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‘Fantasmic!’ Nighttime Spectacular Returns to Disneyland July 17 + the Disneyland Railroad is Reopening

June 28, 2017 / California, Disney, SoCal Fun, Travel

Summer is underway at the Disneyland Resort and visitors this time of year are in for a whole lot of WOW on their visits to both theme parks. There’s something to be said about getting to experience new magic with your family, during your visit, and creating new memories together. I know it’s a favorite in our family. The thrilling new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! opened at the end of May and according to wait times shown on the Disneyland app, it continues to draw large crowds on a daily basis. It’s the only Disney attraction in the universe where guests step into a Guardians of the Galaxy story, as they help Rocket rescue this cosmic gang of misfits. With multiple ride profiles, guests never know which adventure they’ll encounter.

More exciting news for Disneyland Park as some of the classic attractions are scheduled to reopen n July. On Monday, July 17, which will also be the 62nd anniversary of the 1955 grand opening of Disneyland, a newly enhanced “Fantasmic!, will premiere. This popular nighttime spectacular. tells the story of Mickey Mouse and his vivid imagination. “Fantasmic!:will return to the Rivers of America in Frontierland with its classic theme song and engaging storyline, which guests have treasured for 25 years.Its portrayal of Mickey’s exploration now features new scenes with characters from “Aladdin,” “Tangled,” “The Lion King” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”One dazzling sequence finds Aladdin and Jasmine discovering “A Whole New World” as they float on their flying carpet over a bed of fog on the Rivers of America. Those sensational “Fantasmic!” adventures come alive with new mist screens and innovative, state-of-the-art projection technology to create visuals that are brighter and more vibrant than ever before.Exciting news for train lovers of all ages is the re-opening of the Disneyland Railroad, beginning July 29. Park guests aboard the Disneyland Railroad will, once again, be taken on a Grand Circle Tour of Walt Disney’s “original Magic Kingdom”.The Disneyland Railroad, one of the park’s original attractions, returns with its iconic steam-powered locomotives for new adventures. The Disneyland Railroad will now travel across the rocks on a trestle that extends out into the Rivers of America, and for the first time ever it will make a left-hand turn on its tour of the park.Along the way, guests will enjoy a view of Walt Disney’s legendary Dioramas of the Grand Canyon and Primeval World, which have been carefully restored to their original splendor with a bit of new magic added to both. Guests on board the Disneyland Railroad also will discover a breathtaking new view along the north bank of Rivers of America.

A gorgeous new Columbia Gorge section highlighted by five new picturesque waterfalls can be seen from the trains as well as from the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. This new adventure complements the scenes guests have come to know and cherish through the years. Landscapes inspired by four of America’s majestic rivers–the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Missouri and the Rio Grande–are carefully recreated, complete with indigenous rock formations, natural forests and wildlife, and the waterfalls.Other Classic Rivers of America attractions are also set to relaunch July 29, including the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. They’ll be bringing new adventures and breathtaking new views for guests to enjoy. Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island reopened June 16.In addition to the returning classics in Frontierland and New Orleans Square, the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade continues nightly performances in Disneyland through Aug.20, featuring such favorite scenes as Cinderella’s ball, the appearance (and disappearance) of Elliot, the smoke-breathing, tail-wagging “Pete’s Dragon,” and the glittering “To Honor America” finale.There’s so much going on this summer at the Disneyland Resort. You’ll want to be sure to check out The Summer of Heroes festivities, which continue at Disney California Adventure Park through Sept. 10. For more information about all of the happenings going on at the Disneyland Resort, visit their site here.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Some images are property of Disneyland Resort.

Celebrate Pirates of the Caribbean’s 50th Anniversary at Disneyland with Limited-Time Entertainment and Special Offerings

March 13, 2017 / Disney, SoCal Fun

Did you know that nearly 400 million guests have embarked on the swashbuckling adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, at Disneyland Park? The lyrics to its theme song–“Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)”– are something that’s recognized around the world and guests on the attraction can often be heard singing them in unison as they venture through the attraction.On March 18, 2017, this popular attraction celebrates its 50th anniversary and guests at Disneyland Park are invited to celebrate this special occasion with pirate-themed entertainment, exclusive merchandise and special food and beverage offerings, all beginning March 16.
Guests may feast upon special, pirate-themed food at French Market Restaurant, Mint Julep Bar, Harbour Galley, Royal Street Veranda, Cafe Orleans and Blue Bayou Restaurant. (Blue Bayou also celebrates its 50th anniversary on March 18).Food items vary by location and will include:

Buccaneer Pulled Pork Sandwich: Jerk-spiced Pork, Sweet and Tangy Barbecue Sauce, Pineapple Caribbean-style Slaw and Fried Yucca
Lost Treasure Beignets: Lemon-flavored Beignets with gold shimmer dust
Jolly Roger Punch: Spiced Tropical Juices with hints of Pineapple, Orange and
Mango
Calypso’s Caribbean Chicken Stew: Caribbean-seasoned Chicken stewed with
Onions, Carrots, Celery, Tomatoes, Potatoes and Yucca
Golden Churro: Gold-dusted Churro

Friday, March 17: Pirate-themed entertainment comes alive throughout New Orleans Square, including performances by the Bootstrappers and Lucky the Pirate.
Saturday, March 18: Even more entertainment will be added on the attraction’s official
anniversary, including appearances by the legendary pirate himself, Captain Jack
Sparrow.Limited-edition, anniversary merchandise will be available for purchase in New Orleans Square, while supplies last. Pirate Speak! collectible cards will be available for guests who wish to talk like a pirate. Guests may discover additional special surprises on March 18.

The original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction set the bar for future theme park attractions with masterful storytelling and technology that introduced approximately 120 Audio-Animatronics characters. The popular attraction has inspired five films and the fifth, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” is set to open in theaters May 26, 2017.

This is not a sponsored post. Images are property of Disney. All opinions are 100% my own.

Red Rose Taverne Now Open at Disneyland With a Beauty & the Beast-Inspired Menu

February 25, 2017 / Disney, Disney, Food, Let's Eat!, SoCal Fun

Exciting news! Red Rose Taverne, a Beauty & the Beast-inspired eatery is now open at Disneyland! Located in Fantasyland, inside the space that’s normally Village Haus, this quick-service restaurant offers a variety of delicious dishes that make you feel like you’re a guest in Beauty & the Beast.As you enter the restaurant, you’ll find subtle,decorative changes inside that vibe with the movie’s theme. I was there before it was fully finished so I only saw a few of the touches. (I can’t wait to visit again now that it’s all done.)On my visit, I didn’t have the chance to eat a full meal, although I did try the desserts. (see below) I cannot wait to go back and sample some of these other menu offerings:

The Beast’s Burger – A 1/3 pound Angus beef patty, slow-cooked beef, Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and horseradish aioli on a toasted roll.
Class Angus 1/3 lb Cheeseburger – An Angus beef patty with cheese, lettuce, tomato and signature sauce on a toasted roll.
Enchanted Cauli-Flower Sandwich – A grilled cauliflower steak, spicy lime aioli, tempura-battered green beans, lettuce and tomato on a toasted roll.
Slow-Cooked Beef Poutine – Slow-cooked beef and gravy over seasoned waffle-cut fries, pickled onions and cheese curds.
Chicken Sandwich à la Lumière – Grilled chicken breast, apple slaw, onion-bacon jam and fried cherry peppers on a toasted roll.
Chef’s Chopped Salad – Cabbage, Romaine and iceberg lettuce, smoked bacon, apple, hard-cooked eggs, blue cheese crumbles, garlic croutons and apple vinaigrette.
Poutine Flatbread – Topped with slow-cooked beef, pomme frites, roasted garlic aioli, cheese curds, gravy and herb oil.
Garden Mozzarella Flatbread – Topped with marinated tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella, basil and tomato sauce.
Pulled Pork Flatbread – Topped with pulled pork, roasted corn, sweet and spicy barbecue sauce, pickled onions and cilantro

Red Rose Taverne also offers Kids’ Meals, referred to as “Chip’s Dishes”, and a Toddler Meal.

In addition to regular beverages, you can also order Gaston’s Famous Brew at Red Rose Taverne, which is an apple-mango punch topped with passion fruit foam. Guests have the option to order it in a souvenir mug for an additional $8.00. Now let’s talk about the desserts because that seems to be the most important part. I promise that you’ll want to stop by and enjoy one of each for yourself on your next visit to the Park!

I started off by trying some of “the Grey Stuff” They named it Grey Stuff Gateau. It’s a white chocolate mousse and red velvet cake with a sweet raspberry center and was delicious! Next, I tried the Lemon Rose Cake, which is a lemon mousse cake with strawberry-rose filling. This one was bright, colorful and oh-so-tasty.I also took home one of the Mrs. Potts Krispy treats so I could enjoy it the next day.I’m really excited about everything going on right now at Disneyland Resort surrounding the upcoming release of Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast” in theaters on March 17th! Did you know that you can catch a special 8-minute sneak peek of the film right now in Disney’s California Adventure Park through March 26th?Stop by the Sunset Showcase Theater in Hollywood Land to get an advance look of a scene from the movie, presented in 3D with special in-theater effects, presented continuously throughout the day. While you’re there, be sure to check out the special lobby display featuring a few costumes and props used in the production, too!

This is not a sponsored post. Artwork property of Disney. All opinions are 100% my own.

You’re Invited to the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival 3/10-4/16

February 23, 2017 / Disney, Food, SoCal Fun

The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will jumpstart Spring with hundreds of culinary experiences and delicious flavors from across the Golden State beginning March 10. (through April 16) . Guests will want to visit on multiple days to take advantage of all the tantalizing food and beverage offerings during the Festival, which runs March 10- April 16, 2017, at Disney California Adventure Park.With celebrity chefs, winemaker dinners, beer tasting seminars and irresistible cuisine, this year’s Food & Wine Festival is going to be better than ever, with experiences for guests of all ages! There’ll be more than a dozen marketplaces open every day for guests to enjoy, as well as an entire menu of daily culinary demonstrations and tastings, including beer, wine and spirits seminars (for those 21 of years and older.)

The festival will feature music everywhere, delicious food, and fun crafts created specifically with younger guests in mind. The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will have experiences for the entire family to enjoy. More than a dozen Festival Marketplaces will offer delectable fare, an ideal complement to the Festival-inspired menus at the theme park’s restaurants and eateries.Dozens of food and beverage professionals will share their expertise during the Festival. Each day during the festival, guests will be invited to learn cooking techniques from master chefs, participate in wine,beer and spirit seminars, and discover some of the best California cuisine in dishes served throughout Disney California Adventure. Celebrity chefs scheduled to appear during the Festival include:

Guy Fieri
Robert Irvine
Cat Cora
Duff Goldman
Emily Ellyn
Keegan Gerhard

In addition to culinary demonstrations and seminars, guests will enjoy an exciting musical program with eclectic bands that add an authentic “California vibe” to the Festival. Children ages 3 to 11 may join in the fun with the popular, complimentary Junior Chef experience (led by Chef Goofy (available on a first-come, first-seated basis), and the Jammin’ Chefs, who serve up tasty rhythms with pots and pans that really get cooking with the help of sous chefs Chip ‘n Dale. Many of the Festival events are included with admission to Disney California Adventure. Guests who want to add the Signature Events may purchase separate tickets at an additional fee for the following events:

“In the Kitchen with …” – Each Celebrity Chef will lead a 60-minute culinary
demonstration and Q&A followed by an autograph session. The experience includes a tasting of some of the prepared dishes. (offered on Saturdays from 6 to 7 p.m.)
Sweet Sundays – A 90-minute culinary demonstration focuses on the sweet side of the culinary arts. Following a light breakfast and a sparkling toast, the Guest Chef for that day will demonstrate up to three recipes. Guests will enjoy samples from the chefs. (offered on select Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to noon.)
Winemaker Dinners and Brewmaster Dinners – A four-course dinner features wines and winemakers or beers and brewmasters. Wine or beer selections will be paired with courses created by the Disney Executive Chef Team and each winemaker or brewmaster will speak on the libation and the pairing. (offered on Thursdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.)

