My Favorite foods at Disneyland

One of the things I like best about Disneyland is the food. I have been to other theme parks in Southern California and this is one of the many areas in which the other parks just can't compete. I am a creature of habit and have quite a few favorites that I go to time and again.

My first stop when I enter the park (and my last when I leave) is the Blue Ribbon Bakery, which is located right on Main Street. They have really good chocolate filled croissants and cinnamon twists. I don't eat sweets too often, but I love to get one and share it with the kids. It's also a good place to get a cup of coffee. The Carnation Cafe, which is right next door, is also great, if you're looking for a nice warm plate of pancakes to start your day off.

For lunch and dinner, there are a wonderful array of choices. One of my favorite places to dine is Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland. My personal favorites are the chicken kabob and the vegetable kabob. If you look at the official Disneyland web site, they list the type of meal served here as a snack. Don't let this discourage you from making it a meal. Just get 2 kabobs and an order of Tiger Tails (bread sticks) and you'll be set. If you're in the mood for fish, I would recommend the Stage Door Cafe's fish and chips, which you'll find in Frontierland. An excellent lunch can also be found at the Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square. Everything is great on the menu, but when I dine there, I get either the vegetarian gumbo or the clam chowder. They serve it in a wonderful sourdough bread bowl that's a treat in itself. My final favorite haunt for food is the Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante in Frontierland. They have really good cheese enchiladas and salads. I am personally not much of a meat eater, but the barbecued meat looks like it's pretty good too. It's particularly nice to dine here, as the outdoor dining area is really beautifuly decorated with delicate, multicolored lanterns.

Another thing I love about dining at Disneyland is the fact that they serve Coca Cola products. It is by far the best beverage ever invented, as far as I'm concerned and is just one more aspect that makes the park ideal. I lovingly refer to it as "the nectar of the gods" and is the only sweet habit I just can't seem to break (although I have cut back significantly). If Disneyland were to ever get rid of it, I just don't know what I'd do.

Jennifer

Enjoying the Disneyland Fireworks Display

The fireworks at Disneyland are nothing short of spectacular and well worth seeing when visiting the park. When planning your vacation you should keep in mind that if you're going on a day when the park is not open late, there will be no fireworks display. Make sure you check the park calendar to see if they will be doing a show, if the fireworks are a must see event for you. We absolutely love watching them.

Getting a Spot for the Show:

Many guests get a spot a couple of hours before the display starts, in order to get a perfect spot for the show. Now, while they may have a wonderful view, they have lost a lot of valuable time and won't get to ride as many attractions as those who don't. We suggest getting a last minute spot on Main street, which has a great view, or to watch them in front of It's a Small World, which also has a good view as well. Usually, you can easily get a spot about 20 minutes before the show starts in either location. Keep in mind the trees when getting a spot as well. It's easy to forget they're there and they can really block the view. While waiting for the show to start, We use this time to have a snack while waiting for the show. If you're on Main St., there is a bakery and a coffee shop, where you can get a nice hot beverage and a snack. We also suggest that you do not try to leave the park immediately after the fireworks. It takes forever to get out of the park itself and then you will be waiting for a very long time to get on a tram. We suggest you use this time to get any souvenirs you were eying during the day, or grab a cup of coffee and let the guests filter out. This is also a good time to get in a few more rides, as the lines are much shorter after the fireworks.



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How to Avoid Long Lines at Disneyland on a Crowded Day

Going to Disneyland on a crowded day can be a bit of a challenge, but it's possible to still do a lot, without spending the day in endless lines. Whenever we go to the park we always take into account the number of people visiting that day and plan our activities accordingly. There are many attractions that offer fast passes, as well as other attractions that have faster moving lines, or none at all.

If you are going in the summer, or during the holidays, the park is going to be very crowded. I can't stress enough the importance of getting there a good hour before the park opens in order to park, get your tickets and get in line to enter the park. For every hour the park is open, hundreds of people are going to be flooding in the gates and the sooner you get in the park, the bigger the head start you'll have on the other guests.

A wonderful feature that Disneyland offers is fastpass tickets. When you enter the park, be sure to get a map and schedule for the day. It includes all the information about fastpasses and where to get them. When getting fastpass tickets, make sure you get them early in the day. If you wait too long, they may run out of fastpasses and you won't be able to take advantage of them. Also, if you don't get back to the ride before your fastpass expires, don't worry, park employees will still honor them.

You can also avoid long lines by choosing attractions that have short wait times. These are our favorite attractions to visit when the park is crowded:

- Pirate's Lair at Tom Sawyer's Island
- Mark Twain River Boat
- Sailing Ship Columbia
- Innoventions
- Pirates of the Caribbean (even when the line is long, it moves very fast)
- Disneyland Railroad
- Jungle Cruise (another one with a fast moving line)
- Main Street Cinema
- Disneyland Story Featuring Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln
- Disneyland Monorail
- Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (it was recently revamped and they did a really nice job)
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (even if you don't have a fastpass, the line moves quickly)


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