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Park Strategies

Updated May 14, 2024

Today, I’m sharing the basics of Disneyland to get you started on planning.

If you haven’t visited in a while, this post will be helpful to you, too. If your last trip was before Covid, buckle up. It’s a whole new world.

MagicBand+, Disney Genie, Early Entry, Park Reservations, and so much more are new or different now.

There’s a lot to know.

Let’s get started.

Who to Book Your Trip With

I recommend booking with Get Away Today .

Park reservations, crowd calendars, dining reservations, MagicBand+, changes since Covid, Disney Genie, etc etc all require a decent amount of familiarity to get it right.

I can help you with many parts of planning, but I recommend booking your trip with an experienced agent who can handle some of these things for you and advise on all of them.

Click here to get started with the only agency I recommend! Consider them for Disneyland, WDW, Disney Cruise Line and more.

An Overview

Disneyland Resort is comprised of 2 theme parks, 3 Disney hotels and Downtown Disney . Disneyland is a fraction of the size of Disney World. Check out the layout of the resort  including details on parking, lockers and more.

Disneyland is the original park and it opened in 1955. In addition to Main Street, it includes 7 lands:

• Adventureland
• Critter Country
• Fantasyland
• Frontierland
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• New Orleans Square
• Tomorrowland

Recent photos of Disneyland can be found here .

Disney California Adventure or DCA  opened in 2001 and enjoyed a grand “re-opening” in 2012 with a major transformation, which has brought the once troubled park to life.  In addition to Buena Vista Street, it includes 6 lands:

• Grizzly Peak
• Hollywood Land
• San Fransokyo Square
• Avengers Campus

Recent photos of DCA can be found here .

Transportation to the Disneyland Resort is fairly easy if you know what you’re looking for. There are 6 large airports that are all realistic options within 1.5 hours of Disneyland. You can get to the parks via car, shuttle, train, or car service. I highly recommend Lanksy Enterprises for transportation from the airport to your hotel.

For Walt Disney World Fans

There’s a lot to know if you’re familiar with WDW, but not Disneyland. Let’s go over a few differences:

• We don’t have a dining plan. We often walk up to counter service restaurants, order food and eat it. Don’t be scared of us. It works. Dining at the Disneyland Resort is fun.
• If you’re looking for Value Resorts at Disneyland, consider staying off-site at a good neighbor hotel . We only have 3 Disney Hotels and 2 of them are 4 Star and all three are $300+ a night.
• We have Early Entry, which allows you into the park before other guests. Read about it here .
• Everything is in walking distance . No one hour trek from park to hotel and park again. You can leave one park and be at the next in 2 minutes because the two park entrances face each other. Most hotels are in walking distance. Downtown Disney is just outside the esplanade between the two parks. You can easily leave the park, run back to your hotel and be back in the park in a short amount of time. IT’S GLORIOUS.
• The weather here is lovely. We rarely see rain. Seriously. And, regardless of when you visit – even if it’s in the summer – you’ll likely need a sweater for early morning or late night. Know how to dress ahead of time. It’s quite different compared to WDW.
• To thoroughly appreciate the history and nostalgia that Disneyland offers, consider taking my one hour scavenger hunt along Main Street to see lots of key Walt-related stops. First time Disney World fans love to see where Walt left his mark on our beloved Disneyland.
• Our characters often roam the park and some do so without handlers. The character experience is so authentic and fun at Disneyland.

This post covers everything you need to know for how to tour each park, allowing you to see and do everything your heart desires during your visit. Follow my plans to ensure you won’t wait more than 20 minutes for any attraction.

I test my strategies monthly – and edit as needed – which provides you the very best plans for your visit.

Disney Genie

All new at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World!

Be sure you know how Genie works, as it’s different from FASTPASS, MaxPass, and FastPass+.

Here’s the scoop on Genie.

You have two options when choosing where to stay at Disneyland:

DLR Hotels – Disneyland hotels have many perks including always-good Disney service, Extra Magic Hours, on-site DLR Hotel dining, and package delivery from the parks to your hotel. One (The Grand Californian) is super close to the entrance of the parks and Paradise Pier and The Disneyland Hotel are a bit further.

Off-Site Hotels – Off-site options are typically much less expensive than DLR Hotels with many averaging around $120 a night.

Attractions

Each park has a different feel to it. I’d simplify it into this:

Disneyland is old school and sweet with lots of history and fairytale-esque rides. Main Street feels like a walk back in time and the entire park has a nostalgic element to it.

Disney California Adventure feels newer and more character focused. Buena Vista is lovely and provides the nod to Americana that Main Street at Disneyland does. You’ll find “bigger” rides that teens will enjoy more at DCA, however, there is still plenty to do for little ones.

Beware: Some attractions are very “dark” (figuratively and literally) and can scare young children. Research those before you visit.

The food at Disneyland is one of my favorite parts of my visit. There’s so much to enjoy! I have compiled every bit of Disneyland Resort dining into one post . This covers both parks, Downtown Disney, character meals, dining in the DLR Hotels, park snacks, off-the-menu options, cocktails, DLR recipes, my recommendations, and a mock budget so you can estimate your costs. Check that out for all things dining.

Disneyland Dining has several yummy options including Jolly Holiday Bakery , Hungry Bear Restaurant, The Plaza Inn, Blue Bayou and more. The park includes several table service options and many counter service ones, too. Character dining can be found at breakfast at The Plaza Inn.

California Adventure Dining feels a little more adventurous to me food-wise with options like Asian fare, high end Carthay Circle and delicious smoothies. California Adventure also serves a wide range of alcohol compared to Disneyland.

Character dining can be found at Disneyland and each of the Disneyland Resort Hotels. In addition to the expected Disney service at each of these experiences, you can also:

• Interact with characters up close for more time than at the parks.
• Take fun photos with the characters.
• Gather autographs.

I encourage you to enjoy one (or more) character dining experiences during your visit.

Halloween Time and Holidays at Disneyland are two big seasons that take over the parks from the beginning of September until the beginning of January.

A few quick notes on these seasons:

• Halloween Time is just as popular as Christmas is now at the Disneyland Resort.
• We have a Halloween Party called Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure. It’s the best after hours event I’ve ever attended at a Disney Park. Don’t miss it.
• Each September brings an overlay to the Haunted Mansion, transforming it into a Jack Skellington’s Nightmare Before Christmas theme, where “two holidays collide”. This overlay lasts through the end of Holidays at Disneyland in early January of the following year. The Haunted Mansion typically takes up to 3 weeks to change from one theme to the other, so account for that timing when scheduling your trip. Mid-August is typically when the attraction closes for the changeover.
• “it’s a small world” changes into “it’s a small world” Holiday during Holidays at Disneyland. That transformation takes 2-3 weeks, so account for it, too, during your planning. Look for it’s a small world to go down the second half of October in preparation for Holidays.
• Halloween Time typically starts the second week of September and lasts through Halloween night, October 31.
• Holidays at Disneyland typically starts the second week of November and lasts through the first week of January.

Visit these posts, which are updated each season, as soon as Disney releases information.

Halloween Time

Holidays at Disneyland

What does it do, do you need it, and why?

Lots to learn about MagicBand+ at Disneyland. Start here .

Additional Info

• Many people talk about Disneyland at “capacity”. The truth is that this rarely happens. A few days a year – usually around the holidays – Disneyland Park will close due to “capacity restraints”. This means there’s too many people in the park to allow more in. When it happens, it’s usually around 1:00pm and will last until around 5:00pm. When it does, you’re welcome to visit DCA if you have a park hopper. If you do not, you can wander Downtown Disney.
• Need info in Spanish? I recommend this site . Liz is super helpful.
• Venturing outside of Disneyland? There is SO MUCH to do in Southern California. Take a look at all of your options in this post .
• Know how to meet characters and how a character meal can add to your experience.
• Know all about World of Color and what your options are for seeing this unique show, only available at DCA.
• Know all about parades and fireworks , too. And, Fantasmic!
• The Disneyland Resort is very accommodating for guests with disabilities. Visit this post for so much information on this including mobility devices, how to work with each attraction, where to find alternate attractions, and so much more.
• Be prepared for crowds . You have many options when the parks become overwhelming.
• Toddlers and princess fans require extra planning.
• Bringing a baby to the parks? Are you expecting during your visit? Check out this post for lots to know including where the baby centers are, how to find a quiet place to nap, where to nurse, and more. Know where to rent a stroller off-site , too if you choose not to bring your own.
• Know what to expect with your visit to  Downtown Disney .

Relax and have fun. Disneyland is such a magical place! Let me know how I can help you plan.

Disneyland Monorail

Everything You Need to Know About Dining at the Disneyland Resort (Including How to get Tricky Reservations)

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Disneyland Planning Guide (2024 & 2025)

Last updated on Jan 24, 2024 by Adam Bryan . This post may contain affiliate links.

Welcome to my comprehensive, in-depth Disneyland planning guide that will provide with all the necessary information and tools needed to plan the best, most magical Disneyland visit possible.

Although this guide won’t give you every single detail you’ll need to plan your amazing trip to Disneyland Resort, it will at least give you a great overview of various topics and then point you in the right direction by liking to related articles and guides on this blog.

That way you can dive into the nitty-gritty details and plan the perfect trip that fits your needs and preferences. So, with that said, let’s jump right in!

Notable Dates to Look Forward To

Disneyland trip planning essentials, how to budget for a disneyland vacation, cheapest time to visit disneyland, buying disneyland tickets, what is genie+ and do you need it, booking your hotel, where and what to eat and drink, best rides at disneyland, character meet and greets, other helpful planning essentials, final thoughts.

Before we go any further, here are some major things to expect and look forward to at Disneyland Resort in 2024:

• Late 2024 – Splash Mountain reopening as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

More future plans and updates are likely to be announced throughout the year so I’ll be sure to update this accordingly.

If you are currently planning a Disneyland vacation or day visit, then these resources and guides will help you make the most of your visit by providing you with everything from Genie+ priorities and snack recommendations to money-saving tips and hotel recommendations.

• Disneyland Trip Planning Timeline and Checklist

Before embarking on your Disneyland adventure, I recommend checking out this straightforward Disneyland planning checklist and timeline, which will simplify the planning process by giving you a targeted schedule for completing essential aspects of your trip planning.

For instance, 8 months prior to your trip, it’s an ideal time to set your budget, select your travel dates, and keep a lookout for any upcoming attraction openings, festivals, or events. Additionally, when you’re 60 days away from your visit, make sure to secure any desired restaurant reservations and book special experience activities like Savi’s Workshop.

This timeline will guide you through all the necessary details and steps you should take 8 months, 6 months, 4 months, and 60 days before your magical visit to Disneyland.

Disneyland Bucket List

There are so many fun and incredible things to do at Disneyland that planning your visit might feel overwhelming because the last thing you’d want to do is miss out on anything great.

That’s why I recommend that you check out this Disneyland Bucket List that will tell you everything you must see, do, eat, and drink during your visit.

My personal favorites include eating a specialty churro, breaking your back on the Matterhorn Bobsleds, build a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop, pairing a Mickey beignet with a mint julep, ride some opening day rides, ride Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout during Halloween, and visit California Adventure during their food and wine festival.

• Disneyland Bucket List (75+ Things to Do)

Disneyland in general is pretty expensive. There’s no way to sugarcoat. But there’s a reason why they make $21 million a day .

That said, if you are able to budget for a Disneyland visit without going above your means, you can easily have one of the best times of your life.

Here’s how:

Choosing When to Visit

Before you even set a budget, the first thing you need to do is choose when exactly you’d want to visit the parks.

Like most vacation destinations or even Disney World, Disneyland experiences a large influx of crowds, tourists, and even locals during certain times of the year, while other times are surprisingly very relaxed, empty, and “affordable.”

If your schedule is pretty flexible, I recommend the you plan your visit around the holidays for the best decorations and parades, or around the beginning quarter of the year.

Regardless of when you want to visit, at the end of the day, the best time to come to Disneyland is when it works for you the best . Then from that point on, you can start to budget accordingly.

How much does it cost to go to Disneyland?

Disneyland is very expensive and unfortunately, prices are only going up.

Here is how much you should expect to pay on average each day when visiting Disneyland Resort:

• Park Tickets : Start at $104 per day plus an extra $65 for Park Hopper
• Food and Drinks : $70 per day per person on average
• Hotels and Resorts : Disney’s hotel rates range from $415 to $675 per night on average and around $200 per night off-property
• Transportation : $160 to $249 roundtrip from LAX on Uber/Lyft, plus around $10+ each way around Anaheim resort

These costs are only estimates and depend entirely on specific dates of the year.

For a more in-depth breakdown of a Disneyland trip cost, be sure to check out this guide:

• Disneyland vacation Costs – A Simple, In-Depth Breakdown

Food Costs at Disneyland

Food and drinks (especially alcohol), are pretty expensive at Disneyland.

Here’s how much you should expect to pay for food and drinks at Disneyland broken down by Quick Serve, Table Service, snacks, drinks, and alcohol:

• Snacks = $8 on average
• Drinks = $4.59 – $5.29 each, bottled water costs $4.39
• Alcohol – $9 – $15 including beer, wine, and cocktails
• Quick Service = $15 – $18 per meal, excluding beverages
• Table Service = $36 – $60+ per meal

How to save money at Disneyland

Although saving money and Disneyland doesn’t appear to go together, there are surprisingly a number of ways that you can visit Disneyland on a budget .

Here are some of my favorite ways:

• Buy discounted park tickets from authorized sellers like Undercover Tourist
• Skip the Park Hopper if you have two or more days at the parks
• Stay off-property because Disney hotels are insanely expensive, even during the offseason
• Visit during the off season such as mid-January through February
• Bring your kids when they are under the age of 3 since their tickets will be free
• Skip out on souvenirs, especially balloons

The cheapest time to visit Disneyland is from early January through February. The second cheapest time is late-August.

During late August and January, you’ll find the cheapest park ticket prices.

These are also a few of the times during the year where you can expect the parks to be least busy .

Of course you’ll want to avoid all of the major holidays like Thanksgiving week and Christmas, not to mention Orange County Spring Break and Easter week. This is generally the busiest (and most expensive) time of of the year which means that the crowds and wait times are miserable. Plus, this is usual when Genie+ sells out.

For a full breakdown of when it’s the cheapest time to go to Disneyland in terms of hotel room rates, park tickets, and travel/transportation, I got you covered in this complete guide:

• Cheapest Time to Go to Disneyland (Ultimate Guide)

Due to the park reservation system, buying Disneyland tickets is by far one of the most important steps to planning a Disneyland visit. Although rare, both parks can sell out during certain times of the year so it’s always important to lock down your tickets as soon as you can.

Disneyland Ticket Prices

A standard Disneyland park ticket starts at $109 per adult and $104 per child (ages 3-9). Children under the age of 3 are free .

Ticket prices vary depending on the time of the year, the number of days, and any ticket add ons like Park Hopper.

Where to Find Disneyland Ticket Discounts

The best way to save money on your Disneyland tickets (besides taking advantage of military or Souther California resident discounts) is by practicing them from an authorized seller like Undercover Tourist .

The discounts are steep but if it saves you even a couple of dollars, the savings can add up to a free Dole Whip or churro.

Genie+ is a paid ticket add-on that will give you g unlimited access to the Lightning Lane during a specific time window at a majority of attractions in Disneyland Park and California Adventure.

Honestly, it’s just a worse FastPass+ system that can get pretty pricey. Plus, even as a Magic Key holder, you still have to buy it (at a discount, but still).

The one annoying thing is that some rides don’t participate in Genie+ but instead you’ll need to purchase access to them a la carte via Individual Lighting Lane Selections.

Here are some helpful resources on Genie Plus:

• Genie+ Attractions List
• Disney Genie+ Ultimate Guide

Individual Lighting Lane Attractions and Prices

Here’s how much Individual Lightning Lanes costs as well as which rides are eligible:

• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway = $15 – $20
• Radiator Springs Racers = $7 – $20
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance = $20 – $25

Please note that you can only purchase Individual Lightning Lane Selections for up to 2 different attractions per day.

How much does Genie+ cost at Disneyland Resort?

Genie+ at Disneyland Resort costs between $25 and $30 per day .

Generally, the busier the parks are, the more expensive Genie+ will be, especially during peak season, holidays, and weekends.

Cheapest Day to Buy Genie+ at Disneyland

The cheapest day of the week to buy Genie+ at Disneyland is Friday with an average price of $25.60, according to Thrill Data .

The most expensive day is Saturday.

Sample Itineraries without Genie+

I believe that you can still have a ton of fun at Disneyland without buying Genie+. Here is a sample one-day itinerary that’s perfect for anyone that doesn’t want to cough up any additional money on Genie plus for the day.

• Disneyland without Genie+ (Both Parks)

Deciding on where to stay during your Disneyland vacation may seem frustrating due to the fact that the three Disney hotels are very pricey , but thankfully, there are a number of other hotel and resort options nearby that will fit any budget.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

There are three Disney hotels in Disneyland Resort:

• Grand Californian
• Disneyland Hotel
• Pixar Place Hotel

The Grand Californian is the flagship property but unfortunately, that also comes with a high price-tag. But if there’s one thing that separates this hotel with the rest, it’s the fact that there is a dedicated entrance into California Adventure.

The Disneyland Hotel is the most modern of the bunch but it’s also the furthest. But they do have very nice villas.

The Pixar Place Hotel is the cheapest of the three but it also comes with its own dedicated entrance into California Adventure. It’s not directly connect to the hotel like the Grand Californian’s is, but it’s still a fantastic perk.

The best part about staying at a Disney resort are the perks such as:

• Early Entry (enter the theme parks 30 minute before opening)
• Close proximity to the parks
• Preferred access to hotel dining reservations
• Next-day package delivery

Disneyland Resort Hotel Room Rates

Here are the average nightly rates for all three hotels:

• Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa = $584 – $767 per night (with rates as high as $1,000 a night during peak season)
• Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel = $355 – $466 per night
• Disneyland Hotel = $464 – $631 per night

For a more accurate range of room prices, see this chart .

Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels

The Anaheim Resort area outside of Disneyland property is home to hundreds of hotels, motels, and resorts that can accommodate every budget.

But for the best options, be sure to book a Good Neighbor Hotel .

Hotels within Walking Distance to Disneyland

The hotels outside of Disneyland are very walkable, which is great if you plan on staying off-property.

Here are some of my favorite hotels within walking distance of Disneyland:

• Westin Anaheim (9 minute walk to Downtown Disney)
• Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance (9 minute walk)
• Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground (11 minute walk)
• Hyatt House Anaheim (13 minute walk)
• Best Western Plus Park Place Mini Suites (4 minute walk)

Here is the complete list of every major hotel within 5 to 20+ minute walking distance to Disneyland:

• All Hotels Within Walking Distance to Disney

Hotels Near Disneyland with Bunk Beds

If a standard room with 2 queens and a pull-out sofa doesn’t cut it, then getting a room with bunk beds is a great alternative, especially if you have kids.

Here are some Good Neighbor Hotels that have rooms with bunk beds:

• Anaheim Portofino Inn and Suites
• Best Western Plus Raffles Inn and Suites
• Courtyard Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance
• Hampton Inn and Suites Anaheim Convention Center
• Homewood Suites Anaheim Convention Center
• Hyatt Orange County

Here are 12 more hotels that have bunk beds .

My Two Cents

As much as I love staying at one of the three Disney hotels (especially the Grand Californian), it’s just getting more and more difficult to spend all that extra money for something that I will only be in from midnight to 8 am.

That’s why no matter how “inconvenient” staying off-property may feel like, at the end of the day, I’m 100% with saving that Disney hotel money and instead putting it towards something fun inside the parks like special event tickets or even a VIP Tour .

So if you don’t mind taking a shuttle or walking, stay off property and save hundreds of dollars.

I’m obsessed with the food at Disneyland. In my opinion, it’s a step above anything you’d find at Disney World .

One of the best things I love about Disneyland is that they offer some of the best, most unique food and drink options that you won’t find at any theme park.

Here’s a brief overview of my favorite things to eat and drink at Disneyland.

Best Snacks at Disneyland Park

These are my favorite snacks (and things to eat in general) at Disneyland Park that you can’t miss:

• Mickey Beignet
• Seasonal Funnel Cake
• Tigger Tail
• Beef Birria Toasted Cheese

Best Snacks at California Adventure

And these are my favorite food and drinks at California Adventure that I think are worth the money:

• Choco-Smash Candy Bar
• QuesaBirria
• Beef Bulgogi Burrito
• Lobster Nachos
• New York Tastiest
• Funnel Cake Fries

Food and Drink Lists

Here are some food and drink recommendations that will help with your planning:

• Best Foods at Disneyland, California Adventure, and Downtown Disney
• 10 Best Disneyland Snacks (California Adventure too!)

There are so many incredible and iconic attractions at Disneyland that it might feel overwhelming when planning out which ones you’d want to hit between the two parks.

Best Rides at Disneyland Park

Here are the best rides in my opinion at Disneyland Park:

• Space Mountain
• Indiana Jones
• Haunted Mansion
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Best Rides at California Adventure

Here are the best rides in my opinion at California Adventure:

• Incredicoaster
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
• Radiator Springs Racers
• Soarin’ (Over California)
• Silly Symphony Swings

Which Day of the Week Has the Lowest Wait Times?

The best day of the week to visit Disneyland Resort in general is Friday which will generally have the lowest wait times of the week.

The best day of the week to visit Disneyland Park is Thursday with an average wait time of 26 minutes.

The best day of the week to visit California Adventure is Friday with an average wait time of 30 minutes.

Single Rider Lines at Disneyland

If you don’t mind splitting up your party in order to cut down your wait time at select attractions, hopping in the Single Rider Line is a great way to ride some popular rides without waiting for hours.

There are currently 9 attractions between both the parks that offer a Single Rider Line:

• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Splash Mountain (Tiana’s Bayou Adventure)
• Grizzly River Run
• Soarin’
• Goofy’s Sky School
• Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

Disneyland Roller Coasters Ranked

Disneyland doesn’t have the crazy rollercoasters that Disney World has , but they still have some great hits including the second best Space Mountain of any Disney park.

The number one spot goes to Incredicoaster followed by Space Mountain (or Hyperspace Mountain).

For the full list of Disneyland roller coasters ranked, check out my top 6 .

Fastest Rides at Disneyland

Although no ride at Disneyland cracks 60 mph ( like at WDW ), that doesn’t mean that adrenaline junkies won’t have a blast.

Here are the fastest rides at Disneyland :

• Incredicoaster –  55 mph
• Radiator Springs Racers –  40 mph
• Splash Mountain –  40 mph
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad –  35 mph
• Space Mountain –  35 mph
• Goofy’s Sky School –  27 mph
• Matterhorn Bobsleds –  27 mph
• Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster –  22 mph
• Disneyland Ride Lengths and Duration

Here’s the complete listing of every attraction length and duration at both parks:

• Disneyland Height Requirements for Every Ride

Here’s the full listing of height requirements for every ride at both park:

Every Ride That Doesn’t Have a Height Requirement

Disneyland Resort is without a doubt one of the best theme parks to visit thanks in part to the sheer amount of rides and attractions that don’t have a minimum height requirement.

Some of the popular rides (some of which are minor “thrill” rides) that don’t have height requirements are:

• Astro Orbiter
• Jungle Cruise
• Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
• Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue
• Pixar Pal-a-Round (Swinging and Non-Swinging)
• Toy Story Midway Mania!

For the full list of 40+ attractions without height restrictions, check this out .

I’m not a huge fan of meeting characters so I really don’t have much to share on that topic. That said, here’s a resource on all of the character meet and greets you’ll find at Disneyland, California Adventure, and some Disneyland hotels.

Here are some extra resources that don’t really fit any of the categories above but are still pretty helpful:

Disneyland Abbreviations You Should Know

This is very random, but you might find yourself stumbled upon a secret language at Disney Parks, that may not make much sense at first.

Some popular ones include:

• DAS : Disability Access Service
• DCA : Disney California Adventure
• DL : Disneyland
• DLR : Disneyland Resort
• GR : Guest Relations
• LL : Lightning Lane
• ROTR : Rise of the Resistance
• FP : FastPass

For an entire list of Disney abbreviations and acronyms, check out this complete list .

Planning an Accessible and Sensory-Friendly Visit

The sights, colors, and loud sounds of a Disney theme park may be exciting for some guests, but they can also be pretty overwhelming to people with ASD.

Here’s my complete guide to planning an accessible and sensory-friendly Disney World vacation:

• Planning a Sensory-Friendly Theme Park Visit

Planning for a visit to Disneyland might feel overwhelming at times, especially with all the updates, but with the help of some of these guides and resources, I’m confident that you’ll be able to plan the most magical time at Disneyland Resort possible.

More Travel Planning

About Adam Bryan

Hey what's up, I'm Adam, founder of Urban Tastebud Disney and I spend most of my days eating (and researching, but mostly eating) around Disney Parks to create useful travel planning content that will help you maximize your time and money at Disney.

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The Ultimate Guide for Planning a Trip to Disneyland

By Valerie Marino

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

No trip to Southern California is complete without a visit to Disneyland Park. The only Disney park both designed and completed by Walt Disney himself, it changed the game for modern theme park design and remains near the top of the list of most popular parks globally, just after Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando . Not bad for a former Anaheim orange grove. 

With just two parks and an array of hotels, most within walking distance, Disneyland is arguably easier to visit than its Florida counterpart and can be an ideal add-on to your Southern California vacation—or a destination unto itself. Whether you’re just popping in for the day or are planning an extended visit, here’s all the must-have info you need to plan your trip.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

All about the parks

Disneyland Resort is made up of two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.

If you only have one day to visit, spend it at Disneyland Park. This is where you’ll find classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (yes, the one about the drunk-driving toad who winds up in hell).

A huge draw to this park is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , a 14-acre expansion dedicated to the franchise in a galaxy far, far away. Live out your Star Wars fantasies here by stepping into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, sipping on blue milk (a non-dairy blend of rice and coconut milk with pineapple, dragon fruit, and watermelon that can be an acquired taste), or bellying up to the bar at Oga’s Cantina while DJ R-3X spins some intergalactic tunes. Don’t miss Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance , Disney’s most innovative attraction yet, but you’ll have to plan ahead. The ride doesn’t have a typical standby line, and spots in the virtual queue go quickly on busy days.

Across the way, Disney California Adventure is designed in a Mission and Art Deco style to reflect Southern California as it was when Disney, the man, moved there in the 1920s. This park features some true gems like Cars Land , which recreates the town from the 2006 animated film. Take a high-speed ride through the painted desert on Radiator Springs Racers or climb aboard a tractor on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, a simple spinner attraction featuring a soundtrack sung by Larry the Cable Guy that has no logical reason for being as fun as it is. You won’t find this in the Disneyland times guide, but each night around sunset, the neon lights of Radiator Springs flicker on to the tune of “Shh-boom,” just like in the movie.

The newest addition to the park is Avengers Campus , a land dedicated to Marvel superheroes. It features one of California Adventure’s must-do attractions, Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout, which is a new take on an old favorite. Disneyland re-themed the former Tower of Terror to the Marvel film, giving it a fantastic soundtrack (you never know what you'll hear, but options include Pat Benatar, Elvis Presley, Parliament, and The Jackson 5) and pushing the ride’s mechanics to their limit, so you feel like you’re a yo-yo on a string in the best way possible.

If that sounds a little intense, leave the action to the pros and check out the Spider-Man stunt show, one of many “heroic encounters” outside the Avengers Headquarters . It’s here that you can see Disney’s first-ever “stuntronic,” a cutting-edge stunt animatronic, fly through the air with no wires—or webs—attached.

Because Disneyland’s attendance base is largely Southern California locals, crowds are often lower when annual passholders are blocked from entry, which includes many weekends and large portions of the summer months. Compare your travel dates to Disneyland’s calendar for the Imagine Key and Enchant Key pass options before booking.

Disneyland’s two parks are connected by an esplanade that also links with Downtown Disney, a shopping and dining complex that includes the kind of diversions you don’t expect to see at a theme park. Highlights here include Ballast Point, Disneyland’s first on-site brewery, and Salt & Straw, for their unique seasonal flavors of small-batch ice cream like buttermilk pancakes or mushroom muddy buddies. From Downtown Disney, hop aboard the Disneyland Monorail (a valid park ticket is required) for a different sort of park tour and easy access to Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, where you'll find Space Mountain.

What to know about ticketing

Prices for single-day tickets vary depending on the time of year and day of the week you visit, and range from $104 to $154 for adults and $98 to $146 for children ages three to nine. The lowest prices are found on weekdays in January, February, May, and September; the spring break in mid-April, as well as fall and winter holidays, are the priciest. Multi-day tickets are cheaper the longer you stay, down to $72 per day on a five-day visit, which can be used over 13 days. In addition to a park ticket, you’ll need a park reservation for the same date. Reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance, and you can check availability before purchasing tickets.

Matt Ortile

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If this is your first visit and you only have one day, stick to Disneyland Park for the classic experience. The park has roughly double the number of attractions compared to Disney California Adventure, so there’s plenty to fill your day. For multi-day trips, opt for park hopper tickets, which costs $55 per day. Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are so close together—it’s just about 100 steps from gate to gate—that it’s easy to cover a lot of ground. If you move quick, you can often catch both parks’ nighttime spectaculars in one evening.

Splurge $20 per day to add Disneyland’s Genie+ service, launching in fall 2021, which offers digital booking of many of the most popular rides and attractions. A replacement for the free FastPass system, Genie+ also includes PhotoPass downloads from in-park photographers and onboard ride photos—the kind you usually have to shell out extra to get. Tip: When you see your photo displayed at an attraction’s exit, snap a quick photo with your smartphone to capture the 8-character code on top of the image. You'll need to enter it in the Disneyland app to link the photo to your account.

Where to stay

Disneyland has three on-site resort hotels, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa , Disneyland Hotel , and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel , all of which offer guests entry to the theme parks an hour before the public each day. The Grand Californian even has its own entrance to Disney California Adventure that allows guests to bypass potentially long lines at the security checkpoint and turnstiles. (Use this back door to the park to fulfill your late-night Dole Whip cravings and be back in bed, treat in hand, in 20 minutes flat.)

All three on-site hotels are located within a few minutes’ walk to the park gates, making it easy to pop back over for nap time or to grab a sweatshirt for chilly SoCal evenings. You pay for that convenience—rates start around $360 per night at Paradise Pier and $600 per night at the Grand Californian—so keep an eye on this page for seasonal specials.

There’s also a wide range of hotels just across the street, many within easy walking distance of the park gate or along the Anaheim Resort Transportation bus line. If the benefit of early entry is important for you to maximize your park time or you’re planning a Disneyland trip for a special occasion, on-site is the way to go. But with many offsite hotels often at least $100 less per night than Disneyland’s most affordable room, you’ll find significant savings by broadening your search. Two new upscale options have come on the market recently: the Westin Anaheim and the JW Marriott Anaheim , both a short walk from the theme parks.

Where to eat

There’s no shortage of choices when it comes to dining, whether you’re looking for a high-end meal or a snack to eat while dashing to your next ride.

Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian features an impressive wine program with a 17,000-bottle cellar and more than 1,000 labels. The menu changes seasonally and offers entrees like braised lamb or smoked pork chops with a cherry orange sauce, with expertly selected wine pairings.

Lamplight Lounge at Disney California Adventure wins points not just for its waterfront location, fan-favorite lobster nachos, or sugar-dusted miniature donuts that come with a pair of raspberry and chocolate dipping sauces. The theming and decor is on point and gives a glimpse into the animation process for a number of Pixar’s films.

If you’re more in the mood for fried pickles and ranch (no disrespect), head to Carnation Cafe on Main Street, USA in Disneyland Park, where the menu also features Walt’s favorite chili and meatloaf.

When it’s snack time, you can’t go wrong with a Dole Whip—our current favorites are the pineapple-raspberry swirl at The Tropical Hideaway or the Pixar Pier Frosty Parfait at Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats , which layers lemon soft serve with blue raspberry slush. Disneyland is constantly rolling out a parade of new churro flavors. Try the Caliente Churro from Senor Buzz Churros on Pixar Pier for a zippier take on cinnamon sugar.

Take advantage of the mobile ordering feature in the Disneyland app to pre-order your meals and avoid standing in line. Select your arrival window in advance for popular locations like Ronto Roasters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , where we recommend trying the Ronto Wrap, a grilled sausage with sliced roasted pork, slaw, and a creamy peppercorn sauce.

Alcohol is not served at Disneyland Park, with the exception of Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge and Club 33 , a members-only restaurant and lounge. Those wanting to enjoy an adult beverage more freely in the parks will have to cross the esplanade to Disney California Adventure.

Special events to consider

Disneyland has a number of annual events year-round. The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival runs for about two months each spring and features cooking demos, wine tastings, and more than a dozen booths featuring appetizer-sized portions of California-inspired cuisine, as well as cocktails, beer, and wine.

Lunar New Year brings a big celebration to Disney California Adventure with a special parade and treats like mandarin orange green tea tarts (Mickey-shaped, of course) and a winter plum blossom gin mule. But our favorite feature is the wishing wall that invites visitors to leave a message of hope, health, and happiness for the coming year.

During Halloween, Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party is a special ticketed event at Disney California Adventure (meaning the park will close early to other guests) on select nights in September and October.

The holiday season brings a number of special events and attractions to both parks. Our favorite is Haunted Mansion Holiday , which brings a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay to the Haunted Mansion that completely transforms the classic attraction. It’s a Small World also gets a special treatment with a medley of holiday tunes. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Christmas Fantasy Parade, with its classic toy soldiers marching down Main Street, USA. Unlike at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the holiday parade and fireworks are included in regular park admission. Now that’s really magical.

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Everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Disneyland is one of those rare places that offers fun and entertainment for everyone, from bright-eyed kids to well-traveled adults. A visit is on every kid's wishlist and planning a trip to The Happiest Place on Earth is a rite of passage for every parent.

From figuring out the type of tickets to buy, knowing where to stay and how to get around, and avoiding long lines, a lot goes into creating a seamless experience on your trip to Disneyland. Lucky for you, we've done all the research to help you make those decisions.

Here's everything you need to know about booking a trip to Disneyland.

How to start planning a Disneyland vacation

Although a Disneyland vacation won't require as much planning as Disney World , a little organization can create a more enjoyable experience.

If the planning process is still overwhelming, you can actually hire professionals to do it for you, free of charge. TPG's Summer Hull and Richard Kerr have both utilized Mouse Counselors to plan their Disney vacations and both of them swear by it.

The planning service is free because the planners make their money via commissions paid out by Disneyland. All you have to do is submit a request for a quote and they'll plan your entire vacation. They'll even look for discounts, so you get the best deal possible.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Choosing the best hotel for your Disneyland vacation

There are many hotel options for your Disneyland vacation, depending on your budget and needs. You can pay a premium to stay on-site (which includes some added perks), or you can stay at a more budget-friendly off-site hotel within walking distance of the park that lets you book with, or earn, points.

Below is an overview of the best hotel options near Disneyland.

Disneyland hotels

Disneyland operates three on-site hotels. The main benefit of staying at a Disneyland resort is proximity to the parks, Early Entry (admission to the parks 30 minutes before it opens to the public), preferred dining reservation access, character wake-up calls and more.

Rates at Disneyland properties tend to be quite a bit higher than at off-site hotels. Disney does offer seasonal discounts and sales during lower-demand times of the year that can reduce the cost.

Operating since 1955, the Disneyland Hotel is the first and oldest property within the Disneyland Resort. The hotel had a minor renovation in 2021 and is next to the Downtown Disney shopping district.

Standard rooms typically go for around $500 to $650 per night.

If you want a slightly more upscale experience in a better location, look no further than Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa . The hotel is behind California Adventure Park and offers guests an exclusive entrance to the park.

While rates at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa start at around $700, they can creep up as high as $1,000 per night for a standard room during peak times.

Across from the Grand Californian, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel is the cheapest Disneyland hotel option. Rooms are usually priced in the $400 to $450 range and the resort also has a private entrance to Disney California Adventure Park. The hotel is currently undergoing construction and will reopen as Pixar Place Hotel in the coming months.

Disneyland Good Neighbor hotels you can book with points

There are currently 58 designated Good Neighbor hotels near Disneyland. These are hotels recommended by Disneyland for offering convenient locations and overall value. Many of these hotels can be booked with points; at some, you'll even find special deals and packages.

Related: Where to stay at Disneyland: On vs. off-property hotel comparison

Hyatt has three hotels near Disneyland and all of them are designated Good Neighbor properties. As of August 2023, all three properties are Category 4 hotels, with standard awards requiring 15,000 Hyatt points and off-peak awards available for 12,000 points. Alternatively, use an annual free night award from your World of Hyatt Credit Card.

The Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort Convention Center is the closest to the park entrance, just a block away. I stayed here three years ago and found the rooms spacious enough to accommodate three kids and two adults. Our room had a small living area separate from the bedroom and a pull-out couch for an extra person.

Everyone gets free breakfast regardless of Hyatt elite status , which is great for families. Overall, this is a solid choice for a Disneyland hotel.

The nearby Hyatt Place is a block farther, and it's a good option if you want a slightly cheaper limited-service hotel offering free breakfast. Room rates tend to be $20 to $50 cheaper than the Hyatt House when paying cash.

If you want a more upscale experience and don't need to be within walking distance of the park, the Hyatt Regency Orange County is the way to go. The hotel is in the Anaheim Resort area, about 2 miles from the hotel. For families needing more space, you can also opt for a Kids Suite starting at 21,000 points per night. The Kids Suite offers a king bed, bunk beds for the kids, and a microwave and fridge for those late-night snacks.

The Hyatt Regency Orange County operates a shuttle to Disneyland every half-hour. The cost is $6 per person per day and free for kids 3 and under. You can often find package deals that include shuttle service for four as well as parking and a Disney-centric welcome amenity.

Related: Here's how to quickly stock up on Hyatt points for your next vacation

IHG has five hotels near Disneyland, three of which have the Good Neighbor designation. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Anaheim Resort Area is a Good Neighbor property and is the closest of them all; it sits about a 10-minute walk from the park entrance. Award rates fluctuate wildly and can sometimes be as high as 50,000-65,000 points per night, so it's sometimes a better value to book this property with cash.

Marriott has 11 Good Neighbor hotels near Disneyland. The closest properties to the park entrance are the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Anaheim Resort and the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance . The Fairfield Inn charges anywhere from 34,000 to 59,000 points for an award night.

Depending on the date of your stay, you can redeem your up to 35,000-point certificate from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card or the annual up to 50,000-point award from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. This could be a great redemption, considering the hotel can go for more than $250 per night at peak times.

The Courtyard is a higher-end hotel with a water park requiring 68,000 to 98,000 points per night.

Hilton has a whopping 12 Good Neighbor Hotels in the Disneyland area, although quite a few are not within reasonable walking distance.

For the best location, you'll want to consider the Home2 Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort or the Hilton Garden Inn Anaheim Resort. These two hotels occupy a single shared building, which is nearly right across from the park entrance.

The Home2 Suites tends to be the better value of the two even though it usually costs a bit more, as it includes free breakfast. Additionally, a standard two-queen studio room at this hotel sleeps up to six, offering two queen beds, a sofa bed and a full kitchen. Even though the award rate is steep at 60,000, it could be worth it since most families will need just one room. That being said, TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents each, so it's generally not a good idea to redeem points unless standard rates are at least $360 per night.

The SunCoast Hotel is the next closest option, less than a mile from the park entrance. It's a doable walk, or you can opt to take the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) bus that stops outside the property. The SunCoast is a Tapestry Collection property offering beautiful, light-filled rooms with bright pops of color to give you that Disney vibe.

Related: I spent 6.5 hours on hold to buy Disneyland tickets — was it worth it?

Types of Disneyland tickets

There are multiple types of Disneyland tickets available. The type of ticket you should get depends on factors like which park(s) you want to visit and for how long, how often you plan on visiting Disneyland and your budget.

Disneyland tickets fall into seven tiers (Tier 0 through 6). Tier 6 is unrestricted, and the remaining tiers are subject to increasing blackout dates . Before you purchase a ticket, be sure to check the theme park calendar for park reservation availability.

Let's take a look at each option.

Single-day tickets

Disneyland's single-day tickets range from $104 to $179 per day and provide admission to one park only (either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure). Disney classifies children as those aged 3 to 9 (and offers a slight discount on child rates); it classifies adults as those 10 and older. Children 2 and younger do not need a ticket.

Related: How to make a reservation at Disneyland

Ticket prices vary per day based on demand. You can search the ticket calendar to see prices on the day(s) you plan to visit.

Multiday tickets

Multiday tickets are a good option if you want to visit Disneyland parks for several days, with per-day prices being discounted the more days you add on. Two-day tickets cost $285 (an average cost of $142.50 per day), and five-day tickets cost $83 per day.

Multiday tickets get you into both Disneyland and California Adventure — but not on the same day. You'll need to stick to a single park per day.

Park Hopper

Park Hopper tickets allow you to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on the same day. You can add this option to any multiday ticket for $60 per ticket or single-day tickets for $65. These tickets are ideal if you want ultimate flexibility in the attractions you visit in a day. The 1-Day Park Hopper tickets are especially ideal if you want to experience both parks on a short timeline.

Note that Disneyland currently only allows guests to park hop at 11 a.m. or later.

Magic Key (annual pass)

Disneyland also offers Magic Keys, which are annual passes. Passes are limited in number, so not all pass types are always on sale. Prices range from $449 to $1,599.

Related: Everything you need to know about Disneyland tickets and pricing

Disneyland ticket discounts

While Disneyland tickets can be pricey, there are several ways you can save money. Some discounts are exclusive to members of specific groups and may be limited to certain times of year, while others are open to the public.

Here's a look at common Disneyland ticket discounts:

California residents: California residents living within qualifying zip codes can sometimes purchase special multiday discount tickets for as little as $83 per day. Disneyland tends to offer these tickets to Southern California residents in spring and to all California residents in summer and early fall, but these offers are not guaranteed. Proof of residence and a valid government ID are required for purchase.

Military discounts: Qualifying military personnel can purchase three-day Disneyland Park Hopper Tickets for $245 and 4-day Park Hopper tickets for $280.

There is a limit of six discounted tickets and blackout dates apply. These tickets are available to active or retired military members, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.

AAA: AAA members can save on multiday Disneyland tickets, including Park Hopper tickets. However, the savings are not as big as advertised because AAA tacks a fee onto the final purchase page. Membership fees vary, ranging from $56 to $119.

CityPASS: CityPASS offers Disneyland ticket discounts ranging from $5 to $26 , depending on your ticket type.

Undercover Tourist: Undercover Tourist is a tried and true way to save on Disneyland tickets. The site currently offers discounts ranging from $7 to $33 per ticket.

Get Away Today: Get Away Today is another travel agency that specializes in Disneyland travel and offers discount tickets as well. Get Away Today will always price-match the best deals you may find elsewhere.

Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets

Best time to visit Disneyland

The best time to visit Disneyland depends on a variety of factors.

For the best experience, you'll want to avoid school holidays, weekends and major ride openings. Late summer and early fall tend to be less crowded, but the weather in August and September can be excessively warm (although never as hot as Walt Disney World in Florida).

A great way to plan the best time to visit Disneyland is to check your desired travel dates against the IsItPacked crowd calendar . The calendar considers all of the previously mentioned factors to generate a crowd forecast.

Related: 9 things families should know before visiting Disneyland

How to reduce your time in line at Disneyland

Disneyland may be The Happiest Place on Earth, but it's not immune to long, stressful lines. That's especially true on weekends, holidays and when it comes to popular attractions.

Start at the back of the park and move your way up front

If you arrive just before the park opens, a good strategy to avoid crowds is to start at the back of the park and move your way forward. Many visitors (especially those with kids) will get caught up in the crowd-control mechanism near the entrance — character meetings, retail shops — before making their way to the rides closest to their path.

You can beat the crowds by moving in the opposite direction. The same goes with mealtimes: Plan to eat before or after the noon rush, and you won't encounter crazy long lines. You might also find shorter wait times at your favorite rides while most guests are preoccupied with lunch.

Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes

Disney Genie+ (along with a related service, Individual Lightning Lane) allows Disneyland guests to skip the standby line on many of the park's most popular attractions. The Disney Genie+ service starts at $25 per person per day and allows you to make Lightning Lane reservations throughout the day. You can make your first reservation after you enter the park and then subsequent reservations as you redeem each one or after two hours pass (whichever comes first).

Related: How I maxed out Disneyland's Genie+ and rode 26 attractions in a single day

You'll also get unlimited photo downloads from all attraction photos and those taken by PhotoPass photographers; and you'll receive features like audio tales and AR photo lenses to help you pass the time waiting in line.

There are a few attractions that do not participate in the Disney Genie+ service, but most of these attractions nevertheless have Lightning Lanes. You need to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane reservation (sold separately) to skip the line for these select attractions. Pricing ranges between $15 and $25 per person per attraction, and you can purchase up to two attractions per day. The current list of attractions participating in each program is available on Disneyland's website .

Related: 10 line-busting tips for less waiting and more playing

Early Entry

Guests staying at Disneyland resorts can enter either park 30 minutes before they open to the public. This is worth taking into consideration when making your hotel reservations since an extra 30 minutes before park opening means virtually no lines.

Use the Disney app

The Disneyland mobile app is key to a seamless Disneyland experience. Aside from storing your park tickets, the app helps users book restaurant reservations, make Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane reservations, order meals to-go on mobile and see wait times for rides.

The Disney app can be an invaluable tool in avoiding lines for rides and restaurants, allowing you to enjoy your limited time at the park.

Use the Ridemax app

If you want to avoid lines like a pro, consider downloading and subscribing to Ridemax . The app creates a custom itinerary for you based on the rides you choose and the amount of time you plan on spending at the park, to minimize wait times. A 90-day subscription costs $14.95, while an annual one costs $24.95.

There's also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if it is not as helpful as you'd hoped, you can get a full refund.

Related: The best restaurants at Disneyland

How to save money on your Disneyland trip

There are many ways to save money on your Disneyland trip, whether it's getting discounted park tickets or deals on your hotel bookings.

We'd be remiss to start the money-saving portion of this guide without mentioning points. Whether it's your airfare, hotel or park tickets, you can use points to offset a large chunk of your Disneyland vacation. Disneyland has lots of point hotels starting at just 12,000 points per night for off-peak awards at any of the area Hyatt hotels.

With the 75,000-point sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening), you could cover up to five nights at one of these hotels.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another great option for earning and redeeming miles towards a Disneyland trip. The card currently offers 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

All you have to do is charge your Disneyland hotel or vacation package to the card and then redeem miles toward the expense. And if you don't quite have enough miles now, you have up to 90 days after purchase to save and redeem miles toward a travel expense.

Check for package deals

You can save a lot on your Disneyland vacation by booking a package deal through a site like Get Away Today . For example, a four-night stay in September in a one-bedroom suite at the Element by Westin Anaheim Resort Convention Center with three-day park hopper tickets for a family of four will cost $3,297.88 when booked with Disney directly.

Through Get Away Today, the same package deal costs $2,682.53.

Costco is currently offering Disneyland travel packages that include savings on on-property Disneyland hotels and a Disney gift card:

• Stay two to four nights and receive a $185 Disney Gift Card
• Stay five nights and receive a $205 Disney Gift Card
• Stay six nights and receive a $225 Disney Gift Card
• Stay seven or more nights and receive a $245 Disney Gift Card

Buy Disney gift cards on sale

Buying Disney gift cards can save you about 5-10% on the cost of food and merchandise at Disneyland hotels. Sam's Club, Staples, Target and Safeway occasionally discount the price of Disney gift cards by about 5%. Add cash back bonuses and savings from a card that earns bonus points at grocery and office supply stores , and the savings will stack up.

I've personally had success using my Chase Ink Plus Business card (card no longer available) to buy Disney gift cards at Staples, stacking the savings with 5% cash back through Dosh (Note: I will earn a $10 referral if you sign up with my link and make your first qualifying purchase).

The information for the Chase Ink Plus Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bring your own swag

If you're taking your kids to Disneyland, buy all your swag ahead of time. Everything is incredibly overpriced at the park, and there's no reason to spend $30 on mouse ears when you can find equally cute ones on Etsy or Amazon for $5.99. The same goes for all trinkets and toys that end up in a forgotten pile somewhere.

Related: 7 Reasons why Disneyland is better than Disney World

You might feel sentimental about bringing back a $40 snow globe, but trust me: The memories you make are more important (and lasting) than the overpriced merchandise you buy at the park.

Related: How much does a Disneyland vacation cost?

How to get around Disneyland

Unlike the sprawling Disney World resort, Disneyland is easy to get around on foot. But if you get tired after a day of park hopping, you can take various modes of transportation around the park. The Disneyland Railroad offers an 18-minute ride with stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown and Tomorrowland.

The high-flying Monorail is great if you want a faster way to get around the park. The Monorail makes the 2.5-mile journey through the area in just 13 minutes, stopping in Tomorrowland and the far end of Downtown Disney.

For a slow, fun ride, you can hop aboard one of Disney's Main Street Vehicles near City Hall and Central Plaza. They include the Jitney, a horse-drawn streetcar, the classic fire engine and omnibus.

Over at California Adventure, the Red Car Trolley makes four convenient stops throughout the already walkable park.

Related: The essential guide to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland

The best credit cards to use at Disneyland

You may be surprised to find that the Disney Visa Card isn't among the best cards to use at Disneyland, though it can be a good option if you're looking to finance a Disney vacation. The best cards for booking Disneyland packages will be ones that earn bonus points on travel , like the Chase Sapphire Reserve . You'll earn 3 points per dollar and use your $300 annual travel credit to offset part of the expense.

When it comes to spending at Disneyland theme parks, you'll want to use a card that earns bonus points on dining . The Citi Prestige® Card (card no longer available) is a great option, as it earns 5 points per dollar spent in this category. The American Express® Gold Card is also a great choice, earning 4 points per dollar at restaurants.

The information for the Citi Prestige card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

While it's not as large as its Florida counterpart, Disneyland does require some planning. This guide should make the process of planning your Disneyland adventure a little easier.

Additional reporting by Leslie Harvey.

1-Day Disneyland Itinerary

Our 1-day Disneyland itinerary offers a step-by-step plan to efficiently do shows, rides, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and everything new. We list restaurants at which we’d dine, things we’d do, entertainment we’d watch, and more. Essentially, our perfect day touring California’s castle park. (Updated January 11, 2024 .)

This single day Disneyland itinerary has been overhauled several times in the last year, taking into account the ever-evolving entertainment options, Early Entry, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, changing crowds, and more. Suffice to say, things continue to ‘evolve’ at Disneyland, both from a substantive and  strategy perspective.

We visit Disneyland regularly “for the sake of research,” monitoring wait times, testing plans, and fine-tuning our strategy. This Disneyland itinerary for 2024 takes into account everything we’ve learned, including when to do both Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance via standby, where to watch fireworks, rope drop priority, and how to hit the highlights…

To those points, there are a couple of other resources you should consult if you’re visiting Disneyland in 2024. To start with, review both the  full 2024 calendar of events at Disneyland  and the  entertainment schedule for 2024 . This itinerary incorporates all of the attraction highlights, but you really should read those for a comprehensive look at everything Disneyland is doing for seasonal celebrations, nighttime spectaculars, and other entertainment.

We’ll update this throughout the year as major changes occur (e.g. Fantasmic returning), but the broad strokes of the itinerary won’t change based on the fireworks show during your visit, for example. However, whether you should make an extra effort and take the time to secure a spot will differ for Mickey’s Mix Magic versus Wondrous Journeys, for example.

You also might want to consider paid FastPass–officially known as Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. For the ins and outs of that, see our Guide to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland & DCA .  While this itinerary will be helpful in beating the crowds, you really  want might to consider paid FastPass to reduce your wait times significantly. If so, you can consult our 1-Day Disneyland Itinerary w/ Genie+ Lightning Lanes .

Even with savvy strategy and Lightning Lanes, it’s difficult to do everything at Disneyland in a single day. This plan will help you experience as much as possible, but probably not everything. For our ride ratings and reviews of every attraction, read our comprehensive Best Disneyland Attractions & Ride Guide post. For comprehensive planning assistance covering everything from where to purchase discount tickets to dining and more, read our 2024 Disneyland Resort Vacation Planning Guide .

What we are providing is a rough blueprint of our favorite things to do in an ideal day at Disneyland and when you should do them for the ‘best experience.’ In so doing, we strive to balance a pleasant day in the park with efficiency, rather than just racing from attraction to attraction.

For added convenience, we also recommend staying at Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel for your visit. Staying at one of these hotels puts you in a good position to utilize Early Entry to do more. If these hotels are outside of your budget, check out our Disneyland Area Hotel Reviews & Rankings for more on the pros and cons of each hotel near Disneyland–many are actually closer to the parks than Disneyland Hotel!

Once you wake up from wherever it is that you are sleeping, here’s what to do…

Rope Drop Arrival – If you can, we recommend arriving at Disneyland’s security checkpoints about 45 minutes before official park opening time or earlier during peak seasons.

As covered in Disneyland Park Opening & Rope Drop Tips , Disneyland’s turnstiles typically open 30-45 minutes before park opening, at which time guests are allowed onto Main Street. We recommend heading immediately for the Central Plaza, in front of the Partners statue of Walt Disney & Mickey Mouse.

Early Morning Attractions: Fantasyland – We always feel a sense of accomplishment by starting the morning in Fantasyland, because there are so many short attractions here within close proximity to one another that can be done quickly. It’s also a good way to avoid this area in the middle of the day, when it’s chaotic.

We highly recommend starting with Peter Pan’s Flight. Next, do Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, followed by Alice in Wonderland. Our other recommendations here for the morning are Dumbo, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, and Storybook Land Canal Boats (in that order). You should be able to hit 75%+ of the attractions in Fantasyland in the first hour the park is open if you are efficient.

Rise & Shine  – Since Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened and switched to a standby line, we’ve observed an interesting dynamic emerge: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance isn’t as high of a priority for as many guests. To be sure, there’s still the rope drop rush to the Galaxy’s Edge headliner, but there’s now a slight lull most days after that initial rush.

As such, our recommendation is doing Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance about 1 hour after park opening. This could also change with crowd levels, but it’s something we’ve experienced fairly consistently since the reimagined Toontown debuted. Accordingly, it’s our advice for now to do Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance early in the day–but not first thing. (It’s a different story if you’re eligible for Early Entry, in which case you can knock out most of Fantasyland and then be at the front of the pack in the rope drop rush to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.)

While you’re in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it might also make sense to do Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run if the wait time is manageable (30 minutes or less). You can also stop for a snack if you’d like a more leisurely morning–the Ronto Wraps are highly recommended.

Head West – At that point, exit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge directly into Frontierland, which should still be relatively quiet. If you took the correct path, you should be near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad–start by doing that. From there, it’s a “choose your own adventure” kind of dynamic.

If you’re near Big Thunder Mountain, you’re also fairly close to Main Street. If you love characters, now is a good time to head back that way to (potentially) spot some free-roaming characters around Sleeping Beauty Castle, as well as meet & greets for Mickey & Friends in Town Square at the very front of the park. (Strategy-wise, it’s better to meet Mickey and Friends later, when fewer new guests are entering the park. About 30 minutes after the daytime parade is ideal.)

Rumble in the Jungle  – At this point, you can go deeper and deeper into the jungle.

One option is to knock out Indiana Jones Adventure followed by Jungle Cruise. If crowd levels are moderate or below, both should still have short waits at this relatively early hour. If it’s a busier day and lines are already long, you may need to save them for later.

Morning Intermission: Matterhorn Macaroon – Once you have a good number of attractions knocked out, consider slowing down and having a snack break. A big part of our days in Disneyland involves eating!

Head down to Jolly Holiday Bakery at the edge of Main Street and get these delicious Disneyland originals. Consult our Top 10 Delicious Disneyland Desserts for other sweet treats to try.

Late Morning Attractions: The Disneyland Classics – This is a good time for lower profile rides that have posted wait times under 30 minutes. What you do really depends on where you are in the park…and posted wait times in the Disneyland app.

One thing we’d recommend doing is rounding out your morning with one of Disneyland’s flagship attractions located in New Orleans Square: Pirates of the Caribbean. After that, it’s time for the third big attraction in New Orleans Square: food!

Mealtime in New Orleans – Three of our absolute favorite Disneyland restaurants are in New Orleans Square. Our top recommendation is Blue Bayou , Disneyland’s most popular restaurant due to its location along the water in Pirates of the Caribbean . If it’s your first visit to Disneyland, Blue Bayou is a must-do rite of passage restaurant.

Another alternative is Cafe Orleans, which is a cheaper table service option. This offers good value for money, and nice open-air outdoor seating. It also features a few of the same iconic entrees (in particular, the Monte Cristo) that’s beloved at Blue Bayou.

The final option is the new Tiana’s Palace Restaurant. Mobile Order slots fill up fast for this spot, but we recommend doing walk-up dining instead–it’s a better experience. Tiana’s Palace is our new #1 counter service restaurant in Disneyland!

After you’re done eating (our while waiting on your table), take a few minutes to explore the nooks, crannies, and shops of New Orleans Square, one of Disney’s best theme park lands anywhere.

Afternoon Attractions: Relaxing Disney Originals – The middle of the afternoon is when Disneyland sees its longest lines, making this a great time to enjoy some of the gems of Disneyland that go unnoticed by most guests while waiting for the afternoon parade. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and the adjacent Disney Gallery, the Disneyland Railroad, the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through, Mark Twain Riverboat, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room are all recommended.

Other options include Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, Tom Sawyer Island, and Sailing Ship Columbia. You won’t have time to do all of these originals, so plan on picking an assortment that are most appealing to you.

Magic Happens Parade – Disneyland’s daytime parade is Magic Happens, which is performed once during the daytime and once in the early evening. (For now–this will likely change to two daytime performances once the sun starts setting later.)

The daytime one tends to be slightly less busy, but waiting in the sun can be brutal. Plus, it’s simply not as much fun without the floats and lights fully illuminated. As such, we recommend seeing the second parade, which is best viewed from the end of Main Street (closer to Sleeping Beauty Castle). Be sure to grab a spot at least 30 to 45 minutes in advance of the performance time. For lower crowds and less lead-time, catch it back by “it’s a small world.”

Homestyle Dinner – If you haven’t already eaten, you have a few options for dinner. The first is waiting until you visit Tomorrowland (the next stop). This is the worst possible option, and is to be avoided at all costs.

The second is heading back to Main Street early, and grabbing food at Plaza Inn (home of Disneyland’s glorious fried chicken and our recommended restaurant) or Jolly Holiday Bakery & Cafe. Nearby both are Refreshment Corner and Little Red Wagon, in case anyone in your party would prefer some form of corn or hot dogs.

You can even multi-task, getting on-the-go meals from Jolly Holiday, Refreshment Corner, or Little Red Wagon before you stake out Magic Happens parade spots. (Don’t try this with Plaza Inn–it’s not conducive to carry out.)

Twilight in Tomorrowland: Head to Tomorrowland and enjoy the early evening atmosphere.

While you’re in Tomorrowland, knock out the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. Not only will the waits be shorter, but the sun should be lower and make the waits more bearable. If the wait time isn’t too long for Space Mountain, you should also do this now.

Evening Alternative: Ride Rerides – Splash Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the Matterhorn are the four attractions that we recommend doing at night for a superior experience. We have a full list of the 10 Best Disneyland Attractions at Night , in case you have time for more than these–or want alternatives.

If you missed Adventureland earlier due to higher wait times or crowd levels, you might want to do Indiana Jones Adventure now. It really depends upon how late Disneyland is open when you visit and what you still need to get done. If you have plenty of time and not much left on your “list,” you can save Indiana Jones Adventure until the line dies down more. (It could be done after Batuu, potentially.)

Fireworks – Which fireworks show you see to conclude the night at Disneyland depends upon when you visit. For much of 2024, your options will be Mickey’s Mix Magic or Together Forever, the Pixar Fest nighttime spectacular. The former is only okay, whereas the latter is good. Wondrous Journeys will also return for a brief period around Spring Break (when the park will be busier), and it’s fantastic.

All of these nighttime spectaculars have two versions: “with projections” and “with fireworks.” Both versions have projections, so really it’s with or without pyro. As a good rule of thumb, the nighttime spectacular is presented “with fireworks” Friday through Sunday nights, and on weekday evenings that are busier (e.g. Presidents’ Day, Spring Break, Easter, etc). Check out the Disneyland Entertainment Schedule  or the Disneyland app for dates and showtimes.

Either way, watching from Main Street is the only spot to see the shows in their entirety, with all details and effects present. Honestly, if your party is more “ride people” you can skip Mickey’s Mix Magic or Together Forever. We recommend seeing Wondrous Journeys regardless, but the other two are nothing special.

If you do opt to watch, it’s much easier to snag a good spot (without camping out in advance) on “with projections” days, when you only need to arrive 15 minutes in advance. On “with fireworks” dates, arriving more like 30-45 minutes early is advisable, or even more if you want one of the absolute best spots. To that point, see our Disneyland Fireworks Viewing Guide for recommendations as to the best and worst spots for the show.

Late Train to Runnamuck Park  – While it might be tempting to run(away) to the newest headliner attraction at Disneyland to start your day, the better option is doing Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in the evening, after Toontown reopens following the fireworks.

Like most family-friendly attractions, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has shorter lines late at night. The other upside of waiting to do it is experiencing shorter lines in Fantasyland and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, earlier in the day–especially as those lands tend to be busier in the evening.

Blast Off to Batuu – If you don’t mind criss-crossing the park again, we recommend returning to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at night. The crowds get better and the land is simply better in the evening. The lighting adds a lot to the moody off-planet atmosphere, and makes the experience even more immersive.

While you’re in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, be do Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run if you didn’t earlier, visit Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, and simply wander around. Just keep in mind that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance usually stops running early–so if you missed it before, you’ll actually want to return earlier. Doing Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at around 7 to 8 pm is a good alternative to the first hour of the morning.

Speaking of alternatives, one middle-ground option to skipping the fireworks entirely is catching them from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The area around the Millennium Falcon offers a great view and will soon feature its own soundtrack. Once the show is over, race over to Rise of the Resistance for a ride on that. (You can’t do Toontown during the fireworks, so flip-flop these entries in this scenario.)

Park Closing Tranquility – If you still have time before Disneyland closes, use that to hit whichever attractions you missed, or perhaps return to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to finish up whatever you didn’t get to there before. Now is a good time for Space Mountain, which typically has one of the longest wait times in Disneyland. The standby line is also excruciatingly slow-moving due to the Lightning Lane.

Things like the Pixie Hollow water show, grabbing a seat under the popcorn lights on a Main Street porch, and wandering around in the neon of Tomorrowland can all be fun experiences. Also, keep in mind that the shops on Main Street are typically open an hour after park closing, making that the time to get your souvenir shopping done.

Nightcap: Trader Sam’s – End it all at the beginning, by the adults in your party heading to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland Hotel after Disneyland closes for drinks and uniquely Disney fun. Trader Sam’s is more fun than a barrel of drunken monkeys, and even if you’re not a drinker, the interactive and detailed Trader Sam’s is a great time .

Plus, it’s a great place to do so more eating…you know, if you weren’t already waddling from all the eating this itinerary calls for! The convenient location of both Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam’s are why we consider Disneyland Hotel an ideal location for a day at Disneyland.

If you’re able to do even 75% of the things on the Daily Trip Blueprint, you are pretty much assured of having an amazing day at Disneyland. That’s our DTB by DTB.com Guarantee! ( Please note that this guarantee has no cash value and is not offered to residents of any state except Wyoming. Also note that any day you are at Disneyland should be amazing, so if you don’t have a great time, it’s probably your own fault! ;))

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets . Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings . For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews . For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney . For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide . Finally, for guides  beyond Disney , check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!

Your Thoughts

What would you include in your ideal day at Disneyland? If you haven’t visited Disneyland yet, what do you plan on doing? Are the new attractions in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge among your must-dos? Think it’s worth the effort of scoring a boarding pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance? Do you agree or disagree with our step by step Disneyland itinerary? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Does Disneyland inflate wait times the same way that Disney World does? Are they most inflated at night, like WDW?

Toward the end of the night I think they do. At least rides that use lightning lanes such as Space Mountain, Big Thunder, and Splash Mountain. Since people are not cutting in front with LL, this reduces the stand-by (you’re also walking though lines quicker because of this which helps with perception). My Brother and I usually play a game of “over/under” the wait time and it’s almost always under during the night. Day-time waits and be 5-10 min off but it’s typically a solid indicator of the actual wait time.

Any chance of an update now that the “new ride smell” has worn off Railway?

I didn’t the Haunted Mansion in your recommendations. Did I miss t?

Haunted Mansion will be closed for, at minimum, several months due to the ride’s queue being reworked, among other projects in the area.

While it has not yet been officially confirmed, it has been widely speculated that the regular version of Haunted Mansion will not open at all in 2024, and that the Holiday overlay will simply return in August at the start of the resort’s Halloween celebration.

And now noticing that this comment is from March 2023. Oops.

“it’s difficult to do everything at Disneyland in a single day”

I apologize if this is too far off topic, but I’d go so far to say that Disneyland is a two-day park most of the year. If you only have one day, this is an excellent way to spend it, but I can’t imagine doing *everything* one might want to do in a single day. While not linked above, Tom has a two-day plan for Disneyland if you have the time and money to spend it.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at day and night is a must-do for me, and highly recommended for anyone reading this who hasn’t experienced both.

I don’t know if it was just weird luck but MMRR had a ton of downtime when we were there last week. Nearly every day, it opened momentarily and then shut down almost immediately for about an hour (and had periodic closures throughout the day as well.) Yes on rope dropping Fantasyland but I’d recommend being willing to run away from Fantasyland as soon as you see MMRR is up and running. We caught it on the app as soon as it reopened one day last week and ran when we saw it said “25 minutes.” At least in the mornings, 25 minutes meant “complete walk-on.” By the time we’d finished, the queue was stretching outside of the building.

This may change as the new shine wears off but week of 2/27 we had great success riding Runaway Railway during the first parade. Walk on waits so we looped around and rode it twice.

Interesting Read! Still hesitzting if we shoukd buy 2 Days or 1 day ticket.. our girls are 2 and 4 years old,meaning that a LOT of the attractions don’t apply to them,so I feel like most probably 1 day should be enough,or..? Also in doubt if we should visit disney adventure park as well,or just stick to dianeyland (it’s all about princesses and the castle for our girls anyways) Any who could comment on this,your advice would be appreciated! ✌️

Is this perhaps available in a more outline form, check, check, check list? I feel like I could print that, along with the map and have a solid plan for breaking up the day. Thanks so much for these awesome 1 day tips!

Would love to see you update this to remove the Rise virtual queue info and place that ride in its rightful place (end of night I assume, although it frequently closes before the park does).

It’s just the one brief mention after your morning snack recs.

Thanks for catching that–don’t know how I missed it when updating!

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Everything You'll Need to Know for a Trip to Disneyland

Want to visit the famous Anaheim theme park but don’t know where to begin? Consider your Disney vacation sorted. You’re in for much more than a visit with Mickey Mouse and a handful of rides, because Disneyland Resort is actually home to two separate theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. They’re located directly across from each other but host a different set of enjoyable rides, shows, and lands, some of which you won’t find at other Disney Parks worldwide. If you’re curious about stepping inside Sleeping Beauty Castle or Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge, experiencing the world of Cars , and riding every glorious Disney attraction on your next trip to the California parks, we’re here to help you discover the Happiest Place on Earth. Here’s everything you’ll need for a first visit to Disneyland — besides a pair of Mickey ears, of course.

The Sleeping Beauty Castle

The original Magic Kingdom is known for its classic attractions and quintessential “main street” charm, but hosts plenty of electrifying rides throughout its themed lands. Disneyland Park is also home to the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle, which sits in the center of the park.

Attractions and Rides

From Jungle Cruise and It’s A Small World to Pirates of the Caribbean, there are a multitude of famous family-friendly attractions at Disneyland, but that doesn’t mean it’s short on thrills. With Star Tours’ Star Wars simulations, the rollicking Indiana Jones Adventure and Disneyland’s multiple mountain-themed coasters, it’s home to many of Disney’s most exciting rides.

Star Wars : Galaxy Edge

Today’s most-discussed attractions and rides are tucked away inside Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland’s newest land. Here, you can encounter the Resistance while eating otherworldly food, adopt a plush Tauntaun after visiting Oga’s Cantina, or be apprehended by Stormtroopers before stepping foot on the land’s two rides — Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, which allows flight crews to operate the famed starship and Star Wars : Rise of the Resistance, a monumental battle opening in January.

Restaurants

Disneyland offers all the theme park staples — ice cream, corn dogs, and plenty of churros — but sit-down restaurants like Plaza Inn and River Belle Terrace are first-rate. Foodies should hit New Orleans Square for mint juleps and Mickey Mouse beignets or try indulgent tableside offerings at Cafe Orleans or Blue Bayou Restaurant.

If you want a cocktail with all those treats, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Alcohol is only served at one place inside Disneyland Park: Oga’s Cantina, which is located within Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge.

Disney California Adventure Park

Compared to Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park is significantly newer. Themed to highlight the landscape, culture, and history of California as a whole, it channels San Francisco’s waterside roots, Hollywood’s golden era, and the state’s national parks throughout several different lands, with its newest, Cars Land and Pixar Pier, infusing silver screen attractions within the coastal design.

If you’re visiting both parks in one day, note that admission is per individual park; you’ll need an upgraded “park hopper” ticket to visit both.

Disney California Adventure Park's Film Attractions

Disneyland’s sister park has two colorful lands that revere cherished animated films. Cars Land brings the movie’s awe-inspiring Route 66 scenery to life with shops, restaurants, and multiple rides, including the joyous Radiator Springs Racers. At Pixar Pier — formerly Paradise Pier — guests can ride a coaster, carousel, or spin ride that pays homage to films like Incredibles , Toy Story 2 , and Inside Out while taking in food, shopping, and entertainment honoring the iconic movie studio.

And, in 2020, a new Marvel-themed area at Disney California Adventure Park will allow superhero wannabes to interact with the Avengers like never before.

Disney California Adventure Rides

There’s plenty to ride at Disney California Adventure Park, but highlights include virtual hang gliding on Soarin’ Around the World, the frenzied arcade shoot-out of Toy Story Midway Mania!, and the soaking wet joy of Grizzly River Run’s roaring rapids ride. Its newest thrill, Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT!, pairs the popular Marvel characters with a frenetic drop ride soundtracked by Star-Lord’s vintage tunes.

Disney California Adventure Park Dining

There are fantastic quick-service meals throughout the park, but Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land is the most visually pleasing place to devour pretzel bites and stuffed bread cones. Pacific Wharf’s eateries and Pixar Pier’s Lamplight Lounge make for popular sit-down options, but the glamorous Carthay Circle Restaurant remains Disneyland Resort’s finest in-park dining option.

Disney California Adventure Park Drink Options

Unlike Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park serves beer, wine, and cocktails throughout its restaurants, stands, and food kiosks. You can’t go wrong with wine at Mendocino Terrace, colorful concoctions at Lamplight Lounge, or craft cocktails at Carthay Circle Lounge.

Nighttime Entertainment

Both parks offer nighttime entertainment so noteworthy that park-hopping guests will struggle to choose just one. Disneyland Park’s nightly fireworks are ever-popular, but so is Fantasmic!, a waterfront retelling of Fantasia with beloved Disney characters, special effects, and pyrotechnics. (Pro tip: watch the show performed on Disneyland’s Rivers of America, and stay put for a unique view of fireworks.)

Disney California Adventure Park offers World of Color, where lighting, projections, and special effects combine to feed the show’s stunning display atop dancing water.

Disneyland Resort operates three on-property hotels: the seaside-themed Disney’s Paradise Pier, the park-influenced Disneyland Hotel, and the craftsman-style Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. There are many “good neighbor” hotels nearby, but Disneyland hotels come with perks, including Extra Magic Hour Early Admission for additional time in the parks.

Downtown Disney

Disneyland Resort’s theme parks and hotels are located around Downtown Disney, a strip of shops, restaurants, and entertainment that’s open to the public. It’s home to many themed eateries and specialized Disney boutiques including World of Disney, a massive shop that’s ideal for last-minute souvenirs. Park guests can even hop on the monorail from Downtown Disney for an extra-special entrance into Disneyland Park.

Related Articles

The Ultimate 2024 Disneyland Guide: Planning & Touring Tips

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: February 13, 2024

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The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California has now been reopened for nearly three years, and operations have returned to normal for quite some time. But things are still, practically speaking, quite a bit different in 2024 at the Happiest Place on Earth – some of them permanently so.

If you haven’t been to the parks in awhile, it’s important to get up to date! As a guest, that means you need to come prepared for things to work in very new ways. Many of the old pre-2020 Disneyland tricks and hacks won’t work anymore. You need to have a few new tools at the ready to have the best vacation experience. That’s where this Disneyland guide comes in.

