my advice - DL during spring break, misc tips

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Hey Erin,
So we're in SoCal and we're going to head to Disneyland and we were wondering if you have any tips. Ride strategy, best place to get tix, etc. We're only going for one day. What's the word on Main Street USA?

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Hey!
Tix online are cheaper, usually...I don't remember if you've been recently or if you'll be there open-close, so forgive me if you already know some of this stuff or if any of it is irrelevant.
It's Spring Break so it's predicted to be pretty crowded all week.
According to the app I have, crowds are supposed to be 9 & 10 out of 10 every day this week - Fri & Sat are the 9s and Wed & Thurs are the 10s. Really not much difference...but I can't recommend the Touring Plans app enough. You can get real time Wait Time updates, which is really helpful.
Use single rider lines when available - you can get on rides way quicker. If you do Carsland, this is especially true for Radiator Springs Racers, which is a supercool new ride - standby line is usually 100+ minutes, but I never waited longer than 25 minutes for single rider. If its not clear, you can ask the cast member at the front of the queue about a single rider line.
Eat a Dole Whip. Eat a corn dog.
The Soundsational parade is my favorite, if you feel like a parade.
If you're there in the morning, Peter Pan first. ALWAYS FIRST. (This is true for most of Fantasyland; if you want to do those attractions, do it first thing in the morning)
Toy Story Midway Mania is always a 45 minute wait. It's worth it.
If you're trying to choose between fireworks and World of Color, do World of Color.
Thunder Mountain Railroad is closed right now, so you don't need to worry about that one.
If you're only going to ride one side of the Matterhorn, do the Tomorrowland side!
The Dapper Dans are my favorite.
If you're there at closing - get in a line a few minutes prior - if you're in line at closing, they have to let you get on the ride.
Good luck!
(Also if it seems overwhelmingly busy, ride the train around a couple times because its awesome, AND Haunted Mansion & Pirates always load fast and rarely have a crazy long wait.)

...Sorry if that's overwhelming. I'm a big Disney nerd. Basically, it's one day. You won't be able to do everything. When I have one day I just figure out what I really really want to do and stick with that. Realistic expectations.
Have a magical day! xoxo

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Thought I'd post a message exchange with one of my old friends from yesterday/today. I'm planning on doing a more thorough tips/tricks post, but this is a good taste of what my Disney advice is like - past midnight after a night of Portlanding (MIKA show + drinks + food), haha.
(This is slightly edited - to take out my own blog reference, fix spelling, and condense superfluous info.)
I hope they have a freakin' awesome time! I did, in Portland - I <3 MIKA and that's one of the first non-Disney things I've said on my Disney blog!

 

These are a few of my favorite apps – Touring Plans!

The only Disney app I need is Touring Plans. I first heard about Touring Plans through their Unofficial Guide books, and through the (best) Disney podcast Mousetalgia. Yes it costs money ($6.95 I believe for a year’s DL/DCA subscription, more if you add WDW). Yes it is absolutely worth it. So much information at your fingertips!

Here’s a sample of some of the information I use most regularly. If you’re familiar with the books, however, you’ll know that they also offer…well, Touring Plans, hence the name. Their website says that their plans can save you hours in line; for me the most helpful information is the crowd calendar and wait time features. There’s even links to restaurant reviews and menus, if you’re hungry in the parks or just trying to plan your trip.

 

In my experience, I feel like the crowd predictions may have been slightly “off” in the past year or so (some days have a lower crowd prediction than it ends up being, it seems), but that’s probably because the Disneyland Resort is so very popular! All of the new additions I’m sure have an effect on crowds (UNDERSTATEMENT). However, I feel like the reported wait times you get is worth the price of the app alone – you can find out (via another user) an attraction’s wait time, or if it’s been closed, without having to make the trek yourself. Also, is it possible that Disney's posted wait times are sometimes...wrong? Their predicted wait times have proven (for me) to be more accurate.

 
For me, knowledge is power. The reason I became such a huge Disney nerd is because I was planning a trip and just…got…so…INTERESTED! I never stopped; now I try to know everything, because why not. This app helps me know (almost) everything, and I love it. Thank you, Touring Plans and The Unofficial Guide! (I would work for you guys in a second if I could. Also their website touringplans.com is pretty great, too.)

