Holidays at Disneyland: A Family Tradition

Going to Disneyland for the holidays is something that our family has done for a long time. It's a family tradition and in my family, ya don't mess with tradition!

It's something that we can all count on each year. We know that no matter how crazy things get, how hectic and busy our lives become that we will all come together and meet for a family date at Disneyland during the Christmas Season.

There's so much to see and do there that we actually have to go a few times during the holiday season just to get it all in. Thank god for annual passes. And even then, we still end up missing a few things - how is that even possible? But one thing we never miss is the Haunted Mansion Holiday, which is taken over by Jack Skellington and his friends! It's perfect for kids of all ages, and the whimsy of it all makes it a lot less scary.

This year was no different and we all planned a day to visit the Merriest place on earth. We attended the family media day and had some really special photo ops at the reception. The fact that our youngest daughter had quality one-on-one time with some of her favorite characters is absolutely priceless. I mean how many kids can say that they've played tag w/ Pinocchio?

It was an amazing day and we made a lot of family memories that I know I will treasure forever. That's one of the biggest reasons that moms love Disneyland, knowing that when you spend a day in the magic kingdom you're going to take with you a whole new set of moments. By the time we got to take our family photo at the ginormous tree on main street the youngest one was already asleep in the stroller. Oh well, looks like we will have to try again next year!

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort are not to be missed, so you must visit by January 8th to catch all of the festivities. For more info on all things Disney Holidays check out the WEBSITE. And when you visit the park, be sure to take one of those silly, crazy, awesome JUMPING pictures, like the one below! PRICELESS!!!!

Disclosure: I was not paid for this post. I was given passes for me and my family to attend a media preview day. The opinions on this blog are 100% mine and 100% fresh!

Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland

It's one of my favorite nights of the year.

It's the one event I look forward to the whole year long. 

No, it's not the Oscars, the Grammys or the Emmys.

It's Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland. My family and I go together every year. We love Halloween, Disney & being together - Wicked Fun for Everyone! 

There are so many things that are awesome about Halloween Time, it's hard to know where to begin! They have even more Spooktacular Attractions and Events going on during select nights of Mickey's Halloween party. (Special Admission fees apply) It's hard to do & see it all in just one night! Believe me, I'm already trying to go back again this year.

My list of things you MUST See & Do while you're there:

*Mickey's Costume Cavalcade Parade*

*VIP Dance Parties with Coloring Stations set up for the kids*

*Jack Skellington's Haunted Mansion Holiday*

*Halloween Screams Fireworks Spectacular*

*Trick or Treating for ALL Ages* (Adults Too!)

*Meet and Greets with your favorite Characters and Villains*

Here's a few of the best tips I can give to those who are planning on attending:

Get there early & plan to stay late. You get to enter the park early, before the actual party begins. Score! Also it's a lot of fun to cover & not that much time to do it in. 

Buy your tickets online & ahead of time. There are nights where the price is only $44. Other nights prices go up to as much as $64. Do your Disney research!

Bring your camera AND your video camera. There are priceless moments that you WON'T want to miss like dancing with the characters.

Don't stress on the long lines for candy, they move fairly quickly.

Get a Corn dog while you're there. That has nothing to do with the Halloween Party, except that Disneyland has the BEST Corn dogs EVER!

Full Disclosure: I was not paid for this post. I was given tickets to Mickey's Halloween Party by Disneyland. These opinions are 100% mine & 100% fresh.

Disneyland's Summer Line-Up

It's going to be a Soundsational Summer at the Disneyland Resort taking place from June 3-Sept 5! (THAT'S TOMORROW PEOPLE!) So mark it down in your Calendars, I know we have some plans to visit the Parks in the next few months. The Resort is extra fun during the summertime. Our Disney Annual Passes (So Cal) get blacked out soon. But if we want to buy a discounted blockout day ticket, they are $50 per person. Of'course there is always the possibility of upgrading our passes.... Hmmmm!

 

Disneyland has officially kicked off their new main street show, Mickey's Soundsational Parade including a new drumline, new colorful floats, and some of my favorite characters including Rapunzel, Mary Poppins, Princess Tiana, and Ariel.

