Fantastic Drinks and Where to Find Them!

Everyone knows that the food in Disneyland is awesome, but what people neglect to think about in the parks is that there are tons of specialty beverages for guests of all ages! I've tried them all (I think) and I've listed my favorites right here. Spoiler alert: They're all non-alcoholic.

1. Mint Julep - Mint Julep Bar, New Orleans Square
I've mentioned the Mint Julep elsewhere on the site because it is simply my favorite drink to have in Disneyland. It's light, and minty, and extremely refreshing, especially on a hot July day. It's especially delicious to pair this drink with some Mickey-shaped beignets, which you can find at the same place that you'll get your Mint Julep. You'll find the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square, near the seating for the French Market on the side next to the NOS Railroad Station.

Because one Mint Julep is simply not enough! 

2. Boysen Apple Freeze - Maurice's Treats, Fantasyland
I think this is my 2nd favorite drink, and I'm really kicking myself for not trying it a lot sooner than I did. Many of the specialty drinks in the park are some kind of lemonade variant, and I think that is just one of the things that makes the Boysen Apple Freeze stand out. As you could probably guess, this is a boysenberry-apple frozen drink. And holy crap it's so delicious. The flavor really packs a punch, and I feel like I could sip these all day long! I love to enjoy one as I'm watching the Storytelling at the Royal Theatre, which happens to be next to Maurice's Treats. If you're looking for all of this, it's in the little section of Fantasy land that extends to the front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle! 

I couldn't resist also getting the hilarious Gaston stein, obviously.

3. Ramone's "Pear of Dice" Soda - Cozy Cone Motel, Cars Land
We're going to make a jump over to Cars Land for the next few drinks. Who knew that such a small area of the park could pack in so much good food and beverages! The Cozy Cone Motel features a different specialty beverage at each of the 5 cones, and Ramone's "Pear of Dice" Soda can be found at Cone #1. This soda is a bright neon pink and it has so much flavor! One of my favorites to wake me up in the morning (because at Disneyland there's no right or wrong way to do breakfast). You'll find the Cozy Cone Motel about halfway down the main road in Cars Land, in California Adventure.

4. Fillmore's Fuelin' Groovy Pomegranate Limeade - Cozy Cone Motel, Cars Land
Down in Cone #3 you'll find my family's all-time favorite drink in DCA. The pomegranate limeade never disappoints! It's tart and sweet and so very delicious. I always love to pair it with the Chili "Cone" Queso that you can find at the same cone for a nice easy lunch! 

5. Red's Apple Freeze - Cozy Cone Motel, Cars Land
If you're after a simple yet delicious frozen beverage, Cone #4 is going to be the place to go! Red's Apple Freeze is a pretty basic frozen apple juice type drink, but it's really tasty and I always make sure to get one when I'm in DCA! This one will come in a souvenir cup too, if you're interested! 

6. Pomegranate Piranha Lemonade - Bengal Barbecue, Adventureland
We're taking it back to Disneyland for the rest of the beverages! There are some other good ones in DCA though, so do keep an eye out! The Pomegranate Piranha Lemonade is so much fun to drink, it's got some popping pomegranate "pirahna eggs" at the bottom! The pomegranate and the mango flavors mix so well to make a delicious tropical drink. I like to pair it with the Banyan Beef Skewer to balance out some sweet and spicy! You'll find the Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland, across the way from the Indiana Jones ride.

7. Dole Whip Float - Tiki Juice Bar, Adventureland
This one is a long-time Disneyland classic. It's pineapple soft-serve ice cream on top of pineapple juice. Yes, your mouth will feel a little raw after downing one of these bad boys! I especially love to grab a Dole Whip Float on a hot day and take a break from the sun in the Enchanted Tiki Room. Be warned though, the line for the Tiki Juice Bar is always really long! You'll find the Tiki Juice Bar at the entrance to Adventureland from Main Street.

8. Frozen Pomegranate Silver Sparkler - Jolly Holiday Bakery Café, Main Street USA
Whenever I'm stopping by the Jolly Holiday to grab my Raspberry Rose Mickey Macaron (10/10 recommend), I always make sure to grab a Pomegranate Silver Sparkler! This is essentially the new frozen version of the Practically Perfect Punch (which you won't be able to find anymore, sorry). It's a frozen pomegranate limeade, topped with lemon lime whipped cream and some edible silver flakes! How fancy. You can find the Jolly Holiday on the west side of Main Street, near-ish the "Partners" statue.

This is the official picture from Disney Parks, and it kind of cracks me up! So sparkly!

9. Honey Bee Frozen Lemonade - Hungry Bear Restaurant, Critter Country
The Honey Bee Frozen Lemonade is so adorable. It tasted like it had a little twist of cherry, and it of course had mickey-shaped whipped cream on top. It comes complete with a sweet little honey icicle! A great treat for a hot day waiting in line for Splash Mountain! You'll find Hungry Bear right at the entrance of Critter Country, next to the Winnie the Pooh ride. 

10. Enchanted Cherry-Apple Lemonade - Troubadour Tavern, Fantasyland
I was actually kind of surprised by how much I loved this drink. By the end of the day when I tried this, I had already had 3 or 4 different specialty lemonades and was kind of over it. But adding the cherry and apple flavors to this lemonade made all the difference! It wasn't quite so tart as the others, and I enjoyed every sip. It was nice to have this as I was waiting for Mickey and the Magical Map! You'll find the Troubadour Tavern at the entrance to the Fantasyland Theatre, which is where you'll see Mickey and the Magical Map. 

Please forgive the horrid nighttime shot - I didn't try this one till pretty late at night!

Are there any AMAZING drinks that I missed? Do I need to make a part 2 of Fantastic Drinks? Let me know in the comments! 

10. Park Strategy, Part 3 - Both Parks in a Day!

I'm only going to be there for a day, but I want to do the best of both parks - Help!!

