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!  Once upon a time, we posted about the top 5 things we always pack for Disneyland! This week we are back with 5 MORE things we always take with us! Let's get started! As I did last time, I'll include links to some of my favorite products. (Note: These aren't affiliate links, just links to some products I like.) 1. A Fan This handheld fan came from a shop at the China Pavilion at Epcot!  Whether you bring a misting fan, a necklace fan, or a handheld fan, these are a MUST in the parks! My go-to the handheld fan because I get more control and air flow than with other fans - plus it doesn't require batteries! I find the misting fans are a bit too bulky to carry around for my taste, however, they also do a great job of cooling you down! My second favorite fan would be the necklace fan. It's hands free, and the batteries last a good amount of time, although they don't quite give the same amount of air flow as a handheld fan does. My parents bought these...

Good Morning!  Little Jack did not expect the sword to be so difficult to remove from the stone! Over the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to help several people in the planning process of their Disneyland vacations - one of my absolute favorite things to be able to help with! It's given me the chance to think about the most important piece of advice I can give to those going for their first time - and today I'm going to share that with you! It all boils down to one word: expectations. It's never pleasant when we go somewhere with high expectations, just to find that reality is not at all what we had in mind! It always makes me sad to see guests who did not go with the right expectations, because they often leave having a sour experience that could have been prevented. Planning a Disney trip with the proper expectations in mind can help reduce stress and avoid unpleasant surprises! Here are a few things to keep in mind: 1. Lines are long! In my experience, this is...

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! Packing for vacations can be hard. Especially if you are like me and you feel like you have to pack the kitchen sink *JUST IN CASE*! Trying to pin down some of those essential items for the parks before you over-do the weight limit on your bags? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Here are 5 essential items that we always take with us to Disney! (Lots of links provided so you can see some of our favorite products!) 1. SMALL Backpack or Cross-Body Bag The trick with finding the right bag is going as small as you can and still comfortably get what you need into the park! We pack pretty light when walking around Disneyland. My purse usually contains a wallet, my phone, snacks, a couple of park maps and times guides, my waterproof digital camera, and my phone charger. I carry around either a small cross-body bag that I don't mind getting a little beat up (especially when shoving it into and pulling it out of the little mesh bags on rides), or I take one of my...

Good Morning! I snagged this picture while walking past the Castle during fireworks! This week, we're talking about fireworks! It is a common struggle to really really want a good seat for the fireworks, but really really not wanting to fight the crowds or stake out a place on Main Street for two hours. (That's precious ride time!) Well don't worry, we've got you covered! There are several places you can get a good show without having to hang out on Main Street all night. Here are our favorite three! Fireworks from Tomorrowland - in line for the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage! 1. Red Rose Tavern (Village Haus) This is our favorite place to watch fireworks if we have already seen it once or twice from the front of the castle. There are no projections back here, which means that very few people watch fireworks from this area!! You can pretty much show up here 10 minutes before the fireworks start and still get a good seat. We just sit out at one of the t...