OC Family - Moms. Kids. Life. - (Kids and Mice)

Water fun at California Adventure

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:51:00 GMT

We have annual passes for Disney and I like to take full advantage by trying to visit at least once a week. My husband has had passes for over 20 years and I've had one for about 10 years.

It's funny how there are many things that one can overlook until you become a parent. One of the areas I always bypassed at California Adventure until I became a Mom, was Bug's Land and Flick's Fun Fair. What a difference a couple of years make!! It has become a family favorite and a must visit when we head over to California Adventure.

When we visited last week, my children begged to play in the water area at Flik's Fun Fair, Princess Dot's Puddle Park. I was not prepared at all to let them get soaked but I let them anyway. They had such a great time and I know that we will back this summer often to cool off. There is also another spray area at the entrance to Bug's Land and adjacent to Bountiful Farms that was also a big hit with my kiddos. I believe it's known as the "irrigation station". It is seriously fun and my kids were squealing in delight. The kids had a great time and I'm excited that I won't have to spend money on a pool membership or water park when I can just make the most of my passes and have the kids splash around at California Adventure.

I now know to be prepared and bring a couple of towels, sunscreen, bathing suits and a change of clothes. If you are an annual passholder or will be making a trip to California Adventure soon, make sure to take advantage of the water areas with your little ones. They are going to love it!!

To read about Aracely's adventures, head over to Daytrippingmom.com

Food and Wine Festival at DCA

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:07:00 GMT

Disney's California Food Festival will return to California Adventure for six weeks daily from April 16 to May 31st.

*photo courtesy of Go Anaheim

This year's festival will celebrate the Art of Flavor. Some of the events include cooking schools, plenty of cooking demonstartions, and everything you wanted to know about wine. There will be various wine seminars each day led by a Disneyland somelier.

One of the events that I'm really looking forward to is the Jr. Chef program. My daughter is eager to learn how to cook and bake and I can't wait to have her participate. The Jr. Chef programs take place mostly on the weekends.

I know it's still a couple of weeks away but I couldn't wait to share and allow you to mark the dates on your calendar. Oh and don't forget that today is the first day of Captain EO's limited return to Disneyland.

Rainy days at Disneyland

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:42:00 GMT

Have you ever wanted to feel what it would be like to rent Disneyland for the day?

If you have, then you have to visit on a rainy day. My family spent the day at Disneyland this past Monday in the middle of the storm and had a blast! The rain was beating down and yet nobody noticed because everyone was busy having too much fun. Grab a raincoat/poncho and be prepared to enjoy a day when the park is empty and you can ride your favorite ride twice in a row.

If you don't mind getting wet be prepared to be able to do most rides in under 3 hours. My family rode every single ride that was open except for Indiana Jones in under the 3 hour mark and didn't have to wait in line for one ride. Yes, you could even walk on to the Nemo Subs. My family had such a fun time and can't wait to head back on a rainy day. I'm thinking about heading up there today. I hope you can gear up and visit on a rainy day. You might be a little wet but you will be in for quite the treat!

To read about Aracely's Disney adventures head over to Kidsandmice.com. To read about her SoCal adventures head to Daytrippingmom.com

Goofy's Kitchen

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:12:00 GMT

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to celebrate my son Mikey's birthday at Goofy's Kitchen

It was fun from the very first start. We checked in with a very friendly hostess and while we waited we were able to take a family picture with Pluto. The kids were in heaven. We proceeded to be seated and enjoyed a scrumptious buffet(we went for brunch).

The food was delish! The hubby and I absolutely loved the waffles and well the kids loved every single morsel of food. We sat down and a parade of characters kept coming by and giving our family individual attention. It is a stark comparison to meeting a character at the park. Let's face it. Character greeting can sometimes be pretty unpleasant. There is usually a line, one pushy adult and the interaction is very limited.
The experience at Goofy's Kitchen was the complete opposite. The characters interact with the little ones in a take your time kind of pace. It was so much fun!

The kids were able to have their picture taken with Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale and Minnie. My daughter was in princess heaven as she was able to meet Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Mulan. The best part is that she was also able to have a conversation with them. They took their time and the interaction was priceless. The characters were very friendly and posed for many photos. They also seemed to sign at least a dozen autographs.

The buffet servers were fantastic. They kept our drinks refilled and the quality of the food was pretty darn good. As parents we were in heaven. Our children cleaned out their plates and actually hit the buffet line for seconds. It was almost a miracle. We loved their made to order omelettes. Make sure you order one if you head there for lunch.

