Disneyland Hotel

New and Improved!

Usually this just means new packaging. We're often sold on things that are new and improved that are nothing more than a shining up of the previous product. I should note that I am calling Disneyland Hotel "New and Improved" on my own. To my knowledge Disney themselves haven't referred to it that way. They will tell you they are a AAA 4-Diamond Award Hotel though... Which I would too, I suppose...

However, in the case of Disneyland Hotel it truly is new and improved with the same charm we've always known it to have. Disney truly went in and updated this hotel while maintaining the classic feel.

Disneyland Hotel has undergone major renovations this past few years. From the rooms, to new Suites and the pool. With very few exceptions, the new Disneyland Resort is fresh, fun and a blast to stay at. The first night we stayed in the room, my then 5 year old son went on a exploration of the room and found that when he turned a specific switch on the nightstand the mural on the wall behind us lit up with fireworks. Not only did this surprise us but he found that he could also make music play for us to go to sleep to, not that we could go to sleep after discovering this magic. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that we stayed up another hour to play with the fireworks and music. I'm not telling you the song that plays because you need to be surprised too!

One of the best parts of the hotel for any fan of Disney is the amount of history contained inside. This hotel has touches of Disney Magic and History everywhere. From replica's of long forgotten rides and attractions, to furnishings and paintings. Each 

Tower is fashioned after a different Area of the 

Park, with Adventure, Fantasy and Frontier

Towers.

The pool area has been revamped as well. From one pretty decent pool to 3 pools with bridges, rivers and more...  Check out the nod to history with the E-Ticket on the pool edge! Remember those? You needed them to ride the best rides at one time.

Here you can see the bridge overlooking E-Ticket pool to D-Ticket Pool. You can't see it in the back but Monorail pool is back there too. The Monorail pool features two water slides! So much fun for everyone.

 Disneyland Hotel Pools at night!

So much to see and do just at the Disneyland Hotel. It's a wonder you ever make it to the parks. There is also a great place to hang out by the fire in Trader Sam's - Enchanted Tiki Bar. There are new restaurants and great shopping boutiques. 

I highly recommend the Disneyland Hotel. Just as much as I'd recommend Grand California Hotel and Spa to be honest. Disneyland Hotel character dining room too! Hit up Goofy's Kitchen for a breakfast buffet and chill with a lot of your Disney friends. Or stop by and get some coffee at The Coffee House. Overall there are 5 restaurants and food service options in the Disneyland Hotel. Check them all out!

There are also some amazingly cool Signature Suites. I'll get to those in another post, but goodness, who doesn't want to stay in the Pirates of the Caribbean room? I know I do!! 

I hope you find this information helpful and fun.

To find out more about me please visit my profile page: DisneyDan

Daniel Mullarkey

Daniel@destinationsinflorida.com

Disney World, Disney Cruise, Disneyland, Disney Hawaii, and Adventures by Disney Specialist

Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure Specialist

Orlando Travel Consultant

Southern California Travel Consultant

Destinations in Florida Travel is your PremEAR Disney World and Orlando Vacation Planners – Top 2009 Disney Destinations Sales Performer and 2010 & 2011 Universal Studios Travel Agency Partner of the Year

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Hidden Mickeys!

What is a Hidden Mickey???

Yeah, you've heard Hidden Mickey's before, right? Of course you have... Almost everyone has heard of them... But do you know what they are? Really? Wait, you haven't heard of them?? Well let's talk about them. If you have questions, hit me up at the email below!

I always think of Hidden Mickey's as those ones that aren't just decoration. What do I mean by that you ask? Well when I see Mickey's head at the top of a signpost or lamp pole, I don't call those Hidden Mickeys. What's hidden about those? This is just my opinion and I know lots of people who call these Hidden Mickey's and hey there's no prize at the end of the day so call them what you want! Well I suppose there is a prize of sorts, finding ones that perhaps most people haven't seen.

Here's one that most people haven't seen. Have you? It's the biggest Hidden Mickey at Disneyland? Probably not if you haven't viewed it from above...  Special thanks to 'Finding Mickey' for sharing this image.

Now that's a HIDDEN MICKEY! You can see the outline of his head in the Round Flower Boxes and the sidewalks outlining them. 

Here's another super hard to find one, also thanks to Finding Mickey!

This one is found in the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure, near a Pillar between Daisy 3A and 3B.  Good Luck finding it!! Leave me a comment if you see it, or post a picture to my Facebook page - Daniel - Agent with Destinations in Florida.

