Mother & Daughter Bonding at Disney

Disneyland has been reviewed to death, but what about Disney's California Adventure (a/k/a DCA)? Most of the reviews I've read indicated it was not fully formed, still needed work, maybe not even worth trying. I beg to differ.

I think it''s finally come into its own and, especially if using a Park Hopper Pass, well worth visiting. And as for memorable moments, this was a time together my daughter and I will always remember with fondness. Just the two of us, criss-crossing the parks on a whim. With a sudden urge to soar over California, or experience another stomach-dropping ride on Maliboomer, or savor another hot tortilla, off we went without having to make arrangements with anyone else.

Another reason we will never forget this trip is that the war in Iraq began while we were at the "Happiest Place on Earth." Each night we''d return to the hotel and turn on CNN to see what was happening. It was a little eerie that we heard no news or even any passing conversations about the war while in the park. Security was stepped up slightly, but unobtrusively. Bags were already being checked at the entrance, but the searches were a little more thorough.

Quick Tips:

I had never been to Disneyland for more than one day at a time. The park is fairly small, and I couldn't imagine needing to spend more than one day. What on earth could you do if you spent more than a day? AAA's Park Hopper Pass was a great deal: five days for the price of three, per adult. If you consider that a one day pass is PER PARK, it's a steal!

I discovered that leisurely touring the parks over a few days is immensely more satisfying than trying to cram it all into a day. And there is LOTS to do. All those little things that I never before took the time to enjoy -- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, the Disney Gallery above Pirates of the Caribbean, a sit-down dinner at the Blue Bayou.

Best Way To Get Around:

Your hotel will likely have a shuttle. Pro: Saving the cost of parking at the Park. Con: You're at the mercy of the shuttle's schedule.

Of course, seeing the parks involves lots and lots of walking. I always see a few women wearing skirts and heels. Why would anyone do that? Wear your most comfortable shoes and clothing!

You can't miss this behemoth of a hotel that looks like a castle towering next to the freeway. The lobby area is grand, with high, high ceilings and large, beautiful flower arrangements that welcome visitors. The check-in process was fairly quick, but the instructions I received on getting to our room were woefully inadequate. This place meanders; like a real castle, I suppose. We ended up on an elevator nowhere near our room and had quite a hike towing our suitcases. Even when we figured out where the nearest elevator was, it wasn't really very close.

The room size was huge! We had a standard room with two queen beds, and there was enough room that we could have added a couple of roll-aways if we wanted and still had room to move around. The decor left something to be desired. Quite bland, with not much on the walls. There was a hum that came and went all night from somewhere in the bowels of the hotel. For the most part it didn't bother me, but it was curious. A dresser and double-door closet provided plenty of room for unpacking. A blow dryer is provided in the bathroom, and an iron and ironing board are in the closet.

We had breakfast one morning in the lobby restaurant. The buffet seemed rather expensive, so we went a la carte. It was a delicious and filling start to our day. A window seat provides a lovely view of a courtyard garden.

A shuttle departs for the parks every half hour, with the last shuttle at night coming back right at closing time. This eliminates having to pay a parking fee at the park. However, parking at the hotel is $8/day -- so much for saving on parking! The Park Hopper Passes we had allowed for free parking in the Mickey and Friends parking structure, so we took advantage of that a couple of times. It's a little hard to find that particular parking area, only because there is no signage; I suggest asking at the front desk for directions. It's actually very close and easy to get to if you know what you're looking for.

All in all, a fine hotel. Not the best, certainly not the worst.

Disneyland Home Page

A miniature version of the Golden State, experience the best of each of California's major areas here: Hollywood, San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and the mid-state farming areas.

The Paradise Pier area features rides and a midway, reminiscent of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. A huge Ferris wheel that, from afar, appears to dip into the water, will take you on a leisurely spin, offering panoramic views of the whole area; or you can choose a "sliding" car for a bit more excitement. A wooden roller coaster like Santa Cruz' famous Big Dipper, California Screamin' is a good one. We rode it three times in as many days. Fast Pass is available. Mulholland Madness, a smaller, arguably scarier roller coaster is also here. Maliboomer is not for the faint of heart, shooting you 180 feet into the air before dropping you back down. Yes, I conquered my fears and enjoyed it enough to do it twice!

