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Toy Story Costumes | Disneybounding at Toy Story Land

byKaren•July 5, 2018

Toy Story Land is now open in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. We spent last week Playing Big in Andy’s backyard as guests of Disney for their media preview event. Attending the grand opening of Toy Story Land seemed like the perfect opportunity to disneybound as characters from Toy Story.

Disneybound at Walt Disney World

Disneybounding at Walt Disney World or Disneyland is a fun way to add extra Disney magic on your trip. Some may ask, What is Disneybounding? Disneybounding is simply dressing up in DIY costumes or outfits inspired by your favorite Disney characters. You can disneybound casual or dress it up for fancier occasions like Dapper Day.

Toy Story Costumes & Disneybounding Ideas

There are so many fun characters in the Toy Story franchise that it makes it easy for a large group to disneybound together as a Toy Story theme. We stuck with a few of the main characters Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and Alien. There are lots of fun Toy Story character ideas though including Forky, Wheezie, Slinky, Prospector, Army Men, Rex and Zurg.

Woody Costume Idea

Our Woody disneybound idea was easy because I’ve already shared our DIY Woody costume. We scaled back the pieces a bit to make sure Elliot would be more comfortable in the sweaty summer heat. Swapping out a button down shirt with a plain yellow t-shirt and going with shorts instead of jeans. We kept the red bandana, sheriff badge and DIY cow print vest. I think a brown cowboy hat would have been cute but I wasn’t sure if he would want to wear it in the park all day. I KNEW I didn’t want to carry the hat around if he didn’t wear it though, so I left it at home. 😉

cow print vest
yellow t-shirt
brown shorts (or jean shorts)
sheriff badge
red bandana
cowboy hat

Toy Story Alien Costume Idea

The key to the Alien disneybound is sticking with colors, blue, bright green with a smidge of purple. My mom bought the perfect blue tank to wear and we added bright green beads and a purple sunglasses to complete the look. My sister-in-law once wore a blue dress with green tights for her Toy Story Alien costume.

Buzz Lightyear Costume Idea

My oldest son is a tween and a little harder to convince to participate in costume type things, especially outside of Halloween. So we just stuck with a cool Buzz Lightyear costume t-shirt and called it a good. I think a pair of Buzz Lightyear ears or Pizza Planet cap might have been a fun addition.

Jessie Costume Idea

I really loved how my Jessie disneybounding outfit turned out. I made a Jessie inspired t-shirt to wear using a plain white t-shirt, and red and yellow iron-on vinyl. I opted for jean shorts instead of jeans because Florida in June is brutal! In lieu of a red hat, I went with red sunglasses. I also added a little more cowgirl with a red bandana belt. I swapped out her boots and wore brown sandals instead. My hair is just long enough for a little side braid, tied with a yellow ribbon. To incorporate Jessie’s signature cow-print, I made a super simple cow print t-shirt tote bag.

jeans or jean shorts
Jessie inspired cowgirl t-shirt
red sunglasses
brown sandals
yellow ribbon
red bandana (belt)
cow print bag

How to Make a No-Sew Cow Print Bag

I took a plain white t-shirt and made a no-sew tote bag. It was my first time making one and it was super easy, just find a tutorial online. This is the no-sew tote bag tutorial I followed. I then cut out random shapes of black iron-vinyl to create the cow print design and ironed them on to the bag. I loved finding a good use for my pieces of scrap vinyl! You could also use a fabric marker or paint to create the cow print design. This bag was a great tote to use in the park and super inexpensive to make! Or skip the DIY part and just buy this one on Amazon.

More Easy Amazon Toy Story Costume Pieces

Pixar Pier Disneybounding Ideas

These Toy Story Disneybounding ideas are perfect for Pixar Fest at Disneyland as well. With the opening of Pixar Pier last month, there is a whole lot of Pixar fun happening at Disneyland as well. Other fun Pixar Pier Disneybounding ideas could include characters from Inside Out, Monsters Inc and the Incredibles!

Disneybound at Disneyland

You can also Disneybound during Halloween Time at Disney Parks. If you aren’t comfortable in a full-on costume, Disneybounding is an easy way to get in the spirit using everyday clothes and not spending a ton of money. Check out these cute disneybounding ideas for kids I shared last year! It’s really easy to disneybound as one of the Fab Five!

DIY Forky Costume

How about dressing up as the adorable, zany new character from Toy Story 4! We couldn’t decide which Forky version was best because dressing up as a spork is a little difficult, so we came up with 4 different Forky Costume ideas.

LEGOLAND California Tips

byKaren•May 22, 2018

My boys love LEGOLAND California. We’ve been several times over the past few years and have learned a few things in the process. Today I am sharing a few LEGOLAND tips and tricks to help make your trip to LEGOLAND California easier and more fun.

LEGOLAND California Tips

LEGOLAND Souvenirs
LEGO Minifigure Trading
Save on LEGOLAND Tickets
LEGOLAND Ride Lines
LEGOLAND Food tips

Buying LEGOLAND Souvenirs

The most important piece of advice about buying LEGOLAND souvenirs is to not wait until LEGOLAND is closing. Let me state this again. Do. Not. Wait. Until. The. Park. Is. Closing.

Everyone and their mother will be shopping in the big LEGO store when LEGOLAND closes. The gift shop is overwhelming crowded and the lines can be very long. If you are saving money by staying at an offsite hotel that offers a shuttle, be aware of the return shuttle times. One time we literally had 15 minutes before the shuttle would pick us up and we waited too long to shop. There was no way we would have had time to shop and make it to our shuttle in time.

If you plan on shopping at LEGOLAND take a break earlier in the day and buy souvenirs before the park closes. If you don’t want to carry bags around the park, utilize LEGOLAND’s free package service. You can pick up your purchases as you leave the park.

We have also briefly browsed the store during the day and then ordered the same LEGO sets on Amazon. With free 2-day Amazon Prime shipping, the LEGO sets were already at our house by the time we drove back to Tucson.

LEGO Minifigure Trading

Did you know you can trade minifigures at LEGOLAND? Simply bring complete LEGO mini figures from home and trade with any Model Citizen (aka LEGOLAND employee). Each LEGO minifigure must include a head, body, and legs.

Trading minifigures is a fun way to bring home a “souvenir” without spending money. Treat trading minifigures as a fun scavenger hunt as you explore LEGOLAND. If you forget to bring minifigures to trade, you can purchase minifigures at LEGOLAND. They even have a fun build-your-own minifgure station, customize 3 minifigures for $10. I think it’s a pretty reasonable souvenir idea.

