry on gives them the opportunity to swim till the very end. 

10. Power strip or multiple outlet plugin:  Outlets are scarce in the rooms and now-a-days with all of our techno gadgets that constantly need to be recharged having one of these will make it much easier.  We have recently learned that Disney Cruise Line will now confiscate power strips.  You can request an approved power strip from Guest Services.  You may (not positive) be able to bring in a single plug-in that has multiple outlets.  As long as there is no additional cord.  Update March 2014

Bonus Tip: If you have young children and are going on a Disney Cruise be sure to bring your own white pillow cases and some permanent markers.  You can drop these off at Guest Services when you board and they will return them to you at the end of your cruise with the Character’s autographs for free!  Here’s some more free souvenir ideas for your Disney Cruise

So You've Booked Your Cruise Now What

Choosing The Right Port Excursions For Your Family

10 Things to Pack for Your Disney Alaskan Cruise

My Top Five Things To Experience At Disneyland Resort During The Christmas Season

I recently read an article about someone else’s Top 5 Things to do during Christmas at WDW.  Well, it got me to thinking.  There is no way I’m making it to WDW this year but what are the top 5 things I want to make sure I do at Disneyland this year and would recommend to others to do as well.

1. Ride Haunted Mansion Holiday.  If it were up to my son (and sometimes it is) we would ride this attraction over and over again.  If he were to ride it with you he would be able to tell you how tall the real gingerbread house on the center of the table is (9ft according to my source).  it is the only time of year that you will see the secret library revealed for the holidays.  Be sure to look for the vampire teddy bears and see if you can find all of 7 of them. 


2. Watch the nightly lighting of “It’s A Small World”.  This is absolutely breathtaking and should not be missed and may I add that you will not find this in WDW folks.   The magic of Disney and Christmas meet with pure delight here. Be sure to step on board for you cruise around the world and see how the inside of this attraction is transformed at Christmas time.  The tune is replaced by “Jingle Bells” and the halls are adorned with Christmas decorations. 

3. Meet and greet with Santa and his Reindeer at Big Thunder Ranch.  This little area of the park is fully used during the holidays.  You can decorate cookies, make crafts, feed the reindeer and tell Santa exactly what you want for Christmas.  It is a beautiful photo opportunity and has proudly been on our Christmas Card Picture in the past. 

4. Experience the snow on Main Street and over in the “It’s a Small World” area.   Yes, it really is a White Christmas in Disneyland.  Every evening after the fireworks Mickey magically provides some enchanted snow to the “Happiest place on earth”.  It is a great end to a great day.

5. These are the things we really want to experience but have not yet had the opportunity:

• Candlelight processional.  Although this has been a long tradition at Disneyland for the first time they have opened this event up to the general public.  You can view the processional along Main Street.  Though out the season different Celebrities will take turns giving the narrative to the nativity.  You can check the calendar out for the dates and details of who and when.
• Candy Cane making.   During the Season the Candy Palace on Main Street makes home-made candy canes.  if you check out the calendar you can make sure to have a spot by the window and view when they are making them otherwise you may buy them but be warned they go quick and customers are only allowed to purchase two at a time.  Make sure you are at the Candy Palace right after opening to get your ticket for purchasing the candy canes and the viewing times.
• Carsland Christmas Decorations.  Since this is the first year.  I don’t have much information on them.  However, we do know that Disney has putt a lot of effort into the decoration and started making preparations for them way back in October.

Bonus Round:  I couldn’t end this article without mentioning the Christmas Parade and the Holiday Firework Show.  Both are always fun to enjoy and if you have more than enough time for everything don’t miss out on these two.  Finally enjoy the spectacular decorations in every land my son recommends ToonTown and truly it is one of the times of year that it looks especially good. 

Merry Christmas


10 Things To Know For A Better First Trip To Carsland

10 Things To Pack For A Better Cruise

10 Ways To Plan For A Better Walt Disney World Trip

10 Ways to Plan For a Better Walt Disney World Trip

 

 

 

 

If you are planning or thinking about an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World here are some favorite tips to help your trip be more enjoyable and stress free.  You may also want to check out my article on what to pack for your trip here.

1. Magical express: Disney offers free transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport when you are staying in one of their hotels. This services includes free baggage pick up and delivery. Once you check your bags at your home airport you won't see them again until you check into your resort. Most luggage arrives within 2-3 hours of your check-in so pack your necessities in your carry on such as swimsuits and sunscreen and any medications.
   
