We have taken over 50 trips to Disneyland and we’ve stayed at a number of different hotels around the Disneyland resort. I am sharing my honest thoughts on all the hotels we have stayed at over the years. When it comes to booking the hotel for our Disneyland trips I always check the package deals through Get Away Today, because they always seem to have the lowest prices. I highly recommend checking Get Away Today for package deals or tickets only.

I often get asked if I think staying at a Disneyland hotel is worth the extra cost. I think it’s fun to stay at a Disneyland hotel at least once or twice, but we mostly choose the good neighbor hotels around the resort for a couple of reasons.  One, we don’t really spend much time in our hotel, we prefer to hang out at the Disney Parks or at the beach.  Second, the prices of the Disneyland hotels are substantially higher, we prefer to go for a less expensive hotel which leaves extra money for Disney treats, meals and souvenirs.  We can also make more trips to Disneyland each year by choosing hotels that are less expensive.   

When we started our Disney trips we had a family of 7, since some of our older kids have headed off to college we don’t need large rooms anymore.  Plus, many of our trips have just been my husband and I (Yes! We do take kidless trips to Disneyland).  You will find that many of these hotels have room options that work well for large families.  My favorite hotel that fits 8 is the Grand Legacy (3 room suite).  My favorite hotel for 5 is the Fairfield Inn or Tropicana Inn & Suites.

If I had to narrow down my top hotel choices, it would be these hotels, most of which are within very close walking distance.  It really is a huge plus not to have to drive, park or ride a shuttle into the parks.

• Grand Californian Hotel & Spa – If it’s in the budget, this is such an amazing hotel to stay at, the location can’t be beat and we love the perk of getting into the parks 30 minutes before everyone else.
• The Westin Anaheim Resort – This hotel is absolutely stunning! They have some amazing rooms with views of DCA.
• Grand Legacy at the Park – The walking distance from this hotel is super easy, they have family suites which are great for large families and they have one of the nicest pools of the hotels on Harbour Blvd.
• Fairfield Inn – We love this location for it’s proximity and the fact that there is a Panera Bread in the parking lots which makes breakfast super easy.  We also love the fact that it’s a Marriott hotel and we can use our Marriott rewards to get free stays.
• Tropicana Inn – This is a great hotel that is fairly easy on the budget and it is one of the closest hotels to the entrance to Disneyland.
• Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance – This is a great hotel with plenty of room for everyone.  The rooms also have a microwave which is really handy.  Kids will love the waterpark and pool!

Disneyland Hotels

Grand Californian Hotel & Spa (5 times) – This hotel is amazing as far as location and ambiance.  I love the huge open lobby and the atmosphere with the fireplace and the Craftsman decor. The restaurant selection is great!  We love the Craftsman Grill for quick meals and Storyteller’s Cafe for sit down meals. The pool is wonderful. The rooms are lighter and brighter since the remodel and I really like them.  The showers are amazing!  Each room has a refrigerator and you can find a microwave on each level near the ice machine.  Many rooms have amazing views of California Adventure from the balcony, but you will pay extra for those. This hotel is an amazing option if you have the funds and if you have small children, taking them back to the room for a nap is so easy. Keep in mind this hotel does not have tubs, they only have showers. The customer service is great, everyone was very friendly.  The pool was only open until 8pm when we visited in January, which is a bummer, because we were hoping to sit in the hot tub after a long day at the parks. I know the pool hours are extended in the summer, but it’s something to check when you are visiting. This is probably my absolute favorite hotel around Disneyland, but the price is often a deal breaker for me. I’d prefer to stay at a less expensive hotel to allow for more trips.

Disneyland Hotel  (4 times) – This hotel is completely magical!  The rooms are stunning!  I love all the little Disney touches you can find around the room and though out the entire hotel. This my favorite of all the Disneyland hotels as far as the rooms and the grounds. The floor to ceiling windows give you a great view and let in a lot of light. In addition to the property being amazing, the restaurant selection here is great too.  We love Goofy’s Kitchen for character breakfast and Tangaroa Terrace is a great option too.  The only drawback that I see (and it won’t be a drawback for everyone) is the fact that the pool is only about 4 feet deep. This is great if you have little ones, but we were traveling with 4 teens and they weren’t all that impressed with the pool.

Villas at Disneyland Hotel (once) – We stayed in a Deluxe Studio, which had a queen bed and a pull down queen bed and a little kitchenette. The decor and amenities of the room are gorgeous! They also have 1, 2 and 3 bedroom villas that include full-size kitchens and sleep quite a few people.  You get access to an exclusive pool and cute Steamboat Willie splash pad. I love the fact that everything at this hotel is new and pretty.  Even the walk down the hallways is gorgeous! The staff at the Disneyland hotel is always top notch.  

NEW! Pixar Place Hotel  (once/twice when it was previously Paradise Pier Hotel) – The theming throughout the hotel is so well done! The rooms include some truly stunning artwork and the service we experienced from cast members was exceptional. One of our favorite things about this hotel was the private entrance into Disney’s California Adventure. This park entrance is exclusive to guests of the Pixar Place hotel which means you most likely won’t wait in any lines at all. We literally walked right through security! It’s less than a 10 minute walk away lets you in right next to Goofy’s Sky School. Majorly convenient! However, it’s important to note that you can only enter through here before 12:00 pm. You can exit through here any time of day though. They also have a great pool area! It’s situated on a rooftop on the third floor and includes a snack shack, plenty of lounging area, and a decent sized pool! The only major downside is the elevator situation. You cannot access the stairwell from the first floor and the elevators run on a unique system that means you’ll likely be waiting a while. It was a common gripe amongst all guests. We bonded with a few strangers in the lobby over how long it takes to grab an elevator. 

Super Easy Walking Distance

The post Honest Reviews of all the Hotels we’ve used around Disneyland appeared first on Gather Lemons.

This was our second trip to Japan, we have completely fallen in love with the country and look forward to going back a third time (hopefully in the fall sometime).  There are so many great places to explore and eat.  The Japanese people are so kind and courteous.  The city is clean and orderly. I love the fact that we were in a different country but felt totally safe.  It’s such an amazing destination, I highly recommend visiting Japan!

Day 1

Land at Narita airport

Took Limousine bus to ANA Intercontinental Tokyo in Akasaka.  You can take a train to the city, but if you have large luggage this is a great way to travel especially if your hotel is one of the stops along the way.  You don’t need to book in advance, just buy tickets at the counter as you exit the terminal.

Day 2

We started the day early at Ueno Park to check out the Cherry Blossoms and the crowds were light early in the morning.  The key to lighter crowds really is to wake up early.

Next we headed to Asakusa for lunch to check out the following:

• Sensō-ji temple
• Nakamise-dori Street (we ate Melonpan and Taiyaki)
• Kappabashi Kitchen Street – street that sells lots of kitchenware (bring cash)
• Lunch at Sushiro (conveyer belt sushi that also had things like chicken, fries and ramen for the non-sushi eating people in our family)

In the evening we went to Akihabara for our youngest, he wanted to check out the manga, anime, and electronics stores.

Day 3

We started the day at TeamLab Borderless which is a digital art museum.  I highly recommend!  It was a trip highlight for all for of us. You can purchase tickets one month in advance. I recommend trying for the earliest time slot so the museum isn’t as crowded, it definitely gets fuller as the day goes on. TeamLab Borderless is fun for kids too, there is an area where you color a sea creature, they scan it and it ends up on the wall.  It’s so fun!

They also have another one which is called TeamLab Planets, and it’s a little more interactive, you take off your shoe and walk through water. We did not book this one, but after visiting TeamLab Borderless, we really wish we did.

Next up, we headed to Ginza to check out Age.3 and their viral fried sandwiches, we waited in line for about 30 minutes. They were good, but I’m not sure I would wait much longer then 30 minutes for them.

We also had some shopping planned at the following stores:

• Itoya – largest stationery store founded in 1904 with 12 levels of paper goods, pens, crafts and more.  Absolute heaven!
• Uniqlo Flagship Store – There are 12 floors at this store and you can even customize some items (tip: this store gets crazy busy and crowded so there are several other Uniqlo stores around Tokyo worth visiting if your aren’t up for braving the crowds)
• Loft – great place for useful souvenirs, stationery and more.  Just a fun store to check out!

We headed to Shinjuku in the evening to eat at a Yakiniku restaurant, which is a a Japanese-style barbecue restaurant where we grilled bite-sized pieces of meat, seafood, and vegetables at our table.

Day 4

We took a day trip to Kamakura to see the Great Buddha statue at the Kotoku-in Temple.  We also strolled the streets to check out the shops and get something to yummy to eat.  

We also had a stop at Enoshima planned to check out the Enoshima Shrine and Samuel Cocking Garden.  This was a nice stop along the coast that got us out of the hustle and bustle of the city.  I highly recommend!

Day 5

We planned this as a little more relaxing and chill day so we didn’t burn ourselves out, walking in Tokyo is no joke…so much walking and so many stairs!  We still got to see some great things!  We visited Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens where the Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom.  I recommend visiting this park even if it isn’t cherry blossom season, it’s so pretty!

We also explored Meiji Jingu, which is a temple in the middle of a dense forest right in the middle of the city.  If you don’t want huge crowds, I recommend visiting early in the morning at both of these locations.  Early evening is a great option too!

We had dinner at an Indian Restaurant we found on our last trip to Japan that we enjoyed very much. It’s called KHANA Indian restaurant, the portions are good, the food is great and the price is small.  Food is Tokyo is so good and often very cheap!

Day 6

We got lucky and scored tickets to the Ghibli Museum!  My son is a fan and this was one of the things he really wanted to do. Getting tickets for the Ghibli Museum were harder to secure than Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets.  LOL!  Tickets become available on the 10th day of the month (10 am JST) before you want to attend, you will need to be online about 10 minutes or so before they are released and use multiple devices. We had 6 devices running, most said were were between 25,000-30,000 in line.  I’ve heard if you get a number 8000 or less there is a decent chance you will get tickets.  Fortunately, my son was number 3800 in line on his phone and we were able to secure the tickets. 

It’s a rather small museum, but if you are big Ghibli fan, you will go nuts.  There is some memorabilia, a short film to watch and a gift shop.

We visited Shibuya Crossing, it’s neat to cross the crazy intersection, but my son said he was underwhelmed, so it may or may not be a worth a visit to you.

We stopped at the Disney flagship store in Shinjuku because we are huge Disney fans.  There is a really cute store in Shibuya too, but it is smaller and has too many shoppers in a small space for my liking!

In the evening we headed toward the Tokyo Disney resort and checked into our room at the Tokyo Disneyland hotel.  We chose to visit by private shuttle because we all had large suitcases.  You can use a luggage forwarding service and take public transportation as an option too.

Day 7

We started our day at Tokyo Disneyland. Since we were staying at the Tokyo Disneyland hotel the night before we gained early entry to the park.  They call it Happy Entry and you only get in 15 minutes early, but it really does make a difference.  You can ensure you get in line for a popular ride before everyone else lines up, or you can take photos in front of the castle with an empty park.

Do not miss the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast attraction, it’s amazing.  We also really enjoyed the Micky’s Magical Music World show.  Food spots we enjoyed:

• Rackety’s Raccoon Saloon – Critter Sundae 
• Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall

Day 8

We spent the next two days at Tokyo Disney Sea, which is my opinion is the best theme park I have ever visited!  It’s visually stunning!  We transferred hotels and checked into the MiraCosta, you can see a peek at our patio above.  

We were fortunate to ride pretty much all the rides we wanted because we booked and unlimited vacation package, which gave us access to ride tons of the popular rides as much as we wanted.  We were also able to book priority passes for three of the popular rides in the new Fantasy Springs section.

Day 9

Disney Sea is such a large and amazing park we knew we wanted a second day there.  Since we accomplished most of the rides we wanted yesterday we took this day to really explore the park and ride the few rides that we missed yesterday.  We were able to score seating for the musical show Big Band Beat, which we enjoyed.

Probably the highlight of the day was dining at Magellan’s, it’s a fine dining restaurant within Disney Sea, the food is amazing and the atmosphere in the restaurant is stunning.  The cool part is we got seated in the “secret room”, you push a button on a book case and a door opens up to the hidden room.  It was so cool!

Day 10

We took the Shinkansen to Kyoto.  Booking tickets ahead of time is not necessary, but because we were traveling with our luggage we wanted to ensure we had luggage storage seats, so we booked ahead.  We all grabbed a Bento Box at the train station before boarding the train.  We chose to travel from Shinagawa Station since it’s a little less overwhelming then Tokyo station.

We checked into the DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station, which was a very short walking distance from the station.  We dropped off our bags and headed to visit the Fushimi Inari gates in the early evening. You can hike all the way to the top and be rewarded with a great view of Kyoto.

Day 11

First thing in the morning we took the Hozugawa River Boat Ride at 9 am towards Arashiyama.  The ride was very scenic and our guides were so much fun! It took us longer than usual because the river was really low (almost 2 hours travel time), but the river was lined with Cherry Blossoms and we even got to see some wildlife.

Once we got to Arashiyama we checked out the following:

• Bamboo Forest
• Okochi Sanso Garden
• Kimono Forest

Day 12

This was probably one of my favorite days! We went to Goin in the am to avoid crowds and then we visited the Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion).  The grounds were gorgeous and peaceful. Next we walked the streets to head to the Path of the Philosopher and stopped at a stand that had strawberries covered in a hardened sugar (Tanghulu). They were so good!  The strawberries in Japan and so sweet and fresh!

The Path of the Philosopher was a stone path through the northern part of Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. The path follows a canal which was lined by hundreds of blooming cherry trees. The walk was absolutely wonderful, the views were gorgeous and it was very peaceful.

Day 13

We only had a half day in Kyoto before we had to head back to Tokyo due to the fact we were flying out the next day. We spent our morning at the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple). Once again the ground were stunning and the golden temple was so pretty, surrounded by water and Japanese trees. We got some ice cream afterwards complete with golden flakes!

We rode the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shinagawa station and then took the Narita Express to the airport.  We caught a shuttle bus to our last hotel stay before we headed home.

Day 14

Our flight wasn’t until the late afternoon, so we took the free hotel shuttle to the Narita Mall, which was actually kind of nice.  We flew home in the afternoon.  The entire trip was amazing!  I love visiting new places, but this was our second trip to Japan and I can’t wait to go back again. I’d love to visit in the fall, since our last 2 trips have been in the spring. I would personally avoid the summer months, the heat in Japan is scorching in the summer and I am a wimp when it comes to heat.

Flights – We flew Premium Economy with Japan Airlines, we booked our flights with Alaska Airlines miles so we only had to pay the fees.

Hotels: (I would recommend them all)

• ANA InterContinental Tokyo 
• Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
• Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta
• DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station
• Hilton Tokyo Narita Airport

The post Tokyo & Kyoto 14-Day Itinerary appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Seven magical decades at the Disneyland Resort… It’s hard to believe it’s been around that long! It feels like just yesterday, I was strolling down Main Street, taking in the spectacle that was the 60th Anniversary castle overlay, but already another decade has gone by! Here’s what that means: You’ll be able to enjoy new overlays, limited-time shows, lots of new food options, and celebratory additions to select attractions! 

Disneyland Park Celebrations:

• Tapestry of Happiness Projection Show. (This will be projected onto the “it’s a small word” facade.)
• “it’s a small word” ride enhancements.
• Paint the Night Parade
• “Wondrous Journeys” Nighttime Show
• Celebrate Happy Cavalcade

Disney’s California Adventure Park Celebrations:

• World of Color Happiness! Show
• Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Parade
• Midway Mania ride enhancements

70th Anniversary Food Options:

There are tons of great food options that are here only for the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration, you can check out the foodie guide, but here are a few I tried on my recent trip to Disneyland.

Grilled Tahitian Ribs: The ribs are served with white rice and pineapple slaw. These can be found at the Bengal Barbecue and I absolutely loved them! I would definitely buy them again!

House-filled Celebration Beignet: Filled with raspberry mousse, buttercream glaze, edible candle, and sprinkles. This one was really good, but very messy!! I would get this one again. You can grab it at Tiana’s Palace.

70th Celebration Churro: Classic churro rolled in ube sugar and topped with marbled blue raspberry icing drizzle and sprinkles. This was just ok. I would take an original churro over this one any day. These can be found at the churros carts near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, and Town Square

Special Ticket Offers:

• Visit for as low as $100 per day with a 4-day, 1-park-per-day ticket ($400 total). Valid now through August 14, 2025.
• Or visit for as low as $120 per day with a 3-day, 1-park-per-day ticket ($360 total). Valid now through August 14, 2025.

Book Your Trip:

If reading this has you itching to book a trip this year, we highly recommend doing it through Get Away Today. They consistently offer the lowest prices I have seen. We have used them on more than half of our Disney trips and I am always pleased with the service! If you book a package deal you can use the the code THRIVING10 to save an addition $10 off the package price. 

We have plenty of other Disney posts to help with your vacation planning. Check them out!

• Disneyland area hotels for large families
• Disneyland area hotels with free breakfast
• Complete Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• Make a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop
• Our visit to Club 33

The post All About Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Celebration! appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Great news for Disney fans! You can buy Disneyland tickets at Costco and save big! Costco is selling 3-Day Park Hoppers which includes Lightning Lane Multi Pass for all 3 days and a $30 Disney Dining card for $449.99! Look for these on sale at your Costco.  

• Bring the card to a register to purchase the amount of tickets you need (limit up to 20 tickets per person)
• Visit StartYourDisneylandExperience.com to reserve your theme park dates, reservations must be made in advance.

Tickets are valid for ages 3+ and are good through 12/19/25. If you don’t currently have a Costco membership, check out the amazing Costco membership deal at Groupon right now!. Buy a $65 membership and get a $50 Costco Shop Card. There is also an offer for an executive membership too. And if you are looking for another great way to save on Disneyland tickets and hotel stays make sure you check out Get Away Today. I highly recommend them!

Here are some Disneyland posts to help you plan for your trip:

• Honest reviews of the hotels we’ve used near Disneyland (over 20 hotels)
• Disneyland area hotels for large families
• Disneyland area hotels with free breakfast
• Complete Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• Make a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop

The post Costco Disneyland Tickets 2025 appeared first on Gather Lemons.

While it’s likely you’ll be spending most of your Disney days at the park, the place you come back to after it all is still an important choice when booking a trip! There are lots of factors to consider when booking a hotel, and one thing that I personally value is accommodations with free breakfast! This makes morning routines run a lot smoother and depending on the size of your family, helps you save a lot of money! We’ve stayed at over 30 hotels in the Disneyland area and have rounded up all the properties that offer FREE breakfast! And for even more hotel reviews, make sure you check out our honest reviews of all the hotels we’ve used around the Disneyland resort.

To sweeten the deal, our friends at Get Away Today have adult Disneyland tickets at kids prices when you buy 3 day or longer tickets.  You’ll need to purchase by February 14th,  but they can be used anytime this year!  If you plan on visiting Disney World this year, they have the same offer too!

Best Western PLUS Pavilions

• Free Full breakfast at nearby restaurant for 2 OR Complimentary grab-and-go breakfast snack bag.

Best Western PLUS Stovall’s Inn

• Free Full Breakfast

Residence Inn at Anaheim Resort Convention Center

• Free Full Breakfast

SpringHill Suites at Anaheim Resort Convention Center

• Free Full Breakfast

Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort Convention Center

• Free Hot Breakfast

Hampton Inn & Suites Anaheim Resort Convention Center

• Free Hot Breakfast

Best Western Park Place Inn

• Free Hot Breakfast

Candy Cane Inn

• Free Breakfast

Sonesta ES Suites

• Free Breakfast

ALO Hotel by Ayres

• Free Breakfast

SunCoast Park Hotel Anaheim

• Free Breakfast

If you’re planning a Disneyland trip, be sure to check out the package deals available through Get Away Today. They consistently offer the lowest prices I have seen and I’m always so pleased with the service. If you book a package deal, you can use the code THRIVING10 to save an addition $10 off the package price!

The post Disneyland Hotels with FREE Breakfast appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Disney recently released their exciting lineup of festivals and events taking place at both parks in 2025 and I for one, can’t wait to experience them! Here’s a quick look at what’s in store for us over the next year!

2025 Happenings:

Jan 17 – Feb 16: Lunar New Year, California Adventure

This multicultural celebration is a tribute to Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean traditions. 2025 is the Year of the Snake! This event features Asian-inspired food and beverages, vibrant décor and special performances, including the “Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration” water short, “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession”, and more live musical numbers every day!

Feb 8 & Feb 15: Celebrate Gospel, Disneyland

A tradition that spans more than a decade, Celebrate Gospel is an annual tribute to Gospel music that brings together award-winning music artists and community choirs from across Southern California. 

Feb 28 – April 21: Food & Wine Festival, California Adventure

Food & Wine is always one of our family faves and if you haven’t been before, I highly recommend you visit sometime in the future! A promenade of booths serve up creative foods and beverages, cooking demonstrations, and family-friendly entertainment inspired by the diverse cultures and cuisines of the Golden State. During the festival the popular attraction, Soarin’ Over California, will return for a limited time!

March 28 – May 11: Season of the Force, Disneyland

Are you a Star Wars fan? If so, you might want to plan your trip during the Season of the Force. For these six weeks, we’ll see the return of Hyperspace Mountain, specially themed food and beverage, merchandise, and more! During the celebration, you’ll also be able to embark on new adventures aboard Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. Over at Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll be able to witness fireworks, and the nightly performance of “Fire of the Rising Moons”, which has epic, new projections and themed music!

May 16 – Summer 2026: Disneyland 70th Anniversary, both parks

Aug 22 – Oct 31: Halloween Time, both parks

Halloween time at Disneyland is always loads of fun! Disneyland resort is filled with autumn décor, characters dressed in Halloween outfits, and uniquely themed food, beverages, and attractions! 

Aug 22 – Nov 2: A Celebration of Coco, Plaza de la Familia, California Adventure

Celebrate the bonds of family and Mexican traditions of Día de los Muertos through a cultural experience featuring storytelling and music from Pixar’s “Coco.” 

Nov 14 – Jan 7, 2026: The Holidays Begin, both parks

There’s nothing quite like the holidays at Disneyland! You can celebrate the magic of the holiday season with seasonal overlays on beloved attractions, holiday spectaculars, new specialty menu items, live entertainment, and festive decor all around the resort. The lively Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure begins Nov. 17th.

special ticketed events:

On select nights, Disneyland Resort offers after-hours events. These themed nights require a separate ticket. You cannot get into these events with a standard park ticket, even if you’ve made a park reservation for the same day as the event. The first four events of the year are a part of Disneyland After Dark, a collection of specially themed nights where you can experience unique entertainment, rare character encounters and special menus of sweet treats and savory snacks.

Sweethearts Nite, Disneyland Park

Jan 21, 23, & 28. And Feb 4, 6, 9, 11, 13

This event is for couples, friends and families alike to come celebrate love! The evening features a new cavalcade on Main Street, a Royal Ball, live music, and encounters with iconic Disney couples. Tickets are now on sale, subject to availability. SOLD OUT.

90s Nite, Disneyland Park

March 4, 6

If you were raised on classic 90’s Disney films like The Lion King, Hercules, and Aladdin, you’re going to love this! The evening includes dance parties, sing-alongs and more to celebrate the films, music and pop culture that made this decade so iconic. The special parade, “90s on Parade”, will reference past parades like “The Lion King Celebration” and “Mulan Parade.” Tickets are now on sale, subject to availability.

Star Wars Nite, Disneyland Park

April 8, 10, 22, 24, 29 And May 1, 4, 6

This event features special appearances by Star Wars characters from both the Light and Dark sides of the Force as well as unique photo opportunities. Ticket sale details will be announced at a later time. Stay tuned for details on purchasing tickets!

Pride Nite, Disneyland Park

June 16, 18

This celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community brings together allies and community members for an evening of colorful entertainment! Stay tuned for details on purchasing tickets!

Oogie Boogie Bash, California Adventure

Aug 17, 19,  21, 24, 26, 28, 31 And Sep 2, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 And Oct 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 31

Disney California Adventure park will once again throw some family-friendly Halloween parties! This year, there will be more opportunities than ever, with 31 different dates offering this evening event! The event includes immersive treat trails, rare character sightings, and unique entertainment. This is the one time of the year when you are encouraged to dress up in costume (both adults and children! Although, there are some stipulations so be sure to read up on the rules before deciding on your costume!) 

Have a Magical Day!

I know that our first (and subsequent) family trips were incredibly memorable, and I can only imagine the same will be the case for you! If you’re ready to book your trip, click here to get started! Get Away Today is how we have booked the majority of our Disneyland trips. Get Away Today has several money-saving packages available, as well as discounted Disneyland park tickets too! If you book a package, use the code THRIVING10 to save an additional $10.

For even more Disney magic, tips and tricks, check out the following posts:

• Honest reviews of all the hotels we’ve used around Disneyland
• Big list of Disneyland hotels for large families (sleeps 6+)
• Complete Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• Make a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop
• Our visit to Club 33

The post Disneyland 2025 Events appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Have you heard the news? Disneyland ticket prices – along with Lightning Lane Multi Pass prices – just went up! Generally, ticket prices are raised every year so this is nothing new, but it can still be difficult to keep up with year after year! I do have some good news though! You can still get Disneyland Resort tickets at 2024 prices via Get Away Today through October 21, 2024. These prices will be even better than Black Friday so it’s the absolute best time to book!

