In todays post:
-Disney visits with Grandma Julie
-a few not entirely too well known secrets for a successful Disneyland visit with little ones
-Disney visits with Grandma Julie
-a few not entirely too well known secrets for a successful Disneyland visit with little ones
This was a big Disneyland week for us. Three times in one week. That is probably a first ever for me. Once we met up with some old friends of ours, and twice we went with my mom who was in town. You see, it suddenly occurred to us that this year is Disney's "Free on your birthday year" and it was my mom's birthday. And they also have their "Two-fer" deal going on right now for Southern California residents so she got a free pass for California Adventure, too. And since she had never been there before we took advantage of the free tickets and took her.
Happy Birthday MOM! We were lucky to have you here for your birthday and had fun sharing some time at Disneyland with you.
So: in case you (faithful readers) didn't get the message yet:
Just sign up at disney.com and then join the birthday club. It's easy and free. If you have an annual pass already you get a gift card in the value of the entrance price ($69 for adults) to spend in stores or on dining. I'm surprised how many people I keep talking to who haven't heard about it, so I just wanted to spread the word.
And as far as my other tips and tricks go: the biggest ones for going with little children are the use of "child swap passes" if you have little kids that can't go on some of the adult rides. You go up to the cast member at the fast pass return line and ask for a child swap pass. Then one person has to stand in the regular line (or if you got fast passes in the fast pass line) and then when that person comes out the person with the baby swap pass can go in the fast pass line, too, or in the case of Space mountain you get to go up the exit (that is really fun to do.) So, the best way to make use of the baby swap passes is if you have a few adults and a few kids, because that way no one has to ride alone. You can actually take two people on the ride with a child swap pass. So if it's just Warren and me and the kids wanting to go on Soarin' over California one of us goes on with Rebecca while the other one waits with Joseph and then we trade.
The other trick is USE THE SINGLE RIDER LINE for Soarin' and for Splash Mountain and for California Screamin' if the lines are long. We saw them take all the single line people together anyway for Soarin' and they hardly had to wait at all. I've stood in line for Splash Mountain in the single rider line and got on with my friend who was waiting with me anyway!
More tips and tricks. Get a Disney Chase Visa. Even if it you don't plan on using it as a visa card it is worth having if you plan on going to D-land because you get two free stroller rentals. Then you don't have to worry about your stroller getting stolen or about waiting in line for the tram with all the other stroller users. Additionally you get 10% off at dining places. (addendum: it is no longer free, but half price on the stroller rentals as of September 2009)
Finally, last but not least, eating dinner with kids at Disneyland. Do not buy the kids meals. They are tiny, a waste of money and there is no guarantee your kid will like it anyway. For us the best deal around is the pasta dinner at Pizza place in Tomorrow land or at the Pizza place in CA adventure. The pasta meals are $8.99 and Rebecca and I can share one and get full (unless we haven't eaten anything all day long.) Plus, BOTH of my kids like the pasta. So for under $20 we can feed our family of four a dinner that we like at Disneyland.
Oh, just one more thing. If you're going to be here on a hot day, bring swim suits or a change of clothes for the kids because there are fun little water places to play in CA adventure. The kids have to wear a shirt and shoes, but bathing suits for girls seem to count.
I'm sure I could come up with more things (like the cookie baking experience for people that have passes-wouldn't want to spend time on it if I didn't, but with a pass it's worth it...), but that's good enough for now. And in case you hadn't figured it out...WE HAVE PASSES for Disneyland this year. And we would love to see you if you're down this way. We're super close, I mean super close and could just spend a little time with you. So, please let us know if you're ever in the neighborhood. Everyone comes sooner or later, right? And we wouldn't want to miss you.
Happy Birthday MOM! We were lucky to have you here for your birthday and had fun sharing some time at Disneyland with you.
So: in case you (faithful readers) didn't get the message yet:
YOU CAN GO TO DISNEYLAND FOR FREE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR!!!
Just sign up at disney.com and then join the birthday club. It's easy and free. If you have an annual pass already you get a gift card in the value of the entrance price ($69 for adults) to spend in stores or on dining. I'm surprised how many people I keep talking to who haven't heard about it, so I just wanted to spread the word.
And as far as my other tips and tricks go: the biggest ones for going with little children are the use of "child swap passes" if you have little kids that can't go on some of the adult rides. You go up to the cast member at the fast pass return line and ask for a child swap pass. Then one person has to stand in the regular line (or if you got fast passes in the fast pass line) and then when that person comes out the person with the baby swap pass can go in the fast pass line, too, or in the case of Space mountain you get to go up the exit (that is really fun to do.) So, the best way to make use of the baby swap passes is if you have a few adults and a few kids, because that way no one has to ride alone. You can actually take two people on the ride with a child swap pass. So if it's just Warren and me and the kids wanting to go on Soarin' over California one of us goes on with Rebecca while the other one waits with Joseph and then we trade.
The other trick is USE THE SINGLE RIDER LINE for Soarin' and for Splash Mountain and for California Screamin' if the lines are long. We saw them take all the single line people together anyway for Soarin' and they hardly had to wait at all. I've stood in line for Splash Mountain in the single rider line and got on with my friend who was waiting with me anyway!
More tips and tricks. Get a Disney Chase Visa. Even if it you don't plan on using it as a visa card it is worth having if you plan on going to D-land because you get two free stroller rentals. Then you don't have to worry about your stroller getting stolen or about waiting in line for the tram with all the other stroller users. Additionally you get 10% off at dining places. (addendum: it is no longer free, but half price on the stroller rentals as of September 2009)
Finally, last but not least, eating dinner with kids at Disneyland. Do not buy the kids meals. They are tiny, a waste of money and there is no guarantee your kid will like it anyway. For us the best deal around is the pasta dinner at Pizza place in Tomorrow land or at the Pizza place in CA adventure. The pasta meals are $8.99 and Rebecca and I can share one and get full (unless we haven't eaten anything all day long.) Plus, BOTH of my kids like the pasta. So for under $20 we can feed our family of four a dinner that we like at Disneyland.
Oh, just one more thing. If you're going to be here on a hot day, bring swim suits or a change of clothes for the kids because there are fun little water places to play in CA adventure. The kids have to wear a shirt and shoes, but bathing suits for girls seem to count.
I'm sure I could come up with more things (like the cookie baking experience for people that have passes-wouldn't want to spend time on it if I didn't, but with a pass it's worth it...), but that's good enough for now. And in case you hadn't figured it out...WE HAVE PASSES for Disneyland this year. And we would love to see you if you're down this way. We're super close, I mean super close and could just spend a little time with you. So, please let us know if you're ever in the neighborhood. Everyone comes sooner or later, right? And we wouldn't want to miss you.
2 comments:
I am so glad you posted the tips. THANK YOU! ;-) I'm so getting that Chase D-Land card. ;-) hehehe
I can't tell you how much I miss having passes....I just haven't figured out how to do it with 3 kids under the age of 6... not to mention that Ethan could rarely go as he has all day school now! Someday...
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