Skip the water park

If your kids aren’t super into water parks, I’d skip the park hopper options and stick to single park tickets to save money on admission. LEGOLAND offers an awesome water play area with plenty of opportunities for kids to get soaked without a visit to the LEGOLAND water park.

I recommend bringing an extra set of clothes and a towel for your kids. My boys wear swim clothes to LEGOLAND and then change into a dry set of clothes after we are done playing in the water area. LEGOLAND does offer those huge dryers you can stand inside to dry off as well. They cost around $5 to use but several people will fit inside.

Save money on LEGOLAND Tickets

I am proud to partner with Get Away Today and share their deals on LEGOLAND California tickets and Southern California vacation packages. My family has booked Disney vacations through Get Away Today since I was a kid, so I know it’s a well-established travel agency. They pride themselves on saving families money and helping plan your perfect vacation. Book online or call Get Away Today at 1-855-GET-AWAY. Mention my promo code DCHICA to get the best prices and you can even save $10 on any 2-night or longer Southern California vacation package.

LEGO Life magazine often offers free child’s admission coupon with the purchase of an adult ticket. It’s free to subscribe and it’s a magazine both of my boys look forward to reading each month.

LEGOLAND Ride Lines

If you stay at one of the LEGOLAND hotels, take advantage of early entry into LEGOLAND. You can ride select attractions before the park officially opens to everyone else. Even if you don’t stay at the LEGOLAND hotel, plan on being at the park a little early. Start by riding the most popular rides first, the lines will only get longer as the day goes on.

Another trick is to ride popular rides during live shows. As people flock to the shows, the ride lines will be smaller. Besides waiting in line for rides, don’t miss these others ideas on what to do at LEGOLAND on a busy day.

LEGOLAND Food Tips

Officially LEGOLAND doesn’t allow outside food but we’ve never had a problem bringing in water bottles and a few small snacks. If you are a soda drinker, consider buying a souvenir cup. They offer ones that include drinks for the length of your stay (1 day, 2 days, etc) just like at Walt Disney World resort or single use ones with cheap refills.

Everyone touts the iconic apple fries as a must buy at LEGOLAND but I’m not a fan. I think the better deal and more extravagant treat is the churros with chocolate dipping sauce. For about $5 you get 3 good sized churros making it a perfect treat to share (or not share) with your kids. You can find the churro cart at the back of the park by the entrance to the Star Wars Miniland area.

If you plan on eating an early dinner or late lunch, make sure you download the LEGOLAND app. We often see a ‘kids eat free’ offer pop up during the late afternoon. Similar deals may pop show up for dinner at one of the LEGOLAND hotel restaurants as well.

Where to Stay when Visiting LEGOLAND:

If you are looking to splurge, we’ve enjoyed our stays at both the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel and LEGOLAND Hotel. With free breakfast, extremely fun themed room and early access to LEGOLAND, they are a great place to stay for families who want to be within steps of the LEGOLAND entrance.

There are quite a few hotels nearby that aren’t as expensive though, many with shuttles to LEGOLAND which helps you avoid the daily parking fee. We really liked the West Inn & Suites Carlsbad and Hyatt Place Vista/Carlsbad.

If you go a few minutes down the freeway, you can stay right on the beach at the
Carlsbad Beach Inn Resort. There is no shuttle but it’s a really lovely property with beach access and some condo style rooms are available. You can really save money on meals with a full kitchen!

Pixar Fest Scavenger Hunt at Disneyland

byKaren•April 16, 2018

I spent 2 days last week attending the media preview and opening day of Pixar Fest at Disneyland. It was a whirlwind adventure with lots of Pixar fun crammed in. I will publish my Pixar Fest guide soon but for now, I wanted to share a fun Pixar Fest Scavenger Hunt.

Disney has created a truly immersive Disney Pixar experience in the parks for Pixar Fest. From food and merchandise to characters, shows, and rides, it’d be hard to have all the Pixar experiences on your trip unless you did a little research ahead of time. Or you could just print one of my Pixar Fest Scavenger Hunt printables and check off each Pixar activity as you go.

Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

What’s included in my Pixar Fest Checklist?

I tried to include every type of Pixar related activity at the parks right now. I did not include a list of every single food item because that’s crazy talk. First of all most people won’t eat dozens of different food items, and second, Disney keeps adding fun Pixar related food, so the list would never be 100% complete anyway. What did I include? Keep reading to find out!

Pixar Attractions at Disneyland

Everyone should ride at least one Pixar attraction at Disneyland. Pixar attractions include Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, and the Pixar themed monorail! Bonus points if you stop and get your ride picture from Buzz Lightyear emailed to yourself!

(Disney•Pixar)

Pixar Attractions at Disney California Aventure

There are lots more Pixar attractions at Disney California Adventure including Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue and Turtle Talk with Crush in Holly Wood Land. A Bug’s Land has several fun attractions including Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train. Please keep in mind that Disney has announced this land will be closing later this summer to make room for a new superhero area.

Toy Story Mania is the only Toy Story attraction open at the moment but Jessie’s Critter Carousel will be opening on Pixar Pier later this summer. Let’s not forget the best-themed land at the Disneyland Resort, Cars Land with 4 different attractions! Plus The Incredicoaster launches on Pixar Pier in June.

Trade for a Pixar pin

I make searching for fun Disney pins to trade for my own personal scavenger hunt on every Disney trip. I always bring a couple spare pins to trade for anything that catches my eye. On this trip, I made it my mission to find a Pixar themed pin in honor of Pixar Fest! If you aren’t a pin trader, you can simply buy an awesome Pixar pin, there were lots of fun new pins available in the gift shops.

Visit Knick’s Knacks

Knick’s Knacks is chock full of Pixar merchandise. It should be your first stop when searching for the latest and great Pixar shirts, stuffed animals or “knick-knacks”. 😉 Even if you aren’t buying any souvenirs, it’s worth a peek inside to see the cool merchandise and the fun new wall featuring scenes from Pixar films.

Watch Pixar Play Parade

The Pixar Play Parade is now at Disneyland with some fun new additions including the Pixar Lamp and Luxo Ball leading the parade. The crowd favorite was clearly the Up float featuring Carl, his floating house, Dug, Russell, and Kevin. Personally, I loved the Inside Out float with Joy, Sadness, and Bing Bong. Who’s your friend that likes to play? 😀

Watch Paint the Night

Disney swapped the parades between parks and moved Paint the Night to Disney California Adventure. It features more than 1 million LED lights and pals from some of your favorite Pixar films like Toy Story, Cars and Monster’s Inc. In June, the Incredibles will debut their own float to showcase their awesome superhero powers.

