Looking to mix it up a little!

[mariezp]

Your little girl might like the Discover Magic Tour. It's a treasure hunt with kids in mind. Of course, it would be an extra expense but it is something you might consider.

Does you little girl have her own camera? If not get her one. My DD-8 loved having her own. Plus it is fun to see the pictures of things they find interesting.
You can let her take pics of whatever she likes and when she gets tired of that maybe do a photo hunt.

Have you ever taken her to play musical chairs with Alice and Mad Hatter? She would love that and it would give dad something fun and new to watch.

You can also ask for her to pilot the Mark Twain.

Be sure to take them to see Billie Hill & Aladdin & Crush.

 

[Sherry E]

Marie's post just reminded me of a couple of other things to do. Marie used a fish eye camera that took very unusual pictures, as well as a special Disney digital camera that puts Disney characters on pictures (see examples of the fish eye pictures AND the Disney character pictures in Marie's epic Trip Report, "It's Gonna Be a Long One....." (plug, plug, plug ) You could try taking 'different' kinds of pictures like that.

Also, Marie got a picture of a Santa popcorn-turner dude. Now, while the Santa popcorn turner won't be available when you go (unless it's around the holidays), there seems to be a wide variety of popcorn turners in the popcorn carts/wagons all around DLR, often themed to a particular land. You can go on a hunt for all the different ones and see how many your family can find.

 

[kristindavis]

Lovely ideas! What about a treasure hunt? Make a list of items and have them find them (like napkin from this restaurant, map of disneyland, disney printed penny with this character on it).

 

[kyra's mommy]

Where do you go to play musical chairs? Do I set that up in advance? How do we pilot the Mark Twain? Do we just ask when we're in line? Where is Crush showing?

She does have a camera. Great idea. We just have to find it!

I never imagined I would get such great ideas! I also didn't know I have been missing out on so much! I hope my family loves tihs trip. I am going to have to let everyone know how it goes.

 

[LavenderPeach]

What about some sort of hide and seek type game on tom sawyers island? One of you could go with your DD and the other could go with the baby and you have to find each other. Several years ago DH and I just sort of made up an impromptu game with our 2-way radios while we were on the island. We separated and then were sneaking around trying to find the other person without getting spotted first. We talked on the radios while we were doing it so if we found the other person we could sort of tease them about being found out and give hints about where we were spying on them from until they could spot us. I guess we didn't actually hide, we just sort of ran around the island. Not sure if that made sense but any type of hiding game would be fun and give DD a chance to run around.

Something DH might like, although he would have to go alone unless you had a sitter, is the Segway tour at DCA. Just trying to think of something for DH since you said he was bored with DLR also.

 

[kyra's mommy]

Oh my daughter would love that. She's really into hiding and any games like that.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Where do you go to play musical chairs? Do I set that up in advance? How do we pilot the Mark Twain? Do we just ask when we're in line? Where is Crush showing?

Musical chairs is at Coke Corner on the end of Main Street. It was at 2:30 when we were there. We just went about 15 minutes early to sit at one of the tables (there aren't that many).

To pilot the Mark Twain I believe you just ask the CM at the ride.

Turtle Talk with Crush is at California Adventure in the Animation Building.

 

[nunzia]

I am so excited! Thanks for all the great ideas and feel free to keep them coming! I would love to see the Lily Belle!

Take Adventures by Disney Backstage Magic tour! The whole .thing was great and not so expensive if you added in all the compnents..

 

[Sherry E]

Kyra's Mommy, I assume, since you guys have gone so often, that you have already done the obvious Animation Academy thing in the Animation Building, right? That seems especially cool and you don't have to be a great artist to do it. I might even try it next time when I go and scratch out a vague Mickey-looking creation!

 

[kyra's mommy]

No, I haven't done the Drawn to Magic thing. My six year old loves to draw so that is PERFECT for her!

I'm embarrassed that I have stayed completely in my Disney box! I didn't know over half of things people have suggested even existed!

 

[Sherry E]

No, I haven't done the Animation Academy thing. My six year old loves to draw so that is PERFECT for her!

I'm embarrassed that I have stayed completely in my Disney box! I didn't know over half of things people have suggested even existed!

Oh my goodness! Have you seen pictures of other people's drawings? It is so fun (I say that even though I haven't done it yet!! ) because it is not just Mickey that people draw. I have seen other characters drawn too. Mariezp not only has the great fish eye camera photos and the special Disney camera photos on her trip report, "It's Gonna Be a Long One," but she also has pictures of her family's drawings in Animation Academy. You should go over there and take a look! You can also see Bumbershoot's (Molly) pictures as she has her drawings posted in her TR too. Click on the link in her signature and you will see the sketches. It is like a class, from what I hear. A CM instructs everybody how to draw Mickey or whomever, step by step, and you all keep your drawings when you are finished. The CM comes around to help. It looks super fun, and again, nobody has to be a great artrist to do it. Your daughter would LOVE that!!

Also in the Animation Building is Ursula's Grotto, I think it's called, where you can go and put your voice (either speaking or singing) to a Disney animated scene. That's a blast - especially for kids! And in the Beast's Library, you can take a quiz that tells you which Disney character you are most like. That's fun too. And don't miss the Toy Story Zoetrope - AWESOME!!!!

Your family has done character meals, I would guess, right? If so, have you done all of them? You could switch it up and try a new one for a different experience, and if you haven't done them at all, you can try one for the first time and that would be a big hit with your daughter, I am sure.

 

[Sherry E]

Actually, correction to my previous posts - Drawn to the Magic is actually the name of something else there, I believe. It's the Animation Academy you want for the drawings, located in the Animation Building.

