In the “spirit” of Halloween, I thought it would be fun to share some of my travel “tricks and treats” for your Halloween at Disneyland vacation! In a few days I’m headed to Disneyland for my third time this year, so I have definitely picked up some of the best Disneyland travel tricks – and where to get some of the best treats!
First, let’s start with some of my best tricks.
Trick #1: Use the FASTPASS system. All Disneyland Resort tickets come with the FASTPASS system built in – just insert your ticket into any FASTPASS machine and you’ll receive a FASTPASS ticket with your reserved time to come back and ride the attraction. Once you get your ticket, it will tell you what time you can get your next FASTPASS ticket. So, in the meantime, find an attraction without a wait, catch a show or parade, or grab a snack to make the most of your time.
Trick #2: This trick also has to do with the FASTPASS system … Once you have your FASTPASS ticket, there will be a time window printed on the ticket for you to come back and ride. Some people rush back to use their ticket at the exact time and end up wasting a lot of time running around the park because of it. You can actually use the FASTPASS tickets any time AFTER the posted time, just not before. That way you don’t feel pressured to be to a certain attraction at a certain time.
Trick #3: If you have young kids, use the Stroller Pass. Certain attractions will allow you to ride an attraction while one adult waits with your stroller age kid(s), then switch riders so the entire party doesn’t have to wait in line twice. This is especially nice for your older kids who get to ride with Mom and then Dad too! Just look for the Cast Member at the outside of the attraction and ask for a stroller pass, it’s that easy!
Trick #4: Use the single rider line. This works best if you have older kids or are traveling with just adults. A lot of popular rides (especially Radiator Springs Racers) can have really long rides no matter the time of day. Look for a sign for single riders and head there instead. You’ll stand in line (a MUCH shorter line) with your party and get called up when a seat is left open because of party sizes. A lot of times you may even end up in the same vehicle as your party, just a different row.
Trick #5: Schedule a Character Dining meal. This could be considered a trick and a treat! The Disneyland Resort has five different Character Dining experiences, but my favorites are Goofy’s Kitchen and Ariel’s Princess Celebration. All of the Character Dining experiences offer various all-you-care-to-eat dining options, but the real value comes with the personal Character interaction. You don’t have to spend your precious vacation time waiting in line to meet your kids’ favorite characters – they come to you. Goofy’s Kitchen offers tons of interactive experiences that get your whole family involved. Plus, you never know who you’re going to see!
Now, onto the treats…
Treat #1: Did you know you can get FREE chocolate while on your Disneyland vacation? When Disney California Adventure Park celebrated their Grand Re-Opening, they opened a Ghirardelli’s Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop – just like the one in San Francisco. When you walk in the store, you get a free square of delicious, creamy, Ghirardelli chocolate – yum! Plus, you can order the most delectable hot fudge sundaes and a whole array of tasty treats!
Treat #2: If you need a quick pick-me-up before lunch, you can also snag a free sourdough bread sample at the Boudin Bakery Tour inside Disney California Adventure Park where you’ll see how sourdough bread is made start to finish. Then, if you didn’t get enough doughy goodness, you can grab rolls, loaves, sandwiches, and bread bowls at the nearby Pacific Wharf Café.
Treat #3: No trip to Disneyland would be complete without getting a Dole Pineapple Whip – available right outside the Enchanted Tiki Room. I recommend grabbing one of these refreshing frozen treats before heading into the Enchanted Tiki Room or to MainStreet to get a spot for Mickey’s Soundsational Parade.
Treat #4: One of my favorite treats at Disneyland is without a doubt their caramel apples. I love the Mickey and Minnie caramel apples because they are so cute! My favorite place to indulge is at Pooh Corner right after riding The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh or Splash Mountain. In addition to having darling souvenirs, they have a small candy shop with many of the same offerings as the Candy Palace on Main Street USA and Marceline’s Confectionery in Downtown Disney – but without the crowds.
Treat #5: “Race” over to Cars Land for a “cone-acopia” of treats at the Cozy Cone Motel. Five different cones each serve their own tasty treat – Cone One serves Churro Bites with delectable dipping sauces. Cone Two offers soft-serve ice cream cones and “route” beer floats. Cone Three offers breakfast cones with scrambled eggs and chili cones for lunch and dinner. Cone Four serves pretzel bites with cheesy dipping sauce and Cone Five features two specialty popcorn flavors (like pickle, nacho cheese, and sweet & spicy) each day.
So, I hope you enjoyed some of my top “Tricks and Treats” for your Halloween at Disneyland Vacation. This Friday, I’ll be in Southern California with our team at Get Away Today and we’ll be updating our blog and Facebook with our adventures as well as doing some really fun giveaways – so be sure to “Like” us at https://www.facebook.com/GetAwayTodayVacations . You can also check out more of my travel tips on our blog at http://www.getawaytoday.com/blogs .
For even more Disneyland tips and tricks, check out these posts: (and be sure to pin the Disney Everything! page, to save all past and upcoming Disney and family vacation posts in one place!)
Our Disneyland Family Vacation, Part 1
Our Disneyland Family Vacation, Part 2
Our Disneyland Family Vacation, Part 3
Guide to Disneyland and California Adventure
Our Favorite Disneyland Tips and Tricks
More Disneyland Tips and Tricks
Disneyland Thoughts & Tips from a Real Pro
Avoiding the “Gimmies” While Vacationing at Disneyland