Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland - MEDIA DAY!

I was lucky enough to be invited to experience Rise of the Resistance on media day at Disneyland, and it was awesome!  I got to the park earlier than I have in many, MANY years, arriving at 7:30am.  We had a continental breakfast in the Opera House, aka Moments with Mr Lincoln, before a panel headed by artistic and creative directors for the experience ensued.

After that we walked over and rode the ride.  It was amazing.  I didn't think I would like it that much, but the immersive experience is very unique.  I am excited to be able to take the rest of my family on it with me once all the chaos dies down and it stops "selling out" the virtual queue fast passes within 5 minutes of opening.

Check out some of the photos I snapped while experiencing this attraction, and don't forget to watch my video!  It gives you the entire ride, from queue to thrilling drop to end.  Please leave a comment and let me know what you liked best about the ride, if you have already been on it, or what you are looking forward to most!  Thank you!

#disneyland #riseoftheresistance #mediaday #media #familyfunpack #stormtroopers #kyloren #starwarsdisneyland #disney #starwarsriseoftheresistance #galaxysedge #batuu #rey #spoiler

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Knott's Scary Farm - Is it suitable for children? I took my young kids, and here's what I think.

Knott's Scary Farm is an annual event held every year in the weeks leading up to Halloween.  This year it was held Sept 17, 2019 - November 2, 2019 on select days.  Tickets start at $45.  On Fridays and Saturdays it runs 7pm - 2am.  The other days it is open it closes at 1am.  Here is a short blurb from Knott's Berry Farm on what exactly this event is:

"Knott’s Scary Farm is the largest and most haunting Halloween experience in Southern California, with unimaginable scares and innovative thrills that can’t be found anywhere else. The fully transformed theme park features uniquely haunted mazes and attractions, sinister shows and more than 1,000 horrifying creatures lurking in the fog and hiding in every corner of the park. This Halloween event has all the ingredients of a truly terrifying nightmare. But unlike most dreams, Knott’s Scary Farm is a nightmare you can’t wake up from -- which makes it the thing to do for Halloween."

Knott's is very clear: this event is not recommended for children under 13.  But you might be wondering, how hard and fast is that rule?  Would my 5 year old who loves scares enjoy this?  What about my 10 year old?

 I am here to share my opinion on how we dealt with this event with the 6 kids in our group who went.  The age range was 2, 6, 9, 9, 11, and 13.  Our youngest was not a fan.  He was in his stroller the entire event, and when he got scared, he would pull his shade down to cover his face so he couldn't see.  He never cried, or acted like he was terrified.  He would just stare, and if an employee in costume came up, they were always very nice.  They would wave, he might wave back if they were not that scary, or he would just pull down his shade on the stroller.   If you plan it right, this age can also take their nap during a portion of the event.

To start off, Knott's does not sit there screening how old you are when you enter.  So any age is allowed to go.  Also, you should know that the employees are very tactful.  If they see you are a group with a bunch of smaller children, they don't come up and try to scare you.  We had one person even apologize because they didn't realize we had younger kids with us when they were trying to give a little scare.  They usually do the creepy things, where they stare at you, or maybe follow you, ask you a couple of questions and just act creepy.  The most "terrifying" employees are the ones who slide on their knees and try to come up quickly behind you to scare you.  It's the noise that startles you, not anything else.  Our kids really enjoyed watching other guests be scared by these employees.

One of the features our kids loved best was the fog that was in a lot of different places very thick.  In the Old West part of Knott's (GhostTown), there is a LOT of fog.  It can be very difficult to see, and employees do walk through dressed in costumes and scare people.  Even the 2 year old was enjoying the fog and how the lights played in it.  There was nothing gory in this area on the outside.  None of the employees who scare people while roaming the park actually have gory costumes.  It's things like clowns, grungy, prison outfits, ghosts, etc.  The Knott's website has good pictures of these.  Sadly it was so dark my cellphone took mostly blurry photos.


The biggest concern I would have for this event and children is inside the mazes.  That's where it's bloody, gory, and where the 13 and older suggestion comes in.  The mazes aren't true mazes; there really is only 1 way to go.  There are employees in themed costumes trying to scare you as you walk through, but they do their best to notice ages and avoided our kids for the most part.  The first maze we went in, our 6 year old got startled pretty good, but after that first one I think he realized it's a little bit fun getting scared.  He had a death grip on my hand, but as the night wore on he loosened up and was fine running by himself towards the end.

Inside the mazes, you will see blood.  Not all of them are as gruesome as the last, so if you are concerned, pay the $90 for the fright and fast lane, leave your child outside and go through yourself first.  You will see some mazes are more creepy and less bloody than others.  The fright and fast lane saved us hours of line standing.  You can see in some of these pictures how crazy long the lines get.

