After working and practically living at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL for four years, it occurred me that ANOTHER park exists: the original, iconic, DISNEYLAND. I have often heard that while Disney World is the Most Magical Place on Earth, Disneyland is the HAPPIEST Place on Earth. I decided at 24, this was a good time to test that theory.
When I got back from my trip, I got to record an episode of Disney Underground’s Podcast with The Magical Lifestyle and we talked ALL things Disneyland. Gene, the host, and I dove into my top 5 must-do’s at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA. And so, I present my list to you!
5. Brunch at Lamplight Lounge
Brunch is NEVER a bad idea. Lamplight Lounge is located in Disney’s California Adventure, and their brunch is a relatively new offering! Known for crafty drinks and creative food, Lamplight Lounge is already a DCA fan favorite located right on the water overlooking Pixar Pier. Guests can take a break during the day here and relax with their iconic Lobster Nachos.
However, that’s not what we did! We decided to take a mid-morning break with brunch! Lamplight Lounge started opening reservations for their brunch on June 14, 202. However, as of right now, brunch is only offered Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so plan accordingly!
Food-wise, this spot is incredible. I am still thinking about their Indulgent French Toast and Egg White Frittata Bake. Paired with a Mimosa flight and Sunrise Spectacular, you have a recipe for a PERFECT start to your day! 🙌
Let’s talk about this Mimosa flight for a moment. It’s no secret that I LOVE a good mimosa. It’s classic, a brunch staple. I can honestly say that these mimosas were nothing like I have ever tasted before… and that’s a GOOD thing. From left to right, they serve Peach/Mango Puree and Crème de Peach, Watermelon, Orange Juice and Ginger, and Grapefruit and St. Germain. Wow. These drinks left me speechless, and extremely happy as I danced my way to Avengers Campus.
4. Indiana Jones & Bengal Barbeque
Heading over to Disneyland for this one. Technically, I may have “cheated” by putting two items together, however in my mind Indiana Jones and Bengal Barbeque are indeed a package deal. I say this as someone who did this experience TWICE during my three-day trip. So, yes this counts as one.
This pairing works so well because they are located right across from each other in Adventureland! Whether you make Indiana Jones your first stop as you digest your meal, or you mobile order while your in line to pick it up right when you get off the ride, you can not go wrong!
Let’s Talk Indiana Jones. For my Orlando theme park fanatics, this ride is the love child of Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and The Mummy at Universal Studios Florida, but with Harrison Ford. The track is the exact same as Dinosaur, you’re in a jeep off on a crazy adventure with Indiana Jones at your side. I say the the Mummy at Universal as I can see the influences through excavating an old tomb and being succumbed to a curse you have to escape. Overall, this ride is SO much fun and I HIGHLY recommend it for your next trip!
Waiting in line for Indiana Jones seems like the perfect time to mobile order some Bengal Barbecue, no? Now, what I love about this place is the fact that it does not taste like park food. Don’t get me wrong, I love cheesy and greasy food as much as the next gal, but sometimes eating those types of food just takes it OUT of me. I need a break after eating and I feel sluggish for the rest of the day. Not only is this food GOOD, but it makes you FEEL GOOD and FUELED as you conquer the rest of your day!
Everything on the menu is good, and they have countless options and combinations for you to try! They even have vegetarian and vegan options, so there is something for everyone here. The Bengal Rice Plate is the most popular option on the menu. It includes your choice of TWO Skewers with Jasmine Rice and Citrus-Miso Slaw. I loved pairing this with the Chieftain Chicken Skewer and the Outback Vegetable Skewer (pictured here). My friends paired theirs with the Bengal Beef Skewer and Pork Belly Skewer, so you really can’t go wrong here! I also tried the Tiger Tail Breadstick, which is baked with Garlic Herbs and Sharp Cheddar Cheese. It was a LOT bigger than I expected, so I couldn’t finish it by myself but I SO enjoyed it!
3. "Life Could Be Dream" at Radiator Springs
Life truly is a DREAM at Radiator Springs in Disney’s California Adventure. Disney did not have to go THAT hard created a Cars themed land, but they did. They did that for us. While Cars Land is great to experience during the day, you must go back at sunset. Do you remember the scene in the first movie where it gets dark and the neon lights all turn on across the town? The Cars take that moment every evening to stroll through the town to appreciate the beauty of it all? Well, you can too! Be sure to ask a Cast Member for the exact time that this quaint light show occurs (in the summer it is typically around the 8 o’clock hour) and plan your day accordingly!
PRO TIP: For my foodies out there, you HAVE to stop by Cozy Cone. There are different kiosks of cones that all serve a different item, in a CONE! From signature popcorn flavors to ice cream, but the MOST important ones (in my personal opinion) are the Mac N Cheese and Chili Cheese Cones. Imagine this: Cheese and creamy mac and cheese packed into a bread cone, topped with bacon. You simply cannot go wrong! They also offer a Chili Cheese Cone, with layers of chili, cheese, and sour crème packed into a bread cone topped with Fritos! For my vegetarian and vegan friends, you can ask for a vegetarian chili (no meat, just beans) and request no cheese or cream! Make sure you Mobile Order this delicious treat with just enough time to grab it and enjoy the show!
2. Mickey's Mix Magic Fireworks
It’s always a “good good good, a GOOD time” on Main Street at Disneyland! And that is precisely where you want to be to catch Mickey’s Mix Magic Firework SPECTACULAR. As you see the waves of people make their way to Sleeping Beauty’s Castle for the Firework extravaganza, hang back. They clearly have not read this article. Yes, the fireworks are amazing, but by hanging out on Main Street you’re not going to miss the night sky lighting up. You are, however, in the PERFECT spot to watch DJ Mickey throw it DOWN as projections dance across Main Street USA. By hanging out at the castle, you miss this electrifying dance party in the street!
