Disneyland Family Vacation

Back to Disneyland!!

2011-10-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

I am surprised by the number of hits I still get each day considering I have not posted in two years. It is so cool that there are still people out surfing for Disneyland tips that find my site, and think it is useful. I sometimes even get email about it.

OK, so, I've not posted in FOREVER because I went off to law school, graduated, passed the bar, got divorced, lived out of people's guest rooms for a while, fell in love, found a new place to live, got a great job....and FINALLY, am fulfilling my promise to take the kids back to Disneyland!

This will be the first trip the kids really remember since they were 1 1/2 and 4 last time. The boy remembers a bit, kept fresh by lots of pictures and stories. They are both so excited! I had hoped that by now it might be realistic for my ex, her partner, me and my partner, and all of our kids to do this trip together. Financial realities mean that could not happen, but my ex did not want the kids to miss out just because she could not go, too. I know how hard it is for her to not be a part of this event with them, and I do appreciate her sacrifice. We both love Disneyland and sharing that with our kids is important. Anyway, this trip will be my, my partner, and the two kids, now 6 and 9.

The top must-dos include Dumbo and Splash Mountain for the girl, and an Ariels' Grotto lunch with the Princesses. For Boy Wonder it is Star Tours and Splash Mountain, plus a meal at Rainforest Cafe in the Downtown Disney District. My tops are Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion - done up Nightmare Before Christmas style (a first for me!) and would have been Pirates of the Caribbean, but darn - closed for refurbishment! Guess I will choose Tower of Terror as a third option, for the queue as much as anything, or no, maybe Indiana Jones..yes. I think so. My partner is looking forward to Star Tours - and pretty much everything since she's not been there in years and years.

I am so excited about seeing my family's excitement and enjoyment of the magic of Disney. I have a lot of stuff I want us to see and experience together, but am telling myself to relax and just let it all happen as it will. We have five nights, and most of 6 days there, so we will have plenty of time to enjoy the entire resort and all it has to offer. I will keep in mind that Fantasmic! is only showing 2 nights we are there, and Small World is closing after the first 2 days for the Holiday overhaul and Aladdin does not show on Monday or Tuesday....but other than those few things, we'll just take it as it comes. No matter how we let our days unfold, we will be having fun and making memories, and that is what matters!

Finally - an Update!

2009-10-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

I was just talking with a co-worker about her upcoming trip to Disneyland. By upcoming, I mean TONIGHT! So, here is a quick shout-out to Rachel and her family - have an awesome time!

She has made me want to look up the amazing travel deals that are out there and hop an a plane!

By the way, to my loyal readers who have been tracking, some of whom have even sent emails: I passed the bar! Wahoo!!

Regular Guest or Just Passing Through?

2009-07-06T14:44:00.001-07:00

Howdy! Please keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle at all times, this is a wild ride!

This wild ride, my friends, is the bar review, soon to be followed by the actual bar exam. Tell me THAT'S not a seriously scary dark-ride!

As you may have noticed, I have been absent for quite some time. My final year of law school, combined with full-time work, family, and now studying for the bar exam, have sucked up all my time. Still, I notice I have quite a few visitors each day. What I'd like to know is - are you constant readers, perhaps referred from my other blog, or just passersby seeking Disneyland information?

It would be cool if I had a built-in survey option here, but I don't and setting up a survey from an independent site seems like a hassle at the moment. So, if you feel like it, would you mind posting a quick comment to let me know if you are a regular reader, or are just passing through?

After the bar, which is at the end of July, I'll see if I can update with more useful Disney information. Until then, happy travels!

Which Land is Not So Much Your Land?

2008-10-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

Today I'm having a little silly Friday Fun by considering which of the Disneyland lands I could do without if I had to.

Actually, this is a really easy question for me - ToonTown. I know, my kids would probably be crushed, so maybe this is not fair, but if I couldn't go to ToonTown on a trip, I would not be terribly disappointed. It's too new to have "classic attractions," and somehow, I feel the fact that Walt never had a part of this. There are certainly a lot of attractions now that were never a part of the original plan, and that is as it should be. The Imagineers should be allowed to run wild, to some extent, but ToonTown just doesn't have the same feel as the rest of the park. Does this make sense? Is anyone with me on this?

What about you? What land could you live without, if you had to?

