planningmagic

[planningmagic]

Ramada Anaheim Maingate at the Park Address: 1650 S Harbor Blvd Anaheim, CA 92802  Phone:(714) 772-0440

I booked my first ever birthday trip to Disneyland and booked a stay with Ramada.

I am very pleased with my stay there. The ease of check-in was great; not to mention exceptional customer service from check-in to check-out.

I managed to be upgraded to one of the newer rooms towards the back of the property and I was not let down at all.

Very roomy, clean, and running water (with working hot and cold water at that) to keep everyone happy. Word of warning for our light-sleeper Disney friends, walls are kind of thin. It didn’t bother me at all considering coming back from the parks past midnight all I wanted to do was shower and sleep. So no complaints there.

Breakfast was ample; doughnuts, bagels, and even boiled egg. They also had cereal, milk, orange juice, and wonderful coffee. Breakfast staff was very nice. =)

The walk from the property to the Esplanade - easy. 5-7 minutes at that; AT THAT. For us power walkers that time might be cut down. (Allow for the light; sometimes the wait is long).

Absolutely no complaints from me about this property and would stay here again in a heartbeat!

My Ratings: 5 is the highest —— 1 is the lowest:

Amenities: 5 Room: 4 Staff: 5 Proximity to Disneyland and Restaurants: 4 Cleanliness: 5

[planningmagic]

Attention all DISNEY BLOGS!

I am a BRAND-NEW 100% Disney Blog; and I would love to explore the world of Disney on Tumblr! 

If you are a fellow Disney blog please reblog this and I will follow you; as my dash needs a little more magic. Any follow-backs are appreciated but not required(:

[planningmagic]

I need to follow more disney blogs that are active and love love love disneeyyyy <3 I’m a full disney blog myself! I check out disney blogs if you ask me to as well :D

please reblog this so more people can find my blog and like/reblog so I can check out theres it’d mean the world to me thank you!

[planningmagic]

go away i dont want to talk to you

[planningmagic]

G.A.C. - Guest Assistance Card

I had the great pleasure recently of interviewing a guest mommy blogger who has used the Guest Assistance Card successfully.

Melissa Hincha-Ownby is a mother of 2 children both with Autism.  I decided to interview her due to the fact I know there are other families and parents out there with children who have Autism and wanted to know what other families and parents may go through.  While your own experience may differ, we can call learn a little something from others may it be big or small.

Here is the interview:

1. Tell us a little about your self; what you do, how many children you have?

My name is Melissa Hincha-Ownby and I am a freelance writer.  I cover a variety of environmental and personal finance topics for the Mother Nature Network (http://www.mnn.com) and I host an autism blog at TheAutismEducationSite.com.  I have two children, Alexander is 11 and Ava is 9.  Both are on the autism spectrum.  Ava was diagnosed first, with classic autism at the age of 2.  Alexander was diagnosed a few years later, initially with Asperger’s Syndrome and then PDD-NOS.

2. What challenges do you face when taking your children to places where there are large crowds, especially locations like Disneyland, Disneyworld, or there theme related parks?  How do you handle them?  What are some special things you do to make your children more comfortable?

The primary challenge we’ve faced is with sensory overload issues.  Too many noises, new things to see, and a lot of people!  When the kids were younger we utilized the stroller and a set of soundproof headphones for each of them.  This enabled them to block out much of the extra sound and then use the stroller(s) as sort of a ‘cocoon.’  We always made sure to take plenty of breaks, have a lot of snacks on hand and realize that we were on their schedule, they weren’t on ours.

3. What are your Guest Card Assistance (GAC) experiences with Disneyland?

            a) Using the card (ease and use of securing a pass)

It was easy to secure the card on each of the visits we made using the GAC.  I never had any cast member question the need for the card, whether it was at the time we received the card or when we presented it to a cast member at an attraction.  My parents have also taken each child on a solo trip to Disneyland and had no problems.

  b) What do the other people you have come in contact think about the card

Most of the responses we received were very positive but every now and then we would hear people talk about how the kids ‘look fine.’  This is a common problem that parents of children with autism face because it is a hidden disability, especially with children that are on the higher functioning end of the spectrum.

c) Negatives and Positives

Positives – Enables the children to enjoy Disneyland without the added stress of standing while waiting in line.  Sure, some of our waits were longer than they would have been in the standard queue but because the kids had their strollers to cocoon up in, it was a more positive experience for all

Negatives – I wish the pass was on a more durable piece of paper because after a few days it quickly shows a lot of wear and tear.  I think a lanyard-type GAC would be great.

