Disney Travel Tips from Mouseketrips
About the Column
Is it possible to have too many Disney tips? Well, yes, if they're from your crazy uncle Louie, but not if they're straight from the experts, the folks who plan perfect trips for others day-in, day-out: Disney travel agents! Keith Anderson, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and co-owner of Mouseketrips, has been doing that for years. He's learned a lot about Disney, especially how to save money on a Disney vacation without skimping on the frills or the thrills. Every week, in Disney Travel Tips from Mouseketrips, Keith will distill new Disney wisdom - just for you! Don't tell Uncle Louie...
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Disneyland Tidbits
Keith Anderson learned some new travel tips at Disneyland
I spent the last few days in Disneyland, and I thought I would share a few things I learned while in the parks. Disneyland is fantastic, and you can't really call yourself a Disney fan unless you've been there.
World of Color See it. Really, you have to see it. There are several ways to get reserved seats for the show, the easiest of which is simply to get a FASTPASS. As soon as the gates open, sprint to the Grizzly River Run FASTPASS area. Disneyland Resort guests who enter the park early will claim some of the tickets, but there should be plenty still available if you get there as soon as the park opens to the general public.
Eat in Downtown Disney I'm always blown away by the food prices at Disneyland. I know this is Southern California, but come on! We did an experiment during our stay. First, we ate at Cocina Cucamonga in California Adventure. Cost for a party of five: $75 - and that was for an entree and drink, only. Remember, this is a counter service restaurant, and the food was bad. I'd give it 2 stars out of 5, and that's being generous. For lunch the next day, we dined at the Taqueria at Tortilla Jo's in Downtown Disney. Cost? Under $50. The food was not fantastic, but it was decent, better than what we had at Cocina Cucamonga. Better food for considerably less money seems like a no-brainer to me.
Work back to front When visiting California Adventure, the construction in the parks makes getting around a bit more difficult than usual. Yesterday, we arrived right as the park was opening. The wait for Soarin' was immediately 45 minutes, but at the back of the park, Toy Story Mania and California Screamin' had no lines at all, and didn't for a good 30 minutes. Even an hour after the park opened, Mickey's Fun Wheel still did not have a line. Grab a FASTPASS for Soarin' and then head for Toy Story.
Dole Whip A Dole Whip is a must for me and for most Disney fans. The line for them at Disneyland is often long. For a nice afternoon break, head into the Enchanted Tiki Room courtyard to wait for the show. The Dole 'shack' has two sides, one on the Adventureland bridge, the other in the Tiki courtyard, and no one is ever in line in the courtyard. Get your Dole Whip without waiting - plus, you can take it with you inside the Tiki Room.
While you're waiting for Keith's next Disney tip, why not ask him to plan your next Disney trip? Mouseketrips does nothing but Disney - and they're really good at it! Hook up with them at their website, through Twitter, or on Facebook.
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