Great Photo Ops Around The Disneyland Resort Part 2: Disney California Adventure

Who doesn't like to take lots of pictures around the Disneyland Resort with their family and friends?! 

Last time we took a look at Great Photo Ops Around Disneyland, and this time I want to show you a few spots around Disney California Adventure that you may not know about.

Let's head over to Hollywood Pictures Backlot first. 

 Unless you exit Muppet Vision 3D, you might just miss this great photo op. You will find it right at the end of the exit, but you don't have to watch the show to access it. Just head towards the entrance, but instead of going left to enter go all the way to your right. It's tucked in the corner.

 Once you leave there just walk straight ahead to Monsters Inc Mike & Sulley To The Rescue. 

 There at the entrance is a giant door. How fun would it be to take pictures there each visit to watch your child grow?! It's the Disney version of marking your child's growth on a door. 

To the right of the entrance is a taxi just like the one you rode on in the ride.... another great photo op!

 This next one many people don't know about. Every time I post a picture of it, I get asked where to find it in the park.

 This facade is directly behind the Hollywood Backlot Stage where Mickey's Dance Crew shows. You could do all sorts of poses here. It would be really fun to have a family photograph taken on the steps.

 Just a little further down next to the Hyperion Theatre, you'll find this Hollywood Blvd photo op that includes El Capitan in the background. 

As you can see there are quite a few photo ops located in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

Now let's move over to the Pacific Wharf Cafe.

This is one of my favorite places to take a picture. Luckily you won't have to get stinky posing with this record catch of fish...just hop right in that net!

 At the entrance of Redwood Creek Challenge Trail you'll find Brother Bear waiting to take a picture with you. 

 It's also a good spot to pass out. 

 A little further down you'll find the biggest bear to get your picture taken with right in front of Grizzly River Run. 

 And last but not least... pose as an action figure in the Action Figure Collection Toy Story box! This is located right next to Toy Story Mania. The possibilities are endless with this one. It's always fun to just people watch here to see what action pose a person will make. 

That will do it this time for great photo ops around the Disneyland Resort. 

 If you missed Great Photo Ops Around Disneyland make sure you check it out here. 

Next time I'll be showing you some fun spots around the Disneyland Hotel. 

A special thanks to Michele of  Power Shots Photography for joining us with her daughter on some of our photo op locations. 

Great Photo Ops Around The Disneyland Resort Part 1

One of my favorite things to do at Disneyland is capture as many photos of my Little One as I can around the park. Getting pictures with all the great Disney characters is a given, but did you know there are also plenty of spots around the resort just waiting for you to snap a picture or two? 

Let me show you a few of our favorite spots that we always like to take pictures at, and you don't have to be a kid to take a picture with them. 

 In Fantasyland right outside the Mad Hatter shop is a pink teacup just waiting for you to slip into. If the Mad Tea Party makes you dizzy, have no fear this teacup will not spin. 

Just around the side of the Mad Hatter you will find a little door. This is one of my favorite spots to take pictures of my Little One. It's right in front of the Mad Tea Party and next to Alice in Wonderland. I've been taking pictures of my Little One since he was just a crawler. It's been fun to watch him grow with these photos, and these days he likes to see if anyone is home. Unfortunately for him no one is ever home, and he can't get through the door like he would want. 

Knock Knock.

 Just a baby. 

 Our next spot is right behind Dumbo The Flying Elephant.  It is sometimes overlooked because it's tucked to the left backside of the ride. Can't make it on the ride? Luckily you can still get your picture with that lovable elephant here. 

Now let's walk over to King Arthur Carrousel and head to the front. 

 Try your luck at pulling out the Sword in the Stone. Sadly the Little One has not been successful and has not become the King of England yet. He sure has fun trying though. 

No luck with Mickey either.

While you are at The Sword in the Stone head over to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. 

Parked out front is Toady's motorcar waiting for you. 

Now that we are done exploring our favorite spots in Fantasyland, let's head over to Mickey's Toontown.

Mickey's Toontown is loaded with endless opportunities for great photos, here are a few of our favorites. 

 Throughout Mickey's Toontown are vehicles to jump in. Our favorite is probably the fire truck located right in front of the fire station. Not only can you pretend to drive the fire truck, but you can also hold on at the back too. 

 Mickey Mouse has this sporty red convertible parked right outside his house, and Goofy has a green car (above) parked out front at his playhouse. 

Before you leave the fire station to head over to Mickey's house, make sure you go around the corner because Horace Horsecollar left a weigh bar right out front of his gym. Test your strength to see if you can pick it up or make silly faces as you try. 

There is also the Dog Pound right next door.

There are so many spots all over Disneyland that you can take your pictures at, that I didn't cover today. The possibility for magical memories is endless.   

I hope you enjoyed our favorites, and next time I'll take you across the way to Disney California Adventure. 

Let's Go! With Jake and The Never Land Pirates... Disney Junior Live on Stage at Disney California Adventure

Disney Junior Live on Stage officially opens this Friday March 25, 2011 at Disney California Adventure, but my little one and I got a preview while at the park today. Take a look...

A new marquee for Disney Junior Live on Stage.

