Disney Sunday: More Fun than you’d Think!

Credit: Daytrippingmom

Happy Sunday everyone! Spring Break is right around the corner for some and for others it is happening this week or next. Disneyland and DCA tend to get a bit crowded this time of the year and the waiting for attractions can take hours.

On this week’s Disney Sunday post I wanted to write about having fun at the park without ever getting on a ride or even catching a show and never having to wait in line. We visit the parks often and have had learned to have a great time without riding anything or even catching a show. Want to know how? This is what we do when the park gets a little busy and the kids just want to play and burn some energy.

Disney California Adventure

Disney Animation Building

The Disney Animation building located in the Hollywood Back Lot, is home to a few interactive exhibits. Head over to DCA’s Hollywood Backlot and try your drawing skills inside The Disney Animation building. The Disney Animation Academy provides you with drawing pencils and pads. You are then 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. You can also check out the Sorceror’s Workshop which has three interactive play areas. Find out your inner Disney character or voice one of your favorite Disney characters. Honestly, you can spend quite a few hours here.

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail found is located in the Golden State section of DCA across from Grizzly River Run. This recreation area allows the kiddos to run wild, have a great time and enjoy being able to romp around. This area allows your kiddos to walk and swing on rope bridges, climb, slide down tires and walk one of the many pathways. My kiddos love sliding down the slide and exploring the entire area. Be prepared for some tired kiddos! It is the perfect place to release some energy!

Princess Dot Puddle Park

Princess Dot Puddle Park is the perfect place to head on a hot day. Pack a bathing suit, towel and an extra set of clothes and head over for this splash area located inside of a “bug’s land”. Prepare yourself for a soaking good time! We try to hit this area often in the summer. Let the kiddos run through mists, sprinklers and water fountains. Sit on a popsicle stick chair and enjoy watching your little ones have a great time. In the summer sometimes this is the only thing the kiddos want to do.

Disneyland

Goofy’s Playhouse

Goofy’s playhouse is located inside of Toontown and is the perfect place for toddlers and preschoolers to release some of that boundless energy. This interactive playhouse allows the kiddos to be hands on and explore Goofy’s home. My kiddos love playing outside and the inside is just as fun. Let the kids climb all over furniture or head outside to climb around and slip and slide.

Donald’s Boat

Donald’s Boat is also located inside of Toontown and allows the kiddos run around and explore the inside and outside of boat. Walk around and let the kiddos ring bells, stir the boat and help trigger the water spouts on deck. Sure to be loads of fun especially for the tiny ones.

Disneyland: Chip n Dale’s Treehouse

The third play area inside of Toontown is the perfect place to allow your itty bitty to walk around and explore the surroundings. Climb to the top of the tree and enjoy a great view!

Pirate’s Lair Tom Sawyer’s Island

I have to admit that my kids have been a bit too young for exploring here. However I think they are now the perfect age to head out and spend an afternoon climbing and exploring Tom Sawyer’s Island. Older kiddos will love walking across rope bridges, climbing and digging to find a treasure. It is the perfect place to head out with the family and discover one of the many trails!

Tarzan’s Treehouse

Located in Adventureland, this 80 foot tree will take you to Tarzan’s home high above. Climb up and be prepared for a great time. You can also explore all of Jane’s collection in an interactive area near the base of the tree. Be prepared for a work out and some extremely tired kiddos(and parents!)

Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough

Did you know you can walk through Sleeping Beauty’s Castle? Yes you can and the best part is that it is completely air conditioned. Perfect activity on a hot day! Three dimensional displays tell the story of Sleeping Beauty. My kiddos absolutely love walking through the castle. It’s a fun little adventure!

Innovations

Innovations is located in Tomorrowland and is the perfect place to spend an hour or two on a hot day. Walk inside and explore hands on the different technology featured in the exhibits. Explore the Innovations Dream Home or play in one of the five interactive play areas. It’s a great place to learn and discover for the entire family!

Go out and try out one of these places. I promise you will not be disappointed!

Disney Sunday Revisited- Favorite treats and restaurants at the Disneyland Resort

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Both of my kiddos had frenectomies (tongue clipping) on Friday and it slowed us down this weekend along with the weather. I’m hoping to explore some great places next weekend and am really looking forward to spring break.
On this week’s installment of Disney Sunday, I wanted to write about dining at the Disneyland Resort. We are pretty hardcore Disneyland junkies and it would be safe to say that we have pretty much tried every restaurant and stand in the park. With that being said I wanted to share my favorite places at both parks and a want to hear back from you. What’s your favorite place to eat at the park? What is your absolute must have at the parks?

Top picks for Disneyland
1. The super delish key 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 . 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. The Hungry Bear restaurant just underwent a complete revamping and reopened its doors last week. 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 yummy Mexican Food. My family loves Rancho Del Zocalo. I have to say that I find the food at Rancho Del Zocalo to be quite tasty and as a Mexican gal, I’m a little tough to impress when it comes to Mexican food. My favorite is their enchilada plate. It’s 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 tasty and refreshing treat. The Mint Julep Bar is located across from the New Orleans Square train station.

5. The treat that everyone must experience at least once- The corndogs from the red corn dog cart on Main Street.
I think an entire post can be written about the corndogs from the cart on Main Street. They are oh so bad for you, but oh so delicious. If you haven’t tried them, you must have one. You won’t be disappointed. Promise! Just be prepared to wait in line for them. There is always a line for the corndog cart.

6. 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!

7. . 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.

5. My new favorite restaurant- Lucky Fortune

I tried this for the first time early this year and I was surprised at how great their food is. I had one of their bowls and loved the different options that you have to choose from. I also love that there is plenty of shaded seating.

Oh and more thing, if you love a dish at any of the sit down restaurants, make sure to ask your server for the recipe. Most of the time the chef will be more than happy to give you the recipe.

Now it’s your turn. What do you love?

Disney Sundays- Freebies and almost Freebies at the Disneyland Resort.

Hope you are all having a fun and relaxing Sunday. On our new and revamped installment of Disney Sunday I wanted to list a couple of fun and FREE things you can pick up while visiting Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure. Make sure to try or pick up one of the freebies next time you are at the park. Enjoy!!

Always Free

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, just engaged, 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 Disney’s California Adventure. 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. My daughter’s Favorite- Head over to Autopia and pick up a Free License. This is sometimes hit and miss. However, I’ve received one every time I have ridden Autopia.

9. Forgot sunscreen or have a splitting headache? Head over to the first aid station and receive free over the counter medications or sunscreen. This has come in super handy for my family.

Almost Freebies

1. The kiddos always want a souvenir on the way out and I usually oblige by buying the 49 cent heart shaped Minney lollypops that you can find at the kiosks at the end of Main Street or the candy store at DCA.

2. Pressed Pennies- Another great inexpensive souvenir. You can press pennies at the Disneyland Resort with your favorite Disney Characters. Best part it will only cost 50 cents!

3. Free Drink Refills at Rancho el Zocalo or Pizza Port . Purchase a drink and enjoy refills while you enjoy lunch or dinner.

4. Free Coffee Refills when you purchase a cup at Main Street Market House Cafe. Just hold on to your receipt. You don’t need to bring your old cup, just show them your receipt from your earlier purchase and enjoy free refills throughout the day.