Halloween Fun at Disneyland
The day was not crisp. In fact, it was rather warm. There was a light rain in the afternoon. It could have passed for spring.
The end of September was the winding down of whirlwinds and the precipice of a free fall into holiday excitement and the trappings thereof. We decided to blur the line all the sooner.
We took a trip to Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween Party and suddenly fall was in the air.
The event requires a separate ticket, but don’t fret — admission to Mickey’s Halloween Party actually allows ticket holders to enter Disneyland a few hours prior to the park closing (the Halloween event happens after the park is closed) so that they can enjoy a bit more of the magic. For dates, times and pricing please visit Disneyland.com/halloween. (Walt Disney World offers Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party)
While kids are able to wear costumes to Disneyland whenever they please (assuming it also pleases their parents), adults are usually not allowed to do so. I know, we’ve all seen some adult characters in the parks, but that’s actually their normal thing. Don’t judge. The beauty of Mickey’s Halloween Party is that everyone can dress up, and they do!
Families dress as the characters from their favorite Disney movie, superhero team, television show, etc. — the originality and cleverness that people put into their costumes is pretty darn impressive. However, you don’t need to be a costume designer to enjoy the fun. You don’t even need to dress up, but come on, why wouldn’t you?
Mickey’s Halloween Party offers the opportunity to take photos with your favorite Disney Villains and other Disney characters in their own Halloween costumes. There are special treat stations (candy and healthy options) throughout the park for all of your trick or treating needs (Disney doesn’t run out of candy!), live music and dance parties (Buzz Lightyear’s Intergalactic Space Jam in Tomorrowland Terrace, and Piratepalooza in the Ranch del Zocalo Restaurante), plus lots more fun for boys and girls of all ages.
There is also a Halloween parade called Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade, and holiday-themed attractions like the very awesome Haunted Mansion Holiday with a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay (not scary) and the Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy (pretty scary!). Most of the other attractions in Disneyland are also open for guests to enjoy.
The highlight of the event, as far as my family was concerned, was the Halloween Screams Firework Spectacular (below). It was one of the best fireworks displays I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a few.
We left Mickey’s Halloween Party and headed back to our room at the Disneyland Hotel (which I can’t recommend enough) because the kids were too tired to continue. They changed out of their costumes, washed their faces and fell asleep somewhere between recaps of the evening and failed candy negotiations. They woke mid-sentence, and their words were full of magic.
Photos and video: W. Honea
Disclaimer: My family and I were guests of Disneyland for the Mickey’s Halloween Party event. We would have gone anyway (but don’t tell Disney that!). I paid for the room myself.
Disneyland Resort — New Rides Open Today!
Under the Sign
There is a lot happening today at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Disneyland is launching their version of Star Tours 2.0 and Disney’s California Adventure is continuing its expansion with the debut of a new Little Mermaid ride.
That’s right, visitors at the Disneyland Resort are going to explore space and the deep, blue sea all in one day. That’s adventure, people!
The updated Star Tours ride will have the same amazing modifications as the Walt Disney World version at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re talking 3D and multiple Star Wars experiences in each journey! I’ve heard good things.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is a dark ride featuring some of our favorite scenes from the movie BROUGHT. TO. LIFE. Believe it.
If you’re going to the parks today you should be prepared for some pretty big crowds, but as someone that has attended plenty of big events and special occasions at the Disneyland Resort, I can assure you that it is worth it!
Churros not included in the price of admission.
This post is part of our Friday Family series.
Photo from The DisneyParks Blog
Backstage Pass at the San Diego Zoo
Behind the scenes at the San Diego Zoo
Many consider it to be the best zoo in the world. It’s certainly one of the biggest.
So, when you visit the San Diego Zoo, you’re seeing something quite special.
But why not make it just a little more special by going behind-the-scenes with the zoo’s memorable Backstage Pass program?
That’s what my family did on a recent visit to San Diego.
Like our Universal Studios VIP Tour a few days earlier, this one was also pricey, to the tune of $99 per person (which does not include zoo admission).
For a trip of a lifetime, however, it was worth the extra expense. But not by much.
First off, you don’t really go “behind the scenes,” and they don’t advertise it as such. Instead, you get the VIP treatment in a special staging area, where you receive a private viewing of some of the zoo’s animals.
The encounter began at lunchtime, so it’s a good thing the zoo served us up a delicious box lunch. Sitting at our comfortable tables, it wasn’t long before the animals appeared.
My kids wanted to take this cheetah home
We were getting our money’s worth right away as various wild creatures were paraded right past our outstretched legs. A zookeeper took a good amount of time to discuss and show off each animal.
