Lindsay Brookshier, Author at Ultimate Disneyland Guide: MickeyVisit.com

About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay has blogging experience through various nonprofits, charities, and online magazines. She has blogged for Stupid Cancer, First Descents, and Healthiest Manitowoc County. In addition to writing for Mickey Visit and Disney Dose, she also writes for the online magazine Colorado Culture. She is an English instructor at Colorado State University and enjoys teaching a variety of composition classes. In regards to Disney, she has been obsessed since childhood! Lindsay has been going to the parks since she was little and started carrying on that yearly tradition with her son. She keeps up to date on all the latest Disney news, park trends, and every new Disney movie. As the editor of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disneyland trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and writing Disney culture pieces on DisneyDose.com.

by Lindsay Brookshier November 13, 2018 0

Universal Orlando at Christmas: Everything You Need to Know 2018

Updated 11/13/18. The holidays at Universal Orlando offers plenty to see and do in terms of entertainment, activities, and seasonal decor. Experience an Universal Orlando Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, meet the Grinch during the celebration in Whoville, and enjoy the Universal Holiday parade.

Save on your stay! Discount Universal Orlando Tickets + Hotel! Start preparing now for your Florida vacation and book your hotel with the best prices! Get special Universal Orlando discount tickets when you book a tickets hotel combo. Make sure you are getting the best deal for your vacation! Book now >

Universal Orlando focuses their Christmas time festivities in two main themes: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas. Along with these two main themes, you can also see holiday decor throughout the park from the festive decorations to characters wearing Santa hats! Seasonal food is also in abundance, especially in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And don’t forget, the Universal Holiday parade featuring Macy’s.

Need a refresher on everything Universal Orlando has to offer? Make sure to check out our full guide with tips on how to get discount tickets, what rides are offered, and a complete touring strategy.

Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter takes place for Universal Orlando Christmas from November 17th- January 6th. These areas are decked out to its full holiday best and definitely should make the top of your list!

The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle in Hogsmeade

This show debuted in 2017 and it’s back for the 2018 holiday season at Hosmeade in Universal’s lslands of Adventure!

The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle includes lights, music, and projections on the castle of Hogwarts which makes for a stunning display.

Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Orlando app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee. Typically, the Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle show will begin in the evening and run every 30 minutes until park close. But on nights that the park closes early, there may only be one show. Make sure you find out the time in advance so you don’t miss it for your Universal Orlando Christmas!

Holiday Frog Choir in Hogsmeade

Listen to some holiday songs from the choir of Hogwarts students and their croaking frogs at Hosmeade in Universal’s lslands of Adventure!

Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Orlando app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee.

Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees

King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios Florida features performances from Molly Weasley’s favorite singer- Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. The show features favorites you may reognize right from the pages of Harry Potter including ‘A Cauldron Full Of Hot, Strong Love’, ‘You Stole My Cauldron But You Can’t Have My Heart’, and ‘You Charmed The Heart Right Out Of Me’.

Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Orlando app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee.

Universal Orlando Christmas Seasonal Food

In the Harry Potter books, Harry and his friends enjoy a grand holiday feast at Hogwarts with all the fixings,

“Harry had never in all his life had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce — and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table…“

The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure offers a full holiday feast as a nod towards the Christmas dinner feast held at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. The 2017 Holiday Feast included a few courses such as butternut squash soup, beef wellington, oven roast turkey, sweet potato, dried cherries, and winter vegetables. We expect the 2018 offering of a traditional English dinner to be just as delicious!

You can also find a variety of holiday sweets and seasonal drinks, such as warm butterbeer, around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Christmas time.

Holiday Shopping at Universal Orlando Christmas

Picture via Los Angeles Daily News

Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley offer a variety of amazing shops straight out of the pages of the Harry Potter series. You can expect these stores to put out all the stops when it comes to serving your holiday shopping needs.

The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Universal’s Islands of Adventure also holds a celebration of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Seuss Landing with popular characters from the movie ready to share their Wholiday with your family for your Universal Orlando Christmas.

The Who-tacular festivities with The Grinch, Max and all of Who-ville takes place November 17th – January 6th.

Meet the Grinch in Seuss Landing

Meet Grinch and Max in Seuss Landing and snap a picture with this dynamic duo.

Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Orlando app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee.

Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular during Universal Orlando Christmas

Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular at Islands of Adventure is the main show for entertainment during Grinchmas. The show stars the Grinch in the telling of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The show also features the spirited cast of Who-ville citizens and music recorded by Mannheim Steamroller. Make sure to get there early so you can get good seats- seats are first come, first serve. And no, you can’t use your Express Pass here to get seats!

Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Orlando app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee.

The Grinch and Friends Character Breakfast

You can also enjoy a mischievous breakfast with the Grinch himself during your Universal Orlando Christmas experience! As you eat, the Grinch will come around stealing bacon (sassy Grinch) and posing for photos.

This breakfast requires advance reservations and tends to sell out quickly. Make your reservation here.

Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida

Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s is a must see for your Universal Orlando Christmas. The parade features favorites such as the Minions, Santa Clause, characters from Madagascar and Shrek.

Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Orlando app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee.

Mannheim Steamroller at Universal Studios Florida

Mannheim Steamroller, the best-selling holiday artist of all time, visits Universal Studios Florida for live performances.

Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Orlando app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee.

Christmas Time at Universal Orlando

Between Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the Universal Holiday Parade, and Grinchmas, there will be plenty of holiday entertainment to keep you busy.

Throughout the parks you will notice seasonal holiday decor, characters such as the beloved Minions in Christmas hats and festive outfits, and a variety of Christmas treats and souvenirs.

Since this time of year tends to be crowded, we have some additional tips and tricks to keep in mind for this holiday season as you enjoy your Universal Orlando Christmas:

Arrive early- at least 30 minutes before the park opens. Not as many people do this at Universal Orlando as they do at Walt Disney World, you will be one of the first ones in if you come early!
If you have the extra funds and want to cut ahead the crowds, consider purchasing an Express Pass so you can get to the front of the lines quicker.
Plan ahead– know the park hours, entertainment schedule, and want you want to do first.
If meeting the Grinch is at the top of your list, go there in the morning before the lines get long in the afternoon.
When there are more than one Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle show, see the later timed one for lower crowd levels.
Stay until the park closes– especially if you only have one day to spend.
Consider staying at an Universal hotel to get early entry.
Get spots early for the Universal Holiday Parade and the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular.
Dress in layers– it can get chilly once the sun goes down!
And don’t miss out on trying some warm holiday Butterbeer!

Plan Your Universal Orlando Vacation Today!

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by Lindsay Brookshier November 8, 2018 0

Christmas Time: Disneyland Touring Strategy to Maximize Time and Experience the Magic

Updated 11/8/18. Christmas Time at the Disneyland Resort is one of the most magical times of year to visit the park. The holiday decor at Disneyland and California Adventure is breathtaking. The holidays at Disneyland tend to be crowded so we recommend using our Christmas time Disneyland strategy to get you through the day.

As always, we at Mickey Visit recommend planning your day in advance to avoid feeling overwhelmed (especially for Disneyland first timers!) at the parks.

There are a few basics that are essential to becoming familiar with in order to best use your time at the Disneyland Resort. This is especially important when you’re visiting during a seasonal celebration and the crowds may be higher than usual.

Save on your stay! Disneyland COMBO Hotel + Ticket Discounts Save big when you book your Disneyland tickets and hotel through our recommended travel sponsor (they have worked with Disney for 28 years). Make sure you are getting the best deal for your summer vacation! Book now >

Disneyland App To Jumpstart Your Day

Disneyland has an app that you can download for either Android or iPhone that will give you the most accurate wait times for rides. This app is a must have for anyone visiting Disneyland. You can link your park tickets to it, make dining reservations, use the mobile food ordering feature, link your PhotoPass tickets, and book FastPasses with MaxPass!

Pro tip: download this app PRIOR to your trip and become familiar with it. This way when you show up to the gates you are already a pro at using the app. Take a look at the layout of each park on the app so you have a rough idea of where you are going once you enter!

Christmas Time Disneyland Strategy FastPass

We have written an ultimate guide to using FastPass at the Disneyland Resort. This is definitely a must read for first time guests. Check out our guide here. FastPasses give you a return window to come ride the attraction later to help avoid guests waiting for hours in the standby line. Be sure to be familiar with FastPass because they are essential for having a smooth start at either park! Some FastPasses go quicker than others due to the popularity of the ride so that is why it is so important to grab them in the morning. Fastpasses are essential to this Halloween Time Disneyland strategy!

Pro tip: check out the list of attractions that offer FastPass and see which ones are your group’s top must sees. Make those your priority in the morning!

Disneyland MaxPass Strategy

Disney released a mobile version of the FastPass system called MaxPass in Summer 2017. MaxPass, unlike FastPass, isn’t a free feature and costs $10 per person per day. Depending on the size of your group, this feasibly may not be an option. But it is a great feature that makes touring the parks a breeze.

MaxPass allows you to book FastPasses from your mobile device so it saves you a walk across the park. This not only helps you grab FastPasses efficiently but it also helps save energy! MaxPass also comes with unlimited PhotoPass downloads for the day which is a great additional feature. If you only have one day in the parks, MaxPass is highly recommended for your group.

Doing Disneyland Rope Drop Right

Thirty minutes before park opening, cast members will begin letting guests into the parks. This helps control the flow of crowds and it can be a huge advantage for morning park visitors! There will be ropes (guarded by cast members) that block off access points of the lands until the official park opening time. Being one of the first groups positioned at those ropes can be a huge advantage for your morning strategy for Disneyland! You can also begin booking MaxPass once you enter the gates so this is also a great plus for groups that plan on purchasing MaxPass. To be there at Rope Drop plan to arrive at least one hour prior to the park opening.

