Celebrating Spring At Disneyland
Spring at Disneyland is extra special with a Springtime Roundup at Big Thunder Ranch, “Egg-stravaganza” Easter Egg Hunts, neat treats, pretty Spring decor, and Disney characters dressed in their seasonal best!
Olaf’s Downtown Disney Ice Rink Brings Frozen Fun To SoCal!
Olaf’s FROZEN Ice Rink!
The Downtown Disney District, at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, offers seasonal fun at Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink! The Downtown Disney Ice Rink is located outdoors, close to the entry to Downtown Disney. It’s a short walk to and from the Disneyland Hotel.
Discounts For AP’s Active Military with ID, & Guest of The Resort Hotels
Olaf’s Frozen Ice Rink is open from 3pm-10pm Sunday-Thursday, and 3pm-11pm Friday-Saturday. Disney Annual Passholders, guests of the Disneyland Resort hotels, and Active Military with ID receive discounts on skating. Normal prices are $17 for adults, and $15 for kids age 3-9.
Prices include a designated time on the ice (see below for session times), ice skates, and a mandatory safety helmet. Socks are available for purchase if you forget to bring your own.
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Mickey’s Halloween Party Lights The Night At Disneyland!
Trick-or-treat! Mickey’s Halloween Party, a family-friendly event happens on select dates at Disneyland each Fall. I’ve already purchased a ticket to take our toddler, and can’t wait to go with him! Below are some details about the festivities.
Mickey’s Halloween Party
A Special Party Requires A Special Ticket
Mickey’s Halloween Party happens during Halloween Time at Disneyland, but is a special nighttime event, requiring a separate ticket. It doesn’t matter if you’re already at Disneyland the day of the event, unless you have a purchased a party ticket, you will have to leave. Those that have purchased a ticket for Mickey’s Halloween Party receive a special wristband upon entry, and believe me, Cast Members DO check, and direct anyone without wristbands out of the Park.
An Event Ticket Is Less Expensive Than A Single Day Park Ticket
Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party are less expensive than a single day Park ticket. Pricing starts at $63, and goes up to $77 for Halloween night. Annual Passholders can receive a discount on tickets for certain nights. If you’re an AP, be sure to inquire about the special pricing. Children under 3 are FREE!
You Can Enter Disneyland 3 Hours Prior To The Party
Although Mickey’s Halloween Party is a nighttime event, you can enter Disneyland up to 3 hours prior to the start of the party. So, if the event starts at 6pm, you can enter as early as 3pm. This gives you 3 extra hours to explore The Happiest Place On Earth. I highly suggest taking advantage of these extra hours. There are so many incredible seasonal displays to see, and fun areas to take photos during the extra time before the party begins. If you head on over to the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree prior to about 4pm you should be able to take some time to enjoy the Halloween Carnival, which is closed during the evening.
Kids of ALL Ages Can Participate In The Fun!
This event is one in which kids of ALL ages can dress up in costume and trick-or-treat! Part of the fun of the event is seeing all the people dressed up in costume. Some are amazing!
The Event Includes Parking
Unlike regular tickets to the Park, tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party INCLUDE parking. Sweet! You must park in one of the lots designated for the Parks to receive free parking. There are tons of parking spaces designated for the Parks. I’ve been to the Parks hundreds of times and I’ve always been able to park in a designated lot for the Parks. If a lot or structure is full, a Cast Member will direct you to another lot.
Trick-Or-Treating, A Parade, Fireworks and More!
Mickey’s Halloween Party includes loads of opportunities for safe trick-or-treating throughout the Park. The event also includes a special parade, dance party, awesome decorative displays, neat lighting, character photo opportunities, and more! Most rides and attractions are also open during the event as well.
Be sure to check the official Disneyland website for further details about Mickey’s Halloween Party. I’m really looking forward to taking our son. Perhaps we’ll see you there!
P.S. You might be VERY interested in reading our other related post, Halloween Time At Disneyland!
The opinions in this post are our own. We do not work for any brand mentioned, nor do we have any official relationship with them. We were long time Disneyland Annual Passholders, and been to Disneyland at Halloween Time many times.
5 Reasons We Love Halloween Time At Disneyland!
Halloween Time at Disneyland is so fun, that we think it’s fabulous! As Disneyland Annual Passholders for many years, we’ve experienced this yearly event on many occasions. If you haven’t been to the Disneyland Resort at this time of year, you haven’t truly experienced Halloween in Southern California! Below are some of the reasons why we love visiting Disneyland during Fall.