My kids were enthralled by the up-close and personal views of a cheetah, Asian Bearcat, wolf, hedgehog, and various birds of prey.
Up next, we left our seats to get even closer to the biggest animal I’ve ever touched, a rhinoceros.
Hand-feeding a rhino at the San Diego Zoo
The rhino was just about worth the entire price of the Backstage Pass. We fed him with our bare hands, gave him a good rubdown with brushes, then jiggled his skin folds.
You haven’t lived until you’ve jiggled a rhino’s folds.
If you’re looking for something to leave your kids awe-struck, this definitely qualifies.
After the rhino, zookeepers led us to an area for photo-ops with a baby zebra and an elderly emu.
Baby zebra
Again, very cool to be able to pet these animals and pose for pictures. How often do you get to put your arm around a zebra?
The 90-minute program ended here, and it seemed rather abrupt. For the price, I felt like I needed a bit more. Putting us all on a bus or trolley for a guided tour of the zoo would’ve been a nice way to end things.
Instead, we were left to tour the zoo ourselves. For the next 3 or 4 hours, we wandered through the vastness of the place. By itself, the San Diego Zoo is a marvel. We especially loved the gorillas, polar bears, pandas, and sea lions. There’s plenty to do all throughout the zoo to keep your family busy the entire day.
Glad the glass was extra thick!
The Backstage Pass experience just gave us that extra little special memory, helped by a couple of free family photos included with the program.
I would recommend spending the extra money if it’s your first time to the zoo, and if your kids are old enough to appreciate it. I know mine will never forget giving that rhino a good scrubbing.
Scrub-a-dub rhino
If you’re looking for a place to stay near the zoo, the downtown Holiday Inn Express is a great family hotel.
White wolf
The sea lion show was cute
Cheetah’s best friend
Hungry hungry rhino
Grab the Kids and Head For the Hills in Los Angeles
This is a guest post from Yvonne Condes, a blogger in Los Angeles who specializes in gluten-free baking. She and her husband and two young boys look for moderate to easy hikes to enjoy together on the weekends. Note the many places where you can get a spectacular view of the ocean.
One of the great things about visiting Los Angeles is access to hiking, biking, and walking trails. Here are a few fun, easy to moderate hikes to do with your kids.
Solstice Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains: This hike works well with both younger and older kids. There’s a nice paved trail that will take you to the ruins of the beautiful Roberts House, which was destroyed in a 1982 wildfire. If you’re feeling adventurous, the family can climb over a few rocks and see some lovely little waterfalls. Or if you feel like a workout, you can head to Upper Solstice Canyon and enjoy a 3 hour hike with spectacular ocean views.
Malibu Creek State Park: This area has picnic tables, a big grassy area for kids to play and a wide, well maintained trail. You can push a jog stroller all the way to the area where they filmed the television series M*A*S*H* or you can hike to a reservoir and have a picnic. It’s a combination of shady and sunny, hilly and flat. Watch out for bike riders and riders on horseback.
Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park: There are great hikes in Topanga Canyon and many of them start at Trippet Ranch. You can park at the ranch and take a look around or go on a short nature walk. Hikers with older kids can stop and get a map at the entrance to the park and hike any of the 45 miles of trails and fireroads. The Backbone Trail has incredible views and you can catch part of the roughly 70 miles of trail here (it starts at Point Magu State Park and ends at Will Rogers State Historic Park) and hike as much of it as you’d like.
Franklin Canyon: This is a nice urban hike in the mountains above Beverly Hills. There are bathrooms, picnic tables and the option to do a short nature walk or a strenuous hike with views from the Valley to the Ocean.
Temescal Canyon: This is a very popular hiking spot and I chose it because if you’re new to experiencing nature with your children, this is a great place to start. There’s convenient parking, a large, well maintained trail, and a big grassy area to picnic. It’s in Pacific Palisades and close to restaurants and coffee shops if picnicking isn’t your thing.
Tip: The Children’s Nature Institute offers family hikes, toddler education programs, and trail and beach cleanups in the Los Angeles area. The non-profit’s classes and walks offer a friendly introduction to the outdoors.
[photo by Jonathan Isaac via sxc.hu]
Fall Foliage in Los Angeles: A Day Trip To Mt. Baldy
Golden leaves
If only the palm trees changed color in the fall. Alas, this is a desert, and one must travel, quite literally, UP, to see that iconic vision of autumn: fall foliage. Fortunately in Los Angeles, everything is a day trip away. One of the best local places to see the landscape in its glory is Mt. Baldy.