Almost forgot-Two times an hour there is a little show and the children are able to participate with the Goofy and Pluto. Make sure to bring a camera to capture all of the wonderful memories your little ones will make.Would I recommend this to anyone and everyone? You bet. It was a very special experience and it was worth every penny.It can actually be a good alternative to a birthday party. It can be a little pricey but trust me on this - Your family will enjoy a truly magical experience.

Goofy's Kitchen is located inside the Disneyland Hotel. If you are planning on taking your family Make sure to call ahead for reservations. You can call (714) 781-DINE. You don't want to just show up because you will probably have to wait for some time to find a spot.

Goofy's Kitchen
Disneyland Hotel
Kids under 3 are free.
Kids 3-9- $13.99 for lunch and dinner
Adults $25.00 for brunch and $31.99 for Dinner

Don't forget to use your Annual Pass for a 10/15% discount.

To read about Aracely's Disney adventures head over to Kidsandmice.com. To read about her SoCal adventures head to Daytrippingmom.com

New Year's Eve at Disneyland/DCA

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:45:00 GMT

We love ringing in the New Year at Disneyland and DCA. We have celebrated New Year's Eve at Disneyland and DCA in years past.

Disneyland's New Year's Eve Celebration is a blast. The park is definitely busy and the trams stop running at midnight. In my opinion although it is a busy night, it is one of the best places to ring in the New Year in Southern California.

If you are planning on spending New Year's Eve at Disneyland or DCA here is some updated info:

Disneyland will be open from 8am to 2am. Disney's California Adventure will be open from 10 am to 1pm. Both parks will host countdowns to the New Year.

Disneyland will have the regular fireworks at 9:25 and then the special New Year's Eve Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at 11:30 PM. Also featured is Jump, Jive, Boogie Swing Party Featuring Doc Anello and the Swing Machine at the Plaza Gardens Stage, running shows hourly up through 1 AM.

Over at DCA you'll find several dance parties with different themes. They are each sponsored by Southern California radio stations:

Power 106 New Year's Eve 2009 Dance Party

Hollywood Pictures Backlot

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Super Estrella New Year's Eve 2009 Dance Party

Pacific Wharf Stage

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

104.3 MYfm New Year's Eve 2009 Dance Party

7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Also, DCA will be featuring the last Electrical Parade of the year at 8:45.

If you are planning on heading to either park make sure to arrive early as both parks fill to capacity and they will turn people away at the gate. New Year's Eve at the Disneyland Resort is a fun family extravaganza!

To read about Aracely's Disney adventures head over to Kidsandmice.com. To read about her SoCal adventures head to Daytrippingmom.com

Disney's Electrical Parade is Back!

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:37:00 GMT

Disney's Electrical Parade is back!

We love Disney's Electrical Parade and are excited to share that the parade is playing nightly until January 3rd. The parade will be play nightly starting at 8:45pm. It will be a while before it makes an appearance again. Make sure to catch it if you can. The park will be super busy during the next couple of weeks but DCA is usually not as busy as Disneyland. We are packing a bag and heading over tonight. Hope to see you there.

My love affair with Disney's California Adventure

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:48:00 GMT

Disneyland is a classic and untouchable. There is no debating that. However, when looking at California Adventure- it's important to not compare it to its iconic next door neighbor. When you look at DCA as a whole, by itself - it is a really impressive little theme park and one that I just happen to be in love with.

Here are the top ten reasons why I think Disney's California Adventure is a fantastic place for the kiddos and why I am madly in love with DCA.

This is my favorite during a hot summer day. The kiddos can get wet-We love the Irrigation Station and Princess Dot Splash Pad in the Flick's Fun Fair Area. It is the perfect spot on a hot spring/summer day.
I hate waiting in line. I mean really who does?? I love that the attractions in Flick's Fun Fair have minimal waiting lines and are a big hit with my kiddos. They love every single ride - especially Flick's Fun Flyers.
If your kids love the Disney Channel's cartoons then they will absolutely love The Playhouse Disney Show- my kids LOVE it!!
Who loves Free stuff? I do- I do!! I love that you can get a fresh warm tortilla from the Mission Tortilla Factory tour and a sourdough taste from Boudin Bakery.My kids love the fresh tortillas and I'm not going to lie, so do I. Here's a little tip- on your birthday pick up a dozen free tortillas from the Mission Tortilla Factory. Just show them your birthday pin and you are set!
They have an amazing baby center. Not as big as Disneyland's but still great.
DCA is home to Disney's Electrical Parade. Love it. It's new and improved and a must see!!
They are home to three amazing shows that your kiddos will love-MuppetVison 3D, It's tough to be a bug and Aladdin.
In my opinion, DCA is home to one of the BEST(if not the best!!) attractions in the Disneyland Resort, Toy Story Mania.
They have a pretty spiffy Ferris Wheel. You can either pick a gondola that moves or is stationary.
I love that I can park in the Downtown Disney lot ( free for 3 hours)- walk over to the DCA entrance at the Grand Californian Hotel in Downtown Disney(next to Sephora) , spend a couple of hours there and then I don't have to deal with taking a tram back to the parking lot. I love love that I can do this, especially on a crowded day.