 The show is exactly the same as when it was Playhouse Disney, but this time Jake and The Never Land Pirates take the place of My Friends Tigger and Pooh.

For those of you who never got a chance to see it before, the show is based around Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy all prepare a surprise birthday party for Minnie. Along the way Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates inspire each of the Clubhouse gang in the preparation for the party. With each short story from your favorite Disney Junior shows comes songs and audience interaction. 

Which brings me to Jake and The Never Land Pirates. If you are a fan of the show as we are, then you will love this section of the show. 

 We get introduced to everyone with the opening theme song of the show. It's hard to not bop along, okay I'll admit it, I sang along too. 

We then watch Jake, Izzy, Cubby, and Skully seek out Captain Hook and Mr. Smee to get back their stolen treasure chest. The audience is then asked to help chase the villains away by making crocodile chomps with their arms. 

Once the treasure chest is recovered, everyone is awarded with gold doubloons that fall from the sky. 

The new addition to the show fits in perfectly, and I think is actually more fun. I am a little biased though... I may not be Jake and The Never Land Pirates target audience, but I do love the show too. 

The whole show is just under 25 mins and everyone sits on the ground (there are a few benches along the walls for adults).

Don't forget, the show officially opens this Friday March 25, but if you are in the park before then,  check to see if they will be doing some more soft openings. 

Updated 3/24/2011 
My friend Michele from Power Shots Photography sent me this video she took, to share with my readers of the Jake and The Never Land Pirates segment. Thanks Michele!

My Favorite Disneyland Attraction

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Red.  Enjoy the ride as we share with you our favorite Disney attraction!  

If you would have asked me a couple years ago what my favorite Disneyland attraction was, I probably would have said Indiana Jones Adventure or Space Mountain, but now that I am a mom of a two year old I see Disneyland in a whole new light. 

Once upon a time I went on rides for thrills, but now I go on rides that bring happiness to my son. Watching him get excited about going on a favorite ride of his, seeing his enthusiastic tippy toe dance to the line, and hearing him call out the name of the ride we are going on, brings such warm happiness to my heart. I appreciate Disneyland more now then I ever have, and I cling on to these memories I am building with him because they won't last forever. Even at two years old, I am finding out that he is growing up too fast. 

I have many favorite rides currently that I like to go on with my son, but my absolute favorite is Casey Jr.  Circus Train. 

I like going through Storybook Land, and watching the Storybook Canal Boats floating by beneath us, while making a trip around all of the miniature villages and castles. 

I like seeing all the miniature trees in London Park from Peter Pan as we cruise by, especially when a giant duck is taking a rest in the middle of the pathway.  

Did I mention you get a great view of the Matterhorn in the background too? 

What makes the ride extra special is that it's an original Disneyland Park attraction from 1955!

All the little details are so fun to look at while driving by.

Many people love sitting in the cages like wild animals or monkeys, but my favorite spot is the caboose. 

"As we like to say to the animals, that's the end of the lionnnn".

If you like my page, and you aren't following me already, please follow me on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you! 

Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A World View.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1^st Stop ~ Magical Days with the Mouse

2^nd Stop ~ A World View

3^rd Stop ~ WDW Backstage

4^th Stop ~ Makin’ Memories

Final Stop  ~ My Dreams of Disney

Visiting Pixie Hollow During the Day and Night

One of my favorite things to do at Disneyland, is to collect character photos with my son. 

I want to create a big book full of character photos for him to look back at some day. Disneyland makes it easy to get photos with some of your favorite characters like Tinker Bell in Pixie Hollow. 

If you've never been to Pixie Hollow, it is located between the Matterhorn and the entrance of Tomorrowland. 

The idea is that you magically shrink down to fairy size, and enter a world with grass blades and flowers towering over you. 

When you first enter into this whimsical world, you will be greeted by one of Tinker Bell's friends, Silvermist, Iridessa, Fawn, or Rosetta.

A hug for Tinker Bell.

Then you turn the corner around a mushroom, and Tinker Bell awaits your arrival. 

Trying to get Tinker Bell to color. 

The whole area is very cute and nicely done. It's a great place to really interact with a character without other people pushing in for a photo. 

You will have to wait in a long line to meet the fairies, but only a group or two are allowed in at a time, making for a more special moment for you. 

Each day Tinker Bell and her friends say goodbye around 5 PM, so make sure to get your visit in before then. 

We  also like to visit Pixie Hollow at night while the fairies are away because there is a pretty water light show on the pond called Pixie Hollow Enchantment. Once it's dark the show will start up every 15 minutes and last just under 3 minutes.

Twinkling lights move through the trees, water bounces around, a waterfall is lit up with changing colors, and different color changing lights swirl around in the pond to enchanting music. 

Once the show is over, you can head back inside Pixie Hollow to get a better look at everything, and take photographs of your little ones that you may not have gotten during the day when visiting Tinker Bell. 

It also makes a great spot to take pictures with family who are visiting from out of town. 

So as you can see, Pixie Hollow is more then just a day time experience. 

Maybe next time you're in the park, you will catch us watching Pixie Hollow Enchantment again.