Disneyland California has just opened its newest themed area: Avengers Campus. The Avengers Campus is in Disney’s California Adventure. This new area features all your favorite Super Heroes–Spiderman, Ironman, Black Panther, Captain American and so many more!
In order to enjoy the Avengers Campus you must have a park ticket and a park reservation for Disney’s California Adventure that day. If the capacity of the Avengers Campus fills up then guests will have to either wait in the standby queue to be allowed in or use the virtual queue for WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. You can explore the Advengers Campus after riding the ride.
The Rides at the Avengers Campus
The main rides currently are:
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!–Guardians of the Galaxy has been open for a while and is similar to Tower of Terror at Disney World.
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure–This is brand new! Whoop Whoop! Help Spider-Man control the hordes of rogue Spider Bots. You will have to join the Virtual queue through the Disneyland Mobile App in order to ride this ride.
The Heroes at the Avengers Campus
During your time in the Avengers Campus you might encounter Super Heroes such as Black Panther, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, and others who haven’t been seen before. Spider-Man might astound you with his daring tricks from high above as he goes to save the world.
The Food at the Avengers Campus
What is a trip to Disney without great food and snacks? Boring! But where to eat?
PYM Test Kitchen–(featuring Impossible Foods) The Calculated Breakfast = E x 2 + (B+P)/T, Atomic Fusion Pretzel or the Pym-ini Sandwich is sure to keep you going through the day.
Shawarma Palace–This cart serves up a New York’s Tastiest chicken shawarma wrap and Impossible Victory Falafel.
Terran Treats–The go-to place for out-of-this-world churros and decadent desserts.
PYM Tasting Lab–An innovative beverage laboratory that can keep you glowing for the rest of the day from the glowing PYM particles added to your drink.
Mobile Order is highly recommended at Pym Test Kitchen featuring IMPOSSIBLETM, Pym Tasting Lab and Shawarma Palace. Note: You must have admission into the Advengers Campus in order to pick up food orders.
The Super Gear at the Avengers Campus
Picture from Disney Parks Blog
A couple of stores in the Avengers Campus, WEB Suppliers and Avengers Campus Supply Pod, have all you need to become your own Super Hero. You will even have the opportunity to get your own Web-Slinger just like Spiderman. Be careful or a Spider Bot might hitch a ride home with you.
If you are thinking about taking a trip to Disneyland please contact me. I would love to help you plan a trip you will never forget!
In 2019, Star Wars and Disney theme park enthusiasts around the world rejoiced when the much anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened first at Disneyland Resort and then in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. Whether you know everything about Star Wars or have never watched the movies before, there’s something for everyone to love at this fantastic new addition to the theme parks. Today I’m going to share with you my favorite things about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge which you simply must experience as part of your next visit to Disneyland or Hollywood Studios at Disney World.
Theming
If you enjoyed the immersive environment that Disney created with Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you’re going to love Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. On every step you take through this area, you’ll notice small details that show you just how much effort was put into this land by Disney’s Imagineers. Even if you aren’t planning to do any shopping, take some time to walk around the Black Spire Outpost Shops, which have so many hidden details and unique merchandise offerings. Even the cast members in this area don’t have the same name tags and costumes as anywhere else in the park, so you’ll be fully immersed in the land during your visit. Even the visit to the restroom is an experience not to be missed.
Character Interactions
Have your camera ready at all times in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, as you never know when a Stormtrooper or one of the Star Wars characters might come strolling through. Both on the ground and above you on stages and buildings, expect to see characters throughout your time in the land. Galaxy’s Edge is a dream come true for any Star Wars fan in your family, so you’ll probably have to drag them out of this area if you want to see anything else in the park!
Life-Size Ships
The most jaw-dropping moment for me during my first visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was seeing the Millennium Falcon up close for the first time. The sheer scale of this ship is unbelievable, and it’s the perfect photo opportunity. Acting as the entrance to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction, you’ll appreciate the structure even more when you enter the queue. This is an interactive attraction that allows you and your family to drive the Millennium Falcon, which is a dream come true for many Star Wars fans. Also, make sure you get a fun family photo in front of the X-Wing that’s parked within the land. Wherever you turn, you’ll see incredible vehicles and artifacts that take you straight into the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
While getting a boarding pass for this ride certainly has its challenges, it’s well worth it once you board the ride. While I won’t spoil this experience for you, the ride itself features many different elements and vehicles that make it like nothing you’ve ever experienced at Walt Disney World before. Even if your family aren’t big Star Wars fans, they’ll think this is one of the best rides they’ve ever experienced. I promise you, it’s worth the early morning wake-up call to secure your boarding pass!
Unique Food and Drink Offerings
One of my favorite things about visiting Walt Disney World, in general, are their unique food and drink offerings. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge offers menu items that have never been seen before at Walt Disney World, most of which were designed specifically for this land. One of my favorite experiences for adults is a visit to Oga’s Cantina, an interactive bar with a wacky menu of cocktails. More details to come about this fun experience at a later date.
