MICKEY AND MINNIE

[ Hello all! Today’s Disneyland / DCA Survival Guide is all about how to make the most of family reunions at the happiest place on earth. The lovely cuhmeelf volunteered to write it, so I’ll let her take it away! … ] 

Hey, there! My name is Camille, a fellow Disney freak living in southern California. I come from a family who is also obsessed with all things Disney, and what better way to share that common bond than an annual Disneyland family reunion? My family has been doing reunions at the park for four years now, and every year it’s been so much fun, though it can be very tiring. However, our family has managed to make the most out of the parks every year, and that’s really what counts in the end.

ANYWAY, I wanted to write this little tip page for anyone who might be interested in starting their own family get- together’s at the happiest place on earth, but don’t know where to even begin. Here a some key points to help you make the most out of your family trip:

(1) PLAN AHEAD! I know this is a very obvious one, but believe me, there are some families out there that think they can muster up a successful last minute plan. Of course, this rarely works. You always have to go in with a plan of what time to meet, where to go, where to eat, etc. That way, no one will be confused and everyone won’t be so stressed out. Also, if you stick to a plan, you can ensure that everything everyone wants to do will get done, and everyone will be happy campers! 

(2) Have a runner! Okay, this may sound a little weird, but trust me, it is very effective. What I mean by “runner” is that someone should be assigned the honorable duty of getting all the fast passes for the rides that provide them. In my opinion, the perfect runner would be someone who knows the park well, is responsible enough to keep everyone’s tickets together, doesn’t mind waiting in line (Especially for the Radiator Springs Racers passes), and doesn’t mind missing a few small rides (if necessary, of course). I, personally, have been the runner for my family ever since we started, and although it is tiring work, the fact that our family is able to ride all the popular rides without waiting in long lines makes it all worth it. 

(3) Bring plenty of snacks! Everyone has that one person in their family  who always gets hungry every hour. That’s why you should always bring some sort of snack to munch on while in line. It can be bags of chips, juice pouches, water, etc. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper as well! (However, that shouldn’t stop you from at least getting a churro or corn dog at some point!)

(4) Find group- friendly eating areas. There are plenty of food spots that provide plenty of empty tables for large groups in both parks! In Disneyland, some include: Pizza Port (Tomorrowland), Hungry Bear Restaurant (Critter Country), Stage Door Cafe (Frontierland). In DCA, there is: Outdoor seating next to goofy’s sky school that serves Italian/Mediterranean, Pacific Wharf, Flo’s V8 Cafe (Carsland), Taste Pilot’s Grill. 

(5) Take advantage of all the indoor entertainment! Your family trip to Disneyland shouldn’t be all about rides. Make sure to take advantage of some of the shows and activities the parks provide. Sing a long with the birds in the Tiki Room, draw your favorite Disney character in the Animation Studio, or sit back and watch Aladdin or Captain EO. It’s something that everyone in the family can enjoy, and will hopefully serve as a way of bonding. Again, just double- check times and make sure it doesn’t conflict with your other plans. 

(6) End the day with a night show! Whether it be the fire works, World of Color, or Fantasmic, the best way to end a day at Disneyland during any occasion is to catch the last shows the park has to offer. Again, it is a perfect way for everyone to bond, and it it the perfect way to end the day.

(7) TAKE IT EASY! Even though the whole idea of having a family reunion may sound super stressful, it’ll only be so if you make it that way. Again, take advantage of the shows and activities. Don’t be afraid to just sit down and catch your breath. Make time for plenty of bathroom breaks. If you just stick to a plan and follow it, I’m sure there’ll be some down time in between the rides and shows.

And that’s pretty much it, folks! One optional tip that may be fun to do is to make family t-shirts to wear during that day. My cousin and I make our own t-shirts for the whole family (as seen above from 2010)  and we get complimented on them every year. I hope these list of tips will help you guys plan your very own family reunion at Disneyland/DCA. Have fun!

Doing homework at Disneyland = BEST IDEA EVER.

Here are just some of my favorite cozy potential study spots:

• The Grand Californian Hotel lobby [comfy sofas + piano music + A/C… need I say more?]
• The picnic tables + chairs behind the corn dog stand along Main Street [i.e., where I was sitting when I took this shot]. It’s relatively secluded and right near the Cast Member entrance so you often see characters walking in and out. 
• The Hungry Bear restaurant in Critter County. I love to hang out here and feed the duckies while watching everyone walk by on their way to and from Splash Mountain. 
• The Court of Angels in New Orleans Square. [Admittedly, it’s not quite as hidden or forgotten as it once was since they often use it for character picture ops now, but I still love it.]
• The pathway behind Thunder Mountain that leads to Fantasyland. It’s usually very quiet and lined with benches where you can rest and get work done. 
• The tables outside the Riverbelle Terrace [i.e., where I took this shot]. Perfect for people watching or homework doing. 

My advice? Go exploring! I’m sure you’ll find tons of little Disneyland nooks & crannies that’ll make doing homework seem like blessing, not a chore. :) 

Edited to add: more suggestions from iamrosehathaway

Animation Academy (the room with the screens and the medley of Disney song perfection), the benches lining the walkway between the Boardwalk and the Silly Symphony Swings, the tables way in the corner behind the little shack that sells clam chowder in front of Haunted Mansion…

DISNEYLAND DURING HALLOWEEN:

During Halloween (and the weekends that precede it), Disneyland usually hosts “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” which is a special event where you can dress up and go ‘trick or treating’ throughout the park. They even have fun little dance stations set up where you can get your groove on with various Disney characters all dressed up in their Halloween get-ups. Last year they had it in Disneyland [previously it was hosted in California Adventure], but I’m not sure where it’ll be this year since all the construction is finally done at DCA. If you want to go to this you need to buy a special ticket for a designated day that they’re holding the event, which will be posted on the Disneyland website [probably as soon as September].

Apart from this event, there’s also:

• Adorable Halloween decorations throughout the park
• A nightly Halloween parade
• Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy [when Space Mountain gets a ghoulishly scary makeover - seriously the BEST THING EVER]
• Haunted Mansion Holiday [when Jack Skellington comes out to play]
• Halloween-themed tastytreats + souvenirs

There’s lots to see + do during Halloweentime, so I’m sure you’ll have a blast :)

How to have fun at Disneyland by yourself:

So I’ve gotten quite a few questions recently from people who want some advice on how to enjoy a day at Disneyland all by their lonesome, and I thought I’d address them all in one post.

For those who live close to the parks and/or have annual passes, there are times when you get hit by a BURNING DESIRE to go to Disneyland, but find that you have no one to go with. And since you don’t wanna be a loner at the Happiest Place on Earth, you forgo the trip altogether. But that means you’re missing out! Take it from me, Disneyland can be a lot of fun when you’re flying solo.

What to do at Disneyland if you’re by yourself:

• People-watch (aka, my favorite thing ever). Just take your time walking around the parks and soaking everything in, or maybe grab a seat at your favorite outdoor eatery [I love people-watching from the River Belle Terrace] and then watch away. I realize this kind of sounds creepy, but I promise it’s not! It’s super relaxing - and fascinating! There be some interesting folks who frequent Disneyland, myself included ;) 
• Hit the ‘single rider’ lines and ride your favorite attractions with a fraction of the wait time. [For example: the average wait time for Radiator Springs Racers is currently clocking in at over two hours. But if you ride as a single rider you can cut that time in half, at least]
• Watch all the parades + various shows to your hearts content. When you’re by yourself you don’t need to worry about your friend who’d rather ride Space Mountain, or your little cousin who’s too spazztastic to wait on Main Street for the parade to start. Take advantage of your freedom and plop yourself down to watch Soundsational in Disneyland, or the Pixar Play Parade in California Adventure. 
• Shop. Or, better yet, browse. When you’re with a group that would much rather get in as many rides as possible, it’s hard to carve out time to hit all the fabulous shops along Main Street and Buena Vista Street. If I’m at Disneyland by myself, I’m always sure to take my time going through all the shops in Disneyland, California Adventure, and Downtown Disney. Of course, if you’d rather save your $ for corn dogs and Dole Whips I don’t blame you. But it’s fun to look at all the neat merchandise just the same, even if you don’t plan on buying anything. 
• Grab your favorite sweet snacks. For once, you don’t have to worry about sharing ;)
• Most of all, don’t feel self-conscious! Believe me, no one is looking at you and thinking “Wow, what a weirdo all alone.” People are too busy running after their badly behaving children and complaining about the crowds and wait times and heat to give you even a second glance. So stick that chin up high and let yourself have a good time, whether you’re at Disneyland with 10 friends or none at all. 

