It seems a lot of people have questions about tickets at Disneyland! The blog post I did on them last year around this time turned into an FAQ of sorts over the last 11 months. Over time, some things have changed and some have stayed the same. Disneyland tickets are still different than tickets at Walt Disney World in a lot of ways. So I thought now was a good time to update!

1. Prices Usually Go Up Once a Year – and if last year is any indication, that time is probably getting close. Price jumps are usually pretty nominal, but last year a few things, like the Premier Annual Pass, which gets you entry into both Disneyland and Walt Disney World for a one year period, went up quite a lot. The day passes shouldn’t go up much, but if you’re planning a trip later this year, you may save a few dollars buying them now. At Disney World, it’s a tougher decision whether or not to buy tickets before prices go up, because at Disney World, the big discounted packages (free dining anyone?) often require a ticket purchase. At Disneyland, that’s not typically the case. Historically Disneyland discounts are concentrated on room discounts. You can add tickets or not, the discount is the same. There are no guarantees on any of this, but it’s information you may want to take into account.

2. Tickets Are Non-Transferable – Disneyland (and Disney World while we’re at it) tickets are non-transferrable. They are. It’s the rule. You can do it and offer every excuse in the book as to why it was okay, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s against the rule. I know you would save a lot of money if your friends bought 5-day tickets, only used 3 and then gave them to you. Believe me – I know. But that’s just not how it works. Whoever uses the ticket on the first day is who needs to use the ticket on the last day, the middle day, the middle-middle day. Got it? People overlooking that rule caused Disneyland to shorten the length of the tickets they offered.

3. 6-Day Tickets Are Back – Kind of. As I alluded to in number 2, with the exception of Annual Passes, Disneyland now only sells 5-day tickets, much to the chagrin of many guests who would like to stay longer. For a long time, Disney didn’t sell longer tickets, but if you knew to ask, you could add a day or two on to your 5-day tickets at the ticket booths for a great price. But Disneyland still had a problem. Disneyland doesn’t have biometric scanners like Walt Disney World, and they have a real issue with people selling unused portions of their tickets. That’s against the rules! Remember #2? Rather than the seemingly obvious solution of installing biometric scanners, Disneyland tried to curb the problem by taking away the unadvertised option to add days on at the booths. They also started taking pictures of guests with 3-day and longer tickets as they entered the park to make sure it was the same guest using the ticket each time. Well, that’s helping! There are still some websites out there intent on breaking the rules and “renting” those unused days on tickets, but overall it seems to be working, and guests are reporting that the ticket booths will add a day again. Keep in mind, this is not official and if you call and ask, you will probably be told it’s impossible. That’s because the people that answer the phones don’t have anything to do with this one. It’s the people in the ticket booths that do it, and they’ve started doing it again. Hopefully it will continue!

4. Tickets Expire 13 Days After the First Use – When you start using your tickets, they will expire 13 days after your first day. You don’t have to use the tickets on consecutive days though! If you have a 3-day ticket and want to take a break in the middle and go to the beach, do it! Just be back in time to finish using the ticket within those 13 days. There isn’t a No Expiration Option to add on like you can at Disney World.

5. Unused Tickets Expire at the End of the Calendar Year – Disneyland tickets expire at the end of the calendar year. There’s some wiggle room if you start using your 2013 tickets on December 31st of course, but as a general rule, they expire. At Disney World, if you buy tickets today and don’t use them at all, you can save them and use them 3 years from now. UNUSED tickets at Disney World don’t expire. That is not the case at Disneyland. Don’t buy tickets now to save money, and save them for 3 years. They expire. There are some reports that Disneyland will let you apply the value of the unused ticket to tickets that don’t expire until the next year, but don’t count on it.

6. You Can Use Disney World Tickets at Disneyland – It’s unadvertised, but true! You don’t do this at the ticket booths; this is done at the turnstiles. When you get to the turnstile with a Disney World ticket, the cast member will take your ticket, deduct a day, and give you a 1 day Disneyland ticket back. You can’t do this for multiple days at the same time. If you have more than 1 day left, you’ll have to repeat this process every day. I wouldn’t recommend doing this to save money, but if you’ve got unused days on a Disney World ticket that hasn’t expired, try it. This won’t work with annual passes (other than the Premier Pass mentioned in #1) or complimentary tickets. It’s also another one of those things that the cast members on the phone can’t (won’t?) confirm and it could change, but it works for now!

7. Check Online Prices – If you’re not traveling on a package and are buying tickets separately, check the prices online. There isn’t an advance purchase discount of any kind right now, but they do show up from time to time. Just keep an eye on the Disneyland.com tickets page.

8. Some Tickets Are Mailed – If you are on a package and are staying in a Good Neighbor Hotel, your tickets are usually mailed with your documents. The documents aren’t mailed until 30 days, or less, before you travel. If you booked through a travel agency, they’re going to them first, so you can see how easy it is for delays to happen. If you’re getting close to your trip and they haven’t shown up, track them down! You don’t want to arrive at your hotel expecting them to be there and they’re not!

9. Some Tickets Give You Early Entry – Disneyland has Extra Magic Hours at both of their parks for guests staying in one of their onsite resorts. If you’re staying offsite are you out of luck? At California Adventure – yes. But not at Disneyland! You can get a Magic Morning at Disneyland if you buy the right kind of ticket. What is a Magic Morning you ask? If you have a 3 day or longer ticket you can get into Disneyland one hour before it opens on either Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. There are some exceptions like Military tickets and tickets for other special days, but most other tickets of 3 days longer will work. If you are purchase your ticket at the ticket booth, you may have to add the Park Hopper option to be able to take advantage of Magic Morning.

10. You Can Upgrade Any Ticket That Hasn’t Expired – Did you decide you don’t want to go home? Did you decide you want to come back several times this year? Or did you just realize you want to park hop between parks during the same day? It’s probably not too late! You can upgrade any ticket to a more expensive one before the end of your last day.

Hopefully that helped! Do you have questions? Tips to share about tickets? Next week we’ll talk Annual Passes!

10 Things You Should Know About Disneyland Tickets – Updated! is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Have you ever seen a very pregnant lady at Disneyland fighting the crowds, pushing a 2-year-old in a stroller, and sweltering in the heat and thought, “She looks miserable?” Have you ever been that very pregnant lady at Disneyland? Well, whether you’ve been that Mom-to-be before, will probably be her in the future, or just love someone who’s been pregnant (or will be!) at Disneyland, this article is for you.

Now let me say right up front, going to Disneyland when you’re pregnant may not be the perfect time to go, but it doesn’t have to be a bad time! You can still have a great vacation. Here are a few ideas for you, in honor of mothers and mothers to be. And, if you remembered that this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day, you get a gold star (metaphorically speaking of course)!

