There are many stores around the Disneyland Resort that offer more to guests than your average shopping experience creating memories that will last a lot longer than most souvenirs.  Some are interactive experiences, many allow guests to create their own souvenir, but all have a special touch that make the difference.  Traditional shopping is still great, but sprinkle some of these into your trip for something you and your family will remember. ​UPDATED 1 Feb 2018

The Summer of Heroes is now underway at Disney California Adventure, and that means new experiences and entertainment with Marvel fans in mind.  Let's take another look at everything that's part of this celebration and we'll let you know the best ways you can take part in all of them and not waste a lot of time.  Not too interested in Marvel?  The Summer of Heroes will still impact Disneyland Park, too, and it will be mostly to your advantage!

As of this spring, Disneyland has changed their security checkpoints, particularly on the west side of the resort.  Some may have already noticed the changes if you've visited recently, but for the rest it's important to know what's different.  For some visitors, these changes mean a little more inconvenience, but overall the changes are allowing visitors to get through security faster and on to the parks.

I get asked quite frequently what exactly you should bring with you into the parks.  I see a lot of people who bring way too much and struggle to maneuver through the crowds and tight paths as well as others who bring next to nothing and have to buy basics like water bottles or hats.  For novices, especially, and for more seasoned visitors, these are some suggestions to help you pack and be prepared once you're inside Disneyland.

Since it's so important to get an early start in the parks in order to get everything done, it's not too easy to also grab something for breakfast before you enter the gates.  The fastest method is to bring some simple breakfast bars or fruit with you, but for some that may not be filling and it certainly isn't as delicious as the meals you can get from Disneyland.  There aren't many restaurants open inside the parks first thing, but what is open still offers a lot of options to appease everyone! ​UPDATED 21 FEB 2019

Nobody wants to wait in line forever at Disneyland.  That's one reason why people wander around the parks searching for short lines (although the definition of "short" varies from one person to the next).  As much ground as people cover, there always seems to be a few areas that the foot traffic just doesn't reach.  There are rides and attractions there that tend to have pretty short waits and are still very fun for everyone so make sure you keep your eyes out for these attractions on your next trip.

Are you a huge Star Wars fan?  Or are you someone that almost can't wait for Star Wars Land to open in 2019?  Better yet, are you someone who enjoys super fun experiences that include the whole family?  Right now Disneyland has a ton of Star Wars attractions and shows for everyone that will likely only last until construction on the other end of the park is finished in a couple of years.  If you don't already know about them, here's a heads up: they're all in Tomorrowland!