If you are planning a trip to Disneyland in Southern California in 2024, this complete Disneyland planning guide will walk you through all the basics of what to expect this year – new requirements, changes from what you might have experienced in previous years, new ride and land openings, revised touring strategies, and more. I’ve been there first hand all along the way, visiting Disneyland and Disney California Adventure numerous times each year, including another recent trip in February 2024.

I’ll continue to update this annual guide regularly to reflect more changes. So be sure to bookmark and come back to it if your trip is several months down the road from now.

(Trips With Tykes uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through links in this post. See our full disclosure policy linked in the menu at the bottom of this site.)

What’s New, Returning Soon, or Closed at Disneyland in 2024

Before we get to all the operational changes and new park touring tips, let’s briefly dive into what’s new to see and do at the resort in 2024. And of course, we have to discuss the flip side as well – what’s closed this year for refurbishment or for good.

A little over a year ago, Disney finally brought an important technological feature to its California parks. MagicBands had been in use at Walt Disney World for about a decade, but now the third generation MagicBand, MagicBand+, works at Disneyland too.

The uses for MagicBand+ at Disneyland are more limited. As a result, fewer guests have chosen to use them than do in Orlando. I’ve found some value in using mine, but they certainly aren’t essential – especially for infrequent visitors. That said, they are a fun and sometimes useful accessory or souvenir.

To explore what MagicBands do at Disneyland as you decide whether they are a must-have or can-skip item for your 2024 trip, check out my guide to Disney MagicBands and the new MagicBand+ .

Nighttime Spectaculars: World of Color – ONE & Wondrous Journeys

In 2023, Disneyland celebrated 100 years of Disney company history during the Disney100 celebration. While this event has come to a close, a few remnants have been left behind in 2024. Most notable of these is the World of Color – ONE nighttime spectacular.

This show runs nightly in Disney California Adventure. For access to some of the better standing viewing areas, be sure to log into the Disneyland app at noon to secure a virtual queue reservation. If you want a seat to view the show, however, you’ll have to spring for the World of Color Dessert Party package.

Related : Get details on the best spots to view World of Color from my pal Jessica at The Happiest Blog on Earth.

The other nighttime spectacular for the Disney 100 celebration was the well-reviewed Wondrous Journeys in Disneyland park. In fact, it might just be my favorite Disney nighttime spectacular ever. It hasn’t run since last summer, but Disneyland recent announced that it will be returning for a limited engagement run from March 22-April 14, 2024. So if you have a spring break trip planned this year, I highly recommend adding a viewing to your agenda!

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

The year 2023 brought a brand new attraction to Disneyland – Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Runaway Railway has already been in Orlando in Hollywood Studios for several years, but now it also has a home in Toontown in Disneyland park. The indoor dark ride is family-friendly and has one of the very best queues that Disney Imagineers have ever created.

Check out my complete ride guide and wait time tips article on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway for all the latest details.

Toontown Renovation

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway isn’t the only new offering of note in that area of the park. In fact, the remainder of Toontown around the attraction reopened in early 2023 after a significant facelift. The land has several new and reimagined play areas and much more green space. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin returned, and the Gadget Go-Coaster got a new theme as Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Gadget Coaster.

Related: Best Non-Ride Things to Do with Preschoolers at Disneyland

There were some unfortunate hiccups in 2023 with the durability of some of the new play areas, but all seems to be repaired well as of my first 2024 visit. Just be aware that if you are used to retreating to Toontown during the heat of the day to escape crowds (as I often did when my kids were little), you’ll find the crowds have followed you into Toontown now!

Magic Happens Parade

The Magic Happens Parade parade had only just debuted when the parks closed unexpectedly in March of 2020. The parade ran from February through October in 2023, and a lot of guests wondered what would become of it after that. But as of February 2024, Magic Happens is back again!

This edgy parade has an energetic vibe and soundtrack and is a much-needed addition to Disneyland park. The parade goes between Main Street U.S.A. and it’s a small world twice daily. The first showing is in the daytime, and the second is usually after sunset, where elements on the floats light up, making for an extra magical show.

Tiana’s Palace Restaurant

The counter service restaurant French Market in New Orleans Square closed for good but reopened in September 2023 with a new theme and new menu. The restaurant is now called Tiana’s Palace, featuring Princess and the Frog, leading the way in that section of the park for the refurbishment of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure later this year.

The food is some of the very best quick service that Disney has to offer, and has already become one of my favorites (and I’m Southern, so I’m a tough judge of Cajun and Creole cuisine!). Thankfully, it has mobile order (more on that later!) to dodge the long lines.

San Fransokyo Square

Last year, an often overlooked part of Disney California Adventure received a refresh. The Pacific Wharf area (in between Cars Land and Pixar Pier) is now themed as San Fransokyo, the hybrid West-Coast-Meets-Asia city featured in Big Hero 6.

Like Pacific Wharf, the area is mostly seating and quick service eateries, but there are a lot of new menu items that make it much more of a foodie destination, especially at times when DCA is in between food festivals. And Baymax is a frequent character meet and greet in the area as well. Definitely a major improvement to this area of the park worth seeing!

Disneyland Hotel DVC Tower

As of late September 2023, a new tower debuted at the original on-property Disneyland resort hotel – the Villas at the Disneyland Hotel. This property features a variety of studio and one to three bedroom Disney Vacation Club (DVC) units plus a Steamboat Willie splash pad.

Related: Disneyland Hotel vs. Disney’s Grand Californian: Which Hotel is Right for Your Family?

Our family took a trip last fall to stay in the new Villas and were very impressed by the addition. Rooms feature one of several different characters (we had a Tiana-themed studio unit), and the accommodations feel luxurious while matching the hotel’s classic Disney vibe. Rooms aren’t that much pricier than the Disneyland Hotel regular rooms, so if you need the extra space or can make use of the kitchen, definitely give it a look. If you aren’t visiting at a peak time, I recommend looking into renting DVC points as a way to save big on these accommodations.

Adventureland Treehouse

What used to be the Swiss Family Treehouse and later became Tarzan’s Treehouse has now returned to its roots (pun intended). The newly renovated treehouse reopened at the end of 2023 and is inspired by the Swiss Family Robinson movie once again.

I didn’t get a chance to walk into it on my most recent visit (I’m saving it to experience with my kids!), but the exterior is breathtaking. For classic Disney fans, the treehouse seems to blend the old with the new in a highly satisfying way.

Pirates of the Caribbean Genie+ Lightning Lane

For a limited time in 2024, there is a new attraction offering Lightning Lane access via Genie+ at Disneyland . Pirates of the Caribbean is temporarily available for booking with Genie+ while several other attractions nearby in Disneyland park are down for refurbishment (more on that below).

This means that savvy Genie+ users will need to adjust their Genie+ strategies to take the addition into account. So far, this isn’t an attraction that runs out of Lightning Lane times that early thanks to its high capacity. I recommend securing more popular Lightning Lanes like Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and even Big Thunder Mountain first.

And as you might imagine, the addition of Pirates to Genie+ also means that guests who are used to riding this attraction through reasonable standby lines will have to adjust their strategies too. Regular lines are quite a bit longer now for Pirates, and the queue stretches through New Orleans Square in ways that unfortunately block access to visitors just walking by.

Disney hasn’t announced how long Pirates will be offering Lightning Lane, but we expect it could be until the end of summer (when Haunted Mansion reopens again). Stay tuned and watch for an end date if you have a trip during the second half of 2024.

Pixar Place Hotel

Last but certainly not least of all things new in 2024….Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel just completed the final stages of a renovation to become the Pixar Place Hotel. This property was in dire need of a major refresh so I was super excited to see the finished product when I stayed at Pixar Place just a week after its January 31, 2024 reopening.

I must admit I was very pleasantly surprised by the transformation after being pretty hard on Paradise Pier in the last few years. It really feels like the property got a complete gutting – far more than the regular refresh that Disney hotels often get.

Rooms are quite large with completely renovated and bright bathrooms. Two queen rooms have a couch that turns into a daybed to sleep families of 5. Bold and bright Pixar themed character and colors are everywhere.

The rooftop pool and splash pad are ideal for younger kids. Bonus that Bing Bong often hangs out in the lobby for a free and unique character meet and greet.

That said, Pixar Place Hotel is certainly not cheap by any means. I paid $405/night plus tax and some peak dates are already listed at $500+ a night. But Pixar Place is running about $150 a night less than the Disneyland Hotel. For visitors who want the benefits of an on-property stay like Early Entry, this is definitely the hotel where you can get them for a little less. The price is now much more in line with what the hotel has to offer.

Closures & Coming Soon

Disneyland is always evolving and changing, so you can also expect some closures and construction this year too. There are always a number of short term attraction closures on calendar, so always be sure to check official Disneyland sources before your trip for those. But more major things to watch include the following:

Downtown Disney

Disneyland’s shopping and entertainment district, Downtown Disney, is a serious construction zone in places right now. For now, La Brea Bakery is gone and has been replaced by a temporary location for Earl of Sandwich. A lot of other new restaurants are coming including Porto’s Bakery and Din Tai Fung, so keep watching Disney news for other announcements.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

The attraction formerly known as Splash Mountain took its last rider last year. But the log flume drop will live on in a new form! Disney is re-theming and re-doing the attraction to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The opening date won’t be until well into 2024, so expect construction walls on that end of the park.

Haunted Mansion Area Refurbishment

This year has also brought construction walls all around the Haunted Mansion. The queue and gardens area to the left of the mansion is getting an expansion, and the area next to Tiana’s Palace Restaurant will eventually have more open space as well. Additionally, a new shop is going in to the right of the mansion (closer to where Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be).

Essential Tips for Disneyland Planning & Touring in 2024

So now that all of those dates are out of the way, how do you plan your Disneyland vacation differently in 2024? And how do you approach touring the parks in new ways? Here are all my very best practical tips.

Plan Earlier!

Remember the days when you could wake up and decide to go to Disneyland for the day? Or if you are not a local but are within a few hours driving distance, the days when you could decide mid-week to head down to Disneyland for the weekend? While I won’t say those days are long gone, they are certainly fewer and farther between.

With an ever-increasing number of folks traveling again, the demand for Disneyland has continued to exceed supply many times of year. That means you need to plan early to be able to go at all – to find theme park reservation availability, to lock in a hotel that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg, and to book flights to Disneyland if you are coming from longer distances.

How early is early enough? Thankfully, supply and demand have normalized a bit so you don’t need to plan quite as early as you might have in 2021 and 2022 especially. But even still, I’d say you need to plan at least a couple of weeks in advance from drive markets. I’d recommend a month or more if you are coming by air or hope to go at peak times like the holidays. If you want to snag the best pricing and availability for hotels, at least several months in advance is necessary.

Secure Theme Park Reservations ASAP

In the last couple of years, we’ve all gotten used to the fact that an increasing number of activities require advance reservations to take part. While a lot of those activities have dropped their reservations requirement (and indeed Disney World dropped theirs in January 2024!), Disneyland is one place keeping them around for the indefinite future for now.

Be sure to read my comprehensive guide to Disneyland reservations as you are planning your Disneyland trip to make sure you get the reservations part right. The bottom line is that you need to a) check to make sure there are reservations available for the days you want to visit and the ticket type you plan to buy before planning a trip and b) book those reservations ASAP.

While reservations open 120 days in advance for regular theme park tickets, it’s certainly not necessary to book them quite that early. But earlier is better, especially if you plan to go at a high demand time like Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays.

Practically speaking, reservations at at least one park usually remain open for almost all dates more than a few days in advance now (especially if you have park hopper tickets, where reservation availability is more generous). Sometimes, there are still reservations available the night before or even same day! No, that shouldn’t make you complacent. Availability can really fluctuate.

There are a lot of factors that might cause the parks to book up more quickly at some times of year. Ticket specials (especially SoCal resident deals), Disney adjusting allotment of space to annual passes (now known as Magic Keys), or the draw of seasonal offerings like Food and Wine Festival or Oogie Boogie Bash can all cause one or both parks to fill farther in advance. For example, last year I noticed most dates in October booked up in Disney California Adventure weeks in advance for one park per day tickets due to the popularity of Halloween offerings there.

Buy the Right Ticket Type

Before making park reservations, guests of course need theme park tickets. So what are your options for regular tickets? Disneyland offers both single day or multi-day tickets (up to 5 total days). There is an optional park hopper add on for both of these as well that costs a $65-75 extra, depending on length of ticket.

Related: Disneyland Park Hopper Tickets: Worth it or Waste of Money?

Over the course of the past year, I have heard a lot of stories of guests who bought the wrong ticket in the first place or who changed their minds about what ticket was right for them after more research. In most cases, however, you really can’t afford to do this right now. You need get your ticket purchase right out of the gate because Disneyland doesn’t make it easy to change or upgrade tickets from afar.

For this reason, I also highly recommend buying multi-day Disneyland tickets from Trips With Tykes partner Get Away Today. Get Away Today is the only place that offers refundable Disneyland tickets if you get this ticket purchasing step wrong (free if you purchase their Peace of Mind Plan or otherwise a per ticket fee). Plus, their tickets are discounted off of regular Disney direct prices! Book discounted Disneyland park tickets from Get Away Today here . (And also be sure to peek at their discounted Disneyland hotels and vacation packages too – use code TYKES10 for $10 in additional package savings.)

So what else do you need to watch for in terms of tickets? Here’s what can trip up many guests and what to know:

• One day tickets are the most complicated, with 7 different prices, corresponding to 7 different tiers (inexplicably numbered Tiers 0-6). Only Tier 6 tickets can be used every day on the calendar. Other tiers have blockout dates. Be sure that the tier you purchase will allow you to go on the day you want (as well as any day you might switch to if your vacation plans are not yet firm).
• Multi-day tickets thankfully do not have tiers at all, so you are eligible to book any day on the calendar with them.
• Multi-day tickets expire 13 days after first use. This makes them great for a multi-day vacation for out-of-towners. Locals who can bunch up several single day visits in a two week window might find some value as well, although usually the SoCal ticket specials (when offered) are better for anyone who lives nearby.
• Park hopper tickets and single-park-per-day tickets each have their own separate reservation availability calendar , regardless of the number of days you purchase on these tickets. Make sure you are checking the reservation calendar that matches the ticket type you intend to buy. The single-park-per-day reservation calendar usually fills up first. If you are booking more last minute, paying extra for park hopper will likely open up more days on the reservation calendar to you.
• Magic Key (annual pass) reservations are a totally separate system. Magic Key dates open up 90 days in advance, and many popular dates become booked very quickly. Magic Keys are not always on sale (or only some types are available), so they may not be an option for many guests to even purchase.

Consider New Hotel Options

A lot of Disneyland visitors have their favorite hotels they’ve stayed in year after year, and loyalty and familiarity are certainly good things. But whether it’s been a while since you’ve investigated the choices or you are coming to Disneyland as a first timer, I’d encourage all Disneyland visitors to shop around and look at the hotel options anew.

The 2020 closures brought a lot of changes to the hotel market. Multiple new hotels have opened, some of which have some pretty tempting perks and value propositions. Additionally, the prices of a lot of hotels have gone up quite a bit in these inflationary times. As I’ve been monitoring prices closely, I’ve noticed some hotels have had much more substantial price increases than others and some have changed their included benefits. The relative prices have shifted considerably, and a hotel that used to be a deal or value may not be anymore relative to its current benefits.

If you want to get a peek at what my top hotel picks are in 2024, check out this fully updated guide to hotels within walking distance of Disneyland .

Additionally, Disney is always tweaking its benefits for on-property hotel guests. This changes the incentives for some guests deciding between a Disneyland owned hotel or an off-property Good Neighbor Hotel nearby. Extra Magic Hour and Magic Morning from pre-2020 times have both been gone for quite awhile, but Disneyland began offering guests at on-property hotels 30 minutes of early entry.

As of early 2024, however, this Early Entry benefit has changed yet again. Disneyland opens early on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and DCA opens early on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. You can get a lot done in 30 minutes, but query carefully whether this is a benefit you will fully use before paying several hundred dollars more per night to stay on-property, especially given the new alternating park schedule.

Finally, one important thing to keep in mind – conventions and other special events have largely returned to the Anaheim area making hotel demand higher than ever at some times you might not expect . Walking distance hotels especially seem to book up quickly in 2024 as a lot of travelers don’t want the hassle of shuttles or harder-to-find (and increasingly expensive) ridesharing to the parks. So earlier really is better when it comes to being able to plan a Disneyland vacation with your preferred logistics.

Park Hop at 11:00 AM!

For guests who purchase Disneyland’s park hopper ticket add on, the year 2023 brought a welcome policy change for the better. When the parks initially reopened back in 2021, park hopping was only allowed at the Disneyland Resort starting at 1:00pm. As of February 4, 2023, the park hopping time at Disneyland has been moved up to 11:00am.

It’s still not quite like the good old days when there was no time restriction on park hopping, but at least this frees guests up to make lunch reservations in whatever park they prefer. It also helps with using and redeeming Genie+ Lightning Lanes more strategically (more on that below).

Adjust Your Disneyland Dining & Restaurant Strategy in 2024

For a long time after the parks first reopened, things simply weren’t up to speed on the Disneyland dining front. Finally almost all restaurants are open (and at full capacity) in 2024, but the dining scene has changed quite a bit.

Some menus are still pared back to a more limited number of choices at some restaurants. Reservations at table service restaurants are also harder to get, and quick service restaurants have increasingly moved towards encouraging guests to mobile order.

Table Service Restaurants

For table service restaurants, my best advice is to book early (and often). Reservations didn’t used to be incredibly hard to get at Disneyland except for a very few popular restaurants, but they are much more challenging in 2024. You may not be able to secure your top choice, so consider making backup reservations for restaurants you are happy with when you see they are available – because those too may soon be gone!

When do you need to plan to book dining reservations? Officially, Disneyland table service reservations open up exactly 60 days in advance, usually at 6:00 am PT. Some restaurants, however, will not open up availability at that time, releasing all availability several days later or releasing additional times in dribs and drabs.

How do you navigate the uncertainty? My best advice is to at least set an alarm to try first thing in the morning 60 days in advance. After that, I would suggest saving yourself dozens of fruitless refreshes and sign up for a Disney dining reservation monitoring service.

I highly recommend the site Mouse Dining , which is a great tool to help you snag a hard to find reservation by notifying you of cancellations or Disney adding capacity. Mouse Dining has both a free and a paid version, and I’ve had personal success using it to snag reservations many times.

