September 13th – October 31st Disneyland is partying with Mickey for Mickey’s Halloween Party!

I can hardly believe it has been a full year since our family vacation to Disneyland last year.  Celebrating Halloween at Disneyland and attending Mickey’s Halloween Party was hands down one of my favorite Halloweens in recent memory.  Adding Disney magic to an already fun time of the year made it an unforgettable memory for our family!

On the party days Disneyland shut down the park to guests except those who have Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket, and transforms into a Halloween Spooktastic Event!

My son had SO much fun trick-or-treating at Disneyland Park, and I loved that instead of just candy they were also handing out healthier options including craisins, carrots, and more!

Gotta love a grainy forward facing iPhone picture! I love this little man! He was just so happy to be on vacation and headed back to Disneyland!

My little man just loved meeting his favorite Disney characters! He even showed Pluto his Optimus Prime! Pluto actually took it from him, and gave it a hug and a kiss, which made my son’s day!

I was not able to partake in these sweet treats, but everyone else got something!

Leave it to Tigger to mess with the kiddos! Squishy thought he was hilarious!

A quick snuggle with Eeyore.

Poor Pooh Bear didn’t know what was coming when Squishy tackled him with a kiss!!

Clearly, he was happy to meet these guys!

Next up we headed to take on a few rides, Dumbo, Peter Pan, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride were all big hits!  At this time, we took a nice break for lunch, and Squishy fell asleep again.  During this break I got some reading in, and Daddy and Auntie went for some big people rides including Space Mountain and Star Wars!

At this time we switched to the other park, and the first thing my son asked for when he woke up was some Strawberry Ice Cream.  Being we were right in front of Clarabelle’s Ice Cream Parlor we had to stop and enjoy a cold treat!  He was pretty excited about his ice cream….

However, when Auntie came back from the gift shop with the soundtrack to Cars Land (yes, it has it’s very own soundtrack!), my son took that excitement to a whole new level!!  I love this face!

We stopped to get a family picture in our matching shirts!  Day 3’s matching shirts were brought to you by the letter T!  Daddy was in Tigger, Squishy in Toy Story, and Mommy in Tinkerbell!

Squish was pretty insistent that I take his picture by this car, what can I say? The boy loves cars!

Of course we had to head back over to Cars Land! All my little man wanted to do there was ride Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree over and over.  Since the line was so short, why not! I think he rode it four times in a row!

The sun was starting to set on our day!  Time to get a picnic dinner before heading over to the World of Color.  We were actually able to pre-order our dinner which included a fast pass in the price of the meal!

Squishy enjoyed some Daddy shoulder time before the show started.  It was pretty crowded, so if you do World of Color make sure you get your fast pass for the best seats!

We loved having the park hopper pass for the third day of our trip.  It made it very easy to catch the rides we had missed in the parks the day before, and spend a great half day in each park.  World of Color is certainly the best way to end a day at Disney California Adventure!

Catch up on our trip!

Disneyland Day 1, Disney California Adventure (Day 2)

So without further explanation – here is our Day 2 in photos!

He doesn’t even know Cars Land is where we are headed yet, but he is ready to go! I swear the daily shuttle bus ride was just as exciting to him!

We’ve arrived, and he thrilled!  Day 2 matching shirts were for our son’s love of Mater of course!

We had planned to head directly to the radiator racers as we knew the line gets longer with each moment the park was open, but there was no passing by Mater!  He was SO excited to meet him, he didn’t even know what to do with himself!

We finally got in line for the radiator racers, and I was glad we did! We waited just over 1.5 hours (fast passes sold out SUPER fast!).  But thankfully there is plenty to look at while waiting in line!

After a thrilling ride and a first place finish, we made a pit stop and saw that Lightning was out greeting his fans! Of course my little fan had to say hi too! He was a little less shy, but still just as speechless meeting McQueen!

After meeting McQueen, the hubs took Squish on Luigi’s flying tires. I was a little heavy on my feet from our last line, so I sat that ride out.  However, he told me all about it as soon as they got off! I couldn’t resist having Squishy try on a Luigi’s tires hat! He thought it was SO funny!

Next up was Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree!  Time to ride some Tractors!  This was hands down my son’s favorite ride.  He loved the music, the jokes, and the ride had him in hysterics the whole time!

He liked it so much we rode it twice in a row!

Of course he had to meet the tractor’s too!

To say he loved Cars Land would pretty much be the understatement of the century.  He kept asking when the movie was going to start!