You can save up to $125 per ticket with Get Away Today when you purchase by October 21, 2024 at 11:59pm MT. If you book a 2-night stay with at least two tickets and use the code Thriving10 at checkout, you will save an extra $10 off the discounted rates. Every little bit helps when it comes to saving on Disney trips, right?

If you plan on visiting Disneyland Resort this year or next, NOW is the time to book and save yourself some money!  You don’t even need to know the exact dates of travel, you’ll just need to enter a general date to purchase your Disneyland Resort tickets. The date that you enter will be the date that Get Away Today will send you reminders to make theme park and dining reservations. The tickets can be used until January 12, 2026. All tickets are sent electronically.  Here are the savings you receive when purchasing your Disneyland tickets through Get Away Today. (I highly recommend booking a hotel and ticket package together to save even more.) 

• 5-Day Tickets: Save $56 – $125
• 4-Day Tickets: Save $29 – $67
• 3-Day Tickets: Save $30 – $56
• 2-Day Tickets: Save $22 – $46

We are big Disneyland fans and even though there has been an increase, it probably won’t keep us away!  If you are planning a Disneyland trip, make sure you check out all our Disneyland posts to help you make the most of your vacation.

• Hotel reviews of all the hotels we’ve used around Disneyland
• Complete Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Tips for getting a Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance
• Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• Complete Guide to Pixar Pier
• Make a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop
• Tips for One Day at Disneyland
• Saving Money when Dining at Disneyland
• 10 of the Best Places to eat Lunch at Disneyland
• 10 of the Best Places to eat Breakfast at Disneyland
• Our visit to Club 33
• Mickey Tic Tac Toe in a Bag
• 7 Reasons I Prefer Disneyland over Disney World

The post Disneyland Price Increase – Pay 2024 Prices for Travel in 2025 appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Odds are, if you’ve found yourself in this corner of the internet, you’re deep in the trenches of planning a trip and have already been bombarded with nearly a hundred different ideas. I’ve always found it easier to work with short lists and straightforward answers. So if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by it all, take a deep breath. I’ve made it simple. One thing to eat, one thing to see, and one thing to do. When we went to Puerto Rico, we were there for only a few days, so we didn’t accomplish much else besides these few things and yet, we always look back on it as such a rich and enjoyable trip. I guess what I’m trying to say is if all you end up doing are these three things, you’re still going to walk away very satisfied. 

The #1 Thing to Eat: Pirilo Pizza Rustica

This restaurant is tucked into a charming corner of Old San Juan. The interior is cozy, but the energy. If you’re looking for mouth-watering pizza and pasta, this is the spot. My husband and I are still talking about our meal months later. Now if you’re reading this thinking “you went to Puerto Rico and the best meal you had was Italian food?! I hear you. For some delicious Caribbean-fusion dining, you should check out Zaco’s Tacos on Culebra. The space has such a fun vibe and the food was amazing. (A tad on the expensive side in my opinion, but I still walked away feeling satisfied.)

The #1 Things to See: Bioluminescent Bay

Puerto Rico is one of the top destinations for viewing bioluminescence! We took a tour with Yokahu Kayak Trips, which is located on the main island. However, our tour guide informed us that the very best spot is actually located on the island of Vieques in Puerto Mosquito. If you’re unfamiliar with bioluminescence, essentially, in certain regions of the world, there’s a type of aquatic algae that emits light due to a chemical reaction in the water. It is a spectacular phenomenon to witness! During the tour, you’ll kayak through mangroces until reaching an open bay. You’ll do all of this at night far from any light pollution. Here, you’ll get to witness those magical glowing waters you’ve seen from the photos. During our tour, the guide covered the entire group in a tarp so that there was no light pollution whatsoever. This allowed us to see those glowing water in their brightest form. It’s truly a once in a lifetime experience in my opinion. While there are places around the world that they can be viewed, you’ll rarely be somewhere where they are as prevelant as they are in Puerto Rico so I highly recommend taking advantage!

The #1 to Do: Rent a Golf Cart & Visit Flamingo Beach 

The day we spent on Culebra can be summed up in a just a few words: Pure. Caribbean. Magic. To reach the island, you’ll take a ferry from Ceiba. While tickets aren’t very expensive, you’ll pay in the form of motion sicknesses. If you’re particularly prone to nausea, I would ensure to bring along some dramamine. I can assure you that your day on the island is well worth any physical maladies you may suffer in journeying there. The island is relatively small, so most tourists rent a golf cart to get around during the day. While there are certain roads you’re not allowed to take them on, you can easily access some of the best destinations with it. Carting around in the sunshine, hopping from beaches to restaurants to bars was just insanely fun. A 15-minute golf cart drive will take you to Flamingo Beach. This is without a doubt, one of the most stunning beaches I have ever visited. Picturesque white sand, turquoise water, and a palm-tree lines shoreline are what you greet you ehre. They also have a little village of small businesses selling refreshing treats and beach gear to rent. We spend a few bucks on beach chairs, plopped them under a palm tree and spent hours reading int he sun and swimming in the clear, warm waters. The sunburns we received from this day were well worth the experience. (That being said, do not be like me and REAPPLY EVERY 2 HOURS. The sun is on another level out here.) 

HAPPY TRAVELS!

The post The #1 Thing to Eat, See, & Do in Puerto Rico appeared first on Gather Lemons.

If you’ve got your eye on a Disneyland trip this year, you’ve probably noticed that there always seems to be some new price increase that you have to keep up with, but it’s not too late to lock in a great price! You can purchase adult tickets at kids prices when you purchase 3-day (or more) passes. This sale is valid only when you book through Get Away Today by May 1st, 2024! This is their biggest sale we’ll see this year so it’s the absolute best time to book your trip!

If you’re itching to book a trip, but aren’t ready to nail down exact dates, you can still purchase your tickets at this great price! You’ll just need to enter a general date you have in mind to purchase them. The date you enter will be the day that Get Away Today reminds you to make theme park reservations. (Which are now required.) The date you enter today will not be tied to a reservation and will allow for flexibility in choosing your specific dates when you are ready. 

If you do know the dates you want to travel I highly recommend booking a hotel and ticket package with Get Away Today, it will include the discounted ticket rates and will also save you some money on your hotel too! Use the code THRIVING10 at checkout to save an additional $10.

Here are the exact prices based on each ticket type:

3-Day Tickets – 1 Park Per Day: $365 (reg. $390)
3-Day Tickets – Park Hopper: $435 (reg. $460)
3-Day Tickets – 1 Park Per Day (with Genie+): $455 (reg. $480)
3-Day Tickets – Park Hopper (with Genie+): $525 (reg. $550)

If you’ve been considering a trip to Disneyland sometime between now and the end of 2024, these are the BEST prices you will find. Book or pre-buy your tickets now!

We are big Disneyland fans and even though there has been an increase it probably won’t keep us away!  If you are planning a Disneyland trip make sure you check out all our Disneyland posts to help you make the most of your vacation.

• Hotel reviews of all the hotels we’ve used around Disneyland
• Complete Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Tips for getting a Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance
• Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• Complete Guide to Pixar Pier
• Make a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop
• Tips for One Day at Disneyland
• Saving Money when Dining at Disneyland
• 10 of the Best Places to eat Lunch at Disneyland
• 10 of the Best Places to eat Breakfast at Disneyland
• Our visit to Club 33
• Mickey Tic Tac Toe in a Bag
• 7 Reasons I Prefer Disneyland over Disney World

The post Adults at Kids Prices for Your 2024 Disneyland Trip! appeared first on Gather Lemons.

It’s an exciting year to visit Disneyland! Okay, that’s pretty much true every single year… but Disney recently released their exciting line up of festivals and events taking place at both parks in 2024 and I for one, can’t wait to experience them! Here’s a quick look at what’s in store for us over the next 12 months, along with everything else you need to know about visiting the parks this year!

2024 Happenings:

Jan 23 – Feb 18: Lunar New Year, Disney California Adventure Park

This multicultural celebration is a tribute to Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions.  They are celebrating the the Year of the Dragon with Asian-inspired food and beverages, vibrant décor and “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” featuring Mushu.

Feb 17 & 24: Celebrate Gospel, Disneyland Park

Celebrate Gospel is an annual tribute to Gospel music that brings together award-winning music artists and community choirs from across Southern California. This years concerts will be headlined by Marvin Sapp (Feb. 17) and Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Feb. 24). 

