Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular will take to the stage on the Disney Fantasy cruise ship when it launches in 2012. Anyone who has been to the amazing Aladdin show in California Adventure Park will know that this is one of the best theme park show attractions which Disney has ever staged, so we should have high hopes for the new Disney Fantasy version.

I am sure that we can expect the same high quality staging and performances as we see in the Anaheim park version. Disney has said that there will definitely be a flying carpet – obviously the first at sea!

There has been talk for a while that the California Adventure Park version is going to be replaced. It was supposed to close last year to make way for a Toy Story show but Disney changed it’s mind on that one. I certainly hope that it gets to stick around for some time to come, and particularly that it does not get replaced with a version of Toy Story The Musical. On a cruise on the Disney Wonder recently this was by far my least favorite show.

One of the things which makes the Aladdin show such a huge success is of course the Genie. I wonder if the amazing actor who has played him for so many years in this show (anyone know his name) is going to transfer to the Disney Fantasy. If the show has to stop at the park then I certainly hope that the Fantasy is taking the star of the show with her!

Photo by armadillo444

If you are looking for the most luxurious place to stay for your vacation then Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel is the perfect choice. The Grand Californian is Disneyland resort’s premier hotel and was designed by Peter Dominick in the Arts and Crafts style of the 1900′s. You truly do feel as though you have stepped into a bygone age when you enter the lobby of the hotel. Aside from the outstanding design and comfort of the hotel another major advantage is that it is located within Disney California Adventure Park – you even get your own private entrance to the park! You really cannot be more conveniently located than in Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel. It gives very easy access not only to the California Adventure Park but also Disneyland and Downtown Disney.

Image by ExpressMonorail

The atmosphere of the hotel evokes images and feelings of a National Park Lodge such as the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. Whilst the hotel has 745 rooms the lobby feels cosy with it’s spectacular six story high atrium with a huge welcoming fireplace with comfy chairs – the perfect place to take a break from the parks.

The hotel was built in 2001 and the new Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel Villas have recently been added to give even more choice for those wanting larger, more flexible accommodation.

Disney Grand Californian Hotel Rooms

The original building has 745 hotel rooms and suites. Each standard room is 353 square feet so certainly larger than most hotel rooms in the Anaheim area but not exactly huge either. Rooms have either a King size bed and sleeper sofa, 2 Queens (some with an additional daybed). The most popular rooms are the Queen sized bed with a bunk bed set and a trundle bed. These bunk bed rooms are the perfect solution for a family of 5. Room types can be requested but are not guaranteed.

The rooms have a split bathroom so that the sink and vanity is located outside of the bathroom. This is an added convenience when traveling with a family.

One and two bedroom suites are also available at the Grand Californian Hotel. These will give you plenty of additional room as they range from 694 to 1990 square feet.

If you are looking for a ‘Disney’ feel to the rooms then this may be a disappointment. The design really is the Arts and Crafts theme and for the kids (and of course) some adults the rooms may lack those special Disney touches that you are looking for. Some guests feel that the rooms are rather small for the price and somewhat dark. I have stayed in this hotel many times and do agree that for a family of 5 the rooms do seem a little small. But for me the location wins every time if the price is right compared to the other hotels of Disneyland resort. You do pay a price for convenience but sometimes I wish they rooms lived up to the expectation of the lobby architecture a little more!

Concierge Rooms are also available at the Grand Californian Hotel. These are all located on the fifth and sixth floors of the hotel. The Craftsman’s Club concierge lounge is located on the sixth floor and has snacks available from 6.30am to 10pm. A particularly nice feature is that you can see the fireworks from the patio. Is the concierge service worth the extra money? The standard rooms are the same as on the non concierge floors and of course you do pay quite a large premium for access to the lounge, priority check in and concierge services. Only you can make the choice as to whether it is worth it but if you really have to think about whether it is worth the splurge then perhaps it really isn’t worth it. Many feel that the benefits offered are not that great.

There are various views on offer at the hotel. The best and of course the most expensive are the theme park/pool views. These are particularly spectacular at night. Downtown Disney views are also available. These can be interesting for people watching but some, particularly on the lower floors, can be a little noisy. Standard views look out over the entrance or the interior courtyard.

One great feature of the Grand Californian Hotel is that it has it’s own private entrance to California Adventure Park. So you are literally steps away from the park. This entrance can be used by any Disneyland Resort Hotel guest. Early in the morning the security people do check your room key ID but later in the day this seems to be overlooked. It is also useful to be able to exit the park in this way. If you are a non Disney resort guest and want to use the restaurant or other facilities at the hotel then you can leave the park by this exit. Rarely is ID ever checked on the exit and it can prove to be a nice short cut.