The Golden State area is the place to wind down. Take a stroll through the tortilla factory and get a free, hot tortilla -- mmmmm! Tour the Boudin Bakery, munching on a piece of sourdough bread while enjoying a very funny tour with Rosie O'Donnell and Colin Mochrie. Soarin' Over California absolutely cannot be missed. Use a Fast Pass, or get in the single rider line. We went back three times for this incredible experience! Watch for the "hidden Mickeys" on the screen. There are two that I noticed! Golden Dreams is a 70mm film, narrated by Whoopie Goldberg covering the history of California. Probably boring for some, but we thoroughly enjoyed it, and it's a great place to cool down if it's hot outside. Don't miss It's Tough to be a Bug. It's the same attraction as the one in WDW, but it's such a kick! Small children may be frightened, but the rest of us enjoy the surprises!

The Hollywood Picture Backlot features the not-to-be-missed Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular. Spectacular it is. The first thing you need to do when you arrive in the morning is send one of your party to the line just outside the Hollywood Backlot to get tickets. They hand out all the tickets in the morning for the two or three shows. Don't be discouraged by an incredibly long line. The Hyperion Theater will accommodate several hundred people in each show. This musical was incredible! Las Vegas glitz, Hollywood glamour. The sets, costumes, quality of performers - wow! While waiting for showtime, try your hand at Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play It! Everyone has the chance to win the grand prize of the day, which is often a three-day cruise or another fun trip. Jim Henson's MuppetVision 3-D is also worth a look, fun for all ages. If you've still got time, Disney Animation has several interactive areas. Our favorite was lending our voices to scenes from The Lion King.

Usually, I spend my day at Disneyland running back and forth across the park to get to the next ride, hopefully one that I've been able to snag a Fast Pass for. Hours of plotting before the visit has helped determine when we'll find the shortest line for an attraction. Everyone's hungry? Now? But if we eat now we won't have time to ride (add your favorite ride here)! I always thought it was fun. That is until I took my time and spent a few days exploring Disneyland Resort. Here are the delights I found when timing isn't so critical. Some I've experienced before; for others, this was a first:

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln: I've always enjoyed this one, but let it slide the last few years as other, more pressing, attractions have been added. It's changed dramatically and I love the new show. Guests are given headphones to experience a 3D sound adventure, which brings the show alive. For purposes of the presentation, you are Pvt. Cunningham in the Union Army. The Pvt. is injured and seriously ill. I got goosebumps as Mr. Lincoln whispered in my left ear, commanding me, as Pvt. Cunningham, to live! The footfalls resounding in my ears made me believe I was really in the room with Mr. Lincoln and others.

The Disney Gallery: Located upstairs from Pirates of the Caribbean, the gallery has a collection of original renderings; sculpture, sketches, paintings. When we visited, they were featuring renderings from the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Enchanted Tiki Room: It's corny, but lots of fun and a good rest from walking. Catchy tune, too!

Innoventions: Normally, this place drives me crazy. The kids get into all the computers and it seems like such a waste of time when there's so much else to do. We ended up spending a good two hours in here without an ounce of guilt! Our favorite was playing with the computer program that allowed us to create our own fireworks display to music.

The Jungle Cruise at night: We've heard all the bad jokes before, but either we got a guide with new material, or they change the jokes for the night-time cruise. It was a little creepy and lots more fun!

All of the Fantasyland character rides: Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad. They're all kind of the same, but if the lines aren't too long -- worth it!

Dinner at the Blue Bayou Restaurant: It's expensive, but unless you're really unlucky and get a table right next to the bathrooms (yeah, I should've complained), the ambience is great! Watch the boats float past full of guests as they begin their Pirates of the Caribbean adventure. Listen to the crickets and watch the fireflies while enjoying a surprisingly delicious meal. Even my picky teen found a pasta dish to enjoy. Call 714/781-DINE early in the day for priority seating reservations so you don't have to wait in line.

Disneyland Hotel: I've never actually been on its premises so we took a walk one night and had dinner at The Lost Bar, near the pool. What a cool pool! It's themed like Peter Pan's lagoon and looked very inviting.

Soarin' Over California: Again. And again. It's just the greatest ride! And the single rider line allows you to by-pass the long line. After the first time, you don't REALLY need to sit with the rest of your party. Enjoy it in a different row and discuss how the view is from each vantage point!

There were actually a number of other things that would have been nice to try: riding the fire engine or horse-drawn carriage on Main Street, the Monorail, Tarzan's Treehouse, a small dose of Toon Town. Yes, you can spend several days at Disney and not be bored. I hope you'll take the time to enjoy some of these gems on your next trip!