New Year's Eve at Disneyland and DCA

We love ringing in the New Year at Disneyland and DCA. We have celebrated New Year's Eve at Disneyland and DCA on a couple of nights in years past. Disneyland's New Year's Eve Celebration is a blast but is definitely busy and the trams stop running at midnight. In my opinion although it is a busy night, it is one of the best places to ring in the New Year.

If you are planning on spending New Year's Eve at Disneyland or DCA here is some updated info:
Disneyland will be open from 8am to 2am. Disney's California Adventure will be open from 10 am to 1pm. Both parks will host countdowns to the New Year.

Disneyland will have the regular fireworks at 9:25 and then the special New Year's Eve Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at 11:30 PM.  Also featured is Jump, Jive, Boogie Swing Party Featuring Doc Anello and the Swing Machine at the Plaza Gardens Stage, running shows hourly up through 1 AM.

Over at DCA you'll find several dance parties with different themes.  They are each sponsored by Southern California radio stations:

Power 106 New Year's Eve 2009 Dance Party

Hollywood Pictures Backlot

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.  

Super Estrella New Year's Eve 2009 Dance Party

Pacific Wharf Stage

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.  

104.3 MYfm New Year's Eve 2009 Dance Party

7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.   9:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Also, DCA will be featuring the last Electrical Parade of the year at 8:45.

If you are planning on heading to either park make sure to arrive early as both parks fill to capacity and they will turn people away at the gate. If you can get it in it really is a fun family extravaganza!

One Last Holiday Post...

I don't know about you, but I'm sad that the holidays are coming to an end.  It's become a tradition in our family to sneak back to Disneyland one last time before they take down the holiday overlays, stop the Christmas Parade, take the tree down and change the fireworks.  There's just something magical about seeing the parades at night. 

I've uploaded a couple videos from our trip earlier tonight to YouTube and embedded them below for you to enjoy.  After this, I promise no more holiday postings until next year.  :)

Tree lighting on Main Street:


Mrs. Claus:


and finally Santa Claus (with the Reindeer of course!)...


Happy Holidays!
-Katie

New Years Eve at Disneyland

This Thursday is what was once one of the busiest nights at Disneyland, although with the blackout dates in effect for all but the premium annual passes, it does not get quite as crazy as it once was.  The park typically hands out party favors and noise makers in the evening hours.  There have been DJs playing different kinds of dance music set up in various locations throughout the park.  Just before midnight, the countdown is projected up onto the side of the Matterhorn.  It's a really fun and safe way to spend New Years Eve, especially knowing that within the walls of Disneyland, there is no alcohol consumption going on around you.

Castle at Disneyland - Wordless Wednesday

Storybook Land Canal Boats

Storybook Land Canal Boats at Disneyland have recently re-opened.  They were closed down for a draining of the canal (imagine the dropped cell phones, keys, toys, etc. that were at the bottom!) while they replaced the Casey Jr. Train track. 

It is one of my favorite rides in the park (okay, so most of them are favorites of mine...).  There's just something about riding in the boats through the small scale world of fantasy that mesmerizes me.  Disneyland never ceases to amaze me with the attention to detail.  Notice in the pictures (sorry they are a tad blurry because the boats move) that there are tiny Christmas trees and decorations throughout each scene!

Whether it's Cinderella's Castle, complete with pumpkin carriage, Princess Jasmine's Palace...

The dwarf's house from Snow White...

Pinocchio's village...

Or the Three Little Pigs house made of bricks...

The Storybook Land Canal Boats are great for everyone in the family, young and old.  Make sure you keep a close eye on young children though because unlike some of the other boat rides, the water is quite deep - not the normal couple of feet that most rides have.  Also note that the ride closes down 30 minutes before and 5 minutes after the parades go through to prevent the line from blocking the flow of traffic because it is so close to the parade route.

Disney's Electrical Parade is back

We love Disney's Electrical Parade and are excited to share that the parade is playing nightly until January 3rd. The parade will be play nightly starting at 8:45pm. It will be a while before it makes an appearance again. Make sure to catch it if you can. The park will be super busy during the next couple of weeks but DCA is usually not as busy as Disneyland. We are packing a bag and heading over tomorrow night. Hope to see you there.

Handicap Friendly Attractions at Disneyland

Going to Disneyland is a magical experience, but sometimes it is easy to forget how challenging a theme park can be if you or a family member is handicapped.  But when you look at this list I am sure you will see that it can still be a magical experience with a little bit of research! (A question from my son's teacher prompted me to write this post) 

On several rides Disneyland offers what is called an "alternate experience" in which you can still experience much of the aspects of the ride without needing to climb up or down stairs.

Disneyland offers an Audio Tape Tour, Braille guidebook and written aids for several things around the park.  If you are looking for more assistance you can always go to City Hall on Main Street in Disneyland and there is a special guidebook available to guests with disabilities at the Information Centers throughout the parks. 

Here are the attractions where a wheelchair can roll right on to the ride (either by elevator or other mechanism and you don't need to be able to transfer to the boat or vehicle):

• The Tram from the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure
• Disneyland Railroad (use the New Orleans, Tomorrowland or Toontown entrances/exits)
• Main Street Cinema
• The Disneyland Story featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
• Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
• Frontierland Shootin' Exposition
• Mark Twain Riverboat
• Big Thunder Ranch
• The Golden Horshoe Stage
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Jungle Cruise
• Goofy's Playhouse
• Mickey's House and Meet Mickey
• Minnie's House
• "it's a small world"
• King Arthur Carrousel
• Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (Alternate Experience)
• Pixie Hollow
• Disneyland Monorail
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (alternate experience)
• "Honey I Shrunk the Audience"
• Innoventions
• Starcade
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Additional rides that you can go on as long as you can transfer from the wheelchair in to the ride seat:

• Fire Engine
• Horseless Carriage
• Omnibus
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Splash Mountain
• Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Gadget's Go Coaster
• Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
• Alice in Wonderland
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
• Casey Jr. Circus Train
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Disney Princess Faire
• Mad Tea Party
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Pinocchio's Daring Journey
• Snow White's Scary Story
• Storybook Land Canal Boats
• Astro Orbiter
• Autopia
• Space Mountain
• Star Tours

Did I miss anything?  Any other tips for guests with Disabilities?

-Katie

Roy Disney will be missed

For all the mud slinged at Roy E. Disney, there is an awful lot of good that he was often not awknowledged for accomplishing. Let us not forget, that without the actions taken Roy in the 80s, The Walt Disney Company of today would not exist. The company likely would have been broken up into pieces.

The vast library would have gone to one company, perhaps Ted Turner! The theme parks would have been purchased by another company, perhaps Six Flags or Cedar Fair! The studio operations would have probably been wound down and the lot sold off to a foreign company. Somebody that had the rights to the Disney name would have made some half hearted attempts at continuing animation, although those likely would have ended in a similar fate to The Black Calderon.

The Walt Disney Company would probably look like something similar to today's MGM, once great but now not much more than a footnote.

Roy E. Disney was the most important person for the Walt Disney Company, save Walt and Roy O. Disney.

RIP Roy E. Disney

Wordless Wednesday - The View from the Top of Mickey's Fun Wheel

(Image taken by Katie)

Monday Quote from Mr. Disney

I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.

-Walt Disney

Giveaway time! Family 4 pack of tickets to Disneyland

The Holidays are in full swing and Kids and Mice has an amazing giveaway to celebrate the season. We are giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to Disneyland to  one lucky reader. Want to know how to enter?  well here is how.

First things first-This giveaway ends 12/31/09



Here's how to enter:



Mandatory First Entry:



•1 Entry for leaving a comment letting us know  which is your favorite Disneyland ride and why.

Additional Entries:


•1 Entry (each) subscribing to the Email Feed of Kids and Mice, following through Google, RSS Feed Subscription or any other form of feed.


•1 Entry for following Kids and Mice on Twitter

•1 Entry for Tweeting about this giveaway. Be sure to come back and say that you have, to gain the extra entry.

•1 Extra entry per day when you leave another comment.
 
Winner will be selected using random.org
 
Good luck !!

*****Quick UPDATE:  We've now added the email subscription link, so you can count that as an extra entry now too, just be sure to comment about it.  We're loving all your stories about what rides you love! 

Thanks!     
 - Katie

Snow seen at Disneyland

Wordless Wednesday - Holidays at Disneyland

Two of my favorite signs that the holidays are here at Disneyland...

-Katie

Innoventions

Last week the kids and I decided to head out to Disneyland on what was a very busy day. I love visiting Disneyland and yes, even on a busy day. One of the keys to enjoying the Happiest place on earth on a busy day is to head to the attractions that are the least visited. We decided to check out the Jedi Academy and then head over to Innoventions.

Innoventions, is located in Tomorrowland, next to Pizza Port and across from Tomorrowland Terrace. You enter through one of four themed doors to experience a vision of the near future. The kiddos and I walked right up and did not have to wait longer than two minutes to walk in through the doors.

The first floor and your fist stop on your walking and self guided tour is the house of the future. We loved exploring every inch of this area. My kiddos were particulary facinated with one of the kids bedrooms that featured a mirror of the future and which they became obsessed with.

 

They also loved the table of the future that featured a touch screen plate setting. It was a huge hit with the fam!

After we explored the fist floor we headed upstairs to catch Honda's robot attraction and my daughter wanted to play with the different video games and stations. My parents were with me and they loved checking out the different health exhibits and also the video games.

It is a great place to let the kids unwind and take advantage of the air conditioned surroundings. We spent 45 minutes minutes exploring and it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours. It's a great place to visit on a busy day or if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Disneyland Candlelight Procession

The annual tradition of the Candlelight Procession has occurred at Disneyland since 1958.  Walt Disney World has a more elaborate version that plays nightly throughout December.  At Disneyland it runs one weekend with two performances each night.  Did you know that it is actually considered a private event that just happens to be held publicly in the park?  Walt Disney himself, initiated the tradition.

2009's guest narrator was Jon Voight, who is Jewish, as seen by his appearances in the annual Chabad telethon.  The candlelight procession is a celebration of the holiday season for all.

Disneyland Freshly Made Candy Canes

Homemade candy canes are just one part of the fun holiday traditions at Disneyland.  They have become so popular over the years that you now have to pick up a reserve ticket ahead of time.

According to the OC Register:

This year, the Candy Palace on Disneyland’s Main Street is issuing tickets so park guests can reserve candy canes ahead of time, avoiding the massive lines that mark candy cane day at the Palace every Christmas.

photo (c) LA Times

Disneyland-goers can find out when candy canes are being made by calling a special phone number, updated each Sunday with information about what kind of candy is being made each day that week. The Candy Kitchen Menu line is 714-781-0112.

Wordless Wednesday at California Adventure

Happy Holidays!

Monday Quote from Mr. Disney

"I can never stand still. I must explore and experiment. I am never satisfied with my work. I resent the limitations of my own imagination." - Walt Disney

Santa Claus and Reindeer at Big Thunder Ranch Disneyland

Yes, the holidays are here and Big Thunder Ranch at Disneyland is a mandatory stop during the holidays.  If your kids haven't seen real reindeer up close and personal, be sure to make a stop in to Big Thunder Ranch (behind Big Thunder Railroad).  You'll also be able to stop in to get pictures with the Disneyland Santa Claus (our favorite in Southern California and the only Santa Claus we visit in our household!).  It's all free and if you time it right you won't have a long wait. 

You can bring your own camera or have a photo taken on the PhotoPass system.

Small World Holiday

I love Disneyland during the holidays.. Who am I kidding? I love Diseneyland pretty much any day of the year but especially during the holidays. I think my absolute favorite thing about Disneyland during the holidays is the tranformation of Small World to Small World Holiday. I absolutely love it and waited last year almost an hour to ride it.

If you are planning on heading to the parks during the next couple of weeks and you want to visit Small World Holiday,  I would either go very early or head towards the end of the day(about 45 minutes after fireworks). I personally love heading there at the end of the day, when it is alive with color, lights and a show every time the clock strikes 15,30,45 or the top of the hour.

Not only is Small World Holiday an incredible ride, it is one of the best spots to catch the firework show and watch the snow fall. Small World Holiday is definitely worth the wait!

Happy Thanksgiving from Walt's Magic Kingdom

Turkey Time at Disneyland

What happens to the Presidentially pardoned turkeys?  Well, if you've walked through Big Thunder Ranch in Disneyland's Frontierland around Thanksgiving time in the past few years you know they now go to the Merriest Place on Earth - Disneyland!

I spoke with a Disneyland cast member at the ranch yesterday and she confirmed that the turkey is set to arrive today with their entourage (which could be considered the highest trained security team a turkey could ever dream to have).  It's been reported that the plane it arrives on is temporarily named "Turkey One".

Pop on over and say hi to "Courage" the official White House Turkey "pardoned" by President Obama earlier today!

-Katie

Disneyland holiday celebrations are in full swing and so are the crowds.

How busy is Thanksgiving weekend at Disneyland, you ask?  Thanksgiving weekend is typically a busy time of the year to visit.  Blackout dates apply to all of the passes below Premium for Thursday-Thanksgiving, Friday and Saturday (11/26 - 11/28).  Monday through Wednesday of this week have see huge turnouts as the APers try to get in the holiday magic during this time of the year.  Especially a day like today, the day before Thanksgiving.  On the other hand, this means quite manageable crowds the next three days as all the local annual passholders are blocked.  Just one more reason to go for the Premium upgrade.

Monday Quote from Mr. Disney

We are not trying to entertain the critics. I'll take my chances with the public. - Walt Disney

 

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

One of our family favorite rides at Disneyland is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  You have to be over 40 inches tall to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the castmembers will check any children close to that height several times (use the Baby Switch passes if you have young children). We love this ride because it is a lot of fun and doesn’t have big drops. You mostly experience a lot of g-forces as you go down several sudden small drops then around the curves. You have one lap bar per row, so I always wrap my arm around Kyle (who is a little smaller) because during some of the sudden drops younger kids bounce up an inch or two. By wrapping my arm around him it solves the problem completely. Do remove any hats- I have seen quite a few almost blown away.  Good to note that one adult can sit with two children in one row.