Remembering the Classics

2008-10-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

I was scouting around for a picture of Disneyland's old sky tram, or sky buckets, I think they were called. I found them, but I also came across this on http://history.amusement-parks.com Seeing these pictures totally stirred up a memory from my childhood. I remember being on this train as a young child, but years later not remembering where I'd been - maybe Disneyland, maybe Knott's Berry Farm....I just couldn't place it.

A little online research tells me why. This attraction was called The Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland and was replaced by The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad thrill ride in 1979. I was 13, and the last time I'd been to the park, I was probably about 7.

If you are interested in more details about this attraction, check out yesterland.com.

Disneyland History in 30 Seconds

2008-10-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Disneyland history started on July 17, 1955. On that historic day Walt Disney opened his dream of a place where families could have fun and create happy memories together with the following words:

"To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America...with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”

Indeed it has been that. Although the first day was rough, with sweltering heat, unexpectedly large crowds that the park was not equipped to handle, workmen still planting trees and paint still drying, by its second year, the park was turning a profit. The original park covered 160 acres and cost 17 million dollars. There were 18 attractions. Today, the entire Disneyland Resort encompasses approximately 500 acres and features over 60 attractions, three hotels and a shopping district. In 2005, a study revealed that Disneyland contributes about $3.6 billion in annual economic impact and creates about 65,700 jobs throughout Southern California.

"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse." - Walt Disney

A few tidbits of DL tips

2008-10-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

I keep meaning to update this blog, and life keeps getting in the way.

A couple random thoughts that I meant to write more about but will just touch on:

- Dressing kids in brightly-colored T-shirts really is worthwhile, and makes them so much easier to spot in a crowd. If they have matching T-shirts they are willing to wear at the same time, that is even better. Though we were not at Disneyland, over the past few weeks, I have had the kids in large-crowed situations and was so thankful for the bright, matching shirts. Not only are they easier to spot, but if one does get temporarily lost, you can say, "He was wearing a shirt like this," and reference the other child's shirt.

- Flavor packets. Have you seen the tiny packets of drink mix that you pour into a bottle of water to provide flavor? I avoid the ones with artificial sweetener, but I know some people might prefer them. Either way, they are handy as a special treat, especially if you have a child that needs to stay hydrated but doesn't like water. Throw a couple in your purse, and anywhere there's water, you can instantly have a delicious beverage.

- Remember, Disneyland is all decorated for Halloween! There are fun activities, treats, decorations and more, only for the Halloween season - Sept. 26-Nov. 2. For more details check out the resort site. Happy Haunting!

Lots to Learn at Disneyland

2008-07-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

There are about a gazillion educational opportunities to take advantage of while in Disneyland, and much of it can be done while having fun. Kids may not even notice that they are learning. The obvious ones are things like budgeting money for souvenirs, telling time, and counting change. For the pre-school crowd, color and shape recognition are simple to do while standing in line or grabbing a snack. For older children, the history of Walt Disney or Disneyland itself, and history of various inventions, such as the steam engine can be started on various attractions and supplemented by books and information available in Disneyland, bookstores and on the Internet. All ages can partake in a little art and music appreciation.

This weekend a new idea came to me - that of social observation. Yes, people watching. A specific idea came to me as I was talking with our six-year-old son.

"Mom, next time we go to Disneyland, I think I will be ready to go on Splash Mountain again, and that big space ride that is like a box that moves."

"Star Tours?"

"Yes....and (everything except the Haunted Mansion)"

When his was four, he was traumatized by the elevator ride into the attraction when everything goes dark and the person is seen hanging above the riders' heads. What scared him was that the elevator was full of teens and everyone screamed when it went dark.

I explained how he is older now and knows what's coming so it shouldn't be scary the next time around. I could see he was considering my words.

"You know what?" I said, "Next time you will know what is coming, but some people won't. You can watch them and see if they get scared."

"Yeah!" This got him. He seemed delighted with the idea that he might catch others being scared while he stayed cool and calm.

So, maybe watching the reactions of others - fear, delight, impatience, etc. may be another skill to be honed while in Disneyland. We shall see!

New Parade in Town

2008-07-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

My son called me at work today very excited about something.

"Mom, do you know they have a new parade at Disneyland?"

He went on to say it had Cars and Sully and Woody and lots of other guys in it, but no Green Men (toy soldiers that were in the Block Party parade). He had clicked on a link in his favorites and seen a video of it and says we really have to go to Disneyland. He is right, of course.

It is called the Pixar Play Parade, and looks similar to the Block Party in that it is high energy with fun music and features Pixar characters. Our kids loved Block Party and so I am sure Play Parade will be a huge hit with them, too. Can't wait for that "someday" to happen!

Below is a picture of our Boy Wonder shaking his booty before the Block Party parade during the warm up activities hosted by the Green Men.

Feeling the Disney Magic

2008-07-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

A couple nights ago, after a day where I had desperately searched for good deals to get us to Disneyland, our 3-year old Princess said, "Mama I want to go to Disneyland so I can meet Bambi and Thumper." (Bambi is not a big story in our household, so I can only assume she was looking through old books earlier in the day.) Wife told her that those were characters in a book, but that you didn't usually see them in Disneyland.

Her 6-year-old brother reminded us of the Magic Hat at the Disneyland Hotel - and how wishes really can come true. On our last day at Disneyland the last time we were there, as he walked under the Magic Hat, he wished he could meet some characters he'd never seen before. He was LOVING getting autographs. Well, in amazing Disney fashion, we ran into about 5 or 6 characters he'd not yet met, so he was thrilled.

A few minutes later, the Princess was off to bed, and I sat quietly by my son's side as he snuggled into his own bed. He looked at me very seriously and said, "Some things aren't really magic, but I think Disneyland really is magic." With tears in my eyes that my son could still feel the wonder 2 years after his last trip, I had to agree, "Yes, I think Disneyland is magic, too."

What's New?- Toy Story Mania

2008-07-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Wow - what a slacker, right? First post in over one month! Well, guess that is what happens when a student is out of school for the summer :) I have been busy working at my regular job and dreaming of our next Disneyland vacation, but not actually going on anything resembling a vacation. Hey - budgets are tight all around, and when you are a student with a family to support....well, you get the idea. We will be doing some fun local things in August and saving our money for a big Disneyland bash sometime in the next year. Maybe after the bar exam? (Although I have heard that "brain dead" will be my state of mind for at least a couple of weeks afterwards.)

So, what's new at the Disneyland Resort? Toy Story Mania opened to the public in Disney's California Adventure on Tuesday, June 24th.

The reviews on this attraction, which is an interactive ride through carnival games with Woody and Friends, are really great. This is similar to the Buzz Lightyear attraction in Disneyland where you help Buzz defeat the Evil Emporer Zurg by shooting at targets. I have read a few reviews calling the attraction "addictive" as riders want to play over and over again to beat their friend's and own personal best scores.

Lines are reported to be fairly long - I've seen reports of 45 minutes to over 2 hours - so if you are planning on going, sounds like first thing in the morning and the end of the day are your best bets. There is no FastPass hooked up at this time.

For an in depth review of Toy Story Mania, check out this article. This sounds like a "Do Not Miss" attraction to me! I can't wait to experience it for myself!

Disneyland Family Vacation Word Cloud

2008-06-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

I did this on my other blog, and figured it would be even more fun here, with all the Disneyland-related words compiled into a piece of art. I think my favorite combination is "love magic" - that comes close to saying it all!

created at TagCrowd.com

A Piece of Disneyland via a Garage Sale

2008-06-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

Boy Wonder had a great time garage-saling with us this past weekend. He took $2.50, got a ton of stuff, and still came home with money. He is quite the bargain-hunter.

Look what he brought home to me as a surprise while he and Wife were out shopping the sales while Gardener Girl and I were working in the yard:

This is perfect, because we visited twice while all of the 50th Anniversary decorations were up in Disneyland.

Wife found this one for herself and it is proudly being displayed on her car even as I write:

I have to admit, mine is not on my car since I already have a Stitch one on my antenna, but I have promised Boy Wonder that I will find a very special place for it - possibly in the new garden I've been working on, and which is now boasting a newly built sandbox :) If you'd like to see pictures, check them out on Wife's blog!

Disneyland Scrapbooking Tips

2008-05-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Wow - sorry to have been away for so long. Just finished up finals near the middle of the month and have been trying to relax a bit. Not that with a full time job, and two-kids there is really much of that to be had, but still, the dream is alive :)

Today I thought I would share a few scrapbooking tips from someone who used to LOVE to do vacation scrapbooks. I was not the scrapbooker in our family, but the exception to this rule was vacation scrapbooks. I LOVE reliving vacations, so really enjoy doing our vacation scrapbooks. That was before children, and before law school. Now - scrapbooking is a distant memory, but I dream I will return to it someday. I still often look at and do things as if I was going to scrapbook.