It’s especially nice if you’re stuck at home in rainy Washington, just wondering about how the parks are today. Sigh!

Happy Disney Things

I know I said yesterday that I’d write about seeing Alice comedies at the Paramount today, but I want to spend more time than I have right now writing that post! So, another day. In fact, today has turned in to a pretty rough one, so I think for tonight I’ll just post some Disney Things that make me happy.

 

 

 

Okay, that's enough. Night night, xoxo

 

White Water Snacks - a love letter.

All right, here is the blog for today, and it’s really more of a love letter.



There you are. Hey, you.

I don’t know why my best friend (also Erin) and I were determined to go to White Water Snacks on our first visit (together) to the DLR, years ago. I think we had heard through the internet grapevine that it wasn’t too crowded and had tasty food, particularly the nachos. But try it we did, and it was the beginning of a romance that continues today.



please enjoy our brightly-colored eyeshadows.

Probably the only time I’ve ever EVER beaten Erin at this. Huh.

 

White Water Snacks is one of the restaurants located in the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa – it’s just down the way from the Napa Rose and Storytellers Café. It’s the smaller and least formal of the three. Some of it is self-serve, cafeteria-style eating; you get your own drinks, treats, snacks and deli-type items, then order the made-to-order items and pay at the register. They have indoor and outdoor seating, at least one electrical outlet for charging purposes (see my earlier post!), a well-priced variety of food, and a pleasant atmosphere.

 

photo from disneyfoodblog

photo from disneyexpedition.net

 

 

WWS is bliss. I don’t know anyone who has been there that doesn’t absolutely love it.

It’s quiet there. It’s a nice quiet walk through the Grand Californian, and the music is calming; a nice change of pace after the frenetic energy of the parks and Downtown Disney. The outdoor seating is near the pool, so the sound of water also contributes to the soothing atmosphere. It’s nice and cool in the summer (outdoor seating has plenty of shade), and cozy in the winter. I’ve never had trouble finding a seat.

Our favorite items on the menu include the nachos (of course!), the burger (with a grilled chili on it, YUM), and the breakfast sandwich. The food is tasty – I’ve never had anything there I didn’t enjoy, and we’ve always left full and satisfied. I never felt like I was paying too much for what I got. I have purchased more sweet iced teas there than anywhere else at the DLR. I’ve gotten some refills, too, which is probably not something I was supposed to do, but they were okay with it – at the time. I take no responsibility if you try this and get told.





HUGE breakfast sandwich – served with fruit for $6.99

Here’s a link to the WWS Menu, thanks to allears.net

I guess it’s kind of an “insider tip” to know about it, because not a lot of people do…? Not sure, but I’d recommend it to anyone! The DLR site only has a short blurb about this "family quick-service eatery” and it’s “American” fare, but to me it’s become so much more than that! This is true love. White Water Snacks, my oasis of the Disneyland Resort. Do you miss me like I miss you right now? Sigh.

More elusive and desired than the Hidden Mickey – the Hidden Electrical Outlet!

I’m home sick today, which is pretty much The Worst, but the blogging continues! Figured I’d choose something simple and informative – charging your phone at the DLR!

(Disclaimer – there are tons of options out there, but this is what has worked for me. Also I didn’t take pictures because I’m new to blogging like this and am an all-around terrible person.)

On my recent solo trip, I knew I’d be using my phone a LOT for pictures, the Lines app (more on that another day!), and texting; since I was by myself I just didn’t want to turn off my phone for long stretches the way I do when I’m with other people. We’re all using our phones more – I know it’s the best camera that I have, and for reals, my Twitter is important to me. What. First thing I did was buy a tiny mophie Juice Pack Reserve – it comes on a little keychain and is cheaper than the other versions. I could just carry it around in my purse and charge my phone during meals or while waiting in line. The downside is that it doesn’t fully recharge your phone, but it gave me about 20-30 percent, which is all I need some days. You can buy bigger and better devices that will bring you back to 100%, but at $35 the mini was what I could afford. I was dumb and didn’t bring two plugs/cords, so it wasn’t often that I was able to get my Reserve up to 100% (I’d charge my phone overnight and plug in the Juice Pack the next morning while I was getting ready – not nearly enough time), but whatever. Live and learn. Next time.

