DISNEY VIDEOS AND MUSIC ON MAIN STREET AT DISNEYLAND!

There is a small store on Main Street that you may pass by without realizing what you´re missing. Although videos, books and cd´s are carried in most major stores, this little shop specializes in just that. There, I have found newly released dvd´s and special books and cd´s that I haven´t been able to find elsewhere. As you enter Main Street, step to the sidewalk on your right. You will find it a couple of stores down. It´s a small store, so I recommend you visit early in the morning. The cast members there are eager to help you find what you´re looking for, and they have information on whether it´s released or not. If you love Disney music, books and videos you have to visit. I can assure you, once you do, you´ll visit on every Disney trip you make!

WHERE TO MEET AND GREET CHARACTERS AT DISNEYLAND

You should always check in the guide given to you at the entrance of the park, for special places to meet characters according to season. However here´s an overview of where most characters can be expected:

• MICKEY MOUSE: You can meet him at his house in ToonTown. There will be a line, but Mickey is constantly there to sign your autograph book and to take that memorable picture. Sometimes Mickey can be found on Main Street at the end of the day. It is not common but it has happened before.


• MINNIE MOUSE: Her house is right next to Mickey´s in ToonTown. You can meet here there most of the time. She also makes appearances on Main Street at the end of the day.


• PLUTO, DONALD DUCK AND GOOFY: They can be found traveling across ToonTown and also sometimes at Main Street, below the Train Station.


• PRINCESSES: Fantasyland is the place for them. There is usually an area set up where you can greet 3 or 4 at a time. Also, near the castle.


• JACK SPARROW OR PIRATES: Near Pirates of the Caribbean or New Orleans Square. Other pirates can be seen on Pirate´s Lair.


• WINNIE THE POOH, TIGGER AND EEYORE: They have their own area where they are constantly present in Critter Country, next to the Pooh attraction. Sometimes Piglet may make an appearance but it´s not common. He´s shy!


• ALICE, MAD HATTER, WHITE RABBIT, TWEEDLE DEE AND TWEEDLE DUM: They sometimes greet you at the entrance of the park, when guests are coming in.


• PINOCCHIO AND GEPETTO: They are also near the entrance as you go in the park.


• CAPT. HOOK, PETER PAN AND WENDY: You can find them in Fantasyland or at the Main Street Plaza.


• MERLIN: Near the sword in the stone, in Fantasyland.


• MARY POPPINS, BERT AND MR. PIP: Fantasyland or Main Street.


• WOODY AND JESSIE: At Frontierland or during Halloween season at Woody´s Halloween Roundup.


• BUZZ LIGHTYEAR: You can find him in Tomorrowland, near his attraction or just walking about.


• CHIP AND DALE: ToonTown or Main Street.

These and other characters are bound to appear at different places and times. Sometimes you´re lucky enought to greet all these and even more characters. When the park is very full, characters usually walk about. When the weather is very hot, or very rainy, characters are not around as much. Also, remember that you are able to see most of these characters during the parades. And, no matter how many characters you are lucky to meet or not, Mickey will always open his house to greet you!

mR tOAD´S wILD rIDE!

A Disneyland original attraction, Mr. Toad´s Wild Ride has fascinated guests since 1955. It´s based on Disney´s animated feature The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949). In this Fantasyland dark ride you get to "drive" a motor car through Toad Hall and other settings from the film representing the English countryside. It is really a wild ride as you enter Toad Hall and drive through halls, the library and out into the night, bumping into bridges, police officers, sheep and more. This will get you into trouble as you enter a courtroom, have an encounter with explosives and even a train! A fun ride for visitors of all ages, and definitely one of the must-see attractions in Fantasyland.

What to do on a very hot Disney day...

If you´re visiting Disney and get surprised by a very hot day, keep this in mind:

• Make sure you have enough water for everyone in your party and keep hydrated.
• Slow down your pace, walk through shaded places, even though it takes you longer to get from one place to another.
• Have everyone wear hats or caps.
• Don´t go on open air rides such as Dumbo until dusk.
• Don´t stand in long lines, use a fast pass.
• Enjoy attractions such as The Enchanted Tiki Room where you can sit in air conditioning, plus enjoy a cool pineapple treat while you wait for the show to start.
• If you´re traveling with toddlers or babies, take a quick break back to the hotel to get refreshed at around noon. Then come back in the afternoon when the heat is hopefully subsiding.
• Enjoy attractions where you may get wet such as Splash Mountain, or even Pirates of the Caribbean.
• Take tons of pictures, sunny days make great photos!