Additional ticketed programs include:

Culinary Demonstrations (presented daily throughout the Festival) – Guests will enjoy 30-minute culinary demonstrations presented by local, visiting and Disney chefs. Each demo will focus on a single recipe, ingredient or cooking style. Guests will receive a tasting sample of the dish prepared.
Wine, Beer or Spirits Education and Tasting Seminars (presented daily throughout the Festival) – Beverage seminars presented by industry experts will enlighten guests who want to learn more about their favorite spirits. Each 30- to 45-minute seminar will focus on a specific beverage type, region or label, and guests will enjoy tasting samples of some of the beverages discussed.

Beginning March 10 through April 1, guests may make reservations for Signature and other ticketed events by visiting Disneyland.com/foodandwine. Reservations for events later in the month of April can be made beginning 60 days prior to the date of the individual event.

For more information about the Disney California Adventure the Disney California Food & Wine Festival, visit http://www.Disneyland.com.

Please note: Separate admission to Disney California Adventure Park is required and is not included with the cost of signature events. Space is limited for all ticketed events; advance reservations are recommended. Full payment may be due at time of booking, and cancellation fees may apply. No refunds, credit or date or time changes. Guests must be 21 years of age or over to consume alcohol; valid photo ID required. Events and demonstrations are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

This is not a sponsored post. Some images are property of Disney. All opinions are 100% my own.

8 Fun Facts About the Main Street Electrical Parade + Dining Packages with Reserved Parade Viewing

February 19, 2017 / Disney, SoCal Fun

If you haven’t already heard the news, Main Street Electrical Parade has returned “home” to Disneyland after a 20 year hiatus. There’s nothing quite like taking in a performance of this oh-so-nostalgic parade in the place where it all started…Disneyland! The encore presentation of the parade at Disneyland is only for a limited time though and will run through Sunday, June 18.I had the honor of attending the premiere night of the parade and just sitting there on the curb, watching all of the twinkling, lighted floats go by, really brought out the little kid in me . There’s just something about the sound of the synthesized “Baroque Hoedown” played throughout Main Street, U.S.A. that will bring happy tears to your eyes, especially if you remember it from way back when! By the looks of the crowd lined up to watch it on the night I was there, it must hold special meaning for a ton of others as well!Here are 8 fun facts about the Main Street Electrical Parade:

The Main Street Electrical Parade premiered in Disneyland back in 1972 and had its last performance in the park in November 1996. During its original, almost 25 year run, this parade was performed more than 3,600 times for more than 75 million guests. Although it did make a return appearance to Disneyland Resort inside Disney California Adventure Park from 2001 to 2010, it was a slightly different version.
The original opening float of the Main Street Electrical Parade float was the whimsical train that pulls a giant drum. You’ll get all the feels when you see it roll down Main Street, U.S.A. again and lighting up to read, “Disneyland Presents…Main Street Electrical Parade” in bright lights!
During the parade, guests can see some of their favorite Disney characters as their classic stories come to life along the parade route including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell, Snow White, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland.
The parade floats in this dazzling and colorful after-dark parade are covered with approximately half a million twinkling lights!
The Cinderella’s Ball” section of the parade is attended by elegant ballroom dancers who wear costumes covered in lights. The Clock Tower looming over Cinderella’s Ball is 18 1/2 feet tall. When you’re sitting along the curb on Main Street, U.S.A., watching the parade and you look up at it, it seems even taller than that, too!
The iconic “Elliot” float, which is the smoke-breathing dragon, also wags his tails. He weighs more than 5,600 pounds and stands 16 feet tall, 10 feet wide, and 38 feet long. The float also magically disappears from time to time throughout the parade. It’s just like the movie!
The popularity of the original Main Street Electrical Parade led to the creation of Electrical Parades at Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Walt Disney World Resort.
The finale of Main Street Electrical Parade includes a 118-foot-long unit which is a red, white, and blue, patriotic tribute to America.

Did you know there are Main Street Electrical Parade Dining packages made available to park guests? The packages include a 3-course prix fixe meal (starter, entrée and dessert) at the Blue Bayou Restaurant, which is an epic experience in itself, plus include admission into a reserved viewing area to watch a designated performance of the Main Street Electrical Parade.You get to experience to amazing offerings at Disneyland Park in one day! Reservations for these dining packages can be made online or by phone up to 60 days in advance.. For more information or to reserve yours, go here.

