When you’re planning a trip to Disneyland, the broad strokes of a visit practically plan themselves: ride the headliner attractions, see the fireworks, eat all the Mickey bars. But the real fun of a vacation comes in the details — how do you make a trip special and unique from any other theme park in…
Category: Disneyland Resort in California
Disneyland Resorts
Planning a First Trip to Disneyland (as a Walt Disney World Vet)
This year I will be taking my first ever trip to Disneyland. While I have been going to Walt Disney World since before I can remember, planning this trip feels a bit surreal. The best analogy I can think of is that it’s like preparing to go back to your hometown, but seeing that there…
Day of Snacking Around Disneyland
One of Disneyland’s strengths lies in its plethora of snack foods. I’d speculate you could spend an entire day at the park eating nothing but items from walk-up windows and carts. Let’s see if we can make it through a day of snacking around Disneyland! Breakfast being the most important meal of the day, we’ll start with…
The Villas at the Grand Californian Hotel
Welcome to the Grand Californian Hotel! My parents recently became Disney Vacation Club Members, and made it no secret that a major reason they did this was to be able to enjoy Disney vacations with their kids and grandkids. They recently booked a five night stay at the Grand Californian at Disneyland. Since I live…
An Ode to The Enchanted Tiki Room
Walt Disney World’s Enchanted Tiki Room. Photo courtesy of Kelly Nobles I barely remember anything from my very first Walt Disney World visit way back in 1976. I was just about to turn 6, and my parents were so excited to take my little sister and me to Walt and Roy’s last great project. I…
Dinner at the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
Welcome to the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe The Jolly Holiday Bakery Café is a fairly recent addition to Disneyland Park’s lineup of quick service eateries. I am especially fond of this place because of it’s themed to Mary Poppins, which I consider to be Walt Disney’s masterpiece. In case the name didn’t give that fact…
Disneyland’s Jingle Cruise
Disneyland’s newest holiday overlay attraction is the four-year-old “Jingle” Cruise, the Jungle Cruise’s attempt to tinsel up the ride for Christmas. This tongue-in-cheek take on holiday tradition will have you howling at the jokes proffered, depending on how much you like fruitcake and fruitcake jokes. So hop aboard Disneyland’s holiday Jingle Cruise, as we see what the skippers have…
Viva Navidad at Disney California Adventure
Disney California Adventure‘s Christmas celebration has really expanded over the past few years. This marks the fourth year for the Viva Navidad activities in the Paradise Pier area, and the party just keeps getting bigger! The heart of Viva Navidad is the street party featuring the Three Caballeros (seen at the top of this article) and groups of…
Main Street Entertainment at Disneyland
I’m just walking right down the middle of Main Street USA at Disneyland, and what’s that I see? A good old-fashioned marching band, coming down the street. I stop and watch for a few minutes, then meander on. But look — down a little farther is a barber-shop quartet. They harmonize as they sing “Happy Birthday”…
Christmas Time at the Disneyland Resort
Sleeping Beauty Castle dressed up for the holidays Ask my 11 year old daughter to list her favorite things, and “Christmas” and “Disneyland” will be on that list. Of course, if you put those two things together, you get a magical experience rivaled on few other places in the world. When the winter holidays arrive,…
A Peaceful Evening at Disneyland
Vistors to Disneyland this winter have a unique treat. With the Rivers of America closed until next summer for construction on Star Wars Land, the west side of the park projects a whole different vibe for now. The boats don’t move, the path behind Big Thunder Mountain to Fantasyland remains closed, and Fantasmic went dark. These…
Holidays at Disneyland
Disneyland dresses up in its holiday finery and prepares to sparkle for the upcoming season. The resort’s decorations and ride overlays are widespread and unmatched. I’d wager that Disneyland has even more holiday cheer than Walt Disney World, at least per square foot. “it’s a small world holiday” has been delighting guests for almost 20…