DISNEY´S PHOTO PASS!

Now you can visit Disneyland and not worry about your camera. Throughout the park there are cast members ready to take your photo with characters, near the castle and at different points of interest such as character breakfasts. Before you had to save the slips they handed to you and check your pictures at the end of the day, but not anymore! You get a photopass with a bar code and pictures will be added to it for several days. You can visit the photo center at any point throughout your trip, check what you have and order prints. You can also check them online and best of all you can buy a CD with all your vacation pictures! No more worrying about that special photo with Mickey, it´s all there. Don´t forget to ask for your photopass during your next Disney trip.

All aboard the Disneyland Railroad!

One of the best loved attractions at Disneyland is the Disneyland Railroad. The sound of the whistle as you enter Main Street is sure to call you to the station to board the train. Although you may encounter a line, hopefully you´ll fit into the next train that reaches the station, so the wait will not be long. It´s a great choice to ride as you enter the park for you can have a glimpse of the different lands and then come back and decide where you want to go first. Strollers can be left at the station or taken along for the ride in case you want to exit elsewhere. There are several stops such as New Orleans Square, Mickey´s Toontown and Tomorrowland. You can exit at any point in case you want to use the train as a transport to enter one of Disney´s magical lands. I repeat, however, that I suggest to use it as a ride and take the complete tour. There are several landmarks to watch out for such as the waving chief, mardi gras decorations and the best of all: a glimpse of the Grand Canyon and the world of dinosaurs, after the Tomorrowland station. Don´t forget the Disneyland Railroad during your next Disneyland visit: a great ride!

What happens if I get sick during my visit to Disneyland?

Anyone can get sick at any moment during a vacation. If this should happen to you during your Disneyland visit, worry no more. Disneyland has a First Aid Center next to the Baby Center at the end of Main Street. I personally have had the need to attend it on different occasions and I can surely say that the service is outstanding. They can assist you with medicine for colds, headaches or upset stomachs. They can also help you administer medicine to children, in case you are traveling with prescription medication. They hold a strict log of who is visiting the center and who is being treated with what. In case you have a more serious condition during your visit in the park (hopefully you won´t) they are prepared with hospital-like beds and chairs to make you more comfortable. Great service, as you would only expect from Disney, and a sure bet to make the best of your visit. Remember this during your next trip. I hope you will not have the need for it, but if you do, you are in good hands.

Disneyland´s Haunted Mansion Holiday

If you´re a fan of Disney´s Haunted Mansion attraction and also a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Haunted Mansion Holiday is for you. Since 2001, The Haunted Mansion transforms itself from late September through the new year into Haunted Mansion Holiday. This attraction features Jack Skellington from Tim Burton´s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Just like in the movie, Jack, the king of Halloweentown, tries to take over Christmas as Sandy Claws. It´s a wonderful ride featuring the best of these two holidays, combining music from the classic attraction, movie and also favorite Christmas carols. You still get to see most of Haunted Mansion´s classic ghosts and ghouls, plus many of the movie´s characters. Check with the park for exact dates for this attraction and don´t forget to visit on your next Disney trip.

Halloween Time at Disneyland!

If you´re planning a trip to Disneyland, Halloween may be a perfect time for you! Starting late September or early October, and all through Halloween, the Disneyland Resort dresses up for this fun holiday! From decorations at the entrance of both parks, Halloween flavored treats, dressed up characters and jack-o-lantern carvings to music, costumes, parades and a very special Halloween party, Disneyland is the place to be for Halloween!

You´ll find your favorite characters dressed up with classic trick or treating attire. Jack-o-lanterns of all sizes decorate Main Street. Special baked goods are offered at the bakery. Frontierland hosts Woody´s Halloween Roundup, a special place for pumpkin carving and Halloween crafts. You´ll also find a huge selection of costumes at all stores. The giant California letters standing in front of Disney´s California Adventure are transformed into candy corn! Candy Corn Acres welcomes you to California Adventure with other special greetings and surprises.

The "piéce de resistance", however, is surely Mickey´s Halloween Treat, a special, separately ticketed party at California Adventure. Certain nights of October are set aside for this and you will want to buy your tickets in advance. The gates open to the park at around 6:30 p.m. and the party ends at 10:30. Everyone is welcome to wear a costume, as long as you follow the guidelines of costume policies. You receive a special trick or treating bag and a park map. There you will find special trick or treating stations where everyone recieves candy, chocolate and even packaged apple slices! You may also enjoy rides at the park. There are tons of characters roaming around for greetings and pictures, plus they have their own special hanging out place: princesses are at one place, Disney villans at another, there´s even a pirate´s lair. After you finish your trick or treating you can enjoy a great parade with your favorite characters dancing around to Halloween music, where some children are invited to join the show. All in all a great night!

Remember Halloween when you plan your next Disney vacation. If you haven´t visited the park during this season, it´s a wonderful choice for out of the ordinary fun!

WHERE SHOULD I SIT AT DURING A PARADE?

The parades are a definite must-see during any Disney vacation. Any parade, day or night, is a great moment of fun, entertainment, music and character greetings. First of all, check your guide map. Parade routes are usually highlighted. Parades tend to appear 2 times a day during peak seasons and weekends. The first time, they´ll go from the end of the park (Fantasyland) to Main street; and the second time, the other way around, or vice-versa. Keep in mind that if you´re sitting at the ending point, the parade will appear about 7 minutes later than marked in your schedule sheet. If you´re traveling with children, you will want to sit at the very front row of the sidewalk during a parade. This way, you´ll have a better chance of characters coming over to say "hello" to your child. If this is not your interest, second and third row viewing is great, you can still see the entire parade, and you won´t have to wait as long to hold your spot. Main Street is definitely a great place to enjoy a parade. There are no twists or turns, the straight line street lets you enjoy a full view of the float in front of you, and those that are coming. However, plan on arriving at least 30-45 minutes before the parade starts to get a spot. If you are running late for a parade, your best shot is Fantasyland, right where the parade starts or ends. There won´t be as much anticipation as on Main Street, but you can still enjoy it all without the wait. When you pick your spot make sure the sun will not be shining at your face when the parade begins, you may think you´re up for it, but after 10 minutes, you´ll want to change seats! One last thing, make sure you have a good snack when you sit down. It´s not the same to wait 30 minutes empty handed, than with a delicious ice-cream sandwich or churro.

Shopping at the Parks

If you´re planning to do some shopping at any Disney park here are some suggestions:

• If you´re planning to do a lot of shopping, try doing it at the end of the day. The stores will be packed full, but you won´t have to carry your bags throughout the day.
• If you´re staying at a resort hotel check at your front desk, some hotels and stores have the option of sending your shopping right to your room!
  
• Some park stores have a package holding system. You can save your shopping bags with them and come get them later in the day.
• Try shopping at World of Disney. It´s outside the parks in Downtown Disney (in both Anaheim and Lake Buena Vista). They have a huge selection of merchandise and you can find everything in one place.
• Check the stores in the park guide. There are stores specialized in different items or themes. For example: the Princess Shoppe for princess merchandise and costumes or the Star Trader for Star Wars and Tomorrowland merchandise.
• If you find something you really like, go ahead and buy it when you see it. If you wait for later in the day or in the week, stores tend to blend into each other in your head and you´ll have a hard time remembering where you saw the item!
  

Disney Bakery Goods

The Blue Ribbon Bakery is located in Disneyland in Main Street. Just by walking by its door you can experience the smells of an old fashioned bakery. Once inside you can find a baked good sure to please any craving you may have. From cookies to cakes, coffee and soft drinks this is a great choice for an early morning quick breakfast, or for a snack while waiting for the parade to start. Enjoy classics like the Mickey Mouse Cookie! If you visit Disneyland during winter months, or are surprised by a cold day any time of the year, be sure to enjoy your favorite snack with Disney´s classic hot cocoa. The bakery also offers cookies or desserts according to the time of year. For example, during Halloweentime, enjoy a pumpkin shaped Mickey Mouse cookie.

Be sure to visit the bakery during your next visit to Disney!

Character Breakfasts

There are several character breakfasts, located in the resort hotels and in the parks. Each breakfast offers different characters and settings for a unique dining experience. Character breakfasts are a great choice for autograph signing, pictures and character fun. Be sure to ask in advance which characters are featured in each breakfast; the characters rotate and not all will be present every day, but a few are signature characters of that site, and will constantly appear. For example, Goofy will always make an appearance in Goofy´s Kitchen, and together with other characters, will make everyone get up and dance.

Another great choice: Chip and Dale at the Grand Californian Hotel, filled with characters like Koda and Kenai (Brother Bear), Miko (Pocahontas) and Brer Bear (Song of the South), together with everyone´s favorite chipmunks. The princesses have their own breakfast, perfect for the little princesses in your party. The key is to check and make reservations in advance. Visit a character breakfast during your next visit to Disneyland!

Birthday at Disney!