 4. GAC and no GAC experiences and how did they differ from each other.

While trips with and without were both enjoyable, the no GAC trip was our best yet.  The kids are now 11 and 9 and so we decided to ditch the stroller (my kids are on the small size so still somewhat fit into a stroller) and just go for it.  It was nice not having to maneuver a stroller around through the crowds and we actually ended up having some great conversations while standing inline with other families.

5.  Advice and recommends for families who are dealing with Autism and want to visit places like Disneyland and Disneyworld?

Plan, plan plan…and then be OK if you have to throw those plans out the window.  I would suggest making a loose schedule – when you will stop for snacks and meals and perhaps even head back to the hotel for a nap or a dip in the pool.  Make a list of the must-see and do items and work your way down it.  If the kids are having a rough day and would rather turn in early, be okay with that.

6. How do you feel about families with specials needs who use the card correctly, informing other families who have NO specials needs to go through the screening process to secure a GAC at City Hall or Guest Relations at the Resorts?

In my opinion, this will eventually ‘ruin it for all’; for lack of a better description.  The GAC sometimes gets you into an attraction sooner but other times your wait is double.  It is not a front of the line pass and I think that misconception is what causes other families, those that don’t need the GAC, to seek one out.

For more information on Melissa and her blogs, you check out a blog of hers here:

http://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/blogs/disneyland-and-autism 

[planningmagic]

it's a sign of heaven that you followed me! I'm planning a wdw vacation right now with my friends and need all assistance possible because we are very limited economically. Do you have any tips on saving? We're traveling internationally so the flight alone is a huge stretch and we want to economize as much as we can. It's worrying me a lot because if the price is too much some of us won't be able to go

hi!!! Thanks for the message! :)what exactly is your budget for hotel and tickets (park hoppers)? how long will you be staying? have you checked out our facebook page? we are active in there as well! Feel free to email us planning.magic@yahoo.com with more details. :) have a good day; and we look forward to hearing back from you!

[planningmagic]

Flo's V8 Cafe, Carsland - DCA, Anaheim, CA Picture taken by: Christine A. Rating: 5.00/5.00 By Christine A. Having had the awesome breakfast options here at Flo's, we decided that same day we would eat there for dinner. I decided to order the Pork Loin with the cola BBQ sauce. It is served with a choice of two sides and a garlic chive roll all- $11.49. Just in case you wanted to know what the sides are, here they are: Sides: HOT SIDES: roasted corn medley, vegetarian baked beans, peas and carrots, mashed potatoes COLD SIDES: "Radiatior" Pasta Sald, Cole Slaw For my two side options I got the Roasted Corn Medley and the Mashed Potatoes. Usually with BBQ sauces it's really tangy. Not this one! This cola BBQ was really good and it hit the sweet and tangy spots they're suppose to. The Roasted Corn Medley was so tasty it left me wanting more. The mashed potatoes were really good too! Now back to this Pork Loin BBQ; it was so tender and tasty if this place was a buffet I could have gone back for seconds. Would I come back here to eat? OH YEAH! Would I order it again? OF COURSE! For the price of the plate and the scenery, it is well worth the price.

[planningmagic]

Join a fashionable crowd of thousands SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, for DAPPER DAY Spring 2013, our 3rd annual spring outing - this time at both parks of the Disneyland Resort.

Dapper Day is not a private ticketed function or convention, but simply a day to visit the parks with other stylish guests.

GATHERINGS:

2-3p THE COLUMBIA CRUISE departing from Frontier Landing The Mark Twain Riverboat is busy this year so we’ll rough it aboard a full-scale replica of Columbia Rediviva, the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe.

4-6p THE SINGLE MINGLE - Meet other sartorially minded singles while sipping California’s finest at the upper and lower patios of the Golden Vine Winery in Disney California Adventure Park.

7p-11p THE DAPPER DERBY at the King Arthur Carrousel Gather in Fantasyland for a most elegant ride on one of 68 antique white horses. (Castle courtyard area will be closed around 8:45 in preparation for, and during the fireworks at 9:30)

10p-1a AFTER DAPPER DRINKS at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel, and Hearthstone Lounge and lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa.

Disneyland is scheduled to close at 11p with fireworks at 9:30; Disney California Adventure closing at 10p.

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PARK TICKETS & HOTELS

GET DISCOUNTED DISNEY PARK (AND AFTER 4PM) TICKETS FOR DAPPER DAY HERE. (Ticket site might not work in Chrome, try Firefox.) These are regular park tickets sold via Disney’s Group Ticket Sales for Dapper Day. Discounted tickets can only be purchased online and are not refundable. SALES END 9p PST Saturday Feb 23.

Save over $100 on Disney room reservations for Dapper Day weekend. DISNEYLAND HOTEL rooms $179/night, DISNEY GRAND CALIFORNIAN RESORT & SPA $199/night! Ask for the “Dapper Day” group rate. Call Disney Group Reservations at 714-520-5005 or book online HERE.

ANNUAL PASSES - On Sun Feb 24 all annual passes except SoCal Select are valid. 

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[planningmagic]

Crowne Plaza Anaheim-Garden Grove, CA 12021 Harbor Blvd. Garden Grove, CA 92840 1.877.859.5095 Rating: 4.75/5.00 By: Chrissy A. My fiance and I stayed here September 2011 for Labor Day weekend. We thought it was going to be a very busy weekend considering this was a holiday weekend, especially for the school kids. We enjoyed the fact that it wasn't busy at all. We arrived early in the morning and found it to not be a busy check-in moment. We stopped by the hotel lobby bathroom because we drove from Northern California-Bay Area to Anaheim. The hotel lobby bathrooms are amazing; Amazingly clean and beautiful. Although check-in time is 4pm we were lucky enough to check into our room early. We loved staying here as they have a dedicated free shuttle to and from the Disneyland resort. The hotel is within walking distance to a nearby Starbucks located in another hotel, Target directly across the street, and a few awesome restaurants; Red Robin and Outback Steakhouse. We had walked to Red Robin for lunch but for dinner we had dinner at the Cantina inside the Crowne. The food was so delicious and service was awesome. We also had coffee from Diedrich's Coffee Bar--good coffee for the morning for those who need a quick fix of caffeine and don't want to walk a few steps to Starbucks. We weren't able to go swimming because we were so busy at Disneyland, but did manage to to have a look at the pool area. It was very clean and inviting and always busy when we walked by. The room we stayed in was a Guestroom; fully furnished with a 32" LCD HD flat-screen tv, really comfortable beds and pillows, and a super-duper clean bathroom. What is good about this hotel too, is that if you don't already have your Park Hopper Tickets for Disneyland and DCA, you are able to purchase them at the front desk. I cannot stress enough how well taken care of we were here. We had no real issues with this hotel and would stay here again. I only knocked down my rating .25pts because I wish they were a bit closer to Disneyland. But for the amount we paid for our stay and Park Hoppers and the valuable Shuttle Service to and from Disneyland, it was worth every penny!

[planningmagic]

Blue Bayou - Disneyland - Anaheim, CA Rating: 4.75/5.00 By Chrissy A. This is one platter not to be missed at Blue Bayou. In my last review of Blue Bayou food, I had ordered the Cajun Spiced Salmon on my last Disneyland trip in July 2012. During my Disneyland trip in September 2011, my boyfriend and I decided to try out Blue Bayou for the first time. Reading that menu for the time ever was very overwhelming for me. And being a big beef fan, I didn't know what to do. I saw the Buccaneer's Beef Short Ribs and the Roasted Beef Strip Loin. I had a hard time deciding. But finally I decided to go with the Buccaneer's Beef Short Ribs. OH MY WORD! This beef dish was just heavenly. It is slow roasted and it has a Zinfandel demi-glaze. It also came with Blue Bayou potatoes (which I need to interject are AWESOMELY DELICIOUS), and seasoned vegetables. The dish was served with either a choice of New Orleans Gumbo or a Cajun-inspired salad. I opted for the New Orleans Gumbo. It was very tasty and it had a nice little spicy kick to it. Would I order this again? In a heartbeat. But I think on my next visit to the Blue Bayou, I going to try out their Isla Cruces Crab Cakes!

