Disneyland Faves | Carly Brannon

Disneyland is an iconic California attraction, but did you know there’s all kinds of hidden gems inside that are totally amazing?! Here we’ve gathered together some of our personal faves, as well as a couple of great resources for even more tips & tricks for visiting the Happiest Place on Earth. Of course, most Disneyland visits include your littles and seeing the park through their eyes will always be the best BUT if you ever get the chance to enjoy a day kid-free, some of these are great “adult spots” to grab a snack or sit for a minute too! Recently, a cast member said “How many kids? And how many kids at heart?” That made us smile and we knew what he meant–Disneyland has some amazing experiences geared towards grown ups too! Next time you head to the parks, don’t miss these CJ faves!

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Grand Californian Hotel

For a real treat, (and an incredible view) stay overnight at the AMAZING Grand Californian Hotel. Modeled after the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite, this is such a fun getaway. From the decor to the giant fireplaces in the lobbies surrounded by wood rocking chairs, it just feels so cozy! One of the big benefits of staying in a Disney hotel as well is early entrance into the park. Hotel guests are allowed to enter one hour before the park opens to the public and the Grand Californian even has its own private entrance straight into California Adventure! Even if your trip doesn’t include an overnight stay, you can exit California Adventure onto the hotel property and sit in the lobby with a hot coffee near the fireplace and listen to the pianist play well-known Disney tunes, then head out into Downtown Disney for some afternoon shopping! This is a great way to experience a small taste of the hotel!

Mendocino Terrace

For an afternoon snack, you HAVE to try Mendocino Terrace in California Adventure. We love the Mendocino Cheese Box ($12) which comes beautifully plated and is so yummy! This is a great spot to people watch and has an amazing view of the Ferris Wheel and the California Screamin’ Rollercoaster.

Carthay Circle Theatre

Talk about an incredible, seasonal, gourmet meal! Open for both lunch and dinner, Carthay Circle Theater is modeled after the historic theatre where Snow White and the Seven Dwarves premiered and their food is out of this world! You can view the menu here. We recommend making a reservation first thing when you arrive, especially if it’s during the holidays or on a weekend!

BONUS: If you have an annual pass there are some fun benefits to take advantage of between now and October 2nd! First of all there’s AP Days! There’s a unique Annual Passholder exclusive experience in California Adventure where you can meet and greet special characters like Pocahontas, receive some fun giveaway items, and try out some new food and drink items. For all the info, visit the Disneyland website here. For FREE PARKING during this time, all you have to do is have 4+ passengers in your vehicle, 3 passengers will get you half off parking ($9) and everyone in the car will get a special “AP” pin–this never happens, so if you’re headed to the parks in the next couple weeks, make sure you’ve got your pass and a full car!

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For even more great tips & tricks for a great day at Disneyland, be sure to check out one of favorite Instagram accounts: @magic_kingdom_mamas! They also have the CUTEST minimalist Disney tees for your littles over on @mkmsupplyco. (Their website is linked here.)

If you haven’t checked out our new fall arrivals yet, you NEED to! We’ve got such great pieces to mix and match for a day at Disneyland! Layer a flannel over a t-shirt so it can double as a jacket in the morning and roll up a thin anorak that will fit in your purse or backpack and will add just enough weight to keep you warm when the sun goes down! You most likely won’t need a whole purse, but this oversized wallet will even fit your chapstick and your phone inside!

Links to all these faves are below: