Description

Kim is just back from a trip to Disneyland and this week with chat with Carissa Houston from All Day Mom, who visits Disneyland nearly every month, and get their tips for planning a trip to Disneyland.

ON THE PODCAST

00:38 - Kim's recent trip to Disneyland

02:06 - Tips for using the Disney Magical Express

05:35 - Disneyland Hotels

07:46 - Parks that Kim visited

13:33 - About Carissa Houston

15:20 - Trips to Disney

16:24 - Carissa's planning process

19:07 - Food in Disneyland compared to Disney World

21:43 - To buy packages or not

24:12 - Tips on saving money

28:44 - Staying on site vs. off

34:58 - Recommended length of stay

38:37 - Refurbishment list

40:02 - FastPass (MaxPass)

43:28 - Meal package deals

45:49 - Final Tips

50:46 - Favorite Travel Gear

53:22 - Tip of the Week

ABOUT CARISSA HOUSTON

Carissa Houston is a Disney loving, homeschooling, clean eating mom of two. She is a spontaneous traveler and a procrastinating writer; when Carissa finally sits down to write already you can find her travel tales on All Day Mom and Amazon.

TIPS FOR PLANNING A TRIP TO DISNEYLAND

• The Magical Express is a greyhound bus wrapped in a Disney design. Don't be fooled by the small white vans that hold up signs saying Disneyland Resort Express! The Express in an extra charge not included with hotel reservations or ticket purchases.
• You can often get better deals on the onsite hotels closer to your trip. Depending on the time of year you are going they will make deals for cheaper prices just to fill their rooms.
• Three days in Disneyland is a good amount of time to spend at the parks, but you can longer and also go visit other places in California.
• Tips for the pools at the Disneyland resorts. If you are staying at one of the hotels that has their pool and/or slide down for refurbishment. The hotel will give you access to the other hotel pools.
• You can find a refurbishment list of the rides to see what rides will be closed. This is especially helpful in the off-season when rides are more likely to be closed for work.
• If the park closes at 8 PM and you are in a line at say 7:57 PM. You will still be able to ride, even if the line is has a wait. They do NOT just close the gates at 8 PM!

FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR

Carissa's loves to wear her Reef flip flops and Disney Vans. They are perfectly comfortable to wear all day long. And of course she has a lot of Disney shirts!

TIP OF THE WEEK

Security lines for the bag checks have changed some in Disneyland. Instead of being by the turnstiles of the two parks, they are now outside of downtown Disney. This makes Downtown Disney a more secure area.

MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST

Ultimate Visual Guide! Disneyland Jedi Training Academy

Disneyland on a Budget $5 Challenge

Get Away Today

Costco Travel

Is it Packed!

Disneyland Travel Tips with Leslie Harvey

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