I love Disneyland. It’s in my blood. Like to the point where both my parents worked there and that’s how they met. I have pictures of me greeting characters when I was two. I can sing all the verses to “Grim Grinning Ghosts” and “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” in my sleep. And I also know the park like the back of my hand. I can Zip-a-Dee-do-dah my way from the front gate to Space Mountain faster than you can say “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” But OK… I know, you get it- I know Disneyland. What does that have to do with you? Well, fortunately for you… I know all kinds of tips to help make things a little less chaotic for you, and to make your trip to the “The Happiest Place on Earth” a little more… well, happy.
Now, while I can’t tell you all of my favorite tips in one post (not only would that be super long, but then I wouldn’t have anything else to tell you!), I will let you know a few of my favorite things about Disneyland.
For one thing- Disney is great about having all kinds of random places for you to pose and take pictures. The key for everything Disney-related is really in the details!! I mean, where else could you find a sign like this?!:
Oh it makes me smile.
So if you don’t feel like spending twenty minutes in line to greet Cinderella, or if your toddler is terrified of a five-foot version of everyone’s favorite mouse, or even if you just want more crazy and fun pictures to add to your Disney album when you get home, you can always find something to pose by (or in this case in). And added bonus- you can remind people of the consequences of driving while talking on your cell phone.
Then there is Hungry Bear Restaurant. It is one of my favorite places to eat. Granted, it is primarily a hamburger and fries style restaurant, so if you’re going to celebrate your anniversary or a special occasion, or want something a little different than your average fast food joint, it’s probably not for you. But to me, there seems to be some nostalgic charm.
Now maybe I like it because my dad was a former supervisor there while he was in college. Maybe it is because whenever my family went to Disneyland, it was almost always a guaranteed lunch stop. Or maybe because it is a fun way to watch people go by on the Mark Twain or canoes. But do you know why I think I like it the best? Because you can feed the ducks.
The Hungry Bear not only attracts its hungry patrons, but it is a popular eating destination for the local waterfowl as well. As a kid, tossing French fries (no matter how expensive they seemed) to the ducks was always a favorite pastime of my sisters and I. The ducks love swimming along the Rivers of America and sometimes even hop up next to you, because as unhealthy as they may seem, everyone loves Disneyland’s French Fries!!
But in case you want something other than burgers and fries, feel free to click here for more eating
suggestions! Just remember, wherever you eat, be it Hungry Bear or The Blue Bayou, make sure you go there early! And in some cases (i.e. The Blue Bayou) or anything involving character meals, reservations are always best! So when planning your trip, always see if you can make a reservation first, or try to eat either really early, or really late. And if your kids, another person in your group, or yourself are like me and don’t function well on an empty stomach (nobody wants to meet Cranky Becky), I highly recommend eating early. Or at least pack a snack. Everyone will be happy that you did.
And after a long day of walking at an extremely fast pace, well, even with the most comfortable shoes, your feet are going to be tired. And sore. And well, who doesn’t want to sit down? And while sitting down to eat or watch a parade can be great, sometimes you’re not hungry and you don’t want to sit and wait for a parade that won’t start for three hours. That’s where the Disneyland Train
comes in!
Why the Disneyland Train you ask? Oh sure, there are plenty of rides in Fantasyland that are slow paced and where you are able to sit for a decent amount of time. (Small World anyone?) But that being said, the best part about the Disneyland Train is… (drum roll please)… YOU NEVER HAVE TO GET OFF!!!!!!! Yup, you can literally hop on and ride over and over until your feet feel better (or you are tired of seeing the dinosaur and Grand Canyon exhibits for the eighteenth time)! And with multiple stops, you can always find a place to climb aboard, and if you want to check out a different area of the park, it can be an easy (though not always the fastest) way to get from one place to another. Plus, the engineers are always friendly and more than happy to talk to you or your kids. Not only do they have great information and stories to tell, but they don’t mind you staying on board either! And depending on the time of day, you can get some pretty awesome views of the parades too and other sites too. So while it is definitely worth going on later on in the day (i.e. when you feel like your feet are about ready to fall off), it is a great way to relax, unwind, and let everyone recuperate so you’ll be ready for more Disney awesomeness!!
So there are my tips for you today! Take advantage of Disney’s details and take lots of pictures (besides those Mickey Mouse ears, they’re one of the few things you can look at long after your Disney trip is over), Eat early (and if you’re feeling generous, feed some ducks, though don’t worry if you don’t… they won’t starve), and most importantly- ride the train!!!!!!! Your feet will thank you.
