How to go to Disneyland on a Budget

I've been going to Disneyland for as long as I can remember.  Sometimes we saved for a long time so we could have a really nice, lots of extras, type trip.  Sometimes we would go spur of the moment without any kind of budget and we still made it work.  I have comprised this post of the different ways we were able to enjoy the special magic of Disneyland, without breaking the bank.  Some things may seem extreme, but they are honestly things I have done.  Most of the tips are more logical and doable for all families and people that want to go play in the park!

The key factors you should include in your budget are: transportation (how to get there, either drive or fly and if you will rent a car or not), lodging, food, souvenirs, tickets, and extras such as parking.

1. Transportation

We usually drive, I can't remember the last time I flew to Disneyland, definitely wasn't while I was living in Utah.  It is only a 10-11 hour drive, so it is doable for us.  When you get 2 or more people going on the trip then gas for driving is cheaper than a plane ticket for everyone.  My husband insists on going the speed limit or just under in order to save on gas.  It works.  We only fill up twice each way, which equates to about $360 total in gas, including driving all over Southern California.  We drive an SUV, so that is why it is a bit more for gas.  We are planning to take our Fiat on an upcoming trip and it should cost considerably less.  The plus side to driving is we do not need to limit what we pack, we can bring pack 'n' plays, strollers, food, the dog, everything without worrying about taking it on the plane.  Also we do not have to rent a car while there.  Most hotels will have some kind of shuttle or recommend a shuttle that usually cost about $20 a person each way to/from the airport.  But then you are limited to only going places around your hotel, unless you want to figure out the bus system or spend money to get a taxi.

Of course some people have frequent flyer miles or work for airlines or what not that make flying cheaper.  It just depends on how far away you live, what condition your car is in, and how many people are going that you need to take into consideration.

2. Lodging

I have honestly slept in the car on one trip, but that is not recommended.  Instead I recommend a quick search for hotels in Anaheim to find the best fit for you.  Search engines like Travelocity, Hotwire and Priceline have great features that can help you find the hotel that fits all your needs.    There are TONS of hotels around Disneyland at pretty much every price.  Some are nicer than others, but if all you plan to do is sleep there then you don't need to be that picky.  I usually require that my hotel have a continental breakfast, free wi-fi and parking, and within walking distance to Disneyland.  Some times we have brought our dog and will need a place that accepts pets.  We have never had a problem finding a hotel with all these requirements.  I usually spend around $85 a night.  There are other hotels that are cheaper that do not have things like a free breakfast. if that price is still too high for you.

3. Food

Disneyland is known for having amazing food, but that amazing food also costs a lot of money.  One of the ways I have saved the most is by not planning to buy all my meals at the park.  The main reason I want my hotel to have a continental breakfast is so I can load up on a big (free) breakfast before going to the park.  Also I go to a grocery store first thing when arriving in Anaheim so I can bring my own food with me.  Disneyland will allow you to bring as much food and drinks as you want into the park, as long as you do not bring alcohol or anything in a glass bottle.  There are lockers you can put your food or any other things you want in so you do not have to carry it around the park.  The lockers do cost $7-$15 a day depending on the size you need to rent.   I have never rented a locker, I just carried my food in a back pack or under the stroller.

Some things I recommend bringing are: granola bars, cheese, fruit, sandwiches, water, fruit snacks and beef jerky.  These things travel well, do not need refrigeration and pack a lot of protein to help give you energy when you are feeling sluggish throughout the day.  When I went to Disney with my mother-in-law she brought a five course meal with us to the park, I'm talking rice, chicken, salad, fruit, you name it.  It was really nice to have that with us, but I do not usually bring quite that much food with me.  We usually plan to eat one meal in the park or just buying our favorite thing, mine being a pineapple float and my husband's a turkey leg.  These two items alone coast around $12 total.  Knowing we are going to get at least something in the park helps as we are walking buy all the amazing smelling foods and drinks, but by bringing most our food with us we are saving a ton of money.

4. Souvenirs

The ONLY thing my son wanted was a balloon, which is a pretty inexpensive souvenir.

My husband and I have kind of an unspoken agreement that pictures are our souvenirs.  Whenever we travel we try not to spend our money on trinkets or accessories, but rather take tons of pictures and then display them in our home and make lots of fun scrapbooks.   The Disney photo pass cast members are always willing to take pictures with your camera as well as their own.  I know I can trust giving my camera to them because they are trained on how to take a good picture.  I can't tell you how many times I have asked a passerby to take a picture and it has come out awful.  So make sure to find the cast members with the cameras to help you get that perfect shot.

a Disney photo pass member took this shot.

Now that we have kids, however, it is really hard not to want to buy every toy and stuffed animal in the park!  A lot of people have suggested to buy t-shirts and dolls off property, like at a generic store so you can give them to your kids while you are in the park and save a lot of money in the process.  My only problem with that is, because I am a die hard Disney fan I know when items are exclusive to the parks and know I cannot get them anywhere else.  So I've had to really reign myself in and set a strict budget when it comes to stuff for the kids.

Another thing to be aware of is there are some free things the Disney parks offer such as buttons and maps.  They may not be that exciting, but it is something tangible you can bring home from the parks.

5. Parking

The parking at Disneyland keeps going up.  If you pay for 3 days of parking that can be over $50.  I recommend staying in a hotel that is close enough to the park to walk.  I have stayed on all sides of the park and recommend finding a hotel on the east side.  That will put you on the opposite side of Down Town Disney.  If you have to walk through Down Town Disney it can be a pretty long walk and after walking around the park all day, those extra steps make a big difference.   Some hotels will offer a shuttle to the park for free and that is even better.  I have stayed at hotels where I could walk to the Disney parking garage, but it was a pretty long walk.  Then I had to wait for the shuttle and walk through Down Town Disney, it took a while and was pretty long, but did save me money.  Again, if you can, try to stay on the east side of the park.

6. Tickets

The cheapest way to get tickets to Disneyland is through a member of the military.  They have 3 day hopper passes for cheaper than a one day hopper pass at regular price.  There is a catch however, that person has to be with you when you go to the park.  In other words you cannot have them buy them for you and then you go when you want, they have to be with you at the gate with their id the first day you use the tickets.  The other catch is they have to buy them in advance.  You cannot go up to the gate, show your id and get your discount, you have to buy them at a special base or online and bring the tickets with you when you go to the front gate.

Another option is going with a package deal.  There definitely are packages out there that can save you money.  Packages through the Disney park itself are pretty good, but honestly Disney is designed for you to stay longer.  The more days you go to the park the cheaper the tickets are per day.  The packages the parks offer for the Disney hotel, meals and tickets are a great deal, but still more expensive then I can afford and usually for more days than I wanted to go.  I have gone through GetAwayToday and think they are the most affordable of the different packages I have found.  You can also trust them.  Their packages usually include hotels around the area and park tickets.

Be aware of scams!  Whenever you Google cheap Disney tickets a lot of different options come up.  There are some people that want to rent you tickets.  This is where they buy multiple day tickets and then "rent" them out to different people.  You have to return the tickets at the end of your trip, but there is no guarantee this will work.  Disney is pretty good at security and making sure people are not getting away with anything they shouldn't, so I would personally not recommend this.

And there you have it, buy taking these 6 things into consideration you can help save a lot of money.  Even taking one or two of these things into consideration can help save money.  My most important tip is making a budget and sticking to it.  Perhaps only bring cash with you, that way you will not be tempted to spend money you may not have budgeted.  Keep a tally of what you have spent so you are aware of it.  It is easy to hand your card over again and again and have no idea how much you are actually spending.  Disney is a magical place and it does not have to cost a fortune to have just as much fun as if you did!

How to Have Fun in Salt Lake City for Free

At the Clark Planetarium, free to enter and lots to look at without paying a dime

There are always posts about things to do in Utah for free, but let's be honest, they are things I could have thought up on my own like hiking or visiting Temple Square.  I have compiled a list below of things that you may not have known about.  These are things I have actually done and know they are fun.  But I will be honest as always and list the good and the bad about some of these free things.

1. Festivals

Salt Lake City is known for its festivals.  From Llama fest at the Krishna temple in Spanish Fork to the chalk festival at the Gateway, Salt Lake always has a festival in the works.  Here are a few I have personally attended.

Llama fest.

 This usually takes place every July.  Its been a while since I've been to this, but when I went with my husband we had a blast.  This is a free event, even parking is free.  My husband participated in the llama games where he lead a llama through an obstacle course, beauty pageant and race.  There was live music, food, and you can tour the temple of course.  While I did not have kids when I went, I think my kids would enjoy this very much. This earns a 7 out of 10 for me.  The Krishna temple is best known for the festival of colors where you throw chalk at each other, but I have not actually attended that, so I could not rate it.

Chalk festival.

 This happens every June at the Gateway.  This is a free event, but if you park in the parking garage and stay more than an hour you have to pay for parking.   The chalk festival is when artist from around the state draw chalk drawings on the street.  You can vote on them or just enjoy them.  There is a different theme every year and it is fun to see how the artist interpret the theme. I have taken my kids and they loved it.  They enjoyed seeing characters they recognized (there is always a lot of Disney and other recognizable cartoon characters) and thought it was fun to walk around outside on a nice summer night.  I give this a 6 out of 10.

Sundance Film Festival.

  I cannot forget one of the most famous festivals in Utah!  You do not have to spend money to go to the Sundance Film Festival, if you do not get tickets to one of the movies you can always go to Park City and be part of the happenings.  I went to the Sundance festival one year and did just that.  My husband and I drove out to Park City without a plan, we just wanted to walk around, be in the atmosphere and hope we spotted someone famous!   We did see Fifty Cent and a free movie while we were there, nothing I really understood, but it was part of the experience.  We had fun, but I do not think my kids would have enjoyed it, they are two right now and walking around in the snow on a crowded sidewalk is not really their thing.  I give this a 4 out of 10, seeing a "real" Sundance Film would definitely change my opinion.

Living Tradiations Festival.

 This is a really fun festival held every May at Pioneer Park.  There are food carts, crafts for sale, performances and games all from different cultures around the world.  I have been once with kids and once without.  While the time we went without kids was a lot less stressful, I had a good time with the kids.  They enjoyed the different performances we saw and loved walking around seeing the crafts and activities around the park. If you are looking for something that has a vast variety of different cultures all in one place, this is a great festival and once again, it is completely free.  If you attend on Saturday even parking is free down town.  The food and crafts of course cost money, and while it is always an adventure to try food from other cultures you do not have to spend money if you do not want to.  I give this an 8 out of 10.

