Tag: Travel

Travel

Skypark at Santa’s Village: A Festive Way to get in the Holiday Spirit

momjennyp

Tucked high away in the mountains near Lake Arrowhead is the magical town of Santa’s Village. This charming park features outdoor adventures for the whole family, whimsical stores and restaurants, and most importantly of all, Santa Claus!

Nearly all of the attractions and entertainment are included with the cost of admission which can be purchased as a single day ticket or a season pass. 

Here’s what we experienced on our visit as a family of 3!

We arrived around 9:30, knowing that the park didn’t open until 10am, to avoid waiting in the long line which forms at the entrance. A special Breakfast with Santa can be purchased for an additional fee, which grants you earlier access to the Village.

It’s very important to check the weather before your visit! The temperature was in the 30s during our visit with a light dusting of snow on the ground from the night before. While this made the mountains even more beautiful, it meant that we needed to wear many layers in order to stay warm and comfortable.

Included with the cost of our admission, we were able to enjoy: ice skating, a private meet and greet with Santa, a miniature train ride, a pedal car circuit, a balance bike circuit for our daughter, hiking through the beautiful woods, archery, and live show from children’s performers Kids Imagine Nation! 

We also enjoyed a delicious lunch from one of the several restaurants within Santa’s Village, as well as delicious treats and coffee from the gingerbread house bakery! 

A few important things to note. In order to reach Santa’s Village, you will have to drive up a steep and windy mountain road, so plan accordingly. We left before sunset to avoid driving down in the dark. Moreover, since most of the activities are outside, they may be closed if the weather isn’t cooperative. For example, on the day of our visit, the zip line was not available due to icy conditions.

Overall, we were very impressed with the friendly employees and the beautiful mountain setting. This picturesque park is the perfect spot for holiday photos and gathering with family to celebrate the season. We look forward to making this a new tradition and returning next winter!

If you’d like to follow along with our day, come watch our vlog on our YouTube channel: In a Magical Mood

Uncategorized

Oogie Boogie Bash: Tips and Tricks!

momjennyp

Oogie Boogie Bash is a separately ticketed event at Disney’s California Adventure, which offers five very special features which make it very different from a normal day in the theme park. 

First, there are themed Treat Trails throughout the park where guests essentially trick or treat for candy, snacks, and even some fresh produce (packaged apples, grapes, etc.)

Second, villains and other rare characters can be found around the park, both in the Treat Trails and at separate Meet and Greet locations. This year’s event featured three brand new characters to the parks: Cruella from the newest live action film, Sid from Toy Story, and Agatha from Wanda Vision. 

Third, the Redwood Creek Challenge trail (essentially a national parks themed playground) is completely transformed into Villain’s Grove, a walkthrough experience with lighting effects, sounds, music, and even fragrance.

Fourth, a special Halloween show (Mickey’s Trick & Treat) and Frightfully Fun parade are available only to guests during the event.

And fifth, since this is a low capacity ticketed event, the ride times are significantly shorter than they would be during a normal day. In fact, most rides have no line at all, guests can simply walk on without waiting.

The big question is, how do you make the most out of your tickets, which range from $124-$169 per person, comparable to a full day ticket?

Pick your priorities! Are you there to see all the characters and take photos? Photopass is included with your ticket, so there are many specially themed photo opps available. Are you there to ride as many rides as possible? Even the newest attraction, Spider-Man WEB Slingers offers a standby queue and is available to all event guests without needing a virtual boarding pass. Are you trying to collect as many treats as possible? There are 9 different treat trails to explore!

Before you attend Oogie Boogie Bash, you need to choose what is most and least important to you so that you can maximize your time. It is a 5 hour event, and the time goes fast! 

For our family, we decided that we wanted to collect as many treats as we could carry, watch the special entertainment, and visit Villain’s Grove. Here’s how we did it all without stressing or running from place to place all night: 

Tip 1: Dress up! It’s so much fun for the characters and Cast Members to interact with you when you have a unique or creative costume. And if you dress up like a character’s enemy or ally, be sure to play along. 

Tip 2: Visit Villain’s Grove during one of the two parades of the night, when the line is short. Even for children, this walkthrough experience is incredible, with subtle nods to Disney villains in a slightly spooky but not overtly scary way. Breathtaking visual projections are accompanied by beautiful music and other effects, it’s a unique and can’t miss part of the evening.

Tip 3: You can visit a Treat Trail as many times as you like! Each trail offers slightly different treats, so if you find one that offers your favorite, go through it again! And again! 

Tip 4: Wait for the ride queue times to go down! The lines will get shorter and shorter as the night goes on, so enjoy other things until rides are walk ons. If you’re not interested in watching the parade, that is the best time to jump in line for a popular attraction.

Tip 5: Watch the 2nd parade for a better selection of seats. We were near the beginning of the parade route and had plenty of empty space around us when the parade started. The later showings of Mickey’s Trick & Treat in the Disney Junior theater also had smaller crowds. 

Tip 6: Bring bigger bags! The small bags you are given when you enter the event will be full after 2-3 treat trails, so you’ll need a backpack, bag, or maybe a stroller to carry all your goodies home. 

If you have any questions or want to share your own tips, let me know!

Travel

Hotel Review: Courtyard by Marriott San Diego, Old Town

momjennyp
Courtyard by Marriott in San Diego, Old Town

Recently, my husband and I took a quick getaway to San Diego. We stayed at a lovely hotel right next to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, which we have visited in the past. This Courtyard by Marriott is really great for families who are interested in visiting the Old Town area, or who just want to stay nearby because it offers plenty of convenient restaurant options.

Small surface lot for guests to park, an underground parking lot is also available

The hotel features a small surface lot and larger parking garage underground, and costs $25 a night (which is very affordable compared to other hotels in the San Diego area). Free street parking may be found in the neighborhoods nearby, but you can also take a shuttle or rideshare from the airport for approximately $15. 

Luxurious lobby area of the hotel

The hotel offers a reasonably priced coffee bar which converts to a bistro bar in the afternoons. There is also a small outdoor pool and spa, which we didn’t visit on our trip. 

Bathroom with large shower

Our room was clean and comfortable, with a very nice shower in the bathroom. A useful sized mini fridge and coffee maker were also included. Our room faced Old Town, but some rooms may face the freeway and have some road noise. Since it was just the two of us, we stayed in a room with a king sized bed, which we found very comfortable.

Standard King room

For us, the location of the hotel is very convenient. It is very close to the freeway, so it’s easy to drive to other attractions in the San Diego area. We also love that it’s only a couple blocks from Old Town, a state park featuring historical buildings from California’s past, many delicious Mexican restaurants, and beautiful shops from local craftsmen.

View of Old Town and surrounding neighborhoods from our room

I recommend this hotel for it’s convenient location and high quality atmosphere (without the high price).