Aloha Breakfast with Lilo & Stitch at the PCH Grill - Paradise Pier Hotel

My daughter Lauren celebrated her 4th birthday this past Saturday and we decided to start off the day by enjoying the Lilo and Stitch Aloha Breakfast at the PCH Grill inside the Paradise Pier Hotel. I can't begin to describe what an amazing time we had.

We were greeted by Minnie Mouse (in Hawaiian attire of course) and had the opportunity to take quite a few pictures with her and the kids . We were also able to take a few as a family and of course given leis to wear around our neck. We were giddy with excitement. After we finished taking pictures we headed over to our seats and our fantastic server took our drink orders. We then headed over to the breakfast buffet. The food was fantastic!! There was a good selection which included the most delicous salmon I've ever had, breakfast pastries, a special section just for the kiddos and an unbelievable made to order omelet bar. My kids are usually very picky with their food but you would have never guessed it. They munched on Mickey Mouse shaped waffles, pancakes , fresh fruit and muffins.

The food was exceptionaly good, however,what really made this a magical experience was the character interaction. My kiddos love Lilo and Stitch and were beyond excited to spend one on one time with them. Minnie and Goofy were a plus!! The atmosphere was really laid back and the characters were really able to spend time one on one with each of my kids. The characters posed for endless pictures with the family and interacted with each of the kids. My son loved high fiving Stitch and my daughter loved dancing with Lilo. The highlight of the breakfast for my kids would hands down be spending time with their favorite characters and learning how to hula. Every half hour there are hula lessons given by Lilo and a cast member . The Hula dancing was a HUGE hit with the kiddos. They loved learning the steps and loved participating in the conga line through the restaurant. The experience was finished off with cast members and Lilo singing Happy Birthday to the birthday girl.

We had a fantastic time and I would hands down recommend this to Everyone!! It is definitely worth the price and perfect for a birthday celebration, an out of town visit or a special occasion. This year we decided to skip a pricey birthday party and instead opted for what turned out to be a memorable time for the entire family. My daughter and son were grinning from ear to ear the whole time. It was a truly magical experience and one that won't soon be forgotten. It was priceless. Now down to the nitty gritty. The grand total for our magical experience was $60.00 and that included tip!!! Our son who is two was free and we received a 15% discount with our annual pass. The best part is the parking. Just drive up to the entrance and valet- you receive complimentary valet if you dine at the PCH grill for 5 hours! I believe the price for ages 10+ is $27.00 and $15.00 for children 3-9. This includes tax and gratuity. The Aloha Breakfast is a great alternative to a traditional birthday party and one that your family won't soon forget. For additional information click here.

Princess Dot Puddle Park and Irrigation Station

We have annual passes for Disney and I like to take full advantage by trying to visit at least once a week. My husband has had passes for over 20 years and I've had one for about 10 years. It's funny how there are many things that one can overlook until you become a parent. One of the areas I always bypassed at California Adventure until I became a Mom was Bug's Land and Flick's Fun Fair. What a difference a couple of years make!! It has become a family favorite and a must visit when we head over to California Adventure.

When we visited last week, my children begged to play in the water area at Flik's Fun Fair, Princess Dot's Puddle Park. I was not prepared at all to let them get soaked but I let them anyway. They had such a great time and I know that we will back this summer often to cool off. There is also another spray area at the entrance to Bug's Land and adjacent to Bountiful Farms that was also a big hit with my kiddos. I believe it's known as the "irrigation station". It is seriously fun and my kids were squealing in delight. The kids had a great time and I'm excited that I won't have to spend money on a pool membership or water park when I can just make the most of my passes and have the kids splash around at California Adventure. I now know to be prepared and bring a couple of towels, sunscreen, bathing suits and a change of clothes. If you are an annual passholder or will be making a trip to California Adventure soon, make sure to take advantage of the water areas with your little ones. They are going to love it!!