Watch Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular

The Together Forever show is amazing and worth sticking around late to see in the park, not from your hotel room. Not only do you get an awesome Disney fireworks show but it’s themed to Pixar music and clips enhanced by projections in four key areas of the park. It’s best to watch the show on Main Street, U.S.A., at it’s a small World, at the Rivers of America, or in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

Watch a Pixar Short

Head over to Holly Wood Land where you can catch a rotating selection of Pixar shorts including Lava and For The Birds.

Disneybound as Pixar character

I think it would be so fun to Disneybound as your favorite Pixar character while visiting Pixar Fest. If you don’t want to disneybound yourself, then just watch for someone else disneybounding as a Pixar character. I saw a lot of fun outfits during Pixar Fest’s opening day. My family disneybounded as Inside Out characters for Mickey’s Halloween Party a few years ago.

Watch the Pixarmonic Orchestra

We watched the Pixarmonic Orchestra’s first ever performance and it was so much fun. It’s a zany band playing Pixar songs mixed in with comedic touches. What’s even more fun is that the seven-piece band relies on many unconventional instruments during their show including kazoos, duck calls, slide whistles, and cowbells!

Find another Disneyland group performing Pixar music

The existing Disney musical groups also get in on the fun with several performing their own special renditions of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story, along with other Pixar songs. Keep your eyes out for the Disneyland Band, Straw Hatters, Dapper Dans, Main Street Piano Player, Royal Street Bachelors, Jambalaya Jazz Band, and the Mariachi Divas.

Take a selfie with a Pixar Character

A surefire way to get a picture with a Pixar character is to head to the Pixar Pals area at Paradise Gardens in Disney California Adventure where a rotating set of Pixar characters will be available for meet and greets. Over in Disneyland, you can find Merida in Fantasyland and Woody and Jessie in Frontierland.

Eat Pixar themed food in Disneyland

Ok, so I did include eating Pixar food on the scavenger hunt. I just can’t list all the options, seriously there are a ridiculous amount of fun foods to try. Suffice to say you can find Up, Toy Story, Coco, Ratatouille and more Pixar themed food options at Disneyland.

Eat Pixar Themed food in Disney California Adventure

You can find Monsters Inc, Incredibles, Up, Cars and Coco themed food at Disney California Adventure. Check out this short video to get a sneak peek at some of the options you will find at both parks.

Pixar Pressed Penny

Take home a little piece of Pixar fun by pressing a Pixar design on a penny. There are several Pixar themed designs available including a Zurg option at the pressed penny machine in the Buzz gift shop.

Disney Scavenger Hunt Bonus Ideas

There are a few bonus ideas for your Pixar Fest Scavenger Hunt to consider:

Head to Paradise Gardens or Bugs Land for some fun kids crafts and activities.
Spot a Pixar themed window display on Main Street.
Learn to draw your favorite Pixar character at Animation Academy.

Visit other Pixar photo opportunities like Monsters Inc props on Buena Vista Street or the adorable Buzz and Woody Cars in Cars Land.
Ride it’s a small world to find Woody, Jessie, Bullseye, Nemo and Dory among other toys and dolls.

Dance with your friends during the Pixar Pals Dance Party at the Tomorrowland Terrance in June.
Possible Pixar dance parties are headed to the Disneyland Resort pools this summer.
Snag a Pixar sticker at one of the DVC booths at the resort.

Pixar Fest at Disneyland Scavenger Hunt

Can you create your own Pixar Fest Scavenger Hunt? Sure, but I’ve made it easy and already created a fun printable for you. In fact, I made two different Disneyland scavenger hunt printables because I am awesome. 😉 One version is visual with pictures for each idea and the other one is a simple Disney checklist version. You can even kick it up a notch by turning into a Disney photo scavenger hunt but it’s also fun just checking each thing off the list as you do it.

Download Pixar Scavenger Hunt Printables

Save on Disneyland Tickets & Packages

I am proud to partner with Get Away Today to offer you discounts on Disneyland vacations. My family has booked Disney vacations through Get Away Today since I was a kid, so I know it’s a well-established travel agency. They offer great deals on discount Disneyland tickets. Plus you can save $10 off your next 2-night or longer Southern California vacation package when you use my special promo code DCHICA.

If your trip is a little further out you can use their layaway program and save towards your next Disney trip all year long. Don’t forget to use my exclusive Get Away Today coupon code DCHICA. Book online or call Get Away Today at 1-855-GET-AWAY.

Disclosure: Disneyland hosted during the Pixar Fest media preview event. As always, all opinions are my own.

Best Family Activities in Southern California

byKaren•January 19, 2018

Southern California is one of our favorite places to visit. It’s an easy drive or flight to San Diego or Los Angeles for Arizona families, making it an ideal weekend getaway. With so many family activities in Southern California, we could visit every week and find something new to do! I’ve partnered with Visit Buena Park today to share some of my favorite family activities in Southern California.

Family Activities in Southern California: Theme Parks

I love to visit theme parks; it must be the adrenaline junkie in me. Luckily Southern California has no shortage of fun theme parks that the whole family will love.

Knott’s Berry Farm

Knott’s Berry Farm is a classic Southern California destination. Both Peter and I remember visiting it as children, and we were excited to take our own boys to visit a few years ago.

As a mom to little ones, I was most impressed by Camp Snoopy. It offers lots of rides and shows for little kids.The boys ran from ride to ride, excited they could ride all by themselves. We also loved the nostalgic attractions we remembered from our childhoods, like the giant swings, the log ride, and the wild west stunt show!

Quinn was just starting to become a daredevil, so he spent some time exploring the big roller coasters with Peter while Elliot and I watched a show at Camp Snoopy. Knott’s Berry Farm offers a great variety of attractions including a separate water park, Knott’s Soak City, open during the summer.

Knott's Skyline with lots of fast ride make it a great park and one of the best family activities in southern California for the whole family

Photo: Visit Buena Park

Disneyland Resort

The Disneyland Resort is definitely a family favorite and we visit often. With Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge not opening until 2019, some families may wait until next year to visit Mickey but I wouldn’t! There are plenty of new things at Disneyland this year as well. A trip to Southern California isn’t complete without a day or two at The Happiest Place On Earth.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood may be smaller than its East Coast counterpart, but there is still plenty of fun for everyone. In fact, check why I think Hollywood might be better than Orlando! With zombies, Harry Potter, Minions and more in residence, there really is a wide range of options at Universal Studios.

LEGOLAND

Head south from Los Angeles and you will find LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, just north of San Diego. LEGOLAND is a theme park geared towards kids 12 and under and LEGO super fans of any age. Beyond LEGO-themed rides which naturally my boys love, their favorite activities at LEGOLAND include building and racing LEGO boats and trading Minifigures with LEGOLAND employees!

Family Activities in Southern California: Animal Adventures

Both of my guys love animals so we often try to include animals in our travels. From visiting Bearizona to Amish Farms and everything in between, they are happy if our next stop includes an animal adventure.

Seaworld San Diego

We’ve been to SeaWorld a lot over the past few years. It offers a great mix of attractions from rides and a giant play area to animal shows and animal encounters. My boys love the Pets Rule and Sea Lions Live shows the best. They giggle the entire time. There are also plenty of ways to get wet from splashing animals and water rides to a splash pad open during the warmer months. I recommend coming prepared with a change of clothes for your kids.

San Diego Zoo

You can’t talk about animal adventures in Southern California without mentioning the world-renowned San Diego Zoo! This zoo is huge and you can’t see it all in one day. With some planning and their complimentary guided bus tour, you could see a good chunk of it though. I’d recommend making it a two-day adventure if you can. The zoo is huge and full of giant hills, don’t wear your family out trying to see it all. A couple kid favorites to consider: the children’s petting zoo, the Skyfari aerial tram, and the Panda bears.

Los Angeles Zoo

I spent a day at the Los Angeles Zoo on a press trip a few years ago, visiting the primates to support the release of Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom. We haven’t been back as a family yet but I thought the zoo was great. It’s the perfect size zoo for taking a break from all the theme park action. You could see the entire zoo and not get overwhelmed!

Butterfly Palladium

Opening later this year on Beach Boulevard, the Butterfly Palladium Buena Park will feature an indoor rainforest with thousands of butterflies. It will also have the world’s largest jellyfish aquarium, a 3-D theater, and a hummingbird exhibit.

Jousting at Medieval Times Buena Park is just one of the awesome things to do in southern Caifornia with kids

Photo: Visit Buena Park

Family Activities in Southern California: Dinner Shows

A fun dinner show is a great way to kick off a Southern California trip. Buena Park is home to a few shows that are perfect for a little family-friendly entertainment.

Medieval Times

It’s been a few years since our Medieval Times adventure, but my boys have been asking to go back ever since. At the time, I wasn’t sure if my preschooler would enjoy the show, but he had a blast drinking dragon soup from the bowl and cheering on the green knight. It was a crazy new adventure and he loved every minute of it. Peter and I found the show a little bit silly, which was perfect because everyone needs a little silly entertainment in their lives. We are definitely ready for a return adventure to Medieval Times.

Pirate’s Dinner Adventure

We haven’t attended the Pirate’s Dinner Adventure yet but I bet my boys would love it. They are all about pirates and sword fights right now! I think it’d be fun to spend a couple days in Buena Park and attend a different dinner show each night.

Photo: Visit Buena Park

More things to do in Southern California

Of course, I couldn’t cover all the great things to do in Southern California! Check out ideas in the free Buena Park Visitors Guide. It contains Southern California airport and transportation options and a calendar of special events in the area. It’s perfect for anyone planning their next Southern California getaway.

Cars Land Halloween Guide | Celebrate Haul-O-Ween at Disneyland

byKaren•October 24, 2017

Thank you, Disney, for hosting me at Disneyland to celebrate Cars Land Halloween fun!

I love visiting the Disneyland Resort during the holidays, especially Halloween Time. In the past, the Halloween fun was solely at Disneyland. This year Halloween Time has expanded to Disney California Adventure and more specifically Cars Land!

The residents of Radiator Springs actually celebrate Haul-O-Ween and dress up in their favorite “car-stumes.” I think Mater makes the cutest vampire. Plus you will hear a new lineup of kooky Halloween-inspired songs as background music in Cars Land. Haul-O-Ween coincides with Halloween Time at Disneyland from September 15th through Halloween.

We celebrated the upcoming release of Cars 3 on Digital (10/24) and Blu-ray (11/7) by visiting Cars Land a few weeks ago. Check out all the fun Cars Land Haul-O-Ween fun we experienced below and I’ll even share some fun Cars Land Halloween ideas you can use at home, perfect for a Cars 3 Movie night!

Cars Land Haul-O-Ween Attractions

Both Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters are themed for Halloween with fun decor and music to accompany the special Haul-O-Ween experiences. Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree becomes Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree with new song parodies of Monster Mash (Monster Truck Smash) and Purple People Eater (Purple Fender Bender). Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters becomes Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, also with new Haul-O-Ween inspired music and decor.

Cars Land Haul-O-Ween Costumes

Don’t miss your favorite residents of Radiator Springs dressed up for Halloween “car-stumes!” Lightning makes a fantastic superhero. New resident Cruz Ramirez is a pirate. Red the Fire Truck is a silly clown and DJ is a punk rocker.

And don’t forget Mater is dressed up as a vampire! If you get lucky you can meet one of the residents of Radiator Springs all dressed up for Halloween at the Cozy Cone Motel!

Cars Land Halloween at Cars Land Food

A variety of Cars Land Halloween food is available during Haul-O-Ween. Car-achnid Pot Pie, Grape “Ghoul”-ant Shake and Mini Candy Cone Pie at Flo’s V8 Cafe. Vampire Mater Bread at Fillmore’s Taste-In.

Slow Burnin’ Mac & Cheese Cone and a Spoke-y Cone Macaron filled with marshmallow buttercream and candy corn at the Cozy Cone Motel. Cozy Cone Motel also serves Junkyard JamBOOree Mix which is flavored popcorn with “nuts and bolts.”

More Cars Land Haul-O-Ween Fun

How cute is this spider-car? It’s a spooktacular fun photo opp for anyone that is brave enough. Disneyland super fans might recognize that the Haul-O-Ween designers repurposed a “Toadmobile” from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride to create the spider car!

Don’t miss all the Haul-O-Ween fun throughout radiator springs including Sarge’s Pump–kin Patch, Witchy Miss Lizzie’s shop, Scary the Scare-car and Fillmore’s Yard Art. Stop by the lobby at the Cozy Cone Motel to see the miniature model of the Cozy Cone motel made out of season candy. Keep your eyes out of car-achnids, there are 30 of them lurking around Radiator Screams! Ramone’s House of Body Art celebrates the Day of the dead with ‘ofrenda’ to celebrate the life of the town’s good friend, Doc Hudson and a sugar skull decorated car out front.

Don’t miss the rest of the new things at Disneyland this fall, including the fact that you can now check out Haul-O-Ween at Cars Land before Mickey’s Halloween Party because tickets include admission to both parks 3 hours prior to the start of the party!

While at Disneyland we were lucky enough to have a VIP guide that escorted us around the park, so we didn’t need to use the new Disney MaxPass on this visit. However, I can’t wait to check it out on my next visit to the parks with my family. It allows you to make FASTPASS reservations from an app on your phone so there is no more running around the park between rides and you get unlimited Photopass downloads for that day!

Save on Disneyland Tickets & Packages

The perfect way to celebrate the In-Home release of Cars 3 on Digital and BluRay is with your own Cars Land Haul-O-Ween party! Who doesn’t love a themed movie watching party to kick the fun up a notch! Check out all these Cars Land Halloween party ideas, I bet you will find a couple to help you host an amazing Haul-O-Ween party at home!

Cars Land Halloween Party Ideas

Cars 3 is now available on Digital and will be available on Blu-ray 11/7. I had a blast seeing the movie at the Cars 3 Premiere at Disneyland earlier this summer and am so excited to watch it again at home with my friends and family.

Disneyland Halloween Treats: Cars Land Haul-O-Ween Cookies

byKaren•October 18, 2017

Last week I spent an evening at Disneyland to experience Halloween Time during the Thor: Ragnarok press trip. When I found out we would be taking some time to enjoy the Disneyland Resort on our trip, I was beyond excited. Disneyland is my favorite place to hang out in and write about, especially during the holidays!

Cars Land Inspired Cookies

This year Disney California Adventure joined the fun with Cars Land getting a very immersive “Haul-O-Ween” celebration. Radiator Springs is completely decked out with festive decorations. Naturally, some scary treats are also available during Haul-O-Ween like Spoke-y cone macarons at the Cozy Cone Motel. Those cookies (picture below) inspired me to me to make my own version of Cozy Cone spooky cookies.

HALLOWEEN-THEMED EATS AND TREATS at the Disneyland Resort

Aren’t they adorable? They are perfect for a Cars themed Halloween party. Check out how easy the Cars Land inspired Halloween cookies are to make below.

Cozy Cone Spooky Cookies Ingredients

Yellow Cake Mix
3/4 C butter
1 large egg
2 TB Milk
orange food dye
buttercream frosting
candy corn
black frosting/gel icing

Cake mix cookies are fairly easy to make. Simply combine the cake mix, melted butter, egg, and milk. Don’t forget to add the orange dye. Then chill the dough for a few hours before rolling it out.

I didn’t have a cone-shaped cookie cutter but I made my football pennant cookie cutter work. A simple Christmas tree cookie cutter would work even better since all you really need is a triangle.

I used a knife to cut at the bottom of the cookie off, making it into a basic triangle shape before I transferred the cookies to a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes and cool completely. The cookies sort of puff up and round out, so it’s a very forgiving cookie shape.

Decorate Cars Land Haul-O-Ween Cookies

There was a little inconsistency between my cones, but I managed to pair most of them up by size and shape. Then I slathered one cookie with buttercream frosting and added candy corn around the edges.

Top it with it’s matching cookie and then decorate the top with black icing. I think chilled black gel would have been easier to use. Mine was at room temperature and it was a hot mess. So I used black icing from a tube that worked ok.

I think the faces are supposed to be scary car grilles? I’m not sure. This is a picture of the real Cozy Cone Motel decorated for Haul-O-Ween so you can see the inspiration for the original cookies.

These are ridiculously sweet cookies, so there’s no need to make too many of them.

Who’s ready to make their Cars Land Haul-O-Ween Cookies?

9 Places for Water Fun at Universal Orlando

byKaren•September 24, 2017

After spending only one day exploring both Universal parks on our first visit, my boys were ready and to dedicate a full day to all the water fun at Universal Orlando on our next trip. We planned on hitting everything water related we could find. Check out these 9 places for water fun at Universal Orlando and a few tips on how to make it a better experience.

Tips for Water Fun at Universal Orlando

Wear swim trunks and a swim shirt into the park, along with crocs or flip-flops.
Pack a change of clothes in a plastic bag for when you are done.
I recommend bringing one towel to share or you can also splurge on a walk-in dryer. It costs $5 and several people can fit inside at one time.

At the end of the water adventures, they utilized one of the huge dryers and then swapped out their wet clothes for dry ones. The wet clothes went into the plastic bag before we packed them into our backpack. This allowed them to comfortably ride water rides and play in the splash zones for several hours. Then they were dry and comfortable for the rest of our day in the parks without the having to go back to the hotel.

Universal Orlando Water Rides

Where do you have water fun at Universal Orlando? There are several water rides that will cool you off and likely get you soaked.

1. Jurassic Park River Adventure

A little dino action and a lot of splash action in this fun boat ride. Be aware there is a 42″ minimum ride height requirement.

2. Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls

This fun flume log ride is a sure fire way to get wet at Universal Orlando. Be aware there is a 44″ minimum ride height requirement.

3. Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges

Rapids and waterfalls are likely to soak you while riding this round raft ride. You might get lucky if you only ride it once but my boys rode it several times in a row and came off soaked! Be aware there is a 42″ minimum ride height requirement.

4. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

This fun aerial carousel-style is located at Seuss Landing at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Fountains squirt the flying fish as they go around in a circle. Guide your fish up and down as you go around to avoid getting wet. Or do the exact opposite of the directions and get soaked. That is naturally my boys game plan every time. 🙂 There is no height requirement for this ride.

Additional Universal Orlando Water Fun

Beyond the obvious water rides at Universal Orlando, there are a few other ways to have water fun in the parks.

5. If I Ran A Zoo

Little ones will love this Seuss inspired play area complete with a few ways to get wet. It’s definitely geared towards younger kids but my 7 & 9-year-old have fun getting wet just about anywhere.

6. Camp Jurassic

Your kids will get soaked in the water gun area of this interactive playground. My kids had to be dragged away from Camp Jurassic.

