Feels Like The First Time: Holidays at Disneyland

Last weekend we were invited to experience Holidays at Disneyland, where Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure are transformed for the holidays. We've been lucky enough to have been guests at the park during this magical time before, but as I've mentioned my kids never, ever get tired of it and squeal at the spectacle as if it's their first time. If only they could bottle that emotion and apply it chores – I'd love to see that enthusiasm when I ask them to empty the dishwasher.

So if my girls get that excited after seeing it a few times, imagine how fun it was this trip when we took one of my daughter's friends for his first ever trip to Disneyland. I KNOW. My older daughter couldn't make it, so it was my 13-year-old, her BFF (another Disneyland veteran) and their first-timer friend on this trip. Seeing someone take their first Disneyland adventure is exciting – it was like watching one of my babies take their first steps, except this time I didn't cry and scream at anyone to grab a camera. Well, maybe only a few times.

Who doesn't get goosebumps when you walk in and see the giant Christmas tree on Main Street? I tried to get a picture of all the kids in front of it, but they had already taken off running to the Haunted Mansion. Which of course has been given a Christmas makeover and is now Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas with Jack Skellington and his crew. The first-timer (for lack of a better moniker) loved this one, although he admitted it wasn't as scary as he thought it was going to be. I told him the real terror was coming up, when I left him alone with the two 13-year-old girls and I took off to get some dinner. (At the Wine Country Trattoria, of course.)

Taking his first ride on It's A Small World would have been special enough during any other time of the year, but it was that much more enchanting when the ride has been transformed for the holidays. Although, being a 13-year-old boy, he wasn't going to get as excited about this ride as *some of us*. But I know he was screaming inside.

I don't think anything sums up the magic that is Disneyland like Sleeping Beauty's Castle, and especially when it's lit up for the holidays. The three of them just stood and stared at this for awhile, and you now it's mesmerizing when it holds the attention of three teenagers and they're oblivious to the cart full of churros and Cokes just a few feet away.

The Believe In Holiday Magic fireworks are one of my favorite parts of the day, but unfortunately they were cancelled on this night because of the severe winds we'd been experiencing for a few days. They did go on with the famous snowfall on Main Street, though, and I got to see the excitement from my place in the line at the coffee cart. (There is something so ironic and metaphoric about that last sentence, my life going by as I wait to buy yet another cup of coffee. Oprah, call me please.)

Aside from some of the rides being transformed for the holidays, the entire park is decorated and the shops are stocked with seasonal items. My daughters wear their Santa hats with the Mickey ears every Christmas – like their time at Disneyland, they seem new every year. As for the first timer - he declared his first trip to the Magic Kingdom "THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!" I know he meant it, too.


Holidays At Disneyland will be going on until January 8, 2012 – check the website for park hours and special activities.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

Tweet Pin It

World of Color: Yet Another Reason Not To Pass Up California Adventure

It's no secret that between the two Anaheim parks, California Adventure is the scruffy little sister to it's more glamorous sibling, Disneyland. The Magic Kingdom has better clothes, better hair and let's face it -- probably gets all the cute guys.  

But I think all that is about to change with 'World Of Color,' the elaborate nighttime water show that just opened at California Adventure. A few weeks ago I was invited to the premiere of this newest attraction, and by the looks of it I think more people will finally be paying attention to the 'little sister.' It's like she threw away her retainer and training bra all at once!

(It's also no secret that I'm the only one in my family that prefers California Adventure, with its shorter lines, wide open spaces and wine with dinner. It's also home to my favorite ride, Soarin' Over California, the best ride ever invented -- that is, if you don't count my other favorite ride.)

In a nutshell, 'World Of Color' is a combination water show/light show/movie experience that takes place on a 'stage' of water, bigger than a football field, in Paradise Bay. For those of you who hate nutshells, here's a brief description from Disney:

During the under-25-minute show, “World of Color” immerses audiences in technological wonder and the enchanting magic of beloved Disney and Disney•Pixar characters, combining nearly 1,200 versatile fountains, dazzling colors, Disney music and an all-new kaleidoscope of audio and visual effects...Animated sequences projected onto the “World of Color” water screen will flood the senses, taking audiences on an imaginative journey into the colorful worlds of such classics as “Finding Nemo,” “Toy Story,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King” and many more.

Take a look:



The 'Blue Carpet' premiere before the show was a great celeb-watching event -- I'll post my photos later this week, including more of this stud and this couple who looked so happy at the time.  Also, God answered my prayers and I finally got to stay at the Grand Californian. I'll be posting a review of my time there later, and for once it doesn't involve me stealing any toiletries.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

tags: world of color | disneyland | california adventure

Tweet Pin It

More Fun Than Mom: The Natural History Museum

I've written before about my daughters' refusal to go to summer camp when they were younger. While most kids were spending their days learning about science or new soccer moves, mine were content to stay home and spend those long hot summer days watching me work. Although I can't say I blame them -- there is something magical about the way I hunch over my keyboard.

But all that changed one summer when they agreed to go to the Adventures in Nature camp at the Natural History Museum in LA. Who knew that learning about dinosaurs, birds and minerals could be more fun than watching your mom yell at the computer screen? Well, something about being in a class that took place inside the museum, and where they could get a behind-the-scenes glimpse reeled them right in -- they continued going to the camp for years until they outgrew it. And these were classes taught by people trained in the sciences -- no chance of showing up at class and realizing your friend's gross older brother was going to be telling you how to play dodgeball all summer.

Besides the camp, the museum has so much to offer and we go there several times a year as a family. I grew up going to the NHM and I'll continue to support them, and here's a great offer if you want to check it out: For a (very) limited time, you can buy a family membership for $60 -- that's UNLIMITED FREE admission for 2 adults and 4 children. But hurry -- the offer expires at midnight on Thursday, May 20.

And the best part -- the membership gives you a discount on the Adventures in Nature camp I was telling you about.

Here's what else you'll get:

• UNLIMITED FREE admission for 2 adults and 4 children (ages 17 and under) to the Natural History Museum
• UNLIMITED FREE admission to Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits and William S. Hart Ranch & Museum in Newhall
• FREE admission to special exhibits and events including: Pavilion of Wings, Spider Pavilion, Bug Fair and First Fridays
• 10% discount in the Museum Stores
• Discounts on educational classes, camps and overnight adventures
• 4 FREE guest passes valid at the Natural History Family of Museums ($36 Value)

And another bonus: 5% of every purchase will be donated to the Savvy Source Preschool Scholarship Fund for children in financial need

Click here to take advantage of the offer, and to find out more about the museum.

(You must purchase your membership through this link to get the special offer.)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

tags: natural history museum los angeles | adventures in nature camp | savvy source | savvy savings

Tweet Pin It

Montage Laguna, You Complete Me

Last Saturday I was invited by Kimberly Clayton Blaine (TheGoToMom) along with six other bloggers to be guests of the Montage Laguna Beach for a little pre-Mother's Day pampering. I can barely type that without crying because it was such an amazing day I'm having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that it's over. It's like the lover that you leave behind and then end up begging for them to take you back and then when they don't you have to stalk them and kidnap their cat.

Montage Laguna, we had a beautiful thing.

Don't worry -- I won't really be kidnapping anyone's pet. But I am absolutely smitten with the Montage Laguna and all of its beauty and serenity. Our day started in the main lobby, where we were served Mimosas and champagne off of a silver platter and drank them on the balcony while looking out onto an amazing ocean view. If that doesn't sound like a love connection I don't know what does.



After that we were taken on a tour of the resort and numerous amenities. One of the main things they're showcasing is Paintbox, their club and babysitting service for kids that provides activities and supervision while parents can enjoy some romantic alone time. That's Montage Laguna, bringing sexy back.



And I was happy to hear they're debuting a program for teens over Memorial Day weekend called M-Teens. With activities like Dinner & Movie night and kayak excursions, I know my daughters would much rather join in on that action than watch my husband and I sip martinis seaside. Although I have to admit we do look rather stunning.

After that it was on to the Spa Montage, and this is where the real love affair begins. One look at the jacuzzi, saunas, lounge and all the amenities and I was ready to move in, change my last name and have its baby. And can you blame me?



Before our scheduled treatment of choice (massage or facial), we were treated to lunch poolside. I had what is probably one of the best cheeseburgers ever made, and a delicious decadent drink that I can't remember the name of. I do remember that I had two of them. Or was it three?


After that it was on to my hour-long massage, and it was sublime. I do have to confess, though, that I kept falling asleep and I'd suddenly wake myself up because I realized I was breathing really weird. My apologies to my masseuse if she thought I was dying.

And wait -- the day didn't end there. After a little more time to relax in the spa, we met in The Loft restaurant for a wine and cheese tasting led by their knowledgeable sommelier, Casey. I'm not much of a wine snob (I've mentioned before that I often choose wine by their nicely designed labels -- oh look, a nice font!) but this was the first time I found a sommelier interesting and accessible. All the wines were by women winemakers, and Casey told us the history behind all of the wineries, including her personal stories of meeting some of the vintners. Next to the massage, this was probably my favorite part of the day -- surprising for someone who usually doesn't care if her wine comes out of a box.

(See the yellow stuff next to the strawberry? Honeycomb! And it was delicious.)



It truly was a fantastic day, and I'm already planning and scheming a way to get back to the resort for a day or a weekend stay. Lookout Montage Laguna -- in the words of Frankie Valli, I'm working my way back to you, babe. And don't try to play hard to get or your cat might just disappear.

Here are the other bloggers that were part of the Montage love fest:

The Go To Mom
SoCal Mom
Los Angelista
Techmama
Peace Love and Momminess
Momfluential
La Jolla Mom

Check out their sites for more coverage and photos!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

tags: montage laguna | spa montage | la bloggers | the loft

Tweet Pin It

The Holiday Celebration at Disneyland Saved My Family From A Day Of Angst

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving we were invited to Disneyland for the Holiday Celebration for Parent Bloggers. I know it sounds like a crazy time to go, but it actually worked in my favor since it prevented me from sitting around and obsessing about the 30 people that would be coming over to my house for turkey and the eight-pounds of mashed potatoes I was going to have to prepare.

Eight hours spent having fun instead of vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, barking at the kids to clean their room and nagging my husband to clean off the patio! I know they all missed that holiday tradition, but I got plenty of yelling in on Thanksgiving eve. Everyone wins!

This is our favorite time of year to go to Disneyland. Sure it's a little crowded, but it's worth it to see all the beautiful decorations and it really gets me into the holiday spirit. It's hard not to be festive when you're standing in front of a thousand-foot tree. This one is right at the entrance to Main Street, and there are tons of people in front of it posing and taking photos for their holiday cards. I tried to get my daughters to pose for one but they wouldn't, so I took a picture of some family from Iowa and they'll be on our card this year. I'm sure they won't mind.



Also, check out Sleeping Beauty's Castle that's all decked out for the holidays. It's even more breathtaking in person, and the best part is it's open for the walkthrough. This was the first time my daughters had been through it - the last time we were there the line was too long. Priceless Disneyland Tip That Makes Me Sound Like An Expert: Go towards the end of the evening, when Fantasyland seems to clear out.



We got a late start, mainly because we were exhausted from a party we threw at our house the night before. Have I told you we're insane? We like to plan multiple events, back-to-back, just to see if any of us will collapse from the frenzy. But it all worked out, because we had just enough time to ride a few rides before we headed on over to the banquet for the wonderful party the Disneyland people had put together for all of us. There was lots of amazing food, but I had to take a picture of the dessert tray. I'm not really even a big dessert fan, but I was fixated on these. After I took this picture I went over to the buffet table and had a huge slab of roast beef. I didn't take a picture of that.



I finally got to meet Allegra Gonzalez and her three beautiful daughters, the winners of my Disneyland VIP giveaway. A friend of mine knows Allegra, and she told me she knew we'd along and she was right. They're a great family, and it was good for me to see how cool, calm and collected someone with three teenagers can be - Allegra has 13-year-old twins and a 15-year-old. It gave me hope for my future after all.



One of the things my 11-year-old was the most excited about was a demonstration put on by Disneyland's pastry chef. I'm not kidding - she had talked about it ever since we got the invitation, and she probably would have gladly missed going into the park if that pastry demo had gone on all night. So you can imagine how excited she was when the chef invited her onstage to help make a yule log! Forget the Jonas Brothers - she was helping a real live pastry chef roll out dough. I'm sure this is how Rachael Ray got her start.



My girls were also treated to complimentary hair-makeovers at Studio 365. Twenty-five minutes, three packets of extensions and several gallons of hairspray later, they came out with truly glamorous, and big, hair. I had to break the news to them that not in a million years would I ever be able to re-create these hairstyles:



And what Disneyland visit would be complete without a ride on It's A Small World? It's been decorated inside and out for the holidays. Honestly, I never get tired of this ride, even though my girls insist it's only because it's air conditioned and I get to sit down for an extended period of time. Maybe so, but I seem to remember us all humming the theme song for the rest of the night.



