A Dozen (more) Disneyland Tips From a Mom of 5

 

We took our 5 children to Disneyland last fall,
and here are a few things we learned.

You can also check out my trip planning tips HERE.


1. Have your tickets ready the night before. If you are picking them up, go to the ticket counter the night before and avoid the long line in the morning. There was no wait, and the cast member spent extra time explaining things to us. She even gave each kid a fun button for their first visit!

2. Get to the park early. There will be a line an hour before the park even opens. This blew my mind, even on a slow day people are lined up at the crack of dawn. It will take longer than you think to get out the door, so plan to get up early and get moving.

3. After you get into the park put all the tickets in an envelope or ziploc and have one responsible person keep them. This will really help when it is time to run around and get fast passes and ensures that they won't get lost.

4. We used the TouringPlans and hit three of our must-see rides in less than an hour when we got to the park. We followed the plan and had seen all the rides on the list by early afternoon. It gave us the rest of the day to move at a slower pace and re-visit favorites or throw in rides that weren't on the plan. You can get the plans on their website our their book The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland.

5. Take a stroller. We kept our lunches, snacks, blanket to lay out to save space for parade, water bottles, jackets, diaper bag, and any souvenirs we bought in their and it was a life-saver. Even our 7 year old got tired feet and wanted a turn to ride. We love the sit-and-stand for the storage space and bench seat for older kids. We put a brightly colored water bottle in the cup-holder to make it easy to spot in the crowd of strollers. You can park it and visit rides in the surrounding area, no one touched our stuff.

6. The park really clears out after the Fantasmic show. I didn't think my kids would be able to handle a late night, but we stayed until the park closed at midnight and they were all smiles. There were no-lines for many of our favorite rides, and the park has a completely different feel at night.

7. The water tastes funny. Take bottled water if you are particular about the taste. The kids seemed fine filling up their bottles in the drinking fountain or our condo's faucet, but this mama had a hard time with it.

8. Buy your own shirts, hats, and souvenirs before you go to save money. I found deals on Disney shirts at Target, Walmart, and Old Navy. I found a cute hat for my little princess on eBay. I paid $5-10 for my items compared to the $20-30 in the park. We gave each kid a $25 Disney card for their entire visit. Since they were on a budget they put thought into their purchases and weren't asking us for items throughout the visit. I bought Disney party favor items liked Mickey shaped ring pops and character Pez dispensers that the kids loved. Buy glow sticks at the dollar store, you will save the $15 they charge at the park and helps to keep an eye on kids at night. We also bought these glow sticks that came in handy and the boys were convinced they were light sabers, bonus!

9. Wear your most comfortable walking shoes. Most of your pictures will be from the waist up anyhow, you have to go function over fashion for this one. I mentioned in my earlier planning post that you will walk miles. I think the average is 7 miles per day at the park. You can take moleskin along in case of blisters, but we never needed it. I wore these columbia shoes and they were supportive and breathed well.

10. Buy the PhotoPass+ before you go! I should have put this into my planning post, because you really should order it ahead of time (I think 2 weeks in advance) to get the best price. For $70 you will get a card on a lanyard that you will give to any photographer you see, as well as all of the ride photo counters, and all of these pictures will be put onto your account. When you get home you enter a code and have access to download them all. Hundreds of pictures by professional photographers, totally worth it. If you split up, just have the other party get the number of their photo and you can go back with the lanyard and have it put on. You just have to go by the end of the day. If they see other photographer have them get a Photopass card and you can go to the photo shop on Main Street to have them all merged onto your lanyard card. Take a picture of the back of your lanyard card, if you lose it you lose all pictures, but if you have photo of the number they can get them all back for you!

11. A quick tip for the famously busy Cars Land ride at California Adventure. Go straight to that ride when you enter the park. Everyone goes straight to the fast pass line (you can send someone there too if you want to ride it again later) and the line to the actual ride is short. So, send one parent to the fast pass line, and one to go ride with the kids if you can. It is a fun ride, but my 7 year old doesn't love the feeling of dropping and there are a few good hills where your tummy does a flip. It goes pretty fast at parts and can feel a bit like a roller-coaster ride to a little one. Oh, and if you want a good picture of your kid, have them sit in the back. Otherwise, the windshield will cover their face and you'll miss a shot of their expression.

12. Although you will be running to and from rides like crazy, don't forget to savor each moment. Really look at your kids expressions, watch them take it all in. That is why you came, right? It is about creating family memories, so make sure you take moments along the way to really enjoy it.

I will continue to post more Disneyland tips, there is SO much to cover. We haven't even touched on the yummy food! Mmm...I can smell the churros now.

If you have useful Disney tips for parents, please share in the comments below!

Just by Jaime Review & Giveaway!

My hair is in a ponytail almost every day, at least by the end of the day. Little Lu asks for a pony every morning. I know there are many other fun styles out there (my Pinterest board is full of them) but you can dress up a ponytail with a few fun accessories!

These cute hair ties and headbands are from a great Etsy shop called Just By Jaime.

I was so excited to do a review for a fellow Colorado mama! Just By Jaime is owned by a mom in Boulder, Colorado. She not only creates cute hair accessories, but does some really pretty nature photography as well.

She sent us some of her Colorful Handmade Elastic Hair Ties to try, two matching headbands to go with them, and a gorgeous ivory flower clip. They come packaged in cute organza bags, perfect for gift giving!

I love the Espresso set that Jaime sent me, it adds a little style without standing out too much.

 

Little Lu was thrilled with her matching purple set. She has such curly hair and the headband helps keep the fly-a ways under control, and adds some cute color too. People are always tell her that they want her hair and she gets very defensive, "well you can't have it!" She is worried they will actually try to take it from her. We are learning to say "thank you" and understand that no one will actually try to take it. She has asked to wear this headband for the past week. It is not too tight on her head like many others we have tried, and does a great job keeping the hair out of her pretty blue eyes.

They come in over 60 colors! She does custom orders to match your wedding colors, school uniforms, sports teams...you name it! The possibilities are really fun, since you can layer them you can really create a fun look. They come in either knotted or bowed styles. You can get your orders in by the end of the month to match any Easter outfit!

Jaime also sent us this beautiful ivory flower clip. It went perfect with Little Lu's headband. It is so soft and the crystal jewel in the center adds the perfect touch. The clip kept her headband in place all day and was super comfortable.

She just added more really cute flower styles to her shop! You can check them out here.

Jaime also offers online parties where you can earn free items as a host!  The host of the party sends a message to family and friends who may be interested in purchasing items. The party lasts 2-3 weeks. When the party guests purchase from Just by Jaime, the host gets a percentage of the purchases in free items from the shop. How easy is that?! You don't even have to clean house!

These are great for adults and kids! The headbands are adjustable and fit any size.

Just by Jaime also offers some really neat prints of her nature photography. Her photographs capture the beauty of our state, Colorful Colorado. This art would look great any room of the home or office.

Giveaway time!
Just By Jaime has generously offered a $20 gift certificate to her Etsy shop for a custom order to one lucky reader. Please enter with the rafflecopter below. US only.
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Wandering's #Giveaway Link-Up 3/19

Time to share your giveaways!

Please share your family-friendly giveaways with the linky below.

Coupons for Pony Toys and DVDs!

 I have a little girl turning four in a few weeks, she happens to love ponies! 

I ran across these great coupons and had to share!

   

 

We love the LeapFrog movies too. 

The Letter Factory is one of our favorites, 

it is a great resource for teaching phonics!

This Peppa Pig DVD looks cute too!

  

Trip Planning: Choosing a Hotel

I love trip planning.
I should really look into a travel agent job, because I almost enjoy the planning part better than the actual trip.
Okay, I guess I wouldn't go that far. It is just so fun to see all of the options, compare deals, find new attractions to visit.
I am currently planning three trips for our family. I am in heaven!

Once I know the dates of a trip I get online and start with where we will stay. I love Tripadvisor.com to compare hotels and read reviews. I like to scroll through the travelers photo section to get a real view of what it looks like. Make sure you check the dates of the photos, some of them where taken a decade ago and the hotel has probably undergone renovations. You can also read reviews by category such as families, couples, or business travelers. Check out the "room tip" option too, this will tell you things like where the best views are or where the quietest rooms are located.