Pro tip: Grab breakfast to go and eat while you’re waiting to be let in through the turnstiles. This will help keep adults happy and kids occupied during that early morning wait time. We always recommend either eating here or at your Disneyland hotel.

Popular Holiday Seasonal Attractions in Our Christmas Time Disneyland strategy

There are four rides at the Disneyland Resort that get the Christmas Time seasonal treatment which are definitely worth centering your day around. These attractions become even more popular than usual during these holiday overlays so our Christmas Time Disneyland strategy prioritizes these attractions so you don’t miss out!

Haunted Mansion Holiday
- The Haunted Mansion gets a makeover inspired by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Be prepared to experience decor courtesy of Jack Skellington such as jack o’ lanterns and wreaths, terrifying toys, and a spooky scented gingerbread house! Sally and Oogie Boogie are also on hand to wish you “Season’s Screamings!”
“it’s a small world” Holiday
- Enjoy it’s a small world with a holiday makeover including regional decorations and holiday songs!
- Check the schedule to watch the “it’s a small world” holiday lighting and projection show that takes place every evening usually at 5:15PM.
Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl
- Luigi and Guido celebrate Christmas with seasonal tunes and festive holiday decor.
Mater’s Jingle Jamboree
- Don’t miss Mater’s Christmas celebration in his lit up holiday junkyard!

The Best Christmas Time Disneyland Strategy

Now let’s take a look at our Christmas Time Disneyland strategy to help you experience all the Christmas magic at Disneyland! We prioritized the Christmas themed entertainment and attractions combined with popular rides to get the most of out of your day.

Grab Haunted Mansion Holiday FastPass with MaxPass when you enter the park.
If you plan on getting one of the coveted Candy Canes and you’re there on one of the selected dates- then you should go straight to Candy Palace to line up for your candy cane. If you’re not interested, then skip this step.
Get your picture in front of the Christmas Tree on Main Street (We recommend doing this in the morning for a few reasons: you’re fresh and looking your best, the line will be short, and it’s right on your way as you make it down Main Street)
Line up by the rope drop facing Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
Ride Peter Pan. (This ride is one of the most popular attractions in Fantasyland. The downside of that is the ride is slow loading and the lines for this ride move slowly as a result. If you are present at Rope Drop, line up facing Sleeping Beauty’s castle. The entrance to Peter Pan will be on the right once you walk through the castle. Walk as quickly (no running, Disney rules!) as you can to snag a place in line. If you are not present at Rope Drop, save this ride for the evening rather than spend precious morning hours waiting in this line.)
Ride Haunted Mansion Holiday with FastPass.
Grab Star Tours FastPass with MaxPass.
Ride Pirates of the Caribbean.
Ride Indiana Jones Adventure. (Skip this and come back later with a FastPass if the wait time is longer than 20 minutes)
Ride “it’s a small world” Holiday.
Ride Star Tours-The Adventure Continues with FastPass.
Grab Space Mountain FastPass with MaxPass.
Ride Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.
Ride Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
Ride Autopia.
Ride Space Mountain with FastPass.
Grab Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FastPass with MaxPass
Ride Astro Orbiter. (Skip if the wait is over 20 minutes and come back in the evening)
Ride Jungle Cruise.
Ride Splash Mountain (The earlier you ride- the shorter the standby line will be. If you’re worried about getting wet, wear ponchos! You can get them at the Dollar Store for a buck! If the line is over 20 minutes, skip and come back later with a FastPass.)
Ride The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with FastPass.
Break for lunch.
Make a plan to see the The Christmas Fantasy Parade at either 3:30PM or 6PM in Disneyland.
If meeting Santa is on your list, you can see him in Critter Country in Disneyland or at Redwood Creek Challenge in California Adventure.
It’s up to you how you plan on spending the rest of the afternoon, you could stay in Disneyland and tackle low wait time rides in ToonTown and Fantasyland or you can cruise over to California Adventure right away.
At California Adventure, make sure to take the time to go to Cars Land and see the Christmas decorations and themed attractions such as Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree. While in California Adventure, take the time to visit the Festival of Holidays.
Regardless of your afternoon plan, make sure you continue grabbing those FastPasses throughout the day and make a plan to see the Believe…In Holiday Magic Fireworks at Disneyland at 9:30PM.

If a ride on this list offers FastPass and has a standby time of over 20 minutes, I recommend skipping it and moving to the next one in the Christmas Time Disneyland strategy. You can always catch it later with a FastPass- don’t waste precious morning time standing in long standby lines.

Adjust the Christmas Time Disneyland strategy as needed if there’s attractions you want to skip or others you want to prioritize. The biggest thing is to get there early and tackle those high wait rides early in the day before the crowds come.

Pro tip: You can cancel FastPasses after you’ve booked them with MaxPass using the Disneyland app. This way, if you have a current FastPass and notice you need to abandon that one and grab one for a favorite ride that’s at risk for running out- you can cancel the existing one so you’re free to grab you a different FastPass.

More Disneyland Planning Tips

There is always a lot of information to consider before planning an Disneyland vacation. Make sure to spend time planning your days in the theme parks and become familiar with everything Disneyland has to offer. Don’t forget to subscribe to our FREE Deals Newsletter to stay on top of the current planning tips, strategies, and deals.

You can discover more about planning your trip to Disneyland from these links:

by Lindsay Brookshier November 6, 2018 0

Your Guide to Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World for a Fantastic Holiday

Updated 11/4/18. If you plan on experiencing Thanksgiving at Disney World, you have many options at your fingertips. One important thing to figure out, as far in advance as possible, is where you plan to eat that day.

Thanksgiving crowds, like most holidays, tend to be large and arriving with a solid strategy is the best way to prepare for these crowds.

If you are looking for an elaborate Thanksgiving experience like only Disney could provide, there are multiple Disney World restaurants offering Thanksgiving day meals.

Or you can just simply make a dining reservation at any of the table service restaurants inside the parks.

Regardless of your choice, our guide to Thanksgiving at Disney World is here to help you plan your day so you can enjoy this holiday at one of the greatest American traditions around.

Disney World Thanksgiving Meals

There are a variety of restaurants in Disney World that offer a traditional Thanksgiving meal for you to choose from. These Thanksgiving feasts are available at these Disney dining locations:

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Lunch and dinner
Biergarten Restaurant – Lunch and dinner
Coral Reef Restaurant – Lunch and dinner
Le Cellier Steakhouse – Lunch and dinner
Cape May Cafe – Dinner
Whispering Canyon Cafe – Lunch and dinner
California Grill – Dinner
Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room – Lunch and dinner
Sanaa – Lunch and dinner
Trail’s End Restaurant – Brunch and Dinner
Ale & Compass Restaurant – Brunch and dinner

Book your reservation ASAP so you don’t miss out on these popular Thanksgiving choices!

Top Five Tips to Enjoying Thanksgiving at Disney World

Showing up at the parks prepared and knowing what to expect is the best way to ensure a successful Thanksgiving at Disney World. Here are our top five tips to make sure you have the most magical Thanksgiving at Disney World ever.

1. Make Dining Reservations

If you plan on doing a Disney World Thanksgiving feast, then book your reservation as soon as possible. If you plan on going another route, it’s still crucial that you book a dining reservation in advance to ensure a low stress meal without having to worry about long waits for a table.

You can make your reservation up to 180 days in advance. If you decide you need to cancel, all you have to do is cancel within 24 hours to avoid being charged the $10 per person penalty fee. You can book dining reservations from the Disney Dining website or call (714) 781-DINE.

2. Show Up Early

We cannot stress this enough when you’re visiting the parks on a busy time of the year. Thanksgiving, like any other holiday, is a day you an expect large crowds. Who doesn’t want to spend a holiday at Disney World?

The best way to maximize your time is to arrive early. Make a plan to get up early, eat breakfast before you come, and arrive at the park gates an hour prior to official park opening.

Typically, they will begin letting people in the parks 15-30 minutes to the official opening which puts you in a great position to line up for Rope Drop. Before the official opening, the entrances to the lands are guarded with ropes and cast members. Being there early enough to make Rope Drop is a great way to be able to walk right on some of your favorite attractions. Don’t miss it!

3. Use A Touring Strategy/Plan Your Day

Using a touring strategy is the best way to maximize your time. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of what’s going on that you have a hard time deciding which ride to choose next. Those few moments of indecision and group discussion tend to take up valuable morning time when the lines are short.

If doing a touring plan isn’t your thing, at least make sure you have a general idea of which rides are your top priority so you can go to those first thing in the morning.

4. Book FastPass+ and Download the Disney World App

Through the use of FastPass+ you can minimize the amount of time you wait in line and maximize the amount of Walt Disney World rides, characters, and entertainment you experience. A FastPass+ is like getting a reservation for a particular time for Walt Disney World’s most popular attractions.

Using FastPass+ is even more crucial on holidays, check our extensive guide here to everything you need to know about FastPass+ at Disney World.

We suggest downloading the Disney app prior to your visit and becoming familiar with the app. Everything you need to know including ride wait times, character interactions, entertainment times, and more is on this app.

5. Be Patient and Thankful

And most of all, remember that it is Thanksgiving! Practice gratitude and patience in your day and you’ll be bound to have a pleasant experience.

