Latest news with #CaliforniaAdventure
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How Much Money You Really Need for a Disney Vacation In 2025
The dream vacation for most families is a trip to Disney. That could be Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Disney World, Epcot, or Disney's Animal Kingdom. Whichever destination you and your family decide on, you'll have to make sure you can afford it first. In 2025, the cost to visit each of Disney's parks might be shocking to you for several reasons, both positive and negative. Read More: Find Out: Before you put on your Mickey ears, you might want to calculate how much money you really need for a Disney vacation this year. Using the scenario of a four-day stay in Orlando, in order to time to check out every major Disney World theme park, here's what you'll need to spend for your family of four to have a good time. If you live in Florida or the Southeastern part of the United States, there is a chance you can drive the whole family to Disney World on one or two tanks of gas. Flying is a different story, however. As Luiz Alberto, editor at Famvia, pointed out, 'Flight tickets are hard to calculate and will vary a lot from guest to guest. If you are traveling from within the USA, expect to pay between $150 and $200 per guest.' To save money for the fun yet to come, research if your family can find a hotel or motel where you can all share one room. Some of the most affordable Disney World Resorts cost around $150 per night, according to Alberto. 'A mid-tier Disney World hotel, like Coronado Springs, will set you back about $350 per night,' Alberto said. See Next: Per Alberto's advice, families should have at least one day for each of the different Disney World theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom in order to get the most out of their trip. The prices vary depending on the day, but on average, a 4-day park ticket costs around $530 per guest. Your family is bound to get hungry while at Disney, so you need to make sure you account for how many meals you'll need per person and the cost of each one. 'When it comes to food, it's safe to say that each guest will spend at least $60 per day in the theme park,' Alberto said. Noting that the cost can be lower if you decide to bring snacks from home, though it can also increase if you choose one of the more expensive restaurants inside the park or try character dining. 'If you go for the quick-service options, $60 per guest, per day,' said Alberto. These purchases are not necessary, though hard to resist once you are at Disney. Everything from clothing to a Magic Band can add up to $100 per guest for the entire trip based on Alberto's calculations. 'You can also decide to buy add-ons for your tickets inside the theme park, like a Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Let's say that you decide to buy a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for two of the four theme parks,' said Alberto, highlighting that it should be about $50 per guest. Alberto's math estimated that a 4-day vacation at Disney World would amount to around $1,700 per guest if you're staying at a budget hotel, but would go up to roughly $2,500 per guest if you choose a Moderate Resort like Coronado Springs. Alberto concluded that a family of four visiting Disney World in 2025 would spend 'approximately $5,000 for a 4-day vacation in a Value Resort, and around $6,000 in a Moderate Resort.' This figure tends to be in line with other budgets, like Magic Guides, which predicted last year that a 2025 week-long Walt Disney World vacation for a family of 4 would add up to about $6,785, depending on where you stayed and how you made it to the park. More From GOBankingRates These Cars May Seem Expensive, but They Rarely Need Repairs This article originally appeared on How Much Money You Really Need for a Disney Vacation In 2025
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How Much Money You Really Need for a Disney Vacation In 2025
The dream vacation for most families is a trip to Disney. That could be Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Disney World, Epcot, or Disney's Animal Kingdom. Whichever destination you and your family decide on, you'll have to make sure you can afford it first. In 2025, the cost to visit each of Disney's parks might be shocking to you for several reasons, both positive and negative. Read More: Find Out: Before you put on your Mickey ears, you might want to calculate how much money you really need for a Disney vacation this year. Using the scenario of a four-day stay in Orlando, in order to time to check out every major Disney World theme park, here's what you'll need to spend for your family of four to have a good time. If you live in Florida or the Southeastern part of the United States, there is a chance you can drive the whole family to Disney World on one or two tanks of gas. Flying is a different story, however. As Luiz Alberto, editor at Famvia, pointed out, 'Flight tickets are hard to calculate and will vary a lot from guest to guest. If you are traveling from within the USA, expect to pay between $150 and $200 per guest.' To save money for the fun yet to come, research if your family can find a hotel or motel where you can all share one room. Some of the most affordable Disney World Resorts cost around $150 per night, according to Alberto. 'A mid-tier Disney World hotel, like Coronado Springs, will set you back about $350 per night,' Alberto said. See Next: Per Alberto's advice, families should have at least one day for each of the different Disney World theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom in order to get the most out of their trip. The prices vary depending on the day, but on average, a 4-day park ticket costs around $530 per guest. Your family is bound to get hungry while at Disney, so you need to make sure you account for how many meals you'll need per person and the cost of each one. 