It’s been less than two years since our last Disney trip. My daughter, Lola, was almost ten when we visited Disneyland in California and was all about Princesses, Princess outfits and Princess autographs. (And maybe some Jedi Training thrown in!! LOL!) Fast forward just two years and my almost-teen has let me know in no uncertain terms that A. I’m uncool. and B. She is. Therefore, our upcoming trips to Disney World would need some tweaking…
Ahhh…the good old days. Princess dresses and big smiles!
Here are a few of my biggest offenses of being an uncool Disney Mom. Take heed…because in just a few years your adoring, Ariel-clad toddler will be begging you to please stop crying during the Happily Ever After fireworks because you’re embarrassing her.
Uncool – Princess Dresses. Princess Anything. Dresses in General.
Cool – Ripped jean shorts. The ears her mother happens to be wearing.
Okay, this one hurt!! Nothing makes me happier than planning coordinated family outfits for our trips. And she LOVED wearing those Princess dresses to Bibbibi Bobbibi Boutique and Cinderella’s Royal Table! We had them all-Rapunzel’s wedding dress, Elsa’s famous Snow Queen dress, Anna’s Coronation ballgown. Not even the Zarina pirate outfit??? Nope!
Tiaras, glitter and face jewels…living the life!
This last trip, Lola (begrudgingly) agreed to wear some “matching” outfits, but only because we already had them. I got her to wear our matching Orange Bird tanks to Epcot (where we were rewarded with an Orange Bird magic shot!) and matching Rock -n-Roller Coaster tanks to Hollywood Studios. But-she definitely did not want to borrow one of my Sparkle Skirts! (Not entirely true…she did borrow one for the Dark Side 5K!) She did, however, manage to borrow my cutest ears for every pic and look adorable doing so!!
Orange Bird magic shot to match our tanks and ears!
Mickey Rocks! So does the Rock-n-Roller Coaster!
Lola was a good sport at the run Disney 5K in her Leia buns!
Uncool – Posed Pictures. Magic Shots. Pictures hugging her mom.
Cool – Photobombs. Character pics NOT with Princesses.
When we go to Disney we take a lot of pictures. I mean A LOT of pictures. Pictures from the Photopass photographers, iPhone photos, character photos, runDisney photos, magic shots and of course selfies for Instagram! And Lola loves photos. You know-the kind of photos where she photobombs people, sticks out her tongue and makes ridiculous faces. Not exactly Christmas card worthy. 😉
More material for my Instagram bloopers reel…lol!
We all channeled our “inner-Lola” for this group photo!
However, Lola was a good sport and dutifully posed for each shot, gamely holding out her hand for Figment or Tinkerbell or whatever cool graphic the photographer would later superimpose. She hugged me in front of the castle and during fireworks. She smiled in front of Spaceship Earth. But she reached her limit at the Photopass Studio at Disney Springs. Our photoshoot for two turned super corny and we got the best shots of the trip, the two of us cracking up over the absurdity of the loving gazes we were instructed to give each other at close range.
Sure, Mom, I’ll do another magic shot.
Bonding time??? Laughs were had and memories made at the Disney Springs Photopass Studio.
Uncool – Anything your mom does, says, collects or wears.
Cool – Anything your mom’s friends do, say, collect or wear.
Let’s face it-moms are uncool. We’re always blathering on about things like deodorant (You forgot again?), sunscreen and if you’ve remembered to wear your magic band. According to my daughter, I also own too many ears, too many Sparkle Skirts and too many Disney-themed tops. I have inspired eye-rolling on more than one occasion.
Fine Mom…I’ll wear my Epcot shirt but NO EARS!!
That is, until my Slinky Dog ear wearing, Sparkle Skirt sporting, pin trading fabulous friends show up! Then all of a sudden, everything that is uncool is cool again! Mugging for photos! Celebration buttons! Magic shots! Selfies! Trading with Cast Members for Orange Bird pins!
Living it up with my friend Meghan in Toy Story Land!
Trading for Orange Bird pins with Kerry!