7. Jurrasic Park Splash Zone

The Jurassic Park River Adventure ride makes a serious splash at the end and my boys loved waiting for each boat to splash down at the end. My youngest didn’t want to ride the Jurassic Park River Adventure but loved running away the splash zone.

8. Diagon Alley – Umbrella Wand Spell

Don’t miss the Umbrella interactive wand spell in Diagon Alley. Perform the spell correctly with a wand and you will make it rain!

Universal Orlando Resorts

9. Resort Pools

One of the benefits of staying on-site at Universal Orlando is their super cool pools. We stayed at the Sapphire Falls and loved their gorgeous pool area. Unfortunately, we had only scheduled a few hours there on the last day. The Sapphire Falls pool features a sandy beach entry and fun water slide. My boys would have happily splashed away a full day at the pool if we had more time.

All the Universal Orlando resorts have fun pools, splash areas and the Cabana Bay Beach Resort has a lazy river too.

Bonus Way To Get Wet at Universal Orlando

Buy tickets in the poncho section at the Blue Man Group for a chance to get wet. It may not be water though, it could be paint or something else. ???? Their show gets pretty messy for the first few rows. Check out our tips for taking kids to see the Blue Man Group!!

Save on Universal Orlando Tickets & Packages

I am proud to partner with Get Away Today and share their deals on Universal Orlando tickets and Orlando vacation packages. My family has booked Disney vacations through Get Away Today since I was a kid, so I know it’s a well-established travel agency. They pride themselves on saving families money and helping plan your perfect vacation. Book online or call Get Away Today at 1-855-GET-AWAY and mention. Mention my promo code DCHICA to get the best prices and you can even save $10 on any 2-night or longer Southern California vacation package.

We were given media tickets to Universal Orlando.

Everything Simpsons at Universal Orlando

byKaren•August 18, 2017

We spent two days at Universal Orlando in April, courtesy of complimentary media tickets. It was only our second visit to Universal Orlando and the boys loved every minute it of it. One area we explored much more on this trip was Springfield: Home of the Simpsons. The boys had recently started watching the Simpsons show making this visit to Springfield much more relevant and fun for them. Today, I am sharing everything Simpsons at Universal Studios with you, that way you can plan your own visit to Homer and Bart’s hometown.

Things to do in Springfield

There are quite a few fun things to do in Springfield at Universal Studios Orlando. More than I remembered from our Universal Studios Hollywood visit a few years ago. If you are a big Simpsons fan, plan on spending a couple hours to explore and experience everything in Springfield. Both rides in Springfield participate in Universal Studios Express Pass, you can save yourself some time if you utilize this pass.

The Simpsons Ride

The Simpsons Ride is a motion simulator that lets guests ride with the Simpson family on a roller coaster in Krustyland. The ride includes funny parodies of attractions at other theme parks and a giant Maggie. It’s a fun ride for anyone that loves the Simpsons.

Kang & Kodos’ Twirl n’ Hurl

This outdoor attraction is spinning ride themed around spaceships and the notorious aliens, Kang and Kodos from the Tree House of Horror specials. It’s like Dumbo at Disneyland except you fly a spaceship instead of an elephant.

Simpsons Carnival Games

Near the entrance to The Simpsons Ride are several different carnival games and guess what the prizes are?? I bet you didn’t guess Simpsons Souvenirs. 😉 We played a few and Elliot won a Krusty the Clown stuffed animal.

Simpsons Character Encounter

Meet the Simpsons and other residents of Springfield at the Simpsons Character Zone. Times and characters vary. We only saw the Simpsons themselves, but other Springfield residents like Krusty and Sideshow Bob are also a possibility. Homer noticed himself on Quinn’s shirt and was pretty impressed. It’s always fun to wear fun themed shirts when visiting theme parks.

Springfield Photo Opps

Springfield is very well themed with lots of fun photo opportunities. Take your time to explore the area and snap a few fun pictures!

Food and Drink in Springfield

There are no full-service restaurants in Springfield but a variety of quick service dining options that will definitely work for most families short on time.

Moe’s Tavern

Step inside Moe’s for a cold Duff beer or other fun drink. Don’t forget to get a picture of Barney Gumble!

Fast Food Boulevard

Fast Food Boulevard is a food court with a variety of food & drink options: Krusty Burgers, Lisa’s Teahouse of Horror, The Frying Dutchman, Luigi’s Pizza, Flaming Moe’s and Cletus’ Chicken Shack. It was a great place for us to have a quick meal because we didn’t have to debate the type of food we wanted. Everyone ate what they wanted, they offered anything from pizza and Krusty Burgers to fish and chicken. The dining room had plenty of indoor seating which is a great respite from the hot Florida sun.

Lard Lad Donuts

Just outside of Fast Food Boulevard is Lard Lad Donuts featuring a variety of sweet treats. Don’t pass on the giant pink donut. It’s the best deal in the park. Three of us snacked on it several times throughout the day. It was so yummy. Have I mentioned my love of pink donuts with sprinkles before? 😉

If you head to Universal Studios Hollywood, stop by their Lard Lad Donuts to pick up a variety of different giant donuts, not just the pink one. It’s one way Universal Studios Hollywood is better than Orlando!

Duff Brewery

Duff Brewery is an outdoor beer garden featuring snacks and drinks, like Duff Beer. DOH!

Bumble Bee Man’s Taco Truck

We didn’t try anything here but apparently, food trucks are all the rage in Springfield too. 😉

Simpsons Souvenirs

You may find random Simpson’s Souvenirs through Universal Studios but the best place to look is at Kwik-E-Mart in Springfield. Don’t forget you can also win some Simpsons themed prizes at the carnival games.

Kwik-E-Mart

Kwiki-E-Mart does sell some Duff energy drinks and giant pink Lard Lad donuts but the bulk of its products are fun Simpsons themed souvenirs. We ended up with a giant stuffed pink donut and giant stuffed can of Duff beer. Totally appropriate souvenirs for two kids, right? At least they were stuffed toys. 😉

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All The Superhero Fun during Summer of Heroes at Disneyland

byKaren•June 20, 2017

I spent last weekend at Disneyland for the Cars 3 world premiere. The main purpose of the press trip was covering Cars 3 but we also had a lot of time in Disneyland and at California Adventure. We spent all day Sunday exploring the superhero fun at Summer of Heroes. Here are 7 things not to miss during Summer of Heroes at Disneyland.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

The new Guardians of the Galaxy ride is pretty epic. Yes, I loved Tower of Terror but Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is amazing and more intense. Anyone who loves Marvel and loved the adrenaline rush you felt during the drops on Tower of Terror will think the new rides is 10 times better. Watch for an upcoming post where I’ll share more about Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! including tips and lots of pictures!

Star Lord did a little dance with me as he left the Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off at Disneyland! The dance off is super fun and afterwards you can get a picture with Groot!

A post shared by Karen ???? Desert Chica (@karenheffren) on Jun 20, 2017 at 7:16am PDT

2. Guardians of the Galaxy Dance Party

Beyond being a crew of misfits that save the galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy is known for its awesome music. Fittingly, there is a Guardians of the Galaxy Dance Party scheduled several times of day outside the ride. Dance with Star Lord and Gamora before lining up to take a picture with Groot!

3. Heroic Encounter

Don’t miss the chance to meet Captain America and Spiderman in Hollywood Land. The lines queue up before the scheduled meet and greet time, so be ready to wait a bit. Also on the day we went, Captain America was there for the first half of the session and Spiderman took over for the 2nd half. Check with a cast member about the specific arrival time if meeting one is more important than the other for you. I was super happy that we met with Captain America, he stayed in character the entire time as a uber polite superhero.

4. Free Superhero Face Painting

Free superhero face painting was a fun freebie we ran into while exploring Summer of Heroes. It’s located right across from the Captain America Meet & Greet. The line can get long given the price 😉 but it’s worth it if you or your kiddo is really into superheroes and are on a budget!

5. Superhero Food

There is plenty of fun superhero themed food during Summer of Heroes including entrees like tacos and falafel but we went straight for the donuts. We opted to try the Spider Bite Donuts and a Friendly Neighborhood Macron. They were delicious and apparently, everyone knows it because we waited at least 30 minutes in the line at Schmoozies for our superhero treats. Be aware the special Summer of Hero offerings do sell which is what happened to us when we tried to buy the super cute Groot bread! Plan on indulging early if it’s a must on your to do list!

6. Superhero Merchandise

All the big retail locations in both parks seemed to carry at least some superhero merchandise. Naturally, there was a lot of Guardians merchandise in The Collector’s Warehouse as you exited the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! ride. You’ll also find some additional superhero gear there as well.

Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

7. Avengers Training Initiative

The Avengers Training Initiative functions similar to the Jedi Training Academy. Your little uber-superhero fan can sign up in the morning – I suggest as soon as you arrive because it fills up fast. They will learn some specific superhero moves from Hawkeye and Black Widow before testing them in a showdown between good and evil during the show!

More exciting happenings at Disneyland this summer!

Cruz Ramirez in Cars Land

Cruz Ramirez hot off her appearance in Cars 3, will be joining Lightning McQueen and Mater in Cars Land for the summer!

Disney Junior Dance Party

The all-new “Disney Junior Dance Party” includes live appearances by your favorite characters from Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First and The Lion Guard.

Disney MaxPass

I was really hoping that Disney MaxPass would be available during our trip, it’s rumored to roll out sometime this summer. I did get to experience the awesomeness of Toy Story Midway Mania with a FASTPASS though. I am so happy they added Toy Story Mania to the FASTPASS system!

Return of classic Disneyland attractions

Tom Sawyer’s Island just opened back up for visitors. Plus the Disneyland Railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat and Sailing Ship Columbia and Fantasmic will all be returning later this summer.

Cars 3 Red Carpet World Premiere

byKaren•June 13, 2017

Thank you, Disney and Pixar for hosting me during the Cars 3 Event.

I just returned home from another whirlwind Disney press trip. This trip included the world premiere of Cars 3 and was my 2nd red carpet experience. It was a little different than the Jungle Book red carpet because instead of being held on the street in front of a big Hollywood theater, it was held at the Anaheim Convention Center. The red carpet was actually in the hallways of the complex, it sounds a little strange but there was a very good reason for it. The after party was held in Cars Land across the street at Disneyland!! It was pretty awesome and the perfect location for the Cars 3 party!

There was plenty of opportunities to take a fun picture as we walked down the red carpet.

The red carpet was full of fun Cars 3 sort of clowns? I’m not sure exactly what they were but super fun performers entertaining the guests as we walked down the red carpet.

I even had a chance to channel Miss Fritter in a super cool balloon costume.

Of course, there were lots of celebrities in attendance.

Nathan Fillion (Disney/Pixar)

Cristela Alonzo (Disney/Pixar)

It’s hard to capture everything that was happening in just a few pictures, so check out this quick video for a snippet of the Cars 3 red carpet action and after party in Cars Land.

A post shared by Karen ???? Desert Chica (@karenheffren) on Jun 12, 2017 at 9:50pm PDT

After watching Cars 3, everyone headed over across the street to the magical afterparty in Cars Land.

The setting was perfect and there was a live band that kept the energy of the party up all night.

There was also a variety of party food set up but the dining locations in Carsland were open as well. I decided a chili con queso cone from the Cozy Cone Motel was the festive dinner option!

The rides were open, so we took advantage and rode Radiator Springs Racers twice in between people watching, dancing and munching on snacks!

We also had access to the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT! ride. Dude, it’s amazing! I rode it once more on Sunday and will be sharing more about the new ride and Summer of Heroes next week!

The Cars 3 afterparty ended with a special viewing of World of Color. It was the perfect way to finish a fun crazy event. I loved my Jungle Book red carpet experience but it’s hard to top an after party at Disneyland.

Cars 3 races into theaters on June 16th.

Follow Cars on Facebook and Twitter for the latest Cars 3 fun.

Disneybounding Ideas for Kids

byKaren•May 22, 2017

I had so much fun planning some disneybounding outfits for my boys. As big as we are on costumes around here, they’ve never worn a costume into a Disney park except to Mickey’s Halloween Party. Maybe it’s because you’re more likely to see little girls wearing Princess dresses in the parks. An easy alternative to wearing a costume is disneybound instead. Disneybounding is when you dress up like your favorite Disney characters using normal clothes. I came up with a few ideas for our recent trip to Walt Disney World, check out these fun Disneybounding ideas for kids.

The best part about Disneybounding is getting creative wearing regular clothes. Start by brainstorming characters you’d like to be and then go through clothes you already own. What can you easily make work with your existing wardrobe? Then pick up an extra piece of clothing or fun accessory to finish off the look. I splurged on a green fedora for the Goofy look. My youngest son loves wearing hats so it made sense. Goofy ended up autographing his hat during a character encounter. It’s Elliot’s favorite hat now!

