Picture It with Priscila

How to Have a “Perfect” Day at Tokyo Disneyland

My last time at Tokyo Disney taught me that flexibility was really important. I’m not as familiar as I am with the domestic US parks so I definitely struggled at times even when I was just prioritizing my must do’s. However, things did work out with that approach. Therefore, I think the best way to have a “perfect” day is to prioritize the must do’s and then build the rest of the day around those. 

Cinderella Castle

 

I wrote this article around some basic logistics and then my favorites or the most unique things in the main categories of attractions, shows, characters, and foods. This will all be based on what I’ve personally experienced or what I researched about so you have a “buffet” menu to help start building YOUR perfect day while allowing space for your own exploration. NOTE: This won’t be the most comprehensive list, but I have been a few times now and definitely did a lot of research so might as well spread the knowledge! 🙂 

General Definitions

  • Disney Premier Access (DPA) – This is the Tokyo Disney equivalent of a FastPass, Genie+, or Express Pass (~$10-20 per person) that works per attraction or show.
  • 40th Anniversary Priority Pass – This is the free version of the DPA for attractions only.
  • Show Lottery – Unlike the US domestic parks, show seats are allocated through a lottery system since they provide assigned seating. You can only enter for one show time per show once each day. However, the nighttime show is not a part of this lottery system.

Attractions

  • Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast – The absolute best ride that’s also super family friendly! I half thought it was going to be overhyped, but it’s not. Not only is the attraction beautiful (queue included), the effects amazing, but the ride itself is a fun twist on the classic dark ride where the motions actually immerse you even more in the story somehow! 
  • Pooh’s Hunny Hunt – This is a unique Tokyo Disneyland attraction so definitely make it a priority. In my opinion, it’s better than both the Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom versions!
  • Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek! – This is another unique Tokyo Disneyland attraction. In addition to being a dark ride, it’s also a bit of a game where you are using “flashlights” to find monsters! 
  • The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents “Aloha E Komo Mai!” – Not going to lie, I wanted to go just to see little Stitch ears on the tiki room birds from Youtube videos, but the overall show was also quite fun and a delightful spin on the Tiki Room attraction. Worth a visit if you’re also looking to take a bit of a break.
  • Country Bear Jamboree – Since this version no longer exists at Disneyland nor Magic Kingdom, I think it’s a fun flashback choice. There’s a delightful Christmas version – get ready to hear a variety of Christmas songs from bears dressed in the holiday spirit! 
  • Big Thunder Mountain – Even though I would say this is not a must do since there are versions at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, I would say it’s still slightly different and worth the fun if there’s extra time in your day! 
  • Pirates of the Caribbean – I rode this one on my first visit, but I remember it being very similar to either the Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom version. I would recommend only riding it if there is a short wait and you have extra time in your day.
  • Haunted Mansion – I luckily got to ride the Haunted Mansion Holiday during my last visit. While fun, I do think the Disneyland version is a smidge better since it has the gingerbread house. Other than that, I could see that this attraction was very similar to the Disneyland version so definitely not a must do if there’s not enough time. 
  • The Happy Ride with Baymax – I did not get a chance to experience this, but it is very popular, even if it’s just to observe the group of Guests that gather round to dance/sing to the different songs at night. The attraction itself is similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree at Disneyland or Alien Swirling Saucers at Hollywood Studios. 

Shows

  • Mickey’s Magical Music World – Such a great show! If you have ever seen Mickey and the Magical Map at Disneyland (RIP), you’ll really enjoy this. It’s the same idea as a mash-up of various Disney songs with some medleys, great dancing, and beautiful costumes.
  • Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights – This is the Disney Electrical Parade, but better! It has some of the same floats as the original Disney Electrical Parade but some floats are glammed up with better effects. The DPA for this is pretty great – there’s assigned seating so you don’t have to worry about getting there early. NOTE: The earlier you buy, the better the chance you have of getting the front row. I bought these the first thing after coming in which was just a minute or two before the regular crowds came in. 
Dreamlights

 

