The locals’ guide to getting Knott’s Berry Farm tickets

If you’re into riding thrilling rides, seeing fun shows, eating delicious food and generally have a blast with your family, you’ll enjoy Knott’s Berry Farm, a theme park in Buena Park, Ca. If you’re also into saving money, the following information will be worthwhile, as we’ve scouted out a few ways to get the best deals on Knott’s Berry Farm tickets.

Prices outlined below do not include taxes and fees. See the Knott’s Berry Farm website for info on applicable taxes and fees. 

Photo Credit: Jeremy Thompson/Knott’s Berry Farm/Flickr

Regular pricing

Daily tickets are regularly $65 each at the gate for park goers aged 12-61. For those in your group between 3 and 11 years of age or 62 and older, single day tickets are $35 each in advance and at the gate (prices valid through Dec. 31, 2015). The junior/senior discounted tickets can be purchased online and at the park. 

Best four beaches near Anaheim, Ca. for families

A trip to the West Coast is not complete without dipping your toes in the Pacific Ocean. You should definitely take a day or two to explore some of the best beaches near Anaheim for sun, sand and surf, as well as breathtaking scenery.

Anaheim is located in Orange County, which has 42 miles of coastline. We'll take a look at four areas famous for their beaches, all special in their own way.

Photo Credit Blfck/Salt Creek Beach/Dana Point/Flickr

A few awesome Disneyland park attractions for the whole family

Before you head to Disneyland, it’s important you get a handle on Disneyland park attractions for the whole family to enjoy together. My Castle House has put together a few suggestions that will create memories for a lifetime.

Disneyland Park Attractions

For families with little ones, you’ll want to target attractions with no height requirements. Many of the rides have a minimum height requirement for safety reasons. But even if you have little tykes in your group, there are plenty of things to see and do in the happiest place on earth.

Photo Credit: Emily Burnett/Alice in Wonderland Disneyland/Flickr

For those who are curiouser and curiouser, Alice in Wonderland in Fantasyland is a great ride for all ages. Hop on an oversized caterpillar for an adventure that takes you down an enchanted rabbit hole into the topsy-turvy realm of Wonderland. Catch a glimpse of the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire cat and come face-to-face with the Queen of Hearts herself.

Great restaurants near the Anaheim Convention Center

Whether you’re in the Anaheim area for business or pleasure, one thing is for certain: you have to eat. Lucky for you there are a plethora of great restaurants near the Anaheim Convention Center making it convenient for you to dash out for a quick bite to eat with colleagues or enjoy a leisurely dinner with friends or family.

Photo Credit: Richard/Umami Burger/Flickr

Angel Stadium events to attend before baseball season begins

Before the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim begin their 2015 season, there are several events taking place at the stadium you won’t want to miss. Upcoming Angel Stadium events include the super charged Monster Jam and Supercross competitions.

AMA Supercross

AMA Supercross is all about motorcycles. Each year, the season kicks off in Anaheim with three events in January at the Angels Stadium. This year’s events will be held Jan. 3, 17 and 31.

The term Supercross combines the concepts of the Superbowl and Motocross and draws elite riders from around the world. The AMA Supercross racing series takes place on a man-made course constructed in stadiums across North America, however the racing events were inspired by events held for years in the rural countryside.

Photo Credit: Castle Island Photo/AMASupercross/Flickr

Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland - Is it WORTH it!?

Was Mickey's Halloween Party Worth It!?

This is the question I have been asked most by people after posting a pic of our family at Mickey's Halloween Party on Instagram. There's lots of reviewers online but I didn't see one from a LOCAL Disneyland mom. So here's my 2 cents. 

It was definitely worth doing once. For season pass holders there's no substantial break in price (a few dates were $5 less per ticket) so it was pretty expensive to do. We paid @$250 for 4 tickets. Ouch. I don't regret it, but it definitely wasn't a budget conscious decision.

If we didn't have Disneyland Season Passes and wanted a less expensive way to experience Disneyland, I would be all over this because I love the rides. If you didn't care about the Mickey's Halloween party, you could just skip all the trick or treating and entertainment and take advantage of the shorter lines. I think you could hit most all of them between 3pm -11pm.

If you love the ambiance of Disneyland, want to see it during this holiday, it's still something to be experienced. There's a mix of excitement and scare in the air. I'll give you a summary, and then go into more detail below.

