Like thousands of Disneyland park fans who live in Southern California, Ari Krell had to be at the park Feb. 29 for “One More Disney Day.”

“How could I miss it? It was part of Disney history,” Ari said of the 24-hour adventure celebrated at Disneyland park and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.

That sums up the passion Ari has for Disney Parks, a passion that started with his boyhood adventures at Disneyland and grew in ways he never would have imagined as a dad of two “princess” daughters. He brings all that knowledge and enthusiasm now to the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, as the first dad to answer vacation planning questions about Disneyland Resort.

As an annual passholder, Ari has the luxury of visiting Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks multiple times throughout the year. He and his family like to watch the shows, ride the attractions over and over, and sample food from various restaurants. Two of his favorites are the Blue Bayou and River Belle Terrace (he tipped me off to the tasty and filling roast turkey sandwich at the River Belle!).

With that much time at the parks, you begin to find the unexpected delights. And those surprises are the best moments of all, Ari said – from gazing in awe at the Zoetrope in the Art of Animation building to spying a new show detail to discovering how helpful cast members can be.

“What I enjoy most about being on the Moms Panel is being able to share personal and family experiences,” Ari said. “When I tell upcoming visitors that my 7-year-old daughter loves Tower of Terror, they can use that information to plan their own visits. It helps them plan a better, more fun vacation, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Do you have questions about Tom Sawyer Island, rainy day fun at the parks, or what’s opening this summer at Disney California Adventure park? Just ask Ari or our other Disneyland Resort panelist Amanda Ficili about all the adventures revving up at the Disneyland Resort. You can find them at DisneyWorldMoms.com!

Tagged: DLR, Moms Panel

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Vacation Planning

Participating in a runDisney half marathon or marathon is an amazing experience. Whether you run at Walt Disney World Resort or the Disneyland Resort, you get the unique opportunity to run through theme parks, see Disney characters, experience amazing entertainment and receive incredible finisher medals. After all, it’s all about the bling!

No matter whether you’re first place or last, accomplishing your goal is celebrated in grand fashion at runDisney races. At the Tinker Bell Half Marathon last month at the Disneyland Resort, best friends Krysta Rosner of Los Angeles and Christine Hanna of Phoenix found out that finishing last can be very rewarding at a runDisney event.

Tagged: DLR, runDisney, Video

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Special Events

The magical sights and sounds of Disneyland Resort can now be discovered with “Disneyland Explorer,” the official Disney Parks app for iPad, available as a free download from the App Store. When you can’t get to the theme parks, the hotels or the Downtown Disney District, you can tap the photo-realistic carousel of this app to reveal photos, video and special activities inspired by the classic attractions and entertainment at the resort.

More than 100 exciting experiences are shared with beautiful images, animation and interactive touch points. With a simple swipe of your fingers, you can explore Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, the themed suites at the Disneyland Hotel and much more. Watch for animation and fun surprises as you scroll through the adventures.

Here are some of the fun activities you can experience with “Disneyland Explorer:”

• Create your own musical water show in “World of Color”
• Steer a Soarin’ hang glider over California while collecting and sharing personalized postcards
• Bring the iconic dolls of “it’s a small world” to life and hear the classic song in five different languages
• Snap photos of the elusive Yeti as he roams across the Matterhorn
• Take part in a raging sea battle in Pirates of the Caribbean
• Learn to draw your favorite Disney Characters at the Animation Academy

“Disneyland Explorer” is a free app, available for download exclusively from the App Store on iPad.

Tagged: DLR, Video

Filed: Disneyland Resort

As a mom, I know moms rely on other parents to get information they can trust, especially when it comes to family fun. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to the first “Disneyland” mom on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel – Amanda Ficili. She and Ari Krell (you’ll meet him later) were selected to be the first panelists to answer guest questions about the Disneyland Resort.

You can tell by Amanda’s smile, this is a girl who likes to have fun – especially at Disney Parks. She grew up on the East Coast and frequently visited Walt Disney World Resort. Now she lives in Northern California and calls Disneyland Resort her “second home.”

Amanda usually visits with her husband and young daughter, a little princess who has inherited her parents’ fascination with Disney magic. She and her husband are self-proclaimed “Disney foodies” and, if you like to shop, Amanda’s your girl for discovering treasures at Downtown Disney.

Q: What’s it like to share your passion for Disneyland with visitors to the Moms Panel?
A: It’s an honor to represent the Disneyland Resort. I believe Disneyland is the ultimate vacation destination. When road-trip time rolls around, it’s a no-brainer … I’m going to Disneyland!

Q: What’s a tip for families visiting from outside Southern California?
A: Staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel keeps the magic alive for your entire visit. You don’t realize what a difference it makes until you’re there. And be sure to enjoy the new pools and spectacular Monorail slide at the Disneyland Hotel.

Q: How can I make a Disneyland vacation more affordable for my family?
A: I have been to Disney on almost every imaginable budget, and I’ve enjoyed every visit. Be sure to always check www.Disneyland.com/offers for current special offers and vacation package deals. Staying steps away from the magic can be more affordable than you may think.