 

Something else I did was just find an outlet and plug in my phone, haha. I know there are some outlets in the parks (my Aunt Kim found one outside Taste Pilot’s Grill in DCA), but none really stood out to me, and hotel living is more my style. My friend Delane showed me an outlet in a smoking area in the Grand Californian – it’s on the way to the restaurants, outside facing the pool there are some benches, and outlets are located right behind the seats so you can sit and charge. I’m not a smoker, but it’s a spacious area, so anyone that did come to smoke sat on the other bench and I wasn’t at all bothered. It’s a nice quiet area to sit for a while. Calm music, you know. Grand Californian Things.

Another place I charged up (again at the Grand Californian) was at White Water Snacks, one of my VERY favorite places to eat (again, more on that another time)! If you can get the table near the doors (the ones that lead to the outside seating by the pool) there’s an outlet right there in plain view. I got some breakfast (okay, brunch) on my last day and just charged (and Facebook'd) while I ate. What.

Really, the Grand Californian has electrical outlets everywhere, if you’re ballsy enough to just sit down in a chair, plug in and dare anyone to stop you. I’ve never tried, but if you look they’re all up and down the hallways (near the comfy chairs) on the way to and from DCA and Downtown Disney. They have a few in their “business center” area too (with all the payphones) that I DID use…but I don’t really think I was supposed to be there at the time. Oh well. Sorry, Disney.

Something I haven’t tried but is a great (and smart) idea by Disney are the charging lockers on Main Street, USA. They’re in the same facility as the regular lockers – for $2 an hour you can just plug in your phone and come back later. If you’re just charging your phone, you don’t even need to bring your own cord (they have “standard” outlet lockers for other devices)! Yayyy convenience. Will I ever use these? Ehh…it’s hard for me to pay for something like a locker. Seriously, sometimes I've gone cold at night because I refuse to carry a jacket around all day and IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE CALIFORNIA, DAGNABBIT. But really I think I just need to get over it and realize that time is money. Do I want to sit down and do nothing while I wait for my phone to charge, or use that time to maybe eat a meal or experience an attraction? Or get cold at night because I don't want to get a dumb locker? I guess it just depends on how much time/money you have on your visit.

Before my trip I searched for a recent list of tips for charging your phone, but couldn’t find anything “recent” enough for me – a lot of the lists had been started years ago, and with all the new changes to the parks I wanted something more current. Any tips to share about phone charging? Please share!

Gots to keep my phone charged so I can take supercool pictures -- like this series of me riding Splash Mountain by myself.

 

I'm Disneybounding today!

For anyone not familiar, the term “Disneybounding” means theming an outfit to a Disney character, movie, ride, land, ANYthing! Leslie from disneybound.tumblr.com is the trendsetter, and the Disneybound site has a lot of cool ideas to serve as inspiration. She posts an outfit (+accessories) and usually includes where you can purchase each item. Some are very reasonably priced, others…not so much. But the Disneybound site is really meant to inspire your own creativity, not give you a shopping list (though I admit I’ve bought a couple things via DB!). Here are a couple recent posts:

 

 

Right now we’re in the very beginning of the “March Challenge.” A Disneybound fan last year tried to DB every day in March, and the challenge has caught on! If you’re on tumblr, Pinterest or twitter you can search the tag #disneybound to see what others have come up with. Many people have picked up on the trend, but Leslie’s disneybound.tumblr.com is the original.

 

 

 

And here is my DB for today! I’m Disneybounding as Adventureland! My skirt has birds, bugs and butterflies on it, my earrings remind me of the birds’ nametags in the Enchanted Tiki Room, my bracelet is from Africa, my ring is from Thailand, and I feel very Jungle Cruise/Tiki Room/Indiana Jones today. Lovelovelove.

 

 

Character Breakfasts at the Disneyland Resort

I’ve been lucky enough to experience every character breakfast offered at The Disneyland Resort at least once. So I figured I’d post some pictures and give some basic info and a description of each one. Knowledge is power!

First things first. I hesitate to call this a “review” of the different breakfasts because I am a sucker for both characters AND breakfast buffets. I’ve liked every one I’ve been to! Secondly - You never know which characters you’re going to meet at a character meal. If the character’s name is in the title, you’ll for sure see them, but anything else is up in the air. Sometimes the theming of each meal gives a general guideline of the type of character you’ll see. If you see a character across the room you’d REALLY like to meet, you can wait it out (you’re normally given a 90-minute meal time limit, but I’ve never seen it enforced) or ask a cast member if they could stop by your table before you leave. It’s not good etiquette to follow a character around to other tables. I’ll include everyone I’ve seen at each one here, to the best of my memory! Thirdly, I am “reviewing” these as a single girl with no kids, who usually visits The Disneyland Resort with other adults, but I do work with kids and have attended character meals with families as well, so I’ll try to provide helpful information for all.

 

Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park

 

Minnie & Friends is the character breakfast I’ve gone to the most. Located right on Main Street at the Plaza Inn, the location is convenient and there are always a lot of characters inside. The Plaza Inn is the most beautiful location in my opinion – the interior is so pretty and your view is Main Street USA! It’s also the cheapest option at $23.99/adult $11.99/child (as of 2/13 – the price changes seasonally). Out of all the character meals, I think the quality of the food is the “lowest” at Minnie & Friends, but I’ve never been disappointed with my food there – they have all the breakfast staples (eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, biscuits), an omelet station, pastries, fruit, cereal, drinks, waffles, and so on. It’s all-you-care-to-eat. Like I said, I am a breakfast buffet lover, so it’s hard to disappoint me, haha.

If I were taking someone who had never experienced a character meal, Minnie & Friends would probably be my first suggestion, if that someone wanted to “have it all.” The reason this has been my most frequented character breakfast is because of the price, number of characters, and location. Kind of a perfect combination – you get a lot of bang for your character buck. Once you’re done you can just walk right out on to Main Street and begin your day – or continue it, if you’ve perhaps done Magic Morning and then breakfast. Depending on the Park Hours, sometimes you can make a reservation before Park Opening and get in earlier than anyone else, which is great if you’re trying to maximize your Disneyland time. It gets a little cramped in there sometimes – the tables and chairs are all close together and the characters (and patrons!) have to be careful in their maneuvering.

Characters I’ve seen: Minnie, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, Captain Hook, Chip, Dale, Brer Fox, Honest John, the mice from Cinderella, a penguin from Mary Poppins, Rafiki

 

Ariel’s Grotto – Princess Character Breakfast

 

Ariel’s is also very beautiful and in a cool location – on Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure. This is another opportunity to get in to the parks before everyone else, which is always on my agenda. The interior has a lovely under-the-sea theme, and if Princesses are a must-see on your list, this is a perfect alternative to waiting in the Fantasy Faire line. You are guaranteed to meet Ariel (it IS her grotto, after all) and four other princesses, who are introduced every 10 minutes or so and make their way to every table. The dining area feels calmer and quieter than some of the other meals, and instead of a buffet, food is served family-style. Cost: Adults – peak season $35.99, non-peak $29.99. Children – peak season $19.99, non-peak $17.99. Tax and gratuity is added later. At that price, I don’t know if it’s an amazing value for what you get, since it’s basic breakfast food – potatoes, eggs, meat, cheese, waffle, fruit, pastries and drinks – served on plates delivered to your table. However, it may be worth your money if you want to avoid standing in the Princess lines outside. Also, you don’t have to worry about a character coming to your table while you’re off getting food. I’m fairly sure you can’t meet Merida or Rapunzel here, but any of the others are possible.

(Ariel’s also has a Lunch/Dinner character meal, but I’ve never been. The price is higher –highest of all the character meals – but I think the food is fancier.)

