Whether you have been to Disneyland before or you are planning your first visit, it’s always fun to add something special and extra memorable. Disneyland may not be as big as its younger sibling, Walt Disney World, but there is still plenty of opportunity to create a little magic for your next vacation.

Cabanas:

If you’re staying on the resort and planning on spending a day at the pool, make a cabana reservation. All three hotels on site have wonderful pool areas, but the cabanas at the Grand Californian and the Disneyland Hotel are pure luxury. A relaxing day at the pool is made even better when you don’t have to worry about scouting out/guarding a pool chair with an umbrella all day.

Our family always chooses The Disneyland Hotel pool because of its fantastic new renovations. I would even suggest you request a cabana by the water slides. We like that there’s a shallow water area around the slides where younger kids can wade in if they’re not big enough to swim in the larger pools.

All cabanas include a covered area with couches, flat screen TV, two loungers, beach sized towels, and a refrigerator stocked with six bottles of water and a bowl of fruit. You also have wait staff that will bring your food and beverage orders.

Chef’s Counter at Napa Rose:

Napa Rose is already one of the most renowned restaurants in all of southern California. Your experience is made even better at the helm of Chef Andrew Sutton while you sit around a counter that faces the Napa Rose kitchen. Chef Sutton (or one of his awesome, hand-picked sous chefs if it’s his night off) comes around to ask about your likes, dislikes, and allergies. He then takes those notes and prepares a culinary masterpiece for the entire group. Although kids are always welcome at the counter, I would suggest that only the most patient little patrons do this because your dinner experience can take upwards of two to three hours. Perhaps take advantage of Pinocchio’s Workshop at the Grand California or in-room babysitting if you don’t think your kids will enjoy this as much as you would.

Fantasmic Priority Seating:

If you are a veteran visitor of Disneyland, you know in order to get a decent view of Fantasmic, you need to camp out in front of Rivers of America hours before the show starts. With Fantasmic priority seating, you get an actual reserved seat with a dessert tray and your choice of beverage. You are even allowed to remain in your seats after the show to watch the fireworks. A word of advice on this option: When you line up to get your seat assignment, get there a little early and request seats as far away from the reservation podium as possible. The closer you are to the podium, the greater the chance you will have getting stuck behind one of the large light poles. The best seats are the furthest away on the stairs.

Disneyland Tour:

There are several tours offered by the park, but there is one I offer above all the rest: “Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps.” Disneyland was truly Walt’s park, and there is something more magical about this park because of it. The tour even includes a view inside his personal apartment above the fire station in Town Square.

If any of these options sound good to you, your travel agent can assist with any further questions or schedule your reservations.