Japan Festival. 

 This is usually in April and takes place down town.  Again it is free, although sometimes parking down town does cost money.  The Japan Festival has crafts and food for sale, but also performances.  There are two different stages and one usually has more martial arts and the other has dance performances.  We went with the kids last year and they loved seeing all the people dressed up as Anime characters and traditional Japanese dress.  We did not stay longer than an hour however as it was pretty hot with no shade, and very crowded.  I give this a 4 out of 10.

There are several other festivals that take place throughout the year such as the Brazilian festival, Asian festival, Greek festival, Swiss Days and arts festival but I have not attended them yet.  We are planning to go to the Scandinavian festival in Ephraim this year, I will have to report on that.

2. Free Days.

When I say free days I mean the days throughout the year where places that usually charge admissions are free for a day.  Places such as the zoo, aquarium, natural history museum, etc.  This is a great opportunity to visit a place that you may not be able to afford otherwise.  I will warn you however these days are EXTREMELY crowded.  Like parking down the block because every spot is full crowded.   My husband, kids and I recently went to the new Living Planet Aquarium to a private party that was free for guests.  Besides the people attending the party there were also paying people attending the museum.  The line for the paying people was all the way out the door and almost to the parking lot.  It was so crowded we could barely make our way through the crowds to see the exhibits.  We had to wait in line to let the kids touch the stingrays and we finally just left after going to only one part of the aquarium.  In my opinion it was not worth it.  I recommend getting a season pass to anything that you enjoy going to, that way after your initial payment is paid off, it becomes "free" whenever you want to go!  I give free days a 2 out of 10.  While it may be nice to save money, the crowds are not worth it.

3.  Real Salt Lake reserve games.

My family recently went to our first reserve game for RSL.   This is a completely free event, even parking.  The reserve team usually plays throughout the year usually at the America First Field, but make sure to check the above link for their complete schedule.  The crowds are considerably less than a regular game and the whole feel is a lot more laid back and friendly.  There were some people cooking waffles and pancakes that were asking for donations, but that was the only time we even saw any money.  There were even some star players on the scene to watch the game.  We saw two key players from the game the day before.  They were taking pictures with fans and signing autographs.  I do recommend bringing a lawn chair as there is no seating.  Even my kids had a great time and loved running around the field after the game was over.  I give this a 9 out of 10.

4. Farmer's Market.  

There are a lot of Farmer's Markets in Utah, but the down town Farmer's Market is the biggest and most diverse.  It runs from the middle of June to the end of October.  Of course lots of people go there to buy food and crafts, but if you do not want to spend any money it is really fun to just walk around and take in the local arts and talents the people of Utah have to offer.  Dogs are also welcome and there is a great playground for kids near by.  I give this a 7 out of 10.

5.  Local events.

Star Wars day at the Murray library

 Unfortunately I do not have a link for all the free local events that take place around the Salt Lake valley, but I recommend talking with friends, listening to the radio and even reading the billboards on the freeway to learn about events going on.  Just this month I went to a Jedi training at the Disney store, a Star wars themed story time at the Murray library, the Living Planet Aquarium, the Living Traditions Festival and a carnival at Salt Lake Community College all for free.  Some events happen yearly and you can plan for them, but others may be for a special occasion, but there is usually something going on that is fun and free.

How to Have an Amazing Disney Trip with Infants

People often tell me they are waiting to go to Disneyland/Walt Disney World until their kids are older.  That way the kids will remember the trip and they all will have more fun.  Well, I am here to tell you those people are missing out on lots of fun and tons of memories.   I have been going to Disneyland for as long as I can remember.  But even when I was 8, 10, even 13 years old my memory is not that great, I remember going and a few details, but not every moment.  What I do remember is the atmosphere, the feeling of being someplace familiar, yet new.  A place where my family went to have fun, spend time together and make memories.  I am so glad my parents took me from a young age so I can look at the pictures now and know I have always loved Disney, even before I could remember.

Here I am (on the right) with my sister in front of the White Rabbits door.  We have a picture in front of this door from every trip we've ever taken.

I have also taken my own kids to Disney at 6 months, 13 months and 18 months, so I know what it is like going with little babies.  I have listed some tips below in the hopes that you can see how taking your baby(ies) to Disney is a memory you wont want to miss out on.

Realize you will not go on every ride in the park

The first time we went with the kids, we realized how different our trip would be.  Before, when we'd go to the parks, the first thing we would do upon entering was get fast passes for all the big rides, then wait in line at the other big rides while we waited for our time on our fast pass to come.  This time was nothing like that. We went alone, without any grandparents or friends, it was just my husband, me and the two kids (who were 6 months old), which meant if we wanted to ride any "big" rides it would be by ourselves.  We did do a couple, but soon discovered it is just not as much fun without someone to share the experience with. Instead we spent the day seeing Disney through our kids eyes.   We took our time walking around the parks and enjoyed the atmosphere more than the thrills.

Keep in mind, if you do want to ride some rides (especially if you go with more than just you and your significant other) you can get a parent swap ticket.  Basically part of your party waits through the line and goes on the ride while the rest of your party is with the kids.  While in line ask for a parent swap and you will be given a ticket for up to four people to go on the ride through the fast pass line, so the waiting party can skip the line when they go on the ride.

