There were Hawkeyes and the Cardinal at the Disneyland Resort as the Rose Bowl-bound teams from Stanford and Iowa visited the theme park Saturday.

In a tradition started by Walt Disney in 1959, players, coaches and families got a chance to meet Mickey Mouse, ride some rides and brave the holiday crowds.

“Getting through the crowds helps you get tight and compacted – open up the muscles a little bit and have fun doing it,” said Cardinal’s offensive guard Joshua Garnett.

The visit marks a return to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1991 for the Hawkeyes, who last won the Rose Bowl in 1959. Stanford coach David Shaw said he knows they’re a hungry team.

“They’re a very good football team, They’re very physical, tough and hard nose. Very systematic and know what they’re doing and we respect that,” he said.

Stanford comes to the game with its third Pac-12 championship in four years, having won the Rose Bowl in 2013, and the Hawkeyes said they know they have to be on their game.

“They have a very good quarterback and tremendous offensive line; we’re going to have to get through it. Visiting Disneyland ought to help us with that,” Iowa defensive back Greg Mabin said.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said the return to the Rose Bowl was a really big deal back home.

“It seems like ever since the announcement the whole state has been really thrilled about it, and the pursuit of tickets to the game has been pretty high.”

After a ceremony for the teams in Disney California Adventure with Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters, the teams got a chance to skip the lines and ride California Screamin’ and Radiator Springs Racers.