I love wearing celebration buttons and ears when Jenn is, Mom!!
Mickey Bars with brother, Luke, and Mom’s much cooler friend.
I have to face facts. My baby is growing up and our Disney trips are changing! The good news is that some things have stayed the same. She still loves roller coasters, especially Expedition Everest. She still loves Mickey Bars and Dole Whips. And by the end of our trip, she barely noticed that she was once again, still holding my hand. Shhh! Just don’t tell her friends!
We all know that Walt Disney World is a pretty awesome place with four parks, two water parks and over 25 Disney resort options. There is lots to do and see and experience!
With that being said, Disneyland is pretty awesome right now as well! We even have a few new experiences that Walt Disney World doesn’t have! So I decided that I would write a little bit about what I know from experience at Disneyland and what I’m looking forward to for the remainder of 2017!
Max Pass is a GO!
The Disneyland resort launched MaxPass in July (much to the dismay of many California residents) and I LOVE IT!
MaxPass is an electronic fast pass system based in the Disneyland mobile app. Visitors can pay a $10 per person per day fee and have access to fast pass availability on their smart phones. Disneyland still offers the kiosk fast pass option with the cards as they have done in the past, but now fast passes are linked to your park ticket and the kiosk cards are just a reminder of the time. Unlike Walt Disney World, where you can choose up to three in advance, MaxPass only allows one choice every 90 minutes.
If you’re a Disneyland Annual Passholder with a signature pass level or higher, the best news is that it’s all free for you! Have you experienced MaxPass? What do you think of it?
I helped free the Guardians of The Galaxy from the Collector’s museum!
You say Tower of Terror and I say Tower of what? Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout opened in May of this year and IT’S AWESOME! The plot behind the attraction is you helping Rocket rescue the Guardians of the Galaxy from the collector’s collection. While the ride experience is the same as Tower of Terror, the queue is all new and there is a ton of production behind the story line. There are 6 different production which you can experience if you’re willing to wait in multiple lines. Get ready to rock out with Rocket and help him out because his hands don’t scan! Check out the video of the pre-show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c32Mt6oEB8
(Photo via Mouseplanet)
Want more awesomeness? They have added a whole new production for the Halloween season called Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark! Find out what happens when the other “collections” go loose in Tivan’s gallery! I’ve done it but I’ve promised Rocket I’ll keep it quiet until all of the guardians are safely out of the building.
RunDisney came back in a BIG way!
If you have read some of our previous articles, then you might know that the Neverland Press team are big fans of RunDisney. With the disappointing Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend race experience and the lack of information regarding the 2018 Star Wars – Light Side race weekend, it had appeared that Run Disney west coast was about to crash and burn. So I was a little skeptical of what was going to happen during the Disneyland half weekend. While there is no official word on Light Side yet (as of 10/13/17), the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
This year, RunDisney decided to celebrate Pixar with an Incredibles themed 5k, a Monsters University 10k and a Toy Story themed half marathon. As big fan of the Toy Story franchise, I was in heaven.
During the Tinkerbell half weekend, RunDisney decided to cut the character stops or turn them into “selfie stops”. Naturally this caused an uproar with the runners, so they added a few as the weekend went on during each race. During the Disneyland half weekend, the character interactions were everywhere! From Pixar Play parade floats and dancers to Mike, Sully, Roz photo stops and Toy Story characters, great courses and even a run through Angel’s Stadium, the spirit of Pixar was everywhere!
The weather left a lot to be desired with extremely hot temperatures all weekend and even moving to “red flag” status during the half marathon (which is one step shy of cancelling the race) as the morning got hotter. But from the expo to the medals to the awesome announcing team (with amazing costumes this year I might add), we all had an amazing time and this will go down as probably my second favorite RunDisney event.
Our fabulous race announcer Andrea Kooiman!
Team Shenanigans celebrates an amazing weekend!
This is Halloween, this is Disneyland Halloween!
Twas the nightmare before Christmas and all throughout the house, not a creature was peaceful… not even a mouse!
