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Now that Disneyland has reopened after greater than a yr of being closed, is now the time to plan a go to? We are sharing all the things it’s essential know earlier than deciding. Special because of Disneyland for the invitation and for sponsoring our go to.
Disneyland has all the time been a particular place for us, so it made good sense for us to go there as our first large journey out of our house in over 14 months.
But earlier than deciding this was the suitable choice for us, we took into consideration a couple of issues.
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- All 4 of us which are in a position to get the vaccine, are absolutely vaccinated. Emmy is just 11 so there isn’t a vaccine accessible for her but or this might have been a good simpler choice.
- Disneyland has very detailed well being and security plans in place. This consists of everybody having to put on a masks all the time (besides in designated eating areas all through the park). There can be bodily distancing and maximizing the usage of out of doors area.
- We are all good about carrying masks, hand hygiene and perceive that we’re those in the end accountable for making one of the best selections when round others. We determined that we’d take a look at every ingredient and go from there, together with any conditions we simply didn’t really feel proper about. (spoiler alert- there have been no such conditions)
Fast ahead to opening morning, and I don’t assume any of us had been ready for simply how thrilling it actually was to stroll by these gates once more and into one other world!
We got here with tickets in hand (truly within the app) and QR codes for our reservations. Two must-have gadgets to have the ability to enter the parks. We are also California residents, which is also a should for now.
The different factor we made certain to do was to have the Disneyland App put in on our telephones. We have used this earlier than to order meals and get wait occasions, however now it’s completely vital for a couple of causes. First, the meals carts all through the parks do will let you simply stroll up and order meals and pay, however for the restaurant-type locations, you’ll need to order forward, choose a time and full the entire course of within the app. When we first bought to Disneyland, we had been just a little frightened to see that there wasn’t a lot accessible anytime quickly, however then we realized that quite a lot of locations weren’t open but. Noon gave the impression to be the time the place there have been many extra choices. You can see all of the menus within the app too so it truly is a time saver not having to go to totally different locations to ensure everybody in your social gathering has one thing they wish to eat.
The different factor we did to arrange was to purchase some high-quality masks, particularly for Emmy. We weren’t certain what 25% capability (what they’re at present admitting into the parks) would appear like and we wished to be as secure as doable if it felt in any respect crowded. You can see from these footage that this was not a difficulty. In reality, she ended up carrying a Disney-themed fabric masks when exterior, and anytime she could be nearer to individuals and even shortly strolling by indoor areas, she put the opposite kind of masks again on.
Opening day at Disneyland ended up being VERY heat. I additionally puzzled if having the masks would make it tough to remain hydrated since we must discover a particular place to take it off and drink, and it didn’t. The designated consuming areas are in all places.
Parking and Disneyland Park entry.
Once we bought to the Disneyland parking storage, we had been reminded that there was no tram service accessible. Walking to the park was no large deal. At the tip of the day, nonetheless, I for certain missed having the ability to bounce on the tram to get taken again to my automotive. I’m certain that when capability is again up it can make sense to have this working once more.
For the well being screening, as quickly as you exit the parking storage (proper earlier than the place the tram would usually choose you up) had been tables with what I consider to be Hoag associates doing the temperature screening. Hoag is our go-to hospital system once we are in Orange County and we love them so it was good seeing pleasant and acquainted faces. Just be ready for some combined directions and observe them one of the best you may. We had been instructed to go in a straight line at occasions after which instantly instructed we would have liked to have been facet by facet in 2 totally different formations. This consists of all the opposite, common security screenings they do throughout regular occasions too. The finest recommendation is to only flow. We had determined to go about an hour after the opening to keep away from any keen crowds, so once we bought there the entire course of took 3 minutes or so and we had been good to go. I actually recognize all the security and well being checks and precautions as a result of they assist us all get again to regular as quickly as doable.
Inside Disneyland Park, it felt like a traditional enjoyable Disney day- simply with some further noticeable issues.
But I wish to actually notice that I used to be anticipating it to really feel totally different and I puzzled if it could be one thing even value doing if there have been these further issues to consider. It was for certain value it and it actually felt like a very good ol’ day at Disneyland that we’ve missed a lot!
For starters, there are hand sanitizer stations in all places you look. There are additionally some handwashing stations too. We and most different visitors took benefit of these anytime we walked by one- and particularly after touching something or happening an attraction.
This is what 25% capability just about appeared like all through the day.
