Create some Disneyland magic right at home, plus recpies for a DIY Dole Whip, Tigger Tails and more!
Where are my fellow DisNerds ?! It’s no secret that I LOVE all things Disney. As far as fandoms go- my biggest is Disney, hands down.
From growing up on the movies and shows and forcing my mom to start calling me Ariel at age 3, to visiting Disneyland almost yearly since I was 5, getting engaged there, and my obsession with Disney Trivia, Funko Pops and golden era animation – it’s just part of who I am, and I’m so happy that my kids now share in the love of all things Disney!
Many of you mamas are the same way, which is why I’m so excited to share this post with you! Be sure to read through for the DIY Dole Whip recipe!
We were fortunate enough to make it to Disneyland less than a week before the Coronavirus outbreak made it to California shut the park down (thank you again to my amazing Mom for taking us!! I’ll be posting more in detail on our trip soon, lots to share!) It was the twins’ first visit and they’ve talked about it non stop since we got back.
Being home with nowhere to go during lockdown, I wanted to do something extra special and fun for the kids, so I planned a Disney day for us! Check out the rest of this post for ideas on how to have your own Disney day at home!
Disneyland at Home
When the kids woke up, I told them all about our special day! First I asked them if they’d like to pick out a character to dress up as!
Now, they have a TON of Disney character costumes, but I wanted to have them use their imaginations and do a Disney Bound (using their own clothes to create a Disney character inspired look) instead. I think they did pretty great!
Easy DIY Mickey and Minnie Disney Costumes
The boys both picked “classic Mickey”, as they call him, and put together matching outfits! My oldest even had the brilliant idea to cut out little yellow ovals for their shorts which we taped on (so cute and creative of him, right!?).
Sis picked Minnie, of course, and used her cute polka dot pink dress and her pink sequin Minnie ears to get her perfect look! She has a plush Minnie with the same outfit so she thought it was REALLY cool getting to match her favorite toy!
Disneyland Park Music at Home
Next, we turned to our best gal Alexa to set the mood! There are a couple ways to enjoy Disney inspired sounds at home!
Our first, and most used option, is to say:
“Alexa, play Disney Hits music!” – This brings you to the Disney Hits station and plays all of your favorite songs from Disney movies like “I’ve Got a Dream” from Tangled, “I Wanna Be Like You” from The Jungle Book, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan and so many more!
Second, which we loved using leading up to our Disneyland visit, you can say:
“Alexa, play Disneyland music!” – With this option, you will get to hear music played in Disneyland and on the rides! I really enjoy listening to Walt’s famous dedication speech: “To all who come to this happy place, welcome.” It makes me a little misty every time! This option also brings you music from Main Street, the Enchanted Tiki Room and more!
Last but not least is this hidden gem, which I wish I would’ve known about sooner! Sounds of Disneyland was shared in a Disneyland Addicts Facebook group in in and O…M….G! This website is amazing! You can listen to every single song from the parks! Rides, outdoor music, all of it. Just click on the little music note with lines icon to see all of the different sections! (See below) Check it out, you won’t be sorry: Sounds of Disneyland
Ride Disneyland Rides … Virtually
If you’re missing the rides at Disneyland as much as us, have no fear! There are all kinds of YouTubers who have recorded them for us to enjoy virtually! Grab a cozy seat in front of your TV or laptop and enjoy these POV (point of view) ride throughs!
You can even line your kiddos up in a laundry hamper and move them side to side and make the bumps along with the turns in the video! We did this when ours were smaller but now we enjoy raising our arms and leaning back and forth as if we’re actually there. Don’t knock it till you try it!
Some of our favorite ride channels include:
AND, here’s a BONUS video… If you grew up in the 90s like me, don’t forget to end your YouTube session with the classic Disneyland Sing Along video! Does this bring back any memories for you!? We watched this before every single trip, and now I get to share that magic with my kids! It’s so fun!
Disneyland Food and DIY Dole Whip Recipe
One thing I look forward to the most at Disneyland is the food! We all have our favorites, right? Before being diagnosed with Celiac, my ultimate Disneyland foods were their churros and the famous Monte Cristo from the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square!
Word on the street (or… in the Disneyland fandom groups I’m in on Facebook)…Tio Pepe’s makes the churros Disneyland uses, and they can be purchased in bulk at Costco. Don’t quote me on that, but it’s good to know you can find some pre-made yummy churros for your Disneyland day!
I’ve also always been a huge fan of Dole Whip! We always stop and grab a cup of that sweet pineappley goodness before the Tiki Room and eat while we enjoy the show!
While Dole Whip has always been near the top of my list since long before my gluten free days, I definitely have a new found appreciation for it as it’s something I know i can safely eat… so, we sought out a way to make it at home!
Lucky for us, Dole has a recipe for the DIY Dole Whip Recipe right on their website! You can find that recipe here or save this picture to your photos!
DIY Tigger Tails Recipe
You’ll Need:
6 Lollipop Sticks
1 Bag Jumbo Marshmallows
1 Bag Kraft Caramel Bits
1 Tbsp Heavy Cream
1 Bag White Chocolate Wafer Melts
1 Bag Chocolate Wafter Melts
1/2 tsp Orange Extract
1.Place 3-4 Jumbo Marshmallows sideways on each lollipop stick
2.In a large glass bowl, melt caramel bits in your microwave or over a double boiler according to directions on bag, stir in heavy cream
3.While caramel is warm but not hot, dip marshmallow skewers to coat. Place on a parchment covered cookie sheet to set (about 10 minutes)
4.When caramel has set, melt white chocolate wafers according to directions and stir in orange extract and a few drops of orange food coloring until you reach desired color. Dip skewers to coat and place back on parchment covered cookie sheet to set.
5.Melt your chocolate wafers and using a spoon or a piping bag, add your Tigger Tail stripes!
*optional: • add a splash of vanilla to caramel. • set caramel dipped marshmallow skewers in fridge before dipping in melted white chocolate. • dip Tigger Tails in their signature orange sanding sugar after white chocolate and before chocolate stripes.
Recipes from Disney
Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic, Disney has also released a couple of their famous recipes for us to whip up at home!
Check out these recipes for:
Enjoy the Disney Magic and New Memories
While this certainly can’t replace a trip to Disneyland, it is a special way to add some Disney Magic at home during this crazy time.
With just a little bit of planning, and a whole lot of love, you too can enjoy a special Disneyland at Home day!
I hope these tips were helpful! Please let me know if your family has any fun Disneyland at home traditions I didn’t mention, or if this post has inspired you to do your own special Disney day!
And above everything, I hope you’re all staying safe and well with your families. Sending all my love 💚.
KIMILOVE 