2. Orlando stroller rental: Here is a tip that I wish I had known about on my first trip to WDW. This company will have a stroller waiting for you upon check-in at your resort and when your trip is over just leave it with your hotel baggage claim and they will pick it up there. I’ve written more about this great service here.
   
3. Advanced dining reservations: this was something we did do right on our first trip. We took the time to plan out what days we were going to be in what parks then looked at the dining choices. For full service restaurants reservations are recommended. With small children it is the difference of waiting 5-10 minutes for your table vs. 45-60 minutes for walk-ins. Disney offers some of the best dining experiences from character dining to, dinner shows, themed dining and even fine dining.  For all of these reservations are recommended.  I really delve into this topic more in this article “Do I Really Have To Make Reservations”"?” Another question that is asked a lot is “Should I Buy The Dining Plan?”  and then Utilizing Your Dining Plan.
   
4. Park Hopper Tickets: Unless you are a frequent visitor to the Walt Disney World Parks the park hopper tickets are not really necessary. With careful planning you won't need them at all. Disney World is very big and although Disney provides excellent transportation it can easily take you up to an hour to get from one park to another. Plan your day so that you are maximizing your time in each park. I’ve written more about Park Hopper Tickets in this article Planning Your Vacation For Success Part 2
   
5. Water Parks: Disney has two outstanding water parks. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. The cost to add these onto your Disney World package is very minimal. However, if you only have one day to go the water parks then it is more affordable to buy them separately from your package. These water parks are fun for the whole family however many of the slides do have a height requirement so you may want to view their websites to determine if this will suit your family.
   
6. Extra Magic Hours: These come with pros and cons. You decide.
   
   • Pros: During the Extra Magic hour only guest staying at the Disney Resorts are allowed in so the crowds are smaller for these times. It also means that you have a longer day in the park sometimes up to 3 hours.
     
   • Cons: Although your actual Magic Hours can be smaller crowds the argument is said that overall throughout the day those parks are busier and have more crowds.
     
7. Package Delivery: guest services provides complimentary package delivery to your resort. While paying for your item in the park ask to have it delivered to your resort. It usually takes about 24 hours to be delivered so keep your departure date in mind.  Also, you can have larger bulky items shipped to your home for a fee.
   
8. Think outside the parks: Disney World could be a wonderful vacation location even if you never stepped foot inside a theme park.  There are dinner shows, special events, and experiences all through out the Disney Resort Property.  There is a Richard Petty Driving Experience, fishing, world class golfing, scuba diving, and segue tours just to name a few.  Special events such as Haunted Hey Rides at Fort Wilderness during the Halloween season, and Holiday Sleigh Rides during the Christmas season.  Even Atlanta Braves Spring Training opportunities. One of the events our family enjoys is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
   
9. Check out Disney’s special offers: Since we like to take our vacations during the slow season we also know that we are already saving on our hotel cost but before we book our trip we check to see if there are additional discounts being offered.  A good deal may decide when we take our vacation. Here’s the big tip though even after we have booked we continually check back on the website to see if new offers have sprung up.  By doing this we have saved big on deals such as free dining plans or extra days on park tickets.   Another way we save money is to use our Disney visa and earn Disney Reward Dollars.  You can use these to pay for anything Disney related on your vacation. Here’s how to Save 5% On Your Next Disney Vacation 
   
10. Disney’s Fast Pass: On Disney’s biggest and most popular attractions they offer a Fast Pass.  It allows you to come back during a one hour time slot later in the day for this ride and stand in the much shorter line.  The catch is that you can only have one outstanding fast pass at a time. The Fast Passes are undergoing a change at WDW they now how the Fast Pass+ system and I’ve written about our experience with the new system in my article on Disney’s Next Generation Theme Park Experience.  Your Fast Pass+ will now include even your dining reservations.  All of your Fast Pass Plus options will be embedded into your Disney Magic Band check my article on our first time with using them. There are still some great tricks to know such as the Rider Switch Pass. When you have children that don’t meet the height requirement this pass works like a fast pass for the person who has been waiting with the small children for their other party at the exit.  The person who waited with the children can enter the Fast Pass line instead of the stand by line.  Maximize your Fast Passes with these rides by only getting one Fast Pass for the person who stands in line first.  This will allow you to have two outstanding Fast Pass Rides at a time.  Now with the Fast Pass+ system this will require some careful planning ahead of time to make the most of your Fast Passes.