Be thankful for your family, friends, or whoever else you are spending this wonderful experience of Thanksgiving at Disney World with. Be thankful that you are spending this day of gratitude and thanks at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

A crowded day at Disney World only becomes stressful when you let it- don’t let any crowds ruin your magical day. Take our advice, show up prepared, and be ready to give thanks.

Plan Your Thanksgiving at Disney World Today!

Let us help you plan your Disney World vacation! To get started, subscribe to our FREE deals newsletter for access to exclusive content and deals you won’t find anywhere else. Check it out HERE! Don’t forget to check out some of our other helpful planning guides:

by Lindsay Brookshier November 6, 2018 0

Universal Studios Hollywood at Christmas: Everything You Need to Know 2018

Updated 11/6/18. This holiday season, spend a day enjoying a Harry Potter or Grinch filled Universal Studios Christmas. The holidays at Universal Studios offers plenty to see and do in terms of entertainment, activities, and seasonal decor.

DON’T MISS THIS! Universal + Disney Combo Tickets There is no better deal than a combo Universal and Disneyland ticket. Save $40 per ticket when you book a combo ticket with one day at Universal and multiple days at Disneyland. Book now >

Universal Studios Hollywood focuses their Christmas time festivities in two main themes: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas. Along with these two main themes, you can also see holiday decor throughout the park from the festive decorations to characters wearing Santa hats! Seasonal food is also in abundance, especially in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Need a refresher on everything Universal Studios Hollywood has to offer? Make sure to check out our full guide with tips on how to get discount tickets, what rides are offered, and a complete touring strategy.

Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter takes place for Universal Studios Christmas from November 17th- January 6th. This area is decked out to its full holiday best and definitely should make the top of your list!

Universal Studios Christmas: Nightly Snowfall

This year you can now experience nightly snowfall in Hogsmeade for the first time! You can check the website for Universal Studios Christmas to check the times or you can ask the nearest park employee to ensure you don’t miss this new seasonal display.

The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle

This show debuted in 2017 and it’s back for the 2018 holiday season at Universal Studios Hollywood! The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle includes lights, music, and projections on the castle of Hogwarts which makes for a stunning display.

Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Studios app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee. Typically, the Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle show will begin in the evening and run every 30 minutes until park close. But on nights that the park closes early, there may only be one show. Make sure you find out the time in advance so you don’t miss it!

Holiday Frog Choir

Listen to some holiday songs from the choir of Hogwarts students and their croaking frogs! Check the entertainment schedule on the Universal Studios app for daily times or ask the nearest park employee.

Universal Studios Christmas Seasonal Food

In the Harry Potter books, Harry and his friends enjoy a grand holiday feast at Hogwarts with all the fixings,

“Harry had never in all his life had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce — and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table…“

The Three Broomsticks offers a full holiday feast as a nod towards the Christmas dinner feast held at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. The 2017 Holiday Feast included a few courses such as butternut squash soup, beef wellington, oven roast turkey, sweet potato, dried cherries, and winter vegetables. We expect the 2018 offering of a traditional English dinner to be just as delicious!

You can also find a variety of holiday sweets and seasonal drinks, such as warm butterbeer, around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Christmas time.

Holiday Shopping at Universal Studios Christmas

Picture via Los Angeles Daily News

Hogsmeade offers a variety of amazing shops straight out of the pages of the Harry Potter series. You can expect these stores to put out all the stops when it comes to serving your holiday shopping needs.

Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios also holds a celebration of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas with popular characters from the movie ready to share their Wholiday with your family. The Who-tacular festivities with The Grinch, Max and all of Who-ville takes place December 1, 2, 8, 9 and 14 – 30.

Meet the Grinch

Meet Grinch and Max in front of the Whoville Christmas tree and snap a picture with this dynamic duo. There are also ornaments and cookies to decorate while you wait to meet the Grinch! You can also enjoy a daily lighting of the 60 feet Seussian tree along with further photo opportunities.

Send the Grinch a Post Card

One of the most heartwarming parts of Grinchmas at Universal Studios is the Send a Grinch a Post Card. If you send the Grinch a postcard promising three good deeds, a book will be donated to a child in need courtesy of the Seuss family. Now that’s showing some real Whoville spirit!

Whoville Entertainment during Universal Studios Christmas

See a festive performance from Martha May Who-vier and the Who-dolls throughout the day which is sure to get you into the holiday Whoville spirit.

You can also listen to Cindy Lou Who read the story How the Grinch Stole Christmas and meet her afterwards during this Universal Studios Christmas celebration.

And wandering around the Whoville tree you can find other Whoville citizens singing, dancing, and greeting guests.

Check the Universal Studios app to see the current entertainment times for the day during your visit.

Christmas at Universal Studios Hollywood

Between Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas, there will be plenty of holiday entertainment to keep you busy.

Throughout the park you will notice seasonal holiday decor, characters such as the beloved Minions in Christmas hats and festive outfits, and a variety of Christmas treats and souvenirs.

When it comes to tips for navigating Universal Studios Hollywood during this busy time of year, we don’t vary too much from our usual strategy.

But we do have some additional tips and tricks to keep in mind for this busy holiday season:

Arrive early- at least 30 minutes before the park opens. Not as many people do this at Universal Studios as they do at Disneyland, you will be one of the first ones in if you come early!
If you have the extra funds and want to cut ahead the crowds, consider purchasing a Front of the Line pass so you can get to the front of the lines quicker.
Plan ahead– know the park hours, entertainment schedule, and want you want to do first.
If meeting the Grinch is at the top of your list, go there in the morning before the lines get long in the afternoon.
When there are more than one Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle show, see the later timed one for lower crowd levels.
Stay until the park closes– especially if you only have one day to spend.
If Santa is on your list, save him for after the park closes or another day since he’s only found in City Walk.
Consider staying at an Universal hotel to get early entry into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Dress in layers– it can get chilly once the sun goes down!
And don’t miss out on trying some warm holiday Butterbeer!

Plan your Universal Studios Hollywood trip now!

Now that you know how to make your Universal Studios Hollywood trip a memorable one, it’s the perfect time to book your tickets. Don’t forget to sign up for our Universal Studios discount newsletter so you have access to deals from our travel partners offered exclusively to our subscribers!

Dive deeper into our other Southern California travel articles:

by Lindsay Brookshier October 30, 2018 0

Discount SeaWorld Ticket Deals 2018: Get Cheap Tickets Here!

Updated 10/30/18. SeaWorld San Diego is a popular destination for many families visiting Southern California and there is no reason to pay full price on SeaWorld tickets. We broke down all the available SeaWorld San Diego discount tickets you can find so you can get the best deal for your vacation.

Save on your stay! Discount Tickets + Hotel! Start preparing now for your Southern California Vacation and book your hotel with the best prices! Get special SeaWorld discount tickets when you book a tickets hotel combo. Make sure you are getting the best deal for your summer vacation! Book now >

Directly from SeaWorld San Diego: Gate Admission Prices and Advance Tickets

At the gate you can expect to pay $89.99 per person for ages three and up.

Make sure to check their website for their most up to date promotion. Like with most theme parks, you will save money if you buy ahead of time instead of at the gate.

That’s why we recommend buying your tickets through Get Away Today so you are getting the best and most consistent prices for your SeaWorld San Diego discount tickets.

Single Day Ticket-Weekdays

When you book directly through SeaWorld’s website, single day weekday tickets (to be used Monday-Friday) start at $55 per ticket. Children two and under are free.

Single Day Ticket-Any Day

When you book directly through SeaWorld’s website, single day any day tickets (to be used any day) start at $70 per ticket. Children two and under are free.

2-Day Ticket

When you book directly through SeaWorld’s website, two day tickets (valid for two any day visits) start at $80 per ticket. Children two and under are free.

Single Day Ticket + Dining

Eat FREE all day when you visit SeaWorld San Diego. Get admission plus All-Day Dining for one price at participating restaurant locations. Ages three and up are $89.99 each.

Single Day Ticket + All Inclusive Experience

Get a single day admission plus all day dining, front of the line ride access, premier show seating, and souvenir photo. Ages three and up are $109.99 each.

How We Get Such Low Prices For SeaWorld San Diego Discount Tickets

We have found a Disney-approved ticket reseller that has partnered with us to offer exclusive discounts just for MickeyVisit.com readers.

The best discounts available for SeaWorld San Diego tickets are from the authorized ticket reseller, Get Away Today. Not only do they have better discounts than the other resellers, but the customer service and easy support is absolutely fantastic. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a 10/10 experience. When a customer shared that having tickets in advance would improve their experience, Get Away Today committed to physically sending the tickets to their guests so they can avoid the lines at the ticket booths.

To offer these discounts, Get Away Today purchases huge blocks of tickets and breaks them up to sell to guests.

Through our exclusive partnership, we are able to offer the lowest priced tickets. Check out the Get Away Today website for information on all ticket discounts. These discounts are exclusively available to Mickey Visit readers. You have to click through our private links to unlock exclusive access to these lower prices (if you just go directly to the Get Away Today website you will just see their normal prices).

After purchasing your tickets, you will either be emailed a receipt which you can take to any of the ticket booths to pick up your tickets or if you booked far enough out in advance, Get Away Today will send you your physical tickets so you can avoid a line picking up the tickets. The email with the voucher comes sometime in the 24 hours after you purchase your tickets. Book your tickets at least two days before your arrival to ensure that they are processed in time for the first day of your vacation and about a week before if you want your tickets to be sent to you without and overnight shipping cost.

SeaWorld Annual Pass

SeaWorld offers a variety of annual passes to choose from. If you live in Southern California or if you know you will be visiting SeaWorld more than five days a year- it’s a good decision to buy one of these passes.