Realize that infants can actually go on a lot of rides

My son's face the first time he rode in the Tea Cups

I was shocked when I found out that our 6 month old babies could not only go on Pirates of the Caribbean, but also Toy Story Mania!   It was a little hard pulling on the chord to get the most points possible with my baby on my lap, but it was still super fun.  Almost all of the Fantasy land rides are infant friendly and of course all the shows allow infants as well.  You can see a complete list of height requirements and suggestions for Disneyland here and Walt Disney World here.   Besides rides however, there are a lot more fun things to do with your baby.   When my kids were 18 months old we went to Thunder Ranch at the back of Disneyland and had a blast.  They had a petting zoo, lots of characters, dancing and crafts for kids.  We could have spent the whole day in just that one area.  So be aware of activities other than rides.  The maps give a good description of where everything is in the park, so take one with you and look it over.


As far as a diaper bag....

Some people suggest packing light so you are not weighed down with a stroller, huge diaper bag and all that goes in it, but we always bring a medium back pack with us and that just about does the trick.  I recommend bringing at least one, if not more changes of clothes.  It is hot, the baby may spit up or heaven forbid poop on their cute outfit and the last thing you want in your precious photo with Mickey is a soiled outfit.  I also brought lots of diapers, but in every bathroom they have a diaper dispenser where you can buy one for $1 in case you run out.   My babies drank formula, so I also brought plenty of that and water so I could mix it. When they were a bit older I stuffed the back pack with all sorts of snacks and even a full lunch.  You can bring food and drinks into the parks as long as they are not in a glass container.  You can also rent lockers in the park if you do not want to carry everything around with you.  I found if I kept my kids clean and fed, they were a lot happier.

Strollers

We always bring our double wide City Mini stroller with us for two reasons.  First the seats lay flat so my kids can take naps when they need to with a huge shade to keep them cool.  And second I did not want to pay to rent a stroller.  It cost $15 for one stroller and $25 for two strollers per day.  It was just more cost effective to bring our own.  I do not recommend leaving anything valuable in your stroller if you park it in the stroller parking area, they are not watched that closely.  We tied a big Disney balloon to ours so we could easily identify it among the sea of strollers.  I have to say the best part about renting a Disney stroller is, if someone walks off with it, they will give you a new one no questions asked, and often times replace any items that might have been in it. If your own stroller is taken, there is no guarantee they will let you use one of theirs for no charge, but you can always ask!

Nursing moms

Each park has a baby station that is different than a regular restroom.  The baby station has a room where cartoons are playing and little ones can rest (as well as parents) and nurse.  There is a whole room full of changing tables so you don't have to wait in line at the restroom.  The baby station is air conditioned and a bit more peaceful than the park and both men and women are welcomed.

What about nap time?

Honestly our kids are pretty good at taking a nap in their stroller.  We never left the park for nap time.  I felt it would take way too long to leave the park, go to the hotel, let the kids unwind and fall asleep then go all the way back to the park.   If you are staying on property (in a Disney hotel) it is a bit easier to do that, but we never have and my kids didn't seem to mind sleeping in their stroller vs a crib.   Were their naps at their usual time?  No.  Were they for as long as they usually sleep?  No.  Were they exhausted at the end of the day?  Yes.  But that is part of what going to Disney is all about.


Learn what your kids do and don't like

One child getting a hug from Mickey, one child running away

My kids usually LOVE to take pictures with characters, and that was one of the best parts of going with them even when they were super little, but some kids are terrified of the characters.  If your kids scream and run away at the first sight of Mickey Mouse, it may not be worth standing in a long line to do.  Some kids do not like rides, so that may be something you wait until they're older to do.  My kids seriously liked everything, rides, characters, fireworks, parades, you name it, but not all kids are that way and your trip will be a whole lot easier if you learn quickly that they are scared of the dark or get fussy if they have to wait in long lines.

Take TONS of pictures

Your child will not remember this trip at all, but you will.  And you will want to share your memories with your child as they grow, and what better way to do that then with pictures?   We have tons of precious "firsts" with our kids and of course pictures to go with it.   Keep in mind that Disney photographers (part of the photo pass system) will take pictures with your camera as well as with their own for no extra cost.  I always had my photo pass card scanned as well, because you never know if they capture something precious on their camera that they did not get on yours.

Take your time

Not something we'd usually do, but the kids loved beating the drums

The thing that saved us on our first trip with our kids was taking it slow.  I felt like I did 100 more diaper changes than I usually do in a given day, but that might have been because usually when I go to a Disney park I take a maximum of 3 bathroom breaks, so changing diapers every couple hours seemed like a lot!   I also felt like we stopped to eat a lot, but again, I'm use to eating while waiting in line for an awesome ride and just sitting down for one big meal during the day.  Once I got used to the idea of lots more stops than usual, I was okay with it.  I had to mentally make sure my babies stayed hydrated and wore lots of sunscreen.  When you put safety and the babies comforts first, your trip will be a whole lot better.

Don't forget a huge bonus about taking your babies to Disney is they are free until they are 3 years old.

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about going to Disney with an Infant in the comments section.

How to Travel Internationally

I have been to a few different countries and have had a lot of interesting experiences.  I wanted to set this post up just to talk about traveling internationally.  No specific country, just some tips and tricks to know for international travel.