If you are serious about a specific hard-to-get restaurant you’ll likely need the paid service to be competitive. This version sends instant text alerts. If you are more casually looking for openings at one of several places, the free version which sends email alerts can usually get the job done. A lot of guests book multiple or extra reservations to hedge their bets and cancel some as their plans firm up. Snagging those cancellations is possible, especially with some assistance.

All hope is not lost for the last minute planners either! Disneyland recently changed its cancellation policies for table service reservations, allowing guests to cancel until 2 hours in advance with no penalty. This means it’s possible to snag a same day reservation off of these cancellations.

Additionally, most table service restaurants have walkup availability too. You can join a same day walkup wait list on the Disneyland app on the day of your visit.

Quick Service Restaurants & Mobile Ordering

If you don’t want a fancier or longer meal, head for one of Disneyland’s quick service restaurants. Actually, don’t physically head there. First, you need to open the Disneyland app. The new normal for these dining locations is that you need to mobile order your food on the app. Disneyland thankfully still has regular lines with cashiers to enable walk up orders, but they are in smaller numbers than before. Mobile ordering will still save you time almost all the time.

To use mobile ordering, the app will first display a list of available time windows for you to return to each restaurant to pick up your order. The closer you get to peak mealtimes, the more other guests start to place their mobile orders. And the farther out the return times become (although this thankfully has improved somewhat).

The bottom line? It’s essential to order on the early side, especially if there is a particular popular restaurant that is a must-do for you (like Tiana’s Palace!). You can always cancel an order with no penalty before your pickup window if you change your mind. You can also modify your pickup window if you are running late. See the quick and easy guide to Disneyland mobile ordering that my friend Casey at Disneyland Daily has created with step-by-step instructions.

Master the Disneyland App

Speaking of the Disneyland app, it’s important for more than just mobile ordering. It’s a backup for your theme park ticket, your ticket to Lightning Lanes (more on that later), your park map, the way to access your PhotoPass images, and more. Disneyland has even been testing it to check out of stores by allowing guests to self-scan merchandise in the app.

It’s essential that you download the app, know your login and password, and load a credit card to your account. Every adult doesn’t need to have it, but the most tech-savvy adult in your party (or at least the one managing the Disneyland vacation planning) should. If more than one adult will be using it, it is sometimes easiest for both to log in to the same account so that both phones get alerts.

Note that Disney gift cards are a permitted method of payment in the app as of a few years ago. So if you’ve acquired Disney gift cards at a discount , you can use them to save on food too. The only problem is that the app doesn’t store the gift card each time, so be prepared to enter the 16 digit code anew for each purchase (hot tip: copy and paste the number in your phone’s text notes so you don’t have to fish out the card each time).

My friend Jessica from the Happiest Blog on Earth has even more detail and information in this detailed guide to the Disneyland app .

See Characters Up Close & Get Hugs Again!

One of the favorite parts of a Disneyland vacation for many visitors – especially young kids – is seeing favorite Disney characters. These encounters were highly modified for a long time. But in 2024, hugs and close encounters are fully back for character meet-and-greets!

There are still characters that pop up in the distanced spots (especially on the Disneyland Railroad balcony overlooking Town Square in Main Street U.S.A.). So if you don’t want to wait in a long line to see a character, this is a helpful alternative I’m glad has stuck around. Check the Disneyland app under the Entertainment menu option to see the many locations where characters will appear in the parks, both near and far.

Disneyland character dining has returned entirely to its pre-2020 modes of operation as well. Characters come by tables again in addition to sometimes doing a parade or dance a few times per hour. Some restaurants will also take a character photo with guests to start the meal. See all the details in my complete guide to Disneyland character meals .

Have a New Strategy for Lines & Crowds

If you don’t want to be standing in line for rides (who does?), you’ve got a LOT new to learn in 2023. Fastpass, MaxPass , Extra Magic Hour, Magic Morning, even virtual queues for rides…. most of the tricks and hacks we used to use to shortcut lines in the good old days are GONE.

In their place are a few brand new tools that you absolutely need to know about. Whether you use them or not, they will affect how long the lines are and what rides you should do and when.

So what are these new options? The most important ones to know about are Disney Genie+ and paid Lightning Lane . Disney Genie+ is a pretty close cousin to MaxPass and allows guests Lightning Lane access for up to 20 eligible attractions. Paid Lightning Lane is a separate Fastpass-like offering for 3 additional super-popular rides with a separate fee.

If you want short waits most like the Fastpasses of old, these are upcharges that you should seriously consider. The flip side of course is that they can make standby lines for everyone else much longer. See my complete FAQ for Disneyland’s Genie+ and Lightning Lane and then read these additional advanced Disneyland Genie+ strategies for all the details.

For those of you who like to shortcut lines by going during less busy times, is it even possible to find a less crowded day to go to Disneyland in 2023? With the theme park reservations requirement, there are fewer really slow days at Disneyland. That said, midweek dates are still usually going to be less crowded than a holiday weekend – except for when a SoCal resident special is live.

Disneyland crowd calendars can help, but I find them less reliable than before, especially many months in advance. Personally I’d say that it’s less important to try to game the dates you are going to go to hope to luck into low crowds rather than just pick what works best for your travel schedule.

How else can you minimize your Disneyland wait times in 2023? This is an ever changing target, but here has been working of late:

• Rope dropping still works. Starting early is vital to a successful touring plan. Get in the front of the line to enter the parks up to an hour before park opening and you’ll be in prime position for your first ride of choice – and probably also your second and third. Although early entry means that on-property guests have a half hour head start on all other guests, there aren’t enough on-property guests to make lines long by the time everyone else is let in at rope drop. And because early entry is in alternating parks, rope drop in the park not offering early entry is a level playing field for all.
• Use single rider lines when available. Single rider lines are back but not necessarily for all the rides that offered them in 2020 and in quite the same way. But they are a great benefit, especially if you are flying solo or have older kids who are ok riding alone.
• Know when paid Lightning Lanes may sell out for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. While most rides offering Genie+ or paid Lightning Lane don’t run out of reservation times until late in the day, paid Lightning Lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge can still go very fast on high crowd days. Check out the latest strategies and trends in my Guide to riding Rise of the Resistance .
• Hop in line for one last ride a minute or two before closing time. As long as you are in line before the park officially closes, you get to ride. Lines are often very short at this hour as many guests head for the exits. Squeeze in one last ride, especially if you are a night owl!
• Ride during the fireworks or parades. Now that fireworks, parades, and other shows are back at Disneyland, a lot of guests won’t be on rides in the minutes that lead up to and during the shows. Fantasyland attractions close during fireworks nights (usually weekends only), but you can head elsewhere in the park to find shorter ride lines.

Final Thoughts

Disneyland is undoubtedly different in 2024, but still exudes much of the same joy that we all expect from the Happiest Place on Earth. And now you should be armed with all the information you need to adjust accordingly and take maximum advantage of the new rules.

Where to Book Your Disneyland Vacation & Save Money!

Save big on your Disneyland vacation with trusted Trips with Tykes partner, Get Away Today. Get Away Today sells park tickets at a discount, helps you find great deals at both on-property and off-property hotels, and provides expert customer service from representatives who visit Disneyland all the time.

For park tickets, don’t purchase direct from Disney and pay more! Book discounted Disneyland park tickets from Get Away Today here . Tickets purchased now are valid through December 31, 2025. Both park hopper and single park per day tickets are available, as well as tickets that include Genie+.

To take advantage of hotel and other package discounts from Get Away Today, explore and book Disneyland vacation packages here . Be sure to use code TYKES10 for $10 in additional savings.

Current Get Away Today Specials & Deals :

• LIMITED TIME! Halfway to Halloween Ticket Sale : Save $13 on all 3 day and longer Disneyland tickets for 2024 travel. Purchase by Monday, May 13, 2024.
• LIMITED TIME! Halfway to Halloween Hotel Sale : Save $31 on stays of 2 nights or more with code TREAT31 for 2024 travel. Purchase by Monday, May 13, 2024. And yes, you can combine this code with the ticket sale!
• Southern California Resident Spring Offer : SoCal residents can get three day tickets for as low as $75 per day for visits on weekdays from January 2 -June 2, 2024. Can be used on non-consecutive days.
• Extra Day Free Tickets : Get 5 days at Disneyland for the price of 4 with this extra day free special for longer vacations.
• 3rd or 4th Night Free : available at select Anaheim area hotels exclusively through Get Away Today bookings (can be combined with all ticket discounts).
• Coming Soon! Summer 2024 3 Day Ticket Deal : This three day ticket will be valid for visits June 10 through September 26, 2024 (including on non-consecutive days). Choose weekday only or all days of the week as well as a 1 park-per-day or park hopper ticket. Normally this kind of a deal is available only to SoCal or California residents in summer, but this year it’s open to all.

John McFarland

Sunday 29th of May 2022

Thanks for all of the helpful information. My wife and I are trying to plan a trip for us, our 4 kids (all under 9, with the youngest being almost 3) and probably a few grandparents. We are excited!

Like you, my wife and I are planners and since, this will most likely be our only Disney trip for the foreseeable future, I want to do all that I can in the pre planning stages to help set the trip up for most success (knowing that there will be unforeseen things, ride closures, melt downs, and other unexpected issues.) With all that being said, we are looking at trying to go to Disneyland one of the three following dates, so I wanted to see if you had any insight and advice on these dates and any other thoughts that can help us plan a truly magical trip for our family.

1) November 14-17, 2022 - this is currently our first choice, as it will be Christmas season but probably without the thanksgiving to New Years crowds? It seems park hours, shows, rides, and everything should be going strong as it’s the start of Christmas season at Disneyland. Thoughts?

2) September 5-9, 2022 - this is our second choice, as it seems to be less crowded. - in your experience what do park hours and entertainment look like in what in theory is off season? - saw that D23 is 9/9-9/11, which in theory will bring crowds before and after, right?

3) October 10-13 - 3rd choice, but know that due to Fall Breaks, tends to be more crowded then the other two options. - if crowds are comparable then would rather see Christmas then Halloween at Disneyland.

I know that this become a long post and you probably get a lot of “please help me plan my trip” comments, but any advice and insight you can share would be greatly appreciated! Again, thanks for all that you do and all the helpful posts! And, thanks in advance for any advice you can give my wife and I.

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Anaheim-Disneyland   Travel Guide

Why Go To Anaheim-Disneyland

Many vacationers come to Anaheim for  Disneyland Resort . A plaque at the entrance of the park reads: "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy," and for more than 50 years, this complex of amusement parks and hotels has remained a fun fantasy world. Even if you've been to other Disney resorts, nothing beats the original's unique place as a vintage landmark in the heart of Southern California. This vibrant park is still a great place for families – in fact, your kids will most likely have so much fun with Mickey and friends that they'll never want to leave. And with plenty of thrilling rides and a bustling entertainment district, you might not want to leave either. Plus, the park's newest themed land, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, brings a whole new dimension to the park.

But Disneyland isn't the only thing luring visitors to this Southern California city. There are other (more affordable) theme parks like  Knott's Berry Farm  and  Adventure City , the picturesque  Yorba Regional Park  and even an "angelic" baseball stadium . When you need a break from the crowds, simply hop in your car and drive west to the coast: the shorelines of Long Beach, Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach are all within about 25 miles of Anaheim.

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Anaheim-Disneyland Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best times to visit Anaheim and Disneyland are March through May and September through October, when the weather is comfortably warm and school's still in session. In the summertime and around major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, Disneyland tends to be more crowded. And temperatures in Anaheim will be high without the reprieve of a cooling, ocean breeze.

Weather in Anaheim-Disneyland

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

Prepare for a crowd surge Disneyland  draws visitors from far and wide, so you can expect to do a little bit of waiting. Avoid long lines by getting to the park early in the morning or buying tickets in advance.

Don't lose the kids While Disneyland is overall a very safe and family-friendly environment, heavy crowds can make it hard to stay together. Give each child an identity tag with his or her name and your cellphone number on it. It's also wise to designate a meeting spot, just in case someone gets lost. For more safety tips, visit the Disney  website .

Anaheim is hot This city is known for its bright and sunny weather, but that can take its toll if you're spending the entire day outside at Disneyland or at the  Angel Stadium of Anaheim . Wear a hat and sunscreen, and drink plenty of water.

How to Save Money in Anaheim-Disneyland

Forget the car  If you're only planning to visit  Disneyland  while in Anaheim, you can utilize Disney transport and your own two feet to get around. For all other attractions, the Anaheim Resort Transportation is a convenient, reliable mode of seeing the city.

Consider the SoCal CityPASS  If your itinerary includes a stop in San Diego (about 95 miles south), you could save major coin by opting for the  CityPASS , which includes admission to Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park, SeaWorld San Diego and the San Diego Zoo , among other attractions.

Visit in the offseason  It can be tempting to plan your trip in the summer when school is out, but if you do, you'll contend with high prices and temperatures, not to mention stifling crowds. Visiting during off-peak months like December (before the winter holidays), January, February, March or October will yield lower prices and fewer crowds.

What to Eat

It can be easy to visit Anaheim and eat nothing but theme park food. Though Disneyland has certainly upped its dining game, offering everything from Creole to Mediterranean flavors at its on-site restaurants, it would be a shame to leave Anaheim without exploring the rest of the city's food scene.

For a veritable smorgasbord of local eats, make a stop at the  Anaheim Packing District . This food hall features more than 20 artisan eateries and a farmers market. Plus, on the weekends there's live music and even a speakeasy bar. The Anaheim Packing District also shares space with the  Anaheim Brewery , another visitor and local favorite. And if you're a fan of Los Angeles'  Umami Burger , you're in luck: the upscale burger joint has an outpost next to the Packing District's Farmers Park. For even more burgers, head to  Slater's 50/50 , which you may have guessed from its name, serves burgers made with 50 percent ground beef and 50 percent ground bacon.

If you're in the mood for a more formal sit-down meal, locals recommend  THE RANCH Restaurant & Saloon , which serves steak and seafood and farm-fresh seasonal sides.  Anaheim White House Restaurant  is another steakhouse favorite that's as lauded for its food as it is for its service. Not much of a carnivore? Vegetarians in the know recommend  The Healthy Junk , which serves classic comfort dishes like burgers, pizza, fries and chicken wings with vegan and gluten-free substitutions. 

Getting Around Anaheim-Disneyland

The best way to get around  Disneyland  is on foot, but the best way to get around Anaheim is by car. Once inside the resort, all of Disneyland's attractions – including those found in Disney's California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney – are within walking distance of one another. If you tire of walking, then hitch a ride on the Disneyland Monorail, which is free for visitors with valid admission into the park.

Getting to the park is also a breeze: the Disneyland Resort Express is available from Orange County's John Wayne Airport (SNA), which is around 15 miles south, and from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is about 35 miles west. If you bring or rent a car, you'll find there is plenty of parking at Disneyland. Just prepare for steep fees. You can also hop on the FRAN if you're traveling around downtown Anaheim, also known as Center City. The "Free Rides Around the Neighborhood" (FRAN) is an on-demand electric car service, which can be summoned via an app and can take visitors to one of 10 stops.

This statue, which shows Walt Disney holding the hand of his most famous character, Mickey Mouse, stands in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland . The plaque beneath the statue uses a quote from Disney: "I think most of all what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place ... where parents and children can have fun ... together."

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2024 Disneyland Planning Guide – Plan the Best Trip & Save BIG

The Park Savers 2024 Disneyland Resort Planning Guide covers everything you want to know about planning a vacation to this fun-filled destination: crowds, dining, best hotels, saving money on tickets and other tips & tricks. We also cover how to get on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance so you don’t leave disappointed. (updated January 27, 2024)

Disneyland Resort

The resort had recently experienced quite the change before being rudely interrupted by COVID. The biggest was Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened its doors to guests in 2019. While that may not seem “recent,” its biggest attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, only opened in January 2020. That’s right, this attraction only saw about two months’ worth of guest time before the pandemic forced the parks to close.

Rise of the Resistance is one of Disneyland’s most immersive attractions and by far one of the most popular. When the attraction first opened, there were no standby lines for guests to enter. FastPass? No way. With this attraction, Disney introduced the virtual queue, a way for guests to “get in line” for the attraction, keep exploring the park while they waited, and then later enter the queue to actually ride.

We realize this sounds a lot like FastPass (and the new Disney Genie+), and it sort of is, but sort of isn’t. While Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections (and FastPass before them) allow guests to come back during a scheduled period and go through a faster queue, the virtual queue only represents a line where all guests must enter. No guests receive priority or a quicker way to experience the attraction. It also keeps guests from just walking up and getting in line.

This was introduced because of the attraction’s popularity (and rightfully so) and will likely continue to be the way guests get to experience it for the foreseeable future. That is, unless the attraction goes the way of its Disney World counterpart and nixes it. So when it comes to planning and hoping to score a boarding group in this virtual queue, you may want to see our guide for getting a  guaranteed boarding group for Rise of the Resistance .

Disneyland was also in the middle of several other new resort additions, including  Avengers Campus and a new hotel. While these were all delayed for a time, Avengers Campus actually opened to guests on June 4th, 2021.  The new hotel, which is an extension of Disney Vacation Club, hadn’t made much progress other than being announced. Our guess is that this has been pushed back to 2023 or later.

Amazingly, Disney even managed to reimagine the Snow White attraction in Fantasyland during the resort’s closure into something magical. With all-new scenes and audio-animatronics,  Snow White’s Enchanted Wish is significantly better than its previous iteration, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and guests can finally enjoy the full story of Snow White.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DISNEYLAND

Disneyland is Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom, opening in 1955 with just one park. Over the years, it has grown immensely (to a certain degree), adding an additional park, California Adventure, in the early 2000s. Disneyland Park’s abundant charm flows through each of the theme park’s lands: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Mickey’s Toontown , Fantasyland and Galaxy’s Edge.

Most guests find this park to be the most “magical” of Disney’s two California theme parks, with many original attractions like Peter Pan, Snow White, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain, just to name a few.

Directly across from Disneyland is Disney’s California Adventure Park. Initially, the park was built to represent the state of California. After that pretty much failed, it was revamped to make it more “Disney” in 2012 and has since grown in popularity with the help of new lands and attractions.

Some of our reasons for visiting Disneyland over Walt Disney World include:

• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!
• New Orleans Square
• The original World’s Fair version of “it’s a small world”
• The Blue Bayou Restaurant (yes, this makes our list)
• Avengers Campus
• World of Color

NEW TO DISNEYLAND

Besides all the new COVID guidelines we already mentioned, Disneyland saw significant changes to the parks in 2021. The biggest of all of these is the opening of Avengers Campus in California Adventure Park. This new land took the place of A Bug’s Land and will soon connect Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! to the rest of Marvel.

