My Top 5 Places to Cool off at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure

We are currently experiencing a heat wave here in California. It hit triple digit temperatures three days in a row where I live and it's going to stay in that range for at least another four days. As we are searching for places to stay cool up in Northern California, I wanted to share my five favorite places to cool down, rest my feet, and escape the crowds in Disneyland and DCA.

photo source disneyland.disney.go.com/au/disneyland/disneyland-story/

1. The Disney Gallery and the Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Disneyland, Main St. - I feel like everyone should experience attraction at least once, even if it's not hot outside.  The history behind Mr. Lincoln the audio-animatronic is almost as interesting as the man, himself.  However, if you want to skip the show and are only looking for a place to cool off, the lobby has some amazing displays to look at while enjoying the A/C.  Next door, in the Disney Gallery the walls are covered with phenomenal art pieces that I will never be able to afford, but love to look at.

photo source disneyexaminer.com/2015/11/12/this-post-is-filled-with-pictures-of-season-of-the-force-at-disneyland/entrance-star-wars-launch-bay-disneyland-season-of-the-force/

2. Launch Bay, Disneyland, Tomorrowland - If you have been to Disneyland recently and enjoy Star Wars then odds are that you have been in this building during one of your visits.  Not only can you cool off while waiting to meet Chewbacca and Darth Vader.  You can wander around a Cantina, check out props from Lucas Film and replicas made specifically for Launch Bay.  In my experience, this is a nice place to take a break from the heat and the crowds inside aren't that bad.

photo source ocregister.com/2017/07/28/disneyland-railroad-steams-back-into-action/

3. Take a Grand Circle Tour around Disneyland, the Disneyland Railroad - I have not visited the parks since the grand re-opening of the Disneyland Railroad, but I can imagine the lines to board the trains are still a little long. However, once you have found your seat on one of the steam trains and the adventure begins, it's almost as good as being in an air conditioning. Okay, that's not true, but the trains are a great way to get around the park while avoiding crowds and resting your feet.

photo source disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/04/look-for-new-film-images-in-the-art-of-animation-show-at-disney-california-adventure/

4. The Disney Animation building, DCA, Hollywood Land - This is a classic go-to for over heated Disney fans.  Not only can you learn to draw, meet Anna and Elsa, visit an enchanted library, and talk to turtles in this building, but you can be entertained just by looking up.  There are beautiful images being streamed onto screens all over the walls and while music is being played.  The lighting is a little dark and there are plenty of places to sit, either on benches or on the floor without being in the way.  This is a perfect place to cool off, enjoy some music, and charge your phone if you forgot your power bank.

photo source disneyland.disney.go.com/au/disneyland/pirates-lair-on-tom-sawyer-island/

5. Tom Sawyer's Island, Disneyland, Rivers of America -  On my most recent trip to the parks was on July 17, Disneyland's birthday. It was hot and it was crowded, so my friend had the brilliant idea to head over to Tom Sawyer's island for two reasons: 1. I still hadn't been there since the remodel, 2. to escape some of the crowd.  We explored, watched the Mark Twain steam past, and spied on the Imagineers there were still finishing the last details before the Railroad re-opened.  Then we found a nice shady spot to sit and relax.  The temperature felt cooler, the crowd was lighter, and the view was great.

These are my favorite spots to escape the sun and the crowd while visiting Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, but I'm sure there are plenty of others.  Comment down below or find me on Instagram (@madmadammeesh) and comment on a post -- tell me your favorite places to cool down while visiting Disney Parks.

New Additions Disney's California Adventure for Halloween -- Here's What I'm Most Excited For

Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

As I'm sure most of my fellow Disnerds know, Halloween is coming to DCA!!  For the first time, Halloween party ticket holders will be invited to a pre-party mix-in in both parks three hours before the party starts.  That's right, my favorite holiday is invading California Adventure once again and I am pretty excited about it.  This will be our third year attending Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland to celebrate my daughter's birthday and we can't wait to see what the Imagineers have in store for us this year.  Cars Land is one of my kid's favorites, so when I heard that Halloween was making its way over to DCA and landing mainly in Radiator Springs I was even more excited.

