As I was driving the Mitsubishi Mirage for the week I was reminded of a metaphor I’ve heard about strong women ” though she be but small she is mighty” … or something like that. The car itself doesn’t take up much space, in fact you may not even notice it on the road. But once inside, once you put pedal to metal you’re reminded of its strength, not necessarily in speed but in how unassumingly smooth and resilient it is. As I was coming up with things to do in the car, something that would encompass the metaphor of being both small and large, soft but powerful, what continued to come to mind was the conglomerate that is Disneyland! Now hear me out…
Disneyland is so unassuming in that it’s a place families take their children to enjoy what is coined a “magical” experience. You can’t always put your finger on where the magic lies, but this is in fact, where the magic lies! It’s the small details of the day that make up the magic. The rides aren’t heart pounding fast, the food is over priced, and the crowds can be downright claustrophobic. But the small details – the fact that every cast member greets with a Happy Birthday on your special day, the intricate details of every ride, the characters that never break character as you see them throughout the park, the feeling that you can’t quite put your finger on but its floating in the atmosphere as if that kind of special is only designed for that space. That’s Disneyland, and it’s the reason why I chose it as the backdrop in my Mitsubishi Mirage adventure!
Ok I’ll admit it! I’m one of those Disneyland freaks, However, I think the things that turn people off about the park, I’ve been able to circumvent because I’m a season pass-holder with no children who has had the opportunity to get to the park and try out different strategies to get the most out of my day. So here are my tips for you moms and dads who have yet to find the magic in the most magical place on earth.
Tip #1 If you’re going to go get a season pass I suggest you only get one if you have a friend that has one as well (that is unless you’re going as a family). This way you’re not the lone wolf weirdo who has a season pass at Disneyland and goes there all alone… and if that is you, no judgement…kinda
Tip #2 : Bring your own snacks! Food at Disneyland is pricey so why not bring in your own? People don’t know this and Disneyland doesn’t promote it, but they actually allow it so take full advantage! I pack a sandwich, chips, water and whatever else I can fit in my backpack. I do have to say I always end up springing for a strawberry churro though.
Tip #3: If you’re unsure of which park to hit up first and you’ve checked your Disneyland app (more on that next) and both parks are equally full, I suggest hitting up the park with the ride that still has a Fast Pass available. For me, that park would be Disneyland California Adventure. They have a ride there called “Soarin Over the World” that literally takes your breath away! So getting there and getting my Fast Pass for that ride is numero uno on my list of things to do!
Tip #4: So about that app I was talking about above. There are apps that will tell you wait times for rides at both parks, they will also tell you how full one park is over another. Of the many Disneyland apps to choose from, I’d say my favorite is the “My Disney Experience” app. It allows you to get Fast Passes, reserve seats for dining and much much more!
Tip #5: Parents, if you get some time away from the kids, California Adventure serves wine and beer and there are some restaurants like Carthay Circle Lounge that serve the harder stuff.
Tip #6: You’ll definitely want to hit up the California Food and Wine Festival at California Adventure when that comes around March. It features dozens of California inspired cuisines with daily educational beverage seminars and culinary demonstrations.
Tip #7: If you do become an annual pass-holder I urge you to get the Southern California Annual Passport. There are no block out days on Sundays (the best day to go on the weekend in my opinion if you want to beat the crowds) and its only a few dollars difference than the lowest priced passport.
So now for my review of the Mitsubishi Mirage! I’m way more about a nifty little pro’s and con’s list so here goes mine.
Pro’s
- GREAT price point! This ride starts below $14,395
- Mp3 player; I absolutely loved the iPhone mirror image feature
- Easy Bluetooth set-up
- Seat Warmers
- Dual side temp control
- Rear camera for easy parallel parking
- GREAT gas mileage! I filled up once and that was a mere $20.00 at 2.59 a gallon!
- The beautiful red wine color with a light sparkle was super easy on the eyes
- Roomy interior & spacious trunk
- Smooth and tight ride
Con’s
- Not a lot of horsepower, it took some time to get this ride going
- Sound system was pretty mediocre
- Seat warmers stayed on for only 5-10 minutes at a time
I had a good time in the car! This is the perfect starter car for new drivers and economically conscious adults and families.
So folks, tell me about one of your Disneyland adventures! Do you have any wisdom to impart on any of us that may help with our own future trips to the mouse house? I’d love to know in the comments below!
Great tips. We want to take out daughter Kenzie soon, but am one of those extremely claustrophobic line people. Thanks!