A Quiet Spot Near Radiator Springs Racers

I love this little park beside the entry and exit to Radiator Springs Racers. It's a great spot for non-riders to wait for their families to return from the adventure, or for anyone to just unwind and listen to the happy screams of riders zipping around the base of Radiator Cap Rock.

Nearby, the Single-Rider and Fastpass queues wind through the landscaping before heading under the bridge to Stanley's Oasis. In the background, two racers head for the camelbacks during a test run (on this early morning visit the ride opening was delayed a few minutes).

The little rest zone is perfectly placed just between the normal crowd flow in and out of the ride, so you can usually count on finding an unoccupied bench while relaxing...or gearing up to take another spin on the Racers (remember...Single Rider Line)!

When a Cold Strikes at Disneyland (with Fish Heads & Crumbs)

Must...get..to...hotel...(I knew I'd find a use for this photo someday!)

There's no such thing as a good time to catch a cold, but feeling it hit right as vacation starts is just plain aggravating. I can tell you from personal experience that riding the Matterhorn with a pounding headache is not a good idea. Sometimes there's simply no other choice but to slog back to the hotel, collapse like a sack of coconuts, try not to blame the co-worker back home (who came to work with a fever) and hope it eases up in time to allow you at least a few good rides...or at least an Apple Freeze and a fritter.

For locals, it's not quite such a big deal; they just postpone for a week or two. They might even use the parks as their own comfort-food takeout service. Cue the walrus...oh, wait, he can't leave his house today...

The Grand Californian Lobby: The Resort's Hidden Oasis

When it comes to picking a favorite "quiet spot" at Disneyland Resort, the huge, spectacular lobby of the Grand Californian easily wins top honors. Whether or not you're staying at the beautiful-but-pricey hotel, you can easily drop by for a visit without ever leaving the parks area (this is where the resort's compact nature truly becomes an advantage).

Tucked right between Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney, this calming, quiet paradise defines the term "Hidden in Plain Sight." Although it's easily accessed from both DCA and Downtown Disney, the entry points don't call attention to themselves. As a result, most resort guests never think to drop in for a mid-day break (which is a good thing for the lobby's peaceful atmosphere).