Disneyland and California Adventure

HalloweenTime at Disneyland

My children’s school system has a freak weeklong holiday in the middle of the Fall, just six weeks after the school year begins. They call it “Fall Break”. It can be a source of dismay to 9 to 5 parents who must scramble to drum up childcare for a whole week. But if you’ve got a flex schedule, it can be a great time to go to places that are normally too crowded during the summer, like the beach, mountain resorts, or theme parks, like Disneyland.  Being in Southern California, we choose Disneyland and took advantage of our annual pass which was due to expire in 3 days. 

 

 

Disneyland theme parks are not something I would ever dare venture into during the summer months, or any weekend. And if you choose to go there during the summer, on a weekend, with kids, well you’ve just signed up for a suicide mission.

 

But during these off days, you and your kids can actually enjoy yourselves.  If you haven’t been lately, there are several new rides and attractions in Disneyland and California Adventure, in particular, which are fun for kids and parents.  I suggest you plan to stay at least two nights. There are lots of affordable motels around the area, some with separate rooms for the kids. You’ll also get shuttle service to the parks for a few bucks extra. This beats parking directly at the park, and having to take a smelly open-air bus to the main gate.

 

During the month of October, Disneyland is dressed up in full Halloween attire, which you’ll notice immediately. At the main gates, look up and see all the classic Disney characters fashioned from pumpkins.  Then, all along Main Street, the pumpkin parade continues.  For details of Disneyland’s HalloweenTimes happenings, click here:http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/calendar/specialEvents/detail?name=HalloweenTimeSpecialEventPage

 

But the best use of the Halloween theme is The Haunted House.  The outside is festooned with black and orange vines and ribbons, and “scary” Jack-O-Lanterns. The idea here is of course to promote Tim Burton’s 1993 movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Blatant, but nonetheless fun and colorful. Check out the enormous scroll running down the front of the house with Jack Skellington’s Christmas equation. Funny. Inside the house, is an eyeful and colorful characters from the movie while the movie’s theme plays throughout.  It’s not too scary for little ones either.  It’s more strange and colorful.

 

I think the best overall strategy for your theme park visit is to buy a Park Hopper pass so you’ll be able to go back and forth between the two, and if you’re a California resident you get a nice discount on an annual pass.  Of course, that means you have to come back within the year.

 

The general advice is to get there a little before the gates open and head directly to the big rides that always have the longest lines.  Although I gotta say, Space Mountain that early in the morning, on a stomach filled with only coffee is a little nauseating. The kids loved it though and, well, you’re used to suffering for your kids anyway, right?

 

We should have headed directly to the new Nemo Submarine ride, because that’s got to be the longest darn line in the park. Two times I’ve waited in that line with my kids for about 45 minutes and we hardly even moved. Both times, my girls got so antsy we just couldn’t hang any longer and left.  I think they weren’t sure it was really worth it (being roller coaster lovers). I believe if you have littler ones, it’s really something to see.  If anyone has had the courage to wait in that line until they got there, please write and tell me what we missed.

 

My favorite park by far now is California Adventure. It’s like a breath of fresh air compared to Disneyland. It’s just so much more relaxing.  Starting with the Soaring over California ride (my favorite) and walking back through the rapids (get map to detail route) as relaxing guitar music is piped throughout that area, you can literally feel your blood-pressure lowering. Make sure you let your kids play around in the camp playground for a time. It helps them get their wiggles out. 

 

The new Toy Story Mania ride is worth the wait.  This is fun even for grownups, particularly anyone old enough to be a kid in the 50’s.  I appreciate when they give you interesting things to look at in line, like the authentic 50’s toy and game look throughout.  We all enjoyed the interactivity of the ride.

 

The best though, still remains California Screaming.  It looks a little intimidating at first…what with the loop-de-loop and the catapult. But what you need to know is that it’s smooth.  It’s not the neck-jostling, jerky kind like Mulholland Drive (which my kids loved, by the way, and no lines!). California Screamin’ glides. It’s really fun.

 

And if you can swing it, definitely make reservations at Arial’s Grotto.  They won’t take you without reservations.  It’s such a treat for little girls.  I think boys like it too.  They get to meet all the Princesses. They all come to your table, say hello, sign autographs and pose with your kids for a snap shot. A photographer does a professional photo with Ariel, but you’re not obligated to buy it (at $38.) You can snap the picture yourself with your own camera.  They serve a three course, price fixed menu that’s really tasty. (Who thought Disneyland food could be good?).  My kids were impressed by the 3-tiered appetizer tray with fresh “farmer’s market” type veggies, buffalo mozzarella balls and whole fruit Jell-O slices.  They also loved the desert tray complete with a white chocolate conch shell filled with berries, chocolate volcano cake and a variety of brownie slices.  Choose a table outside. You’ll be right on the lake with ducks swimming by. I told you this place was relaxing!  You’re blood-pressure will go back up though when you see the bill. It’s $37 per adult and $17 per child (gratuity included). Hey, you’re paying for the experience, right?

 

Just make sure you wait a few hours after eating here to go on California Screamin’!

 

I look forward to hearing about your experiences at Disneyland. What did you like best? What did you do that we didn’t cover here?  Get busy and write your comments.