Can you feel it in the air? Autumn is right around the corner. At night, there is an ever-so-slight, gradual cool down. It seems to last for only a fleeting moment, but it is a glimpse of what lies ahead. With each passing week, the phenomenon that I call “Pumpkin Pandemonium” picks up steam, as omnipresent pumpkin…
Category: Disneyland Resort in California
Disneyland Resorts
5 Ways to prepare your Kids for Their First Disney Trip
Hurray! You’ve decided the time is right to take your darlings to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. But then reality creeps in. Will my child have meltdowns every day? I’m afraid she will get lost! Will he hate all the rides — or Mickey Mouse himself? You can’t use a magic wand to poof…
Character Overload at Disneyland’s Plaza Inn
One of the constants for me and my wife’s trips to Disney parks is getting her a visit with Eeyore. At Walt Disney World, this means we have spent many a morning at the Crystal Palace (and will spend many, many, many more), but when we were planning a trip to Disneyland, we initially weren’t…
Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland
Every “happily ever after” needs a castle, right? Disneyland’s crown jewel is Sleeping Beauty Castle, at the center of the park and instantly recognizable as an icon of the Disney company. Disney has built fairy tale castles at all of its flagship theme parks around the globe, but this is the original model. Fun fact: The…
Trader Sam’s Coast to Coast
Upon hearing about Disney’s Trader Sam’s Tiki Bar and Grog Grotto just a couple of years ago, I was determined to visit the coast to coast versions and compare the two experiences. After all, they have been touted as the most themed and outstanding lounges on properties. So I was curious, what made each…
Mouse Memories: The 2012 Debut of Cars Land!
Today’s article about the opening of Cars Land in 2012 is the second installment in the “Mouse Memories” series, in which I will periodically cover some of the momentous occasions and my favorite gone-but-not-forgotten highlights of Disneyland Resort’s days gone by. The inaugural Mouse Memories contribution, about the former Springtime Roundup, can…
An Ode to the Back Side of Water: The Jungle Cruise
Ah, the Jungle Cruise. I have had the pleasure of riding this attractions many times, both at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. It’s a Disney classic – an original attraction that Walt Disney was personally involved in creating. Some might find it old fashioned. Others might consider the audio animatronic animals and corny spiels of…
Christmas in July — These Are a Few of My Favorite Things (Disneyland Resort)
Summer is in full swing, and, for many people, it is a time for pool parties, road trips and carefree sunset strolls on the beach. It is a time to sing and tell ghost stories around a campfire, and to enjoy picnics in the park. It is time to grab a boat and explore…
Review of Ariel’s Grotto World of Color Dining Package at Disney’s California Adventure Park
Recently, my family (mother, father, sister, and I) went to Disneyland for the first time. We are Walt Disney World veterans, and really wanted to enjoy our time in California. Knowing that we needed to get a good viewing spot for the World of Color nighttime show at Disney’s California Adventure, we decided to book…
A Tale of Two Haunted Mansions
Disneyland‘s Haunted Mansion When hinges creak in darkened chambers And strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls Whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still That is the time when ghosts are present Practicing their terror with ghoulish delight! The Haunted Mansion is high most Disney lovers’ list of top attractions. Few theme…
Chase Disney Visa Meet and Greets at the Disneyland Resort
If you’ve been to a Disney Park, or maybe even thought about going to one you’ve probably seen them – ads for the Disney Chase Visa. You can look a variety of places to find all the benefits and reasons you might want to get one, but I wanted to share one particular perk that…
Great Details in the Monsters, Inc. Queue
The Monsters, Inc. franchise has an outpost in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure. The attraction, subtitled “Mike and Sulley to the Rescue,” takes you on a classic dark ride journey through scenes from the hit 2011 Pixar movie. Before you ride, the queue entertains you with some interesting tidbits that keep your attention and refer…