Sorry Florida! Haunted Mansion Holiday belongs to California (and Tokyo) and it’s BEAUTIFUL!! Since 2001, each year as we approach Halloween, Disneyland dramatically transforms the Haunted Mansion into a Christmas wonderland for Jack Skellington and tells the tale of Sandy Claws!
From a distance, it’s difficult to tell that there has been an overlay added to the regular Haunted Mansion attraction. But when you get close to the mansion and see the exterior décor and interior sets that have been replaced, it’s like an entirely new attraction! There is even an entirely different queue which sets the tone for Jack’s adventure.
Every aspect of the Nightmare Before Christmas story line is included in some form on the attraction. Sally, Zero and even Oogie Boogie make a few appearances. One of my favorite parts of the ride is the ballroom scene. They add a gingerbread scent as your doom buggy passes over the joyous holiday chaos happening below and the one of a kind gingerbread house on the center table.
(Photo courtesy of the Disneyparks Blog)
The Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction will be open in Disneyland until very early January 2018!
Well that’s all folks! Stay tuned to part 2 of my Disneyland update to see what’s happening over at Space Mountain and how Cars land and California Adventure celebrates Halloween! Oh yeah.. Christmas season is coming too!! I’m so excited!
The first time I left the kids (and the hubby, for that matter!) to go to Disney with a friend, I didn’t feel a bit guilty. I really needed it. It was the first time I had gotten away solo since my oldest was born a decade before. Like many moms, I worked two full-time jobs…one outside of the home, one in it. (And I didn’t get pay for the more demanding job-you moms can guess which one!) You could say this trip was well-deserved!
The second time I went to Disney childless (and yes, again husbandless!) I did feel a small frisson of guilt. It was Mother’s Day weekend after all, and here I was cavorting again with Mickey and Minnie, 2,000 miles away! The kids were still supportive, but not quite as much! LOL!
Character meet and greets are fun for grown-ups, too!
Before you judge me for being a terrible and self-centered mommy, you need to know that my kids haven’t wanted for much. In the last three years, they have visited Disney four times…three visits to Disney World in Florida, and one to Disneyland in California. They have more Disney tees, refillable mugs and Stitch plush than you can count!
Disney frequent flyers!
What they don’t always get is the chance to tag along for every trip-and that’s okay! Here are five guilt-free reasons why a child-free trip to Disney is THE BEST!
5. No Scheduling Snafus
During our first family trip, I mapped out our itinerary with the precision of a general executing a military drill. Not just Fastpasses and ADRs, but wake-ups, built in rest periods, pool time, travel times, staggered bedtimes…you name it. After all, the “ticking time bombs”, aka my two children, needed to be fed and watered regularly. (Didn’t I just feed you two yesterday???) Naps were a thing of the past at six and eight, but nothing can prepare you for those first exhausting rope-drop to Kiss Goodnight days at Magic Kingdom!
Crashing hard after a full day in the parks!
When I travel with my girlfriend, Tiffany, it is a totally different story! We are not “fly by the seat of our pants” travelers by any means. We still make our dining reservations religiously 180 days in advance, and Fastpasses at 60 days out. The difference? If we pack bathing suits and then decide not to swim (we never even saw the pool at Port Orleans Riverside!) no one has a meltdown! If we see a rare character that we want to meet with a ridiculously long line, we just wait! No frantically pawing through my backpack to see if I have enough Goldfish and crayons to weather the storm.
Two hour wait? Sure! All we have is time…!
Also, when I travel with my kids, they are go-go-go! They might agree to ride the PeopleMover, if only to eat a quick snack and get out of the sun for a few minutes, but people watching? No way! So when I happened to find myself alone for a few hours at Magic Kingdom, I was able to scratch something off my bucket list. A tour of Cinderella Castle? The Keys to the Kingdom Tour? you may ask. No, just a stop at the Main Street Bakery for my Iced Chai Latte to be enjoyed on the hub grass while the Festival of Fantasy parade passes by! Sometimes it’s the little things…!
