Goofy's Playhouse

Today we are visiting Goofy's Playhouse. 

Last summer we spent a great deal of our time over in Disney California Adventure keeping cool in the splash area that was once Bountiful Valley Farms. When that area closed, I will admit I was a little sad because it brought so much joy to my little guy. He loved running around in the open with other kids, and he loved getting wet. Am I still sad? Nope, not at all. I'm pretty excited for Carsland, so the closure of Bountiful Valley Farms is for a good reason. Once Bountiful Valley Farms closed though, I was on a lookout for something at the park that brought as much joy to him as the water area did. Sure they have Princess Dots Puddle Park in A Bug's Land, but the water over there is more like a drip compared to the water feature that was once in Bountiful Valley Farm. 

When Mickey's Toontown opened I was in High School. Goofy's Playhouse was a bounce house, and I was too old to go inside. I never really got to experience that part of the park, and I remember wanting to go inside and jump up and down really bad. 

Fast forward to today, I never really paid attention to Goofy's Playhouse because I figured my son wasn't old enough for it. Wrong. 

In September of last year right after Bountiful Valley Farm closed, I took a closer look and was surprised  at what I found. It's basically a themed playground for kids! I parked our stroller, and together the little guy and I explored. The excitement of running around with a bunch of kids was back in his eyes. We found our new spot to play. 

Crates are set up all over to create steps to a slide and to act as crawl tunnels.

There is a giant watermelon and pumpkin to crawl inside. 

More crates to sit on.

Let's go inside.

For those of you who love taking photos of your kids around the park like I do, this is a great place to do it. There is a couch, a chair, and a piano that make for great photo spots. 

Goofy's armoire has doors that slide back and forth to reveal different items, and there are spinners on the left to create a look with Goofy's clothes. Older kids may find this kind of boring, but for a two year old it's something fun to play with.... endless fun let me reassure you. 

Some of the details inside.

Silly Scales in G Goofy.

The keys on this piano work, and when you have two toddlers playing at once it's actually pretty "goofy" sounding. 

Two different angles of the same clothesline.

Back outside there are lots of details all around. 

The pumpkin in the middle is a tribute to Jack Lindquist.

Outside around the backside has some great detailing too. 

Closeup details of the front side. 

The front door is a little misleading, and actually does not function as a way to enter. You must enter through the garden/ play area to go inside Goofy's house. 

Recently we have been spotting Goofy pretty regularly standing out front of his house for meet and greets. 

Goofy's Playhouse is geared toward 2-5 year olds. My little one has been happily playing here since he was 18 months old. There are benches all around for parents to use if they want. 

The outdoor area has covers and trees for shade. 

This area can get a little crowded just like any place at the park,  but it is a great place to take a break and let your little one run around freely in an enclosed area. 

Guide to Visiting Disneyland with Little Ones

Did you know you can get a Guide to Visiting with Little Ones at City Hall? 

You can! All you have to do is ask for one. 

 There are helpful tips inside...

 There is also a cute map inside for both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure to decide which rides and attractions may be best to go on with your little ones. 

 Fairy Godmother takes a look at the map with us.

I thought I would highlight some of my son's favorites from the suggested Disney list in each land.

 Mickey's Toontown

At Mickey's House you are always guaranteed to meet and get a photo with the famous mouse. First you walk through his house, out to his green house, and through his movie barn, where you get to visit Mickey on one of his movie sets. This is a great spot for many, and I do mean many photo opportunities. 

My son's absolute favorite place in Toontown is Goofy's Playhouse. Kids can explore inside and outback at Goofy's. Check back tomorrow for a full report on one of my son's favorite things to do at the park. 

Inside Goofy's House.

Fantasyland

There is lots to do here, and we definitely spend a lot of our time here. You have Alice in Wonderland, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Dumbo, It's a Small World, and Peter Pan Flight just to name the few rides that Disney suggest for little ones.  

