3 Days at Disneyland + Everything We Ate

Three days, two parks, and a lot of snacks later—I'm breaking down our full Disneyland trip and everything we actually ate. If you want to plan your days smarter and not waste money on overhyped food, this one’s for you!

Traveling to Anaheim

Hi everyone, its Mindy from Mommy Mouse Clubhouse .com and coming up in this article, we will fly to Orange County on a new to us airline, stay at the super convenient Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, eat some delicious food, and have a blast at the Happiest Place on Earth. So grab your favorite Disneyland snack and let’s get started!

We usually fly from the Salt Lake City Airport on Delta airlines, but this time, we decided to give Breeze Airways a try from Provo, Utah to Santa Ana, California.

We did get a drink from the cafe and it looked like they had a good amount of items to choose from, but if you have picky kids like I do, I would plan to bring along your own snacks or grab something to eat before going to the airport.

Our flight was about an hour and 20 minutes. We booked the Nice package that included a carry on bag for each of us and I paid a little bit more for extra leg room.

This airplane pocket is one of my favorite Amazon travel purchases I have made. It fits over the tray table and has pockets that give you lots of space and will keep you from leaving something in the seat back pocket. Not that I know from experience.

Its also nice because I can pack my kids snacks and other airplane gadgets in their pockets and all they have to do is set it up, then put the whole thing back in their backpack when the flight is over.

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

After a quick ride from the airport, we arrived at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. I’m not going to lie, this hotel is EXPENSIVE, but sometimes it is worth the splurge for the convenience alone. And it’s nice to stay in the middle of the Disney magic.

Dinner at Downtown Disney

Now let’s get to the good stuff of course. What we had for dinner our first night in California. Originally our plan was to go to Black Tap Burgers, but the long line changed our mind and we went next door to Ballast Point.

Ballast Point

We chose a table outside on the patio with a view of Downtown Disney.

Disney Wonderful World of Sweets

For dessert, we headed over to Disney Wonderful World of Sweets.  We bought a bag of goodies and headed back to our room to eat them.

Disneyland Park Day 1

Before heading to the park for the day, we picked up our Walmart Grocery Delivery of breakfast items and enjoyed breakfast on the balcony. Shane and I had yogurt and granola. The boys had cinnamon rolls.

We arrived at the entrance around 9:30 am and there was still quite a long line to get in to Disneyland.

The first thing we did was take the double-decker bus. The vehicles on Main Street are a fun way to get from the entrance of Disneyland to the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Besides the double decker bus, there is sometimes an antique fire engine and a horse-drawn car.

We made it to Sleeping Beauty Castle at the end of Main Street and ran into Dylan’s favorite character, Captain Hook. Then we took some pictures in front of the castle.

Fantasyland

We walked through the castle to Fantasyland and the boys decided they wanted to use the single rider line to ride Matterhorn Bobsleds. Shane and I waited for them near the teacups and watched some characters pass by.

Our first treat of the day was this mango lime slush from Lemonade at small world Promenade, but honestly it tasted more like peach than mango.

New Orleans Square

Next, we made our way through Adventureland to ride Pirates Of the Caribbean. The line for the ride was pretty short. We stayed to the left when the line split, which I always recommend, and waited about 15 minutes.

After Pirates, we waited about 20 minutes to ride the Haunted Mansion.

Lunch at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree

While the boys used the single rider line to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Shane and I mobile ordered lunch from Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree.

Shane and I had the brisket sandwich, Lucas had a cheeseburger, and Dylan had a meat combo plate.

Tomorrowland

After a nap & swimming back at the hotel, we returned to the park to use the lightning lanes we had been accumulating throughout the day.  Our first stop was Autopia.

We had some time before our next lightning lane attraction so we waited in the stand by line to ride “it’s a small world”. One of my favorite things to do while riding, is to find all of the Disney characters scattered throughout the ride.

Next, it was time to use our Lightning Lane to ride Space Mountain. The crazy thing is that this was the first Lightning Lane we booked for the day, but it is one that sells out quickly.

Pretzels for Dinner

For dinner, Dylan had a cream cheese filled pretzel and Lucas had a Mickey Mouse Pretzel with cheese sauce (make your own Mickey Mouse Pretzel with this recipe 😋). We got these from the pretzel cart in Tomorrowland.

