I know Pixar’s 2006 Cars brought a huge resurgence in interest to Route 66 and while I did love the movie, it wasn’t until I stepped into Carsland in Disney’s California Adventure that the little town of Radiator Springs, once a :glorious jewel strung on the necklace of Route 66,” really came alive. And I was hooked!

During the summer of 2020 when far flung travel ground to a halt, I carved out day trips to drive portions of Route 66 through Oklahoma, Kansas, and parts of Missouri that were close to home.

It wasn’t until 2022 that I fully committed to driving THE WHOLE THING. 2500 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

And it was quite the trip. There’s nothing like seeing America…from the wheatfields of the midwest to the ranches of Texas and Oklahoma to the vast western landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona…through the windshield of your car as you roll through small town after small town.

Let the rest of them “fly over.” I’ll take the Mother Road.

Cars Route 66 Road Trip

Now I’m not going to lie…the whole time in my mind I had this vision of taking a trip back to Disneyland after I finished Route 66 to see Carsland again. Comparing all the beloved spots in Radiator Springs to the real life inspiration along Route 66 and taking in all the little details.

And I did! And now I’m going to take you with me.

I spent a LOT of time researching, watching the movie, documentaries, pouring over photos, and reading articles of the places that inspired the Pixar filmmakers. And I used a lot of that to shape my Route 66 trip.

So whether you’re planning your own Route 66 road trip and you want to visit all of the places that inspired Cars, or you’re just curious about what was real and what was made up…this post is for you!

Is Radiator Springs a real town? 

That’s the first question most people ask…where is the real life Radiator Springs? Well, it doesn’t really exist, but instead it’s a composite of a lot of different places along Route 66.

When the Pixar animators and story developers were researching Cars, they actually took a couple of Route 66 road trips (led by Route 66 historian Michael Wallis who ended up voicing the Sheriff in the movie). Their trips mostly explored the stretch of Route 66 between Tulsa, OK and Kingman, AZ which is the more “western” portion of the route.

While the name “Radiator Springs” may draw inspiration from places like Baxter Springs, KS or Peach Springs, AZ, the physical setting of Radiator Springs seems to be placed somewhere in Arizona. The scenery is pretty iconic, especially when Sally and Lightning McQueen go for their drive on the open road. They pass places that seem reminiscent of Havasu Falls and Monument Valley, neither of which are on Route 66 but they’re both popular side trips from the route in Arizona. And Ornament Valley likely seems to refer to real life Monument Valley.

But while Radiator Springs is fictional, it’s rumored to be most closely based on Seligman, AZ. Seligman was once a thriving Route 66 town that all but withered away when it was bypassed by the interstate.

When Sally takes Lightning McQueen for a drive and they end up on top of a mesa looking down on the twists and turns of Route 66 as it runs through Radiator Springs with the interstate stretching out forever in the distance, this scene unfolds:

Lightning McQueen: Whoa. Look at that. They’re driving right by. They don’t even know what they’re missing!

Sally Carrera: Well, it didn’t use to be that way.

Lightning McQueen: Oh yeah?

Sally Carrera: Yeah. 40 years ago, that Interstate down there didn’t exist. Back then, cars came across the country a whole different way.  The road didn’t cut through land like that Interstate. It moved with the land, you know? It rose, it fell, it curved. Cars didn’t drive on it to make great time. They drove on it to have a great time.

[ We see Radiator Springs as a bustling little town in its heyday. Busy with visitors from dawn to dusk. ]

Lightning McQueen: Well, what happened?

Sally Carrera: The town got bypassed just to save ten minutes of driving.

[ We see the interstate finally open and the town excited to greet the new travelers. But nobody comes. Radiator Springs disappears from the map. Businesses start to close and friends have to leave town. Some are able to stay open, hoping to hang on as long as they can. ]

Lightning McQueen: How great would it have been to see this place in its heyday!

Sally Carrera: Oh, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dreamed of that. One of these days, we’ll find a way to get it back on the map.

Lightning McQueen: Yeah. Hey, listen, thanks for the drive. I had a great time. It’s kinda nice to slow down every once in a while.

For me, that scene is the emotional heart of the movie. And it’s almost entirely based on Angel Delgadillo’s story. He’s interviewed in a behind the scenes Making of Cars documentary that was featured on the Cars DVD.

Angel Delgadillo was a barber and business owner in Seligman for decades (his brother opened the famous Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In). In an interview with John Lasseter, he tells the story of how Seligman went from seeing 9000 cars a day to just a few as soon as the interstate opened. It dried up their town and they sat forgotten and wasting away for almost 10 years.

But Delgadillo decided to do something about it. The few visitors they were getting every day seemed to appreciate the history of the road and he realized that there were people who still wanted to drive it as a holiday, stopping at all the old places.

Delgadillo rallied small business owners along the route in Arizona to draw more attention to their stretch of old Route 66 and founded the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. The state of Arizona designated the 159 miles of uninterrupted road as Historic Route 66 in 1987 and in 1988 it was officially dedicated in Seligman with a ceremony full of pomp and circumstance in true Route 66 style…everybody turned on their neon and classic cars drove up and down the street ; ) Sound familiar?

But they didn’t stop there! Delgadillo and his band of supporters were instrumental in getting the ball rolling to get ALL of Route 66 declared a historic highway. It brought back the visitors and saved countless little small towns across America that still have the claim to fame of being on the Mother Road.

So while Radiator Springs doesn’t look just like Seligman (it draws inspiration from sooooo many real life places), the Seligman story is the heart and soul of “the cutest little town in Carburetor County.”

Radiator Springs \\ Carburetor County \\ Ornament Valley

There’s a reason they call it “the cutest little town in Carburetor County” and it’s got to partially be because of the setting…it’s just so iconic!

They call this “Tailfin Ridge” and it’s easy to see why….the shape for the peaks of the mountain range closely resembles the profile of Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX.

You’ll recognize Tucumcari Mountain (New Mexico) pretty distinctly (they swapped out the “T” for “RS”.

Radiator Springs Racers is built back into the mesa in a way that reminds me of Chief Yellowhorse Trading Post in Lupton, AZ. I don’t have a great photo of the Radiator Springs Racers area because it was closed during my last trip (of course!), but it looks carved out of a cliff like this.

I think Yellowhorse Trading Post was also the inspiration for the abandoned Wheel Well Motel outside of town (not featured in Carsland), although the name seems to be a nod to the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, MO.

And you can’t forget about those classic Burma Shave signs! These small red signs with their catchy jingles were a staple up and down Route 66 back in the day. There are a few places to see them along the route now mostly in historic parks, but the BEST place to see them “in the wild” is coming into and leaving Seligman, AZ.

They don’t photograph well because they’re so spread out, but here were a few of the jingles around Seligman:

“If hugging on highways is your sport, trade in your car for a Davenport…”

“If daisies are your favorite flower, keep pushin’ up those miles-per-hour…”

And a few more from a museum exhibit in Kingman, AZ:

I think it makes sense for these to be in Seligman as a nod to Angel Delgadillo and his work reviving the route (he was a barber and Burma Shave was a shaving cream). There are 3 or so sets of signs on each side of Seligman that stay maintained.

The ones outside of Radiator Springs Racers are for “Rust-eze” (one of Lightning McQueen’s original sponsors.

“Mind your speed as you go, sheriff is old, but he’s not slow…”

“Dang near fainted, looked like he had just been painted…”

***Want to save major $$$ on your next trip? I get asked ALL the time how I’m able to travel so often and stay at really nice resorts. Well, my favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free airfare and free nights at high end resorts and hotels. Read my full guide on the exact system I use to max out credit card rewards here. Seriously, it’s going to save you soooo much money.

Cozy Cone Motel

Okay! Let’s start with what’s arguably the best part of Radiator Springs (at least my favorite ; )

The Cozy Cone Motel! Sally Carrera’s place is the perfect example of an old Route 66 place that’s been lovingly restored and kept up and running.

The Cozy Cone Motel draws inspiration from quite a few actual places on Route 66…some obvious and some more subtle.

The most obvious is the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. The Blue Swallow is probably the most iconic motel on Route 66. It’s been immaculately preserved and maintained in its original 1939 condition even as it has passed from owner to owner.

The lobby of Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel is a near replica of the front of the Blue Swallow.

Sally’s “Cones” are surely a nod to the two Wigwam Motels that call Route 66 home. There used to be seven Wigwam Motels across America, but now only three remain. The two on Route 66 are located in Holbrook, Arizona and San Bernardino, California. The third is somewhere in Kentucky.

I think the name “Cozy Cone Motel” is likely a reference to the Cozy Dog Drive In in Springfield, Illinois that’s been serving Cozy Dogs (aka corn dogs) to Route 66 travelers since 1949.

While the Blue Swallow Motel certainly has some of the most phenomenal neon on Route 66, I think the style of the Cozy Cone Motel sign reminds me more of the Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri.

Or even TeePee Curios in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

And then we’ve got the inspiration for Sally herself! Sally Carrera, a shiny blue Porsche from California who visited Radiator Springs, fell in love, and never left seems to be based on Dawn Welch who owns the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma. While Welch is a native Oklahoman, she went out to see the world before coming back to settle down on Route 66.

Welch bought the historic Rock Cafe (originally built in 1939) in 1993 and it’s a must stop for Cars fans. They’re closed on Sundays and Mondays, but stop by any other day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

And don’t miss the Cars memorabilia on the walls including a signed sketch of Buzz and Woody by John Lasseter!

Ramone’s Body Shop

I think Ramone’s Body Shop is the most fantastic example of the Pixar crew just lifting a real life Route 66 place right off the Mother Road and plopping it down in Radiator Springs.

Ramone’s is a nearly identical copy of the U Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas which just so happened to be one of my FAVORITE stops on my Route 66 trip. Going back through my photos, I surprisingly didn’t get many full shots of Ramone’s, but boy do I have plenty of photos of the U Drop Inn ; )

The old diner/service station was built in 1936 and has fabulous art deco details.

Today, the service station side is home to the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce where they host a lovely visitor center and gift shop and the original cafe has been restored to serve lunch and ice cream. The cafe has limited hours (when I was there in June 2022 they were serving lunch Tuesday through Saturday 11-2 with ice cream/shakes available later in the evenings) but it’s definitely worth planning around. Call ahead to verify hours during your trip!

Lizzie’s Curios Shop

Curio shops were once a dime a dozen on Route 66…selling every little tchotchke you could think of and there are still a handful left.

Lizzie’s seems to be most closely modeled after the Hackberry General Store in Hackberry, Arizona with its wild collection of memorabilia covering every square inch of the outside and inside. Hackberry is still a going concern and it’s situated on a stretch of Route 66 where there isn’t a lot else to see so it’s definitely worth a stop. You’ll find plenty of souvenirs, trinkets, and snacks.

The Sandhill Curiosity Shop in Erick, Oklahoma has also got to be on the shortlist for inspiration. Harley Russel is a character in himself (possibly part of the inspiration for Mater) and if he’s around he’ll invite you into the store to look around and be entertained by one of his “bits.” It’s a shop in name only, there isn’t anything for sale here so if you do get a “show” a tip is appreciated.

One of my favorite touches in Carsland is the “here it is” sign with the tractor on it. This is a direct nod to the Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, Arizona. You’ll find the original billboard out in front of the store.

Back in the day, the Jack Rabbit Trading Post had a series of billboards along Route 66 from Missouri to Arizona with the silhouette of a rabbit and a mileage number counting you down until you got to the trading post and the big “here it is” sign.

Jack Rabbit is still an operational curio shop.

And I just have to mention my FAVORITE curio shop along Route 66 here…TeePee Curios in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Lizzie’s doesn’t seem to draw inspiration from it directly, but it’s totally worth a stop.

Flo’s V8 Cafe

Flo’s is the hub of activity in Radiator Springs in the movie and also in Carsland where it’s the land’s main dining establishment.

Flo’s character is reportedly based on Fran Hauser who owned and operated the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas for years.

Adrian is the midpoint of Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles and the diner sits right on the line. The outside doesn’t resemble Flo’s much, but the spirit of the place does. You’ve got to stop in for a piece of pie.

The inside of Flo’s looks like every classic 1950s diner you’ve ever seen. Chrome, bright colors, neon, vinyl booths, a jukebox.

And the gas pumps outside remind me dozens and dozens I saw at restored and decaying service stations up and down the route. Here are some of my favorites:

Mater’s Junkyard

Mater just might be the most lovable car in Radiator Springs!

The inspiration for his character allegedly came from a rusty tow truck spotted in Galena, Kansas.

The whole town has really embraced their connection to the movie and you can now visit Cars on the Route which features three different spots in the small town where you’ll find replica cars from the movie.

And we can’t forget about the little tractors in the movie (that you’ll find at Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Carsland) that seem to be based on the Oatman burros!

This tiny little town on the other side of Sitgreaves Pass between Kingman AZ and the California border is famous for their wild burros who are very comfortable greeting visitors in hopes for a little food.

The road through Sitgreaves Pass is called the Sidewinder for all its twists and turns and I think it’s one of the most magnificent stretches of old Route 66. It’s hard to imagine driving this in an old car in the 30s and 40s.

Fillmore’s Taste In

Groovy!

Fillmore’s Taste In is most likely based on Meteor City, AZ. A geodesic dome that I didn’t stop to take a photo of because it’s getting pretty crumbling and it’s in a sketchy spot along the road, but Fillmore himself is famously based on artist Bob Waldmire who famously traveled up and down Route 66 in his old VW van.

The van is now on display at the Illinois Route 66 Museum in Pontiac, Illinois which is a great stop.

Luigi’s Casa Della Tires

Luigi’s tire shop brings a bit of European flair to Radiator Springs and it just might be the snazziest spot in town.

While the leaning tire tower obviously is reminiscent of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, maybe…just maybe…it’s also a tiny bit inspired by the leaning water tower of Groom, Texas.

More Route 66 Inspiration

Those are all of the “big” places and references I’ve got for you, but there are a TON of tiny details you’ll notice sprinkled into Radiator Springs…

There’s a drive in theater that’s shown in the post credit scenes of the original movie that’s a reference to the MANY drive in theaters that sat on Route 66. It’s probably most closely based on the Route 66 Drive In in Carthage, Missouri, but my favorite is the newly reopened TeePee Drive In in Sapulpa, Oklahoma that has an AMAZING new neon sign.

The scene I described at the beginning of this post about business closing down and people moving away also references the many ghost towns now found along the route. “Glenrio” is shown on one of the windows and it was by far the most interesting ghost town that I encountered on my trip.

Also, while he’s not present in Radiator Springs, “Tex Dinoco” seems directly inspired by the Cadillac Coupe de Villes with longhorns outside of the Big Texan in Amarillo, Texas. The ones currently outside of the Big Texan seem a little newer, but this one I saw at the Fort Worth Stockyards is a dead ringer.

We’ve got Route 66 signs on the pavement!

And of course…my favorite part of Route 66 and Carsland…all the neon!!

A few favorites from the route:

Want more Disneyland posts? Check these out…

Disneyland 101: Advice I’d Tell a Friend Going the First Time

One Day at Disneyland: MY Perfect Day

Cars Route 66 Road Trip: The Real Life Places Behind Radiator Springs in Disneyland

The post Cars Route 66 Road Trip: The Real Life Places Behind Radiator Springs in Disneyland appeared first on Mousin' Around.

And I LOVE IT!

I’m lucky to have a local friend who knows the ins and outs of putting together a park day at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, and now that I’ve been several times, I’ve definitely got my “must dos.” 

Now first off, since I’m traveling from the middle of the country to get to Disneyland/LA I usually like to go for more than just one day, but I know that most people only end up spending one day at Disneyland as part of a bigger California trip or because they’re more local, so I thought I would put together a little itinerary of my favorite way to spend one day at Disneyland. 

A few tips before I get started: 

My absolute favorite time to go to Disneyland is in the spring. Usually in April the trees and flowers start to bloom and it. is. so. pretty. 

Also good to know…the Disneyland parks go ALL OUT for Halloween and Christmas (certain rides are completely overlaid and areas of the park like Carsland are completely transformed) and that could be a reason to go or not to go during that time depending on if you celebrate. 

I buy Genie+ and the Individual Lightning Lanes (the service that lets you skip the lines) because I want to do as much as possible since I don’t go that often. You can read more about that here. 

If you’re only going for one day, I’d definitely recommend going on a weekday. It’s so much less crowded. You can still do a lot on the weekend though, but you’re going to need to get there early and have a good plan. 

One Day at Disneyland

And one last thing…even with just one day, you’ve got to do BOTH PARKS. Yes, there are two different theme parks that make up the Disneyland Resort…Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. They are within walking distance of each other (like less than 30 seconds to walk from the gate of one to the other) and they each offer a really unique experience so I think both are a must do. That means you’re going to need a park hopper ticket (a ticket that allows you to go to both parks on the same day). Read more tips for visiting Disneyland here. 

My Perfect Day at Disneyland 

**This is my perfect day at Disneyland so while this doesn’t include every single thing to do (or maybe even some of the most popular things to do), it’s what I like to do and feel like I don’t want to miss.

I always start the day off at Disneyland park. It’s the “classic” Disney park, it has the highest concentration of rides and attractions plus quite a few that aren’t included with Genie+ so I like to knock them out early when the lines are short. 

I plan to arrive at the parks about an hour before the official opening time. Whether you’re walking from your hotel or parking in the garage, it’ll give you time to go through security, enter the park, walk down Mainstreet (Mickey and the gang are usually doing a little welcome show in front of the train station) and mosey on down towards the castle to wait for rope drop (when they let guests go deeper into the park towards the rides). 

Since I’m a longtime Disney fan and all about nostalgia, I like to do the Fantasyland dark rides first thing since they don’t have Genie+ (the lines will get longer later in the day). They’re also so close to each other that it’s easy to pop from one to another. 

Alice in Wonderland is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. It’s where I head first and sometimes I’ll even ride twice ; ) 

This is one of my favorite movies and I LOVE this part of the park so I’ll usually hop on the teacups, head into the Mad Hatter’s and just look around. There’s also a cute Queen of Hearts bathroom in the area. 

Snow White’s Enchanted Wish is also a must do for me. It’s recently been updated and it’s SO GOOD. 

Peter Pan’s Flight is a must do in general, but since there’s one in Walt Disney World I sometimes skip it here. If this is on your list though, you should probably head here first, then Alice, then Snow White. It tends to get a really long line. 

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is a Disneyland classic and people feel very strongly about it, but it honestly kind of freaks me out so Mr. Toad and Pinnochio’s Daring Journey were one and dones for me. I don’t usually ride them unless whoever I’m with wants to. 

The Storybook Land Canal Boats, Casey Jr Circus Train, Dumbo, and the Carousel are also right in this area. I like all of those, but with only one day at both parks, they’re skips for me. 

What is NOT a skip in Fantasyland is It’s a Small World. This is one of my all time favorite attractions and the Disneyland version is so different from the Florida one that I always make it a priority. 

After I wrap it up in Fantasyland (the trick here is to be quick and not get bogged down taking pictures or “getting distracted” just yet – I’ll circle back later in the day once the lines have gotten longer), I head over towards New Orleans Square to hop on Pirates of the Caribbean. 

This is another Disneyland classic/Walt Disney original and it doesn’t have Genie+ so the line gets longer later in the day. 

After that whirlwind of a morning, I like to stop for Mickey shaped beignets at the Mint Julep Bar. 

That counts as breakfast, right? 

Besides what I’ve already mentioned, my must-do rides at Disneyland are Space Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain, Rise of the Resistance, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. These are all included with Genie+ (Rise of the Resistance and Runaway Railway are Individual Lightning Lanes) which means you should be able to snag a reservation window to ride without waiting. 

Usually I would try to schedule my Genie+ reservation times so I don’t have to cross the park, but Disneyland isn’t that big so it’s easier to wing it. And in the morning the return times for Genie+ are often pretty immediate. Example: At 10:30AM, the line for Space Mountain may be 30-40 minutes but the Genie+ return time may be right at 10:30-11:30AM so you can walk right on as soon as you book it. 

So, for midmorning to early afternoon, I use Genie+ to schedule: 

Big Thunder Mountain: This isn’t too far from New Orleans Square.

Indiana Jones Adventure: This ride is unique to Disneyland (there isn’t one in Florida) so it’s definitely a must do for me. While I’m in Adventureland, I like to get a dole whip and go to the Enchanted Tiki Room. It’s a classic 1960s attraction. The Jungle Cruise isn’t a must do for me, but it’s in this area so now would be a convenient time if it’s on your list. 

Rise of the Resistance: You can book your return window for Rise of the Resistance independent of the Genie+ system so I usually like to go with a 11:30-12:30 time slot. While I’m back in Galaxy’s Edge, I like to get a “space coffee” from Docking Bay 7 and keep an eye out for Grogu and the Mandalorian. 

Also, I saw R2-D2 for the first time last time I was here!

Mickey & Minnie’s Runway Railway: Toontown is pretty close to Galaxy’s Edge so I would schedule a Lightning Lane for Runway Railway next or just be prepared to wait a bit. I LOVE Toontown!

There’s no longer one at the Magic Kingdom in Florida so seeing Mickey and Minnie’s houses is always a must do for me. It’s a big nostalgic part of my childhood. 

Space Mountain: Tomorrowland is closer to the front of the park so Space Mountain makes for a good “last ride” in Disneyland as you head over towards California Adventure. 

But before I leave Disneyland, I like to have lunch at the Jolly Holiday Bakery on Main Street. This Mary Poppins themed counter service restaurant is SO CUTE and it’s one of my favorite spots to eat in the park. You MUST get the grilled cheese and tomato soup combo plus whatever looks yummy in the dessert case. 