Have you had the opportunity to watch the Main Street Electrical Parade yet? If not, be sure to plan your visit before June 18!

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Disneyland Resort to Welcome “Summer of Heroes” May 27- Sept. 10

February 15, 2017 / Disney, SoCal Fun

The Summer of 2017 is going to be one adventurous, exciting and heroic summer at Disney California Adventure Park! There are some exciting features coming to the Park as part of the “Summer of Heroes”, which will run from May 27 though September 10.First of all, guests will (finally) encounter the thrilling Guardians of the Galaxy–Mission: BREAKOUT!, which I’ve been so excited about since its announcement! This new adventure blasts guests straight into the “Guardians of the Galaxy” story for the first time, alongside characters from the blockbuster films and comics. As guests join Rocket in his attempt to bust his pals out of the Collector’s Fortress, they’ll experience randomized ride experiences complete with all-new visual and audio effects and music inspired by the popular film soundtracks. We cannot wait!

Guests at will also be able to answer the call to join legendary Super Heroes in all-new experiences for Summer of Heroes, which will inaugurate an ever-expanding universe of Super Hero stories at Disney California Adventure.

Over in Hollywood Land inside Disney California Adventure Park, guests will be able to join some of their favorite Super Heroes for all-new, epic, limited time experiences including:

Avengers Training Initiative – Black Widow and Hawkeye assemble young recruits for a series of tests to see if they have what it takes to join the ranks of the Avengers.
Heroic Encounter: Black Widow – Black Widow will arrive on the scene several times throughout the day in an armored Avengers vehicle for her heroic encounter with park guests.
Grab a Piece (or Bite) of the Action – Special themed merchandise and food will be available throughout Hollywood Land.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off! – Star-Lord will fire up his old-school boom box to get a party started. Everyone is bound to get in the groove and show off their moves during this awesome rock ‘n’ roll bash!
Super Hero Encounters – For the first time, citizens of Earth will come face-to-face with tree-of-few-words Groot, one of the Guardians of the Galaxy! They may also encounter the First Avenger, Captain America, and everyone’s favorite web slinger, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

This summer will also bring more excitement at Disneyland Park with the return of the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America attractions, including the return of “Fantasmic!” nighttime spectacular. Keep your eye on the Disney Parks Blog for the return dates of these classic attractions will be announced soon.

If you haven’t had a chance to catch a performance of the Main Street Electrical Parade inside Disneyland, you’ll want to make sure you do before the end of its limited-time run on Sunday, June 18. It’s absolutely wonderful and so very nostalgic. For more information about all of the exciting things going on at Disneyland Resort, please visit their site here.

This is not a sponsored post. Some mages and art renderings are property of Disneyland Resort and WDI. All opinions are 100% my own.

Disneyland Resort’s Magical Lunar New Year Celebration

January 23, 2017 / Disney, SoCal Fun

It’s the Year of the Rooster and Disneyland Resort is welcoming the Lunar New Year with a very magical celebration at Disney California Adventure Park. Through February 5, Guests can celebrate this joyous occasion as part of a 17-day celebration which includes live performances and entertainment, a special opening addition of ‘Hurry Home” to “World of Color“, beautiful, festive decor, Disney characters dressed in their own Lunar New Year costumes, special cultural activities, and exquisite Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese food offerings.I was invited to attend a very special preview of the Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure Park and was absolutely amazed at this bigger-than-ever celebration planned for the Year of the Rooster. Lunar New Year is traditionally celebrated within Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures and commemorates the moment when both the sun and the moon begin their journey for another year.In Disney California Adventure Park you’ll find such beautiful, festive decorations in honor of the “Year of the Rooster”, including whimsical red and gold ornamental lanterns and the 12 zodiac animals, with a Disney twist, of course. Paradise Gardens has been completely transformed into a magical setting for the Lunar New Year Celebration this year and you’ll find banners wishing guests a “Happy Lunar New Year” in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.During the Lunar New Year Celebration, there are artisans that will teach children to make paper lanterns they can take home. Chinese artisans are also on hand doing calligraphy demonstrations for guests, as well as free face painting.There are also special character appearances in Disney California Adventure Park. You can find Mulan and Mushu, Chip n’ Dale, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse, all dressed up in their Lunar New Year attire. There’s also a beautiful photo location for guests to take photos with the characters.You’ll want to make sure to save time for a visit to see the Lucky Wishing Wall. Guests may add their own wishes to the wall for a wonderful future. It’s a beautiful display to admire and contribute towards. Special Entertainment
The entertainment that Disney has arranged this year for the Lunar New Year Celebration is spectacular. Here are some of the highlights:

The Acrobats of China – Watch this award-winning troupe from China perform an exciting mix of traditional and classic Chinese dance with human performance art including riveting feats of strength, grace, and balance. This cultural art form has been thrilling audiences for more than 2,500 years!
Live musical performances – Disney has arranged an array of authentic performers for the Lunar New Year Celebration including Chinese concert musician Jie Ma, who performs on the traditional pipa string instrument, and Dat Nguyen, a Vietnamese concert guitarist, composer, and teacher.
“Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration” – Each night, prior to the regular “World of Color”, there’s a new feature called “Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration” that is a very special 6-minute feature that’s presented in sequences. Using projected animation along with lighting, special effects, and powerful fountains of “World of Color”, the story unfolds and takes guests on a journey of a Little Lantern who encounters 3 dream sequences. Viewers can expect to see appearances by Mulan and Mushu in the performance. The story is scored with music created for the opening ceremony of Shanghai Disney Resort. It’s a beautiful addition to the already breathtaking “World of Color” and should not be missed during it’s limited engagement at Disney California Adventure Park.
“Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” – Mulan and everyone’s favorite dragon, Mushu, welcome “The Year of the Rooster” in this beautiful, colorful procession of Chinese umbrella dancers and a variety of other delightful performers who arrive to music from Disney’s beloved animated film “Mulan”.

Lunar New Year Celebration Special Food Offerings
There are so many wonderful and special food offerings available for guests to try during the Lunar New Year Celebration, which are inspired by the cultures of China, Korea, and Vietnam. Guests will find a variety of authentic dishes at three locations within the Lunar New Year Marketplace from:

China – Pork Soup Dumplings and Turnip Cakes with Spicy Sausage
Korea – Kimchi Fried Rice and Steamed Vegetable Dumplings
Vietnam – Sticky Rice Cake with Pork and Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer

Additional Lunar New Year menu items are available at Paradise Garden Grill including Vegetable Japchae, Kalbi Beef Short Ribs with Steamed Rice, Whole Crispy Tilapia with Citrus Chile Vinaigrette, Beef Pho Noodle Soup, Mango Pudding, and Cassava Coconut Cake. Lunar New Year merchandise is also available in the park during the celebration. There’s a specially designed t-shirt, a collectable pin, a decorative trinket box, and traditional red envelopes for gift giving.There are so many highlights to this year’s Lunar New Year Celebration at Disneyland Resort for Guests to experience during their visit to the Park. Have you been yet? Don’t forget to take advantage of the SoCal Residents Discount Ticket offer, too.

I was invited to a media preview event as a guest of Disneyland Resort, in order to write this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Main Street Electrical Parade Is “Home” Again at Disneyland!

January 21, 2017 / Disney, SoCal Fun

When Southern California Disney fans (like me) heard the news, back in August, about the Main Street Electrical Parade returning “home” to Disneyland Park for its encore performance at the start of 2017, we were all beyond ecstatic!Although the “Paint the Night” parade is also a big fan favorite at Disneyland, there are so many Disney lovers that deeply cherish the Main Street Electrical Parade and have longed for it to return since it “glowed away” from Disneyland on November 25, 1996. The older generations of Disney fans remember this classic nighttime parade because we saw it during its originally run down Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland, in its original “home”. Others have either seen in another Disney Park or have possibly just been told about it from their parents. Whatever the case, the little kid in me comes out as soon as I hear the first synthesized tune of “Baroque Hoedown” start to play the theme song for Main Street Electrical Parade. When I watched the TV spot for its return, my eyes immediately welled up with happy tears. Watch it here:

I was so honored to be invited to attend a very special preview and premiere of the parade, the night before it was scheduled to start the official limited time run of its encore performance on January 20, 2017. (It will only be here through June 18, 2017).It was a magical night and for some reason, the Southern California rain, which had been pouring for a couple of days, suddenly halted for a few hours so that the 9 p.m. parade could take place. I had a case of the giggles as I sat on the curb in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A., with some of my friends, waiting for it to start. Before long, the parade lights lit up nice and brightly, and we could see the front of the Main Street Electrical Parade making its way towards us in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A.. (It began all the way down by “It’s a Small World“.)The iconic floats illuminated the parade route and were led by the train that Goofy’s driving. Minnie and Mickey Mouse are also aboard this train greeting guests, all along the parade route. The train is pulling the drum which has a lit up text that says “Disneyland Presents Main Street Electrical Parade”. It gave me all the feels to see it say “Disneyland” again, as the last time I had the pleasure of watching this parade, it was at Walt Disney World.The Main Street Electrical Parade includes 22 floats in all, which is 10 more than the original parade which only included 12. You’ll find characters in the parade from 7 different Disney films including “Alice in Wonderland”, “Cinderella”, “Peter Pan”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, “Pinocchio”, “Dumbo”, and “Pete’s Dragon”.In addition to the floats, there are about 80 parade performers, some of which are adorned in lighted costumes. There are also 27 beloved Disney characters that perform as part of this parade including Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Cinderella, Tinker Bell, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and more!

It’s such a great time to plan a visit to the Disneyland Resort now, especially with the limited-time return of the Main Street Electrical Parade. If you haven’t seen the SoCal Resident Discounted Ticket offer, it allows you to purchase park tickets at amazing prices, for a limited time. For more information about these tickets, go here.The Main Street Electrical Parade’s stay at Disneyland is only for a limited time so be sure to get there to see it (at least once) before June 18th! Do you have childhood memories of this special parade? Share with me in the comments. I hope to see you in the Parks!

I was invited to attend a special media preview of Main Street Electrical Parade in order to write this post. Some images and footage are property of Disneyland. All opinions are 100% my own.

Disneyland Brings Back SoCal Resident Discounted Ticket Offer

January 9, 2017 / Disney, Lifestyle, SoCal Fun

Have you heard the great news? Disneyland Resort is kicking off the new year by bringing back their SoCal Resident discounted ticket offer! There couldn’t be a more perfect time to plan a visit to the Parks, since the holidays are over and things slow down a bit. The Southern California Resident ticket offer* provides flexible options for three days of magic and adventure at special prices. For a limited time, guests may select from these purchase options:

3-day ticket with choice of one park per day for $149 (less than $50 per day) – entitles Guests admission to either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park each day for 3 days. This ticket is not valid for visits to both theme parks on the same day.
3-day Park Hopper ticket for $189 – entitles Guests admission to both Disneyland Resort theme parks over 3 days, including visits to both theme parks on the same day.

The Southern California Resident tickets include one Magic Morning early entry to Disneyland Park, which provides an extra hour of play on select days before the park opens to the general public. Tickets must be purchased by May 22, 2017 and excludes the following blockout dates: April 9 through April 23, 2017. This is such a great offer and just in time to enjoy the upcoming Main Street Electrical Parade and thrilling Star Wars experiences at Disneyland Park, plus the Lunar New Year Celebration and the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure Park.Here are some of the important details relating to the 3-Day SoCal Resident Promotional Ticket with Magic Morning offer:

Valid only for Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000-22999.
Proof of residency is required for purchase and admission.
3-Day, 1-Park-Per-Day Ticket is valid for admission for three (3) days to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure park, but not to both parks on the same day.
3-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket is valid for admission for three (3) days to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day.
Each day of use constitutes one full day of use.
Tickets expire May 25, 2017.
Blockout days of April 9 through April 23, 2017 apply.
May purchase up to 5 tickets per person per day with valid ID.
Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use.
Offer may not be combined with other ticket discounts or promotions.
Tickets not valid before January 9, 2017
Subject to capacity, restrictions and change without notice.

For more information about this very special offer, including restrictions, go here.

This is not a sponsored post. Some images are property of Disneyland Resort. All opinions are 100% my own.