Disneyland Grand Californian Vacation Villas

The recently added Grand Californian Villas are the only Disney Vacation Club rooms available at Disneyland. There are open to everyone, not only Disney Vacation Club Members. There are studios, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom villas available.

The Studio Villa is 379 square feet and sleeps up to 4 guests. Each has a Queen bed and Queen sleeper sofa. There is a kitchenette with a microwave, refrigerator and toaster. The room also has a small dining table with 2 chairs. Each room includes a television and DVD player. Also all the villas has either a patio or a balcony.

The One Bedroom Villa has a very generous 865 square feet of space. This is a great option for a family of up to 5 guests as is includes a King bed, a Queen sofa bed and a pull down bunk bed. Another great feature is that the villa has 2 bathrooms one of which has a whirlpool tub. This villa has a full kitchen with full size appliances. Having a kitchen is a great time and money saver. You can prepare and eat a quick breakfast and hit the parks earlier in the morning!

The Two Bedroom villas are a One Bed and a Studio connected together. They offer 1,257 square feet of space with 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. These villas will sleep up to 9 people very comfortably.

If you are looking for the very best then then you can choose from one of just two available Three Bedroom Villas at the Grand Californian Hotel. They are two storeys high and at 2,426 square feet are the size of the average house in the US. The first bedroom has a King bed and the other two bedrooms each have a Queen. The villas will sleep up to 12 guests plus a child under 3 in a crib. All 3 bedrooms are masters with the first bedroom having a master bath with a whirlpool. The total number of bathrooms is 4. There is a full kitchen and even a washer and a dryer. So if you are looking for the largest, most comfortable option in Disneyland, and of course money is no object, then this has to be your best choice!

The Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel Villas are part of the Disney Vacation Club. Although they can be booked by non DVC members they are the only Vacation Club rooms in Anaheim so they are not always available as they are often already booked.

Parking for both the Hotel and the Villas is charged at $15 per day for self parking or $17 for valet. The self parking facility is located across the street – not a great feature as this is a busy road to cross.

All of the hotels of Disneyland Resort now charge a resort fee. This fee does not include parking. It is $15 per day and covers newspaper delivery, local calls, internet access. I am not a big fan of parking charges and resort fees. I wish that hotels would just be honest and have a room price reflect the rate they actually want to charge you!

Grand Californian Hotel Restaurants

There is a good choice of places to eat at the resort ranging from Quick Service to the finest restaurant in Disneyland, Napa Rose.

If you are looking for a fine dining experience then be sure to make reservations for the ever popular Napa Rose which is located inside the Grand Californian Resort. The menu is distinctively Californian cuisine and the decor is just beautiful Arts and Crafts style. The menu is seasonal and the 4-course prix-fixe tasting menu changes every week. The award winning Napa Rose is thought by many to be the finest in Orange County. Even if you are not visiting the Mouse then this restaurant is well worth a visit. Perfection comes at a price though so expect to pay around $40 for an entree. The 4 course prix fixe menu is $85 without wine pairings. The wine flight is an additional $45 with no alcoholic pairings available for $15. There is also a children’s menu available.

Storyteller’s Cafe offers a character breakfast with Chip and Dale as well as lunch and dinner. The lunch menu offers favorites such as pizzas and burgers. Dinner is either from the menu or the buffet table. I have to be honest about Storyteller’s Cafe as I have eaten there on many occasions. Usually because I am tired after a long day at the parks and I just happen to be in the right place! The food is OK and they do offer good gluten free options which is great because my family has food allergy issues. The restaurant is styled wonderfully and should be a really pleasant place to be. However over the past couple of years the service has just been bad. Really bad on occasion. The wait staff just don’t seem very helpful or well trained. More than one could be described as grumpy to say the least! The wait for tables is often very much longer than you are told and then service is very slow. The food seems to be kept under the warmer for way too long. Getting the idea that I have had numerous bad experiences here? For me Storyteller’s Cafe misses a big opportunity as it really should be very good indeed. The decor is fabulous, the menu is fine. Just the service is terrible.

If you just want to pick up a quick bite to eat then head on over to White Water Snacks which is located next to the pool. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner this is a counter service eatery which serves the usual cereal, breakfast items, pizza, sandwiches, ice-cream and snacks.

Recreation at Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel

There are 3 swimming pools side by side at the Grand Californian. The Redwood Pool has a slide, the Fountain pool is next to this with a small children’s pool shaped in the classic Mickey Mouse head design.

