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.