The land features one new attraction, a dining location, shopping and character meets. There is also an impressive “stuntronics” Spider-Man swinging from rooftop to rooftop, which is truly amazing. Additionally, as we mentioned earlier, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish Wish, a classic dark ride in Fantasyland, is also “new” to guests as it received a major makeover inside and out.

FIRST-TIME VISITORS

It’s exciting to plan a vacation to Disneyland for the first time, but it can also seem overwhelming. Trust us, we get it: You want to see and do it all. It’s a worthy cause and very much achievable for anyone who plans correctly. If you want a detailed guide on how to spend your day(s), you can see our Disneyland Itinerary Guides for more information.

For your initial planning, however, here are the most important things to know about:

• When to visit
• Picking the right hotel
• Saving on your theme park tickets
• Transportation and airfare
• Disney Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections
• Magic Morning Early Entry and Extra Magic Hour
• Entertainment including parades, fireworks, World of Color and Fantasmic!

DISNEYLAND TICKETS

Currently, you can purchase tickets that range from one to five days. Depending on how long you want to play, it’s always best to buy as many days as possible, as the price per day drops the more you add. For instance, the 2-day ticket costs about $128 per day, but the 4-day ticket costs about $90 per day. So, the more you play, the less you pay!

Guests can choose from either 1 Park Per Day or Park Hopper tickets.  1 Park Per Day tickets give you access to one of the two parks each day of your visit. You CANNOT visit both parks on the same day.  Park Hopper tickets  give you access to both parks as much as you want for the length of your ticket.

We always recommend this ticket as it gives you a lot of flexibility to switch parks when the other is busy. For a great Disney deal, be sure to purchase your Disneyland tickets at a discount with our trusted partner online.

Remember that tickets are only valid for 13 days after first use unless you have an annual pass. Also, tickets cannot be used by different people; the same person must use them on each day of use. Disney takes this very seriously and will revoke your ticket if you’re caught doing this. Only buy your tickets from vendors who are authorized.

For more information on  discount Disneyland tickets , be sure to read our comprehensive guide so you can save the most money. We talk about many different places, including  Sam’s Club ,  AAA  and  Costco . 

ANNUAL PASSES

Keep the magic going all year-round with an annual pass, or Disneyland’s Magic Key Passes . These give you one year of access to the parks, some with restrictions and blackout dates. All offer discounts on food and merchandise, tours, and special events.

Please  visit here for information on the Magic Key Program, including the four levels of annual passholder membership: Dream Key, Believe Key, Enchant Key and Imagine Key.

DISNEYLAND HOTELS

It seems like there are a million and one options for hotels at and near the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. The city itself is basically made up of hotels with a few houses and apartment buildings sprinkled in between, so your options are immense. Having said that, there are ones you’ll want to avoid.

Disneyland has three hotels on property, including the Paradise Pier Hotel, Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. While these hotels tend to run a bit pricier then most hotels near the resort, they also offer a lot of extras for guests like short walks to the parks, package delivery from the parks, and Extra Magic Hour each morning.

Most hotels surrounding the resort (but not owned by Disney) will most likely fall into the Good Neighbor Hotel category. You can read about these and the Disney Hotels in  our complete Disneyland Hotel Reviews guide . There are some great ones out there like  Desert Palms Hotel and Suites , Residence Inn Marriott and the new  Westin Resort by Marriott .

Three airports service Disneyland within a 45-minute drive or less:

• Orange County  – John Wayne SNA
• Long Beach Airport  LGB
• Los Angeles Airport  LAX

SNA  is the closest airport to Disney and typically takes about 15 minutes to drive from there to Disneyland with clear traffic. While the airport is a smaller one, it’s really nice and offers lots of places to eat, shop and, of course, catch your flight. It’s also part of the Disneyland Resort Express motorcoach program, which you can read about below. Airlines include Southwest, Delta, United, American, and Alaska. 

LGB  is the second closest airport to the resort and typically takes about a 20-25 minute drive with clear traffic. It’s also a smaller airport, but was recently re-done and has some great eating places. Airlines that service Long Beach include Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, and American Eagle.

LAX is the furthest airport from Disneyland and can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to drive. This is a major airport with many airlines servicing it. We won’t list them all, but most likely, your airline will fly into it. It’s great for international flights. LAX is part of the Karmel Shuttle motorcoach program, which you can read more about below.

The best way to score some serious discounts on airfare is  to use Google’s Flight Search , which compares most major airlines and allows you to track prices, all for free.

TRANSPORTATION

Getting to and from the airports can be pricey, depending on which type of transportation you take.  Rental cars  can be picked up at all three of the airports around Disneyland. If you choose to rent a vehicle, keep in mind that your hotel may charge a parking fee.

Disneyland also charges a parking fee if you’re thinking about parking at the resort. It’s approximately $20 per day for cars and motorcycles. However, driving your own vehicle or renting one can be a great idea if you plan to leave the resort a lot and head to the beach or other Southern California attractions.

Alternatively, the  Karmel Shuttle Service  is a great way to go from SNA, LGB and LAX to the three Disney hotels and surrounding ones like the Good Neighbor hotels.

Taxis, Uber and LYFT  are great options if you don’t want to pay parking and rental fees. We highly recommend  Uber  and  LYFT  for getting to and from the airport. They are readily available and cheaper than taking a taxi. Use our  coupon codes  to get your first ride free with both companies!

If you don’t have these apps on your phone, we suggest taking a taxi. Many of them offer a flat rate to Disneyland and back – just be sure to ask them. Likewise, if you’re staying at a Disneyland property hotel, ask the bell desk for a flat rate coupon upon departure.

DISNEY GENIE

The key to a successful trip to Disneyland is going in with a plan. Fortunately, Disney’s newest piece of tech, the Disney Genie Service , helps guests to make the most of their days whether they did their research or not. Already launched at Walt Disney World but yet to make its Disneyland debut, this complimentary service will be incorporated into the existing Disneyland app.

Utilizing preferences like your favorite characters or attractions, along with current and anticipated wait times and your location in the park, Disney Genie creates a personalized digital itinerary just for you. This helps you to take advantage of short lines and skip out on rides that may not interest you so that you can make the most of your time in the parks.

DISNEY GENIE+ & INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANE ATTRACTIONS

Unfortunately, you are no longer able to use FastPass or MaxPass to skip the line at Disneyland. Instead, guests will be able to fast-track their trip by purchasing Lightning Lane access. By upgrading their tickets with Disney Genie+ and/or Individual Attraction selections, guests can jump to the front of the line at some of the Disneyland’s most popular attractions.

Disney Genie+ will cost $20 per person per day and cover such popular rides as Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain. Meanwhile, guests will also be able to make Individual Lightning Lane Selections. Unlike with Genie+, you must buy Individual Lightning Lane Attraction access for each applicable ride you’d like to go on. While we don’t yet know how much this will cost, front-of-the-line access to some of Disney World’s rides are going for between $7-15 a pop.This skip-the-line option will only cover two popular attractions at each theme park, such as Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park.

WORLD OF COLOR

World of Color is, quite possibly, the most wonderful show you’ll ever see. With lights, colors, water, fire and your favorite  Disney characters , all set to classic Disney music, honestly, what’s not to like? It’s something you have to experience!

The show returned returning in 2022 for the first time in over 2 years.

Fantasmic! is a nighttime spectacular that takes place around the Rivers of America in Frontierland and New Orleans Square. You won’t want to miss this one-of-kind show starring Mickey Mouse and some nasty villains.

The show includes some of your favorite characters and the Mark Twain Riverboat, singing, dancing, and even fireworks, making it an absolute must-see.

The show made its return in 2022 after being on hiatus for over 2 years.

PARADES AND FIREWORKS

These change seasonally and yearly, so it’s essential to stay updated on what’s currently being presented at each park. If you’re looking for fireworks, Disneyland Park is the place to go, as there aren’t any offered at California Adventure Park. Fireworks are typically done later in the evening and are most likely occur on the weekends, though they tend to run more during the summertime and major holidays. Always pick up an entertainment times guide when entering the parks (or check the Disneyland app) so you know when these are.

Parades change often, and each park can have its own. The Magic Happens Parade will make its way down Main Street, USA once more beginning February 24, 2022.

Be aware that these types of entertainment are subject to change, mostly due to weather. For example, high winds will cancel a fireworks show, while rain will cancel a fireworks show and a parade.

MAGIC MORNING EARLY ADMISSION

Exclusively for Disneyland Resort guests, this feature comes on 3-day tickets or higher only. It allows you entrance into Disneyland Park one hour before it opens to the public. It only runs on certain days, typically Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. It comes on your ticket.

It is different than Extra Magic Hour (see below) that is offered only to guests of the three Disneyland-owned hotels.

EXTRA MAGIC HOUR

This perk is only available to guests staying at one of the Disneyland-owned resort hotels including Paradise Pier Hotel , Disneyland Hotel , and the Grand Californian Hotel . Extra Magic Hour is every day at a different park.

It typically follows the schedule of Magic Morning Early Entry, with Disneyland Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. All the other days, Extra Magic Hour is for California Adventure Park.

Times are subject to change, so check with your hotel the night before to verify the time. Take it from us and this Disneyland Planning Guide, Extra Magic Hour is a must-do each day! You’ll get a lot done in just an hour because the park is pretty empty. This is currently suspended in 2023.

BEST TIME TO VISIT DISNEYLAND

There’s a lot to be said about  visiting  Disneyland. Of course, we all want to travel when there are smaller crowds and shorter wait times. But, we also want to go when it’s easy for families to travel  and  everything is open. Finding a balance between the two can be challenging, but it’s possible.

Over the last several years, we’ve studied the crowds and have broken down what you can expect each month and when the best weeks are to visit.

In a nutshell, these are the best times to go to Disneyland:

• January & February (minus holiday weekends)
• May (first half of the month)
• September (after Labour Day)
• Early October
• Early November
• Early December

Avoid major holiday weeks like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Summers are crazy because kids are out of school. March and April are full of spring breakers, and late May is full of graduation nights. In other words, any time that’s not convenient for a family to go is the best time to go.

Be sure to read our  Best Time to Visit Disneyland Guide  to see what may work for you. You can also check out our free  Disneyland Crowd Calendars  to see which days will be the busiest and which ones will be slow.

Another option is to subscribe to a crowd calendar like  Touring Plans , which has made it their business to project how busy the parks will be, using science! These calendars can be invaluable in helping you to determine the best days to visit.

• 1 Understand
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.3 By foot
• 2.4 By transit
• 4 Get around
• 5.1.1 Main Street, U.S.A.
• 5.1.2 Adventureland
• 5.1.3 New Orleans Square
• 5.1.4 Critter Country
• 5.1.5 Frontierland
• 5.1.6 Fantasyland
• 5.1.7 Mickey's Toontown
• 5.1.8 Tomorrowland
• 5.1.9 Shows and events
• 5.2.1 Buena Vista Street
• 5.2.2 Grizzly Peak
• 5.2.3 San Fransokyo Square
• 5.2.4 Pixar Pier
• 5.2.5 Hollywood Land
• 5.2.6 Cars Land
• 5.2.7 Avenger's Campus
• 5.2.8 Shows and parades
• 5.3 Downtown Disney
• 6.1 Within the theme parks
• 6.2 Downtown Disney
• 7.1.1 Main Street, U.S.A.
• 7.1.2 Adventureland
• 7.1.3 New Orleans Square
• 7.1.4 Critter Country
• 7.1.5 Frontierland
• 7.1.6 Fantasyland
• 7.1.7 Mickey's Toontown
• 7.1.8 Tomorrowland
• 7.2.1 Buena Vista Street
• 7.2.2 Grizzly Peak
• 7.2.3 San Fransokyo Square
• 7.2.4 Paradise Pier
• 7.2.5 Hollywood Land
• 7.2.6 Cars Land
• 7.3 Downtown Disney dining
• 8.1 Hotels within the resort
• 8.2 Other hotels
• 9.1 Other theme parks
• 9.2 Professional sports

The Disneyland Resort is in Anaheim , California . It is home to the original Disneyland Park, which has been a favorite among visitors to Southern California from all over the world since 1955. It was joined in 2001 by a sister park, Disney California Adventure, which is a stylized recreation and celebration of California's rich history and culture.

Understand [ edit ]

The Disneyland Resort is divided into two separate theme parks, three hotels, and a shopping and entertainment district. The first park is the original Disney theme park Disneyland . It opened in 1955 and has been in continuous operation for almost 7 decades. It is home to many of the beloved and classic disney dark rides (like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Peter Pan's Flight), the iconic ''mountains'' (e.g. Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain) and many more. Its sister park Disney California Adventure , opened in 2001 and is situated across the entry plaza on the site of the former Disneyland Parking Lot. It is themed after areas of California is somewhat geared towards teenagers and adults with more thrilling rides, like the Incredicoaster or Radiator Springs Racers, while Disneyland has a lot of attractions for all ages. Both parks are divided into "lands" with specific theming. At the western end of the entry plaza is Downtown Disney , the shopping and entertainment district, as well as the three hotels, which are all located at its west end.

While it is guaranteed that you will have a great time in the parks there are two things to take into account before visiting and that will affect your experience, prices and crowds. Disneyland is the second most visited theme park in the world with almost 17 million visitors in 2022 (only behind the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World) and California Adventure is ranked at 12th place with 9 million visitors. This means that the parks can occasionally get very crowded with long lines for rides, restaurants, shows and even restrooms. If you want a calmer overall experience try to avoid visiting on weekends and during Spring Break, summertime (July to mid-August), Christmas Week (which is by far the busiest time) and public holidays like Thanksgiving. Keep in mind that visits to the resort have become more spread out throughout the year in recent years and coming outside the periods mentioned does not guarantee that the parks will not be busy. Prices also tend to follow the number of visitors. This means that during the most popular times to visit prices for tickets and hotels will be higher. While there are certainly a lot of advantages to coming during the "off-seasons'', some of the rides may be closed for refurbishment and many of the very good seasonal celebrations (especially during Halloween and Christmas) will not be available. So keep all these in mind and plan accordingly.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

Disneyland is within driving distance of a number of Southern California airports. Regardless of which airport you land at, it is always a good idea to consider available alternative forms of transportation before deciding to rent a car. Airport shuttles and public transit are an ideal option, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. While LAX is the obvious choice and the most popular, there are a few other options which are calmer and sometimes even make for an easier arrival.

John Wayne Orange County Airport ( SNA  IATA ) in Santa Ana is one of the two closest airports to Anaheim. The Disneyland Resort Express [dead link] , operated by Gray Line, provides hourly bus service to the Disneyland Resort from here.

Long Beach Airport ( LGB  IATA ) in Long Beach is the same distance as John Wayne, about 14 miles from the resort, and is the smallest (i.e. easiest to deal with) in the Los Angeles area. Depending on where you are flying from it's one of the easiest ways to get to Disneyland. Although there is no direct bus service from the airport to the resort, it may be less expensive to rent a car if you're traveling with a group anyway. Interestingly, if you take the main exit from the airport, which is East Wardlow Road, eventually it becomes Ball Road, which runs directly across the north edge of Disneyland itself.

Los Angeles International Airport ( LAX  IATA ) is the largest airport in the area. Most visitors, especially those from overseas, arriving for a visit to Disneyland or to the greater Los Angeles area tend to arrive here.

Ontario International Airport ( ONT  IATA ) in Ontario in the Inland Empire is close to Disneyland; take I-10 (San Bernardino Freeway) west and exit into California State Route 57 (Orange Freeway) south, which leads directly into Anaheim. Then take either the Ball Road or Katella Avenue exit (3 and 2 respectively) and travel west.

Hollywood Burbank Airport ( BUR  IATA ) in Burbank is the only Los Angeles-area airport that is directly served by Amtrak and Metrolink rail service. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner directly connects the airport to Anaheim. Metrolink's Ventura County Line and Antelope Valley Line also link the airport with Downtown Los Angeles' Union Station, with many daily departures (though with more limited service on weekends). From Union Station, transfer to the Metrolink Orange County Line or the Pacific Surfliner to Anaheim.

San Diego International Airport ( SAN  IATA ) is also accessible from Disneyland, but in theory this option is viable only if you are flying Allegiant Air from El Paso or Stockton . From the airport, take MTS bus 992 or taxi to the Santa Fe Depot, the southern terminus of the Pacific Surfliner, then take Surliner to Anaheim. The train trip from San Diego to Anaheim lasts about two hours.

By car [ edit ]

As with much of California , by car is probably the easiest way to get to the Disneyland Resort from the surrounding area (or even San Diego , Las Vegas , and San Francisco ). The Disneyland Resort offers ample parking both for day visitors to the park as well as hotel guests. All of the surrounding hotels offer parking, but some clearly do not have sufficient parking for the number of overnight guests.

Driving to the Disneyland Resort also means braving the Southern California traffic, which at times can be overwhelming. The Disneyland website offers driving directions , as do most online map sites. Traveling from the Long Beach Airport to the Disneyland Resort can be done using surface streets instead of freeways, which can be very crowded during commute hours.

The Disneyland Resort is bounded by Katella Avenue to the south, Ball Road to the north, Walnut Street to the west, Harbor Boulevard to the east, and the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) on the northeast corner. Disneyland Drive runs through The Disneyland Resort. The Anaheim Convention Center is located south of the resort across Katella Avenue.

Parking at the theme parks is $25 for car/motorcycle, $30 for RV/oversized vehicles, and $35 for bus/tractor trailers. Guests can park at the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure and Pixar Pals Parking Structure at 1311 Disneyland Drive or at Toy Story Parking Area at 1900 Harbor Blvd. Parking at Downtown Disney is free for the first two hours and $14 for each additional hour afterwards, charged in increments of $7 every 30 minutes. Valet parking is available at Downtown Disney for $6 extra from 5PM-2AM. For hotel guests, self parking $17 per night per vehicle ($22 per night per oversized vehicle), with valet parking available at $25 per night per vehicle. A pick-up/drop-off area for the theme parks is on the west side of Harbor Boulevard north of Disney Way, past the shuttle area.

If you are arriving in Anaheim by train, a taxi is a reasonable option to get to the resort from the station. A one-way taxi ride from either the Anaheim or Fullerton train station is around $15 plus tip to the Anaheim Resort area. Taxis serve the hotels and a taxi stand at Downtown Disney near the Rainforest Café, on the south side of the North Self-Park Lot.