1. Consult Your Doctor – The first and most important tip should be the most obvious – talk to your doctor before you go. Make sure he’s/she’s okay with the walking, the standing, the heat, and everything else that’s typical of a Disneyland vacation. You’re not the first person to ask, and they know what you need.

2. Listen to the Ride Restrictions – If a ride says it’s not for expectant mothers, it’s not for expectant mothers. Don’t do it. You may be fine, but it’s not worth it. The ride will still be there the next time you visit. You won’t be pregnant forever, even though it may feel like it.

3. Ride Some Rides – Don’t worry, there are some rides you can ride! As long as you can get in and out of the vehicles safely, there are several rides that offer no drops, sharp terms or jarring of any kind. In the Disneyland Park, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and it’s a small world all come immediately to mind. In Disney California Adventure, The Little Mermaid-Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is your tamest option there. But again, carefully look at those ride restrictions each time before boarding a ride!

4. See the Shows – Disneyland has some excellent shows. Shows that no guest should miss, pregnant or not! Disney’s Aladdin-A Musical Spectacular is my favorite show in any park. World of Color is an incredible nighttime show that’s worth going to bed a little late for. Everybody likes the Enchanted Tiki Room, and Billy Hill and the Hillbillies will have you laughing until your sides hurt. I think laughing is safe, right? So go to the shows! There are a lot of options. You could spend a whole day just seeing the shows!

5. Walk Through Attractions – There are several attractions that you walk through. No climbing in vehicles, just walk right through! The Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough has stairs, but if you can handle that, it’s worth some time. Tarzan’s Treehouse is another one with a lot of stairs, but it’s fun. The Disney Gallery is an art gallery where I always enjoy spending a lot of time browsing. Speaking of browsing, take some time to shop. You don’t have to buy, although my husband will agree that I’ve never mastered that ability; just take some time to walk through. There are stores everywhere! Hello, Mickey baby clothes!

6. Street Entertainment – Stop and see some of the more informal shows, otherwise known as Street Entertainment or Atmosphere Entertainment. It’s not quite as spontaneous as it may seem, the street entertainment options are listed in your times guide. You can catch the very popular barbershop quartet known as the Dapper Dans on Main Street, U.S.A., or the newer, excellent Five & Dime on Buena Vista Street. Check your times guide!

7. Resort Activities – At the onsite resorts, there are probably some resort activities going on during the day like Storytelling by the Hearthside Lounge at the Grand Californian. Maybe even an animation class! Or, just take a break by the beautiful fireplace in the Grand. Relax in one of the rocking chairs and take a (big) load off.

8. Swim – If your doctor didn’t restrict you from swimming, and you don’t mind putting on a swimsuit, a swim is a great way to relax and rejuvenate. One of my friends told me swimming in the resort pool was the most wonderful thing at the end of the day. She said the feeling of a “weightless belly” after all that walking was just glorious. I must say I laughed at the image of a weightless belly. I’ve had two children, I’m allowed to laugh at that by the way.

9. Take Breaks – This is important. You cannot wear yourself out and still enjoy yourself. Not to mention, I’m sure it’s not good for you or the baby. No, I’m not a doctor, but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express before (OK, that’s an old joke, but I’m really not a doctor…). On this trip more than ever, you must take breaks! Go to the room and nap. Find a shady spot and kick your heels up. Have a relaxing meal at a sit down restaurant. There are a lot of options, just make yourself do it!

10. Take care of yourself – In addition to resting, listen to your body. Take care of it. Stay hydrated with lots of water. Wear the most comfortable walking shoes ever. If your feet have grown, splurge and get a bigger size making sure to break them in before you arrive at Disneyland. Better yet, get two pairs so you can alternate. If you’re worn out, don’t be embarrassed, get a wheelchair. There’s no shame in needing to be off your feet when you’re pregnant! Do what you need to do.

Bonus – Don’t pick baby names at Disney. No matter how much you loved Maleficent in Fantasmic!, it’s not a good baby’s name. Wait at least two weeks after returning home before deciding. You may need some distance from the Magic to get an honest perspective.

So, have you done Disney pregnant? What worked or didn’t work for you?

10 Things to Do When Pregnant at Disneyland is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Have you ever been to Disney with a large group of people? Family, friends? People you hope are still family, friends after you vacation together? Well, believe it or not, you actually can have fun with your extended family. I lied; I don’t know your extended family. It’s entirely possible that you cannot have fun with them. So think of a large group of friends! Let’s talk about a vacation with them! I love going to Disneyland with big groups. The more the merrier for me. So here are some things I’ve learned over the years.

1. Choose Whom You Invite Wisely – First, you need to decide who is going! This may be decided for you by family obligations, but if you can pick, pick people you think you’d have a great time with. Keep in mind that Disney considers 10 or more rooms travelling together a group. Group means group discount! Discounts on rooms and tickets! So you may want to reach out to even more friends and family!

2. Designate a Leader – I confess, I like to be the leader on a big trip to Disney. My husband, who after 20+ years in the Air Force has no room to talk himself, might say I like to be bossy. I admit it, there’s a fine line between being a leader and being bossy (but I assure you, I’m firmly on the leader side of the line!). For planning purposes though, having a leader helps immensely! One person as the main contact is so much easier than constant Reply All emails!

3. Work With a Travel Agent – This will seem oddly self-serving (Star Trek reference anyone?), but it’s true. Even better than having a leader, is having a travel agent. A good travel agent who specializes in Disney and has experience booking groups will be your best friend. They can help coordinate the group, schedule things for you, book everything, take payments, etc. Their whole purpose should be to make it easier for you. And best of all, many won’t charge you any fees. It’s the same price to book through them as to book through Disney directly!

4. Link Everyone’s Rooms – I’m going to say right away that it will be much easier if everyone stays at the same resort. It will give everyone a stronger feeling of togetherness. Make sure you, or your travel agent, let your hotel know that everyone is traveling together. They’ll try to keep you as close to each other as possible.

5. Get Input – Get input from everyone that’s going. It may be that some want to splurge and stay at the Grand Californian, or maybe some others are trying to do this as cheaply as possible. Let everyone be honest about what their expectations are. Find out if anyone has a restaurant where they’ve always wanted to eat or a show they’ve always wanted to see with everyone else. Keep these in mind when you’re planning.