SeaWorld 1-Year Annual Pass

$119.88 per pass or $9.99 per month for 12 months
Unlimited admission to SeaWorld with no block out dates.
Free general parking
Discounted tickets
Exclusive offers and events
In-park discounts on food, tours, shopping, and more.

SeaWorld + Aquatica 1-Year Annual Pass

$167.88 per pass or $13.99 per month for 12 months
Unlimited admission to SeaWorld including Aquatica with no block out dates
Free general parking
Discounted tickets
Exclusive offers and events
In-park discounts on food, tours, shopping, and more.

1 Year Platinum Pass

$203.88 per pass or $16.99 per month for 12 months
Unlimited admission to SeaWorld San Diego, Orlando and San Antonio; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Williamsburg; Aquatica San Diego, Orlando and San Antonio; Adventure Island; Water Country USA; and Sesame Place. No block out dates.
Free up close parking
One free guest ticket
Free reserved seating
Discounted tickets
Exclusive offers and events
In-park discounts on food, tours, shopping, and more.

SeaWorld San Diego Discount Tickets

There a variety of options to take advantage of for SeaWorld San Diego discount tickets. Here are all the SeaWorld San Diego discount tickets we could find to help you save money on your California vacation!

Go San Diego Cards

Go San Diego Cards are passes to explore theme parks, zoos, and other sites around Southern California. Costco online offers the most popular 2-day and 4-day passes.

The 2-Day card includes an all-inclusive visitor’s pass with admission to the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, LEGOLAND, and smaller tours, museums and more. Prices are $110.99 for adults and $94.99 for kids ages 3-12.

The 4-Day pass includes the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, LEGOLAND and again, some smaller venues. Adults are $209.99, and children are $182.99.

SeaWorld’s website offers the 3-Day pass starting at $209.99 for adults and $189.00 for children. The pass includes include SeaWorld, LEGOLAND California, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari Park Zoo, USS Midway Museum, Belmont Park, Birch Aquarium, Harbor Cruises, all Balboa Park museums and many more.

SOCAL City Pass

If you plan on hitting the Southern California theme parks BIG TIME, look into this pass which includes Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Parks 3-day hopper passes, one-day passes at SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND, and either San Diego Zoo or San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Prices tally in at $411 for adults and children (3-9) at $381.

You can get the SeaWorld San Diego Discount Ticketss via the CityPass by purchasing through our recommended discount travel provider. Buy NOW >

San Diego 3-For-1 Ticket

These passes include admission to SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park for one price. Valid for 1 visit to each participating park. All visits must take place within 7 days of first park visit. Prices for adults start at $149 and children for $139. Buy them on SeaWorld’s website here.

Military SeaWorld San Diego Discount Tickets

Active duty military personnel and Veterans can enjoy complimentary admission through SeaWorld’s Waves of Honor program.

AAA SeaWorld San Diego Discount Tickets

Often AAA will offer discount tickets to SeaWorld throughout the year.

Costco SeaWorld San Diego Discount Tickets

Costco often offers Southern California vacation packages and discount ticket options. Check Costco’s Travel website and search for “SeaWorld” to see if there are any current deals. Costco’s deals change often so it’s always good to keep checking back!

Teacher Fun Card

SeaWorld San Diego offers a complimentary Teacher Fun Card plus (2) free Single-Day Tickets to all active and certified K-12 California and Arizona credentialed school teachers.

Kids Free October Discount Tickets

Each year, San Diego attractions offer a KIDS FREE everything for the month of October. For SeaWorld San Diego, you will receive one free child ticket with the purchase of a full-price adult ticket.

LET US HELP YOU PLAN YOUR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VACATION!

The discounts extend not only to just to SeaWorld San Diego, but to many other Southern California theme parks and tourist attractions. Don’t forget to subscribe to our FREE Deals Newsletter to stay on top of the current planning tips, strategies, and deals.

by Lindsay Brookshier October 25, 2018 0

Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground: Review and Guide

Updated 10/25/18. During one of our recent trips to Disneyland, we stayed at one of Disneyland’s good neighbor hotels: the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground. Read on to find out more about the hotel and my honest thoughts in this Howard Johnson Anaheim review and guide after staying there on our vacation to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Save on your stay! Disneyland COMBO Hotel + Ticket Discounts Get the best price on your hotel and Disneyland tickets by checking out our travel partner. Save money better spent at the parks by saving money from the beginning on your tickets and hotel! Book now >

Overview of the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground

The Howard Johnson’s website lists their main facilities as including:

Mimi’s Cafe Restaurant
Complimentary iMac internet stations with printing
Complimentary Wi-Fi access in all rooms and public areas
Complimentary parking surrounding the entire property
24-hour front desk
Games room, featuring electronic games as well as some classics like Foosball & Air Hockey!
Two coin-operated Laundromats
Water & soft drink vending machines throughout the property
Convenient shuttle stop & waiting area for all airport, tour and resort trolley busses
The Garden Pool – A secluded swimming pool surrounded by gardens and mature trees.
Castaway Cove– a water playground with slides, pirate ship with water cannons, and toddler play area.
On-site convenient store.

Their standard room amenities include:

HBO, Disney Channel, Nick Jr, ESPN & Golf Channel
Keurig coffee/tea maker
Free Wi-Fi internet
Free laptop safe
Hair dryer
Disney theming
Mini-fridge & microwave
Iron & board
Netflix, Hulu & Pandora
Double pillow-top mattress

The benefit of booking with Get Away Today, like we did for this stay, was that Get Away Today guests can receive a free night with multiple nights at certain hotels. When we stayed at the Howard Johnson, we got our third night free.

So seriously, if you plan on visiting Disneyland, I can’t stress enough how much money Get Away Today can save you. We are typically a family that travels on a budget and anywhere we can save money is always appreciated.

Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground Review

Here is the full run down of my personal and honest experience with our stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground.

Check-In and Check-Out Process

The walkway from the lobby to the Castaway Cove playground (behind where I’m standing in this picture)

When we arrived at our hotel we were two hours early for our check-in time of 4PM. That was no problem at all and the friendly staff at the desk were able to check us in right away and give us our hotel key. This was a pleasant surprise as I was wondering if we’d have to store our luggage and kill time before check-in. Of course, early check-in is not guaranteed but it was a nice surprise.

I had requested a room with a pool side view through Get Away Today’s site and we were indeed in a room facing the Castaway Cove water playground. My son was ecstatic- I was not so ecstatic once I realized how loud that made our room due to the noise by the pool. If I were to stay again, I’d prefer not to be by the pool. But my son was happy so that’s half the point, right?

Check-out was an easy process even though it was quite busy when were checking out and had to wait in line. They desk staff got people out pretty quickly and we had no issues.

Our Hotel Room

When we stayed at the Howard Johnson it was prior to their room renovations that recently took place. Now many of their rooms are Disney themed and they’ve undergone a big face lift. We’ll be sure to update this review when we see these renovated rooms!

Rennovated rooms with Mickey picture on the wall

One of their recently renovated rooms.

Our room was fairly in good shape when we stayed but I can see how a renovation was in order. You could notice some slight wear and tear in the rooms such as small stains in the carpet and outdated bathrooms.

Our balcony facing the Castaway Cove playground.

The rooms were bright and cheery with neat retro decor that just made me feel happy to be in them. The most important thing? They were clean and the beds were comfortable. That’s always my two major necessities when I stay at any hotel for a Disney vacation.

Even though the website doesn’t state a microwave in their list of room amenities, we had one in our room. So maybe it’s not guaranteed for every room which is why it wasn’t on the list. It was a pleasant surprise since I wasn’t expecting one.

Overall, I enjoyed our hotel room and we found it to be inviting and comfortable.

Castaway Cove

This was definitely everyone’s favorite part of our stay: the Castaway Cove water playground. My son absolutely loved this area- almost a bit too much! I could barely tear him away from it to go to the parks and that’s saying something.

There’s a big pirate ship that periodically dumps a bucket of water on the children that gather underneath which all the kids loved. You can climb up on top of the pirate ship and there are two water slides that come off of it. There are also water cannons surrounding the ship and water sprinklers to stand under.

The toddler area is large with a small wading pool and animal statues to climb on. Toddlers will have plenty to do here while parents relax.

The Castaway Cove also includes a hot tub which was heaven for me to rest my legs in after a long day of walking at Disney. The entire landscape of the Howard Johnson is lush and beautiful- the pool areas are no exception. We enjoyed this area- it was one of our favorite parts of our vacation.

Other Hotel Amenities

We didn’t use the other amenities quite as often as we did the Castaway Cove but we did visit some of them.

Garden Pool

We only swam in the Garden Pool once during our stay but I can see why adults may prefer it over the Castaway Cove. This pool is in a much more secluded area of the hotel, away from the hustle and bustle of the lobby. It was quiet and calming. The pool has a shallow and deep end which allowed for more enjoyment for older kids and adults since the Castaway cove does NOT have a pool outside of the toddler wading pool.

Overall, we liked this pool for a nice break to relax in the afternoon from the parks. While Castaway Cove is great, it’s also a bit chaotic and loud due to just the noise from the water playground and the laughter of the kiddos. The Garden Pool is an area for relaxing and it succeeded at that.

Market Store

We spent more money than I intended on originally in the Market Store. This well stocked gift shop/convenience store has everything you might need during your stay from food, alcohol, souvenirs, medicine, etc. Expect high prices for anything you buy in this store- everything was marked up heavily. That’s not necessary a con of the Howard Johnson though, it’s typical with most hotels especially in the Disney area.

