One of the biggest concerns for families going to the Disney parks is FOMO: Fear of Missing Out. With so much to see, ride, take in, experience, and explore, it's often overwhelming trying to fit everything you want to do into a short amount of time. Other times, you just might not be aware of what options are around you. We've tried to keep in mind all of our favorite places and things to do, both for us and for the kids. We found that by knowing what things we wanted to prioritize, and what conveniences we could use to make things easier, we were able to be more efficient, and have a less stressful time. Now, this isn't a guide to our favorite rides- we've got a later article covering that completely, but we wanted to cover food, photos, things to do for the kids, and we also wanted to keep a list of a few of our favorite tips for families going to the parks.
FOODIE FAVES
Good food goes a long way, and Disneyland is absolutely stuffed with the most amazing snacks, meals, drinks, and desserts! That being said, we've developed a sort of rhythm to our dining habits at the parks; we know what our main favorite restaurants are, we usually have a list of any treats we may want to try, and then we usually try to experience a few new food places during each visit. Our favorite restaurants were selected because they had great menu options, generous portions (great way to save!) and they're located in our favorite areas of the parks. For breakfast you can find us sharing a hearty platter at the Rose Tavern in Fantasy Land, or munching chicken tamales at Flo's V8 Cafe. Both have great options for both parents and kids, and the large plates mean sharing is definitely a viable option, especially if you've brought your own snacks to fill in between breakfast and lunch. Lunch for us is at either Smoke Jumpers in California Adventure for burgers and chicken tenders, or Rancho Del Zocato for delicious, craveworthy nachos. Dinner is usually where we like to be a bit more adventurous, trying new places or seasonal fare, but nothing beats sitting on the outer Terrace at Hungry Bear's, watching the Mark Twain pass by in front and the train pass behind, with Galaxy's Edge’s ethereal form looming over the near horizon. Over at California Adventure, the Pacific Wharf Cafe has become a staple for us, not only because of their amazing chowder bowls, but also because of their close proximity to Rita's, and delicious margarita refreshment. Our last go-to is a mobile order to the Stage Door Cafe for hot cocoa and funnel cakes, made hot and ready just in time for a showing of Fantasmic. Of course, there are so, so many options at the parks, especially when the holidays are in full swing, and we could do a whole article on desserts alone, but we really wanted to highlight on the places where we dine again and again, both because of the great value, and also because of the amazing food. Don't forget about mobile ordering, it's one of those little things that saves twenty or so minutes, but you'll find that once you start doing it regularly, it really does make a difference, especially if you're eating at multiple restaurants a day.
PHOTO FUN
Nothing quite captures the magic like having a photo in front of your favorite spot to forever commemorate a Disney visit. We like to visit a combination of iconic locations and photo walls to get our family pic fix, both at Disneyland and California Adventure. At Disneyland you have the legendary entrance to Main Street, after which you'll come to the Partner Statue with Walt and Mickey, with Cinderella's Castle gloriously beaming behind. Crowds are always a factor here, but patience is key- if you can spare a few minutes you can almost always find an opening, and get a great photo. Take note of the amazing storefronts up Main Street, including the awesome Pink Door, and also notice the smaller statuettes near the Partner Statue- you'll be sure to see some familiar friends! Entering Fantasy Land you find a great view of the Carousel, in front of which stoically stands the Sword in the Stone, with the always iconic Teacups just up the way. Going further you'll find It's a Small World, which is a great photo opportunity, and also don't miss the matching wall just south! Toon Town is a photo playground, with great props everywhere, including the Toon Cars, and while the Toon Town Door is a common stop for us, the Minnie Mouse wall next to Minnie's House is often overlooked! At California Adventure you'll find awesome views in front of the Ferris Wheel, especially during Golden Hour when the sun has started to set in the western sky, and there are awesome walls around every corner. Don't miss Hollywood Land, they've got a great Monsters Inc Wall, as well as Captain America's Shield. On the Pier, Mr. Potato Head makes a larger-than-life appearance, and the entrance to the IncrediCoaster is, well...incredible! Also, Cars Land at night is an absolute spectacle, and the neon is so vibrant and bright that you can actually pull off some great night shots, though Flo's V8 Cafe and the Cozy Cone Motel have fantastic aesthetics no matter the time of day. To be honest, almost every nook and cranny of the parks are great backdrops for pictures; so much love, care, detail, and imagination goes into every part of the park, and it really makes for a magical photo experience.
AROUND THE PARK
So while the rides are usually the main attraction, we've also found that there are tons of other things to see and do, and while some have lines and waiting involved, a lot of them are things that you can just walk up and enjoy. One of our favorites is the Disney Gallery, located just inside Disneyland near the eastern entrance. If you're an art lover, or if you just want to see a side of Disney that you might normally miss, the Gallery is a must. There's also a gallery in Hollywood Land at California Adventure. On Main Street you'll also find Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln, Main Street Cinema, which is super cool, and Houdini's Magic Shop. In New Orleans Square you can get caricatures of yourself or even a pet(!) and Pixie Hollow is fun for the smaller kids, especially if you catch Tinkerbell in there with no other guests around. Fantasy Land Theater and the Royal Theater are great places to catch live shows, and the Royal Hall is a great place to meet the Princesses. Over at California Adventure the bakery tour is fantastic (and delicious!) and the Animator's Studio is an awesome experience for the whole family. There are also frequent live shows, with song and dance aplenty along Buena Vista Street. Of course, don't forget all of the amazing parades, both during the day and at night! Fantasmic is also a must for us, but getting your ticket early is key. While the show is free to watch, tickets have limited availability, so you need to get them as soon as possible. Also, bring something like a blanket or mat to lay on the ground during parades, or Fantasmic, so that other guests can see the space you'll be occupying. We like to take our Monkey Mat, a little tarp-like mat that fits into a three-inch square pouch, but any blanket will do. There's so much else to take in, but these are some of our favorite stops between rides.
FUN FOR THE LITTLES
While we wait for Atticus and Irie to be tall enough to enjoy all of the rides, we've found the fun that's more suited to the smaller kids, and while some of it's rather silly, it's hard not to join in. We do want to highlight some rides in this section, as there aren't as many options and we want to cover some of our favorites. Before we do, we want to share our kid's favorite thing to do in both parks: Dance Parties. They have an absolute blast, both at Tomorrow Land, and in Hollywood Land. Parents can get in on the fun at the Tomorrow Land party, while the other one puts the littles front and center and makes them the stars of the show. Atticus also makes an obligatory stop at Goofy's Playhouse, though he's more interested in the little park outside than anything else. For all the little adventurers out there, nothing beats searching for treasure on Tom Sawyer's Island, or navigating the treetops of Tarzan's jungle abode. Just watch out for jaguars! Also in Adventure Land are the Jungle Cruise and the Tiki Room, the latter of which is really an Imagineering masterpiece. The Carousel, Teacups, Casey Jr Circus Train, and Storybook Land Canal Boats are also family favorites. For a something a little more leisurely, try a trip around the Rivers of America aboard the Mark Twain or the Columbia. And let's not forget our favorite Disney friends! Character appearances are fantastic fun, especially if you can beat the lines.
GOOD TO KNOW, GOOD TO GO
Lastly, we wanted to cover some things that have helped us in the past, and these are things that we had to look up online or ask about for the most part, but were glad to have learned about these things once we did. If you're looking for something specific, or if you're curious about whatever seasonal events may be happening, Guest Relations is a great source of information. They've also got maps, and they can help make your dining reservations, as well as get you set up for one of the guided tours. If you're in need of a stroller, you can rent one or more from the rental shop at Disneyland, and while they may be a bit utilitarian, they're inexpensive, and a dream to maneuver. Nearby are the lockers, which are great if you are going with only a backpack, or no bag at all, but still want to purchase keepsakes and have somewhere safe to store them while you continue to enjoy the parks. In the same area as the lockers are the portable phone charger dispensers, available to Annual Passholders with a valid credit card, which can come in handy in a pinch if your phone dies, although we totally recommend picking up a power bank for yourself for your Disney trips. If you're little ones are still in diapers, if you're breastfeeding, or if you forgot a bottle, or maybe the wipes, the Baby Care Center is fantastic. They provide a quiet place to feed or change the kiddos, and they've got a great vending machine that has all things for the babies that you may need in case you forget something. Speaking of little ones, you can also Parent Swap on rides if you have additional kids who aren't able to ride! We use this tactic at Mater's Jamboree, with Montana and Atty riding first while Devin and Irie hang behind, and once the ride is done Devin gets right back in front of the line to ride again with Atty! Speaking of rides, if you plan on going on multiple rides in a day, consider getting a Max Pass. That allows you insanely shorter wait times for most of your favorite rides at specific times of the day, which is great for planning out how you want your day to go. Also be sure to browse through the Disneyland App, which is fantastic because it shows current wait times for all attractions! That's not all, however, as we still keep finding new features to use. Our favorite is probably Mobile Ordering, which lets us place our food orders as we walk to the restaurant, picking up our food as soon as we arrive instead of sitting down, waiting in line, and then waiting yet another time for the food to be made.
WRAPPING UP
Guys, this has been a hefty article, and if you hung in to the end, thank you so much! Being able to share our love of Disney, and our Disneyland experiences has been such a blessing, and we hope by sharing some of the things we have learned, we can help other families have just as much fun as we do. There is so much to explore and do at the parks, so just remember to have fun, and have a game plan. Be sure to stay tuned to our social media accounts as we get ready for our next Disneyland trip in just THREE DAYS! Until next time, thank you everyone, and remember, it's kind of fun to do the impossible.
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