adventuresmadeeasy

Harry Potter Experience in Salt Lake City, Ut

Thu, 29 May 2025 16:09:45 GMT

We are Potterheads.....Did we enjoy this traveling Exhibition? And, what you should know.

Salt Lake City, Utah....more specifically Sandy, Utah is the newest home of the traveling Harry Potter Exhibition . Being HUGE Harry Potter fans, I knew we would be there. To be honest, a few years ago I saw that they were in Pennsylvania, and I was attempting to create a family vacation all under the guise of "learning", but it was really to check out this exhibit. But, I waited long enough and it is now in our home state, and really only about 10 minutes away.

So, during it's opening weekend....we had to check it out. And, I'm here to (NOT SPOIL TOO MUCH), and let you know what we thought.

Location:

The Shops at South Towne. But, as a local know that this doesn't mean "at the mall". It's actually over by Target, and next to Old Navy(It's where Buy Buy Baby use to be). I never knew the whole area was considered "The Shops", but there you go.

It's important to note that there are NO BATHROOMS in the exhbit. There are porta potties outside, and available should you need the restroom.

Hours of Operation:

Currently the exhibition will be here from now until September 1, 2025 from 9:00am to 8:00pm, with last ticketed entry at 7:00.

It took our party of 6 about 90 minutes. But that's with kids who wanted to do more of the interactive elements and not read. The exhibit offer an audio tour, that I'm sure will add more to your time, but also enhance the experience.

What We Loved:

We loved several things about this adventure. At the entrance, every guest is given a Golden Snitch wristband to use and keep throught the experience. You set up your account and use the magic throughout the adventure. It's pretty magical. We loved that there was staff all along the way if you were confused or needed help in any way. They are also Potter fans, so they love testing your trivia. We loved the movie props. All througout the experience, items are placed for guest to check out and enjoy. We loved the interactive moments. From the start you are a part of the exhibit. Lots of fun things touch, play, and experience. You go at your own pace, and can zip through the whole thing, or take time AND LOTS OF PICTURES. I loved that there is an audio tour if you want more. There is also a gift shop(of course there is) at the end to meet all your shopping needs. The whole thing really is a magical experience.

What We Would Do Differently:

Knowing what we know now, I'd suggest a few things to you. One, use the restroom before you arrive. Two, If you love HP, get the audio guide. Third, the website offers several add ons to your ticket. I don't think VIP is worth it. You will also be given the opportunity to add a mystery gift bag...I got it....Not worth it. Just buy the things you want, if you want them. The mystery bag had 5 cheap items, and although I recuperated the money I spent, it wasn't worth it. If you really want a butterbeer you can get one. I'd just say buy it before hand, save yourself the time of 2 lines.

Oogie Boogie Bash 2022

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 18:08:11 GMT

What I LOVE & don't love about this ticketed event

Since 2017 we've been attending Halloween events at Disneyland. Back then, the event was held at Disneyland. Since 2019 it's been held at California Adventure. We honestly love it at both places. In 2021 we attended and it was so busy, and so crowded and just didn't seem to go well. I considered not going after last year, but wanted to give it another shot this year. I lowered my expectation, of wanting to do "all the things" and decided to focus on what WE wanted. There are so many things to do at the Oogie Boogie Bash, and it can be overwhelming for a first timer. I won't pretend to be an "expert" on the event, and fully recommend checking out blogs like this when planning.

I do have a few suggestions..........

1) Talk to your group before hand. Have everyone choose 2 of their "must do"'s.

2) Pack your patience. There are lines for almost everything. If you choose the Villian Grove, or a specific character meet and greet be prepared to wait. It was a 3 hour wait to meet the "Sanderson Sister's". There are also lines for rides. In the past it has never been more than 10 minutes. However, lines can be up to an hour(Radiator Springs Racers).

3) Do the treat trails. It's a great way to see fun villainous characters without a long wait.

4) The Mickey show is super cute. Worth seeing if you have kids.

5) Just have fun. I enjoyed this event so much more than last year. I literally ran from Car's Land to Avengers Campus making memories with my Buddy. I enjoyed being in the moment, and not worrying about "what's next".

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:53:18 GMT

A fun weekend getaway

It was time for a family road trip adventure. We wanted something close-“ish” to home, but also somewhere we had never been before. We consulted a map, and decided we didn’t want to road trip more than 5 hours away….so we decided on Glenwood Springs, Colorado. If you live near Salt Lake City most people travel north to Idaho, or South to Vegas. We were excited to travel east and check out Colorado. Being 5 hours away was perfect for our family of 3. It also helps that our buddy is an excellent traveler, both via car and plane.

We left on a Friday afternoon midday, and it was perfect timing for our arrival into Glenwood Springs. We made a couple gas station breaks, and one impressive stop in Palisade. Palisade is a great stop for wine fans, or fresh fruit and vegetables fans. We fell into the latter group. With that being said, the wineries in the area looked very beautiful and had several tours for those interested. We stopped at the Palisade Peach Shack . It’s a cute fruit stand/barn with local specialites, and tasty peach infused products. We tried the pie, fresh fruit, sherbet, and ice cream. All were delicious. So delicious that we ended up stopping back in on our way home for more pie.

We arrived in Glenwood Springs around 5:30 and had dinner reservations at the local hotspot, Pullmans . This restraurant is in the historic downtown area of town. The downtown is akin to Jackson Hole, or Main Street Park City, but much smaller. Very cute, and lots of people walking around. We enjoyed the Pullman. They had several local ingredients, including the Pullman toast that featured some of those delicious Palisade peaches. It was a good meal, and our seats at the window made for excellent mountain views, and people watching.

There are several places to stay while visiting Glenwood. Some are attached to the hot springs, or downtown. We opted for the comfort of the Residence Inn by Marriott. It was a quick drive to anywhere we were heading, and near a Target(#comfort). It was a beautiful location, with a great pool, hot tub, and a tasty breakfast offering. I would recommend this place to anyone, and we will probably stay here again.

Our main attraction of this trip was the Glenwood Cavern Adventure Park . You have to see this place to believe it. It’s a small amusement park stacked on the top of cliffs of the Iron Mountain. It is astounding. To access the park you take a gondola from The Hotel Glenwood Springs, at the base of the mountain. At the time of our visit parking was free, and tickets were $65 for adults and $55 for kids. I found this to be comparable to the adventure parks in Utah that we visit in the summer. I also found that it had attractions similar to parks at Utah’s Snowbird, or Olympic Park. But it also had some amazing attractions unique to Glenwood and it’s location on top of the mountain. There are about 10 attractions to participate in. Buddy was just tall enough for all of them, so it made it a perfect time to visit. You can see rides, and the height requirements here . Our favorite attraction was the Alpine Coaster. It was the most fun alpine coaster I have been on, and probably the fastest. The best part is that you are carried back up the hill after your ride. It was very convenient. However, the most popular ride at Glenwood Cavern Adventure Park is the Giant Canyon Swing. This is what made us want to visit in the first place. It’s incredible. Can you image riding this swing over the ledge of a cliff? Unbelievable. Due to a couple extenuating circumstances, and our fear….we unfortunately did NOT ride it this time, but we know we will be back. It's one of those rides you probably only ride once, because you’re cheating death each time you ride it(in my opinion). We did ride the Flyer, and Defiance, which both should only be accomplished a couple times

in your life(to ensure self preservation). Defiance is like the Cannibal at Lagoon, but on the cliff of a mountain. It’s a risk to ride.

There are 2 caves at the top of this mountain, and worth a visit. Stalagmites, and Stalactites and the vastness of the 2 caves are incredible. Our 7 year old even LOVED the tours. WE were impressed. During the Fairy Cave tour we also were able to step out onto the ledge of the mountain for a great view of the city and mountain surroundings. The park opened at 9:00 am the day we went, and closed at 9:00 pm. We had a full day from park opening until about 5:00. It was well worth the ticket price. We will be back, (even if it’s just to ride the Mountain Swing). It was an incredible experience.

After our day at the park we headed back into the old town for dinner. We ended up at a delicious Italian restaurant called Modern Brava Trattoria . The food and service were both amazing, and we will be back. I recommend the Primo Corso, and Spagettinin Verde. Yumm! We had another great night at the Residence Inn pool, and then headed to bed. It really was a great hotel.

The next morning we headed to Blue Sky Adventures where we took a 3 hour rafting tour down the Colorado River. This whitewater tour down the Shoshone Rapids was incredible. It had great rapids, and was fun. Most of the rapids were located at the beginning of the tour, and the end is more scenic. The rapids part was of course our favorite, but the slow scenic views after were nice too. Our only complaint would be that we hoped the tour would have ended a little sooner, it got uncomfortable in the raft just sitting there. But, overall really fun and good guides that love the area. We would do a shorter version of this tour again.

This was an amazing adventure and we are so glad we were able to get away for the weekend. If you are local to Utah, or Colorado and just need a fun new place to get away to…visit Glenwood Spring, Colorado. It’s worth it.

Winter Weekend Away

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 21:50:41 GMT

Weekending in Wasatch & Summit County

January and February seem to last forever....and with Seasonal Depression, it can be even longer. We decided to beat the blues and spend the weekend staycationing in Park City, Heber, Midway area. These 3 cities belong to Wasatch and Summit County of Utah. It's a winter wonderland and we were excited to have some fun.

We live a little less than an hour away, which makes it the perfect place to go and seem "away", but also close enough that we could be home for an extended family dinner. Park City is well known by locals and tourists alike because of the great ski resorts, Olympics, and idealic location in the mountains. We enjoy Park City, but even better, and more quaint is Midway and Heber. These little cities less than 30 minutes from Park City are quiet, relaxing, and full of cute little shops, and activites. Some actvities in the summer include boating, train rides on the Heber Valley Railroad, golfing, and hiking. We especially like taking time to visit the Heber Valley Artisan Cheese barn. They hold fun activities all year round, and we love visiting.

For this trip we were excited to try a few new adventures, and I'm excited to share them with you.

First, we started with lunch at Cafe Galleria . This wood fire restaurant is a cute little place that keeps an extensive waiting list. People dine here to enjoy eating in a snowglobe . Yes, a snowglobe! It's officially called an AlpenGlobe. These little huts can be described as private dining shelters with panoramic views. They are a fun way to experience the outside views while staying warm. They are popping up all around Park City, and the surrounding areas, but these ones at Cafe Galleria may have been some of the first. We enjoyed our experience in our globe. We were able to play our own music from my phone as loud as we wanted, while Buddy danced around. It was enjoyable, and I can see it being a lot of fun for a larger group(up to 8) at night as well. We found it enjoyable, but would note that due to it's secluded nature it seemed that our server wasn't as attentive as dining in a full dining room.

After lunch we relaxed at our hotel, and then headed to Woodward Park. This was our first time here . It replaced Gorgoza Park that was there for years. They've done great things and turned it into a pretty cool year round destination. It was easy purchasing our tickets online, and when we arrived it was easy to get our passes and head right up the mountain. Each ticket that prints has a chip in it that once you get your tube, you scan during your time, and you can head right through. There are3 small tracks after riding one "magic carpert", then you can catch another "magic carpet" up to 4 more lanes at the top of the hill. We rode the small hill a few times, but loved the longer, faster ride more. It's so much fun. We rode down individually, in partners, and our favorite...all 3 of us. We saw several really large groupls going down together. I'm not sure the limit, but it was really cool seeing so many people heading down the hill. Our tickets allowed us to play 2 hours, and that really was the perfect amount of time.

After playing hard for 2 hours, we were ready for dinner. We ate at the local favorite...Dairy Keen. It's more lovingly refered to as the Train Restaurant at our house. It's a fun little local burger joint that has trains all over. Trains to see, trains to ride, and even a train to eat out of outside. It's our Buddy's favorite, and we loved our visit.

At the end of the night we headed to our hotel where we relaxed and went swimming. A swimming pool is THE BEST part of a kids vacation, and we enjoyed being able to swim and hot tub in winter.

Overall, this was a really fun way to spend the weekend. I love the family time, and having fun adventures is a bonus. Please check out any of these places and let me know what you think.

Walt Disney World's Art of Animation Resort

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 19:45:44 GMT

Our experience in an Art of Animation suite

Disney World is a mecca for fun Disney themed....everything. But, the hotel themeing at Disney World can't be beat. There are technically 3 levels of accomdations at Walt Disney World(Value, Moderate, and Deluxe). Each comes with its own positives and negatives, and of course there are price points that reflect the different levels. For this article I will be focusing on the Art of Animation, which is listed as a Value Resort. Being a Value Resort, does not mean that it is cheap....it just means it's typically the least expensive option when looking for accomodations on Property. Within Art of Animation there are Featured Rooms, and Suites. Featured rooms(Standard Rooms) are Little Mermaid themed, and located the furthest away from the lobby, dining, and transportation. These rooms come with either one king bed, or 2 queens. The other type of room at Art of Animation are the suites. These suites have adorable theming featuring Cars, Lion King, and Finding Nemo. These suites can sleep up to 6 with 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Table Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa. So, if you're looking to sleep a larger family, you'll need a suite.

We stayed in a Cars Suite. The areas around the resort are clearly themed. Passing between themes there is very little décor, but once you get into an area it is VERY themed. We walked the whole resort. Lion King area had a cute walk around “playground area”. It was truly just some tunnels to crawl through. Pride Rock can be found at the entrance of the Lion King area and is where you can roast marshmallows each night. We did this the first night and it was really cute. There was a long line, but it moves pretty quickly, as most people want the experience but have no desire to just sit around roasting marshmallows.

The Nemo area is where the BIG pool is. It’s large, and includes a little splash pad area and some things to climb on as well, outside of the pool area. The pool has an area set up for nightly movies as well.

My favorite area was, of course the Car’s Land. Every night I would walk to get ice, look out the window by the ice machine and see the Cozy Cone Motel. It just felt real, and immersive. The Motel is where the smaller Cars themed pool is. They have loungers inside each of the cones, which makes for a great place to avoid the sun and still let the kids play in the pool. I loved seeing all of the Cars. You don’t just SEE them. You get to get ON them, touch them. It’s a great experience. Buddy especially loved hiding behind them at night as we would walk back to our room. He’d also let Mater know that we were back when we arrived. We loved “staying at Mater’s place”, according to him. We saw Mater, Doc, Sherriff, Flo, Ramone, Fillmore,and Lightning. Sally is usually also there, but she had been covered during our whole visit.

When you walk into the room there is a 4 person dining table that converts to a full size murphy bed. It is a comfortable bed. Then there is a ½ bath. It has a tub/shower, and toilet. There is also a sink and vanity outside of the bathroom. It’s smaller than the other bathroom, which is in the main bedroom. The main bedroom has a king size bed and larger bathroom with walk in shower, toilet, and vanity. Both bathrooms have blow dryers, soaps, and shampoo. There is also a sitting area with a couch that converts to a bed. It’s not as comfortable as the other beds, but it’s great if you have a larger party. We used it as a bed, but only for lounging, not sleeping. Next to the couch is the kitchen area…its really just a fridge, microwave, and Keurig. The standard rooms do have a fridge, but not a microwave. I love having a fridge at the resort, especially when trying to cut costs( see what I do here to save money ) The microwave came in very handy and we loved having it. With there only being 4 of us, we felt like we had plenty of space, and never felt like we were on top of each other. It was very nice having 2 bathrooms to get ready as well.

A couple things to note about the resort:

Check in:

Super easy. You let them know when you plan on arriving via the app. They do their best to get you in your room as close to your arrival as possible, but will text you when your room is ready. There is no reason to check in via the lobby. It’s very seamless. The lobby is fun to see and the décor is done well. They have a gift shop near the bus terminals, and the food court. The food court is good. They are very kind, and accommodating. Prices are Disney prices, but they do have a large cheese or pepperoni pizza available for $18 which is a good deal in my opinion, and it was good.

Maid service happened every other day via our request in the app. It was not a full service. They take out your trash and refesh your towels. They do not make beds or clean anything. That’s on you.

Transportation:

Art of Animation is the end of the line on the skyliner route. You exit for both AoA and Pop Century. It was never busy for us on the skyliner. We used it to access Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. To access the parks you ride the skyliner one stop(Caribbean Beach Resort), where you are required to exit and choose a path. One will take youto Hollywood Studios direct. The other will take you to Epcot via the Riviera Resort. At the Riveiera you are not required to exit, you just wave at the cast members as you pass them by, and the door opens. I had considered Caribbean Beach Resort for our stay, but after learning that to ride the skyliner, you either needed to be at a room close by, or take a shuttle to the skyliner, I opted for AoA. It didn’t make sense to me to pay more for a room there, and need 2 steps to get to the parks. It’s just a huge resort. I also didn’t choose the Riviera because we spend so much time at the parks, that spending extra to stay at the Rivieira, and not really sticking around to enjoy it didn’t make sense to me. You do need to take the buses to access Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. We don’t mind taking the buses, but the skyliner is such a fun alternative.

Overall:

We loved our stay at the Art of Animation. It is a beautiful and fun Value Resort. I will be booking it again.

Disneyland's Magic Key

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 02:17:53 GMT

Disneyland's New Annual Pass Program, and which one to get?

Alright friends, Disneyland Annual Pass Program(AP) is a thing of the past and the NEW MAGIC KEY(MK) Program has taken its place. The namesake is a throwback to the Pre-1968 coupon book that allowed guests access to any ONE ride or attraction. Free admission to the park with coupons to rides and attractions seems almost laughable now. But, this new Magic Key program is exactly what some people have been looking for since the AP program went away.

The Disneyland website describes the Magic Key Reservation System as a “cornerstone components of the Magic Key program” which leads us to believe there is more to come…which we hope for....since we are already curious about MaxPass and PhotoPass. The system will be located on the same app we currently use to visit Disneyland, but with exclusive access to opportunities for Magic Key members.

During this first launch of information on Magic Key we know there are a few perks to being a MK holder. MK holders will have access to discounts on food and merchandise in the parks as well as Downtown Disney, special dining experiences, access to the Magic Key Terrace with a custom menu, exclusive festival offerings, a special MK month(bringing back the hugely missed AP appreciation program), specialty merchandise, early access to events, Photopass opportunities, and exclusive embroidery options for those mouse ears.

Speculation also indicates some pretty cool perks if you are a charter member. If you become a MK holder within the first 66 days(as the 66th anniversary of Disneyland occurs) you will receive a special welcome package. The package will include a specialty pin, celebratory button, magnet, and more. MK holders who enter Disneyland will also have access to a limited time experience at Starcade in Tomorrowland(starting Sept 1) with charging stations, photo opportunity, and other fun surprises.

If all of this sounds amazing, you can begin purchasing your pass August 25, 2021 at 10 am PT . Remember, to be a charter member, you’ll want to buy before October 30, 2021. You’re pass won’t officially start until you use it, but you’ll want to hop onboard to be eligible for these charter member perks. It’s actually possible to purchase your pass, AND make a reservation, and be in the park as a charter member ON August 25.

That’s right…you still need a reservation. Since the park opening post pandemic, you need a reservation. The new MK takes these reservations into consideration. Gone are the days(as of right now) of just deciding to drive to the parks for an evening adventure. Some of the fine print states “Theme park reservations and valid pass for the same park on the same date are required for park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability, public health orders, and applicable pass blockout dates, and are not guaranteed for any specific dates or park. Additionally, park reservations may not be available on select holidays for certain theme parks at any time.” This post pandemic system also only allows park hopping after 1:00 pm(unless indicated differently in the app).

Now, you have to decide which Magic Key is right for you. In true Disney fashion there isn’t just ONE magic key. You have 4 options. Let’s see what they are, and decide which one will be best for your family.

The Imagine Key is the cheapest Magic Key option. This pass is only available to Southern California residents. You can also only have 2 park days reserved at a time. This means, if you plan a 3 day trip you will need to wait until day 1 is complete before making another reservation, and then you can only hope the day is not at capacity. The days you can visit is also limited to non blockout dates. It's a very restricted calendar, as you can see below.

Another option exclusive to California residents is the ability to make payments on any Magic Key Pass. "Monthly payments option valid only for California Residents, 18 years or older with valid ID, and living in ZIP Codes 90000–96199. Twelve (12) monthly payments based on remaining balance after one-time down payment on date of Passport purchase. 0% APR. Subject to restrictions, including a retail installment agreement, and change without notice."

The Enchant Key is the next available option. It is the cheapest option for non-residents. It has the benefit of more open days, and the ability to hold 4 park reservations at one time. This means if you plan a 3 day vacation, your entire trip can be booked without worrying about not getting a reservation. It does have several blockout dates that include the Christmas season, and most of the summer. If you have a fairly open travel calendar, this is a great option. If you consider the price of a one day, one park ticket (ranges between $104-$154 )you would need to visit at least 6 days to make this pass worth it. Granted, this does not take into consideration multi day, or multi park passes. If you choose to go at least twice in the year and spend 3 days(with the park hopper option) each time, you are already saving money. Again, your days are limited, but if your schedule is open....it's a great option.

The next available key is the Believe Key . This option gives you a little more flexibility than the Enchanted Key. You can have up to 6 reservations on hold at one time. This is great for planning purposes because a 6 day visit at one time gives you a lot of flexibility. You also receive 50% off parking. It has a lot more available days. You aren't so restricted to traveling mid week. This pass would seem to be for someone who needs to travel on weekends, and needs more availability.

The final, and most exclusive key(currently) is the Dream Key. This key allows you to hold 6 reservations at one time, just like the Believe key. The benefit to this key is that there are NO BLACKOUT days. You can visit the parks anytime, as long as reservations are available. It also includes theme park parking. Another perk to the Dream is 20% and 15% off merchandise and food, while the other passes are only 10%.

That's it! These are the new passes. More may become available as Disney World releases their new AP program, and East and West coast keys become available. As for me, and our family...we're in between choosing the Believe Key, and the Enchant Key. I like the availability of the Believe key as our son's school schedule and our current travel schedule make possible visits more weekend"ish". I do however think that we can get away with a year of the Enchant schedule since our schedule still allows for more midweek visits. So, I may not have the answer YET, but you can bet by Aug. 25 I'll know what pass we will get.

Legoland California

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 19:27:37 GMT

It's no secret that our little family is a Disney family through and through, however the last year has taught us that we can visit other places, and do other things that are NOT Disney. Why would someone do this, is beyond me(ha)...but trying other adventures outside of Disney has been fun. We decided about 6 months ago that we were going to go to California for Buddy's birthday, whether Disney was open or not. As the trip got closer and Disney was still not allowing out of state visitors, we decided to take on the challenge of having fun in Southern California WITHOUT our beloved Disney. I have always been a fan of the area, but only when in conjunction with a Disney trip. My goal was to do other fun things in the area...and we did. We visited Universal Studios, Sea World, my favorite beach(Moonlight Beach in Encinitas), and a trip to Legoland in Carlsbad, California.

I have always wanted to go to Legoland, but have heard so many criticisms on when and why you should and shouldn't go to Legoland. Buddy is now 6, and according to the reviews I had read, this would be the perfect time to visit. So, we did it! We planned a proper Legoland vacation. We spent 2 days in the park, and 2 nights at the Legoland Hotel.

Let me start...the Legoland Hotel is not cheap. At around $400 a night it is NOT something I would do every time, but because I had decided before we arrived that this would be our ONE visit to Legoland, I wanted to make it the best experience for our family. The hotel is meant for kids. I would happily compare it to a Great Wolf Lodge in that it caters to kids. We did visit while Covid related restrictions were still in place(so no Lego pits around every corner) and some activities had obviously been adapted, I think that we still received the standard service and experience.

You stay at the Legoland Hotel, or the Castle hotel for 1 main reason....it's proximity to Legoland. Everyone who enters Legoland must walk between these 2 grand hotels. They are the perfect welcome to this Lego playland. The decor outside and inside are Brick-tastic. So many lego sculptures everywhere you turn. Our Buddy especially loved 2 fun features.....1 lego faucet, and the elevators. I don't want to ruin the elevator for anyone, but if you are staying on the 1st floor, you may want to just take a quick ride up to the 3rd floor.

The rooms are also unbelievable. If you are looking for a nice calm place to go and relax away from the world of Lego, don't stay at these hotels. The room is covered in Lego features, bright wall decals, and carpet that I just kept thinking I was going to trip over. Buddy loved the cool Lego bugs, and pirates, and the monkey! The monkey is part of a scavenger hunt in your room, and around the resort. If you don't want to play, don't worry. Our "treasure chest" was unlocked. After Buddy accidentally locked it, it was easy to ask the front desk for the code again. It features some pretty cool treasure, that you can keep.

The hotel has planner of daily events that you pick up upon check in. We didn't receive one when we arrived and felt pretty lost as to some of the events happening. Once I realized we could benefit from this sheet I quickly got one. It had a schedule of character meet and greets, pirate parties, and directions on how to book breakfast, which we were required to have a reservation. It really is important you get this sheet at check in.

The rooms feature a google assistant, but after being told it's glitchy by the staff we just stopped using it. I recommend using the "Wizard" text system in your room. The number is attached to the room phone, and sending texts is a more efficient way to get what you need at this hotel. I also recommend being persistent when sending texts. If you don't get a response within 15 minutes, try again. Calling was less effective, and the wizard is the preferred method. It proved frustrating several times, but it was the only method of communication that worked, outside of walking down to the front desk(which always had a line).

Breakfast was included with our room, and usually is. It is usually an all you can eat buffet, but due to Covid, everyone is given a plate for a one time trip to the buffet. Employees served the hot foods which included eggs, bacon, omelets, and coffee. Cold items and cereal were also available for guests to get on their own. It was a good buffet, especially given the restrictions to dining. Just make sure you have a reservation before you arrive.

Another perk to staying at the hotel is "early" access to the park. You are allowed in 30 minutes before the park opens...however, once inside you still have to wait until park opening to get on any of the rides. I would guess this is a better perk without current restrictions. We didn't see any benefits, except to give Buddy 30 minutes to walk through the Big Lego Store and request all the things.

Now to Legoland!!! There are 3 main parks within the Legoland Resort. Legoland, the Waterpark, and Sea Life. You currently need a reservation for each park within Legoland. So, if you want to visit the waterpark for the day you must have a Legoland reservation AND a waterpark reservation. We learned this the hard way, but the staff was kind to assist us. You could potentially visit Sea Life without a Legoland reservation, but it won't take you all day to visit so you'll want a Legoland reservation as well. We actually ended up doing all 3 locations in one day. Mostly because the waterpark is very limited in it's offerings at this time. I'm assuming one COULD spend all day in the waterpark if everything is open.

Walking around Legoland is fun. Cool builds everywhere you turn. Lots of fun things to see. Characters are also out. Our Buddy loved seeing some of the stars from the Lego Movie. His favorites are Emmett and Benny. Our favorite area was the new Lego Movie area. There are 3 rides and a play area with 2 slides. It also had a covered pavilion for building(that was actually open).

Rides....Legoland has a lot of rides. It's really nice having so many choices. With that being said, not all rides are created equal. Most are meant for small children under 36 inches. Our Buddy was too big for several of these rides, and he was not pleased with that. He was however tall enough for every ride that had a minimum. There are no extreme rides at Legoland. The craziest ride is the new Emmett one, which I would kind of compare to Soarin' at Disney. The "best rides" are the Technics coaster, Emmetts new ride, Ninjago, and the Dragon Coaster. Some may tell you that the Dinocoaster is the best....it's not. Of our 4 favorites we only rode the Technic coaster and the new Emmett ride twice. Buddy did have an all around favorite ride, and part of that was due to the little to no wait time. He loved the Driving School ride. This ride allows kids to rule the streets. He loved driving around the little town in his Lego car. It was very cute.

So....that's Legoland! Lots to look at, good rides for littles, and lots of places to play Legos(once restrictions are lifted). The big question....would we go back? I think Buddy was the perfect age for a 2 day visit. Any longer and we would have just stayed in our room playing with Legos(his favorite part). Any shorter, and we might have missed something. It was good, and we enjoyed ourselves, but I think we are a one and done family on this one. We are ready to head back to Disneyland though.

Build Your Own Adventure: Bryce Canyon

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Thu, 13 May 2021 03:01:37 GMT

After our adventure last November , I knew we needed to plan another trip to South Central Utah. Utah really is amazing, and I was so excited to go see, and explore more. This time we decided to spend most of our time in ONE place. We decided to spend 3 nights at Bryce Canyon. We did not however ONLY see Bryce. We explored all around and had a really great time.

Itinerary: 4 Days around Bryce Canyon

Who: Our little family of 3(2 adults, 1 (still) adorable 5 year old)

When: Early Spring 2021 (April)

Details:…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Day 1 : We left around 8:00 and headed down south. We decided to travel off the beaten path and left I-15 in Spanish Fork. We stopped in Price, Utah at a little diner called Farlaino’s. It is very similar to our favorite breakfast place, Penny Ann’s Café in atmosphere. They have a lot of random décor and memorabilia on the shelves and walls. Service was kind but took about an hour to get our food (there was only one other table). The food was good, and if you decide to go there…only order 1 pancake for the table. It is giant…Nothing special, but it is giant. It could feed several children and be a side for adults as well.

We then drove about an hour and a half to Goblin Valley State Park. This place is amazing. We drove into the lookout and ended up spending a couple hours wandering among the hoodoos, and caves. There weren’t any designated trails in this area, but it sure was fun wandering around and climbing all over. We didn’t expect to spend 2 hours here, but it was totally worth it.

We then drove to Capitol Reef National Park. I had scheduled us to do a couple little hikes and get pie. But, after spending too long at breakfast, and our 2 our adventure around Goblin Valley we ended up missing the pie and decided to just continue our drive to Bryce Canyon. We did see things in Capitol Reef from our car, and I want to go back again.

We just continued our drive straight through (about 3 hours) and stopped at Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant for some dinner. It is quite possibly THE BEST place to eat around Bryce Canyon. They have tasty food, and amazing pie! Don’t miss the pie. At the end of the day, we checked into our hotel, Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel . We stayed here last time and loved it. It did not disappoint, and we’d easily stay again. They offer a hot breakfast and have a fun hot tub that we enjoyed all vacation long.