Okay don't worry I'll help you out here. Doing both parks in only one day is tough and exhausting, but I've been there too! I've definitely got some suggestions to make the most of your very short time, and hopefully you won't have to sacrifice too much magic!


Overall time-saving tips:

• Check the park hours! Get there as soon as the parks open! Park hours can be found here. Try to have an idea of how long it will take you to get to the parks in the morning and your mode of transportation (driving/parking, walking, bus, etc.) and then give yourself extra time just in case. I personally try to be there about 15-20 minutes before the parks open, to allow for security, and getting through the park gates. Being there for the rope drop is fun and it ensures you are squeezing every minute out of your day! 
• Do your shopping before or after your day at the parks. If your travel plans leave you with a free evening or a morning and you need to kill time, use that to go to Downtown Disney and get your park merch! The World of Disney store in Downtown Disney has almost all the stuff you'll find in the parks, in one convenient place. They even have a ton of candy. Do this and you won't have to worry about spending time to poke around and purchase things while you're in the parks. 
• If shopping the day before or after your Park day isn't doable, I would recommend doing all your shopping at the end of the day. The shops stay open an hour after the rest of the park closes! Hit up the Emporium in Disneyland for the biggest selection on the park.
• Take advantage of the FastPass system! A couple posts back I detailed the FastPass system. Make sure you use it! If you use Disneyland's app you can even see what times are being distributed on the current FastPasses. 

Speaking of the Disneyland App...

I want to take a moment to talk about the Disneyland app and how much I love it. This may sound dramatic but it has transformed the way that I do Disneyland. It saves me SO MUCH TIME and walking and I could not be grateful enough! Let me break it down feature by feature.

So many wait times!!

• It checks wait times for you. You just pull up the Disneyland map (which is the first screen that opens) and locate the ride you might want to ride next, and boom it shows the wait time. Which is nice to know in advance before you make your trek across the park just to find out that Star Tours is a 90-minute wait! 

• It tells you what the return time is for the FastPasses currently being distributed! Fantastic! It will also let you know if there are no more FastPasses for the day.
• It gives you all the ride information you might need. I'm talking hours, ride type, height restrictions, and potential closures (such as Fantasyland rides closing for fireworks performances).
• It tells you where you can meet characters. At the top there's a little side-scroll menu, where you can select "characters" (among other categories). Each category looks similar, bringing up an area of interest on the map that you can click on for details. 
• It shows you where restaurants are, their price point, and their menu. This comes in handy for me all the time, when my buddies and I all want a particular type of food but we're not sure where to find it. 

• It keeps all your park goodies in one place. By that I mean, that if you have dining reservations, park tickets, or PhotoPass pictures, they're all on the app. Just sign in with your Disney account and you're ready to go! If you have an annual pass, that links to the app as well and you can view your blackout days and discounts!
• Side note: Although you can use the app to scan your annual pass/park ticket to enter the park, you will still need a physical pass to get FastPasses and your Passholder discounts! 
• Speaking of PhotoPass photos... Those with an annual pass (or those who purchase the day pass to download the PhotoPass pictures) will be able to view all their pictures on the app. You can also download them directly to your phone. Some take a few hours to show up, while some pictures will show up minutes after they're taken. It's pretty awesome.
• Entertainment schedules are also available on the app (of course) so you never have to miss an awesome show again! 

As you can see, I have a giant crush on the Disneyland app. You can download it for free on iOS and Android! Once you've done so, and you've checked the park hours for the day you're going, I have some other time-saving tips when it comes to park hopping.

• This might sound a little odd, but... park hop as little as possible. A park hopper ticket is definitely valuable so you can ride all your favorite rides in both parks in a single day, but honestly, going back and forth between the parks takes a LOT of time. What I've taken to doing is splitting my day just about in half. That way you're not spending as much time getting out of one park and into another.
• Keep each of the parks' closing times in mind. Typically California Adventure will close before Disneyland. When this happens, I'll usually start my day there so that once I'm done I can stay in Disneyland for the rest of the day/night. 
• There are instances where Disneyland might close before DCA so make sure to always check for special events! For example, in September and October during Halloween Time, there are a couple nights a week where Disneyland closes early for Mickey's Halloween Party. After the early closing, only those with tickets to the special event will be allowed in the park! On a day like that, I'd start at Disneyland and make the switch to DCA after the early closing.

On this post I detailed the best things to do in Disneyland, and in this one I discussed California adventure. Combine those with my time-saving tips and you should have a fine time with a single day at the Disneyland Resort! 

If you have any time-saving tips that I forgot, let me know in the comments!

9. Park Strategy, Part 2 - DCA

Question 9: What if we want to spend the day in California Adventure?

There is actually plenty to be done in California Adventure these days. With the addition of Cars Land, as well as plenty of other attractions, DCA has become a place that is easy to spend all day in. So if you have an entire day to spend there, here are my tips to get you everywhere you might want to go in the park!

• Where to go first: There are a couple of things that you're going to want to do before doing anything else in DCA, especially if you have only one day in the park. Both of those things have to do with FastPasses. 
• Radiator Springs Racers: Near the entrance to Bug's Land, you'll find the FastPass machines for Radiator Springs Racers. These go incredibly fast. I'm talking gone within the first couple hours of park opening fast. If not faster. RSR is a truly awesome ride, and those FastPasses are really valuable. If you hope to get one, you're going to want to send somebody there very first thing when you get to the park. Don't worry though, not all hope is lost if you don't make it in time. There are other ways to get on that ride quickly, but I'll get to that later.

These pretty babies aren't easy to come by!