The evening ended with one of Disneyland's impressive signature fireworks displays, and then 'snow' falling on Main Street as White Christmas played. What an awesome day. Thanks to Disneyland for treating my family and our guests to a magical, angst-free day! I didn't think once about those mashed potatoes.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

tags: disneyland | california adventure | holidays at disneyland | parent bloggers event disneyland

Tweet Pin It

Whales are Smart and Other Things We Learned From Our Visit to Sea World

The nice people at Sea World in San Diego recently treated our family to a day at their park. We hadn't been there for at least four years, so it felt like a whole new experience for us. Besides having an awesome time, I think we learned a few things.

1) Whales are really, really smart. How do they get them to jump on command, and so perfectly synchronized? I can't even get my cat to bury his own poop.



(This was shot during our Dine With Shamu lunch, which I highly recommend for getting a great up-close look at the whales and their trainers. And for having a nice, civilized lunch buffet. As you know, I'm a big fan of the lunch buffet, with or without a five-ton mammal splashing around in front of me.)

2) Penguins are cute. (Okay, so we knew that already.) As part of our special behind-the-scenes tour, we were allowed into a private penguin enclave. This little guy just wandered around between us. I really wanted to put him into my bag and take him home but I hear they frown on things like that.



3) There are fish that look like people you know. Relatives, even. I'm not saying which one, but when I saw this swimming towards me I half expected it to be carrying a big casserole and telling me how much I'd grown.


















4) There are rides at Sea World. Really good ones! We took the awesome Bayside Skyride that gave us an incredible view of the surrounding bay. My husband and I reminisced like old people do, about how they used to have the same thing at Disneyland. Then we told our kids how we used to walk five miles home from school. In the rain. Barefoot. While being attacked by killer bees. But our kids still loved this ride.

Then there's this Atlantis thing, that I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot-pole but my husband and kids loved. I just sat on a bench and waited for them. And had some coffee. And checked my email on my iPhone. They don't call me wild and crazy for nothin'.

5) There is a great circus there. Really, why haven't I heard more about this? It was an incredible, Cirque-du-Soleil-like circus that was funny, action-packed and entertaining for kids and adults. Make it a point to see Cirque de la Mer - you won't be disappointed. Plus, when was the last time you saw an outdoor circus? On the water?


















6) Whatever you do, avoid the cappuccino cart. This was our only real downer of the day. We were looking for our caffeine fix, so we paid almost $18 for four coffee drinks. After a really, really, long wait I finally got my double-cappuccino, but I swore there wasn't a drop of espresso in it, and turns out I was right because we found out the espresso machine was broken. Were they even going to tell us? The woman working the machine didn't even bother to explain, just took my drink back and tossed it in the trash can. We saw her and her co-worker trying to call someone to fix the machine, but they didn't offer up a refund, an apology or an explanation to us or anyone else patiently waiting for their drinks. After waiting for a good ten minutes we finally just asked for a hot chocolate for our younger daughter, an espresso-less mocha for our older daughter and two drip coffees for my husband and I. They never apologized, never offered to refund the difference for our drinks and by that point we just wanted to get out of there. Eighteen bucks for two small coffees, a hot chocolate and a faux-mocha.

We didn't let our coffee cart debacle ruin our day, though. We had a great day, and enjoyed that our kids aren't all that jaded yet and still get excited at the sight of dolphins swimming and being able to touch a starfish. We ended the day with the fireworks display, and were having such a great time we stayed until closing. Another thing we learned: Kids will never complain of being tired until you start the walk through the parking lot to your car.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

tags: sea world san diego | dine with shamu | cirque de la mer | journey to atlantis

Tweet Pin It

Another Reason to Stay Up Late: Nightastic at Disneyland!

Recently the girls and I were treated to an amazing evening at Disneyland previewing the new nighttime attractions there. But who am I kidding - do we need new nighttime attractions to have a good time at Disneyland? Not really - my girls turn into giddy, jumping, crazy monkeys as soon as we walk in the gates. If there was a Disneyland bath they would jump in and roll around until the sun went down. (Did that last sentence make sense? Well, you get the picture: MY GIRLS LOVE DISNEYLAND.)