 I am also going to show a few photos here that give a better idea of some of the bloody things you might see:

There were a fair amount of people "hanging" inside some of the mazes, or bloody with exposed "guts", but our kids mostly ignored this more bloody stuff and instead focused on looking for employees trying to scare them.  Our kids knew before seeing any of this that it's all very fake, none of it is real. 

There are some mazes our kids really liked, such as the underwater themed one called "The Depths".  It had some really cool features, like a giant octopus, green laser light on fog that was really cool looking, and a spot where the floor moved back and forth.  The "monsters" would hide under this fog and you could not see them.  That's how they would jump out and scare you.  Some of the costumes are very elaborate, like the one that's blurry of the monster on the left.  And the mazes usually have employees in black on the inside, gesturing where to go in spots that might be more confusing.  The Pumpkin Eater Maze is also a less bloody maze that is a good one for beginners to try out.

Overall, you know your child best.  Are they afraid of dark rides or spaces regardless of if they are scary?  That type of child might not enjoy this.  Do they like thrills?  Is laser tag fun for them?  Is hide and seek and night an exciting game to play?  If so, this might be a better fit for them. The 6-13 year olds in our group loved going to this event, and can't wait for next year to go again.  In fact, the adults who were also with us were more scared than the children, and more worried about being scared than the children.  If you let your kid watch PG-13 movies, they can probably handle Knott's Scary Farm.  There is no sex, no profanity (except maybe from overly terrified guests, but all the screams tend to cover that up!) and no nudity.  There is pretend violence in the shows, and lots of gore in some areas, but not really out in the open.  So you can also avoid all the mazes and just go ride rides and possibly get scared walking through Scare Zones.

I hope this article helped you plan accordingly for your family.  If you have any questions, please ask!  Comment and let me know if it was helpful to you.

Happy Halloween!

#knotts #knottsscaryfarm #kids #familyevent #knottsscaryfarmkid #knottsscaryfarmkids #isitkidfriendly #familyknotts #halloween #knottshalloween #maze #walkthrough #shouldigo #parentreview #guidance

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Villainous! World of Color Oogie Boogie Bash ENTIRE SHOW!

Have you heard about Oogie Boogie Bash, the Halloween Party at Disney California Adventure? This is the new show, Villainous! that takes the place of the World of Color water show. It's brand new for this years Halloween party. Villainous! is an all-new World of Color show on Paradise Bay. It is a nighttime spectacular exclusive to Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party. You’ll be spellbound as fountains sweep across the water in an electrifying display of lights, lasers, projections and special effects.

 "Shelley Marie wonders if she has what it takes to be as strong and unique as some of her favorite, infamous Villains from Disney movies. Stepping through the Magic Mirror, she encounters the Queen, Ursula, Dr. Facilier, Hades, Jafar, Maleficent and a society of other scoundrels—before making her ultimate choice." Villainous! is only available to Guests attending Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party, taking place on select nights from September 17 to October 31, 2019 at Disney California Adventure Park. A separate admission ticket is required for this special after-hours party event. 

The party is sadly sold out, but if you were lucky enough to get a ticket, let me know how you liked the party in the comments below!  Or tell me when you are going!


Check out some of my photos:

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Are you a fan of Disney villains? Which is your favorite? At the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney Californiabea Adventure this year, there were tons of villains out! They talked to people as they passed by. A cool interaction! #Disney #oogieboogiebash #dca #dlr #Disneyland #villain #disneyvillains #villains @disneyland @disney #halloweentime #halloweenatdisneyland #Halloween #maleficent #drfacilier #evilqueen #madhatter #evil

A post shared by Heather (@captain.heather) on Sep 25, 2019 at 8:28pm PDT

   

#oogieboogiebash #worldofcolor #disneyland #disney #californiaadventure #halloweenparty #halloween

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Legoland Castle Hotel Review - Complete Room Tour!

Have you heard?  Legoland in California has a new hotel!  It's got a super cool theme on each floor that kids and adults will all love.  This video gives a detailed tour of one of the suites.  Check it out and leave me a comment: what was your favorite part of the tour?

Thanks!

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Star Wars Land: Best View for Fireworks

Curious where the best view for fireworks are in the new Galaxy's Edge?  Luckily for us, Disney thought of that same thing, and they built an amazing area to view fireworks from!  Check out my video and see for yourself.

#disneyland #starwarsland #galaxysedge #fireworks #bestview #groundtravel

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Disneyland - Galaxy's Edge COMPLETE TOUR - AT NIGHT!

Curious what all the hype is about? Is Star Wars land/Black Spire Outpost/Batuu even worth it? Decide that for yourself after you watch my video tour of the entire land, including in-depth details of merchandise, food locations and more! Best of all, this is the NIGHT version! Most of the reservations are for daylight hours. With this night time version you feel like you are immersed in the land even more! Plus, FIREWORKS! There is a great view in this land.