Here's what I'm looking forward to experiencing the most, both new and old:

• The Halloween Attraction Overlays
• Mater's Graveyard JamOOree
• Luigi's Honkin' Haul-O-ween
• Guardian's of the Galaxy: Monsters After Dark - this ride is only available after the sun sets when it transforms into a mission to help Rocket #SaveGroot who was left behind after the rest of the Guardians escaped the Collector's tower.
• The Haunted Mansion Holiday - I adore when Jack moves into one of my favorite attractions

Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

• The Spooktacular Decore
• Cars Land - Fillmore's Jack-Oil-Lanterns, Flo's Spider Car, Witchy Miss Lizzie's Shop 
• Buena Vista Street - Guests are greeted by Oogie Booie and other touches of Nightmare Before Christmas when the enter DCA.
• Rivers of America - the Marks Twain Riverboat on the fog covered water is always an awesome sight

Photo courtsey of Disney Parks Blog

• The Exciting Events
• The Frightfully Fun Parade - seeing the actual Headless Horseman ride down Main Street U.S.A. will never get old.
• Halloween Screams - 10 minutes of greatness
• Cadaver Dans - the undead crooners floating on the Rivers of America are to die for

• Extra Tidbits
• Photopass is included with every Halloween Party ticket, which means free photo downloads for every party guest. Great for all the amazing photo spots that will be available
•  Rare character sightings. Every year I am surprised to see all of the villains walking around Disneyland. SO COOL
• The music and ambiance. The Halloween party is great because the crowds are smaller, which gives the guests a chance to take in all of the magic. In a matter of hours, Disneyland transforms into something wonderful, there is always something to new to see, hear, or even smell
• The Exclusive Party items. From yummy treats to limited release items, the new merchandise is always pretty cool
• TRICK OR TREATING. Of course, the whole best part of the whole night is getting to watch my daughter run around in her costume collecting candy and enjoy herself. She loves Disneyland and Halloween, and I love enjoying both of those things with her

It's going to be a fun trip, that is for certain. Now I just have to make sure our costumes are done before it's too late, but more on that topic later. Until then, Happy [almost] Halloween!!

What I Learned From my DIY Photo Shoot at Disneyland

I don't know about you, but I love taking pictures at Disneyland.  Most of the pictures I take are of random Disney details, candids of my family, and occasionally I try to shoot on rides and during shows or parades.  However, a few months ago my daughter was about to graduate from preschool and I wanted to take some pictures of her to share with our family.  We had a trip planned to Disneyland around that time, so I decided to plan a mini photo shoot for her in the park.  Being that I am not a professional photographer -- this was mainly trial and error.

Here's what I learned:

1. Figure out how you want your pictures to "look and feel".  Jot down outfit ideas, locations in parks, time of day you want to shoot, and anything else that you want to include in your pictures, for example, Mickey ears, bubble wands, or toys.  We had a short list of locations, starting with the most important.  Doing this helped me get a realistic idea of what our day would look like.

2. Look up other pictures on Instagram and Pinterest.  I spent a few days looking at pictures that professional photographers took at Disneyland, specifically in the same areas I wanted to shoot.  Since I do not take photos for a living, I wanted to see what the pros have come up with.  Studying these photos gave me inspiration and insight on how I might want to capture my photos.

Inspired by @Ohanaphoto on Instagram

3. Practice and pre-plan.  I was taking practice pictures of my daughter prior to our trip and once we arrived.  I played with my camera settings (10-year-old Canon dslr) and made sure I knew how to achieve the look I was aiming for.  The day before we took the pictures, I walked around the areas I wanted to shoot just to make sure they would still work.

4. Use what you know.  If you have a dslr camera and you are familiar with your manual settings then ignore this one.  If you have a dslr and don't know much about using manual settings, I suggest sticking to settings you are familiar with during your shoot or learn how to use them before your trip.  Experimenting with unfamiliar settings is the best way to learn.  I used the creative setting for the most part, but I did switch to manual when I was having trouble achieving the look I desired.  Most minor issues can be fixed or, at least, lessened with some editing.

5. Get to the parks on time.  In my opinion, the best time to take photos at Disney is in the morning. The lighting isn't as harsh because the sun is still low in the sky and the park isn't as full. We took a lot of our pictures in Toon Town, for two reasons: first, it's one of my daughter's favorite areas, second, it opens after the rest of the park and it's in the back so the crowds aren't as bad. Another location we loved was the area to the right of It's a Small World, where parades enter and exit. It's out of the way, there are lots of great background options, and the facade was great because it was high enough to help block the bright sun it got higher in the sky.

6. Be prepared.  This is a no-brainer, but you should bring any equipment or helpful tidbits that you may need with you. My daughter has wild hair that will only remain tame for so long, so I brought some extra hairspray and hair ties along with my backup memory cards and camera battery. I also stuck an extra outfit in my bag, in case my daughter got uncomfortable later in the day, and I wore clothes that I was okay getting slightly dirty since I spent most of the time sitting on the ground.

7. Go with the flow.  There are no real rules to taking pictures, especially at Disneyland. Your ideal spot may not work out or our kid may see a character and not want anything to do with your fancy photos, just let it happen -- you are at Disneyland after all.  If you have the option, shoot pictures continuously, you may capture some magic or put the camera down and enjoy the moment.  In the end, I got the best pictures when she was genuinely having fun singing, dancing, and enjoying the magic.