I recommend finding a cheap store when you arrive to stock up on hotel snacks and drinks to avoid spending money in the market store.

Arcade

We didn’t spend too much time in the arcade but I was impressed by the time we did spend in it. All of the games were new and in working condition (which is not always the case with hotel arcades!) and there were also classics like foosball and air hockey.

The arcade is found across from the market adjacent to the lobby. What I liked about the arcade, as a parent, that it wasn’t totally in plain view so I could sneak my kiddo around it if we were in a rush to get to the parks!

Jokes aside, it was a nice and clean arcade. We saw many families enjoying it and having fun.

Final Thoughts

Beautiful landscaping everywhere at this hotel.

Here are my general pros/cons of the Howard Johnson:

Pros

The Castaway Cove is a blast if you have kids. I could see some older kids, perhaps 12 and up being bored. But then again, we saw people of all ages playing not just small children.
The hot tub in the Castaway Cove was perfect for parents to enjoy while the kids played.
You can see the fireworks from the Castaway Cove playground area.
The landscaping at this hotel is amazing. Everywhere you look are beautiful palm trees, flowers, and more.
The hotel is within walking distance to the Disneyland front gates- about ten minutes or less.
There is an ART stop right out front if you want to rest your legs and take the buses to the parks.
The market had long hours which was helpful if we needed anything early or late in the day.
The rooms were clean and the beds were comfortable.
Our room had a small balcony which was great for hanging wet swimsuits, towels, etc
Price is reasonable for what you get with the Castaway Cove playground, very affordable for families.
Safety: we felt safe here and surrounded by families which is always a plus since I am a single mom traveling as the only adult with my child.

Cons

No on-site breakfast. Mimi’s Cafe, their restaurant, is across the street and not too conveniently located to the rooms. We never ate there because of that and usually ate snacks on the way to the parks. Plenty of restaurants are located nearby.
We noticed that people often left the doors to the buildings open or propped up which worried me a bit in terms of safety. So if someone leaves the door open, anyone without a hotel key can get in the buildings.
The bathroom and room during our stay was a bit outdated. But now with their recent renovation this likely has been addressed.
Very popular- these rooms sell quickly through Get Away Today. Don’t wait if you have your heart set on staying here!
If your room faces the Castaway Cove, it’s very loud all day and night. The pool area stays open until 10PM so this was a bit inconvenient if we wanted to be asleep early to get up for the parks or if you have napping kids.

Giant chairs for photo ops.

Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground. My favorite part about this hotel was the lush and beautiful landscaping all around the buildings. It really made you realize you were in on vacation in California! It was just stunning. My son’s favorite part (you guessed it!) was the Castaway Cove. He was seven during our visit but he was still highly entertained by the water playground. I saw children as old as ten enjoying it so I don’t think it’s necessary just for small children. I was even chasing him around the pirate ship- it was a really enjoyable perk.

I would definitely stay here again- this hotel’s beauty and fun atmosphere made this vacation extra memorable in our minds.

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by Lindsay Brookshier October 23, 2018 0

Universal Orlando: Everything You Need to Know About Attractions, Dining, and Entertainment

Updated 10/23/18. Universal Orlando is a top favorite family destination to visit in Orlando. Universal Orlando offers two full size theme parks and a water park to chose from during your visit.

Universal Orlando is also home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter which is large enough that it includes two full size lands with the Hogwarts Express running between them.

Universal Orlando is a popular destination and there is no reason to pay full price on Universal Orlando tickets. We broke down all the available Universal Orlando discount tickets you can find so you can get the best deal for your vacation. Check out our guide to discount Universal Orlando tickets here.

Once you have your tickets, the next step is planning your itinerary! Universal’s two theme parks include Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Their water park, Volcano Bay, is home to many great water slides and attractions.

City Walk, similar to the idea of Disney Springs, is also located by the parks and offers plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment that does not require admission.

We have broken down the main must sees from each park to help you decide how to plan your day.

Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida is home to many iconic attractions that folks associate with Universal Studios.

This is also where you can find one of the two Harry Potter themed lands- Diagon Alley. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is not to be missed in either park! These immersive experiences are heaven for any Potterhead and breathtaking even for those that aren’t big fans. Don’t miss it.

Attractions

Here are the main attractions for Universal Studios Florida- listed in order of the most popular so you know which to prioritize in the morning when lines are short:

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Revenge of the Mummy
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Transformers The Ride 3D
Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket
The Simpsons Ride
E.T. Adventure
Men In Black Alien Attack
Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
Woody Woodpecker Nuthouse Coaster
Hogwarts Express (If you have park to park tickets)

Universal’s website offers a pretty clear explanation of each attraction including height requirement and thrill levels. You can also download the app and plan your day using the app in advance which can be pretty handy!

Entertainment and Shows

There are plenty of Harry Potter themed entertainment options in Universal Studios Florida among other iconic options. Make sure to allow time for entertainment in your day- Universal does a great job with its entertainment options. If you have your heart set on Ollivanders, we recommend going there first thing in the morning as lines get quite long.

Here are your options for entertainment aside from rides:

Ollivanders
Knight Bus
Gringotts Money Exchange
Simpsons Games
Palace Theater Arcade

And it wouldn’t be Universal without a great selection of shows to take in! Here are a list of the shows you can find at Universal Studios Florida:

The Blues Brothers Show
Fear Factor Live
Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration
A Day in the Park with Barney
Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show
Studio Brass Band
Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees (Harry Potter themed)
The Tales of Beetle Bard (Harry Potter themed)
Animal Actors on Location
Universal’s Superstar Parade
Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macys (only during the holiday season)

Dining and Shopping

When it comes to dining and shopping options, there are plenty go around that will leave your wallet feeling a little lighter. You can find Harry Potter themed dining and shopping in Diagon Alley. You can find Simpsons themed options near the Simpsons attraction.

Regular dining options, featuring a variety of American options, can also be found in Universal Studios Florida.

We recommend scoping out the website or the app prior to your visit to see what your strikes your fancy. Potterheads will likely head to Diagon Alley to get their Chocolate Frogs while Simpsons fans may head right to the Duff Beer Brewery!

Universal’s Island of Adventure

Universal’s Islands of Adventure is home to many thrilling attractions and is a popular theme park with many guests. So popular in fact, that it won TripAdvisor’s #1 Amusement Park In The World Choice Award the past three years in a row.

This is also where you can find one of the two Harry Potter themed lands- Hogsmeade along with the Hogwarts Castle! If you’re a Harry Potter fan, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is not to be missed in either park! These immersive experiences are heaven for any Potterhead and breathtaking even for those that aren’t big fans. Don’t miss it.

Attractions

Here are the main attractions for Universal’s Islands of Adventure- listed in order of the most popular so you know which to prioritize in the morning when lines are short:

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Jurassic Park River Adventure
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
Poseidon’s Fury
Storm Force Accelatron
Flight of the Hippogriff
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
The Cat in the Hat
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Pteranodon Flyers
Caro-Seuss-el
Hogwarts Express (If you have park to park tickets)

One thing to note about this theme park is the abundance of small kiddo friendly attractions compared with Universal Studios Florida. Universal’s website offers a pretty clear explanation of each attraction including height requirement and thrill levels. You can also download the app and plan your day using the app in advance which can be pretty handy!

Entertainment and Shows

There are plenty of Harry Potter themed entertainment options in Universal’s Islands of Adventure among other iconic options. Make sure to allow time for entertainment in your day- Universal does a great job with its entertainment options. If you have your heart set on Ollivanders, we recommend going there first thing in the morning as lines get quite long.

Here are your options for entertainment aside from rides:

Ollivanders
The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle
Raptor Encounter
The Mystic Fountain
Star Souls
Toon Lagoon Games
Jurassic Park Games
Kingpin’s Arcade

And it wouldn’t be Universal without a great selection of shows to take in! Here are a list of the shows you can find at Universal’s Islands of Adventure:

The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle
Frog Choir (Harry Potter themed)
Triwizard Spirit Rally (Harry Potter themed)
The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad
Oh! The Stories You’ll Hear!
Poseidon’s Fury

There’s so much to see and do, it’s a bit overwhelming at first! This is why we recommend planning ahead and picking your priority stops in advance so you don’t miss out on anything you really want to see. We recommend making The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle a priority, they’re spectacular.

Dining and Shopping

When it comes to dining and shopping options, there are plenty go around that will leave your wallet feeling a little lighter. You can find Harry Potter themed dining and shopping in Hogsmeade. You can find Marvel themed options, along with Captain America character dining, in the park too. And don’t forget all of the fun Dr. Seuss themed dining options!

Regular dining options, featuring a variety of options such as grills, Starbucks, bars, and bakeries, can also be found in Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

We recommend scoping out the website or the app prior to your visit to see what your strikes your fancy. Potterheads will likely head to Hogsmeade to get their Butterbeer while the Marvel fans will be dashing to see the Marvel themed dining options.

Character Meet and Greets in Both Parks

There are a variety of characters waiting to take that awesome picture with you at both Universal Studios Orlando and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Some fan favorites are the Minions, Dr. Seuss characters, Marvel characters, the Simpsons, the Men in Black, and the Grinch even comes out to greet guests during the holidays.

Check out the app or ask the nearest Universal Studios employees to find out which characters are available.

Volcano Bay

Volcano Bay is one impressive water park with a large variety of water attractions, beaches, and lazy rivers to chose from. If you’re going to pick one water park during your Orlando vacation, this should be it.