After eating it was time for our last lightning lane, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one of my favorites! Then it was time to head back to the hotel for bed.

Disney California Adventure Park: Day 2

For Day 2 of our Disneyland trip, we decided to spend the day at Disney California Adventure Park and honestly, it ended up being one of those perfect Disney days with rides, snacks, pool time, and lots of good food.

Cars Land

We started our morning in Cars Land and immediately headed to Radiator Springs Racers. The standby wait was already over 2 hours, so we decided to use the single rider line instead.

If you have older kids or teens and don’t mind splitting up for a few minutes, single rider is seriously the way to go on this ride. We only waited about 30 minutes, which saved us a ton of time.

And honestly, Radiator Springs Racers is still one of our favorite rides in all of Disneyland Resort. The details in Cars Land never get old and it really does feel like you’re stepping right into Radiator Springs.

After that, we walked over to The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure and basically walked right on. I love mixing in a slower ride after something more intense, and this one is always such a nice little break from the crowds and heat.

Of course, it didn’t take long before we were ready for our first snack of the day. We headed back to Cars Land to grab ice cream cones from the Cozy Cone Motel.

There’s just something about getting snacks in Cars Land that feels extra fun. The whole area is so themed and cute, especially during the daytime when everything looks exactly like the movie.

After a few rides and snacks, we decided to head back to the hotel for a little midday break. One thing our family has learned over the years is that taking a break in the afternoon makes such a huge difference, especially on longer Disneyland trips. We spent some time relaxing and swimming before getting ready for dinner.

Dinner at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer

That night we went to Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer in Downtown Disney. The burgers were really good, but let’s be honest… the milkshakes are the main event there. They’re huge, over-the-top, and definitely worth trying at least once.

After dinner, it was time to head back into the park for our Soarin' Over California Lightning Lane. I was so excited this version was back because it’s one of my favorites. The orange grove scene alone is pure nostalgia.

At that point, Shane and Dylan decided to head back to the hotel for the night, but Lucas and I weren’t done yet.

We stopped at Kayla's Cake in Downtown Disney and picked up a few macarons, including this amazing Dubai Chocolate Macaron that looked almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

Evening at California Adventure Park

After our snack stop, we made our way back into Disney California Adventure for more rides. We used our next Lightning Lane for Incredicoaster, which is always a must-do for us. It’s fast, smooth, and one of the best nighttime rides in the parks.

Next, we headed over to Avengers Campus and used another Lightning Lane for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!. This ride is absolute chaos in the best possible way, and every single drop sequence feels different.

Before calling it a night, we also squeezed in a ride on Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!.

And finally, on our way back to the hotel, we made one last stop at Churro cart because obviously the boys needed a Disneyland churro before bed. Honestly, ending the night with a warm churro just feels like the perfect Disney tradition.

Day 3: Character Dining & Disneyland Park

One of our favorite things to do during a Disneyland trip is slow down a little and enjoy a fun breakfast, so for this day we booked a character brunch at Storytellers Cafe inside Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. and it was just as good as we remembered.

Character Brunch at Storyteller's Cafe

The food was amazing, the character interactions were so much fun, and it ended up being such a relaxing way to start the day before heading into the parks.

One thing I love about Storytellers is that it feels a little calmer and less rushed than some of the other character dining experiences, especially if you’re traveling with older kids or teens like we are.

The absolute best thing at breakfast though was the caramel bread pudding with vanilla sauce. It was warm, soft, sweet, and honestly one of my favorite things we ate during the trip. If you go to Storytellers, definitely save room for it because it’s SO good.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

After breakfast, we headed into Disneyland Park and Lucas and I made our first stop at Red Rose Taverne to grab the Sparkling Peach Punch. It was super refreshing and perfect for a warm Disneyland day.

From there, we made our way over to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge to ride Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Galaxy’s Edge is one of those lands that still feels impressive every single time we walk into it.

The details are unreal, and riding the Millennium Falcon never gets old, especially if you get a good crew assignment.

Mid-Day Nap & Swimming

After spending some time in the park, we headed back to the hotel for a short afternoon swim break.

Midday hotel breaks have seriously become one of our favorite Disneyland strategies because everyone ends up happier and less exhausted by the end of the night.

Dinner at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe & Stage Door Cafe

Later that evening, Shane and Dylan joined us back at Disneyland and we headed to Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe and Stage Door Cafe for dinner.

Shane and I both got the Beef Birria Grilled Cheese Sandwich, which was honestly incredible. It was cheesy, crispy, flavorful, and definitely something I would order again.

The boys went with hot honey chicken tenders, fries, and Shirley Temples, which they were very happy about.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

After dinner, we checked wait times and noticed Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was sitting at about 50 minutes, which honestly isn’t too bad for that ride, so we headed there next.

Rise of the Resistance is still one of the most impressive Disney rides ever created in my opinion. Even after riding it before, the experience still feels massive and immersive from start to finish. It’s definitely one of those rides that’s worth prioritizing during a Disneyland trip.

To finish up the night, Lucas and I used our final Lightning Lane on Matterhorn Bobsleds.

There’s just something about riding the Matterhorn at night that feels extra fun, especially when the park starts emptying out a little. It ended up being the perfect way to end another really fun Disneyland day.

Day 4: Pool Day & Disney Treats

For our last full day in California, we decided to slow things down a little and have a more relaxing day instead of rushing around the parks from morning to night.

Breakfast at Tangaroa Terrace

We started the morning with breakfast next door at Disneyland Hotel, which is always one of our favorite places to walk around. I love the classic Disney atmosphere there, and it honestly just feels so nostalgic and relaxing.

Shane, Lucas, and I had the Ube Stuffed French Toast. Dylan was sad that the Tangaroa Toast is no longer available, but a kids version is so he had two!

Pool Time at Disney's Grand Californian

After breakfast, we spent most of the day back at the hotel enjoying the pool and hot tub. I feel like pool days are so underrated during Disneyland trips, especially if you’re staying for several days.

Taking one slower day in the middle of the trip helps everyone recharge a little before traveling home. The weather was perfect for sitting by the pool, and honestly, it was nice to just relax for a while without worrying about ride times or Lightning Lanes.

While we were hanging out at the pool, I ordered the Tropical Ginger Sparkler, which had ginger beer, lemon juice, orange juice, and pineapple juice. It was super refreshing and had the perfect tropical flavor for a pool day.

The boys ordered this delicious-looking pepperoni pizza, which disappeared very quickly. Pool food at Disney just hits differently sometimes.

Dinner at Disney Springs

That evening, we headed over to Downtown Disney District for dinner at Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs.

If you’ve never tried Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs before, it’s definitely one of the more fun quick-service spots in Downtown Disney. Their corn dogs are huge and they always have interesting specialty options.

I decided to try the Golden Dragon corn dog while everyone else went with the Classic Corn Dog. The Golden Dragon had a little bit of spice and so much flavor, and honestly, I’d order it again in a heartbeat.

Dessert at Craftsman Grill

Of course, no Disney night is complete without dessert, so later Lucas and I stopped by Craftsman Grill for some treats.

I picked the M&M brownie, which was rich, chocolatey, and exactly what I wanted after a long Disney day. They also had a Peanut Butter Blondie topped with Reese’s Pieces that looked SO good and was honestly tempting me the entire time.

Lucas chose a classic Mickey Mouse Cake Pop, because somehow Disney cake pops are always impossible to pass up.

It ended up being such a fun and relaxing final full day before heading home, and honestly, sometimes those slower Disney days end up being the ones we remember the most.

Day 5: Travel Home Day

Sadly, the next morning, it was time to go home. We packed up our things and took a LYFT ride to John Wayne Airport.

We flew Breeze Airways again, but this time I had bid on first class seats, which we got!

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed this article, we had so much fun on our Disneyland vacation. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and don’t forget to give this video a like and subscribe to my channel.

To book your own Disneyland vacation, I recommend booking through Get Away Today You can check prices here www.getawaytoday.com and using the coupon code: Clubhouse10 or by calling 855-GET-AWAY and mentioning Mommy Mouse Clubhouse!