6. Agree to Split Up – The truth is, with a large group you probably won’t do everything together. The truth is, you probably shouldn’t try to do everything together! Different people are going to want to do different things, at different times, and at different paces. We always send out a letter to all involved before we leave for a big Disney trip. This letter describes what everyone can expect. This is what it says – “This is YOUR vacation. You have paid a lot for this vacation. It is not anyone else’s job to make sure you enjoy your vacation. You have complete freedom and responsibility to do what you please on YOUR vacation.” There will be times when little cousin Johnny wants to ride it’s a small world for the fifth time, and all you want to do is find Tower of Terror as quickly as possible. When that happens, it’s time to part ways. Not forever. Just for a while. No need for hurt feelings. We will see you again, and we will survive without each other for a few hours. See you soon!

7. Have a Basic Schedule – Splitting up is easier when you have a basic schedule. Make sure everyone knows where and when the day starts. Let everyone know what time you’ll leave the hotel every morning and where you plan on going. Everyone doesn’t have to go! A family with young kids may be up at 6 while families with teenagers may want to sleep until 10. Remember, it’s their vacation and they should do what makes them happy! Knowing what others are doing will help them decide and make it easier to meet up later.

8. Plan Meals Together – Another thing to add to your basic schedule is meals. We like to make reservations, or specific meal plans, at least once a day for everyone. It’s a great time to sit and relax, enjoy everyone’s company and compare notes from the day if we’ve slit up. Knowing that there’s at least one time a day that they’ll see everyone will make people feel more free to spend time on their own too.

9. Private Event –If you’ve got a group by Disney standards (10 or more rooms), you can plan a private event for your group. That’s right, Disney will let you spend even more money with them! Events like a private gathering in Cars Land. Or, you can get together on Paradise Pier and enjoy VIP World of Color viewing. How about an event inside the Golden Horseshoe? Sounds fun to me!

10. Meet Every Night to Reassess – We like to touch base with everyone every night before bed. Remind everyone of the departure time in the morning, the meal plans for the day, and see if something needs to be changed. If someone’s room has a living area, that’s a great place to unwind. You can all talk at dinner if you’re all eating together as well, or just a quick phone call before bed will work!

So that’s what works for us! What tips do you have for traveling with large groups?

10 Ways to Have Fun with a Large Group at Disneyland is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

So you’ve planned a trip to Disneyland! What’s the hardest thing now? The waiting of course. Haven’t you heard the song? Well, trust me it is. So I thought it would be fun to share some ways to pass the time. Some fun ways for your kids to visualize how long they have to wait, some fun ways for adults to rub it in their friends noses I mean celebrate how quick it’s coming!

Heather’s Countdown Chain

1. Chains – No, not the metal kind. I’m talking about the kind your children made in elementary school with construction paper. Yes, construction paper probably clued you in that this one is for kids. I’ve seen some really cute ones with a Disney theme. The idea is pretty simple. Take a bunch of paper strips (red, black and yellow?) and staple the first one into a circle. Then staple the next one into a circle that interlocks with the first one. Do this until you’ve arrived at your desired countdown number. Every day, take one off! Your kids will know, the shorter that chain gets, the closer they are to the Happiest Place on Earth!

2. Advent Calendar – This is my favorite way to countdown! Do your kids get these at Christmas? The kind where every day they open a little window and get something like a piece of chocolate. Or, if you’re a really cool parent, a little Lego Star Wars Figure! Well, these work for Disney too! I wouldn’t necessarily save one from Christmas though. That chocolate may be a little scary in September. I’d recommend finding an empty Advent calendar and filling it with fun Disney type things. I saw quite a few this year at Christmas, so grab one during an after-Christmas sale and have fun filling it! Or buy a shadow box! Or, if you’re a scrapbooker, you’ve probably found something similar to this set of drawers or this one. It’s great to decorate (or leave plain) and fill. If you’re pin traders, my suggestion is to fill those calendars or drawers with pins! Buy an inexpensive lot of them on eBay and plus up your collection for trading before you go.

3. A Regular Calendar – This one’s pretty straightforward. Get a calendar! Any calendar. Hang it where everyone in the family can see it, and mark off the days. You can number backwards from your arrival date so every day you’ll know how many days you have left! Get a Disney calendar for even more fun. Or instead of marking off the days, put a Disney sticker on each day. When the days are filled, it’s time to go!

Tickers!

4. Tickers – Vacation tickers are so much fun. You may be wondering what on earth a vacation ticker is? Well you’re in luck because I’ll tell you! A ticker is like an electronic banner for use on things like message boards. There are many websites like Myvacationcountdown.com that will let you create one for free. They’re very easy to make, you just follow the instructions and customize it however you would like. After you’re done, the website generates HTML code to cut and paste. The ticker keeps a countdown to whatever date you pick. It will tell you at a glance how long you have to go! I have one month, 2 weeks and 5 days until my next Disney cruise in case anyone was wondering…

5. Vacation Countdown App – In this day and age of smart phones, you can bet there’s an app for that. There are several actually. These apps will add an icon to your phone which opens a Disney themed countdown. I’ve got WDW Countdown on mine. There’s a red notification bubble with the number of days left until my next vacation! That’s 49 on my phone if you’re keeping track.

6. A Chalkboard – A simple chalkboard. Or a Disney themed, heavily decoupaged chalkboard, works in a pinch. Just write down the number of days left and change the number every day!

7. Refrigerator Magnets – Put a countdown where you’re guaranteed to see it multiple times a day – on the refrigerator. Buy some Disney magnets and simple number magnets. Change the count every day! Or get a magnetic dry erase board to write the numbers on, there are lots of options here. I’ve even seen someone attach magnets to the back of small boxes and create their own Advent type calendar on the fridge!

8. Character Mail – Get a collection of Disney post cards. Put one in the mailbox every day to the kids letting them know how many days are left. If you’re really good at impersonating handwriting, you could even write a little note about how excited the characters are to see them!

Instead of a Jar?

9. Disney Jar – How about a fun family activity to get everyone excited? Choose the number of days you want to start counting down from, like 30. Cut out 30 strips of paper and write something Disney related on each one. Maybe a trivia or other type question. Like, “What ride are you looking forward to the most?” “What’s your favorite Disney Character?” “What Snack are you looking forward to the most?” Fold up the papers and put them in a jar or other cute Disney themed container. Each day take one out to share with the family. It’s a dinnertime topic in case you were running out of things to say to each other.

10. Buy a Countdown – Have you ever heard of an amazing website named Etsy? Etsy is a site where people sell amazing things! It’s usually handmade or vintage, and they’re things you can’t generally find in stores. I got an amazing Disneyland iPhone 5 case on Etsy, but I digress. Oh and camera straps! They have the greatest camera straps! Oops, digressing again. Well there are a few sellers on Etsy that have made some absolutely adorable Disney countdowns. Go to Etsy.com and search “Disney Countdown”. It’s a feast for the eyes and not always a huge hit to the wallet.

