Fairy Tales Can Come True: Disneyland: Anaheim, California

-


If you are planning a trip to Southern California then Disneyland should be a first stop on your list. Whether your a child or just a child at heart, Disneyland has something for everyone!


Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

I have been going to Disneyland every year since I was a child and it holds a special place in my heart. Whenever I visit I feel my troubles can just melt away and I can become the child I once was. It is a truly magical place and there is so much to do for both the young and old. Disneyland has more than just rides, so below I compiled a list of must see’s in order to make your dream vacation even more magical. 

First, when you are in Disneyland, I would highly recommend either downloading the app or picking up a brochure. This will help you figure out when to see various parades, and show times. Mickey’s Magic Map is a really fun show to see and it is located right outside of toon town. After the show feel free to head to Mickey’s house to meet the original himself! Other must see shows include Mickey’s Fireworks show and Fantasmic. Both are amazing! Usually you can see both a 1/2 hour to hour before park closing time. 

PS: In Disneyland, Fantasmic also has Fast Passes for their show.

Don’t forget about the food! Often times people wonder what is the best food to grab in the park? Well, trust me there are so many options it will be hard to decide. One of my personal favorite places to eat is the Bengal BBQ. It offers a variety of skewers, rice, and vegetables. It is located outside the Jungle Cruise area and it is delicious. Another food item that you must try are the Mickey beignets. They are quite possible one the best desert foods I have ever eaten. You can get these treats outside the French Market in 

 New Orleans Square. If you are looking for a fancier meal you can also eat at the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square. It is a pricier option, but the ambience will be worth it. The restaurant is actually located inside the Pirates of The Caribbean Ride! Just remember a reservation will be needed if you want to eat there. 

Fun Fact: Real skeletons were originally used as decor in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Although some say the skeleton props were switched out to fake ones years later, some park employees insist that several are still real! 

After you have seen everything there is to see in Disneyland, head over to Disney’s California Adventure Park. Here you will find a variety of activities as well. 

First, make sure you pick a time to go see Frozen at the Hyperion Theater. These run everyday and are approximately an hour long. Not only will you be amazed at how good the show is, your feet will also get a rest from the miles of walking you did throughout the day. I am honestly amazed every time I see this show. It is like a mini broadway. Trust me it is that good! 

Another must in this park is the Animation Academy. I don’t know if a lot of people know about it, but it a really fun way to get to learn how to draw some of your favorite characters. These classes run every half hour, all day long. What is really neat is that everyone walks away with an amazing sketch drawing which they did themselves. The teachers are really good at making the class fun, and easy to understand. I have drawn various characters at the Animation Academy and they always turn out pretty good if I do say so myself. 

As far as parades and events go, DCA offers World of Color on certain nights. If you have never been to the park or seen this show, I recommend it. It is brilliant show composed of beautiful arrays of colors and various Disney movie clips which are projected onto moving water screens. This is located in front of Pixar Pier. If you want a better spot to sit and watch the show, I would recommend getting a Fast Pass. This will allow you to sit up close and you won’t have to arrive as early to secure a good seat. 

Second Star to the Right 
  Fun Fact: When Walt Disney built Disneyland he used forced perspective on Main Street, USA. What does this mean? Well, it means that when you walk into the park, Main Street to the Castle seems shorter than it really is, and when you are leaving the park Main Street seems longer than it really is. This was created in order to make park goers feel like they were quickly entering into a magical world of fantasy, but leaving seemed far behind them.


My Top Five Ride Picks: 
1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. Haunted Mansion
3. Matterhorn Bobsleds
4. Guardians of the Galaxy (DCA)

5. Splash Mountain (Prepare to Get Wet!!)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada : Butchart and Buttefly Gardens

-
Image
Victoria, British Columbia of Vancouver Island has so many different activities to choose from. The city is beautiful and one could easily spend hours just sightseeing in the downtown area. You can do anything from visiting the oldest Chinatown in Canada to spending the afternoon on a tour of Craigdarroch Castle. I was in the city for less than a day and decided to visit Butchart Gardens, which is just a short drive outside of the city. Butchart Gardens is a 55 acre set of gardens which was brought to life by Jennie Butchart. What started in 1912 as a passion project for Jennie has turned into a magnificent, must see, garden oasis. The gardens have a long and interesting history. On our trip to the gardens we were given many different facts and tidbits about Butchart Gardens as well as what encompasses the greater area of Victoria.   One of the more fascinating stories we heard was about the founders of the gardens. While Jennie Butchart, the real proprietor of the gardens...
Read more

Alaska: The Last Frontier; Juneau

-
Image
If you are interested in visiting Alaska, a cruise is a great way to set sail. Although not the most adventurous of ways to get there, it provides a chance to see some of the most memorable towns. Departing from San Francisco, CA, my family and I made the 10 day journey of Alaska on the Princess Cruise Line. The first stop was Juneau, AK. Juneau, the state capital, has an array of activities to choose from. From shopping, to eating, to hiking the Mendenhall Glacier. The more adventurous soul could choose to zip-line through the forest or fly to the top of the majestic Mendenhall glacier on a helicopter. I chose a 2 mile round trip hike, at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, that allowed you to get a more up close look at Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls, and the surrounding wildlife. The visitor center is located about 15 to 20 minutes outside of Juneau. Bears, Mountain Goats, and Beavers are known to roam, so be on the lookout. Also, remember that there is no food or drink, othe...
Read more

Fall in London, England

-
Image
If you are looking to travel outside of the United States, a perfect first stop would be England. This was my first true trip outside of the USA and I will say I loved it! London is a bright and booming city full of life and culture. In fact, it felt like a city that never sleeps. This was a positive, because you never felt unsafe walking around the city, even after dark. I traveled to London in October with two of my friends, and this time of year is a really perfect time to visit. I don’t know if we were just lucky, but the weather was perfect. It wasn’t cold, but it also wasn’t hot. As far as transportation goes, we only took the London Underground. We never had a problem with it, and it was super reliable. We also stayed in a hotel near the underground station which was really nice.   Although, we were only in the city for four days we made the most of our trip and saw as many sights as we possibly could. A must see if you are in the city is the Tower of London. The to...
Read more