Foods

  • Shrimp Cutlet Burger – This was my favorite snack at either park! The bread was soft and pillowy, the shrimp patty was crispy and well portioned to the bread, and it was all tied together well with a sauce! 
  • Egg & Chicken on Chinese Bun – This was my second favorite snack! Combined with the Shrimp Cutlet Burger, this could become a lunch meal since they’re both sold at the same location. This was my second favorite since I couldn’t taste the eggs very well and the chicken didn’t have as good of a crunch as the shrimp patty. Otherwise though, it’s still delicious! 
  • Baked Cheese Potato – These potato bites were so much better than expected. It was surprisingly cheesy! If you want a larger meal, the Seafood Pizza is also sold at the same location. Not a must eat but still good.
  • Chicken and Tomato Calzone – I didn’t try this one, but my family really enjoyed it. I’ve also seen other creators recommend this so I thought it was worth keeping it as an option! 
  • Honey and Curry Popcorn – While the curry popcorn was good, the honey one was only ok. Neither had a very strong flavor, but that made it easy to keep eating. 
  • Little Green Dumplings – These are super viral, but honestly, they are ok mochi. The texture isn’t chewy nor soft enough. BUT lots of points for creativity and cuteness! 
  • Chocolate Churro – Although this was one of our favorite snacks, it was a seasonal item. My family and I are chocoholics and this was definitely a delicious flavor for the classic churro. It actually had chocolate flavor infused in the churro dough rather than it being a dip. 

Characters

It was very rainy when I was last there so I didn’t see too many characters roaming around. However, from videos, that seems to be more of the regular scenario than actual “set times” of character meet and greets. Character meet and greets tend to be a circle formed around the character and they will choose people to interact with rather than getting into a queue. I’ve also heard there are character Standby Passes but I’m not sure which characters! 

Final Thoughts

I hope this post was helpful for planning your DisneyLand day. Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer!

How to Have a “Perfect” Day at Tokyo DisneySea

My last time at Tokyo Disney taught me that flexibility was really important. I’m not as familiar as I am with the domestic US parks so I definitely struggled at times even when I was just prioritizing my must do’s. However, things did work out with that approach. Therefore, I think the best way to have a “perfect” day is to prioritize the must do’s and then build the rest of the day around those. 

I wrote this article around some basic logistics and then my favorites or the most unique things in the main categories of attractions, shows, characters, and foods. This will all be based on what I’ve personally experienced or what I researched about so you have a “buffet” menu to help start building YOUR perfect day while allowing space for your own exploration. NOTE: This won’t be the most comprehensive list, but I have been a few times now and definitely did a lot of research so might as well spread the knowledge! 🙂

General Definitions

  • Disney Premier Access (DPA) – This is the Tokyo Disney equivalent of a FastPass, Genie+, or Express Pass (~$10-20 per person) that works per attraction or show.
  • 40th Anniversary Priority Pass – This is the free version of the DPA for attractions only.
  • Standby Pass – This is the Tokyo Disney equivalent of a free virtual queue. You virtually wait until you’re called again to wait in person. This is only applicable to Fantasy Springs attractions, some merchandise, and a few character meet and greets. 
  • Show Lottery – Unlike the US domestic parks, show seats are allocated through a lottery system since they provide assigned seating. You can only enter for one show time per show once each day. However, the nighttime show is not a part of this lottery system.

Attractions

  • Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey – The best ride at Tokyo DisneySea and a must do! It’s a retelling of Frozen but with the latest special effects, elaborate set pieces, and a creative spin on the standard boat ride. 
  • Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure – This is not your typical Peter Pan attraction. This version combines real sets with 3D screens and is about an adventure in Never Land with Peter Pan, the Darling children, and the Lost Boys. For anyone with motion sickness, this may get a bit uncomfortable towards the end as the ride is about 5 minutes long. 
  • Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies – If you’re a fan of the Tinker Bell movies, this attraction will be the cutest! You get to help Tinker Bell give Cheese a day off from deliveries and travel to all the seasons in Pixie Hollow. 
  • Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival – While beautiful, this ride is too short and not worth a long wait. I honestly would not wait more than 30 minutes or spend a DPA on it unless there’s a really huge Tangled fan in your party. 
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth – This is definitely a unique ride to Tokyo DisneySea and a must do. I believe it follows the Jules Verne book. The ride is mostly a dark ride with a mild thrill at the end. 
  • Aquatopia – This one is most similar to Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters at Disneyland in terms of the ride experience. However, unlike Luigi’s, you’re on water! Honestly, this one is more fun than it looks and a do if the line isn’t longer than 30-40 minutes. 
  • Sindbad’s Storybook Journey – Another unique ride to Tokyo DisneySea and a must do in my opinion! It is a long boat ride that’s great for a rest although the set pieces in this ride are also really impressive. AND, there is a very cute tiger named Chandu. 
  • Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull – This version is very similar to the one at Disneyland aside from a few story tweaks. However, I felt that it had a better upkeep which added to the overall ride feel. This is a great use for the 40th Anniversary Priority Pass.
  • Raging Spirits – This is a short medium/high intensity roller coaster. There’s not a strong story in the actual ride so this is a more second tier attraction for me. 
  • Tower of Terror – Although the fanciest, most themed version in all the parks, I thought this ride version was the most boring if you’re a thrill seeker. It felt shorter, and you’re so strapped in, you don’t get to experience the funny tummy feeling from a drop ride. 
  • The Magic Lamp Theater – Definitely unique, but this attraction had the most Japanese in it. While you can still understand the gist of what is going on, I do think you miss out on certain jokes which I think adds quite a bit to the experience. 
  • Jasmine’s Flying Carpets – A cousin to the classic Dumbo. Not a must do, but an option if other things are busy! 
  • Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster – A small coaster perfect for a kid’s first roller coaster. Not a must do, but fun if there’s no line. 