For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, eat at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, and if you need a quick afternoon pick me up, enjoy a bag of popcorn at Kat Saka’s Kettle. Ronto Roasters has become very popular for their sausage and pork wraps which can be purchased at any time of the day, and don’t miss your chance to try blue or green milk at The Milk Stand. You’ll want to return to this land a few times during your trip to give you a chance to try all the unique snacks and drinks on offer here
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is one of my favorite recent additions to Walt Disney World, and I’m super excited for the upcoming Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel, which will be a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience for Star Wars fans.
Do you have a favorite part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Let me know in the comments below!
Are you planning your next trip to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World? If you need any assistance with your trip planning or resort reservations, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Happy travels to you…until we meet again!
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The Baby Care Center at Disneyland saved our bacon on one of our trips. We had forgotten sunscreen and our very pale Alaskan children would have burnt to a crisp. We headed to the Baby Care Center and sure enough, they had the perfect sunscreen that lasted us our whole trip.
What are Disney Baby Care Centers
Each Disney Park has a Baby Care Center to serve their guests. In the Disney Baby Care Centers, you are met by kind, compassionate Cast Members ready to help as best they can. The Baby Care Center include the following services:
Private nursing room with rocking chairs
Changing room with tables and a women’s restroom
Feeding area with highchairs
Kitchen with microwave and sink
Main room with television, table and seating
On-site shop offering formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, over-the-counter medications and clothing for purchase
Who can visit a Disney Baby Care Center
The Disney Baby Care Centers are open to people of all ages. It is a great place to take your young children when they just need a moment away from all the action. This facility is a quiet, peaceful area. If you have a toddler, preschooler, or older child who is on the verge of a meltdown you might want to head here. A couple of minutes sitting reading a book, quietly eating a snack, or watching a movie might be just what they need to recharge.
As an adult, even I have appreciated walking in to this area just for a couple of minutes to reorient my mind and body. Some of them have a couple of chairs at the entrance for an adult to rest for a short time. Adults without children have to make their visit relatively quick unless its a slow day.
Be aware–once in a while there is another child who is having a hard time and so it might not be completely quiet.
Where are the Baby Care Centers
This blog is mainly going to focus on Disney World because I don’t have photos of the ones at Disneyland. But, both Disneyland and California Adventure have these services and the features at Disneyland are very similar to those at Disney World.
Disneyland: The Baby Care Center is at the end of Main Street closest to the castle. Go back behind the Main Stree Photo Company (the last building on the right) toward the Plaza Inn and you will find the door.
California Adventure: At California Adventure the Baby Care Center is more toward the back of the park. It is inbetween the Pacific Wharf and Cars Land right next to the Ghiradelli Ice Cream Shop.
Magic Kingdom
You will find the Magic Kingdom Baby Care Center at the end to the path in between Casey’s Corner and the Crystal Palace Restaurant. If you are on Main Street looking at the Castle, Casey’s Corner is the last building on the left.
Epcot
At Epcot the Baby Care Center is located more in the middle of the park. The Baby Care Center is in the same building as the Epcot Experience. If you are near Test Track you can take the bridge (toward the Mexico Pavillion) across the water to the building. If you are walking from Mexico toward the main bridge to Future World the building is on the right .
Hollywood Studios
The Baby Care Center at Hollywood Studios is probably the smallest of the bunch. This center is right at the front of the park. Just after you enter it will be on your left hand side. It is a little less convenient because you have to go through Guest Relations to get in.
Animal Kingdom
The Baby Care Center at Animal Kingdom is a little farther into the park on Discovery Island. After entering the park head toward Discovery Island (go toward the Tree of Life). Once you get there you will head to the left toward Pandora and Africa. Pass the trail to Pandora and the Baby Care Center will be down a little path in the building between Creature Comforts and the Disney Vacation Club Booth.
I think that this was my favorite of all the Baby Care Centers. It was spacious, well-stocked, and had the most calming atmosphere. There was also an awesome cast member here to help guests.
You also might be interested in this great resource:
Christmastime is my absolute favorite time to visit Disney. I love walking down Main Street under the lights and holly garlands. All the special touches drag you into the holiday spirit whether you want it to or not and you just want to sing right along with all the Christmas music.
A Disneyland Resort Guide to Holiday Decorations
The Disneyland Christmas makeover starts at the beginning of November. Main Street comes alive with lights, holiday garland and decorations all leading each guest to the enormous, gorgeous and towering Christmas Tree. Cinderella’s Castle shimmers and shines with lights. Head back to Fantasyland where the It’s a Small World Every facade is covered in 50,000 lights and special video projections for and amazing transformation. Each and every land joins in the holiday fun!
What about California Adventure? How do they join in the festivities? Bring back nostalgia from times gone by with the beautiful vintage holiday decorations up and down Buena Vista Street. Feel dwarfed and inspired by the 50 ft. Christmas tree. Wander through Paradise Pier, Grizzly Peak and other lands immersing yourself in holiday cheer. And don’t miss Cars Land, where the residents of Radiator Springs have decked the streets in seasonal a-tire. Two not to miss attractions: Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree.
Of course Downtown Disney and the resorts are not to be outdone. Find your holiday home-away-from-home festooned with frosty flair. The Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa welcome Guests with splendiferous displays that send spirits soaring. Each Disneyland Resort hotel features a unique holiday tree decorated with whimsical flourishes, traditional trimmings and dashes of pure Disney magic.
When can you see the decorations?
The decorations go up the first week of November and come down the first week of January.
A Disneyland Guide to Special Holiday Events and Activities?
Disneyland
A Christmas Fantasy Parade— With prancing reindeer, marching toy soldiers, dancing gingerbread cookies and more, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Disneyland Park! Wave to all your Disney friends as they pass by on fantastic holiday floats.
“Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular— Feel your spirit soar during this splendid pyrotechnical spectacle. As the sky overhead lights up with dazzling color, more than 80,000 twinkling lights illuminate Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle with sparkling “icicles” and shimmering snow-capped turrets.
“it’s a small world” Holiday–This classic attraction dresses up for Christmas. The holiday dolls sing medleys of holiday music as well as the classic song. Outside each evening, every 30 minutes, thousands of lights come alive as well as video projections to bathe the exterior in colorful lights and images.
Haunted Mansion Holiday–The ghosts and ghouls are in festive holiday spirit and want to wish you a merry macabre holiday. Enjoy the spooky mansion inspired by Tim Burton’s Nightmare before Christmas.
“Holiday Time at Disneyland Resort” Guided Tour–This 2 1/2 hour guided tour will share favorite Disneyland holiday traditions from around the world. You will also enjoy reserved seating for the Christmas Fantasy Parade, delicious holiday treats, a collectible pin and more. Cost: $99 (theme park admission also required)
Meet Santa and his elves at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Buena Vista Street Holiday Tree Lighting— Watch in wonder as the tree twinkles to life with a kaleidoscope of colored lights, hundreds of whimsical ornaments and swags of gleaming garland.
A Disneyland Resort Guide to Holiday Crowds?
This is a very busy time but all the special additions make it worth the extra crowds.
The busiest times are when schools are on vacation–the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas Break.
If you want to try to experience the parks with a little fewer people your best bet is the first few weeks of November and December. Weekends will be quite busy but Tuesdays-Thursdays might be a little less crowded.
How do I handle the crowds?
The best way to enjoy the holidays at Disneyland is to be prepared. Have a plan! Touring Plans is a great place to help plan your day.
Here are some other things to keep in mind:
Expect lots and lots of people and lots and lots of waiting!
Stay in the park on the busiest days (definitely Christmas and New Year’s Day). They often reach capacity and if you leave you won’t be able to go back.
Know what are your must do’s (keep the list short) and what can wait until another trip.
Purchase tickets before arrival. Ticket lines get very long.
Get to the park early (30 min-1 hour before opening)! Maximize your time while others are sleeping.
Get your FastPass for World of Color-Seasons of Light early in the day.
MAXPASS!! Make sure app is downloaded before your vacation so you are ready to roll right as you walk through the gate.
Stake out your spot for the Parade and Fireworks VERY early if you want a good spot.
Focus on entertainment and activities as well as rides.
Be patient! Everyone around you also desires a magical holiday.
I hope that you found this information helpful for your Disneyland vacation planning. Remember, even though November and December are very busy with lots of people you can still have a memorable and magical vacation!
The Imagineers at Disneyland are continually striving to create a better, more exciting experience for all guests. They have dreamed up and executed some really amazing attractions. But that comes at a cost. Some rides are updated to a new theme (such as change from California Screamin’ to the Incredicoaster). Other attractions close permanently at Disneyland to make room for the new.
Paradise Pier
Why do you need to know this?
To avoid major disappointment! Has it been a while since you have been to Disneyland? Did you have a favorite ride? In my opinion it is best to be mentally prepared for not being able to experience something you remember fondly from the past. On our trip this past March I was ready for the fact that California Adventure would look very different than it did in 2001. Adjusting to all the changes would have been a bit difficult for me if I hadn’t been prepared. I thought the changes were great! The re-imagined Incredicoaster was awesome!
When you read the words “Disney Vacation” does your mind immediately go to Disneyland and Disney World? Are you thinking “I didn’t know there were different types of Disney vacations.” Disney is SO MUCH MORE than just those two theme parks!
This post is going to introduce you to all the different vacation options offered by Disney. In later posts I will explain each adventure further. Let’s begin to explore the different kinds of Disney Vacations!
Disneyland is located in Anaheim, CA. This park feels like it is nestled right in the heart of the city. It is a magical haven in the midst of all the hustle and bustle. It consists of Disneyland, California Adventure, and Downtown Disney. Guest can stay in one of three beautifully themed Disney resort hotels or in one of the many hotels nearby.
Disney World is located in Orlando, Fl. Driving into Disney World is completely different than it’s California counterpart. As you follow signs to the desired location you feel like you are driving through the countryside. The peaceful drive prepares you for the excitement of your destination ahead.
Disney World consist of four theme parks–Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. There are two water parks–Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach. Disney World boast more than 25 resorts with a nice mix of Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Villas. On top of the Disney resorts there are also quite a few others on the property. There is Disney Springs which is a place to eat and shop. Also on the 47 square miles of Disney World property are mini-golf courses, a golf course and many, many, many other things.
The Disney Cruise fleet includes 4 gorgeous ships–the Magic, Wonder, Fantasy, and Dream–which are reminiscent of the past with modern amenities. Itineraries can be booked from 2-12 nights. Cruisers can experience locations all around the world–Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, the West Coast, Hawaii and more. Just about anywhere you want to cruise Disney can take you.
Disney Cruises are incredibly family friendly with some of the longest kids activity hours on the seas. But, they have many activities designed specifically for the adult passengers. There is fun and relaxation for all ages!
Plus, on these cruises you will experience the magic, customer service, and attention to details that makes Disney top in its class.
Adventures by Disney takes families on tours around the world. They have tour itineraries on 6 of 7 continents. These tours create once-in-a-lifetime experiences that prove all vacations are not created equal. Your two Adventure Guides are there to immerse you in the locations and attend to every detail of your vacation. Local guides provide expertise along the way.
Adventures by Disney can take you all through Europe, Australia, China, Japan, Costa Rica, Peru, Southeast Asia, Alaska (Woohoo!) and many other destinations. This different type of disney vacation is definitely a dream trip!
This spectacular resort is located on the island of Oahu in Ko Olina. It sits on a beautiful, calm cove that is perfect for families. In this resort Disney has worked hard to immerse guests in the culture of the Islands. As all Disney resorts, this one has everything for a perfect vacation–well appointed rooms and villas, multiple restaurant and snack options, spectacular landscaping, engaging kids and adults activities, and immense pool area with multiple pools (family, kids, and adults-only) and a winding lazy river.
This relaxing resort sits on the shores of South Carolina. It’s 1940’s style encourages guests to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. There are rooms to fit all sizes of families and many activites to entertain as well as 12 miles of beach.
Disney’s Vero Beach
Frolic on the beaches of Florida at this elegant, old-fashioned resort. Spacious rooms provide the comforts of home just steps away from the ocean. Many activities are planned for guests of all ages.
Own a piece of Disney through the Disney Vacation Club. Many resorts in Disney World have Vacation Club Villas for the most avid Disney fans to own.
Worldwide Disney Parks
Disney has four parks around the world. They each have their own flair and incorporate the culture of the countries they call home. But, they also stay true to the Disney that we all know and love.
As you can see there are so many different types of Disney Vacation options. It can overwhelming to decide which is the best choice. If this is you, please contact me! I would love to help you plan a vacation to remember.
If you know exactly what you want and where you want to go I can still help! The awesome thing is that using my services doesn’t cost you anything. You pay the same price as you would directly to Disney. When you book through me, Disney pays me the commission that they would have just kept for themselves.
So, contact me today to start planning memories for the future!
Happy travels to you…until we meet again!
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For our family of 9 food is a major expense. We are always on the lookout for ways to save on this budget category, especially on vacation. This post will cover different ways to save money on food at Disneyland and California Adventure.
I want to start with this disclaimer: We are not foodies! Yes, we like good, basic, yummy food but we are not going to be looking for anything gourmet. This makes it a little easier for us to use these tips. On one of our vacations to Disney we ate almost all our meals in the park. By the time we left, we all agreed that we would rather bring more lunches. On the last few days we were tired of park food and spending a lot of money for food we didn’t just love. Because we had one member of our party who wasn’t very adventurous with food, we ate at mostly similar places which most likely diminished our Disney food experience.
So, on to the tips…
1) Costco/Grocery Store
This is our main method of saving. On our trip last month we went to Costco for supplies for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Since we we stayed in a house through Airbnb we had a full kitchen to store everything. We stopped at the grocery store for a few items that we didn’t want Costco sizes of such as peanut butter. The other place we went was Trader Joe’s. We don’t have one in AK and we LOVE the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. These made great snacks in the parks.
But what if you are in a hotel? Each of the Disneyland Hotels has a mini-fridge and coffee maker in the room. This will be perfect for breakfast necessities and snacks. Many of the near-by hotels will also have these items but you will want to check and make sure. If staying off-site many have free breakfast included.
HOT TIP: We love to bring string cheese, yogurt, cut veggies and drinks into the park. We always travel with a couple insulated lunch boxes. If we have access to a freezer we also bring ice packs. If not, we will bring plastic baggies and fill them with ice from the hotel ice machines.
2) Bring Snacks from Home
If you don’t want to worry about stopping at the grocery store you can always bring stuff with you. The average snack at Disneyland is around $6. Even if you bring snacks for just a couple of days it will save you money. Bringing food is easy peasy for those you able to drive. But, if you are going to fly I have two options for you.
1) Take a snack box as luggage. Bringing a box of snacks (and possibly lunch items) even with baggage costs will save money. You can bring a lot of snacks in a box for the $25-35 baggage fee.
2) Use snacks a filler in luggage. Granola bars, fruit snacks and strips, baggies of trail mix, and applesauce pouches (these probably should be in a baggie in case of explosion) work great to fill in the nooks and crannies.
3) Order from Amazon Pantry
Mindy at Mommy Mouse Clubhouse has a great post on this. I think the prices on Amazon are a little higher than a grocery store but it depends on what you are purchasing. It is still probably cheaper than snacks in the park.
4) Eat outside of the Parks
Just across Harbor Blvd are many great restaurants. We ate at Mimi’s Cafe, and Panera. Others are Pizza Press, IHOP, Denny’s McDonalds, and Subway. Not too far down Katella Ave. is a Bubba Gump’s and Cheesecake Factory. The Disney Tourist Blog has some good off-site recommendations. Please note, not all of these restaurants will save you money. Some options are just as expensive as in the Parks.
Many meals in the Parks are big enough to share. Especially for kids. One adult meal split between two children will be cheaper than two kids meals. At Cocina Cucamonga in California Adventure I shared one of the bowls with my daughter. At Pacific Wharf Cafe, the bread bowls with soup are very filling. Two bowls could probably feed three people. Julie at Mom Rewritten has a good post about sharing meals. It is a little old so use this as a guide and not definitive information. Smart Fun DIY has some creative ways to eat on a budget. Clarks Condensed gives a $100/day dining plan (all meals) for their family of 5.
Sharing meals can be accomplished at restaurants in and out of the parks. Pizza at Pizza Press is a great inexpensive option to share. We always have our kids share an adult Mac-n-cheese at Panera instead of getting two kids meals. My husband and I usually split the Romano Chicken at Cheesecake Factory (this also saves room for cheesecake).
6) Share Snacks
So many snacks at Disneyland are HUGE. We always share caramel corn, lemon and pineapple Dole Whip, and Mickey pretzels. There are so many good options. When you share you can try so many more delicious treats. How great is that! One thing I never share–Mickey ice cream sandwiches–just don’t even ask!
Decide ahead of time your snack threshold. Will it be one snack/person/day? Will you share a certain number of snacks a day? When our kids were younger (and not as many of them) we gave them a gift card with an amount that gave them $5/day for snacks. They could use it up however they wanted to. They loved to have control of their own snacks.
7) Bring refillable bottles or buy bottled water outside of the park
Bottled water in the park costs $3.50 a bottle. That can add up rather quickly. Refillable bottles can be filled up at water stations around the park. We filled our insulated bottles with ice in the morning and we were able to have cold water almost all day. In addition, you can always ask for a cup of water or ice at the restaurants and quick-service counters.
Purchasing bottled water outside the park is also an option. Before using refillable bottles we would bring a couple of bottles per person in small backpacks (along with our snacks). Yes, we began the morning a little heavy laden but our load lightened as we drank the water. In hot weather, since we have had freezer available, we would bring at least one froze bottle and one chilled. The frozen would melt by the time we were ready to drink. If only partially melted, we would add water from drinking fountains to hasten melting.
HOT TIP: Line your backpack with a plastic bag to keep condensation produced by melting bottles from soaking through your bag (in very hot weather this has a nice, welcome, cooling effect).
8) Eat Bread
We could seriously make a meal of this for our whole family. The Pacific Wharf Cafe in California Adventure sells whole sourdough loafs and rounds for $5.19 each. With some butter that they have setting out, two loaves would be a filling meal (but not very balanced) for our whole family. Just add some cheese brought in our insulated lunch bag and we would be golden!
9)Make a plan and stick with it
Set a food budget before you go. Plan ahead how many meals you are going to eat in the parks, off-site or bring yourself. IF you deviate do so with cheaper options. Look up menus at restaurants to see what it will cost your family to eat there. The Disney website has a list of all their restaurants with menus for your preplanning.
