Restaurant Preview: Ballast Point in Downtown Disney Anaheim

I was able to attend a taste and adjust of the brand new Ballast Point Brewery & Kitchen at Downtown Disney Anaheim. This large 4,000 square-foot glass-enclosed bar and restaurant space has seating for 220. There is also a 3,000 square-foot outdoor beer garden with cabana-style seating.

With the official opening set for January 16th, let's take a look at what we were able to eat and drink!

The restaurant is located on the second level and you pass all of these tap handles on the way up the stairs.

This location will not only offer more than 50 styles of Ballast Point's beers across 100 tap lines but also its own exclusive brews. While my friend decided on the Wahoo White, I went with one of their R&D selections that may or may not make it past the R&D phase.

This amazing bowl of "Wahoo" Beer Steamed Mussels was our Plate to Share. This massive order of mussels sits in garlic, ginger, shallots, serrano chili, shishito peppers, Spanish chorizo and a baguette. The mussels were briny and the broth is perfect. We loved using the bread to soak up the broth. They even brought us extra bread!

My friend went with The Ballast Point Burger. The chuck and brisket blend patty is moist and flavorful. The BBQ sauce also really adds to the flavor and takes it to another level. I also loved their fries being nice and crisp!

I went with the California "Kolsch" Steak Burrito. This massive burrito is stuffed with tender Santa Maria style steak, guacamole, fries, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese and wrapped in a flour tortilla. On the side is a smoky housemade salsa that elevated the already great taste burrito!

The meal was amazing and we were both totally full that we didn't make it to dessert! But we did try some more of the beer offerings. We learned that you can ask to have beer combined to add to even more unique flavor combinations! Above we combined the Pumpkin Spice Scottish Ale and the Victory At Sea to create a Smashing Pumpkin and we also combined the Peanut Butter Victory At Sea with the Blackberry Ale to make a version of PB&J! So take a look at their entire beer list and see what flavor combination you can come up with!

To learn more, check out their site at: Ballast Point Anaheim

Giveaway: Disneyland Resort Espresso Cup Set

Enter to win this great Disneyland Resort espresso cup set and a $20 gift card to Starbucks! The giveaway is open worldwide and the winner will be notified by email!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Restaurant Preview: Splitsville Luxury Lanes Downtown Disney Anaheim

Sasaki Time was invited to a preview of the new Splitsville Luxury Lanes in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort. This retro 1950s looking bowling, entertainment and dining venue sits on what was once the home of The House of Blues but the building is brand new from the ground up! I already love the large windows and the patio area!

Time to dive into the menu!

We started with the spicy edamame that is steamed and tossed with sesame oil and chili sauce. There is a great kick to it as to be expected and yet finishes with the subtle sweetness of the edamame. Wildly addicting!

We also got the cheeseburger sliders. Now these sliders are pretty big and pretty tasty! Each of these nearly full-sized cheeseburgers are topped with lettuce, caramelized onions, tomatoes, pickles, special sauce and cheese! I admit these are fairly close to an In-N-Out burger. One can easily get full off of all three of these!

Johnny Depp Surprises Guests at Disneyland as The Mad Hatter

Johnny Depp, dressed as his iconic character the Mad Hatter, livestreamed onto a billboard in Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA to surprise the Park’s guests. 

See Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Alice Through The Looking Glass, in theaters May 27.

Disneyland Resort Guests Kick Off the Monstrous Summer All-Nighter

Thousands of Disneyland Resort guests lined up early this morning to begin 24 hours of monstrous fun here at the Disneyland Resort. Check out this video below for the opening moment (complete with fireworks, of course), lots of Mike Wazowski eyes and more! Read more on the Disney Parks Blog: http://bit.ly/13Qt9MX

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Disneyland Resort Trip: Iron Man Tech, Spring Time, Cars Land and Food!

I went to The Disneyland Resort on Saturday to check out the new Iron Man Tech exhibit at Innoventions. Innoventions never had a line like this!

 Here I am getting ready to 'suit up' and take the new Mark 42 armor for a test drive!

To see more of my photos as well as the video of me testing the Mark 42 armor at the Iron Man Tech exhibit click the link below:

Iron Man Tech exhibit at Innoventions 

 Love this stroller parking sign at Star Tours!

Then I headed into the Star Trader to make my own droids at the Droid Factory!

 These are the two that I made! I love the packaging they come in!

To see more photos of the Droid Factory click on the link below:

Build Your Own Star Wars Droids! 

 The Princess Fantasy Faire is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to take photos in the park!

 For such a small space there are so many options of contrasting colors and angles to take photos of.

 Be quiet bird! Figaro is trying to take a cat nap!

 I just love how the Fantasy Faire looks like an extension of the castle that has always been here.

 I love the attention to detail here. Just look at how ornate this lamp is.

 Even the roses are perfect!

 I think every visit to Disneyland requires at least one photo of the castle!

 Even though it is an overcast day. it still feels like spring!

I love this shot of The Partners statue. It came out so well! 

Jumping across the way into Disney California Adventure! The subtle signs of spring can be felt here as well!

 Lightning came on through Route 66 to say hi!

Cars Land has been my favorite place to take photo since the first time I stepped foot inside the land! It seems almost impossible to take a bad photo here!

 Just another pretty day in Radiator Springs!

 My favorite view of Radiator Springs! It doesn't get much better than this!

It was time to fuel up! Off to Flo's for my favorite, pork lion and Coca-Cola BBQ sauce with radiator pasta salad and cole slaw! So delicious and filling!

 But there is always room for an apple-cheddar pie! One of the best around!

Thanks for taking a quick visit to The Disneyland Resort with me! Hope you had fun and let me know if you want me to take photos of anything specific in the Resort!