In 2019, discover Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge—a new land coming to Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort, where you can live out your own Star Wars story, fly the Millennium Falcon and explore a remote outpost where adventure awaits.

Have you been yet? Comment below and tell me what you are looking forward to!

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Disney California Adventure: Food and Wine Festival 2019

If you haven't had a chance to check out the amazing offerings at the Food and Wine Festival in Disney California Adventure, it's not too late!  Curious what you will find?  See my video below:

You have until April 23 before it goes away, so hurry in!

#disneyland #disney #disneyfood #foodandwinefestival2019 #foodandwine #instagramfood #DLR #DCA #MickeyMouse #dessert #disneydessert #macncheese #pie #berrypie #2019

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Anaheim Ducks Day - Feb. 11 2019 at Disney California Adventure!

If you were lucky enough to visit Disney California Adventure on February 11, 2019 or closely follow the Disney Parks Blog, then you were able to celebrate Anaheim Ducks Day in the park!  It was a fun day filled with a special parade featuring the hockey players themselves, specialty food items released for that day only, merchandise available that day only, and photo ops you never have otherwise!  Check out my video and see just how cool it was.

 The brownie was cream filled like a ho-ho and so delicious!  Even better was the macaron, which was a sort of vanilla/marshmallow cream on the outside and in the center was a raspberry filling.  The cast members and websites that talked about these food items literally had no idea what flavor they would be.  An official page for the Anaheim Ducks said these macarons would be orange cream flavored...not even close!  But still delicious :)

It was a great day to be a hockey fan at Disney California Adventure!

#disneyland #californiaadventure #hockey #anaheimducks #disney #macaron #ducks #mightyducks

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Mickey's Soundsational Parade

This year, Mickey's Soundsational Parade is making a return!  With new floats and costumes to commemorate his 90th birthday, even repeat customers will enjoy this updated parade.

Here is the map I included in the video for a closer look at where you sit and the parade route for this particular view that my video includes.

In this video, the view is from the 3rd row in reserved seating for the parade. This seating is primarily used for VIP tour guide guests.

What Disneyland has to say:

Strike up the band! In honor of Mickey’s 90th, the Soundsational Parade triumphantly returns to Disneyland Park with all-new additions sure to get toes a-tappin’. Mickey leads the way, followed by Chip, Dale and a giant cake baked especially for the celebration—then keep your eyes peeled for Goofy, who’s towing a larger-than-life pull-toy “gift”! Look sharp as Mickey and his drum corps kick off this whimsical, rhythmical, high-energy procession, which stars some of your favorite Disney Characters. Wave to Minnie and Pluto as well as familiar faces from Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and more. Costumed musicians, syncopated dancers and spectacular floats follow Mickey’s animated beat, encouraging Guests to sing along. Plus, the royal procession of Disney Princesses—including Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Belle and Rapunzel—is not to be missed! 

#mickeymouse #soundsationalparade #getyourearson #birthdayparty #mickeymouse90 #disneyland #disney #DLR #mickeyssoundsationalparade #VIP #reservedseating #paradetime #whattodoatdisneyland #whattodo

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Seven Magic Mountains: Las Vegas, Nevada

Have you ever noticed a grouping of large, colorful rocks, way off in the distance while driving to or from Las Vegas?  These colorful rock statues are called Seven Magic Mountains, and they are an art installation only a few minutes outside of this desert city!

Check out my video for more information about these rocks, but hurry!  They will only be up until 2020.

#7magicmountains #sevenmagicmountains #magicmountain #lasvegas #vegas #desert #thingstodo #thingstodoinvegas #top10things #strangerthings #traveltips #groundtravel

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Mickey's Frightfully Fun Parade + Fireworks!

Have you wanted to attend Mickey's Halloween Party but never had the chance?  It's a wonderful event for Halloween lovers out there, and until you get your chance to go, check out the exclusive parade and fireworks show that Disneyland puts on only during Halloween party events!





#disneyland #familyfunpack #mickeyshalloweenparty #2018 #halloween #halloween2018 #disney #disneyfun #disneyhalloween #mhp #groundtravel #headlesshorseman #halloweenscreams #frightfullyfunparade

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Mickey's Halloween Party - Toon Town Special! COMPLETE Overview! 2018

Are you interested in learning what Disneyland's Mickey's Halloween Party is like?  The video below will give you a great overview, starting with Toon Town!




This year for Mickey's Halloween Party in Disneyland, my family started in Toon Town.  This area opens an hour earlier than the rest of the park for the party, so you can get a head start on candy and character pictures!  Don't forget, you have an unlimited photo pass on your party ticket, so all photos taken with a Disney photographer are free to digitally download, no watermarks!