DCA is in the middle of a major expansion - which includes a new water show, a Little Mermaid Ride and sure to be a big hit with my son- A thrill ride- featuring the characters from CARS!! The expansion should be complete by 2012.

There are so many other things I love about DCA but I tried to limit myself to my favorite 10. Next time that you are heading over to the Disneyland Resort make sure to show DCA some love ! It deserves it

photo courtesy of Katie Simpson

To read about Aracely's Disney adventures head over to Kidsandmice.com. To read about her SoCal adventures head to Daytrippingmom.com

Dole pineapple whips.. your favorite Disneyland treat?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:25:00 GMT

Disneyland and fun treats go hand in hand. I think if you are an annual passholder you have pretty much tried every restaurant or stand in the park. I wanted to share with you my favorite places at both parks and also want to hear from you about your favorite treat/places. What is your favorite Disneyland treat?

Here are my top picks.

Top picks for Disneyland
1. Tastiest and filling treat- This is a seasonal item- The yummy turkey legs!
You can find the delish turkey legs in Frontierland. The cart is usually located directly across from the Mark Twain Landing and next to Rancho Del Zocalo Mexican restaurant. They sell for $7 and the carts only take cash. You can also find them by the Matterhorn entrance. They are very filling and make a great lunch!

2. Favorite dessert- Funnel Cakes! - The Hungry Bear Restaurant
Disneyland's fruit topped funnel cakes are out of this world! You will love them. I also love pretty much anything that The Hungry Bear serves. It's a great place to relax and catch a bite to eat in a beautiful setting(you can watch the ducks and boats go by- it's lovely in the evening- perfect for date night! ). The Hungry Bear Restaurant is located in Critter Country - you can't miss it!

3. Favorite restaurant- Rancho Del Zocalo- Pretty good Mexican Food!
I love Rancho Del Zocalo. As a girl that grew up on fresh homemade Mexican food - I have to say that I find the food at Rancho Del Zocalo to be quite tasty. My favorite is their enchilada plate. It's really good. A little on the pricey side-(around $9-13) but the food is great, excellent seating and one of my favorite places to hang out on a cold night-wonderful heating lamps! My born in Mexico parents love the carne asada plate.

4. Favorite drink-Mint Juleps(non-alcoholic)- Mint Julep Bar
I love love the Mint Juleps that are found at the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square. They go for around 2.50 and they are a yummie and refreshing treat. The Mint Julep Bar is located across from the New Orleans Square train station.

5. Tastiest and least expensive way to feed a family- Redd Rockett's Pizza Port in Tomorrowland.You can buy a whole pizza for $31.99- not bad for a theme park. It's a good way to feed the family and the pizza is actually really good! The Hawaiian is one of my fav's!

6. Soup to die for!- Clam chowder sourdough bowl- Royal Street Veranda
The soup at the Royal Street Veranda is amazing. A little pricey($9) but so worth it. The Royal Street Veranda is located in New Orleans Square. It's that little place across from the parasol cart and visible while you wait in line for Pirate's of the Carribean.

7. Last but not least- my absolute favorite treat- Dole Pineapple Whip
I love love DPW. It is a must in the summer. Yummie. You can buy one at the entrance to Adventureland, right next to the Enchanted Tiki Room,

Top picks for Disney's California Adventure

1. So good but so bad for you treat- Full Throttle Fries- Taste Pilot's Grill
These frieds are amazing. Perfect for sharing and incredible. The fries are loaded with cheese, chilli, onions, tomatoes and sour cream. The downer- probably not good for the waistline or your heart!

2. Best Hot Dogs- Award Wieners
I love the hot dogs at Award Wieners. The hotdogs come with chips and the combo's are under $6. A tasty and reasonable treats. Award Wieners is located directly across from Playhouse Disney in the Hollywood Back Lot

3. A refreshing treat- Schmoozie's Smoothies!
I'm all about fun drinks and Schmoozie's Smoothies are made to order and absolutely delish! You can find Schmoozie's Smoothies in the Hollywood Back lot- Directly across from the animation building

4. Favorite Ice Cream- Burr-Bank Ice Cream-
My family loves the ice cream at DCA. It's less crowded than it's Disneyland counterpart and just as tasty! You have to try their sundaes- Delish! Burr-Bank Ice Cream is located near the entrance of Disney's California Adventure.