What do I do?
First - take pictures of signs that identify places - airport, hotel, attractions at Disneyland, restaurants..etc. That way, when you later go through photos, it is easy to put one of these photos in as a reference to where you were. These can end up in the title to a section or page of your scrapbook, or slideshow (I know many of you do slideshows!)

Next, pick up brochures, menus (The paper ones you get to keep - the restaurant workers will look at you funny if you try to keep the laminated ones!), business cards, ribbons from gifts, special labels from souvenirs, a fastpass, maps, etc... These are great for either "hard copy" scrapping - where you actually cut, trim and glue the objects into your scrapbook, or for scanning to be used digitally. These make unique elements, plus really help you remember what your trip was like. Sometimes you will not want to use the entire object, but maybe just the logo from it, or a section of it, or use it as a background to place photos on top of...it all depends on the object and your own personal style.

I find that the more of these kinds of special objects I fit into my scrapbook, the more uniquely "mine" it feels. Plus, it is a lot of fun to go through all of the things I collected a month or two after the trip. Our kids still love going through our box of things I collected from 2 years ago. (Something tells me THAT scrapbook is never gonna happen.) It's all about making and displaying your memories, so collect the things that might have meaning to you, no matter what odd looks you get from those around you!

Disneyland PhotoPass Share

2008-05-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

This is a message from a friend (you know who you are -and thanks!) that some of you might find worthwhile!

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Oh my Goodness!

Next time you get to Disneyland you totally have to sign up! Basically, they have photographers all over the park that take your photo. They give you a little card with a code on it that you use at each photographer. In some places (the entrance gate, the partners statue and the castle) they can add a cute little graphic of Tinkerbell. At Haunted Mansion they can add 2 hitch hiking ghosts to the photo, and in California Adventure they can add Stitch busting out of the ground.

Anyway, you get all these photos taken and when you get home from the trip, you punch in your code numbers and then all your photos that were taken appear online! You can edit them all and add fun stamps to them with the date, etc or fun borders. If the photographer takes your photo with a character, you can even add their signature to the photo. They are wicked expensive though- a 5x7 is $12.95!! The other option is to order a CD of all the images, which is $100. Which really isn't that bad considering how much it is per photo.

But I didn't have the money for that, so over at www.disboards.com I joined in on a photopass share (I'm actually hosting my second one now!) and that person sets up an account, and people can join in. They add their card codes to that account, edit them all and everyone splits the cost of the CD. Then when the CD arrives, the person hosting it makes copies of the CD's and mails it to everyone. So I ended up only having to pay $10!

Anyway, the CD also includes the copyright release, so you are free to make as many copies as you want, etc.

Either way, it's something new about Disney that we learned about, and we're loving having all these fun photos!

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Seems like a great deal and lots of fun, even if you don't do the share. It seems that sometimes shares are harder to find than others.

Disneyland Churros

2008-04-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to state for the record that Disneyland churros are undoubtedly the best ever! The family and I bought some churros this weekend at our local science center, and though they looked similar to those in Disneyland, they were so far inferior that they should not have been able to call themselves churros. Although they were disappointing to eat, but they did bring back happy Disnyeland memories, which is always a treat. Next time you are in Disneyland, really savor the churros - the taste/texture/quality cannot be beat!

Misc. Disneyland Updates

2008-04-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

Disneyland is getting a new monorail system. It's shiny and sleek! I love shiny objects! *grin* Darkbeer, a Theme Park Reporter and wonderful photographer, has posted some great photos on his Smugmug page: http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/4776431_gdptu#283433640_vpTZj

Toy Story Mania, a new attraction in California Adventure will be opening in June, possibly early in the month, according to rumors. There is an interesting "sneak peak" story from the OC Register from March here:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ride-games-disney-2001366-game-story.

I'm sitting at home with rain falling outside, and dreaming about how nice it will be in Anaheim in June :)

Disneyland Area Hotel Comparisons

2008-04-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

OK, I have started on my spreadsheet comparing top Disneyland area hotels/motels. I have 9 criteria that I am tracking, including things like if the facility has a refrigerator, its own shuttle to Disneyland (I prefer not to use the ART -Anaheim Resort Transit - system; I am just not a huge fan of buses. Some people may love the ART.), walking distance to Disneyland and on-site laundry facilities.(Important with babies and small children! Let me know if there is something in particular that you like to know when you are hotel hunting and I will see about adding it, though I must admit, my spreadsheet is already pretty full!

