It's summer. You've been walking around Disneyland for a few hours and you're getting really hot. You buy a frozen lemonade, but just don't feel like walking anymore! Where do you go? What do you do? Well, I've found some cool, shady places in the Park where you can kick back and relax for a few. They are just perfect for enjoying a frozen lemonade or ice cream sandwich.

Our first spot is just off of Main Street behind the corn dog cart. There are benches, trees and lots of shade. This is a quiet place to be, and a great place to eat a corn dog! There is also a door there that says "Cast Members Only" on it. Sometimes a character or two might go through these doors. If you see them, be sure to say hello! This spot is also near the first aid center and the baby care center.

Lining the walkway between Snow White Grotto and Ariel's Grotto are plenty of "stone" benches. Because they are completely shaded off to the side, yet right on a main walkway, they make for a great place to people watch. From here you can watch the water shoot between King Triton and Ariel in the little lagoon across the way. It is fun to sit back and watch people running through this fountain. Many of them are caught off guard when a stream of water flies over their heads. What's even greater is that sometimes there are more adults playing around with the shooting water like a bunch of kids, than there are kids. In fact, I often see parents play around in the fountain while their children stand back and stare at their parents' bizarre behavior.

New Orleans Square is a busy place, but there's always a shady spot. Between Pieces of Eight and Port D'Orléans, there are two benches in a courtyard. Here you can watch people shop and walk by. This is a good place to sit and talk with a friend. Not many people go through here so this is a peaceful spot; and it smells like New Orleans cuisine!

There are many places to sit and rest at the back of Critter Country, where you exit from Splash Mountain and buy your picture. you can sit on benches cut to look like animals or on the walls of the big planter. A lot of people go through here, but the benches are usually not that crowded. It's very breezy and there are many birds in this area. It is fun to sit here and watch people walking off Splash Mountain wet and laughing about their pictures.

Along the the Mad Tea Party, across from the Storybook Land Canal Boats, is a small, secluded area with some trees and benches. This is a popular spot to wait for members of your party to finish riding the Mad Tea Party attraction, but it's also a nice place to sit and watch the tea cups spin around.

Back in Toontown, behind Donald's boat, there is a long bench designed to look like 'toon grass in the side of a cliff. Parents wait there while their children play. It is not crowded back there, and always cool because there's a waterfall right across from where you sit.

I've only touched on a few of the many shady spots there are to enjoy in Disneyland. There are more obvious ones, and I'm sure many hidden ones I have yet to see. Researching this column was very relaxing because I went to Disneyland and sat in all these spots to take notes! Some areas were not accessible during our visit because of construction. If you find a perfect spot on your next visit, be sure to tell me about it! I hope this information helps you next time you have a frozen lemonade and just feel like kickin' it for a while.

Ciao!

~Jewel

Jewel's FastFact: In 1961, the statuettes of Snow White and the seven dwarfs that stand in Snow White Grotto (to the right of Sleeping Beauty Castle), were sent anonymously to Disneyland. The marble statuettes are perfectly crafted and were sent from Italy.

Have any questions, comments or suggestions for future columns? Drop me a line at coolkids@mouseplanet.com. I love hearing from you! Thanks to those of you who read my last column and let me know that Disneyland Paris is actually the largest of the Magic Kingdoms.

Hi!
My name is Jewel.

I am 13 years old, and a typical junior high student. I live with my mom, dad, and little brother. My family and I have annual passes to Disneyland so we go quite often. I love school, and science has always been a favorite subject of mine. I am in band and hope to be involved in music for the rest of my life.

Right now, my career goal is to become a deejay. In my mind, that is the coolest job in the world! My hobbies include: listening to and playing music, reading, writing, messing around on the computer and hanging out at Disneyland. We have seven cats (four of them found us), a black Labrador, and I have a goldfish.