I'm just reminiscing about our Disney trip and I'm ready to go back. Overall we had a great time but it wasn't exactly all we had hoped for because Emily got sick on day 2. Luckily she was able to get a few hours each day in the park and thank goodness both grandmas were with us to assist with going back to the hotel for Emily to rest. I wanted to share all that we did so get ready for Disney and picture overload!
Sunday morning the girls finished their countdown and were so excited to head down to Disneyland! We left early that morning, made a stop right before the Grapevine for lunch and hit Anaheim early afternoon. We got in some pool time, settled into our rooms and then headed to Downtown Disney for shopping, sightseeing and grabbing dinner. One of our absolute favorite spots to eat is Naples. Not only is the food to die for but they have a great atmosphere and an incredible balloon artist who makes the best characters for the girls. It's a must on your trip!
Disneyland may be the Happiest Place on Earth but meltdowns, swollen ankles, sore backs, empty wallets and then some come with it. So I've compiled a list of my top tips to survive and have the best time in Disneyland:
1. Find the Right Place to Stay
2. Plan Your Trip Itinerary
3. Prepare for the Car Ride/ Travel Time
4. Take a Picture of the Back of Your Tickets
5. Arrive 30-60 Minutes Before the Park Opens
6. Forget Magic Hour and Go To the Opposite Park
7. Don't Miss Character Dining
8. Experience the Magic of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
9. Take Advantage of Rider Switch Pass
10. Indulge in Must Have Disney Food, Snacks & Treats
We're almost headed to Disney and we so stinking excited. Since it's just days away I'm in full prep mode. I wanted to share my best tips for saving money and preparing for a Disney trip: 1. Purchase Disney Gift Cards at Target with Target Red Card to Save 5%
Set your budget ahead of time and purchase Disney Gift Cards in that amount ahead of time. You can save 5% when you use your Target Red Card. If you buy $500 worth of gift cards you save $25 which for me is totally worth it. Then use your gift cards for all your meals, photo passes, souvenirs, etc.
2. Purchase Hotel & Tickets with Get Away Today
I'm always looking for the best places to book travel and for Disneyland I have to recommend Get Away Today. They have won several awards and offer discounted travel that can't be beat. Please be careful where you buy your Disneyland tickets because not everyone is an authorized dealer. With Get Away Today you can get $10 off any 2+ night Southern California package with my code (exclusive for my readers only) below. On top of discounts Get Away Today offers free travel insurance and a Layaway Payment Plan.
Get Away Today is not just for hotel and park entrance but also offers discounted Character Dining which is a must for every trip. If you're taking a long vacation and attending other So Cal parks Get Away Today offers discounts to many of those parks as well.
3. Pre Purchase Souvenirs
Souvenirs are wildly overpriced at the resort so buy ahead of time and hide the goodies until you get there. You can place a new souvenir on your child's bed each morning and pull it out once you get to the park. This cuts down the amount of begging inside the park. Be sure to also grab bubble guns and glow sticks ahead of time for parades. You can also make your own Autograph Books to save lots. I used printables from Pinterest, laminated them and bound them myself. Of course there are some items you might just have to buy if you get asked but at least you can save a few bucks.
4. Stay at Hotel with Breakfast Included
Save time and money by grabbing breakfast in your hotel. The best case scenario is a hotel that includes continental breakfast. You could save at least $50 a day for a family of four which can really add up. If breakfast isn't included you could pack breakfast items to eat in your room. If that doesn't appeal to you eating breakfast at your hotel will still be cheaper than in the park.
5. Take Snacks and Lunch into the Park
My kids could eat all day long and tell me they're hungry about once an hour. I can't imagine the amount of money we would spend if we bought all their snacks at the resort. Plus if I bring items with us I can choose much healthier options. Don't get me wrong there are lots of goodies that we can't pass up in the park but those are specialty items.
6. Don't Buy Bottled Water
Carry refillable bottled waters or when making food purchases ask for complimentary ice water. We drink a lot of water so we take in refillable bottles. Even our waters have to be cute so when I found these refillable bottles I was giddy. They are so cute and very functional. They are double-walled 18/8 stainless steel thermal bottle which keeps hot drinks hot for 12 hours and cold drinks cold for 24 hours! You can grab yours from Isty Bitsy Wear.
7. Plan Sit Down Meals Ahead
Plan out your budget and start looking at menus online. Plan meals that fit within your budget. Make sure you call 60 days ahead to make your reservations. You can't make them more than 60 days out and you don't want to wait past that because they sell out quickly, especially during peak seasons.
8. Don't Buy Park Hopper Tickets
A Hopper Ticket can cost you as much as an additional $25 per day. That adds up for a family who is going for several days. We purchase tickets for 1 park per day and we never feel like we are missing out. Especially because we have little ones so running back and forth from park to park isn't really a viable option for us anyway. We just plan each day out ahead of time based on parades and shows so we know which park we want to hit on what day.
9. Don't Pay for Parking
If you're not staying on the resort you have the option of walking, taking a hotel shuttle or using an Uber. Otherwise, parking at the resort is $20-$35 per day. Again that really adds up. Ideally pick a hotel that is within walking distance but most area hotels offer shuttles that run all day which will save you lots of money.
10. Utilize Disney Photographers
You don't have to purchase a photopass to use the professional photographers around the park. They are happy to use your camera to take a photo.
For an extra $10 off your vacation package through Get Away Today use code: fresno10
I'm still planning away for our upcoming Disney trip and we just can't wait. Packing for a trip like Disneyland can be so overwhelming but I've put a ton of thought into exactly what you need in the park and tested it out as well.
I am a purse girl but ditch the purse for a Disney trip and bring a backpack. I have some tips and suggestions of what to bring into the park daily in your backpack. Here's my list of items:
If your kids are old enough dump some of the weight on them and have them carry a backpack as well. My girls are too young to be responsible for a bag so my husband or I will have to carry everything. Remember to keep everything as light as possible; buy travel size items if possible. Don't carry everything you would in your every day purse. Keep it to the essential park items; so no Target gift cards along with 500 other coupons, cards and receipts. The items I have listed also keep the budget in mind. I don't want to have to buy over priced (and unhealthy) snacks every hour so I bring in snacks as well as a light lunch so we don't have to purchase a lunch for everyone every day. Souvenirs add up very quickly and several of the items you can buy ahead of time online or at the dollar store.
If you know me I couldn't just get a generic backpack, lunchpail, etc. I wanted everything to go together and take the Disney theme all out! I found the cutest backpack and lunchpail from Thirty-One Gifts that are completely useable outside of a Disney trip as well.
The reusable water bottles I snagged are just to die for. Not only are they adorable but they are super functional as well. They are double-walled 18/8 stainless steel thermal bottle which keeps hot drinks hot for 12 hours and cold drinks cold for 24 hours! You can grab yours from Isty Bitsy Wear.
Lastly, normal Minnie ears just weren't going to cut it. I ordered customized ears for me and the girls to coordinate with our outfits. I am so happy with how these turned out; they are absolutely adorable! Snag a pair or two or three from Shop My Mouse.
Leave these items at home:
Large Camera
Selfie Stick (Banned in the parks)
Purse & Wallet
You too can have a backpack and lunch pail from Thirty-One Gifts. Check out my Instagram for details on how to enter.
If you still need to book your Disney vacation I recommend Get Away Today. They have won several awards and offer discounted travel that can't be beat. Please be careful where you buy your Disneyland tickets because not everyone is an authorized dealer. With Get Away Today you can get $10 off any 2+ night Southern California package with my code (exclusive for my readers only) below. On top of discounts Get Away Today offers free travel insurance and a Layaway Payment Plan.
Get Away Today is not just for hotel and park entrance but also offers discounted Character Dining which is a must for every trip. If you're taking a long vacation and attending other So Cal parks Get Away Today offers discounts to many of those parks as well.
Be sure to check back to see all the details from our vacation which will include reviews, tips and way too many pictures.
I've made the rest of your shopping really easy for you and you can get it finished in nearly one stop shopping. Click the links below to order most of what you will need for your Disney Park Bag:
We don't get to travel to Disneyland several times a year or even annually so when we get a trip on the calendar it's a HUGE deal! I never know who's more excited me or the girls??? Part of the fun of the trip is planning for it. I'm that crazy mom who has every detail of an outfit planned and several activities for each day on the calendar {more planning posts to come}. Because a Disney trip is such a special occasion I think it's totally acceptable to go over the top with the outfits. Plus I have girls so it's even more appropriate. I wanted to share with you some of the outfits I have planned for our upcoming trip.
Getting to work with and collaborate with some small business is one of my favorite parts of authoring a blog. I am so thrilled to share with you these boutiques: Disney Tribe Shirts from Splatter Customer Apparel / Bling Shoes from Sassy Soles Shoetique / Minnie Ears from Shop My Mouse / Backpack & Lunch Pail from Thirty-One Gifts / Thermos from Itsy Bitsy Wear
The girls are old enough now to get a surprise so I couldn't help myself when planning a Disneyland reveal. We don't get to go to Disneyland but once every other year so it's a really big deal for us. The anticipation just about gets me and I never know who gets more excited about a Disney trip, me or the girls. I dug through Pinterest for weeks looking for the perfect items to help with the reveal as well as did some major damage shopping.
I decorated and set up the reveal for the girls to see all the new gear as a way to tell them about our trip. Here's how it turned out:
