Expert Reviews of Disneyland

The Haunted Mansion – Walt Disney World

10/6/2020 • Blog, Disneyland, Reviews, Walt Disney World • One of my family's favorite attractions in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World is The Haunted Mansion. Set in a Louisiana plantation mansion, the attraction is home to 999 happy haunts. I love the queue, where you'll find a horseless drawn hearse, tombstones, and other interactive haunted objects to make your wait a little more fun. Upon entering the mansion you will be escorted into a room with no windows and no doors. Watch the walls and ceiling as the room seems to grow before your very eyes. As lightning strikes, you will follow the passageway to your "Doom Buggy". This slow-moving ride takes you through the most haunted rooms of the mansion, where you will learn some interesting facts about the mansion's most popular and permanent residents. As you twist and turn down the halls you will see spooky paintings, statues, books, and more. On your way, you will […]

Fantasmic Dinner Package at Disneyland’s River Belle Terrace

5/8/2020 • Disneyland, Reviews • If you’ve been to Walt Disney World, chances are you have seen Sorcerer Mickey battle evil in this live show.  On my recent trip to Disneyland, I got to see the West Coast version of Fantasmic up close and personal and it did not disappoint.  Knowing that viewing areas are hard to come by in Disneyland, I opted to try one of the dining packages at River Belle Terrace. River Belle Terrace is located in Disneyland park in New Orleans Square next to Pirates of the Caribbean and right in front of Rivers of America.  This is an outdoor café and makes for a truly beautiful experience to sit out in the California sun and have a nice meal.  The menu for the Fantasmic Package is a Prix Fix Menu which includes a non-alcoholic beverage, an appetizer, which was a choice between a salad or corn chowder, main dish, which […]

Black Tap: Casual Dining Experience at Downtown Disney in Disneyland Resort

3/27/2020 • Disneyland, Reviews • After a long day in the theme parks, many visitors in the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, like to spend their evenings in Downtown Disney.  Shopping, dining, and live music are always a treat and Downtown Disney has no shortage of any! At Black Tap, a fast, casual dining location, you’ll find a long line. A line that one might not want to wait in just for a burger and milkshake. But oh, it is very worth it!  Because it’s not just a burger or just a milkshake… Black Tap has the line-wait down to a science, really! What looked like an hour wait, was about 20 minutes to get to the ordering counter. Once in line, your party name and size are taken, and you are offered a menu to start planning your meal. This is a quick-service location with a large dining area, so it holds and moves […]

Visiting Radiator Springs Located in Disney’s California Adventure

1/31/2020 • 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 this fun experience. Take a quick spin on Luigi’s Rollickin’Roadsters. Swirl and whirl in miniature Italian roadsters choreographed to Italian tunes. Grab your partner and stop by Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree for a swinging good time as Mater “belts' out funny songs that only Mater can pull off. By now, I […]

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

1/24/2020 • 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 should be wearing your best red-carpet attire! The lobby houses tables and chairs while you wait. There is also a lobby sushi bar, which I am told, has some of the BEST sushi in Anaheim!  The second floor (accessible by a grand staircase or fancy elevator), is the ‘theater’ floor. […]

Pixar Pier at Disney’s California Adventure Park

1/3/2020 • Disneyland, Reviews • The feeling you get while at Pixar Pier at Disney's California Adventure Park is like no other Disney experience. Imagine strolling down an old pier filled with the sights, sounds, and even smells of a whimsy boardwalk. Games, rides, and even food bring Pixar stories to life at every turn. Many great Pixar films are showcased here but I'm going to start with the biggest- The Incredicoaster. This thrilling coaster takes you on a high-speed adventure with baby Jack-Jack through turns, drops, and even a full loop. Stick around the entrance to the coaster when you’re done for a meet and greet with none other than Mr. and Mrs. Incredible. Next, for a rootin-tootin good time, head over to Jesse’s Critter Carousel in the Toy Story area. This carousel is fun for all ages and will get you ready for what's next, Toy Story’s Midway Mania! This 4D midway style […]

Dining at Blue Bayou in Disneyland

6/14/2019 • Disneyland, Reviews • Nestled in a quiet section of Orleans Square in Disneyland Park, you will find one of my favorite dining experiences! Blue Bayou, a restaurant whose name lives up to its creole-inspired cuisine, is an unassuming, but delicious dining experience with ambiance to match. As you enter this restaurant with an outdoor aesthetic, you can catch a glimpse of the boats from Pirates of the Caribbean coming by as they are taking off on their adventure. The sound of the water gently running by, the crickets and soft music- all seem to transport you out of Disneyland Park and onto the Louisiana bayou. Once seated, we couldn’t help but notice the beautiful lanterns hanging overhead against the seemingly black sky, even though we were comfortably seated indoors! As we opened our menus, we were treated to a surprise – though Blue Bayou is dimly lit, our menus included built-in flashlights to […]

Disneyland- A Review of Minnie’s Breakfast in the Park

4/9/2019 • Disneyland, Reviews • What is a trip to Disneyland Park without meeting some of your favorite characters?! Minnie’s Breakfast in the Park at Plaza Inn is a great way to start your day at Disneyland. This breakfast is the only character dining option in the two Disneyland Parks, which makes the experience even more magical! How exciting to start your day meeting Minnie and some of her friends!  Minnie’s Breakfast in the Park is an all-you-care-to-enjoy, self-service buffet. You will find some of your favorite breakfast foods here such as scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, pastries, cereals, fruit, oatmeal and more! There is also an assortment of soft drinks, milks and juices available at the beverage stations.  While enjoying your meal, look for several of your favorite Disney characters to come by! During our breakfast we were treated to visits by some of our favorites like Winnie the Pooh, Chip & Dale, […]

Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast and Brunch at Storyteller’s Cafe

2/12/2019 • Disneyland, Reviews • Character dining is one of my favorite activities at the Disney parks! While visiting Disneyland, make sure you take advantage of one of the best ways to see some of your favorite characters while enjoying a delicious meal. Storyteller’s Café in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, is my new favorite character dining experience in the Disneyland parks! Once you enter Storyteller’s Café you’ll immediately notice the beautiful décor- from the murals of western landscapes to the wood carvings throughout- the California arts and crafts influence is undeniable! While I enjoyed the delicious buffet of hash browns, the roast beef carving station, fresh fruit, and more, I was visited by Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, and Pluto- all in their “adventurer outfits.” I must say, of all the character interactions I’ve ever experienced in any of the Disney parks- this was my favorite! From sashaying with Pluto into the dining room to Chip […]

Disneyland Resort – Top Attractions, Food, and Experiences

7/20/2018 • 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 to the Disneyland Resort:  At Disneyland, Indiana Jones Adventure tops my list for favorite attractions despite the fact that it is still a newer ride, having opened in the mid- 90’s. For those seeking a calmer experience, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is an original dark ride in Fantasyland. Over at […]