March 1 – April 22: Food & Wine Festival, Disney California Adventure Park

Food & Wine is always one of our family faves, if you haven’t been before, I highly recommend you visit sometime in the future.  Food booths in California Adventure serve creative foods and beverages, cooking demonstrations and family-friendly entertainment inspired by the diverse cultures and cuisines of the Golden State. During the festival the popular attraction, Soarin’ Over California, will return for a limited time. 

April 5 – June 2: Season of the Force, Disneyland Park

Are you a Star Wars fan?  You will probably want to visit during Season of the Force, we’ll see the return of Hyperspace Mountain (I love this version of Space Mountain). It will also bring specially themed food and beverage, merchandise and more. During the celebration, you’ll also be able to embark on new adventures aboard Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.  Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will provide fresh perspective on the fireworks above Disneyland.

April 26 – Aug 4: Pixar Fest, Disney California Adventure Park

It’s exciting to see Pixar Fest returning to the Parks. During the festival you’ll see colorful décor and themed menu items with a fun Pixar twist. During this festival you’ll see some fun entertainment featuring Pixar stories. There is a brand-new daytime parade happening at California Adventure, called “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!”.  Over at Disneyland park, the emotional “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” will return with some brand new scenes. If character meet and greets are your thing, there will be new characters like Ember and Wade from “Elemental,” Red Panda Mei from “Turning Red” and more. 

Aug 23 – Oct 1: Halloween Time, both parks

Halloween time at Disneyland is always a ton of fun. Disneyland resort is filled with autumn décor, characters dressed in Halloween outfits and uniquely themed attractions.  

Aug 23 – Nov 2: A Celebration of Coco, Plaza de Familia, Disney California Adventure Park

Celebrate the bonds of family and Mexican traditions of Día de los Muertos through a cultural experience featuring storytelling and music from Pixar’s “Coco.”

Begins Nov 15: The Holidays Begin Here, both parks

Nothing quite beats the holidays at Disneyland, you can celebrate the magic of the holiday season with the lively Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure.  You’ll also find seasonal overlays on beloved attractions, holiday spectaculars and festive decor all around the resort.

SPECIAL TICKETED EVENTS

On select nights Disneyland offers some after-hours events  in 2024. These themed nights require a separate ticket than a regular park ticket.  These events include pre-party park mix-in, shorter wait times for select attractions, unlimited select Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the event, and more.

Disneyland After Dark (select nights from January through June): Disneyland park will host four themed nights, which will include unique entertainment, rare character encounters and special menus of sweet treats and savory snacks. Specific details on this year’s Disneyland After Dark themes and events will be announced soon, so stay tuned! 

Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party (Returning in 2024): Disney California Adventure park will once again throw some family-friendly Halloween parties. The even includes immersive treat trails, rare character sightings and unique entertainment. This is the one time of the year when you are encouraged to dress up in costume (both adults and children.

If you’ve got plans to visit the Happiest Place on Earth this year, here’s what you need to know! In recent years, the process for booking your trip has gotten a little more complicated, so if you haven’t visited recently, here’s the steps you need to take: 

Purchase Disneyland Tickets:

We love using Get Away Today to book everything! You can purchase tickets directly from their site, either by themselves or as part of a package to help you save even more! In fact, if you purchase a package and use the code THRIVING10, you will save an additional $10. When purchasing tickets, you’ll need to make a decision about whether or not you want Park Hoppers or 1 Park Per Day tickets. 

Disneyland Resort has two different parks: Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park. If you choose ‘Park Hopper’ tickets, you will start you day in one park, but 11:00 am, you will be able to move over to the other park. You will then be permitted to go back and forth between the two parks as much as you want for the rest of the day.  This ability costs an extra $60 per ticket, regardless of how many days you will be visiting the parks. 

The alternative is ‘One Park Per Day’ tickets. These are the baseline Disneyland tickets, and if you purchase these, you will spend your entire day at the park you start out at. 

Make Park Reservations:

To ensure the parks don’t become overpopulated on any given day, guests are now required to create reservations. You will be prompted to choose which days you are planning to visit the parks. On each day of the calendar, there will be an icon, indicating which park still has availability for your desired day. You can only make these reservations 120 days in advance. You’ll make your park reservations over at Disneyland.com.

During the process, you’ll be prompted to choose your starting park for each day. If you selected ‘One Park Per Day’ tickets, you will spend the entire day in the park you choose. If you selected ‘Park Hopper’ tickets, this is the park you will start your day in.

Make Restaurant Reservations:

Most sit-down restaurants at the parks require a reservation to accommodate their growing interest. Reservations open up 60 days in advance and some tend to fill up quickly. I recommend setting a reminder on your phone for the day they open up so you can try and nab those spots in time! To make your reservations, go to Disneyland.com, hover over ‘Things to Do’, and select ‘Make Reservations’ under ‘Dining’. 

While your park tickets and dining reservations will be handled ahead of time, there are a few tools that you can use during your time in the parks that will help make your day go even smoother! You will need to download and login to the Disneyland app to access these features. 

The first feature is Mobile Ordering! The lines for quick service food stands can get very long. Fortunately, the Disneyland app has a free feature that allows you to order your food ahead of time and pick up at a special window, skipping the line altogether. You can place these orders on your mobile phone via the Disneyland app by clicking the plus sign on the bottom of your screen and selecting ‘Order Food’. 

All About Genie+

You can also utilize a feature called Genie+. This is similar to the old MaxPass system, if that is at all familiar to you. Genie+ is a paid service that allows guests to select specific return times for a ride. When you make a Genie+ reservation, you will be able to bypass the standby line and enter a Lightning Lane that has a capped capacity, ensuring a faster wait time. This service costs an additional $30 per person per day, but I believe is well worth it if you are going during peak season!  You also have the option to purchase Genie+ at the same time you purchase your tickets.

You can also purchase access to an Individual Lightning Lane. These apply to one specific ride and are a separate, additional charge for some of the most popular rides. Guests can purchase a Lightning Lane pass for up to 2 attractions per day. You do not need a Genie+ service to purchase these. 

Individual Lightning Lanes can be purchased for Rise of the Resistance, located in Disneyland Park, as well as Radiator Springs Racers and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, located in California Adventure. Price and availability will range by date and attraction, but will land somewhere between $15-$28 per ticket. You can purchase your Lightning Lane passes upon entering the theme park on the day you intend to use them. To do so, open the Disneyland app, click the plus sign at the bottom of the screen, and select ‘View my Genie Day and Tip Board’. 

Have a Magical Day!

I know that our first (and subsequent) family trips were incredibly memorable, and I can only imagine the same will be the case for you! If you’re ready to book your trip, click here to get started! Get Away Today is how we have booked the majority of our Disneyland trips. Get Away Today has several money-saving packages available, as well as discounted Disneyland park tickets too! If you book a package, use the code THRIVING10 to save an additional $10.

For even more Disney magic, tips and tricks, check out the following posts:

• Honest reviews of all the hotels we’ve used around Disneyland
• Big list of Disneyland hotels for large families (sleeps 6+)
• Complete Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• Make a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop
• Our visit to Club 33

The post What to Know About Visiting Disneyland in 2024 appeared first on Gather Lemons.

This past Summer, I took my very first solo trip to The Big Easy! New Orleans is a spot I’ve wanted to visit for years! I was intrigued by the mix of Southern charm, Creole-style architecture, and unique VooDoo culture. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint! I frequently reflect on my time here and consider it to be one the most enjoyable trips I’ve ever taken. 

Where To Eat

A quick Google search will you present you with popular place like Commanders Palace, GW Fins, La Petite Grocery, and more well-deserved recommendations! My trip was a rather quick one, so I didn’t get the opportunity to explore the cuisine as much as I would have liked. That being said, the food it still the thing that stuck out to me the most! There wasn’t a single meal I ate that I wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to order again. Here’s the highlights: 

Court of Two Sisters: This place is a little pricier, but if it’s in your budget, I highly recommend. First off, the ambiance is like something out of a movie. Dining in outdoor courtyard beneath a canopy of lights and a large bubbling water fountain in the center was just magical. The service was phenomenal and the food? Creole classics that are as good as they look. I ordered the Chef’s Menu and was holding in audible moans after every bite. It was just that good, but one can only imagine how it looks for someone sitting alone to be making all those noises. 

Dian Xin: I actually went here twice because I didn’t get to try everything I wanted to the first time. This place serves cozy Chinese staples like dumplings, noodles, and other delicious meat dishes. Every single item I ordered was full of tender meat and flavorful fillings. This place has some of the best Xiao Long Baos (soup dumplings) I’ve ever had. If you’re a fan of Chinese dim sum, you have to check this place out!

