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. 

Mickey Mouse at Paradise Pier

 Did you know that if you walk up Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure, there is a newer place to take your photo?  Look for the red roofed gazebo with nautical bunting hanging above. Do you see it at the very end there? Let's get a little closer, shall we?

Ahhhh there we go.  The Mickey shaped life saver at the front of the gazebo makes for a great spot to take a photo. 

If you go earlier in the day you can find Mickey there to greet you too. 

Little One showing Mickey the roller coaster. 

Don't worry if you don't see Mickey out though because he takes turns with Duffy. Duffy is just across the way in his own photo area. The Little One got his picture with Duffy first, then we rode Mickey's Fun Wheel, while waiting for Mickey to return after Duffy was done taking pictures. If you want to know when one or the other will return for photos, you can ask the cast member that is the character handler that day. They will give you an exact time of that characters return. 

Little One showing Duffy a Duffy key chain.

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.