Baby Trend Single Jogger-Phantom. Photo courtesy of babytrend.com.

We first began using our Baby Trend Expedition Single Jogger-Phantom when our son was around one.  Up to that point, we’d used a regular travel system stroller and though it worked well, it was bulky and difficult to push over certain types of terrain.  It’s not that my husband and I were major outdoor people but we did visit Zion National Park, (since it’s close to our home in Southern Utah) from time to time as well as a few other state parks in our vicinity and we found the travel system stroller just didn’t provide a very comfortable experience for either us pushing or our son riding.  It wasn’t until I tried out a friend’s jogging stroller that I realized what I’d been missing!  It was much lighter and easier to push and my son was clearly much less jostled on the ride.  From that moment on, I was on a hunt for my own jogger!  I did quite a bit of research on the various brands and models over the next few days and soon had a good idea of what I wanted.  I knew I needed something that was fairly light-weight, had a tray table, good storage, and that was on the lower end of the price scale.  The Baby Trend model was on my list and the more reviews I read, the more I liked it.  The fact that it was also available in one of my local stores, (for about $110) eventually sealed the deal and we headed out to buy one.

My niece in the Baby Trend Single Jogger-Phantom.

Having read many of the customer reviews that were available, I was aware of the Expedition single jogger’s possible downfalls.  One of the biggest concerns that consumer’s had was the front wheel which can be used in either a locked or a swivel position.  I’d read on a number of occasions that when the wheel was in the swivel position it tended to vibrate or shake.  While this wasn’t the case with everyone that used this stroller, I found that we did experience that particular problem.  In addition, when in the unlocked position we discovered the front wheel could also behave erratically when we went over a hole in the road or pushed it over loose gravel.  Both of those problems disappear when in the locked position, and since I actually preferred this to the swivel anyway, it has never bothered me in all the time I used it.  To turn a corner with the wheel in the locked position, I’d simply push down on the handlebars until the front wheel was raised slightly then turn.  Even on long walks, winding paths, or crowded amusement parks, this never caused a problem or inconvenience.

The adult storage and cup holders of the Baby Trend Single Jogger-Phantom. Photo courtesy of babytrend.com.

Having addressed that one issue with the stroller, (and one that didn’t bother me) I honestly found nothing else wrong with it.  It was light-weight, folded up easily, fit in the back of my car even with suitcases and luggage, provided good storage, and was comfortable for my son.  When we had our daughter a year ago I began looking for a double jogger.  We had a trip to Disneyland planned and I felt we would need something that would fit both of the kids together.  By the time we actually left for the trip though I still hadn’t purchased one and we ended up taking the single jogger with us instead.  I was pleased to find that although it wasn’t actually designed for two children, it still worked for both of them!  The back of the stroller seat reclines completely so our three-month old was able to lie comfortably in it while the front wheel cover was broad enough for our son to sit on when he got tired of walking.  The five-point harness also kept our tiny daughter from slipping or moving around while she was strapped inside.  The single jogger actually worked so well on that trip that we also took it along when we went on our recent family trip to San Diego, California.  It took both of my kids all over Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, and a variety of other places we visited.

A couple more things I loved about this stroller…  It has a ratcheting sun shade which can be moved to any position to completely shade the child inside; it isn’t attached to the top of the stroller which allows for a wide range of motion.  It also has an adult storage compartment in the handlebars which is large enough for a cell phone and keys and is flanked by a cup holder on either side.  The child’s tray in the front of the stroller also has a cup holder and has a slightly raised edge which keeps snacks from sliding off while the stroller is moving.  The storage compartment underneath the stroller was a good size as well.  I was always able to fit my large diaper bag, sweaters, and sometimes squeeze in an extra souvenir bag or two in there without a problem!

My son, daughter, and niece in the Baby Trend Double Jogger-Skylar.

Although my husband and I (and our kids) really enjoyed this stroller, our soon to be third addition to the family prompted us to finally break down and buy a true double jogger.  The single jogger was handed down to my sister and her little one-year old daughter, and they seem to love it as much as we did!  Since we didn’t have any problems with the Baby Trend brand, it wasn’t a hard decision to go with them again when selecting our double jogger.  I did some more research on the various models and soon chose the Baby Trend Expedition Double Jogger-Skylar.  It has a five-star rating on nearly every website I checked and was still on the affordable side of the price range.  I got ours on the Walmart website for less than $200!  Although I’ve read that the same problem exists with the swivel wheel option for this stroller, it’s not something I’ve ever experimented with; I’ve used it in the locked position ever since I got it since it’s the option I still prefer.

I also read in a number of reviews that this stroller was impossible to fit through a standard-sized doorway.  Although it is tight, I have been able to push the stroller through every doorway I’ve encountered.  The trick is to come at the door straight and head-on rather than at an angle; if I’m at too much of an angle when I try to get through I have to back up and straighten out before trying again.  It’s never been an issue though, so once again, I find I don’t have any real complaints with this stroller.  It folds down just as easily as the single jogger and although it does take up more room in the car (it’s a double after all), it’s not as bulky or cumbersome as many others on the market.

The Baby Trend Double Jogger-Skylar. Photo courtesy of babytrend.com.

I was concerned at first that this stroller doesn’t have a child’s tray or bar in the front.  There are double strollers on the market that offer that option, but they’re all extremely expensive.  Once the stroller arrived however and we began using it, I found I didn’t miss the tray at all.  The outside panels in both of the seats have a net storage compartment sewn in that is big enough to easily fit a sippy cup or snack, and those have worked out perfectly for my kids.  The storage compartments on the bottom have been just as convenient.  I read that some users found it frustrating that the compartment was split into two sections rather than just one large one, but I haven’t had any problems with that either.  My diaper bag, (which certainly isn’t small) still fits neatly under one seat leaving the compartment on the other side empty and waiting for whatever else I could desire to put in it!  There’s also a net storage bag attached to the back of each seat providing even more room and I haven’t even had to use those yet!

The under-seat and back-of-seat storage compartments of the Baby Trend Double Jogger-Skylar. Photo courtesy of babytrend.com

Like the single jogger, the seats on the double jogger lay back almost completely flat and both still have the five-point harness.  This means that even my little newborn will be able to ride comfortably and safely inside.  We’ve used it so far on outings to the mall, to state parks, and most recently, to our County Fair, and it’s been perfect.  It’s still light-weight and easy to push, has the ratcheting sun shade, does great over gravel and uneven pavement, and the wheel cover is still broad enough to fit another child on when they get tired of walking.  At the fair, my son and daughter rode in the seats of the stroller while my husband’s niece took advantage of the wheel cover from time to time when she was ready for a break!

I honestly have no real complaints about either of these strollers, and my sister feels the same way about the single jogger.  They’ve traveled all over with us, and our double jogger will see many more miles as we get ready to welcome the newest member of our family!

For more information on the Baby Trend strollers or any of their other products, please visit their website at www.babytrend.com.

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My husband, myself, our son, and our daughter at Sea World, California.

On a recent trip to San Diego, California my husband and I took our 3-year old son and 10-month old daughter to Sea World.  Like so many other places, it was a destination we had visited in our pre-children days so venturing out as a family was a new experience.  Our hotel in Hotel Circle was conveniently located just a few miles from the Park so the drive took less than 15 minutes.  This was a welcome bonus for both ourselves and our children considering that we’d spent over seven hours in the car the day before travelling from Southern Utah!

I did some research before leaving for the Park and found that Sea World charges a parking fee: $14 for regular vehicle parking and $19 for closer Preferred Parking.  This last option, although more expensive can be worth the money when travelling with young children and all their accessories since the spots are much closer to the entrance.  Although we’d planned on taking advantage of this option, we found upon arriving that we were early enough that the available parking spaces were just as good as those in the Preferred section, so we didn’t end up needing it after all.

Seasame Street Bay of Play at Sea World, California.

After picking up our already-paid-for tickets at the Will Call window (we’d booked our trip through a travel website so our tickets were waiting for us), we headed into the park.  The first area we decided to visit was someplace we had not seen before.  It was called the Sesame Street Bay of Play and was a large section specially created for children.  It had attractions for kids of many ages including a couple of different rides (these had height requirements), a very large splash pad (warning, your kids will get soaked), a bounce house, maze, climbing net, rope bridge, and a play area for infants 18 months and younger.  Our daughter enjoyed this little play area and also had fun at the splash pad.

My son enjoying the Air Bounce at Sea World, California.

Our son had a blast on everything although he said he especially loved the bounce house and splash pad.  Fortunately we’d brought changes of clothes (San Diego weather can be rather unpredictable) so after they got drenched we were able to put them into dry sets before exploring the rest of the Park.  Had I realized before we left that Sea World had such an area, I probably would have packed their bathing suits instead and will certainly be sure to bring them along on future trips!

Splash pad at the Bay of Play Sea World

After leaving the Bay of Play we decided to watch one of Sea World’s many animal shows.  The “Sea Lion Live” show looked interesting so we headed across the park to try that one.

While the show itself was entertaining and our son enjoyed watching it, having to get there early enough to get seats was a bit problematic.  Most of the ‘theaters’ open their gates about a half hour before the show starts and while it’s a good idea to get there when they do in order to find a spot to sit, entertaining young children during the wait can be difficult.  Our son did okay for most of the wait but our daughter was not so happy about it and I’m afraid there were a few disgruntled guests sitting on the benches around us.  Fortunately even she seemed to be absorbed by the Sea Lions once they finally made their appearance, but it was definitely more of a hassle than I would have liked!

After leaving the show we decided to take a look at some of the nearby exhibits.  We made sure to visit Shark Encounter which our son loved.  Part of the exhibit includes a moving sidewalk which runs through a tunnel beneath the water.  The sharks (which are visible from above in a huge tank at another point of the attraction) are now swimming above and on both sides of the visitors providing a stunning view of them from every angle.  This exhibit is always worth seeing and seemed to be an especially huge hit with all the little boys that were visiting!

Our son at Shark Encounter at Sea World, California.

Once we left that area we went on to see the Penguins, (our daughter loved watching them dive off the rocks) and then to see the Dolphins.  When we first arrived however, we found the viewing area was closed for their Dolphin Interaction Program.  While this was going on, the exhibit was shut down so we went and had lunch while we waited.  The Shipwreck Reef Café was the closest restaurant to the exhibit so we decided to give it a try.  The food was good and it was set up in a semi-buffet style, but it was also very expensive.  The portions were quite large however, which worked out well since our kids were young enough to share with anyway!  Once we were done eating the dolphins were open for viewing again and our son had a wonderful time reaching over the side, (with Daddy’s help) to touch the dolphins as they swam by.  This was one of the most crowded attractions at Sea World as the dolphins are absolutely always entertaining to watch and they often swim close enough to the sides to touch.  Since it’s an interactive exhibit and touching is allowed, it is always packed!  It’s certainly worth it though as the adults enjoy it every bit as much as the kids!

My son and I visiting the Dolphins at Sea World, California.

For our last stop of the day, we decided to take in yet another show.  Despite the frustration of dealing with the early seating, we felt we couldn’t miss seeing Shamu since the Killer Whale is of course, the star of Sea World!  The Shamu shows have two different seating areas: the “Soak Zone” and what I like to think of as the “safe zone.”  If you sit in the “Soak Zone,” (which takes up the first 16 rows all the way around the theater), you really should be prepared to get truly wet.  Although the day was warm and it would have been nice to cool off a bit, our daughter was sleeping, so we sat higher up where the water would be sure to miss us.  Our son really loved watching the whales swim around the enormous tank and slide up onto the platform to ‘wave’ at everyone.  Our son enjoyed him so much in fact that it was the stuffed animal he chose to take home as a souvenir!

Enjoying Shamu at Sea World, California.

Although we really enjoyed our time at Sea World, my husband and I both agreed it probably would have been more fun if our kids were older.  Of course our daughter was too young to take in much, but we also felt our son would have enjoyed it more had he been a little bit bigger.  Even though the kids got to ride in the stroller, they still got bored with all the walking and we were all in the sun a lot.  Shade in the park is limited—especially during the shows—and sunblock is a must!  The distance between exhibits was often considerable, and once we got inside they usually weren’t interactive enough for our children to thoroughly have fun.  While our son enjoyed watching the shows, they were more geared toward an older audience.  At the end of the day, it was obvious that our kids’ favorite part of Sea World was the Bay of Play and that they could have spent a lot more time there and have been perfectly content. While I know we’ll visit Sea World again, we will probably wait until most of our kids are a bit older!

Our sunburned son (and Shamu) at the end of our Sea World day.

For more information on Sea World San Diego including admission prices, show schedules, and exhibits, please visit their website at http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sandiego/.

My son and daughter at the San Diego Zoo, California.

On our recent family trip to San Diego, California my husband and I took our 3-year old son and 10-month old daughter to visit the San Diego Zoo.  Having just trekked through Sea World the day before we were tired but ready for another adventure!  Like Sea World, the Zoo was also located just a few minutes from our hotel at Hotel Circle but unlike our previous destination, parking at the Zoo was free.  After getting our stroller loaded up and picking up our tickets at the Will Call window (we’d booked our vacation through a travel website so our tickets were there waiting for us) we headed off to explore!

Visiting the Koalas at the San Diego Zoo, California.

The Zoo has their exhibits grouped together in large sections with each section housing a variety of animals.  Our son was anxious to see the elephants and our path to see them took us by the “Outback,” “Urban Jungle,” and “Africa Rocks” portions of the park which meant we got to see among other things the giraffes, camels, koalas, and vultures along the way.  Although most of those exhibits were ‘stroller friendly,’ the koala enclosure was a bit tricky.  I had to take the stroller up through the exit and it was so crowded that navigating through all the people without running over anyone was a challenge.  It would have been easier to have parked the stroller outside the exhibit and carried the baby up; something I saw many other people doing!

My husband and son with the elephants at the San Diego Zoo, California.

By the time we finally reached “Elephant Odyssey” we were tired so we stopped for a few minutes to pull out some snacks (the Zoo does allow snacks and drinks to be brought in to the park as long as they’re kept in small personal bags) and watch the elephants from a near-by bench.  Their enclosure is huge with many different viewing areas and our son really enjoyed seeing them all close up!  He was especially captivated by one huge male that was pulling apart a large tree trunk!

My son visiting the lion at the San Diego Zoo, California.

As we left “Elephant Odyssey” and continued on around the Zoo, we came to a small glass-enclosed exhibit where a jaguar, lion, and lioness were housed.  Unlike the outdoor enclosures, this one allowed visitors to view the huge cats through just a pane of (hopefully very thick) glass.  It was an extremely popular exhibit and was quite crowded so we had to wait a bit to squeeze our son up front so he could see them.  It was worth the wait though!  He was fascinated (and a little intimidated) at seeing them so close but it turned out to be one of his favorite parts of the day!

Myself with my son and daughter hanging with the Flamingos at the San Diego Zoo, California

The rest of our afternoon took us through the “Polar Rim” and “Asian Passage” parts of the park as well as past the “Panda Canyon” section of the Zoo.  Although we’d hoped to see the Pandas, the exhibit only allowed a certain number of people in at a time so those who were waiting stood in a very long line outside the doors.  With the wait close to forty minutes, we decided to pass so we could see the rest of the park instead. We had a quick lunch at the near-by “Canyon Café” then decided to see the gorillas.

My son in the Polar Rim section of the San Diego Zoo, California.

This turned out to be the most confusing part of our day.  The Zoo is not only separated into sections but also has a number of walkways and ‘roads’ that run through it.  The gorillas happen to be located high up one of the hills at the Zoo and the path that eventually leads to them winds past a number of other animals as well and then requires a change onto another path half-way up.  We wandered around for quite a while until we finally found them and in the process, discovered that of all places, this was not a stroller friendly exhibit either.  One of the walkways is almost a vertical incline and for safety reasons the Zoo doesn’t allow strollers on it.

The Children's Discovery Playground at the San Diego Zoo, California.

This further delayed our visit to the gorillas but once we finally got there, we found there had been another, much easier way to reach them.  It was rather confusingly located near the exit of the gorillas by the “Treehouse Café” and didn’t go past all the other animals.  An elevator allowed strollers as well as wheelchairs easy access to the third and highest level where the gorillas were located.  Even here though there were a series of stairs that made it difficult for strollers to get by.  Fortunately they were shallow enough to get up and down easily so for those of us who were determined to take our strollers, it was possible.  Others chose to park their strollers near the grill and carry their children to see the gorillas.

The Disovery Playground at the San Diego Zoo, California.

My son with his tiger face paint at the San Diego Zoo, California.

After our adventure to see the Great Apes, we stopped to visit the Insect house (which was somehow disgusting and fascinating at the same time and something our son loved) then ended up accidentally coming across a children’s play area called the “Discovery Playground.”  It had a good sized playground and just beyond that, a petting zoo called the “Petting Paddock.”  Our son really enjoyed playing on all the equipment while my husband and I rested on one of the shaded benches and our daughter napped.  Then we visited the Petting Paddock together where he got to feed some of the animals.  Afterwards he had his face painted and enjoyed being a ‘tiger’ so much that he was sad to have it all washed off at the end of the day!  Like the play area at Sea World, this was also one of his favorite places of the day.  It gave him a chance to run off some of his energy while his exhausted parents sat down for a while!

My husband and daughter on the Skyfari at the San Diego Zoo, California.

As one of our final adventures of the day we took a round trip on the “Skyfari” sky gondolas.  It passes high above the park over the “Lost Forest,” “Panda Canyon,” and “Polar Rim” sections of the park.  It does not allow strollers so we parked ours along the fence before boarding and picked it up again after our return trip.  In addition to the “Skyfari,” the Zoo also has a series of busses that are available.  Some of them allow guests to get on and off at stops across the Zoo while others provide 40-minute guided tours.  This last option looked interesting but we weren’t sure that we could keep our kids occupied for that long so we decided to save it for another time!  On a side note, both the “Skyfari” and bus were included in the price of our tickets so we didn’t need to pay extra to take advantage of them.

Just before we left we had a quick dinner at the “Front Street Café,” a restaurant we enjoyed much more than our lunch at the “Canyon Café.”  Although both places were somewhat expensive, they were still less than our meals had been at Sea World!

All in all, our kids both seemed to enjoy the Zoo more than Sea World and my husband and I did as well.  While our daughter was still too young to interact much, she was much more engaged with the animals we saw at the Zoo.  There was just as much walking (if not more) as there had been at Sea World but there was a lot more to see and experience in between exhibits; there was always something else just around the corner and our son was never bored.  There was also more shade at the Zoo which made the day a lot more enjoyable.  Since the weather in San Diego can be a bit iffy at times, we packed extra clothes for our kids just in case; they started out wearing shorts but ended up in jeans as the afternoon went on.  Aside from the problems with stroller access, we all had a great time and are looking forward to a return trip!

For more information on the San Diego Zoo including hours, admission prices, shows, and special exhibits, please visit their website at www.sandiegozoo.org.

My husband, son and daughter at the Petting Paddock at the San Diego Zoo, California.

My little family on our trip to San Diego, CA.

Recently my little family—comprising of my husband, three-year old son, ten-month old daughter, and myself—set out on a 7-hour drive from our home in Southern Utah to San Diego, California.  It was actually closer to an 8 ½ hour drive when considering the number of stops we had to make for bathroom breaks and diaper changes.  Our vacation was rather last minute; we left on a Thursday and I’d made the reservations just three days before.  After a friend told me about a website with some really great last minute deals on San Diego hotels and attractions  (getawaytoday.com), I decided to go online just to check it out and ended up booking our trip!  The website allowed me to select my destination and then put together my own hotel and attraction package.  I first selected the Vacation Packages option, then entered my travel dates.  The site compiled a selection of hotels with a variety of star ratings to choose from and listed the dollar amounts for each option which included both the room and Sea World tickets. 

I picked the Days Hotel, Hotel Circle, a 2 ½ star hotel  (I figured we wouldn’t be in the room much anyway and the price couldn’t be beat), then decided I wanted to add San Diego Zoo tickets to my order as well.  For each set of tickets, I was prompted to choose the ages of the travellers and explained what was included in the admission price. 

The Days Hotel, Hotel Circle San Diego, CA. Photo courtesy of bestcaliforiahotel.com.

While putting together my package, I selected the hotel option I wanted but was told I would need to call a travel agent to complete my reservation.  Apparently the website showed the hotel was booked for some of the dates I’d selected.  I called the listed number and was assisted by a very helpful agent who quickly made a phone call to my hotel of choice to verify that they were actually sold out.  Thankfully, she came back on the line to report that there were still vacancies and quickly booked me a room with my choice of two queen beds.  She made sure to add the Sea World and Zoo tickets and verified the number and ages of travellers for the reservations.  She then asked me which days of our trip we were planning to visit Sea World and the Zoo.  Normally, a reservation is made far enough in advance that the hotel confirmation and ticket vouchers can be mailed with no additional charge and arrive in plenty of time for the trip.  With my travel dates just two days away however, I had the choice of either having that information faxed or choosing to pay an expedited shipping fee to have it overnighted to me.  Needless to say I chose to have it faxed!  The agent assisting me asked which days we would be attending which parks in order to make sure that the vouchers were sent on the right dates and would be ready for our arrival.  At the time we hadn’t actually given much thought to when we’d be doing what, but my agent told me I could call back and let them know up to 24 hours before my park visits and they would have the vouchers waiting there for me.  I called back the next day with that information but couldn’t help but wonder if everything would go as smoothly as they’d assured me it would!

