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.