I'm not sure when I will get this done or how I will share it, but you can bet I will be plugging away in my spare time.

New Disneyland Family Vacation Web Site

2008-04-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring! I can tell it is spring because the last few weeks have been filled with sunshine, rain, hail, clouds, snow, and then more sun....often within about 45-minutes! Also - my allergies, and those of people around me - are going nuts. Lots of sneezing, sniffling and watery eyes, but thankfully, not because of colds, for the most part. If you haven't been reading my blog long, or haven't come over from my Adventures of Law School Mama blog, then you may have just figured out by my weather description that I do not live near Disneyland. It is probably because I don't live in Southern California that I love dreaming about trips and figuring out all of the ins and outs of planning the absolute best Disneyland vacation for my family whenever we can go.

I took my dreaming a bit farther, and have created a web site, Disneyland Family Vacation, to help people plan their dream vacation to Disneyland, too. On the site is a lot of the type of info people are looking for when they first start planning a vacation to Disneyland - things like info about hotels, ticket prices, best times of the year to visit, attractions and more. Many of the best travel tips will still be posted here, but the web site should serve as another tool for anyone wanting more specifics about Disneyland vacation planning.

So, please visit my site, tell your friends, and I hope you find it useful and enjoyable. Feel free to post comments here, or via the link on my web site.

Off-Resort Hotels - Where do you compromise?

2008-04-11T09:11:00.001-07:00

(Please note, this was orginally posted inadvertently on my Adventures of Law School Mama Blog.I left it there, but wanted to post it here, where it really belongs, too.)

I was researching off-resort hotels recently and was struck by how difficult it is to find everything that *I* want in a hotel if I am not going to stay at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels. It may be a while before we can afford to stay on the resort - or even off the resort - but it is fun to dream! I actually really enjoy reading about hotels and what others think about each one. Strange? Nah, no more strange that people's fascination with Dancing with the Stars. Vicarious living, right?

Anyway, the things that are important to me are a refrigerator, microwave, comfy beds, good pool for the kids, relative quiet and either within easy walking distance of Disneyland or with its own dedicated shuttle that runs frequently and stays on schedule. Oh, and do I even need to say that it needs to be CLEAN? I would also enjoy a free breakfast and a visually pleasing setting. Wow....I am asking for a lot! By the time I pay for all of that....could I be at Paradise Pier? Maybe, depends on when I want to go, availability, and special deals that are happening.

What else to consider? Things that you might not think about - is there renovation happening? How frequently are the elevators out of order? Are there smoking rooms and how well are smoking areas isolated from the rest of the hotel? Is freeway noise a problem? Oh - and is it really a hotel or a motel? Does the bathroom/closet area act as a buffer between the sleeping area and the main corridor or will people be walking right by your bed, yelling to each other at all hours, separated only by a thin wall and the window, possibly with a loud air conditioner in it?

So much to consider. I am thinking about putting out a chart of the top 20 or so hotels/motels near Disneyland and whether or not they have the amenities most important to me. It will make future decisions easier for us to make, and maybe you, too!

Laptop on Vacation?

2008-04-02T15:04:00.000-07:00

Last time we went to Disneyland, we knew we would be taking a ton of digital photos. How to store them all? We could have bought another card - or three - or - just brought along the laptop to download them onto after each day. That is exactly what we did! That way, at the end of each day, we knew our pictures were safe, so just in case the camera was lost, at least we would still have most of our pictures.

It was nice to have the laptop, too. My Wife was able to update her blog, and send off a few emails. We also had it as a backup for watching DVD's. With laptops becoming lighter all the time, and so many of us being so attached to them, I wonder how many others are toting their computer with them on vacation?

While I see and enjoyed the advantages myself, this could be a danger because it may let too much of the "real world" seep in on your Disneyland vacation. I don't think Walt would have approved! Disneyland is an escape - a perfect world - not sure my laptop belongs there!

Ask a Cast Member!

2008-04-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

A friend of ours was visiting Disneyland this past week and on her blog gave thanks to a friend who had recommended using the FastPass system. I was pretty sure this friend had been to Disneyland in the past year or so, and never thought to mention FastPass to her. I figured she knew! Then I got to thinking about this. Even people who have been to Disneyland several times have not done everything, seen everything, or know about everything. This is especially true for families with young children who have their hands full just keeping track of the kids! Others get into a pattern of doing the same attractions, maybe even in the same order, and don't necessarily notice if something new has appeared.

Where am I going with this? Ah, right.....my point is that if you do notice something you don't understand, or have a question about anything, don't simply wonder - ask a cast member! They are there to help us all have the best experience we can - and they are a wealth of information! See a FastPass sign and don't understand how to use it, or the advantages it can provide? Just ask! Of course, be polite, and do remember to say "thank you." Cast members deal with a lot of tired, cranky people by the end of the day, so your smile and kind words can mean a lot.

When I was a kid, I loved going on the Pirates of the Caribbean (still do!), but I wondered how people got to eat inside the ride. What had they done to deserve such special treatment? I finally asked a cast member and found out that The Blue Bayou Restaurant's dining area was what I was seeing. That was the place for me! I still love it there!

You never know what time-saving tip, shortcut, advice or trivia you might gain if you just ask!

It's a Tower of Terror Thing

2008-03-06T14:51:00.000-08:00

Twice a week I work at in internship and park my car in a public garage. The garage has a great elevator - it's glass, so you can see outside as you ride. I've noticed that I really enjoy riding it, and the other day it hit me - as I look out onto the city and the elevator suddenly drops me down to the ground floor - it totally reminds me of the Tower of Terror in CA Adventure. I am happy to report the drop is not nearly as sudden, or as far, but it's just enough to remind me of the Big Thrill of the crazy-anticipation and stomach-lurching drop on the Tower. Fun!

Enjoying the Magic as an Adult

2008-02-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Wow - life has been busy, but never too busy to think about Disneyland, or work it into a conversation! I had lunch with a well-known attorney in my field of interest yesterday. Everything was going very well - good conversation, shared interests....and somehow the conversation turned to a trip she'd made to Disneyland. We shared a few ride experiences, and she admitted that she is not a big fan. We compared our history with Disneyland - age when first went, amount of times visited and such, and came up with a theory that if you visit when you are really young, you are more likely to be in love with it. (Although my Wife didn't go for the first time until after she was 30, and was quickly hooked!) She first went as a rebellious pre-teen and thought she was "way too cool" to like Disneyland....so that set the stage. I went a lot as a child since we lived close by for a couple years, plus had family in the area that we visited even after we moved away from California. We did find common ground in the joy that we both felt when taking our kids to Disneyland. There is nothing like experiencing the Magic through the eyes and hearts of your own children.

Random Disneyland Fun

2008-01-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't checked out the deals being offered by the Disneyland Resort, there is currently a great offer of a 5-day package for the price of a 3-day package. Vacations must be booked by April 21 and travel completed by April 28. Check out the link above for more details.

Want a little random Disneyland fun? If you'd like to "remember the magic," here is a link to a video of part of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage attraction. This is undoubtedly a home video, and of questionable legality to film and post, but the quality is good, and the intentions are good. So, enjoy! (If you haven't been on this attraction, you may not want to view this "spoiler" since a video can never compare to the real thing.)

OK, last tidbit for today. If you are spending a few days in the Anaheim area, you may want to spend a day at Knott's Berry Farm. This is a fun theme park featuring areas like the Old West, The Boardwalk, Wild Water Wilderness and Camp Snoopy. There are LOTS of thrill rides, including one of the world's longest and tallest wooden roller coaster, and some fun family shows. If you are traveling with young kids, Camp Snoopy will be the area they can enjoy, but be aware that much of the rest of the park is filled with rides they will not be able to go on. Still, there should be plenty to keep you busy for a good portion of a day.

Knott's Berry Farm now has its own resort hotel, so you could plan on staying there, or just purchase tickets and the bus ride as an add-on to your Disneyland vacation package. If you go to Knott's Berry Farm knowing it is not Disneyland, and appreciating it for it's own unique features, you'll have a great time. Oh, and be sure to get one of their world famous chicken dinners from Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant, and don't forget to spread some boysenberry jam on your biscuit. Boysenberries are the trademark of the Knott's family - and you can be sure their pies, preserves and other berry products are top notch!