Halloween Time At Disneyland!
Decor, Decor, Decor… Need I Say More?
Disney goes ALL out with neat seasonal decor. From the moment you enter the Disneyland Resort, you can’t help but notice all the beautiful Autumn-themed decor at Halloween Time at Disneyland! The entrance to Disneyland is decked out with gigantic, cute character pumpkin heads. At the beginning of Main Street USA you’re greeted by a gigantic Mickey pumpkin, perfect for taking a fun picture. The entire area is filled with festive banners, pumpkins, and more.
Pumpkin, Spice, and Everything Nice
Halloween Time at Disneyland means pumpkin, spice, and everything nice. Who doesn’t love tasty seasonal treats?!? Some of the seasonal treats that have been offered throughout the years are pumpkin lattes, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin cheesecake. Delicious!
Characters Dressed For The Occasion!
Inside the Park, you’ll often find your favorite Disney characters dressed in special seasonal outfits at Halloween Time at Disneyland. There are plenty of character photo opportunities inside Big Thunder Ranch.
Carnival With Games, Crafts, and Entertainment Included
Along with seasonally dressed characters, you’ll also find a Halloween Carnival within the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree area of the Park, during Halloween Time at Disneyland. This area has carnival-style games, crafts, and even some fun entertainment.
The crafts we’ve done in the past have been simple for all ages, including coloring with crayons on paper masks. We love visiting this area, playing the games, enjoying the live entertainment, and having special opportunities with some of our favorite characters.
Here you might also see some pumpkin carvers working on some incredible, unique carved pumpkins! Their creations are true works of art!
Special Attractions and Tours
Some of the attractions are seasonally transformed during Halloween Time at Disneyland. The Haunted Mansion is changed to The Haunted Holiday Mansion, inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. I love this attraction, and I’m not even a huge Tim Burton fan. Space Mountain also boasts some seasonal changes, but since I’ve always visited with at least one little one too short (or too scared) to go on it, I haven’t experienced it first-hand.
Disneyland also offers a tour called Happy Haunts, which takes you to different areas in both Parks at the Resort. The Happy Haunts tour requires an additional fee.
The Park also has a fun, family-friendly event on select nights, called Mickey’s Halloween Party. This event requires a separate ticket, and often sells out prior to the event dates. If you’re interested in attending, you should look into purchasing your ticket(s) far in advance. You can read our post about Mickey’s Halloween Party HERE.
If there’s anything that gets me in the mood for Fall, it’s Halloween Time at Disneyland! Halloween Time at Disneyland runs from 9/12/14-10/31/14. Be sure to visit the Park’s official website for details about pricing, hours, and further . Perhaps we’ll see you there!
P.S. You might also enjoy reading our other post, Planning Your Child’s 1st Visit To Disneyland.
The opinions in this post are our own. We do not work for any brand mentioned, nor do we have any official relationship with them. We were long time Disneyland Annual Pass holders, and been to Halloween Time at Disneyland many times.
How To Use FASTPASS At Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
How To Use A Disney FASTPASS
A girlfriend of mine was recently planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, and questioned me about FASTPASS. She’d never used one, and was wondering how to obtain and use a FASTPASS at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park.
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Best Ways To Beat The Heat At Disney California Adventure
Beat The Heat At Disney California Adventure
We’re super lucky to have really great weather almost 365 days a year in Southern California. It makes for pretty easy planning when visiting local theme parks. Certain days can be warmer than others, and some summer days are down right HOT. Sometimes we even have odd heat waves at unexpected times of the year. When visiting the Disneyland Resort, we love going to California Adventure. Our favorite ways to beat the heat at Disney California Adventure are below.
The Disney Animation Building
Our absolute favorite place to beat the heat at Disney California Adventure is the The Disney Animation Building. It’s air conditioned throughout, and you can sit in the lobby and be entertained by illustrations and short videos set to music and recharge. There have been times we’ve spent an hour or more here with one of our little ones sleeping in the jogger, and the rest of us enjoying the atmosphere.
Inside this building you can attend the Animation Academy’s interactive drawing sessions known as The Secrets of Drawing. Each participant receives a pencil and paper, and you have the opportunity to follow along with a Disney artist as they teach you how to draw familiar character. It’s fun, and gives you the opportunity to give yourself a shot at drawing. The session is free, and is short enough for most children to enjoy as well. Even really young ones!
