Disney+ Archives - Magical Family Travel Guide

20+ Things to Buy BEFORE You Go to Disney

katie — Fri, 20 May 2022 09:00:11 +0000

While there is no need to overpack for a Disney vacation, there are a few things you DON’T want to forget. Here are 20+ things to buy BEFORE you go to Disney (because I guarantee it will be more expensive when you get there!)

Things to Buy Before Disney World and Disneyland

Disneyland is one of my favorite vacation spots – even with the ever-growing crowds.

We have gone several times over the past few years, and I feel like I always learn a few more tips and tricks along the way.

One thing I’ve learned is how important it is to pack well before your trip.

That doesn’t mean bringing everything under the sun – but you DO need some necessities.

A few years ago, I put together this post about what you should buy before you go to Disneyland or Disney World – and every time I come home from my trip, I find another item to add to the list.

So below you’ll find our must-have items that you should buy before you go…because otherwise, it’s going to cost you a lot more in the park!

And we are all about saving money.

I’m sure many of you have already bought your tickets…but if you haven’t, we HIGHLY recommend going through Get Away Today, which is the BEST place for Disneyland tickets and hotel prices and saving money.

We have used them for Disney trips and a cruise, and have always been very happy with them. They offer:

Peace of Mind Plans – this allows you to change your tickets, hotel, etc. without a penalty
Layaway Plans – this allows you to make payments toward your trip. It just has to be paid in full two weeks before
They are the Disney experts! They have the best advice, and I have never met a person there who hasn’t gone above and beyond for their customers.

You can get an additional $10 off any vacation package for three or more nights using the code ClarksCondensed and booking through this link.

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Things to Bring to Disneyland

Comfy shoes

You will be walking A LOT during your time at Disneyland. I personally can’t wait to rack up the steps on my FitBit and finally come out triumphant as the leader of my FitBit challenges. Ha! With that said, if you have the wrong shoes, you will not be happy.

When we went after my senior year of high school, my little brother wore some Crocs. They were comfortable, but his feet got so burned through the holes. It was actually kind of funny. So you may even want to consider putting sunscreen on your feet if they aren’t closed toes.

My sister, Cindy, just told me about these Sanuk Sling Yoga Flip Flops. Her friend wore them in Disneyland, and she raved about them. Cindy just bought some from Disney, so I bought some too!

I really love the Sketchers Go Walk line. I get a new pair every year when they are on sale at Costco, and they are SO comfortable for Disneyland.

Portable charger

I just recommend having one of these for life in general, but they are great for when you aren’t going to be near an outlet for a while.

While you should try and enjoy your trip without your phone as much as possible, I’m sure you’ll want to be to take pictures, use some of these must-have Disney apps, and be able to stay in contact with others in case you get separated.

A portable charger is great for charging on the go (though I think I heard they have charging stations somewhere…but why take time out of your trip to stop and charge it?!)

I have the MyCharge Portable charger (amongst others), and it’s the best one I’ve ever owned. I love that you can charge it directly through an outlet, and it has the charging cables attached.

I heard that Disneyland recently installed these portable phone charger stations. You pay $30, get a charger, and you can swap it out at the station for a new one when it dies. There are stations like this all over the country.

You get to keep your final charger!

Hearing Protection Earmuffs

One of my friends suggested getting these for firework shoes on the Fourth of July. Since no trip to Disney would be complete without their amazing fireworks show, I think these might be worth investing in. I definitely will be getting a pair for Oliver (tiny baby ears!) and probably for Jack as well, since he doesn’t love loud noises. They are only about $15, and you can use them in the future as well!

Autograph Book

I still have my autograph book from when I went to Disneyland as a child. It was one of my most prized possessions for the longest time. If you are going with your children, I recommend buying a Disney autograph book before you go (because of course, anything you buy in the park will be way overpriced.)

I remember LOVING going up to different characters and asking them to sign my book. Amazon has a ton of really cute ones for under $10.

Extra Clothes

This is more for your children. On our last trip to Disneyland, Oliver had some tummy troubles, which resulted in a necessity to change his outfit.