Cafe Beignet: While the existence of this spot is no insider secret (it’s one of the most well-known food spots in New Orleans), what I can tell you though, is which location to go to. (And settle the score and tell you that Cafe Beignet is far superior to Cafe du Monde.) There are four different Cafe Beignet locations and I went to all, but one. The Royal Street Cafe Beignet is the place to go! It’s a little more tucked away and therefore, subject to far less lines. Depending on the day, you might be waiting anywhere from 15-45 minutes for your beignets at some of the other locations. I walked straight up to the counter both times I went to the Royal Street Cafe Beignet. I did go pretty early in the morning, but I still think it’s a far less popular location. There’s a cozy courtyard attached to the building, where you can enjoy your fresh, fried goods surrounded by thick palm trees and gentle jazz coming in through the speakers. If you get here early enough, it’ll be pretty empty and it’s the perfect opportunity to just sit and soak it all in. 

Note: The reason I like Cafe Beignet over Cafe du Monde is because they’re simply just fresher. To accommodate for the high demand, Cafe du Monde has bags prepped and ready to go, so while you may be served faster, there’s a chance your beignets have been steaming up that bag for 10-15 minutes already. 

Domenica’s: Pasta lovers, this is for you! Domenica’s is a gorgeous Italian restaurant serving some seriously delicious dishes. Hand-selected meats and cheeses, salads, pizzas, and pasta are what you’ll find here. They’ve got an amazing, diverse menu and I can guarantee you will not be disappointed by anything you try. Dishes here range from $14-25, aside from their $80 charcuterie board that I was drooling over as I watched it get delivered to other tables around me. (This girl is not yet in the $80 cheese tax bracket…) 

What to Do

Bayou Kayak Tour: I am a huge fan of kayaking! I try and book a tour like this whenever I’m traveling somewhere near any sort of body of water, but this was unlike anything I’ve done before. I booked my tour through Wild Louisiana Tours and it was such a cool experience! Free transportation from the French Quarter was included and our tour guide was awesome. We saw multiple alligators and a massive eagles nest on our trip. The swamp was beautiful and once you get out far enough, so serene. A wonderful way to take in the gorgeous environment of Louisiana. 

ResortPass: This is only necessary if you’re staying somewhere without a pool. To save some money, I booked a cheaper accommodation without any amenities, but I still wanted to spend at least one lazy morning lounging by the pool. ResortPass lets you purchase day passes to upscale hotels, giving you full access to their pools. You can come and go throughout the entire day and enjoy everything they offer to regular guests. I purchased a pass to the W New Orleans and had the entire pool to myself all morning. I ate beignets by the pool read my book in peace, and swam under the hot sun. It was glorious. The pass is typically around $50 per person, so depending on the size of your group, this may not necessarily be the cheaper option, but for me, it definitely was. Plus, I think it’s fun that you get to browse all of the hotels in the area and visit your top pick. This is available in cities all around the world, so something to keep in mind wherever you go!

Preservation Hall: It’s not a trip to New Orleans without experiencing their vibrant culture surrounding jazz music. Preservation Hall provides intimate jazz concerts in a building rich with history. The building is kept in conditions similar to when it was built, so it feels like stepping into a time capsule. Everyone sits on wooden benches while the band banters back and forth between lively songs. The experience itself is pretty cheap, but it’s also pretty short. The concert is no more than 40 minutes start to finish, but still a worthy stop if you want to be transported for a night!

Stroll + Shop French Quarter: And of course, nothing beats aimlessly wandering the streets of the French Quarter. The colorful architecture and the humid air makes you feel like you’re taking a stroll down a real Caribbean street. Tip: Walking through the French Quarter at night is kind of like one big frat party. I never felt unsafe about it, but if you prefer quiet evenings and a more reserved crowd, I would definitely schedule your visits to the French Quarter before dinnertime. Just walking around, popping in and out of art shops, and snapping photos of all the gorgeous facades is such a simple activity, but one of the things I remember best. It started raining on my last day as I was walking around, but it was warm and only drizzling. A trumpet player could be heard from a few streets away and it was like a snapshot of New Orleans that I wish I could just bottle up forever.

The post New Orleans Highlights for a Quick Trip appeared first on Gather Lemons.

You know we are huge Disneyland fans and try to visit a couple times a year, but we are also fans of Disney World too.  In fact, my husband and I took our honeymoon to Disney World in combination with a cruise.  We love to visit Disney World every year around our anniversary in November.  We love visiting at this time of year because we get to enjoy Food & Wine at Epcot and usually visit one of the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party’s of the year.  I’ve compiled several different ways you can get discounted tickets to Disney World.  The discounts may not be huge, but every little bit helps when it comes to a Disney vacation.  

Here are several ways you can save on Disney World park tickets and hotel packages:

Get Away Today – Get Away Today offers discount tickets to Disney World (and other Orlando theme parks). I have used Get Away Today nearly a dozen times for our Disneyland trips, so I am thrilled that they also offer discounts to Disney World.  Their customer service is top notch, I highly recommend them.  

Right now, there is a super deal where you can get a day at each Walt Disney World Resort Park with huge savings on a 4-Park Magic Ticket from Get Away Today!  June 1 – September 29, you can spend a day at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and save big! No theme park reservations required; blackout dates of July 1-4 and September 1-4, 2023 apply.

If you are looking for a longer stay Get Away Today is offering 7 days for the price of 5.

Undercover Tourist – Another place that sells discount tickets to Disney World is Undercover Tourist.  I have personally purchased our Disney World tickets from this company on several occasions and have been very pleased with the service (and savings).  Head over to Undercover Tourist to check out their prices, they have so many different options.  They have great hotel discounts too.

Sam’s Club – Sam’s Club has recently added travel services to their lists of offerings and you can get a nice discount to Disney World as well as other great travel destinations.  You can even save on Disney World’s special ticketed events like Disney After Hours, Mickey’s Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party and more (when they are available). I would check out their prices and see if signing up for a Sam’s Club membership is worth the discounts on travel alone.

Costco – You can’t buy individual park tickets from Costco, but they have nice discounts on package deals that include hotel and park tickets together.  I love the discounts and extra’s Costco offers for Disneyland vacations, but their offerings for Disney World are a little different (not bad, just different).  Each hotel package offers different items and perks.  With your package you may get a Costco cash card, complimentary hotel parking or other benefits, you will have to read the details on each hotel package.  They do not offer all the Disney World hotels, but you can book the Disney World Dolphin or Swan which will give you all the benefits of staying on property at Disney World.

Disney Visa – This is a different way to save a little on your vacation or possible earn some money for your Disney vacation.  The Disney Rewards Visa will pay you cash back in the form of Disney Rewards that you can use at Disney locations. It may take you awhile to rack up some rewards, but it is a simple way to save some money for a Disney trip. You may not earn a ton, but you can earn enough to buy one Disney ticket or get yourself some Disney treats.  Disney will often offer incentives if you sign up for a Disney Visa, right now they are offering a $300 or $150 statement credit.  If you already carry a balance on credit cards that isn’t paid off on a monthly basis I don’t recommend this as an option.  There is a standard card (no fee) and a Premier card ($49 annual fee).

Discounted Disney Gift Cards – Your savings with this method will be small, but like I said every little bit helps. If you have a Target REDcard you can purchase Disney gift cards and save an extra 5%.  You can get a $100 Disney gift card and pay only $95, when you pay with your REDcard. I personally would purchase my Disney tickets via Get Away Today or Undercover Tourist and save the discount Disney gift cards for Disney food or souvenirs.

Military Discount – Military personnel can get promotional prices on Disney World Park Hoppers.  You can get all the information via Disney’s website.

Make sure you always purchase your Disney World tickets from a reputable seller, like the ones I have mentioned above.  I do not recommend buying Disney tickets off of Ebay.  Let me know if you have any questions, I am always happy to chat Disney!

I’m sharing some tips and money saving advice for those that have a Disney World trip planned.  When it comes to Disneyland, I am all about the off-site hotels, they are a great way to save money.  However, when it comes to Disney World there are more benefits to staying on property. Staying at a Disney hotel also give you Extra Magic Hours, where you can enjoy the parks before regular opening or closing times.  We love these perks!  There are so many different price levels for the Disney World hotels you are sure to find one in your price range.

