Theme Parks Archives - Page 7 of 8

How To Fist Bump Shirts – Limited Time!

May 4, 2016 by Danielle

Whenever our family goes on a Disney vacation, we plan matching shirts for most of the days – this makes it not only easier to spot our group, but looks neat in photos AND is super fun! The kids love the exciting things we come up with, but the absolute favorite from our trip last year was our How To Fist Bump Shirts. Even random people all over the park loved them and kept asking where they could get them. Good news – now you can order them, but for a very limited time!

I love these shirts and how adorable they are – showing How to Fist Bump in 4 easy steps!

#1: Hand Slap

#2: Reverse Hand Slap

#3: Fist Bump

#4: Explosion (aka: Bah La La La La)

The Mens and Junior shirts come in a soft fabric (Juniors is a nice fitted top) with dark grey speckles all over the shirt. They were so comfy, and breathed easily so we didn’t get all hot, sweaty and yucky in them. YAY! The kids shirts are the standard child fit type shirt, not fitted and no speckles.

We’d be in line for rides, and even the attendants would have to fist bump us – as well as a few characters! The Disney photographers also couldn’t resist getting photos of us ‘instructing’ how to do a proper fist bump. Loved it – and the kids felt extra special for the bonus attention!

We’re only accepting orders until Tuesday, May 24th – so hurry fast! Email us at danielle@busymomshelper.com with the style (mens, juniors, kids), sizes, quantity and shipping address – continental United States only. We will then email you back an invoice via Paypal for you to make payment. You do NOT have to have a Paypal account to do this. Payments must be received before printing.

Kids = $15 shipped

Juniors/Mens = $25 shipped

We are not responsible for incomplete orders (failure to pay beforehand = no shirt printed). We will ship to the address you email us – if you send it to us incorrectly, we are not responsible for items not arriving to the correct place.

Because this is a limited print, there are no refunds EXCEPT in the event the shirt has flaws (i.e. mistakes in the images, seems of shirt coming loose when it arrives to you). Once worn, there are absolutely no refunds. Please see our sizing guide below to select your correct size, as we are unable to do refunds for the wrong size (unless, of course, we send you a size different than you ordered – then we would certainly correct that).

Sizes for Fist Bump Shirts

Kids: XS-XL

XS is about a size 4, S is about a 6/8
After several washes, my kids’ shirts measure about 17 inches tall (shoulder to bottom) and 13 inches wide at waist for size XS
Size S measures about 19 inches tall and 15 inches wide after several washes

Juniors: XS-XL

My shirt is a Large, so about typical for juniors shirts – it did shrink a little, I think
After several washes, my shirt measures about 26 inches tall and about 17 inches at the waist

Mens: XS-XL

My hubbies shirt is a Large, so sizing is typical for mens shirts.
After several washes, his measures about 26 inches tall and about 22 inches wide at the waist

Cost for these fantastic Fist Bump Shirts is only:

Kids = $15 shipped

Juniors/Mens = $25 shipped

(continental U.S. only)

Email us at danielle@busymomshelper.com with the following:

Style (mens, juniors, kids)
Size
Quantity
Shipping Address

We will email you back an invoice via Paypal (you don’t have to have an account) for you to pay.

Reminder: Your order isn’t complete until we’ve received payment!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Food and Stuff

May 2, 2016 by Danielle

Can I just say that I’m really missing Harry Potter world lately? I loved being there with my family, especially since Black Widow is a HUGE Harry Potter fan! In case any of YOU are planning a visit, here’s some of our thoughts on yummy treats, great souvenir ideas and more at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Food and Stuff!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.

If you recall, we went to Universal and Harry Potter World last September with Family Forward, and told you all about our overall impressions of HP World here. I wish we’d had even more time, because there’s just SO MUCH to see! This post I’m just sharing what types of things we found that were not only delicious, but also some ideas and opinions on souvenir or gift ideas (you know, to take something back to the poor people who didn’t get to go – kinda sucks to be them, so a thoughtful gift would be nice).

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Food & Drink

#1: Chocolate Frogs

You can’t visit Harry Potter World without trying at least ONE chocolate frog! They’re a little more pricey than I hoped, so we got 2 or 3 and just shared. Black Widow still has the cards (Dumbledore and Ravenclaw) hanging in her room! It’s just a fun experience to do, since it’s such a memorable thing in the movie (as well as one direction of the Hogwarts Express at the park).

#2: Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment

This is in Diagon Alley, back in an area that’s less crowded, sort of by the bank. They have different ‘elixirs’ (aka water flavorings) to choose from in fun colors. You get the little elixir bottle (that’s a super cute souvenir, by the way) and mix it with water – we bought bottled Gilly Water – then pour in the Elixer and shake. The drink itself isn’t anything super special, but it’s a fun thing for the kids 🙂

#3: The Leaky Cauldron

What a fun atmosphere! This is in Diagon Alley, as well, and was a great place to take a rest when we got hungry. You walk in and the menu is up on the wall while you wait in line. Once you get to the counter you place your order, then they give you a numbered ‘candle stick’ to take to your table, so they can then find you to bring your food.

With 8 of us, we ordered a variety – and there was plenty on the menu to choose from! It is pretty ‘English’, but they also had typical things like mac & cheese and wedge fries, so even our kiddos loved the food. It was good quality, and fresh.

My in-laws got the Ploughman’s, which had a Scotch egg, 3 kinds of cheese, fresh bread, mini pickles, chutney, grilled tomato, green salad and a horseradish-mustard dipping sauce. Yes, it’s meant for 2 people.

They also got the Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert. It was yummy, with a scoop of ice cream on top.

We got several things: mac & cheese with potato wedges (kids meals) bangers and mash (the hot dog looking things with veggies), Chicken sandwich, and fish ‘n chips (kids meal). I couldn’t resist trying the chocolate potted cream for dessert – so good! But no, you don’t get to keep the cute pot it comes in – I asked.

#4: Butterbeer

You HAD to know this one was coming, right? Because everyone raves about the butter beer – the big debate is which one is best? I didn’t get to try the heated one (didn’t realize it was an option!) but between the regular and the frozen, I definitely preferred the regular. The frothy top was perfect, and it had just the right amount of butterscotch goodness. The frozen seemed a bit TOO sweet to me, but the others liked it fine.

#5: Three Broomsticks

So I did NOT get to eat here, but I was told by so many friends that I have full faith in their tastebuds that it’s a must-try restaurant at Harry Potter World.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Souvenirs, Gifts and Stuff

Our kids worked hard during the summer to save up for something special – although they didn’t know about this trip until the plane! Luckily we had them prepared so they could choose a few things to purchase, if they wanted.

#1: Gringotts Bank Notes

You can exchange your ‘muggle money’ for official Gringotts Bank Notes at the Money Exchange in Diagon Alley. The staff guy was super helpful, and be sure to take time to talk with the head goblin! I gave a little more detail in my first post of this place – it’s really neat to see, then you have ‘wizard money’ to spend as you wish! It comes in $10 or $20 denominations, and in a neat little ‘bank envelope’.

#2: Adopt a Magical Pet

My kids had a BLAST in the Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley, where they have plenty of ‘pets’ you can adopt! Grab a Fluffy, Crookshanks, or even unicorns, cornish pixies, spiders and more!

#3: Every Wizard Needs a Wand

No visit here would be complete without a visit to Ollivander’s Wand Shop! There’s one in Diagon Alley AND Hogsmeade, so it’s super easy to make a stop. See them choose a special someone for ‘choosing a wand’, then spend time picking out one of your own!

Now, my girl is REALLY into Harry Potter, so to her spending $50 on a wand (she got the magic kind) was well worth it. She loved doing spells around the park!

For my boys, they didn’t care enough for me to want to spend that type of money – and I knew that ahead of time and ordered them disclosure. And honestly, these ones are a bit thicker so they’re more durable!

#4: Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes

Pretty much anything here is fun – from their Exploding Bon Bons (white chocolate bon bons with pop rocks inside!) to their sticky tricks and more.

Here’s some fun things I found on Amazon ahead of time, to save some money in the parks:

More Harry Potter Fun…

Easy Disney Kids Preschool Playdate Party

March 20, 2016 by Danielle

I received free products in order to host the Disney Kids Preschool Playdate. The opinions expressed here are my own. #DisneyKids

Wow, today was a bit crazy – but full of so much fun that I bet my kiddos will sleep very well tonight 🙂 We hosted our easy Disney Kids Preschool Playdate Party, and had such a great time! My favorite thing? That it was super easy to get everything together and prepped, then clean up was just as fast. LOVE easy party plans!

When we got our Disney Kids Preschool Playdate kit, the kids wanted to host it right then and there – as you can tell from my voice in our little unboxing video, I wasn’t feeling very well so made them wait until today….

Seriously, the kids couldn’t wait to use all these fun things! I was thrilled that it came with all the supplies I needed, minus a few fillers just for fun. This morning, I quickly set everything up – using the Mickey Mouse tablecloth as a backdrop, then hanging the dangly decorations from above to add some dimension. Stick on a couple of The Lion Guard posters and we were good to go with our background!

The kids wanted to keep all of the favor bags for themselves – of course I wasn’t about to jip the guests these fun things! Not only did they get the fun drawstring backpacks, but posters, temporary tattoos, switchable Princess Sophia/Jake and the Neverland Pirates hats, and more.

Hubby whipped up some Jake’s Veggie Pirate Treasure, with our own little twist on the recipe!

The original is from Dishes Inspired by Disney, but here’s our take on it…

Ingredients

1 bunch kale, rinsed and dried
4 cups of popcorn, popped
1 1/2 cups goldfish crackers
2 cups veggie straws or chips
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tbsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Directions

Make the kale chips; preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Remove kale leaves from stem and tear into pieces. Toss kale with 1/2 tbsp. olive oil, spread onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Bake for 8-12 minutes or until crispy.
Toss all of the ingredients together in a bowl, and enjoy!

For activities, we made Disney Junior themed Paper Bag Puppets – Doc McStuffins, Princess Sophia, Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Mickey Mouse. The kids loved using puffy paint – I was just glad to have some extra cleaning supplies (such as the all® laundry stain remover that came in our pack) for the bits of paint that ended up on clothes. You can’t expect to have a fun, exciting party with preschool kids and have no messes, so just be prepared!

We went outside and played a Walt Disney Parks game: there were 4 papers, one with a photo/name of the 4 parks of Walt Disney World.

The Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Hollywood Studios

We taped them in different areas in our backyard. One person was ‘it’, would close their eyes and count to 10. The other would go stand in a ‘park’. Once the ‘it’ person reaches 10, before opening their eyes, they call out the name of one of the parks. Anyone standing by that one is ‘out’. They loved it!!!

We also played ‘Pin the Smile on Mickey’ and a Walt Disney World Bingo game. Such fun – especially at the end when they got to eat their treat pieces!

Our pack came with an awesome book called My Very Very Smelly Breath: A scratch and sniff book! It took awhile to get through the adorable book (teaches you the importance of brushing your dogs teeth) because the kids wanted to sniff each spot many times to ‘compare’, and each page has a hidden toy they could find.

We still had plenty of activities to do, but sadly our exciting time playdate had already come to an end – but it gives us plenty of fun for a round 2!

Other fabulous Disney ideas…

Six Flags Over Texas’ Justice League: Battle for Metropolis

March 14, 2016 by Danielle

It was last year when Six Flags Over Texas’ Justice League: Battle for Metropolis ride opened, but we didn’t make it over to try it out until last week. I know, I’m a slacker! I’d heard amazing things about it and was really excited – but it wasn’t at all what I thought. Six Flags Justice League Ride was even BETTER than I’d hoped, and probably a new favorite at the park!

Here’s what their media sheet said about the ride: “JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle For Metropolis is one of the most anticipated rides of the year, according to USA Today. It is a new, interactive dark ride that combines advanced, state-of-the-art technology, putting guests in the center of an epic battle between good and evil. This next generation of interactive thrills uses immersive 4D scenery and graphics, life-like animatronics, real-time gaming elements and motion-based, multi-degrees-of-freedom vehicles. JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle For Metropolis finds DC Comics’ SUPERMAN, BATMAN, WONDER WOMAN, THE FLASH and the rest of the Justice League under attack from Lex Luthor, The Joker and their henchmen. Aided by the cybernetic Super Hero known as CYBORG, guests will be recruited to join the JUSTICE LEAGUE reserve team and trained to use high-tech laser blasters in preparation for anything the Super-Villains have in store for them.”

Okay, so I was expecting sort of a Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters type ride, or maybe a bit like the Toy Story Mania ride at Disneyland. Nope! In a way, it is – but on a whole new level. The screens are 3D with awesome graphics, as you’re shooting the henchmen and droid things. You also have some 4D affects as you ride through the ride – and it feels almost like a roller coaster as you follow the villians down into the subway, going upside down and all around! You don’t REALLY do that, but it sure feels like it 🙂

There’s so many things that you’re just like ‘holy cow, cool!’ during the ride – like a fog screen where you actually can go THROUGH targets. We fit our group of 6 in one vehicle – 3 in front and 3 in back. Unlike some rides where the back is a bit blocked by the front row, that wasn’t a problem at all on this one!

I love going to Six Flags over Texas, and many of the rides are ‘favorites’ of mine – but this one is definitely near the top of that list! My kids get to go for Spring Break this week, so we’re really looking forward to them trying this ride for the first time! Our little superheros are going to be in heaven!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is now at Universal Studios Hollywood

March 13, 2016 by Danielle

Since we use to live in Utah, our vacations often took us to California for Disneyland or Universal. It was much closer than Florida – but we missed out on the awesome Harry Potter World stuff! Now that we’re in Texas, we’re pretty close to right smack in the middle…..and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is now at Universal Studios Hollywood, so California has just as much magic!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

We’ve been sharing some posts from our first trip to Harry Potter World in Orlando last September, and can’t wait to see how the California Hogsmeade compares! There will, of course, be some differences – it looks like the Dragon Challenge ride isn’t included. The castle looks AMAZING, though, and still includes the great ride Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey. My kids’ absolutely FAVORITE ride, Flight of the Hippogriff, is there so that’s a big excitement!

You can still try a delish Butterbeer, and stop by Ollivanders to pick out your own wand. Plenty of shops, such as Zonke’s Joke Shop, Honeydukes and Gladrags Wizardwear. I’m sad that The Weasley’s store isn’t there, but not surprised since that’s a Diagon Alley thing. Don’t forget to eat at the Three Broomsticks, too!

I highly recommend trying their pumpkin juice – it was so yummy and refreshing! Honeydukes also has so many tasty treats, you have no shortage of options!

The grand opening is April 7th, so head on over to Get Away Today for the best deals on your vacation – then pack your robes and have a magical time!

Check out these other Harry Potter posts…

Disneyland’s New Paint the Night Parade is My Favorite Yet!

February 28, 2016 by Danielle

When we enjoyed Disneyland last October, we insisted on seeing their new Paint the Night Parade. We’d heard so many good things about it, but to be honest – nothing I heard could do it justice! This is, by far, my favorite Disney parade yet!

Contains affiliate links that help support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure policy for more info.

We did Disneyland with EVERYONE – 19 people, to be exact, from ages a few weeks on up to my parents (who’s ages I won’t divulge for fear of my life). With such a big group, we knew we needed to prioritize to ensure that we each got to hit our absolute FAVORITE things. We each filled out our Disney Top 5 Wish Lists – the five things that were our absolute MUST do/see/eat – so everyone knew the items that would come first. For example, our last trip Hubby didn’t get to try out Radiator Springs Racers (first time we went that it was there) at all – so that was one of his have to items. One thing that was on a LOT of our lists was the Paint the Night Parade!

A few things – make sure you save your spot well in advance! We waited about an hour before, and enjoyed our Disneyland Activity Books as well as making friends with the people around us. They were even nice enough to let our kids sit up on the curb with them, so they didn’t miss a thing! As it gets closer, show your kids how the lights pop up on top of buildings….

…..then watch for this fun guy and help him yell and wave with excitement!

Grab some snacks and light-up balloons for fun – would you rather a glowing Baymax, traditional Mickey, or an awesome Deathstar balloon?

You’ll get to see a lot of your favorites during the ride – and all glowing with fantastic lights and exciting music! We couldn’t help but bob and sway along – as much as the crowds aloud for dancing, at least. There was Tinkerbell, Peter Pan and other fairy friends….

…Sully was playing DJ. Watch the doors behind him, you never know who you’ll see!

I really loved how they created these – allowing movement not only around the street, but moving their arms and heads, too!

The Toy Story crew was quite lively, with plenty of cowgirls dancing along with Jessie, then Buzz and Woody enjoying a ride on Slink.

My boys went CRAZY for Cars – especially since Mac had dozens of glowing lights on the side that were a lot of fun!

Ariel had plenty of fishy friends, including Nemo swimming along behind with twirly jellyfish.

Don’t worry, there were plenty of princesses – including Belle with a GORGEOUS color-changing, bright rose behind her. Be sure to wave to Elsa and Anna in their magical ice castle, as well!

And of course it wouldn’t be complete without Olaf!

Last come the classics, such as Goofy and Donald riding along some glowing domes. Such funny guys! Then the grand finale with Mickey 🙂

I’ve always enjoyed the Disney parades, but the Paint the Night is by far my new favorite! I can’t wait to see it again!!! Go book your next Disney (or Universal!) vacation with Get Away Today – use promo code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your package!

Other Disneyland Fun…

Disneyland’s 60th Diamond Celebration

February 10, 2016 by Danielle

Isn’t it crazy that Disneyland celebrated it’s 60th anniversary this past year? Today I’m sharing our experience with the food, the festivities and the fabulous decor from Disneyland’s 60th Diamond Celebration!

Contains affiliate links that help support this blog at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure policy for more info.

As you know, our ENTIRE family (19 of us) went to Disneyland last October for our regular reunion visit. It was AMAZING – and super fun since we didn’t just have the festive Halloween decor all around, but also the beautiful blue Diamond celebration banners, sparkles and more in celebration of their 60th anniversary.

Some photos are from our Disney Photopass, others are from my sister/bro-in-law’s visit in January.

Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary: The Decorations

Isn’t the castle EXTRA gorgeous right now?! Practically everywhere we looked there were diamond/blue accent, from the archways and lamp posts….

…to the bakeries and shops!

Disneyland’s 60th Celebration: Souvenirs and Stuff

No worries, you can still find all the amazing regular items in Disneyland’s many shops and station – but right now they have special, limited-time-only products to really help you remember this one-time party! There’s plenty of clothing, gloves, even cheering banners and plushes….

…as well as souvenir mugs! I couldn’t resist this fun castle one I found at Jolly Holiday Bakery & Cafe.

My friends at Get Away Today sent me some sparkly Diamond Celebration ears last summer, so they were PERFECT for our trip! You’ve got plenty of options for yourself, too – as well as glowing balloons.

My mom secretly bought each family a pretty ‘diamond’ Christmas tree ornament, so we can hang that every year and remember these fun times.

My sister and brother-in-law loved showing off their 60th shirts and posing for lots of lovely photos – they’re so cute, why wouldn’t they?

Disneyland’s 60th Diamond Anniversary: The Food

Guys, I was awful and took hardly ANY photos of the themed foods we got while we were there! I know, how rude of me, right? We DID get this DELICIOUS caramel apple though – I could eat these every day, if my waistline wouldn’t complain so much 😉

They also had plenty of drinks, cupcakes, suckers and more – go crazy with it! The food is half the reason to go to Disneyland anyway, right?

Head on over to Get Away Today and book your vacation before the 60th Celebration is gone! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation!

Other Disneyland posts you may enjoy…

Star Wars Half Marathon

February 3, 2016 by Nikki Cole

Star Wars is already amazing; running a Star Wars themed Half Marathon through Disneyland? EPIC!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure policy for more info.

Now I know what you’re thinking ‘there’s no way I could run a half marathon’, well good news there’s a simple 10k or even a 5k you can do as well! Disney has several fun events throughout the year and some of them are different themed runs that take place through the park. I got the great opportunity to run the Disneyland Star Wars Half Marathon this year with my husband.

So yes running is hard and no I am not a huge runner. I have had ACL replacement surgery, torn my MCL, and several other injuries to my knees so no I am not a huge runner because it is hard and it gets boring. I never thought I would run a half marathon because of my injuries and because I don’t enjoy just plain running, but these events are way exciting and it’s satisfying to be able to say I have ran three now.

I have run three half marathons now and every single one of them was hard yes but the amazing memories and the accomplishment from finishing them is amazing. This last one was my absolute favorite, not only did I get another half marathon under my belt, but I got to run with characters in Disneyland and enjoy the celebration of the new Star Wars movie.

If you ever get a chance run in a Disney race, they are so fun and with all the excitement going on you won’t realize how tired you are, you will just know how much fun you are having. Now with that said it does take some training. No you don’t have to go run every day. My training consisted of elliptical, biking, running, strength training, and stretching. Like I said earlier, I have bad knees and continuous running is not recommended at all for them. I am not giving up my races so therefore when I am not racing I need to take care of my knees, so I don’t run hardly at all in training. I train on the elliptical to train my lungs and get really good cardio. I ride a stationary bike to help stretch out my legs and get a little bit of cardio and strength in. No I do not do squats or lunges, if you have bad knees these can cause damage if repetitively done. I do however do leg curls, leg raises (backward and forward), inner outer leg lift/press, and calf raises. I also do walk to help train my feet to be able to stand for that long on concrete without bruising or blistering. So I don’t run all the time; I will run about 1 to 3 times a month but just 2 to 3 miles, not very far at all.

Some tips if you’re thinking of a Disney run:

Plan early! Look up upcoming events (where, when) and mark the registration date. You will need to sign up usually within an hour if you want something other than the half marathon, the half usually fills up within a couple days. So planning is critical otherwise it books up, so look ahead and plan.
Train! Don’t expect it to be really easy, it’s not super hard either but how great your trip is will be determined greatly by the amount of training you do before. Of course you’ll want to go to the park after so if you don’t train you will be so sore and tired you won’t get to enjoy your trip.
Find a buddy! Mine was my amazing husband who pushes me along and supports me the whole way. We talk through the whole thing and he makes the run so much easier knowing I have that help and support.
Enjoy! Take in everything that’s going on! Enjoy your run, don’t just focus on it being a race focus on having a great time and doing something amazing.

Think it will still be way too boring for you? What if I said there were storm troopers, Darth Vadors, and several other characters and decorations from the show throughout the whole race you could take pictures with? We had tons of characters from the movie cheering us on the whole way, along with bands playing music to get us pumped. There were plenty of stops with bathrooms, drinks, and snacks to help us get through it as well.

No I did not get a record time with this half, but it was way exciting and memorable. After the race I also got to spend time in the park which is always an adventure. One of my favorite parts through the race was going through this kind of tunnel and through the tunnel they played Darth Vador’s voice of him breathing and saying ‘come to the dark side’, it was way cool. Another part I really liked was being able to not only run through the park but go through behind the scenes areas. And of course I loved having hundreds of people cheering me on. Like dressing up? Perfect, pick your favorite theme and dress up! Don’t go too overboard because you still have to run. Through my race I saw Darth Vadors, storm troopers, Leia’s, and all sorts of characters from star wars. If you like running or not, but want to get in shape and have a memorable vacation, sign up for one of these runs and I promise you will not regret it, even though I was sore after, the memories from this trip are amazing and are going to stay with me forever.

Other fun from Disneyland…

Watch for the next Disney Half Marathon, and book your Disneyland vacation today! Use promo code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation package!

Disneyland Just for Kids? Think Again!

December 11, 2015 by Nikki Cole

Is Disneyland just for kids? You may have heard that all around, but think again!

Be sure to check out Get Away Today for great prices on you trip! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Is Disneyland just a vacation spot to take kids? My husband and I had the great opportunity of visiting Disneyland and California Adventures in October and we think it was the best vacation we have taken in the four years of being married. So think again if you think Disneyland is just for kids.

We absolutely loved this vacation because there was so much we could do but also nothing we had to do. The rides we went on, the treats, shows, characters all of it was exciting and fun and brought us closer as a couple while we enjoyed each other’s company through the parks.

What can you do there that is so amazing?

Rides (uh duh!)
Hidden Mickeys
Pressed Pennies
Food
Characters
Parades
World of color
Fireworks
Mad hatter’s Tea Party

Some rides may not be as enjoyable if you are prone to motion sickness like the Californian Screamin’.It is a very fast paced and intense roller coaster with many drops and a big loop-de-loop that gives you and upside down view of Paradise Pier. If you like more mellow rides try Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, Snow White, or Pirates of the Caribbean. One of my personal favorites is Toy Story’s Midway Mania which is a 3-D style arcade shooter game breaking plates and popping balloons. My husband and I have competitions on Midway Mania to see who will win and the winner either picks the next ride or the loser has to buy treats. Yes I ended up losing quite a few of the games but it was worth the fun we had together. If you’re looking for some tips or pointers to make your trip more enjoyable try getting fast passes for rides with long lines, download mouse waits or the Disneyland app to check wait times and hit the ones with shorter wait times. No fast pass and you really want to go on it? Find some games on your phone to play together or get a hidden mickey book.

Hidden Mickeys are all over both of the parks! In several stores there is a book you can get that goes through all of the hidden Mickey’s throughout the parks. Some are difficult to spot and some are so easy you’ll wonder why you didn’t see it before. This is great while you’re waiting in line. Check the book and get ready to see the Mickey’s in the lines and on the rides. The book isn’t very expensive and we found that it was less expensive in the park rather than online at Amazon or Ebay.

Another fun activity to do is trying to collect the parks souvenir pressed pennies. I included the paper that my husband and I followed showed us where they were all located. While we looked for the machines, we went into shops and locations that we never knew existed. At several of the shops there were souvenir books to keep all your pressed coins nice and neat. It was about $9 and again don’t buy it online were we found them for $30! So don’t waste your money and just wait until you get to the park.

Food! Ok who doesn’t love food? Well for those of you that aren’t rich (like us) here are some tips on not breaking the bank on food. First, bring a bag with a water bottle that you can keep filling at water fountains throughout the day. Second, don’t be afraid of leaving the park to get food. Just outside of Disneyland in a very short walking distance there are several restaurants that will fill you up and not empty your wallet. We ate at Denny’s multiple times during our stay. We loved how we could sit down, relax in a cool place on a hot day and order some really great food and not stress about the bill. The service we got there was great and we ended up eating just two main meals and little snacks in between rides that we took into the park ourselves.

Now that I said leave the park for food, there are a few things that are worth the little extra money because the memories you and your partner will get from them are priceless. Turkey legs! Yes I am serious, a huge turkey leg. Now these are a little expensive so we shared one together, trust me they’re massive and one can easily feed two people. So grab one, get a bench and attempt to eat somewhat politely a turkey leg. My husband and I were a mess after but it was so fun eating it, oh and don’t use a fork, have some fun just eating it without utensils.

Churros are another great treat you should get at least once. We stayed late in the parks several of the nights we were there, a Churro made a perfect late night snack. Another fun treat to get right before the night time shows are ice cream sundaes. There are several ice cream stores that offer a variety of Disney themed novelties. My favorite was a Mickey Mouse shaped sundae that we got at one of the several carts throughout the parks.

Character dining is a great way to meet Disney’s beloved characters instead of waiting in often long lines to meet your favorite characters. This provides great entertainment and great food for all meals of the day. Both Story tellers Café and Goofy’s Kitchen offer a buffet and a meet-n-greet where the characters walk around and come say hi.

The nightly entertainment with parades, shows, firework are often crowed but are they worth it? Absolutely! I love my husband so much and us being there and watching incredible shows was magical. The Paint the night parade followed by the Disneyland Forever fireworks was my absolute favorite thing we did. By far the best parade and fireworks we have ever seen. The fireworks were breathtaking over the incredible castle and made for a perfect night to spend with my best friend.

World of Color is also another very cool show that had images projected on water, with fire, music, and lots color. The light up Mickey Mouse ears actually sync with the show to give it a little more added color. The Mad T Party was another show that involved a live band, dancers, and performers the played a variety of well-known songs.

Disneyland is one of my favorite places to go and all the memories and amazing times we had was magical and will live with us forever. So grab your partner and head to Disneyland because it’s not just for kids it is for anyone and everyone of all ages.

Head over to Get Away Today and reserve your magical vacation for just $125! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your package!

Universal Studios Florida Printable Height Requirements

October 1, 2015 by Danielle

I’ve heard of a lot of people that have trips coming up – it’s getting into the slower seasons at major theme parks, so it’s the perfect time to go! Whether you’re planning a visit to Universal next week or next year, get your kiddos prepared with these Universal Studios Florida Printable Height Requirements!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.

Before we went on our first-ever visit to Universal last month, I made sure to look up the height requirements. Knowing ahead of time what each of them could and couldn’t ride saved a lot of fits and meltdowns! I still suggest using your own judgement – even if a child IS tall enough to ride, doesn’t mean it’s best for them. For example, Black Widow would’ve been ‘fine’ going on Revenge of the Mummy, but she would’ve been terrified!

You can download and print either a full-page 8.5×11 height requirement sheets – one for Universal Studios park and one for Islands of Adventure park – or a sheet with BOTH parks lists fit onto the 8.5×11 page.

Download Universal Studios Park 8.5×11 Here

Download Islands of Adventure Park 8.5×11 Here

Download BOTH Parks on one 8.5×11 Here

Several of the larger rides, such as Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, have ‘test’ seats outside the ride so you can see if it will fit safely and comfortably. If you’re not sure, try them out! I personally LOVED Escape from Gringotts – the kids’ favorite was Flight of the Hippogriff over in Islands of Adventure. We went on that coaster more than any other ride!

So get your plans all set for your next vacation to Universal Studios, print off these height requirements, and have a fabulous time! Book through Get Away Today for the best deals – and use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your package!

Heading to Disneyland instead of Universal Florida? We’ve got Height Requirements for there, too!

The Crazy Good of Family Forward

September 18, 2015 by Danielle

Our family attended the 2015 Family Forward Conference, and as such we received several discounted and sponsored experiences, meals and other perks provided by the sponsors of the event. This is simply a recap of my experience that I want to share with y’all. #FamilyForward #UniversalMemories

I know you’ve probably been going nutty waiting to hear how our first time joining the Family Forward event went, right? I meant to share some of our fun times sooner – but there were seriously SO MANY pictures to go through! I also needed to think of how I wanted to break it up, because there’s absolutely no way to fit everything into one or two posts. I’m thinking 5-8 over the next few weeks? Then I can really give you the great details of The Crazy Good of Family Forward!

This post is going to break down the actual Family Forward stuff – not including the days in Universal with the special VIP Tour we got Saturday, or the exclusive time at Wet ‘n Wild park. Those will come later! And just a note – some of these photos were taken by the Family Forward team – the better ones! While we’re on that note – the team that put this together is AMAZING! A big shout-out to (from left to right in this picture) Kendra, Marissa, Jyl and Melinda for all their hardwork and fun attitudes!

Plus THANK YOU to their families and everyone else – I know it takes a village to put something like this together, and they were phenomenal! Plus this lovely lady Meredith, our rep from Universal Studios Orlando, was such a fabulous hostess even though she entirely lost her voice right before the event – what a trooper!

We signed up for Family Forward RIGHT when registration opened (sold out super fast) but kept it a big secret from the kiddos all these months! They had no idea – until Thursday morning we woke them up way early, had them get dressed and in the van, and drove to the airport. Once we were on the plane with another family that was going, we pulled out some fun activity bags filled with goodies like Minions, Transformers and Harry Potter stuff and told them. They were THRILLED!

Since we knew we’d need help with the kiddos, we invited hubby’s parents along for the trip – such a great opportunity to make fun memories with grandma and grandpa! After we check into the fabulous Loews Royal Pacific Hotel (post coming soon), grabbing a tasty lunch at their poolside grill, and settling down in the room a bit, it was time for the first Family Forward activity – a Superhero party sponsored by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals!

We got capes and masks, put together care packages to help raise funds for kids fighting cancer and other diseases, and even got to color and write cards to help cheer those in the hospitals up!

We had so much fun! We decided our family’s super power was working together.

Some people REALLY dressed up for the superhero party – sadly our hero costumes are in storage for the whole house selling crap, so we settled for Avenger shirts!

Following the party, we hopped on buses that took us to a back studio where Universal sponsored an AMAZING dinner – with 5 or 6 different food stations all themed (salad bar cart, pasta station with Italian decor, etc.) and plenty of characters to meet. Plus – we were welcomed in style with a red carpet, live band and applause! Ya – we may have gotten a bit ‘blessed’ (remember, I don’t use spoiled as a good thing – it’s BLESSED) 😀

Black Widow was most excited to meet Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop – saying ‘mom, they’re so pretty!’ Shaggy was PERFECT for his character, and along with his pal Scooby Doo took a lot of time visiting with the families. You can’t forget Gru and his crew of Minions, of course!

Guess what we got to do after the dinner party?! Universal Studios Orlando put us on the Hogwarts Express and sent us to Hogsmeade for an EXCLUSIVE couple of hours there where it was ONLY Family Forward attendees! Free Butterbeer, dessert bar, hardly any wait for the rides, taking our time walking through Hogwarts Castle, wand-purchases – seriously it was THE BEST! I’m going to go into a LOT more detail about the Harry Potter stuff & Hogsmeade in a later post because it deserves it’s own!

The morning brought us a yummy breakfast provided by Loews Royal Pacific Hotel, then some family-activity workshops! Black Widow was super thrilled about DohVinci!

If you have no idea what that is – it’s a special playdough type thing in tubes you can stick into the crafting gun, then just squeeze and it decorates any surface! The boys needed a little assistance squeezing the gun handle, but my girl handled it like a pro!

They even let us keep our masterpieces – and we managed to pack them flat and get them home without any damage – woot woot!

Royal Caribbean International provided us a neat, tropical lunch and even brought along one of their characters for a photo opp – Shrek! I was lucky enough to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise for a conference in January – and after seeing all they have for kids to do, I can’t wait to take my family on a cruise with this fun company!

After lunch was a really neat science experiment involving DNA sponsored by Monsanto, along with yummy colored melons for snack. The kids got necklaces at the end with a sealed vial of strawberry DNA at the end – how many kids can say they have that?!

We enjoyed not only the learning we got to do, but the family teamwork! I started to wonder if Iron Man would ever take his orange safety goggles off 😀

That night we got a special time at Wet ‘n Wild water park – 2 hours with everyone (it did rain a bit, but then cleared and was perfect) then 2 hours JUST OUR FAMILY FORWARD GROUP! Yup, told you we were blessed! They even provided us dinner vouchers – yum! Again, that deserves it’s own post (coming soon).

Saturday morning brought us to a delicious breakfast buffet at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in CityWalk! Loved the decor, the DJ was so fun, and we got to rock out to some fun dancing and tunes. Great way to start the day!

We then broke into groups of about 12 – and received a VIP Tour of Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure! Seriously, this was AMAZING – straight onto the major rides with basically no wait, insider tips and information, backlot sites and so much more. LOVED IT! The 4 hours went by so fast, and we had an absolute blast! I’ll share a bit more of that in later post, too!

That night we got to enjoy The Blue Man Group! I’ve never seen them before and wasn’t sure if the kids would like it – but as soon as the show started they were on the edge of their seats (Hulk woke up from his little cat nap), danced to the music, laughed along and absolutely loved it!

The lovely Melinda from the Family Forward Team even got to go up and be part of the act!

We had a free day Sunday until a ridiculously delicious dinner in CityWalk at either the CowFish or VIVO, an Italian place. We picked Cowfish (sushi – like hubby could resist!) – more to come on that in a later post, though! Seriously, this entire event was unforgettable and I can’t wait to do it again!

Thank you SO MUCH to Family Forward and Universal Studios Orlando!

15+ Legoland Tips for the Best Vacation

August 23, 2015 by Danielle

Despite having been to Disneyland in California MANY times in my life (and many more to come!), my family has never made it to Legoland. Sad, I know, especially with hubby and the kids being MAJOR Lego-lovers! For our trip coming up in a couple months, our entire first day is at Legoland and we seriously can’t wait! Being the planner that I am, I gathered up 15+ Legoland Tips for the Best Vacation to help us get ready.

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.

1. Keep Kids Happy while Waiting

Even though I’ve been told the wait times for even the best rides aren’t that long, kids can get pretty impatient when they’re excited. Legoland has Legos set up for kids to play with while the parents wait – awesome, right?

2. There are 3 Sections – be sure to get tickets for what you want.

Just like Disneyland is divided into the classic park and California Adventure, requiring different tickets if you want both, Legoland has the main amusement park, the Sea Life Aquarium, and the water Park. There’s a variety of combo tickets, so pay attention and get what you really want.

3. Arrive a bit early

Many of the reviews I’ve read suggested getting there 30 minutes to an hour before the rides actually begin. This allows time for figuring out tickets, getting some pictures and maybe glancing at the map more than 2 seconds to really get your bearings.

4. Apple Fries are a Must Try

Supposedly the Apple Fries at Legoland California are the BEST, and many have said we just can’t avoid trying them on our visit!

5. Pay Attention to the Height Requirements Beforehand

Some of the rides are specifically meant for smaller children, so if your taller kids are looking forward to one of those they may end up disappointed. Same with the littles that really want to try a ride you must be taller for. Just plan ahead and they’ll know what is a YES and what is a WHEN YOU’RE TALLER.

6. Notice the Little Things

All around the park are figures, accents, decorations and more built out of Legos – this is such a fun thing to really see! From a Lego shark laying in the water on a pirate boat ride to an entrance archway from all Lego pieces, be sure to notice these random and fun accents.

7. Start with your Favorites First

As with most amusement parks, it gets busier as the day goes on, so it’s wise to try and hit your most-anticipated rides earlier in the day. Also, the water parks get busiest in the afternoon (hottest time of day, so makes sense) – so if you want less crowds perhaps you should start there.

8. Don’t wait to Shop After

The shops stay open after the rides are closed, so many think it’s wise to save your souvenir shopping until then – problem is that EVERYONE has the same idea! Most recommend shopping throughout the day, otherwise it’s total chaos and harder to keep track of your kids in the masses. Glad I read about that otherwise I would’ve been stuck in the rush!

9. Minifigure Trading

Just like pin trading at Disney, Legoland has Minifigure trading – let your kids pick out some minifigures then have fun trading with staff throughout the day.

10. Take Advantage of Child Swap

If you have kids that are too small/tall to go on something, they do offer child swap. Those going on the ride just tell the member at the ride to get the pass, go on the ride, then pass it to those waiting with the others so they don’t have to wait in the full line twice.

11. Don’t Carry Your Purchases All Day

Instead of lugging around bags of Lego stuff all day, leave it with the store clerks and you can pick it up in the Market at the end of the day.

12. Use the LEGOLAND app

I’ve been told this is great at checking current ride wait times – gonna give it a try when we go so we can avoid the busiest ones and make the most of our time!

13. Bring Snacks & Stay Hydrated

They allow snacks and water bottles to be brought into the park, so do that to help save your money. Don’t forget to drink plenty so you don’t have a miserable time dehydrated!

14. Preferred Parking isn’t Usually Worth it

Until I read many, many reviews saying that with the small parking lot, preferred parking (that gets you practically to the gate) isn’t really worth the $20 charge because it isn’t much walking anyway.

15. Buy your Tickets from Get Away Today

Every dollar saved is great while on a vacation, and after comparing the online prices of Legoland and those that Get Away Today offers, GAT is the winner! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper to get $10 off your vacation package!

Bonus Tip from Legoland Themselves: “if you have any questions throughout the day be sure to text us at (760) 203-3604 and we will respond to you during your visit.”

Also find out which Heartlake City Friend you are!

How To Fist Bump Shirts – Limited Time!

Sizes for Fist Bump Shirts

Cost for these fantastic Fist Bump Shirts is only:

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Food and Stuff

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Food & Drink

Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Souvenirs, Gifts and Stuff

More Harry Potter Fun…

Easy Disney Kids Preschool Playdate Party

Ingredients

Directions

Other fabulous Disney ideas…

Six Flags Over Texas’ Justice League: Battle for Metropolis

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is now at Universal Studios Hollywood

Check out these other Harry Potter posts…

Disneyland’s New Paint the Night Parade is My Favorite Yet!

Other Disneyland Fun…

Disneyland’s 60th Diamond Celebration

Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary: The Decorations

Disneyland’s 60th Celebration: Souvenirs and Stuff

Disneyland’s 60th Diamond Anniversary: The Food

Head on over to Get Away Today and book your vacation before the 60th Celebration is gone! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation!

Star Wars Half Marathon

Some tips if you’re thinking of a Disney run:

Other fun from Disneyland…

Watch for the next Disney Half Marathon, and book your Disneyland vacation today! Use promo code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation package!

Disneyland Just for Kids? Think Again!

Head over to Get Away Today and reserve your magical vacation for just $125! Use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your package!

Universal Studios Florida Printable Height Requirements

Download Universal Studios Park 8.5×11 Here

Download Islands of Adventure Park 8.5×11 Here

Download BOTH Parks on one 8.5×11 Here

Heading to Disneyland instead of Universal Florida? We’ve got Height Requirements for there, too!

The Crazy Good of Family Forward

Thank you SO MUCH to Family Forward and Universal Studios Orlando!

15+ Legoland Tips for the Best Vacation

Other fun in California!

Want free printables & more fun straight to your inbox?