Summer Nightastic is the summer lineup of after-dark entertainment that is being featured at Disneyland and California Adventure through August 23: a newly enhanced Fantasmic,; New Pixie Hollow Enchantment ; a new fireworks show, Magical; the beloved Electrical Parade with new floats; and the new TLT Dance Club on Tomorrowland Terrace. Whew - that oughta keep you busy for a couple of days. Or ten.

Our night started off with a preview of the TLT Dance Club and a performance by Mitchell Musso from Hannah Montana. My girls loved it, and since it's the closest they'll come to being at a club for at least another few years, they were soaking it up. I have to think this place was designed by a parent, since the seating area is elevated slightly above the dance floor - perfect for keeping an eye on your kids while they get down to Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. (And for making sure those boys don't get anywhere near your girls.) If only Disneyland loosened up a little and I could get a nice glass of wine there at the Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant, I'd be content to stay there all night while my teens danced the night away.

Next up was the new Magical fireworks show, with a soundtrack by Wicked star Eden Espinosa. (I dare you not to cry when she sings 'Baby Mine' from Dumbo.) But the best part was the appearance of the flying elephant himself, making a trip around Cinderella's castle. Take a look:



Our next event was a viewing of a re-vamped Fantasmic, presented on the Rivers of America. We never get tired of this show, no matter how many times we've seen it. Some friends recently let us in on their viewing secret - get some dinner at the French Market restaurant, grab a table on the patio and enjoy the show!

Last but not least we had a chance to see the Electrical Parade over at California Adventure. I haven't seen this since I was a kid, so it was great to be able to share it with my girls. We all loved it - I mean, how could you not love this:



Still not convinced a trip to Disneyland should be in your future? Check out the special Summer FunPass, where So. Cal. residents can get a 3-day Park Hopper ticket for only $33 a day. Makes alot more sense than that Disneyland bath.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

tags: disneyland | summer nightastic | fantasmic | pixie hollow enchanted | electrical parade | tlt dance club | discount tickets for disneyland

Tweet Pin It

This Ain't Your Daddy's Circus: Ringling Brother's Zing Zang Zoom!

For the past couple of months my 10-year-old has been obsessed with magic, diligently teaching herself tricks she's learned from YouTube videos and books. I don't know how many times I've heard, "Pick a card, any card," and "Wanna see this (fill in the blank) disappear?" in the past few weeks. After my husband taught her the "Pull my finger" trick, he told her about The Magic Castle in Hollywood - an exclusive venue for professional magicians that is usually invitation-only - and she was mesmerized but disappointed that she'd have to wait until she was an adult to try and score an invite, since kids aren't usually allowed. YouTube would have to do for now.

So imagine the squealing that took place when I got an invite to a special preview of the new Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus being held at - you guessed it - The Magic Castle. It took some talking to convince her that she would be merely watching and not performing, though.

Titled Zing, Zang Zoom, this new version of The Greatest Show on Earth has a new twist - a theme of magic and illusion, and features world class illusionist Alex Ramon as the Zingmaster (the term 'Ringmaster' is so five minutes ago) and his sister, the beautiful and talented (ex-Oakland Raiders cheerleader) Leah Christiana. These two have a hipness and youthfulness that seems to have been missing from the traditional circus, and I think they'll go a long way in attracting a younger crowd. Throw out your image of the circus as a show filled with tired-looking elephants being paraded around by an old, even tireder-looking clown. I haven't been to a traditional circus since I was a kid, and this is the first one my kids have shown an interest in going to. My 13-year-old even thought the Zingmaster was 'really cute.' Sure, disturbing for my husband and I to hear, but if it'll get her to the circus and away from Gossip Girl reruns for a few hours, so be it.

To give you an idea of the sophistication of the show, the illusions were created by Jim Steinmeyer, who has worked as a consultant for Orson Welles and Harry Blackstone and was responsible for helping David Copperfield make the Statue of Liberty disappear. And Alex is an accomplished magician in his own right, having performed since the age of 13 and even co-authoring a book on card tricks, which of course my 10-year-old had to rush out and buy the very next day. (We're hoping to get it autographed by Alex at the all-access Pre-Show that takes place before every performance.) I always wondered what kind of kid would want to run away and join the circus - who knew it would be my own?