'When it comes to food, it's safe to say that each guest will spend at least $60 per day in the theme park,' Alberto said. Noting that the cost can be lower if you decide to bring snacks from home, though it can also increase if you choose one of the more expensive restaurants inside the park or try character dining. 'If you go for the quick-service options, $60 per guest, per day,' said Alberto. These purchases are not necessary, though hard to resist once you are at Disney. Everything from clothing to a Magic Band can add up to $100 per guest for the entire trip based on Alberto's calculations. 'You can also decide to buy add-ons for your tickets inside the theme park, like a Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Let's say that you decide to buy a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for two of the four theme parks,' said Alberto, highlighting that it should be about $50 per guest. Alberto's math estimated that a 4-day vacation at Disney World would amount to around $1,700 per guest if you're staying at a budget hotel, but would go up to roughly $2,500 per guest if you choose a Moderate Resort like Coronado Springs. Alberto concluded that a family of four visiting Disney World in 2025 would spend 'approximately $5,000 for a 4-day vacation in a Value Resort, and around $6,000 in a Moderate Resort.' This figure tends to be in line with other budgets, like Magic Guides, which predicted last year that a 2025 week-long Walt Disney World vacation for a family of 4 would add up to about $6,785, depending on where you stayed and how you made it to the park. More From GOBankingRates 9 Downsizing Tips for the Middle Class To Save on Monthly Expenses This article originally appeared on How Much Money You Really Need for a Disney Vacation In 2025
Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Marking a magical milestone
As Walt Disney's pioneering Magic Kingdom gears up for its 70th anniversary, Mike Yardley unleashes his inner child in Anaheim. I'm a child at heart. In my book, nothing can reawaken your childhood quite like the escapist innocence, magic and sparkle of Disney. Recently I reacquainted myself with the enchantment of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. If you're sizing up a Disney vacation, 2025 is a milestone year to swing through the Mouse House, because Walt Disney's original magic kingdom will be celebrating its 70th anniversary. A fitting tribute will debut on Main Street USA with the first Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics as part of a new stage show, "Walt Disney — A Magical Life." Full details of the milestone celebrations are yet to be revealed, but you can expect nostalgic nighttime spectaculars, returning parades and reimagined entertainment. If you're a history buff like me, a great way to immerse yourself in Disneyland's heritage is to book a place on the Main Street Story Tour, with behind-the-scenes stories and a visit to Walt's legendary apartment above the Disneyland Fire Station in Town Square. It's one of the enticing extras you should add to your Disneyland experience. Over 800million visitors have trawled through Disneyland since 1955. Hosting up to 140,000 daily guests, one of the biggest dilemmas is where do you start, after passing through the gates? Billowing queues soon form for every ride, so I suggest you head straight to Toon Town and line up for a personal photo inside Mickey's House with the mouse himself. Rinse and repeat, right next door with Minnie Mouse. Do this early, and you'll only have to wait about five minutes to get snap-happy. Toon Town is also home to one of the latest crowd-pleasing attractions, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. Photo opportunities abound with a host of cartoon and big-screen characters, all over the parks. Some characters will be foot-loose around the parks, or you can take your turn getting selfies with a cast of characters around Disneyland's Town Square, and Royal Hall, Buena Vista Street, Pixar Pier and Avengers Headquarters are the best meet-and-greet character haunts in California Adventure. What are the do-not-miss experiences? Avengers Campus, a Marvel-themed land, is the biggest recent addition at Disney California Adventure. Avengers Campus features WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, a truly stunning interactive attraction featuring Spider-Man. Some of the original rides, reaching back to 1955, are still truly enchanting, like the Disneyland Railroad, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, It's a Small World, King Arthur Carousel, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Mark Twain Riverboat and the iconic Mad Hatter's Tea Party spinning teacups. The Matterhorn Bobcats, Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones Adventure should also be on your checklist. Across at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, definitely take a ride in the Millennium Falcon and be left agog at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, as if you've been thrust into a full-throttle battle scene against the First Order. Disney's California Adventure is action-packed with big-screen movie hero and blockbuster cartoon attractions. One of my favourite rides is Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout. But there's a reason the queues are even more biblical in size for Radiator Springs Racers, as you zoom the undulating red-rock desert landscape of Cars Land. Start your engines! It's a rollicking ride in overdrive — and my