17 TIPS BEFORE GOING TO DISNEYLAND

From July 18 - July 20 I attended Pixar Fest at Disneyland and California Adventure. It was my first time at the parks and as the very observant person I am, I noticed a lot of things that would have made my trip easier or things I did do that are helpful tips for those of you gearing up for your first trip or your next trip to a Disney park. (in not specific order)

Photo A La Me

1. Get the Disneyland App

I am pretty sure everyone has heard of the Disneyland app but if you haven't, get it! The disney app helped me save so much time as it showed a map of the parks as well as wait times. It gives you access to; current wait times, where specific characters will be at certain hours, when a show begins, restrooms, food, and so much more. With the disney app, I was able to get on Indiana Jones with only a twenty minute wait time (usually it is a forty minute or hour wait). I was also able to get on the Haunted Mansion ride with only a ten minute wait and Pirates of the Caribbean with a fifteen minute wait (And I got the front of the boat). Not to mention the Jungle Cruise with NO WAIT. It also helped me find some of my favorite characters like Winnie the Pooh and friends, and Peter Pan. h

2. The Best Place to Eat

I am one of the biggest Mary Poppins fans alive and when I saw the Jolly Holiday Restaurant, I made a B-line for it. Not only is it one of the cutest places to eat, it also has amazing breakfast (The scrambled egg croissant is delicious!) and brunch menus. The pastries are just as tasty as they are beautiful. Not to mention if you want to catch a parade, you can grab a bite to eat and sit on the restaurant's porch with no one blocking your view. Definitely my favorite spot to eat!

3. Fast Passes

I am pretty sure everyone and their mothers have heard of fast passes. If you have been living under the sea and don't they are tickets you are allowed to get either every two hours or after you used your previous fast pass that grant you access to a shorter and priority line. As in, shorter wait times. These fast pass tickets are available all day for certain rides like, Peter Pan's Flight, Guardians of the Galaxy, Radiator Springs Racers, and The Haunted Mansion. Take advantage of these fast passes. They are there for a reason. I used them to get on Guardians of the Galaxy later in the day so I did not hurl my lunch up, and to not wait in 120 minute lines in the burning heat for Radiator Springs and Splash Mountain. Bonus: A lot of the times they will call out for single riders or groups of two to not waste seats on rides. So pay attention for workers yelling that out, because you may just get to skip a portion of the line.

4. Unless it is a Special Event. Parades are Short

Believe me, I was disappointed too. If you are someone who watches the disney parks specials and expects grand. lively parades every day, well your bubble is about to burst just like mine did. Because both parades I watched at both parks, were less than fifteen minutes long. Not to mention CA Adventure had a forty minute delay for some reason.

5. California Adventure May Be Fun, But Not All Day

Take it from me, I thought I would be at CA adventure all day. However fun it may be, it is certainly not an all day park. Around one or two in the afternoon after being one of the first people inside the park, my aunt and I were tired, irritated, and exhausted. We had kind of ran out of things to do. Now granted we did pass up some rides due to wait times or purely not interested, but we found our selves having to be entertained by the smallest things in order to make it through the day. Which leads into my next point...

6. The Many Places to Beat the Heat

When many of you go down to Southern California for your trips, you may experience heat and that can lead to things such as irritability or exhaustion. Have no fear, because I have put together a list of places my aunt and I found to beat the heat while still having fun.

1. The Tiki Room. Sit back for a twenty minute show with a dole whip ice cream in an air conditioned room with a water center piece

2. Ariel's Under the Sea Adventure. While the line itself can be in the sun, once you climb into that clam shell and experience Ariel's magical kingdom, you won't want to get out. With blasting winds to make special effects, Ariel's story is one of the coolest around.... literally.

3. Indiana Jones. Covering the que with bamboo and shade, the Disney people sure did do park goers a solid with installing the shady scenery. And it helps the ride itself is inside and moves fast with wind blowing in your hair.

4. My favorite, The Animation studio. Want to have a comfy chair? The animation studio at CA Adventure has comfy couches with an icy cold room to go along with the location of meeting Ana and Elsa. Sit back and enjoy the musical masterpieces on the walls.