The Mandara Spa offers the usual spa services and also a special YSPA Teen Program. If you need a rest from the stresses of the theme parks then this is a great place to relax for a while. There is also a small fitness facility which offers aerobic and weights machines.

Is Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel Really Worth It?

Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel Review

This is the most expensive of the Disneyland resort hotels and whilst sometimes you may see a discount you will usually pay at least $300 for a standard room per night. Demand tends to exceed supply in the Disneyland hotels so bargains are rare. Sometimes seasonal or Disneyland Annual Passholder discounts are available.

Is is worth it? The location and pure luxury feeling of this hotel are simply not available anywhere else in Anaheim. It is just stunning. Peaceful and relaxing. The rooms are nice – they could be better but they are of a very good standard. The location is unbeatable and this can mean a lot when you are visiting the Disneyland parks. You do get a lot more out of your visit if you can spend some of your time relaxing. And you simply get more time in the parks as you are not spending any time traveling to them! So if yu can then the Disneyland Grand Californian really should be experience at least once in a lifetime. And then you will want to return!

Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel address

1600 South Disneyland Drive
Anaheim
CA 92803

Telephone 714 635 2300

If you are thinking about staying in a Disneyland Hotel then you may also want to look at this guide to Disney Paradise Pier

Disney Paradise Pier is an excellent choice for your Disneyland vacation. It is one of 3 Disneyland resort hotels and in many ways it is my favorite as it offers a high standard of accommodation and excellent value. The theme is very much fun at the sea side. The first thing you notice at Paradise Pier are the bright colors. A statue of Goofy with a surf board greets you in the lobby. This is just a really fun place to be.

The location is great as you can easily walk to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme park. The rooms at the Paradise Pier are very nicely decorated and are a good size. The recreation facilities are a little limited, but since the upgrade of the swimming pool area to include a water slide, there is plenty to keep the kids happy.

So is Disney’s Paradise Pier a good choice for your Disneyland trip?

Photo by lorenjavier

Rooms at Disney Paradise Pier

There are 481 rooms at the Paradise Pier Hotel. The standard rooms are a fairly generous 364 square feet. There is a choice of a King bed or 2 Queens – you need to specify which you would prefer at the time of booking. Although requests are not guaranteed it is always best to ask when you book. Some rooms also have a day bed and will comfortably sleep 5 guests. The bathrooms are small but adequate and have nice touches so that you have no doubt that you are in a Disney hotel!

There views are either of the park, the parking lot or the pool.

There are 29 suites at Paradise Pier which will sleep up to 6 guests. These range in size from 792 to 1245 square feet.

There is a resort fee of $12 per room per night at the Paradise Pier. This covers use of the recreation facilities, parking and give you free use of the internet in your room.

Disney Paradise Pier View

Photo by ethomson

The best views at Paradise Pier are of course the theme park views. These give a great view of Disney’s California Adventure theme park. The views are particularly interesting at night as it is so nice looking out of the window at all of the beautiful lights in the park. Early morning is good too – it is not often you get a view of a totally empty Disney theme park!

Concierge Rooms at Disney Paradise Pier

A concierge room at Disney’s Paradise Pier is always my first choice when we stay at Disneyland as I think that this offers one of the best values on the resort. The rooms are standard rooms with either park views or a pool side location. The concierge lounge is a great feature. Open from 6.30am to 8.00pm each day the comfortable concierge lounge offers a continental breakfast and an evening cheese and wine reception. You also have priority check in and the service of a concierge through out your stay. Unfortunately the concierge lounge does not have a view – but the children are happy with the supply of Disney movies in the lounge. Concierge guests also have free use of a DVD player and a choice of Disney movies for their room.

Getting to the Disney Parks from Paradise Pier Hotel

The location of the Paradise Pier couldn’t get much better. You can easily walk to both Disney parks. The best way to get to Disney’s California Adventure Park is to walk to the Grand Californian Hotel and use the private entrance there which is open to all Disney resort guests. If you are going to Disneyland then you can either walk to the main entrance which will take you around 7 minutes or catch the monorail to Tomorrowland. The Disneyland monorail stop is located in Downtown Disney and is a shorter distance from the Paradise Pier Hotel than the main entrance. The monorail does get crowded at busy times though so sometimes it is just quicker to walk. It just depends upon which part of Disneyland you want to get to!

Recreation at Paradise Pier

Photo by jasonpratt

The hotel has one swimming pool which is located on the third floor. Children will love the California Screamin’ water slide. Other than that the pool is nice but not particularly themed but it is a nice place to spend some time relaxing away from the parks.

One relaxing spot for the children is just off the lobby. Paradise Theater is furnished with cute white beach chairs for the kids who are kept entertained with Disney movies.

The hotel also has a workout room and a video games arcade.

Disney Paradise Pier Restaurants

Photo by coconut wireless

The Surfside Lounge is located in the lobby area close to the reception desk and opposite the gift shop. This serves alcohol and non alcoholic beverages, coffee snacks, salads, sandwiches and cookies. There is also a poolside counter service bar Slurpin’ USA

Disney’s PCH Grill can be a popular spot for breakfast. Join Mickey Mouse for his Surf’s Up Breakfast with Mickey. The meal is buffet style and costs $29.99 for adults and $15.99 for children aged 3 to 9. In the evening the restaurant is often pretty quiet. It serves sandwiches, salads and burgers.

If you are planning a stay at Disneyland always check out the pricing for a room at Disney’s Paradise Pier as you may be surprised at the great value it offers.

You may also be interested in our guide to Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel.

Of course if you want us to help you with your visit then just contact us here
at EverythingMouse Travel and we will find the best deal for you!

Are you thinking of visiting both Walt Disney World and Disneyland this year? Disney has just announced a new combined annual pass for Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California.

Named the Disney Premier Passport this annual ticket will give pass holders access to Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as the Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks, DisneyQuest, Disney’s Wide World of Sport’s and the Oak Trail Golf Course. In other words it is a combined Disneyland Annual Premium Pass and Disney World Premium Annual Pass.

You will of course get all the usual Premium Annual Passholder perks including free parking, select merchandise discounts and invitations to special events.

Whilst I am extremely pleased that Disney is finally offering this pass as I visit both parks and this will represent a considerable saving, it will be ineresting to see how many guests become Disney Premier Passport Holders.

Each Premier Pass costs $749 plus tax for adults and children aged 3 and up. As an adult Disney World Premium Annual Pass costs $649 plus tax for adults and a Disneyland Annual Premium Pass costs $499 plus tax for adults it is a considerable saving.

So if you know you are going to be visiting both Walt Disney World and Disneyland this year then the Premier Pass may make a lot of sense for you and your family. You can buy your Disney Premier Pass at any Disneyland ticket window, Guest Relations at Walt Disney World theme parks and Downtown Disney. This pass is not yet available online.

Photo by Samantha Decker

Thinking of staying at a Disneyland Hotel this summer? There are some great deals available at the moment on all the hotels of the Disneyland Resort. All you need it a 2 night minimum stay at any Disneyland Resort hotel arriving between May 1st and September 29th 2010.

At Disneyland’s Paradise Pier hotel rates start at $168 a night – that is a 30% savings off a standard room rate.

Or for even larger savings choose the ever popular Disneyland Hotel. Savings of 35% are available and room rates start at just $169 a night.

If you want the utmost in luxury and style then get this great offer from Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Located right next to the California Adventure theme park rates start at $213 per night – that is a 40% saving off standard room rates.

All of the Disneyland Resort Hotels are within easy walking distance of Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks. You also enjoy special benefits as a Disneyland resort guest including Magic Morning admission on select days. What is Magic Morning Admission? This allows Disneyland hotel guests early access to the theme parks and selected attractions on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. On Magic Mornings Disneyland resort guests will be admitted to the theme parks one hour earlier than the general public.

Disneyland hotel guests also have access to a special entrance to Disney’s California Adventure theme park. Being able to use this entrance, which is located in Disney’s Grand California Hotel saves a lot of time for guests as it means you can cut through the park without having to walk around Downtown Disney.

Remember that the summer deals for Disneyland hotels are only available to book up to September 1st 2010 and are limited to 2 rooms per reservation. Each room will sleep a maximum of 5 people. There are of course limited rooms available at this special offer rate.

Contact EverythingMouse Travel for more details.

Anyone who has tried to make Advance Dining Reservations for Cinderella’s Royal Table will know that sometimes it feels as though you have embarked on Mission Impossible! Unless you call right at the first minute of the first day you can make ADRs (90 days ahead for everyone, and up to 100 days ahead for Disney resort guests) then you will most likely be told that there are no tables left. So we know it is very popular!

What if you don’t manage to get Advance Dining Reservations for Cinderella’s Royal Table. Try again. Sometimes there are cancellations and you will strike it lucky.

Do remember though that there is a 24 hour cancellation policy. When you make your ADRs you will be asked for your credit card details – and they will be charged unless you cancel within the 24 hours before you are set to dine.

But does the Cinderella dining experience live up to the expectation? Of course it gives you a chance to actually get inside Cinderella’s Castle. And for this alone it is worth it for many Disney World visitors. The interior of the restaurant is very well done. Just as you would expect the inside of the castle to look – lots of stained glass,stone work and wood. It is also much smaller than most people imagine – another reason why it is so difficult to get in!

It is pretty pricey. At $42.99 for dinner for adults with tax and gratuity as extra this is not an inexpensive dining option.

Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant is what is known as a photo package experience. What does this mean? The price of the meal also includes a photo with one of the characters.

Many people love the fact that a photo is included with the meal. The photo package is four 4×6 prints and one 6×8 print of your photo, as well as one 6×8 print of Cinderella Castle in a Cinderella photo holder. Each party of 1 to 4 guests will get one photo package,5 to 8 guests will receive two packages.

For me and for many other guests though the feeling is that it would be better if the price was lower and the photograph was not included. Personally I do not like to have to wait in line to have a picture taken (and this is what often happens). This may be because I have hundreds of pictures already of myself and my family with Disney characters! But I would prefer to be able to skip this part.

The time with the characters is good for a Disney character dining experience. The restaurant is small so when I have been there we have had plenty of time with the characters. Who will be there? As with all Disney character dining restaurants the list can, and does, change so don’t promise your little ones (or yourself) a special character. But the ones you are likely to find are Cinderella, The Fairy Godmother, Princess Belle, Princess Aurora and Snow White.

So what is the food like at Cinderella’s Royal Table? Not great but not bad either. For that price I would expect a higher standard. But with this Disney restaurant you are going there for the experience of dining in Cinderella’s Castle. The food is fine, but nothing to get that excited about. There are plenty of choices including a Children’s menu. Some guests do report feeling rushed but I have never really found this to be so.

So is Cinderella’s Royal Table really worth it? I would certainly say it is somewhere you should experience at least once. The unique quality of being located inside Cinderella’s Castle really is a lot of fun.

Have an expectation that the food will be fine but nothing that special. If you want to dine with Cinderella and have great food then try out dinner at 1900 Park Fare in Disney’s Grand Floridian. Overall Cinderella’s Royal Table is a good Disney experience though – if you can get in then you should give it a try.

Want to know even more including finding out what exactly is on the menu and even get a peek inside to see what the restaurant looks like? I have written a free guide for you here:

Cinderella’s Royal Table

Photos used under Creative Commons from armadillo444

Photo used under Creative Commons from Flickrized

There are two Disney Cruise ships – the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Both usually sail out of Port Canavarel – just a short distance from Walt Disney World making it idea for land and sea vacation combinations.

So what are the current special deals?

If you book a 4 or 7 night Disney cruise during select nights this winter you can take a 3-Night Bahamian Cruise in fall 2009 for only $99 per person based on double occupancy. So not only can you enjoy one great Disney cruise but you get to go back again!

Disney Cruise Lines are also offering round-trip airfare of $199 per person from select airport locations east of the Mississippi when you book a 7-Night Caribbean Cruise or 7-Night Land and Sea Vacation starting in January 2009.

There are limitations to each offer of course but whichever way you look at it I think these are still great deals and may be the excuse you were looking for to finally go ahead and book that Disney cruise!

Are Disney cruises just for kids? Well Disney certainly provides for the grown ups just as much as the kids! There are several areas on the ships which are reserved just for adults, and they even have their own beach on Castaway Cay. If you travel as a family then the kids will be well taken care of in the Oceaneers Club. Disney really is about everyone in the family having the chance to do exactly what makes them happy. Quality family time with some alone time too!

You will never be at a loss for something to do on a Disney cruise. There really is something for everyone. The one thing that you won’t find on the Wonder or the Magic though is a casino. Disney took the decision not to allow gambling on it’s ships. This is something that personally I prefer. Although I love cruising, walking through the smoky casino on most ships is not something that I enjoy!

The entertainment on board is exactly how you would imagine it to be. Of a fabulously high Disney standard. A favorite is the new Toy Story show which is not to be missed if you are sailing on Disney Wonder.

I am looking forward to the new Disney Cruise Ships due to sail in 2011 and 2012. Disney have commissioned 2 new ships which are going to be even larger, and no doubt, even better than the Magic and the Wonder. There is a lot of speculation on where they will be based but I am guessing that at least one has to be on the West Coast and will have Mexican Riviera and Alaska itineraries. Purely speculation of course, but I would guess the other would go to Europe. What I do know is that I want to be one of the first on those new Disney ships!

If you would like to learn even more about a Disney cruise including more details on how to choose your itinerary, what all the different staterooms offer, and get a glimpse at Castaway Cay then I have written a free guide for you.

Check out more details at The Secrets To a Magical Disney Cruise.