1. Listen to Disney music. Absolutely nothing puts me in a Disneyland state of mind faster than listening to the music! Whenever Disneyland introduces a new compilation of park music we pick one up – which is fun in terms of nostalgia, being able to have the music for fireworks shows and parades gone by (Electrical, for instance). My personal favorite Disneyland CD is the Musical History of Disneyland, which includes audio from opening day, and several attractions of the past as well as the present. If you are looking for a more affordable option to get Disney (although not Disneyland) music Radio Disney is available anywhere anytime, through the Radio Disney website, and in the form of an iTunes app, but can also be accessed through TuneIn online or the TuneIn app. 

2. Download the Disneyland Explorer App. This completely free app for iPhone or iPad is phenomenal. It basically lets you take a complete virtual tour of Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the Resort hotels, Between the two parks that’s over 130 attractions, characters, and entertainment avenues – my kids love the games that some of the attractions contain, they are simple enough that my 2 year old can play them, but fun enough that my 5 year old still gets a kick out of them. I think it might be the closest thing to being in the park! If you want more info, check out BiD’s post about it here.

3. Eat Something “Disney”. When I’m out and about and feel like having a “Disney”ish treat, I’ve found a couple of treats that take me back to Disneyland in a bite. A churro from Costco is one – they’re not as good as the Disney Parks versions, but they’re also not as expensive 😉 Another treat is the Pineapple Frozen Yogurt that most FroYo places make tastes almost exactly like a Dole Whip – and in fact Menchie’s has the real deal! (I’ve been stalking the brand new Menchie’s that’s being built right now in my area, so I can have a Dole Whip ASAP!). Or when I’m feeling in the mood to bake, I like to make an actual Disneyland recipe, the chocolate chip cookies are my families favorite, I’ve made way way  too many of these bad boys. You can see our other Disney at Home recipes here.

4. Visit the Disney Store. When our local Disney Store closed, I very nearly cried, walking into a Disney Store was like visiting a mini Disneyland satellite with just enough magic in it to last me for a little bit longer until I could visit the Parks again. When you walk into a Disney Store, you know you are walking into Disney. The theming in these stores is so amazing, plus the music, merchandise, and friendly Cast Members, it makes me feel like I’m shopping in the Emporium or the World of Disney! Every time I’m near a Disney Store, there is no question, I’m making a trip there!

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5. Plan your next trip! The absolute BEST way to “make it” until the next time you can get to Disneyland, is to start planning your next trip. They say “anticipation is the greater joy,” now I might not totally agree, but I would say it is at least an equal joy for me! I LOVE planning the trip – making dining reservations, deciding what to see and do, researching what new things I’d like to try, planning fun little surprises for the kids, making a countdown calendar… every last little detail makes me that much more excited to get there, and makes me feel like I’m just that closer to it really happening! No joke, we start planning our next trip while we are at Disneyland. If we don’t know when we’ll be back, it’s so much harder and sadder to leave, but if we have a plan before we leave, then we can just say “See ya real soon!”

Read more from Jessica on her blog, Idahome. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, or on Instagram.