Ireland

     At this time of year, many of us bloggers sit down and reminisce about the past year of travels. From the heights of warm vacations and great times in New York City to the lows of illnesses while abroad and missed flights, this has been a busy year for me and the kids. Instead of recapping the year, I wanted to do a special blog dedicated to one of my favourite trips I have taken with the kids, the land of saints and scholars, Ireland.

Powerscourt, Ireland

      We arrived in Ireland and spent the first few days in Dublin staying at the Four Seasons Dublin. Located outside of the city centre, the Four Seasons is nestled in Ballsbridge, a residential neighbourhood where we were able to experience the life of locals. We spend our days eating in local restaurants and visiting parks with Irish families. Our favourite way to pass the time was to explore the lustrous Herbert Park, which is used by runners, families, dog walkers, and tourists alike. The park features a gorgeous duck pond as well as tennis courts and two different children's playgrounds. Although we did head down to Grafton Street and other famous spots, the locations closer to our hotel in Ballsbridge were our favourite by far. A great tip for any Four Seasons is to tell them you are visiting with children at or before check-in. We arrived to cookies and treats as well as two miniature sized bathrobes that the kids loved. The hotel also lent us a stroller and car seat while we were staying with them.

Charlie, loving the kids perks at the Four Seasons

Feeding the ducks and swans at Herbert Park

     Once our time was up in Dublin, we packed up and drove to Powerscourt, Ireland in Wicklow County. Arriving on the grounds of the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, I felt we were transported to an Ireland of years past and witnessing tea time I also felt I had been given a walk-on role in Downton Abbey. I recently was broken hearted to find out that this hotel has since been re branded as a Marriott. I am not sure what of the hotel has stayed the same or been changed but I do know that the famous Gordon Ramsey restaurant has shut down. One of my favourite attributes of the Ritz was the incredible staff and babysitters as well as the wild horses that roamed free on the property and I can't be sure that any of these remain. That being said the hotel is located on gorgeous grounds right next to the well-known Powerscourt Golf Club and the stunning Powerscourt Gardens and due to location alone, it is still worth visiting.

Making friends with the horses at the Ritz-Carlton

Exploring the art work on the grounds of the Ritz-Carlton

Exploring the woods surrounding the hotel

     Although I could go on and on about County Wicklow, our next stop was quite incredible too. I packed the kids and and drove to Cork, Ireland. The drive should have taken around 3 hours but we couldn't help but stop to visit amazing sea-side villages along the way. Once we arrived in Cork, we headed to the Fota Wildlife Park. I had spent quite a bit of time researching Ireland and I knew this would be a great day out with the kids. The Fota park is an incredible place where many of the animals roam free on the grounds. The park is filled with primates, birds, bisons and giraffes. We spent an entire day roaming the grounds and had an incredible time being so close to such incredible animals. Admission to the park is a reasonable 14.30 Euros for adults and 9.20 Euros for kids.

Checking out the Giraffes at Fota Wildlife Park

Charlie couldn't resist a frog ride

     After a few days exploring Cork, I knew we needed to do something incredibly touristy and well-known so I decided it was time to head to Blarney Castle. Most famous for the Blarney Stone, which visitors line-up to kiss in order to be granted the gift of eloquence or the gift of gab, Blarney Castle is an incredible site. Heading there with young children is an experience on its own. Firstly, I must warn you that the castle is plastered with warnings that the young and the elderly should not enter the castle but if you are like me, you will walk right past those signs and then literally spend the rest of the time praying your children won't fall out of the castle. Essentially, the stairs are tiny and complicated to manoeuvre and you must hold on to your children at all times since there are actual holes in the castle floor. Other tourists helped the kids get around and it was definitely worth it to visit the castle but be prepared for how difficult it is for young kids to explore. Mine loved the dungeons and looking out from the castle but I mostly remember praying that we would soon be firmly and safely on the ground. I did engage in tradition and lean over the edge with two burly Irishmen holding on to me tightly but must admit I was far too short to even reach the Blarney Stone which in all honesty I didn't even see. The good news is I already seem to be overly blessed with the gift of gab.

Exploring Blarney Castle 

Happy to find the dungeon entrance 

Charlie heads up the staircase at Blarney Castle 

The roof of Blarney Castle

      After the excitement of Blarney Castle, we began the drive back to Dublin and on our way found a wonderful spot, The Farm located in Grenagh, County Cork. We found the Farm by literally driving by it and couldn't believe our luck. The farm is a mix of education centre, play centre and an actually farm. The kids loved meeting donkeys, exploring how cows are milked and raised and playing on the slides and playgrounds. The Farm also has an indoor restaurant/cafeteria where we enjoyed the best potato soup in all of Ireland.

Charlie breaking the slide rule. 

Donkey kisses at the Farm

      The end of the year is always a time of reminiscing and I'm so glad I had the chance to write this blog post about Ireland. Its a time I will always remember for the people, the places and frankly the world's friendliest donkeys and horses.

      On to 2014 and a world of adventure!

Vacation Planning...or Dreaming

     It's around this time every year, when the dark comes upon us so much earlier, that I start to endlessly search the internet looking for incredible vacation destinations to take the kids too. This winter we have a vacation planned for me and the two kids to return to the Beaches Turks and Caicos and I cannot wait to once again walk upon the warm sand and play in the pools and water park with the kids.

Me and the kids enjoying a day in the sun at Beaches 

     Although we already have our vacation planned, I have researched other vacations that may be fun to attempt alone with my two tiny travel companions. Here's a few in no particular order that may get you thinking about a warm destination trip yourself.

Beaches Family Resorts

     I have previously reviewed the Beaches chain extensively and won't repeat too much but you can find the original Beaches blog post here. The trip we booked for January 2014 was 65% off in the new Kew West hotel and cost approximately $5000 with flights including all food and alcohol as well as daytime child care and scuba diving. Although the sale is still on, most of the resort is sold out in January and the cost for remaining rooms has risen quite a bit. I will say that the time we have spent at Beaches is some of the best vacation time we have had and we are extremely excited to see the new hotel and water park expansion.

Some of our friends that we are excited to see again at Beaches 

Disney's Aulani Hawaii

     I know I have said in the past that we won't be returning to Disneyland or Disney World anytime soon and I stick by that decision as I feel there is so much more of the world to explore. The question is--does that preclude us from visiting some of Disney's vacation properties like Disney's Aulani Hawaii? One incredible consideration about this property is that much like the Beaches resorts, it has day camps for children as well as in-room childcare which would make travelling solo quite a bit easier. My largest concern about this resort, besides the approximate 10 hour flight, is that much like Beaches the resort looks so incredible that it might be hard to actually see much of Hawaii. The resort has an 8,200 square foot pool, a 2,100 square foot water park with 3 slides and play areas, as well as two tubing rivers on site. It also offers an adult only pool for when you need a getaway from what I would assume are a lot of children. The resort also has an additional pool that serves as a local reef to many fish that can be accessed for the entirety of your stay at an extra cost of $20 per adult and $15 per child. This would be an incredible way to teach your kids to snorkel and get them excited about the ocean.

     Sounds to good to be true? Well for most of us it probably is. The nightly rate on a basic room in January 2014 ranges from $370-$400 a night and only includes breakfast for two adults at one designated restaurant. That means that you are still covering two meals a day and all snacks and beverages for the whole family as well as breakfast for your children. All in all a trip for three in January from Toronto will cost you $6,687.60 including flights but without meals or drinks. A sample menu online shows entrees ranging between $35-50 for adults with the kids meal dinner costing $13 a child.

    The resort also offers a number of expeditions and resort add-ons that frankly may be hard to pass up. Bring your Visa.