Thursday afternoon when we finally exited the freeway at Hotel Circle, even my three-year old was anxiously looking for our hotel and freedom from the car!  We spotted the Days Hotel quickly and I, as I was the one who had made the reservation, I went in to show my I.D. (as the website required) and check in.  The lobby was clean and neat and offered a million brochures on attractions from Tijuana, Mexico to Disneyland in Anaheim and just about everything in between.  The hotel staff was friendly and helpful and familiar with the website through which I’d made my reservations.  They asked if I had my confirmation voucher with me and when I told them it had been faxed, I waited to see if getawaytoday.com would pass this first test.  Sure enough, the attendant found it had been sent over as promised and I was quickly set up with our room.  I let the woman helping me know that we were travelling with a baby and asked for a room in a quiet location if one was available.  She obliged by putting us in a corner room on the third and highest floor which turned out to be perfect!

Our room at the Days Hotel San Diego, CA.

The hotel is built in two long wings facing each other across the parking lot and has open-air hallways.  The higher floors can be reached either by stairs or by a very small elevator.  We quickly unloaded our car and headed upstairs to check out our room.  We were pleasantly surprised by what we found.  All of the rooms are non-smoking which was important for us, and we found ours to be clean and ready for us.  In addition to the standard two queen beds, table and chairs, television, and bathroom, the room also came with a mini refrigerator and a microwave.  Both came in very handy during our four-night stay. 

The restaurant at the Days Hotel San Diego, CA.

After dropping off our bags, we decided not to get back in the car to drive to a restaurant and instead dined downstairs at the hotel’s “Pam Pam Café and Grill”.  It was fairly small and the menu was very basic, but the food was decent and its on-site location made it perfect.  The Pam Pam Café proved to be very convenient during our stay.  We were so tired when we returned from the zoo that we phoned in our dinner order using the in-room menu and although the hotel doesn’t offer true room service, the café did call us to let us know our dinner was ready for pick-up about 15 minutes later.

The hotel offered a free continental breakfast each morning which was enough to tie everyone over until we could get something more to eat a little later on.  The breakfast consisted of mini bagels, mini muffins, mini croissants, apples, bananas, and juice or coffee.  I have to admit, our son loved the mini blueberry muffins! 

The jacuzzi and pool at the Days Hotel San Diego, CA. Photo courtesy of dayshotelhc.com.

Our son thoroughly enjoyed the hotel pool.  After our day at Sea World, he couldn’t wait to play “Shamu” in the water!  The pool is at the very back of the hotel property. I liked this very much because it was in a more private setting.  Tables and chairs provided plenty of places to sit or lounge and although it was usually crowded, everything was still clean and pleasant.

Overall we found our stay at the Days Hotel, Hotel Circle to be very comfortable.  On our first night there, our ten-month old daughter decided she did not want to share a bed with mommy, and at 9:30 at night we called and asked for a crib to be delivered.  We expected a long wait at that hour, so it was a pleasant surprise when the crib was delivered and set up just ten minutes later.  We found that to be the norm rather than the exception when it came to their customer service; they were always friendly and accommodating and helped make our trip very enjoyable!  Although it didn’t offer all the amenities of a higher star hotel, the Days Hotel was still perfect for our family’s trip to San Diego and I would gladly recommend it!  I would also happily recommend the website we used to book our hotel and trip—getawaytoday.com.  They lived up to their guarantee in every way!

Part of our family 'herd' loading up at Disneyland, CA.

On our recent family trip to Disneyland, our three-year old son had a blast going on all the kid-friendly rides and attractions, (see the article “Disneyland, California: Rides and Attractions for Young Children”).  Now that he’s a bit older, we also found that he enjoyed a number of the parades, activities, and shows that the Magic Kingdom has to offer as well.  Since we were also traveling with two new babies and six adults, we had the opportunity to discover what worked well for large family groups and small children and what didn’t!  Some of our son’s favorite activities—and the tips and hints we picked up along the way—are included below! 

1.  Character Pictures and Autographs – Our son had a lot of fun spotting his favorite Disney characters as we walked through the park.  We stopped several times over our three-day adventure so he could have his picture taken with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Mickey, Pluto, Sully (Monsters, Inc.), Woody and Jesse (Toy Story), and Jack and Sally (The Nightmare Before Christmas).  While the characters can be seen walking around Disneyland at almost any time during the day, many of them have special hours where they can be found at a certain place in the park to sign autographs and take pictures.  A schedule of characters with their ‘visiting hours’ and spots can be found at the end of Main Street just before the entrance to Frontierland.  

Myself, my son and daughter, and my sister and her daughter with Winnie the Pooh.

Something to keep in mind when it comes to picture times: the lines to visit with the various Disney characters can sometimes be almost as long as those for the rides.  The characters are usually at their ‘picture places’ for a set amount of time and their handlers will give five minute warnings to those still in line as the time limit draws closer.  If the time limit is reached and you still haven’t had a chance to meet the character, the handler will let everyone know when and where they can be found again.  On our most recent trip, we were the very next group in line when Pooh Bear had to leave but after a very short break (and no doubt a quick costume switch to another Cast Member), he was back again before anyone could feel too disappointed!  

My son with Woody.

Also, pictures with the Disney Princesses are among the most popular and people often beginning lining up for them quite a bit in advance.  Photos with Mickey can also get very crowded but he can always be found at his house in Toontown and his regular hours for pictures are posted outside his door. 

2.  Character Dining – Our son—and truthfully, our whole family—really enjoyed our Character Dining experience while at Disneyland.  Since we were staying at the Grand Californian, we scheduled ours for the Storyteller’s Café where we got to meet Chip ‘n Dale and some of their friends.  Inside Disneyland Park, the Plaza Inn Restaurant, (located just off of Main Street right before the entrance to Tomorrowland), hosts Minnie and Friends Breakfast in the Park.  Character Dining experiences are great ways to meet a number of the Disney characters without having to wait in long lines or follow their appearance schedules.  While you’re eating, the characters rotate through the restaurant and stop at each table to take pictures, visit, and sign autographs.  They’re usually able to take a bit more time with your children during the dining experiences than they are if you meet them somewhere else in the park.  

My husband, our son, and daughter with Chip at the Storyteller's Cafe Character breakfast.

Reservations aren’t required for Character Dining, however, Disney does strongly encourage them; especially if you’re traveling with a large group like we were.  After seeing how crowded the Character Dining gets though, I have to admit that I’d make reservations for a small group as well; that way no one will be disappointed if you can’t get a table!  

3. Parades - Disneyland does a spectacular job with their parades and coming from me, that means a lot; I don’t usually enjoy them.  We watched a couple on our recent trip and they were both excellent!  The music was fun, upbeat, and easily recognizable since most of it was from popular Disney movies.  In addition, the performers were all top quality and did a great job getting the audience involved.  Our son really had fun watching all the dancers and singing with the songs he knew.  He also enjoyed pointing out all his favorite Disney characters as they came by.  

The parades and their schedules change throughout the year ,the most recent information on their times and themes can be found on the Disney website.  This information can also be found on the Disneyland maps that are available at the Park’s entrances.  If you’re planning on taking in one of the parades, you should be prepared to grab a seat along the route as early as an hour before it’s due to start.  The sidewalks and pathways along the parade route are carefully roped off and there is no sitting or standing allowed outside the designated areas.  The view is best on the curbs right along the street and be warned that even if you’re lucky enough to snag one of the benches on the sidewalk, you probably won’t be able to see anything once the parade starts; everyone packs in and stands up once it gets going! 

Disneyland "Celebrate" parade. Photo courtesy of micechat.com.

