One can never have enough “advice” when planning a Disneyland and California Adventure Park trip. Here are a few more to keep in mind as you plan your next trip.
Snacking in the parks
I’m not quite sure why but children (both young and old) always seem to be hungry between meals when they visit Disneyland® and California Adventure. But, they do. Snacks inside the parks can get to be a bit spendy. If you plan a head, though, you can reduce these costs dramatically by bringing your own snacks into the park. And, yes, Disney does let you do this.
If you are driving, there is a Target located close to the park and you can stop there if you don’t make it to the store before you leave. Juice boxes, fresh fruit, cheeses and snack meats keep well in the insulated bags that you can pick up at many stores. They look just like a regular bag, so for fashion sake, no one will notice. Granola bars, goldfish and individual bags of chips also serve as quick fixes between meals.
If you are flying, you can use a plastic container with a lid to store snacks in. These pack well in suitcases and keep your snacks away from your clothes and keep your clothes from crushing your snacks. Then when you get to the hotel you can transfer what you need to the day bag you take to the park.
Eating at the parks
There are many places to eat both inside the parks and at the Disneyland® Resort Hotels. If you want to eat at a sit-down restaurant, advanced dining reservations should be made, especially during busy times. You can make these 60 calendar days in advance, either online or by calling. Some require a credit card to guarantee them while others do not.
The Blue Bayou Restaurant located by the Pirates of the Caribbean (the ride floats through the restaurant) is highly popular and an advanced dining reservation is highly recommended. The restaurant at Blue Bayou, the menu is heavy on the Cajun, Creole and French influences of Louisiana. Photo Disney©.
Most full-service travel agencies specializing in Disney will make these reservations for you and offer advice on what is available and appropriate for your family. This can save you time and better ensure a match between your families tastes/likes and the restaurant.
The time of day you choose to eat is also important. All restaurants, whether counter service or sit-down are crowded during traditional eating times. If you can, plan to eat at off times. For example, eat lunch before 11:30AM or after 1:30pm. Grab an early dinner around 4pm or a late night dinner after 7:30pm. You will find shorter lines and better availability for dining reservations. The other thing it consider is getting your food and eating while waiting for a parade or a show. This can make a longer wait seem much shorter.
A storybook village scene is the backdrop for Village Haus, quick-service restaurant at Disneyland® which is hosted by Minute Maid® featuring German- and Italian-inspired food. You can try a 1/3-pound pastrami cheeseburger with Swiss and caramelized onions, apple and cheddar salad with honey-yogurt dressing or how about BLT flatbread pizza or chicken sausage in a pretzel roll topped with sauerkraut. Photo Disney©.
Water is free
While it seems easiest to buy a soda or grab a bottle of water, all Disneyland® and California Adventure restaurants will give you a free cup of water – both with meals and by itself. They will also fill up your own water bottles if you ask.
These are just a few quick tips. If you have more please share so all our What’s Up With The Mouse readers can benefit.