Starbucks AND the castle? Yes, please!
4. Easier Dining Decisions
I was going to be the mom whose kids ate everything…and I have failed miserably! LOL! Criteria for choosing restaurants at Disney largely hinges on the question, “Can you make a grilled cheese?”. Don’t get me wrong… we have been able to take our children to some awesome restaurants. They love the buffets and can usually find something they like, especially if it’s dessert! We have been able to eat pizza at Via Napoli and cheeseburgers at Whispering Canyon Cafe. But some more grownup-oriented dining options have eluded us for sure!
Via Napoli in Epcot’s Italy
Grown-up pizza…kids ordered cheese, of course!
Traveling with other adults opens up a whole world of other possibilities! And I’m not even talking about the ultra-pricey and exclusive Victoria & Albert’s, though some day that would be lovely! Dining child-free means you can skip a meal if you want to. Or you can decide on the fly that a baked potato from Sleepy Hollow for a snack credit sounds like the perfect lunch! Or simply having the flexibility to change plans at the last minute. This happened to us when my friend woke up not feeling well one morning. I just showed up solo at Garden Grill while my friend rested… much less complicated than regrouping around a sick little one.
An intimate, solo breakfast with Dale!
Two years ago, we traveled to Disney over our 19th anniversary. We had been to ‘Ohana for breakfast with the kids, but wanted to have an adults-only celebratory dinner. You see, my daughter is a vegetarian who doesn’t eat vegetables, and my son lives on pizza, so the “meat-on-a-stick” menu wasn’t going to work for them. What’s a parent to do? We found a win/win…we booked them for the Poly’s Kid Club! (Now Lilo’s Playhouse!) They played games, made crafts, and yes…ate pizza, while we enjoyed our beef, pork and most importantly, Lapu Lapus!
Meat on a stick…yummmm!
I would love a Lapu Lapu!
In addition to a host of fabulous restaurants, Epcot also has amazing food kiosks during seasonal special events. When we visited as a family during the Flower and Garden Festival, the kids were impatient and wanted sit-down meals…none of this “tapas” BS. The only special treat we were able to score was the Dole Whip with rum (which is pretty much my favorite!) so we had to settle for that. When I attended the Food & Wine Festival after running Wine & Dine, we had a veritable feast! Filet mignon and cheese soup from Canada, Apple Pie frozen cocktails in Poland…and yes, more of those delicious Dole Whip with rum floats!
Dole Whip rum floats at the Food & Wine Festival!
3. More Attractive Attractions
I’ll admit it-my kids are adrenaline junkies. They rode Tower of Terror at six and eight and never looked back. Our Fastpass selections are primarily made up of multiple coasters and they argue the merits of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios vs. California Screamin’ at California Adventure! In fairness, I love all these, too. Except maybe not for every single ride. Over and over. Until the park closes. And again the next day.
Riding Rock ‘n ‘Roller coaster…again!!
When I visit the Parks without my children, I’m able to go on some rides for the first time! We had never seen Mickey’s Philharmonic-we were too busy racing off to Big Thunder Mountain-but I wandered in one afternoon during an adults-only trip to take a break from the heat. It was fabulous! Fun, funny and very engaging…I can’t wait to take my kids now! Same with It’s Tough to Be a Bug. I had never contemplated it before because reviews suggested that kids with sensory issues may be scared. Now I know my son will love the gross-out humor! (However, I think it was a “one-and-done” for Tiffany! LOL!)
2. Run, Run runDisney Races
After running my first three runDisney challenge weekends, I wanted to get my family in on the fun. This was especially true for my at-the-time nine year-old daughter, Lola. I was so excited when my she agreed to train to run the Neverland 5K with me in Disneyland for Tinker Bell Weekend! It was a totally different story when it came time for the 3:00 a.m. wake-up call, and that was with the three hour time difference in our favor!
Pre-race face plant. Too early!!
She came around eventually!