4.  Shows and Fireworks - Our son loves music so we made sure to take in a couple shows during our trip.  The Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland has a number of short musicals during the day and there’s also the Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland.  This last show opened in 1963 and was the very first to use Audio Animatronics Technology.  It feels a bit outdated when compared to the modern rides and attractions in the rest of the park but it’s a unique experience that’s worth the 15 minutes!  Our son liked seeing all the birds, flowers, and Tiki statues singing together in the darkened room.  He also thought the simulated thunder shower was pretty cool!  

Then of course, there’s always Fantasmic.  This takes place outside New Orleans Square on the Rivers of America and combines most of the popular Disney characters, music, fireworks, and some impressive giant puppetry to make a really spectacular show.  Even though it first opened nearly 20 years ago, it’s still one of Disney’s most popular shows and draws a huge crowd.  Premium seating near the French Market is available but there are a limited number of seats and tickets must be purchased.  Everyone else who wishes to see the show should be prepared to get there at least an hour in advance and depending on the time of year, even earlier to get good seats.  It’s worth the wait, though!  Disney’s ‘standard’ fireworks show also runs most of the year though the times and themes change depending on the season.  Fireworks set to music are set off behind Sleeping Beauty’s Castle for a truly beautiful display that our son really enjoyed! 

On a quick side-note: our family party included one person in a handicapped vehicle and for the most part we found Disney to be very accommodating to their special needs guests.  The parades and shows usually have special handicap seating areas for both the person in the vehicle and everyone else in their party.  If your trip will included anyone with handicap needs, be sure to check with a Cast Member a couple hours before show time to find out any special instructions.

Myself, my husband, and our two children, my parents, my sister, her husband, and their daughter at Disneyland, CA.

Growing up in Southern California my family and I had many opportunities to visit Disneyland.  I spent most of my teenage and early married years with annual passes to the Magic Kingdom so needless to say I thought I knew it inside and out.  However, on our recent family trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth”, (a trip with six adults, one preschooler, and two babies), I learned that Disneyland as a single person and Disneyland as a parent are two very different places.  Our vacation took us to parts of the Magic Kingdom that I’d rarely visited before but that quickly became favorite spots for our three-year old son.  Below I’ve highlighted some of the kid-friendly rides and attractions that we enjoyed the most during our vacation with The Mouse. 

1. Fantasyland-  The majority of the attractions in Fantasyland tell the stories of many of Disney’s most popular animated movies and include rides such as Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and the King Arthur Carrousel to name a few.  Since there are no height requirements for any of them they’re ideal for families with small children.  On our most recent trip to the park, we not only took our three-year old son on all of them but I also wore our then three-month old daughter on most of them as well.  

My sister, her husband, and their daughter on the King Arthur Carrousel in Fantasyland.

Our son enjoyed seeing some of his favorite Disney cartoons up close as we went through the rides and loved walking across the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty’s famous castle.  I have no doubt that when our daughter gets a bit older we won’t be able to drag her away from all the Princess themed stores and attractions!  

I do have a word of warning about Fantasyland though: our son did fine on all of the rides this year but many of them are in semi-darkness with characters that pop out as you ride by and on our last visit a year ago, some of the attractions scared him.  The witch in Snow White and some of the images in Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride particularly bothered him at that time.  We’ve found that most of our friends with children between the ages of about 1-2 1/2 years have similar issues so if you have a child that age or one who is a bit sensitive to that type of environment you might want to go on a test run without them first to make sure it’s okay!  

The only other thing to be aware of in Fantasyland are the long lines.  Since the rides are so kid-friendly, they’re on almost every family’s list when they come to the park.  The summer months, and the weeks surrounding the major holiday’s and school breaks are of course, the most crowded throughout Disneyland so make sure to keep that in mind when planning your trip! 

2.  Mickey’s Toontown- This section of the park, (added in 1993) is one of our son’s favorite places to visit since he can actually go into the houses of most of his favorite Disney characters.  Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Chip ‘n Dale all have interactive homes to walk through.  Our son particularly enjoyed Minnie’s house with the refrigerator loaded with food, the oven complete with baking cake, and the dishwasher full of bubbling water. He also enjoyed the tour of Mickey’s house where he got to meet Mickey at the end and have his picture taken!  Donald’s boat and Goofy’s Playhouse both have a playground feel to them with all the toys that can be played in, on, and around.  

My son and I in line for Autopia in Tomorrowland.

For older children, Toontown also has a small roller coaster called Gadget’s Go Coaster (from the Disney cartoon series “Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers”) but it does have a height requirement of at least 35”.  Though Toontown is at the very back of the park, the Disneyland Railroad makes a stop here providing a more restful way to get to your next destination.   

3.  Kid-friendly rides outside of Fantasyland- Though Fantasyland may be the most well-known spot for family attractions, there are a number of other rides throughout the park that also work well for young children.  In Adventureland there’s the Jungle Cruise; Critter Country has The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh; Frontierland has The Mark Twain Riverboat; New Orleans Square has Pirates of the Caribbean, and Tomorrowland has the Astro Orbitor, Finding Nemo Submarine, Voyage, Autopia, and Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, (a favorite with our son)!  

My husband and son on the Astro Orbitors in Tomorrowland.

All of the rides listed above have no height requirements which make them great for the whole family.  The fire engines, double-decker busses, or horse-drawn carriages on Main Street are also a lot of fun for little ones!  Then of course, there’s always the Disneyland Railroad which stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland and The Disneyland Monorail which circles the Resort and has stops at Tomorrowland and Downtown Disney.  These last two attractions are great ways to sit back and relax for a few minutes while still enjoying the Disney scenery.  If you’ve got strollers though, beware!  You either have to leave them behind at the monorail or the train station where you boarded.  The other option is to collapse the stroller and bring it along.  

 4.  Attractions other than rides- Rides are certainly one of the best parts about being at Disneyland, but there are a number of other attractions and activities for families to enjoy as well.  Tarzan’s Treehouse, located in Adventureland, is a fun place for kids to explore as is Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland, (accessed by taking a raft across the Rivers of America).  Parents of young children will want to stay close by on both of these attractions though, as little ones can get pushed aside by older kids or separated in the winding lay-outs.  Tomorrowland has Innoventions which houses a number of fun, interactive exhibits and also the Starcade, an arcade full of video games that can be played by kids of all ages.  

My son with Jesse (Toy Story) at Big Thunder Ranch.

On our last trip, our son especially enjoyed petting all the farm animals at Big Thunder Ranch located in Frontierland and the original Disney cartoons playing at the Main Street Cinema. 

Disneyland has so many fun rides, shows, and attractions that even after spending three days at the resort we still weren’t able to fit everything in.  We certainly had fun trying though! 

For more information on Disneyland, California including a complete list of rides, attractions, and height requirements, please visit their website the Disneyland Website where you can find a wealth of valuable information for your vacation.

Disneyland, California

On my family’s recent vacation to Disneyland—a trip that included six adults, one pre-schooler, and two babies—we learned a lot about making the Disney experience fun and relaxing while traveling with such a large group.  Here are a few more tips (see Disneyland Tips for Families with Children: Part I), that came in handy on our adventure to “The Happiest Place on Earth!” 

Pack extra everything to take into the parks with you 

This is so important if you’re traveling with young children.  You don’t want to have to make the long tram ride back to the parking structure for extra items, be forced into buying forgotten items in the park (which can get expensive), or even to make the relatively short walk back to one of the Disney hotels if you’re staying on-site.  We found it was always better to just come prepared for as much as possible.  Every morning my husband and I would emerge from our room with our stroller packed so tight it didn’t look like there was any room for a child to ride in it and a diaper bag so stuffed it looked like the zipper would snap.  My parents were in awe the first day of our trip as they couldn’t imagine why we could possibly need so much stuff.  Maybe it’s just my little family but we ended up using nearly everything we’d crammed in at one point or another.  

Our son and daughter all bundled up at Disneyland, California.

For a baby, of course all the essentials—diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, pacifiers, changes of clothes, blankets, sweaters—ended up being needed.  Our three-year old didn’t require as much but we still made sure to bring extra jackets, hats, and a full change of clothes each day.  While it’s probably obvious why our four-month old daughter needed a change of clothes, our three-year old son required them for different reasons.  Not only were there the occasional spills that soaked a shirt or pair of pants but some of the rides and attractions at the two Disney parks include water and can wet you through enough to make you uncomfortable if you’re stuck in them for very long.  If you have a recent potty-trainer, you’re likely to need a clean set of clothes as well!  

The weather in California can also be a factor as the temperature tends to vary, sometimes widely throughout the day.  The mornings were often a bit chilly so our kids would start off wearing sweaters.  Then as they day went on it would warm up and we would strip them down again (we found it was best to dress them in layers), then finally when night really set in it got downright cold and we would pile on the jackets, hats, gloves, and blankets.  We were visiting in early November, but the weather during the summer can be just as uncertain; it may stay hot for most of the day but when the sun sets, a light jacket is often a required essential.  Both parks do have lockers, so if you find you’ve just got too much to carry, you can always rent a locker for the day and come back to it as needed.  

Now for a quick word of warning… for the past several years Disneyland has had security checkpoints that everyone must pass through (even those staying in their hotels), before you can enter the parks.  The list of prohibited items are fairly common sense—weapons, alcohol, fireworks, etc—but an employee will have you open all bags and purses that you are carrying for inspection before they will clear you.  Although I have never once been told I was carrying a prohibited item, having to undo all my carefully packed bags before entering the parks is always a hassle.  Be prepared for it before you go! 

Bring Snacks 

Bringing along snacks are another important tip for families traveling with little children.  Disneyland and California Adventure both have so many places to eat and so many options for snacks that you can’t walk more than ten feet without running into one.  Unfortunately, they’re usually pretty expensive, not to mention they’re not accessible when stranded in line for a ride.  We carried small, easy snacks and drinks with us including fruit snacks, granola bars, crackers, bottled water and juice—and kept them in a bag where we could get to them quickly even in line.  This helped cut down significantly on our son’s cranky episodes if he was hungry between meals.  It also cut down on our expenses since we were able to save so much money on food!  It’s important to know however, that while snacks and drinks are okay to take into the parks, full meals are not allowed beyond the entrances.  Picnic areas are available right outside the Disneyland gates just beyond the ticket booths.  There are also lockers here where all your food can be stowed until you’re ready to eat.  You will have to leave the parks to access your food again so make sure you get your hand stamped before leaving so you can re-enter when you’re done! 

Our son with his stroller at Disneyland, California.

Strollers 

When I was a teenager with an Annual Pass to the Disney parks, I thought strollers were an abomination; I couldn’t take two steps without being smacked in the shins, whacked in the ankles, or nearly run over by one of them.  Of course I vehemently swore I would never enter Disneyland pushing one of the accursed things, no matter what.  Yes well, fast forward ten or so years and I’ve changed my mind a bit.  I still have the same painful run-ins with other people’s strollers, but I’m afraid they are a necessity when visiting the parks with young children.  

For those who don’t want to haul their own strollers through their entire vacation or don’t want to drag them on and off the tram twice a day, Disneyland does offer stroller rentals—$15/day for one stroller and $25/day for two.  We considered this option for our family trip, but we ultimately chose to bring our own.  If we’d been staying at a hotel off the Disney property we might have rented instead, but staying on site makes it much more convenient.  We did end up with a flat tire one day, but we took our stroller up to the rental area outside the main gates and they were gracious enough to inflate the tire for us at no cost!  

We chose to bring our standard stroller instead of our jogging stroller because of the width.  We find it much easier to squeeze into the stroller parking areas with the more narrow frame.  We also found that many of the restaurants don’t allow them to be brought inside, not to mention the inability to bring them along on the rides.  Some of the shows and attractions—such as Playhouse Disney—also prohibits the use of strollers inside, so be prepared. There is a designated stroller parking area available just outside each of these attractions, and although we never experienced any problems with theft, we always make sure to take our valuables with us.  

The type of stroller you take, or the decision on whether or not to rent will of course depend on what works best for your family.  The number of children in tow, nap requirements, or children that need long breaks from walking are all factors to consider.  I chose to carry our then four-month old daughter in a sling for most of the trip so that our three-year old son could ride when he wanted; we knew he was probably still too young for all the walking.  Extending the seat back allowed him to sleep comfortably as we pressed on with our day’s plans.  For more information on Disney stroller rentals please visit their website at www.Disneyland.disney.go.com.  

Hopefully these Disneyland tips will help your family enjoy your Disney vacation as much as they helped my family enjoy ours!

Disneyland, Anaheim California

My family and I have enjoyed visiting Disneyland many times throughout my life, our recent trip to the Magic Kingdom was the first with two babies and one preschooler in tow.  Traveling with six adults and three young children made our Disney experience a bit different from others we’ve had but we enjoyed every minute of our family adventure and learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t when visiting the “Happiest Place on Earth” with children!  Below are a few of the tips we found to be most beneficial when visiting Disneyland with a large family group 

Plan ahead  

There’s nothing worse than taking a huge family vacation only to be met with unwelcome surprises upon arrival.  Discovering that your son’s favorite ride is closed or that the special show you were planning on seeing won’t be playing during your stay can put a damper on your trip from the start.  Fortunately, Disney is great at helping you make the most of your family vacation.  They provide practically every tool required to plan your trip on their website (www.disneyland.disney.go.com), and any questions you may still have left can be easily answered with a quick phone call to one of their knowledgeable Cast Members, (the fancy name Disney gives its employees).  

When my family and I were in the planning stages of our adventure we visited the website frequently to check on park schedules, parade and show times, ride closures, and special events taking place in the park during our stay.  We also searched the Disney hotels to find one that would work for us.  We learned a lot about the extras and perks that were extended to guests staying at one of the park’s hotels—things such as early entrance hours, special breakfasts, and show tickets.  We were able to research one of their newer shows (The Wonderful World of Color) and learn what time it would be playing and where we would get our FASTPASSES; this helped us decide what night of our trip we would set aside to see it as a family.  We discovered that when traveling with a large family group and/or small children, it really was best to plan as much of the trip ahead as possible; it helped make our vacation relaxing and enjoyable rather than anxious and frustrating. 

Photo courtesy of dlp.info.

Take advantage of the Disney FASTPASSES  

This is something Disney added to their parks a little over a decade ago and we found it to be extremely helpful when traveling with our children.  FASTPASSES are essentially place-holders in line.  Some of the more popular attractions at Disneyland can have a Stand-By wait time of well over two hours and trying to keep young children occupied during that length of time can be rather daunting.  By obtaining a Disney FASTPASS, you’ll be able to leave and enjoy other attractions in the park then return to go on the ride later that day without having to stand in the long line.  For example: If you arrive at the Stand-By line for Space Mountain at 10:00 AM and find the wait is two hours, you can step over to the FASTPASS distribution booth and obtain a FASTPASS, (you will need to insert your park ticket into the machine first to be scanned).  Once you’ve been given your FASTPASS, you’ll see it has been stamped with a return time and will say something like “return between 12:30-1:30 PM.”  That means that anytime between the hour specified on your FASTPASS you can return, go through the FASTPASS entrance, have a Cast Member verify you are there during the correct time, and go on the ride without having to wait for two hours.  