And speaking of Ariel, we have all been waiting for the Little Mermaid ride to be finished and the time is finally here. Introducing the coolest thing to happen to California Adventure, since the WORLD OF COLOR. Ariel's Undersea Adventure opens June 3, and I can't wait to get on.

When they shut down Mulholland Madness, my daughter was really bummed, because it one one of her favorite rides in California Adventure. But I knew something bigger and better was coming our way. This summer Goofy will be teaching all of us how to fly. I'm really looking forward to seeing how my daughter feels about this new ride! Looks pretty Goofy, if you ask me. 

Star Tours is back for the next generation with a new adventure. Can't wait to see what it's like to travel to another galaxy and back all in the matter of a few minutes. I know my husband is looking forward to this Star Wars inspired ride.

If you still have yet to see the show World of Color... You are missing out! We've seen it a number of times & it still is breathtaking! Plus now they've added new stuff for Pirates of the Caribbean with the mermaids and scenes from Tangled! Yay!

And who could forget about the nighttime party - ElecTRONica, which is still going on at California Adventure. It's not summertime until you have a glowing drink at the parks! Cheers!

California Adventure turns 10!

Happy Birthday CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE!

 

You've brought us a lot of JOY in the last few years.
You've even become a Family FAVORITE.
At times you've made us made us GLOW ,  DANCE & GET FESTIVE.
Having you in our lives has been a real TREAT.
You could even say, you've shown us a whole new WORLD OF COLOR.
You are the Best Wingman, DISNEYLAND could have wished for.
And to us, you're every bit as MAGICAL.

Thanks for the MEMORIES, it's been one heck of an ADVENTURE.

Love,

Jessica, Becky & Tracey

"The Disney Sisters" 

PS: And a very merry unbirthday to DISNEYLAND!

Disneyland during the Holidays

There is nothing more magical then HOLIDAYS time at DISNEYLAND. We have made a family tradition of visiting Disneyland every year during CHRISTMAS. My sisters & I bring our families together and celebrate at the Resort. We can't wait to see how they have decorated the place, the new things they've added. There are always some favorites that stay the same, like how the Haunted Mansion becomes Haunted Mansion Holiday with Jack Skellington. But they also change things up a bit, like how Sleeping Beauty's Castle is decorated. And the best part is the Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks Show that ends with an emotional rendition of the song of White Christmas and "Snow" Falling all down Main Street.

They really have so much to offer this time of year that it's hard to do and see it all in one day. There is also plenty of festive things going on over at CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE, not to be missed. You should set aside a few hours, or another day (if possible) to see that. If you plan on attending Disneyland over this Holiday Season, here are some highlights that you won't want to miss:

IT'S A SMALL WORLD HOLIDAY

A CHRISTMAS FANTASY PARADE

SANTA'S REINDEER ROUND-UP

THE GRAND CALIFORNIAN, A DISNEY RESORT

You can see the Resort, transformed into the Winter Wonderland now until January 2nd, 2011. I'm sure we'll be there again once more before it's over, I'm addicted.... See you at the Park!

We'll be sure to add these festive photos of our family memories to the new campaign of LET THE MEMORIES BEGIN Have you added yours yet?

Wishing you and your family Peace, Joy & 

Disney Holiday Magic that lasts the entire year!

(*I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was given tickets to the park to experience the Holiday Magic. This post represents my own views. Ho Ho Ho!)

ElecTRONica at Disney's California Adventure

Welcome To THE GRID: Prepare to be digitized!

ElecTRONica, the newest night time experience at Disney's California Adventure brings to life the virtual world of TRON Legacy, the new Walt Disney Pictures' film opening nationwide on December 17, 2010. (My husband hasn't been this excited for a Disney movie since Pirates of The Carribean. Ha!) This high-energy street festival takes place in Hollywood Pictures Backlot. It took over for their big summer party GlowFest. (Which I adored.) ElecTRONica to me is a little more adult themed. But perfect for my older kids, ages 12, 14 and 15. It definitely brought out the inner-child in my husband too, he LOVED it!