runaway favourite. Take advantage of Lightning Lane access. Save time and skip the standby line with Lightning Lane passes on the most in-demand attractions, with considerably shorter queuing time. The way it works is you book a time to ride, via the Disneyland app. The multi-pass is available for a host of rides in both parks, while you can buy a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racer. Great eats? There's only so many churros and Mickey Mouse waffles you can gorge on, right? Feast on New Orleans-inspired dishes at the recently opened Tiana's Palace, inspired by Disney's animated flick, The Princess and the Frog. It's a newly reimagined quick-service restaurant. Try the 7 Greens Gumbo, a beef po' sandwich and the gorgeous lemon-glazed beignets. For nostalgia buffs, head to the Golden Horseshow in Frontierland. It dates back to the park's 1955 opening — Walt and Lillian Disney celebrated their 30th anniversary here. You can still see Walt Disney's private box upstairs to the right of the stage. The interior of the saloon took its design cues from the 1953 Doris Day film Calamity Jane. The menu includes traditional American favourites like chicken tenders, funnel cakes and ice-cream floats. Another 1955 original is the Carnation Cafe, located on Main Street USA. Try the home-made meatloaf and Walt's chilli. I'm also a big fan of the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, on Main Street. This Mary Poppins-themed restaurant offers deli and cafe-style food items like fresh pastries, sandwiches and sweets. Munch merrily on some Matterhorn Macarons. Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo is known for being one of the best Disneyland restaurants in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. This restaurant is themed to that of a "farm fresh" style restaurant but in a galaxy far, far away. For great character dining, Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel is an insatiable hit, with a supporting cast of characters like Pluto, Aladdin and Jasmine, Chip & Dale and Pinocchio. How could you say no to a peanut butter and jelly pizza? Throughout the day and after dark, there's a slew of parades and the fireworks extravaganzas to take in, too. If it sounds exhausting, yes Disneyland can zap your energy. Don't try packing everything into one day. Your race against the clock is a recipe for stress. Buy a multi-day pass, whether it be two or three days, so you can strike out in the parks at a more leisurely, relaxed pace. I was struck by how many young families I saw in the late afternoon, in meltdown mode. So many children looked frenzied, as the post-sugar hit tantrums hit fever pitch and panicked parents tried to cram more experiences into the fading light of day. That's not a holiday and it's certainly not fun. Extending your stay is going to cost more, but it will be worth every cent! Stay on-site. It will eliminate the stress entailed getting to and from the park. Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the most luxurious of the hotel offerings, beautifully designed with nods to the early 20th century arts and crafts movement and the woodsy lodge finery of Yosemite National Park in the soaring lobby and atrium. But it's also a superb place for extra-pampering. Plunge into a world of aquatic thrills in the Mariposa, Fountain, and Redwood outdoor-themed pools! An enormous waterslide extends from a redwood tree trunk. There's a vast range of accommodation options to please all tastes, but the greatest amenity of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is undoubtedly its proximity to Disneyland and direct entrance into Grizzly Peak at Disney California Adventure. This entrance makes it the closest hotel to any Disney theme park in the United States. It's also an incredibly short walk to Disneyland Park (either through Disney California Adventure or Downtown Disney). This is a huge benefit, especially when coupled with your early entry perks. Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can take advantage of 30-minute early entry to a designated theme park every day of their hotel stay. Get a jump start on the crowds and head straight to Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land! Try not to lose your cellphone. Of all the places in the world to misplace your phone, Disneyland wouldn't spring to mind as the ideal locale. However, my misadventure opened my eyes to the Herculean lost and found operation that happily hums behind the scenes at Disneyland Resort. Disney employs a vast cast of lost and found workers, who trawl the parks retrieving thousands of left-behind items and set about reuniting them with their owners. In my case, after a moment's inattention, my cellphone was duly picked up, dispatching to the sorting office and returned to me several hours later, after I filed a lost item form. Fun fact: of the tens of thousands of items that are handled by the lost and found department each year, that includes over 40,000 hats, 20,000 pairs of sunglasses and 8000 cellphones. The repatriation rate is remarkably high. And apparently the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride is notorious for parting people from their cellphones! Finally, if you want to accentuate your Disneyland Resort experience, dodge the peak seasons. For Kiwis planning a post-Christmas holiday in Anaheim, January, February and March are the quietest months for park visitors. In contrast, July and August are jam-packed. Mid-September to mid-November is also a quieter period, although the Halloween season spikes visitation. And try to book your visit for weekdays (particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays) which are considerably less-trafficked than the weekends.