You can park hop to Disney’s California Adventure anytime after 1PM and if I only have one day, I’d aim to be there by 2-2:30. 

Since you’re arriving at California Adventure in the afternoon (and there are some seriously popular rides here), you’re going to have to work Genie+ really well. 

My must do rides are: Radiator Springs Racers, Incredicoaster, Guardians Mission Breakout, and Soarin (but only if they’re doing the classic California version…if it’s the “around the world” version I just play it by ear since it’s also at Epcot). 

I also really like to do the Silly Symphony Swings and Mickey’s Fun Wheel if I can fit it in and the lines aren’t too long (these don’t have Genie+). 

Here’s where there’s a little hitch: You can only buy TWO Individual Lightning Lanes each day and there are currently three offered between the two parks (Rise of the Resistance, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Radiator Springs Racers). If I’m trying to do all three in one day, I’ll pick Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers because Runaway Railway usually has a pretty manageable line. Radiator Springs Racers is a MUST DO for me because it’s unique to California plus I LOVE Route 66. On my last trip it was closed for refurbishment the whole time and it was a big bummer. 

So that leaves Incredicoaster and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout (and possibly Soarin’ ) to manage with Genie+. I also like Webslingers if I can get a Genie+. 

Mission Breakout is one of my FAVORITE rides in the California parks and there are different songs that it rotates to so sometimes I’ll get a Genie+ AND wait in the standby line if it’s only 30 minutes or so to ride twice. 

I also love to grab a reservation for Lamplight Lounge in the early evening. 30 minutes or so before sunset is PERFECT. If I can’t get into Lamplight, I also really like the Carthay Circle lounge. 

Now my absolute NON-NEGOTIABLE don’t miss in the California parks is Carsland at night when they turn on the neon. 

By nature, I’m an early bird and usually ready to wind down once it gets dark so I don’t always make it to the fireworks/World of Color/ Fantasmic, but I NEVER miss the neon in Carsland. 

I think Carsland in Disney’s California Adventure is one of the best things Disney has ever built. It’s such a fantastic, fully immersive land and honestly, it’s kind of what inspired my big Route 66 road trip last year. 

And every night right about dusk, they have a little “turning on the neon” event. They play “Sh-Boom” on the loudspeakers and turn the signs on one by one. Everybody stands in the street and watches and it just feels like a little piece of magic. 

And that’s my perfect day at Disneyland!

Want more Disneyland posts? Check these out…

Disneyland 101: Advice I’d Tell a Friend Going the First Time

One Day at Disneyland: MY Perfect Day

Cars Route 66 Road Trip: The Real Life Places Behind Radiator Springs in Disneyland

The post One Day at Disneyland: My Perfect Day appeared first on Mousin' Around.

Now, I’ve been going to Walt Disney World in Florida since I was itty bitty, and I would definitely proclaim myself an expert on that coast. But even though I’ve only been to Disneyland a few times, I know more than people who have never been and I definitely just have a knack for planning Disney trips in general. 

So after just recently spending a few days at the parks earlier this year, here’s the advice I would give to a friend who’s planning a trip to Disneyland for the first time: 

#1 The Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, CA just outside of Los Angeles. John Wayne Airport-Orange County (SNA) is the closest airport and about 15-20 minutes away. LAX is usually about an hour away (with no traffic). 

#2 There are two separate theme parks at the Disneyland Resort. Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. The entrances to the two are right across the main plaza from each other though so it’s very easy to visit both on the same day and hop back and forth between the two. 

#3 You can do a LOT in just one day here especially if you have a plan. If you’re a casual Disney fan, want to hit the highlights, and you’re willing to do a full day, you can definitely get by with one day at Disneyland. If you’re a big Disney fan and want to really have a great trip, two days is perfect. 

#4 No matter how many days you’re going to spend, I think a park hopper ticket is a must. It lets you visit both parks on the same day. Since they’re so close to each other and they compliment each other well, so being able to do both in one day is a nice option. I’d rather do two days of park hopping instead of one day at Disneyland and one day at California Adventure. 

#5 You MUST have reservations to enter the theme parks! This is a new rule post COVID. They’re supposedly limiting capacity in the parks to offer a better guest experience and it’s not done on a first come first serve basis the day of. Park reservations open up a couple of months in advance and they do sometimes sell out before the day of. So it’s possible to show up and not be able to buy a ticket. When you buy park tickets in advance, you have to select which park you want to visit on which day. 

#6 If you buy the park hopper option for your tickets (the ability to go to both parks in the same day), your reservation is for the first park you’ll be visiting. You can “hop” to the other park after 1PM and then go back and forth as you please. 

#7 There are three official Disney hotels (Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel) and guests staying at those hotels get a 30 minute early entry perk in both parks every day. Since it’s limited to just three hotels (not that many people), I don’t think it’s as necessary to stay at a Disney resort as it is when you’re visiting Walt Disney World (25+ hotels worth of people) and there are a LOT of chain, name brand, and small hotels within walking distance to the parks at all price ranges. 

#8 If you’ve never been before or this is a trip where you’d really like to do as much as possible, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing Genie+. I’ve written a lot about how it works here, but basically it’s a system that allows you to skip the lines at a lot of the rides. And it works really well at Disneyland. If you work Genie+ right (and the Individual Lightning Lanes you can buy for Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers) you can ride a LOT without waiting in lines. 

#9 Plan to arrive well before the park opening time. Even with using Genie+, you can get sooooo much done during the first hour or so that the park is open. I would prioritize attractions that don’t have Genie+ or things you think you’ll want to do twice. If you’re arriving by car, don’t forget to allow for time to park, take the tram, and go through security. 

#10 Whenever I’m doing a big Disney day, I always like to make a dining reservation. It’s nice to have a break scheduled into the day when you can sit down and take a load off. But I only like to have one dining reservation because otherwise you can feel like you’re spending the whole day sitting in restaurants. There are plenty of counter service options to fill in with and of course SO MANY SNACKS. 

#11 If you’ve been to Walt Disney World before/go often and you’re short on time, focus on doing things that are unique to Disneyland. There are a lot of similarities between Disneyland and Florida’s Magic Kingdom and while some of the “same” rides are different versions (Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Soarin’ etc.) a lot of rides are similar enough that I don’t feel like I need to do them. So I like to focus my time on attractions that don’t have a version in Florida (Indiana Jones Adventure, Alice in Wonderland, Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout, etc.).

#12 Character interactions are a LOT different at Disneyland than Walt Disney World. Basically, they’re a lot less organized. Some characters just kind of walk around and put on more of a show and some will stand in a line and take pictures. It’s always fun to see what you’ll run into. Last time I was in Disneyland, I ran into Jessie on the way to Frontierland, she gave me as kiss on the cheek and I didn’t even get a picture!

#13 I do think the parks are more crowded on the weekends since more locals frequent the parks here, but don’t expect it to be dead during the week. But it’s NOTHING like Walt Disney World in Florida. Generally speaking, lines are a LOT shorter. 

#14 The California parks tend to have a lot of seasonal events since so much of their attendance comes from locals. From mid September through the beginning of January, the parks are pretty much decked out for Halloween and then Christmas and they even give some of the rides holiday overlays. My personal favorite time of year to visit is in April when everything is BLOOMING. 

#15 If it’s your first trip (or you’re celebrating something special), stop by Guest Relations at the front of the park and get a button!

For specifics on how to plan your days at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, read this post. 

Want more Disneyland posts? Check these out…

Disneyland 101: Advice I’d Tell a Friend Going the First Time

One Day at Disneyland: MY Perfect Day

Cars Route 66 Road Trip: The Real Life Places Behind Radiator Springs in Disneyland

The post Disneyland 101: Things to Know Before You Go & Advice I’d Give a Friend : ) appeared first on Mousin' Around.

Off the coast of Orange County with daily ferry service from Long Beach and Newport Beach, Catalina island is by far the most popular (and accessible) of California’s Channel Islands.

I’ve always heard about Catalina Island, and on my last trip to the LA area, I finally made it over for a day trip. 

Here’s everything you need to know…

Catalina Island Day Trip Itinerary

Here’s a rundown of how we spent the day: 

Since we did this trip in January and it was a little chilly, the beach and watersports were out of the question, so we decided to take a later ferry. 

We left Newport Beach on the 11 AM ferry and it was a pleasant hour and a half trip over to Catalina Island. 

The #1 thing I wanted to do in Catalina was a golf cart tour so we decided to do that first thing. There are a few different places you can rent, but we went with Catalina Island Golf Cart Rentals and Tours. It’s not the first place you come to when you’re walking towards town from the boat, but it’s still at that end of town (it’s next to the Pancake Cottage). 