Day 2: We woke up early this morning…only because our son was ready for adventures. It helped us get out the door and on the trails. We headed straight into Bryce Canyon with the intent to do one hike in the morning, and another in the afternoon. I had found several great hikes from my friends here . We ended up doing 3 hikes and were done by noon. Our first goal was the Navajo Loop. It was supposed to be 1.3 miles round trip. However, the “loop” part near Wall Street was closed, so we could have just turned around, but we decided to continue and explore. We ended up leading ourselves to the Queens Garden trail which added another 2 miles to our trail. The only problem with this is that you come out of the amphitheater at Sunrise Point, so to get back to your car you need to hike the half mile back to Sunset Point. It’s not terrible, you just must be aware that you are not making a loop. After getting back to our car we decided to do the 3-mile round trip hike to Upper Inspiration Point. All 3 of these hikes had hard moments and required several breaks with little legs. But we made several friends along the trail and one mother and daughter pair became our hiking buddies and made the trip out of the canyon so much more doable and enjoyable. Always talk to people on the trail, it’s such a great way to pass the time and make new friends.

After our hikes we headed back to the hotel for some lunch and some much needed pool time. The hotel pool was closed but the hot tub was nice and big, and open. We made several trips to the hot tub and it was never too hot for our buddy.

Around 7:00 we headed to Ebenezer’s Barn and Grill . I had done some research and thought this place sounded like fun. It’s a dining hall where they perform nightly country music concerts. It is a unique dining experience, and I do recommend it if you are visiting Bryce between the end of April and mid September. When you arrive, they have several fun photo ops outside. We love the face cutout walls. So much fun. When you get inside, they check your reservation, give you a paper card that identifies your meal choice (that you make during reservation), and direct you to your table. We were near the front and felt like it was a great spot to view the show. You are seated at a round table for about 8 people, so you will get to know new people if you are a smaller party. We enjoyed our table mates, as well as the show. Food is served buffet style and seemed smooth considering post covid standards. I enjoyed the pork and chicken, while my husband had the flat iron steak. The entertainment was also great. We aren’t huge country music fans, but we really enjoyed the show. My favorite was the song about Bryce being founded by a guy who lost his cow . Check out this video for my favorite song of the night. After the show we headed back into Bryce to see the night sky at the amphitheater overlook. The moon was almost full so we didn’t see as many stars as we wanted, but it was unique experience that I would recommend to anyone.

Day 3: This day was extra special for me. It was my birthday, so we planned a couple fun things. We started with a short hike to Mossy Caves. It was a fairly easy hike with lots of places to climb and explore. The actual Mossy Caves seem to have taken a back seat to the Mormon Pioneer’s waterfall. They created a ditch to gain access to a water source. It’s a beautiful, and fun waterfall. I can only imagine how magnificent it is when the water levels are higher.

We then headed to the Bryce Canyon airport, but not to fly. At this tiny airport you can sign up for helicopter rides, airplane rides, and 4 wheeling adventures . We went on a 4-wheeling adventure through Red Canyon. Red Canyon is a short 15 minute drive from the airport. We had a private tour of some pretty amazing views on some pretty sweet rides. After our ATV side by side tour of Peek-a-Boo slot canyons in November, we knew we wanted to do something fun like this again. Touring Red Canyon on 4 wheelers was fun. Our Buddy switched off riding with each of us and enjoyed driving himself towards the end of our tour. It was so much fun. Our tour guide showed us some amazing things and allowed us to go fast and adventure in this crazy beautiful place.

Then, we headed for dinner back at the Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant. I’m serious when I say it is THAT good. Again, don’t miss the pie. We continued our evening at the pool, of course. It was a great birthday.

Day 4 : This was the last day of our adventure, so we packed up and began heading home. We traveled through Red Canyon and stopped at the Visitor Center for a couple fun hikes. These were fun, flat, and narrow hikes right on the side of the mountains. It’s fun to see Red Canyon up close. It’s a great ending or start of a trip to Bryce Canyon. The visitor center had some fun Smokey the Bear stuff for kids, and it was fun….and free.

We continued our drive home by stopping in Beaver at the Creamery , of course. Tasty ice cream and a perfect pit stop on our drive home. We also stopped at Super Chix in Spanish Fork for dinner because I LOVE their chicken. We then finished the 45 minute drive and arrived home.

Overall : This was an amazing adventure. I over planned a little when it came to all I wanted to see (Capitol Reef). But I also tried not to over plan, so we had lots of free time for extra hikes and the pool. I recommend checking out any hike in Bryce, Ebenezer’s, and enjoying the pool time with your family. We loved this adventure.

Dollywood Dreams

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Fri, 07 May 2021 21:53:40 GMT

I believe everyone should have a bucket list , and do everything they can to make those dreams happen. I have an amazing friend who lives in North Carolina, and when I realized it was 3 short hours from Dollywood, I created a dream to visit. Dollywood has been a place I knew about, but never had a reason to travel to Pigeon Forge, TN., no matter how amazing it looked online. But, with my friend living so close, I thought...why not? We made plans to visit in June of 2020, but then Covid happened. So, we postponed. A few months ago I was deciding what to do for my birthday and April seemed like the perfect time to head to Dollywood with a couple of my favorite people.

We set out on the road from North Carolina, traveling through the Great Smoky Mountains(Dolly's childhood playground), and landed in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We stayed at an adorable wood cabin, nice and close to Dollywood. The night we arrived we visited the Dolly Parton Stampede, which is like Medieval Times, but more western. The next morning we were headed for Dollywood. The current spring hours are 10-6, but closed on Tuesday and Thursday. We left our cabin around 9, got to Dollywood nice and early, parking in the B(Butterfly) lot. Many things are Dolly themed, including Butterflies, Mountains, Country Music, etc. We took a short shuttle ride to the entrance. We could have walked, but the shuttle was right there, and I was ready to start our FUN! At the end of the day we walked back to our car(it was that close). Once we arrived at the entrance there was a queue to enter the park. They started allowing people in at 9:30, but the rides didn't open until 10. Much of the park was blocked off, but we were able to take a quick restroom break and line up at our first ride! Because of course, we were here for the rides, or food, or entertainment?!

Rides

The rides are BY FAR the best part of Dollywood. I will happily tell you about the other stuff, but first....Rides. There are so many rides to please any age of visitor, but we rode over 10 thrilling rides! That's a lot for 1 amusement park. I'd rank them, but they are all amazing, and worth riding. One of my friends noted that the more stairs you have to climb, the better the coaster would be. With the amusement park being built in the mountains, there are lots of hills and many of the ride queues lead you up many flights of stairs. And, she's right...the best ones do have lots of stairs. I do have a couple favorites, and one that could have been avoided. So, let me start with the one to avoid(just to get it out of the way). It's called Blazing Fury, and it's an indoor coaster. An indoor coaster....my first sign it wouldn't be AWESOME. The track was speedy, but with only 2 dips it wasn't "thrilling". It would be great for little kids, maybe.

Now, for my favorites..... Wild Eagle seats you on the side of the track(as if you were the wings of the eagle). It's super thrilling to look down and not see the track. Lots of fun. My second favorite is the Thunderhead . This is a fast, thrilling, wooden coaster. So much fun. I loved how fast it was, and everything amazing about wood coasters makes this a "can't miss" ride. My favorite though, and I mean possibly my favorite coaster EVER was the Lightening Rod . This ride LOOKS like a wooden coaster, but it is an incredibly fast (74 mph) steel coaster. It has fast curves, corkscrews, big drops, and crazy speed. It is currently my FAVORITE coaster, by far.

Food

When we originally planned this adventure I was most excited about the food, but the rides totally won out in the end. To be honest, the food was great, but the rides were far better than I imagined. I had done some research, and let me tell you what we had, AND LOVED.

The pulled pork nacho fries from the Hickory House BBQ can't be missed. Don't be deterred by the long line....it's worth it. This is not your typical amusement park food. Deliciously tender pork sits on a bed of sidewinder fries, smothered in cheese, topped with green onions, and a side of sour cream. When I had researched this place I thought I would get the sandwich, but after seeing someone else with the fries I couldn't resist them. They met my high expectations and I would order them again.

Now, there are several places to get food at Dollywood, especially during the food and flower festival that was happening while we were there. But.... you can not miss the CINNAMON BREAD. Dollywood does an amazing job promoting their cinnamon bread with shirts, bags, and other items. So, how is it? Could it be that great to warrant all the STUFF? Well, it really is THAT amazing. Warm, sweet, cinnamon-y, and a smell that can drive you crazy until you get yourself a loaf. In fact, we knew we wanted the cinnamon bread before we arrived, but when we went to the spot on the map we discover it wasn't open. It was so hard to believe because the whole area smelt so good. We didn't give up however. We eventually found it. We apparently needed to go down a level in the building and around a corner. It's kind of tucked away, but if you follow the smells....you will get there. It is so tasty.

Now, maybe you're wondering....how much Dolly is in Dollywood? There are several different displays around the park, but nothing too outstanding. If you are truly a Dolly fan you may be interested in seeing her childhood home, or her grandfathers church, but if you want to learn and understand Dolly, I'd stick with other research methods. This is an amusement park, and not a Dolly shrine. I loved that it wasn't overly Dolly, but I also loved seeing her touch in many things. Overall, this place did not disappoint, in fact I want to bring my husband and Buddy to ride some of these crazy coasters. It was loads of fun and I fully recommend Dollywood to everyone.

Topolino's Terrace Character Breakfast

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:26:42 GMT

Character Dining during a Pandemic

Disney World is open, and things are DIFFERENT. The magic still exists, and that is most important. It is not the same, but it is still fun, and magical, and full of exciting things. When we visited at the end of January it was especially important to me to check out the newest Disney hotel, The Riviera Resort and see and dine at Topolino’s Terrace. Topolino’s opened with so much excitement being a sit down character meal (plus an amazing view). Seeing others visit, I knew that we would check it out on our next visit. What I did not know is that when we visited it would be during a pandemic and things would be different. Sharing my experience will hopefully give you some insight into what it is like dining at a character meal, where social distancing is enforced.

Let me start with getting a reservation. Topolino’s reservation are hard to come by anytime, but during the pandemic it is super important to make your reservation right exactly 180 days before your trip. Yes, if you want to eat somewhere specific you MUST book early. With this being said, if you do not have 180 days before you travel you MAY still be able to snag a table, just keep checking the My Disney Experience website or app and hope for an opening. Another thing to note is that during a pandemic you can not have large parties sitting together. Our group was a party of 11 and I knew we would not be able to sit together. At all our dining locations we made 2 reservations (group of 5 and a group of 6). Most of the time we were able to sit near each other, which was nice. At Topolino’s it ended up being just the 3 of us, so we did not have to worry about accommodating a big group.

We took an Uber from the Pop Century to the Riviera. We would have taken the skyliner, which is fun, but it planned to open at 8 and our reservation was for 7:55. Taking an Uber was super quick and not more than $10. When we arrived at the Riviera, I was flabbergasted. It is a beautiful hotel. Right when you walk in you can see all the way through out to the lake. It was easy to navigate from the lobby to the elevator. Once at the top we were checked in and took some time to admire the views. It is a beautiful restaurant itself, but the views are the reason to dine here. While you are dining, or after you can also take a visit out to the terrace for views like this.

Okay, let’s talk about the food. Topolino’s offers the character breakfast, and a fine dining dinner menu, sans characters. We of course were here for the breakfast. There are only 3 locations currently doing character breakfast on Disney property, and this is the best. The reason for the “best” statement is clear when you read the menu…. Wild Mushroom Scramble, Spiced Sausage Hash, Wood-fired Butchers Steak to name a few. The kid’s menu is limited to scrambled eggs, fruit & yogurt, and Mickey waffles. At $42 per adult, and $27 for kids, it is a splurge. Some are baffled by the price but let me tell you…. Disney knows that people want character meals, and those are at a premium. A benefit to Topolino’s over the others is that the food is REALLY good. With this being said, I had done some research prior to dining here (of course I researched all the things) and I have some tips to get “the most” out of your dining experience. If you simply walk in, order, and enjoy the characters you will have a great time, and just count the cost of dining here as “part of the Disney experience”. However, if you do this one thing, you will walk out of there full, happy, and extremely impressed with the “deal” you got. My one tip is…. talk to your server. When we first reviewed the menu, my husband remarked that he would need to stop for 2 ^nd breakfast once we were done. This is NOT what you want to hear after dishing out over $100 for breakfast for 3. His statement prompted me to discuss with my server what I had read in my research. I had read that you could order more than one entrée. I also heard you could order ALL the entrees for the $42 price. Our server heard me out and was not surprised by my research. She assured us that the portions were large, and if we weren’t satisfied, she would “take care of us”. I was happy with her answer and went on to order the waffles for our Buddy. His 3 waffles came with fruit and bacon as well. My husband ordered the Quiche Gruyere. She had said they were large. I will tell you that when she brought his food to the table the quiche was NOT large. However, she had remedied her statement by adding bacon. sausage, and waffles to his plate as well. I ordered the spiced sausage hash on her recommendation, and when it arrived, she stated that she was going to get me more, because it is “usually a lot more on the plate”. I did not actually get the extra, but I was satisfied. Also, they give you a breadbasket at the beginning with muffins, danishes, and a couple other items. I don’t want to forget those. They were an excellent touch. I have to say that everything we ate was delicious. Quality food is always more important to me than quantity. We were satisfied when we left. So…talk to your server about your expectation. They will make sure you are happy. Now, there is no clear consensus as to what the server will do. I have been in discussion with other visitors via social media who received different answers and experiences than my own, during the same time period we were there. I just want to give you the most information to make sure you have a great experience too. Just…talk to your server. They will take care of you.

I have mentioned it before, but you come to Topolino’s for the character experience. Due to the pandemic, you can not currently interact with the characters personally at your table. In the past we have had so many great experiences with characters, including some of my favorites . I was unsure and excited to see how this would go. I know what our Buddy is used to, so we had to explain WHY the characters would not be coming too close, and what we could do to still interact with them. It ended up being great. The characters follow a “runway” path around the restaurant. We were able to see them all go around twice, and clap and dance to “their song” twice as well. Lots of opportunity, and time to interact(socially). They stop in the 4 corners and interact and wave at guests from there. We were right in a corner of the character path, so we got great views and interactions from each of the 4 characters. Topolino’s always has Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. They’ve all been decked out in cute artistic outfits. It is so fun seeing them dressed up. In fact, when you leave you get a postcard with their picture and signatures. It’s a great replacement for the lack of autographs. You can also buy keychains, and plush versions of the gang in their outfits if you LOVE them.

In the end Topolino’s met my expectations. We enjoyed our service, the food, the characters, the views, and everything this place has to offer. I look forward to going back when pandemic restrictions are lifted and visiting with the characters is doable. I want to get one of those fabulous Mickey hugs.

Packing for Disney During the Pandemic

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 02:43:25 GMT

Packing and Preparing for a Disney World Adventure

Packing for an adventure can be fun. I enjoy the organizing, planning, and the “tetris” like skills it can take to actually put STUFF in a suitcase. Packing for Disney World during a pandemic adds a whole other level of organization. I love planning, so this adventure has been unique and I can’t help share some of the things I’ve learned, discovered, and just HAVE to share.

First off, I’m planning for 3 people, one of which is a tiny human. I am also planning on only using 1 carry on, and checking 1 bag for a 7 day adventure. This may seem challenging, but I’ve got this!