Time Out
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The best food to try at Disneyland
Where you can find it: Pym Test Kitchen at California Adventure Why we love it: A sandwich shouldn't be this funny, yet here I am. At the Ant-Man -themed Pym Test Kitchen, the comicality of a teeny tiny brioche bun sandwiching a massive plank of fried chicken is only mirrored by its deliciousness. The restaurant's menu parallels the hilarity of Ant-Man and the Wasp's quantum sizing (and resizing), and while this Avengers Campus spot offers a slew of big-and-small items, the chicken sandwich here is king. The schnitzel-like patty is fried to a perfect golden hue, and the shell is ideal: crunchy and textured, but not oily. Squiggles of teriyaki sauce and red chili mayo add light heat and sweetness underneath the pickled cabbage slaw, and while the buns don't contribute much in the way of flavor (there's not much of them to begin with), they add some serious Scott Lang-level playfulness. Time Out tip: Pym Test Kitchen has a sprawling outdoor patio with oodles of seating. But for the best seat in the house, head to the connected Pym Tasting Lab. Here, true Avengers in the know assemble to mobile order locally brewed beers and fun cocktails, like the X-Periment with tequila and playful popping spheres. And there's even bar seating to have a bird's eye view of all the nearby action in the lively land—you may even spot the Black Panther!
Buzz Feed
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
5 Asian-Inspired Foods I Tried At Disneyland For APAHM
Hi, I'm Dannica, and I recently went to Disneyland! I originally went because my friend is getting married at the end of the month, so we wanted to celebrate by having a little bachelor party at the happiest (and most expensive) place on earth, but turns out, the main point was that May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! And as a Filipina American, I was extremely excited to find that Disneyland is celebrating the diverse cultures of AAPI folks through the thing that really brings people together: food. So, here are my honest opinions on the exclusive and seasonal items I tried at Disneyland and California Adventure to celebrate APAHM! Let's get started! 1. Matcha Float 🍵 — You can find this item in Adventureland at The Tropical Hideaway on the Disneyland side! It's a strawberry and mango swirl Dole Whip with matcha on the bottom, topped with white chocolate drizzle and toasted coconut 🥥. First, there were A LOT of people at the parks when I went, so my friends and I stood in line for this float for about 30 minutes (you can't order this on the mobile app, either, BTW). It was $9.29, which, even for Disneyland, seems quite steep. However, I will argue that there was a whole lot of good stuff going on in this float, and there was enough to share among the three of us. The strawberry and mango swirl Dole Whip was sooo refreshing, but the mango flavor definitely overpowered the strawberry, resulting in a tangy-forward taste. However, the earthiness from the matcha and the subtle sweetness from the coconut flakes really balanced the tanginess out and made the float come together. (Also, I'm literally just noticing that the float we got didn't come with the white chocolate drizzle!?!?)My only qualm with this dessert (aside from it missing an ingredient 😒) was that the matcha by itself was noticeably chalky, especially once we got to the bottom of the float. It wasn't super chunky or clumpy, but it felt powdery in the mouth. All in all, I'd get the matcha float again if the line wasn't long, but it's not something I would feel compelled to get again, especially for the price rating: 8/10 2. Miso Caesar Salad 🥬 — I saw this salad on the menu at The Tropical Hideaway as well, but I actually bought it at Bengal Barbecue, which you can also find in Adventureland. It comes with romaine lettuce, shaved Parmesan, croutons, miso dressing, and a little cup filled with pickled cucumbers and pickled onions 🧅. I personally love a salad and don't think I've ever had a salad I didn't like before, and this miso caesar salad was no exception. I was a bit hesitant to try it because I'm honestly not that familiar with miso outside of the obligatory miso soup that normally comes with a lunch order at my local Japanese restaurant, but I'm glad I did!First of all, much like how the white chocolate drizzle didn't make it on top of the matcha float, the croutons meant to come with this salad were nowhere to be found. And again, I didn't notice until AFTER the fact. At this point, Mickey Mouse himself must've had something to do with it, but I digress. Even though there weren't any croutons, the salad as a whole was still very pleasant. The romaine was fresh and crunchy, the pickled onions and cucumbers were sweet with only a slight sourness, and the miso caesar dressing in the best way possible. In fact, the dressing carried the entire thing. The miso dressing wasn't what I was expecting because it was packing a bit of heat! I only knew miso as an ingredient that was a little salty and subtly savory (again, I've only known miss miso in soup form), so I was surprised when I tasted