What to expect for your “One More Disney Day”: 

• Disneyland will be open from 6am February 29th to 6am March 1st. 
• The first 2,000 guests into the park at 6am will receive commemorative “One More Disney Day” Mickey ears.
• Mickey’s Soundsational Parade will play at 10pm.  
• Fantasmic will be playing at 1am. 
• A special “Midnight Snack” will be held at the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ from 11:45pm to 12:45am. Line up asap, as the event can only hold 200 people. (Plus those who attend will get reserved seating for the 1am Fantasmic showing!)
• There will be a dance party in Tomorrowland Terrace from 8:30pm to 4am. 
• Character meet & greets will be held throughout the park over the course of the evening: Mickey & Friends (in pajamas!) at the Carnation Party Plaza, Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland, and Country Bears in Frontierland. 
• Rumor has it that some attractions will be closing early (unsurprisingly). Splash Mountain is likely closing at 2am, Indiana Jones at 3am, and Pirates of the Caribbean at 4am. 
• And, of course, don’t forget about the food. Blue Bayou, Cafe Orleans, and the French Market will all be staying open late with special menus. There will also be lots of late-night snacking opportunities all throughout the park. 
• (For even more info, check out DisneylandLive.)

Tips for all you potential Disneyland All-Nighters: 

• Dress warmly. The current high for Wednesday is 60*, which means the wee hours of the morning wil be fah-reeezing (by SoCal standards anyway). And if you’re cold, there’s no way you’re gonna be lasting 24 hours. So don’t forget your big down jacket + Mickey gloves. Hell, I’d even bring some comfy blankets too. 
• Pack snacks. Fight the sleepies with the munchies, and save money with you’re own pre-packaged snacks while you’re at it. Granola bars, nuts, and trail mix are all things that keep well, don’t take up a lot of space, and taste delicious at 3 in the morning. 
• Take it slow. Don’t go crazy and burn yourself out early. Being at Disneyland for a full 24 hours is CRAZY TOWN (in an epic way) but it won’t be any fun if you’re exhausted the whole night. There’s no shame in stopping for breaks. Disneyland park guides will even be marked with ZZZs to denote nap zones!!!
• Get free coffee refills! Just pay once at the Market House on Main Street and get free refills the rest of the night, just by showing your receipt. 

Hope to see you there!!!

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Disneyland during Christmastime, so I figured I’d do one big post to address them all. Here’s my little guide to Disneyland during the merriest season of all!

How to do Disneyland during the Holidays:

1. Don’t miss out on the seasonal specials! If you’re going to the parks during the months of November - December, be sure to take advantage of all the wonderful Disneyland opportunities that are only around during this time. These include:

• It’s a Small World Holiday 
• Haunted Mansion Holiday
• The Christmas Parade on Main Street
• The holiday fireworks (followed by SNOW! Seriously, so ~magical~ that it always makes me a little teary-eyed afterwards.)
• AMAZING DECORATIONS (all throughout the parks)
• Seasonal candy apples & desserts
• Holiday balloons! 
• The absolute best photo ops. Everywhere you turn!

2. Dress appropriately. When people ask what to wear to Disneyland during the winter holidays, I usually say that jeans + a warm jacket will do. My holiday uniform of choice is almost always jeans or tights with boots, a cozy coat, and maybe a scarf + mittens if I’m going at night (don’t laugh, I’m a SoCal weenie that can’t handle anything below 60 degrees!). I’d recommend bringing layers that you can take on and off as needed, cause temps tend to fluctuate a lot. During the day it can get comfortably warm when the sun is out, but at night temps drop a little and you’ll probably need something warmer. Keep in mind though, that while it’s definitely colder than the summer, SoCal doesn’t usually get too extreme (usually being the operative word). 

3. Come expecting crowds. Disneyland during the holidays is usually much more crowded than Disneyland during the summer, especially during the last couple weeks in December when everyone is off of school. There’s only a short chunk of time to see Disneyland all dressed up in Christmas cheer, so people are packing in by the bajillions (ok, slight overestimation but you know what I mean). Don’t get your hopes up by expecting that some empty winter wonderland is awaiting you. It’s a winter wonderland, sure, but it’ll be far from empty. It’s simple math: Disneyland + Holidays = AMAZING = more people want to visit. If you’re really worried about the busyness, just read up on my tips for how to beat the crowds at Disneyland. 

4. Bring the family! Sure, it’s jolly good fun to go to Disneyland with friends, but I really encourage you to plan family-oriented trips to the parks during the holidays. The atmosphere is just so lovely and it’s a really great time to build lifelong memories with your loved ones. Being able to experience Disneyland during the Christmastime is such a blessing, and who better to share the experience with than your family? :) 

Here are my tips for how to enjoy Disneyland in the rain. 

Bring a poncho, some rain boots, and get ready for the best weekend ever! Who knows - maybe I’ll even see you there. ;)

Anyone at Disneyland right now? I almost pity you in this heat [though, secretly seethe with jealousy cause - c’mon, Disneyland is amazing no matter the weather].

That said, here are some heat-busting tips for a fabulous trip to Disneyland when it’s too hot to breathe/move/dodge strollers along Main Street: 

• DRINK WATER. Lots and lots of water. Disney sells Dasani and Smartwater for just under the cost of your first born. Sure, Dasani tastes salty and weird [is that just me?!], and Smartwater gives false claims of increased intelligence, but when it’s hot enough to fry an egg on Cinderella’s draw bridge you just gotta suck it up, pay the $3.75, and HYDRATE. [Also: there’s a law in CA that states that any vendor must give you a cup of water on request for free, because of the heat. So if any Disneyland guest needs to cool off, just request a cup of water from any place that would have it and you’ll get free hydration! - thanks to disneytrinkets for this heads up.]
• Head for the water rides… AND the indoor rides! When it’s hot out most people head straight for Splash Mountain or Grizzly Rapids. Make sense - get wet, cool off. But don’t overlook the other indoor rides when it’s scorching out. While you won’t get wet, you will get the advantage of nice, cold, refreshing A/C. And Disneyland power A/C is EPIC [hypothermia-inducing! Almost]. Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Small World, Star Tours, and most of the Princess rides in Fantasyland will offer a wonderful, A/C’d reprieve from the heat. 
• Indulge in some cool treats. Dole whips, soft serves, ice cream… The list is endless when you’re at the Happiest [eating] Place on Earth. 
• Take a break inside the Grand Californian Hotel. It’s just a hop and a skip away from California Adventure. And I swear, the lobby is always -32178931 degrees, and there’s lots of comfy chairs and entertainment to keep the kids happy and the parents nice and cool. 
• Go indoors as much as possible. Ok, this sounds like it would be counterproductive - I mean, how do you stay inside when you wanna get the most out of your trip, right? But actually, it’s easy. There are lots of indoor shows you can watch [Mr. Lincoln on Main Street & Aladdin in California Adventure]. There are also shops lining almost every path in Disneyland. Want to get down Main Street and not break a sweat? Just go through the shops lining the street [they’re all pretty much connected]. Same goes for the paths along Adventureland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Tomorrowland. Fantasyland has the huge, shaded Princess Faire that you can take shelter in. Wherever you are in the park, there’s sure to be an A/C’d shop or restaurant not far away for you to hop in when you’re feeling overheated. 
• Go slow. Don’t overwork yourself. Extreme heat at the Disneyland resort usually makes everything more lethargic. Don’t fight the feeling! Take a longer lunch break inside a cool, sit-down eatery [Blue Bayou, anyone?!]. Take your time getting from one ride to the next. Take breaks. Sure, you may not get to everything you planned, but it’s much better than spending most of the day feeling faint, sweaty, and downright grumpy. It’s hot out there - take it easy, kids! :)