Disney Bahama Cruise

     If I was truly being honest, I would only take my kids on a Disney Cruise to Alaska but for comparative pricing I wanted to include Disney's Bahamian Cruise. Currently, Disney is offering Canadian residents 20% off prevailing rates on most 3 or 4 night Bahamian cruises departing from Port Canaveral Florida from January 10, 2014 to February 28, 2014 on the Disney Magic. According to the the website, the Disney Magic has recently been renovated and includes enhanced kid's spaces, adult entertainment, luxurious staterooms, many dining options and slides and water play areas on the upper deck. For a family of 3, the cost of a 4 day cruise can be as low as $1000 including dining but not beverages. Add airfare from Toronto and the cost jumps exponentially to $4018.96.

G Adventures

     As my kids are getting older, I am truly looking forward to taking some much more adventurous vacations with them. In case you haven't heard of them, G adventures is a Canadian company that offers safaris and expeditions across the world. A simple key word search of their website using "kids" brings up an incredible list of family friendly trips. You can access the G Adventure search results by clicking here. Most of the trips listed show a minimum age of 5 or 6 and these are trips your children will remember for a long time. A nine day tour of Costa Rica for one adult and two children costs $4147.00 without flights. We aren't quite at the point of doing a 9 day adventure vacation alone just yet because of Charlie, who is 3, but I am guessing Will, who is now 5,  and I would have the time of our lives. Looking forward to getting passed the 5 year old mark with Charlie and trying some of these out. Borneo or the Galapagos anyone?

     Where are you headed with your kids this winter?

Bethel, New York

     While driving across the State of New York, I found a town that has absolutely captured my heart -- Bethel, New York.

Beautiful scenery of Bethel, New York 

     If the name Bethel sounds familiar, it is probably due to the fact that the small town was the host of Woodstock in the summer of 1969. Today, the site of Woodstock is home to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts which hosts live music and festivals. It is also home to one of the most incredible museums I have ever been in featuring the history of Woodstock through videos, documentaries and artifacts.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

     The museum covers many topics including the 1960s in general, the history of Woodstock and the planning of the festival and ticketing, as well as everything that occurred at the festival itself whether or not music related told through video interviews, audio recordings and video footage of the festival. The kids were not exactly as interested as I was in the museum but it is lively and offers enough digital experiences and booths where they could touch maps and hear stories that they stayed much longer than I expected. Truthfully,  I could have spent an entire day immersed in what is truly an incredible love letter to what most people would call the greatest festival that ever was.

The kids loved the peace signs at Bethel Woods 

Charlie driving the bus whose front windshield is a documentary about the difficulties of getting to Woodstock. 

Orange County Chopper Bike made for Bethel Woods

     My favourite part of the museum was a small enclosed case that held some of the notes and letters festival goers taped to the information booth during that fateful weekend in order to attempt to find their lost friends and travel companions. I've included a picture here of a note left on a paper plate as it struck me as what might have been one of the very first incarnations of the now well-known Craigslist's missed connection post. I for one would love to know if these two ever met again.

Original Craigslist post

     The museum and main building sit on the main site of Woodstock and once you have seen the inside, you should take the time to also tour the grounds outside. Although I have always been interested in Woodstock, I wouldn't in any call myself a fanatic but standing on the top of the hill looking over where this historic festival occurred, I must admit I had chills. Oddly, its as if you can still feel the excitement and energy in the air. There is a plaque at the base of the hill located near where the stage sat and it is fun to go see the site and this land marker.

Me, Charlie and Will checking out the original site of Woodstock

    On a final note, do not skip the gift shop. The t-shirts are epic and there are many neat souvenirs that are worth picking up. Admission to the museum is $15 for adults, $6 for children and children under 3 are free.

Couldn't resist a Woodstock t-shirt

     Once your tour of Bethel Woods is done, you will be hungry. Luckily a short drive from the museum we found one of Bethel's best treasures-- Big Kev's BBQ. I am not quite sure if the location of the BBQ changes (or if its even technically in Bethel) so check the above link before going or follow them on their Facebook page to be sure. They also travel to BBQ competitions and you may be able to catch them closer to home one day.