7. Skip the Giant Hiking Back Pack

As someone who does not live anywhere near the parks and lived out of a hotel room for a week, I found myself really just needing my side purse for sixteen hour days. Many people have the thought that they need to bring a giant backpack filled to the brim into the park, but in actual reality, you don't need that large of a bag. Granted yes, sometimes big bags are needed for large families with young children. However, the bag I brought simply had; my phone, wallet, portable charger, tampons, lipstick, mirror, blotting sheets, and mints. I could occasionally fit my 16.0 oz water bottle in my bag as well, but mostly I was just seen carrying it, constantly drinking. If you are worried about souvenirs, a pro tip is to do a majority of your shopping in Downtown Disney either the day before or after. That way you don't have to worry about excessive bags or expensive lockers.

8. Get the Best Deal for Water

A smaller tip is the location for the best deal on water. Many places in both parks sell refreshments but a standard water bottle is commonly four USD. But in Critter Country right next to Splash Mountain along the Mark Twain river, there is a refreshment stand that has one liter water bottles for the same price. It is still a bit over priced for a bottle of water but me, I would rather pay that price for a liter that will last me a couple hours, versus a bottle that will last me maybe an hour.

9. Find the Best Place for the Firework Show

Many people seem to think when visiting the park that the best place to watch the fireworks is right in front of the castle. And while yes, projections play on the castle, it is actually Main Street where all of the action is happening. i'm talking the full firework effect. Plus, projections on the stores and maybe even a few rooftop pop-up inflatables ;)

Ask to hold the balloons and this may just happen!

10. Swing Ride Terror

Now listen, everyone's body is gorgeous and you know i would be the last person to shame people for their bodies. However, if your waist and hips are as big as mine the swing ride is not for us honey. I waited in line for the swings at Pixar Pier for a good twenty-five minutes to only be embarrassed as I could not fit in the chair for the swing and had to get off the ride. Luckily this was the only time that happened that day, but it was still upsetting and embarrassing. But hey, us plus size people still got it going on! <3

11. Looking For Good Food in CA Adventure? Probably my favorite place to eat while at California Adventure Park was Flo's Diner. Not only does it have delicious food, but it's a great spot to relax and people watch. I had an amazing breakfast served and not too bad a seat for watching people get the trill of Radiator Spring Racers.

12. Meeting Spots Are Key

So unfortunately for me, my first trip to Disney ended up with an anxiety attack. I lost sight of my aunt and after many tears, anxiety, and almost dead cell phones we were reunited...... on the outside of the park when a policemen called my cell phone. Where was hers you may ask? With me. Trust me, high quality photos are not worth loosing your family members. So having a meeting spot in case something like this happens to you is not such a bad idea. Try a spot like city hall or the flag pole where you can easily locate your party.

13. Skip the Security Line

For those of you there for a multiple day trip, I challenge you to not take a bag with you for one day. Not only do you not have to worry about something falling during a ride or a pickpocket, you get in quicker since no one needs to check you bag.

14. Get Fast Passes Early

It would be a good idea to get your fast passes earlier in the day because 1 you get to ride the ride sooner and 2 there is not as big of a line. So in the heat of the day when people are sprawled out in line waiting for an hour for splash mountain, you can just coast right on by up the stairs.

15. You Do Not NEED A Photo Pass

Throughout the day I saw many people getting photos to document their time at Disney and I mean,, who wouldn't? But you do not NEED a photo pass to get "professional photos" from Disneyland. You are basically paying fifteen USD for a college kid to take a photo of you using an expensive camera that just has HD quality. Pro Tip: IPhones and regular cameras work the same, for free. Even disposable cameras are decent to bring.

16. Have a Conversation With a Character

many people fly right through photo op lines with just a "Hi" *camera flashes* "Bye" and that is it. But you can honestly have so much fun interacting with the characters. Characters love when you talk to them about their enchanted world because they can tell you stories about what it is like. (for parents, the actors get to practice improv). And chances are they will remember your conversation.

My childhood hero!!

17. HAVE FUN

My last and final tip is to have fun! Put your phone down and don't text people who you will see when you get home. YOU ARE AT THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH. If something superficial is going on at home, it can wait. It probably is not worth it in the first place. Cherish the memories and the experience. Who knows, while you are updating your status mickey mouse could walk by and you would not even know. Just make sure while you are at Disneyland and California Adventure to have as much fun as possible so you go home still feeling the magic that is Disney!

Big smile for a happy girl!!!