Even though the FASTPASS line often still has a wait associated with it, it’s always significantly less than going through Stand-By; in all the years I’ve been going to Disneyland, I’ve never waited more than twenty minutes in a FASTPASS line.  It was especially useful this time as our three-year old was far more anxious to get out of a long line than he was to go on the ride at the end of it.  Some of the more kid-friendly rides with FASTPASS distribution include Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Autopia, and Splash Mountain.  For a complete list of rides and attractions that include FASTPASS distribution, check the Disney website at www.disneyland.disney.go.com. 

Know the rides’ height requirements and restrictions 

Our three-year old was nearing the age and height that would allow him to go on a lot more of Disney’s attractions on our recent trip.  Before we left, I checked the height requirements and any restrictions on each of the rides I thought he’d most like to go on.  While there aren’t many limitations on the Fantasy Land rides, many of the other rides in the park have minimum height requirements.  Some rides allow a child under the height requirement to ride as long as they are accompanied by an adult while others don’t permit children under the requirement to ride at all.  By knowing the list of rides our son could go on before we got to the two Disney parks, we were able to save him and ourselves disappointment and frustration.  

In addition to minimum height regulations, there are also other restrictions that should be noted for those with special needs or conditions.  Many of the roller coaster-type rides carry their own warnings though they usually apply to expectant mothers and people who suffer from severe heart problems.  Still, if you have any doubts make sure to check out the rides before you go.  Since one member of our party used a handicap vehicle on this trip, it was also nice to know how each ride dealt with their handicap entrances.  Some rides allow for wheelchairs and scooters to go through the line like everyone else while others ask you to take your entire party and go through the ride’s exit for assistance.  Of course you can always ask once you get to the ride, (the Cast Members were always more than helpful) but it was nice to have a general idea before we left! 

Storytellers Cafe at California Adventure Hotel. Photo courtesy of Disneyfoodblog.com

Make Reservations where possible 

This is especially important when traveling in a large group or when you’re with young children.  Making reservations for dining and shows ensures you won’t be adding another thing to wait for during your day.  It also means you won’t arrive at the restaurant or attraction you’ve been planning on only to find you can’t participate without a reservation.  There are several restaurants in both Disneyland and California Adventure that will seat you only if you’ve made a reservation.  Also, some of the shows—such as The Wonderful World of Color—can only be experienced if you have a reservation or FASTPASS.  You don’t need to wait until you’re actually in the parks to be able to make your reservations; Disney Dining can set up your meal plans before you ever leave your house.  Our group decided to wait until we checked into our hotel before making our dining plans but once we arrived, we quickly set up reservations for one of our dinners and our Character Dining experience.  Knowing that we could show up as a party of nine (with three little kids), and have no waiting or problems made our experience that much better! 

Next Article:  Disneyland Tips for Families with Children: Part II

My sister and her daughter, my Dad, my son and daughter, and myself at Disney's Grand Californian.

We stayed at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa and found it to be a truly beautiful hotel with all the amenities of a resort.  Though my sister did have to make a quick run for more baby formula (the Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks do sell formula in their baby centers but only carry one brand), we were able to obtain everything else we needed without ever having to leave the Disney property.  The hotel contains two different shops where a variety of toiletries, over-the-counter medications, clothing items, and food can be purchased.  Each guest room also has a small refrigerator which was perfect since we were able to buy milk and a number of other refrigerated items to keep on hand for our 3-year old’s meals and snacks.  

Guest Laundry room at the Grand Californian.

We also found a number of other amenities that made staying at the hotel as comfortable (if not more so), than being at home!  At the end of our hall we discovered a guest laundry room complete with washers and dryers (for those who would rather not use the hotel’s laundry service), a small room with large guest trash cans (perfect for all those diapers!), and a room containing ice and vending machines.  Nearby we also found a set of doors leading to a beautiful courtyard with two barbeques and umbrella-covered tables.  One of the little restaurant/stores—White Water Snacks—sold a variety of items that would be perfect for an evening barbeque.  It also had a selection of food that could be cooked either in one of their guest-use microwaves or in the kitchen of one of the larger guest Villas.  

Photo courtesy of disneyfoodblog.com.

When we weren’t interested in eating in our rooms, the hotel had two different restaurants to choose from.  The one that we ate at most often was the Storytellers Café; it was more casual and definitely more “kid-friendly” than the upper scale Napa Rose restaurant.  Though I have to admit that most of the dining options on the Disneyland property are pretty expensive, the food was quite good.  The Storytellers Café will run you between $15-20 a plate but unfortunately that’s pretty common at the Magic Kingdom.  The great thing about that particular restaurant however, was that the pricing for the a la carte items was not much less than the pricing for their all-you-can-eat buffet which was extremely good.  Our son was young enough that he was allowed to share food with us without having to order his own plate so the buffet worked out well.  Though Storytellers does take walk-ins it’s best to call Disney Dining (either before your trip or direct from your room) to make a reservation, especially if you’re traveling with a larger group like we were.  The night we checked in I called and made reservations for that same evening and our table was ready for us when we arrived.  

My husband, son, and daughter with Chip at the Character Breakfast in the Storyteller's Cafe.

We also ate at the Café before checking out on our last morning there.  Since it’s one of the Disney restaurants that offers Character Dining, we figured our son would enjoy one more Disney experience before going home.  That particular morning there were seven different characters present, all making the rounds while everyone ate.  They stopped at each table, taking time for pictures and hugs and our 3-year old loved watching to see which one would come over next.  He especially loved seeing Chip and Dale!  About half way through our breakfast (we’d opted for the buffet again), a Disney Cast Member acting as a nature guide had all the kids line up for a parade around the restaurant.  Joined by several of the Characters, the kids skipped, jumped, and danced through all the tables.  Our son thoroughly enjoyed being part of the show!  At the end, they handed out buttons to everyone who had participated.  There was no extra cost to participate in the Character Dining option and the experience was definitely worth it!  I have to admit the adults in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying it every bit as much as the kids; I know that’s how it was in our group anyway! 

My sister and her daughter, my mom with my daughter, and my son with Kenai (Brother Bear) at the Storyteller's Cafe.

In addition to all the great food at the Grand Californian, the hotel also offers a variety of entertainment options.  There’s a tour of the hotel highlighting the Arts and Crafts style workmanship, a scavenger hunt which takes place inside the hotel every day at 4:00pm, (though we were never able to attend one I was told they were great for families), a full arcade, and a licensed babysitting facility called Pinocchio’s Workshop for parents who’d like a night out.  This service is available every evening for children ages 5-12 and provides them with art projects, Disney movies, games, and food.  On certain evenings, there are sing-alongs or camp stories around the beautiful indoor fireplace.  