You can read more of Aracely's Southern California Adventures at Daytrippingmom.com and her Disney adventures at KidsandMice.com

Disnelyand/DCA freebies!

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:13:00 GMT

Who doesn't love free stuff? Free Disney stuff is even sweeter! Make sure to try or pick up one of the following freebies next time you head over to the resort

1. Pick up a free pin from City Hall in Disneyland, DCA guest services or the information booth. You can get a Happy Birthday pin, Happy Anniversary,Just Married,Family Reunion,1st Visit,Happily Ever After and the I'm Celebrating button which could be used anytime!
2. Pick up a fresh, warm and delicious tortilla from the Mission Tortilla Factory tour in the Pacific Wharf section of DCA. If it's your birthday make sure to pick up your free dozen.
3. Try a taste of Sourdough bread from The Boudin Bakery tour in DCA. It's located right across from the Mission Tortilla Factory Tour.
4. Animation Academy- Head over to DCA's Hollywood Backlot and try your drawing skills at The Disney Animation building. You are provided with drawing pencils and pads and taught by Disney animators a series of simple steps that enable you to create your own character drawings. You can take your drawings home or better yet- ask nicely and usually the Disney Animator will be more than willing to give you their fresh character sketch.
5. Head over to Disneyland's Tomorrowland and ride Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters. While you ride you will have your photo taken and at the end of the ride you can e-mail your Astro Blaster score and photo home. It's a fun and free souvenir!
6. Free stickers - make sure to head over to Toontown and meet Mickey and Minnie. You will receive a free sticker when you meet them.
7. Free beads at New Orleans Square- Head on over to New Orleans Square when the bands are playing. The beads are usually thrown out by cast members and are a fun treat. Best of all they are Free!!
8. Last but not least- My daughter's Favorite- Head over to Autopia and pick up a Free License. This is sometimes a hit or miss.

You can read more of Aracely's Southern California Adventures at Daytrippingmom.com and her Disney adventures at KidsandMice.com

The Merriest Place on Earth

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:16:00 GMT

I absolutely love the holidays and it is my absolute favorite time of the year at the Disneyland Resort. From now through Jan. 3, 2010, the holidays shine more brightly than ever at Disneyland. The holiday season is in full effect and this holiday season, you will be able to enjoy the return of special holiday versions of “it’s a small world” and Haunted Mansion, along with the beautiful holiday décor, “A Christmas Fantasy” parade and a nightly snowfall on Main Street. California Adventure will also be celebrating the season with beautiful decorations and the return of the Electrical Parade on Dec 18th.

I can't wait to head to the park tomorrow. I want to hear from you. Do you love the Resort during the holidays? What is your favorite thing about Merriest Place on Earth? Do you think it's too crowded? I would love to hear from you!

Disneyland Parking Tips

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:49:00 GMT

Photo courtesy of Suz Broughton

I love going to Disneyland and DCA, as you have probably figured out. The one thing that I do not like is having to deal with parking. I usually don't mind parking in the Mickey and Friends parking lot(the big structure) unless it is a busy day. On busy days parking and then riding the tram to the entrance of the resort can feel like a bad nightmare. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people almost scuffle over their place in the "stroller line".

The stroller line is found on the very first car of the tram and the very last car. It allows you to ride without having to fold your stroller. It is very popular and the wait for a spot in the first or last car is usually long. In fact the wait on a busy days for a tram can take a long long time. It is definitely not what you want to be doing when you have tired and cranky kids and have to be around other cranky people. It's just not a good combination.

Here are a couple of alternatives to parking in the Mickey and Friends parking lot($12.00) and taking the tram.

My favorite option for parking on nights when I know that I will be spending less than 3 hours is to park in Downtown Disney. If I'm heading over for the evening- I will usually park in the Downtown Disney lot. Parking is free for the first 3 hours. When I park in the DD parking lot I either take the monorail to Disneyland or walk through the Grand Californian Hotel to the DCA hotel entrance. It's easy, painless and only a short walk.

My second option is to park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Take the tram on your way in and at the end of the night, walk the path back to the structure. It's a nice walk and on a busy night you will get to your car faster \

The third option would be to park in the Mickey and Friends parking structure. Take the tram in but on the way out, only have the driver in your party head on the tram(they will usually be able to squeeze right on to a tram). The rest of the party will head over to the 15 minute parking on Harbor blvd(just follow the walkway to Harbor Blvd- it's the parking lot on the right hand side) and be picked up from there. This is what we usually do on a busy day.