Guess what? The first time it happened, we had NOTHING extra. We ended up buying $30 swimming trunks (so EXPENSIVE) because we had nothing with us.

So if you have small children, BRING extra clothes!

T-shirts

You can buy a lot of souvenirs before you even get to Disneyland or World if you want!

But I think something that you can definitely get beforehand is t-shirts. They are so expensive, and you can get similar and good quality ones for more reasonable prices.

Amazon has some, but I’m sure you could find them elsewhere, too.

I always make our shirts for Disneyland using my Cricut Maker, which makes it easy to customize!

Phone Number Bracelets

We lost Jack while we were in Disneyland, and it was terrifying. I had no identification on him, and I’m just grateful a kind worker there helped him.

You can buy bracelets to put your phone number on, which can be helpful if your child does get lost.

We have a Bluetooth watch that was called MyKidPod, but they’ve since stopped making them. I’ve been on the lookout for something similar – right now, I’m considering the Relay devices for when we go to places like Disneyland!

Unofficial Guide to Disneyland or Disney World

This is just a series of books I found that have really great ratings. I think it would be fun to read on the plane ride or drive to Disney. Whenever we went on road trips when I was younger, my mom would often read out loud – sometimes from guidebooks. I think this would be fun for adults and kids alike!

Disneyland App

Okay this is something you would buy before you go, but you should definitely download it. Service isn’t great in Disneyland, and they don’t have free WiFi…and the Disneyland App is becoming a bit of a necessity.

You can digitally store your park tickets, get the Disneyland MaxPass, order food, check wait times, make restaurant reservations…So much! Download it before you go!

Disney Trading Pins

I never was one to collect Disney Trading Pins when we went, but I know a lot of people love doing this!

You can buy a bunch of them before you go, and then your kids (or you) can find a cast member with a lanyard with pins on it, and you can trade them for one you don’t have. I know a lot of people love this.

Make sure you get a lanyard to put yours on – you can get a Disney set of two for less than $10!

Mouse Ears

What trip to Disney is complete without Mouse ears?! I loved mine when I went as a child, and I loved the ones I went when I went as an 18-year-old. They are expensive though!

You can get Mouse Ear headbands on Etsy for a reasonable price (and if you look hard enough, you might even be able to find a Mouse Ear hat!)

Sun protection

The last time I went to Disney, I ended up getting some heat stroke. It was kind of scary and not fun to recover from.

Apparently, as a recently graduated high school student, I thought I was too cool for sun protection.

Don’t be like me. Or you’ll end up looking like this as you stand in line for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

This time around, Forrest is insisting we take certain precautions before we go. I’ll definitely have a hat (and the boys will too – Oliver will be wearing one of these sun protection hats!), sunglasses, and sunscreen!

Because it can get pretty toasty out in California, I think it’s a good idea to bring a water misting fan as well. Of course, they sell these there, but do yourself a favor and buy one BEFORE your trip, so you don’t spend unnecessary money on one in desperation.

Hidden Travel Wallet

As much as I’d like to believe everyone is at Disneyland with the best of intentions, it’s probably naive to do so.

There are people that might try and take advantage of you being distracted. Make sure you keep all your valuables out of the park.

However, since you obviously will need your money, credit cards, etc., I recommend getting a hidden travel wallet to make you less of a target for theft.

Waterproof Phone Pouch

Take it from someone whose iPhone was ruined on Grizzly River Run, despite it being in my backpack…you want something to protect your phone on water rides.

A simple Ziploc bag will do, but if you have happen to have a phone wet bag, it can be a good way to add some added protection. Trust me – it’s worth a couple of dollars to avoid a very pricey phone replacement.

Entertainment Book

Did you ever sell these as a kid in hopes of winning some super lame and cheap prize? Yeah, me too.

They actually are really good though, and if you want to save money on food and other activities in the Los Angeles area, I highly recommend picking one up before your trip. There are lots of BOGO coupons!

Get Away Today also has free printable coupons for tons of places in the Anaheim area. While you are booking your vacation there (and using Clarkscondensed to get $10 off your vacation package) you can print them off!

Glow Toys

I may be 26, but I still remember being a kid and ALWAYS begging my parents for glow sticks or other contraptions at Disneyland fireworks/parades and on the Fourth of July.

Buy these items beforehand.

The Dollar Tree always has tons, and you can buy a wide variety on Amazon as well. It will make the parades or fireworks even more fun, and you can probably avoid some meltdowns.

I also recommend getting Disneyland Souvenirs at the Dollar Tree before your trip!

Stroller hooks

If you are going to have a stroller, you might as well make it as useful as possible! Stroller hooks are great for carrying bags, backpacks, etc.

Snacks

Bring your own snacks!

Of course, set aside a little bit of money for classic Disney treats, but it’s good to have a nice supply of granola bars, fruit snacks, etc. to tie everyone over!

I’m a huge fan of these for babies. They have resealable lids, which is nice – if you have an insulated lunch box, you can keep them nice and cool throughout the day!

Small cooler

You can bring a small cooler (no larger than one that can carry a six pack of soda) into the park. This is great for snacks, keeping water cool, baby food, etc. If you have a larger one, you can store it in a locker on the premises.

Water bottles

You can bring disposable water bottles, but I think it’s a good idea to bring something a little more durable.

While you can get a free cup of ice water at various locations throughout the park, having your own is a good idea.

I’m a big fan of Simple Modern water bottles. They keep your water cold FOREVER, and it’s a lot cheaper than a HydroFlask. I have the largest size and LOVE it.

Rain poncho

This is great for keeping dry during water rides (unless it’s a hot day – then sometimes it’s nice to get a little wet) or if there is a sudden storm!

I updated this post after going to Disneyland three more times, so I think I have a pretty good idea of what I’m talking about!

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originally posted in 2016; Updated in 2019.

Is Disney+ Worth it? Everything You Need to Know

Ashley — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 15:11:44 +0000

Disney+ is all the rage – but is it really worth the cost? Here is what you need to know about the subscription costs, what’s included, and ultimately who this streaming service is best suited for.

Disney+, Disney’s official streaming service, launched in 2019. Since then, it has grown in popularity and currently has more than 100 million subscribers.

If you have not yet invested in Disney+, you may be wondering if it’s really worth it? In this post, we’ll share everything you need to know before subscribing to Disney+.

Disney+ Bundles and Pricing Options

Disney offers a bundle that combines subscriptions to Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ for $12.99 a month.

Users have been very pleased with the package because the bundle costs the same as two of the services’ monthly fees, making it less than paying for each of the services individually.

With the bundle, you get access to Hulu’s library of 80,000+ TV episodes and 1,000 films, ESPN’s 1,000+ sporting events and assorted sports content, and Disney+’s 500+ films, 7,500+ episodes, and original series.

Recently, Disney announced that all ESPN+ content will be available on Hulu so users do not have to use two different platforms.

If you are not interested in Hulu or ESPN+, you can also sign up for Disney+ only. You can pay $6.99 on a monthly basis or a one-time fee of $69.99 for a year-long subscription.

What to Watch on Disney+?

After you’ve decided to pay for a subscription, you may be wondering what you should watch first. Well, here are a few options:

Children

There are many categories that were created with children in mind. After all, Disney is a family-friendly company.

The Walt Disney Animated Studios Collection brings some family favorites like Peter Pan, Bambi, The Little Mermaid and many more together, separated by decade.

There are many other collections for children like Toy Story, Tangled, Mickey and Friends, Disney Junior, and more.

There are many titles, series, and collections for the young, and the young at heart.

Original Series

Marvel’s WandaVision, Star Wars: The Mandalorian, There are many Disney+ original series such as The Imagineering Story, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and many more.

There are shows that dive in to the history and making of Disneyland, the magic behind Disney weddings, the making of your favorite series, and shows that highlight Disney careers.

Whether you are interested in Marvel, Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, National Geographic, or you want to relive the classic Disney Channel shows from your youth, there are shows for you.

