Find refuge at Disneyland's Animation Building to create cartoon characters & sing with the Seven Dwarves.

By Ari Krell

You know the old saying, “It never rains in southern California.” Well it’s totally true. Until it rains. And if it happens to be raining cats and dogs on a day you already planned on going to Disneyland Resort, then prepare yourself for a magical time even under threatening skies.

Certain attractions take on a different appearance on those gloomy, drizzly days. The Jungle Cruise in Adventureland is the perfect example of how the rain can change the personality of an attraction. While my family and I have taken this classic adventure many times on dry days, it’s been a totally different experience in the rain.

Gliding along rivers, we felt that much closer to the adventure with raindrops pattering on our canvas roof.  The attraction became smaller and the jungle animals larger. Moisture escaped the air, and even the skippers on boats cracked jokes about the rainy day ambiance.

At Disney California Adventure Park, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror becomes more ominous during a downpour. The Hollywood Tower Hotel façade appears even more menacing when the sky is dark grey. During a rainstorm the air hangs heavier, the music more haunting, the dust thicker and the dim lights flicker more. The creepy hotel cast members appear dourer during a long drizzle, which adds to the whole experience.

And here’s one more place to escape during a downpour: Innoventions in Tomorrowland, a two-story, interactive house. My two daughters always race upstairs to play interactive games like Power City, a shuffleboard type game that teaches about energy usage. My personal favorite: the Innoventions Dream Home, which sports all the technological bells and whistles of tomorrow’s real estate.

Move onto the Animation Building in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot,  where you can learn to draw your favorite Disney character, find the character you are most like, see a zoetrope in action, talk with Crush and sing with the Seven Dwarves. You can also just sit back on a comfortable couch in the main lobby and be blown away by the amazing video animation displays that fill the walls with the magic of your favorite Disney films.
So even if it isn’t always sunny in California, there’s no need to fret when the skies become grey.  Take refuge indoors, one of the many reasons Disneyland Resort is indeed the Happiest Place on Earth.

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Ari Krell is a member of the 2012 Walt Disney World Moms Panel.

Panelists have received/will receive a Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Disneyland Resort or Disney Vacation Club vacation for panelist and up to three family members and/or park tickets for their participation on the Walt Disney World® Moms Panel. The views expressed in the Panel are those of the panelists, who are independent contractors. These views are not intended to reflect the opinions of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online, its affiliates, its management, its agents or its employees and have not been reviewed or approved by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online prior to posting.

By Valerie Moloney

There are certain luxuries in life where you can – but shouldn’t – skimp on price. A great leather jacket. That pair of designer jeans. New hardwood floors for your house. But travel? The less you pay, the better it feels. With our Best Price Guarantee, we’re all about cheap flights, cheap hotels and cheap vacations. See our new commercial, and spread CheapTickets’ travel deals with your friends.

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Not-so-cramped-quarters: Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim at Disneyland Resort offers family suites on the cheap.

By Valerie Moloney

As the self-designated CEO of the household, I embrace any opportunity to shave money off the family budget. I’ll buy Irish Spring even if passion fruit pomegranate body mousse smells much prettier. I frequent flash sales, and scour the boards for promo codes (because who wants to pay for shipping?).

In my cheapness, which I flaunt, I’ve learned a thing or two about saving money while traveling with tots. Because like the kids, the bank of mommy and daddy needs to be disciplined from time to time.

1. Opt for a condo hotel or family suite.
   You work 351 days for two glorious weeks of freedom. As tempting as it might be to snuggle with your kindergartener, keep the damn kid away from your bed. Residential style-properties such as Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim at Disneyland Resort separate parents’ quarters from tykes’ with French doors and boast cool bunk beds and a private TV. Genius.
2. Book a room with a kitchen.
   This from a girl who’s packed juice bags and snacks in the family suitcase (hunger strikes silently, rapidly). Resort communities from Destin, Fla., to Kona, Hawaii cater to groups with condos equipped with kitchens sleeker than your own. Before your vacation, pinpoint the nearest grocer or see if your property has its own on-site pantry to stock up on necessities – like Funions and ice cream.
3. Don’t be afraid of public transit – or just walk.
   Last Labor Day weekend, a rogue taxi driver unapologetically took me and my girls on a $25 cab ride around Boston. The venue, as we learned from the locals toting their picnic baskets just outside our window, was merely a 10-minute T ride from our hotel. Along the way the charm of Newbury Street: darling boutiques, matchbox restaurants, cobblestone streets, ye olde Beantown that would’ve better been appreciated by foot.
4. Love the lazy river.
   Why go to a water park when there’s one at your hotel? Beachfront properties in Myrtle Beach and Charleston, S.C. are renowned for their kid-friendly amusements. And nothing tuckers the tots out like a day at the pool.
5. Eat a late lunch.
   The chances of your belly growling at midnight because you ate fajitas at 4 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. are slim. At the earlier hour, the price is typically a few dollars cheaper, with portions just as plentiful

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Valerie Moloney, who publishes the CheapTickets blog, has yet to master the art of stacking coupons.