So what fun ways do you countdown to your next Disney Vacation?

10 Ways to Countdown the Days until Your Next Disneyland Vacation is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

You’re going to Disneyland!! And unlike the latest Super Bowl MVP, you probably have more than one evening to plan. So what should you do to get ready? Disneyland isn’t really a show-up-with-no-plan kind of a place. You certainly can do that, and I know people who have, but trust me, it’s better to have some idea of what you’re getting into. Let’s adopt the Boy Scout motto! Be prepared! Prepared is good!

1. Get Your Unofficial Guide – The absolute first thing you need to do is to get a copy of the Unofficial Guide! There’s a reason the series has sold millions of books. It is the perfect planning guide for Disneyland. It’s not a sugar coated view of Disney. It will help you appreciate the highs, and avoid the lows. Do you want to know which rides are going to scare the pants off your kids? The Unofficial Guide will tell you. Do you want to know the best restaurants? The best hotels? Or, more importantly maybe, the worst hotels? Again – the Unofficial Guide. And get it quick! Have you seen them recently? They’re behemoths! Not a quick read! A great read, maybe even an essential one for planning, but not a quick one.

2. Exercise – My husband may or may not have just busted his gut laughing when he saw that I was recommending exercise, but it’s (sadly) true. The amount of walking you do at a Disney park is not for the faint of heart. You can easily walk more than 10 miles in one day. Yep. 10 miles. If exercise is a dirty word to you, that number may scare you a little. It does me! But it doesn’t have to. We’re not talking about running a half marathon here. We’re talking about walking. Walking a lot! But walking. You don’t have to go into serious training. A few weeks of some evening walks with the family will help immensely! Oh yeah, and wear comfortable, worn-in shoes! There’s nothing worse at Disney than realizing your shoes are burning blisters into your feet.

3. Order the Vacation Planning DVD – This one is mostly for fun if you’re a frequent visitor, but if you’re a newbie, the DVD can give you a good overview of Disneyland and what it has to offer. Your kids will probably love it by the way!

4. Watch Disney Movies – If you’re not a Disney movie fan, become one. Especially if you have kids! Some Disney movies are great for a frame of reference. Cars Land is awesome whether you’ve seen the movie or not, but there really are some details that you will miss if you haven’t ever seen it. Finding Nemo is a cute ride, but it’s so much cuter if you know what it’s based on! The Pirates of the Caribbean ride has added some elements from the excellent movie franchise that you’ll immediately recognize if you’ve seen the movies. Haunted Mansion is an awesome ride, but if you see the movie…Wait. Scratch that. Do not, under any circumstances, watch that movie.

5. Prepare the Kids for Scary – There’s some scary stuff at Disneyland for little ones, but a lot of it is the fear of the unknown. Find something that helps with that. One video that was a favorite in our house when the kids were young was the Kirsten Dunst, Steve Guttenberg classic – Tower of Terror! What? You missed that one? Well, go find it! It’s actually not as bad as you may expect, which I fully realize is faint praise. It helped our daughter overcome her fear at the very name of the ride. Once she realized it was all pretend and fun, she tried the ride. And loved it!

6. Study the Maps – Did you know the Disneyland website has maps? Really cool, interactive maps. There’s an overview map of the entire resort, a map of the Disneyland hotels, Disneyland Park, California Adventure, Downtown Disney, Parking, Guest Services, and Good Neighbor Hotels! It’s awesome! You can play with each map and see specific locations on each one. You can print PDFs of each map too. They are super handy planning tools.

7. Download Apps – In a previous blog post I discussed apps that would help you on your vacation. Download them! They really can help you out, and you don’t want to mess with it when you’re already there. As Disney keeps rolling out My Magic + apps are going to become essential parts of touring!

8. Get a Good Packing List – I had another blog post about helpful things to pack, and there are lots of good packing lists out there. Find one, or two or three, you like and get ready! I like to put out an empty suitcase and fill it over time. Whenever I put something in that won’t need to come out again before the trip, I mark it off the list. It saves me from forgetting things in the last minute scramble that inevitably comes.

9. Try to Time Zone Adjust – Of course, this only applies if you actually live in a different time zone, but if you do, you need to know this! Since we moved to the East Coast almost two years ago, trips to Disneyland wreak havoc on my sleep. I am wide awake at 5:30 every morning and as much as I want to stay awake at night, I’m exhausted by 8:30. That just doesn’t work well for all of the nighttime entertainment Disneyland offers! So ,I recommend taking the week before you leave and trying to adjust as much as you can. Go to bed an hour early every night. Sleep in an hour later if you can. If you can’t adjust at all, make sure you give yourself some time to rest every afternoon once you arrive. Naps should help you stay up a little later, and hopefully sleep a little longer in the morning.

10. Make a Must Do List – Finally, after all of your planning and researching, you’ve probably got a good idea of some things you don’t want to miss! Make a list. Sit down with your family, get their input, and make a list. Once you get to Disneyland, it’s easy to get caught up in getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible or getting from shortest line to shortest line. It’s easy to miss things you really want to see! So sit down with your family and let everyone name a few things that are important to them. Check your list every morning and night and make sure you’re making time for these things!

What are some things you do to get ready for your Disney vacations?

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If you are anything like me, it’s a little painful every time a Disney vacation ends. And I’m not just talking about the pain you feel after you get on the scale when you get back home. I’m talking about the pain of leaving the Magic bubble and reentering the real world. That capital “M” was intentional. Disney has its own kind of magic, and if you’ve been, you know what I’m talking about. Leaving the Magic is a harsh jolt, but there are some fun ways to keep the Magic going until your next trip! Here are a few ideas for you.

1. Scrapbook! – Do you remember those commercials where the child is frozen mid-jump in the pool and he reminds his mom to get their pictures off the camera? Well, that’s the first step to keeping the Magic alive – get those pictures off the camera and do something with them! No one wants to look at your pictures on a tiny LCD screen on the back of your camera. So get them off your camera! What should you do with them once they’re off? Scrapbook them of course. There are so many Disney-centric scrapbooking supplies out there. Years ago, I had to cut three circles out of paper and create my own Mickey heads! Nowadays you can find Disney supplies at Disney, in craft and hobby stores, online, and in just about every specialty scrapbooking store in the country. If you’re a digital scrapbooker, there are some absolutely adorable online kits out there. If you’re not a scrapbooker, don’t worry, there are lots of “drag and drop” photo options. Disney’s very own Photopass website is one of them. They’ve got layouts already set up for their custom photobook pages. You just add photos and fork out the bucks! However you create that scrapbook, you’ve got a souvenir that you and your kids will treasure forever. Trust me, your Magical memories will come flooding back every time someone picks up one of your books to look through.