One More for fun from Finding Mickey! This site has some amazing ones that I had never seen before. He also has a Hidden Mickey hunt. I highly recommend printing it out before heading to the parks if you want to track some down.

Hidden Mickey's are one of the special touches that Disney brings to the parks. It doesn't cost anything extra, if you don't go looking for them you don't miss out on anything. But you can add to the already amazing time you're having in Disney with a hunt for these. I personally don't spend a lot of time looking. I just take in everything around me as I'm walking and am trying to look everywhere at once. That's usually when I find them. If I'm intently looking I never ever see them. Ahh, such is life and the tomfoolery of our brains.

So no, I'm not going to tell you where they all are... What fun would that be? Not to mention how long would this post be? If you really want to find the most, there are a number of books available to help you on your way. Or visit Finding Mickey.

I'm simply pointing out to you what to look for. Hidden Mickey's are all over and if you train your eye to spot them, you will find them popping out at you. Here's one more that I think is on the border of being hidden, but for you new Hidden Mickey Hunters it's a great way to start:

One at top and one at bottom. Etched into the design of the border. And those my fellow Disney fans are Hidden Mickeys...

So my question to you all is Are you ready to go on a Mickey Hunt? Leave me a comment with the your most proud Hidden Mickey find! I'd love to hear about it or even see it if you have a picture. Remember post them to my Facebook page! 

FYI: Please know I hold other blogs in the highest regard and only want to give credit where due. Please visit HiddenMickey.com for more great pictures and information. However, don't use it to cheat, but go and print out their checklist and go hunting!!

I hope you find this information helpful and fun.

To find out more about me please visit my profile page: DisneyDan

Daniel Mullarkey

Daniel@destinationsinflorida.com

Disney World, Disney Cruise, Disneyland, Disney Hawaii, and Adventures by Disney Specialist

Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure Specialist

Orlando Travel Consultant

Southern California Travel Consultant

Destinations in Florida Travel is your PremEAR Disney World and Orlando Vacation Planners – Top 2009 Disney Destinations Sales Performer and 2010 & 2011 Universal Studios Travel Agency Partner of the Year

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DisneyDaniel's Must Do's at California Adventure

Now I'm Going to California Adventure!

I always save California Adventure for Day 2. I mean, who doesn't? Disneyland is the original and still the best place to start, and end...  Yeah okay, you caught me. I always do a 3 (or more) day park hopper for Disneyland. This way I do a full day at each park and split the 3rd day between the two. 

So you've gone to Disneyland, you've listened to my sage advice and riden all the best rides, seen the best shows, and all that Disneyland has to offer. And of course you ate at Blue Bayou, right? right? I mean, I kinda stressed it in my last posting didn't I? 

So here you are at California Adventure... Now What? What do I do now DisneyDaniel? 

You've stepped onto Buena Vista Street, circa 1923. I suggest this time you do go slowly down Buena Vista Street. Check it out, especially Trolley Treats. I love this store for a few reasons... I mean, it's got candy, chocolate, fudge, plus delicious caramel apples! While you're there make sure you stop and take in the window display. It features a mountain that was designed in 1957 to be a part of Frontierland. The mountain was to be named "Rock Candy Mountain".

Once you've taken in Buena Vista Street I always head to get Fast Passes for "World of Color". This is another one of those can't miss shows that is so much better when you can get closer to the action. Although when you're further back you can still see much of the show.

Head off to Paradise Pier next. This is where I always start my rides. So what are the must do rides at California Adventure?

• California Screamin' (OF COURSE!) - FastPass
• Car's Land - YES ALL OF IT! Luigi's Flying Tires, Maters Junkyard Jamboree, Radiator Springs Racers (FP) and more
• Toy Story Mania
• Red Car Trolley
• Muppet Vision 3D
• It's Tough to Be a Bug
• Disney's Aladin Musical Show
• Soarin' over California - FastPass
• Sorcerer's Workshop
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - FastPass
• Grizzly River Run - FastPass

Where Should we Eat?

• Ariel's Grotto - Even I love dining with Princesses...
• Pacific Wharf Cafe - Yummy sourdough clam chowder
• Clarabelle's Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
• Fairfax Market - Lots of healthy options
• Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
• Carthay Circle Restaurant

Much like Disneyland, I have to see World of Color prior to feeling complete. This is an amazing show. The amount of work done, as well as the creativeness is captivating. The downside to the World of Color is that it was added after the park was opened. So with this it wasn't planned for with a good viewing area. So you must get there early to get close enough to see the whole show. Don't forget, you can get a FastPass at the beginning of the day near Grizzle River Run! I highly recommend getting the FastPass and getting to the show early.

