Over the weekend our family was treated to a magical stay at Disney’s Grand California Hotel. Thanks to Disneyland and their entire cast for hosting the Parent Blogger event that made our trip possible. And after three fun-filled days at the Disneyland parks, we’ve come to the conclusion that there’s nothing more magical than spending the holidays at Disneyland.
As a child, I rarely appreciated the magic behind Disneyland and the details put into everything Disneyland creates. But as an adult and parent, I’m constantly in awe over how much conscious thought is placed into creating a true fantasy experience for visitors. They make it easy to lose yourself in the magic and just enjoy.
And over the holidays, Disneyland becomes even more magical. From the moment we entered the park, we were greeted with the festive spirit of the season. We ran into Pluto on the way in.
Hanging with Pluto
Usually our family’s first stop is the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, but this time we headed straight to our new favorite, Big Thunder Mountain. My husband and I seem to be raising a family of thrill-seekers, as even my four-year-old prefers the fast, exhilarating rides over the calmer, “baby” rides. Even still, we rode on the It’s a Small World Ride twice, which was beautifully outfitted with holiday decor.
Later that day, the girls and I were invited to take part in the new Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee, a limited running show featuring more than three dozen performers adorned in Mardi Gras costumes and singing catchy songs from the Mark Twain Riverboat. What fun that was!
Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen & the girls
That evening, guests of the Parent Blogger Event connected for a holiday reception where the children enjoyed fun activities, had their faces painted and hung out with Princess Tiana, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy.
Girls showing off their facepainting
Our family started our park adventure at 8 am, so by the end of the reception we were exhausted. But we couldn’t miss the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks show that started around 9:25 pm.
Waiting for fireworks show - tired.
As we waited for the show to begin, there was the usual over-tired whining followed by surges of unexpected energy from the kids. But it was all worth the wait. The fireworks show was incredible. Yet further proof that Disney knows exactly how to create a magical experience, thinking of every detail, including the spray of “snow” that covered the crowd as the fireworks show ended.
On Monday, as we drove away from Disneyland the kids began counting all the rides and attractions we didn’t get a chance to see/do. When the whining began, I quickly reminded them, “That’s actually good news. It gives us a reason to come back.” They all settled in their seats, grateful for the possibility of a return visit.
Note: Disneyland provided accommodations and park tickets for everyone in our family.
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