See also: tips on beating the crowds at Disneyland.

Breakfast spots inside Disneyland:

• Carnation Cafe on Main Street
• River Belle Terrace across from the Rivers of America 
• Tomorrowland Terrace across from Finding Nemo
• Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street 

Breakfast spots inside California Adventure:

• Ariel’s Grotto [it’s a princess character breakfast, so it’s a bit pricier]
• Pacific Wharf Cafe
• Taste Pilot’s Grill 

How to beat the crowds at Disneyland:

Labor Day weekend is upon us! Which means three glorious days filled with BBQ, beach, and oh - DISNEYLAND! It’s infamously crowded at Disneyland during the Labor Day weekend [lots of kiddies getting their last shebang before school starts], so I thought I’d give a few tips on how to have fun at Disneyland when it’s packed to the brim. 

1. Anticipate the crowds. Go with the mindset that it will be packed - lines will be long, strollers will be plentiful, and walkways will be crammed. To be honest, there’s really no way to ‘beat’ the crowds - you just have to come mentally prepared to have a good time regardless. 
2. Go early! Lines are considerably shorter right after the park opens, from about 8-9am. Getting inside earlier gives you the opportunity to go one the more popular rides [Space Mountain, Star Tours, Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain etc.] without waiting 90 minutes in line. 
3. Utilize the Fast Pass system. Seriously, it can be a lifesaver. I can’t even remember the last time I waited in the normal stand-by line for Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, or Splash Mountain. It’s just not worth it. Get a Fast Pass if you can! That being said, be aware that Fast Passes will run out a lot faster than usual due to the big 3-day weekend crowds. With that in mind, I reiterate tip #2!!!
4. Line up for Fantasmic EARLY. If you want to watch Fantasmic [which, duh, you would cause it is amaaaazingggggg] you’ll need to snag your spot around the Rivers of America pretty early. The first showing of Fantasmic is at 9pm, and I’ve seen people setting up blankets and camping out as early as 5pm. Now I’ll admit, that’s a little excessive. I’d say getting there by around 7:45pm should get you a decent spot. HINT: If you don’t feel like waiting around all that time, you can always opt to watch the 10:30 showing [it’s just as good]. Just hang around in New Orleans Square while the first showing is playing [you can also watch the fireworks from here], and then swoop in to the front as soon as it’s over and the people from the first showing leave. Easy peasy!
5. Bring your own food. Ok, so this is actually debatable. Some people [myself included] would argue that the food at Disneyland is one of the things you visit the park for - Dole Whips, giant pickles, corn dogs, funnel cake, frozen bananas, gumbo, ice cream.. need I say more? But there is definitely value in packing your own meals/snacks. You can get a LOT more done in a day when you don’t have to spend a good portion of your time in line for food. 
6. Relax and enjoy yourself. A 3-day holiday weekend is NOT the time to go to Disneyland with the mindset that you have to ride everything and see every show. Just go in, take it easy, and have a good time. Ride what you can, watch what you can, and don’t fret about what you missed. You’ll have fun! Disneyland doesn’t disappoint. :)

*** Note: Haunted Mansion is currently closed for it’s Halloween makeover. The Matterhorn is NOW OPEN. 

(Source: mickeyandminnie)