Shows

  • Big Band Beat: A Special Treat – Go for the choreography and costumes alone! The theme is Old Hollywood and it truly embodies that. 
  • Believe! Sea of Dreams – Classic nighttime extravaganza! This was like a water parade with essences of World of Color, fireworks, the storytelling of Fantasmic, and a delightful soundtrack to boot. There is a DPA option, but I don’t quite recommend it. It is just a designated section without any assigned spots. Therefore, the first come first serve element still applies. If crowds are not too heavy, I think it is still possible to get a decent spot if you plan early enough. 

Foods

  • Gyoza Sausage Bun – This lives up to the hype of being a solid savory snack choice! The flavor is a standard pork and cabbage Chinese bao but well done – the bun is soft and there is a good ratio of filling to bao.
  • Fried Chicken – A whole chicken leg/thigh was a very popular snack in Tokyo Disney with it being cooked in a couple of ways (fried, smoked) and in a few flavors (teriyaki, spicy, etc.) all scattered around the parks. My favorite version was a plain fried chicken leg/thigh with a Coke from the vending machine. Fried chicken in Japan is elite!
  • Pop n’ Shrimp – This was surprisingly good. There was a good amount of shrimp in a serving, and the coating was hot, crispy, and not too thick. We also had the Seafood Calzone – this was less exciting, but pretty good if you want another item to make your meal a bit heartier. 
  • Mickey Churro – This one was more for the photo, but how classic is a Mickey-shaped churro? It was also a delicious classic churro so what’s not to like about that?
Fried Chicken – all my other food photos were pretty bad!

Characters

It was very rainy when I was last there so I didn’t see too many characters roaming around. However, from videos, that seems to be more of the regular scenario than actual “set times” of character meet and greets. Character meet and greets tend to be a circle formed around the character and they will choose people to interact with rather than getting into a queue. I’ve also heard there are character Standby Passes but I’m not sure which characters! 

Final Thoughts

I hope this post was helpful for planning your DisneySea day. Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer!

 

How to Spend 3 Days in NYC

I’ve been lucky to go to NYC twice now, and it’s definitely one of my favorite places on Earth (aside from the rats – I can live without them). There’s so many things to do and when you mix in seasonal offerings and limited time exhibits, it’s definitely a place you can come back to over and over again whether it be revisiting old favorites or trying new things.

Why Go?

I think NYC is a must for any city lover. It has food from almost any cuisine, world class museums, historical monuments, and a multitude of nighttime entertainment. It’s also ever changing and is host to more than a few, very famous global events (think Met Gala, Fashion Week, New Year’s Eve in Time Square).

Where to Stay?

My visits have been mostly focused in Manhattan so I definitely recommend Manhattan for this itinerary. Within Manhattan, I think if you’re staying close to a subway stop, you’d have convenient access to the places on this itinerary. I personally stayed near Hudson Yards, but a place near Times Square, Central Park, or Madison Square Park would also put you in a good location.

How to Get Around?

Luckily, NYC is a fairly easy city to navigate. Not only is it walkable but there’s an easy public transportation system. I have to admit I’ve only used the subway lines but there’s always a stop near the major, popular sites. Recently, when I went in May 2024, you can use your credit card as your metro card so you can take advantage of the weekly max amount. Last but not least, there’s also Uber/Lyft. 

Day 1

The first day is a typical city tourism day. I would start off at Central Park. The Park is actually much, much larger than a typical park with numerous walking paths, beautiful gardens, big sport fields, and even a lake for rowing. You can easily spend an hour, a half day, or even a whole day there. Luckily, since it’s a park in the middle of the city, you have easy access to restaurants and even museums if you want to take a breather from the green space! I personally would spend the morning at the Park, have lunch, and then head over to a nearby museum for the afternoon. 

For a museum, I personally would choose the Met. I have yet to go but it’s so iconic not only because of the Gala but because of the art pieces as well. Other options are the Guggenheim Museum or the American Museum of Natural History. If museums are not your thing, there’s also the Central Park Zoo!