Also within the Animation Building is Turtle Talk with Crush, The Sorcerer’s Workshop, and Character Close-Up. We’ve always enjoyed Turtle Talk with Crush, which is an interactive show with the turtle, Crush. The Sorcerer’s Workshop is fun to walk through, and has some neat hands-on, interactive features. It’s neat to take a few minutes to check out the Character Close-Up while waiting for a Secrets of Drawing session, or before you leave the building.
Disney Junior Live On Stage
Disney Junior Live On Stage is indoors, and lasts about 20 minutes or so. It’s great for younger children, especially those that love the characters from Disney Junior!
Princess Dot Puddle Park
Don’t let the name fool you, boys will love this area too! Located in Bugs Land, the Princess Dot Puddle Park is a great little water park for little kids to get wet! Bring your child’s bathing suit, water proof shoes, and a towel to dry off. We’ve spend hours here playing.
It’s Tough to be a Bug
It’s Tough to be a Bug is an interactive show in an air conditioned building within Bug’s Land. This show may have a little wait in an cool, indoor waiting area. Be forewarned, this show can be a little scary for some young kids.
Indoor Rides
Indoor rides are always a great place to beat the heat. Indoor rides at Disney California Adventure include Toy Story Midway Mania, Soarin’ Over California, Monster’s Inc, The Little Mermaid, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (which I’ve admittedly never ridden!),
The Boudin Bakery Tour
Although it only takes a few minutes to do so, the Boudin Bakery Tour is a nice place to enjoy cool air. It’s pretty educational too! I highly recommend going through it at least one time if you’ve never experienced it.
Indoor Dining
Stopping for a bite to eat inside an air conditioned restaurant is always a great way to recharge. Our personal favorites inside Disney California Adventure are Flo’s V8 Cafe, located in Cars Land, Taste Pilots Grill, located at Condor Flats, and The Ghiradelli Soda Fountain, located at Pacfic Wharf, but there are other indoor dining options as well.
Browsing Gift Shops
Browsing through the gift shops is also a nice way to escape the heat. The gift shops used to be one of my go-to places if both of my first born kids fell asleep in the jogger at the same time. I could easily walk around and browse the shops in the AC while they got their beauty sleep; a bonus for each of us!
Other Stay-Cool Ideas
Other places I would think would be great to cool down would be the indoor show, Disney’s Alladin – A Musical Spectacular. I would think the Grizzly River Run water ride would be refreshing as well. For whatever reason, we’ve never done either, so I cannot give my personal insights, but I’m pretty certain both would be great to beat the heat!
Check out the Park’s official website for more information about the places we’ve mentioned. Where are your favorite spots to beat the heat at Disney California Adventure? Perhaps we’ll see you there!
P.S. You might also enjoy reading our other related post, Planning Your Trip To The Disney California Adventure Park.
The opinions in this article are our own. We do not work for, or with, any brand mentioned in this post, nor do we have any official relationship with them. We’re Disney fans and longtime passholders.
Planning Your Child’s First Trip To Disneyland!
Planning Your Child’s First Trip To Disneyland!
If you’re like me, planning your child’s first trip to Disneyland is so exciting! The memories you have from your own early visits to The Happiest Place On Earth flood into your mind, thinking about the moment you enter the gates, hearing the whistle of the steam train, and feel the excitement on Main Street. At least that’s how it was for me planning our daughter’s first trip to Disneyland!
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Disneyland Resort Trip Planning Tips!
Disneyland Resort Trip Planning Tips
We’re huge fans of Disney, and are often asked for Disneyland Resort trip planning tips. There are so many ways to make your trip to the Disneyland Resort more unique, memorable, and enjoyable for the whole family! Here are some ideas we have to share:
Search For Hidden Mickeys
Buy a Hidden Mickey book at one of the gift shops at the entrance to Disneyland and search for Hidden Mickey’s throughout the Parks. This is a lot of fun, and a great thing to do with the entire family. Once you start, you’re hooked!
Visit Downtown Disney
Be sure to take a walk around Downtown Disney. Visit the shops and restaurants. Listen to music by one of the live performers (from our experience they mostly perform at night). Sit and relax, and take in the moment.
Enjoy Face-Time With Character Dining
Get lots of face-time with characters, including many photo opps by eating at one of the Character meals at the Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian, Disneyland, or Disney California Adventure Park.
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Disneyland
Disneyland
Disneyland, located in the Anaheim area of Orange County, is likely the most popular theme park in Southern California, and for good reason! There is so much to see and do! You could easily spend several days at the Park. It’s one of our family’s favorite SoCal destinations!
Website: Disneyland
Twitter: @DisneylandToday