There aren’t much in the way of entertainment, shows, or dining options at Volcano Bay but there are plenty of water attractions to keep you busy!

There are over 19 attractions to chose from, you can view them all in detail on Universal Orlando’s website here.

Our top five favorite recommendations are:

Honu of the Honu ika Moana
Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
Krakatau Aqua Coaster
Maku of the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
Raki of Taniwha Tubes

There are also options for a lazy float down a lazy river or some sunbathing in beach resort settings if you’re just looking for relaxation as opposed to thrill rides.

You can also find great options for toddlers and smaller children at Volcano Bay- not just thrill slides and water attractions.

Families also have the option of renting their own cabanas for the day to ensure some more relaxation with your own personal spot along with poolside service.

As for dining, there are a few options for drinks and dining in Volcano Bay but don’t expect as many as you would find in the other Universal Orlando parks.

City Walk

City Walk is a great place to spend an evening enjoying the Orlando night life and entertainment it has to offer.

You can see the Blue Man Group here along with other famous DJs as you dance the night away.

There are also plenty of family entertainment, dining, and shopping options as well. It’s a great stop to make when you first arrive to help get you geared up for an exciting vacation.

To get the full run down of all the current entertainment options (they will vary depending on the time of year) check out Universal Orlando’s website here.

Plan Your Universal Orlando Vacation Today!

You can discover more about planning your trip from these links:

by Lindsay Brookshier October 18, 2018 0

Kids at Disneyland: Realistic Tips and Tricks for a Magical Vacation

Little girl smiling at Elena the Princess

Updated 10/18/18. When it comes to traveling with kids, things can easily turn into a National Lampoon Family Vacation sideshow. But with some advance preparation, things don’t always have to look like a Chevy Chase movie. Unless that’s what you want then full steam ahead, Griswolds.

Save on your stay! Disneyland COMBO Hotel + Ticket Discounts Get the best price on your hotel and Disneyland tickets this summer by checking out our travel partner. Save money better spent at the parks by saving money from the beginning on your tickets and hotel! Book now >

It terms of traveling with babies and small toddlers, our extensive guide for visiting Disneyland with Babies will have you covered. But when it comes to school aged or younger kids, there’s another level of preparation that goes into your visit.

With that in mind, here are our top tips and tricks for avoiding catastrophe and having a magical vacation when taking your kids to the Disneyland Resort.

Prepare for Traveling

If this is the first time your kids will be on an airplane have them watch the TSA security clearance video at home and make sure to get the FREE Disney provided planning videos (these are a fantastic overview for visiting Disneyland). This can help prepare them for the hectic security lines at the airports and avoid meltdowns. TSA agents have a bad publicity rap but in my personal experience (and we fly often!) they are always kind to kids. Kids typically get to keep their shoes on which helps with the hassle. Also, make sure to check out our full guide to transportation to Disneyland to help you travel with less stress.

Be prepared with a backpack full of activities, gum, and snacks for your kids on the airplane. I usually purchase these items at the Dollar Store before we head to the airport to avoid those high airport prices. If I’m really worried about my son behaving on the plane I might buy him a new book or coloring activity and then hide it until our trip. This way when they open it on the airplane it’s brand new and will keep them occupied for longer.

Seating kids by the window seat is the best option so you don’t have to worry about them bothering the passengers directly next to them. If you have an electronic device, load a movie onto it in advance (make sure it works without WIFI!) and let them watch movies. To be honest, I let my kid have all the screen time and candy he wants when we’re traveling. If he’s happy, everyone around him is happy, and then I’m happy. Vacation is not the time to lay down the law. Especially on an airplane!

If you’re driving to the resort, I salute your bravery. Most of these tips work just as well in the car as they do on the plane. I would recommend doubling the amount of activities and movies you bring in the car. Be prepared to make plenty of stops and account for that in your estimated driving time.

Check Height Requirements

This is an important one! Take the time to measure the height of your kids at home, with their shoes on, and see which rides they can ride. If your kids are older and tall, you will probably be all set! But it’s always good to double check.

Disneyland is strict about height requirements– if you’re not tall enough you won’t ride! Even if you just waited an hour in line. There’s no bigger match to cause a fire than having a kiddo endure the long wait in line just to get to the front and find out they can’t ride. Avoid that mess by planning in advance!

And you didn’t hear this from me but I’ve heard of guests using taller/platform shoes for the parks if their kids are just a hair shy of the required minimum.

Make a Souvenir Plan

The Happiest Place on Earth can easily become the most expensive place on Earth when visiting with kids. The shopping at Disneyland is amazing: there is so much to see and so much to buy. This can be overwhelming for adults so now imagine what it is like for kids! If you head into those shops without a game plan you’re going to have a horrible case of the ‘gimmies!’ going on before you can even make it past Main Street U.S.A.

There’s a good two step process to help avoid those store meltdowns. Make a chore list, or add additional chores to the current one you have, at home. Tell your kids they will earn a certain amount of money (whatever works for your family) by doing those chores for your Disneyland vacation. Then buy a Disney gift card and load the amount onto the card.

When you’re in the parks, give them (within reason- perhaps just let them hold it when they are shopping!) the gift card and remind them what amount of money is on it. Make sure the kids understand that when the money is gone, it’s gone! This can really help kids from going crazy on wanting souvenirs and get them to slow down to think carefully about purchase decisions. And we all know, kids are more frugal with their own money.

And speaking of avoiding meltdowns, remember that you know your kids best! If you think they can’t handle the stores at the end of the day, gift card or not, then don’t go in them! Have one parent take the kids to do other things while the other parent shops. I think we all know that shopping with tired kids is miserable regardless of where you are. That is going to be no different at Disneyland. Avoid it at all costs! Take them for their souvenir shopping early in the day while they’re fresh and calm.

Check out our full guide on timeless Disneyland souvenirs here to help you plan your shopping list in advance.

Prepare for Scary Attractions for Kids

Some rides are Disneyland can be scary even for school aged kids! Being prepared in advance for what rides might spook your kids can help you plan for alternatives. Again, you know your child best! Check out our full guide for scary attractions at Disneyland for a breakdown on rides that might be a bit spooky outside of the usual thrill factor.

And just because your kid is tall enough to go on some of the thrill rides doesn’t always mean they are ready. If you’re worried about a certain ride being too much for your kiddo, watch a Youtube video of that ride in advance with them to gauge their reaction. Especially if this is their first major theme park visit!

Kids can surprise you with what they find scary. My son didn’t bat an eye on any of the major thrill rides his first visit. From Space Mountain to Splash Mountain he barely even uttered a peep and just sat there in calm serenity. It was wild how much the thrill rides didn’t even phase him! But when it came to Haunted Mansion, that was another story. He was absolutely terrified of that ride which was a real bummer for mom since that is one of my favorites! The lesson here? It’s good to be aware of the rides that are spooky in case that’s the fear factor for your kids.

Be Realistic About Your Expectations

This is one of the hardest Disneyland tips to stomach for parents. Just because this is the Happiest Place on Earth doesn’t mean that all the normal struggles of having children just vanish. Even for school aged children, a long day at Disneyland is a long day indeed. Be realistic about what your kids can handle and how a lack of sleep can seriously impact a park day.

I learned this the hard way on my son’s first trip to Disneyland. We stayed extra late one park night so we could watch the Main Street Electrical parade’s second viewing because there was hardly anyone waiting for the parade. I couldn’t resist! I needed to see it twice! My son, seven years old at the time, was extremely tired but I figured we could rally the next day and be fine. By the time we got back to the hotel it was after 11PM and way past a seven year old’s bedtime.

The next day, I still got him up early so we could make it for rope drop at California Adventure and away we went. He was okay at first and we made it to the parks on ‘schedule.’ The meltdown, the most epic meltdown he’s had in years, came when we were waiting at the Visa Meet and Greet hoping to see Stitch. Stitch, his absolute favorite character in the universe, unfortunately wasn’t there to greet him when we passed the rope. It was Minnie Mouse, the character he is always the least excited to see. Cue the meltdown, folks! We had to get out of that park so quick my head was spinning and I was ready to have a meltdown of my own. We promptly returned to our hotel, had a two hour nap, and we were able to return after lunch with a fresh start. The takeaway from this story: let them rest when they’re tired and run as fast as you can when those meltdowns happen.

It’s funny now but at the time I was so stressed and disappointed. I had put so much effort into our park plans I forgot, for a moment there, that my kiddo was just plain exhausted. There was no way he could handle disappointment after a night with lack of sleep. Going to the parks now, I am more realistic about my expectations. I know my kid turns into a grizzly bear when he’s tired so I make sure he gets his sleep no matter what. He’s happier, I’m happier, and it’s a realistic plan.

This is the key to being realistic at Disneyland, understanding that you may have to slow down. You may have to take breaks when you don’t want to. You may need to leave earlier so your kids can get some rest to be fresh for the next day. I hate to say it but disappointment happens at Disneyland too. Rides could break down, characters might not be available, or fireworks get canceled. Having a rested kid helps them cope with these things.

Of course, this is all more applicable if you have more than one day planned at the parks. If you only have one day planned then it makes sense to rally and show up with a solid strategy! Spend the afternoons cooling off in one of the indoor AC attractions or head out to Tom Sawyer’s Island to get a break from the crowds.

If you have park hoppers and are staying for a few days, use the afternoons to go back to your hotel and swim. Take a break from the heat and the crowds. You will come back more refreshed and everyone will be happier. Afternoon time can easily become meltdown time at Disneyland, get out of there and come back later.

Have a Strategy But Enjoy the Moment

I’ll be the first to recommend having a touring strategy in place for Disneyland from day one. Using a touring strategy is the best way to ensure that your family experiences all the top attractions with minimal wait times. If you follow a good strategy, you can have most of the major high wait time attractions finished by lunch. Planning out your day before arriving at the parks is also helpful for preventing arguments about which ride to go on first or other similar sibling squabbles. Go over the plan at the hotel so everyone has an idea of what to expect.

Just don’t forget to enjoy the moment with your kids! It can be easy, easier than you might think, to get caught up in touring plans and dining reservations and characters times that you end up missing those small moments. Take a breath and find the time throughout the day to just stop. Take in the beauty of Disneyland and your child’s happiness. These are the moments you will remember the most. Don’t plan too much that they pass you by.

More Disneyland Planning Tips

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by Lindsay Brookshier October 16, 2018 0

Walt Disney World Dining Plans: All You Need to Know to Enhance Your Experience

Updated 10/16/2018. When planning a trip to Walt Disney World for the first time, figuring out the Walt Disney World dining plans can be overwhelming and confusing. In this guide, we break down the difference between each of the Walt Disney World dining plans to help you decide if they are the right choice for your group. For some families, a dining plan is a great way to save some money.

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To get a really good idea if purchasing a dining plan is right for you, you first need to figure out how often your group plans on eating in the parks. If you’re going to rely entirely on Disney food then a dining plan might be a good option. If you’re planning on packing in your own lunches and snacks, then a dining plan might not be the most feasible idea. Using our guide to help you navigate your way will help you save money and figure out what is the most cost efficient option for your group.

Walt Disney World Dining Plans: The Basics

The Walt Disney World dining plans can be confusing for first time guests. We broke down the basics of these plans to help you navigate how to get them and how to use them.

Basically, buying one of the Walt Disney World dining plans is buying all of your meals and snacks in the park in advance. Sometimes this can help you save money as Disney gives you a deal by purchasing in advance rather than paying as you go in the parks. For families that intend to rely completely on eating in the parks, a dining plan can be a good choice.

How To Get A Walt Disney World Dining Plan

In order to be eligible to purchase a dining plan you need to be staying at one of the Walt Disney World resort hotels.

When you book a Magic Your Way Vacation package, you can select a package option that bundles your dining plan into your hotel and ticket cost. Sometimes Walt Disney World will do deals on these packages so it’s worth keeping an eye out for these.

If you have an existing Walt Disney World hotel reservation, you can upgrade to a package that includes one of the dining plans. So if you decide to add a dining plan later, you have the ability to modify your reservation to do so.

How to Use the Walt Disney World Dining Plans

The Walt Disney World dining plans are quite simple to use. All you need to do is use your Magic Band at dining locations to redeem meals and snacks. That’s it, it’s pretty easy!

The tricky part is keeping track of how many meals and snacks you’ve redeemed. Luckily, there are three ways you can keep track of your dining plan purchases:

Use the My Disney Experience app
Check your most recent dining receipt
Visit the Resort Concierge or Guest Relations and ask about your remaining entitlements

Using any of these options will help you easily keep track of your dining in the parks. Make sure you redeem ALL your meal and snacks- after all, you paid for it!

Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan

Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan is the cheapest out of the Walt Disney World dining plans. Quick-Service refers to any type of food options that you pick up yourselves. You can check the Walt Disney World website to see what options are available. The prices here are estimates based on the most recent pricing information from Walt Disney World.

Adult, per night

$52.50

Child, per night (Ages 3-9)

$21.74

Children under the age of 3 are allowed to eat of your plate.

Here is what is included per person:

2 Quick-Service Meals (each meal includes a beverage)
2 Snacks
1 refillable mug

Note: children will HAVE to purchase their meals from the kids menu if you paid the child price for the dining plan.

Here are some examples of what qualifies as a snack under this plan:

At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
Popcorn scoop
12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea
Prepackaged milk or juice
Piece of whole fruit
Bag of snacks
20 oz. bottle of Coca-Cola®, Sprite® or Dasani® water
20 oz. fountain soft drink

Items that don’t qualify are anything that comes in a souvenir container and items that are not considered a single serving.

Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan is the mid-range option for the Walt Disney World dining plans. It offers the options of both quick service and table service. The prices here are estimates based on the most recent pricing information from Walt Disney World.

Adult, per night

$75.49

Child, per night (Ages 3-9)

$25.75

Children under the age of 3 are allowed to eat of your plate.

Here is what is included per person:

1 Quick-Service Meal (includes beverage)
1 Table-Service Meal (includes beverage)
2 Snacks
1 refillable mug

Note: children will HAVE to purchase their meals from the kids menu if you paid the child price for the dining plan.

Table Service Options

What’s great about this plans it the flexibility and available options you have for redeeming your table service meals. Along with regular table service restaurants you can also use your table service meals for:

Character Dining (Cinderella’s Royal Table requires 2 Table-Service meals will be redeemed per person)
Signature Dining Restaurants (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Also includes dessert!)
Dinner Shows (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Advance reservations required)
Private in-room dining (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Dessert and gratuities are included.)
Pizza delivery. (2 Adult Table-Service meals per person for this option. Includes pizza entree item, two beverages, and two desserts)

Here are some examples of what qualifies as a snack under this plan:

At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
Popcorn scoop
12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea
Prepackaged milk or juice
Piece of whole fruit
Bag of snacks
20 oz. bottle of Coca-Cola®, Sprite® or Dasani® water
20 oz. fountain soft drink

Items that don’t qualify are anything that comes in a souvenir container and items that are not considered a single serving.

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan

The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan is the premium option for the Walt Disney World dining plans. It offers the options of both quick service and table service. The prices here are estimates based on the most recent pricing information from Walt Disney World.

Adult, per night

$116.25

Child, per night (Ages 3-9)

$39.99

Children under the age of 3 are allowed to eat of your plate.

Here is what is included per person:

3 meals (any combination of quick-service or table service with beverages included)
2 Snacks
1 refillable mug

Note: children will HAVE to purchase their meals from the kids menu if you paid the child price for the dining plan.

Breakfast Options for Table Service per person

1 Entrée
1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

1 Full Buffet or Family-Style Meal

Lunch and Dinner Options for Table Service per person

1 Appetizer
1 Entrée
1 Dessert
1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

1 Full Buffet or Family-Style Meal

Table Service Options

Character Dining (Cinderella’s Royal Table requires 2 Table-Service meals will be redeemed per person)
Signature Dining Restaurants (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Also includes dessert!)
Dinner Shows (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Advance reservations required)
Private in-room dining (2 Table-Service meals per person for this option. Dessert and gratuities are included.)
Pizza delivery. (2 Adult Table-Service meals per person for this option. Includes pizza entree item, two beverages, and two desserts)

Here are some examples of what qualifies as a snack under this plan:

At Quick-Service restaurants, most Outdoor Carts and select merchandise locations, snacks may include a single serving of items such as:

Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
Popcorn scoop
12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea
Prepackaged milk or juice
Piece of whole fruit
Bag of snacks
20 oz. bottle of Coca-Cola®, Sprite® or Dasani® water
20 oz. fountain soft drink

Items that don’t qualify are anything that comes in a souvenir container and items that are not considered a single serving.

Is A Dining Plan Worth It?

This is really going to depend on a few different factors such as: how many days you will be staying in the parks, if you plan on packing your own food, and how many family members you have.

Unfortunately, it is common for people on the last day of their trip to be scrambling around the parks trying to redeem all of their leftover snack and meal options on their dining plans.

Here are some steps you can take to decide if a dining plan is a good choice for your group and if so, which one to pick:

Make note of how many days you will be in the parks and if you plan on bringing your own snacks or meals inside.
Does your hotel include free breakfast? If so, that would make the third option (The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan) a good one to eliminate. Why pay extra for breakfast at the parks if you can eat it at your hotel for free?
Consider how much your children eat. Do you think they will realistically eat everything included in the dining plan? You could always purchase the plan for the adults and buy the kid food as you go.
Check out the list of restaurants for each park. See which ones are musts for your family. Then factor in the cost. In some cases, you’ll end up paying more for a dining plan depending on where you eat. But if you have your eye on the higher end table service places, then a dining plan would be a good choice.
In addition to researching restaurants, make sure that reservations are available! If you’re doing this last minute, you might want to rethink a dining plan until you check to see if your top choice options are even available to eat at. You can make reservations up to 180 days in advance by calling (407) 939-3463.
Keep in mind that there are cheap food options at Walt Disney World.

Overall, a dining plan has potential to be a money saver at Walt Disney World. We advise following the steps above and doing the math to see if it’s a good choice for your group. Don’t just purchase a dining plan without doing the research- this could end up costing you more in the long run!

Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation

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by Lindsay Brookshier October 4, 2018 0

Disneyland Clarion Hotel Review and How to Get Free Parking & Breakfast

Updated 10/9/18 During our recent stay at the Disneyland Clarion Hotel in Anaheim, we were greatly impressed. So much so, that I was immediately inclined to share my thoughts in this Clarion Hotel review!

Below, enjoy our complete Disneyland Clarion Hotel review with more about the hotel, how to save money during your stay, and the easy way to get both free parking and free breakfast at the Clarion Hotel.

The Clarion was a great choice for our visit to the happiest place on earth!

Overview of the Disneyland Clarion Hotel

The Clarion is one of the most budget friendly options within walking distance to the Disneyland Resort which makes it a popular choice for many families! The hotel was extremely family friendly and welcoming.