#disneyland #familyfunpack #mickeyshalloweenparty #2018 #halloween #halloween2018 #disney #disneyfun #disneyhalloween #mhp #groundtravel #headlesshorseman

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Review: What to expect from "The House with a Clock in its Walls" - Must see or skip?

I recently attended the World Premiere of "The House with a Clock in its Walls", and I am here to give you a rundown of what to expect in this movie and whether or not it's right for your child.

Title:  The House with a Clock in its Walls
Rating: PG (for thematic elements including sorcery, some action, scary images, rude humor and language)
Genre: Comedy, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy
In Theaters: September 21, 2018
Runtime: 104 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures

Below is a brief overview of the movie, and possibly some slight spoilers.  This is a children's movie, though, so the ending is pretty obvious.

The overall feeling of this movie is supposed to be fantasy/magic in the modern world of the 1950's.  The premise is that a little boy moves in with his eccentric uncle after his parents are killed in a car crash.  His uncle is a warlock, and proceeds to teach magic to the boy, Lewis, with the help of a witch Mrs. Zimmerman.  The climax of the movie is them facing an evil warlock.

There are a few things in this movie I probably would not want to show my kids, especially if they were under 8 years old.  The magic style in this movie is much more "satanic" than your average kid movie about magic.  To compare, Harry Potter movies are mostly invented and original spells that do not require ritual for the most part.  In the House with a Clock in its Walls, the magic is much more symbolic around things we would recognize as Pagan or as I mentioned earlier, Satanic.  This is because there are vague shapes that definitely allude to pentagrams in circles, demons, devils and other creatures that have more real life basis in ancient magical mythology and religon.  This is not a movie with unicorns and centaurs and fairies.  

The bad guy in the movie, a warlock named Izard, makes a deal with a demon.  There is a scene where he cuts his hand, it bleeds, and the demon leans down and licks the wound.  I found it disturbing in a way I never found Voldemort to be disturbing.  

There are some scenes with disturbing portraits on the walls of things that looked like demons or creatures of hell that were drawn in the 1500s.  A picture where 3 people lie in coffins, predicting death.  

There is a scene where the boy steals a magical book about necromancy and performs a blood ritual to bring back to life someone who has died.  There is a star that loosely resembles a pentagram, and the boy has to cut his hand and drip blood to enact the spell.

A key needed for important things in the movie is made out of human bone.  It is used to prick others hands for blood magic.

Jack Black and Cate Blanchett exchange light hearted insulting banter many times throughout the movie.  They are silly things like calling her a purple turnip, or comparing body shapes to similar objects.  I found these scenes mostly funny and too fast-passed for a child to remember any of the lines to repeat later at home.

There are scenes of bullying, too, but I think those are well handled in the end.

Lastly, I will address the language.  There are about 5 swear words that I caught in the entire film.  They are either hell or damn.  The most obvious usage of swearing is when Jack Black, the uncle, yells at his nephew, "What the hell were you thinking?".  That use of the word hell was a lot more obvious to me than a few of the other uses of swear words, which flowed in their sentences more and had other words around them to help dilute them from kids who might not be familiar with curse words yet.

Those are the most prominent scenes that come to mind.  I found the movie to be fairly entertaining, but a little prolonged in parts.  Older kids who like to be scared will definitely enjoy the movie.  There were many parts where I jumped, and the kids around me.  There are many funny scenes mixed throughout, as well as the stereotypical "kid being embarrassed in front of friends" scenes.

If you are looking for a more traditional take on magic in a fairly tame setting of a borderline PG/PG-13 movie, you will enjoy this film.  It's adventure, comedy and magic all combined into one.

My rating:  SKIP.  If I knew what I did now about this film, I would give it a pass for my kids.  I am on the protective side, and the very obvious use of swear words the few times they were used in this movie were more obvious to me than the swearing in PG-13 movies like Star Wars or Pirates of the Caribbean.  We won't be buying this or watching it in the car until my kids are probably old enough to not want to watch a children's movie like this.  The demon scene was also very disturbing.  I think the kids in our group with me did like the movie, though, and didn't come home repeating new words or carving pentagrams everywhere, so if you do take your family to see this you will probably be fine. :)

#thehousewithaclockinitswalls #jackblack #moviereview #2018movie #childrensmovies #familymovies #movies #cateblanchett #mustseeorskip #mustseeorpass #swearing #scary #demon #devil

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FULL Fantasmic Show at Disneyland! Front row POV!

Have you ever wondered what Fantasmic looked like at Disneyland?  It's easily one of my favorite shows ever produced at Disney.  Check out the video below for a full front row POV!

Here are a few pictures I took as well:

#disneyland #fantasmic #frontrow #POV #frontrowPOV #fantasmic2018 #fantasmic2017 #fantasmic2019 #mickeymouse #dragon #show #disney #dlr

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