2. Souvenirs – Souvenirs are a great way to keep the Magic alive. Buy souvenirs that will take you back every time you use them. I like to buy new magnetic message pads every time we go. They hang on the fridge, and whenever I’m jotting down groceries or something else, I remember the Magic. We’ve got about twenty Disneyland popcorn buckets that are great fun to break out at home. If you’re a coffee drinker, buy a coffee mug that will put a smile on your face in the mornings. I’m not saying you should walk around your house in Mickey ears, although I’m not saying you shouldn’t walk around your house in Mickey ears, I’m saying there are some simple, inexpensive souvenirs that you can incorporate into your daily Magic-filled life.

3. Read Disney Blogs – This may seem oddly self-serving, but it really is true. A great way to keep the Magic alive is by keeping up on what’s happening at Disney. There are excellent blogs out there, (you’ve already found your way to one of the best!) and they’re fun to read! Blogs aren’t just for planning; they’re for reminiscing, discussing, and enjoying too.

4. Listen to Podcasts – Listening to Disney podcasts is also a great way to remember all things Disney. Did you know The Unofficial Guide has podcasts? Podcasts about all kinds of Disney topics. And they’re free! You can subscribe on iTunes and new episodes will automatically download when they’re available. There’s about 40 episodes of the Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish with Jim Hill out there right now on iTunes. Give them, or any other Disney podcast, a listen and see if you feel the Magic.

5. Disney Message Boards – If you think you are the biggest Disney fan there is, you’d probably be wrong. Did you know there are whole websites dedicated to giving Disney fans a place to talk about Disney topics? All. Day. Long. They argue with each other, ask questions, discuss rumors, rejoice with each other when Disney trips are approaching, and follow along when people return from Disney and retell the stories from their trips in (sometimes) excruciating detail. Message boards can be a little intimidating and some are “friendlier” than others to be sure, but odds are good you can find one where you’ll fit in. I’ve been a member of a couple of the bigger ones for more than 10 years and I’m amazed by how much I’ve learned from them and how many friends I’ve made over the years. I’m going on a cruise with several of these friends this fall. If you want to relive the Magic, remember the Magic, plan the Magic, anything with Magic – a message board is where you should be.

6. Disney Game Night – Have a Disney game night! Or a lot of Disney game nights! There are so many fun Disney games out there for the whole family. Some of our best family times have involved taking a break from computers and television and sitting and playing games together. Disney’s versions of our favorite games have been a special treat. Do you like Cranium? Try Cranium Disney. Are you a fan of the old classics like Clue? We loved Disney Haunted Mansion Clue. This Christmas one of our family members brought HedBanz for us to play. It was great fun until we realized we could have been playing Disney HedBanz! Man! We missed out. There are Disney versions of so many great games these days. Is anybody else clamoring for a Settlers of Disneyland? No? Just us? Okay.

7. Have a Disney Themed Meal – A Disney Meal will keep the Magic alive! You could find recipes for some of your favorite Disney restaurants, or make your favorite things in Mickey shapes! Either way would be fun! Trying your favorite recipes may be a little more of a balanced meal than a table full of Mickey shaped waffles, pancakes and pizza, but everything tastes better when it’s shaped like Mickey!

8. Watch Videos – Videos are an excellent way to be sucked back into the Magic. Your own or other people’s! Thanks to this wonderful invention called YouTube, you are no longer limited to your own (poor?) video skills and home movies. Now you can watch other people’s home movies too! And other people take wonderful Disney videos. There are videos of fireworks, parades, rides, shows, you name it! Just google what you’re looking for and enjoy.

9. Disney Music – In today’s age of iPods, Mp3 players, computers and ring tones, Disney music is easier than ever to come by. It’s also a good way to keep the Magic alive WHILE you are still getting other things done that you may really need to do. Like work! My boss doesn’t read this, right? Disney Music can make me smile anytime I hear it. Even when I’ve been on hold for over an hour waiting to talk to an agent the morning Free Dining has been released at Walt Disney World. Well, it makes me smile for most of that hour anyway.

10. Plan Your Next Trip – Here’s the best way to keep the Magic alive between trips – plan the next one! Nothing takes the sting out of leaving Disney as much as knowing when you’ll be back. So get yourself the latest Unofficial Guide and start planning your next one!

So what do you do to keep the Magic alive between Disney trips?

10 Ways to Keep the Disney Magic Alive After You Get Home is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Last week we talked about places to let toddlers blow off steam at Disneyland. But a vacation with toddlers doesn’t have to be all stroller-sitting with brief periods of escaping and running off energy. There are actually some rides that many toddlers will enjoy as well! Let me be clear. There are many rides that they are allowed to go on, but that certainly doesn’t mean they should. Any child can of course ride Snow White’s Scary Adventures or Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, but I wouldn’t recommend either of these rides for toddlers unless you have a child who isn’t easily frightened at all! For this list, I tried to stick to rides that aren’t dark, aren’t too loud, and don’t have things jumping out at unsuspecting riders. Your toddler’s mileage may vary, but these are all very tame.

The biggest piece of advice I have – start mild. My sister made the mistake of starting their vacation on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters during one trip. Is Buzz Lightyear scary? I would say no! But the darkness and sensory overload, along with the fear of the unknown that was coming, ruined my nephew for the rest of the trip. After that, even it’s a small world worried him. So my advice is to work up to the ones that aren’t on this list. If your toddler does well on these, then you can see how much they enjoy battling the evil emperor Zurg!

1. Dumbo the Flying Elephant – Isn’t Dumbo the first ride you think of when you think of little ones? Don’t you avoid it like the plague when you don’t have little ones? Well, there are reasons Dumbo appeals to little ones. One – it’s a flying elephant! It’s a flying. Elephant. We could stop there. But we won’t. It’s whimsical and bright. Wary toddlers can see the entire ride. There are no surprises there and that appeals to little ones with a fear of the unknown. So, Dumbo. Do it, and do it early.

2. Autopia – Autopia has a minimum height of 32 inches. In other words, not very tall. Autopia is a ride with instant curb appeal (see what I did there?). What toddler wouldn’t like to go riding in a miniature convertible? The one caveat is that they can’t technically drive, only ride, but there’s no rule against them helping you steer and making them feel like they’re driving! The entire ride is outside, and the only surprise could be if Dad is behind Mom and toddler, not paying attention, and accidentally bumps cars. Remind Dad before boarding to avoid such a surprise. I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.