Here are a couple of videos, one where Alex appears to saw his sister in half (and what brother hasn't dreamed about doing that?) and another where he pulls cards out of thin air. Call me a sucker, but I swear I have no idea how he does this.





If you're in Los Angeles, Ringling Brothers' Zing Zang Zoom will be at the Staples Center July 8-12. (Don't show up a day early, on the 7th - that's the day Michael Jackson's memorial will be taking place at the same venue.)

Check out Ringling Brothers Zing Zang Zoom here.
Find a show near you here.

Hey, if you're interested in seeing Zing Zang Zoom for yourself, here's a special discount offer: Get a specially-priced four-pack of tickets for $44 by entering the codeword 'MOM' in the Ticketmaster coupon code. This is an actual offer, not an illusion.

Code is the word “mom”. Code needs to be entered in the “MC Promotion Box” on Ticketmaster. Must purchase AT LEAST 4 tickets for code to be valid. Each additional ticket after 4 is still priced at $11. Not valid on Circus Celebrity/Front Row/VIP seats and facility fees do apply.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

tags: ringling bros. barnum and bailey circus | zing zang zoom | alex ramon | staples center | discount tickets for circus

Tweet Pin It

Pinocchio at the El Capitan!

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to see a digitally restored version of Walt Disney's Pinocchio at the El Capitan Theater, celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the beloved film. I love all the old Disney movies, and especially this one - it's so weird and subversive in its own way. I mean, a sneering, evil man invites all the young boys to his island of pleasure and then turns them into donkeys? So un-PC! And when was the last time you saw a bunch of kids smoking in a Disney movie?

This evening was made even better by what took place beforehand: Don Hahn, the producer of Beauty and the Beast, hosted a special presentation of people involved in Disney animation, including Dick Jones, who was the voice of Pinocchio in the film. Jones, who was eleven when he did the film, had some great stories about meeting and working with Walt Disney. Then Hahn took us through the storyboard for the "Give a Little Whistle" sequence in the movie, complete with sound effects. After that he introduced sculptor Ruben Procopia, who was actually carving a little bust of Jiminy Cricket right there on stage, and then an animator who showed us the painstaking process of creating animation using cells. I loved Jones' comment afterwards: "I hate computers!" That led Hahn to divulge that Disney is currently working on a feature film using the old-style of animation - I can't wait to see it.

The pre-show presentation ended with the Disneyland Dapper Dans, who perform on Disneyland's Main Street, singing "When You Wish Upon a Star."

The movie itself is beautiful - the restoration is evident and the seeing it on a big screen at the El Capitan made it that much more spectacular. Then again, seeing a film at the El Capitan is always such a great movie-going experience - I don't think I've ever not liked anything I've seen there. In fact, I could probably see a Pauly Shore movie there and I'd think it was Oscar worthy. Well, maybe not.

Check out Pinocchio at the El Capitan for yourself - it's playing through February 12, and you don't want to miss your chance of seeing Pinocchio turn in to a real boy...

Click here to buy tickets!

Tweet Pin It

Halloween, Without The Cavities

If you haven't already, head on over to Disney's California Adventure for Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party. It's a great bargain for $29 ($37 on Halloween night), and takes place on several evenings through October 31st. The kids get to trick-or-treat throughout the park for healthy treats between spins on Mulholland Madness and the new Toy Story Mania (which was fun for all of us.) It isn't nearly as crowded as on a regular night (we just walked on to most of of the rides) and there's great light shows and character appearances throughout the park. The parade, though short, is fun to watch (I dare you to get the theme song out of your head when it's over) and with the small crowds it wasn't hard to get a front row seat.

One of the things I like about this event is Disneyland's strict costume policy, which states that "Costumes should be child-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive or violent." My younger daughter still gets freaked out at the sight of masks with exploding brains and realistic-looking limbs hanging off of bloodied torsos, so it's nice not to have to walk around with her head buried in my arm like I had to do at an event last year.

Besides trick-or-treating, this is one of the few Halloween activities we do with our kids, and the only one that's fun for my husband and I as well - he gets to ride California Screamin' (which I won't go near) and I get to ride the best ride on the planet.

Thanks to Michele Himmelberg in Disney PR and Maria Bailey for making this night possible!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

tags: mickey's trick-or-treat party | disneyland | california adventure | halloween time disneyland

Tweet Pin It