the creamy dressing and found it slightly spicy. I'm thinking from the close-up of the dressing that maybe there was some chili powder action or something, because it added a layer of flavor that completely elevated the the only downside of getting this salad is the portion size for the price. The portion given looks like it would be a side for an entrée, when in reality, it's $11.29 for the salad alone. That said, I don't regret trying it, but I'd probably spend my $12 rating: 7/10 3. Pulled Pork Slider Plate 🍖 — Also a seasonal menu item at Bengal Barbecue, this plate features three pulled pork sliders with coleslaw on what looks like Hawaiian rolls, paired with macaroni salad and a bag of Maui onion potato chips (not pictured) 🥔. For $18.99, I was expecting these sliders to be DELICIOUS. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Before we get into the sliders, though, let's have a moment for the macaroni salad, which was extremely peppery and not very creamy. The dressing was thin and a little soupy, and it had a touch of sweetness to it that was ultimately overpowered by the liberal dusting of black pepper. Honestly, if I had a choice, I'd probably pass on the macaroni salad. OK, now for the main event: It's not like the sliders tasted bad. In fact, I'm sure that for a lot of people, these babies are delicious. Though the pulled pork was tender and moist, I just couldn't bring myself to fully enjoy the marinade, which was sweet and vinegar-y — almost reminding me of adobo (which, hot take, I don't like).I thought that the already-sweet Hawaiian roll paired with the already-vinegar-y slaw weren't good matches with the pulled pork, and I think I would've enjoyed it more had there been a more savory or salty element to it. Again, I'm sure other people would enjoy this dish, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. It is a big portion, though, so it's definitely shareable!Overall rating: 5/10 4. Ube Cake Flan 🍮 — We found this flan in San Fransokyo Square from Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill at California Adventure! This dessert features vanilla flan with ube cake at the bottom. I've had ube flan many times because a lot of Filipino-owned bakeries in my area make them, so they're always at family parties. That said, I was super curious what Disneyland's take on ube flan would be, so for $7.49, I found out — and wasn't mad about it! If you're unfamiliar with flan, it's basically a sweet, baked custard dessert with a nice layer of caramel on top. And if you're unfamiliar with ube, it's a purple yam originating from the Philippines, typically used in an array of Filipino desserts due to its subtle nutty flavor and touch of sweetness. So, basically, combining ube with flan creates the most heavenly concoction known to the human race. At least, in ube flan cake definitely satisfied my sweet tooth, but it obviously didn't compare to the ube flan I've had from family-owned bakeries. I kind of wish there was a bit more of the runny caramel, and I wish I could've tasted the ube more. The cake itself was moist, though. It was a good little (and I mean LITTLE) dessert, but I think Disneyland's ube cake just lacked a Filipino auntie's touch and ❤️love❤️.Overall rating: 8/10 Before we get into the last (and best) thing I had at the parks, let's have a moment for the matcha soft serve from Cars Land's Cozy Cone Motel at California Adventure, which sold out before I could get a taste: *Sigh.* I know it's not anything wild, but I think I would've loved it. Lastly: The Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava Punch 🥭 — I feel like everything you need to know is in the name, but this drink is made with passion fruit juice, orange juice, and guava juice. It can be found at the Lucky Fortune Cookery, also in San Fransokyo Square, at California Adventure (also, peep the Baymax macaron, which was filled with a chocolate-hazelnut spread and buttercream 🤤). I know, I know. Seriously, Dannica, of all the things Disneyland offered, the best thing you had was a drink?! Yes, I love a silly little drink, arrest me!This drink was incredible, and I've been thinking about it every single day since I left the parks. It's so refreshing, fruity, and light, and you would think with all the different juices that it would be overly sweet, but no! The drink had the perfect ratio of tang, sweetness, and tartness. I would inject this drink into my bloodstream if given the chance. The drink was $6.29, which I honestly and obviously wouldn't mind paying again. I hope they keep this punch throughout the summer so I can possibly get it again!Overall rating: 10/10. And those were my eats! I'm sure there are a lot more foods Disneyland will be releasing for APAHM, so if you visit the parks and come across any foods that I didn't try, please let me know! I'm going back to Disneyland in July, so if you have any favorite treats or sweets you recommend, comment them down below! Catch y'all later! Check out more AAPI-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn't end after May. Follow BuzzFeed's A*Pop on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest AAPI content year-round.