1. Make sure you know where you are going.

When I traveled to Europe with my husband, we visited a few different countries.  We did not have any cell phones that worked in Europe and weren't sure what kind of access we would have to the internet.  So before we left, we loosely scheduled what we wanted to do in each city and printed out maps from Google maps so we knew where we were going and how we would get there.   Unfortunately a couple of the Google maps lead us on a wild goose chase, but because we had brought the name and address of our hotels with us we were able to find out where to go.  I found this extremely helpful in navigating the city without access to any kind of GPS or internet.

2. Make sure you have met all the requirements of the visiting country before you leave.

This may sound obvious, but I thought we had everything in order the first time we traveled internationally.  I'd gotten all the passports, visas, travelers insurance (a requirement of the visa), ID's, and confirmations together, but I actually did not know we needed to bring my husband's green card with us when we left the country.   The airline employee almost did not let us on the plane in New York.  He said that we could leave, but my husband couldn't come back without his green card. Oops.  Luckily we had just enough time to call a friend and ask her to mail us the green card to our hotel (another reason to bring your hotel's address with you) and it came without a problem.   So double check all the requirements, shots, vaccinations, visas (even US citizens need visas for certain countries), paper work, everything you need before you go.  You can check this US government website to know what is required for traveling to any country.

3. Don't be afraid if you don't speak the language


 I have visited several countries where I did not speak the language.  Luckily my husband speaks 4 different languages and could communicate in all the countries we've gone together.  But it is not vital that you are fluent in the language of wherever you are going.  It is definitely polite to try and speak the language, but there will always be people that get offended if you butcher their native language (cough-France-cough)  Do not assume that everyone speaks English, because they don't.  But the majority of people do try to help you if you are polite.  Most people that work in hotels, shops and transportation speak English, but it doesn't hurt to bring a language guide book with you.

4. Look up facts about the culture before you go

The bigger the hair, the more power the person had.  Yes that is hair, not hats

In my opinion most people understand you are a visitor and do not know the local customs, but there are some areas of the world that do not care about this and expect you to know certain things.  For example did you know in Afghanistan if you touch, speak or look directly at a woman in public it dishonors her?  And during the month of Ramadan no one, including foreigners can eat, drink or chew gum in public?  Okay, so you may not be traveling to the middle east, but I wish I would have known we planned our trip to Italy during a yearly strike. Apparently they have this "strike" the same time every year and there was no public transportation available during part of our trip.  Even if you just Google local costumes of where you're going before hand, it is worth it.  And who knows?  Maybe you'll learn something that will add to the overall experience of your trip.

5. Book tours

Our tour guide showing us what the Forum used to look like

I know a lot of people would rather explore the city on their own, at their own pace and on their own schedule, but I really recommend doing at least one tour of wherever you are going.  Usually the tours are only a few hours and in my experience I have always learned way more than I ever would have if I just explored on my own.   We did a walking tour in Rome and were granted access to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.  We could have done this on our own, but it was included in the price of the tour and it was nice just not having to worry about it.  Besides, we went with an anthropologist and she told us mounds of historical facts and awesome stories that I would not have known otherwise.  Each time we've gone on a tour it has increased my appreciation for the area and enriched my overall experience.

6.  Be prepared for the unexpected

Even with as prepared as I felt whenever I've traveled, things have always come up.  Sickness, getting lost, losing wallets, planes getting cancelled, you name it, its happened.  I always tell myself whenever I'm going through something that I will have a great story for when I get home!  It helps put me at ease, and know everything will be all right.  Even when we forgot to bring my husband's green card he was making plans to stay in Europe with some friends he had there until we could get the green card to him.  It didn't come to that, but having a go with the flow attitude definitely helps.  And know you can always ask for help.  There is a US embassy in every country and there is usually someone who speaks English that can point you in the right direction.

7. Get travelers insurance

I'll be honest, we've only gotten travelers insurance once, and that is only because the visa required it, but I have heard a lot of horror stories from close friends who wish they would have had it.  Medical care in other countries is considerably cheaper than getting treated in the US without insurance, but it still can cost a lot.  Travelers insurance does not cost that much, I think we paid around $70 for my husband's insurance.  It usually cost around 5%-8% of your total trip expense, and it doesn't just cover medical emergencies, but also lost luggage, bad weather, and other unforeseen events.

How to Get the Most out of Your Zoo Membership

We have a membership to the Hogle Zoo in Utah, but I believe this post can apply to almost any zoo in the US.  One of the biggest perks of having a zoo membership is you can use your membership to get into most other zoos around the country for a discounted price.

We became members just over a year ago right before out twins first birthday.  We wanted to have their party at the zoo, and knew we would be visiting the zoo a lot with the kids, so we signed up to be members.   We have one of the more expensive memberships, the booster membership, that gives unlimited rides on the train and carousel, we are allowed 2 guests every visit, we could add a third adult to our membership and as many kids as we needed.  This allowed us to include our nanny on the membership so she could take our kids to the zoo if she wanted to.    Even being a more expensive membership, it did not cost that much.  You can view prices here.

We go as often as we can to the zoo and the kids never get tired of it.  They are just excited now to see all the animals as they were the first time they went.  Maybe even more because they are older and understand more of what they are seeing.  Their favorite part is going on the carousel, and we go every time.   I love the zoo because I can go with other moms and their kids as a place to walk, chat, and let our kids play together.  If my friends do not already have a membership, I get them in for free with mine, so it is a great alternative to going to a park or play area.