After some lunch it was clearly time to  get some rest.  The previous day he didn’t nap at all, and while he had a smile on his face the whole time you could tell at the end of the day it was a bit overwhelming.  So this time I planned ahead and told him he needed a few minutes of quiet time to “refuel his tanks for the next rides”, and put the Buggy Shady over the stroller.  He as out within 5 minutes.  He slept long enough for my Hubs and his sister to ride Tower of Terror, the roller coaster, and a water ride!  I found a nice bench in the shade and pulled out the iPad to catch up on my reading!

I had though ahead enough to park us next to a ride in case the little man woke up while Daddy was still on his ride.  After a quick snack he was ready for Neptune’s Merry Go Round!  He thought it was pretty silly to ride a seal!

Once Daddy returned we headed over to Toy Story Mania.  While in line I got a tweet from @DCAToday congratulating my son on his first place finish on Radiator Racers.  They had personalized a picture of a piston cup just for him!  Talk about making his day!  Love Disney and all the little magical touches they create for their fans!

Squishy thought it was funny to put the 3D glasses on his hat.  I did too!  I have to tell you – I had a blast on Toy Story Mania.  I rode with my hubs and kicked his butt in the game!  Gotta love a little friendly competition!  My son rode with his Auntie and had a blast pointing out all his favorite Toy Story characters.

Next up we hit the Ferris Wheel… this proved to be a fatal mistake for me, as we got one of the rocking cars.  Motion sickness and pregnancy do not go hand in hand.  So after riding the Ferris Wheel, we let Squishy pick out one more ride.  He picked the Zephyrs.  Check out that smile on his face!  Afterwards we headed home and enjoyed a nice dinner just outside our hotel.

Stay tuned for Day 3 of our trip where we hit up both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park in one day, and Day 4 for Mickey’s Halloween Party!

Disclosure: Disney Media/PR provided me with 1 day park passes for Disney California Adventure in order to share my trip with my readers. All thoughts, opinions, and pictures are my own. 

For 7 days we enjoyed our time in California, 4 days in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and 1 day in LEGOLAND.  A trip to our favorite California restaurant in Newport Beach, and a trip to Ikea were also included.  We couldn’t have had a better vacation.

Here are some pictures from the first day of our trip.  We didn’t tell our son where he was going until we got to the park!  He had no clue how to react!

(Well, technically two days – travel and Day 1 of Disneyland!)

On our way to Disneyland!! (Of course he still doesn’t know that yet!)

We stayed at the WorldMark in Anaheim.  Before our first son was born, my husband and I bought a timeshare and this was our first time using it.  We had a great time, and loved being in a two bedroom with a full kitchen.  It made our trip so much easier than if we had stayed in a hotel.  The only exception to this will be the next time we return to Disneyland.  We plan on trading our time for one of the Disneyland Resort hotel rooms!

The pool!

Oh my goodness! I’M AT DISNEYLAND!!

Matching family t-shirts (I had one for every day at the park – today’s theme – MICKEY!)

We got our ears!!

One of my favorite pictures from our trip.  So excited to walk down Main Street!

I love my son’s face in this picture! He was more interested in going into the castle then standing out front of it. I also love how his Mickey Ears seemed to always be a little crooked…

So excited to ride a horse on King Arthur’s Merry-Go-Round.

Squishy was not amused that he couldn’t remove the sword…

We all loved all the Halloween decorations!  This really made the whole trip a bit more exciting knowing it was for a fun holiday!

Someone was over the moon to meet Mickey.  He was also fortunate to be first in line of the group that was led in, so Mickey escorted him in.  I think he was pretty much speechless for a good 10 minutes!

He was totally smitten when he met Minnie Mouse.  I’m so bummed I didn’t have my camera at the ready though because as he was saying good bye, he actually snuck a kiss in.  Awe, young love!

Waving at his favorite characters during the parade!

On our way back to the hotel.  Even with no naps, he still had a huge smile plastered on his face.  In fact, I’m pretty sure he slept with that smile on all week long!  Operation Disneyland Surprise was a huge success, and this little boy had fallen head over heals in love with the magic of Disneyland and all that it has to offer!

Stay tuned for more photo stories from our Disneyland trip!

I love going out with my family, but I will be honest.  Large groups of people make me really uneasy.  Crowded spaces can quickly go from just crowded to overwhelming.  Since I know that these situations can be stressful for me and my husband, we usually try to plan ahead to make sure we have a safe and successful outing with the family.

Places like Disneyland are a perfect example. Last week my family took a week long vacation to Disneyland.  Given it was Halloween time at Disneyland, there were MANY people in the park!  There are so many different ways big crowded places can go from fun to scary in an instant.  Wandering child, miscommunications, or even being separated from the rest of the group by the crowd can be stressful.

By following a few simple steps, my family makes sure we are safe when we are out and about enjoying crowded locations!

