Blog Posts Categorized Disneyland

Disneyland’s Grand Californian – Review

10/1/2021 • Disneyland, Reviews • Our home away from home. Goodness, I love this place! For the past several years, my family has chosen to stay at the Grand Californian at the Disneyland Resort. We have stayed at other Disney hotels as well as several Good Neighbor hotels, but we keep coming back to the Grand Californian because it simply has everything we are looking for! Disneyland's Grand Californian Resort Going OUT! The location of this beautiful hotel cannot be beat. Laying at the edge of Disney’s California Adventure Park, it has its own private entrance into the park, and it is just a quick […]

Pixar Pier at Disneyland- Review

9/27/2021 • Disneyland, Reviews • On-property or off-property? For visitors to Disneyland this is a huge decision to be made. Is it worth the extra funds in the budget to stay on property? Are the rooms really nice? What about the amenities and the convenience to the parks? Are early morning magic hours necessary? With the compact nature of Disneyland and off-property resorts right across the entry, staying on property at Disneyland has never been a huge priority for me. I wasn’t convinced that the on-property resorts were going to be worth the extra fee for a long weekend. But this year, I learned how […]

Star Tours: The Last Jedi

9/22/2021 • Disneyland, Reviews, Walt Disney World • For Star Wars fans, experiencing Star Tours is a highlight of Walt Disney World and Disneyland vacations that has you running back to the ride’s entrance as soon as you get off. As a fan of both Star Wars and Star Tours, the recent movie releases have brought extra excitement, knowing that Disney has added new movie scenes into the Star Tours experience. I will confess that I watched The Last Jedi trying to envision what parts of the movie would be added to the ride. As an extra treat for fans, director Rian Johnson has been reported as saying […]

Disneyland Resort – Top Attractions, Food, and Experiences

9/20/2021 • Disneyland, Reviews • Are you excited to finally plan your FIRST visit to the Disneyland Resort in California?! As a first-timer, even if you know Disney World like the back of your hand, there are certain things at the Disneyland Resort that are unique to this resort and are quintessential Disney magic. Classic attractions:  The Disneyland Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean are all amazing, classic rides, and Walt had a hand in designing each of them. Fun fact: Pirates of the Caribbean is twice as long at Disneyland as it is at Walt Disney World! Best Attractions Unique […]

What to Do at Disney When You Aren’t Riding the Rides

9/18/2021 • Disneyland, Tips, Walt Disney World • Over the years, there have been plenty of times I’ve been the one sitting out of the rides - whether I was pregnant or tending to an infant...or, quite frankly, just not interested in going on the Tower of Terror for the umpteenth time!  This past trip, as my mother-in-law and I were sitting off of a ride with the kids, we got to talking about why she loves Disney so much. It actually had very little to do with the rides! So, if you’re going on a trip to Disney anytime soon and you’re nervous there won’t be enough […]

World of Color Dining Package: Carthay Circle – A California Adventure Dining Experience Review

9/16/2021 • Disneyland, Reviews • Journeying to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, for the first time as a family was an exciting experience. Such an experience required a proper celebration of food…and Carthay Circle fit that bill! Carthay Circle, located in California Adventure’s Buena Vista Street at the Disneyland Resort, boasts a grand marquee reminiscent of a movie theater of bygone eras. Inside, you’ll find this is exactly the aesthetic they planned for. Modeled after the Carthay Theater in Los Angeles where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs first premiered, you’ll find beautiful décor, intricate woodwork, and ambient lighting – you’ll feel like you […]

Visiting Radiator Springs Located in Disney’s California Adventure

9/14/2021 • Disneyland, Reviews • Welcome to Radiator Springs! Explore Route 66 and immerse yourself in Cars Land located in Disney’s California Adventure. Radiator Springs offers rides, dining, and shopping with your favorite characters and Route 66 landmarks. Allow me to be your tour guide. Get Ready, Get Set, Go...Let’s explore the rides in Radiator Springs. Start your engines and buckle up for everyone’s favorite ride, Radiator Springs Racers. Cruise through desert landscapes, zip over hills, hug curves, and feel the wind in your hair on straightaways with Lightning McQueen and friends. Race to the finish line with your friends and family. Everyone wins with […]

How to Tackle Sensory Overload at Disney!

7/16/2021 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • It wasn’t until my oldest son, who is living with Fragile X, was almost 3 that I began to have a greater understanding of his sensory integration challenges.  Fragile X is the leading cause of inherited intellectual impairment and the leading known genetic cause of Autism. I was attending an education workshop, and I participated in an exercise that helped me understand what someone with Fragile X/Sensory integration challenges experiences. I began to view the world with a different perspective.  On our next trip to Walt Disney World, It was as if I was experiencing it for the first time.  […]

Enjoying runDisney Events for Non-Runners

3/19/2021 • Cruises, Disneyland, Holidays & Events, Tips, Walt Disney World • I am not a runner…at all…but that didn’t stop me from joining friends in my first runDisney marathon weekend! Whether you are up every morning for that morning run, or if you simply want to experience a runDisney event, here are several reasons to love runDisney races! The Challenge! Hopefully, all races are a challenge no matter your level of experience. For this girl, I’ll admit I didn’t train nearly enough knowing what I do now. Disney recommends a pace time of 15 minutes or under per mile whether you run or walk {or a combination of both}. “Balloon Ladies” […]

Fun Ways to Count Down to your Disney Vacation

1/19/2021 • Cruises, Disneyland, Tips, Walt Disney World • You booked your Disney vacation over six months ago. The anticipation is unbearable! Here are some fun ways to help your kids (and you) count down to the magical day!   1. Make a paper chain. Remember counting down to Christmas using those? Use Mickey colors or favorite princess colors. 2. Watch Disney movies. One week before the trip, stack up seven movies, and watch one each night. This will help the kids countdown the days and get reacquainted with the characters. 3. Mickey Dry erase board. Print off a Mickey-themed picture and place it in a cheap frame with […]