Q: Tell us some of your favorite food topics at Disneyland Resort.
A: There are so many! Romantic dinners at Napa Rose, character dining at the Resort hotels, birthday celebrations, Blue Bayou Restaurant – plus all the special treats.

Tell us what you would ask Amanda at DisneyWorldMoms.com.

Tagged: DLR, Moms Panel

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Vacation Planning

From Santa Claus and real reindeer to the biggest holiday lights you’ve probably ever seen, the Disneyland Resort is glimmering with holiday magic through January 8, 2012. If you’re bringing along friends and family to visit this season, you could treat them with a fun way to discover all the special cheer: A Merry Holiday Hunt!

Gather your group with this list, or break into teams for some competitive fun. For extra points, take photos at each location and share them with friends using Facebook or Twitter.

1. The lively street show “Phineas and Ferb’s Rocking’ Rollin’ Dance Party” gets a merry twist at Disney California Adventure park, with holiday décor and songs. What’s the vehicle they arrive on for this interactive party?
2. Decorators trim nearly 700 trees throughout the resort. Which character shape is represented on the ornaments of the large tree at Disney California Adventure park?
3. What adorns the top of the 60-foot, Town Square Christmas tree in Disneyland park?
4. Even in Southern California, it snows during the Holidays at Disneyland Resort. Where does this happen and what might you smell while you’re there?
5. Where are two places you can see Toy Soldiers during the holidays?
6. A wonderful transformation turns a classic attraction into “it’s a small world” Holiday. What three songs are heard as you ride through this world of laughter?
7. Where can you find Santa in Disney California Adventure park?
8. One of the most playful places at Disney California Adventure park is “a bug’s land.” What bright objects do you find here that make fun photo backdrops?

What item would you add to this Merry Holiday Hunt?

Note: Special thanks to our partners at the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, who shared some of their pointers. Guests at those hotels can check in at the concierge desk and ask for a copy of their exclusive hunts to enjoy in the parks.

Click here for the answers to the Merry Holiday Hunt.

Tagged: DCA, DL, DLR, Holidays

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

As you enter Tomorrowland, just beyond the Astro Orbiter attraction, you come to a familiar building on the right side. It’s home to one of the most popular places at Disneyland park this summer, the new Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. The first Star Tours attraction opened in this spot in 1987, and two decades before that, another popular “adventure” occupied this location.

If you’re older than 30, I bet you know what it was: Adventure Thru Inner Space. (I’ll have a harder question for you at the end of this post.)

On August 5, 1967, Adventure Thru Inner Space was the Star Tours of its day – a futuristic journey to a place far, far away. Walt Disney partnered with experts from the Monsanto Company to develop an attraction that would take guests to inner space by traveling through a “mighty microscope” and into the realm of a snowflake. To make this daring journey, guests had to “shrink” to the size of a molecule. The concept of guests “shrinking” became the hallmark of the attraction.

Adventure Thru Inner Space remained popular with guests for nearly two decades. The experience that once was futuristic, however, became outdated as science and space travel advanced. So, on September 2, 1985, Adventure Thru Inner Space shrank its last guest to the size of a molecule, making way for a new, inter-galactic adventure.

In both the original and the new version of Star Tours, Imagineers paid homage to Adventure Thru Inner Space with a hidden reference to the “mighty microscope.” Have you found it?

Here’s your trivia question: When Imagineers first developed the new attraction for this location – Star Tours – what was it called?

Tagged: DL, DLR, Video

Filed: Disney History, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

Holly goes to the Animation Studio to see “Turtle Talk with Crush,” Suzanne takes her children for an ice cream cone at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor and Mike heads for the shady benches on Tom Sawyer Island. Those are a few of the places at the Disneyland Resort that Disney Parks Blog readers named as great spots to relax on a summer day.

Thanks to everyone who shared their tips for making the most of their visits to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks. We offered a few of our own tips, and here are some of the responses from guests who know a lot about enjoying the parks.

• Felisha: “We have a family with small children and hit the park at 8 a.m. to get on the Storybook Land ride first thing, after getting my cup of coffee on Main Street, U.S.A. We … get a FASTPASS for Splash Mountain so we can get on around 2 or 3 p.m., when it seems hottest.”
• Craig takes a break in the late afternoon and heads back to the hotel with his family: “We can swim, rest and recover from the day … We always go early, break and then close the park down each day we go. This way really takes care of grumpy, overloaded kids (and adults).”
• Kim: “Eat meals at odd hours. The restaurants are less busy.”
• Christian: “Watch one of the 3-D shows. I enjoy ‘It’s Tough to be a Bug’ because it’s air-conditoned and the ‘acid’ spritzes are refreshing.”
• Katie: “Go see Billy Hill & The Hillbillies at the Golden Horseshoe. They are so talented musically and they are so funny, plus it is air-conditioned and they have the best chili-cheese fries.”

Tagged: DCA, DL, DLR

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort