Disneyland Foodie Honorable Mentions

I felt it only appropriate to address some of the food items that are worth mentioning that didn't make my list.

Disneyparks.com

1) Funnel Cakes; Stage Door Cafe & Hungry Bear; Disneyland I bring up the funnel cakes because they are my husbands favorite.  The classic whip cream and strawberries is always a delight, but the seasonal flavors are where it's at.  During our last visit I had the Campfire S'more funnel cake.  I regret nothing.  It was the perfect sharable treat after a full Disney day. 

2) Hand Dipped Corn Dog; Red Wagon; Disneyland  Before I say more it must be noted that you can also get this fried meat stick at the Stage Door Cafe, and the Corndog Castle inside California Adventure.  Okay...now that everyone knows where to get these gems..... These are a must have every trip.  Seriously, if you miss a corndog I wonder if you ever really went to Disneyland!  My mom is the one who started it all.  She tried these, and they have become the go to item once hunger hits.  I love when my mom proclaims that she needs a corndog on a cold winter day, at home.  I know it's the first step in getting a trip to happen.  Over time we've learned a lot.  The standard corn dog comes with apple slices or chips.  We only recently learned that you can get them with fries at the Stage Door Cafe.  Go for the apple slices, it makes you feel like you did something good for your body while simultaneously filling it with deep fried meat on a stick. 

3) Raspeberry Macaron; Jolly Holiday; Disneyland I thought I knew my Disney desserts until recently when a cousin of mine visited the Land and continuously updated social media with photos and videos of him and his family enjoying these treats on multiple occasions.  So, during a recent visit we checked them out.  They are amazing!  Fresh, fruity, and worth every penny.   

4) Popcorn; All over the place; Disneyland & California Adventure Popcorn is loved by every member of my family.  I mostly love getting the cool buckets they come in, but they are not on this list for the bucket alone.  They truly made the list because popcorn is my son's favorite treat.  He may only be 2, but I am convinced that he already knows that Disneyland popcorn tastes way more magical than any other popcorn.  I feel like I have raised him right knowing that he knows the difference. 

Disneyland Foodie

One of my most favorite places in the world is Disneyland.  I've always loved it.  I love the rides, the smells, the people watching, and the MAGIC.  One integral part of Disneyland is the FOOD.  I'm always asked what foods not to miss when visiting.  This is a tough question because one of my favorites things is enjoying the seasonal menu.  I can get into those on another post.  But, for now I will stick with the standards, the classics, the things that are always there.  I love making lists, so for those who have asked, and been waiting...(drum roll)....here is my TOP 5 FOODS not to miss at Disneyland (in no particular order). 

mouseplanet.com 

1) Fried Biscuits; Carthay Circle; California Adventure  Now, this is NOT your Southern Biscuit.  THIS delicious little ball of love is stuffed with white cheddar, a hint of jalepeno, and BACON!  It is beautiful!  It also comes with an apricot-honey butter.  I love the sweet contrast it brings, but my husband likes his balls pure...  You can only get these biscuits while dining at Carthay Circle.  I strongly suggest getting a reservation.  It's also important to know that you can NOT get these gems in the lounge.  You must dine in to get them.  We've found that ordering off the World of Color Pre-fix menu is the  best way to dine at Carthay.  We just order the biscuits  in addition.  The meal is delicious and includes a starter, entree, dessert, and drink.  It also includes reserved seating for the World of Color Show.  This is a convenient addition for any family, especially if you get to the park after noon and all the sections have been assigned.     

instagram

2) Grey Stuff Twist; Maurices Treats; Disneyland  This tasty snack has only recently been added to my list.  I don't think it will move from my list either.  I want to call it a bagel twist, but it's more!  So much more.  It's a flaky phyllo pastry that has been rolled in oreos, and baked up to perfection.  It's a tasty treat to share, or not!  It depends on the day, the number of rides you've waited for, and the temperature.  I was in a sharing mood this last time, so that made my husband and son lucky.  I don't always like to share.  This treat also can be purchased with the grey stuff dip.  Just do it!!!!  It's an extra 89 cents that amplifies the twist experience by 10!  I wasn't convinced I'd like the dip when I bought it because it was quite runny, but by the end I was using my finger to clean out that little ramekin.

disneyfoodblog.com

3)   Pommes Frites; Cafe Orleans; Disneyland Now, before you head here for these golden fried French sticks make sure you are comfortable with the people in your party.  I mean, you're at Disneyland with them, so you're probably pretty chummy.  I give this warning because these pomme frites are not just any old French fry!  They are tossed with Parmesan cheese, a hint of parsley, and (depending on the chef du jour) a welcomed amount of garlic.  I'm talking....you are going to remember these fries all night long kind of garlic.  But, it's all so delicious.  They also come with a Cajun spiced dipping sauce.  Totally optional, but give it a try.  If you ask they will bring you more dip as well. 

4) Beignets; Mint Julep Bar; Disneyland This treat is sharable(usually).  In part because you don't want to be the only one with powdered sugar all over you.  These things come in an unassuming white paper bag.  Grab your napkins and find a place to sit.  You want to minimize the mess, and sit to savor these iconically shaped treats. Always order 6.  They sell them in packs of 3, but really?  Who only wants 3 of these warm pillows of sugar and dough.  The seasonal variety are always tasty.  I have yet to meet a Mickey beignet I didn't like. 

5)  Bacon Mac & Cheese Cone; Cozy Cone; California Adventure  I'm being serious when I say this is THE BEST mac and cheese my mouth has ever encountered.  I love tasty mac and cheese, and this is the creme de la creme.  You can travel the world looking for the best, and really it's right in Radiator Springs!  Creamy, carb-y, cheesy goodness.  Sounds amazing right?  But, kick it up a notch and add crumbled bacon.  Yup, my heart can literally only take this deliciousness once a trip.  I love this thing so much that I have dreamt about it at home, more then 650 miles away!  The only thing to do in a situation like this is to find a way to get there ASAP.  Luckily I had an upcoming trip when this dream recollected itself. When I was finally reunited with this tastiness, it was better then I had dreamt.  It really is THAT good.  There is usually a line, so try to get there before the craving gets too crazy. 

Now, I have an few more items that deserve "honorable mention", so stay tuned in the next couple of days for this list.  Also comment if you think there is something I MUST try on my next visit.  I'm always looking for an excuse to get myself to the LAND. 

   

Renting A "Sweet Ride"

Sweet ride, right?  My husband Paul and I just returned from an unforgettable 6 day visit to Hawaii.  It was our 5 year anniversary, so I wanted to do it up right.  It was amazing, and having this car made it even more fun.  I told Paul that I think I need this car when we get home, but I don't think that will happen.  This is a "specialty car" from Alamo.  One of the best things about getting this car was that it cost me the same amount that someone else would have paid for a standard car.  Awesome, right? The freedom of a rental car during a vacation makes vacationing that much more fun.

But as fun as it is, it can also be an expensive travel expense.
I always evaluate all the costs

associated with a rental car versus the NEED to have one.  Things I consider: how long will I need it(daily rate)?  how much is gas?  will I  have time to fill it? do I need to pay to park it at my accommodations? will I  need to pay parking fees wherever I go?   how far will I travel from my hotel during my stay?  how much would it cost to use a shuttle/drive service for my stay?  In our experience, I heard that when visiting Hawaii you don't REALLY need a car so I took it upon myself to decide.  I'd never been to Hawaii, so I took to the internet.  We were on the island of Oahu and had visits planned to the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor, several "must see" beaches,and a visit to Disney's Aulani(I'm a major Disney nerd, and have lots of tips coming for Disney trips in later posts.).  I then looked at public transportation/ride service costs.  After that I felt it was a "no brainer" to get the car, but then I quickly realized the costs associated with parking practically ANYWHERE on Oahu.  $35 to park in a hotel garage A NIGHT?  Sheesh!  It better come with a free cleaning at that price. It doesn't, by the way.   I digress....During this same time I was also looking for a place to stay...possibly something without an outrageous parking fee.  I decided that finding a place with included parking was the best for us.  We didn't have time in our trip to deal with the struggle of not having a car.  I also found that there was a Costco near our accommodation where I could fill the car for a reasonable price (Costco can be a lifesaver while traveling.  I'll have a post about that too.)

Now, going about getting an awesome deal on a rental car.......As soon as you book your accommodations, or even before, when you know you need a rental car, book it.  I only use 2 websites when booking a car: Costcotravel.com(if you don't have a membership, use a friend) and Hotwire.com.  I've stayed away from booking with a specific agency, but my husband has found his favorite so I'm going to have to evaluate their website as well when making my decisions in the future.  The reason I choose these 2 is because I have found that they have the best rates, and don't charge a fee to cancel.  There is one exception, Hotwire charges if you book a "hot rate" and try canceling.  I stay clear of this promotion because I can always find the same rate at Costco, and then if I find better I'm not locked in.  I like it best when Costco has the lowest rate, only because I think the rental agency is a bit nicer if you're a Costco member.  Maybe it's just me, but I'm pretty sure they don't want to lose Costco as a customer so they are always more kind, and offer a no-nonsense booking.  The reason I book immediately is because the farther out you are from the date, the more reasonable the rate.  Do not book a rental car during the 2 weeks before you leave(there is one exception, that I'll get to), that is when the rates are the highest.  I booked a convertible using Hotwire when I booked my hotel.  The rate was exactly the same for a convertible as a full size car.  I always choose full size because my husband's legs are too long for most economy cars. 