Plenty of area for teams to bodily distance. Speaking of which, you might be with 2 different households, so 3 households collectively tops is allowed.
If you might be celebrating an important day, City Hall in Disneyland just isn’t open for guests, however they’ve a few of these well-known buttons (nonetheless free) at some registers on the retailers. Maddie had deliberate on doing a day at Disneyland for her twenty first birthday 2 weeks in the past however clearly, that couldn’t occur and so we simply celebrated on opening day. I believe this made it much more particular!
You will see these reminders all through the parks too!
Sleeping Beauty Castle appeared much more attractive than I bear in mind it.
I can’t wait till we are able to see it lit up at night time once more. For now, the parks have diminished hours. On opening day, these had been the hours. Be certain to test earlier than you propose to go too.
Disneyland Park Hours: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Disney California Adventure Park Hours: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Downtown Disney District Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
One different factor of note- we had park hopper tickets and with that, we solely had entry to Disneyland till 1 pm. After that, we had been in a position to jump over to Disney California Adventure Park too!
I requested for assistance on my Instagram account with deciding what we must always do first, and certain sufficient, it concerned consuming. Ha! So we bought out the app and deliberate our first meal after which went and acquired some snacks and water.
We additionally seen that we had been all doing one thing completely totally different than we did on our previous Disneyland visits- we took in all of the little issues and didn’t really feel a rush to do ALL the issues.
We stopped and watched the Mark Twain Riverboat go by and noticed our favourite springtime occasion, the newborn ducklings taking part in within the water.
We snacked on the world-famous ice-cold pineapple spears. I do not know if they are surely that well-known, however we love them and they’re well-known in our household.
And we strolled by the park simply taking all of it in.
We additionally noticed characters in all places!
Even they’re bodily distancing, however you may nonetheless take footage with them due to the best way they’ve them located. You simply stand in entrance of them for a terrific shot. I believe I truly prefer it extra this fashion as a result of they are often extra animated and it’s fairly entertaining.
And we stopped by the King Arthur Carousel to see the regal transformation!
The footage don’t do it justice. With deep purple and gold accents, it truly is gorgeous. See, that is what I imply about seeing Disneyland in a complete new mild. I’ve marveled at updates earlier than, however this time I actually appreciated each little change I noticed.
Ordering meals on the Disneyland App.
We had been feeling the warmth of the day, so we discovered one of many designated eating areas and went and picked up our meals.
On the app, earlier than you order, it provides you a selection of occasions to gather your meals. Then, when you get to the eating venue throughout that chosen time-frame, you click on that you’re there on the app they usually put together your meals. Then you get one other discover that it’s prepared and the place to choose it up. Very easy and never solely saves time however limits interactions with others.
The meals choices are to not the extent of what they had been earlier than, however like different elements, they are going to be growing as capability does. But that doesn’t imply they didn’t add some new choices!
We had the brand new Enchanted Cauli-Flower Sandwich at Red Rose Tavern inside Fantasyland at Disneyland Park with fries. We all agreed it was actually good.
After consuming the ladies put their new fabric masks again on and Emmy despatched off a few selfies to her grandma!
After that, we thought we’d see what the wait occasions appeared like for some sights within the app. Pirates of the Caribbean stated a 20-minute wait, but it surely ended up being shorter at about quarter-hour as soon as we bought there.
When you might be prepared to hitch the queue, search for the forged members with tall indicators that say “line starts here”. They will direct you to a spot like this on the bottom. From there it feels a bit like musical chairs however with out the music and the stress of discovering a spot. As the individuals in entrance of you progress, you stand on the subsequent marker till it’s time to get onto the boats. Once you attain the within half, you might be proven into the constructing proper as it’s time to board and there may be additionally plexiglass between the 2 strains for the transient moments everyone seems to be boarding.
Nothing is with none threat, but it surely all felt very properly deliberate out and as secure as doable.
Guests are boarded by social gathering and restricted to 2 on every boat, however even then you might be spaced out. Since there have been 5 of us, we took up one full boat and had the center rows for an added buffer.
Pirates of the Caribbean appeared and felt tremendous polished and further vibrant!
Our subsequent cease was the Haunted Mansion.
It had some enjoyable updates each in and out so you’ll want to hold a lookout for stuff you haven’t seen earlier than!
The queue is exterior as ordinary and wrapped all by the yard to permit for bodily distancing. This additionally gave us a chance to see the contemporary components that had been added! Inside the primary room, there are solely 4 teams and you might be put in every nook to maximise area between. This additionally makes getting in your buggy fast and straightforward.
