I just got back from an AMAZING trip to Disneyland with my mom and my sister. We were there February 24 - 28, 2019. My goal for this trip was twofold: spend some quality time with my family and learn some new things about Disneyland. Well, I successfully met both goals and I am excited to share what I learned with all of you.
Our Hotel: The Anaheim Hotel
We stayed 4 nights at the Anaheim Hotel on Harbor Blvd. It is themed after the 60s, so everything has a retro feel to it. (I thought the giant living room lamps outside on the patio was a nice touch.) It was a very nice and clean hotel, the staff was super helpful and friendly, and it had a restaurant that served a delicious breakfast to get us going in the morning.
The pool is a good size but is nothing special. Just your regular run of the mill pool. We weren’t there for swimming so that didn’t matter to us.
The rooms were large and comfortable. You could easily fit a stroller in it and still have space to maneuver around. We had two king size beds that were extremely comfortable. I had no problems sleeping at night. In fact, there were almost too many pillows on the bed!
The bathroom was HUGE. It had two sinks and a giant wall sized mirror that were separate from the toilet and shower, which was extremely helpful for all of us getting ready in the morning. Huge plus.
The hotel is in a great location and was an EASY 5 min walk to Disneyland’s gates. We could see the lights of Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT! every night and could even spot the Disneyland fireworks from our window.
Recommendation: I would recommend staying at this hotel, especially if you are planning to use it just to sleep at night and are spending your days in the parks.
The walk to and from the hotel was a breeze. It was so nice to be able to cruise past the long lines for the hotel, ART and parking shuttles after a long day at the parks. Even the area for people waiting for a Lyft or Uber was a zoo!
If you can’t walk back and forth between your hotel and the parks, it is a no-go for me.
If you have young kids and think you will be spending more time back in your room for naps or in the pool, I still think staying onsite is the way to go. But The Anaheim Hotel is a great budget friendly option.
February Crowd Level
I thought the park was surprisingly busy for a February. In years past we’ve been able to walk right on to rides this time of year. That was never an option this time. The current Disneyland ticket promotion is working!
It was extremely necessary to have MaxPass as well. Since the current ticket promotion included it at a discount when buying in advance, I would say most people had it. With more people using their phones to get FastPasses, they were going quicker, especially at California Adventure. If you wanted to ride Radiator Springs, you had better get your Fastpass by lunch time or they were gone!
Recommendation: Get MaxPass! I always recommend getting it, and this trip only reconfirmed it. Especially if you are going at a busy time. MaxPass greatly enhances your overall Disneyland experience and I wouldn’t go to the parks without it.
Food
I have never eaten so well at Disneyland before. I didn’t feel like I just ate a bunch of junk food all trip, which is how I’ve usually felt in the past when going with my kids. I had vegetables, and sushi, and food with substance. It is possible to eat well at Disneyland!!
Hands down, my favorite restaurant at Disneyland is Café Orleans in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park. It requires advanced reservations, which you can get up to 60 days in advance of your trip. It serves Cajun flavored food, like shrimp and grits, fried chicken and beignets, steak and potatoes, and their world-famous Monte Cristo Sandwich.
I had the Shrimp and Grits, which was wonderfully spiced. Just enough heat to it without going over the top. My mom and sister got the Bourbon Street Chicken which came with Hoppin’ John and seasonal vegetables. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and included carrots and my favorite BRUSSEL SPROUTS. I know, I’m weird. But I could eat roasted brussel sprouts all day. So yummy.
We also had lunch at the Lamplight Lounge at Pixar Pier in California Adventure Park. Again, reservations are HIGHLY recommended, and you will not be sorry. This restaurant is a brand-new edition, replacing Ariel’s Grotto when that area was still Paradise Pier.
It is famous for its Lobster Nachos, which we got and agree that it was good. However, I ordered the Crab and Tuna Roll and thought it was even better. It was very high quality, spicy, and filling. My mom got the Ratatouille, which was also high quality and tasty.
Recommendation: Make reservations at both restaurants at your 60 day mark. They are delicious.
Nighttime Shows
World of Color
World of Color is back at California Adventure Park! I love LOVE this show. It is stunningly beautiful and a must see. We didn’t plan ahead for seating this time, so just grabbed what we could get at the last minute. I do NOT recommend doing that. Instead, the day you want to see that show head straight to the World of Color Fastpass kiosks, located near the entrance to Little Mermaid, as soon as you enter through the gates.
Or better yet, do a World of Color dining or dessert package. Your seats are reserved, you will have prime viewing, and you don’t run the risk of the general fastpasses running out. This is what happened to us. We headed there too late, at 10am, and they were already gone.
Since we didn’t have any littles with us, we could still see what was going on from way in the back. But it was hard and I was on my tippy toes. If we had kids, it would have been impossible for them.
Recommendation: Get your Fastpasses for the show first thing in the AM, before getting on any rides, and get to the viewing area at least 30 mins or more before the show is scheduled to begin.
Mickey’s Mix Magic
This is a brand new, 10-minute show with fun music, lasers, video projections, and sometimes fireworks. It is supposed to be like a dance party, and Mickey is the DJ, so save your feet for the end of the day so you can get down with your fellow park-goers. The show runs from now until about mid-summer, according to a Cast Member I spoke to.
Recommendation: If you want to see the video projections well, I would recommend watching it in front of It’s a Small World. You can see it so much better there and the music is just as loud and fun. If Fantasmic! is running when you are there, you can also stay where you are after that ends and watch the video projections on water screens from the river.
If you want to be in a larger crowd for dancing, or to see the lasers and fireworks better, watch it from Main Street. Everyone crowds into the middle of the street, so there is really no reason to get there more than 10 – 15mins before it starts.
It is a fun way to end the day. I loved it!
Conclusion
As always, Disneyland did not disappoint. We had a fantastic time.
There is still time to go to Disneyland with the current ticket promotion. It doesn’t end until mid May. After that ticket and MaxPass prices jump up. So if you’ve been thinking about going to Disneyland, DO IT NOW! You won’t regret it. It will never be this cheap again. And it would be an honor to be able to help you plan your trip.
I am a travel agent with Magical Vacation Planner and can help you plan an unforgettable vacation with your family. Email me, head to my Facebook page, or set up time to chat if you’d like to start planning your magical vacation.
Or head here to download your copy of my free Disney Vacation planning worksheets.
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