• World of Color: These aren't necessarily as urgent as the Radiator Springs Racers FastPasses, but I still always make sure to get these earlier in the morning. Although you can still see World of Color from areas that aren't designated seating, you really do get the best experience if you get a FastPass...which actually is just a ticket to the viewing areas, rather than a normal FastPass. The machines for the World of Color tickets can be found next to Grizzly River Run. 
• Breakfast: If you're on the park early in the morning you might want to grab a quick breakfast. There are a few places on the park that are great, however a lot of my favorite breakfast items in DCA are seasonal. 
• Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land is one of my absolute favorite places to eat when I'm in DCA. They don't have a ton in the way of breakfast, unless you want churro bites (which I may or may not have eaten for breakfast before...). However, when I went in December a couple years ago the Cozy Cone had breakfast cones! They had scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, chorizo and more all wrapped up in a yummy bread cone! I went the next February and they didn't have them however. I think they were seasonal, for the Feliz Navidad celebration.
• Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Cafe is essentially a Starbucks on Buena Vista Street. It has a bunch of breakfast sandwiches and pastries, and it is definitely the place to go if you need any kind of coffee. Their cinnamon rolls are awesome!
• Fillmore's Taste-In, also in Cars Land, is a great snack shack, and an awesome place to stop if you want some fresh fruit or juice for your breakfast.
• Flo's V8 Cafe is the place to hit if you want a homestyle breakfast. With items like french toast and scrambled egg platters, you'll want to stop here to get a full hearty meal early in the morning. 
• Pacific Wharf Cafe has awesome pastries and breakfast sandwiches to start your day with a light yet filling breakfast.
• Schmoozies in Hollywoodland has a selection of smoothies and blended coffee beverages for something quick and fruity!
• Lunch: After you've gone on some rides in the morning, you're probably going to be looking for some lunch! I've got a few places I really like:
• Cozy Cone Motel. Yes I'm going to put this place down for basically every meal. They've got so much to offer for any time of day! For lunch, I really like their garlic pretzel twists with a Redd's Apple Freeze. 
• Award Wieners in Hollywoodland has some really creative hot dogs! 
• Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta - exactly what it sounds like. They have salads too! I end up here a lot, because their Caesar salads are super good and huge!
• Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill is pretty tasty but I would recommend taking it easy for a bit after you have a meal there!
• Corn Dog Castle is my 15-year-old brother's favorite place to eat in the park. Which I actually don't blame him for, because their corn dogs are huge and really delicious! And it's the only place in the resort to get a spicy corn dog :) 
• Paradise Garden Grill is awesome if you like Greek food!
• Smokejumpers Grill (formerly Taste Pilots' Grill) is an awesome burger joint located in Grizzly Peak (formerly Condor Flats). Their burgers are awesome, and I like their onion rings too!
• Entertainment: There isn't a ton of entertainment right after lunch, like there is in Disneyland. But there is still a TON to do besides riding rides in California Adventure!
• Animation Academy: There is SO MUCH to do in this little place! It's a favorite of my family's, we spend hours here every time we go to the park. And it's so beautiful too. You can draw your own animation strip, you can take a quiz in Beast's library to see what Disney character you are, and you can even add your own voice to Disney movie clips in Ursula's grotto! You can also learn to draw various disney characters and depending on the time of year you can meet special characters too, such as Anna and Elsa. Plus, Turtle Talk with Crush is in the animation academy. That's always fun to see! Wow. Lots to do! Even with all of that though, my family and I just like to take a seat in the lobby and listen to the music. They project scenes and concept art on the walls and play really beautiful arrangements of the music from the movie being projected... if that makes sense. It's just really awesome in there.

Scenes and art from Tarzan, accompanied by a lovely rendition of "Two Worlds"

• Five and Dime is a travelling show, and it's so much fun to see. A five piece jazz band, accompanied by their singer, Dime, cruise Buena Vista Street in their old jalopy. Every once in a while they'll stop in the Carthay Circle and Dime will hop out to do the Charleston with a zoot-suited Goofy! 

This is probably my favorite show on the whole park, besides World of Color!

• It's Tough To Be A Bug is a really cute 3D show in Bug's Land. You get to meet all the different bugs and there are awesome effects!
• Depending on what is going on in the world of Disney movies, you may or may not actually get to watch It's Tough To Be A Bug. Lately, Disney has been showing sneak previews of upcoming movies in that theater, such as Zootopia or the new Jungle Book! They even use the effects available in the theater for the sneak preview, so it's still a great experience.
• The Pixar Play Parade is really the only parade I like to stop and watch in its entirety. The Pixar movies are the ones I loved most as a kid, so that's just what resonates with me. And the parade is just so much more fun than any other, in my opinion! This usually only runs once a day so if you want to see it make sure you plan ahead! Additionally, the parade is a little different each day (by way of including/not including some of the floats/characters) so don't be afraid to watch it more than once if you really loved it!

This was one of my favorite elements, but there are lots of really awesome floats from almost every Pixar movie!

• Places to explore: There might not be as much to do here in DCA as there is in Disneyland, but there are still some really cool things to see.
• Boudin Bakery Tour. DCA makes some really dope sourdough bread, and you can tour the bakery where they do it! Plus you get a free sample :)
• Blue Sky Cellar. This is a cool place to check out the ideas for upcoming projects for the Disney parks.
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is an awesome park to explore! There are lots of things to do in there and things to climb on, and if you do all the right challeges Russel and Dug will make you a Wilderness Explorer!
• Must-hit rides: California Adventure has been expanding pretty quickly since it's overhaul a few years ago! There are tons of rides to ride, many of them more intense than the ones you'll find in Disneyland. But don't worry, there are plenty for the small kids to go on too! Remember, if there's a certain seat you want on the ride just ask for it :)
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Oh man this one is so much fun, and just the right amount of creepy! Would not recommend right after a meal, this one shakes you up quite a bit! (And seeing Rod Serling in the intro video is a delight)
• Saddest update EVER: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror will be leaving us soon :( It will close its doors January 2017 and later that year will open up as a Guardians of the Galaxy ride. I have many, many feelings about this, none of them good, but what's done is done. In the meantime you can catch the "late check-out" on Tower of Terror and experience it in complete darkness. Kinda cool, but I'd rather keep the ride forever please and thank you.
• California Screamin'. This is one of my absolute favorite roller coasters of all time. You blast off from 0 to 60 in a matter of seconds, with Neil Patrick Harris there to psych you up. No joke, it's his voice that narrates anything on the ride from how to put on your restraints to "Five, four, three, two, one, SCREAM!" It's so amazing. For real. And if the line is long, consider the single rider line!

As you can see, my family is very photogenic on roller coasters.

• Toy Story Midway Mania is probably one of the best things to happen to DCA. The line is always really long, and it doesn't offer FastPasses. But it is so worth it! You're flinged around, stopping at different stations to play virtual midway games. That might not sound super amazing but I promise you it is so much fun!
• Ariel's Undersea Adventure is an awesome darkride. You sit in little shells and it takes you through the story of the Little Mermaid. It's pretty new, so the animatronics are really good!
• Mickey's Fun Wheel is the most terrifying ferris wheel I've ever been on. It has some swinging cars that put you right on the edge of the wheel hanging over the bay. It's fun, it's just a little scary at first! But it has a breathtaking view of California Adventure, it's totally worth it.
• Radiator Springs Racers is pretty incredible. It takes you through Radiator Springs, and you get either new tires or a new paint job on your car! Then the best part is at the end when you race with another car, which was either in front of you or behind you depending on your timing. It's so much fun! And I'm obviously not the only one who thinks so because its FastPasses are always gone within an hour of park opening. If you want to get on the ride faster and you weren't able to score a FastPass however, consider the single rider line. You definitely aren't going to be riding with your party, but you still get to go on the ride and that's what matters (to me at least)! Since the cars have rows of 3, and it's really common for a party to have even numbers, there are lots of extra seats. That's where the single rider line comes in, they'll just throw you into whatever seats are empty. The line moves really fast. If you're not too concerned about getting a picture with your whole group, or even riding with your group at all, I would definitely recommend the single rider line.

Once again, my photogenic family...

• Soarin' Over California is a family favorite. It's so beautiful. You go into a big room, sit on some glider benches, and take off into the California skies! I absolutely love it. The music is just golden. I would recommend buying a Disneyland soundtrack (found in plenty of shops around the parks) just for the music from this ride. 
• Update 2016: This ride has gone through some amazing changes and is now Soarin' Around the World. At first I was sad that it was going to change, but it's so much better now. You'll visit places all over the world (obviously) and you'll experience new smells compared to the old ride! There are transitions between the scenes now, instead of a jarring cut to the next place! The best part however is that the new footage is in HD. They used a 5-camera system, invented by Disney Imagineers, to capture the footage. Some of it is the most high-definition footage in the world! Don't worry, Patrick is still your chief flight attendant, and the music has the same theme as the last ride. Definitely improvements, I'm very pleased with Soarin' Around the World.
• Dinner: There are some awesome eats in Cars Land! Once again I'm going to recommend Cozy Cone Motel and Flo's V8 Cafe for another meal. At the Cozy Cone you can score a Chili Cone Carne, garnished with fritos and served in a warm bread cone. Flo's is going to have some homestyle meals, like fried chicken or chicken pot pie. It's all delicious. Another recommendation I would make for dinner is to eat somewhere that offers a World of Color package. If you purchase meals at Ariel's Grotto, Carthay Circle Restaurant, or Wine Country Trattoria you can score preferred viewing areas when you go to see World of Color. Each of those restaurants are a little pricier (especially the Carthay Circle Restaurant) but if you're fine with that and you want to see World of Color, definitely go for that dining and show package. Those really do get the best view for the show, so it's totally worth it!
• Nightly Entertainment: In case you haven't already noticed, I really love World of Color. Just make sure that you plan ahead for that one so that you can get your tickets! Either use the FastPass machines in the morning or get a dining package sometime during the day. Just go see that one, okay? But there are other fun things to see at night! Aladdin's Musical Spectacular is pretty awesome. It's just Aladdin, in musical form. But it's done really well. They even have some original songs that aren't in the movie! This runs all afternoon too, so you don't have to wait till after dinner. It's a nice way to get off your feet for a while. But if you want to get a little bit crazy at night, make sure to stop by the Mad T Party in Hollywoodland for a sweet concert dance party! They also serve fun light-up alcoholic beverages there for those that want to get super crazy.
• Update March 2016: I'm so sad about this but Aladdin's Musical Spectacular is no more. It is in the process of being replaced by a Frozen musical. Nobody knows for sure if this is permanent, I hope it isn't, but starting in May 2016 (I think...) you can see the Frozen show. As of March 2016 though, there are not any shows at the Hyperion Theater as they prepare for Frozen.
• Update July 2016: Okay so I saw the Frozen Musical Spectacular. I can assure you that it is quite aptly named. I loved that Aladdin show, but seriously I'm not even mad about it anymore. The effects in the Frozen show are breathtaking, the performances are amazing. I cried twice. It was so much fun to watch, and the puppeteering for Olaf was seriously impressive! If you're at DCA, SEE THIS SHOW. Make sure you get tickets, they look like FastPasses and they're just north of the Hyperion Theater. 
• Shopping: See the previous post (Disneyland park strategy) for all my tips on shopping in the parks.
• Snacks: Believe it or not *sarcasm*, all my favorite DCA snacks are in Cars Land. Seriously that entire land is just incredible. You can hit up Fillmore's Taste In for some fruit, and you can go to Flo's V8 Cafe for some dessert treats. But for me the best snacks are at the Cozy Cone Motel. You can get churro bites with a yummy dipping sauce. You can get "popcone" that has different flavors every day! They also have just regular buttered popcorn too, don't worry. You can get a pretzel twist, but I would only really consider that as a snack if you're sharing it...it's pretty big! You can also get a soft serve ice cream cone on a hot day (or really any day). But my FAVORITE things at the Cozy Cone are the drinks. They have a few different drinks that are just ridiculously good. You can get Ramone's Pear of Dice Soda, which is pear-flavored. You didn't know you even needed that, did you? But trust me, you definitely need it. There's the Red's Apple Freeze, which is like an apple cider slushie. They also have Doc's Wild Grape Tonic, and "route" beer floats. But my favorite beverage there is easily Fillmore's Fuelin' Groovy Pomegranate Limeade. I'll drink four of those in a day and still want more! My entire family loves 'em. 
• FastPass System: I talked a lot about FastPasses during this post... I went into detail with them on my Disneyland strategy post, but I'll put the important stuff here too.
• Remember the two hour rule: When you get a FastPass for a ride, you can get a new one either when your current one is active or two hours later, whichever comes first. When in doubt, look at the FastPass; printed right on there is the time that you're eligible for your next one.
• FastPasses are limited. Only a certain amount will be made available for each time slot. That is why the more popular rides have return times much farther away from the current time... the earlier ones have all been taken! 
• If you have a large group, it might be easiest for you go give one person all the park passes and have them make a run for FastPasses. Think about the system and which rides you want to FastPass and devise a strategy. 
• Since the World of Color FastPasses are actually just tickets, you can get those whenever you want and it shouldn't interfere with your other FastPasses (i.e. you can go get a FastPass for a ride immediately after you get one for World of Color).
• Although I have not confirmed this myself, I've been told that you can simultaneously hold FastPasses for rides at Disneyland and rides at California Adventure. Go ahead and try this if you're all about park hopping, but don't make your plans completely bank on this fact unless you can confirm that first.

