Let Your Little Ants Cool Off at Princess Dot Puddle Park in Disney California Adventure

With the warmer weather we've been having lately, we've been spending a lot of time over at Princess Dot Puddle Park in Disney California Adventure.

 Make your way into A Bug's Land, and shrink down to the size of an ant as you walk through a giant cereal box. 

Once you make your way to the other side of the cereal box you will find a land where bugs rule! 

Straight ahead is Princess Dot Puddle Park, a water play area for all your little ants to cool off. 

 Your little ants can run around with fountains of water shooting all around them. Watch out for that giant sprinkler left on by a human. It leaks water too. 

If you don't want to get wet, there are Popsicle stick benches for you to sit on. 

Around the corner on the other side, you will find the hose that the sprinkler head is attached to. Watch out above as it leaks down the pole. 

Here are a few of my tips for you, if you plan on going:

•Your little ant must be clothed at all times including shoes. If you take your little ant's shirt or shoes off, you will be asked to put them back on.

•Pack a pair of Crocs or flip flops for your little ant to wear. They dry fast when done.

•Bring a towel and a change of clothes with you because your ant will get wet... in my little ant's case... soaking wet.

•Pack a plastic bag to put all the wet clothes in when done.

When it's really warm outside, this is a very popular spot to hang out. 

So next time you're at the Disneyland Resort, and your little one needs to cool off remember Princess Dot Puddle Park. As you can tell on my little ant's face... it's a hit!

*Did you know Princess Dot Puddle Park is one of the stops on the Gowalla trip "For Little Ones at Disneyland" by Magical Days with the Mouse? If you check in to each spot on the trip, you may be one of the lucky readers to win a prize for completing. Click here to find out more. 

Adventures with the Mouse #3

 Mickey is back to share one of his latest adventures at the Disneyland Resort.

Mickey started his day in Disney California Adventure to watch a preview of Disney Junior Live on Stage, and he collected his gold doubloons (and some streamers) from Jake and The Never Land Pirates. 

Then he headed over to Disneyland with us.

 While Mickey was waiting on the fence in front of Casey Jr. Train, we noticed his cute shadow and made him pose for a picture. He didn't mind at all, since he loves having his picture taken. 

Mickey enjoyed a churro, but he sure left a sugary mess all over the place.

 He ran around with the Little One in his Toontown. Together they tried opening all the gag boxes. 

While posing for a picture in Pixie Hollow with the beautiful flowers, he noticed Peter Pan running by and waved hello. 

 We then headed back to Disney California Adventure together and looked at the progress of Carsland. We talked about how excited we are for that part of the park to open. 

 Then we watched the people on Grizzly River Run go by and waited to see them get soaking wet. 

 And they did. 

To end our day we went for a ride on Heimlich's Chew Chew Train, which made all of us hungry for a snack. For some reason we had cupcakes on the brain.  Mickey said he was buying. 

Click here to see more Adventures with the Mouse.

Beating the Heat at Disney California Adventure With Kids

Just because it's warm out, it doesn't mean you can't stay cool at Disney California Adventure.

Towards the front of a Bug's Land, there is a large water area to splash around in. Big drums with water flowing down the sides, and yellow poles spraying water make this a dream come true on a hot summer day.

*Update 9/8/2010 Please note this area is now closed due to Carsland Construction. 

Further in, you will find a giant faucet overhead dripping water all over as it leaks. Around the corner a giant hose, is left on by humans, for all your little bugs to run around in.

Pack yourself a bag of extra clothes, sun screen, a towel, and watch your child have endless fun cooling off.

Don't forget to pack a bag to put the wet clothes in too once done.

During the day over at Paradise Park (where World of Color is shown), they leave the fountains on to cool off in. Simple little burst of water pop up, but it's enough to get you wet.

Last, if you're child is 42" or taller, you can take a ride down the Sierra Nevada mountains on a runaway river over at Grizzly River Run. You will get drenched, and you will have to wait in quite a long line. There are lockers near by that are free for the first two hours to store your belongings that you don't want to get wet.

Done playing in the water?

Head over to the Animation Building in Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and stay cool inside while watching clips from your favorite Disney movies in the Animation Courtyard.

There are many things to explore once inside.

Learn to draw at the Animation Academy, visit and interact with Crush over at Turtle Talk, watch the Toy Story Zoetrope come alive in Character Close-Up, and then head down into the Sorcerer's Workshop.

If you've never been in the Sorcerer's Workshop be prepared to spend some time in there. There are three rooms to explore.

The first room, Magic Mirror Realm, is where you can draw your own animation strip of a Mickey balloon flying away, and then watch it in action on a zoetrope.

Once done you will enter The Beast's Library, where you can find out which Disney character you most resemble. As you are doing this, you may find the library fading in despair as the famous rose loses each petal over the fireplace mantel.

Next head over to Ursula's Grotto, here you can either act or sing in famous parts of Disney movies in your own personal theatre.

Done with the Animation building? Why not take in a showing of Aladdin over at the Hyperion Theatre or Muppet Vision 3D!

Watch Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy, prepare a birthday surprise for Minnie over at Playhouse Disney -Live. This show is 20 mins long in a room where everyone sits on the ground and cheers, claps, and sings along with the gang. Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, and My Friends Tigger and Pooh join in on the fun too. You'll be sure to cool down while watching this show.

See, there are plenty of things to do on a warm day, while staying cool during your park visit.

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