The Clarion’s website lists their amenities as including:

Free wireless high speed internet
Refrigerator in all rooms, suites feature microfridge combination
Hairdryers
In room coffee and tea service
Expanded channel offerings including Encore and Cartoon Network
Data ports and voicemail
Iron/Ironing boards
Pet friendly

In addition to these above amenities, studio suites offer:

Microwaves
Sleeper sofas

Other hotel amenities include:

Year round outdoor heated pool
Poolside service
Palm Tree Cafe – A Casual Eatery
Kids Eat Free for Breakfast and Dinner (ages 9 and under).

Conditions apply:

Gift shop
Game room
Fitness Center
Full service Concierge desk and bell service
Dry cleaning (fee)
Coin operated laundry service
ATM machine
Internet kiosk
On premise parking (self $16 per day, valet $20 per day)

The benefit of booking with Get Away Today, like we did for this stay, was that Get Away Today guests receive free parking, free breakfast, and with longer stays guests typically receive one night free.

Clarion Hotel Review

Here us the full run down of my personal and honest experience with our stay in this Clarion Hotel review.

Check-In and Check-Out Process at the Clarion Hotel

We arrived to Anaheim much, much earlier than the check-in time of 4PM. I had called ahead and asked the desk at the Clarion if they could store our luggage for us while we walked around Downtown Disney. They assured me this would be no problem. When we got to the hotel, they were happy to store our luggage for us in a locked and secure room.

When we returned from Downtown Disney around 4PM we were told our room still was not ready. This was about the only inconvenience we encountered from them on our visit. The lady at the desk recommended we go swimming while we waited which we did. My son was happy with that since he was dying to see the pool anyways.

We finally got in our hotel room at 5PM (so an hour later than check in) but the wait was worth it. They had bumped us to a studio suite on the 9th floor with a perfect view of the fireworks from the parks. I had put the fireworks view request in when we booked through Get Away Today and they were happy to accommodate us. The lady at the desk mentioned this to me while we were waiting for a room and I was totally fine with the wait because of this! So overall, the process was a bit of an inconvenience but it was worth it in the end.

*Like with most hotels, be prepared to give them a credit card at check-in. They put a $35 hold on my card, the ‘just in case’ that all hotels do.

The check-out process was smooth and fast, literally took seconds and that was that. We reminded them we didn’t use the safe in the room (to avoid unexpected charges) and they told me I’d see the security hold of $35 back on my credit card within a few days. It was back on there within 24 hours which was nice!

All of the desk staff we dealt with during check-in and check-out were extremely friendly and sweet. No complaints at all in terms of friendliness whether it was the desk staff, the room service folks, the gift shop staff, or the restaurant workers. Everyone was friendly to us.

Anaheim Clarion Hotel Review: Restaurant

My family was starving when we arrived at check-in so I asked if we could use our first free breakfast today and the lady at the desk was extremely nice and gave us our free breakfast coupons.

When you book through Get Away Today, you will be given a booklet of ‘free breakfast coupons’ for your family- one for each day of your stay. So make sure you don’t lose these! We only ever ate at their restaurant, the Palm Tree Cafe, for breakfast while we stayed.

Now that’s a waffle!

Their buffet breakfast was always well stocked when we came to eat but we were always there early (6AM) before we headed to the parks. Everyday we found a buffet stocked with eggs, sausage, bacon, fresh fruit, pastries, a variety of cereal, bananas, hash browns, yogurt, and a waffle maker with different choices of waffles available. The coffee was good and the waffles were even better.

Overall, we loved their breakfast. But we’re also simple breakfast eaters- we mainly had the eggs, cereal, and waffles each day. I can’t see anyone not liking their breakfast- there’s plenty of choices available. The staff in the restaurant was so nice and remembered us each day which was a homey touch.

Disneyland Clarion Hotel Review Room and Photos

Clarion Hotel Review: The view of our room if you’re standing by the window.

This was hands down the best part of this hotel- we had such a fantastic view with our room. We had a studio suite so it came with all the usual amenities, plus a microwave, and a sleeper sofa. My son loved having the couch and table area by the window to play with his souvenirs after we returned from the parks each day. In addition to the sofa sleeper, we had two queen sized beds that we both found extremely comfortable.

Our view from the 9th floor. At night, we could see the fireworks from Disneyland off to the left.

The room was a bit dated and you could notice the wear and tear the hotel has seen as an older location. Most noticeably, you could see this in the bathroom and the water pressure was not fantastic. But I’m not one of those people that’s bothered by things like that- yet I understand that some folks have higher expectations! I was so eager to get to the parks each morning that I barely noticed the old bathroom decor.

Side of the room with the sofa sleeper and table by the window. Notice how the walls are partly brick over here? Kinda odd but oh well!

To be honest, we rarely spent time at the hotel as we spent most days at the parks. But we were happy with our room because the beds were comfy and it was extremely clean. And that view was great, what a beautiful site to wake up to everyday.

Anaheim Clarion Hotel Review: Amenities

We didn’t make use of all the amenities offered such as dry cleaning or the fitness room but we did make use of the main ones guests use during a typical Disneyland stay.

Pool

Palm trees by the pool.

The pool at the Clarion is very basic- no hot tub included. That was one thing I felt was missing, a hot tub is a great way to rest your muscles after a day of walking at Disney. It was a rather deep pool with a shallow area on the other side. My son is eight years old and a strong swimmer so that worked just fine for us. But I can see parents with smaller children having to be much more vigilant. There were always plenty of towels out by the pool, pool chairs, and tables with umbrellas. Some areas surrounding the pool were shady from the palm trees overhead which was nice. I thought it was a lovely pool area for such an old hotel. We always swam in the afternoons after visiting Disney in the morning and it was rarely crowded.

Overall, the pool area was basic but clean and served its purpose. And when it comes to my kid, he’s happy with any pool and doesn’t require anything fancy.

Gift Shop

We used the gift shop often to buy snacks and drinks on the way to and from the parks. Like most gift shops you find in the Disneyland area, everything was marked up in price. Typically, we paid around $3 for a soda on the way out the door. I’m a Coca-Cola junkie so I’ll pay the highest price for my caffeine fix but I wish we would have taken the time to stop at a regular priced store to buy drinks to keep in the hotel room.

The gift shop was really small in width but long so it was a bit like an adventure walking through it. It was stocked with everything you would need and more like food, medicine, sunscreen, swim suits, electronic accessories, t-shirts, toys, and more. Again, everything is marked up in price but if you’re in a bind- they will likely have what you need.

That’s my biggest takeaway advice regarding the gift shop: take the time to buy snacks and drinks for your hotel room at a grocery store or convenience store.

Arcade

The arcade was a bit of a letdown and I would have avoided it if my son wasn’t so persistent to go there. You’ll find just a few older arcade style games in a small room back by the second bar/karaoke area. Everything takes quarters and most of the coin machines weren’t working when we went. It was easy enough to just walk to the gift shop for change, though.

My son thought it was fantastic while I was a bit underwhelmed by it. So take that for what you will. If the kids are happy then mission accomplished, right?

Final Thoughts and Review of Disneyland Clarion Hotel

Walk to the Anaheim Convention Center: Clarion Hotel Review

You can walk to Disney taking this way past the Anaheim Convention Center.

Here are my overall pros/cons from our stay at the Clarion Hotel:

Pros for Disneyland Clarion Hotel

Clean. Everything from our room to the pool to the restaurant was always found clean and spotless.
Friendly staff. Everyone we encountered was friendly and nice. They went out of their way, especially in the restaurant, to get to know you.
Comfortable beds. I always feel like this is high on my priority list when visiting Disney!
Fridge in the room allows for easy storing of leftovers or food.
Safety- we felt really safe here. The locks on the doors were secure and there were always people in the lobby. As a single mom traveling as the only adult, this is always something important to me.
Great view options on the 9th floor.
Budget friendly. This is one of the cheapest hotel options through Get Away Today!
Breakfast. We always love having breakfast before our visit to the parks to help save money on expensive park food. And since we booked through Get Away Today, our breakfast was free!
Fast Wi-Fi- I never had any problems doing basic things on my iPhone.
Option of room service available.
Within walking distance to Disneyland. Easily a 10-15 minute walk to the park depending on how fast you walk. We rode the ART most days and there’s a bus stop right in front of the hotel. You can also use the Toy Story Parking Lot shuttles across the street for free! Just walk out of the lobby and turn right and keep walking until you see the shuttles.

Cons for Anaheim Clarion Hotel

Check-in process was slow and we had to wait awhile for our room.
The pool area is very basic- no hot tub or toddler play area.
The gift shop is expensive but that is always the case with local hotels near Disneyland.
Water pressure in the bathroom wasn’t great.
Old and outdated bathroom in general.
Still a bit of a walk to the gates- at least 10-15 minutes. This might be a bit too far to walk for some families.
The hotel has seen some wear/tear as an older location.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed the Clarion Hotel. I had read some scathing reviews on Trip Adviser before our stay and was a bit apprehensive. To speak candidly, I think if you’re not expecting perfect room decor and brand new rooms it’s a fine place to stay. I knew it was an older hotel and I’m not a picky person to begin with so seeing out-dated decor and wear in the rooms didn’t bother me. The most important thing to me that it was clean and safe.

We would stay here again in a heartbeat! It’s such a budget friendly option which allows more money to be spent at the parks. We will likely stay here again on our next trip to Disneyland. I hope you enjoyed our Clarion Hotel review!

Enjoy Our Clarion Hotel Review? Let Us Help Plan Your Disneyland Trip Today!

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