How to Save Money When Going to Disneyland

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In 1955, Disneyland opened to the public, a theme park that is now a traditional vacation spot. Children of all ages have grown up with Disneyland as a fond memory and are eager to share their experiences with their children and grandchildren. Take these simple suggestions to help make your vacation more pleasant and cheaper as well.

Avoid the front gates - Although naturally, these would be the places parents turn to for purchasing tickets, it is possibly the least cost effective. The regular amount is multiplied depending on the number of people you are with. With the Disneyland Resort, there are multiple theme parks, at least two located in California alone. For each of the Disneyland resorts, a separate admission fee is required unless a Park Hopper Pass is purchased.

Park Hopper Pass - This pass allows the user to visit both Disneyland parks in California. These passes are valid between one to five days. Similar to the idea of annual passes, the prices becoming cheaper as the longer days are purchased. Try purchasing these on ebay to save money.

Buy online - You can get tickets online before you go to the park. These can be directly printed or sent through mail.

Annual Pass - Amusement parks usually offer these passes to encourage visitors to come more often. For residents living near Disneyland, this is the most cost effective if utilized more than five times during the entire year.

Package Deals - Sometimes you can get discounted tickets from the hotel you will be staying with. Disneyland has three seasons: Value Season, Regular and the Peak Season. If you plan your trip during the value or off peak seasons you can get more discounts.

Special Adults Price - For some years during the months of January up until early spring, adults can get some of the same admission prices in Disney as kids do.

Discount Passes for Residents in California - Disney offers special discounts specifically for residents in South California, teachers who are members from various state unions, university students, some employees, retired individuals as well some car organizations in the state.

Birthday Passes Started in 2009 - Disneyland has offered a special discount for birthday celebrants. To get this discount claim it at the front gate and be sure to bring a valid ID. Unfortunately, this pass is only given to the celebrant and valid only for that day. Military Passes For soldiers in the military, whether in active duty, National Guard, Reserve, DOD or retired, Disneyland also offers special discounts depending on the time of the year. This requires presenting their military ID at the gate.

Travel Agency Discount - ARES, a travel agency of good reputation offers discounted tickets on its website which can be purchased and used for admission into Disneyland. Do research and inquire about other local travel agencies on whether they offer discounts on other amusement parks or tourist spots.

Foreigner discount - Residents from the United Kingdom can avail of discounts from Theme Park Direct. UK residents intending to purchase must take caution and compare conversion rates before buying.

Being aware of these options will hopefully make planning the trip to Disneyland a less stressful and burdensome task.

Copyright (c) 2009 Sherry Tingley

Norway at Walt Disney World is History, an Authentic Menu to Enjoy and Simply a Very Nice Visit

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Welcome to Norway, some say the home of the real discoverer's of the Americas, by the Viking son of Eric the Red, Leif Ericsson, nearly a half a millennium before Christopher Columbus. The Norway at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida that is, found in the World Showcase at Epcot.

Just traverse the bridge between Future World and World Showcase, take a left and just up the road between Mexico and China and discover Norway. [And remember kids, when you're in geography class don't refer to a Disney map for your test answers.] Take a pathway into Den pittoreske landsbyen og bytorget i Norge. [Hopefully these translations are correct from Google Translate).

The culture, history and art the Scandinavian people is very evident here. There are much art and particularly sculpture not to mention the authentic architectural building design. There is music and food and gifts and a lot of trolls of all sizes and shapes. And although Norway is a more recent addition to the Epcot World Showcase in 1988, it hasn't changed much at all; but a beautiful location to spend time in.

So what do we have here to see and do? The most action is in the Maelstrom, a dark ride something akin to Pirates of the Caribbean in its design; but actually a little more exciting because you move backwards for a while and drop just a bit. But this is anything but a thrill ride so the entire family can participate. Some say that little kids might be a fearful of the trolls that populate the darker areas of this boat ride, but maybe not; and this is not one of these rides your teens will seek out, but many enjoy it.

Accompanying Maelstrom at its conclusion is the Spirit of Norway film. Both the ride and the film are under 10 minutes, so it is not a long experience. And if you've seen the film once since the attraction opened, it hasn't changed. You can bypass it, but why not watch it again; maybe you missed something.

The buffet here is very popular, so Advanced Dining Reservations are essential. The Akershus Royal Banquet Hall hot and cold (koldtbord) buffet is the home of Princess Storybook Dining. Akershus is a replicated castle building from Oslo, and has American food for breakfast and authentic Norwegian cuisine for lunch and dinner. The banquet hall is very decorative and intended to be regal since this is where the Disney Princesses will make their rounds from table to table for autographs, pictures and hugs. Among the characters that may be found here are Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins and Ariel. Please make reservations in advance, even 180 days prior to your vacation, by calling (407) WDW-DINE.

You should download the menus from several Disney fan sites, to read about rotating lunch entrees such as Akershus Salmon Burger, Traditional Kjottkake (Ground Beef and Pork Dumplings served with Mashed Potatoes, seasonal Vegetables, and Lingonberry Sauce) and Grilled Venison Sausage Sandwich. Then rotating dinner items include Mustard-glazed Seared Salmon, Citrus-marinated Mahi Mahi plus many lunch items repeated.

The native wines are also very attractive, but for many it's the desserts. You can have Sweet and Savory Chocolate Mousse, Traditional Rice Cream topped with Strawberry Sauce, Flaky Puff Pastry filled with Mascarpone Mousse topped with fresh Berries; or take a walk over to the Norway bakery, Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe. Children's menu choices include pizza, pasta, hot dogs and grilled chicken. There is a mix of family style, buffet but also a la cart items.

Then there is the Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, a wonderful bakery for fresh baked native pastries. And for souvenir shopping, there is The Puffin's Roost with Norwegian books, fragrances, candy, hand-knit woolens, trolls, glass, porcelain, pewter, toys and more.

The Stave Church is with the Norway pavilion, with statues, paintings and artifacts is styled after Gol Church of Hallingdal, built around 1250 A.D. Yes, you can go in. But some people stand outside just looking at this wonderful structure, and then move on instead of going in. Here you will find the "Vikings: Conquerors of the Seas," a collection of authentic Norse weapons and artifacts.

Nyt opplevelsen av et besøk til Norge (check that Google translate).

Disneyland Tickets For Free - Strategies to Help You Get Them

It seems that every family has a vow to visit Disneyland at least once in their lifetime, not only because of its reputation, but also because the kids want to. Every kid wants to experience magic, and Disneyland is one of the best places to let them experience that. The only problem for some people is the expenses that go with visiting a theme park. But what if you can get Disneyland tickets for free? Here are some little-known ways that you can try to get them.

1. Celebrate your birthday at Disneyland - Anyone who wishes to visit Disneyland on their birthday can get in for free. All you have to do is bring a valid ID showing your birth date and they will let you in quickly. One less admission ticket to worry about is a pretty good deal already, and it would be awesome if you share the same birthday with friends. You can really get a kick out of the Disneyland tickets for free.

2. Participate in programs - Once or a few times a year, Disneyland offers some kind of deal which you can take and let you in the theme park for free. One example of this deal is the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day volunteer program. Basically, all you have to do is be a volunteer for a day and get a free day to visit Disneyland or five other theme parks. There are various agencies that you can volunteer for, but first you have to register online to join this program.

3. Befriend someone who works at Disneyland - If you know a friend or relative who works in Disneyland, you might have a chance to get free tickets because of them. They usually get complimentary tickets every year that they can let other people use, so if your brother is working at Disneyland, maybe it's time to be extra nicer to him to get Disneyland tickets for free.

If you really want to get Disneyland tickets for free, these three ways are the most effective. Free tickets are actually very scarce, otherwise everybody would be getting in for free and Disneyland would go bankrupt within a few years, so when you find something that could potentially work for you, make sure it really does.

Book Your Disneyland Hotels And Reconnect With Your Childhood Again

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Disney is a huge part of people's lives, so there is nothing better than reliving some of your youth from time to time. So don't settle for the bare necessities and book a trip to Disneyland Paris today. This is part of the reason why it has remained so popular with every generation that comes. There is nothing more magical for a child than a visit to Disneyland Paris, but grown ups can enjoy it just as much too. Book a stay in Disneyland hotels and see for yourself!

Make this a magic Christmas for your loved one with a stay at Disneyland. There are facilities and events all designed for adults, and they aren't difficult to find. Here is a guide of our favourite things to do and places to stay for adults in the Magic Kingdom:

You will think it's a whole new world when you get there. If you only arrive in time for the evening, enjoy a magical evening out at the Manhattan Cocktail Bar and dinner for two at the Blue Lagoon restaurant. You can then take a blissful boat or hydrobike ride on the Disney Lake. You will even be able to choose from a pedal boat or an electric one.

Book a stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel, where you can enjoy a secluded haven from the park and still just be minutes away. It is one of the most luxurious Paris hotels around, set in a complex just minutes away from one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe. It is the perfect place to relax before setting off to the Disneyland park. A stay at this hotel also means you are just minutes away from the Paris City Centre via a direct train from the airport to the Disneyland Paris train station. Then form the station to the Hotel, there is a free Radisson Shuttle which will take you right into the heart of the city.

You wont know which part of Disneyland to start in when you get there. There is the main Disneyland Park, the Disneyland hotels and the newest addition, Walt Disney Studios Park.

Discover the Cinémagique behind the most famous Disney and Pixar movies as you step through the silver screen into a dreamland. What could be more romantic than to be plunged into 100 years of film-making.  For lovers, it's the perfect get away from it all.

It's not all rides and shops though, as there are theatre productions of some of Disney's most famous stories taking place throughout the day. Book tickets to The Legend of The Lion King, a roaring experience to experience together of one of Disney's greatest stories. After the show, you can relive your youth with the nightly parade and meet n' greet with all of your favourite Disney characters.

End your holiday with a trip to the fantastic Disney-themed shopping precinct. Experience a fairytale shopping at Main Street U.S.A. or Disney Village, were you can pick up some souvenirs of this magical trip into the land of fantasy and wonder.

Walt Disney's Influence Can Still Be Seen in the Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney was one of the most talented men to ever walk this earth. He devoted his life to entertaining whole families. His last project was Walt Disney World and specifically the Magic Kingdom. He died before his last and best project was completed, but his hand can be clearly seen all over the park today.

Uncle Walt started planning for Disney World in the late 50's and 60's. He used the 1964 World's Fair as a testing ground for several new rides and to see if East Coast audiences would respond to his type of entertainment. Needless to say the fair was a huge success, especially for Uncle Walt. He immediately went to work on the "Florida Project" but died before it opened.

Uncle Walt's stamp still looms large over the Magic Kingdom, the original part of the "Florida Project". To see just how big an influence Uncle Walt still is, here's a list of the current rides that Uncle Walt had a hand in.

On Main Street USA -

The Monorail - Part of Uncle Walt's infatuation with transportation. Uncle Walt thought it would be the future of mass transit.
Walt Disney World Railroad - Uncle Walt loved trains. He had a steam engine and a half mile track in his back yard.
All the buildings on Main Street - these are modeled after Walt's hometown of Marceline Missouri.

Cinderella Castle - This was one of Walt's greatest inspirations. Walt wanted a central gathering place easily accessible from any area of the park. The Magic Kingdom is still the easiest theme park to navigate because of the paths leading to Cinderella Castle.

In Fantasyland -

Cinderella's Golden Carousel - This was part of the park when it opened. Uncle Walt's dream was to build a clean place where families could enjoy time together.
Dumbo - What genius. Take a hokey state fair ride and give it a little character (or a big character in this case) and you have one of the most loved rides anywhere.
The Mad Tea Party - Another amusement park ride that Uncle Walt made special.
It's a Small World - This ride was built for the World's Fair. It was the first ride to transport people by boat through a ride.

In Liberty Square -

The Hall of Presidents was one of the last projects Uncle Walt worked on. At the World's Fair Mr. Lincoln was the first audio-animatronic figure to ever be displayed.
Tom Sawyer Island is another of Walt's ideas. Give kids a place to just romp and play. What a concept in the middle of a theme park.
Haunted Mansion - A Walt Disney original. It was way ahead of it's time. The attraction opened in 1971 with a head in glass, dancing ghosts, and a million other spooks.

In Frontierland -

Country Bear Jamboree - Another of the audio-animatronics wonders that Uncle Walt created. It still wows audiences today.
Frontier Shootin' Gallery - Another cheap carnival side show that Uncle Walt dressed up into a not to be missed attraction.

In Adventureland -

Jungle Cruise - A copy of the Disneyland ride with a few extras.
Pirates of the Caribbean - This opened a couple of years later, but it was one of Walt's projects.
Swiss Family Treehouse - Take the set of the movie and let people walk through it. What a novel idea.
Enchanted Tiki Room or "Tropical Serenade" - This is still the same basic show that Uncle Walt designed, although some new touches have been added.

In Tomorrowland -

Space Mountain - Take a fairly tame roller coaster, put a building around it and turn off the lights. What do you have? One of the best rides ever invented.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority or WEDway People Mover - Uncle Walt thought this and the monorail would be the transportation of the future. We're just now testing his ideas in high-speed trains. He was just slightly ahead of his time.
Tomorrowland Speedway - These little cars were part of the original design. They still putt-putt around today.
Carousel of Progress - It debuted at the Worlds Fair to long lines and adoring fans. The past, the present and the future all in one place. It's getting a little old, but it's still a classic.

