The Enchanted Pumpkin

Genie+ & Lightning Lane "Is it easy? No. Do I like it? No, I don't. But do I do it? Yeah, I do."    - Michael Scott, The Office (Cheers to whoever first used that quote to describe Genie+, you were right on the money there!) Good Morning and Happy New Year! Everyone got sick over the holidays, and the canceled plans freed up some time for writing posts, something I haven't been able to do for a VERY long time! (I'd like to say you'll hear from me more frequently now, but if you have ever raised a toddler, you'll know that isn't likely. We take what we can get haha!) This week we cover Genie+ and Lightning Lane, how to use them and whether or not they're  worth the price! Now, I'll start with this note: I may not be the best authority on Genie+ since we have only been once since it was introduced at Disneyland. I have, however, talked to people who have used it many times, and I've watched a LOT of YouTube videos from people who know mor...

Good Morning! Flo's V8 Cafe has a great breakfast menu! You can order on the app while standing in line to get your Radiator Springs FASTPASSES! Many of us are getting ready for the Holiday season around our homes, and many are heading to Disneyland to experience Christmas time at the resort! I have never been for Christmas, but it is on my bucket list! While there, you might be looking for ways to avoid the crowds, and one way is to take advantage of the mobile ordering service available at many restaurants around the resort!  Disneyland implemented  mobile ordering back in late 2018, so if you haven't been this year, this system may be new to you! We tried this out for the first time back in May, and it really made for a smooth dining experience. Last week we talked about how the Disneyland app turns your phone into your FASTPASS , PhotoPass, and park ticket. This week we will talk about how the app also turns your phone into your restaurant menu! The Disneyland ...

**Note! MaxPass is no longer available at the Disneyland Resort! I am currently working on an article about its replacement: Genie+ & Lightning Lane. Stay tuned!** Good Morning! This week our blog returns to the Happiest Place on Earth! In May, we visited DISNEYLAND right before the opening of Galaxy's Edge! We were hoping to enjoy the last little bit of off-season crowd levels before the expected heavy crowds hit, but when we got there we found that everyone else was thinking the same thing! The parks were a bit more crowded than we had expected for late-April/early-May, and once Galaxy's Edge opened up, the crowds were reportedly non-existent! The crowd levels prior to Galaxy's Edge actually surprised me given the fact that the weather was quite chilly. This was also the first time we had been to the parks since MaxPass was released, so we took this opportunity to give it a try! Without further ado, here are our thoughts on using MaxPass at the Disneyland Resort, ...

Good Morning! I figured we haven't had enough dining posts just yet! ;) So this week we are going to dive into our family's top 5 favorite restaurants in the Disneyland Resort! This list doesn't include snack carts or walk-up type restaurants (or else the Turkey Leg Stand would be included!!), and all restaurants have been judged based on both theming and food! Let's start with number 5 on our list! 5. Alien Pizza Planet (Redd Rocket's Pizza Port) I really like the food at this restaurant! This is a cafeteria-style dining experience that serves pizza, pasta, and salads! I know their food isn't the best quality that you can find at Disneyland, but I still really like their (large) pepperoni pizza slices, and Count Down Chicken Fusilli, which is Fusilli pasta, grilled chicken, Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and a Parmesean-Pesto Cream Sauce to top it off! I haven't been able to go see the Pizza Planet overlay yet, but I do hold the unpopular opini...

Good Morning! Our computer has been receiving some TLC, so after a week away, we are finally back to posting!  I've been going through a lot of old pictures lately, and I was reminded of a lot of things in Disneyland that are now rides of the past. Some were removed recently, and some were removed when I was a little girl. I thought it would be fun to take a trip through Memory Lane as we explore some of our favorite rides that are now long gone! 1. Hollywood Tower Hotel (Tower of Terror) This will always be my favorite ride. I was crushed when they decided to give Tower of Terror a Guardians of the Galaxy make-over. I do like the new ride, but Tower of Terror just had such an amazing attention to detail and that classic creepy, haunted feel. As amazing as Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout! is, it will never beat the beat-up, lightning-struck Hollywood Tower Hotel. Rest in Peace HTH. This picture was taken in 2014 when I was new to Instagram and super obsess...

Good Morning & HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Disneyland!  On July 17th, 1955, Disneyland opened up to the public! Even though opening day was a bit of a disaster, Disneyland still welcomed its 1 millionth customer only 7 weeks later. Now, 63 years later, Disneyland is more popular than ever and crowds keep getting bigger and bigger - creating really long lines for popular attractions.  The idea of standing in those long lines is a bit daunting - however, there are some ways to make those wait times a little less boring! Here are a few of our favorite ways to pass the time!  Heads Up! If you have a smart phone, download the app "Heads Up!" (by Ellen DeGeneres.) It's a lot like the game Headbands, and is a mobile version of the game Ellen plays on her show. One person will hold the phone towards the group so they can't see the screen, and the rest of the group tries to get them to guess the words that pop up on the screen. When you are in Disneyland, turn on your locati...

Good Evening!  What are the top 10 rides in Disneyland? Well that's a matter of opinion (and a really tough choice) - but we think we have a pretty good line up! ;) This week: our 10 favorite rides in the Disneyland Resort! (Note: These are in no particular order, just numbered for convenience.) 1. Indiana Jones As a kid, this ride scared me because I didn't like the giant snake animatronic. My dad offered to buy me a Minnie Mouse sweatshirt if I would ride it again with my mom, but I freaked out and would NOT go again. Now, Indiana Jones is probably my favorite ride in Disneyland! (My dad as assured me that the sweatshirt offer does not, in fact, still stand.) The theming is fantastic - not only on the ride, but the queue is so detailed that it completely immerses you in the world of Indiana Jones! You can google the Indiana Jones queue decoder card and walk through to "translate" the writings on the walls through the queue!  Look at the detail just to the o...