The first thing I’ve done is decide what toiletries we will need, and see if I can bring them in carry on size, full size, or if I can put them on a grocery delivery list. Yes, some things like shampoo, soap, lotion, sanitizer, and deodorant are added to my grocery pickup. I like using grocery pickup for a few reasons, all of which can be found here .

After I figure out toiletries, I get down to business. I decide on outfits(ears included). I like to lay everything out and decide what bottoms can be used multiple days, which shoes go with the most outfits, and make sure I have enough underwear for the entire trip(unless I’m planning on doing laundry while away). I also make sure to grab my swimsuit, rain jacket, and a sweater. Most months are pretty warm in Florida, but when the sun goes down it can be super chilly(especially now in January/February).

Now for the more random, and pandemic period items:

Spray Hand Sanitizer. I like the spray kind best and Target and Trader Joe’s have some of my favorites.

Reusable and Disposable Face Masks. I like having both depending on the ride and time of day. Sometimes the heat creates MASK-cne, and nobody wants that.

Battery Charger. Between checking wait times and catching a character selfie “on the dot” you’ll need a extra boost of power to get through the day.

Reusable Straws. Nobody should have to deal with the terrible paper straws found Disney wide.

Magic Bands . Disney is going away from using Magic Bands, and opting for phones and cards with the same features. I however prefer the Magic Bands, especially to help with no contact purchases and room entry for the whole family.

That’s it! I also have random things like homework, phone chargers, water bottles, and a toy or 2 for my son. The goal though is not to go overboard on anything. The time goes so fast, and we don’t need a lot. Are there things that you would add to this list? What are your “must haves” for travel?

Christmas at Cross E Ranch

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:51:35 GMT

A new holiday tradition

I've expressed my love for Cross E Ranch before , but they've now added a fun Christmas Activity that incorporates our favorite apple cider donuts(HELLO! Win!)

During the holiday season you can now visit Cross E Ranch for a drive through experience. This was their first year, and they did a great job. You must buy your tickets online before you arrive. You pay for a vehicle, not per person....so load up that car. While you are purchasing your tickets, don't forget to add some delicous treats to your order. We ordered a dozen of their tasty apple cider donuts that you know we love(get the glazed).

When you arrive have your email tickets ready. They will scan you in and give you a paper with a QR code to the audio tour. The audio tour is a nice companion to the drive through. The tour begins with a small light display around part of the farm. You then stop for treats. This was super streamline. Our warm donuts were ready for us. We then continued our drive through a winter wonderland, and then back to Bethlehem. Real animals and mannequins take you through the story of Jesus' birth. Cross E plans to use real humans to create a living nativity, but thanks to Covid, the mannequins conveyed the feel they are going for(for now). The total drive through wasn't more than 15 minutes. It was a perfect fun festive activity to add to your holiday season....if for no other reason then the donuts. Just go, try them, and tell me I'm wrong.

Build Your Own Adventure: Grand Canyon, Zions, and Bryce

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:44:16 GMT

6 Day National Park Adventure

I’ve lived in Utah my entire life, and until this week I have spent very little time in South-Central Utah. It is home to state parks, and national parks. I remember going as a young girl….but all I REALLY remember is camping, and a skunk near our tent. I’ve wanted to visit, but when there is a whole world outside of Utah, I really just dismissed it. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic I have been forced into finding fun travel destinations in my own backyard. Most people dream of coming to Utah and seeing “all the things”, so I decided it was my time to see at least some of it. We only scratched the surface, and I fully intend on going on more adventures in my state. For now, I will share with you our quick road trip adventure.

Itinerary: 6 Day National Park Adventure

Who: Our little family of 3(2 adults, 1 adorable 5 year old)

When: November 2020 (our 8 year wedding anniversary)

Details:..................................................................................

Day 1: We left mid-day and began our adventure driving from our home near Salt Lake City, Utah. We drove a quick 45 minutes to Provo where we had lunch . We got back on the road and headed for Beaver, Utah. There is a creamery here that has some tasty ice cream. We made a quick detour to pick up a family friend, then headed for St. George. St. George is “the place” when Utahns talk about state travel. The weather is beautiful in the fall, and we were happy to play in our hotel pool in November.

Day 2: After a good night sleep we headed for our favorite park, Thunder Junction . This park is incredible. It is an all ability park with slides, ziplines, a splash pad, and a TRAIN! That’s right, for $1 a person you can ride around the park in a fun little locomotive. There are cute little dinosaurs all around, and it’s a fun adventure.

We then hit the road for Las Vegas, Nevada. Yes, I know I said we visited Utah National Parks, but after researching the Grand Canyon, I knew we needed to go there too. The only problem is that it’s quite a long drive to see the Grand Canyon AND the Utah National Parks I had on my list. But, I had a solution…..(more of that on day 3). When we arrived in Las Vegas my husband wanted to go to Bobby’s Burger Palace . It’s one of his favorites. The problem came that it was closed when we arrived. We were super disappointed, but happily settled on Crack Shack (one of our San Diego favorites(that will soon be coming to Utah, as well)). After lunch we went to our hotel, The Residence Inn, just off the strip. This was a great hotel with a pool, for us to spend our evening in. We also checked out Pies and Fries for some tasty poutine(my favorite), and then had some of the best Italian Ice from Philly Freeze Me . It was, no joke, some of the best Italian Ice.

Day 3: Today is a day I’ve seriously dreamed about for years. You know….bucket list!!! We went on a helicopter ride. I don’t know what it is about them, but they seem so risky, and fun. My husband had ridden in one before, and said it was pretty cool. I had no idea what we were in for, but it was a truly amazing experience. After lots of research I chose Maverick Helicopt er. They were one of seven companies operating out of Las Vegas, and now (post Covid) only one of three. It was hard listening to how this pandemic has affected this industry. My heart goes out to them, and all businesses that continue to struggle. I chose Maverick for several reasons….their safety ratings, their prices, and the tours they offer. We chose the “Journey” tour. I suggest checking out their website to find the best tour for you, but this one was practically perfect in every way. I wanted a tour that took us to the Grand Canyon, spent time there, and gave us a tour of the Las Vegas strip at the end. My husband would have preferred an “in canyon” landing, but this one was pretty perfect. They picked us up from our hotel in a luxury bus limo at 6:40 am. We picked up 2 other parties and headed for the McCarran Field Executive Terminal where we were greeted and escorted to check in. There were about 20 other parties taking different tours and they had a great waiting area, with a fun gift shop. Our adorable 5 year old MAY have broken one of their magnets, and when we went to pay for it she told us not to worry. We still bought the magnet, and our little angel(ha!) learned an important lesson about the difference between LOOKING and TOUCHING. Maybe, you can relate but it was an adventure.

After waiting until our designated flight time the pilot came and collected our group of 7. Our family of 3 sat in the front on the way out, and in the back on the return. The flight out to the Grand Canyon took about 45-60 minutes. We enjoyed listening to a carefully curated musical selection, as well as some great commentary from our pilot. Flying over the Hoover Dam was a highlight, as was the landing and take off of a helicopter. I had a seat right next to the pilot and I loved seeing all it takes to fly a helicopter(Simply amazing). We then landed in the Grand Canyon(West). I preferred landing here because I had learned it was less busy than the north and south. It is also ran by the Hualapai Tribe. I knew that my money was going to support their tribe, which was nice. Plus, their service and hospitality was top notch.

Once we landed we were able to take a shuttle to both the Skybridge at Eagle Point, and then on to Guano Point. We had 3 hours to explore, which was enough time to enjoy Eagle Point, get my husband out on the Skybridge(which is a true architectural marvel), hike around Guano Point, teach the child what Guano is(which 2020 is the perfect time to teach about bat poop), head back to Eagle Point for a fabulous view and lunch, and get back to the helicopter. Eagle Point had a small trail to see some of the Hualapai teepees, and has great information inside their visitor center. The highlight of this stop is the Skybridge. I mean seriously…………

They have you leave all of your personal items in a locker(both to keep them safe, and force you into utilizing their photographers). I asked our photographer if he was the best (he was the only one available), to which he responded “I think I am.” He did a great job and we were so thankful it wasn’t busy and he could take several photos for us. I was so proud of my husband. He hates heights, and was a champion for walking out on the glass bottom bridge. It truly was a great experience.

Visiting Guano Point was just breathtaking. There are very few guard rails, and lots of places to get right on the edge of the Grand Canyon. There are several little trails for hiking around. Our little Buddy loved all the space to run. My husband and I just had to keep a sharp eye on him as he climbed. We thought it was named after the giant mound that looked like possible bat pop, and were surprised to learn it was really named after the bat cave found near the top. A 3.5 million dollar tram was constructed to extract the guano, but in 1959 a US fighter jet collided with the cables, leaving only the remnants.

We still had time after visiting Guano Point that we headed back to Eagle Point for lunch at the ONLY dining establishment around. It was mediocre food, but the views were 5 star. I would recommend eating here to anyone. I would also suggest doing it before heading to Guano Point. You will save yourself the trip back. After lunch we took the shuttle back to the airport where we boarded the back seat of the helicopter. Buddy was in the middle and couldn’t see much, so he ended up taking a nap on the flight back. It was nice enjoying the mountain views, that turned into the city of Las Vegas. We took a trip down the strip to see all of the buildings, and stadium before landing back at the terminal. Again, the music and commentary were enjoyable. We then boarded our shuttle back to our hotel.

We arrived back to our hotel around 1:30 where we were able to go swimming again, and relax before heading out for dinner. A family friend who lives in Las Vegas suggested Ferraro’s Italian Restraurant. It did not disappoint. We finished the night with a trip to the M & M store, which our Buddy loved!!!

Day 4 : On the morning of our 4 ^th day we woke up and headed back to Utah, as far as St. George again. This time we stopped at one of our favorite breakfast places, Hash House A Go Go. I’ve loved them for years, and you can read more about them here . We would have eaten in Las Vegas, but all locations were either closed or had an hour and a half wait. It was easier to drive the hour and a half into St George and be seated immediately (plus it broke up the trip a bit). After breakfast we headed for Zion’s National Park. On the way we stopped at a little shop/village called Fort Zion. It was a petting zoo/kid village. Very cute and worth the $1 admission.

Once we arrived in Zion there were signs indicating that the visitors center was full and you’d need to take the shuttle into the park. With having a 5 year old we didn’t plan on hiking too much, so we decided to forgo the shuttle and just drive around Zion, and stop when we wanted to. It wasn’t worth the hassle to find parking outside the park, shuttle in, see sites, and then shuttle back out. I will say….Zion is MUCH smaller than Yellowstone(if you didn’t know). We had visited Yellowstone in the summer, and didn’t know what to prepare for at Zion. But, we were able to stop at several locations, drive through the cool tunnel, and get out of the park in a few hours. It wasn’t an all day thing for us. I know that we will be back, and do some of the hikes (even the shorter ones) once Buddy is a little bigger.

On our way out we headed towards Kanab, Utah where we would spend the night. We stumbled on the Moqui Caves . This was a fun little tourist stop just outside of Kanab. It’s worth checking out online, and then seeing in person. We enjoyed it for about 30 minutes. Admission was a little steep at $7 a person, but 6 and under are free so that helps. We then headed to the Comfort Inn and Suites in Kanab. I don’t want to brag, but we ended up in the only LUXURY SUITE on the property. It was November, which is the slow season so it was around $50 for this king suite that included a sitting area, a bedroom, and a giant bathroom with hot tub. We all enjoyed having so much space to spread out after our driving. We ended our night at Iron Horse Restaurant and Saloon . It was a quaint little place with great décor, and good bbq.

Day 5 : As an overplaner, I made a goal not to plan too much for this adventure. But, after falling asleep around 11, I woke up at 1 am panicked that we didn’t have anything planned for this day. We planned to drive an hour to Bryce, but whether we would stay in Kanab, or head north I didn’t know. At 1 am I felt it necessary to PLAN SOMETHING. The problem was….nothing is open at this time to make a reservation. So, I did some research, and fell back to sleep with a plan. At 9 am I called to make a reservation for an adventure, but of course it was full. The girl on the phone said she would put me on the wait list should anything open. Well, I decided we would stick around Kanab until we knew if we’d be moved from the waitlist. While we waited we had lunch at Big Al’ s, and visited the Little Hollywood Museu m. Both were fun, and we enjoyed our time. And….guess what…..we got a call! We were removed from the waitlist after a group cancelled and we were able to head out on an EPIC adventure with Kanab Tour Company. We went on an ATV tour of Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon. This was amazing. We met at their office, got fitted for helmets, and drove to the start point. Once at the trailhead we learned about the machines, where we would be going, and other safety details. We then took off! We visited some sand dunes, stopped at several natural wonders, and of course the slot canyon. The walk through the slots wasn’t too crazy, and about a mile round trip. It was perfect with our Buddy. We all enjoyed it so much.

After this epic adventure we headed north for Bryce. It was such a beautiful drive, even as the weather was changing and getting a little colder. We finished with dinner at Bryce Canyon Pine s. This place is probably the best place to eat in all of Bryce. The pie was AMAZING. We got a slice of blueberry, and the chocolate cream. My husband would really drive the 4 hours from our home to eat here. It’s that good! We finished our night in our cozy hotel, the Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. It is a breathtaking lodge type hotel. The bed gave me the best night sleep of the whole trip.

Day 6: After the best night sleep of the trip, we woke up to a layer of snow. It was beautiful. To be completely honest, I was hoping to see Bryce in the snow. I wasn’t ready to just get up and get going though, so we lounged around the hotel for a bit(and watched a Hallmark Christmas movie). It was the perfect way to spend our last day of adventuring. Around 11 we checked out of the hotel and headed into Bryce Canyon. A couple mile in the road was closed and we couldn’t go any further. We were okay with this. We checked out 3 different view points and decided that we definitely want to come back and hike (at least the Navajo Loop Trail). After leaving Bryce we used some back roads to head north. We stopped in Gunnison to make some sandwiches from our cooler. With only being 3 hours from home, and the roads not being perfect we decided to head straight home. This was our longest “drive” the whole trip, and Buddy did great. He ended up watching a movie the last hour. He really is an amazing road tripper.

Once vacations are over it is nice to be home, but I always wish these adventures were longer. I love all of the family time and exploring the world with my little family. I also loved seeing a few national parks and exploring some of the greatness Utah has to offer. It really is BeUTAHful!

Fall at Cross E Ranch

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 01:13:57 GMT

Fall Festival at Cross E Ranch, SLC

For the last few years, we have loved visiting pumpkin patches, and the last 2 years we’ve fallen in love with Cross E Ranch in North Salt Lake. It is an amazing sight to behold a giant, sprawling working cattle ranch IN Salt Lake City. You can see the capitol building from this place!

We were wondering as summer came to an end if Cross E would open for their fall festival given the current Covid-19 climate. So, when I saw that they planned on opening I was so excited to get our tickets and head there. We love so many things about this place and were so excited to visit. We love the food, the activities, the entertainment, and of course the family time.

As you enter the ranch you will see the Donut Shop. I recommend stopping here first. The line does get longer as the night progresses (but I ALSO suggest stopping here before you leave). They make fresh apple cider donuts all festival long. They’ve built some viewing steps at the window to watch the entire process from mixing bowls full of batter, to the dough pourer, right into the fryer, flipping, and the final coating step of either glaze, or cinnamon sugar. It is mesmerizing, and completely satisfying to see YOUR donut go through the whole process. I LOVE the cinnamon sugar best, but the glazed was not bad AT ALL. When we came back for more at the end of the night we had a nice mix of both kinds. Yes,…when we came back. I’m telling you, you will want to take some of these home.

Aside from the donuts that should not be missed they have fresh made kettle corn in the barn, and a little sweet shack where they make fresh caramel apples. For those wanting something more savory, they also have a grill barn where you can get fresh beef burgers, fries, chicken, and other fried foods.

Now, food is not the only thing Cross E offers. The activities can’t be beat. My son loves the water pump most of all. Even more than the giant jumper, hay pyramid, hay maze, pumpkin patch, corn maze, tractor ride, hay ride, and giant slides. The giant slide was my favorite activity. It’s great to go down by yourself, but even better to ride down WITH your kids. My second favorite was the hay ride (minus the hay bails) because you get to ride out to the beautiful pasture where the cattle are raised. It’s a pretty spectacular view.

Let us not forget the PIG RACES!!! This was a treat to behold. Several times during the day (check the brochure that you receive at check in) you can watch 4 heats of pigs run around the track. Don’t miss the end when the pigs are rewarded with donuts! This was a highlight of the evening.

My favorite part is all the family time that Cross E offers. Almost all activities, and treats can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. It’s also not too busy. You must have a reservation for this event, and they ask that you not stay more than 3 hours, but I’m not sure how they track this. I also don’t think you need more than 3 hours. It’s the perfect size, and full of so many activities for a fun family fall evening.

Lagoon & Covid-19

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Tue, 26 May 2020 19:38:50 GMT

Lagoon & the "new normal"

Adventuring has become a little different after COVID-19 shut down our country and world. But, things are feeling a little more "normal" as the state of Utah has moved into the yellow phase of our shutdown. Part of the yellow phase has allowed Lagoon Amusement Park to open to limited capacity. Our family attended the 3rd day of the opening, and I'm happy to share some of the details of HOW, and WHAT to expect if you plan on visiting.

BEFORE ARRIVING:

The first thing you MUST do before going to Lagoon is make a reservation. Reservations are currently required to enter the park. This can be done HERE . This page is helpful because it lists out Lagoon's basic expectations about reservations:

Single Day Passports and Season Passports must be purchased BEFORE reservations can be made.

Reservations are available for any of the next 7 calendar days.

Please only reserve the date(s) you plan to visit Lagoon.

Reservations MUST be completed online prior to your visit.

Season Passport Holders will be restricted to 2 visits per week (for the time being).

Children 24 months (2 years of age) and younger are not required to have a reservation if not utilizing a Single Day Passport or Season Passport.

Please come to the Park within your selected time slot to ensure proper social distancing.

Once you read through these details you are able to make a reservation as either a season pass holder, or a single day pass. Either option will require you to enter your visit date, entry time, and all of the members in your group. After you have completed this step you will receive an email confirming your reservation. I held on to my reservation email but it appeared that our season pass was linked to our reservation since I didn't have to show my reservation confirmation upon arrival.

UPON ARRIVAL:

Once we pulled up to the park we were asked if we had made a reservation, which we had. Parking was super easy because even though it was a holiday, the park was limited to about 15% of their normal capacity.

We then put on our masks because one of the " guest expectations" is that you MUST have a face covering to enter the park. I had done some research about what the "norm" would look like once inside because the expectations also stated "guests use their best judgment when determining the safety of themselves and their families". It appeared in social media posts prior to our arrival that most guests were electing NOT to wear the masks once in the park.

While walking around the park people were (mostly) social distancing, and respecting the space of others. Families were staying together and keeping at least 6 feet of space between groups. There were several locations in the park that indicated only one direction of movement. This was a little confusing because a "do not enter" sign was in a major walkway. It appeared that you were supposed to walk AROUND a building, but most people were ignoring the sign due to the small amount of people in the area. When we entered a queue for a ride we noticed several signs indicating that guests keep social distance guidelines, as well as the clearly marked 6ft spots spray painted on the ground to allow guests to identify where to stand. There were also signs in the queues indicating that rides are regularly cleaned. We had to skip one ride because it was being cleaned when we walked by. It appeared to be a super deep clean, and not just a wipe down. They were taking this time seriously.

Once on a ride they seperated groups responsibly to give AT LEAST one row between groups. Some rides were only allowing 2 groups on at any given time, but other rides were filling all of the seats if the ride already provided for social distancing. Some rides have stickers indicating that rows or seats are not available. Lagoon has also eliminated any single rider lines. After riding a ride, guests are directed to the exit where hand sanitizer stations were available. All rides seemed to have these stations available. It was very convenient.

The same stickers used to prevent guests from sitting in certain seats or rows on rides were used in the restroom to only allow 50% of the restrooms, and sinks to be used. There were also 1-2 attendents in the bathroom keeping it clean. It was truthfully the cleanest I've seen a Lagoon bathroom.

As for employees, they were all very kind and helpful. Each one wearing their face mask, and following state guidelines that ensure they are not sick before coming to work.

Going to Lagoon was a truly enjoyable experience. I appreciated everything Lagoon has done to provide a safe, fun experience for all of their guests. We will be back again, and look forward to a summer of fun.

Disney's Grand Californian

usuprincess@hotmail.com (Emily-Anne Willey) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:26:42 GMT

This Place is Magical

Feeling “fancy” at Disneyland can mean anything from utilization of the “plaids” in the parks to make your Disneyland day super magical, to staying at the super luxurious Grand Californian. For some “fancy” also means sitting down and eating at one of these fabulous locations .

For me..I will wait for my private Disneyland tour, but I didn’t want to wait any longer to stay at the Grand Californian! I’ve expressed my love for this hotel when a friend, and guest writer shared her experience . I’ve also shared my opinion on the fantastic dining at this great hotel. My favorite being the princess breakfast . But, staying at the Grand was a stay that I can never forget. If nothing else, it reconfirmed that this place really is the best when staying in Anaheim.

The Hotel:

I’ve expressed several times how much I love visiting this hotel on Disney days . If I need a break from the day I will head into the Grand to recharge for a couple hours. The Grand is a beautiful Craftsman style hotel that makes you feel like you are in the forests of Northern California. The main entrance has beautiful sliding stain glassed doors. Once you walk in you can’t help but notice the greatness of the lobby. It has extremely high ceilings, and plenty of places to sit, relax, order a drink, and just take in the “grand”ness. As you look around the lobby you can find a corner where there are mini rocking chairs set in front of a tv showing Disney movies 24 hours a day. Near the kids section there is a small open room where a large roaring fire entertains up to 20 guests in rocking chairs, and benches. This is where we spend our time when we are just visiting the hotel in the middle of the day. It’s the perfect place to relax, and listen to a live piano player, or the self-playing piano which plays versions of beloved Disney songs. The hotel also has a great gift shop full of Disney merchandise, and vacation necessities.

The Rooms:

There are several types of rooms covering the Grand’s property. They have standard rooms, all the way to multiple room suites. All rooms are also available with the Club Level add on . On our 1st stay we stayed in a standard 2 queen room. It was perfect for us. Views can’t be beat in any room of the Grand. Some views include views of Disney California Adventure, others give you access to the Downtown Disney District(DTD). Our room had a woodsy view with a peak at the Starbucks in DTD.

The inside of the room was beautiful with the perfect understated Disney touches.

The Amenities:

Aside from the kids section, and roaring fire there are so many additional features that can be utilized by hotel guests. The concierge desk offers details of all of the daily events. You can go on a walk around DCA early in the morning. They show Disney movies late at night. There is an exclusive location to watch World of Color nightly with the sound streamed. They have themed activities throughout the day for kids. We went on a scavenger hunt. It included our hotel, and the other 2 Disney resorts.

The best amenity is the pool area. The Grand has 3 beautiful pools and 2 hot tubs. One pool also has 2 slides. One for small children, and one for everyone else. It’s beautiful. You can also access the other resort pool. s if you’re willing to walk to them(it’s not too far, but you may stay at the Grand pool because of it’s convenience.

The Location:

The greatest perk of staying at the Grand Californian is the location! Yes, you get a 5-star experience, but more importantly is the location AT the gate of California Adventure. When I say “at the gate” I mean right there! We took the elevator down from our room, turned left….and we were at security! It was magical. I’m talking so magical that I was able to get my husband(who loathes water rides) to ride Grizzly River Rapids because he was able to go right back to the room and change faster then it took to ride the ride. We were also able to do Rope Drop and get so much closer to Toy Story Mania then the front of the park. We rode it 3 times before a line started forming. It was amazing. At one point we discussed how staying at the Grand was worth it’s cost for the access to rides alone (yes, we were delusionally happy, and so excited that we JUSTIFIED the cost). This is what Disney wants you to think, and it’s a huge perk to staying at this location.

Another great perk are the Extra Magic hours, that are only available to hotel guests.Every morning they get into one of the 2 parks an hour early. Now, guests staying off property with a 3+ day park pass do have access to Magic Mornings, but those only take place on certain days during the week, not every morning. Crowds(especially at DCA) are SO light that you feel like the park is just yours.

But seriously, this hotel is amazing. The staff is kind, helpful, and accommodating. I suggest this hotel if you are looking to splurge, or if you have a short visit and want to fit as much fun as possible into your visit. I know that we will be back. We loved it, and look forward to our next visit.

Millennials at Disneyland

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 20:28:21 GMT

Top 5 from "one of them"

There are varying opinions out there these days about Millennials in the Disney parks. Some believe they are "taking away the magic", while others are saying....I love seeing these adults soaking up the magic. No matter your opinion, they are here and they are making the most of their Disney trips.

I asked my niece Jaede, who is a Disneyland fan what she likes most about Disneyland, as well as what she likes to do in the parks. She's a stellar millennial with an opinion worth sharing. So, today I am sharing her article on the subject.... her top 5 things that Millennials love at Disneyland.

I love Disneyland, I am constantly counting down the days for my next trip right after the one I was on ended. I am always making time and looking at the best food to eat, and rides to ride. People often wonder what I a 19 year old would do in a place marketed for children. Well, technically yes it is marketed to children, but Walt Disney said in the inauguration speech for Disneyland in 1955, “To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past…and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” Disneyland isn’t just a place for little kids to run around and be a kid, it’s a place where adults can go and relive their childhood. Disneyland is such a magical place, and here are 5 things you can do to make your trip just as magical without kids.

Food, food, food!

When I was racking my brain trying to come up with 5 things, the first one to come to mind was food. I love Disneyland food, I literally save money just for food. Yes the food there is more expensive but oh so worth it. If you play your cards right and look up best foods in Disneyland you can eat for so much less than you think. One of my favorites in Disneyland is the Steak Gumbo Bread Bowl for only $11.49, (you can find this at the Royal Street Veranda, on New Orleans Square) seriously a deal. I love getting this, because you never have to make a reservation, and can just decide when to go and eat, you can see Mark Twain's Riverboat from where you sit, it’s a cute little eatery. Along with savory food, I personally love the Cozy Cone Motel in California Adventure, here they have a lot of different food items available, I have eaten the Bacon Mac and Cheese served in a bread cone, for only $8.99. Around the Cozy Cone there are little tables and benches with shade so you can enjoy this delicious lunch. Another cheap eatery is Flo’s V8 Cafe, there they have many dinner type items, milkshakes, and so much more, for so cheap. Finally desserts, churros, Dole Whips, Pretzels, smoothies, etc, etc. What I love about these is the churros and pretzels are sold in carts so you can find them all around the parks. in different lands they have special flavored churros, or if you are like me and just want classic cinnamon they sell those too. There are so many yummy things and for millenials....perfect for instagram posts.

2. Rides

People say most of the rides are directed for kids, with there being few high adrenaline type rides. But if you are like me and love the magic that Peter Pan’s Flight brings you as the boat flies over the London stars. Needless to say, it is a beauty! Anyway, I always hate when people are like, “Disneyland rides are for babies.” Then there is me who almost cries as she’s riding Haunted Mansion. I love these rides because they make me feel like a little kid again, and are so amazing. But there are so many rides that are just as fun for adults as for little kids. You have Star Tours, Hyperspace Mountain, Indiana Jones, ect. These rides give you the thrill of an amusement park ride, and the magic of Disney. If you are planning a trip I suggest you get the Maxpass , which includes fastpasses. If you have the app you can check in for a fastpass and not need to go to the fastpass distrubution areas around the park. I love all the rides at Disneyland and California Adventure, not only because there are some high adrenaline ones (Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Break-Out), but I also love the sweet slow ones like I mentioned before.

3. Disney Shows

Disneyland is great at creating magical experiences for any age. They have so many different shows for people to watch. During peak seasons (Summer and Holidays) Disney has a firework show every night, and my gosh they are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. My favorite one that I saw was called Disneyland forever. These firework shows are like ones i've never seen before, there is music and projections, the fireworks are timed with the music, gah it’s just amazing. Totally worth being crowded by so many people. Along with fireworks at Disneyland they have parades, and many different musical type shows in both Disneyland and California Adventure. I personally have not been to many shows, but in California adventure they have Frozen at the Hyperion, and later in the night the most beautiful thing ever happens, it is called World of Color. Man it is amazing, so worth staying out late and getting freezing cold because of the water. It is such a magical and spectacular event. There are so many other things to see too, they have little performances in different lands at different times, when I was there last at Galaxy's Edge, they had people dressed up and acting as if they really were in Batu. In California Adventure they had this group perform the story The Lion King, it was so cool. The sad part is many of these shows end and are replaced with different ones during different seasons. So if you have time seriously check these out because man, they are life changing.

4. People Watching/Taking Breaks

This seems like a really weird thing to include, why would you go to Disneyland to people watch. Well this is one of my most favorite things to do because it is so funny, when we are tired from walking and want a break, we usually will sit on a bench and just watch people we sometimes make up little stories about them, and what they are talking about. In California Adventure there is this bridge over Grizzly River Run, it is at the perfect spot where when the little boat goes down the river a huge geyser shoots up, my sister and I literally stood there for 20 minutes watching people get soaked by the water, it was so funny and a perfect spot for you to take a break and just chill. There are so many places we love to sit and take a break at. My personal favorite is in the Animation Academy, we love walking through the sorcerers workshop, it is a cute little thing you can walk through and they have some places to sit and rest. But my favorite thing I’ve done there is go to turtle talk with Crush, this was mind blowing, I literally have no idea how they did this, but it was a lot of fun and a great way to take a little break from the heat that is California.

5. Souvenirs

Disney has the best selection of souvenirs, ranging from magnets to backpacks and literally everything in between. I love browsing around the different shops in all the different lands. I love mugs and everytime I go I love to buy a new mug and add it to my collection. It is also just a lot of fun to walk around and admire things you can’t afford, like the disney jerseys, or the leather backpacks. One thing I love is that in different lands they sell different merchandise, near Guardians of the Galaxy their gift shop has a lot of Marvel merch, Carsland has Cars stuff. This makes it to where you want to walk into every gift shop and look around at all of the different kinds of merch. This could have been included in the last one because it is a fun way yo take a break and most of them are air conditioned. We love doing this because it gives us a chance to find things not only for ourselves but also for our siblings. I love seeing the creative designs the imagineers came up with and the pure beauty that is their merchandise.