What I look for in a hotel:
> Affordable. Always check for any parking or resort fees since those can really add to your total. They won't be revealed in the rate shown on most hotel booking sites, you have to read the fine print.
> Room for a large family
> Free breakfast
> Pool
> Fridge in room. Not a deal-breaker, but nice for milk and snacks for kids.
> Reviews of clean rooms. NO bed bugs!
> Close proximity to attractions that we want to visit, or at least an easy route to and from.


If I am planning a trip for just me and the hubby I will often check the "secret hotel" rates on Priceline and Hotwire. Priceline only guarantees a room for two adults with these rates, though sometimes it does give you a "select your bed" option. Hotwire lets you tell how many travelers you have, up to 4, and could be more accomidating if you need more than one bed. They will tell you the area (sometimes a pretty big range) where the hotel is located, as well as the rating and a few amenities it offers. 
The trick here is that you don't really know what you are going to get. You can do your best to figure it out, sites like betterbidding.com can help with that, but ultimately it is a gamble.
It has worked okay for me in the past, so I say if you area really looking for a steal it is worth a try. Remember to read the fine print, since some places will tack on a "resort fee" to you rate, making it not such a great deal. Priceline also has the "name your price" option, but I have not tried this myself. There are many sites that can explain it better than me, but basically you pick your area and rating then tell how much you are willing to pay. They will either accept and you will be booked right then (no refunds) or rejected and you can add more areas, lower ratings, or bid a higher price to try again.

When we travel all together as a family I need to know that there will be room for everyone. I have found a great resource to find rooms that will sleep 6-8 people in a website names sixsuitcasetravel.com. If you are looking for options for big family or group it will let you know your options in each city.

We have had great luck with Embassy Suites, they offer a full breakfast buffet including made to order omelets and pancakes. The bedroom, with two queens, is separated from the living area by a door. This helps when we have younger kids that need to go to bed before anyone else. The sofa turns into a sleeper, so the older kids usually share it.

In smaller towns we have had good experiences with Best Western Plus hotels. I have been surprised more than once by the rooms and breakfast.

One of the best ways to find a decent hotel is to ask your friends and family. That way you are getting an honest review by someone you trust.

I have recently been introduced to the Hyatt line of hotels. I have always thought that they were in the luxury price range, so never really looked into booking one. We have an upcoming trip to Denver where we are trying out the Hyatt House and I am really looking forward to it. A friend, who travels there more often that me, suggested it and I can't believe never knew about it as an option before. It offers a two bedroom suite, one with two queens and one with a king, and a living area with kitchenette. Yes, that is three rooms! I was surprised by how affordable it was, especially compared to the other option of getting two connecting (if you're lucky) rooms at other hotels. Hyatt House also offers a full breakfast. An evening reception is offered during the business week with snacks and drinks. The Hyatt Place hotels have an option with two queens and sofa bed, and I have heard the breakfast is great. Perhaps one day I will even find myself at one of Hyatt's exotic resorts! Dream big, right?!


The great thing about picking one brand of hotel for your stays is that you can earn rewards. Most chains offer some type of rewards program, so booking your stays with them can earn you a free night. Of course you could stay at an amazing location in one city and find it to a different story in another city. At least you have an idea of what to expect and are getting rewarded for your loyalty.

 Do you have a recommendation for your favorite family friendly hotel or resources for finding one?



 

Rica Jewels Review & Giveaway!

I love handmade jewelry. I have bought many great pieces in arts and craft fairs throughout the years. I found a way to bring the art fairs to my own home, Etsy!

I found a unique jewelry shop named Rica Jewels. It is filled with rings, pendants, beads, and earrings of various styles.

She sent me a beautiful, handmade coral pendant with sterling silver to review. It is a large piece, 2 inches in length from bail to the end.

The stone is a natural coral gemstone and each piece has unique color and pattern. The setting was a little rough around one corner, but nothing that would snag on fabric or be uncomfortable. It is clearly a handmade piece, and I like the hammered design on the silver sides and back.

The jump ring and bail are good quality and sturdy, I would not have any concern of them falling apart.