Well, those are my tips/reviews/what have you for California Adventure. There's a lot to do there now, and that park is still growing. It's really come to be something amazing. Have fun over there, and keep reading on to the next post for my ultimate park hopping tips!

Happy planning!

8. Park Strategy, Part 1 - Disneyland

Question 8: Once we're finally in the park, is there any kind of strategy to make the best of our day?

Simply put...of COURSE there is strategy involved to get the best out of your time!! There are different strategies I have in mind depending on what rides or shows you might want to experience. I'm going to split this subject into a few different posts, one for each park as well as one for the ultimate park hopper. Because whether you have Park Hopper passes or One-Park-Per-Day passes, you're going to need a strategy to make the most of your precious time. And please note that these are my own personal strategies...I'm talking completely from experience here. If you know there is a way that you like to do things, go ahead and do it! I'm not your mother! Now let's get down to business.

Disneyland

While both parks have a lot to do, Disneyland definitely takes a lot more time to sift through. Especially if you're like me and you love to do all the little exploration activities and see every possible bit of entertainment. But here are my tips to make the most of your time.

• Where to go first: My observations over the years have shown that when people rush in at rope drop they all gravitate to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. If you want to walk on to a few rides right when you get there in the morning, head to Adventureland and New Orleans Square. Then go back later to hit up your favorite Tomorrowland rides! No joke, one morning I walked on to Indiana Jones, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Indiana Jones AGAIN in about an hour. That is AMAZING in Disneyland time. Not to mention I did all that just in time to grab a Mint Julep right when the Mint Julep Bar opened up for the day!

My dear old dad getting excited for some morning Beignets!

• Another option however, if you simply MUST meet Mickey....Toontown isn't very crowded in the mornings. If Mickey (or Minnie, or their other classic friends) is your must-meet character you might want to zip straight for T-town.
• Breakfast: Depending on how early you got to the park, you'll probably be thinking of either breakfast or lunch after your first few rides. If you didn't have breakfast before you went to the park, I have a couple of favorite places. 
• River Belle Terrace is a personal favorite of mine, right across from Tarzan's Treehouse in Adventureland. They have tasty pancakes, potatoes, and the crowd favorite....cinnamon roll french toast. Yum!
• Update Sept. 2016: River Belle Terrace no longer serves breakfast!! The food that was previously served there has been moved to Rancho Del Zocalo where you can get the traditional American breakfast, or a Mexican breakfast. Definitely hit it up because the chorizo breakfast burrito is awesome.
• Plaza Inn is a great place if you're into character dining. You'll need to make a reservation for breakfast, but if you are wanting to fully immerse yourself in all things Disney early on in the day this is your place!
• Lunch: Go ride more rides! You're going to get hungry again soon enough though...warning, there is a big ole lunch rush from 12 to 2, just like you'll find literally anywhere else in the world. Choose your time wisely! Here are my favorite lunch spots:
• Hungry Bear Cafe. This cozy restaurant is right near the entrance of Critter Country. I like to stop by after I've done my early afternoon ride on Winnie the Pooh and Splash Mountain. This place has chicken sandwiches and chili burgers, among a few others, and they are typically accompanied by sweet potato fries. 
• Bengal Barbecue. If you like meat on a skewer, this is the place for you. Located across from Indiana Jones in Adventureland.
• Tomorrowland Terrace. This is your run-of-the-mill burger, hot dog, french fry joint. Located around the corner (if you're headed towards Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage) from Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland. 
• Cafe Orleans. I love cajun food. I just do. Cafe Orleans, as you can guess, is smack in the middle of New Orleans Square. Make sure you get a reservation, and make sure you order some Pommes Frites! If you're eyeing the Monte Cristo sandwich, know that it is freaking HUGE and you're going to want to share it with someone else. Top that meal off with some delicious beignets and you just had the best meal ever!

Blackened Chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries...love Cafe Orleans!

• Entertainment: After lunch is typically when I like to slow it down a little and see some shows. There is a lot to do in the afternoons by way of park entertainment, and it's a lot easier on your now-full stomach than blasting off to Space Mountain! You can find a full entertainment schedule on the Disneyland website, the Disneyland app, and in the brochures you can pick up at the park entrance. Here are some of my favorites:
• Enchanted Tiki Room. Alright real talk, parts of this show creep me out. It's not necessarily a scary show, definitely kid-friendly... There are just a lot of strange tiki dudes pounding on drums for extended periods of time. But I have got to admit that I simply love this show. I could listen to "The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room" fifty times in a row and still love it. This show is absolutely classic... try to see it at least once during your stay. 
• Mickey and the Magical Map. This show is new, as of Spring 2013. It takes place in the new Fantasyland Theatre, and it is simply delightful. My favorite thing about it is all of the older Disney movies incorporated into it. I'm talking Pocahontas, Mulan, and even Jungle Book! Don't worry, it's got Tangled in there too, so even the younger kids will enjoy it. Great show for all ages.
• Captain EO. 3-D Michael Jackson tribute. Need I say more?
• Update 2016: When Season of the Force came to Tomorrowland, we had to say goodbye to Captain EO. However, the theater is in use! Now you'll be able to see Path of the Jedi. It's essentially a supercut of Anakin's path to the Dark Side, and it's really awesome. It uses all the special effects in the theater, and it's one of my new favorite ways to take a rest in the parks!
• Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Animatronic Abraham Lincoln show... again, no further description needed. 
• Storytelling at the Royal Theatre. This is a delightful show featuring either Rapunzel & Flynn, or Belle, and their storytelling companions as they do a little theatre version of their story. It's the most adorable thing, and extremely hilarious as well.
• Places to explore: If you have small, rambunctious children, sitting down for some shows may not be your easiest option. I was sure fidgety as a child, I know how it goes. If you're still worried about your full stomach getting upset by rides, there is another option for you! There are lots of fun things to do and see in every area of the park.
• Adventureland: Tarzan's Treehouse! I absolutely adore this attraction. You get to walk around in an awesome treehouse, and see the story of Tarzan! And at the end, you get to "trash the camp."

Nothing wrong with a sword fight up there, either!

• Frontierland: This area is home to one of my all-time favorite exploration locations. Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island is a treat. This is a GREAT sword fight location, if you're into that stuff. Which I definitely am. This is one of my favorite places to just completely let go of my dignity and be as a child. Love it.
• Toontown: Toontown has a lot of fun places, such as Goofy's house and Donald's boat, the Miss Daisy. Plus the entire area is chock full of wacky architecture that I find to be quite enchanting.
• Fantasy Land: So, you know that super-iconic castle that everyone dreams of walking under? Well, go walk through the castle gate and then take a left and you'll go right to the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough! Yes, that's right, you can go INSIDE the castle! And as you walk through, you see all sorts of cool displays aimed at telling you Sleeping Beauty's story.

This is what you'll look for! The entrance to the Castle :)

• Tomorrowland: Innoventions is a really cool place. Or at least it used to be...ever since Disney's acquisition of Marvel, Innoventions has been fairly superhero-oriented, which isn't quite my jam. There are also lots of Xboxes, strangely enough. But, if you or your kids really like the newest superheroes this is the place to check 'em out. There is a rather impressive display of all of Iron Man's suits, and you can even meet Thor! And in the downstairs area of Innoventions is the Dream House, an interactive area with lots of cool ideas that I do actually hope make their way into homes all over the globe.
• Update 2016: Innoventions and Dream House are gone! The building is now occupied by the Star Wars Launch Bay and the Hero HQ. So you can still meet your favorite Marvel heroes, but the best part is that you can meet Kylo Ren and Chewbacca! There's also a lot of really cool models and replicas from the Star Wars movies. The Launch Bay is SUPER cool. 
• Main Street, USA: One of my favorite places to go on Main Street is the Main Street Cinema. It is on your right as you are walking into the park, and it is quite obvious. However I am alone in there almost every time I give it a go. You'll walk past the creepy ticket lady, through a turnstile, around a curtain into a room with six screens. Each is showing a vintage Mickey cartoon, one of which is the ultimate classic, Steamboat Willie! I love old-style cartoons so this place is a dream for me. It is so much fun to take a load off, get out of the sun, and bask in the strange nature of vintage Disney.
• Must-hit rides: So, I've given you things to do when you're not riding rides...now I need to tell you which rides to hit! I mean, these things are probably 75% of the reason you came to Disneyland in the first place. Hint: If you want to ride in a certain seat on the ride, i.e. the front, all you have to do is ask! Cast members, in my experience, are always kind and accommodating. You might have to wait for an extra ride cycle or two to get the seat you want, but it's totally worth it if you want the best view.
• Indiana Jones Adventure: FastPass available, Single Rider line available. Awesome thrill ride, one of the most unique experiences ever. Make sure the kids are tall enough!
• Jungle Cruise. This isn't the most exciting ride, but it is definitely a Disneyland classic. And I'm such a sucker for puns, of which this ride is absolutely full.
• Pirates of the Caribbean. This is an absolute classic, and a very peaceful ride. Keep an eye out for the new Jack Sparrow additions!
• Haunted Mansion. FastPass available during peak attendance. Another classic, and my personal favorite. Mid-September to the beginning of January it transforms to Haunted Mansion Holiday, based upon Nightmare Before Christmas! Lots of fun to ride, but because of this transformation the ride is closed for the weeks following and preceding the holidays.
• Splash Mountain. FastPass available. Before you ride, try and come up with a fun picture to take! Google can certainly help you with ideas. Make sure the kids are tall enough!

I dare you to have as much fun as we did on this ride! FOR NARNIA!!