The magician's at Disney have recreated an authentic version of the original Flynn's Arcade. Which we were most excited about. They have old school games in it, straight out of 1982. Being that I grew up in the 80s, I felt really at home. Just some of the classic games included in the arcade are Pole Position (my personal fav) Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Centipede & Donkey Kong. You need a token to play, so you put your money in the machine, and get a keepsake token. (It's up to you if you want to use it or keep it.) * I've also heard that sometimes when you go to get a fast pass for a ride at California Adventure, some people will get a coupon for a token for Flynn's. Super Cool!

Photo Via: Robin Trowbridge, Disneyland Resort

You get a chance to sneak-a-peak of the new movie: TRON Legacy which opens in theaters on December 17, 2010, we will be seeing this movie FOR SURE! It made me realize how much I miss the People Movers (remember those) They were one of my very favorite rides at Disneyland. Maybe they'll bring them back with the success of the movie.

People dance and party the night away, while the live DJ spins a mix of techno, dance & electronica music. There are dancers and street performers using lasers, doing martial arts. I even had a girl pose for me, which I thought was really nice of her! Their costumes are amazing, but I wouldn't have expected anything different from Disney. The Poreotics (America's Best Dance Crew Season 5 Winner's) are also said to be performing at ElecTRONica from November 21 to the 24th. 

You remember one of my favorite parts about GLOWFEST was that they had alcoholic beverages. ElecTRONica is no different. You can get your incandescent concoctions at the END OF THE LINE BAR. Cheers to you LaserMan!

It's a colorful laser light show filled with digitally projected light cycles that are cast all around. It's something that you won't want to miss. Especially if you are a TRON fan, or are a tween,  teenager and up. I thought it was a little dark for my 3 year old, but TRON isn't exactly a pre-schooler's movie anyway. : )

The Pre-Show is at Sunshine Plaza from 6PM and at 6:45PM

ElecTRONica goes 7 days a week from 7PM til Park closing in the HOLLYWOOD PICTURES BACKLOT 

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post. I was given tickets in order to facilitate my review.

Mickey's Halloween Party: Fun for the Whole Family at Disneyland

We have always loved trick-or-treating Disney style, at California Adventure the past few years.

Remember 2009? And who could forget 2008?

It is definitely a high-light of the haunted season for my family. Have you made it a wicked tradition in your family yet? Well now is the perfect time! This year it is even more special, because it moved to Disneyland and changed it's name!

*Disclosure: Thanks to my friends at Disney, I got a chance to go there on October 1st, (opening night) and was it Terrifically Terrifying! (not really scary, I just thought those 2 words went together well)

Introducing:

Mickey’s Halloween Party sure you have to buy a separate ticket to this event, but where else can adults dress up in costume and trick-or-treat with their kids at the resort. 

You're Invited:

Tuesdays and Fridays in October (1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26 and 29) 

And even on Halloween night itself, Sunday, Oct. 31. 

You won't want to miss: 

* Get Your Candy On * 

Trick or Treating in the ultimate Disney neighborhood, with even more treats along “Mickey’s Hide-and-Go-Treat Trails”

* Get Your Boogie On *
New dance parties – at Tomorrowland Terrace and the French Market

* Get Your Jack On *
The “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies”
Jack Skellington (presented exclusively for guests of Mickey’s Halloween Party)

* Get your Parade On *
New surprises in “Mickey’s Costume Party” cavalcade, performed twice nightly

* Get Your Pose On *
Character photo locations featuring Mickey and his pals, princesses and other favorites

* Get Your Early Bird On *
The opportunity to arrive three hours before the party starts to play in Disneyland

* Get Your Disney On *
Nearly all the favorite Disneyland rides and attractions

The Detail$:

Tickets purchased in advance for Mickey’s Halloween Party are $49 most days, while tickets purchased on the event days are $54. For Oct. 31, all tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party are $59. It helps to have an annual pass too!

Party People:  Here are some pics of me & my Ghouls @TraceyClark & @theHappyHourMom getting our Party On! One of the very best parts about Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland for me, was spending the evening with my Sisters, nieces, nephew & Mom! Who luckily are just a s Disney-Obsessed as me! Yay!