The pictures on the site show a pretty chain with the pendant, but it is only the pendant you are purchasing. This could be made more clear on the listing. Rica Jewel items are mailed in a pretty organza bag, and are shipped ready to be given as gifts.

One of my favorite things about Rica Jewels is that when you making a purchase you are shopping for a cause. A portion of their sales support a Child Fund sponsored child named Luz. Her picture comes on a business card with your purchase, and she will melt your heart!

I love many of the other designs in the Rica Jewels Etsy shop.

These Drusy Earrings are such a beautiful color.

I also like the design of these Larmiar Earrings.

And this Sterling Silver Cross Pendant has ruby and cubic zirconia gemstones.

These spinner rings are really cool, the inside ring rotates.

Daniela shared the story behind Rica Jewels with me.
Rica Jewels' story starts with a Brazilian girl who was born and raised on a fashion factory and saw her father as a hero. She was always creating and playing with arts at an early age. She obtained her bachelor’s on Fashion Design. After her painful divorce she went to New York City to do her master in business, work and travel the world.

She was Inspired on the worldly culture and beauty of jewelry and gemstones. Later, she moved to San Diego she was fired up and decided to follow her passion for jewelry by sharing her designs to everyone.

Since then, Rica Jewels has being a total success. Everything flows to the right direction and she could not love more what she does.

Her words ”I design with a lot of passion and hopefully, people can wear and feel my pieces and understand how life is truly a blessing. I believe every piece has a positive message on it.”

You can visit the website at www.ricajewels.com for more information and a schedule of their upcoming shows.
You can shop for some beautiful pieces at www.etsy.com/shop/RicaJewelsCalifornia and they also have beads at www.etsy.com/shop/Ricabeads 

Rica Jewels is generously offering one lucky reader a Coral Pendant! To enter use the rafflecopter below. Please do the three mandatory entries. Open to the US.

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Wandering's Win It Wednesday! #Giveaway Link-Up

I love giveaways!

I will continue to offer them to my readers, and would like to give other sites a chance to share their fabulous prizes with you! Check back each week for new giveaways and please let me know if you win!

Feel free to share any family-friendly giveaways your site is currently offering, and share this link-up!

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Mom Style Upgrade: Accessorize (AND Scarf Giveaway!)

I am starting a Mom Style Upgrade Series, not because I am a style expert, but because I am constantly trying to find a balance between fashion and function. These will not be lengthy posts, just quick tips that have really helped this busy mama claim back her style.

I think many other moms face this challenge. It is so easy to get "dressed" in your black yoga pants and t-shirt for the day, but honestly a pair of jeans and a few accessories can bring you out of frumpy mom style pretty quick!

I have occasionally been seen at the grocery store in my yoga pants, but for the most part I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. In future posts we will cover everything from boots to bras, but for today let's focus on dressing up a simple look with a few accessories.

So, you got out of your yoga pants and into well-fitting pair of jeans, right?! The hard part is over. Now, put on a t-shirt and add two things; a scarf and some earrings. Done!

I got several of these light infinity scarves on Pick Your Plum, they add a great layer to any outfit. Add some big earrings and you are officially accessorized. It gives me more confidence knowing that I have a hint of a style going on, and I don't get so many of the "you must be tired" comments.

I like the scarf as an accessory because, unlike jewelry, my two year old can't break it. Well, I am sure he could try, but it's not like a delicate strand of beads. They come in so many cute colors and patterns, and are an inexpensive addition to your wardrobe.

If you wanted to take it to the next level, you could add a cute jacket or sweater. We will be talking about the right shoes in an upcoming post as well, but for now grab some jewelry and a scarf and see what a difference it can make. Let me know how it goes!

Want to upgrade YOUR style? I am giving away a Pick Your Plum turquoise infinity scarf to one lucky reader!

This giveaway is not sponsored by Pick Your Plum, but you should check out their fun site anyway! They offer great deals every day on craft supplies, home decor, and cute items to add to any lady's style. Great prices and fun finds, sign up so you don't miss the deals that change each day.

To win a turquoise infinity scarf for your closet, enter with the Rafflecopter below!

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