Our Vacation Meal Plan
Our last trip to California was 10 days. We planned $200/day for our family of 9 (2 adults, kids 1, 2, 5, 6, 14, 16, and 18) Our plan was to eat breakfast at the house everyday, pack lunches 6 days, and eat dinner out every night. Obviously we weren’t pinching pennies but if we didn’t have a plan we could easily spend $300/day on food.
$400 at Costco and grocery stores for all breakfasts, 6 lunches and snacks (we ate A LOT of snacks including many veggies and fruit)
$100 dinner at California Adventure
$120 dinner at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
$104 dinner at Mimi’s Cafe
$50-60/each for 10 other lunches and dinners
$92 snacks (yummy Dole Whip, Ghiradelli sundaes and some others)
Grand total spent on food $1775
We were $225 under our budget. Woohoo! Now, I will say that we were all VERY tired of PB&J by the end. I also would have liked more snacks if I had known we had the money (probably better that I didn’t).
In closing…
There are so many options on ways to splurge and save on food at Disneyland. You can apply some of the tips above and not others. Any steps you take to save will make a difference. Take some time with your family to create a food action plan that fits your budget and how you want to eat.
Do you have a favorite tip to save on food at Disneyland? Share in the comments below so that others can benefit from your great ideas.
We had a wonderful time at Disneyland but as we looked back there were definitely some things we would do differently next time. Here is our list of mistakes to avoid at Disneyland.
Don’t compare Disneyland to Disney World
They are each fantastic in their own way! They are similar and different. By comparing the two I think I missed out on some of the magicalness of Disneyland.
You can still have a great day even if it is crowded
Don’t let the crowds slow you down
I am pretty sure that my expectations were unreasonable in regard to the crowds. In reality I don’t think that the park was really that busy while we were there. But, on our first day at Disneyland I felt like I had a hard time walking through the crowds. This threw me a bit and so my momentum was slowed. As we were in the parks more days we figured out how to get done what we wanted while weaving through the crowds.
Don’t enter the parking lot/garage at opening time.
We tried hard but to no avail. Every morning we were driving in to the parking lot/garage right at opening time. It is really busy at this time. Many other guests are arriving at the same time. And then it will take you around 45 minutes to get into the chosen park. So, by the time you get to your first ride the park has been open for about an hour. All the popular rides have had plenty of time to get long lines. But while the popular rides’ fastpasses will have a return time quite a bit later you can still take advantage of fastpass for most rides. Fret not! You can still have a great day if you do make this mistake.
Don’t miss out on Fastpasses–Pay attention to the time on the bottom
Our first couple days we did not effectively use fastpasses (we only had the free fastpass option). We would grab one when we got there for something we wanted to ride much later. Then we would use standby lines for rides in the area.
By the 4th day we realized that it was beneficial to use as many as we could. When you receive your fastpass reminder ticket there is a time at the bottom that tells you when you can get your next fastpass. We would then get a fastpass as soon as it was time. Sometimes we would get a pass with a return time in 20 minutes even when the standby was around 30 minutes if we were in the area waiting for another ride. We would ride something with a short standby line, then on the fastpass ride and then get another fastpass. We were able to go on so many more rides this way. Too bad it took so many days to figure this out.
Don’t forget sunscreen
We were at Disneyland at the beginning of March. The weather was about 60 degrees F. It was partly cloudy most days. But there was some sun and apparently it was intense. The second morning we noticed that our 1 year old’s cheeks were quite pink. I remembered seeing the Baby Care Center in Cars Land so we headed there. They had just what we needed–SUNSCREEN. We were told by the wonderful ladies in there that it was cheaper there than in the shops in the park. We paid $4 (I think) for a decent sized tube. They also have diapers, wipes, baby food and other necessities that you might have forgotten.
Don’t forget proper clothing–layers and a raincoat
Notice the layers on this dreary day.
As I said before we were there in early March. The temperature was around 60 degrees F but often cooler. I know we are Alaskans and we shouldn’t have been cold but we were! Part of our (mainly my) chill stemmed from going to a more humid climate. But, I will say, we were not the only people in many layers. Although, the sun did give a little warmth in the afternoon, the mornings and evenings were cool. We ended up leaving many evenings a little after dark because we were cold. So, if you are traveling to Disneyland anytime in the colder months bring a few extra layers than you think you might need. Better too warm than have to miss fireworks because you are chilled to the bone.
Don’t get sucked into the stores during the day
If shopping in the park is what you really enjoy then disregard this tip. I definitely like to go through the stores but we really should have saved it for the evening when it got cold. We could have enjoyed more rides and shows during the day when it was warmish and been inside shopping when it was cooler. Due to the fact that the shops have this crazy ability to suck you in this tip takes some real determination to achieve.