Before you purchase tickets you need to decide if you want one-park per day tickets or Park Hoppers. I would recommend skipping the Park Hopper option, going from each park at Disney World is not as easy and convenient as it is at Disneyland.  Plus, skipping the Park Hopper will save you some money, which you can spend on Disney souvenirs or treats.   I would just dedicate one day to each park you plan on visiting and if you decide you really want to hop to a different park you can add the option to your tickets while at Disney World. You won’t be able to add the Park Hopper option for just one day, it will be added to all the days on your ticket. Keep in mind there are four different theme parks at Disney World.

Check out other other Disney related posts:

• One of our favorite events is EPCOT Flower & Garden
• See our review of the Caribbean Beach Resort at Disney World
• Find out how you can save big of official Disney Parks souvenirs
• Check out the highlights from our trip to Disneyland Paris
• Check out our Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• I share honest reviews of all the hotels we’ve used near Disneyland

The post Discount Disney World Tickets & Packages appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Paris is a city that feels so expansive, it’s often overwhelming. But usually in one of those “I want to soak it all in and not miss a single thing” kind of ways! There are so many delicious, beautiful, exciting, romantic, and unique things to experience in this city, and I will be the first to say that Paris lives up to the hype! We have visited the City of Lights on a few different occasions and have compiled some of our favorite things to do to help ease the “where do I start” panic that sets in after you book the flight. Here are 20 essential things to do in Paris:

1. Visit a Museum

• Musee d’Orsay
• Louvre
• Petit Palais
• Picasso Museum
• Musee Rodin
• Musee Jaqemarte-Andre
• Musee des Arts et Metiers

2. Photo-worthy Streets:

• Rue Cremieux: Looking for a pop of color amidst the neutral palette of central Paris? Take a trip to the 11th Arrondissement and stroll down Rue Cremieux, a charming street lined with brightly-painted houses in a range of pastel hues. 
• Rue de l’Abreuvoir: Located in the 18th Arrondissement, this is where you can find the charming Maison Rose, the picturesque pink restaurant that you’ve probably spotted on your Instagram feed once or twice. Aside from that, you’ll find tree-lined cobblestone streets and a peak at the stunning Sacre Couer, Paris’ famous church on a hill. 
• Rue de l’Université: Boasting an impressively intimate view of the Eiffel Tower, this is one of Paris’ most famous streets.

3. L’atelier Lumieres: L’atelier Lumieres means ‘Studio of Lights’ and is a revolving door of unique, immersive art experiences. This is where Paris’ Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience was hosted and they hold many other similar experiences!

4. Notre Dame: A visit to Notre Dame now takes on even more meaning when you think about the immense community response to the fire back in 2019. To see how beautifully it stands, even after the destruction is truly something. This is also a place where you might find a good amount of street performers that are so entertaining to watch!

5. Walk/Bike the City: Paris is a gorgeous place to slow down and take in the views. Sometimes when we visit “bucket list destinations” like Paris, we try and go, go, go, but some of my best memories were made in the slow moments where I simply just take it in. I love just walking the streets and admiring the gorgeous buildings or the view of the Seine.  I recommend grabbing a croissant or baguette and go for a walk or rent a bike from a nearby business. You can learn more about where and how to rent bikes in Paris here.

6. Picnic at Place de Vosges: Despite the never-ending fine cuisine available in Paris, I still believe one of the best culinary experiences you can have will be with food from the grocery store. Stumbling into a Monoprix and loading up on French staples like bread, cheese, and berries, and toting them to a grassy square is quintessential Parisian culture! If you’re looking for a great place to picnic, check out the Place de Vosges, one of Paris’ oldest public squares.

7. Trocadero (Eiffel Tower): If you’re wanting to “visit the Eiffel Tower”, I would personally recommend going to the Trocadero. It’s a square elevated on a hill near the tower. You get an unobstructed view and get to avoid craning your neck to take it all in.

8. Opera Garnier: Walking into the Opera House, it feels like you’re being transported to a different time! I can picture women in their hooped dresses ascending the stairs towards their seats. The cool things is that you can actually still attend operas here, but the more affordable option is of course to simple pay for a self-guided tour. For €14, you can walk around and admire the ornate ceilings and grand halls at your own pace.

9. Carette Cafe or Cafe de Flore: In the city of cafes, the Carette Cafe and Cafe de Flore have made quite the name for themselves. With stunning outdoor patio spaces and a pastry selection to write home about, these cafes are the epitome of the Parisian experience.

10. Arc de Triomphe: This is perhaps one of the more “cliche” stops in Paris, but the Arc de Triomphe is stunning in person and in a great location! Located on the Rue de Champs-Elysees, it’s within walking distance to a row of high-end shops. Now, whether BVLGARI is in your price range or not doesn’t really matter. It’s a gorgeous street to walk down and window shop from. (Or drop $8,000 on a new watch souvenir if that really is your thing.)

11. River Cruise: Is there anything more magical than drifting along the Seine. You can choose a cruise specifically for seeing sights or one that serves food or a romantic feel to it.

12. BnF Richelieu (National Library): If you’re a true bookworm, you know that finding the right place to read is almost as important as finding the right book to read. This BnF Richelieu is one of the most stunning public libraries you will ever set foot in! With expansive floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and vaulted dome ceilings, this place is the perfect cozy stop for an afternoon read. 

13. Visit a Palace or Chateau

• Fontainebleau
• Chantilly
• Vaux-le-Vicomte
• Palace of Versailles

14. Pantheon: The Latin Quarter’s more famous monument, the Pantheon is a nearly 250-year-old church that is absolutely worthy of a visit! With stunning exterior columns and ornate interiors, this place is the epitome of European architecture.

15. Sacre Couer: If you love visiting unique church buildings, you have to make a stop at the Sacre Couer! While the journey is certainly not an easy one (hello, never-ending steps!), the views are well worth it! A Byzantine-style building that overlooks all of Paris!

16. Shakespeare & Co Bookstore: As an avid reader, the Shakespeare & Co bookstore was heaven! You can tell that a lot of thought was put into this space. It’s so much larger on the inside and there are multiple rooms, full of primarily English-language books. There’s a cozy room upstairs where guests can stay awhile to read. (Depending on what time you visit, you will most likely have to wait in line to enter, but I personally found that the line goes faster than you might think and it’s worth it to avoid an over-crowded bookstore.)

17. Jardin Luxembourg: There are countless gardens spread throughout the city, and this is one of the most famous, and for good reason! Stroll through the spiraling natural design of this space. I highly recommend grabbing a baguette, some fruit and cheese and having a picnic in the beautiful Jardin Luxembourg.

18. Galeries Lafayette: The rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette department store has one of the best views of Paris. Panoramic views of the Eiffel Tower, the Opera House, and rows of charming Parisian architecture. It’s free to visit the rooftop, but you will probably have to wait in a line, it should go pretty quick though.

19. Bake with a Pasty Chef: While it’s one thing to pop into a boulangerie and order a croissant right off the menu, it’s something entirely different to learn to make them yourself! Airbnb hosts tons of immersive experiences that are led by locals themselves. Starting at $70 per person, you can enjoy a hands-on croissant baking class with Parisian chef, Matthieu!

20. Disneyland Paris: This list would truly be incomplete without mentioning Disneyland Paris. There’s nothing like taking a stroll down main street, croissant in hand, as you soak in a bit of that European Disney magic! You can check out our post with some highlights, tips and tricks of visiting Disneyland Paris.

What are some of your favorite things to do in Paris?  There really is so much to do and we’re always open to new ideas!

The post 20 Essential Things to Do in Paris appeared first on Gather Lemons.

We crossed something off our Disney bucket list! We finally attended the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival last year. It was completely magical! The EPCOT International Flower & Garden festival starts in the spring and includes bright blooming gardens, fresh flavors, lively entertainment and more. This year the festival runs from March 1 – July 5, 2023.  There is no extra fee to attend the Flower & Garden Festival, it is included with.your regular admission to EPCOT.

Here is a peek at what you can expect at the Flower & Garden Festival. All throughout EPCOT you will see gorgeous gardens and living sculptures of some of your favorite Disney characters.

Similar to the Food & Wine festival you will find outdoor booths with yummy food dishes, desserts and drinks.  Here is a peek at just a few of the yummy food and drink choices we sampled.  You can view see all the food options that are available this year in the 2023 Epcot Flower & Garden Foodie Guide.  I highly recommend checking out the foodie guide before you go and making a list of some of the things you want to try.  You can also pickup a handy festival guide when you get there.  Here are a few things we sampled when we attended previously:

Violet Lemonade (non-alcoholic)

Strawberry Mousse with chocolate-crisp pearls

Tostada de Cochinita

In addition to all the fun food options, there are so many pretty floral and topiary displays to enjoy. This was one of my favorite parts about the festival, it was so colorful and beautiful.  