Disneyland is a great place to celebrate a birthday! At City Hall, there is a telephone where you can receive a birthday call from Goofy. You can get a birthday button there too, and that way you´ll get "happy birthday"´s from cast members throughout the day. (Peter Pan shouted out "Happy Birthday!" to my son, in the middle of a parade! Best birthday ever for him!) For a real birthday party be sure to reserve a spot in Happiest Birthdays on Earth. For a fee you´ll enjoy a birthday party complete with lemonade (in souvenir cups), party hats, birthday cake (with cake decorating contest), songs, dancing and of course the visit of a very important mouse, wishing you a happy birthday. If you do not wish to attend this party, you can order a birthday bucket in any of the park´s sit-in restaurants. The bucket includes a mini cake and several party favors, and they usually have different designs such as sorcerer Mickey or princesses. Look for the birthday cart in front of Happiest Birthdays on Earth at the end of Main Street, right before the entrance to Tomorrowland. Happy Birthday!

VISITING DISNEYLAND WITH TODDLERS

Toddlers are sure to enjoy a visit to Disneyland. They´ll enjoy character greetings, parades and rides. However, going to Disneyland with toddlers can be a challenge if you´re not prepared. Travel at their own pace. Return to your hotel in the middle of the day for a quick nap and then come back to the park to continue the fun. Be sure they have enough to drink, especially during hot days, and make sure they´re not hungry so they don´t get cranky. Visit the Baby Center (located at Main Street) for diaper changes, feedings and more. Talk to them about what they´re going to see before you get to Disneyland. These rides are great for first time toddler visitors:

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant


• King Arthur´s Carrousel


• Mad Tea Party


• it´s a Small World


• Jungle Cruise


• The Enchanted Tiki Room

Once they get the idea of what´s going on, you can go on and try the rest!

Eating at Pirates of the Caribbean!

If you are a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride or movie, you are sure to love this! At the Disneyland Resort there is a restaurant called Blue Bayou. It is inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and aside from offering great food, you can enjoy the twilight atmosphere, complete with fireflies and the classic ride music. You need to make reservations in advance, especially during the summer. The food includes crab cakes, jambalaya, prime rib and key lime pie. The children receive pirate paper hats and usually they offer a souvenir mug or cup. The entrance is behind the Pirates of the Caribbean ride; when you exit the ride, turn to your left. A great choice for all pirate wannabes!

Choosing a Disneyland Hotel

There are several things to keep in mind before choosing which hotel you should stay at during your visit to Disneyland (Anaheim). First of all, budget. There are great choices for the budget minded traveler. There are great hotels near the resort that won´t be a burden on your wallet. (Jolly Roger Hotel, Motel 6) If you plan on spending the entire day at the parks there´s really no need to spend more on a hotel room you´ll only stay at every night. Another thing to keep in mind is who you´re travelling with. If your party includes babies, very small children or senior citizens, you´ll probably want one of the hotels located across the street from the Disneyland resort. These are great hotels whithin walking distance of Disneyland, the place to stay at for quick changes, afternoon naps or short breaks from all the excitement (Anaheim Camelot, Tropicana Inn). If visiting Disney is just one part of your trip and you wish for a more relaxed vacation, with comfortable hotel rooms with other amenities, suite hotels are a great choice. (Marriott Suites, Doubletree, Sheraton). Finally, if you want the complete Disney experience from sun up to sun down you have to stay at one of the resort hotels. From decorations to shopping to character dining and location, these hotels are sure to make your visit 100% Disney (Grand Californian, Paradise Pier or the Disneyland Hotel). So, think about your trip and choose the Disneyland area hotel thar best suits your needs. Have a great trip!

MUST-SEE RIDES AT DISNEYLAND!

On a first time visit you can´t miss:
1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. The Haunted Mansion
3. Splash Mountain
4. Mr. Toad´s Wild Ride
5. Peter Pan´s Flight
6. It´s a Small World
7. Matterhorn Bobsleds
8. Buzz Lightyear´s Astro Blasters
9. Space Mountain
10. The Enchanted Tiki Room

VISITING A DISNEY PARK!

You may be young, you may be old, but one thing is for certain: once you cross the gates of a Disney Park you are magically transported to the past, the future and a world of fantasy. It doesn´t matter what the world is outside; you won´t even remember the problems you left back home, the truth is that by being in a Disney Park really means you are in the happiest place on Earth. Join Disney Blogspot for suggestions, ideas, travel tips and more for your disney vacation or for trivia, news and memories to re-live your visit. See you soon!