Here's a summary of what I recommend:

Book in Advance. It's less expensive and dates sell out quickly.

Wear Halloween costumes! Most people are wearing costumes so you won't stand out. It's a good excuse to let go and get into the Halloween spirit.

Arrive at 3pm. (earlier if you have a seasons pass - our kids had school so we didn't get there until 5:00pm). Figure out when everything is happening and see what is most important to everyone in the group. A schedule is posted below.

Eat dinner before you get there. Fast food on your drive in, Downtown Disney or Main Street...whatever works. Or you can bring some sandwiches from home. This way you can get started trick or treating right away.

Start at Toon Town's Pre-Party. Then get in line early for the character meet ups if that's your thing. If that's not your thing, continue towards Adventureland. There's an eerie fog on the lake and other character meet & greets. There are talking scarecrows along the way that say hello or comment on costumes.

Take pictures upon arrival. This way costumes are still in tact, kids are awake and happy-ish, and there's enough light for good shots. Possibly with a Disney character.

Bring a Stroller. Even if your youngest seems too old. It's a great place to store all the candy while you go on rides!

Our Experience at Mickey's Halloween Party:
Our family had a great time. We are season pass holders and we come about twice a month but this was our first time doing Mickey's Halloween Party. By the time we got in, everyone was hungry (despite having eaten snacks before leaving an hour before). Just when the party was about to start, we were sitting down for dinner. It took us a good 20 minutes to find a restaurant that was still open. Now we know that MANY restaurants are closed for Mickey's Halloween Party. We ate chicken nuggets, fish and chips and funnel cakes at the Stage Door Cafe. Wouldn't have been my first choice but it was alright.

Talking Scarecrow outside the Stage Door Cafe

We then made our way through Frontierland. I WISH we'd know about the PRE-PARTY at Toon Town. They close Toon Town during the party, but have a lot of fun character meet and greets and Halloween treats for the pre-party. Next time. We trick or treated through Frontierland. The sights were interesting and the lines moved quickly from candy booth to candy booth with large handfuls of candy rewards.

Dia de los Muertos decor near Rancho del Zocalo Restaurant in Frontierland

Love Disney's attention to detail and cool props

Frontierland's Carnival

If you didn't want to start in Toon Town, I'd start here. It looked like we missed a lot of fun. Woody from Toy Story was here. He went on break and the kids didn't want to wait. 

They aren't into photo ops with characters (yet). 

Maleficent was definitely popular this year at Disneyland! #classicvillain

At some point, you're going to have to decide if you are going to keep trick or treating or if you're going to ride the rides while everyone else trick or treats. Lines are typically shorter at the start of the party and during the parade/fireworks show.


We caught a couple rides but did a lot of trick or treating too. We scored enough candy to make it through Trunk or Treating this past weekend. Of course all the Cast Members were so kind, complimentary and helpful. They made everyone feel special.

Healthy Options: If you're not into all the candy or your child has an allergy, there are healthy choices at each candy station. They have carrots, apple slices, dried apples, and lots of other great snacks.

Our Loot.  

You can bring your own trick or treat bags or they hand out bags at the front when you enter the park. My son's ghost has his name embroidered on it. When the cast members would call him by his name, he'd be flattered but puzzled and ask how they knew his name. I laughed and finally pointed to his name. He thought it was pretty cool.  

       
What's nice about going on rides during this time is the short lines. We went on some Fantasyland rides we normally don't go on due to lines. The party is crowded, but lines are not. If you don't care about the party, go on all the rides! 



There are rides that have extra special Halloween touches. Space Mountain is one of them. Even from the outside, you can hear the scary howl of the ghost.  I don't recommend it for little kids. I thought my 5-year old was pretty brave for wanting to go with me. Then on the ride I felt like the worst mother ever as he trembled through every fiery skeleton ghost encounter. I thought it was great, but can't handle bright flashes apparently!

However, you can experience this ride with regular admission to Disneyland during the Halloween season. Also, right now next to Space Mountain they are showing a 3-D preview for the new Big Hero 6 movie. It's cute, and perfect to do while waiting with littles.


The Villains fireworks show was worth waiting for. A little back story. We watch the fireworks from the Castle House homes often. We can even hear the fireworks promptly at 9:30 nightly - in IRVINE - 15 miles south of Anaheim. I'll be honest, we thought we were over them. Until this show. You must watch them at the park at least one night. It was incredible. I thought the music, show and fireworks were, well, Incredible. The villains stole the stage and made the traffic jam on the way out well worth it.