Overall I think I captured exactly what I wanted to, which was my daughter's pure joy. Out of the hundreds of pictures I took, I had fifteen that I really loved, and I got to spend an entire morning making magical memories with my family. In addition to the pictures and memories, I was able to take my love for photography a little bit further. It was a great learning experience and I can't wait to see what images I'll be inspired to capture during our next trip!

If you have any tips or tricks for taking pictures at Disney Parks that you'd like to share? Please post them in the comment section!

Why Disneyland Truly is MY Happiest Place on Earth

I just started planning my family's annual trip to Disneyland to celebrate my daughter's fifth birthday.  I purchased our tickets Mickey's Halloween Party, costumes are picked out, and the hotel is booked -- everything is coming together quite nicely.  I'm so excited to visit my favorite place, with my favorite people, during the best time of year.  This will be my third time visiting Disneyland this year.  To some, that may seem like a lot, but to me, that is not nearly enough. That idea is very hard for some people to understand.

Yes, the lines can be long and the crowds can be draining.  The drive is boring and travel expenses can be costly, but it's all worth it to me.  The joy and magic that Disneyland gives me has always been there for me, and I hope it always will be.  In fact, my slight obsession with Disneyland is so intense that, at times, it becomes an issue in my marriage.  My husband and I had very different childhoods.  Neither was close to perfect, but what he experienced growing up was slightly more "normal" than mine. So understandably, it's hard for him to comprehend what my life was like when I was young.  When I think back to my childhood, I'm often left with feelings of hurt, anger, pain, and loneliness, but I do have a few special memories from my childhood.  Those happy thoughts have helped me get through some very dark places in my life.

I may not have had the happiest upbringing, but I did have the happiest place on earth.  I was lucky enough to visit Disneyland several times growing up and that is where a lot of those cherished memories were made.  When I felt lowest in my life, those memories kept my spark of happiness and hope alive.  Every time I visit Disneyland I get to relive those memories.  When I return to my favorite place, it's like I'm recharging my happy thoughts.  Now that I'm a mom and wife, I not only have two more reasons to smile, but I get to create brand new magical memories with my own little family -- adding to my little bank of happiness.  Those joyful moments spent skipping down Main St., singing on rides, and dancing during parades helped me then and they help me now. 

To some, Disneyland is just a theme park. It's a place to ride rides, indulge in sweets, and watch fireworks and parades, but to me, it's much more. It represents a literal place of happiness in my life which, at times, can be full of emotional obstacles.  Disneyland embodies a place of security and peace, a place where I know I can't help but feel happy.

So yes, I go to Disneyland a lot, and yes, I will continue to go as much as I can. Because to me -- Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth. 

Hello 31 -- It's nice to see you

Today, I start my thirty-first year of life.  Yes -- it is my birthday.  I have never really been interested in celebrating myself, but I feel like surviving thirty years on this planet is something I should be excited about.  Looking back to my early twenties, I remember feeling mortified when I thought about being in my thirties, but I also felt like I knew what my life would look like.

At twenty-one, I was the manager of a small kiosk and I lived in an apartment with my boyfriend.  I knew I wanted to get married, but I was in no rush to the altar.  Motherhood, on the other-hand, was nowhere on my radar.  However, when I pictured myself at thirty-one, I saw a woman with a happy home filled with animals, a husband to live life with, and an exciting career in a creative field.

Five years later -- I was twenty-six years old. My previously mentioned boyfriend had become my husband, and two months after we were married I gave birth to our daughter.  My 'promising' retail career fizzled out a year later when my store closed and the company went bankrupt.  Immediately after I was laid-off, I felt defeated, and eventually I decided to make a change in my career path. With the support of my husband, I made the decision to stay home with our daughter instead of moving on to another full-time job.  In addition to my new domestic role, I returned to school with the hopes of earning some kind of degree.

Another five years go by -- It's my thirty-first birthday.  I have been privileged to have been able to stay at home with my daughter for four years.  She just started transitional kindergarten and will turn five in soon.  After a few stumbling blocks, I am a few units away from earning an A.A. degree in Marketing and beginning to earn an A.S. in Business Administration.

This is not what I envisioned for my life at thirty-one. I don't have a career, or even a degree. I have lost friends. I have reinvented my family.  I have set boundaries and made sacrifices, but I have also been given gifts.  I have a warm wonderful home that I share with my husband and daughter (plus 2 cats and a pit bull).  Plus, I have the opportunity to make magical memories with my family every single day -- something that lacked in my life for so long.  This life may not be exactly what I envisioned, but it's exactly what I needed.

Over the last ten years, I have been forced to look at myself in a different way.  Being a mother makes me want to better in many ways, but my mental stability is most important.  And although I don't have a fun, fast-paced creative career (yet), I will get there eventually.  I am proud of where I am, of the lessons I've learned, the obstacles I've overcome, and the person I've become.

So, welcome thirty-one! I cannot wait to see what the universe has in store for me this year, and where I will be when I'm forty-one.