Our biggest tip about this ride is to be sure to make use of the Fastpasses. You rarely have to wait more than an hour after picking up your Fastpass and in that time you can go ride another ride. Fastpasses are distributed throughout the day unlike Space Mountain. When you are about to enter the queue line to use your Fastpass- get another set of fastpasses. You can do this as soon as you are 1 minute in to your return time window. You’ll be able to get two rides in a very short time no matter how long the queue line is.

Have you ever heard of the “Goat Trick” on this ride? I’m not sure where it really started and I don’t think I actually ever heard of it anywhere before I figured it out, but the first time I heard a reference to “The Goat Trick”, there was no question I knew what it was! Now be very careful not to over think this one, it really is quite simple, just follow a few simple steps the next time you are on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and you’ll soon be sure to be in on the trick!

As you begin to climb hill number two (this is the long climb with the snakes and turtles on the left), position yourself comfortably in the left corner of the seat so you are at an angle looking out the right side of the train. Be sure to stare at the Billy Goat on the raised area on the right and look at it absolutely as long as you can, literally until you can’t see it anymore. You’ll end up really dizzy and disoriented by the end of the turn and it’s just lots of fun.

We highly recommend sitting in row 15 (or close to it), because the ride is more fun that way. Sitting too close to the front of the train, makes for a much less thrilling ride in our opinion. As you crest the hills you are left slowly going over them while the back of the train finishes the climb. You can ask a castmember to seat you at the back of the train, you may have to wait for the next train, but it only adds a couple minutes at the most. Well worth the wait if you ask my kids.


Have you tried the Goat Trick? Post a comment about it!

-Katie

Annual pass history - part one

When the gates to Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, visitors paid a mere $1 to get into the park. This fee, however, did not include attractions and rides. Those additional tickets, roughly $2.50 for eight attractions, could be purchased in books, with the prices depending on which attractions you wanted to attend.

Those books ranged in classes from A to D. A few years later, an "E" class was added, which was for all of the big thrill rides. This style of tickets continued until 1982, when Disneyland officials abandoned the books and charged a single price ticket to each patron entering the park, a price that included all rides and attractions, with the exception of the arcades and the Shooting Galleries.

I first got an annual pass in 1984.  If I recall, it was $99 for adults and $69 for children.  We would go to the park every Friday from around 4 PM until closing at 6 PM.  With rare exception, I have continued to have an annual pass to Disneyland every year since that time.  Many people don't believe me, but it's true.  The first year, we had to enter at the first turnstile on the left where are a 3 ring binder was kept.  Each pass was then hand recorded into the book before allowing entry.  About a year or so later the first bar code was attached with a pen scanner.  This was eventually embedded in the lamination when you had your photo taken at Guest Relations when initially purchased the pass.

The prices always rose slowly, usually coinciding with the regular ticket price increases.  One major exception was in 2000, when a dual premium pass that would allow entrance to DCA, once it opened in 2001 and Disneyland, cost a whopping $299.  This price dropped back to $199 the following year but has steadily increased since that time.

The convenience now for SoCal resident's to pay their pass over time has been a huge plus.  I can still get the premium pass, which allows me to visit on any whim and only pay around $30 per month, instead of having to fork over almost $400 per pass for everyone in my family.

Disneyland Adult Ticket Prices (Since 1982)

Year	Prices	Year	Prices
1982	$12	1996	No increase
1983	No increase	1997	No increase
1984	$14	1998	No increase
1985	$17.95	1999	$39
1986	$18	2000	$41/$43 (two increases)
1987	$21.50	2001	No increase
1988	no increase	2002	$45
1989	no increase	2003	$47
1990	$25.50	2004	$49.75
1991	$27.50	2005	$53/$56
1992	no increase	2006	$59/$63
1993	$28.50	2007	$66
1994	$31	2008	$69
1995	no increase	2009	$73

A Monday Quote from Mr. Disney

(photo (c) Disney)

"Disneyland is the star, everything else is in the supporting role." - Walt Disney

Picking Rides for Kids and Babies at Disneyland

Going to Disneyland is a magical experience for the whole family and not just the older kids. Juggling the wants of older kids to ride rides and babies is always tough. One of the questions that I am frequently asked is what rides are okay for babies. We started taking our kids well before their first birthdays, so I got pretty good at knowing what my boys were comfortable on. Be sure to read about the baby care centers here, they are a lifesaver when you're at the parks with babies!