After World of Color, head back to Buena Vista Street and get yourself some souvenirs. Before going back to your Disneyland Resort Hotel or your Good Neighbor Hotel.

There are of course many many many more things to do at California Adventure, however this list is simply DisneyDaniel's MUST DO's!

I hope you find this information helpful. To find out more about me please visit my profile page here:  DisneyDan 

Daniel Mullarkey

daniel@destinationsinflorida.com

Disney World, Disney Cruise, Disneyland, Disney Hawaii, and Adventures by Disney Specialist 
Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure Specialist
Orlando Travel Consultant

Destinations in Florida Travel is your PremEAR Disney World and Orlando Vacation Planners - Top 2009 Disney Destinations Sales Performer and 2010 & 2011 Universal Studios Travel Agency Partner of the Year

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Jakob Tries Blogging

My 7-year-old Son's Disney Writing

Disney   land  and  world

Disney  land   is   a   plase  ware   kids  get  to  dance  sing  laff   

And  the   most   in   portat  thing

Is  thet  your    with   your  family   and

You  get   to  share      and  smile  and   you  mite  be  scared

Or  not be scared    the  end

Dad Translates: 

Disneyland and World

Disneyland is a place where kids get to dance, sing, laugh

And the most important thing

Is that you're with you family and

You get to share and smile and you might be scared

or not be scared.  The End.

Visit his whole new blog as well at: www.jakobsparky.blogspot.com 

I hope you find this information fun.

Daniel Mullarkey

daniel@destinationsinflorida.com

What Age is okay for Disneyland?

3 Year Old at Disneyland?

As you might have guessed, we love Disneyland! So it was with trepidation that we discussed taking our toddler son with us right after his 3rd birthday. However, we were feeling slightly guilty over the number of trips we'd taken since his birth to Disneyland without him. So we said Hakuna Matata and off we went. This was an especially fun trip as my Sister in law, her husband and our 6 year old niece, who were visiting from Sweden, were with us making a fantastic extended family trip. 

I know many, many new parents have asked me what the right age to visit Disneyland is. I'm not fully sure there's a great answer to this question. Before going we felt 3 may have been too young. In some ways we were right but mostly we were wonderfully surprised at his enjoyment, wonder and curiosity over the whole magical experience. Were there moments of time that we wanted to rip our hair out, yeah... Quite a few moments. Were there just as many, if not more moments of looking at each other with pride in our kid who was loving Disney as much as we were...  Absolutely.

Top Reasons to bring your toddler to Disneyland:

• You will experience Disney anew through them
• Starstruck look when seeing Mickey live for the first time
• Raising your hero status to unprecedented levels
• Magical Memories 
• They find everything to be curiosier and curiosier
• You will see parts of Disneyland you didn't even know existed 
• Finding that ride that makes them giggle uncontrollably

Top Reasons NOT to bring your toddler to Disneyland:

• They will lick EVERYTHING... Including the chains separating lines
• They want EVERYTHING... Including bringing Mickey home
• They eat EVERYTHING... If it's a treat, they will eat it
• They will cry about EVERYTHING... you will never go the right way, ever
• They want to do EVERYTHING... Right NOW!

Those are my tips on bring toddler's to Disneyland. You're now on your own. Watch your kids around Captain Hook though. Good Luck!

I hope you find this information helpful. To find out more about me please visit my profile page here:  DisneyDan 

Contact DisneyDaniel today to book your First, Next or Best Disney Vacation!

Daniel is a self-proclaimed Disney Geek, Disney Vacation Planner and a Disneyland Specialist. When he’s not adding to the plethora of Disney Trivia in his head, you can find DisneyDaniel on his Facebook Page, follow him on Twitter or shoot him an email at: Daniel@destinationsinflorida.com

Disney World, Disney Cruise, Disneyland, Disney Hawaii, and Adventures by Disney Specialist

Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure Specialist

Orlando Travel Consultant

Southern California Travel Consultant

Destinations in Florida Travel is your PremEAR Disney World and Orlando Vacation Planners – Top 2009 Disney Destinations Sales Performer and 2010 & 2011 Universal Studios Travel Agency Partner of the Year