• Plan a Meeting Place
  The first thing we always do is plan a meeting spot.  If we were to get separated, by having one main meeting spot we know we can find each other.
• Teach Kids How to Find Help
  The only exception to our first rule is our little man.  We have told him that if he was to get lost that he is to stay exactly where he is until we find him.   He is too young to understand a meeting spot, and a wandering toddler can even get more scary.  We also let him know how to spot the people who work either at Disneyland or security, and to approach them instead of random strangers.  Do remind your children not to talk to strangers again.
• Know your Exits
  When in really crowded locations your family should always know where the exits are.  This will help in case you need to leave quickly, and also make a good meeting spot for family.
• Pay Attention
  Pay attention to your surroundings, the people around you, your belongings, and the weather.  All of these will help you avoid unwanted situations, lost items, and possible dangerous encounters.
• Charge Your Cell Phones
  Make sure everyone has a full charge on your cell phones before going to busy locations.  Also if possible have an “In Case Of Emergency” section where strangers can find important contacts if they need to.

Crowd control can be tricky, but manageable if you take the time to plan prior to day trips or long vacations!

What do you do to keep your family safe in crowds?

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by the Home Security Store.  All words and opinions in this post are my own.

I can not believe in a less than two months from today my family and I will be taking our first real vacation!  At the end of October we will be spending 1 full week in Anaheim, and 4 days at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure!  We will be there just in time for the Halloween season!

The Happiest Place on Earth gets a bit spookier as Halloween Time returns to Disneyland Resort this fall.  The season runs from Friday, September 14th through Halloween, Monday October 31st!  During this time Disneyland will be filled with Halloween fun including Disney villains, Mickey Mouse and his friends in Halloween costumes and Mickey’s Halloween Party. There will also be special exhibits during this season!

My husband and I traveled to Disneyland before we were married and happened to be during this spooky season so we know we are in for a very special treat. I loved the Haunted Holiday Mansion the last time we were there!

Jack Skellington also returns to take over the Haunted Mansion and bring back Haunted Mansion Holiday to New Orleans Square in Disneyland.  Transformed to a mix of Halloween spookiness and Christmas tradition, Haunted Mansion Holiday is inspired by the Tim Burton film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Jack’s return to the Haunted Mansion includes the traditional Halloween/Christmas gingerbread house in the Mansion Ballroom, with some special spooky surprises in this year’s design.

I imagine this is the time of year all the Disney villains count down to as well!  Halloween season is a time to celebrate the villain!  Villains will be gathered and plotting Halloween mischief at “it’s a small world” Mall in Disneyland.  But be on the lookout for other characters in spooky attire greet guests in Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A.

My son is going to be floored when we take him to a very special event!  At Mickey’s Halloween Party my family and I will get to dress up in costume and trick-or-treat at Disneyland. What’s really exciting is while we can arrive three hours prior to the start of Mickey’s bash and hang out with the rest of the Disneyland guests, but then Mickey’s party goes private!  They will actually close the park down to only ticket holders for this special event!

Highlights of Mickey’s Halloween Party include:

• The special opportunity to play in Disneyland for up to three hours before the party starts; check www.Disneyland.com/Halloween for party hours.
• Fun treat stations offering both candy and healthy treats
• The “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington (presented exclusively for guests of  Mickey’s Halloween Party)
• ”Mickey’s Costume Party” cavalcade, performed twice nightly
• Dance parties, where guests will “boo-gie” to lively music
• An opportunity for everyone in the family to attend the park in costumes
• Photo locations with some popular Disney and Pixar Pals, and Disney Villains
• Favorite Disneyland rides and attractions, plus Halloween-themed attractions Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy
• Parking for one standard-size vehicle

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party are $54* for select nights when purchased in advance, while tickets purchased on the event days and selected nights are $64.  All tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party on Monday, Oct. 29, and Halloween Night, Wednesday, Oct. 31, are $69.

There are so many other fun activities for families during this event including an open exhibit to see Disney California Adventure Park The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition. This exhibit will feature sketches, props, sets and puppets from Tim Burton’s new animated film, “Frankenweenie” from Sept. 14 through Nov. 5, and it includes a sneak peek of the movie.

I am certain my husband will take advantage of our son’s naps to head over to the The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror where a “supernatural” event happened on Halloween evening, 1939, forever haunting the building.

Additional events that my son is sure to attend include:

• Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland is transformed for the Main Street Pumpkin Festival. Guests will see more than 300 pumpkins ­­- none of them the same.
• Visitors to Big Thunder Ranch Halloween Round in Frontierland will find ranch animals, pumpkin carvers, Halloween décor and activities for youngsters.
• Meeting Disney characters will be lots of fun as Disney villains gather to plot Halloween mischief at “it’s a small world” Mall in Disneyland, while other characters in spooky attire greet guests in Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A.