Running at least one runDisney race should be mandatory for every woman, regardless of age, shape or level of fitness. It is a once in a lifetime experience (that for many of us becomes an addiction!) that is so empowering and female-focused that it’s hard to put into words. Tiffany and I have now completed five challenge weekends together, and come back refreshed ready to resume our busy lives. Our motto? We’ll sleep when we’re dead! LOL!
Who needs sleep? We have each other!!
While I wouldn’t change my bonding experience with my daughter for anything, running a runDisney race solo or with a friend (or friends!) is an amazing experience! Getting up before the sun, seeing the Parks in a whole new way, and celebrating with champagne at the finish line are just a few of the reasons to runDisney child-free!
Cheers to my co-blogger and friend Jessica after the Wine & Dine Half!
1. Drinking Around the World
Okay, let’s face it. You can only visit so many KidCot stops in Epcot before someone realizes that you and your hubby are trying to keep the kids busy while you surreptitiously try to sample a drink in every one of Epcot’s countries! They colored multiple Duffys on sticks and had their Epcot passport books stamped while we took turns rushing around ordering Rose Margaritas in Mexico and Grand Marnier slushies in France!
Kidcot Stop in Epcot’s Norway!
Passports can be purchased at Epcot-so fun!
An adults-only trip allows you a more leisurely, responsible way to indulge! Not to mention you might even get to wander in a shop or two…something I never managed to do with two kids in tow! (And it’s how I finally discovered the amazing Laila perfume in Norway!)
Tipsy Ducks in Love in Epcot’s China!
Coordinating my Grand Marnier cocktail with my Cheers Sparkle Skirt!
In truth, one of the greatest joys of my life has been introducing my children to Disney…but I have to admit, an adults-only trip is a close second! Pack a carry-on bag and your lipstick and leave the Goldfish at home-you’re going to Disney! I mean-someone has to eat these lobster nachos…and I know my kids won’t!
Our fave-Lobster Nachos with fresh jalopenos!
Jacqueline lives in Southbury, CT with her husband, two children and cat. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie.
If you’ve ever been to Walt Disney World and have stayed at one of the 20+ resorts on property, then I’m sure you’re familiar with the Disney Transportation bus system. Disney operates its bus system 365 days a year from the resorts to the parks and to Disney Springs. This makes it much easier for families to take vacations to Disney and not have to rent a car and pay daily parking if they are staying at a Disney resort.
With the growth and development of the Anaheim, CA resort area, there was a need for a system similar to the Disney Transportation system.
:::Cue the dramatic entrance music:::
Welcome to the Anaheim Resort Transportation!
(Courtesy of Anaheim Resort Transportation)
Originally known as the Anaheim Resort Transit, it was established in 1994 and officially changed to the Anaheim Resort Transportation in 1998. In 2010, Disney adopted the company to become an official transportation option for visiting guests.
Although Disney has only 3 official hotels on Disneyland property, there are more than a dozen other “Good Neighbor Hotels” available for guests of the Disneyland Resort. Some of these hotels can extend as far as 1 mile from the resort. The A.R.T. bus system allows guests who do not want to rent car and pay for parking, the opportunity to ride a clean, easy to spot bus to Disneyland and California Adventure parks. The bus will drop you off right in front of the esplanade between Disneyland and California Adventure!
I had the opportunity to experience the ART during my trip to Disneyland for the Star Wars Half Marathon weekend in January. I was a little unsure about getting to and from from hotel but what I found was helpful staff members, a clean bus, and some much needed relief for my wallet and legs (after running 32.4 miles the weekend before).
There is a free trip planner as well on the website which can help figure out how to get to the happiest place in California as well.
The ART system is available for a fee. Tickets can be purchased at many of the hotels, online or via the ART app available for download on both Apple and Android operating systems. For more information, visit www.rideart.org.
Want more awesomeness? They have added a whole new production for the Halloween season called Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark! Find out what happens when the other “collections” go loose in Tivan’s gallery! I’ve done it but I’ve promised Rocket I’ll keep it quiet until all of the guardians are safely out of the building.