 

[mariezp]

Yeah! Something new to add to our to-do-list! I never knew you could ask to wake up Jose! My DD-8 will love that!


Thanks for the plugs again Sherry! I am glad I left an impression good enough to pass along!



Drawn to the Magic is actually a little show they put on in CA. You can learn to draw a character at the Animation Academy in the Animation Building. (Sherry! I can't believe you have never done this!) While you are in there don't forget to explore the Sorcerer's Workshop.

While at CA here are a few more ideas:

Playhouse Disney.

Don't forget to watch the Muppets!

The Bakery or Tortilla Factory tours.

Look for Push. We found him on our last trip and my DD-8 was mesmerized!

Spend plenty of time in the Grizzly play area.



And, back over at Disneyland:

I know they did have cookie decorating back at Princess Fantasy Faire. Does anyone know if they are still doing that? It might be worth checking into. I know we enjoy decorating cookies during the holidays at Reindeer Roundup.

Go to the theater on Main Street and watched the old Mickey movies. We stopped in briefly while we were on the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour. DD-8 enjoyed that and wanted to go back but we just never made it again. We also enjoy the First 50 Years at the other theater.

Grab a chair on the deck of the Hungry Bear and sit awhile and feed the ducks. My DD-8 loves just doing that. She would probably stay there for hours if I would let her!

Take the time to explore all the gags in Toontown.

Pick up a schedule for some of the street performances. They have several little shows and bands throughout the park.

Explore Innoventions.

Also, I looked back and found a link for an old thread that has some different ideas. Check it out!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1876328

 

[Sherry E]

I know! It's not good that I haven't done the Animation Academy yet, but I never have enough time on my little short 1-1/2 - 2-day trips, really. I need a 13-day trip to get eveything done! Oh well, something to save for next time.) I have a hunch that the AA might be a perfect idea for Kyra's Mommy and her family, though, to beat the boredom blues - actually everything in the Animation Building, I think, would be great for them to do. I didn't suggest it initially because I assumed they had done it all already!

I have gone through my 'okay sketch artist' periods in my life and then I have had my 'hands are shaking too much to draw a straight line' periods, but I think the Animation Academy would be fun to try even if I am horrible. It seems like a fantastic idea for kids.

 

[gr8leg8]

I am sad to say I also have mutant offspring.

DH was out of town last weekend.
When I asked DD7 if she wanted to run away to DL with me,
her answer was
"I don't want to leave the comforts of home"

Where did I go wrong?!?!

So,
it became a game.
I needed to know what would make her change her answer...

I discovered that
Her current favorite ride: Winnie the Pooh
(good to know)

What made her say yes?
(we didn't end up going)

"What if we stay in a hotel with an indoor pool
and you can go swimming?" I asked,

"okay" she said.

It would have been quite a long drive,
the grapevine closed due to snow.

I guess the comforts of home are starting to look pretty good to me too.

 

[nick916]

Seems like you guys should do a Scavenger Hunt. Private Message me your email address and I'll send you the Scavenger Hunt I made for a friends birthday. It was a lot of fun! Lemme know how it goes if you decide to use it. I think I'm gonna make a new one...maybe I'll set up a new thread for suggestions...

 

[kyra's mommy]

I am sad to say I also have mutant offspring.


Oh Funny!!

I had to read your message to my husband because it was so cute! Bummer it's so hard to get out.

When DD turned 4 we took a spur of the moment 2 day trip to DL on our own since her birthday fell in the middle of the week. I have to say it was so exhausting. By the time we got to the park the first day it was 4:30pm and if I remember right the park closed pretty early. I think we only had 2-3 hours. Our hotel cost $150 a night and we had to eat a piece of cake alone in the room.

Sometimes it just doesn't work out no matter how bad you want it!

 

[Sherry E]

I am sad to say I also have mutant offspring.


Oh Funny!!

I had to read your message to my husband because it was so cute! Bummer it's so hard to get out.

When DD turned 4 we took a spur of the moment 2 day trip to DL on our own since her birthday fell in the middle of the week. I have to say it was so exhausting. By the time we got to the park the first day it was 4:30pm and if I remember right the park closed pretty early. I think we only had 2-3 hours. Our hotel cost $150 a night and we had to eat a piece of cake alone in the room.

Sometimes it just doesn't work out no matter how bad you want it!

Was it at least good cake? Was it Disney cake or other cake?

 

[kyra's mommy]

It was hotel cake, cold, hard, chocolate cake.

I do want to go alone again with her someday. Now that she's 6 she's getting so funny and interesting to talk to. We have to do a redo someday! Even if it's not that exciting to her.

 

[Sherry E]

It was hotel cake, cold, hard, chocolate cake.

I do want to go alone again with her someday. Now that she's 6 she's getting so funny and interesting to talk to. We have to do a redo someday! Even if it's not that exciting to her.

Some of the Trip Reports are about Mom/daughter trips. Jennifer03 has a great Trip Report over in the DL TR thread with lots of pictures, and it was a mom-daughter trip. Gail (Avalon451) also did a mother-daughter trip last year, and she has a fantastic Trip Report as well. But, yes, there are probably those stages we young ladies go through in life where we don't want to be saddled with only mom for a whole day, but it seems like Disneyland is a unifying force that brings people together!

So now that you have all of these suggestions for other things to do in DLR, what do you think you will do to alleviate the boredom of your family at DLR and renew their interest in another trip there? Which ideas are tops on your list? The good thing is that you don't have to do all of them at once and you can do one or two ideas the first time, then do more of them on the following trip, etc.

Have you done any character meals? I think there is a tour in DCA where they make tortillas (and you get free ones), and also a tour in the bakery (you may even get free bread, I think) - I could be wrong, but I think people have mentioned those. Have you done either of these things?