You can read about Aracely's adventures at Daytrippingmom.com and her Disney adventures at KidsandMice.com

Loving Disneyland on a busy day

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:13:00 GMT

Visiting Disneyland is always a fun experience unless it is super busy and I have to wait in lines. I hate waiting in lines... well really, I don't know anyone that likes waiting in one. I try to avoid them at all costs and after many visits, I have discovered that I can have fun with my kiddos without waiting in line, even on the busiest of days.

One of the first things that I like to do on a busy day is catch a ride on the Disneyland Railroad. It's the perfect place to people watch and you can get a pretty good idea of how truly busy the park is by riding it all the way around. I like to make a game of it by having the kiddos and point out the different attractions, hidden Mickey's, characters, etc..
The Enchanted Tiki Room is a must visit on a busy day. Not only is this show timeless and fun, it is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy being able to sit and air conditioning on a hot summer day. A visit to the Tiki Room is never complete without a Dole Whip. Make sure to grab one and share with the kids.
I love having the kiddos enjoy the play areas in the park. Tom Sawyer's Island and Tarzan's Treehouse are perfect for the older kids, while the play area in Toontown is a big hit with the little ones.
Head over to Tomorrowland and explore Innoventions. There are a variety of activities for the entire family to enjoy. You will find everything from Dance Dance Revolution Stations to building and viewing your own fireworks show.
Take the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough. You will be able to enjoy the story of Sleeping Beauty, told by a series of illustrated storybook pages and 3D animation scenes. It's a must visit if you have a princess fan in the family!
Sit back and enjoy Honey, I Shrunk the Audience 3D show. This air conditioned show is the perfect place to sit down and catch a breather.

There are so many other things to do on a busy day that I think I will write a second part to the post. I want to hear from you. What are some of your favorite things to do on a busy day?

You can read about Aracely's Disney adventures here and you also find her blogging about her SoCal adventures here.

Disneyland Annual Passes - Which one is right for you?

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:42:00 GMT

I was chatting with a good friend about annual passes. He is looking to buy passes for his family and was asking for my opinion. Which pass should I get?

I have had the Premium Pass for over a decade. It works for my family for a number of reasons. We live about a 20 minute drive from the park, we have quite a few family members that live outside the area and like to come down to Disneyland during the holidays, we are big Disney Geeks, we hate crowds and we love the freedom it provides of visiting any day of the year without restrictions.

Here is the scoop on the Premium Annual Passport:

• 365 consecutive days of admission to both theme parks.
• 10% merchandise discount at select locations throughout the Disneyland® Resort
• Exclusive benefits at select Downtown Disney® District locations
• Free annual parking pass for the Mickey & Friends parking structure. ($79 value)
• 10-15% dining discount at select Disneyland® Resort restaurants
• Special rates at Disneyland Resort Hotels

The Premium Passes are very expensive. The pass is $429, however you can use the payment plan option, guests will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket - $72-upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

If you don't want to splurge on the Premium- I highly recommend the Deluxe Annual Passport. Most of my friends and family have this pass.

Here is the scoop on the Deluxe Annual Passport:

315 days of admission. Most Holidays and some peak season Saturdays are blocked out.
10% dining discount at select Disneyland Resort Restaurants
Special Rates at Disneyland Resort Hotels
Parking is NOT included- $79 for parking.

The Deluxe Annual Passport, is a little pricey at $289 . However it does offer many admission days and if you plan on using your pass frequently, it could be your best option. As with the Premium Pass, you can use the payment plan option and you will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket -$72-upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

The other two options are more affordable options but have many blackout dates.

Here is the scoop on the Southern California Annual Passport:

227 days of admission. Most of these days are off peak season. All Holidays and Saturdays are blocked out.
10% dining discount at select Disneyland Resort Restaurants
Special Rates at the Disneyland Resort Hotels
Parking is not included -$79 for parking pass
This pass differs from the Southern California Select in that Sundays are allowed. The pass is $194, and as with the other passes you can use the payment plan option. You will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket - $72-upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

The least expensive of the passes is the Southern California Select Annual Pass. Here is the scoop on the pass.

176 days of admission. This is a weekday pass only! All Holidays, weekends and most peak times at the park are blocked off.
10% Dining discount at select Disneyland Resort restaurants
Special Rates at the Disneyland Park Hotels
Parking Pass is not included
The pass is $144 and as with the other passes you can use the payment plan option. You will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket-$72- upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

My friend decided to purchase the Deluxe Annual Passport since he wants to bring his kiddos down on Saturdays. I want to hear from you. What pass do you have? Do you love it? Do you use it often?

If you would like to read more about Aracely's Disney adventures head over here and here.