Characters I’ve seen: Ariel, Cinderella, Mulan, Snow White, Aurora

 

Goofy’s Kitchen Breakfast

 

At Goofy’s Kitchen they call it a “Brunch,” but anything that starts at 7AM is breakfast to me. They also have lunch and dinner character meals (at a slightly higher price) available. This seems like the most “family” friendly meal to me – well, all of them are, of course, but the dining area is spacious and has plenty of big tables to accommodate big families, there is a LOT of variety in food (lots of one-of-a-kind silly stuff that would be appealing to kids), and different characters who would appeal to both boys and girls. I feel like Goofy’s Kitchen has the most risk of either seeing a LOT of characters or only a few, but the food is good – different and plentiful, and it’s fun to check out the location (The Disneyland Hotel) if you’re not already staying there. The prices (for breakfast/brunch) are $32.99 for adults and $16.99 for kids. Other than your normal all-you-care-to-eat breakfast fare (eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, biscuits, waffles, fruit, cereal, pastries) they offer salads, eggs benedict, omelets, and French toast, as well as the “Goofy” peanut butter and jelly pizza, macaroni and cheese pizza, “worms in dirt,” and chicken nuggets.

Characters I’ve seen: Goofy, Alice, Gideon, Aurora, Pluto

 

Storytellers Café Chip & Dale Character Breakfast

 

Located in the Grand Californian Hotel, the Storytellers Breakfast is both delicious and beautiful. You have the option to order off the menu or enjoy the (all-you-care-to-eat) buffet, and all the food is incredible. I, of course, chose the buffet, but at $25.99 for adults and $11.99 for kids (as of 1/13) it’s not much more than ordering off the menu. Either way you’ll be getting a high quality, not-your-run-of-the-mill breakfast (the menu offers huevos rancheros, steak and eggs, and banana-stuffed French toast, among other things). It’s probably the best breakfast food I’ve had at a character meal – I particularly enjoyed the salad, eggs benedict, and the (made to order) mickey waffles. The meal is Critter-themed, and I had really hoped to meet some Jungle Book characters as I’d heard they were sometimes present, but that didn’t happen. Maybe next time! My sister Maddie was VERY happy meeting Meeko and Terk, though.

I LOVE the Storytellers Café no matter what, so of course I enjoy the quiet atmosphere of this particular character breakfast. It has the potential to get a little loud with all the small children, but that happens everywhere! The location is super-convenient, and a good way to experience the grandeur of the Grand Californian if you have young kids and/or can’t spend a lot of time there. I’ve only been once, but would definitely go back!

Characters I’ve seen: Chip, Dale, Brer Fox, Terk, Meeko, Koda

 

Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey & Friends

 

This breakfast is located in the Paradise Pier hotel, so it requires a little more legwork to get there, but it’s worth it. I have a special place in my heart for this one. Maybe it was luck, but when I attended (with my sisters and best friend) it wasn’t crowded, the food was fresh and tasty, and we got tons of character interaction, particularly from Stitch! As far as I know this is the only place you can meet Daisy (actually, it was Bert who told me that, so helpful!), and since I’d been wanting to meet her since I was four, I was thrilled! I think this is the only character meal that promises Mickey, too, so if you’re really not about standing in line (even though Mickey’s house is super cool!), it might be a good option. It has a lot of family fun – every now and then they call the kids over for a mini dance party, and if there aren’t too many kids (like when we were there) they might join you for a dance at your own table! It was a calm atmosphere and we LOVED the food – particularly the potatoes, waffles, tomato and avocado salad, and chilequiles. They offer all the classic breakfast foods, too, as well as special things like smoked salmon and parfaits. It is all-you-care-to-eat, and we cared to eat a lot, haha! Prices are (as of 1/13) $31.99 for adults, $16.99 for kids over 2. We loved the island theme. Because of the atmosphere and fantastic character interaction this was my favorite to attend with my sister Caitlin, who has some special needs. We would go again anytime!

Characters I’ve seen: Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Daisy, Stitch

 

Whew! So, those are some opinions I’ve formed over the past few years. I think luck factors in to a lot of these experiences. Maybe the food is better, fresher if you go earlier in the morning…maybe you get more characters if you go later, when it gets busier. Maybe it depends on who you're with! My best advice is to manage your expectations and know that no matter what, you’ll get a filling, yummy meal and some great pictures and memories. And if it seems like paying that much will make you stressed out about having the “perfect” experience, maybe consider one of the cheaper options, or just meet characters in the parks instead. It sounds corny, but it’s all about spending time at a sit-down meal with your family. Aww.

Okay, now I wish I was at one of these right now! Have a magical day!