Uncle Walt died almost 40 years ago, but his hand still guides the Magic Kingdom. What an incredible man.

Reliving The Dream At Disneyland

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I'm a 34 year old father of one who grew up in Southern California. When I was a child, it wasn't uncommon for me and my family to visit Disneyland at least three times a year. When I became a teenager, Disneyland no longer interested me because the things that seemed so large in my imagination appeared a lot smaller in actual appearance. You could say that, for me, the magic of the Magic Kingdom had gone. Now, through the eyes of my daughter, a recent trip to Disneyland has rekindled many of the fond feelings I once had as a child about the Happiest Place on Earth.

Several things have changed about Disneyland over the years. However, the one thing that remains constant is the look of wonder in a child's face when they walk through the entrance and into Main Street for the very first time. The biggest change is what was once just known as Disneyland, is now known as the Disneyland Resort featuring four hotels, the Downtown Disney District, Disney's California Adventure, and Disneyland Park. Our day was spent in Disneyland Park after a half-hour parking excursion that was a bit of a challenge and the only blemish on our visit.

The best way to navigate Disneyland Park and to avoid the crowds is to hit the E-Ticket rides (and old Disneyland term) like Space Mountain, Star Tours, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Big Thunder Mountain, first. Then, work your way around the park and see some of the other biggies like the Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain. Later on in the day, when all the other kiddies are tired, make your way into Fantasyland and ride the childhood favorites like Dumbo, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight, and the Mad Tea Party (the Teacups). This tactic works just as well today as it has in years past and contributes to an even better time to be had. Another option is to take advantage of the Fast-Pass which is available on some of the rides. The Fast-Pass is basically a ticket that allows you to visit the attraction at a later, specified time, and skip to the front of the line.

My daughter loved every minute of our visit, but was especially thrilled by two particular rides. Her first favorite was Space Mountain, now known as Rockin' Space Mountain. The added features of this ride are the speakers inside the train that pump out rock music in-sync with your high speed journey though outer space. My daughter's other favorite was The Pirates of the Caribbean. The most fascinating thing about the Pirates is that it has become a ride based on a movie, based on the ride. The addition of Captain Jack Sparrow adds a fun, where's Waldo element without detracting from ride's original charm. I hate to admit this, but I had the most fun on the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. This interactive ride allows you to compete with your friends and family in a laser shootout through a dazzling light show of creepy aliens and the Evil Emperor Zurg. My final score was enough to beat my daughter handily. She is, however, only five years old.

Disneyland has always excelled at creating a fun, family atmosphere despite the large crowds that come through their gates 365 days a year. You'll never find a piece of trash on the ground and the employees have mastered the art of keeping the lines moving so everyone can enjoy their rides. The availability of all of the favorite Disney characters allows for photo opportunities that you can't get anywhere else. This magical day was one that my daughter and I won't soon forget because we intend on starting our own family tradition of visiting Disneyland Park at least once a year.

Disneyland Wonders - Disney Quest and Disney Base Tickets

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Disney Quest impeccably defines the definition of indoor them park. This arcade of five story building of Orlando, Florida is the well known high- tech video game zone for all ages. People find very interesting with this 3D experience which includes all the creations of Video Game industry. The creators of Disney are responsible for such entertainments.

Including different zones of entertainment, Disney Quest has also dinning venues. You will find such innovations in Disney Quest which are ahead of their time. Buy Disney Quest Tickets to experience its rides like Pirates of the Caribbean which shows the fighting of Skeletons of pirates in quest of treasure. Have the virtual reality experience of sea quest with the pirates.

Other than that Animation Academy is there where you can learn how to draw the Disney Characters like Mickey Mouse and others. Buzz Lightyear's Astroblaster and Cyber Space Mountain is also there.

Food Quest is the perfect place for those who love pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, pastas, salads, wraps and hotdogs. However, the Wonderland Cafe is also nice place to have desserts and coffee which is supplied by the Cheesecake Factory.

Disney Base Tickets bring your way the collection of four theme parks tickets of Walt Disney World Resort. First of all select the number of days you are going to see the parks then buy the base tickets accordingly. The Base tickets have some limitations like its validity is over after 14 days of first use. And one has to visit per day at one of the four theme parks. Simply you can say is a whole day in a single park and there is no park hopping process in Base tickets.

Disney World Tickets are available online and it can be availed at discounted rates. Do have your vacation at Orlando Florida to explore the greatness of Disneyland. The wonders of Disneyland are worthwhile for all ages of people and it can be visited at any time of the year.