Main Street is where everyone is gathered to watch the Disneyland Fireworks. It's crowded so if you don't like crowds, you might want to reserve a spot at the Carnation Cafe or somewhere along Main Street to be able to sit and watch, go early. Fireworks start promptly at 9:30pm.

More Details about Mickey's Halloween Party: 

Season: September 12 - October 31st occurring most Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Price: $57-77
If you reserve early and/or are a season pass holder, you can get tickets for $57 each. Certain dates are $63 and as you get closer to Halloween it is $70 and then $77 on Halloween night.

You do not need to purchase normal Disneyland tickets - just the Mickey's Halloween party tickets to attend the party. You can’t use your party ticket for normal daytime admission to Disneyland, and you can’t use your normal day ticket for admission to Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. Tickets are sometimes available on the day of the event, but if you really want to go, your best bet is purchasing tickets in advance, as many nights do sell out. 

Plan to do something else in the morning of Mickey’s Halloween Party saving your regular park tickets for other days. While the party itself only runs for 5 hours, guests may enter Disneyland 3 hours before the party starts, which means 8 hours of entertainment total. It would be a great morning to have breakfast at Goofy’s Kitchen character breakfast at Disneyland Hotel. Then you could stroll around Downtown Disney for a couple hours before heading in the park that afternoon and using only your Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket that day. It’s a good way to stretch your vacation dollars and make the cost of the Halloween Party a little more palatable.

Entertainment:

Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade
8:30pm & 10:30pm (stick around after fireworks)

Halloween Screams - Villain Fireworks Show
Nightly 9:30pm

Live Entertainment
Monsters U Dance Party - Tomorrowland Terrace
7:45, 8:45, 9:45, 10:45

Cadaver Dans - Rivers of America
Ghoul quartet floats on a river of fog
7:45, 8:45, 9:45, 10:45
http://youtu.be/1i4c7MOQUGo

Character Greetings: 
Villains - Main street
Pirate Pals - Pirate Wharf
Princesses - Fantasy Faire - Fantasyland
Aladdin & Friends - Aladdin's Oasis - Adventureland
Jack Skellington & Sally - New Orleans Square
Mickey & Minnie - Big Thunder Ranch - Frontierland
Toy Story Pals - Big Thunder Ranch - Frontierland
Winnie the Pooh & Friends - Critter Country
Phineas & Ferb - Innoventions - Tomorrowland
Star Wars Stormtroopers - Star Tours
PHOTO OP for those dressed up as Frozen characters - Small World Mall has a ice backdrop perfect for any ice queen or her friends!

PHOTO TIP!!
Photos are a MUST! When at Mickey's Halloween Party, take a moment (before the sun goes down) to get a picture of your kids at the park, maybe even in character. If your child's favorite character is there at the party - head there first! 

Our Little Incredibles

Ms. Violet, Incredibly sassy and sisterly

The Incredible Dash in all his superhero glory

My littlest didn't want to be Jack Jack so we made her Jill Jill. But if you ask her what she is for Halloween she says, "Minnie Mouse." Go figure. 

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Also, while you're at it click below to see a really cool article about the best kept Disneyland secret :)

http://redtri.com/janitor-artists-are-disneys-best-kept-park-secret/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=NATL&utm_campaign=FB-NATL

Fun way to announce a Disney trip to your kids!

For many families one of the best parts of a trip to Disneyland are the days leading up to it! Talking about previous trips, looking at pictures and discussing what you want to do when you get there makes the anticipation even better! Some people like to keep the trip a secret right up until the end, in fact I remember my parents doing this with my brother and I once. We didn't know we were going to Disneyland until we saw the exit sign in Anaheim! Sometimes it's fun to have your kids involved in the planning too though. Both can be fun. If you're going to let you kids help plan this time here are some fun ways to announce it:

1. A letter from a Disney Pal

There are a ton of great Disney fonts online. Just search dafont.com for Disney or for your favorite character then whip up a letter in the font and print it out! You could even print out a picture of the character and "sign" it for them.

2.  Whip up some Mickey Mouse pancakes!

At all the Castle Houses we have Mickey Mouse waffle irons to use during your trip but as a precursor to announce the big vacation make some easy Mickey Mouse silhouette pancakes. Just make a big circle with two smaller ones attached. It's easy and fun!

3. Play a game

I found this fun idea on www.loveourdisney.com. It's great for older kids! The family played pictionary with words associated with the Disneyland trip (Dumbo, Castle, Beach, Roadtrip, Mickey Mouse etc). The last word was Disneyland. You can imagine how thrilled kids were when they figured it out!

Once you've announced the trip be sure to make a Disney Countdown! Here are a few ideas for you...

Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye

Ideally you will always have a fast past for long lines but if there is one line that isn't so bad to wait in it's Indiana Jones. The queue is an experience in and of itself with a chamber full of spikes ready to descend on awaiting victims who touch the wobbly support "holding" up the roof, a covered pit with a rope leading down to darkness (don't pull on it or whoever's the on other end will fall to their doom!), and several other eery passageways and dimly lit caverns.

Our extra tidbit about the ride hails from 1995. When the ride first opened passengers waiting in line were given a decoder key to unlock a secret code of hieroglyphics found throughout the queue. We have found this ancient treasure and pass it along to you to print or pull up on your smart phone while your awaiting your fate in the Temple of the Forbidden Eye! Enjoy :D

How to score high on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters!

Jessica and I were at Disneyland yesterday with our kids and had to hit up Astro Blasters. As we were standing in line we both commented on the fact that neither of us had ever scored much over about 10,000 points. What were we doing wrong? So we googled it and got the goods for you! This post will teach you how to score big. I ended up with my best score of 205,500!!! Jess got... 5,950. Maybe she has some more practicing to do ;) Try it for yourself and see how you do! Thanks to findingmickey.squarepalce.com for this post!

TIPS, TRICKS and SECRETS!

First, it's important to understand the Astro Blaster scoring system. Know the targets!

Circle Targets = 100 points
Square Targets = 1,000 points
Diamond Targets = 5,000 points
Triangle Targets = 10,000 points

TIPS:

* Don't bother with circle targets. Concentrate on diamond and triangle targets!
* Look for elusive "lighted" targets. Lighted targets boost scores!
* Know where the hidden and secret targets are (read our walk-through below)!
* If the cars stop during the ride, it's an opportunity to shoot more targets and rack up points!

Read the Astro Blasters walk-through below to learn more about the hidden and secret targets! Impress friends and family with your own high scores!

• 

  Emperor Zurg

  Secret Target #1: On Emperor Zurg (first room) notice the vertical line centered on his chest. Within that line is a small dark circle. Hit that target for 50,000 points! If you hit the square targets on his sides he will turn towards you.
• 

  Hidden Mickey

  Look for a Hidden Mickey in the first room! ºoº
• 

  Volcano Room

  When you enter the "volcano room" you'll see plenty of diamond targets. Aim for those!
• 

  Alien in a Box

  In the "volcano room" look for an Alien in a Box. Hitting the square target on the box will make the box open and alien pop up to reveal a triangle target. Sometimes the diamond target on the inside lid is "lit up" -- hit for major points!
• 

  Triangle Target

  In the "volcano room" you'll see Emperor Zurg on the right side. Hit the diamond target on him, and he will swing to reveal a triangle target behind him!
• 

  Hidden Tunnel Targets

  Next you'll enter a black tunnel. On the ceiling is a hidden diamond target.
• 

  Hidden Tunnel Targets

  In the black tunnel are hidden diamond targets on the right and left walls.
• 

  Final Showdown

  Enter the last room and engage in a final showdown with Emperor Zurg. Smile because your picture is going to be taken! *flash* Notice the triangle target on Zurg's arm. Secret Target #2: This Zurg also has a secret target on his chest. However, Zurg is further away and much harder to hit.  
• 

  Status Board

  Check your rank! If you reach 1 million+ the score on your car will max at 999,999. Check your score by seeing your free picture (see below).
• 

  Email Your Photo

  Freebie alert: Before you exit, hit up an email station to email yourself your free photo!
  
  

The Park by Mickey's Retreat

Our family is staying at Mickey's Retreat for a few days so I took the kids to the nearby park. It's only a five minute walk and so pretty! The beautiful weather doesn't hurt either. The kids are loving all the different playgrounds and the wide open grass spaces to run around on. There's even a full-sized basketball court and two baseball fields. There are plenty of picnic tables and large trees creating the perfect shady place to relax.