Disneyland Resort Turns Up the Romance During ‘True Love’ Week, All Part of ‘Limited Time Magic’

Disneyland Resort Turns Up the Romance During ‘True Love’ Week, All Part of ‘Limited Time Magic’

ANAHEIM, Ca., Jan. 28, 2012 – Love is in the air at Disneyland Resort as fairy tale princesses find true love with their princes, and “happily ever after” becomes a reality. It all happens during True Love Week February 11-17, 2013 at Disneyland Resort.

The weeklong love fest is part of “Limited Time Magic” at Disney Parks, where each week in 2013 guests will be treated to a sprinkling of Disney magic, with fun and surprises that enhance their vacation memories.

During True Love Week, a tapestry of romance is woven throughout the resort — from special entertainment and limited-edition Valentine’s merchandise to candlelit dinners for two and new, themed photo locations offering encounters with beloved Disney sweethearts – all for a limited-time only.

The weeklong event celebrates the love of friends and family, and invites couples to rekindle the flame. Here is the lineup:

• Romantic Setting: Guests will feel the romance at every turn, as banners proclaiming True Love Conquers All, heart-shaped signage and sweetheart-themed décor adorn Disneyland Park.
• Blushing Castle: At dusk, hues of red and pink will bathe Sleeping Beauty Castle, with projections of flowers and hearts.
• Floral Heart: A giant floral heart makes a sweet setting for a Valentine photo, in Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland.
• Valentine Wishes: Flowers, garlands and decorative doves will create a second ideal location around Snow White Wishing Well near Sleeping Beauty Castle. At night, magical lighting adds a romantic touch to the wishing well and Snow White Grotto.
• Disneyland Sweethearts: Also near Town Square, guests will find a photo location with resident Disneyland sweethearts – Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck.
• Dinners for Two: Romantic dinners for two with prix fixe menus will be offered at select restaurants during the most romantic week of the year. Specially-created menus at Blue Bayou and Café Orleans in Disneyland, Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure Park, Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel or Napa Rose in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel make ideal choices for a romantic evening. To book call 714-781-DINE (714-781-3463).
• Cupcake Lovers: Chefs have prepared a specially themed Valentine’s dessert: a chocolate cupcake with raspberry mousse filling and dark chocolate mousse frosting. It will be available at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café in Disneyland, Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café and Pacific Wharf Café in Disney California Adventure, and Disneyland Hotel Coffee House.
• Valentine’s-themed Takeaways: Limited-edition pins, plush, newly-designed apparel and Vinylmations will be available at select merchandise locations.
• Ears for your Sweetheart: The classic Disneyland ear hat gets a total glitz makeover just in time for the most romantic time of the year. It will dazzle your Valentine and become the most sophisticated pair of ears in your collection.
• Royal Romance: Guests will enjoy a rare opportunity to get photos of Disney Princes as they escort their Princesses along The Royal Walk in Fantasyland. In New Orleans Square, guests will find another pair of sweethearts, Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen.
• In Search of True Love: Guests may also encounter the Wandering Wallflowers, in search of “true love.”

The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., will celebrate True Love week with similar in-park offerings. Visit Disneyworld.com for details.

For more information about “Limited Time Magic,” guests may visit www.LimitedTimeMagic.com or search for Twitter hashtag #LimitedTimeMagic.

Photo Update: Disneyland Resort (November 26, 2012)

Happy Holidays everyone! The Holidays are in full win at The Disneyland Resort! I realized that I didn't go over to The Disneyland Hotel to show you some of the Christmas trees there! So we shall start here at the main lobby of The Disneyland Hotel!

Then we shall move over to the Adventureland Tower!

I love that the tree here is themed appropriately!

Here is the tree for the Frontierland Tower!

The tree has these awesome 12 Days of Christmas ornaments that I wish they sold to us! I'll post all of them a little later today!

While taking photos I literally ran into a wedding!

Heading off into DCA now!
 Not that I need a map!

Goofy joined the Five & Dime gang!

Spent the day with my awesome friend Zoe! Red looks happy to see us!

Went on Screaming! Too bad the sun glare blocked Zoe's face! Sorry Zoe!

Stopped off at The Corn Dog Castle for some lunch! They have the best hot link corn dog!
 And I didn't get the chips! I opted instead for the apple slices!

Zoe's favorite movie is The Little Mermaid!

Scuttle is my favorite!

Then we went to go check in at The Hollywood Tower Hotel! For some reason only the service elevators were able to take us up to our rooms!

EPIC Photo Time!

Off to help Mike and Sulley rescue Boo!

Even Roz is in the Holiday Spirit! She liked our ears!

The afternoon sun continues to play havoc with us! This time it's with our friend Santa!

Then it was time to take the long walk over to Disneyland!

Beautiful City Hall!

Not a bad wait for one of my all-time favorite attractions! Time to be a pirate matey!

Now off to another one of my all-time favorites! I love The Haunted Mansion but I love Haunted Mansion Holiday even more! Making Christmas, Making Christmas!

After a couple of perilous journeys on Splash Mountain! Thankfully we didn't get wet! Zoe lucked out on this one! Heading over to visit Winnie The Pooh and then riding the runaway train on Big Thunder, we finally made it to night and to see this! Small World Holiday all lit up!

Off to Pizza Port for some dinner!

Took Zoe to see Captain EO since she had never seen it before!

Then it was time to head back to DCA and get our racing on in Cars Land!

Have I mentioned before how much I love the Christmas decorations in DCA?

Just a fun beauty shot of Cars Land!

And while it isn't always about winning, it is about how you enjoyed the ride! That's all for now! Look for more photos soon! If you have any requests or have any questions please leave a comment below! Thank you and hope you enjoyed your visit!

Oh and make sure you get your hand stamped on the way out!