3. Flik’s Flyers – Flik’s Flyers is another version of Dumbo! A Bug’s Life version! In this version, you just sit and have no control over your discarded food box that you’re riding in (it makes sense when you see it). Unlike Dumbo, you can’t choose to go up and down. Like Dumbo, you are simply being swung in a circle in your vehicle. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s a good thing for a skittish toddler.

4. Mad Tea Party – The Mad Tea Party may not be a favorite for many adults, but kids love it and toddlers are no exception. While the spinning can make a grown man fall to his knees retching, toddlers don’t tend to react that way. When in doubt, don’t spin. Or don’t spin any extra I should say. Just let the Tea Cups move on their own and sit back and enjoy. Or try not to hurl. Whichever the case may be.

5. Main Street Vehicles – You may think transportation is not a ride, but especially in the eyes of a toddler, you’d be wrong. A dear friend of ours took his toddler to Walt Disney World and after disembarking the parking lot tram on the way into Magic Kingdom, the youngster declared at the top of his lungs that it was the best ride EVER!!! Meanwhile, said friend almost choked realizing how much money he could have saved on tickets. The point is that toddlers consider anything where they are out of their stroller and still moving – a ride. All the different “rides” down Main Street, U.S.A. are perfect for them. There’s a fire engine, a horse-drawn carriage, a bus, and cars. All fun choices for a toddler!

6. Disneyland Railroad – What toddler doesn’t love a train? My toddlers certainly did! We spent the toddler years stepping over Brio tracks in the living room. The train ride is a peaceful trip around the outskirts of the entire park. It stops in the station on Main Street U.S.A., New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland. The train does go through one dark area (a Grand Canyon Diorama and some audio-animatronic dinosaurs in a Primeval World section) between Tomorrowland and theMain Street station. It’s not scary, but if you’re worried about the dark at all, make sure to get off the train in Tomorrowland.

7. Casey Jr. Circus Train – What appears to be a cage of torture for adults who have to cram into the tiny cars is a toddlers dream. It’s an adorable tiny circus train! You can ride in cages (I wasn’t kidding!) or an open air passenger car as you travel through miniature towns. It’s very cute. You can see many similar sights by riding the Storybook Land Canal Boats (and probably more comfortably), but your boat has to float into a giant whale’s mouth to get there. If you think that will scare your toddler, stick to the train.

8. Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train – On Heimlich’s you actually ride on a Heimlich shaped train! Heimlich’s German accent can be heard throughout the ride which takes you through giant replicas of food he’s obviously munched his way through previously. The train ride is all outside and there is nothing scary about it. Perfect for toddlers.

9. Golden Zephyr – The Golden Zephyr may look a little intimidating because it’s set up on a platform, but it’s really not scary at all. The Zephyrs are open rockets that are hanging by wires, and once they start spinning, it’s a fun swinging sensation. Little ones can ride with their parents, and I think they’ll enjoy, because it’s been a sentimental favorite of our family for a long time!

10. Carousel – King Arthur’s OR King Triton’s! That’s right,Disneyland has two carousels. One in Disneyland and one in California Adventure. They are both excellently themed and perfect for toddlers. Give them a try!

Can you think of any other rides that are great for toddlers?

10 Best Rides for Toddlers at Disneyland is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

So you’re taking your toddler to Disneyland! Are you crazy? Maybe! But that may not have anything to do with taking a toddler to Disneyland. I’m just sayin’. The first question is probably whether or not you SHOULD take a toddler to Disneyland. I’m going to say definitely yes. Bring those cuties. In fact, there are times when my teenagers are turning their nose up at standing in a line to see Mickey, and I look back on those toddler days with great nostalgia. If you don’t wear toddlers out too much, they can have a blast. Will they remember it? Nope. Will you? Absolutely, and you’ll have the pictures to prove you were a great parent even when they don’t remember it!

The number one thing to remember with toddlers is that they can’t tour at a grownup’s pace. Adults get exhausted from all the walking while the toddlers get sick of being strapped into their stroller all day! They’ve got energy to burn off and in a park that could be wall to wall people, it’s sometimes difficult to find somewhere to do that! But you must! For the good of all in your party, you must. Here are some ideas for you.

1. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – When our kids were little, this was our number one place to go to let them run around in Disney California Adventure. There are tubes to climb through, little people slides, and lots of nooks and crannies where a toddler can – well, toddle. This isn’t a section of the park that screams for adults, teenagers and older kids to stop in, so it can be pretty quiet at times. If you haven’t ever stopped in before, try it. It’s a neat atmosphere with great theming. There’s lots of shade, too! So on a hot day, that’s a bonus!

2. Disney Animation – Disney Animation in California Adventure is a pretty big building with lots of space and things to do inside. Not all of it is good for toddlers, however, despite the coloring/drawing aspect (You wouldn’t catch me dead, for example, with a toddler in the Animation Academy trying to get them to sit still and quiet for 30 minutes while everyone else draws. Um. No.). But other parts are great! The main room inside is huge, and there are some benches you can relax on while your toddlers enjoy the open space. They may enjoy wandering through the Sorcerer’s Workshop, too. There are some interesting sights to see, and you can go at their pace since there’s no queue with people waiting for you to keep moving. The Zoetrope – one of my favorite things at Disneyland – will probably fascinate them for a few minutes as well. The lights will go dark while a strobe light flashes, though, so be careful if they’re wandering around in there.

3. Donald’s Boat – Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland is a treasure trove of space for toddlers, and Donald’s Boat is the first one I’ll mention. Beware! This is a boat, and there is often water. Not soaking water, but you or your toddler may get wet. The good news is there’s space for your toddler to wander. The ground is nice and soft. The boat and everything inside is nice and a rubbery-bouncy-cushiony-plastic. There’s probably a name for that, but I have no idea what it is. What it means for you is that if your toddler loses his balance, as toddlers tend to do, and falls into something, odds are it won’t hurt.

4. Goofy’s Playhouse – Goofy’s Playhouse is also back in Toontown. Goofy’s house is full of soft furniture that a toddler can crawl all over and not be scolded by adults. There’s even a piano to play with! And Goofy has a garden outside to play in, too! The garden is whimsical and fun. You’ll enjoy taking in all the details while the kiddo climbs and explores.