Here’s a list of ones that I think are fine to take babies on…



Disneyland Railroad: Great for all ages. A great way to give the kids “down-time” and still ride a ride.


Small World: Great for all ages. Nothing scary at all.


Storybook Canal Boats: Great for all ages. Just plain cute.


Finding Nemo Submarines: Great for all ages. One small scene where the lights briefly go out and there’s a loud sound, but should be fine for most.


Alice in Wonderland: Great for all ages.


Tiki Room: Great for all ages.


Jungle Cruise: Great for all ages.


Winnie the Pooh: Great for all ages.


Casey Jr. Circus Train: Great for all ages.


Peter Pan: Great for all ages.


Pirates of the Caribbean: Mostly great for all ages. You know the temperament of your kids. Don’t take them on this if they are skittish or have a tendency to get spooked. There are two small drops, but as long as you are holding on to them, it’s fine. I’ve seen newborns sleep through the ride in their mother’s arms but I’ve also seen one year olds cry from the moment they got in the boat to the time they get out of the boat.

For when you want to tackle some of the "big" kid rides, be sure to read up on the Rider/Baby Switch program here. 

-Katie

The Merriest Place on Earth is back!!

I absolutely love the holidays and it is my absolute favorite time of the year at the Disneyland Resort. From now through Jan. 3, 2010, the holidays shine more brightly than ever at Disneyland. The holiday season is in full effect and this holiday season, you will be able to enjoy the return of special holiday versions of “it’s a small world” and Haunted Mansion, along with the beautiful holiday décor, “A Christmas Fantasy” parade and a nightly snowfall on Main Street.  California Adventure will also be celebrating the season with  beautiful decorations and the return of the Electrical Parade on Dec 18th.

I can't wait to head to the park tomorrow. I want to hear from you. Do you love the Resort during the holidays? What is your favorite thing about Merriest Place on Earth? Do you think it's too crowded? We would love to hear from you!

Aracely

Winner of Disney Bucks!

I'm a little late, but better late than never. Thank you all for entering and for your wonderful suggestions and comments.

The winner of the Kids and Mice $50 Disney bucks is.....(selected by Random.org) True Random Number Generator






Result:

19

Powered by RANDOM.ORG
 
comment #19 which is... Erin said...


This sounds great! we just got passes so we can take our little one. i will join your facebook page too. I would love to hear about some of the more "hidden" aspects to the resort. things you might not know about just walking in and riding the rides.



Email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info and stay tuned for another fun giveaway. I have two passes to Disneyland to giveaway! Details coming soon!

Holidays At Disneyland

Today is Friday the 13th, of November.  That means Holidaytime at Disneyland kicks off today.  Go and see the enormous Chrimstmas tree in town square, the Christmas Parade running twice daily, fireworks, snow flurries and more!  For many, this is the best time of the year to visit Disneyland.

Crowds are expected to particularly heavy this weekend due to the cheerleader conference in town.  Be prepared for lots of people but also lots of holiday magic.

Disneyland MouseWait App for the iPhone

I’m the proud owner of an iPhone (and iPod Touch) and whenever I find an App that makes my life easier, I rave about it to anyone who will listen… but when it’s one that makes your day at Disneyland far more productive, well let’s just say it’s priceless! The best part is this one really is a free App and its called Disneyland MouseWait by app316.com (direct link to iTunes store here).

You can get real time waits for all the rides at Disneyland and California Adventure (as entered by other park guests). I love that it tells you what time the wait was posted at so you can make an estimate as to how accurate it still is (i.e. if a Parade has just ended you know a ton of people are going to be making their way to all the rides and will cause an increase in waits). I’ve used this App many times to plan out what rides have the shortest waits so when you head to next ride you don't find out the wait is too long (my husband hates waiting in line, let’s just say it was the boys and I that waited in line for 3 ½ hours on the day the Finding Nemo Submarines opened! I knew there was no way my husband would wait in that line…)

I’ve used this handy App many times trying to figure out how crowded the park is. We frequently head to Disneyland for dinner and a few rides).


One thing that sets this App apart from the other wait time Apps is that this one has far more features than I have seen on the others (I have several now). There are blackout date calendars, live chats and park hours. You can automatically post Facebook status updates, Tweets on Twitter and monitor real time discussions about the parks in a number of ways. You’ll just have to play around to find all the hidden jewels this App has to offer!

More information about the App can be found here.

The reliability of the App is dependent on guests entering accurate wait times, so the more people use the App – the better!

I’m anxious to hear if any of you are also using it!

-Katie

Pizza Port at Disneyland and Introduction to Katie!

I was more than a little excited when Aracely asked me to blog over here on Kids and Mice (you may recognize me from OCMomActivities). I think it’s because I’m about 95% obsessed with Disneyland (the other 5% of addiction goes to CoffeeBean & Tea Leaf). We are huge Disneyland fans around our house and go on average of once a week if not more! I’m a working wife and mom of two amazing boys (Brett is 7 and Kyle is 6). Over the years I’ve learned lots of fun tips and tricks about Disneyland and am thrilled to have the opportunity to share them with you! Enough about me - I’ll just dive right in…





The Pizza Port in Tomorrowland is one of our families’ favorite places to eat dinner. There are great options for the entire family at a reasonable cost and we love sitting in the outside eating area at the back (near the entrance to Space Mountain). They have a great selection of fresh salads, excellent pizza (by the slice or whole pizza) and super yummy pastas.

Brett and Kyle love getting the kids spaghetti (with sauce & meatballs on the side). Awhile ago they switched to using whole wheat pastas, which I love. Each plate comes with apple slices and carrot slices and a drink. They also have kid sized pizza and chicken & rice for toddlers. For the adults they have wonderful alfredo pasta, penne pasta and spaghetti.


I always get a fresh salad. My favorite one is posted below (Starfield of Greens), but they have caesar salads, oriental chicken salads and several other choices. As you can see it’s made with real salad greens and super sweet tomatoes and has an Italian Vinaigrette dressing. I love it!

My husband always orders the pizza, below is a picture of the BBQ chicken pizza that is so good! They also have Hawaiian pizza, pepperoni, cheese pizza and other favorites by the slice or whole. Be sure to grab some of the amazing focaccia bread & dipping sauce…

What I absolutely love about eating there is that we as a family of four can eat there for $25 (using the 15% AP discount)!


What’s your favorite thing to order at Pizza Port?

Disneyland Ticket offers for 2010

The year is almost over and we can already look to the New Year of fun waiting at Disneyland! Disney has just released the ticket packages for next year.

The Buy 3, Get 2 Free deal gives you 2 free nights at a Disneyland Resort Hotel when you book three nights AND purchase a 5-day promotional park hopper ticket. The offer is valid for arrivals through April 29, 2010 with travel completed by May 4, 2010, and you must book by April 1, 2010 to receive this discount.
 
This promotional park hopper ticket, offers a discount of $5-$11 off the already discounted advance purchase price, which will end up saving you $25 - $51 per person, depending on the type of ticket you purchase. The promotional Park Hopper ticket is valid January 5, 2010 thru April 29, 2010, and must be purchased in advance of your trip - this discount is not available at the ticket booths .

If you already have an annual pass, the alternative offer gives you up to 30% off at Disneyland Resort hotels. The discount is valid on a minimum two night stay, with arrivals between January 5 to April 29, 2010. Rates start at $165 (plus taxes and fees) at the Paradise Pier Hotel, which is also a terrific place to stay.

Free Annual Passes to Disneyland? *

To commemorate the opening of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Disney Vacation Club's new Castle to Castle promotion offers DVC members who purchase 100 vacation points at Disneyland's newest hotel four complimentary annual passes to the Disney Parks.

The Castle to Castle promotion gives DVC members the chance to enjoy the best of both worlds, Disney style. Current DVC members who purchase 100 vacation points at The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel will receive two annual passes to Disneyland and two annual passes to Walt Disney World.

The Grand Californian is the only DVC property located at Disneyland.

The DVC villas are Disney's version of a timeshare, with vacation homes featuring spacious accommodations and full kitchens. DVC members are allotted a certain number of vacation points each year, and they can redeem the points at any DVC property at Disneyland, Disney World, or at select DVC resorts across the globe. DVC points can also be applied to a Disney cruise or Adventures by Disney vacation.

The Castle to Castle offer is good through January 31, 2010.

For more information, contact a DVC representative at 800-500-3990.

What to do when everything is too busy at Disneyland

Visiting Disneyland is always fun, except when it is super busy. I hate waiting in lines... well really, I don't know anyone that likes waiting in one. After many visits, I have discovered that I can  have fun with my kiddos, even on the busiest holidays.

• One of the first things that I like to do on a busy day is catch a ride on the Disneyland Express.  It's the perfect place to people watch and you can get a pretty good idea of how truly busy the park is by riding it all the way around. We love riding the train and the kids and I like to point to the different attractions, hidden Mickey's, characters, etc.. 
• Another favorite attraction on a busy day is to catch a show at the Tiki Room. Not only is this show timeless and fun,  it is the perfect place to rest and cool off  on a hot summer day.
• I love having the kiddos enjoy the play areas in the park. Tom Sawyer's Island and Tarzan's Treehouse are perfect for  the older kids, while the play area in Toontown is a big hit with the little ones.
• Head over to Tomorrowland and explore Innoventions. There are a variety of activities for the entire family to enjoy. You will find everything from Dance Dance Revolution Stations to building and viewing your own fireworks show.  
• Take the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough. You will be able to enjoy the story of Sleeping Beauty, told by a series of illustrated storybook pages and 3D animation scenes. It's a must visit if you have a princess fan in the family! 
• Sit back and enjoy Honey, I Shrunk the Audience 3D show. This air conditioned show is the perfect place to sit down and catch a breather.

There are so many other things to do on a busy day that I think I will write a second part to the post. I want to hear from you. What is your favorite thing to do at Disneyland  on a busy day?

Princess Tiana Arrives Today at Disneyland

Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and other characters from the motion picture star in “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!,” a fun-filled procession with a jazz-filled Mardi Gras theme. Not quite a parade, but still exciting.  The good times will roll as festively dressed, bead-tossing revelers lead Disneyland guests to the Mark Twain Riverboat dock. The party will then move onboard the Mark Twain as it makes its way along the river with performers singing, dancing and all that jazz. 

And beginning Nov. 6, little princesses can enjoy a new Princess Tiana makeover in Disneyland at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Fantasyland.

Holiday Magic is on it's way for Christmas at Disneyland

Celebrate the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. From November 13, 2009 through January 4, 2010, the Disneyland Resort in transforms into a Christmas Wonderland with special entertainment to be enjoyed by all who visit the original Magic Kingdom.

One of this season's highlights is Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle and the three part show which takes place each day. This park icon is covered in freshly fallen snow. Twilight brings the start of 'When you Wish'. You'll hear the wind blowing and hear a little child wishing for snow. The mother responds with 'in order for your wishes to come true, you must believe.' With that, snowflakes fill the air and the castle begins to sparkle.

In the evening is the "Believe...in Holiday Magic Fireworks Spectacular." As the child again wishes for snow, magic and icicles, the snow falls again and Sleeping Beauty Castle becomes more illuminated. The grand finale follows the "When you Believe" fireworks. As White Christmas is performed, icicles appear on the castle as snow falls on Main Street, New Orleans Square, and small world mall.

Back again is the 60 foot Christmas tree located in Town Square. Children can decorate cookies on Main Street and New Orleans Square .  Tasty holiday treats will also be available around the park.

Disneyland News for November

We are awaiting the official announcement any day now of a return of Captain Eo to Disneyland, which could land in time for the holiday season.

This coming weekend, the “Remember … Dreams Come True” fireworks show will come back for just three nights: Nov. 6, 7 and 8, according to the Disneyland Web site. A flying Tinker Bell will not join the show this weekend, said John McClintock, a Disneyland spokesman.  "Believe...in Holiday Magic Fireworks Spectacular," the holiday fireworks show, will then roll in on November 13th.

$50 in Disney Bucks!

To officially launch kids and mice- we are doing a giveaway. All you have to do is let me know what you want to would like to discuss as an annual passholder on Kids and Mice and that's it! Winner will be selected at Random. You can leave multilple entries for

• Leaving a comment (1 entry) 
• Become a follower of Kids and Mice (1 entry)
• Become a fan on Facebook of Kids and Mice (1 entry)

You have until Friday, November 6th to enter.
Good luck!

Happy Halloween!

Breakfast at Disneyland

Over at daveland today, he posted some old pics from Aunt Jemima's Pancake House. You can still visit this restaurant, although now it is known as Liberty Belle Terrace. Earlier this month, I was at the park early enough that I was able to get breakfast. I'm sure it's the Disney magic because I had three of the fluffiest pancakes around. I enjoyed sitting inside and looking out at the Rivers of America while the crowds were only trickling by. It was a wonderful experience. It's been 8 years since I last took the time for breakfast at Disneyland, but I don't plan on waiting another 8 years before doing it again.

Disneyland Hours Today

In case you were wondering, Disneyland closes at 5 PM today for a private party. Tomorrow, it goes back to the normal 10-9 PM hours during Monday through Thursday nights.

Around Disneyland

All the excitement lately has been the water going into Paradise Bay at DCA but over at Disneyland there is news too!

it's a small world closed today for the small world Holiday makeover.  Space Mountain will close on November 2nd to strip out Ghost Galaxy, only to reopen the very next day on November 3 as plain-old Space Mountain. Christmas decorations will be going up right away, at least on Main Street where it is prepped for the taping of the Disneyland portions of the Walt Disney World Christmas special November 7 through 9.

The first performance of "A Christmas Fantasy" Parade is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2009 and again at 6:30 p.m.  "Believe...In Holiday Magic" Fireworks Spectacular is scheduled to start 9:25 p.m. that night.

For brand spankin' new entertainment at Disneyland, check out "Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!" which premieres on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. Additional show times are 12:45 p.m. 2:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.

Halloween Treats at Disneyland

Besides all of the entertainment, there is also specially crafted edible treats this month at Disneyland.

Don't miss the Jack Skellington Coffin Dessert, Jack Skellington in the Box Cheesecake and Haunted Mansion Spoon Dessert at the French Market in New Orleans Square.

Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou have a Hazelnut Tiramisu topped with pumpkin mousse.

Aroudn the park, also look for the chocolate Mickey Halloween cookie, cream topped pumpkin muffin, sliced pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake. There are also beverages like pumpkin spice latte and caramel apple cider!

Yum!

Holiday Time filming dates at Disneyland

Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort kicks off November 13, 2009. Like every year, filming for Disneyland portions of the Walt Disney World Christmas special will again occur early at Disneyland. It's expected that Saturday, November 7th and/or Sunday, November 8th should be the days.

If you come during that time, you will see the early Christmas decorations up around Main Street and a shorter version of the Holiday parade.

Disneyland Resort Annual Passes- Which one is right for you?

I was chatting with a good friend yesterday about annual passes. He is looking to buy passes for his family and was asking for my opinion. Which pass should I get? I say it depends on your financial situation, how often are you planning on heading to the parks and location.

I have had the Premium Pass for over a decade. It works for my family for a number of reasons. We live about a 20 minute drive from the park, we have quite a few family members that live outside the area and like to come down to Disneyland during the holidays, we are big Disney Geeks, we hate crowds and we love the freedom it provides of visiting any day of the year without restrictions.

Here is the scoop on the Premium Annual Passport:

• 365 consecutive days of admission to both theme parks.
• 10% merchandise discount at select locations throughout the Disneyland® Resort
• Exclusive benefits at select Downtown Disney® District locations
• Free annual parking pass for the Mickey & Friends parking structure. ($79 value)
• 10-15% dining discount at select Disneyland® Resort restaurants
• Special rates at Disneyland Resort Hotels

The Premium Passes are very expensive. The pass is $429, however you can use the payment plan option, guests will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket - $72-upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

If you don't want to splurge on the Premium- I highly recommend the Deluxe Annual Passport. Most of my friends and family have this pass.

Here is the scoop on the Deluxe Annual Passport:

• 315 days of admission. Most Holidays and some peak season Saturdays are blocked out.
• 10% dining discount at select Disneyland Resort Restaurants
• Special Rates at Disneyland Resort Hotels
• Parking is NOT included- $79 for parking.

The Deluxe Annual Passport, is a little pricey at $289 . However it does offer many admission days and if you plan on using your pass frequently, it could be your best option. As with the Premium Pass, you can use the payment plan option and you will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket -$72-upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

The other two options are more affordable options but have many blackout dates.

Here is the scoop on the Southern California Annual Passport:

• 227 days of admission. Most of these days are off peak season. All Holidays and Saturdays are blocked out.
• 10% dining discount at select Disneyland Resort Restaurants
• Special Rates at the Disneyland Resort Hotels
• Parking is not included -$79 for parking pass
• This pass differs from the Southern California Select in that Sundays are allowed. The pass is $194, and as with the other passes you can use the payment plan option. You will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket - $72-upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

The least expensive of the passes is the Southern California Select Annual Pass. Here is the scoop on the pass.

• 176 days of admission. This is a weekday pass only! All Holidays, weekends and most peak times at the park are blocked off.
• 10% Dining discount at select Disneyland Resort restaurants
• Special Rates at the Disneyland Park Hotels
• Parking Pass is not included
• The pass is $144 and as with the other passes you can use the payment plan option. You will pay for the cost of a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket-$72- upon purchase and will pay the remaining amount over the next 12 months, with no finance charges applied

My friend decided to purchase the Deluxe Annual Passport since he wants to bring his kiddos down on Saturdays. I want to hear from you. What pass do you have? Do you love it? Use it often?

Disneyland Candlelight Procession Dinner Details

I know we are still into Halloween mode, but this is worth noting right away.

This year, the Candlelight Procession Dinner has become a D23 member exclusive event. That means, no reserved seats without joining D23 and purchasing a ticket to the event. You can still get to Disneyland early that day and stake out a seat for you and your loved ones.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009
Time: Check in begins at 10 a.m.
Location: Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif.
Tickets: Click here for tickets.
Cost: $275 per person

Included with the cost of your ticket:

• A one-day Disneyland park hopper ticket. (Ticket is good only for use on December 6, 2009 and must be used by ticket purchaser.)
• Private dinner and dessert inside Stage 17
• Exclusive holiday show featuring your favorite Disney characters
• Reserved seating for Candlelight Processional and Ceremony
• Behind-the-scenes presentation about Candlelight and Disneyland at the holidays — with a "sweet treat"
• Special gift for all guests from your friends at D23!