Don’t miss your rider switch window
Rider switch passes are only good for a hour. If you are waiting longer than an hour go up to the cast member and have you pass updated. My experience–Radiator Springs Racers had a 40 minute wait time so my family got in line and I waited with my 1 year old and 2 year old. The actual time we waited was 1 1/2 hours. Already frustrated from a wait twice the anticipated length, I went to use the rider switch pass. It didn’t work! The cast member proceed to inform me that it was only good for an hour. I was a little incensed and didn’t handle myself as well as I should. They did end up letting us through. I still am not sure why they would have a rider switch pass expire before the length of the wait time but, whatever! Hopefully this info will help someone else not go thorough the same turmoil.
Don’t ignore calls from California while in the park.
We didn’t know it but our 6 year old had stepped away from us. I received a call from an unknown Anaheim, California number. My hands were full and I almost didn’t answer but I handed my phone to my husband. A wonderful cast member with our daughter was calling. Our daughter knew my phone number so the cast member could give me a call (the cast member did have to look up our area code–hooray for smart phones!). They actually were only about 100 feet away. This was the easiest, least traumatic lost parent moment for our daughter yet. Lessons to be learned: teach your children your phone number and answer it at Disneyland!
Don’t eat PB & J every day
This is my boys tip. They got pretty tired of these by the end. It was cheap though. 🙂
I hope you enjoyed reading some of the things we learned not to do on our last trip to Disneyland.
What have you learned not to do to make your trip even better?
No, seriously. It is my opinion is that any time you can go is a great time because Disneyland is AWESOME! But there are different times during the year that have certain characteristics that you personally might like more than others. For your budget, travel at the least busy times for the best hotel and ticket prices.
There are a number of great blogs out there that have created crowd calendars (all are free except Touring Plans). I will list several below that I have consulted when planning our trip. But, my favorite one comes from Touring Plans. Every time we have gone to Disney World I have purchased a subscription to help me plan what time of year and then what specific parks to visit each day. I LOVE how accurate they have been. For some reason I didn’t purchase a subscription for our trip to Disneyland. That was dumb! I felt like I was flying blind each day deciding which park to go to. Lesson learned! Won’t be doing that again! Hopefully you can learn from my mistake.
My favorite crowd calendars are on Touring Plans. Every time we have gone to Disney World I have purchased a subscription to help me plan what time of year and then what specific parks to visit each day. I LOVE how accurate they have been. I though I wouldn’t need Touring plans info because Disneyland is only two parks so I didn’t purchase a subscription for our trip. That was dumb! I felt like I was flying blind each day deciding which park to go to. Lesson learned! Won’t be doing that again! Hopefully you can learn from my mistake.
One Crowd Calendar Caveat for 2019
After May 31, 2019 crowd calendars might be a bit off (to say the least). The wild card of 2019 is the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Due to expected astronomical crowds beginning opening day Disneyland requires an additional free ticket to enter the new land for the first three weeks. It is unknown what will happen after three weeks. But it is safe to say that Disneyland will not conform to usual crowd calendar algorithms for the rest of 2019.
What’s happening during the year at Disneyland?
Disneyland is a little different than Disney World due to the increased amount of local visitors. Because Disneyland is in the heart of the city it is easy for Annual Passholders to visit the park often even for just a few hours. Weekdays will almost always be less busy than the weekends at any time of year.
January
Parks will be quite busy for the first few days until school starts again. MLK Jr. holiday weekend will also be a very busy time. The rest of the month is usually quieter. Something to consider is that this is a time that rides get refurbished.
Lunar New Year celebration begins at the end of the month at California Adventure.
February
Other than the VERY busy days surrounding President’s Day. February is a fairly slow time to visit. Just keep an eye on the weather in order to bring the right clothing.
Lunar New Year continues for the first couple weeks of this month.
March
The first few days of March are usually a pretty good time to go. We were there the 2nd to the 8th. Walking around seemed pretty busy but the wait times weren’t too bad. We were able to get on all the rides we wanted to (except Radiator Springs Racers) without waiting more than 20-30 minutes (sometimes standby, sometimes with Fastpass).
Now, when the 2nd weekend (approximately) hits the park will get CRAZY! This will continue for a month or so.
The Food and Wine Festival at California Adventure opens at the very beginning of the month continuing through April.
April
This is a very busy time to visit until after Easter and then still on the weekends.
Food and Wine Festival at California Adventure continues most of this month.
Egg-Stravaganza-Easter activities throughout Disneyland resort up until Easter.
May
Weekends are VERY busy while weekdays are pretty dead.
Grad Nights are peppered throughout the end of the month.
May 31st-Opening Day of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
June and July
BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!! Even without the new land opening this is a busy time. The new land will cause ultimate chaos.
Fourth of July has some special celebrations as well as the Anniversary of Disneyland on July 17th.
August
It is still part of the very busy summer season during the first two weeks of August. Then the crowds (in a normal year) would begin to taper off during the weekdays. Annual Passholders are allowed back into the park for the second half of August causing busier weekdays.
