1.  The Fireworks over the Castle

I admit that I have always been afraid of fireworks, but somehow in Disneyland over the castle it truly is magical.  I will also admit that I cry every time I get to watch one of these shows, you can ask my family.  Some people will say that you have to watch them from a specific location, but I have found that there are many areas which you can enjoy the show from.  Directly in front of the castle is one of my favorite spots, but I’ve had the opportunity to watch them from main street near the castle, as well as further down main street close to the train station.  I can’t say that I’ve been in a bad location yet.  I’m excited to view the new Fireworks show for the 60th Anniversary celebration and I will let you know the best places I found to watch them from in 2015.

2.  Cars Land

By Cars Land I mean specifically a couple of things.  The new “land” itself is amazing and if you loved the movie, you will love this land in its entirety.  I absolutely love the Radiator Springs Racers ride.  It really immerses you into the movie and you feel like you are traveling along Route 66 with a high spreed race at the end of the ride.  This ride can have a long wait time, but I suggest trying the single riders line.  You stand the whole time in line with your party and don’t have to split up until the very end.  My husband and I have utilized the single riders line and on occasion (luck of how the cars come out) we have ended up racing against each other.    My other favorite thing in Cars Land is when the lights come on in the main street area of Route 66.  At dusk you can stand at the entrance to Cars Land and watch the lights come on.  It is a spectacular sight and something I recommend you get to see while you are there.

3.  World of Color

This water, lights, and fire show you don’t want to miss.  I highly recommend getting a FastPass since this a wildly popular show.  I had the opportunity to see this show on its opening weekend back in 2010 and I couldn’t believe how amazing this new show was and how again Disney magic had come to life.  It is simply dazzling how Disney Imagineers can project a movie onto water.  As the water shoots into the sky, there are different scenes from movies that appear.  Depending on the movie depends on some of the special effects you will also see.  During the Lion King portion fire shoots out of some of the areas, so not only are you dazzled with water and movies, but now the element of fire has been added.  I have seen this show from many different vantage points and honestly can’t say I’ve had a bad location (unless you’re behind a pole or a really tall person).  A word of caution, if you are near the front you will get wet with spray from the water.  As with the Fireworks show, I can’t wait to view the new 60th Anniversary show.

4.  The Blue Bayou Restaurant

So I’ve touched on a few shows and rides, how about for some fantastic food options.  Although I’m not able to eat all of the fancy exotic foods I would like, I am able to try some locations that really do cater and have a splendid choice of options.  Being that I have multiple food allergies, restaurants can often be a challenge.  So with that said, The Blue Bayou was fantastic.  I was able to speak directly to a chef (as I do at all places that I eat in Disney), who was willing to make some different options available to me.  I had a perfectly cooked tenderloin and lobster tail.  The chef managed to amaze me with some very unusual vegetable choices as well.  I was impressed with how well everything was cooked and how everything tasted.  My husband who doesn’t have food allergies was able to try a variety of different options that The Blue Bayou offers.  He also commented that everything he had was simply amazing.  Not only is the food flavorful and delicious the atmosphere can’t be beat.  You are sitting inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  We were lucky enough to have had a table right on the water were you could listen to the peaceful sounds of the bayou.  You are also able to hear the boats filled with people as they slowly went by.  This is a restaurant location that we will definitely return too in our future visits.

5.  Ride or Show – How to choose?

I have so many rides that I simply wouldn’t want to miss on any trip to Disneyland that it would be hard for me to choose only one.  So a few of my favorites are Small World (I know the song is super contagious), Buzz Lightyear Ranger Spin (well I love Toy Story), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (who doesn’t love a good roller coaster) and Indian Jones (I mean really the big ball coming right at you, what isn’t to love?).  Those are just a few of my favorites.  So I guess that brings me to the Fantasmic Show.  I love that this show is right in the middle of Frontierland and on the Rivers of America.  It even uses the Sailing Ship Columbia and the Mark Twain Riverboat, both rides that you can do during the day.  This show also provides water, fire and pictures on the water.  The music is extraordinary and really brings the entire show to life.  It is also one of the most crowded shows that you will see because of its location.  I recommend trying the new Fantasmic Dining Package where you can choose from a couple of different options.   You can choose from 2 different sit down locations or a Dining-on-the-go package which is significantly cheaper.  Included with your meal are your Fantasmic tickets to view the show from the reserved viewing area.  For this reason I am trying the Dining-on-the-Go package when I’m there in a few weeks.  This is a show you don’t want to miss.

So there you have my top 5 picks for what not to miss in Disneyland.  As one last suggestion I would recommend taking one of the guided tours.  They are completely worth your money and you get to see a side of Disneyland that not everyone gets to see.  They are an additional cost, so that is why I didn’t list it in the top 5 choices.  Sometimes just the cost of getting to Disneyland is all people can afford.  So if you ever get to take that trip and have some extra money, plan a guided tour.  I recommend the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps Tour and the Holiday Time Tour.  Those 2 I have experienced and I can’t wait to experience the others.

Please let me know how I can help you plan a magical trip to Disneyland.

To Infinity and Beyond – Traci