After booking I was all set.  But, I wasn't done.  Every time I got on the computer to research more for our vacation I would check the rates again.  I love doing this because I get to see the fruits of my labor for booking early.  I like to give myself props for saving so much money as I see the rates climb.  Now, for most people that would be the end of it.  But, not me!  1-2 days before we leave(if I remember) I like to check the rates one more time.  This is the one last time the rates may be lower.  The agencies lower their prices in a last ditch effort to rent out their cars.  On our convertible, the rates were $40 more then what I had paid by booking months in advance.  I also took some time to research the agency and see reviews.  I love reading reviews because it helps me prepare for what my experience will be like is the agency on location, or will I need a shuttle, what kinds of lines can I expect, and what condition the cars are in.  I'm telling you I love researching these thing!!!  I was reading reviews on the agency I had chose and was baffled by the reviews....cockroaches in the cars, long lines to get a car, and unfriendly agents.  I panicked!  But, I also felt prepared.  Then I read some reviews on the company that was $40 more.  They had awesome reviews that even touted a self check out kiosk.  We could get to our sweet ride even faster.  It was also through Costco, so I decided to cancel the Cockroach ride, and rebook with the company that was $40 more.  Sure I paid a little more, but I was paying for peace of mind.

When we arrived at the agency we opted to talk to a real agent since there was no line.  He gave us 3 recommendations for places to visit while in town.  I wanted to invite him with us, he was so nice.  One of the questions you always get asked is if you want the additional coverage.  I grew up with a frugal father who believed this additional coverage was just another way to "nickel & dime" you.  It's optional, but  I always like to see what the reviews say about the agency.  I'm also very aware of my own car insurance coverage that does cover rentals.  Credit cards also offer limited coverage as well.  It's always good to know what coverage you have before you spend more money to protect yourself.  If  there are lots of comments in the reviews about being charged for damages to the car, I will add it.  I will also take photos and make notes on the agencies damage sheet before leaving.  I had an experience with my parents in Puerto Rico that proved buying the insurance was well worth it.  Sure, a horse sat on the hood of our car, but it didn't leave a mark!?!  They wanted to charge us for damage that was on the side of the vehicle.  We let them know that we had paid for the additional coverage, and they were deflated when they realized they couldn't get additional money from us.  Researching the agency is super helpful in many ways.  In Hawaii we went outside to hop in our car.  The agents outside let us know that all of the "convertible" level cars were gone and we could take a "specialty" convertible(for no additional cost) or wait for another one at our level to come back.  Duh!  Easy decision.  When cars run out, always request an upgrade.  Most agents have the ability to upgrade you without the need for management approval.  We took the fancy "specialty" car and loved it.  I know that I loved it more then Paul, but it was also great seeing the smile on his face as we drove off on our adventure.     

Renting a car is an important decision, and it can make your adventure even better.  Just know what you want before you rent.  A sweet ride can be yours too.

What’s this about?

My family has called me DATELINE/PRIME TIME for years. Only because when I’m traveling on an adventure into the world I love researching information about where I’m going. My goal/mission in this blog is to share my experience, knowledge and research of traveling with you so that you can spend more time exploring, and less time planning your own  adventure. 

I grew up in a time where during my elementary years we went to school for 9 weeks then had 3 weeks off, and then repeated the cycle. During those 3 week breaks my parents would take us on adventures around the state, and neighboring states. I grew up in Utah, but have a special place in my heart for California where we spent many of those school breaks.  Time at my Grans, and my Aunt's houses are treasured memories of my youth.   Later, when I was 15 I went to Europe with my Aunt and saw the world!  Boy was that eye opening. Ever since then my heart wants to be on an adventure exploring this world of ours. Over time I’ve learned some pretty good strategies on making adventuring easier, and that’s why I’ve created this blog.  I want this to be a resource for you as you plan your adventures. 

As I start this adventure of sharing my ideas and experiences I’m also looking for some “hot topics” or things you want to hear about. I get emails or texts pretty regularly from friends seeking travel advice. I’m here to share that knowledge with you!  I’m also looking for some new questions as well. So.....in the spirit of helping this blog be a success please leave me questions, comments, or topics you’d like to see me cover. 

Let’s get this Adventure going. And, let me help Make your Adventure Easy!