The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (232 page)

             
After the events of September 11, 2001 I made a complete career change, joining the fitness industry. I had always been a novice fitness enthusiast, but it wasn't until then that I really felt my calling in life and I haven't looked back. I've worked with kids, teens, adults, and seniors over the years and it's been very rewarding and fun being in the fitness industry.

             
Q:
What do you find most rewarding about your career?

             
When the results go beyond the typical "lose weight", tone up" etc. I've had success as a coach helping seniors walk again after a debilitating fall or illness, people whose cholesterol and blood pressure were too high get back into normal ranges, business leaders, and entrepreneurs become a success due to increased energy and focus, and expectant Moms-to-be train with me up until a few days before giving birth to healthy and beautiful children. Also, when people travel with me on my adventure trips and active vacations, they always learn a little more about themselves and others.

             
Q:
Southern California is a wonderland of theme parks and vacation spots. What are the biggest "fitness dangers" for people visiting these places?

             
Consuming too much processed and fatty foods and not staying hydrated enough.

             
Q:
And what are the biggest "fitness opportunities"?

             
A full day at the theme park can really burn some calories with all the walking around. Unfortunately, most people completely erase that opportunity with what and how much they choose to eat.

             
Q:
What techniques or strategies can visitors to
Disneyland
use to keep from going overboard with sweets and fatty treats?

             
Keep in mind the 2 "P's":  Processed and Portions. Don't choose foods that come from a container, box, bag, or can, and mind your portions. Americans eat 100 pounds more food per year than 20 years ago. If you can stick to small portions you've won over half the battle.

             
Q:
How important is it, in your opinion, to keep hydrated during theme park visits?

             
It's critical. Many people visit the parks in the summer when the temperatures are high and the sun is strong. Heat stroke can be life threatening. I recommend drinking at least 3 liters of water while you're at the park. I want to emphasize "at least". In most cases you'll probably need more. An easy way to determine if you are dehydrated is urine; if it's dark yellow, you need to drink water immediately.

             
Q:
What are your thoughts on sunscreen?

             
Another critical consideration. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. And the rates have been rising over the past 30 years. Always use a sunscreen that blocks out both UVA and UVB and has an SPF of 15 or higher. Re-apply each and every hour.

             
Q:
Proper footwear is key to safety during long theme park rambles. What is your opinion on flip-flops at theme parks—"Yay" or "Nay"?

             
That's a big “Nay” from me. There are about 30 bones, 30 joints and 100 muscles in our feet and ankles. Wearing good quality and comfortable shoes is critical since it also affects your knees and hips as well.

             
Q:
Any additional health and fitness advice that Guests can use when visiting theme parks like
Disneyland
?

             
A day at the park can be exhilerating and lots of fun. Make sure to do some simple stretches every 3-4 hours for your major muscle groups and keep your anxiety levels low by going with the flow and not letting the potential crowds, long lines, and sometimes obnoxious people frustrate you. Do some slow and steady deep breathing if you feel overwhelmed and clear your mind. That'll put a smile right back on your face.

             
Q:
What do you think about the happiest place on earth?

             
Like anything in life, it's what you make of it. Stay healthy and safe, have an adventurous spirit, and discover your own inner magic while visiting the park.

Disneyland Food

Southern California locals—especially those with
Annual Passports
who live near the resort—often pop into
Disneyland
not for the attractions, not for the shows, not for the characters, but to devour their favorite
Disneyland
treats.

Although I’m (generally) not a fan of generalizations, I’ll go out on a limb and say many
Disneyland
Guests love to have fun and enjoy life (!)  And part of that fun means savoring the amazing array of tasty foods and beverages concocted with
Disney magic
.  But don’t forget about
Disneyland
fitnesses—everyone indulges in a bit of unhealthy eating on vacations, but try to vary your meals, control your portions, and consume as much fresh fare as possible.