D23 Expo brings lots of avid Disney fans every other year. August 23-25, 2019
September and October
The first couple of weeks of September are pretty slow. Then Disneyland dresses up for Halloween Time and the people flock in on the weekends through the end of October.
Mickey’s Halloween Party (a special ticketed event) is held on certain nights from mid-September through the end of October.
November
One of the best times to visit is during the week the first two weeks of November and after Thanksgiving Weekend in regard to lower crowds.
Mid-November the whole Disneyland Resort decks the halls to create a magical holiday wonderland. Gorgeous!
Thanksgiving Week is mayhem! Talk about crowded! But, my brother and his family have visited Disneyland the last couple years at this time, love it, and keep going back.
December
Just like November, the first two weeks of December are pretty slow during the week. Once kids start getting out of school it becomes a madhouse until school breaks end in January. The week of Christmas is the absolute worst crowd wise.
BUT, imagine celebrating Christmas surrounded by astoundingly beautiful decorations (with the amazing detail work of Disney), sweet sounds of the holiday in your ears, smells of Christmas wafting all around and all your favorite characters dressed up to make your vacation magical. How could that possibly be bad?!
Ring in the New Year with special fireworks and possibly a dance party on December 31st.
Just a reminder:
From May 31st on in 2019 the crowds are most likely going to be higher than in past years. Also, it is very probable that these higher crowd levels will continue through a good portion of 2020.
Like I said at the beginning though, any time you can go to Disneyland is a good time. Just be aware and prepared for what you might face when you get there and you can still have a wonderfully magical vacation any time of year.
Figuring out where to stay during your trip to Disneyland can seem overwhelming. There are so many options. So many hotels. Where do you start looking?
Disney’s Grand Californian–Staying at this hotel puts you smack dab in the middle of the magic of Disneyland. Literally! Just walk out the lobby doors and you are in the midst of the Redwoods of California Adventure or just feet away from the amazing dining of Downtown Disney. The location of this hotel and the fact that you are transported into a national park lodge make this a favorite. Rooms sleep up to 5 adults and suites from 6-12.
Disneyland Hotel–-This hotel surrounds you in sophistication sprinkled with whimsey. Bring a bit of Disneyland back with you every day with the monorail themed pool slides and a real Tiki bar. When you want to head to the park it is only a short walk through Downtown Disney OR skip the entrance lines and take the Monorail from Downtown Disney all the way into the park in Tomorrowland. Rooms sleep up to 5 adults. Junior suites sleep 4 up to a 3-bedroom that will sleep 14.
Disney’s Paradise Pier— Step away from the fray of the city into the sunny, seaside beachfront of days gone by at this beautiful hotel. Enjoy fun in the sun at the rooftop pools and water slides. This hotel has the largest rooms of the Disneyland resorts and the least expensive rates. Guests are just a short walk away from Downtown Disney to the park entrance or to take the Monorail. What makes this resort extra special is you can see California Adventure Pixar Pier and the backside of the World of Color show from your room if you are on the correct side. Rooms also sleep up to 5. Suites sleep from 6-10. Their signature suites will sleep 13.
One of the benefits of all three of these resorts is that guests may take care of Magic Mornings allowing entry into one of the parks earlier than the normal park goers. Another benefit is obvious. You are immersed your whole vacation in the Disney Magic. Disney’s strength is attention to details and making sure each guest has premium customer service. This shines through in their resorts.
Disneyland is situated right in the middle of busy Anaheim. Just across Harbor Blvd. sits many restaurants and hotels. These are a short walk away which enables guests to not have to pay parking fees at Disneyland. Some of the hotels are simple and some are full service resorts with fantastic amenities such as mini waterparks. Our boys drooled every time we drove by the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance and Waterpark Resort. The Castle Inn and Suites and Anaheim Camelot Inn and Suites are also right across the street. Nearby is the highly rated Anaheim Marriott and Clarion Hotel and Suites Anaheim (we have stayed here and it was fantastic. We could even see the fireworks a bit).
This was the option we used on our last trip. We are a family of 9 and my parents came too so that meant we needed to sleep 11. We found a great house in Fullerton that slept us all very comfortably and we had a kitchen. Someday we stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel. This is definitely on my bucket list. But this arrangement worked well for us this time.
How do I find the option best for us?
Talk with a travel agent specializing in Disney vacations. They are ready to help you narrow your choices and find the accommodations that fit your family best and your budget. And, the best part is, their services are FREE to you.
Undercover Tourist–This website brings you many options that they have researched and can vouch for their quality, value and cleanliness. They have all the latest deals and specials to save you money. See this post about how we saved on park tickets here.
Disney Website–Disney has created an easy to navigate website. You can easily search their resorts as well as the Good Neighbor hotels they recommend.
So, where have you stayed near Disneyland that you absolutely loved or wouldn’t recommend?
Happy travels to you…until we meet again!
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