Goofy

Orange T-Shirt, Blue Shorts, Lime Green Hat

Pluto

Yellow T-Shirt, Neutral Shorts, Pluto Hat

Elliot’s Beast look is part Disneybounding part DIY Disney shirt. Layering a blue jacket with a white shirt would work but it’s too hot for that, we might as well go full-on Beast costume if we went that route. I compromised by creating a Beast inspired tuxedo shirt and paired it with black shorts. It turned out adorable. I’ll be sharing details on how I created the shirt soon, so you can make one for your own Beast.

Beast

Blue Tuxedo Inspired T-Shirt, Black Shorts

Disneybounding made our character encounters and photos extra fun. I think next time mom and dad need to get in on the action too!

Looking for disneybounding ideas for little girls? Check out these adorable outfits from See Vaness Craft!

Save on Disney Tickets & Packages

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Book online or call Get Away Today at 1-855-GET-AWAY. Mention my promo code DCHICA to get the best prices and you can even save $10 on any 2-night or longer Southern California vacation package. If your trip is a little further out you can use their layaway program and save towards your next Disney trip all year long.

10 Things to do at LEGOLAND on a Crowded Day

byKaren•May 21, 2017

I tend to be an offseason girl when it comes to theme parks. I just prefer the lower crowds even if it means some rides are being refurbished and the parks hours are shorter. That being said, sometimes visiting a theme park on a busy day can’t be helped. We traveled to San Diego over winter break last year and as a result, spent time at LEGOLAND on a crowded day.

10 Things to do at LEGOLAND on a Crowded Day

I wouldn’t even consider visiting Disneyland during the same time period because of crowds but for some reason, I thought LEGOLAND would be fine. LOL, the joke was on me. Even though I wasn’t prepared for a busy day, we survived and managed to have plenty of fun. There are plenty of things to do at LEGOLAND on a crowded day that doesn’t include waiting in line for rides!

Things to do at LEGOLAND: Watch a 4D Movie

The LEGO Show Place 4D theater is a great way to cool down in the summer (or warm up in the winter) and rest your feet while enjoying a fun LEGO 4D movie. Currently, the theater features The LEGO Movie 4D A New Adventure and LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS: The Book of Creativity. Show times can vary each day so heck the entertainment guide or official LEGOLAND California app for show times.

Things to do at LEGOLAND: Build with LEGO bricks

The Build-A-Boat activity in Miniland USA is one of my boys’ favorite things to do at LEGOLAND. Kids are given a boat base and then they can create the fastest, biggest or silliest boat they want. Then they race them against other kid’s boats. I think the boys would stay here all day if I let them. Along the same lines is the Build-A-Car activity in the Imagination Zone. Kids can race their creation again other vehicles down ramps. The great thing about this location is there is a DUPLO building area next door, perfect if you have both toddlers and older kids in your group. There are several other LEGO build opportunities in the park as well.

Things to do at LEGOLAND: XBOX Game Space

This was the first trip we let the boys spend time in the XBOX Game area. Mostly because we don’t visit theme parks to play video games but also because we have most of the LEGO video games already. Given the crowds though, it was the perfect time to let them bounce from game to game, playing or watching someone else while the adults put their feet up for a little while.

Things to do at LEGOLAND: Catch a Live Show

Currently, you can catch a LEGO Friends show in the LEGO Friends Heartlake City part of the park. My boys aren’t super interested in it but that doesn’t mean your kids won’t be.

Things to do at LEGOLAND: Character Meet & Greets

There are regularly scheduled character meet & greets in the park including LEGO Friends, Kai from Ninjago, Emmet, and Wyldstyle from the LEGO Movie and Lance from the Nexo Knights. If you visit during the holidays or on other special event weekends like Star Wars Days, additional characters will likely be available. I’d love to do a LEGO Star Wars meet and greet!

Things to do at LEGOLAND: Take Fun Pictures

Beyond the character meet & greets, there are plenty of other fun photo opportunities. Spend some time taking fun pictures.

Things to do at LEGOLAND: Get Wet

When we visit LEGOLAND during the summer, we always bring a towel and swim trunks for the boys. They love playing in the Soak-n-Sail water area back in Pirate Shores. It’s a large-scale playground with water slides and plenty of opportunities for your kids to get wet. Note the name “Soak”-n-Sail. If you plan on letting your kiddos get wet, be prepared or you will regret not bring a change of clothes. They recently added a set of changing rooms next door, alleviating the need to find the nearest bathroom to change. There is also a small toddler water area nearby for little ones in your group.

Things to do at LEGOLAND: Visit Miniland

Checking out Miniland USA is also a fun way to spend time at LEGOLAND on a crowded day. There are plenty of models to check out, and even if you’ve been a dozen times you will notice new details each time. Plus they do add new features periodically. The boys love checking out cities they have never seen before in real life. And let’s not forget my favorite part of Miniland, the STAR WARS section. 🙂

Things to do at LEGOLAND: LEGO Minifigure Trading

Definitely, plan on bringing an extra Minifigure or two from home to trade with LEGOLAND employees. It’s like a treasure hunt, trading a Minifigure you aren’t thrilled with for a new one that you love. Check out my tips on how to trade Minifigures at LEGOLAND.

Things to do at LEGOLAND: Playgrounds

There are several play areas around the park including one dedicated for little kids, DUPLO Playtown located in Fun Town. The Hideaways is full of tunnels, nets, ropes, slides and ladders and located in Castle Hill. Pharaoh’s Revenge is a fun play area in Land of Adventure that lets you blast soft foam balls at other kids or adults, whoever dares to enter! My boys love the play areas and would spend all day there, happily skipping rides if lines are too long. Don’t miss a few smaller play features in LEGO Ninjago World, it’s a brand new section of the park that opened last summer.

If you can’t skip the rides and want to splurge a bit, check out the Reserve-N-Ride option through LEGOLAND. For an additional fee, you can reserve your spot in line while you are enjoying the rest of the park (see my 10 ideas above on what you can do). 😉 We’ve never tried it but it looks cool. If you have tried it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!

Save On LEGOLAND California Tickets & Packages

They also sell Southern California City Pass tickets which are perfect if you planning on visiting several Southern California attractions like the Disneyland Resort, LEGOLAND California, and SeaWorld San Diego.