My son has two favorites here that we must always go on. 

The first is King Arthur Carrousel. The best perk for this ride is the wait time, which is usually 5-10 mins long even on busy days.  The horses now have easy handles for the kids to hold on to, and you are allowed to stand in-between the horses to hold on to your child, if they are not old enough to hold on without your help. 

New handles to hold on to.

Our other must go on ride is Casey Jr. Circus Train. If a train is involved, my son loves it. The fun part for adults is getting to act like a monkey or a wild animal in a cage while riding above Storybook Land. 

Frontierland

Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island is a great place to let your little one explore. Some of the dark caves are a little scary for my guy, but the rest of the island he has a blast running around on. 

He found the stash of gold on the island. 

Big Thunder Ranch is another place we visit on a regular basis. It is hidden in the back behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. During the holidays you can find pumpkin carvers for Halloween and Santa Claus and his reindeer during Christmas. The rest of the year, it's a petting farm. In a gated off section you can walk around and pet the goats, and from a small distance you can visit Pocahontas the Donkey or Maggie the cow. When you are all done, there is a hand washing station available to use on your way out. 

Critter Country

Although Critter Country is closed for refurbishments until next month, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is listed on the guide and is a favorite ride of my son. This is a 4 minute ride in a giant beehive through The Hundred-Acre Woods.  My tip for this ride is to wait until later in the day to go on it. The line is always shorter at night, and sometimes you can even walk right on or wait for a short period. 

Adventureland

The Disneyland Guide to Little Ones suggest the Enchanted Tiki Room (which we haven't tried yet) and the Jungle Cruise. 

The Jungle Cruise was once a great ride for my little one until recently. Now on certain parts through the ride he gets a little scared, but other times he gets excited to see some of the animals. Use your judgement on how you think your child will react to some of the loud noises, like piranhas attacking the boat. 

If you don't mind climbing a bunch of stairs, and your little one is all about climbing, you might find Tarzan's Treehouse a good spot to explore. It's not listed on the guide, but we always have fun there. 

Tomorrowland

Without a doubt my son loves the Monorail. If you want to fold up your stroller, you can take it onboard with you. It does make a stop at Downtown Disney, which you can get off at or take a round trip back to the park. If you take a round trip and don't want to bring your stroller onboard, there is a stroller parking area at the entrance of the Monorail. 

Waving to the people below the Monorail.

Disney's suggested rides also include Autopia and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. 

Main Street U.S.A.

And last, our Disneyland trip wouldn't be complete without a grand circle tour through the Grand Canyon and Primeval World of Dinosaurs. Did I mention my son loves trains? Yes we must ride this at least once, but often we ride it a few times around. Not only does it give us a lift to another land, but it's also a great way to take a break from walking around the park. It takes approximately 18-20 mins for a round trip around the park. I can't think of a better way to relax and take in the beauty of the park at the same time. 

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my son's favorite rides. 

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for a full report on Goofy's Playhouse.

* My son is almost two years old. Each child reacts differently. Which rides my son may love, another may not like so much. Please use your best judgement of your own child's behaviors and fears before going on a ride. 


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Wordless Wednesday -Random Photos Around Disneyland

It's Wednesday which means it's Wordless Wednesday- The Cell Phone Series. 

All photos taken within the last few days at Disneyland.

Which one is your favorite? 

Flowers in Fantasyland

It's been awhile since I've done a post on the flowers at Disneyland. 

I've always admired the flowers there, and I think it has a lot to do with growing up and gardening in my very own flower beds as a child. Ever since I was little I've shown an interest in gardening, so my parents supported my love of gardening by giving me a spot in the yard to plant whatever I wanted. 

 To this day I still love to garden, so when I see flowers like delphiniums, anemones, and daffodils, I can't help but take a moment to admire them. 

It's just another magical element that makes the Disneyland Resort so wonderful. 

To view more floral pictures around the park, please visit my Facebook page and become a fan.