Don’t forget to check out the amazing fall offers for Disneyland Resorts!  This is the great way to get a deal for your family trip this Halloween Season!

Please note: The after-hours Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separate-ticket event* which has become an annual highlight of Halloween for trick-or-treating families, will take place in Disneyland Park on 11 special Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights: Sept. 28 and Oct. 2, 5, 9, 12, 15, 19, 23, 26, 29 and 31. Tickets are on sale now for the general public, with information at www.Disneyland.com/Halloween.

Sources: All media and information provided by Disneyland News.

Disclosure:  I did receive family passes for Disneyland for my upcoming trip in October. However, I was not asked or required to post this information. I love Disneyland and all they have to offer!

Last week I shared about Mickey’s Halloween Party happening at Disneyland.  Today, I wanted to share a super amazing opportunity to win a Disneyland Family Vacation for FOUR during Disneyland’s Spooktacular Halloween season!

Hurry! This contest ends October 7th!!

Frankenweenie Monstrous Sweepstakes:

Enter the Frankenweenie Monstrous Sweepstakes for a chance to win a spooktacular vacation for four to experience all the fun of Halloween Time at the Disneyland® Resort. Plus, don’t miss The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibit only at the newly expanded Disney California Adventure Park, where you can get an up-close look at the amazing world of Frankenweenie through sets, puppets, props and more. And for a limited time Guests will be treated to a special 4D extended preview of the film at the Muppets Vision 3D Theater before Frankenweenie comes to theaters in 3D October 5th.

Visit www.disney.com/frankenweeniesweeps to enter the Monstrous sweepstakes and you could win Halloween Time at the Disneyland® Resort for some frightfully family-friendly fun!

Dates:

August 23 – October 7, 2012

Entries:

Online: www.disney.com/frankenweeniesweeps

Mobile – Text EDGAR to DISNEY (347639*) to enter for a chance to win.

*Msg and data rates may apply. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

Prizing:

One (1) Grand Prize – A 4 day/3 night vacation for four to Disneyland® Resort and Disney California Adventure Park to experience the world of Tim Burton and Frankenweenie during Halloween Time.

Five (5) First Prizes – An Autographed Frankenweenie movie poster!

Okay, I’m off to enter!!  Good Luck!

“Like” FRANKENWEENIE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Frankenweenie

FRANKENWEENIE arrives in theatres everywhere on October 5^th!

There are only 15 more days until the launch of Halloween Season at Disneyland!  That’s right! The Happiest Place on Earth is getting a whole lot spookier!  In a little less than two months my family will be hanging out with Mickey Mouse for the Halloween Party at Disneyland!

I haven’t yet told our son that he will be trick or treating with Mickey, because he still doesn’t understand the concept of waiting, and I’m already too excited to listen to “Are we going to see Mickey today?” for the next 40+ days!

If you haven’t already heard, you’re invited too!!

Mickey will be having a special Halloween private bash for all his favorite fans!

You can already start buying your tickets!

Mickey’s Halloween Party is a private-party celebration held for 11 special nights in October at Disneyland park, offering adults and children a chance to dress up in costume and trick-or-treat at the Resort. Highlights include new surprises in “Mickey’s Costume Party” cavalcade, performed twice nightly.

Stay tuned to Our Knight Life for more details about all the Disneyland fun during the Halloween Season!

All media and information provided by Disneyland News.

If you think that once the sun sets on Disney California Adventure it is time to settle into the comfort of your Disney Resort Hotel, you are going to miss one of the coolest experiences you can have at the parks!

Disney California Adventure at night is beyond amazing, and not just for kids either!  Both parents and children will be wowed by all that DCA has to offer it’s guests once the sun sets!

My suggestion is to start in Cars Land.

Just like in the movie Cars, every night at dusk, a switch is flipped and Cars Land becomes a neon treat!  Complete with “Sh-boom” playing on the loud speakers for all guests to enjoy.

This is a treat your children will never forget, and the neon is sure to impress kids of all ages!

Next it is time to move on to the Mad T Party!

If you are brave enough to venture down the rabbit hole, you will find yourself in a world inspired by Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland! Here you will find lots of fun music including a live band, dancing, interactive games, and creative treats and drinks!  It is truly a night life full of entertainment!

(Photo Credit: Disneyland News and Media)

You really feel like you have stepped into an alternative land where Alice, Mad Hatter, and more will entertain you for hours!