In recent years,
Disneyland
has made great strides in its culinary offerings.  Whether you’re a chocoholic or crunchaholic, a vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, or carnivore, whether you prefer a cold glass of milk or a glass of fine wine,
Disneyland
has you covered.  There are all-American treats (both contemporary and nostalgic), kosher foods, Mexican dishes, French and German specialities, pastas, pizzas, pan-Asian cuisine, and Mediterranean fare.  Guests can consume healthful, low-calorie, gluten-free meals, or wolf down hearty feasts.

If you think dining at
Disneyland
means jostling dozens of other hungry, tired Guests while you jockey for prime position in an endless queue in quest of an ice cream bar or a corn dog—well, you’re right.  That
is
one scenario.  But today’s
Disneyland Resort
offers plenty of serene and civilized options, and not all of them will break the bank.  Farewell limp fries and soggy burger patties.  Hello variety and quality and even healthy selections!

What fueled this culinary transformation?  In part, the 2001 introduction of the
Grand Californian Hotel
and
Downtown Disney
district with their classy (and classic) eateries.

Credit also the 2001 launch of
DCA Park
and its recent billion-dollar renovations; the park has always served healthy and high-quality fare representative of California’s culturally diverse cuisine, now more than ever.

Finally, we can thank the late
Steve Jobs
.  Co-founder and CEO of
Pixar Animation
,
Jobs
joined the
Walt Disney Co.
board in 2006, and many of the theme parks’ healthy, high-quality food changes seemed to follow the installation of this health-conscious entrepreneur.  At the 2013
D23 Expo
, the late
Jobs
was posthumously honored as a
Disney Legend
.

Although the resort’s food quality, variety, and healthfulness have improved overall, there are still plenty of high-calorie, decadent treats available, because being a
little
bad diet-wise is part of vacation fun.

A special note for the increasing numbers of Guests on gluten-free diets:  Park popcorn is gluten-free, and options like gluten-free buns, pancakes, pasta, and pizza are all available if you know where to ask.

There used to be a list of gluten-free options available at
City Hall
, but the list was discontinued; a
City Hall
Cast Member explained that with the resort’s abundant new variety of foods, it’s more practical for Guests with special dietary needs to consult with the chefs and servers at each restaurant on a case-by-case basis.

Always make inquiries with servers if you have questions about your dietary needs.  That goes for kosher, vegan, diabetic, and dairy-free eaters as well. 
Disneyland
wants
everyone
to have a positive dining experience.

In the list that follows, the author of
The Disneyland Book of Secrets
series (with input from family and friends) suggests a broad variety of
Disneyland
Snacks
,
Meals
,
Beverages
, and
Dining Spots
that Guests might want to explore.

This is by no means an exhaustive catalog, but a sampler to kick-start your culinary adventures.  It leans toward the grown-up, healthy, and sophisticated selections, since those are the resort’s newer options and the types of venues people traditionally
haven’t
associated with
Disneyland
.  But there are also plenty of casual choices and kid-friendly treats noted on the following pages.  Enjoy it all—in moderation.

In the lists below, “
DCA
” stands for
Disney California Adventure Park
, “
DL
” stands for
Disneyland Park
, and “
DTD
” stands for
Downtown Disney
.  You can always find updated information about resort eateries, meals, and prices at
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining
.

Did
your
Disneyland
Resort
food favorites make the lists below?  Share your faves by dropping the author a note at
[email protected]
.

Snacks


        
Beignets
(
DL
)

             
Delectable, sugar-dusted puffs of fried dough paired with dipping sauces.  Featured in
Disney
’s
The Princess and the Frog
, these “tres français” beignets can be found in
New Orleans Square
. Consumed with coffee or hot cocoa,
c’est si bon
!
Bon appétit
!  [L.A.-based folks who can’t make it to the resort can savor beignets at Tavern (11648 San Vicente, Brentwood). 
Los Angeles
magazine raves about Tavern’s beignets in the August 2013 issue, and about the cream, dipping chocolate, and “toffee-hazelnut sauce” that accompanies them.]


        
Bread Twists
(
DL
)

             
Hail to the
Bread Twists
at
Fantasy Faire
!  Reasonably priced and big enough to share, the twists are feather-light chocolate or strawberry, and savory, chewy cheddar-garlic.  They also make great impromptu swords, but remember—fence responsibly!


