Olivia's Disney Adventures

How fun! I found this on the Disneyland Facebook page. The Disneyland Stick Figure Family Creator application.  I made a picture of our little family. With our trip just a few weeks away what better way to get in the mood.

Create yours on the Disneyland Facebook page at http://apps.facebook.com/stick-figures-dl/

*Pictures are property of Olivia's Disney Adventures and are not to be reproduced or distributed without permission of Olivia's Disney Adventures

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I love love love eating in the park. There is nothing like a Disneyland churro, sharing a turkey leg, or relaxing on the patio with a monte cristo.

We like to set a budget for our daily eating so we keep our trip affordable. $50 a day for teens and adults seem to work out best for us. About half that works for younger children. Your needs may be higher or lower.

Here is some of what we do to stay within a budget.

When staying at an area hotel, utilize those free continental breakfasts. A juice and a danish is great for starting out the day and holding back hunger until lunch time. If your hotel does not offer free breakfast, pick up an apple or other fruit in the Disneyland park. You can also visit the local grocery store and pick up granola bars.

Eating light can really help when it comes to lunch. The busiest times to eat lunch are between 12p-3p. Having that light breakfast will allow you to eat an early lunch around 11a and help avoid that rush. We like to share a turkey leg and a large soda. No point in purchasing everyone a large drink since you have to make sure it is gone before you hit the next ride. Besides, it fills us up and can make those longer lines torture as you do the potty dance. We purchase a bottle of water in the beginning of the day and refill as needed so we also keep that soda cost down. You can often find us ordering off the kids menu at the various quick service locations. I love the chicken nugget meal at the Tomorrowland Terrace. Plus it comes with a juice box. If we decide to have soda instead, we buy a large to share and save our juice box for later.

The Bengal BBQ is a great place to have a light lunch. Grab a skewer or 2 and you are set. The jalapeno cheese pretzel is sooo good. Not spicy for those concerned. I can't do spicy and I can eat these. They make a great snack too but we share one when we order skewers too.

When dining at the Orleans Cafe we tend to share dishes. A cup of gumbo and a monte cristo is just the ticket for a reasonable lunch. When we do have our own lunches, we don't usually finish. Having a ziplock baggie in our backpack comes in handy to take along half a sandwich and the fruit to snack on later in the day. Don't forget to order that special juice for the kids (adults can order one too). You can receive a light up Tinkerbell or Buzz Lightyear to show off after the sun goes down.

Dinner time is where we tend to splurge. We do our best to make this a late lunch or early dinner and eat about 4p.Taking in some BBQ at Big Thunder Ranch. It is all you can eat and very tasty. The experience is so much fun. You can eat things like bbq ribs, bbq chicken, cornbread, baked beans. All served family style in buckets and you get jars for glasses. So grab your hats and bring an empty stomach. You will need reservations to make sure to call well in advanced.

You can also hop on the monorail and head on over to Goofy's Kitchen for some character dining. I LOVE Goofy's Kitchen! There is nothing like it. The energy is pumped, the food is fantastic, and getting that personal time with the characters is amazing. One of my fondest memories of Disneyland is at Goofy's Kitchen. When my son was 7 we visited Goofy's Kitchen for the very first time. He walked in wearing his pirate gear and talking with goofy when all the sudden Captain Hook comes strolling by to start trouble. Well my son and goofy was not about to let that happen so my son drew his sword, goofy grabbed the sheath, and a sword fight began. Priceless! (If I have the picture handy I would share with you but not sure where it is hiding). Goofy's Kitchen also requires reservations so please make those in advanced.

This next trip we will be doing something we have never done. Eat at the Blue Bayou. You can even share a plate. Now it does state it will cost an additional $12 to share but everyone who has ever done this has never been charged. When I was little I remember the smell of spaghetti as we floated by on our journey through the pirate world. They no longer serve spaghetti but that doesn't erase the memory.A tip everyone offers us is arrive early for your reservation and request a table near the water. You cannot ask for this at the time of your reservation (called Disney dining to confirm and they are correct) but you can before your meal. This can add additional time to your reservation as you await a table to clear so be prepared for this.,

Cocina Cucamonga Grill in Disney's California Adventure is a favorite of ours. You get a filling meal for a great price. Again we tend to share these but it does make a great dinner. One of my husbands favorite park about dining in DCA is you have the option of an alcoholic beverage.