By Valerie Moloney

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Florida is proud of its offbeat status — and cheap vacation deals. Where else would gators, Goths and bats share the same real estate? Expand your Floridian context beyond a Disney vacation this year to experience the sandy underbelly, and go back to your home state with a few quirky tories and a better tan.

1. Live mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs
Ariel mesmerized us with her auburn locks and golden voice, but she has nothing on these legends whose underwater escapades have been dazzling locals since 1947. Watch as Mermaid Stayce, Mermaid Tara and her sisters shimmy their fuchsia, royal blue and American flag fins through the deep, and learn from the pros on how to work a conch shell bikini.

Cheap Crystal River hotel near Weeki Wachee Springs: Quality Inn Crystal River

2. Interstate Mullet Toss (April 27-29)
If you’re looking for Billy Ray Cyrus lookalikes circa 1993, certainly you might find them in Pensacola, but the throwback look  isn’t the focus of this main event at Flora-Bama Lounge at Perdido Beach. Although, the photo opps for thousands of bad throwback haircuts on one piece of real estate is indeed an intriguing one. No, we’re talking mullets — as in dead fish — being flung through the air from the Alabama border over the Florida state line. The cost to participate? A mere $15.

Cheap Pensacola hotel near the event: Windemere Condominiums by ResortQuest

3. Coral Castle
That one would drop a few clothing sizes — or overeat — after a breakup is to be expected. But Floridian Ed Leedskalnin took his suffering to the extremes, sculpting more than 1,100 tons of coral rock into a castle, a loving tribute to the girl who called off his wedding just a day before the scheduled event. As you walk through the attraction, which in some places is 4,000 feet thick, imagine how a 5-foot, 100-lb. man could physically move the stone. And you thought your ex was psycho.

Cheap Miami hotel near Coral Castle: Floridian Hotel in Homestead

Enjoy the wet rooms at The Mirage after your $50 treatment during Spa Week, to be held April 16-22.

By Valerie Moloney

To those who love beauty bargains, this one ranks right up there with $1 Wet ‘n Wild eyeliner: 7 straight days of $50 spa treatments. Held twice yearly, Spa Week, to be held from April 16 to 22 at spas nationwide, treats the stressed, washed-out masses to $50 treatments and the savings to plan a cheap vacation. Considering that many spas charge $100 and up for the most basic services, guests can truly make a day of pampering and sampling the luxe life inside high-end properties.

Consider these offerings, and just how good it will feel to afford a few treatments for the price of one:

1. Exhale at Fairmont Battery Wharf
   Spend $50 for a facial peel – because we like all dewy skin – or having your toes exfoliated with lavender scrub. Or choose wellness of a different sort: a 5-pack of yoga or core fusion classes in view of the tranquil Boston waterfront.
2. Kohler Waters Spa at The American Club
   A company beloved for its faucets, body sprays and rainfall showerheads is going to know how to pamper. We dare you to resist the Lavender Rain Treatment, 50 uninterrupted minutes of bliss under a pulsating Vichy shower.
3. The Spa at The Mirage Hotel and Casino
   Let’s not mince words. Your body might need an IV drip after the liquid abuse it will take during your cheap Las Vegas vacation. Here’s a better solution: a post-club visit to this spa on the Strip – complete with his- and her- saunas and whirlpools — where even the body scrubs are infused with hot whiskey. Call it the new hair of the dog.
4. Narande Spa at The Buttes, A Marriott Resort
   So you didn’t get champagne and roses this year. You’ll like this treatment much better: a champagne and rose body exfoliation to buff that skin to a glowing sheen. Who says you need a mate to make you sparkle?

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Valerie Moloney, who manages the CheapTickets blog, is easily seduced by a sale and a spa treatment.

Six Flags Great America's X-Flight is scheduled to open this May. Credit: Six Flags Great America

By Angie Jaime

Spring is here early (thanks global warming) and that means only one thing — time to take a family vacation to scope the season’s latest theme park expansions.

Heartland thrill junkies can soar at 3,000 feet on Six Flags Great Americas latest, X-Flight. Five inversions, a 12 story drop and a zero-gravity roll are more than enough to get the adrenaline pumping. Designed by the Swiss engineers behind the Raging Bull, SUPERMAN and BATMAN rides, the X-Flight is the first of its kind in the US. The unique “wing” design pairs riders on either side of the track, creating the illusion of free flight. This ride will make its home in the County Fair section of the park, replacing the old school Iron Wolf in May.

Disneyland kicks off the primavera party with tike-friendly rides at New Fantasyland.  First phases of expansion will start in Storybook Circus, centered on an overhaul of the famed Dumbo ride. After the initial opening, the classic will double in size and feature twice the flying pachyderms.  Brave kids can take to the sky with The Great Goofini on The Barnstormer, a newbie to the Storybook Circus. Led by a Goofy-as-circus-pilot, this ride embodies a daredevil stunt plane adventure.

On the other coast, Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure will be revamped with all-new, 4K digital high-definition animation, new high tech 3-D glasses and upgrades to the set, audio and lighting systems. Celebrating its centennial, Universal Orlando is also rolling out Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular, a nighttime show lauding their impressive history in film. Though 100^th birthday additions will be revealed throughout 2012, this spring marks the start of the biggest theme park revisions.

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Angie Jaime is the Content Coordinator at Orbitz and CheapTickets. A Chicago native, she’s been surfing in Hawaii, hiking in Mexico and backpacking through Europe.

Fertile grounds: Ixchel Beach Hotel in Isla Mujeres is ripe with cheap hotel deals -- and breathtaking views.

By Valerie Moloney

The Mayans were onto something when they named this 5-mile-wide island after the goddess of fertility. With sugary beaches and water tinted the perfect aquamarine, it’s easy to see how lovers could lose themselves in a sea of coral, fresh ocean eats and tequila.Well here’s another reason: price. Isla Mujeres, or the Island of Women, rules as a budget beach destination. Think boutique hotels with some of the same amenities as pricier Cancun hotels – sans the partiers – and on a stretch only accessible by ferry.

Our cheap Mexico hotel recommendations

1. Cheap: Ixchel Beach Hotel (Low $100s to low $200s*)
   Set on pixel-perfect Playa Norte, Ixchel keeps to focus right where it needs to be: on the water.  Sporting just 117 rooms ranging from one bedrooms to full penthouses complete with sea-facing balcony hot tubs, the hotel hugs 2 sparkling pools with eyeshot of the Caribbean.
2. Cheaper: Avalon Reef Club Isla Mujeres (Low $100s, sometimes cheaper for mid-week stays*)
   Anyone who’s been to an all-inclusive knows the built-in value of paying up front for what might otherwise be an unrestrained tab. Here, indulge all you want. Count two bars, two restaurants, a kids club, Scuba facilities and all the dance lessons you can squeeze into your holiday – if you can manage yourself off the lounge chair.
3. Cheapest: Casa Isla Mujeres – Adults Oriented (under $100 to low $100s*)
   Call your parents – this is one vacation that you should take without the kids. Sweet and petite, this hotelito boasts just 8 suites, minimizing the risk of contending with rowdy spring breakers. Treat yourself to the chakra pool and a refreshing meal at the rooftop restaurant.  If in nine months there’s a present from your visit, you can blame the healing salts.

*Rates are based on dates and subject to availability.

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Valerie Moloney, who publishes the CheapTickets blog, envisions herself on a scooter in Isla Mujeres looking the tangiest ceviche on the island.

Lesson learned: The Historic Powhatan Resort boasts its own piece of colonial Americana -- a manor house circa 1735.

By Valerie Moloney

Chances are, if I said Old Dominion, not everyone would know the reference to my home state of Virginia. Now allow me to make a statement that resonates with everyone: Virginia is a hotbed for cheap spring vacations. While my hometown Virginia Beach, Va. is one of the beach capitals on the East Coast, I was always partial to the place that enriched my understanding of 1770s America: Williamsburg. And besides, the theme parks kicked butt.

Home to the second- oldest college in America (The College of William and Mary), Williamsburg is known first as a love letter to colonialism. You’ll still hear muskets being fired, see how slaves labored on farms and visit workshops where various smiths – blacksmiths, silversmiths, gunsmiths and more – might be engaging in their craft – fire, tools and all.

I love that in between the water park –Water Country USA — and the Eurotastic theme park – Busch Gardens Williamsburg – kids can also soak up a compelling lesson in history.

In terms of price and location, the condo retreat Historic Powhatan Resort can’t be beat. With rates anywhere from the low $100s to low $300s depending on the season, the 250+acre property hosts families comfortably with one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts, full kitchens, hot tubs and patios.

And for that extra dose of Americana: Visit the circa 1735 manor house on site, a stunner with fully landscaped gardens and a gazebo. All that’s missing from this scene is you in a powdered wig, but we’re pretty sure you can get one of those in town.

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Blogger Val Moloney met U2 hotness Larry Mullen Jr. in Chicago's Gold Coast 10 years ago. Credit: Clancy3434.

By Valerie Moloney

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s talk random run-ins.

I met Larry Mullen Jr. – the only hot guy in U2, sorry, Bono – at the cash register in Chicago’s FAO Schwarz near the Four Seasons Chicago 10 years ago. My husband and I smirked as the sales associate cluelessly asked him if he was “from around here.” He was most definitely in town for a concert, and likely not staying in a cheap Chicago hotel.

I sipped pints with Paddy Reilly – the Emerald Isle’s most famous balladeer — in a Tampa, Fla., pub. It was a foggy night, but I swear he winked at me. If you’ve Googled him, you’re feeling my embarrassment right now.

The point is: If you could run into any Irish celeb, who would it be? And if you have, where were you? Bonus points (and shots) to anyone who says Colin Farrell.

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Royal sleeping quarters: Headboards powered by fiber optics recreate the Disneyland skyline -- complete with fireworks.

By Amanda Ficili

The Disneyland Hotel, which has undergone many changes and makeovers since its birth in 1955, got another facelift worthy of its iconic status. The massive, two-year renovation project did not leave a single inch of the property untouched. With its lavishly redecorated guest rooms, imaginative redesigned pool and water play areas, stunning courtyards and landscaping and delicious dining options including a one-of-a-kind interactive bar, it’s no surprise why the property is a guest — and my personal — favorite. 

The nostalgic Disneyland theme carries on from the lobby and common areas to each uniquely themed tower. Elegantly appointed guest rooms sparkle with magical, but subdued, Disney elements: Mickey Mouse-shaped faucets, Mickey’s glove light fixtures, luxurious Mickey-print duvets with rich royal and gold throws and my favorites, two velveteen toss pillows which read the famous words: “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and “When You’re Fast Asleep.” A classic black and white photo of Walt Disney passing through Sleeping Beauty Castle adds the crowning touch and reminds us that this all started as “One Man’s Dream.”

The beds in the guest rooms are dressed in luxurious cotton linens and duvets. With the press of a button, the intricately carved wooden headboards come to life with the magical “Good Night Kiss,” a fiber optic fireworks display accompanied by a familiar tune from Cinderella.

In addition to the standard guest rooms, Disneyland Hotel also offers suites for those that desire a little extra legroom. With one-, two- and even three- bedroom floor plans available, even a large family will have plenty of room to spread out and relax after a long day at Disneyland.

Newly redesigned pool areas that pay homage to the early days of Disneyland. Guests can now enjoy a unique aquatic experience complete with an immersive water play area, an iconic Monorail-themed slide area featuring two thrilling water slides and its own splash pool, as well as the all new D-Ticket and E-Ticket Pools. The pool area even provides food and beverage service seasonally.

Whether it’s a family character meal, fine dining cuisine, casual quick-service, or even a bar, Disneyland Hotel guests are spoiled with choices. With the renovation came the addition of Tangaroa Terrace, a casual island-themed quick-service restaurant with patio seating overlooking the scenic pool area, as well as my favorite spot, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. This one-of-a-kind bar treats guests to a unique interactive experience, boasting a menu of unique tropical drinks and tasty appetizers.

I’ve had the distinct pleasure of staying at this amazing hotel several times since the completion of the renovation. With all the qualities I look for in a family-oriented hotel, it’s my family’s No. 1 choice when we visit the theme park.

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Amanda Ficili is a Disneyland Specialist on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, a question and answer forum to which guests can submit questions pertaining to Disney vacations and have them answered by a real mom. She loves discovering the magic of the Disneyland with her husband and daughter and as California residents, they find themselves visiting the Happiest Place on Earth every chance they get.