How to expertise Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Keeping up with the enjoyable, we noticed that it was virtually our time for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Earlier within the day (at midday) we entered the attraction’s digital queue through the Disneyland Mobile App, and got an estimated time once we would be capable to expertise it. And then from there we simply checked in on the app to see how our “queue number” was progressing. As it began getting shut, we headed over. By then it was our boarding time and we bought into the out of doors line. The attraction is a bit modified, however the principle half continues to be the identical and bodily distancing is adopted each step of the best way.
Something to recollect is that the reservations are launched at 7 am and 12 pm within the app. and it’s a must to be in Disneyland park, to make them.
This was truly the ladies first time on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance they usually completely LOVED it!
As we exited we pulled the app proper again out and order up some blue milk and walked proper over to choose it up. I’m nonetheless so pleased that that is plant-based so we are able to all get pleasure from it!
And we simply needed to cease for this photograph opp!
Reopening day at Disney California Adventure.
It was properly previous 1 pm at this level and time to move over to Disney California Adventure!
We actually wished to see the brand new magic added to Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, but it surely had the longest wait occasions of all sights so we determined so as to add that to the listing for subsequent time.
We stopped to do a little bit of buying and I debated if we would have liked some new shirts to rejoice the opening (we did!) to go together with our new ears.
We handed extra character photograph opps identical to in Disneyland.
And the balloons all of us love are nonetheless right here!
Then we made a rapid left into Cars Land.
We are planning a month-long street journey this summer time on stretches of Route 66 so this completely bought us excited for that. Disney has impressed quite a lot of our travels through the years, most clearly with our Adventures By Disney holidays, however even this space bought us speaking about doing an enormous street journey years in the past.
Suddenly Emmy was unable to maneuver previous this space with out a rootbeer float, so we did what any mother and father who’ve been staying secure at house for over a yr with an brisk 11-year-old would do- we urgently bought her that deal with. It was a multitude and she or he beloved each second of consuming it. It felt like at that second all of us began to breathe once more in a manner we hadn’t in a very long time. Life began to really feel normal-ish. Like the sunshine on the finish of the darkish tunnel we had lived by, was shut at hand. Disneyland is magical like that. It is a spot the place you permit the cares of the world behind for just a little bit and simply have enjoyable with household and pals.
Don’t neglect to look excessive and low to see surprising pals saying whats up!
I may need completed extra buying at this level. I’m not saying both way- besides to say, SO MANY CUTE EARS!
Even although Emmy was stuffed up on soda and ice cream, she stated she couldn’t go away the parks with out having some Disney mac n’ cheese. She LOVES it and I believe it’s nice that it’s persistently supplied on the parks on each coasts and on the cruise ships.
Not eager to be unnoticed of the consuming enjoyable, the remainder of us tried one other new menu merchandise, Petite Impossible™ Burger with Guac and Pepper Jack accessible on the Smokejumpers Grill inside Disney California Adventure Park, Grizzly Peak space. It is the fast-service restaurant subsequent to Soarin’.
We sat at a delegated eating space after we picked up our meals that was ordered on the app!
The burger was positively petite so order 2 for a meal if you’re very hungry! It was very flavorful and I can’t wait to have it once more.
We additionally couldn’t go away with out popcorn so Maddie stopped over at a cart and introduced us again a pair to eat on the desk.
By then it was shut to six pm and solely an hour left till the parks closed.
We considered doing one other lap round to see the remainder of the park, however as a substitute determined to separate up and every go on our favourite sights. Pete and I headed over to Soarin’ and the ladies went on the Incredicoaster in Pixar Pier (twice). Physical distancing and out of doors areas had been utilized on these as properly and we are able to’t consider a greater strategy to finish our first day again at Disneyland after it reopened.
I typically considered if it could be value going to the parks with the added precautions and modifications being noticed. I puzzled if it could someway change the texture or make it a lower than best time to go to? After our time there, I can say for certain it didn’t.
It actually felt like a brilliant enjoyable day- identical to it often is. I do assume had they not been doing so many well being precautions I might have determined to not go. Even although 4 of us are utterly vaccinated and none of us are thought-about high-risk, it wouldn’t have felt like the suitable factor to do. With all of the precautions being taken, I felt comfy having myself and my household there and we felt free to get pleasure from ourselves.
Before you propose your personal day (or extra) at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure you’ll want to observe alongside on the present phased reopening updates.
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