Big Kev's BBQ

     Big Kev's BBQ is literally a shack-on-wheels on a country road with a few port-a-potties and picnic tables. I have travelled extensively in the US and have eaten a whole lot of BBQ and this is some of the best I have had. The kids dug into the ribs and pulled pork and absolutely loved the atmosphere as bikers, construction men, and locals all poured into the parking lot to order lunch. The two men working in the shack were kind and funny and this is a definite not-to-miss lunch spot for anyone interested in some melt-in-your mouth deliciousness. Order the kids a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade and they will make it on the spot for you.

Charlie loving the ribs

     Seeing the Woodstock museum was a little more for me than Will and Charlie, I was really excited to find something I knew they would love- Upper Room Farms. Located near Bethel at 186 Airport Road in Mongaup Valley, the farm features a petting zoo, pony rides, bounce house, and horse riding in the most serene environment imaginable. They are open all summer and on weekends in the winter.

The picturesque Upper Room Farms

     We arrived at Upper Room Farms on a Friday not knowing the hours had changed and luckily the owner very kindly let us in. She gave us a few buckets of feed and we were on our way to the petting zoo.

The Petting Zoo at Upper Room Farms

     The petting zoo here is like most others but it struck me as different due to the fact that the animals are incredibly friendly and seem to be really happy. They came up to the kids whether or not the kids had food and were more than comfortable being pet. My favourite was a pig named Penelope who behaved exactly how you would expect a cartoon pig to the behave but not an actual pig. She was very dog-like in her demeanour and seemed to be waving her tail in excitement and jumping up and down a little. We loved all the animals and were glad we found the farm.

Not sure who was more excited--Will or Penelope

     On the day we visited, most of the other activities were not set up as the farm was not open but we did get to freely walk the grounds and visit with the horses and ponies. Again what struck me the most was how incredibly happy they all seemed. I've never been completely comfortable with horses but the animals at this farm made me feel at ease immediately. As we were leaving the animals hilariously grabbed our attention by mooing and bleating what seemed like a sweet goodbye teamed with a hilarious donkey noise to top it all off. On a day where the farm is open, I am positive you could spend a few hours of pure bliss there. Admission to the farm is $4 for adults and $3 for children. Pony rides are $6 and feed for the petting zoo is $2.

The animals saying a sweet goodbye.

     I do want to see what it would be like to spend a week in the summer in or near Bethel, New York. Bethel Woods runs a concert series every summer and I am watching their website with interest to see what will be happening there next summer and looking for property near the lake to rent a cottage or condo. I even think I have convinced some neighbours who are music lovers to come with me and the kids and explore this area some more.

     Hopefully my wish to return will come true and I can post more about this tiny town, that I simply fell in love with, in the summer of 2014!

The Disneyland Princesses

     When I look back on our most recent trip to California, the images I will remember most are those of Charlie and Will with the Disney Princesses. Not every princess was great and not every moment was memorable but there were some select princesses and a few incredible fairies that really took the opportunity to help a 3 year old and 5 year old believe in fairy tales. Here are the moments best described by photos.

Ariel and Will

     Ariel was surrounded by little girls and the Disney photographer kept pushing Charlie into the pictures. Ariel without prompting surprisingly turned to Will and asked if she could meet him. He was thrilled and this picture is a great memory of her recognising that he needed attention too. Thanks Ariel! Tip: Ariel is easily found at Ariel's Grotto in Disney's California Adventures as well as in Fantasy Fair at Disneyland.

Charlie and Tinker bell

     Tinkerbell was incredible with Will and Charlie. She talked to them about adventures and her fairy world and really made an impression on them both. She threw in a few hilarious princess comments for the adults in the crowd and generally was a gem in the Disneyland cast.  Tip: Tinkerbell is found in Pixie Hollow which lies at the foot of the Matterhorn Bobsleds in Disneyland. This area is not well marked and it is very deceiving as you cannot see her or anyone from the outside entrance. We stopped by a few times to say hello and found at least two fairies just waiting for visitors. 

Me, Merida and Charlie

     Merida was one of my personal favourite princesses because she welcomed every kid she saw with a believable excitement. Her area was interactive with her three bear brothers behind her getting in on the action. She really took the time to talk to Charlie about the importance of being an individual and how neat it is to be a princess who does things for herself. She knew which Disney message she was representing and she played the part very well.  She even taught Charlie to stand "tough" for the photo. Tip: Merida is found daily outside of It's a Small World in Disneyland.

Belle and Charlie

     Belle was definitely the most traditional princess we met and Charlie was blown away by her. With the other princesses Charlie would chat and laugh but she truly didn't utter a word when she met Belle. As any good princess would know how to do, Belle filled the gaps and made sure they had a memorable meeting. Tip: Belle is most likely to be found in Fantasy Fair at Disneyland or at Ariel's Grotto for the princess lunch. We visited Fantasy Fair and a Disneyland cast member ran up to us and told me that Belle would be available later that day. I think he recognised Charlie's dress and thought we would like to know. I was touched by the gesture. 

Charlie and Rapunzel

     Rapunzel won both mine and Charlie's heart by being the friendliest and most interactive princess I have ever met. She listened to Charlie's story and showed more enthusiasm than I thought any of these women could muster. She was fantastic and fun and asked a ton of questions and Charlie still talks about her incessantly. Tip: Rapunzel is found next to the Pinocchio ride at Disneyland. She also has her own show in Fantasy Fair. If your children are astute, be careful of visiting Fantasy Fair right after seeing Rapunzel or before. Will very quickly recognised that there were two Rapunzels within 30 feet of each other. 

     A big thank you to all the women pictured above for helping to add to our incredible Disneyland Adventure. Many people have asked if Charlie at 3 was still a little young to enjoy Disneyland and the reality was that although she wasn't tall enough for every ride, she was young enough to still believe in the magic the park offers. The best day Charlie had at Disneyland was when we went and met the princesses and its a day none of us will forget anytime soon.

I lost 3 pounds at Disneyland

Charlie, Mickey and Me

     Why does my 3 pound weight loss in 4 days at Disneyland matter to the average travelling parent? Basically, it shows you how much has changed at Disney. This year, I went to Disneyland hoping to find a way to fit in healthy snacks between Mickey Mouse ice cream bars and turkey legs. Instead, I found a much more health conscious Disney than I had ever seen.

     To begin, every restaurant we visited had a healthy kids menu which didn't mention fries at all. My kids love to read the menu for themselves and it never occurred to them to ask for fries instead of fruit or veggies. The restaurants also had great salads and mains for adults that were easily tailored to any dietary request you had.

    Most incredible of all was that my fear of not having healthy snacks was defeated by countless booths in all of Disneyland serving fresh fruit. The kids were excited to buy fresh strawberries and pineapple and I was glad Disney chose to provide the option to them.

     To top it all off, our hotel room was steps from a Jamba Juice so when we didn't need a big meal we got smoothies instead.

     A helpful tip is that the staff at Disneyland will fill your reusable water bottle for you if you ask.

     Kudos to you Disneyland! Its definitely a step towards a healthier vacation for all of us.

     *DISCLAIMER: I did happen to eat two corndogs and a Mickey ice cream bar in one sitting but hey I walked a lot and don't we all deserve a little treat now and then.

Legoland Hotel- Carlsbad, CA

Legoland Hotel, Carlsbad, California

    When we scoped out things to do in California, an exciting prospect was checking out the Legoland Hotel. Having been a huge fan of Legoland, Orlando, I couldn't wait to surprise the kids with a couple of nights over at one of their favourite parks.

    We arrived at the hotel very early on a Thursday morning and weren't surprised to find the main lobby buzzing with people. Somewhat surprising is how long it actually takes to check in to the hotel. Although the hotel was always busy, there was only ever one or two people at the desk and lines for check-in and to speak to the concierge were quite long. Team that with the fact that everyone who is in those lines has excited kids running around and you have complete chaos. Tip: When you finally get to the front desk, check out the mural of mini-figures. It is quite incredible.

Long line-ups were the norm to speak to the check-in desk at the hotel.

Lego Surfer whose wheels magnify all the mini-figures on the wall at the front desk.

     While we were waiting to check-in, I overheard the woman at the front desk explain to the people in front of me who were hoping for a premium suite, that in fact the suites are "a complete rip-off". Seeing I was checking into one I wasn't exactly thrilled. Essentially, the premium suites differ from regular rooms only in the fact that the adult section of the room is also decorated with themed wall paper and lego statues. Ours had a few lego jugs and vases and some lego bugs. We booked the premium suite as it was the only room left we could get but in the end would stick with the regular cheaper room if we returned. The premium rooms cost about an extra $100 a night so depending on the length of your stay, you may be paying a lot to look at Lego vases. The regular suites still have a separate kids sleeping area and honestly it would have been nice to get a break from all the decor in the hotel in the adult room.

     When we checked-in we were not told at all about food vouchers that were available from the front desk. This was in fact a grave oversight that in the end really affected our view of the hotel. We also were not told that Charlie at 3 years old ate for free at the main buffet restaurant Bricks or that the breakfast buffet was included in our hotel cost. We only found all this information out on the last morning we were at the hotel when we witnessed people paying with vouchers. Upon my own further investigation, I learnt that if you pre-pay for the buffet by buying a four pack at the front desk, the price per meal goes down from $19.95 for adults to $12.50 This is a significant difference and I feel the voucher system should have been explained to me at check-in. I spoke to a manager about this program and she reassured me that it was a mistake and that the system is explained at check-in normally. I listened to two other people checking in during my wait for the manager and noticed they also were not told.

     After I spoke to the manager, one of our meals was refunded and I was sent on my way still not having been told that our breakfast was free and included in the price of the room. On our way into the restaurant about 20 minutes later, another manager who had walked in on my original conversation found me and told me he had looked into it further and that we shouldn't have been paying for breakfast at all. He kindly refunded the breakfasts we had on our bill. I felt he really went above and beyond my expectations compared to the first manager who simply didn't care and didn't bother to look at the list in front of her to see if our breakfast was free.

     These problems aside we did have a wonderful time at the Legoland Hotel and the kids loved it. The rooms are very well detailed and quite fun. At check-in you are given a treasure hunt card to complete with your kids that will open a treasure chest in the room. Our chest had some chocolate pirate coins as well as two lego mini-figures and a magazine.

Will cracking open the treasure chest in our room.

     We booked into an adventure room as the pirate suites were all booked up. The room had great detail to it and some really fun features. I didn't think the kids would love it as much as the pirate suite but they could not have been more thrilled with our room.

The bathroom included a flip down toilet seat for toddlers and a giant scorpion.

Looks like the last guest forgot their hat.

The kids area had bunk beds, a pull out trundle bed and a television.

The adult section of the room was also themed.

     Besides the room, the hotel had some other great features. The elevators when you entered them played typical elevator music but turned into a disco dance party between floors. Next to the elevator on the main floor, there was a fun whoopee cushion in the floor that none of the kids in the hotel could get enough of. Finally, the bathrooms on the main floor were incredibly cute and Lego characters complemented you when you washed your hands.

     The Legoland hotel promises nightly entertainment including a lego building contest which is a great thing to have once the park closes. You should be prepared for the fact that the entertainment isn't exactly at a Disney level but is much more of a camp style activity where two people lead the kids in activities. I particularly enjoyed being able to sit down with a glass of wine and my feet up while the kids were entertained by other people for once.

The best part of Legoland hotel in this tired mom's opinion.

     Part of the nightly entertainment is a Lego building contest which varies by month. Yes, you read that right. Basically, if you are staying three nights in a row, the contest is always the same. Our nightly contest was to build a birthday cake. It was easy to tell which kids had been there the night before as a lot of them still had their cakes and were simply altering them a little. The contest is judged by the two hosts and the winner gets a $5 gift certificate to use a Legoland. Our host was quite funny when interviewing the kids and each child was separately interviewed about their creation. This was definitely the funniest part of the entertainment that night.

Will with his Lego birthday cake entry.

     When staying at the Legoland hotel, you are granted early admission to the park. This gives you an extra half hour in the park without other guests. In my opinion, the early admission is too short and doesn't justify the high price of staying at the hotel. We went to the early admission and found we were shuffled from line to line before even getting into the park. Once in the park the extra time you had was really only about 20 minutes and only 4 rides were open which didn't include what most people would categorise as the "big rides" or main draws to the park. 

     Here is a list of tips I came up with while at the hotel: 

1. If you want to stay at Legoland, only stay one night. There are plenty of reasonable hotels in the neighbourhood and the perks of staying near the park do not justify paying the high cost of the hotel. I paid the same amount at the Legoland hotel that I paid at Disney's Grand Californian at Disneyland. Simply put, the Grand Californian was in Disney's California Adventure, had access to Downtown Disney, had 3 incredible pools with water slides and lifeguards and had two very good restaurants. Legoland has a pool you would expect to see at any Holiday Inn and very limited things to do at the hotel once the park closes. I would recommend staying at Legoland on your final night there as the kids will really love it and staying there first to then switch to a normal hotel might qualify as cruel and unusual punishment.
2. I also would recommend skipping the early admission. It truly is more painful than it is enjoyable and instead you can enjoy a later breakfast with much less people in the buffet restaurant and then head out to the park a little later in the day to avoid the crowds. I also found that most people entering the park tended to head to the left side which featured smaller rides for kids and if you simply went the other way and explored the park backwards you will avoid most of the crowds. 
3. There is a drastic difference between Legoland on a weekday while school is in and Legoland on a weekend or summer weekday. If at all possible, I would simply pull the kids out of school on a school day to truly enjoy the experience. The lines and incredibly short and the day is much more enjoyable. 
4. Be prepared for how small the park is especially when the waterpark and seasonal rides are closed. You do not need more than one or two days to explore Legoland and will likely get most of it done in one day.
5. The Legoland hotel is quite large but for some reason the building only has two small elevators. This means that in the morning and once the park closes, the wait for an elevator can be incredibly long especially if people are checking in or out or have strollers as most do. Simply leaving for breakfast 15 minutes earlier or later than 9:00 am and taking your time getting back from the park around 6:00 pm will save you a ton of aggravation. Just know every other adult is wondering why the hotel was built this way too. 

     All in all, it is definitely worth it to spend a night at this fun and kid-centric hotel. We enjoyed our entire stay and don't regret spending the money to check it out. If there was anything I could change about the hotel, I would hire more front-end staff, better entertainment and put in a better pool. Otherwise, its a great place to stay and let your kids be kids for a few nights at a place that will be as comfortable to them as their own home. 

Me and a Lego pirate. 

Will loved the Lego figures in the hotel.

The Lego characters are in the lobby quite a bit and are very fun.

     If you do end up checking out the hotel, drop me a line here and let me know what you thought!

   

Disney's California Adventure

     From the time Cars came out on DVD and I sat through the bonus features, which featured a description of Cars Land pre-construction by the Disney Imagineers, I knew that once Carsland became a reality, I would take Cars obsessed Will there. My goal was to make it before he was six as I figured he would outgrow Lightning McQueen which he already has at five but it didn't make the trip any less incredible for any of us. Cars Land is found in Disney's California Adventure and this post will cover the park as a whole.
 

Disney's California Adventure Park

     We spent quite a bit of time at Disney's California Adventure or "DCA" as its known to many and really got to explore the sights and sounds. Due to availability, we had booked in at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and loved its proximity to DCA. Guests of the hotel have a side entrance to the park that is open for the Magic Hour in the morning which admits you in to the park an hour before the official opening. Due to our morning cravings for Jamba Juice in Downtown Disney, we never used this entrance in the mornings but found it for convenient during the day to enter and exit the park using this gate.

     Each morning the parks at Disneyland alternate with which will open early for the Magic Hour. The key to the magic hour which only admits hotel guests staying on Disney property is that there are only three hotels in Disneyland that qualify. Unlike Disney World this means that the Magic Hour has much less people at it than you would anticipate. We did find it worth it to attend this hour every morning even though it only admitted you to certain parts of the park. We found the main attractions were always open and in either park it is a huge advantage.
 

Luigi's Flying Tires with no wait and lots of room to make your tire "fly" during the Magic Hour

     One morning standing at the gates of DCA, we were asked if we would like to be the Family of the Day. This was an incredible experience and the kids were thrilled. Essentially, it involves entering the park first, signing a guest book and then counting down to the gate opening. After that you get to follow right behind Mater and Lightning McQueen as they drive down Route 66 into Cars Land. You are also given fastpasses that you can use throughout the day. I am not quite sure why were picked and in three days saw a variety of families large and small chosen for the task. My only tips to being chosen are to make sure you are in line at one of the gates and to not be afraid to show you are excited to enter the park. Charlie, on the day we were chosen, was dancing and singing and Will was practically shoving his head through the gate to get closer to Cars Land, thus we may have been chosen on pure enthusiasm.

The kids getting instruction on being the Family of the Day

       Before leaving Cars Land, make sure to try out Radiator Springs Racers which is by far the best ride in the park. Also, take the time to meet Mater and Lightning McQueen as they both have a lot of interesting things to say. We spent a lot of time in Cars Land and loved every minute of it so make sure to schedule a little time to cruise down Route 66 and not just rush from ride to ride.
 

Will chatting with Mater

     When you have had your fill of Cars Land, there is still a ton of things to do and explore in DCA. The most popular show there is the World of Colour fountain show and it is definitely worth checking out. Essentially, clips of Disney films are projected on mist above dancing coloured fountains. You can see the show from a variety of locations in front of the fountains and facing the big Ferris Wheel but you can also get reserved seating by having dinner in three of the restaurants at DCA. We chose to have dinner at Wine Country Trattoria and it was the best meal we had while at Disneyland as a whole. We also ended up with seats in the very front row for the show and were able to sit down which was vital for the kids. To get front row seating, we didn't show up early but ended up arriving almost last minute to the show. As people fold into the reserved section, they open more spots up so it ends up being very random where you get to sit.

     If you have a little princess like I do, don't fret about not having anything to do. DCA has a really incredible Little Mermaid ride that we proudly rode over twenty times. Also, check out Ariel's Grotto for dining with the princesses and a pretty decent lunch. Oddly, the served crab dip the day we went which made me wonder if poor Sebastian had finally met a chef that could catch him.
  

Charlie was blown away by Ariel and the fact we were having lunch at her "house"

Chatting with Cinderella at Ariel's Grotto

     After lunch, head over the bridge to Toy Story Mania, it is a not-to-be-missed ride that adults and kids love and we used every one of our fastpasses riding it four times in a row. Other things we loved at DCA and I would highly recommend for kids under six were the Monsters Inc. ride, the Disney Jr. puppet show and A Bug's Land. Even though the kids were a little big for a Bug's Land it is worth checking out once as there are some neat rides and a tiny splash pad that will give you some relief on a hot day.



Charlie and Will both loved the Disney Jr. show

     The final stop I would make before leaving DCA is the Wilderness Explorer trail featuring Russell and Doug from the movie Up. The trail is a fun set of activities your kids can complete to get a Wilderness Explorer Badge. It is essentially a huge park with an added element of fun in it. Both the kids loved this section and begged to stay longer. It is also very shaded and will provide a good break from the sun.


Will earning his badge at the Sequoia Smokejumpers

     Looking back on our time at Disney's California Adventures, it was an experience we won't forget. If you are heading to Disneyland or thinking about it, schedule a good amount of time for this park. Will and Charlie much preferred the rides here and characters to the traditional Disneyland rides and characters. We also loved visiting this park at night as it tended to empty out quite a bit and DJ the dancing car from Cars would roll out of nowhere and start up a dance party. A magical time was definitely had by all!

Me and Will outside of Flo's

 

Charlie said an extra special goodbye to her new friend Red