[planningmagic]

Flo’s V8 Cafe, Carsland - DCA, Anaheim, CA Picture taken by: Laken Abenoja Rating: 4.75/5.00

By: Christine A.

Whaaaat is this you ask! Let me tell you…

I was tempted to order their American Breakfast plate, but I didn’t want to get entirely full and not be able to walk around the park. So my daughter and I decided to split the Brioche French Toast plate.

This hefty breakfast is good enough to share between two people or two adults and a toddler.

It is some of the best tasting french toast as it is covered with salted caramel sauce and Bananas.

I am not a huge fan of fresh bananas, but this breakfast was really good; and totally affordable. I love how the taste of the salted caramel, the bites of bananas didn’t overpower the actual french toast. I gave this breakfast plate a rating of 4.75 only because I think it should cone with an option for vanilla ice cream on the side.

Just sayin…. :)

[planningmagic]

Jolly Roger Hotel – Anaheim, CA​ Rating: 3.75/5.00 By: Christine A. What can I say about this hotel property? It’s a quaint hotel nestled closely to the Portofino Inn on Harbor and Katella Avenue in Anaheim, CA. We had booked in advance a package deal with hotel stay and park hoppers which was a deal for us because we shopping for the best possible deal. We had a 2nd floor room with a small balcony that overlooked Katella Avenue and the backside of DCA. We were lucky enough to see (and hear) some of the fireworks at night. We were delighted upon entering our room that it was huger than we really thought it was going to be. We had four in our party; my daughter, my fiancé, his nephew, and me. We had a two queen bed, normal hotel room table with chairs and dresser with a not so updated TV. But the TV worked well for us so no complaints there. Bathroom is nice as the toilet and bathtub/shower are separate from the sink; separated by a door. Fully functional and clean mirrored closet with huge space to house your belongings while on vacations! The room was very clean as was the bathroom. We are huge clean freaks so this was a really good for us to see the bathroom spotless! Front desk staff was very, very nice and accommodating. Swimming pool was huger than expected, although when we went for a dip, I think there were some drunken individuals playing horse in the pool. Otherwise, the pool area is very nicely landscaped and clean. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Everyone wants to know… “What is the walk really like to Main Gate?” For a morning walk to get your blood in party mode, the walk was very nice. I love walking so, the walk in the mornings were perfect. No real complaints walking TO the park. It was walking BACK to the hotel FROM the park that I think killed us all. Usually when we go to Disneyland, we walk… and we walk…and we walk till we can no longer stand it. But having to realize you have to walk back a good half mile to ¾ of a mile back to your hotel room and no shuttle service – yeah. Our feet were hurting. No, they were dying. Once we saw the corner convenience store we knew we were almost close to getting back to the hotel. Despite the long walk back to the hotel from the park, this is a decent place to stay. Would we stay there again? Yes, if they have the best package price. Pros:​ clean bathroom, clean room, very friendly front desk staff, nice pool area, walking distance to Hilton Hotel for some Starbucks Cons:​ lobby bathroom sketchy

[planningmagic]

free Disney vacation planning!  we assist with advice on where to stay, where to eat, how to celebrate, WHERE to celebrate.  We can find you the best possible deals for your vacation budget, connect you with the best Travel Agents, as well as help you plan out special occasions such as Weddings, Reunions, Birthdays, and just anything else you want to celebrate.

we offer recommendations and assistance for both Disneyland and WDW.  we also offer advice and recommendations to those who have sensitive diets and special needs situations.