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

If you have a little princess or you are a princess at heart, you might want to check out the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland. This is found where the former princess shop was located. Some of you may even remember it as the Tinkerbell Toy Shoppe. There are three options for girls and one for boys:

• The Coach Package – for $44.95 plus tax, includes hairstyle, shimmering make-up, princess sash, princess cinch sac and body jewels.
• The Crown Package – for $49.94, includes everything in the Coach Package, as well as nail polish.
• The Castle Package – ranging from $195.85 to $205.85, includes everything in the Crown Package as well as princess gown of choice, wand, shoes and portrait package courtesy of Disney's PhotoPass® Service. The price range varies and is determined by the gown and shoes chosen.
• The Knight package for boys is $12.95 and includes a costume shield and sword, plus a hairstyle with colored hair gel and confetti.

AP Appreciation Days in DTD

Step into Spring with Special Savings and Offers!

April 19 –25, 2009, take advantage of shopping opportunities and savings at participating Downtown Disney®District locations including World of Disney® Store, Disney Vault 28, Marceline's Confectionery as well as special offerings at Build-A-Bear Workshop®, House of Blues®, Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, Rainforest Café®, Pearl Factory, and more.

This offer includes the following:

• 20% off for ALL Annual Passholders at the World of Disney store, Disney Vault 28 and Marceline’s Confectionery.
• Special "Early Shopping Opportunity" with "Doorbusters" on April 19 & 20.
• 20% off lunch or dinner at the House of Blues
• Private wine and cheese tasting event at Naples on April 22. ($20 per person)
• Free all-day parking in Downtown Disney April 20-23 with meal purchase at a participating location.

Annual Passholder Appreciation Days offers are only available from April 19 –25, 2009 (unless otherwise noted above) at the listed locations. Merchandise offers valid while supplies last. Offers not valid on any previous purchases nor for phone, e-mail or mail orders. Valid Annual Passport must be presented at time of purchase. Separate admission required to enter Disneyland® Resort theme parks. Other restrictions may apply. Information subject to change without notice For additional information visit the special offers page of www.Disneyland.com/AP or www.ArtofDisneyParks.com.

Celebrate: A Street Party

In this year of Disney celebrations, their new parade-esque show will be unveiled this week.

Celebrate: A Street Party, the new don't-call-it-a-parade that will make its debut this Friday, March 27th at Disneyland. This show/street party/cavalcade/street-acular will be presented daily at 3:30pm and 6:30pm through April 19th.

Starting April 20th, Celebrate: A Street Party is scheduled once daily (7:00pm) Monday - Thursday, and twice daily (3:30pm and 6:30pm) Friday - Sunday, through at least the end of May.

We'll be there this weekend to check it out.

Small World Fans!

it's a small world
ANNUAL PASSHOLDER PREVIEW

Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders are invited to preview the newly enhanced "it's a small world" on February 5. From Disneyland's Annual Passholder website:

Preview the Enhanced "it's a small world"!

Join us for a special preview of the newly enhanced "it's a small world" before the official reopening! Dubbed "the happiest cruise that ever sailed the world" at the New York World's Fair 45 years ago, "it's a small world" takes you on a joyful boat ride as memorable as the delightful song that serenades you on your journey.

This classic attraction has been renovated, adding new places as well as familiar faces. Be sure to look for some of the "it's a small world" dolls dressed up as some of your favorite Disney characters in the countries where those stories take place!
Annual Passholder special preview:

Thursday, February 5, 2009
10:00am - 8:00pm
Just show your Annual Pass to the Cast Member at the attraction entrance to be permitted entry during this special time.

The attraction opens to the public on Friday, February 6, 2009.

Previews are on a first-come, first-serve basis and may involve long wait times. Each Guest must show a valid Annual Passport to be permitted entry during this specific preview time. Valid Theme Park admission is required. Event subject to change without notice.

Toy Story Midway Mania

Over at California Adventure, you can find Toy Story Midway Mania, the newest attraction to the park. It is a 3-D dark ride that is fun for all ages. It is interactive and allows you to play midway-style games for points. Riders sit four to a car, two per row. We were able to ride this with our 2 and 3 year old children without any problem. My 2 year old was not really able to work the pull-string firing mechanism, but he enjoyed seeing the Toy Story characters, which is currently his favorite movie.

Since the ride is so new, the line for this can be pretty long, but it moves at a good pace. It is definitely a must-see when you visit the park.