Your Guide to Disney Inspired Travel
Looking for ways to keep the spirit of Disney alive in your travel plans without having to step foot into a Disney Park? This is a complete guide to "Disney Inspired Travel". Hope it inspires you to live out
The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Review
The Grand Californian Resort and Spa has recently become my go-to hotel accommodations for any “big” Disneyland trips. My perspective on this hotel, that I once felt was way outside of my price range (and really wondered whether or not
The Disneyland Hotel Review
Throughout 2023 I have spent more staycations at the Disneyland Resort than any other place in the world. (I know, this is shocking). And today I’m taking the opportunity to break down my experiences staying at the Disneyland Hotel. I
The Ultimate Disneyland Planning Guide
As a Los Angeles native, I consider Disneyland to be my “home” park. Over the years I have been to Disneyland so many times that I’ve literally lost count. (There was even a period where I went to the parks
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Disneyland in 2021
The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived! Beginning June 15, Disneyland will finally be open to out-of-state visitors. After more than a year and a half of being closed, Disneyland is finally back in action. But A
How to Pack for Disneyland
I am a notorious over-packer... for everything. I never know what I'll need and I hate being too hot or too cold. When it comes to Disneyland I've been known to operate the same way. If I know I'm going to be in the park all day I'm usually lugging along a backpack stuffed to the brim. Sometimes this works, sometimes it's just downright annoying. So I've made it a goal over the past couple months to see how light I can go and it's become a pretty fun challenge.
Must Eat Treats: DCA Edition
I feel like we’ve hit the jackpot with the food at Disney California Adventure. The food is spectacular and I regularly crave more than one item there. Again, there is still SO much I haven’t gotten to eat but what I have eaten is to die for.
How to Plan for the Perfect Day at Disneyland
One of my favorite things to do is to plan "the perfect day" for my friends and family when we go to Disneyland. Since I bought my annual pass in 2015, I've been going to Disneyland about two times a month. I've tested out all different theories and countless "itineraries". What I've discovered is that most of the common tips are true. If you want the quickest wait times for the most popular rides, be there at rope drop (when Disney Cast Members officially drop the rope at entrances to the parks). If you want to hit up popular rides mid-day make sure you get a Fastpass for that ride (or expect to wait an hour +). If you want to eat at the most popular sit-downs, make a reservation in advance. Most of these are pretty intuitive. What's not as intuitive are what those most "popular" rides/eats/shows are at that particular time.
My 33 Favorite Things to do at Disneyland
I was recently challenged to come up with my top things to do at Disneyland. I've been going almost every week for the last year and friends & family are always asking me if it ever gets old. My answer is a resounding "NO" and these reasons have a lot to do with why.
Cameras I Use at Disneyland
A lot of people on Instagram have recently been asking me “what kind of camera do you use when you go to Disney?”, so I thought I’d write a post about it. I’ve been on a 3-year photography “journey”, so-to-speak, and there's a bit of a backstory to how I ended up using the cameras I currently use. I’m 100% self-taught and a lot of what I’ve learned has been trial and error. There's a ton of information out there on the internet and you have to go with what works for you. Just because a photographer you really admire suggests something, doesn’t always mean it’s going to be the best fit for your needs. So with that said, I’m going to take you through what equipment I’m currently using and why.
If you just want the short version, I am now strictly a Sony user. I rotate between the Sony RX100 and the Sony a5100. If you want the longer version inclusive of my backstory, keep reading...
Pixar Fest
First of all, let me answer the most basic of questions: WHAT IS PIXAR FEST? I’ve been getting this question A LOT from my Disney and non-Disney friends alike. The short answer is: a celebration of all things Pixar. But really, that response is quite simplified. My goal with this post is to dive into that question in greater detail and give you my perspective on the event.
Lunar New Year
It’s time for Disneyland’s annual celebration of the Lunar New Year and this year Disney has really gone all out. Disney’s Lunar New Year pays homage to Eastern Asian and Chinese New Year customs. Chinese New Year is on February 16 but the Lunar New Year celebration goes from January 26 – February 18 specifically at Disney California Adventure Park. Below is an overview of what you can expect to find.
Festival of Holidays Food and Drink Review
My favorite time of the year is BACK – the Festival of Holidays at Disney’s California Adventure. It’s like our own version of the Food & Wine Festival but with all the holiday cheer. It launched last weekend and while I still have a ways to go when it comes to all of the goodies to consume, I thought I’d share some of favorite items (so far) with you all for inspiration.
Haul-O-Ween
Disney California Adventure introduced a whole new Halloween layover this season that made DCA a must-see Disney park destination. I had the best time checking out all of the new photo opps and trying the special edition snacks and drinks. Below is a recap of my adventures through Disney California Adventures' HAUL-O-WEEN!
Spring Dapper Day
I remember the first time I found out about Dapper Day. It was 2 years ago and I was at the park on a random Sunday. I kept seeing people dressed up and couldn’t stop wondering about it. Since then, I’ve unknowingly found myself at Disneyland on Dapper Day twice and each time have been increasingly impressed by the creativity and just how GOOD everyone looks.
Food & Wine Festival Favorites
I have loved the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival these last two years. It’s such a wonderful time to try some of the most delicious culinary experiments! While last year’s offerings were generally underwhelming to me, this year’s were OFF THE CHARTS!
Disneyland Egg-Stravaganza
Ah, April 1st, the start of Disneyland’s most treasured scavenger hunt, the EGG-STRAVAGANZA. Last year was my first year participating and it was a ridiculous amount of fun. For those who haven’t done this yet, I thought I'd give you a little rundown of what to expect.
Must Eat Treats: Disneyland Edition
There are so many food options at Disneyland that sometimes it can be hard to choose where to go and when. I've made it my personal mission over the last year to try something new every single visit. I'd love to say I've tried everything but alas, I'm not even close. I have, however, already identified some goodies that are my go-to recommendations for friends and family and thought I'd share with you!
1-Day Disneyland Itinerary
As a follow-up to my last post, I wanted to share an example of an itinerary I would create for a "perfect" day at Disneyland.
A few qualifiers before I set out:
1) I'm assuming this is a normal crowded day at the parks (not during the holidays or during any other special events)
2) Your main goal is to get on as many rides as possible in one day
3) No one in the party is using a Parkhopper pass
4) We have the full day to explore
5) Everyone in your party has Maxpass for the day