Affordable Disney In A Day – Part 2

Posted on November 11th, 2013 by Jean

In Part 1 we reserved an inexpensive, off-site room, had breakfast at Denny’s, printed our Disneyland tickets, took the train to Toon Town, rode Gadget’s Go Coaster, and collected character autographs. We have saved so much time & money, that it is time to splurge.

Tip 6 – Eat Lunch at the Big Thunder Mountain Ranch

All you care to eat bbq ribs & chicken served with sides of coleslaw, baked beans and corn bread for $15-$29 per person. They open at 11:30am; go early and reservations are not needed. If you’re planning a later lunch, make reservations online. A $10/fee is charged for cancellations or no-shows.

The food is delicious! The meat falls off the bones of the ribs & chicken. The sauce is tangy and sweet. Our kids upgrade to root beer floats with whipped cream and sprinkles. We dine under the canopies while serenaded by live performers. BONUS: The “owner” of the ranch will sign your autograph book.

Tip 7 – Press Coins

For $1.25 you can create a Disneyland keepsake, a pressed quarter! The toy store in front of It’s A Small World has a quarter machine. Your choice of 3 Disney characters will be pressed onto your coin. BONUS: Download a free pdf of Disney coin press machines at Park Pennies (dot) com.

Tip 8 – View The Parade

Best place to view, the Main Street Train Station! Go early, plant yourself, and relax while you wait for the parade to travel right before you. We have fought the crowds along Main Street, had horrible non-existent views and sore shoulders from hoisting the kids. It’s best to position yourself above the crowds, and be eye-level with many of the performers. BONUS: Here’s a little video I put together with footage Tom shot.

Tip 9 – Visit Disney District

Friends of ours from the Anaheim area invited us to dinner at Disney’s Blue Bayou inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Yes, it was a fabulous, unforgettable experience. But the one thing they advised was to park at the Disney District. The first 3 hours of parking are FREE; 5 hours are free with validation from participating locations. There are many restaurants and shops within walking distance to the main Disney entrances (Disneyland and California Adventure). We stopped for lemonades at Catal Uva Bar. People-watching al fresco was devine!

Tip 10 – Create A Memory Magazine

If you can create pdfs, you can make a magazine of your Disney memories for around $5.00! Visit Magcloud to upload and order. Templates are available. Minimum 20 pages. I use photoshop to create my pages, save them as pdf files, and combine my pages in Adobe Acrobat. Twenty pages plus perfect bind is $5.00/publication. Additional pages are 20 cents (must increase by 4 page sets). BONUS: This is so much cheaper than snapfish or any other album-making site, you can afford copies for the whole family (grandparents, aunts and uncles included).

Disney Vacation 2013

By Jean Has Been Shopping

40 pages, published 6/8/2013

Our Disneyland Vacation 2013.

• Where is your favorite place to dine in Disney?

• What is your favorite Disney souvenir/collectible?

Tags: 5 Disney Tips, Affordable Disneyland Vacation, album, Anaheim, bbq, Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, Catal, disney, Disney album, Disney District, Disney photos, disneyland, family vacation, magazine, Magcloud, memories, save money at Disney, Uva, where to dine in Anaheim

Affordable Disney In A Day – Part 1

Posted on November 9th, 2013 by Jean

Once a month, Tom visits Anaheim on business. During breaks from school, we make quick Family Trips out of his business travels. Here are 5 tips to make the most out of your visit to Disneyland. Part 2 has been posted.

Tip 1 – Stay Off-Site

We have found a jewel of a hotel near Disneyland. They charge from $110 to $130/night (based on 2-Queen beds, 4 room occupants). It is the Best Western Plus Pavilion on Katella Blvd. BONUS: This hotel gives you coupons so kids eat free at Denny’s next door. Stop in for breakfast before heading to the park. Potential savings compared to staying at a Disneyland Resort: minimum $1,500.00

Tip 2 – Purchase eTickets

Bypass the ticket booth, which is an avoidable long line, and go straight to the admission gates by purchasing your tickets online. Purchase, download, and print your tickets prior to your arrival. BONUS:  1-Day/1-Park tickets are less than $100/per person, young or old! Potential savings of time: 30 Minutes to 1 Hour

Tip 3 – Ride The Train

Catch the train at Main Street and head to your favorite location. Ours is Toon Town, the 2nd stop.  Your feet will thank you for not abusing them early in the day. BONUS: Be sure to ask the Conductor and Engineer for autographs! Our Engineer shared an easy way to tell them apart. The Engineer wears pajamas, and the Conductor looks like a penguin. Potential savings of time: 30 Minutes and Happy Tootsies

Tip 4 – Ride a Coaster in Toon Town

Time to get this party started with a mild coaster the whole family will love, Gadget’s Go Coaster!  BONUS: While in Toon Town, visit Minnie and Mickey Mouse in their respective homes. The lines move quickly, and there are lots of photo ops throughout the houses.

Tip 5 – Collect Autographs in Toon Town

Autographs are easy to come by in this section of Disneyland. We’ve met Pluto, Goofy, and even the elusive Daisy!  You can purchase your autograph books online or in the park. The best pen for autographs is the retractable Sharpie in any color except green (which stains character outfits). BONUS: One pen per family. The character handlers will inform you, open your books and have your pen ready. Handlers will also take photos for you (free of charge with your camera or smart phone).

• Who is your favorite Disney Character?

• What is your favorite Disneyland ride?

Tags: 5 Disney Tips, Affordable Disneyland Vacation, Anaheim, Best Western, disney, disneyland, family vacation, hotels near Disney, save money at Disney, where to stay in Anaheim

Sugary Sweet Childhood Fears

Posted on March 27th, 2009 by Jean

Things that frightened me as a child seem laughable as an adult. Thank goodness I matured, and realized what was plausible and what was not. Perhaps that is where childhood fear comes from, thinking that anything is possible.

When I was a child, we used to watch Creature Features. This was a late night television show which aired old black & white films. One movie, The Vulture, was particularly frightening to me. The storyline involved a man who had bird legs. I could have sworn he hid his creepy legs under a blanket while he sat in a wheelchair, but a brief synopsis I read says he wore a large coat. Regardless, at night he would swoop down and prey on innocent victims. Not long after seeing this movie, a huge stork flew over my house, and I would have bet money it was the bird man!

The Adventure Thru Inner Space ride at Disneyland scared me senseless! It wasn’t the ride itself, but the dread of being disintegrated! Here’s how the ride was described; “While waiting in line, you see other guests enter one end of the Mighty Microscope, appear near the opposite end only a few inches tall, and finally disappear entirely. Now it’s your turn.” WTH? No thanks! I begged and pleaded with my parents not to go on this ride! Even at age 2, I knew I preferred living and breathing over whatever fate awaited me in the “Microscope Of Doom”! Could I talk sense into them? Of course not. It STILL haunts me.

Do you have some fears to get off your chest?

Tags: creature, disneyland, fears, funny, Humor, movies, rides, Scary