Movies

Disney+ has a large library of movies ranging from Walt Disney Animation Studios films to Musicals to Live Action Movies, making it the perfect streaming platform for both children and adults.

The movies listed on Disney+ have the ability to bring out the child in all of us and bring families together for a fun activity together.

Along with all of the movies that are already listed on Disney+ from different franchises, Disney+ started releasing movies exclusively on the streaming service.

With the release of Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan, Disney+ debuted on September 4^th, 2020 as a “Premier Access” title.

Disney+ subscribers could spend an additional $30 to preview the film earlier than everyone else, or users could wait util December of 2020 to view the film at no additional cost.

Now, subscribers can view Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon as a “Premier Access” title.

With the release of Disney’s Soul, Disney+ released the film at no additional cost on Christmas day of 2020.

It is unclear moving forward if future releases will use the “Premier Access” feature on Disney+, but it is an option for future debuts.

What’s Coming up on Disney+?

Fans of different franchises are looking forward to upcoming series and movies after the announcement of upcoming content in December of 2020.

With the release and popularity of Marvel Studios’ WandaVision, Marvel fans are eagerly awaiting the release of series like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, and Hawkeye, amongst many others recently announced.

And, after the raging poplarity of The Mandalorian, Star Wars fans are awaiting the release of new series like The Book of Boba Fett, Lando, Rangers of the New Republic, and the Lando series, amongst many others.

Is Disney+ Worth It?

Overall, Disney+ is most worth it if you have children or if you are a Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars fan.

It does lack the adult-based content that other platforms have, but it makes up for it with the specialized content that subscribers love.

If any of this piqued your interest, don’t wait! Sign up and discover the magic of Disney+ for yourself.

The post Is Disney+ Worth it? Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

The Ultimate Guide for Planning a Disney Vacation

katie — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 22:04:22 +0000

To say that I love all things Disney is an understatement. One of my very favorite vacations was going to Disneyland with my parents and little brother after I graduated, and another favorite was going with my entire family when I was only about five years old. No matter how old I get, just the thought of all things Disney gets my giddy.

Jack has recently started loving Disney movies, and I admit, I don’t mind watching them over, and over, and over, again. The music, the heartwarming stories…it all gets me. I don’t think you’re ever too old to outgrow Disney.

Even though we aren’t currently in a position where we can go to to Disneyland or Disneyworld, nor do I think Jack’s really old enough to truly enjoy it, I find myself pinning all sorts of “Guides to Disneyland/World” on Pinterest. I even thought about creating one myself, but I don’t think I quite have the extensive knowledge required for one of those (Disney is serious business!) So I thought I would gather together all those resources and put them here, so when you go to plan your dream Disney vacation, you have all the information you need in one place.

I should note; many of these sites are dedicated to Disney vacations, so be sure to look at them for awhile when you check out these links!

Disney With Kids

Fun for Under 40″ and Other ‘Fraidy Cats – This is a guide I wrote after our recent (2016) trip to Disneyland!

Unofficial Disneyland Autograph and Activity Book – this is a must-have for anyone with children! My good friend, Danielle, worked tirelessly on creating this activity book, and it is sure to make your Disney vacation a little more magical.

Preschoolears – this site is ALL about traveling to Disney locations with young children; it talks about Disneyland, Disney World, and has a lot of great ideas.

Secrets and Practical Advice for a Perfect Disney World Vacation with Kids by Making Lemonade Blog

“Thanks, Mickey!” Teaching Gratitude at Disneyland

Exploring the Magic Kingdom with Toddlers by Mama Cheaps

Avoiding Tantrums at Disney Parks

Staying Safe at Walt Disney World

Tips for Bringing an Infant to Disney World by Touring Plans

Disney World with an Infant by Magical Kingdoms

A Guide to Walt Disney World with Toddlers by Mom Endeavors

Disney Height Requirement Calculator

Disney in Diapers by Home is Where the Mouse Is

Disney World Resort with Toddlers by Off to Neverland

Tips for Avoiding the Infamous Cranky Toddler at Disney by Capturing Magical Moments