Babysitting service at the Grand Californian

Our son enjoyed stopping one night to listen to the performer singing while playing his guitar.  At one point, he even invited all the children in the group to come up and sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” with him.  Then there’s the large flat screen television just outside the check-in area that plays a constant stream of original Disney cartoons.  A group of kid’s sized chairs and rockers sit around the television and together they offer the perfect distraction for the children of tired parents who just want to sit and enjoy the beauty of the magnificent lobby. During the day, a pianist sits at the Grand Piano near the fireplace and plays all the favorite Disney songs for those taking a break on one of the comfortable couches or chairs, or for those just passing through. 

Arcade at the Grand Californian.

The Grand Californian also has three large pools to choose from—including one with a water slide—and two Jacuzzis.  The pool facilities offer complimentary float vests for children who aren’t quite swimmers yet, as long as they’re accompanied by an adult.  I tried one of the Jacuzzis the second night we were there and found they kept them at about bath temperature which meant younger children could enjoy them too.  I had our son come out to join me and we had a great time splashing around with all the bubbles while watching the light from the World of Color show going on at the California Adventure theme park next door! 

My son enjoying the cartoons in the lobby of the Grand Californian.

Finally, for adults who would like a break, the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa does indeed have a spa.  The Mandara Spa offers a variety of services, therapies, and massages to relax muscles worn out from dashing to rides all day.  And if being dragged across two different theme parks isn’t enough exercise, the hotel also offers fully equipped exercise facilities as well. 

From start to finish our stay at the Grand Californian was absolutely wonderful.  Their customer service was exceptional and lived up to the standards one would expect from Disney.  It was probably the most kid-friendly resort I’ve ever stayed at and certainly made the whole Disney experience much more relaxing.  At the end of a long day, we were able to simply walk across the park and straight into our rooms for a comfortable night’s sleep before doing it all over again the next day.  It is an experience we definitely hope to repeat soon! 

Photo courtesy of disneyland.disney.go.com.

For more information on Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, please visit their website at Disneyland.disney.go.com, then select the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa from the “Places to Stay” tab.

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Photo courtesy of flickr.com.

On our recent trip to Disneyland—a trip that included my husband, myself, our two children, my parents, my sister, her husband, and their baby—we had the opportunity to stay at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa (thanks Dad)!  Having spent the majority of our lives living in California and of course going to Disneyland, we were quite familiar with the beautiful hotel though it was not someplace we’d ever stayed.  After a trip to Disneyland last year where we’d all stayed at hotels not on Disney property, we decided that next time the best way to have a stress-free visit would be to stay at one of the Disneyland hotels.  Since my parents have somewhat limited mobility and since we also now had two new babies in tow, we felt the Grand Californian was the best option.  It sits between Disney’s California Adventure on one side and Downtown Disney on the other with entrances and exits on both ends.  With such easy and convenient access, it ended up being the perfect choice; we didn’t have to worry about hauling strollers in and out of cars, the additional fees and hassle of the parking structure or trams, or all the extra walking for my parents! 

My Dad, my husband, son, daughter, and myself at the Grand Californian.

Our trip started with the planning process which Disney makes easy with a quick click of the mouse.  The Disneyland website allowed me to check park hours, see which attractions would be closed, and find out the entertainment schedule for parades and shows.  It also allowed me to check pricing on tickets and dining plans.  Though we decided not to add a dining plan on this trip, being able to add the tickets into one, overall price was great!  While the entire process from planning to booking can be done online, I called the reservations number found on their website to complete our reservations.  The Cast Member who helped me solidify our plans was extremely helpful and even compared prices for me for a variety of dates.  We booked standard rooms and were given the option of either two queens or one king.  Since we were traveling as a large family we also had the option of requesting near-by or adjoining rooms.  Once our reservations were made, I received an e-mail with my confirmation number as well as information on the hotel and its policies.  The more I learned about it, the more perfect it seemed for the needs of my family! 

Lobby of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Photo courtesy of hubpages.com

Loading up two cars with six adults, one preschooler, two babies, three car seats, two strollers, and a mountain of luggage took a bit of work, but once we pulled up to the Grand Californian, we didn’t have to worry about it again.  They offer valet parking complete with bellhop services and attendants came to our cars immediately to unload everything onto big carts and whisk our cars away.  We stepped through the beautiful stained-glass doors and into the towering lobby of the Arts and Crafts style hotel.  It was magnificent both inside and out with a number of large, stone fireplaces and beautifully kept grounds.  It was surprisingly warm and inviting for such a large structure and somehow made us feel like we’d entered some kind of cozy retreat.  My son immediately spotted the television playing original Disney cartoons and sat down in one of the miniature chairs to watch them while we got checked-in.  As part of the process, we were given all the park tickets for our stay so we never needed to stand in line at the ticket booth! Once we’d received our keys, we headed straight to our rooms where we then called the bellhop service for our luggage; it was delivered within a matter of minutes.  

Our room at the Grand Californian.

While we waited for our bags to arrive we looked over our rooms.  We were all next door to each other and the rooms my parents and sister’s family were given were adjoining.  We’d been placed in a quiet wing on the ground floor and our sliding glass doors all opened onto small patios which looked onto the backside of the California Adventure theme park.  Since a small sidewalk was accessible from our patios it was as easy to simply knock on each other’s back doors as it was to go through the hallway!  I’d requested a room with two queen beds for my little family and it was beautiful!  An armoire with a refrigerator, large flat screen television, DVD player, and camera/video game hook-ups sat next to a table with two chairs.  The table was the perfect spot for my husband (who was taking a working vacation), to set up his lap top since the hotel-provided internet access was conveniently located there.  A nightstand complete with alarm clock sat between the two beds which were lit with sconces on either end of the bed posts.  Separate switches allowed for different lighting control for the two beds which was perfect for bedtime with our kids!  

Our room at the Grand Californian.

The bathroom/dressing area was large with a beautiful vanity providing two sinks, a large framed mirror, toiletries, hair dryer, and under the counter storage.  Connected to the dressing area was the actual bathroom with a large shower/tub combination.  The closet contained an iron and ironing board, a luggage rack, safe, and two super comfy bathrobes; it even had a pack-n-play since our reservations included babies!  With all the attention to detail, even the standard rooms made us feel like we were living in luxury!  In fact they were so comfortable that even heading back to them for kids’ naps or a quick break made us feel like we were still enjoying the Disney experience rather than missing out on the fun of the parks.   

The Grand Californian offers 24-hour room service which can be ordered from an extensive menu.  A breakfast card with a variety of food options is also found in each room and can be filled out and left on the door the night before.  The next morning your breakfast will be delivered to you during the times that you’ve specified on the card.  This was one of the amenities my parents took advantage of and really enjoyed!  My sister and her husband also found it to be perfect after a long night with a cranky baby!  

Our goodnight treats at the Grand Californian.

In the evenings when we’d return from a full day at the parks, we’d find our beds turned down, the lights adjusted, and chocolate coins on the table for a last, goodnight treat.  And despite their proximity to the theme park, our rooms were extremely quiet; with the patio doors closed we never heard a sound from the roller coasters or park visitors that were so close by. 

When it finally came time for us to head back home, the bellhop services were there to take our luggage again and help us get it all loaded back into the cars which the valet brought around.  In all the commotion of packing everyone back inside for the trip home, our son left one of his toys sitting outside in the valet parking area.  Fortunately we realized we’d left it before we’d gone more than a couple of miles and a quick phone call to the hotel ensured that it was waiting safely for us when we returned.  One of the workers was kind enough to run out and grab it after our call to make sure that it wouldn’t be taken! 

Truly, our stay at the Grand Californian made the entire Disney experience one of our most memorable family vacations!