The tallest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles, Mt. Baldy is a popular ski resort area. During the summer and early fall months, the Mt. Baldy Ski Resort’s lifts operate to bring hikers and visitors to the summit sans snow. That is certainly one way to see the grandeur of the changing foliage of Southern California. Bonus, the restaurant at the top of the ski lift is open and has Happy Hour every Saturday night, and it even throws a full moon hiking party.
If you are afraid of heights or you want to experience the vistas on foot, a hike on the Icehouse Canyon trail is very popular (and sometimes very crowded). Parking at the trailhead requires an adventure pass, which sounds awesome.For up-to-date information on Mt. Baldy, contact the visitor center at (909) 981-3344.
[Photo by Scott Lidell via sxc.hu]
Labor Day Activities Around Los Angeles
According to AAA, 2.5 million Angelenos are expected to get away from it all on Labor Day weekend. That means there’s a 2.5 million-person hole left behind for visitors to fill! So if you’re in LA for Labor Day and looking for something special to do, here’s a short list.
Carnival, celebrities, chili. Tickets are $10 (cheaper for kids) and the chili vendors sell their wares, although they do give out 2 oz. samples for judging. This event has grown from a small community gathering into a major undertaking, mostly by word of mouth, like the best ones do.
Long Beach Jazz Festival’s KJazz Blues Bash
A scaled down event that will take the place of the traditional weekend-long festival. (It’s the economy.) However, the organizers have planned what looks to be a lovely family-friendly celebration of music and food on the Cal State Long Beach Campus. A free street festival beginning at noon welcomes you to bring blankets, low beach chairs, and even shade umbrellas for the perimeter. You can also bring food and beverages, but there will be plenty for sale on site. The evening ends with a performance by Keb Mo, for which ticketed seats cost $55. Parking is $10.
For the little ones: it’s Farmer Day at Kidspace in Pasadena. If you don’t have the energy (or the patience, or a big enough diaper bag) to make it to one of the bigger events, why not venture out for a special day of animal petting for your preschooler? The kids will get up close and personal with farm animals, and they’ll help bring in crops. City folk are sure to love it.
What’s more American than a pie-eating contest? Nothing! Right! Also, it’s free! The second annual KCRW Good Food Pie contest takes place on Sunday, September 5 from 4 to 6 pm on the grounds of the Taste of Beverly Hills event (tickets vary in price but are mostly $$$).
LA’s 229th birthday is celebrated by residents in a nine-mile walk from the original mission to Olvera Street downtown.
Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival
The 2nd Annual Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival is a celebration of art, music and food, with a schedule of performances, events, and activities for all ages. It’s free. Leimert Park Village is a thriving African American community right in downtown Los Angeles.
[photo by Mike Munchel via sxc.hu]
Reptilemania at the San Diego Zoo
Why did it have to be snakes?
A few weeks ago, there came a day that a mother fears – the day when her five-year-old son declares that he wants a snake for his birthday. Especially if on that same day his father declares that yes, this is a possibility.
Oh, really.
So far, the five-year-old is just “totally into” snakes and lizards. At a friend’s birthday party recently, there was a Lizard Lady, who brought several cages of reptiles and showed them to the children, telling the crowd a little bit about each animal. There were lizards, turtles, small snakes, and a 75-pound Burmese Python. AT A CHILD’S BIRTHDAY PARTY. The Lizard Lady had the gall to invite parents to wrap the 75-pound snake around our shoulders for a photo opportunity.
I wouldn’t have considered the notion. But when I saw the look of rapture on my son’s face when she said that, I naturally stepped forward and volunteered to be the first. What else is a mom to do?
Our next reptilian adventure will take place in a far safer environment, which will not include any bodily contact between the snakes and myself. San Diego Zoo’s Reptilemania happens September 16 – 19 starting at 9:00 AM, and offers visitors up close and personal visits with the reptiles and the reptile keepers. They’ll present information about the various species that the Zoo has in residence, even show off tortoises that are estimated to be over 100 years old. Admission is included in the cost of a zoo ticket ($37 for adults, $27 for children).
Lucky for you, that same weekend is also White Elephant sale weekend at the Zoo gift shop. Discounted prices on lots of merch, so the exit doesn’t have to be as painful.
Anyway, Reptilemania should hold the kid’s snake fix for a while. Except that he’s since changed his mind and now he says he wants a tarantula for his birthday. Yes, that’s what I said. A tarantula.
There. Is. No. Way.
[photo from SanDiegoZoo.org]