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!