So there you have it my top 5 things to do in Disneyland. I love Disneyland and everything about it. In doing this I was able to really think and find things I wouldn’t usually talk about when going to Disneyland. I hope this can help someone find fun things to do when they have the time. I love spreading my time at disney out over a couple days so I can fully enjoy every minute and take all the magic in. I hope you too can experience the magic that is Disneyland.

The Carnival Horizon

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 01:06:00 GMT

Why did we choose Carnival?

We recently got back from an amazing family reunion cruise to the Carribean. I loved it, and mostly because I LOVE family time. I love being with my parents, siblings, and the littles that come along. We've wanted to go on a family cruise since our kids were babies, but we wanted it to be something they could enjoy and weren't "just along for the ride". When we decided it was finally time, there were a few things we considered....1: price, 2:destinations, 3:onboard experience for all members of the family. In the end we chose the Carnival Horizon because the price was right(Carnival is by far the cheapest Carribean cruise option), we loved the itinerary(most of us had been to all of the ports), and the onboard experience of the newest ship(newer ships are scheduled for later this year, and early 2020).

Things the Carnvial Horizon offers that we didn't have time for:
IMAX theater showing the newest releases
Serenity: Adults only retreat
Cloud 9 Spa
Chef's Table
Video Arcade
Sports Square

Things the Carnival Horizon offers that we took advantage of:
Dr. Seuss Waterworks waterpark: 2 "big kid" slides, dumping bucket, 2 small yellow slides, a kid "carwash"
Reflections Dining room with the most accomodating staff
Guy's Burger Joint was perfect for an afternoon lunch
Fun luxury, and discount shopping
Michaels craft experience
Lip Sync Battles
Onboard Brewery
Skybox Sports Bar where my family could watch college football
2 fun ocean water pools, and freshwater hot tubs that the kids could go in
Camp Ocean, where our Buddy wanted to move in. He loved it, and the staff was great.
Build a Bear OnBoard Workshop
Dr Seuss breakfast with characters

It was totally worth it. We always had something fun to do. The Hub app was a game changer, and we were so grateful for it. It kept us all informed on everyone's whereabouts and plans. I would take another Carnival cruise if they continue to offer this level of fun, especially for the very reasonable prices.

Vacation Themed Shirts

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 03:37:13 GMT

Stand out in a crowd....or just look like you all belong together?

I always receive compliments on the fun themed shirts I wear with my mom to Disney. I love it, and I love the work she puts into our adorable shirts.

I also have a friend who wanted themed shirts for her family, at the last minute.

I also wanted themed shirts for my family for my son’s birthday but wanted something that wasn’t TOO matchy…so this happened.

So it had me thinking….I should share these ideas with the world.

Yes, you can order cute matching shirts off of Etsy for your entire family. Yes, you can ask your crafty mom to make matching shirts for the whole clan for a family vacation. BUT…it doesn’t have to be so much work.

You can go to Kohls, or Target and get matching Mickey shirts in everyone’s size. They look adorable, and are usually half the cost. It's such a simple option for matching shirts.

You can also find themed shirts at any number of stores that are themed around a similar topic, and look "put together". My shirt was from Target, my husbands from Hot Topic, and my son’s from Kohl's. We all looked adorable, and coordinated, but no one felt silly in the overly matchy outfits.

Really, you can make everyone in your group happy. It's all a matter of what you're family is looking for.

Extra Magic at Disneyland and Disney World

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 03:37:24 GMT

How to get in early or stay late FOR FREE!!!

Going to Disney is the best!! But, I'm here to say that going to Disney is the best when you get extra Magic! What am I saying? I'm saying that you can get into Disney an hour early, and in some cases stay late FOR FREE.

HOW?

The names can get tricky....so let me help.

Magic Morning: (not available for FREE at Disney World)
This offer is available to anyone who purchases a 3+ day Disneyland park pass.
-When: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
-Where: Disneyland Park Exclusive (NO California Adventure)
-How: During your 3+ days at Disneyland parks you get in 1 hour early, ONE TIME during your trip.
-Details: Your Magic Morning gives you access to Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. The rest of the park is roped off until official opening. To make the most of your Magic Morning, arrive at least 1 hour before the Magic Morning is to begin.

Extra Magic Hours: (Availabe at both Disneyland and Disney World)

Disneyland
This offer is available to Disneyland Resort Hotel guests ONLY: (Grand California, Disneyland Hotel, and Paradise Pier)
-When: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday to Disneyland. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday to California Adventure
-How: During the duration of your stay you get in 1 hour early to either Disneyland, or California Adventure. This means you can get in early to
at least one of the parks every single day.
-Details: Your Extra Magic Hours are a perk of staying on property. Still plan to arrive an hour before the park opens. At Disneyland you can access Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. At California Adventure you will have access to all major attractions. This includes Radiator Springs Racers!!!

Disney World
This offer is available to all guests staying at any of the 15+ hotels located on property, as well as the Swan & Dolphin, Shades of Green, any Disney Springs resort area hotel, 4 Seasons, Bonnet Creek, and Waldorf Astoria. (So, pretty much anyone staying at a nearby resort)
-When: Days vary depending on park events. Check the " Park Hours " for days. Right now (Sept 2019) Magic Kingdom has Extra Magic hours EVERY DAY!!!
-How: During the duration of your stay you can attend as many Magic Hours that are available. Some parks host their Magic Hour(s) at th end of the night. For example, Magic Kingdom currently offers their Magic Hours from 10 pm-12 am on specific days. This is why it is imperartive to check the park hours calendar for your stay.
-Details: Yes, it's a perk of staying on property or in any of the listed hotels, which means there are a lot of people trying to get into the parks on these days, but it is still great to get in that hour early and enjoy some of the key attractions. Not all rides are open, but most areas are walkable during this time.

Hopefully these defintions help. In conclusion...(Free) Magic Mornings only take place at Disneyland are available to anyone who purchases a 3+ day pass. Extra Magic Hour takes place at both Resorts, but is more "exclusive" at Disneyland since there are fewer hotels included. My friend who is currently at Disneyland had the "best of both". She had a 3+ day pass, and was staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel. However, the Disneyland days would be busier because they occur on the same days as Magic Morning. Extra Magic Hour at California Adventure is the best in MY opinion. You get ALL of California Adventures rides, and only have to share them with 3 hotels worth of guests.

Best Buddy

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 16:03:14 GMT

4 things that make my Buddy the best travel buddy

My son just turned 4!

4 has always seemed like a non-descript year of life. It’s not quite kindergarten...He’s already done preschool for a year... So, what will happen in the fours?

But, this is actually not at all true for our little 4 year old. He’s done so much growing in the last year, but I see him right on the cusp of a pretty great growth spurt (in his language and development). He’s had a language delay, but in the last few weeks we’ve seen so much growth that we are super jazzed for this coming year of growth. Our little Buddy has been a champion in so many things. One thing that he gets all the gold stars for are his travel skills. He is an excellent traveler. For his birthday I would like to share the top 4 reasons I LOVE traveling with this new little 4 year old.

1) He’s a thrill seeker. This kid is up for any adventure. He loves fast rides, steep drops, and crazy thrills. I’m pretty sure he will want to skydive when he’s old enough to understand.

2) He really is the best travel buddy. Planes , and car rides . He’s awesome.

3) He’s super easy going….as long as you feed him. He’ll go anywhere, try any adventure , anything really, as long as you make sure to feed him. If you forget…prepare for a melt down. They are no fun.

4) It’s so easy to make him happy on vacation. You don’t need to be fancy. He loves a good hotel. As a little guy his favorite thing was to play with the phone in the hotel room. He still does it, it’s just a little more clear who he’s calling now.

We really have lucked out with this guy and are so happy he is a part of our family. Happy Birthday Buddy!

Table Service at Disneyland

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 16:05:37 GMT

Ranking Table Service Locations Around the Resort

I was recently perusing the list of dining establishments at Disneyland and thought to myself…sheesh I’ve been to almost all of these, I should rank them?!? That seems like the only natural thing to do, right? But I don’t want to rate just ANY Disney dining establishment…I want to focus on the “Table Service” dining. Quick service doesn’t speak to my soul (except for that tasty Bacon Mac & Cheese from the Cozy Cone). Table service dining is where it is at. It’s where I like to spend my food “budget”. I think it is where Disney does it best! Yes, I do think they are getting better, and veering away from JUST burgers and nuggets at the quick service locations, BUT the table service menus are always quality. Places like Plaza Inn have created amazing quick service dishes that allow people to select quality dishes in a cafeteria setup and then move to a table, but they are not considered table service. So, I’m here to break TABLE SERVICE down…ALL THE WAY. There are currently 19 table service locations at the Disneyland Resort. So, without further ado….

Haven’t Hit the List YET

Ballast Point, Catal Restaurant, Uva Bar

Bottom of my List

17. Naples Ristorante :

I feel like THE pizza place in Downtown Disney really doesn’t have to try too hard because people love pizza and will visit regardless. The pizza is good. Everything else is just average. The pizza isn’t anything special in the taste department. They do offer a large square shape pizza…. cool, but not cool enough.

16 La Brea Bakery Café:

You can get your food to go or sit down and eat it. Get it to go! There is no reason to waste precious Disney time here.

15 Blue Bayou:

This may shock most! Well, I don’t like eating in the dark. I’m also not a fan of paying exorbitant fees for a sandwich (looking at you Monte Cristo). I’m also not a fan of the seafood menu.

14 Café Orleans:

Let me be completely real here…. This place WOULD have been in my “top” had they kept the chicken gumbo on the menu. I love the bottomless Mint Juleps, and the Garlic Fries….but I can’t justify making a reservation to go eat JUST fries. It’s a fun place to sit and people watch. Prices are okay, and better than Blue Bayou but not worth wasting my time anymore.

Middle of the List

13 PCH Grill:

I’ve only visited for their character breakfast. It was okay. The characters are what give it a “middle of the list” ranking. Please check out my character dining article for more details.

12 River Belle Terrace:

This place is like having a southern barbeque. The food is good, and is displayed well, but it’s nothing special. The décor inside this place has every bit of southern charm you could want.

11 Splitsville:

I’ve only been to Splitsville in Florida, but I’m ranking it in the middle for California assuming the quality is still on point for bowling alley food. When we went, we didn’t bowl and truly enjoyed the food.

10 Goofy’s Kitchen:

Better than PCH Grill, but still nothing amazing. A friend recently tried out their dinner, and I’m looking forward to her review to see if dinner is better than breakfast.

9 Carnation Café:

This is a fun nostalgic place to go and have a meal. I’ve enjoyed every meal period here. It’s right on Main Street which is entertaining for people watching. They serve what I would consider classic 50’s-60’s fare.

8 Tortilla Jo’s:

Great Mexican food in Downtown Disney. So much better than the quick service Mexican food of Rancho del Zolcalo inside Disneyland. Bonus is that they offer table side guacamole if you’re in to that.

Top of My List

7 Wine Country Trattoria:

I love this seemly underrated place. They serve great pasta dishes in a breezy, relaxing location right along the California Adventure walkway.

6 Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen:

This place in Downtown Disney is so much fun, and worth making a reservation for. They often have walk up availability in the middle of the day, but I recommend getting the evening reservation for some tasty New Orleans food. Especially the BEIGNETS!!!

5 Steak House 55:

If you have no desire to enter the parks, you MUST at least check out this place. The food is top notch. The décor is classical memorabilia worth checking out. And…. I may not be a steak girl, but I come here for the 24 layer chocolate cake. It is a sight to behold.

4 Lamplight Lounge:

I’m not a drinker, but I love the views and experience at this place that it makes it to the top of my list. The first time I visited I had a good dish, the second time I shared a burger with my mom. It was great and rivaled my favorite burger in Disneyland.

3 Carthay Circle:

Bam! The best burger…ever. The best décor! The service! It’s all amazing. My one suggestion…. make a reservation for lunch and get the burger. They don’t serve it at dinner time. Also, do it with the World of Color package…. best viewing for the show.

2 Storytellers Café:

I’ve only eaten breakfast at this place, but it was THAT GOOD that it made the top of the list. Please read my review.

1 Napa Rose:

This place is number one based on both their Princess dining breakfast AND their dinner Chef’s Table. Both are highly coveted and worth calling in/making reservations right at 60 days. Quality, service, atmosphere, and the food are all impeccable. You can check out my review of the breakfast soon.

Now please, don’t be alarmed if your “favorite” is at the bottom of my list. I’m just the “AUTHORITY” according to me. I’m also not saying that my “bottom of the list” is bad. I’m just saying it’s not my favorite. I know some pretty amazing people that would turn this list upside down. I’m just saying that if you value my opinion (which I hope you do) you’ll know what places to check out before going to the others.

Summer Bucket Lists

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 01:52:19 GMT

What's on OUR 2019 Summer Bucket List?

Summer vacation is now upon us! My 3 year old has had spring fever for the last 2 months. I am in trouble as he gets older if this is how he feels about finishing preschool. I'm sure it didn't help that we've been working on our summer bucket list and writing down all the fun things we have planned for the next few months. Every day he tells me he wants to go to Disneyland, or cousin's house, or Monster jam, etc. So, he's lucky we've finally made it to the MAGICAL season. With that being said....we aren't just going on GRAND adventures every day. Yes, we have some fun things planned, but most of our season will be similar to spring break .

We have some big adventures planned. We're planning an adventure to Batuu(Disneyland). We're also heading to San Diego for a big birthday for my husband. But, again we have some regular summer days planned where my son entertains himself. We play outside. We do some yard work. We work on "reading". There are just so many things that we have planned. One great help that I received were some ideas from my son's preschool. I'm excited to try those. I also follow a few fun bloggers with some great summer activities that are either cheap or totally free. I'm looking forward to this summer, and you can be assured that I will be sharing those things with you.

Extra Disney World Perks

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 01:52:05 GMT

Disney Visa from Chase

Disney banks with Chase, and it blows my mind just thinking about the amount of money going in and out of those accounts. Can you image being in charge of that?!? Check this article out to read about some of the things that baffle me.

I also bank, a little with Chase, mostly so I can access some of the amazing Disney perks. I've talked about the things I love most about using it at Disneyland , but this post is all about Disney World. They offer 2 different cards, one with and one without the annual fee. I have the no annual fee one, and find it perfect. If you're interested you can click on this link and check it out. They are currently offering a $200 statement credit as well, which is pretty awesome.

I always get confused about what benefits I can use and when…so I decided to break it down for Disney World. In all fairness, I don’t use this card often because the daily benefits aren’t as great as some of my other credit cards, but when I’m going to the parks I bring it along for the “in park” goodness! You MUST show it to receive its benefits.

10% off merchandise when you spend $50 or more

10% off some restaurants in the parks and Downtown Disney

15% off tours

10% off carriage and horseback rides on property

15% off Spa and Salon services

10%-20% off Disney Spring shops

No interest for 6 months on park tickets

Special Meet and Greets at both Parks

In all honesty, the Meet and Greet privilege is the best part. You get to meet some A+ characters without having to wait in crazy long lines. We've met Darth Vader, BB-8, Chewbacca, Mickey, Goofy,Minnie, Daisy, and Stitch to name a few. It really is a fun perk. With the lines being short you also get a lot more one on one time with the characters. It's reason enough to have the card.

Make sure to bring your card with you. Even if it's linked to your Magic Band, they need to SEE the card.