Personal Storytime! When I first watched this show I cried. As I was looking up at Sleeping Beauty’s castle, I heard the ever-too-familiar beats of a song I knew all to well. My muscle memory took over, and I started performing choreography that my body has not had to do in a year and half. My last shift with the Walt Disney Company was the conclusion of the training process of a show, one of my DREAM shows. The show that had the same opening song as THIS Firework Spectacular. Nostalgic, I look back being thankful that I had the opportunity to be selected and trained. Now, I look toward the future when Live Entertainment, Shows, and Parades return to the Disney Parks.
1. Avengers Campus
We AREN’T surprised that Avenger’s Campus took my Number One spot! ANY Marvel fan needs to experience this land, what it feels like to step into the MCU and see your favorite heroes interact not only with each other, but with YOU. I truly can (and did) spend an entire day just sitting in the land, watching and observing the heroes and interactions. Seeing the performers gave me so much joy, and I felt just like Nick Fury had recruited ME to join the team. So, let’s dive in depth what all is to experience here, from rides, food, and entertainment:
Attractions
Currently, there are two attractions open at Avenger’s Campus (with a third in the works 👀): WEB Slingers and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!
WEB Slingers is Spiderman’s ride where YOU get to shoot webs (right from your own hands !!) to help Spiderman capture some spider robots that have gotten loose around the Campus. Poor Peter Parker made a tiny mistake, and now we have been recruited with Spiderman to help clean up the mess! Some fun Easter Eggs in this ride include the mention of Doreen Green, another Intern with Peter Parker at WEB Industries AND Squirrel Girl from the Marvel Comics! Without giving TOO much away about this ride, I will say to take the competitive shooting-style of Toy Story Mania, except take away the gun. That’s right, you are using your own hands to aim and shoot the targets in this attraction! I got the highest score across ALL of my friends, so when you go try to beat 289,200 for me!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout takes the cake for my favorite ride… ever actually. That crown used to belong to Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studio. However, Guardians of the Galaxy is the renovated Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s California Adventure. Meaning, the ride track is the exact same, just with a new theming. The Guardians have been captured by The Collector and put on display. While touring his collection, Rocket recruits your help to breakout the rest of the team. However, part of the plan involves causing mass chaos by unleashing ALL the prisoners and turning off the gravity… Have fun! 😉 In all seriousness though, this ride is incredible. There are six different song tracks that sync with different drop patterns and multiple different scene options, meaning every time you ride this ride you will have a different experience!
Food & Drink
Pym’s Test Kitchen and Testing Lab are the major foodie headquarters here at Avengers Campus. They are testing Pym Particles on the food, making them all sorts of weird sizes. But trust me when I say that despite the size, the FLAVOR is there! For me, the Not So Little Chicken Sandwich stole the show. The chicken was just SO crispy! While it is impossible to eat as a full sandwich due to the size, the chicken had so much flavor that it could stand on it’s own! We also tried the Atomic Fusion Pretzel, PB3 Superb Sandwich, and the kid’s Mini Pasta and Impossible Meat-balls. Next time I am looking for four to eight friends to tackle the iconic, $100 Family-Sized Pym-ini. Any takers??
Over at Pym’s Testing Lab, I got all three cocktails and can present you an HONEST review of each. In order of my least favorite to my favorite, you have the Particle Fizz, Honey Buzz, and X-Periment. The Particle Fizz, in my personal opinion, tasted like someone poured a cherry white claw in a cup and added some Boba on top. Nothing special. HOWEVER, then you move over to the Honey Buzz and X-Periment… my taste buds were not prepared for what I was about to experience. The Honey Buzz is SO sweet! You could guess from honey in the name, but this cocktail with honey, lemon, and gin is so refreshing and reminded me of a summer tea. The X-Periment was my favorite. This tropical creation has tequila, with mango and habanero syrups topped with mango Boba. Despite the habanero syrups, this cocktail was so sweet! Definitely my favorite of the three and the one I will be getting again.
Entertainment
It seems that everyone got the memo to report to Avenger’s Campus. The multiverse must be in full swing as characters who may or may not have died in canon MCU storyline can be met here! When I walked in, my first glimpse of a hero was Black Panther. T’Challa was meeting some guests while the Dora Milaje were offering a demonstration of their skillset. What a WELCOME to the campus. Later, Iron Man came out to greet guests while Steve Rogers was up on a balcony chatting with Black Widow. I could’ve sworn that I caught a glimpse of Captain Marvel up messing with the Quinjet. Later, Thor and Ant Man were chatting up guests and who walks by none other than President Loki himself. Thor and Loki exchange some brotherly words and continue on their way. I just sat there, amazed at all the incredible characters and stories I was able to experience all at once.
Spiderman has his own little show over above WEB slingers attraction. He’s testing new features of his suit, and one includes him being LAUNCHED above the campus. Spoiler alert: it’s a robot being launched, not an actual person. However, the performer still is an incredible stunt performer as they are just throwing back flips and crawling down walls. Doctor Strange has his own show as well that I was able to catch. You help him guard and protect the sanctum, and there also is a cameo from another avenger, but I won’t spoil that surprise for you. Sadly, I only caught glimpses of the Black Widow combat-show, so it’s on the bucket list to camp out next time to not miss this experience.
After my time in Disneyland, I can officially confirm that it IS the Happiest Place on Earth! These are my top five things to do at Disneyland, did I miss anything? Let me know what I need to add to the must-do agenda when visiting the Disneyland Resort in California! 👇
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