Albert remembers the treehouse; he's still talking about it 3 days later. While riding the teacups for the first time, he was brave but didn't enjoy Star Wars Smuggler's Run. He was scared because they locked us in the spaceship. He didn't like that they sealed the exit. He loves the Blue Milk and had fun talking to the droids outside the droid depot.
Cars Land is still his favorite place but causes more meltdowns than any other place in the two parks. He's still obsessed with coin collecting. He didn't really register that Web Slingers is about Spiderman and isn't impressed with Avengers Campus in general, with the exception of the oversized pretzel. He's still not super into parades, but he had fun blowing bubbles with his bubble wand during Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession.
He danced like crazy at the Disney Jr Dance Party, although he complained that the music was too loud. He surprised me by having fun in Frontierland, pretending to shoot cannonballs over the fort. If you ever try to recreate the magic from a previous trip to Disneyland, that is a mistake. It's much better to go with the flow and let each trip show you something new.
5am leave house
6am arrive Garden Walk
6:30 walk to park
7am security
7:30 gate
$10.63 Coffee + cake pops
$9.68 chips + juice
8am Jungle cruise
8:30 treehouse
$20 pirate coins
9am Pooh Corner
10am Galaxy's Edge
$4.30 chips
$18.30 blue + green milk
11am Fantasyland
(carousel and teacups)
11:30 Small world
$19.38 two cars
$10.17 lunch stew
12:45 Lunar New Year Parade
1:20 avengers assemble
$12.60 pym pretzel 🥨
2pm Cars Land
$9.60 for Guido + Luigi
3pm walk around Pixar Pier
4pm Disney jr dance party
4:30 Frontierland snacks
$5.50 fruit popsicle
$7.53 cheese + ham croissant
5:30 shaboom
6pm park exit
$119.21 in-park spending + $30 Garden Walk parking
Packing List
Market House is located on Main Street USA on the northeast edge, near the Plaza Inn and the Little Red Wagon (aka Corn Dog Cart). I have never been in there because the line is always out the door, but this time, we rope dropped so early that we got in and beat the crowds. It was a waste, though, since I never drank the coffee and Albert never ate the cake pops. I wanted to sit there for a bit, but kiddo was on the go and wanted to leave almost immediately.
https://www.mouseplanet.com/13294/Walking_Down_Walt_Disney_Worlds_Main_Street_USA
https://insidethemagic.net/2020/09/main-street-disneyland-guide-ba1mmb/
https://www.themouseforless.com/disneyland/dining/disneyland-resorts-restaurant-menus/disneyland-snack-cart-menus/
Main Street USA "creates a sense of intimacy, an area that was less threatening but also communicated to the unconscious mind that this was slightly different than the real world. As a result, the guests' minds are already being prepared to accept the next level of fantasy presented in the other lands." ~MousePlanet
"You know the expression, 'A man's home is his castle.' So, in the end, this castle is Everyman's home, stated Imagineer John Hench." ~MousePlanet
5am leave house
6am arrive Garden Walk
6:30 walk to park
7am security
7:30 gate
$10.63 Coffee + cake pops
$9.68 chips + juice
8am Jungle cruise
8:30 treehouse
$20 pirate coins
9am Pooh Corner
10am Galaxy's Edge
$4.30 chips
$18.30 blue + green milk
11am Fantasyland
(carousel and teacups)
11:30 Small world
$19.38 two cars
$10.17 lunch stew
12:45 Lunar New Year Parade
1:20 avengers assemble
$12.60 pym pretzel 🥨
2pm Cars Land
$9.60 for Guido + Luigi
3pm walk around Pixar Pier
4pm Disney jr dance party
4:30 Frontierland snacks
$5.50 fruit popsicle
$7.53 cheese + ham croissant
5:30 shaboom
6pm park exit
$119.21 in-park spending + $30 Garden Walk parking
Packing List
- ✨Spray sunscreen (didn't use)
- Mickey Backpack
- two hats
- Minnie ears
- two pairs sunglasses
- ✨Albie change of clothes (didn't use)
- ✨flour sack towel (didn't use)
- Think sunscreen bag
- phone charger / battery
- first aid kit
- 5 toy cars
- Albie medications
- 3 diapers
- ✨wetbag for dirty laundry (didn't use)
- glasses lens cleaner
- bubble fidget toy
- bubble wand + extra bubbles
- ✨AA Batteries + screwdriver (didn't bring)
- Diaper change kit
- Tow Mater + remote control
- ✨Photopass QR card (didn't bring)
- extra ziploc bags
- BOB stroller
- Water bottle
- Red Snack Bag
- ✨raisins (didn't use)
- ✨apple (didn't use)
- ✨goldfish (didn't use)
- ✨cheerios (didn't use)
- ✨pretzels (didn't use)
- Insulated Cooler
- milk
- juice
- Cucumber
- Blueberries
- raspberries
- Strawberries
- Oranges
- plastic silverware + knife
- reusable straws
- string cheese
- ✨three fruit pouches (didn't use)
- Granola bars
If we had wanted to save more money, we could have brought a full-size bag of Lay's potato chips since we bought 3 small bags for $4 each.
- Main St Fruit Stand – Just outside of Market House
- Fruit Cart – Located Between New Orleans Square and Critter Country
- https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/fruit/
Troubadour Tavern is adjacent to Fantasyland Theatre, near Small World and Toontown. I got the Serengeti Stew with Roasted Chicken and Chermoula Sauce with Steamed Rice and Roasted Kale. It was perfect on a cold day. Warmed me up without being too much food. I shared the rice with Albert.
- Frozen Treats Cart – Located at the Entrance of Adventureland
- https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/disneyland-ice-cream/
Maurice's Treats is adjacent to the Royal Theater, within sight of the Plaza, the Partners statue, and Sleeping Beauty Castle. I saw people walking away from it with something cheesy and warm, which made me curious. I had just eaten a pretzel, so I skipped the pretzel cheese bread and opted for the Ham and Cheese Croissant instead. It was something easy, quick, cheap and hot.
As Imagineer Alex Wright wrote, Main Street USA presents "fanciful flair" and gives you a sense of "overriding optimism." The right side (towards the castle) has things you might need in the morning: coffee, hats, and Main Street Photo Supply Co.. The left side (but on your right as you walk away from the castle) has more souvenirs (Emporium) and things you would do at the end of the day, like one last ice cream scoop. It's slightly uphill as you go to the castle to slow you down in the morning, and slightly downhill as you leave the park to give you the feeling of getting to the exit with your exhausted kids faster. ~MousePlanethttps://www.mouseplanet.com/13294/Walking_Down_Walt_Disney_Worlds_Main_Street_USA
https://insidethemagic.net/2020/09/main-street-disneyland-guide-ba1mmb/
https://www.themouseforless.com/disneyland/dining/disneyland-resorts-restaurant-menus/disneyland-snack-cart-menus/
Main Street USA "creates a sense of intimacy, an area that was less threatening but also communicated to the unconscious mind that this was slightly different than the real world. As a result, the guests' minds are already being prepared to accept the next level of fantasy presented in the other lands." ~MousePlanet
"You know the expression, 'A man's home is his castle.' So, in the end, this castle is Everyman's home, stated Imagineer John Hench." ~MousePlanet
We're about to enter our renewal window for our magic keys and it's time to let go. I have one more reservation on the keys booked, but time will tell if we actually use that reservation. Whether I bring Albert or go by myself. I had fun imagining it was Adventureland Day (Sunday, March 3rd, 2024) and wearing my military-style jacket with explorer patches on it and my ears with animal print. I lost those ears, but I also let them go.
