Hi there, Dayton! Welcome to planDisney. 15 years of marriage is an incredible milestone, and what better way to celebrate than at The Happiest Place on Earth! I’d love to help you sprinkle some Disney magic on this extraordinary occasion with nods to her favorite movie and Pixar classic,
Up.
If you’d like to keep to the theme of the
Up and Pixar in general, I’d book a stay at Pixar Place Hotel. With so much inspiration drawn from Pixar movies all over, including
Up, you’ll be conveniently close to all the magic. With your visit in September, temperatures are still worthy of taking a dip in their pool on their third-floor deck, including being able to watch the fireworks with a live broadcast of the soundtrack so you’re fully immersed in the magic.
One of my favorite restaurants at California Adventure is
Lamplight Lounge for its carefully curated decor that almost resembles a museum honoring Pixar animators and the films they’ve brought to life over the years. Within the restaurant, there are so many subtle touches to your wife’s favorite movie. From the iconic grape soda pin that Ellie gives to Carl to the early concept sketches within the chandelier as you descend down the spiral staircase, tributes to
Up are everywhere. You could also pre-order a celebration cake. At this particular restaurant, you have the ability to order a Mickey Mouse celebration cake with customization for your anniversary. This can be something where you include a quote from the movie, such as “Adventure is out there.” Within Lamplight Lounge, you could try asking the host to see if "The Office" is available to dine in. It’s a private room that is situated behind a vault door that features a vintage, intimate setting that holds a private balcony overlooking Pixar Pier, memorabilia from the movies, and games to play. While there is no guarantee that you’d be able to dine inside "The Office," you could mention your anniversary to the host and see if they are able to pixie dust you with a unique dining experience.
Another way to pay homage to your wife’s favorite movie is to take in the great outdoors over at the
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. There are so many activities to take part in, from climbing up to the lookout towers above the tree line to meeting your spirit animal in the Spirit Cave. It’s a great post-meal activity! In my experience, I’ve been able to meet Dug and Russell here for character meet-and-greets. You can always check ahead of time through the
Disneyland Mobile App by tapping the “Maps” button on the bottom next to the “Home” button and then tapping “Characters.”
Lastly, if you can head to World of Disney or any shops on property carrying Pixar merchandise, I would recommend getting an “adventure book,” as Carl and Ellie shared in the movie. I’ve seen this book a few times around the parks and find it to be a sweet way to capture the years of your marriage with photos and maybe paper mementos that you could glue or tape onto the pages to gift to her, along with a grape soda pin. This would be something to add to as years go by, in similar fashion to your wife’s favorite movie.
Dayton, thank you so much for visiting planDisney with your question. I hope you have a magical time celebrating 15 years of happily ever after! If you have any more questions or need assistance with further planning, feel free to swing back here.
With a Sprinkle of Pixie Dust,
Bev