DCA- what we do

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Last week I highlighted all the rides we cannot ride when we visit Disney California Adventure as a group of one mom and three kids (ages 5.5, 3, and 5 months). Today  I’ll tell you what we do.

Ender wears 3-D glasses

Ender wears 3-D glasses

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Arora wears 3-D glasses

The kids number one favorite ride is Toy Story Midway Mania. The line is always long 30-45 minutes and they still want to do it. In the ride you wear 3-D glasses and play a series of midway games on giant screens.  This is a fun ride and I enjoy it much more then the similar Buzz ride in Disneyland.

While over here we will catch a ride on King Triton’s carrousel, which always has a super short line.

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The second favorite thing we do is catch the Disney Junior Live on Stage show. If you have kids that are at all familiar with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or other Disney junior shows (Sofia the first, Doc McStuffins or Jake and the Neverland Pirates) you have to see it. It is interactive fun in a cool dim room. It is a great break from the heat without a break in the fun. I recommended sitting in the front middle because there will be surprises falling from the ceiling that are pure magic.  Make sure to check the times guide given out at the gate because this show only runs in the morning. This is also a great time to get in a quick nursing session.

After this show the kids next favorite thing is Turtle Talk with Crush. This show is a chance to talk with, to ask questions to and learn to “talk turtle” with Crush from Finding Nemo. This show run all day, about every 20 minutes. Again a great indoor cool calming place to relax while still enjoying the Disney magic. Outside of the theater (but still indoors) are huge screens that play bits of favorite Disney movies. This is a great place to sit and have a picnic lunch, or nursing session. There are so many other things to do in this area. Make sure to check out Beast Library!

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One more thing we like but haven’t explored as much as we could is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. This is across from the Grizzly rapid ride. This is basically  a large play ground with climbing walls, rickety bridges, giant logs to climb through etc. Kids can also earn badges but my kids just wanted to run around.

Other things we sometimes do:

Monsters Inc and Ariel rides. I like them but the kids think they are too scary.

We could ride the Micky’s fun wheel (Farris wheel) but that this is way too scary for me!

There are two rides in A Bug’s Land we could ride but skip because they are simply boring. Flik’s Flyers and the Chew Chew train. Both are 30 second long and unimpressive.

Also in A Bug’s Land there is a spray park, that we always skip because I don’t want to deal with 1. ) wet kids or 2.) hauling in a change of clothes. If we were going to be there all day on a hot day we might try it, depends on what you are going for, I guess.

There is a Pixar parade that we want to see but the time hasn’t worked for us yet. I’m sure it will be a favorite when we do.

Over all there is not as much for us to do compared to Disneyland. But the things we do the kids love so much I think it is worth a trip about once every three Disney days.

One adult +3 kids at Disney California Adventure

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Visiting A theme park with three kids( age 5.5, 3, and 5 months) and one adult can seem daunting, if not impossible. When ever we do it I get so many comments of “your here alone?” or “brave mama” even “you must be crazy!” While it is a task to concur I feel it has been worthwhile. The first few trips were harder but now we have a list of rides and attractions we visit and can enjoy a day at DCA.

Rides we cannot ride because of a height requirement:

Luigi’s flying tires: 32″

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree: 32″

Tuck and Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies: 36″

Silly swings: 40″

Jumpin’ Jellyfish: 40″

Soarin’ over California: 40″

Tower of Terror: 40″

Radiator Springs Racers: 40″

Goofy’s sky school: 42″

Grizzly River Run: 42″

California screaming: 48″

You should note that these are all the rides in cars land.Also you should note we can not ride on :

Golden Zephyr: all riders must sit on the bench without help.

Francis’ Ladybug Boogie: all riders must sit on the seat without help.

Tuck and Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies: Only two people fit in a car and kids under 7 must ride with an adult. So if you have 2 kids under 7 with one adult you cannot do this ride.

That is a long list of rides! You might think there is nothing left to do. If we were only were only visiting for a day with one adult and three kids I might skip the park altogether. BUT since we are local (and have an annual passport) we still have a short list of attractions that the kids LOVE  and so it makes it worth while.

I will tell you about those next week.

Disney California Adventure

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Let’s talk about Disney California Adventure park. It is located right across the entry way from Disneyland. The two parks share parking lot areas and most people will purchase park hopper tickets, meaning you an visit both parks on a the same day. Since we are local we have learned many things about DCA that have made our trips easier, and more fun. I can’t wait to pass them on to you here over the next week.

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Make moon sand

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We made up a batch of moon sand this week. This is so simple and the kids loved it.
Take 4 cups of flour and mix it with 1/2 cup oil. Mix well. Play!
This is absolutely an outside activity. I thought it would mostly stay on the cookie sheet, I was WRONG. It was everywhere. But it swept up easily enough.
The kids really enjoyed driving cats through it and making animal tracks too.

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Make your own ice chalk

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Today found a recipe for homemade ice cube chalk. Since we were going to be home and the weather is a perfect 75 we decided to give it a try.

This was so simple. Mix one cup of water with one cup of corn starch. Pour into an ice cube tray. Then add a tiny drop of food color to each well. Stir then freeze.

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As it melts it is quite messy. Arora really enjoyed mixing the little pools of color.

Happy little roller

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Avalon surprised  us all a few week ago when she learned to roll just before turning three months. Now she rolls from back to tummy like a pro.

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She also uses her feet to scoot around in circles a bit. This mean no more leaving her on the couch for a minute.

Disneyland: take 3

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Hi all you Disney Fans, Here is my third installment of tips on doing Disney with three little ones often with just one adult.

Want to know the ride we simply can’t miss? The one my two year old talks non stop about? One all four of us can ride? That almost always has a short line?

Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters. It is a bit boring for me because I have to get to sit in the middle (with the baby in the Ergo) with no blaster.  Want to know my kids scores? Ender generally gets about 1200 points and Arora can get around 5000. When I actually get a blaster I get somewhere in the 50000 range. Whats your best Astro Blaster score?

Another favorite is the monorail. The kids like to sit in the very front. You simply have to ask to do so and may have to wait for the next monorail to come. There is a four body limit in the front.

 

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Next to the Monorail is the Finding Nemo submarine. We rode it once and it was scary (dark) for the kids and boring for me so we will not ride again. I thought there would be much more of the Finding Nemo story to the ride, but it was actually just a few characters spread through out.

A great way to get around the park is the Disneyland Railroad. It stops at the front of main street, New Orleans square, between Toon Town and Fantasy Land and in Tomorrow Land. You can take your stroller on but it must be folded up.

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If you visit Toon town there are only two rides. Both have restrictions. The rollercoaster has a height requirement and Roger Rabbit has the most unusual requirement I have heard of yet. First every bum must be on a seat and everyone must be awake to ride.  I don’t know how someone could be sitting on the seat and not be awake.

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If you are looking for a quite place to nurse a wee one while not putting the fun on hold I have two more suggestions: The Tiki Room in Frontier Land. Shows start often and there is rarely a line.  The other is the Cinema on Main Street. It is dim, cool, almost always empty and you can watch some great black and white Micky cartoons.

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Disneyland tips: general

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Grandpa and Grandma Mayer,ME with Avalon, Arora, Ender and David at Disneyland front entrance.

Oh boy, another post about Disneyland! We just love going there so much and have learned so many things that I want to pass on to all of you. These things may seem small but when added together they really can make your trip so much better.

Bring your own food! And more then you think you will need. The food and drinks in Disneyland is so expensive. Yet they smell so good, you will be tempted to buy just one churro or turkey leg or popcorn. You will spend a small fortune. Disney allows you to bring your own food in. I normally pack: sandwiches, apple slices, grapes, protein granola bars, nuts, string cheese, raisins and skittles. We also will freeze some juice boxes which help keep everything cold.

Walking of of the park is cheaper then eating in the park. If you don’t want to lug a days worth of food with you plan on leaving the park to eat. For example one corn dog in the park will cost you $6.19. From a food cart on downtown Disney a corn dog will cost $4.00. If you leave  from the Disneyland main entrance there is a Denny’s, IHOP and McDonald within easy walking distance.

You can get FREE water just by asking. Go to any counter service restaurant (not a cart) and ask for a free ice water. There are also water fountain and sinks set up around the park to refill your water bottles.

Remember you cannot take your stroller in line. You will park it in a huge mass of strollers. If your stroller looks like every other one find a way to label it. Sometimes Strollers need to be moved, such as when cast members are setting up for a parade. They will move your stroller to do so. If you cant find your stroller ask where it may have been moved to.

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On your first visit go to City Hall located just inside the park on main street USA. They will give you a free button. My kids are still wearing theirs, great free souvenir! They also give buttons for birthdays or a general celebrating button.

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Bring a glow stick. Disney sells tons of glowing toys, hats etc. Stop buy a dollar store and buy some glow sticks, kids like them just as much and you will save a few dollars at least.