-Hollywood Studios: Star Wars Launch Bay- From 11:00-4:00 daily

-Epcot: Journey Into Imagination- From 1:00-7:00 daily

My Bucket List

Sat, 25 May 2019 19:32:51 GMT

If I could hop on a plane now...where would I go?

We are almost 6 months into the year, and it has me reflecting…. already! My husband and I have been talking about our travel plans and what we’d like to do with the rest of the year. I LOVE this kind of stuff! I’m a planner by nature, and being able to plan TRAVEL…well, it speaks to my heart! The only tricky part, is that I’m ready to get out of town. And, when I say “get out of town” I mean leave the country. Yes, I know it’s a bit extreme, but I am a girl who loves to travel a LOT. There are several destinations that are just calling to me. We have completed our “schedule” for the 2019 year, and have started on 2020. Luckily my husband is a good sport, and is supportive of MOST of my list.

Now, you may wonder…where does a girl like me want to go? Well, let me share my Lucky 7 List (This list doesn't change too often, but the order changes pretty regularly):

#1: London, England

Now, you may think to yourself…haven’t you been there before? Yup, a few times actually. I’ve written about it here . BUT…I’ve never been with my husband or my son. It is my favorite place in the world, and I want nothing more than to share it with them.

#2: Disneyland Paris

From the heading here, I hope you can see that I don’t want to visit Paris proper. I’m not a huge fan…however, I want to visit Disneyland Paris so bad that I’m willing to spend some time in Paris. I will also happily take a visit to Versailles just to appease the masses (if there are masses that may need appeasement).

#3: India

I have a dream to ride an elephant in Jaipur (the pink city). I do NOT want a Slumdog Millionaire experience though, so I’ve got to do lots of research.

#4: China

My parents did a tour of China a few years ago, and it looked like fun. I’d technically like to hold a panda, but if it can’t happen that is fine. The 3 non-negotiables are Shanghai Disney, Hong Kong Disney, and the Terracotta Warriors (this is assuming the Great Wall will be visible at some point).

#5: Iguazu Falls

These amazing waterfalls border Argentina and Brazil. I’m not too picky about how this one comes about. I’ve looked into South American tours, and cruises around Cape of Good Hope.

#6: Antarctica

Antarctica was on my list to complete before I was 30, but when it didn’t happen, I decided it could actually go on the back burner for a bit. Yes, I still want to go but I also don’t NEED to go soon. If the right opportunity presented itself…. HECK YES! I’d be onboard.

#7: African Safari

I want to see the Big 5(elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, & cheetah). I also want to “Glamp”. I probably need a little more time before I can convince my husband this is something he “wants” to do too.

So, for right now these are my “tops”. I love this world, and I look forward to learning more about it. I only hope not to learn the same lesson I learned in Egypt. I’m also open to fun and new places as well. Where have you been, or where would you like to travel?

Disney World Rides

Tue, 21 May 2019 23:57:29 GMT

Where should I spend my time?

Disney World is giant!!! There are 4 giant parks, and rides at each park vary. So, what is right for you and your family? I really want to give the best advice, so I've now compiled my Disney World list. It’s not a “cute” list, but I hope it is helpful. I’ve broken it into lands. In each land you will see the rides, the height requirement(NH means there is no height requirement), FastPass(FP), whether it offers rider switch(RS),and single rider(Single) options. If you're looking for Disneyland's rides, please click here.

 Magic Kingdom

Tomorrowland:

Astro Orbiter; NH
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin; NH; FP
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor; NH; FP
Space Mountain; 44 in; FP; RS
Tomorrowland Speedway; 32”; FP; RS
People Mover; NH
Carousel of Progress; NH

Fantasyland:

The Barnstormer; 35”; FP; RS
Dumbo; NH; FP
It’s a small world; NH; FP
Mad Tea Party; NH; FP
Mickey’s PhilharMagic; NH; FP
Peter Pan’s Flight; NH FP
Many Adventures of Winnie of the Pooh; NH; FP
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train; 38”; FP; RS
Journey of the Little Mermaid; NH, FP

Frontierland:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad; 40”;FP; RS
Splash Mountain; 40 in; FP; RS

Liberty Square:

Haunted Mansion; NH; FP

Adventureland:

Jungle Cruise; NH; FP
Magic Carpets of Aladdin; NH; FP
Pirates of the Caribbean; NH; FP
Tiki Room; NH

EPCOT
World Showcase:
Frozen Ever After; NH; FP; RS

Future World:
Journey Into Imagination; NH; FP
Living with the Land; NH; FP
Mission: Space; 40”; FP; RS
Seas with Nemo & Friends; NH; FP
Soarin’ Around the World; 40”; FP; RS
Spaceship Earth; NH; FP
Test Track; 40”; FP; RS; Single

Hollywood Studios

Toy Story Land:
Alien Swirling Saucers: 32”; FP; RS
Slinky Dog Dash; 38”; FP: RS
Toy Story Mania; NH; FP

Echo Lake:
Star Tours; 40”; FP: RS

Grand Avenue:
Muppet Vision 3D; NH;FP

Sunset Boulevard:
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster; 48”; FP;RS; Single
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror; 40”; FP

Animal Kingdom

World of Avatar:
Flight of Passage; 44”; FP; RS
Na’vi River Journey; NH; FP;

DinoLand U.S.A.:
DINOSAUR; 40”; FP; RS
Primeval Whirl; 48”; FP; RS
TriceraTop Spin; NH

Discovery Island:
It’s Tough to be a Bug; NH;FP

Asia:
Expedition Everest; 44”; FP; RS; Single
Kali River Rapids; 38”; FP; RS

Africa:
Kilimanjaro Safaris; NH; FP

Disneyland's Annual Passes

Tue, 14 May 2019 20:33:00 GMT

Is The New Flex Pass Worth It?

My family’s Disneyland annual passes just expired, and we were fine with that. Our plan IS/WAS to stay away from Disneyland until mid-2020 and let the craziness from Star War’s Galaxy Edge die down a bit. Well, if you know me, or the 2 adorable Disney monsters I imprinted on, you know that staying away from Disney is very difficult. THEN…. Disney went and introduced a brand new annual pass! Now, I’m not saying that I’m running to the website to renew…but I am researching my options nearly a year before I planned on it. So, I figured I would share the details while I’m at it. I’m not speaking to the California resident passes because those are their own kind of “special” and have so many restrictions and limitations. I’m talking annual passes available to any Disneyland fan.

There are 5 Disneyland Annual Passes Available as of May 21, 2019:

*All annual passes are priced for ages 3 and older.

$1949 - Disney Premier : This magic card gets you admission to all of the parks in Disneyland and Disney World. That’s right! Both coasts anytime! Parking, PhotosPass, and MaxPass included. Up to 15% discount on dining and 20% on merchandise purchases.

$1399- Signature Plus: Admission to Disneyland and California Adventure anytime. Parking, and MaxPass included. Up to 15% discount on dining and 20% on merchandise purchases.

$1149- Signature: Admission to Disneyland and Californian Adventure anytime except Dec. 21-Jan 4.(2019-2020) MaxPass can be added for $100. Up to 15% discount on dining and 20% on merchandise purchases.

$799- Deluxe: Admission to Disneyland and California Adventure on most days (2019-2020) See the website for d ates . MaxPass can be added for $100. Up to 10% discount on dining and merchandise.

$599- Flex: Admission to Disneyland and California Adventure on most week days (2019-2020) being called “good to go” days. As well as by reservation every other day except Dec. 21-Jan 4 which are blacked out. MaxPass can be added for $100. Up to 10% discount on dining and merchandise.

So, that’s the passes. But….this new “FLEX” pass has so many stipulations and rules that really need some explaining to decide if it’s worth the $200 price difference over a Deluxe pass.

First, to really understand the Flex Pass you’ll want to take a look at the Park calendars on the Disneyland app or website. You simply select Flex Pass and then either Disneyland or California Adventure. I’ve done the research and, YES they are different. Both parks have the same GREY dates which means they are blacked out the same dates, which for 2019-2020 are December 21-January 4(These blackout dates apply to the Flex, Deluxe, and Signature).

Now, for the “good to go” days.. Green are “good to go”. This means that the park is available to go to. You just take your pass to the gate and you get in. Done! California Adventure has more “good to go” days than Disneyland. So, if you are planning your adventure…be aware. The following dates are G2G at CA, but not Disneyland: June 3-5, Aug 19-22, Aug. 26-29, Sept. 6, Nov. 8, June 1-3. If you plan a trip on any of these days and want to park hop, or want to visit Disneyland you’re going to need a reservation…

Blue are “reservation” dates. This is where things can get complicated, so stay with me…. You can still get into Disneyland or California Adventure on a blue date, but only if you have made a reservation. Yup…You have to have planned ahead and made a reservation.

Up to 30 days before you plan on visiting you must log in to your account and make a reservation IF there is space available (If there are no more reservation spots available the calendar will state “Reservation Unavailable”). You can make up to 2 reservations (Disneyland, California Adventure, or Both) per Flex Pass during a 30-day window. You can make reservations for others as well, as long as their pass is linked to your account.

Maybe you’re thinking….what about people that just go in and select dates all the time, and leave nothing available…..well, Disney has thought ahead with a couple of options….they have a Cancellation Policy-You can cancel up until 11:59 pm the day before your reservation with no penalty(using the app or website). They also have a No-Show Policy: if you are a “no show” for 3 reservations in a 90-day window you will be unable to make a new reservation for 30 days after the 3rd “no show”.

So, now the question is...Is it worth it? Is any of it worth it? Well, that depends on how often you travel to Disneyland?

A one day-one park pass is $149. A park hopper is $199. So if you go to Disneyland 1 day at a time and park hop, you need to go 3 times to make the Flex Pass equivalent.

A 3-day park hopper is $355. So, if you go to Disney 2 times at 3 days a visit, you’ve made it worth it. BUT…that’s just the Flex Pass. You have to be willing to travel on the good to go travel days, OR hope that your reservation days don’t sell out.

The other passes all depend on how much you travel and what is best for your and your family. What do you think of this new Flex Pass?

Remember that one time I almost died in Egypt chasing a Nile crocodile?

Sun, 12 May 2019 02:30:25 GMT

Yup, it happened!! But without photos you wouldn’t know that, right?

About 2 years ago I lost all of my hard drive images of about a decade’s worth of travel. I spent almost $3,000 trying to recover them, to no avail. It was devastating. But, then I remembered that to have the printed photos I had to have sent them to a printer somewhere. (Enter the power of Costco Photo) I did!

It’s been 10 years since I visited Egypt, but now I can share with you my ADVENTURE of almost dying. I’d also like to make this a PSA about being aware of your surroundings and having some cultural awareness.

A friend and I were on a 10 day guided tour of Egypt. I ONLY recommend going to Egypt if you are traveling with a group. We went with Gate1, and I loved it. But, might I also suggest Adventures By Disney ( let me know if you are interested and I can give you information). Egypt was not on MY list, but when my friend suggested it…I couldn’t say no.

We were in a group of about 20 people. Many were couples in their mid 50’s-late 60’s. There was also a very sweet family of 4, that made me hope that one day I too would have a family to take all over the world. We were the only two 20-something friends just out for an adventure in Egypt. I’d like to say I was young and naive, but I was old enough and had experienced the world enough to know that some of my actions on this trip were less than “thoughtful”. One small example was when we were trying to cross a busy Cairo street HOPING that traffic would just stop for us. (Ya, not so much. There is something unique about American travelers, but that’s a post for another day.)

We were touring along one day in our (slightly) air-conditioned bus when we began noticing military men lining the streets along our path. Initially our guide didn’t know what was happening, but he soon recalled, while discussing with the driver that the President was in the area rededicating a new and improved powerplant on the Aswan Dam. It truly was a sight to behold. As we got closer to the dam we saw more military men and large convoy vehicles blocking the way. At one point I believe our driver had to talk to someone so that we could even be let through to go to the dam. I didn’t pay much attention. I was just baffled by the amount of militia, and the Nile River that I was beholding, THEN…..our driver told us to take a look out the right window. There was a crocodile right at the edge of the dam. Apparently, this was good luck to see. The crocodiles tend to stay away from the dam, and to see one was very lucky. Lucky indeed! I’m sure he was there to see what was going on too. So many people just standing around…to him, it looked like snack time.

The bus continued on a little further and we stopped. We stopped so that we could admire the dam and take some beautiful photos. (You’ll be able to see mine below.) Well, my friend and I decided that it would be WAY MORE cool to take a picture of this DAM CROCODILE. We were both teachers and wanted to share this “lucky” moment with our students. The only problem (in our minds) was that this crocodile was about a quarter of a mile back. We both were runners though and decided that we could hurry on over without being detected, take the picture, and be back before the group had finished taking their dam pictures.

Logically, this might have worked but remember that this was a special day at the dam and the streets were lined with military men, and convoy vehicles?! And let me add one other minor detail…these military men were armed (with long guns). When we formulated our plan to hop off the bus, not tell anyone, and run in the opposite direction of the group we were not thinking of any of these things. We were teachers on a mission to get a cool picture of a lucky crocodile.

Well, everything began happening very quickly…..not because we were running so fast, but because our lives were quite possibly flashing before our eyes. There was a lot of yelling in Arabic, men coming at us, people screaming, guns pointing at us, and our tour guide shaking his head “no”. Yup, we were moments from being labeled TERRORISTS and not returning home alive. But then our angel bus driver explained in Arabic that we were “stupid Americans with a group” to which the men withdrew their guns and walked us back to our group on the sidewalk of the Aswan dam. Our driver ensured we were okay, then we posed (jokingly)angrily in front of the dam because we didn’t get any good shots of the crocodile, and we got back on the bus.

Once we were on the bus was when things kind of set in about the reality of what had just happened. We found out that our guide had disowned us for fear of what may happen to him. He also seemed to try to “make it up” to us for the duration of the trip. I realized how grateful I was for our bus driver, and how I would wear my “stupid American” badge as a sign that I was alive. He was only our driver for the rest of that day, but he was just what we needed. The most interesting thing was that this situation seemed more horrific when I came home and gave my mom the play by play. Repeating it in full detail really brought to light the lack of “thoughtfulness” I had on that adventure. It made me take stock in how I perceive the world, and how it’s so extremely important that when you travel somewhere new you respect the culture, and always be aware of WHAT is happening around you. Egypt is a beautiful place, and maybe one day I’ll want to go back again. But for now, we should probably still stay away from each other and just be thankful that we have found each other through photos again.

Disneyland Princess Breakfast Adventure

Wed, 08 May 2019 01:38:32 GMT

It’s here! My review of the Disneyland Princess Breakfast Adventure. I will be completely honest in this review, by stating….it was an ADVENTURE. I truly have so many opinions on it and want to give you all the information I can in a clear way, without writing a novel on the subject (Yes, I really have that much to say!) So, without further ado let me take you on my adventure.