5. Mickey’s House and Meet Mickey – Mickey greets guests in Toowntown in his very own house! Mickey’s House, as you might expect, is bright and cheerful. There are lots of things for a toddler to touch while they explore. Everything is anchored down, so parents don’t have to worry about three of the things parents worry about most when their toddler is in someone else’s house. What are those you ask? That they’ll break something, wander off with something, or put something in their mouth! Trust me, I know from experience. Mickey is usually in his Movie Barn behind his house, so if your toddler is frightened of giant mice, you can bypass the meet and greet. Sometimes Mickey stands on the front porch to greet guest, but I’m sure he’ll understand if you need to walk by him without stopping to say hi.

6. Minnie’s House – Minnie also has an adorable house in Toontown. I’m telling you, this is the neighborhood you want to be in! Minnie wants toddlers to touch things in her house! There’s an adorable table and chair set in the kitchen where a toddler can plop right down. There’s a refrigerator to open and knobs to turn. There’s even a bed to crawl on in the bedroom. Let your toddler go wild! They’ll love it.

7. Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island– Tom Sawyer Island in Disneyland is the place to run for toddlers. It’s not completely wide open spaces, but there is space. Exploring and burning off extra energy is the order of the day on Tom’s Island. There’s even shade and benches for adults to sneak a quick break. There are some skeleton bones and other things that could frighten a child if they knew what those things even were, however. My guess is those things would go right over most toddlers’ heads.

8. Grizzly Trail – Grizzly Trail is a place I’ve mentioned before as a good place to relax in California Adventure. Relaxing and toddlers don’t usually go together in the same sentence, but here they might. It’s a pathway behind Grizzly River Run that winds around by the waterfalls and is usually pretty quiet. Quiet means space. Space to burn off energy! Just watch your toddler near the railings.

9. Princess Dot Puddle Park – Princess Dot Puddle Park is in a bug’s land at California Adventure. All of Bug’s Land is geared toward younger guests, so it’s bright and fun. The Puddle Park has every toddler’s favorite thing – jumping water. Okay, it may not be every toddler’s favorite thing, but I’ve never met a toddler who didn’t like it! On a hot day, it’s a glorious escape. The water jumps, sprays, and mists. You will get soaked. Bring a change of clothes and let them have at it. The downside? They may never want to leave.

10. The Disneyland Hotel Gazebo – Do you need somewhere to hang out for a while before you go sit down for a long dinner reservation at Goofy’s Kitchen? There is a gazebo back over by the Disneyland Hotel that is usually completely empty. It’s adjacent to a wide open space where chairs and tables are sometimes set up for private parties. When there’s not party being set up, though, it’s the place for toddlers to run, walk, crawl – whatever their little heart desires. The Gazebo is located at the corner of the Adventure and Frontier towers. Walk away from the pool area if you don’t see it.

So are there any other spaces at Disneyland that you’ve discovered to let your toddler burn some energy? Share them with us!

10 Places for a Toddler to Burn Off Energy at Disneyland is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

Yum! Breakfast! Is it weird that I don’t eat breakfast at home (unless you count cookies) but that I love eating breakfast at Disneyland? Maybe my body is fueling up for all the walking I’m about to do. Maybe my body knows I’m within walking distance of Mickey Waffles! Whatever the reason, breakfast at Disney is a must do for me! If I’m trying to save money, that breakfast may just be a few donuts from a box that we brought with us (and, really, is that all that different from cookies?), but otherwise we make a point to find something tasty to start the day.

1. Jazz Kitchen Express – Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney District isn’t open at breakfast, but the Express Window is! And there are lots of good choices for breakfast. The beignets are probably the most popular and with good reason. They are hot deliciousness dipped (smothered?) in powdered sugar. Or try them dipping style with cinnamon sugar and syrup on the side. Take my advice and do not attempt to eat these without several napkins on hand. Messy doesn’t even begin to describe it. Worth it, but messy. The breakfast burrito pictured at right is also delicious.

2. Steakhouse 55 – In my blog post about my favorite restaurants at Disney, a commenter pointed out how good the breakfast at Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel is. Boy was that person right! Shout out to Marmorgan! And unless you are getting the steak and eggs for $17, it’s fairly reasonably priced! A large stack of hot pancakes for $11, build your own omelet for $12, an American breakfast with eggs, ham, bacon or sausage and toast or a bagel for $12. With the Two Times Four you get French toast or pancakes, eggs, bacon AND sausage for $12. Not bad for a nice restaurant, huh? I didn’t say cheap, I said reasonable. Compare it to the prices of Goofy’s Kitchen next door and you’ll realize what a bargain you’re getting.

3. Tangaroa Terrace – You may remember a previous blog post where I said I was not excited by the Tangaroa Terrace menu in the Disneyland Hotel simply because they only had sweet potato fries. No plain old regular Idaho potato fries! But the breakfast menu is a crowd pleaser. And I’m not talking about the Egg White, Vegetable and Tofu bake, although I’m sure the vegetarians out there would disagree with me. There are lots of other great choices though. The Breakfast Platter was delicious. I could have eaten a whole plate of just the roasted potatoes. The French toast comes with a banana caramel sauce and bacon. There are also some ginormous cinnamon rolls to make just about anyone happy.

4. White Water Snacks – White Water Snacks in the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is a great option. Especially if you want to grab something quick and hot on your way into the park. There are biscuit sandwiches, a breakfast burrito and French toast Sticks. Of course, the real highlight here for me is Mickey Waffles! Mickey Waffles are quick and pretty cheap at 6 bucks! The best way to start any day at Disney, right?

5. Carnation Café – The Carnation Café is one of my favorite places for breakfast in the Disneyland Park. The menu is quite big. Here your Mickey Waffles come with bacon or sausage. My dining companions loved the Huevos Rancheros and Apple Granola Pancakes. The delightful Oscar, the longest employee of Disneyland, has a wonderful breakfast platter named after him, and is there to greet the diners in the morning.

6. Jolly Holiday Bakery – The Jolly Holiday! You didn’t think I was going to leave that off did you? The Bakery is, not surprisingly, a bakery! Of course, a bakery is a good place to get breakfast! In the morning they have quiche, fresh assorted pastries, specialty coffees, cookies (!), cupcakes! Everything you could want or need in the morning!

7. La Brea Bakery & Café – La Brea in Downtown Disney has both an express counter and a sit down restaurant. The restaurant side has much more elaborate options like smoked salmon and items with very fancy names like Croque Madame. There are some very yummy options at the sit down restaurant to be sure, but if you want to grab something on the go, there is a lot to choose from at the express counter. There are breakfast paninis, quiche, French toast, and more fresh breads than you can shake a stick at!

8. Earl of Sandwich – A recent (happy) addition to the breakfast line up at Disneyland is Earl of Sandwich. Known for its delicious sandwiches during the day, Earl also has breakfast sandwiches! They’re hot, taste great, and cheap! Less than $4!