The rentals are $60/hour with a one hour minimum and a two hour maximum. And that really is as long as you’ll need…you can do the whole loop in about an hour if you don’t stop very much and two hours if you stop a lot. 

You HAVE to have cash for the deposit here. When you get the golf cart, you give them $60 cash plus a credit card and they adjust your bill when you bring it back. So if you’re gone for two hours, then they’ll keep your cash and charge your card $60. If you’re only gone one hour, they’ll give you your cash back and charge your card $60. 

They gave us a map and directions for how to follow the loop but it ended up being pretty self explanatory. The whole town is practically designed to be seen from a golf cart and the views are GREAT!

You can really see why they call it the American Riviera. There’s even a fancy casino!

For lunch we went to the BlueWater Grill and it has the best views. It’s a cute place right on the water, and we had great lobster rolls. The cesar salad and key lime pie were excellent too. 

Avalon is really walkable so we spent quite a bit of time just walking around and shopping. There’s cheesy souvenir shops, cute boutiques, etc. 

Since we were there in January, the sun went down pretty early and we had a while to kill before our return ferry so we headed to Luau Larry’s because, I mean I couldn’t NOT go to a place named Luau Larry’s. 

This place was a trip. They serve food, but we just stuck with drinks. And we even got the “lava lounge” all to ourselves. I’m not sure if that’s what it’s actually called, but after a couple of mai tais, that’s what we settled on ; )

Honestly, they weren’t the best drinks I’ve ever had, but it’s a good place to hang out!

Our ferry left Avalon at 7:45 PM and we were back in Newport Beach a little after 9 PM. 

What Else Is There to Do on Catalina Island? 

Golf Cart Tour

I mentioned this earlier, but I think this is a MUST DO. If you only have time to do one thing, make it this. 

Descanso Beach Club

If you’re visiting during the summer and planning to make a full day of it, you’ll definitely want to hang out at the Descanso Beach Club. You can rent lounge chairs and cabanas by the day and It’s full service with a bar and restaurant onsite. Pricing is seasonal, but loungers are in the $100-$120 range with cabanas starting at $400. Find more info here. 

Casino Tours

I only got to see the casino from the outside and it’s magnificent! They call it a casino, but it’s never been home to actual gambling. It’s actually a theater! They still show movies and that would be a great way to see the inside. If your visit doesn’t line up with the schedule, you can also book a tour of the interior. It’s $25/adult ($23/child) for a 45 minute tour and they usually offer them at 10:30AM and 2PM. They also offer a behind the scenes tour that takes you to other places in the casino besides the theater. Book your tour in advance here. 

Zipline

If it’s an adventure you seek, check out this Catalina Island Zip Line Eco Tour. We saw them while we were zipping around on our golf cart and it looked fun!

Backcountry Bison Adventure

The vast majority of Catalina Island’s visitors never make it beyond Avalon, but if you’re been before and you’re looking for something new or you want to make a FULL day of it, book this Bison Expedition. 

If/when I go back to Catalina, I’ll definitely do this. And if you’re going during the summer on the early ferry and coming back late, you’ll definitely have time for this 2 hour diversion and still have enough time to hit all the classic Catalina activities

Water Activities

If you’re visiting during the summer (and you don’t mind that cold California water!), there are all kinds of water activities to take part in besides just splashing around at the beach…snorkeling, scuba, paddle board rentals, etc. 

Logistics & FAQs

Is one day enough?

I think one day on Catalina is definitely enough. I’m sure there are people who enjoy spending the night or a long week for a down time getaway, but I personally wouldn’t have been interested in spending more than a day. 

But if you are going for a day trip and want to get the most out of it, I would definitely plan to go in the summer and do the full day (early ferry going over, late ferry going back) so you have plenty of time to do a few activities. 

If it were me, I would probably book the Bison Expedition first thing, then fill in the day with a golf cart tour, shopping, lunch, and the beach. 

What are the ferry options? How long does it take?

There is daily ferry service to Avalon (the main town on Catalina) from four ports in Southern California. 

I took the Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach and it took about an hour and 15 minutes. 

The Catalina Express offers daily service from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point to both Avalon and Two Harbors on Catalina.

Do you need to book in advance?

Golf cart tours don’t necessarily need to be booked in advance, but my general rule of thumb is to book things that I would be disappointed to miss out on. Book zip line, the bison expedition, casino tours, and beach club reservations in advance. 

The post Catalina Island Day Trip Itinerary: Lobster Roll Lunches & Golf Cart Rides on America’s Riviera appeared first on Mousin' Around.