Before arriving on the morning of our reservation I did as much research as I could. You know me…. research it as much as possible, to the point where I feel like I’ve “done it” before I even arrive. Disney had only been offering this event for about 2 weeks before we arrived, so information was scarce. I had the Disney website, and a couple of social media references to view. Directly from the Disney website it states……. “A Fairytale Experience for Everyone. Experience a magical morning of food and fun while forging new friendships with beloved Disney Princesses. Immerse yourself in a world where princesses share their passions and stories of adventure with the young and young at heart!” Another quote on the site states……… “Dine on a delicious three-course breakfast as you enjoy personal interactions, photo opportunities, a fun takeaway bag and themed activities with Disney Princesses—all within the elegant surroundings of Napa Rose .” The final statement that had me excited was “Guests will share a final fond farewell with a personal Princess portrait moment and enjoy a special keepsake to remember their unique Disney Princess experience.”

Based on this information I knew I would be fed A LOT, meet some Princesses, take some photos, and have a fun takeaway bag. This all sounded pretty amazing to me and I was totally ready to shell out the $125 PER PERSON (tax and gratuity not included; Everyone 3 and older is $125 each; No AP discount). I love BEING a Disney Princess, and I love that I could share this special experience with my mom on my birthday trip. Yes, it was a splurge but one I wanted.

Now, to the actual DAY!!!

This breakfast takes place Thursday-Monday mornings from 8-12 at Napa Rose. I’ve eaten here 2 times before, and everything I’ve had was amazing. You can read about my character breakfast experience at Storyteller Café here . We were able to score a highly coveted eight o’clock reservation. Every reservation comes with 5 hours of free parking at the Grand Californian. We stayed close, so we were able to walk over. When we arrived, we checked in and took a seat in the lobby. The lobby had a really cute tic-tac-toe board set up for us to enjoy while we waited. We sat down and observed others as they came in. My mom was also busy fixing her mouse ears because they had broken on the way over. (Shout out to the Grand Californian for having a sewing kit for us to use.) As I watched the next group check-in, I saw that each child in their group was given an autograph book and a princess pen. Uhhmmm…. I didn’t get one! I’m pretty sure we are all paying the same price here, and the website does say a “fairytale experience for EVERYONE”. In my fairytale I get an autograph book and princess pen. But…. oh well. I moved on.

We walked to our seats. The tables had a beautiful flower arrangement (very princess-y). It also had a clever adult beverage menu. My mom and I don’t drink so we set it aside (after I took a picture for this article). The event “Adventure Guide” came to our table and explained that we would meet several princesses during our morning, and when we were finished we could head outside for a couple of surprises. She also gave us our own tic-tac-toe board to continue the fun. Our server also greeted us and explained that we would enjoy 3 courses during our morning. Rapunzel’s Tower, a buffet, and a selection of desserts.

So…here’s my break down…

The FOOD)

I have a shellfish allergy, so the chef came out to address my needs. We then received Rapunzel’s Tower of appetizers. The tower came pre-stocked with 2 of everything, but because of my allergy we also received a separate plate with all the selections, minus the lobster roll. So, technically we had 3 of everything. All the items were tasty except the replacement lobster roll, which was a corn roll on a gluten free bun. It was a hard pass. My favorite was the little ham sandwich. My mom loved the chia seed pudding. While we were enjoying those items, they brought us a basket of breads with tasty lemon curd. Yup, it was tasty but appeared to be more of an afterthought. Maybe if it was on the table first, we would have enjoyed it more.

We were then escorted to the buffet where they offered a selection of breakfast and lunch items. Eggs, bacon, fruit, wagyu sliders, and mac and cheese. The chef was also there and let me know that all of the items were safe for me to consume. I appreciated that he remembered. While we enjoyed the buffet items, a server also brought out a fresh basket of fries letting us know that they were safely fried in grease not contaminated by shellfish. It was a nice touch, again. It was crazy how much food was presented to us. The random fries were strange, but still appreciated. After all this food, I decided to order a hot chocolate. It had a giant whip cream rose on top. It was nice, but nothing fancy. I just wanted the cute rose topped drink.

They let us digest a little as we met a few princesses, and then dessert came out. We were celebrating my birthday, so our dessert platter had a little candle, and Happy Birthday written on it. Every dessert was tasty, but Mulan’s was the most fun and the Pocahontas peanut butter treat was the best tasting. After dessert we headed outside where they have water, juice, and coffee as you complete the rest of the adventure. I have to say that the food did not disappoint. It was on par with the other meals I’ve had at Grand Californian. Worth $125 per person for the food alone, probably not. But it’s everything else you are paying for here. Like…….

The PRINCESSES)

From what I understand Rapunzel should have been in the lobby while we waited, but she was missing. Once we had our first course Belle came to visit with us. Let me tell you something…. if I had an autograph book, I would have had her sign it. Instead we visited about our adventures, what we were celebrating, and events from her story. The BEST thing about this breakfast is the amount of time the Princesses spend with you. You never feel rushed, or like they are there to just take a photo and move along. They really visit with you to create a truly enchanting morning. Princess Tiana came over and asked us about her beignets, chatted about her dress, and again…SPENT TIME! We then visited with Jasmine, and Aurora.

After finishing our meal and paying, we were escorted outside where Mulan shared a story with our small group. We were then led to meet Pocahontas. This was a real treat because she is not found around the parks very often, if at all anymore. She was so kind to teach us her language and visit with us.

The final princess is the one you take your “personal princess portrait” with. The one they talk about on the website. For us, and I’d assume always it was Ariel. She was THE BEST Ariel I have ever met. I told her of my son’s love for her, and what a joy it was to meet her. I was probably “childlike” enamored by her. The Princesses really are the reason you come here, and the quality time is unlike anything else you get in the parks. It was magical.

Now that I’ve explained all the magical parts of this experience, please let me share my overall thoughts about a few things. Yes, the food was good. Yes, the princesses were amazing…but was it worth $125 per person? Well, let me preface this…. I won’t be doing it again unless some changes are made. Yes, changes. Remember in the beginning when I shared everything that the website states as part of this experience…. well let’s clarify……it states that it’s a fairytale experience for everyone. The thing I love about Disney is that you can be a KID no matter your calendar age. It’s what makes this place so magical for me. But…. everyone is not given the same experience. I mentioned the autograph book and pen at check in…. this was not the only thing left strictly for children (even though there is no age discrimination in price). Upon the end of your meal, adults are given the bill and children are EACH given a pink bag with a Disney canvas bag, and either a princess necklace or sword and shield. In full disclosure we also received a pink bag (to share). It had 1 canvas bag and a 2 pack of chocolate truffles to share. Based on what I had read, why did only the children get this bag of “cool” goodies? The last thing I wanted after a buffet was a chocolate coin truffle. I was looking forward to my mom and I each receiving this pink bag. I had even done research to know that she could get the necklace, and I could get the sword and shield for my son. So, when we received 1 joint bag with chocolate, I was seriously disappointed. I talked with someone at the front desk before we departed and asked them if I could trade my chocolate for the sword for my son. Although the manager did seem put out that I had asked, he did honor my request. It’s silly that I felt guilty asking for a child’s toy, but I didn’t think the whole gift thing was being handled correctly. I know that I am not the only one confused and let down by this over site. A fellow blogging friend who is an affiliate for Disney also attended the brunch (as a paying customer) and she did not receive a gift bag. After several people questioned her about the bag on social media, she reached out to Disney to see if there was an oversight. She was told that because she was not there with a child, she did not receive a gift bag. Wait? What happened to “a fun takeaway bag” for her?

In conclusion…. I had a lovely time. I don’t want this inconsistency on Disney's part to detract from the lovely food, atmosphere, and characters. I’m sure with time they will make the necessary adjustments, and everyone will have a magical time. I loved spending time with my mom and having a great experience.

Random Disneyland Perks

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 01:59:00 GMT

Disney Visa from Chase

Did you know that Disney banks with Chase? How cool would that be to see? The money that goes in and out of those accounts! WOW. I recently saw some (seemingly) reliable information that stated that Disneyland’s (not World) daily operating costs are about $3.25 million! Can you imagine?!? It makes park tickets seem (a little) more reasonable when you think about what they pay to keep the parks open.

When I signed up for a Disney Visa from Chase several years ago, I did it so that I could have a SUPER CUTE SPARKLY credit card with the castle on it. That was it. (I did say SEVERAL years ago) I was still establishing credit, and loved that the card had so many cute designs. I learned after getting the card that it had several fun benefits. Benefits for Disneyland, Disney World, Adventures By Disney, Disney Cruise Line, and BEYOND!!! They now offer 2 different cards, one with and one without the annual fee. I have the no annual fee one, and find it perfect. If you're interested you can click on this link and check it out. They are currently offering a $200 statement credit as well, which is pretty awesome.

But, I always get confused about what benefits I can use and when…so I decided to break it down for myself as I travel to Disneyland. In all fairness, I don’t use this card often because the daily benefits aren’t as great as some of my other credit cards, but when I’m going to the park I bring it along for the “in park” goodness! You MUST show it to receive its benefits.

10% off merchandise when you spend $50 or more

10% off some restaurants in the parks and Downtown Disney

15% off tours

No interest for 6 months on park tickets

Special Meet and Greets at both Parks

In all honesty, the Meet and Greet privilege is the best part. You get to meet some A+ characters without having to wait in crazy long lines. We've met Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, BB-8, Chewbacca, Minnie, Daisy, and Stitch to name a few. It really is a fun perk. With the lines being short you also get a lot more one on one time with the characters. It's reason enough to have the card.

-Disneyland: Star Wars Launch Bay- From 2:00-6:00 daily

-California Adventure: Hollywood Land- From 10:30-1:30 daily

Spring Break for these Adventurers!

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 20:00:51 GMT

I’ve been asked several times what big adventure we were planning on going on during spring break this year. It’s always an interesting question because…ya, we love getting out and we SHOULD be out exploring some far-off place. But, here’s the fact…my husband works at a place that is busy when kids are out of school. So….weekends, holidays, summer vacation, and spring break keep us (literally) grounded. It was an adjustment for me because I lived a previous life as an educator, so every weekend, holiday, summer, and spring break were my ONLY time to travel. But I do have to say I prefer it this way. We now travel when everyone else is home, and “in the grind”. Yes, I know that one day when our Buddy is bigger and trying to get into Ivy League colleges, he’ll need to attend high school but for now this works for us.

What do we do for Spring Break then? Well, the little man and I have adventures during the day and we get out with Dad at night. It’s really not too different from when Buddy is in school except, he’s with me all day and not at preschool. As he grows up into elementary school I know it will change a little, but there are still a few fundamentals that will make up our spring breaks.

#1: One or two camps or activities just for the little man. He’s super independent and I want to continue to foster this in him. I love seeing him navigate the world. Figuring out places, spaces, and relationships in an environment guided by someone other than me is important for his growth. This spring break he attended two camps. Each one was 2 and half hours long. The first one was about getting food from the farm to the table. The second was all about baby animals.

#2: One or two “out of the ordinary” activities as a family. Something special that we don’t normally do is a nice way to break up the week and gives us all something to look forward to.

#3: Daily learning time. Whether it’s letter tiles, number blocks, etc. I like to come up with at least one specific letter or number activity a day. We may play other activities that have these elements, but one specific one is great. I usually like to find something new for this on Pinterest.

#4: Computer time. Yup, I give him computer time daily(usually). Depending on how much time there is in a day. He has 2 great learning programs that I will sit and watch him play (sure I’m probably scrolling social media, but I’m there with him when he gets stuck).

#5: Activities. These are varied daily. Sometimes he plays by himself so I can get things done, other times I’m right there playing with him.

Really, I’m just doing the mom thing during spring break as if he doesn’t go to preschool yet, but like I said, I don’t see these things changing much as he grows. I also haven’t said, but it needs mentioning…I like to do as many things as possible outside. We’ve had a really rainy spring break but we’ve played in the yard, went to the park, and gone to a couple outdoor events.

What I’m really trying to say is….nope, we don’t have big spring break plans. We stay close to home and enjoy the family time. That’s my goal…I just want to enjoy our time together, and always. I hope you have a great spring break, however grand or simple your plans may be.

Off to Disneyland I go!

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 00:02:05 GMT

What I'm PLANNING to do at Disneyland.

It’s happening! I’m heading to Disneyland, and I am so excited. I’ve been “researching” (ie scrolling Instagram, facebook, blogs) for ALL THE THINGS that I need to do while I’m there for a week. I’m combining a girl’s trip with a family running trip by having my husband and son meet me partially through the week, and my mom heads off to visit family. I feel like I’m getting the best of both worlds like this. I get to “do Disney” the “OG Emily” way, and then again the “Family Emily” way. I love both ways, so I’m so excited to get to do both. And…. because I get to do it like this I have an extensive TO DO list. I thought I would share it with you, so that you know what to look forward to, as well as let me know anything else you’d like to see before I get there.

SO MUCH FOOD
Tropical Hideaway
Pirahna Lemonade Slush-Bengal BBQ
Royal Street Veranda
Butterscotch Beignets
Cookies & Cream Bread Pudding at the Wharf
My favorite Bacon Mac & Cheese from the Cozy Cone
Lamplight Lounge with my mom
River Belle Terrace Fantasmic! Dining
Carthay Circle with my heart
Oh, and let us not forget the whole Food and Wine Festival
SHOPPING
The new ears
Slinky Dog Earrings
All things Pixar
Really, just getting my SHOP ON!!!!
THE RIDES
Jessies Critter Carousel
Radiator Springs Racers with the Little Man
Making the most of my MaxPass
OTHER THINGS
The park wide Easter Egg Hunt

Chef Adventure in the Backlot

Character Dance Party in Tomorrowland

The Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure (I’m probably most excited about this)

Watching my husband crush it in his ½ marathon (sure it’s not in Disneyland, but it will be so fun)

Build a Souvenir

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 00:08:28 GMT

Giving my kid some SKILLS

Okay, I feel the need to share about this fun monthly adventure we have. It’s something we do when we are home, BUT I would not be opposed to doing it if we were out of town adventuring as well. Especially if we are visiting a place and looking for fun things to do with a kid. I’m sharing it because it brings my son such joy, that I really can’t NOT share it.

Home Depot!

They offer a monthly kid’s project, and they are always a blast. The first Saturday of the month we take ourselves to our local Home Depot with our BFF Cousin and Poppi, (Aunt, and Uncle too) and truly create some amazing works of functional art.

I found out about these projects about a year and half ago, and we’ve rarely missed a month. It’s really easy. You sign up online (or just stop in), head into the Home Depot anytime during the designated project time, visit the desk where you are given the project, an apron (if you don’t already have one), and pin to put on your apron once you complete the project. After that you head to the tables where the hammers (Yes, hammers) and screw drivers are set up. You then let your kids build the project (with as much or as little help as you think they’ll need). My son loves hammering things and using real tools. It’s been so much fun to allow him to build something that he feels proud to have created. After it’s built you head over to the painting table. My niece LOVES the painting portion. The paint and brushes are all out just ready to be used. It’s a very creative space. My son tends to go with the “less is more” approach but he’s getting a little more into it. Then, you place your project on a Home Depot plate and you are free to leave.

We usually find ourselves wandering the aisles in the logo-ed car carts for about thirty minutes while we “let the paint dry”. Plus, my son loves his Uncle making the “car” go SUPER FAST. It really is a super fun morning for our family. I love that it is a monthly THING!

But like I said I’d be happy to do it away from home too. I think it would be a familiar place to go while on vacation where we could get a unique souvenir, and get this…. the best part…. IT’S TOTALLY FREE!!! Hello, sign up now.