9. Flo’s V8 Café – Did you know Flo’s V8 Café in Cars Land serves breakfast? It does! There are chicken tamales, French toast, a platter with eggs, toast and breakfast potatoes…Wait. They had me at breakfast potatoes.

10. River Belle Terrace – The River Belle Terrace in Frontierland has Mickey Mouse pancakes? No, I did not say Mickey Waffles, I said pancakes! Walt himself was rumored to have dined on Mickey pancakes in the mornings at the River Belle Terrace. Of course, there are regular shaped pancakes too, but what purpose do those serve? The River Belle Terrace is also a great place to get your breakfast and sit outside, people watch, and enjoy the beautiful setting.

What’s your favorite place to eat breakfast at Disneyland? Let us know!

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I’ve always said offsite is okay at Disneyland. I’ve listed 10 reasons to stay offsite before! I’m not an offsite fan at Walt Disney World. At all. Disneyland, on the other hand, has a lot of good options right offsite, and a lot of good reasons to stay offsite. But there are also reasons people often pay more to stay onsite at Disneyland. And here are 10 of them!

1. Magic Factor – The Magic Factor is one of those terms that’s tossed around and not easily defined, but many people will agree that it’s real. When guests go to Disney, they want to be enveloped in the atmosphere, lost in their surroundings, and transported to another place. Disneyland starts at a disadvantage when compared to Disney World. When you enter the Disney World property, you can’t see anything but Disney World from most locations. It’s easy to forget the real world is out there for a few days. Disneyland, however, is surrounded by the real world. There’s an IHOP within walking distance of just about every location on property. For me, staying onsite helps. When I’m walking towards the Disneyland resorts, I’m walking away from the realities on Harbor Boulevard and walking towards more magic. No matter how lightly themed even the least-themed hotel (Paradise Pier Hotel) may seem, there are still hidden Mickeys to be found in the carpet and bedding, Mickey lamps, Mickey faucets, even Mickey himself is in the house at breakfast. If my room has a theme park view, I can turn on my television and have the music to the fireworks or World of Color piped in. The cast members aren’t always perfect, but Disney has high standards for hiring and it shows. The Magic Factor is a real thing, my friends. It’s real.

2. Special Entrance – There’s a special entrance into Disney California Adventure in the Grand Californian that’s just for resort guests during busy times! It’s most valuable in the mornings when the lines at the front gates are huge. The line at the special entrance can get long, but from my experience, they’re prepared, it moves fast, and they do check room keys. You come out right at Grizzly River Run, so it’s easy to snag some World of Color FASTPASSes before you join everyone and his dog over in Cars Land. If you are on your way back towards California Screamin’ and The Little Mermaid, you’ll pretty much have that area to yourself!

3. Package Delivery – Guests of the Disneyland hotels can have purchases they make in the resort sent back to their rooms. I must say I did not fully appreciate that benefit when I first heard about it. Now I understand. Have you ever decided not to buy something, or to wait until the end of the day, no matter how inconvenient the store location is, to buy something just so you wouldn’t have to carry it around? I have. There’s no need if you’re staying at a Disney resort (and not leaving that day). Buy it, fill out a quick form, and don’t worry about it again! No more loading down the stroller so much that it falls over as soon as the child steps out!

4. Charging Privileges – Disney hotel guests can charge resort purchases on their room key. It’s pretty convenient, and probably will be even more so once MyMagic+ rolls out fully!

5. Pools – There are a couple of pools at offsite hotels that are not shabby, but as a general rule, the pools at the Disney hotels blow neighboring pools out of the water. The pool at the Grand Californian is amazing. There are actually three of them with a great slide and beautiful lounge chairs in a lovely redwood themed setting. The pool at the Disneyland Hotel was redone last year and it was worth the wait. It’s a freakin’ monorail pool!! It’s got great slides and a water playground. It’s Awe. Some. Even the rather plain pool at Paradise Pier is better than most offsite hotels. With its unique rooftop location (from which you can view the fireworks with musical accompaniment) and great slide, it’s still a good pool. As the Unofficial Guide says, almost 60 percent of preschoolers surveyed say their favorite part of their Disney vacation was the pool. So choose wisely!

6. Childcare – If you would like an evening for just the grown-ups, you don’t have very many options offsite. You can bring a naive loving grandmom or find a reputable local service. If your kids are between 5 and 12 and you are staying in a Disney hotel, you have another option. It’s called Pinocchio’s Workshop. You can make reservations at Guest services or by calling 714-635-2300. Pinocchio’s is full of games, arts, crafts, snacks, and even dinner if you like! My children spent a few hours there one evening when they were younger, and it was one of their favorite parts of our vacation. Yes, even more than the pools!

7. Views – There are certainly some offsite hotels with unique views. The Carousel Inn & Suites gave us some really neat views of the Matterhorn. But for a true theme park view (I mean looking down into California Adventure theme park view), you’ll need to stay onsite.  If you’re like me and love the atmosphere of Downtown Disney District, then your only option is onsite. It’s people watching heaven! Truth be told, I enjoy the Downtown Disney views as much as the theme park view rooms at the Grand Californian.

8. Hotel Activities – I’ve referenced some of these before, but the Disney hotels have some extra activities for guests. When you check in you should get a sheet listing some the options for your stay, although there have been times at the Grand Californian where they left a list on our pillow at night. There are things like the Art of the Craft Tour at the Grand Californian, power walking through California Adventure, towel folding classes, private shopping experiences, animation classes, there are lots of good options! Some of these come and go, but odds are you will find something you like!

9. In Room Celebrations – I had a blog post recently about ways to celebrate at Disney. Some of the options only happen onsite! The Dream Makers will come and secretly decorate your room, but they can only do that onsite! And for a fee, of course, but that’s another post.

10. Extra Magic Hour – This is the biggest one, folks. With the popularity and wait times in Cars Land, this benefit is huge. Extra Magic Hour allows Disney hotel guests to enter one of the parks early every day of their stay. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays it’s Disneyland, and Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, it’s Disney California Adventure. There have been some busy times when guests could pick either park! Right now, being a resort guest or an Annual Passholder are the only ways to get into California Adventure early. And Annual Passholders can only go to DCA on Saturdays. On a recent, very crowded weekend my party used Extra Magic Hour at Disney California Adventure and we were able to ride Radiator Springs Racers twice, Luigi’s Flying Tires, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and still had time to walk around and take pictures and enjoy ourselves. This benefit really can’t be oversold. It’s huge where Cars Land is concerned.

What do you think? Are these enough reasons for you to try a Disneyland onsite hotel?

10 Reasons to Stay Onsite at Disneyland is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.