        
Candy Apples
(
DCA
,
DL
,
DTD
)

             
Candy-covered, caramel-cloaked, or chocolate-dipped, the resort’s enrobed apples are mini-masterpieces of the confectioner’s art, often decorated to resemble popular characters such as
Mickey
or
Jack Skellington
.  Look for them at the
Candy Palace
(
DL
),
Marceline’s
(
DTD
), and
Trolley Treats
(
DCA
).


        
Chocolate Cake
(
DL
,
DTD
)

             
Though the mile-high slice the
Golden Horesehoe
used to feature has gone the way of the frontier, there are still plenty of places (including the
Plaza Pavillion
and the
Disneyland
hotels) that serve up a mouthwateringly moist and fudgy slice of old-fashioned chocolate cake.  Just like great-grandma used to make,
Disneyland
’s chocolate cake pairs beautifully with cold milk—and if it’s
Celebration
or
Dream
cake, it’s dusted with gold!


        
Chocolate Chip Cookies
(
DCA
,
DL
,
DTD
)

             
Wherever you find them in the parks, whether at the
Jolly Holiday Bakery & Café
or
Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café
or
Pooh Corner
,
Disneyland
’s chocolate chip cookies are among the best, with the perfect balance of softness and crispiness, and melty chocolate chips.  For true decadence, order a chocolate chip cookie in your sundae, or, before you depart, pick up a dozen mini-cookies for a midnight snack at
Downtown Disney
’s Häagen Dazs store.


        
Churros
(
DCA
,
DL
)

             
Among the resort’s most popular—and affordable—treats, these fried dough batons, liberally sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, can be purchased at snack carts almost everywhere you turn (just follow that mesmerizing fried dough scent).  Big enough to halve and share.


        
Corn Dogs
(
DCA
,
DL
)

             
These juicy treats wrapped in golden cornbread taste best daubed with mustard and consumed with a cold drink.  Lines are long but well worth the wait at the
Corn Dog Castle
and
Little Red Wagon
.  (Vegetarians can indulge in the
Corn Dog Castle
’s deep-fried cheese sticks.)


        
Fruits & Veggies
(
DCA
,
DL
,
DTD
)

             
Now as ubiquituous as churro carts, the resort’s many fruit stands sell fresh and packaged fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy fare like hummus, nuts, trail mix, and yogurt.  If you’d rather eat grapes than ice cream, and prefer your children to eat apples or celery sticks rather than cookies, you can arrange it with ease.  Fruit stands don’t just sell the “same old, same old”.  They stock seasonal, unusual fruits like Saturn peaches to keep Guests’ taste buds happy.  Bonus:  Lines tend to be shorter at the parks’ fruit stands than at its ice cream parlors and bakeries.  In
Downtown Disney
, design your own healthy smoothies at
Jamba Juice
.


        
Hot Dogs
(
DCA
,
DL
)

             
No food is more all-American, and hot dogs are among the resort’s least expensive and most convenient foods.  And, oh yes—they’re
delicious
, always the right combination of crunch and buttery softness.  For under $10 grab a dog, chips or fruit slices, and a drink, and you’re good-to-go.  In recent years the red hots have expanded well beyond the
Hot Dog Hut
and
Refreshment Corner
, available now at pop-up carts everywhere from
Grizzly Peak
to the
Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree
, where lines are short when your hunger is big.  On a gluten-free diet?  The
John Morrell
hot dogs are reported to be gluten-free; just order them served on a gluten-free bun or bun-free.


        
Ice Cream Bars
(Hand-Dipped) (
DCA
)

             
Preparation is slow but the wait pays off when you order a hand-dipped ice cream bar at
Clarabelle’s
.  Rich vanilla, chocolate, or fruit bars are dunked by hand in milk or dark chocolate and rolled in the Guest’s choice of decadent finishes like sprinkles or chocolate chips.  Grab plenty of napkins and hang onto the paper boat in which the ice cream bar is served because the bar melts fast.  Worth the dry-cleaning bills!