Blog Posts Tagged Disneyland

Attraction Spotlight – 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

11/6/2020 • Blog, Disneyland, Walt Disney World • Oh 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways… Let me start by saying this is/was my absolute favorite attraction ever at Walt Disney World. It’s older sister, Submarine Voyage at Disneyland, is right up there with it...but 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was just *chef’s kiss* the complete embodiment of wonder, suspense, and magic. Based on the 1872 novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , by Jules Verne, and the 1954 Disney movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea starring Kirk Douglas and James Mason - this attraction took much of what made Submarine Voyage great, and turned it into something even more spectacular. On opening day of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea could be found nestled back in Fantasyland, within a huge lagoon that spanned from Pinocchio’s Village Haus to the Grand […]

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 […]

Shopping for Disney Collectables

9/4/2020 • Blog, Disneyland, Walt Disney World • Let’s face it, we all love having that bag full of goodies handed back to us after finding the perfect souvenir, keepsake, or gift at a Disney park or in a Disney store. Sometimes, it even feels like we have gone on a scavenger hunt to seek out something that is exactly right. A simple fun souvenir purchase can turn into a growing collection before you know it. That innocent buy is precisely how my Disney ornament collection began. A long long time ago (2011), in a theme park far far away (Disneyland), I bought a Christmas tree ornament to remember our very first Disney family vacation. Little did I know that purchase would start a tradition to buy one or two ornaments each time I visited a Park or went on a Disney Cruise. My favorite ornaments have the year displayed, so I can remember when I got it, […]

Voices in Harmony: Dapper Dans

6/23/2020 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • The Walt Disney Company is known for its high entertainment standard. When you enter the parks, you expect that level of entertainment with their parades, fireworks, rides, characters, and shows. Aside from the well-known fun that Disney offers, one show that does not want to go unnoticed is the Dapper Dans!! This is not to say they are not well known, but for those new to Disney Parks, they may not be on your radar but they should be. This quartet of men can be found on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland (since 1959) and Disney World (since 1971). What do they do exactly? They are a barbershop quartet that comes out to sing, harmonize, and tap dance for guest’s entertainment! Most are even members of the Barbershop Harmony Society! They perform during the daytime hours in the Magic Kingdom. Sometimes you will see them perform using Deagon Organ Chimes […]

Rise of the Resistance – Will You Escape?

5/26/2020 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • For any Star Wars fan, visiting the planet Batuu on the outskirts of the galaxy is a dream come true and the ultimate ride is Disney’s Rise of the Resistance. This combines new technologies for a multi-layered experience. As a hugely popular ride, you will need to arrive before park opening to make sure you can get into their virtual queue called a Boarding Pass, the moment the park officially opens. Boarding passes allow you to enjoy the rest of Batuu and the parks until your turn to join the line. This can only be obtained through the My Disney Experience app on your smartphone. You can set your phone to alert you when your boarding group is called or watch My Status to find out when it’s time to get in line. If you are in the middle of an Oga’s reservation or building your own lightsaber or droid […]

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 […]

Droid Building at Droid Depot in Galaxy’s Edge

4/14/2020 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • One of the newer and most unique souvenir opportunities is building a custom droid at the Droid Depot in Galaxy’s Edge, in both Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Because this is such a unique and highly sought-after activity, I highly recommend having a reservation, as you may not be able to secure a spot as a walk-up. Another thing to keep in mind is what to do with your droid once you’ve made it. This location did not offer resort delivery or front of park pick up. We took advantage of our hopper passes and had my husband return them to the room. If you are cruising after your trip, you may want to check their guidelines for these as well as lightsabers prior to making reservations. As with any other Disney reservation, we recommend you check-in 15 minutes early. Upon entering the Droid Depot you are […]

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. […]