The Hogle Zoo is a smaller zoo, so we can easily see everything in a few hours.  They are just about ready to open their Savannah area which has been under construction for a long time.  That will definitely add to the overall zoo experience.  There is also a splash pad for kids in part of the zoo.  When it is too cold for the water to be on my kids still love to climb on the rocks and go down the slide.  It is hard to pull them away from that area.

The splash pad

Being a zoo member I receive a zoo magazine that tells me about events going on at the zoo and fun facts and stories about the animals and workers.  It allows me to feel more connected with the animals when I go.  I know their names, where they are from, their ages and even when they pass away.  I love getting this magazine and usually learn about an event I did not know about already from it.  I also received a calendar that I have hanging up that tells me of upcoming events.  There are free events, member only events, events that cost money and events that need a reservation.  They are clearly marked on the calendar.

A great benefit of being a zoo member is the sunrise and sunset safaris.  Those occur about once a month during the summer hours on different days of the week.  The sunrise safari is when the zoo opens a few hours early to members only, and the sunset safari is when it stays open later.  We have gone to the sunset safaris and loved seeing the zoo at a different time of day when it was less crowded and less hot.  Most animals were still up, but several were sleeping.   If you have a booster membership it includes early entrance to Boo at the Zoo and a free entrance to zoo lights.  Boo at the Zoo in my opinion was too crowded, even with the early entrance.  The line was so long to get into the zoo we had to park around the back and they didn't get around to opening the gates until a few minutes before everyone else could enter.  I do not know that I would do it again, if I did I would go later in the day when most of the crowds have gone.  We did that for the Easter Egg dive and had a much better experience.

At Boo at the Zoo, the kids can wear costumes.

We love going to the zoo, it is something we do several times a month.  The kids love it and I am excited to take them to the different educational experiences they have for kids when they are old enough.  The membership has paid for itself 10 fold.  Now we consider it a free activity to do as a family that is healthy, educational, and fun.

How to How Fun in California Without Going to Disneyland

Huntington beach at sunset

Okay, I know I am the biggest Disney fan ever, but Southern California is full of things to do besides Disney that are amazing, so I have to share them with you!

1. Go to other theme parks

One thing California is not lacking in is theme parks.  There's Universal Studios that is going to open Harry Potter land in a couple of years.  There is 6 Flags, Knotts Berry Farm, Sea World, Lego Land, Great America, and other lesser known parks such as Adventure City and Children's Fairyland.  I have been to a few of these and will give a short review of the ones I've done.

Universal- this is by far my second favorite park in California, Disney is the first of course.  They have really fun thrill rides, like the Mummy and Jurassic Park, as well as some more calm rides such as the Back Lot Tour, and Simpson's 3D ride.   There are shows you can attend and lots of characters walking around.  I cannot wait for them to add the Harry Potter portion to this park.

Knotts Berry Farm -I used to go to this park as a kid and it was really fun, but when I went as an adult I couldn't help but feel old as the park seems to be full of teenagers now.  Definitely a step down from Disney and Universal.  The park is a lot dirtier, the lines are long with no fast past or front of the line pass options, and the rides are geared more for teenagers.  Don't get me wrong, I am not afraid to go on rides and I have fun, but there got to be a point where I was over and done with rides.  Luckily there are also lots of shows and fun carnival type games.  There are some things to do if you have littler kids like Camp Snoopy and the carnival type rides.

6 Flags - I have not been to this park personally, but my husband has.  He said it was really fun, lots of big thrill rides.  He also mentioned the park is so big he could not possibly get to every ride in one day unless he got some kind of skip the line pass.  Definitely not geared towards families, but there are things to do with little kids.

Sea World -I have been to Sea World with my husband and we really loved it.  There was a lot to see, lots of shows, and we even ate lunch with Shamu.  There are lots of different experiences you can do that cost more money such as swim with the dolphins, but if you do not want to spend more money there is plenty to do with the regular park admission.  They even have a couple of rides there, but not many, so don't go expecting to ride rides all day.

2. Attend a filming of a show

There are tons of sitcoms filmed in California in front of live studio audiences and to attend one of these tapings is free.  They usually provide pizza or some kind of food as well, so it is an excellent date idea.  My husband and I want to go see a taping of the Big Bang Theory, but have not been able to yet due to not knowing what to do with our kids while we are at the show.  Besides sitcoms there are tons of game shows and talk shows that are free to attend as well.  The Ellen show is definitely on my to-do list.  There is an age limit as to who can attend and you need to get tickets in advance.  You can do that here.

3. Take a studio tour

My husband and I have taken the WB tour and had a blast!  We went all around the lot on a little tour bus with a group of about 12 of us.  We got off the bus several times to see props, costumes, and even sets.  We went to a live set to see how a show is filmed and went to the retired set of Friends and got some amazing pictures!   At one point we toured a building that had all kinds of neat memorabilia and actual pieces from movies.  They even had an entire floor dedicated to Harry Potter stuff!  We could not take any pictures in this building, but we sure had fun getting sorted into different Hogwarts houses by the sorting hat, see an actual Oscar, and hiding in the cupboard under the stairs where Harry Potter lived.