Want to eat outside of Disneyland? Take a stroll in Downtown Disney for more great dining options. ESPN Zone is fun for everyone! Games upstairs and good food downstairs. Rainforest Cafe is also fun. The atmosphere is fantastic. There is so much to see. Don't forget to stop in their shop afterward for a gift or 2.

One dining option we use at least twice during our Disneyland trips is a visit to In n Out burger. I grew up on these and can never get enough when in California. It is a couple miles away from the resort so if you do not have a vehicle to use this may not work in your favor. If you do have a vehicle, make a visit. This is a treat for us and helps keep that budget down so we can splurge on other days.

There is also great options all around the park. To save a few extra dollars go to the Entertainment Book website and order an area book for discounts http://www.entertainment.com/discount/home.shtml. You can even look at some of the coupons available to see if this is a good option for you. Me personally I don't use this because we do so much in the park eating or eating outside the area its just not an option for us. I know many who do use this and it works great for them.

When it comes to snacking:

In Disneyland they have a great chocolate chip cookie. They even won an award for this cookie. Grab one to share.

Mint juleps (non-alcoholic) and fritters make a great late night snack. Find these at the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square.

Who doesn't love candy apples? Grabbing a Mickey or Minnie candy apple to share is a great treat. One is enough for 4 people to share.

And my all-time favorite snack/treat is a Dole whip float. That creamy pineapple soft serve and that sweet juice. You can only get this treat in Disneyland so it is truly a special treat. Enjoy one while waiting for the next show at the Tiki Room (tip: whenever ordering from the Tiki Bar always go into the waiting area for the Tiki Room. There is almost never a line when they outside is usually a long one)

Visit TheMouseForLess and you can view the various menus across the Disneyland resort. Not only can you see a menu of a restaurant you have been wanting to try but you can view prices. Print these out and share with your family when planning your next Disneyland trip.

Remember almost all restaurants on the Disneyland resort property require reservations. You can call up to 60 days prior to your trip.

(714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463   

Use those phone features to store this number for last minute reservations (sometimes you can get same day seating at your favorite restaurant). Also use that calendar to store your reservations and receive alerts when your reservation time is near. I set mine for 60 minutes prior so we can get through those lines or begin making our way towards the restaurant.



*Pictures are property of Olivia's Disney Adventures and are not to be reproduced or distributed without permission of Olivia's Disney Adventures

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One of my favorite things to do when watching my young nieces and nephew is we get to watch Disney movies all day.

Alice in Wonderland is always on that list it seems. One of my favorite parts to recite is Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat from when Dormouse falls from the sky after the rocket on the cake explodes.

Say it with me:

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat
How I wonder what you're at
Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea tray in the sky

What is your favorite part in Disney's animated tale of Alice in Wonderland

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Everyone is offering green options these days for your shopping. Disney is no exception to this. In fact they have so many different varieties, you can collect the bags.

Each visit to the Disney store I buy a new bag. Whether its a cute new design I don't have or they have one they offer at checkout for a very low price. This week I did both. Before I hit checkout I picked up a minnie and mickey plus an alice in wonderland bag. At checkout I was offered a large toy story bag for only $1.

These bags come at a very reasonable cost of $2.50 (larger ones are a bit more) and can be used in many ways. Use them as a gift bag, overnight bag to grandmas with pajamas and favorite blanket, to carry your picnic lunch on a beautiful day at the park, use instead of plastic at the grocery store, or one of my favorites with the larger bags is as a laundry bag while on vacation.

*Pictures are property of Olivia's Disney Adventures and are not to be reproduced or distributed without permission of Olivia's Disney Adventures

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EleTRONica takes you into the grid during this high energy, music pumped, journey while taking you back to what you love about Tron.

Walking into Flynns arcade and seeing the iconic wall where the home of Tron lives is truly a sight to see. As a young kid I remember wanting to go to that very arcade and play the legendary Tron game. At Disney's California Adventures you can do just that.

You can even get a Tron makeover with face painting. How cool is that!

I must admit one of my favorite parts is walking over to get a glowjito from the End of the Line club. Its nice to have some adult time and relax with a drink in the middle of an incredible disney experience.

On the Disneyland Facebook page it was announced that ElecTRONica will continue through the summer. My son (16) loved it and being this next trip has turned into his birthday trip (for his 17th birthday) it will certainly make this trip that much better. I wasn't able to get a decent picture or video this last time but I will go better equipped to capture a little something to share upon our return.

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Cars 2 is coming and I am so excited! I didn't think I would enjoy it when Cars was first released. All I could think was how can you make a cute movie about racing. Boy was I WRONG! Cars is one of my favorite movies. I will be in the theater watching the new release this summer and you can bet I will be visiting the Disneyland resort when Cars Land opens.

Until then enjoy this Cars short





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Pin trading began at Disney in 1999. Since then many pins have been traded among guests and cast members.

Its a fun way to do something new and exciting during your Disney trip.

Getting started is easy. You can purchase starter kits which include a lanyard and pins ready for trading. You can also purchase these separately if you choose. I started with a lanyard offered when checking into the Disneyland hotel that included one with my vacation package.

You can trade any pin you like with cast members or even other guests. You can even trade complete sets if appropriate. Trade for pins that mean something to you. I think it is also fun to purchase a couple special pins that are just for me to keep and personalize my lanyard. You can too.

Pin trading is found all over the Disney resort. This includes cast members walking around. Don't be afraid to ask a cast member to trade with you. They will help you out and even offer tips.

There are 3 types of lanyard colors and you need to know what they mean.

Blue Lanyards are for general trading. Adults and children can trade pins with cast members wearing blue lanyards.

Teal Lanyards are worn by Disneyland cast members and only available for children pin trading.

Green Lanyards are worn by Disney World cast members and only available for children pin trading.

There are a few rules of etiquette when trading:

• Have Fun! Disney Pin Trading can be a great way to interact with and meet Cast Members and other Guests.
• The main criteria to judge whether a pin is tradable or not is that it must be a metal pin that represents a Disney Event, Location, Character or Icon. Some pins from our Operating Participants are also tradable, but must represent the Operating Participant in a way that has a specific Disneyland®Resort or Walt Disney World®Resort affiliation.
• Pins should in good, undamaged condition.
• Trade one pin at a time, hand to hand, with the backs attached.
• Guests may trade a maximum of two pins with each Cast Member.
• Guests may trade only one pin of the same style with a Cast Member.
• When trading with Cast Members, Guests should offer a pin that is not already displayed on the Cast Member's lanyard.
• Please refrain from touching another person's pins or lanyard. If you need a closer look, ask the person wearing the lanyard if they can bring it into clearer view for you.
• Disney name pins may not be traded with Cast Members.
• Monies or gifts may not be exchanged or used in trade for a pin.
• In addition to the 12 pins on Cast lanyards, some Cast Members may wear a "Showcase" pin. These "Showcase" pins are for demonstrations to our Guests and are not available for trade.

Don't forget to purchase a lanyard medal as well. These hang from the clip on your lanyard and make this personalized to you. You can even make your own if you choose. Purchase badge covers and create something special for you or your entire family. Hand drawn and colored is always fun for the kids. Make a new one each trip and attach that one special pin you won't be trading anytime soon.

Beginning can be overwhelming. Have fun with it. Once you break the ice with one trade you will be on the look out for pins to trade everywhere you go.

Watch for those Hidden Mickey pins as well.

*Pictures are property of Olivia's Disney Adventures and are not to be reproduced or distributed without permission of Olivia's Disney Adventures

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