Californian Disney Grand Hotel

Disneyland became the very definition of a theme park and family vacation when it opened in California in July, 1955.

For decades, it has amazed kids and parents alike, with its enchanting atmosphere, great attractions and shows. It soon became a popular vacation spot for families, allowing the parent to enjoy a soothing vacation at the nearby resort, but still allowing the kids to have a blast at the park.

First-time visitors will be able to take in the Disneyland Resort with a three- or four-day visit, as opposed to the full week or more that a first-timer would need to see Disney World. That leaves a visitor with a few extra days to visit some of Southern California's other attractions, including Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios, and the beaches.

When going to Disneyland, think about the hotel you will stay at. It is best to stay at a hotel inside Disneyland, or in some of the Harbor Blvd hotels, which are not far from the front entrances of the park, rather than in an on- property hotel.

On the other hand, some of the on-property hotels, like Disneylands Grand California Hotel or Candy Cane Inn have done miracles to preserve the Disneyland theme. These hotels provide such an exciting experience that it would be a shame to miss.

Although getting up early is hardly what you dream about while on vacation, try to arrive early at Disney~s and use their FastPass system. FastPasses are available at the distribution center for each ride. Arriving early is advisable because only this way you can enjoy most of the rides and have unforgettable days at Disney~s.

Just put a valid park admission ticket in the machine, and it gives you a FastPass ticket for that ride. Unfortunately, it is not available for all rides, only the larger, more popular ones.

If you go to Disney~s with very young children, you can still enjoy all park~s attractions. Consider a child swap ~ i.e. one of the adults stays with the children, who are too young for a particular ride. The others from the group enjoy the ride and when they return from there, they stay with the children, while the other guy or lady has fun at the ride.

Disneyland is a great place to go to anytime of the year, since there are great shows all the time. A popular show is parades. This is a chance for kids to meet their beloved Disneyland characters and above all ~ to have their picture taken with them. Another attraction is floats of dancers, musicians, and horses. The astonishing fireworks are another great show to see at Disney~s.

Whatever rides and attractions inside Disney you visit, there is no doubt that it will be a memorable vacation for the whole family. Certainly, for children it will be a really exciting experience to visit a dream place like Disney~s but for parents, too, the time at Disney~s (and the resorts inside it) will also be a remarkable experience. And why not repeat it again next year?

A Review of the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Hotel in Orlando, Florida

Our family loves to try a new vacation spot every few months but we held off taking a Walt Disney World Orlando vacation until our son reached 8 years old. The expectation was that he would be old enough to ride the fast rides alone while we waited on a bench but the reality turned out to be that we rode most rides together.

For us one of the most important considerations in planning a trip is to find just the right hotel accommodations. I have to admit to spending quite a few hours on the Internet reviewing the comments posted by other travelers on My Trip Advisor. The site allows me to not only see what other people have to say but also to decide how close their experience might match ours. I have never been disappointed by following this technique. For this trip, the research really paid off. The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Hotel in Orlando was the only hotel on My Trip Advisor that had the kind of ratings that I was looking for.

In researching the accommodations we found that the Hyatt Regency offered everything we were looking for. For starters, the 1,500 acre resort gives you plenty of breathing room even though you are located adjacent to EPCOT and Walt Disney World Resort. From our balcony room the lake view creates the feeling that you are on your own private island. Getting away from the feeling of living in a big city is important to us and the Hyatt Grand Cypress scored big with us on that point.

After living through yet another season of snow and ice, a pool in Florida always has lots of appeal. The Hyatt Regency in Orlando has a gigantic ½ acre outdoor pool that features 12 waterfalls, two water slides, and 3 whirlpools. Although the slides and waterfalls closed down at night, the pools were open 24 hours per day!

The food at the hotel was fantastic! We took advantage of the breakfast special offered to AAA Members that included fresh eggs, bacon, potatoes, and Florida orange juice.

Our son went horseback riding via a service the hotel provided. Everyone went bicycle riding for several hours. We enjoyed cocktails at poolside. Of course we visited Disney World, EPCOT, and other attractions but those are separate stories.

Our family can sincerely recommend the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress to anyone who wants both the fun and convenience of Mickey Mouse and the tranquility of a beautiful resort at a reasonable price.