After dinner, I would start the night with a Broadway show. There’s always so many shows to choose from. If you’re going with a bigger group or seeing a popular show, I would definitely book tickets ahead of time. However, if you’re willing to be flexible, I had some good luck getting great deals on last minute tickets at the box office day of or even a few minutes before. After the show, I would head over to Times Square as I think everyone should experience the bustle and the lights of Times Square at least once in their life. There’s also a fantastic Disney Store right in the middle where I had once picked up New York exclusive pins!

Day 2

The second day is all about New York specific tourism sites! I would start off at the 9/11 Museum. There are early morning tours if you want a more quiet experience as it is very popular and can get crowded fairly easily. The museum is very somber so be prepared but it’s also very informative especially to what it was like and what was going on in the city during the attack. I remember where I was during 9/11 but it was educational to see it from a different time/place as California is 3 hours behind. 

After the museum, I would definitely allow for some time to recover. One of my friends was slightly depressed after coming out and that isn’t the best feeling to go exploring with. We got lucky that day that Smorgasburg was outside so we had lunch there from a few booths, but on your way to the second activity, you’ll be walking through the Financial District if you want to research ahead for where you want to have a bite to eat! A couple notable stops in the Financial District include the Charging Bull and Trinity Church (the Cemetery is where Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Elizabeth, are buried).

The second activity for the day is the Statue of Liberty. I haven’t actually been since the last time I went, it was a bit cold already and it would be even colder riding the boat. However, it is on my list of things to do the next time I go back! We just took a sneak peek from Battery Park through the fence. However, as I was linking the website, it looks like reservations are highly recommended especially if you want to visit the Crown or the Pedestal. Note: The best part of the park is the Seaglass Carousel! You sit in colorful opaque fish that rotate around and up and down. It’s $6 (as of Oct 2024) and the ride is actually fairly long. But the best thing is that it’s just such a simple, joyous thing to do especially as the sun hits in and the colors reflect all around you! 

To close out the second day, there are awesome bars to check out. Or, if you’re not feeling up for that kind of adventure, there are plenty of dessert shops, ice cream parlors, or cookie establishments that have late hours! 

Day 3

The third day is going to be filled with my other favorite activities that I’ve done in New York along with a couple of things I still want to do! Feel free to mix and match what sounds interesting to you! 

The first is the New York Library. I love libraries in general, but the New York Library is massive and has a Winnie the Pooh display in the children’s section! It’s honestly delightful to walk around and see some of the different research rooms. There’s also tours and a visitor center for information. Note: Plan to spend a couple hours. When I went, an hour was not enough! The library is also located on 5th Ave so it’ll be a fun stroll afterward looking at all the luxury brand storefronts. 

Another option is the Morgan Library and Museum. We went on a free night which was on a Friday. The “museum” portions that comprise his private collections are a bit random… rich people sure do collect odd things. But the library itself is very beautiful and the rest of the building houses other exhibits that were quite interesting. For instance, we got to see an exhibit on Beatrice Potter and learn about her life and how she got into illustration and writing. The free time is limited but I think it was a nice sample of the place and we got to see everything we wanted to see.

My last recommendation on things I’ve done is the High Line. It’s a nice nature walk in the concrete jungle that’s not Central Park. There’s also art pieces randomly along the path with benches to sit down on to chat with friends or to admire nature. 

Now for things that I have not done but want to! The first is the Empire State Building. While I know a lot of people go for the view from the top, I personally want to know more about the history of the building and send a postcard from there since it literally has its own zip code! The second one is Grand Central Station. In addition to being a pop culture filming location, it’s known for beautiful architecture, shopping, and food. My personal goal is to try the oyster pan roast at the Oyster Bar!

Final Thoughts 

As you can see, it is so easy to pack a full 3 days or more! It’s one of the few places on Earth that I would happily go back to because there is genuinely always something going on, something to eat, or something to see!

Getting into Fantasy Springs on a Budget

Going to Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea before March 31, 2025 and wondering what it’s like to not book a vacation package but still wanting to see Fantasy Springs? Let me share how I did it and how to manage expectations! 

First, some basics! You will need either a 1-Day Passport: Fantasy Springs Magic, a Disney Premier Access (DPA), or a Standby to access Fantasy Springs. Now, how do you get any of these 3 things? For the 1-Day Passport: Fantasy Springs Magic, you can only purchase it as a part of an eligible vacation package. This means that you’re tied to paying a higher cost as a vacation package includes a hotel night, tickets for 2 days (DisneySea and Disneyland), unlimited drinks, other Premier accesses, and souvenirs. It’s definitely a more stress-free experience but if you were to purchase all the components separately, you are paying a convenience fee (~$100-200 per person per day) and would make your overall trip more expensive. For the DPA, that is the Tokyo Disney equivalent of a FastPass, Genie+, or Express Pass (~$10-20 per person). Lastly, Standby is a free option where you are guaranteed a time to queue for the attraction. The key to getting as many DPA and Standby options is to be the first ones in. The earlier you book your first one, the earlier you can book your second one and so forth. This explains the long morning queues you might have heard about that are so popular at the Tokyo Disney Resort. 

An option to bypass the long morning queues is to stay at either the Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel or Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta for Early Entry access into Tokyo DisneySea. This should also be the cheaper option compared to the vacation package as long as you’re able to book a standard room opposed to a suite. Unfortunately, these hotel reservations can be quite difficult to snag. 

However, if you do not want to spend your coins on a vacation package and were unlucky enough to not get a room at either the Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel or Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta (like me), there is still hope! Here are some of my tips from my 2 day experience. My goal was to ride every Fantasy Springs attraction (Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies) at least once. 

  1. Try to go on a weekday, if possible. I read that Fridays were better than Mondays so we opted for a Wednesday and Friday. It still seemed busy, but I think it definitely could have been worse.
  2. You have to queue early. I know. It sucks, but it’s so true. The first day, we got there at 8A, and we only had Peter Pan for a DPA option and Rapunzel or Tinker Bell for a Standby option. The second time, we got there at 7A, and we were able to snag Frozen as a DPA option (with only 1 time slot left) and Peter Pan, Rapunzel, or Tinker Bell for a Standby option. If you do have Early Entry, make sure you get there by 8:30. They typically allow day Guests in at 8:45 so make sure you don’t miss out on that perk! 
  3. In my experience, weather does not seem to be a factor. Tickets are nonrefundable so I think people still show up. It was raining 2 out of the 3 days we were there, and it did not stop people from queuing early at all. 
  4. Don’t be afraid to call out people who are trying to squeeze their way through! There are going to be a LOT of people, and some people get creative. We called out 3 groups of people who just squeezed their way to the front because no one else did. You might have to give up some personal space to own your space, but don’t be afraid to do it. 
  5. Be prepared for 2 sets of queues. The first is to get through a preliminary security screening. Then, you either keep going or you have to get your bag inspected before going through a metal detector. After that, you get in line again to get your tickets scanned. 
  6. Don’t stop after getting scanned in to book your DPA or Standby! The signal is slower in the front of the park since everyone is also there. I started the process while walking briskly into the park and definitely noticed my Internet working a lot faster the further I got inside.
  7. Make sure you have international data. Tokyo DisneySea doesn’t have free WiFi and you’ll definitely need reliable internet to book those DPAs and Standbys.

My experience was definitely stressful, but I did manage to achieve my goal, and I definitely think it was worth it to do it at least once. I think next time I’d try more intentionally to book either the Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Spring Hotel or Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta just because some extra sleep would have been nice! 

However, I wanted to share my experience because I did wish I knew what it was like as a “regular” person. On one hand, a vacation package is incredibly stress free. On the other hand, if you wanted to save those coins for snacks rather than a souvenir popcorn bucket or an extra Show DPA instead of unlimited drinks, I don’t think a vacation package is really the right choice for everyone. AND it doesn’t mean that Fantasy Springs is out of reach. You might just have to work a little harder for it. 

Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer! And who knows, everything is changing in a few months so this might just be fun throwback read for me one day!

Best Bites of the Big Apple

I had the chance to spend a week in New York (Manhattan) earlier this year in spring. Thanks to my amazing friends who hosted me, here are my top 10 eats amongst a lot of other good bites. Let me preface by sharing that I definitely have a sweet tooth so there are definitely some places that are solely for desserts. But I think they’re definitely worth a visit too! 

  1. Patiala Indian Grill – This was definitely my favorite meal of the trip! We got a tandoori mix grill, lamb biryani, shrimp saag, and naan. But honestly, I think anything would be delicious here which is crazy because the menu has so many options! Everything was super flavorful (as in spicy with spices and not just spicy heat) and I kept eating even after I was full. It was just so good! If I lived in NY, I would want to come here once a week just to try something new each time. The level of quality and flavor was comparable to the food I got to eat in the UK during my year abroad so if you know, you know!
  2. Glace – I was slightly doubtful, but this hot chocolate lives up to the viral hype. The hot chocolate is chocolate-ly enough (not too watery and not too viscous), the “whipped cream” is a creamy froth of creme anglaise (maybe? hard to describe but it’s so good!), and the ring of marshmallow is a perfect meringue. The whole thing is the definition of an elevated hot chocolate and is so worth the $10 price tag! Note: If you’re there in time for the frozen hot chocolate, I think it’s even better than the hot!
  3. Russ and Daughters – A classic for good reasons! This place was so good I went back twice in one week and got the same thing – a classic bagel and lox with scallion cream cheese. The everything bagel had a nice chew and was flavorful. The proportions of salmon and cream cheese were also perfect. You know how sometimes there can be too much of one thing and the balance is off? Not here! We also tried an egg cream, chocolate babka, cabbage salad, and potato salad the second time we came back! I definitely think the savory items (salads) are better than the sweets of all the ones we tried, but there’s so many choices in general so maybe I just didn’t get the right sweets. And by choices, I mean that the place has dried fruits, nuts, caviar, roe, soups, smoked fish, and also herring! Note: The place is definitely popular so expect a 20-30 minute wait or you can order ahead online about an hour before! There’s also a few locations so make sure to do a little research!
  4. Sarge’s – Another classic! Why do all the classics have so many options? We stuck to the most popular items and got matzo ball soup, blintzes, potato salad, cole slaw, sauerkraut, pastrami sandwich, and cheesecake. Honestly, everything was delicious and the service was warm as well. Note: They are also on GoldBelly if you can’t get to NY for some world-class pastrami!
  5. S’MAC – This was my solo adventure night and small confession, I centered it around this place just because of the photos. And now that I’ve been, it really is as good as it looks! The bubbling cheese, the cheese pull, and the actual cheesiness of the dish were sublime. They have a variety option (medium size pan) but it’s probably best for sharing as even the small option (that I got) was definitely enough for one person!
  6. Pio Pio 8 – What a way to start a Monday! There’s not a lot of Peruvian options in SoCal, so I was so very excited when my friends suggested this as it is one of their favorites. Must gets are Juanita’s Chicken (tender, juicy rotisserie chicken), Camarones Cuzco (shrimps in this creamy, garlicy, pepper sauce), and Chicha Morada (Peruvian spiced corn drink).
  7. Chip City  – This was a sleeper hit for me. I had never heard of it before but it was my friend’s recommendation of another cookie shop besides Levain. Chip City makes cookies the way I love cookies – warm, gooey, and decadent. Perfect for those late night cookie cravings if you’re like me. Did you know they also have ice cream?!?! And a weekly menu so the flavors are constantly changing? Note: There are multiple locations outside of New York so it was a little lower on the list. Unfortunately, those do not include SoCal (mostly East Coast).
  8. Urban Hawker – This was the food hall we visited after our Broadway show but note that most places were closed by then (a little before 9). Since most places were closed, we only got to try a couple things so I would love to go back! The vibe was great, and there were quite a bit of options for Malaysian/Singaporean street food which I don’t think is very common, at least in SoCal.
  9. Red Rooster Harlem – A great Southern food option if you’re craving it! The decor is delightful and homey and if you’re lucky, there’s live music which always just provides the best vibes! We got crab cake, fried chicken, mac and cheese with lobster, shrimp and grits, and collard greens. For drinks, we got a pitcher of Garvey’s Punch – definitely the way to go! I think we got at least 6 glasses out of the pitcher! It had a punch (pun not intended) but was easy to drink, just sweet enough, and complimented the food well. All the food was really solid and was a nice reminder of all the Southern food I had when I lived in Texas and traveled around in the south. The dessert was fine but not as good as the savory items.
  10. Shanghai Time – There’s nothing that quite hits the same as pizza and dumplings after a day of flying! Although I don’t think it’s a must eat, it’s a solid option if you’re in the area and are craving soup dumplings or wontons.

Runner ups include cookies from Levain, patatas bravas from Mercado Little Spain, snack cakes (fancy “Twinkies”) from Empire Cake, chocolate babka from Kossar’s, snow sundaes from Sweet Laboratory by Hanamizuki, and the banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery. 

Overall, New York City is such an amazing hub for foodies and I don’t think I ever had a bad bite. Not to say that’s not possible (as I had great local tour guides), but I also think there are other great places yet to be discovered. Hopefully, this list provides a helpful start!

Best of Pixar Fest 2024

Pixar Fest is back at Disneyland (for another month), and I don’t think I every truly participated aside from watching the original parade a long time ago. However, I was so excited to get to experience all the fun things that were announced. Below are my rankings of my favorite to least favorite festival offerings!

#1 Pixar Pals Playtime Party – I honestly thought this was a hoot-and-a-half. Not only does Troubadour Tavern serve us some spectacular seasonal treats. I personally had the Adventure is Out There! Cold Brew and the Una Papa Loca! which were both delicious. There’s also either a dance party happening, Pixar shorts playing, or characters meeting Guests so there’s entertainment while you eat! The only con is that it ends early (around 6P every night). 

#2 Food – There’s lots of fun Pixar Fest treats all around the Disneyland Resort – the Disney Parks Blog came out with a great and detailed Foodie Guide. This year, festival booths were added, and they are very cute and well themed. Although I only got a chance to try a handful of treats, my favorite was definitely the Gusteau Macaron. Any else got a sweet tooth?

#3 Fireworks – Coming in third is the Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular. Be sure to check if fireworks are planned or you might only get the projection show! The show is great and they definitely added a few new scenes to include the newer Pixar films, but unfortunately, it’s just not my favorite Disney fireworks. I don’t get as much nostalgia when I watch it, but it’s definitely a celebration of the Pixar films and characters.

#4 Parade – Lastly, since Club Pixar closed down, my least favorite offering was Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!. I know, I know, I feel like it’s a favorite for a lot of people, but I honestly prefer the Magic Happens parade. I just think the music, choreography, and float designs are better. However, Better Together definitely embraces the Pixar theme and the new floats were cool to see at least once. If you’re planning to go, the first parade goes from Hollywood Land (Guardians) to Paradise Gardens Park (Silly Symphony Swings) and the second parade goes in the opposite direction. Just a helpful hint to know since it can take 10-15 minutes after the parade time starts for the floats to start reaching the ending land.

A Weekend in Oklahoma City

Starting with a throwback trip, but something that I thought someone might find interesting. I visited Oklahoma City (OKC) back in January 2023! It was not a place on my bucket list, but I am so glad that I went! It had history and culture to share and was a safe place for a female solo traveler. It also had some great food to boot as well!

Why Go?

I was about to head up to the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area for a visit and was doing some research to see how I could extend my weekend up there. OKC is about a 2.5-3 hour drive from the DFW area so if you’re looking to expand that DFW bubble, I recommend OKC!

Where to Stay?

I opted for an Airbnb as it was the cheapest option. Since I had a car, location didn’t matter as much. I just needed a place that had parking! Most popular points of interest are in the downtown area, but there may be restaurants and other museums you want to visit that are a bit farther (i.e. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum). I recommend creating your list of interests first so you know what area to look in for a place to stay!

How to Get Around

I recommend renting a car to travel around OKC or staying in a more central place to your points of interest as you’ll likely need to Uber/Lyft. I didn’t see many buses running around during my weekend stay.

Day 1

Arrival day was a slow day. It was lots of driving after my “big girl” job and by the time I arrived, it was getting pretty late. I stopped by Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, a famous steakhouse that’s been frequented by celebrities and presidents! I heard it had a neat interior, but I had stopped for gas before and was already hungry and ready to go to bed. I’m glad I ordered ahead because there was still a bit of a wait when I arrived. Luckily, my Airbnb was close by so my food was still hot although it did culminate in my first and not-so-fun experience of using a plastic fork and knife to eat a steak. Overall, a really solid meal for the price – everything was great with my personal favorite being the bread. If you can, I would suggest eating in to get everything right off the grill. I’m sure that would only enhance your dining experience!

Day 2

A full day of exploration awaited! First stop was at Harvey Bakery and Kitchen. TIP: The line was out the door so I highly recommend ordering your desired baked goods online as they have a separate window for pick up. It’s a bit of a bummer to not be able to take a look at the bakery case, but Yelp photos definitely helped! Honestly though, I ordered a chocolate almond croissant, a cinnamon roll, and a kouign amann, and all were delicious so I don’t think you can go wrong!

 

Next stop was Kitchen No 324 , my actual planned place for breakfast. It’s a beautiful modern space that would have been a great place to dine, but once again, there was a wait, and I was running late after sleeping in. I ordered a Giant Buttermilk Pancake, and it was glorious! My favorite part was the slabs of salted butter than just melted into the pancake. Y-U-M! Who said you couldn’t eat cake for breakfast?

After the lovely pancake, I headed to the First Americans Museum (FAM). TIP: If you plan on going to both the FAM and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, they offer a combination ticket that also saves you $5. I recommend both if time allows! FAM offered a free tour (~1 hour), and it was a nice addition to my visit to get to ask questions with a tour guide. The tour consisted of a walk-through of the main exhibit on the first floor that focused on key historical moments and select artifacts. The museum incorporated history from a different perspective than in my schoolbooks growing up and overall, provided a knowledgeable view into First American culture and history. It is fairly new, and I think it’ll be really exciting to see how it will grow and expand over time. In terms of time, I recommend about 2 hours. If you plan on doing the tour, I recommend exploring the other exhibit on the second floor and going back to look at details from the first floor after the tour.

Originally, the plan was to visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum next. However, it was already mid-afternoon, and calculating the commute, I wasn’t sure if 2 hours would be enough. However, the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum was closer and the recommended amount of time for that was an hour and a half so I headed over there. Although the museum is older, the layout is well done. The museum details the story of the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995 throughout the day and focused on the victims, the first responders, the perpetrators, and the aftereffects as well. It was the worst act of homegrown terrorism in U.S. history, and although definitely tragic, it’s definitely a must-do if you visit. Outside is the Memorial dedicated to this event which I also recommend visiting. The hour and a half will allow you to comfortably walk through the museum and read most of the signs. However, I will note that I spent about 2 hours as there is much more information to read if you wanted to spend the time to do so.

After spending some time outside at the Memorial, I headed over to The Hall’s to pick up some pizza for dinner. They had some interesting flavors – I chose Sweetness and the Sunday Lunch for a Half and Half pizza. Sweetness was like an elevated Hawaiian pizza with hot honey and the Sunday Lunch had brisket and roasted potatoes. It was a great and satisfying meal to end the day with!

Day 3

Last day started off with breakfast at what seemed to be the most popular restaurant in OKC – a Latin cuisine inspired restaurant with an emphasis on Guatemalan cuisine, Café Kacoa. I ordered an Horchata and Tikal. The horchata had a rich depth and a lovely cinnamon-y kick. The tikal was one of their most popular dishes – think ultimate breakfast platter with eggs, steak, chorizo, black beans, plantains, and tortillas. It was incredibly flavorful and delicious. The portion was pretty generous, so I even had a little bit leftover to take back home with me for another breakfast experience another morning!

As for my morning activity, I wasn’t able to make it to the scheduled time I wanted to take of the Bricktown Water Taxi, so I improvised and did a self-guided driving tour to other points of interests. I admired and took photos of the Capitol building outside and drove in downtown to see the Bricktown area on foot. While looking for points of interest on Google Maps, the Centennial Land Run Monument popped up and I decided to check it out. I have to admit it was a bit odd to get directed towards a Bass Pro Shop, but apparently, the Monument is accessible from the back part of the parking lot. The Monument memorializes the Land Run on April 22, 1889, when more than 50,000 people rushed on horses, foot, and wagons to Unassigned Lands to attempt to stake a claim. While I don’t remember this event from my history classes, I must admit it was a very detailed monument and an expressive art piece.

Still full from breakfast, I headed off to my afternoon activity – utilizing the other half of my ticket to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. I admit I was a bit surprised to see this museum in OKC because I had never associated Oklahoma with cowboys before. However, let me say that this museum was big and full of information. I spent nearly 4 hours there and was so glad I did not go the day before because it would have felt so rushed. The museum had western and First American art, a real-life model of a Western town, private collections of guns, cowboy clothing and equipment, and more! Exhibits touched on the history of cowboys and western life, explained rodeos and its story, and showcased the Western entertainment genre, to name a few. Like the First Americans Museum, there was also a free tour. I was 1 of the 3 attendees and our docent was amazing – it was evident that he was very passionate about the topics and shared unique details throughout the museum. I eventually left the tour after 2 hours so that I could explore the other exhibits we had yet to get to. An impressive fact that I learned is that the museum has storage of even more pieces than they’re showcasing! This place is definitely not one to skip when you’re visiting OKC!

My last stop before heading back home was to Tucker’s Onion Burgers. I absolutely had to get an Oklahoma original – an onion burger although I didn’t learn about these until a few days before my trip. So, for those who may not be familiar, an onion burger has thin slices of onion smashed into the beef patty while it’s being cooked. For someone who’s not a fan of raw onions in my burgers but loves grilled onions, it was absolutely glorious! The supposed origin story is that by adding onions directly into the patty, costs could be reduced because less meat was being used. Given that it was supposedly created during the 1920s during the Depression, it sounds like a creative economic solution!

Final Thoughts

For someone who loves museums and food, OKC was an awesome weekend getaway. I found plenty to do without stressing that I wouldn’t be able to do everything. A weekend is a perfect amount of time so if OKC is close enough for a road trip or there’s a cheap flight that pops up, I recommend going!

Extra Things to Do

Bricktown Water Taxi
Myriad Botanical Gardens
Catch a game at Paycom Center

Extra Places to Eat

Boom Town Creamery
Empire Slice
Sheesh Mahal