4. See the famous sights

When I say famous sights I mean things like the Hollywood sign, Griffith Park, the Hollywood Walk of fame.  Places that have become icons of California.   I also recommend going to places where movies have been filmed.  My husband and I love movies, so driving around California to different places where some of our favorite films where shot is always a highlight of our trip.   We have been to all of the above mentioned places and a few more.  Griffith Park is beautiful, has the best view of the city, and Hollywood sign.  The Hollywood walk of fame is always entertaining with the people that populate that area.  There are people dressed up in costumes, people doing different things for money, and sometimes even famous people.  My husband saw Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie outside the Kodak Theater one time.  We have also gone to the neighborhood in Pasadena where Disturbia was filmed and took pictures of all the houses on the block.  Little adventures like this can really enhance your California experience.

4. Go to the beach

Huntington Beach

I cannot complete this post without mentioning the beach.  My mom is from Huntington Beach and I was born in Orange County so I am most loyal to the beaches of Orange County, but LA has good beaches too.   My favorite beaches in California are: Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, New Port Beach, Venice Beach, Malibu and Santa Monica.   Each have things unique to them, but also great places to actually go in the water.  Here is a little about each one.

Huntington Beach -has a great pier, is the dubbed "surf city" for it's great surfing of course, has volley ball nets, has a great shopping area across from the water and even has a dog park close by.

Laguna Beach -is known for its annual Festival of the Masters, where live people imitate famous paintings.  There is also great shopping on this beach.  The beach itself is nice, but no pier.

New Port Beach-has Balboa Island which is across from the sand and has lots of fun shops.  Has a nice pier and the sand is great.  There are lots of fancy houses around this beach as well that are fun to look at.

Venice Beach -home to the famous muscle beach and it has plenty of them!  There is a gym right on the beach where lots of really built people work out.  There is also a play ground on the beach.  Venice Beach is mostly known for its eclectic shops and people that populate the boardwalk.

Malibu

Malibu-is beautiful, famous for sunsets and surfers and famous people.  There is not a board walk, and the beaches are a little off the main road, but the scenery is what makes it so pretty.

Santa Monica-has the biggest pier with an amusement park.  Yep this is the one with the big ferris wheel, roller coaster and carnival games.  The beach itself is nice as well.  Lots of sand, lots of seagulls and a beautiful spot for sunsets.

Santa Monica

How to make your Walt Disney World trip even better

I just HAVE to separate Walt Disney World and Disneyland.  Both parks are so different and offer different experiences that I cannot combine them both into one post.  This is a post I will add to over the years as I am sure I will find even more exciting things to do that people may not know about, so check back often.     For now I have complied some of my favorite things about Walt Disney World that people may not realize were available.  I have been to Walt Disney World a lot, in fact I worked there for a while.  So I definitely have some expert knowledge on some of the hidden gems of Walt Disney World.  I hope this will help you make your own vacation even more magical, cause lets be honest, any experience at Walt Disney World is bound to be magical!

1. Get your hair cut on Main Street

Did you know you can get your hair cut on Main Street?  There is an old fashion barber shop hidden between the fire station and the Emporium.  The official name is the Harmony Barber Shop.  It was built because Walt Disney himself regretted not putting a barber shop in Disneyland and it has been there since the park opened, as have some of the barbers.   We got our twins very first hair cut there and that was an experience I will NEVER forget.  They gave us locks of their hair, a certificate, and each child got their very first pair of Mickey Mouse ears that say: My first hair cut.

My husband and his dad also got their hair cut while we were there, it was my husband's birthday and they gave him pixy dust in his hair.  The prices were very reasonable, and the cast members are super friendly.  There was one that spoke Spanish that cut my father-in-law's hair, which made the experience even better.   I have heard the Dapper dans come in to sing, but they did not do that while we were there. I do recommend making reservations as they fill up rather quickly, you can make them here. 

2. Attend Star Wars Weekends

I have worked at Star wars weekends and attended as a guest and both experiences were phenomenal.  Certain weekends in May and June each year are dedicated to the Star Wars movies and cartoons.  They have stars from the movies come, sign autographs and give presentations.  You can have meals with the stars and characters from the movies.  They have characters from the movie all over the parks, even classic Disney characters put on their Star Wars best.   There is a special parade, meet 'n' greets, music and Jedi Training sessions.   You can find a complete list of activities here. 

There is also an area dedicated to Star Wars merchandise with special guest experiences.  When we went on my husband's birthday we pre-registered to have a D-Tech me experience.  They took a 3D picture of him and about 6 weeks later a storm trooper (my husband's favorite) action figure that looks just like him, came in the mail.  That was a pretty neat thing to do, he could choose between a storm trooper or Hon Solo frozen in carbonate.  Now they have added a Princess Leia in her white gown and an orange jump suit fighter pilot option.  Again I recommend making reservations for this, and you should also know this was a pretty spendy experience, prices should be listed on the link above.  After the experience we got to walk around the merchandise area and we stocked up on exclusive Star Wars/Disney merchandise.  Because we had done the D-Tech me experience we missed the hour + line just to get into the building.

His personalized Storm Trooper action figure

Some of the items we bought

3.  Always make dinning reservations

I have tried for years to get into Cinderella's Table at the Magic Kingdom without success.  I have called before hand to make a reservation but they were always full already.  I believe (but don't quote me) that you can make dinning reservations up to 180 days in advance of your trip and I recommend it.  I never made mine that early and as a result I had few options as to where to have my husband's birthday dinner.   We ended up eating at Tony's on Main Street and it was wonderful, as most if not all Disney dinning experiences are, but I am still longing to eat at Cinderella's Table while watching the fireworks!

4. There is more than one place to watch the fireworks

One of my favorite places to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks show was outside the Polynesian resort on one of their lounge chairs.  All of the hotels allow anyone to come in, eat in the restaurants, shop in the stores, and walk around the hotel inside and outside.  When I was in the mood to watch the fireworks but didn't want to deal with the crowds at Magic Kingdom (and taking the boat or Monorail to get there) I would go to the Polynesian and get a magical, crowd-free, view of the fireworks!   You can also see them from the Contemporary Resort and the Grand Floridian.

5. Plan carefully which day you go to each park

We went to Animal Kingdom on mother's day and they gave carnations to every mom!

Each park has different times they open and close depending on what day it is.   There are also magical morning days where park resort guests get into the parks earlier than non-resort guests.  It is my personal recommendation that you do not attend that particular park on that day, unless you are staying in a Disney resort and are willing to get up that early.   The parks are usually busier on their magical morning days, so by the time non Disney resort guests arrive the lines are long and the park is full.   I also recommend going to Animal Kingdom on the day it is open the longest.  It may be a bit busier that day, but that park always closes early, even in the summer, so the longer it is open the better for you.   We arrived pretty close to when the park opened and couldn't believe it was already time to exit the park when it closed.  The day flew by!

6. Try to stay in a Disney resort if you can

I have yet to stay on property at either Disneyland or Walt Disney world.   My in-laws have a time share in Florida, so we only pay around $100 for a week stay and I just can't justify spending way more than that just to stay on property.  But there are definitely perks.  They will pick you up at the airport and the bus system is awesome and will take you anywhere on property including the water parks and Down Town Disney, so there is no need to rent a car.  If you buy anything at any park they will take it to your hotel so you do not need to carry it around the park with you.  And as mentioned above there are magical morning days where you can enter the parks early on a certain day.    The Disney staff is amazing and the hospitality, cleanliness, and Disney magic is out of control at the resorts.  Staying at a Disney resort is definitely on my to do list.

7. Don't spend all your time at the parks

Don't forget that the Walt Disney World resort is full of activities besides the four theme parks.  Down Town Disney is so much fun.  They have night clubs, Disney Quest which is a five story arcade, a theater, Cirque 'du' Soliel which I've been to twice and LOVE, restaurants, shops, and you can even go up in a hot air balloon!   My husband and I rented a little speed boat one time and went all around the lagoon on it.  There are always live performances and D.J's and every night in the summer they have a free dance party for all ages at one end of the district, at least they did last year.

Walt Disney World also has two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.  I have been to both.  I think Typhoon Lagoon is better for little kids and relaxing.  There are some great slides, but my favorite part was the lazy river.  You can also learn to surf at their wave pool which is pretty cool. Blizzard Beach definitely had more thrilling slides, not to mention summit plumit.

A lot of people know about the water parks and Down Town Disney but few know there is a full golf course on property.  And mini golf.  You can also have a camp fire with Disney characters, do archery, horse back riding, fishing, para-sailing, water skiing, go on the different running/walking trails and Walt Disney World has a race track where you can get behind the wheel of a real race car.  So if you are needing some away from the parks time look into one of these other activities.

8.  Be aware of extra experiences offered

Walt Disney World has several events that happen during the year after the park closes.  There is Mickey's- Not-So-Scary Halloween party in the fall where you can come and trick-or-treat around the park with special parades, fireworks and characters.  There is also Night of Joy which is a musical event and they have a Mickey's Christmas party as well.   I have honestly not personally attended any of these events, but have heard they are great.  I have been to one at Disneyland and enjoyed how the park was a bit emptier since it has limited attendance.   You do have to buy a separate ticket to the event, but they usually let you into the park late afternoon, so you can spend more time in the park before the event starts.  It may not be something you do yearly, but going at least once is worth it.

Another little perk that Disney Visa card members get (besides 10% off merchandise when you spend over $50 and points that equal money you can spend in the park) is the private character meet 'n' greet offered at EPCOT.   You show your visa card and then wait in a usually small if any line to go and see some Disney characters.  You do not always know which characters it will be, but it is always fun to get a private meeting with them.  You also get a free 5X7 photo you can pick up later at the photo center.  Annual pass holders get a lot of discounts and perks and if you read the Disney Parks Blog they are always doing special blog reader experiences.  They do advance screenings of Disney movies, and private events at the park such as Mickey's-not-so-scary Hallowing party for blog readers only.  These events fill up super quick and sometimes it is a random drawing as to who can go, but they are worth it.

9. Don't be afraid to volunteer

We have had several experiences where we just swallowed our fear and stepped up to volunteer for something and they have been amazing!   I auditioned for the American Idol Experience at the Hollywood Studios and made it into the show and sang in front of tons of people!   My husband volunteered for the Special Effects Water Tank show at the Backlot Tour and had so much fun!   You can also volunteer at the Indiana Jones show and can be picked for various other activities around all four parks.  It isn't guaranteed that you will be picked or make it onto any show or activity, but don't be afraid to ask. I know at the Backlot Tour they are always looking for volunteers and will gladly accommodate anyone that asks to be in the show as long as they meet the requirements.  The cast members make you feel at ease and you feel like a super star.