When I take my family back to the park in October, I plan on letting our son see Cars Land light up, then sending him and his Aunt back to the hotel to rest and eat dinner.  My husband and I hope to dine at Carthay Circle Restaurant and attend the Mad T Party.  While this party is fun for all ages, I just thought it would make a great date night for my husband and I!

End your evening with Disney’s World Of Color!

At this point I hope to have our son join us again for THE most amazing light show I have ever seen in my entire life.  World of Color is almost beyond words amazing!

Now you can purchase special interactive Mickey Ears that are programed to be part of the show!  Only, no one told us that when we were given them to see at the special grand re-opening of Disney California Adventure!  To not only watch the show, but to see how everyone was a part of the show was something I will never forget, and you shouldn’t miss!

Imagine all you will miss if you head back to your hotel early! Disney California Adventure Park is certainly not to be missed once the sun goes down!

Disclosure:  Disney Public Relations provided me with my travel expenses and accommodations to cover the Disney California Adventures Grand Re-Opening, Cars Land, and Buena Vista Street as a member of the media. No compensation was given to write these posts. I love Disney, and Disney California Adventure!

You know you are heading to Disneyland, but now you are wondering where you should stay.  Might I suggest Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel located right in the heart of the Disney magic!  From the moment you walk into the hotel you are treated to a forest themed Disney oasis!

There are many reasons you should consider staying at this hotel.

Park Proximity

As a mother to one young child and another on the way one of the biggest selling points for this hotel was the proximity to the parks and Downtown Disney.

When you stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel you are less than a 10 minute walk to your room from anywhere in Disney California Adventure, about a 15 minute walk from the entrance of Disneyland, and la few minutes for Downtown Disney.  There is no need to wait for shuttles, or have to pack extra items to stay a full day at the park.  You can head back to your room in just minutes!

There is even an exclusive park entrance right out of the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.  You can actually exit your hotel and enter right into Disney California Adventure Park.  Being so close allows for extreme flexibility when it comes to your family’s trip.

DINING

The Grand Californian has all the amenities your family needs.  Plenty of places to eat including Storytellers Café (which has an amazing character buffet), Napa Rose which offers fine dining for a enchanting date night or a fine dining family experience, Hearthstone Lounge offers a full bar as well as a morning continental breakfast with fresh bakery goods and specialty coffees, and White Water Snacks which is exactly as it sounds!

More Disney Time! (Extended Park Hours for Hotel Guests Only!)

Guests at all Disneyland Resorts can enjoy early admission, during every day of their hotel stay, to select attractions in Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park one hour before the park opens to the public. (Valid theme park admission and active hotel room key required.)

Spacious Rooms

The hotel rooms are a parent’s dream! Standard rooms come with two queens or bunk beds and a queen bed.  The bunk beds even have a 3rd pull out trundle allowing each room to sleep 5 people comfortably.  I love the extra details that continue with the forest theme.  Lantern-esque lights, Snow White prints, and Bambi shower curtains all lend to the Disney magic.  Some may miss the “Mickey” everywhere, but keep your eyes open… they are still around!

Disney really thinks of everything for it’s guests.  Hair dryers, comfortable robes, iron, luggage racks, and even portable cribs are standard in all rooms.  This allows for more room in your suitcase to bring home those Disney souvenirs!  I forgot my toothbrush on my trip and within 10 minutes of my phone call I had one in my hand!

Pool Time

There are plenty of pools and outdoor hot tubs for your family to enjoy.  With a giant waterslide and a smaller waterslide for younger kids your family is sure to enjoy spending time in the water!  This is a perfect escape when the parks get crowded or too hot.  With the extra morning hour, your family is sure to have plenty of time to spend both at the park and in the pool.  Private cabanas are available for purchase as well. 

Downtown Disney District

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is just steps away from the Downtown Disney District, a fun family area that boosts amazing shopping, a variety of dining options, movies, and even exciting nighttime entertainment.  Plus this is all available even after the parks close!

Exclusive Extras!

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel also offers hotel tours, fun scavenger hunts for the kids, and they even have a spa if you can find time to escape!  Plus the hotel offers many more events and entertainment options exclusive to it’s guests.  Disney takes pride in making sure there is something for every age and person to enjoy.  There will be no time to be bored while staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.  In fact you may just have a hard time getting your children to leave.

Book your stay today at Disneyland Resorts!

Don’t forget to check out all that the new Disney California Adventure Park has to offer!Check out my tours through Buena Vista Street and Cars Land!

Disclosure:  Disney Public Relations provided me with my travel expenses and accommodations during a recent media trip.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own. No compensation was given, nor was I expected or asked to write about Disney Grand Californian Hotel.