Beauty and the Beast

Lion King

Lady and the Tramp

Kermit the Frog

You can also enjoy concerts that take place at the American Gardens Theater with their Garden Rocks Concert Series, again this is included in your admission to Epcot.  They do offer Garden Rocks dining packages to guarantee you get a seat for the show. You can check out the 2023 Garden Rocks line up to see a complete list of all the shows and dates. There are performances by Daughtry, Smash Mouth, Jo Dee Messina, Casting Crowns and more.

I highly recommend a visit to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden festival. if you want to book a Disney World or Disneyland vacation I suggest booking through my friends at Get Away Today, their service is top notch and their prices can’t be beat. 

We recently stayed at the Riviera Resort which has super easy access to EPCOT via the Disney Skyliner.  Other hotels that offer Skyliner service are Disney’s Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation and Pop Century resorts.  Watch for my review on the Riviera Resort coming soon (hint: we LOVED it). For even more Disney tips and information, check out these posts as well.

• Complete Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• Make a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop
• Review of the Caribbean Beach Resort at Disney World
• Our tip for saving big of official Disney Parks souvenirs
• Highlights from our trip to Disneyland Paris

The post Disney World Epcot Flower & Garden 2023 appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Disneyland has evolved a lot over the years. While all of the new reservation systems can feel overwhelming, armed with some important knowledge, your trip can still be a magical time for you and your family! While the learning curve is definitely challenging at first, I have found that when you lean into the new technology, it can actually make your trip run a lot smoother! Here’s everything you need to know to make your to Disneyland trip feel both seamless and magical!

2023 is a great year to visit, because Disneyland is celebrating 100 years of the Walt Disney Company which means there are some new festivities and fun food available at Disneyland. You can book a discount Disneyland vacation through my friends at Get Away Today, they always have the best package and ticket prices for Disneyland vacations.  Right now they are offering an EXTRA day free at Disneyland, you’ll get five days at the Disneyland parks for the price of four. Plus, while I am visiting the parks Get Away Today is offering double the usual package discount.  Use the code THRIVING20 on your discounted Disneyland package to save an additional $20 off, code is valid 3/29-4/1.  Here are some of the events and happenings at Disneyland for 2023 that you don’t want to miss:

2023 Happenings:

Lunar New Year Celebration: January 20 – February 15, 2023

Disney100 Celecbration:  January 27, 2023  Disneyland is celebrating 100 years of the Walt Disney Company. This celebration will bring new entertainment like the World of Color One & Wondrous Journey Fireworks Show.  And food…there are always new treats when Disney celebrates. So fun! 

Opening of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland: January 27, 2023 

Disneyland’s French Market Restaurant and the Mint Julep Bar will close:  February 17, 2023: They are expected to reopen later this year, after having been re-themed around “The Princess and the Frog”.

Magic Happens Parade returns: February 24, 2023

California Adventure Food & Wine Festival: March 3 – April 24, 2023 – A family fave!

Toon Town Reopens: March 19, 2023

Grad Nights at Disneyland: (May 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 25, 30 & 31 and June 2, 4, 7, 9, 14 & 16, 2023)

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort: TBA (Usually 2nd week in Sept – October 31).  Halloween time also bring the Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure select nights (these sell out quickly)

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort: TBA (Usually 2nd week in November – first part of January).

Below you will find everything you need to know to make your trip to Disneyland as easy and as magical as possible.  If you have any questions along the way, don’t hesitate to ask!

At Home: Making Reservations

In previous years, visiting Disneyland was as simple as purchasing tickets and showing up at the gate. Now, there are a few additional steps to take. To ensure the parks don’t become overpopulated on any given day, guests are now required to create reservations. When purchasing your tickets online, you will be prompted to choose which days you are planning to visit the parks. On each day of the calendar, there will be an icon, indicating which park still has availability for your desired day. 

You will then be prompted to choose your starting park for each day. If you selected ‘One Park Per Day’ tickets, you will spend the entire day in the park you choose. If you selected ‘Park Hopper’ tickets, this is the park you will start your day in.

All About Park Hopping

Disneyland Resort has two different parks: Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park. If you choose ‘Park Hopper’ tickets, you will start you day in one park, but after a certain time, you will be able to move over to the other park. You will then be permitted to go back and forth between the two parks as much as you want for the rest of the day. January 1 – February 3, that time will be 1:00. Starting February 4, it will change to 11:00. This ability costs an extra $60 per ticket, regardless of how many days you will be visiting the parks. 

The alternative is ‘One Park Per Day’ tickets. These are the baseline Disneyland tickets, and if you purchase these, you will spend your entire day at the park you start out at. 

At Home: Restaurant Reservations

Most sit-down restaurants at the parks require a reservation to accommodate their growing interest. Reservations open up 60 days in advance and tend to fill up quickly. I recommend setting a reminder on your phone for the day they open up so you can try and nab those spots in time! To make your reservations, go to Disneyland.com, hover over ‘Things to Do’, and select ‘Make Reservations’ under ‘Dining’. 

At the Park: Mobile Ordering

While your park tickets and dining reservations will be handled ahead of time, there are a few tools that you can use during your time in the parks that will help make your day go even smoother! You will need to download and login to the Disneyland app to access these features. 

The first feature is Mobile Ordering! The lines for quick service food stands can get very long. Fortunately, the Disneyland app has a free feature that allows you to order your food ahead of time and pick up at a special window, skipping the line altogether. You can place these orders on your mobile phone via the Disneyland app by clicking the plus sign on the bottom of your screen and selecting ‘Order Food’. 

At the Park: Lightning Lanes & Genie+

You can also utilize a feature called Genie+. This is similar to the old MaxPass system, if that is at all familiar to you. Genie+ is a paid service that allows guests to select specific return times for a ride. When you make a Genie+ reservation, you will be able to bypass the standby line and enter a Lightning Lane that has a capped capacity, ensuring a faster wait time. This service costs an additional $25 per person per day, but I believe is well worth it if you are going during peak season!  You also have the option to purchase Genie+ at the same time you purchase your tickets.

You can also purchase access to an Individual Lightning Lane. These apply to one specific ride and are a separate, additional charge for some of the most popular rides. Guests can purchase a Lightning Lane pass for up to 2 attractions per day. You do not need a Genie+ service to purchase these. 

Individual Lightning Lanes can be purchased for Rise of the Resistance, located in Disneyland Park, as well as Radiator Springs Racers and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, located in California Adventure. Price and availability will range by date and attraction, but will land somewhere between $7-$20 per ticket. You can purchase your Lightning Lane passes upon entering the theme park on the day you intend to use them. To do so, open the Disneyland app, click the plus sign at the bottom of the screen, and select ‘View my Genie Day and Tip Board’. 

At the Park: MagicBand+

MagicBand+ is another unique service, designed to create more convenience during your visit. This is a service that has been available at Walt Disney World for a few years now, but has just recently made its way to the west coast park. However, only MagicBand+ is supported at Disneyland. MagicBand and MagicBand 2 are only usable at Walt Disney World. Your MagicBand+ is a wearable band that allows you to:

• Scan into the parks
• Check in at Lightning Lanes
• Link PhotoPass Photos to your account

All of these functions are accomplished simply by tapping your wrist against the reader. (Instead of scanning either physical or virtual park ticket barcodes.) Another unique ability of the MagicBand+ is to enhance your experience during select nighttime spectaculars. Your band will glow and pulse along with the show.

MagicBand+ designs can be purchased either online at shopDisney.com or in select shops located at Disneyland Resort, with prices starting at $34.99. After purchasing, you will link them to your account through the Disneyland app.   This is an added expense that isn’t necessarily needed, you can just as easily skip the MagicBand+ and use the app.

Have a Magical Day!

I know that our first (and subsequent) family trips were incredibly memorable, and I can only imagine the same will be the case for you! If you’re ready to book your trip, click here to get started! Get Away Today is how we have booked the majority of our Disneyland trips. Get Away Today has several money-saving packages available, as well as discounted Disneyland park tickets too! If you book a package, use the code THRIVING10 to save an additional $10.

For even more Disney magic, tips and tricks, check out the following posts:

• Honest reviews of all the hotels we’ve used around Disneyland
• Big list of Disneyland hotels for large families (sleeps 6+)
• Complete Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• Make a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop
• Our visit to Club 33

The post Everything You Need to Know for Visiting Disneyland in 2023 appeared first on Gather Lemons.