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. FastPass available. This is a surprisingly thrilling roller coaster. I don't know why its thrill surprises me, but it's an awesome ride. Keep an eye out for the goat holding the dynamite, and make sure the kids are tall enough!
• Peter Pan's Flight. I absolutely adore this ride. I love Peter Pan and everything he stands for, so of COURSE I'll join him on his flight to Neverland! This ride takes you up in a flying pirate ship over the London skies. Lines are always long though, I would recommend heading there right after the nightly fireworks, when Fantasyland opens back up. 
• Space Mountain. FastPass available. Everyone knows that this is one of the greatest roller coasters of all time. You zip around in the dark, surrounded by stars and not knowing when the next turn is going to arrive. Every time you ride it is just as exciting as the last. Make sure the kids are tall enough!
• Update 2016: Disneyland is currently celebrating "Season of the Force" in Tomorrowland. This began just before The Force Awakens hit theaters. There hasn't been an announced end date, so until further notice (maybe until Star Wars Land opens up?) Space Mountain has transformed into Hyperspace Mountain, which is even more fun than you're imagining. However it still will be converted to "Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy" during Halloween Time!
• Star Tours. FastPass available. This ride is a dream for the Star Wars lover. It recently got a big overhaul, so if you haven't been to DLR for a while be prepared for a different experience. It is now in 3D, so you'll be wearing some SWEET glasses. The other big change is that every ride is different - there are lots of different locations to visit (now including Jakku from The Force Awakens!), and you'll get a couple different ones each time you ride. The other big change is that C3-P0 is your pilot, rather than that goofy droid from years past. Don't worry though, you can still see that little guy in the queue line! Get ready for a seriously cool ride, and make sure the kids are tall enough!
• Dinner: I already told you my favorite places to eat, but I've got to put a plug in for the Blue Bayou. You may not have heard of it, but you've probably seen it... you know that very first area in Pirates of the Caribbean, when you're in that quaint little bayou and you can see all those people eating in a restaurant INSIDE the ride? Yeah, that's the Blue Bayou...and my goodness if it's not one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten in. Not just in Disneyland...best out of anywhere I've been. Period. You'll definitely need a reservation, which you'll need to secure at least a month in advance. Two if you know the park will be busy. Little hint, there are free refills on the Mint Juleps. 

Look how delicious! And as you can see, I'm not joking about the Mint Juleps :)

• Nightly Entertainment: At night there are a couple of big things to top of your visit at Disneyland. There are parades, as well as fireworks. These all vary depending on the time of year you decide to visit. In December, the fireworks also includ an awesome California snowfall! Which means of course that it was fake. I'm from Utah, so their snow didn't exactly impress me, but I've got to say that there is something absolutely magical about a peaceful snowfall at the end of a long day at Disneyland. They really make it special. And most of the year you'll score the "Remember Dreams Come True" fireworks, which feature the wonderful Julie Andrews. I don't usually care to watch fireworks, but I will ALWAYS stop to watch that show. Another great nighttime show is Fantasmic!, which takes place on the Rivers of America. They recently started using a FastPass system to get tickets to the show, so make sure you get those sometime during the day in Frontierland.
• Update 2016: A couple of changes to the nightly entertainment at Disneyland. There is a new fireworks show for the Disneyland 60th anniversary Diamond Celebration. I believe the show is called Disneyland Forever, and it is truly incredible. Anywhere you want to watch the fireworks promises a truly captivating experience. I don't always make time for fireworks, to be honest, but I would 10/10 recommend this one. Same for the new parade for the same celebration. It's called the "Paint the Night" parade and my goodness it is beautiful. Make time to watch it. You won't regret the decision. 
• Still with the update: No more Fantasmic! for a little while. They had to close down the Rivers of America (where the show takes place, as well as a few attractions) for the construction of Star Wars Land. 
• Shopping: I like to spread my shopping throughout the day, so that I don't feel the heavy weight of the obligation to get everyone I know a souvenir on my way out of the park. My shopping tips are as follows:
• If you don't want to actually buy stuff throughout the day, at least make note of items you wish to purchase. Ask a cast member if the item you like is at the Emporium - the huge shop on Main Street. If it is, that's something you can probably wait on and grab on your way out of the park.
• Being on your way out of the park doesn't have to mean at the end of the night. If I have multiple days in the park, and especially if my hotel is within walking distance, I like to go take a midday nap. I will usually buy a few items right before doing this. Not only do I avoid the nighttime rush, but I don't have to carry it around all day.
• Some food stands will issue a coupon with your meal purchase. It typially will give you 20% or so off your purchase at certain merchandise locations, as long as you purchase before 2:00 or so. 20% can really add up at Disneyland, so take advantage and make your purchases early! This also helps you to avoid the nighttime rush right after the parades and fireworks.
• If you want to avoid the night rush but can't go back to your hotel during the day AND you don't want to carry everything around all day...there is still a solution for you! You can actually check your items at the Newsstand at the front of the park and pick them up later. In California Adventure you can check them at Elias and Co. I have done this every single time I've made a midday purchase (ever since I knew about the bag check, of course) and it has proven to be very rewarding. And the best thing is...IT'S FREE! Take advantage, y'all. (note: You can't just check any old thing you want. Just Disneyland purchases. You'll have to get a locker if you wish to stow your personal items.)
• Snacks: Honestly, one of my favorite things about Disneyland is all of the delicious treats and snacks. Something that I tend to do, especially with a small group, is to have the group go get in line for the ride and have one person go grab a snack for everyone to share. It's time-saving, and it will also keep everyone fueled throughout the day. Here are some of my personal favorites:
• Churros. This is a Disneyland classic. Please get at least one. They can be found at little stands around the park.
• Dole Whip Float/Pineapple Whip. You'll find these beauties at the Enchanted Tiki Bar, which is right between the Adventureland entrance and the Enchanted Tiki Room. Who knew! The Pineapple Whip is a pineapple-flavored soft-serve ice cream, and the Whip Float is said ice cream on top of fresh pineapple juice! I always go for the Whip Float myself, but either is perfect on a hot afternoon. Be warned though, the line gets really long on hot days! 

I'm cooling off just looking at 'em! These are the Whip Floats.

• Frozen Bananas. This is another great treat for a hot day. Just a simple frozen banana with chocolate and peanuts. They're super frozen though, so if you have problems biting into popsicles and things like that they can take quite a while to eat! Make sure you have time before your next ride. You can usually eat food in the outside sections of queue lines though. You can find these at various frozen treat kiosks throughout both parks.
• Mint Julep and Mickey Beignets. Alright this is my absolute favorite snack in the whole world. I've mentioned a few times so far already, for good reason. The Mint Julep is a delicious and refreshing mint-lemon-lime beverage, topped off with a lemon slice and two maraschino cherries. I could drink about two billion of these. You know how I mentioned the free refills on these babies at Blue Bayou? Yeah, I had 4 1/2 of them at that one meal last time I ate there. If you've never heard of Beignets (pronounced ben-yay), they are the New Orleans version of what many people would call a scone. It's a much lighter, fluffier version and it is covered in powdered sugar. For real...they serve it to you in a paper bag that is filled with powdered sugar. It's completely awesome. The Julep-Beignet combo is my favorite mid-morning snack on the park, hands down. And during the holidays you can find variations on the Beignets, such as pumpkin and gingerbread flavors! They're all delicious. You can get all these fantastic items at the Mint Julep Bar, located near the Disneyland Railroad New Orleans Square station. 

Ahh, the always-coveted (at least by me!) Mint Julep. Doesn't it look so refreshing? :)

• Caramel apples. This may not sound too special, but anyone that has had a Disneyland caramel apple will tell you that there is something magical about them. They are hand-dipped, using the most perfect, crispy-est Granny Smith apples and the sweetest, smoothest caramel you've ever sunk your teeth into. There are lots of cute character-themed variations on these apples of course, but I just like the original. Nothing wrong with simplicity.
• Cashew Pretzel Rod. This is an adventure to eat. And by adventure, I mean that your dentist will be able to take a great adventure vacation once he is done working on the damage this thing has done to your teeth. Worth it though. It's a big ole pretzel rod, dipped in caramel, rolled in cashews, and then dipped in chocolate. My dad loves these so much that the only souvenir he wanted from my most recent trip...was a cashew rod. My dad is a little strange, I'll admit, but these things are mighty tasty.
• Update 2016: Sadly, I have not been able to find these tasty treats anywhere this entire year. If anybody manages to find them, let me know in the comments!
• Pineapple Spear. While there are just some straight up pineapple spears for the healthy-minded throughout the park, the one I'm talking about can be found in candy shops because it is a giant pineapple spear that is DIPPED IN CHOCOLATE. I don't know why I never had pineapple and chocolate before, but it is messy and delicious and I love it.
• Popcorn. I can guarantee you right now that the most prominent smell you will experience in the park is popcorn. Delicious, buttery, popcorn. There are little popcorn stands scattered throughout each park, and they all project their smell to great distances. And man does it smell good. If you decide to finally give in, you won't be disappointed. Unless you have completely ridiculous popcorn standards. Fun fact, each stand has its own little figure that turns a little crank. No joke, every single stand has a different one and they match the land they're in. Cute!
• Turkey Leg & Corn Dog. Alright it's a stretch to call these things snacks. But I had to put them somewhere. You can get a turkey leg at a few different food stands throughout the park. There are definitely some in Fantasyland between the Matterhorn and It's A Small World, as well as on the Hub on Main Street. The Corn Dog stand on Main Street near the Plaza Inn usually has a ridiculously long line, so if you want one of those I would suggest going to the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland. Each of these items are extremely classic, delicious, and HEAVY. Whatever you do, do not ride a thrill ride within about 45 minutes of eating either of these. Ha! Just trust me, alright? (Warning, the Turkey Leg actually tastes more like ham than turkey.)

Isn't that just a pretty sight? No other way to eat a classic Disneyland Turkey Leg!

• FastPass System: I've been mentioning FastPasses this whole time...but not everyone knows what they are, I'm sure. Simply put, they are Disney's way of letting your hold your spot in line and coming back for it later. Here's how it goes: 
• Walk up to a FastPass Distribution area. Above the entrance you'll see a return time, typically a one-hour range. This is when you'll be coming back to ride that ride.
• Walk up to a machine and insert your park ticket. The machine will give you a slip of paper with the ride name, the date, and your return time. It will also tell you when another FastPass will be available for you.
• You can only hold one FastPass at a time. You can get a new one as soon as your current one becomes valid (at the return time), or two hours after it was distributed, whichever comes first. For example:
• It's 11 am. I want a FastPass for Star Tours, for which the return time is 12:15-1:15. I get the FastPass. At 12:15, I can both use my Star Tours FastPass and then get a new FastPass for another ride (or for Star Tours again - there's not a limit [that I know of] on how many valid passes you can receive for a certain ride in one day). 
• Again, it's 11am. But this time I want a Space Mountain FastPass. This ride is more popular, so their FastPasses get claimed much faster.... The return time is 2:45-3:45. I get the FastPass. However, since I got it at 11am I can get a new one at 1pm since the two-hour rule happened before the return time rolled around.
• If this stuff ever confuses you....just take a look at your current FastPass. It says right on the ticket when a new one is available.

Here's a FastPass for ya! See, all the information you need is right on there.

• FastPasses are limited. Only a certain amount will be made available for each time slot. That is why the more popular rides have return times much farther away from the current time... the sooner ones have all been taken! For example, in the summer you'll usually have to wait a few hours to use your Splash Mountain FastPass. But in the winter, your FastPass for Splash Mountain will probably be ready to go about 40 minutes from the time you got it. 
• If you have a large group, it might be easiest for you go give one person all the park passes and have them make a run for FastPasses. Think about the system and which rides you want to FastPass and devise a strategy. I want to help, but every group is different...I can't do EVERYTHING for you!

In summary, there is an awful lot to do (and eat!) at Disneyland, and every trip is different for each group. Your specific strategy is going to vary a great deal depending on your group's size, age range, time on the park(s), and general priorities. To make the most of my tips, I would recommend talking to your group and deciding what is the most important. Do you want to hit all the best rides, or are you more interested in exploring every corner of the park? Do you need to have all the best food, do you want to see all the entertainment? I will tell you right now that you can indeed have it all, but I have only been able to accomplish such a feat with very small groups over multiple days in the parks.

And of course, I am not able to post every single detail about the parks up here. Do plenty of research before you go. The Disneyland website is actually quite good, it has all the entertainment, attraction, and dining info you'll need. I'm mostly here to give you some real-life input and strategy tips. Hopefully it all helps!

Now go do some research, and happy planning! :)