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North America, Travel
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August 13, 2013

A Birthday in Disneyland, CA

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One of the highlights of our 2013 summer road trip for my kids was where we were ending it: at Disneyland Resort. It was here that we chose to celebrate our middle son’s 8th birthday. He waited two and a half weeks on the road for this moment and what resulted was a solid smile from the moment we arrived that lasted pretty much all day.

One of the things we knew going into Disneyland was that it was going to be a smaller park to explore. With 160 acres, as opposed to Disney World’s 30,000, we were confident that our one-day park hopper would get us through most of the Disneyland Resort area.

We were driving in from Caramillo (Disneyland is a two-hour drive from Los Angeles) to Anaheim, CA early in the morning getting there shortly after the park opened. The park hopper gave us access to both the Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Disneyland Park is the original Walt Disney theme park, built in 1955 under his supervision and guidance.

We decided to start our day at Disneyland Park, which has eight themed destinations, or lands: Main Street, U.S.A., Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown, Frontierland, Critter Country, New Orleans Square, and Adventureland. We spent most of our time standing in line here, taking full advantage of the Fast Pass feature available for every ticket holder. This is the “oldest” part of the park, but nothing about it felt that way. We enjoyed walking through the streets and touring the shops.

Disneyland_girlgonetravelDisneyland_girlgonetravel

We spent the latter part of our day in California Adventure Park, which is also home to the two of the newest Disney attractions: Buena Vista Street and Cars Land. There are also other areas of fun: Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak, Paradise Pier, Pacific Wharf, “A Bug’s Land” inspired by Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, and Hollywood Land.

Disneyland_girlgonetravel

Disneyland_girlgonetravel

We loved Cars Land. Loved it. When we arrived the line for the ride was 90 minutes long and there were no Fast Passes available, but the boys endured. It was so worth the wait too, especially if you are a Cars fan like we are. The details in Cars Land made us giddy. It was like walking right into the movie. Visiting at night is even more fun.Disneyland_girlgonetravelDisneyland_girlgonetravelDisneyland_girlgonetravel

We were also huge fans of the boardwalk, where we rode Mickey’s Fun Wheel and California Screamin’ over and over again.

Disneyland_girlgonetravelDisneyland_girlgonetravelDisneyland_girlgonetravelWe rode the rocking car in Mickey’s Fun Wheel, and I have never laughed as hard as I did then at their expressions.

Because we only had one day to enjoy the park, we made sure to stay for the long haul and got to enjoy that World of Color light show. I would recommend that you get to the site at least 40 minutes before the show as the good viewing spots get crowded really fast. This colorful, musical display of Disney favorites kept us alert and entertained, and it was beautiful to witness.

Disneyland_girlgonetravelThe World of Color is so beautiful I would go see it again and again.

We didn’t have a chance to stay at any of the Disney resorts (though I really want to next time we visit), but there is a nice selection to choose from, three in total: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, the most premium accommodation, Disneyland Hotel, a classic Disney hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, their boardwalk inspired hotel. Guests can also find off the park and nearby the hotels through the Disneyland website.

Though we were celebrating a birthday, we didn’t do the candle and cake thing (we reserved that for time with our family in Los Angeles), but our little boy didn’t mind. As a matter of fact, as far as birthday celebrations in Disney go, ours was really low key.  But the smile on his face was not only a sign of how happy he was, but also the greatest gift we could have gotten in turn.

Disneyland_girlgonetravelDisneyland_girlgonetravel

Before we left on our trip I had asked around if it was possible to tour both parks in one day and the feedback was split. I would say that if you visit during low season you will get shorter lines and see a lot more, which is not necessarily the case during the summer months. There’s always a reason to come back though. The fireworks in Disneyland Park alone are totally worth it as they change seasonally and the holiday celebrations are something special.

I wouldn’t say that we favor one park over another, because each experience has been such a unique one for us and each time we visit something new happens. But I will say we really enjoyed our Disneyland adventure and would definitely go back when visiting our West Coast family.

 

 

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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2 Comments
  • The Handy Dandy Vandy Packing Packet PrintableBrittany
    August 22, 2013

    We loved Disneyland and my post is coming. It was not crowded but we could never do it all in one day, I guess because we go from park open to park close and really try to do it all 🙂 The parks are fantastic and we really enjoyed the smaller size.
    My recent post The Handy Dandy Vandy Packing Packet Printable

    Reply
    • caincarol
      The Handy Dandy Vandy Packing Packet PrintableBrittany
      August 22, 2013

      Oh, the smaller size is sooo nice, I agree. And yeah, next time I would like to stay longer. We were so rushed! Can't wait to read about your experience Brittany!

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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