By foot [ edit ]

One of the great advantages at the Disneyland Resort is that Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney, and many "off property" hotels are all within walking distance. Unlike Walt Disney World in Florida, guests can walk between Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney in just a minute or two. There are approximately 12 "off property" hotels that are within a 10-minute walk. Some experienced visitors to the Disneyland Resort stay at the walking-distance hotels and find it more convenient to not have a car. It only takes five to 10 minutes to walk to the Disneyland entrance from a walking-distance hotel, and taking breaks in the middle of the day is much more convenient.

By transit [ edit ]

Local trains and buses are the cheapest ways to get to the park. Anaheim's main bus and train station, referred to as ARTIC [dead link] , is about two miles east of Disneyland on Katella Avenue, near Angel Stadium and the Honda Center. The station is served by Amtrak 's Pacific Surfliner ( San Luis Obispo to San Diego, via Santa Barbara , and Los Angeles) and Metrolink ' s Orange County Line (LA to Oceanside ) rail service, as well as Megabus , Flixbus, and Greyhound bus service.

On weekdays from 6:30AM–8:45AM, a free Orange County Transit Authority bus (Route #430) meets Metrolink trains at ARTIC to take passengers directly into Disneyland. That same bus will take you back to ARTIC for free to meet Metrolink trains from 3:30PM-6PM. However, there is no service on weekends. Outside these times, the most convenient option is to get off the train at the Amtrak/Metrolink station in Fullerton and take OCTA Route #43 or the limited-stop #543, which run along Harbor Blvd every 15-20 min between Santa Ana and Fullerton, with a stop convenient to Disneyland. Other OCTA routes servicing the park include Route #50, which runs from Cal State University Long Beach to The Village at Orange and services ARTIC and Disneyland by running along Katella Avenue about every 30 min (though you will have to walk about 10 min down Harbor Blvd if you pick this bus); Route #46, which runs along Ball Road between Los Alamitos and The Village at Orange (this too requires a long walk from the bus stop to the park entrance); and Route #83, which goes from the Laguna Hills Mall to the Disneyland Resort by way of Santa Ana and I-5. Besides #430, OCTA routes cost $2 per boarding (cash, exact fare only).

The City of Anaheim also runs a tourist bus service, Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) , with multiple routes that connect the Disneyland Resort to nearby hotels and destinations. Because it's focused on serving the resort area, this service tends to be more direct and often runs more frequently than OCTA service. Routes #14 and #15 connect ARTIC to Disneyland every 20 minutes. One-way cash fares are $3 ($1 children/seniors/disabled), with one-day passes $5 adults, $2 children/seniors/disabled, and 3 and 5-day passes available; passes can not be purchased from the bus driver, but can be purchased online or from kiosks at ARTIC, the Disneyland Resort stop, and at certain hotels.

Metro Route #460 links Disneyland with Fullerton, Buena Park (with a stop at Knott's Berry Farm), Norwalk, and Downtown LA, for a cheaper, but slower option.

If you are staying at the Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel in nearby Buena Park , you can take advantage of their free Disneyland shuttle.

Several area hotels run shuttles to the park, but they may have limited schedules or drop off/pick up at other hotels along the way.

There are taxi stands at the Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian Hotel, and the passenger loading zone along Harbor Blvd.

Tickets [ edit ]

Visiting Disneyland is an expensive affair. Tickets are sold at several levels: the base ticket is the Single-Day Theme Park Ticket which enables admission to only one of the two parks for a full day. By contrast, the 1-Day Park Hopper allows you to see both parks on the same day, and to move back and forth between the parks. Park Hopper tickets are also sold in increments of 2, 3, 4, and 5 days; while the ticket price increases with each day, the price per day actually decreases with each day. Multi-day Park Hopper tickets do not have to be used on consecutive days, but will expire 14 days after the first day they are used. The value of the Park Hopper ticket options should not be underestimated. All 3, 4, or 5 day tickets come with Magic Morning, which provides access into one park an hour before general opening one time during the ticket validity period. The park which this perk available at switches each day.

All tickets can be purchased in person at the Disneyland Main Entrance, Disneyland.com/tickets, the Disneyland Mobile App, a travel agent, or at a local Hotel or Disney Desk.

The prices below are effective as of February 2016, and there is no tax charged:

Children under age 3 are admitted free.

Discounts are hard to find, but California residents (bring a driver's license or utility bill to prove residency) will sometimes receive a small discount on Annual Passes. On occasion, Disneyland may offer Resident Flex tickets valid over the course of the off-season from January-May. AAA occasionally offers its members discounts, and seasonal discounts such as the "buy a day, get a seasonal pass" offer occur during non-peak seasons.

If you're planning a multi-day vacation to Southern California with visits to multiple attractions including Disneyland, you can save a lot by using the Southern California CityPass . For $329 for adults (ages 10+), $286 for ages 3–9, you'll receive a 3-day Park Hopper ticket which covers admission to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and 1 day each at Legoland California and SeaWorld San Diego. This makes for a wonderful week long vacation and a very attractive price with about $100 off standard prices. As an added bonus to purchasing the CityPass online (instead of in person at the park ticket counters), you'll also get your choice of either the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Safari Park (if your schedule allows you only one day in San Diego, choose to visit the San Diego Zoo instead of the Safari Park, since it's much closer to SeaWorld).

Get around [ edit ]

Once in the park, everything is reachable by foot. Walking is the main way to get around the park. You can cut down on the amount of walking time by taking the Disneyland Railroad (you need a Disneyland theme park ticket), which loops around the edge of the park and stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown, and Tomorrowland. There's a set of old-fashioned vehicles that run along Main Street from the entrance of the park to the hub in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Disneyland has pretty good access for wheelchairs and other mobility-assistance vehicles, the only exception being the Disneyland Railroad at Main Street Station. Two attractions, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough, require guests to travel up and down steps; if a guest cannot get up and down steps, there is a room with a virtual experience of the attraction. See a cast member to access these rooms.

To make getting around a breeze, the Disneyland Monorail links Disneyland's Tomorrowland with Downtown Disney (theme park admission is required to board at the Downtown Disney station). However, it may sometimes be slow and inconvenient, usually at park opening. The Downtown Disney station closes 30 minutes before park closing and the Tomorrowland station closes promptly at park closing so it is recommended to arrive five minutes prior to park closing.

The Red Car Trolley runs inside California Adventure from the front gate through Hollywood Land to Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission Breakout (formerly Twilight Zone Tower of Terror).

From the Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures you can board a tram to Downtown Disney/Main Entrance Plaza (World of Disney Store) and back. A bus shuttle service takes guests to the satellite parking lots (Puumba and Toy Story). The trams and buses run until one hour after the later park closing (usually Disneyland Park).

Outside of the resort, a car is again the best way to get around, though many hotels and restaurants are just across the street. The city of Anaheim also runs an extensive shuttle service to the nearby hotels, Anaheim Convention Center, Outlets at Orange, Angel Stadium, Knotts Berry Farm, and the Anaheim GardenWalk.

See and do [ edit ]

Disneyland [ edit ].

Disneyland Park is the original Disney theme park, which opened on July 18, 1955. While the park has changed dramatically over the years, there are still many favorite classic attractions, such as the Disneyland Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, "it's a small world," and Space Mountain. Today, Disneyland boasts over 50 attractions, more than any other Disney theme park.

Main Street, U.S.A. [ edit ]

Modeled after an early 20th-century Midwestern town with many Victorian-esque structures, Main Street, U.S.A. is the first themed land you will see upon entering the park (presuming you don't enter via the Monorail); from here you can walk up the street towards the Sleeping Beauty Castle and the park hub, where you can continue into any of the other themed lands. There are few rides here; as this is the main entrance and exit, this area is composed mostly of shops, restaurants, and guest services.

• Disneyland Railroad — One of Disneyland's most iconic and beloved rides, this steam-powered train takes you in a clockwise loop around the edge of the park and stops at four of the themed lands — Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown, and Tomorrowland. It's great for sightseeing as well as an easy way to get around the park. The trains arrive about every 5 to 10 minutes at each station.
• The Disney Gallery — Changing exhibitions of original Disney-themed art.
• Main Street Cinema — A theater modeled after a classic cinema that shows the first six Mickey Mouse cartoons.
• Main Street Vehicles — A set of vintage vehicles that can take you from one end of Main Street to the other, offering a leisurely ride from the Town Square at the park entrance to the park hub in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Hop aboard an old-fashioned Fire Engine , a Horse-Drawn Streetcar , a Jitney (an old-fashioned automobile), or an Omnibus (an open-air double-decker bus). Note that these vehicles only run during the daytime before the first parade of the day, and some (the horse-drawn streetcar in particular) only during good weather.
• The Disneyland Story Featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln — A theater that shows an audio-animatronic Abraham Lincoln and exhibits about the Great Emancipator, as well as a documentary on Disneyland.

Adventureland [ edit ]

Themed around tales of exotic tropical jungles in far-off lands, Aventureland is due west of Main Street, U.S.A. and has several popular attractions.

• Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room — An Audio-Animatronics show—indeed, it was the very first audio-animatronics show—that features singing birds, flowers, and various tiki figures; sing along now! In the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room...
• Indiana Jones Adventure — A fast-paced dark thrill ride based on the Indiana Jones series that leads you through a cursed temple.
• Jungle Cruise — A popular boat ride that leads you down a jungle river past wild animals and various jungle dangers, while your friendly skipper cracks jokes.
• Tarzan's Treehouse — A walk-through attraction based on the tree house in Tarzan .

New Orleans Square [ edit ]

Based on 19th-century New Orleans and sitting on the shores of the Rivers of America, this is where you'll find some of Disneyland's most popular attractions and best restaurants.

• Disneyland Railroad — The Disneyland Railroad makes a stop in New Orleans Square. From here, the next stop is Mickey's Toontown, followed by Tomorrowland.
• Haunted Mansion — A classic spooky dark ride where you explore an estate haunted by giggling ghoulies. Note that while this attraction is more silly than scary, little kids might still find it frightening. During the Halloween and Christmas season, this ride gets a makeover based on Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas , featuring Jack Skellington redecorating the mansion.
• Pirates of the Caribbean — One of the most imaginative and iconic Disney rides, this indoor boat ride takes you through caverns, a burning city, and an epic cannon battle in a harbor. Characters from the popular film series have been added, namely Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa.

Critter Country [ edit ]

Past New Orleans Square on the far west side of the park is this small but colorful area with many woodland critters and a couple of popular rides.

• Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes — Closed for refurbishment. Paddle around the Rivers of America in a real canoe.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — An indoor ride that is based on the stories of Winnie the Pooh.
• Tiana's Bayou Adventure — A log flume ride based on the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog , the attraction showcases elements of the culture of New Orleans.

Frontierland [ edit ]

A colorful imagining of the old American West, Frontierland encompasses the Rivers of America, Big Thunder Mountain, and an engaging mixture of gentle and thrill rides.

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — A roller coaster built to look like a mine train which sends you hurtling through abandoned mine shafts, under a waterfall, past desert scenery, and dodging a rock landslide.
• Frontierland Shootin' Exposition — A shooting gallery arcade themed around the Old West.
• Mark Twain Riverboat — A full-sized steam paddle boat that sails around the Rivers of America, with narration by Mark Twain.
• Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island — Situated in the middle of the Rivers of America is this large play area themed around pirates and Tom Sawyer stories, with numerous hideouts and treasures. Access is only via rafts from New Orleans Square (see above).
• Sailing Ship Columbia — A full-scale replica of a three-masted sailing ship that travels around the Rivers of America.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Situated in its own land, Galaxy's Edge features attractions, shops and dining options, utilizing elements and themes from the Star Wars franchise.

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — Pilot the Millennium Falcon!
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — A 15-minute experience! Join the Resistance and escape from a Star Destroyer.

Fantasyland [ edit ]

Centered around Sleeping Beauty Castle, Fantasyland has the appearance of a fanciful Bavarian village and is where you will find most of the rides based on Disney's classic animated films, which make up some of Disneyland's most iconic attractions. This area has mostly storybook-themed and gentle attractions.

• Alice in Wonderland — A combination indoor/outdoor dark ride that takes you through the film's storyline. This attraction is exclusive to this Disneyland.
• Casey Jr. Circus Train — A train ride that goes around the exterior of Storybook Land Canal Boats, past miniature scenes of famous Disney stories.
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant — A popular spin ride—probably the one most frequently shown in Disney commercials—where you ride Dumbo in circles around a dancing water fountain.
• Fantasy Faire — An expansion to Fantasyland where visitors can meet Disney princesses.
• "it's a small world" — One of Disneyland's most beloved attractions, this is an indoor boat ride that introduces visitors to singing children from all over the globe. During the holiday season, this attraction is decorated in all its festive glory.
• King Arthur Carrousel — An antique carousel with a medieval theme.

• Mad Tea Party — Another iconic attraction where you ride a spinning tea cup.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds — The oldest thrill ride in Disneyland, this bobsled-themed roller coaster takes you through icy caves and under waterfalls in a snow-capped peak meant to resemble the Matterhorn in Switzerland . Note that for this ride there are two different tracks, so ride both!
• Mr. Toad's Wild Ride — A fun and manic indoor ride that whisks you through scenes from the movie The Wind in the Willows (as well as a few memorable ones that aren't from the movie!). This attraction is exclusive to this Disneyland.
• Peter Pan's Flight — A dark ride based on Peter Pan , where you fly over London and Never Land.
• Pinocchio's Daring Journey — A dark ride based on the animated film.
• Pixie Hollow — A winding path that leads into a forest, decorated to make you feel like you've shrunk down to fairy-size, which ends at Tinker Bell's house, where you can meet Tinker and her friends.
• Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough — Within the iconic castle at the center of Disneyland is this walk-through attraction that leads you up stairways and down winding passageways through the castle itself, past interactive displays based on Sleeping Beauty . For those who can't climb stairs, a video version of the attraction is available near the entrance.
• Snow White's Scary Adventures — A scary dark ride based on the animated film. Note that this attraction might be too frightening for young children.
• Snow White's Grotto — A small spot next to the Sleeping Beauty Castle that showcases a set of statues of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves that were a gift to Walt alongside a small wishing well.
• Storybook Land Canal Boats — An outdoor boat ride that goes through miniature scenes of famous Disney stories.

Mickey's Toontown [ edit ]

At the northern end of the park past Fantasyland, Mickey's Toontown is modeled after the cartoon town of Toontown in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and has attractions geared towards young children.

• CenTOONial Park — An extended play area for young children.
• Disneyland Railroad — The Disneyland Railroad makes a stop in Mickey's Toontown. From here, the next stop is Tomorrowland, followed by Main Street.
• Donald's Duck Pond — A walk-through attraction based on Donald Duck's home, with plenty of interactive elements for the little ones.
• Chip 'n' Dale's GADGETcoaster — A roller coaster based on Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers , with oversized elements made to look like they're from a mouse-sized point of view.
• Goofy's How-To-Play Yard — A fun-house attraction based on Goofy's home, featuring an interactive giant candy making machine.
• Mickey's House and Meet Mickey — A walk-through attraction based on Mickey Mouse's house and where one can meet Mickey Mouse himself.
• Minnie's House — A walk-through attraction based on Minnie Mouse's house. Minnie herself appears out front quite often.
• Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin — A wild indoor ride based on the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
• Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway - The newest attraction in Mickey's Toontown and housed in the El CapiTOON theater, the attraction is based on the 2013 Mickey Mouse shorts and its 2020 successor series The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse Disney+ original series. Within the attraction's queue is an exhibition on the evolution of Mickey Mouse titled "Mickey Through the Ears", containing objects associated with the evolution of the character.

Tomorrowland [ edit ]

Tomorrowland, based on science fiction visions of outer space and the future, has many thrill rides and cinematic attractions.

• Astro Orbiter — A rocket flight where guests fly around a futuristic-looking tower.
• Autopia — A driving course with miniature cars that wind along a scenic motorway. While many might think this to be a children's ride, there is a height requirement, as crashing may occur.
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters — An indoor dark ride that is a game similar to laser tag, only riders need to shoot the Z's along the way as your vehicle spins around.
• Disneyland Monorail — The first monorail built in America connects Tomorrowland to Downtown Disney, outside the park.
• Disneyland Railroad — The Disneyland Railroad makes a stop in Tomorrowland. From here, the trains pass by the Grand Canyon Diorama and the Primeval World diorama with its audio-animatronic dinosaurs before stopping at Main Street.
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage — A submarine ride featuring characters from the Pixar film Finding Nemo . For those who can't climb down into the submarine, a video version of the attraction is available near the entrance.
• Hyperspace Mountain — The popular indoor roller coaster has had a Star Wars makeover, where you fly through a space battle based on the movies. During the Halloween season, this ride gets a spooky makeover featuring ghostly spirits in outer space.
• Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple — An outdoor stage show for the kiddies where young volunteers from the audience are chosen to learn lightsaber moves before fighting Star Wars villains. Shows on regular intervals throughout the day.
• Star Tours: The Adventures Continue — An indoor 3D motion-simulator attraction based on Star Wars , that has been revamped to take place between Episodes III and IV, this is a turbulent ride which includes flights to iconic Star Wars locations and encounters with characters from the series.

Shows and events [ edit ]

There are many shows at Disneyland; these are just the highlights. Exact times for these events vary by day, so check the schedule and be prepared for massive crowds; if you want a good seat for a parade, you'll want to stake out a location well in advance.

• Disneyland puts on plenty of parades , all of which are a must see and will be enjoyed by all age groups. Mickey's Soundsational Parade brings music to the streets each afternoon, with colorful floats, energetic dancers, and lots of musicians, while nighttime brings the Paint The Night Parade , with its many luminescent, brightly lit floats featuring many Disney characters. All of the parades start at the Town Square at the entrance to the park and run up Main Street, U.S.A., past Sleeping Beauty Castle, and end in front of "it's a small world".
• Most nights, Disneyland puts on its famous fireworks show. The current iteration, Disneyland Forever , incorporates both fireworks and massive projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle, the buildings lining Main Street, U.S.A., the Matterhorn, "it's a small world," and the Rivers of America.
• During the holiday season, Disneyland puts up plenty of decorations and dresses up some of their rides for the occasion. Halloween time brings a pumpkin festival to Main Street, U.S.A., a spooky version of Space Mountain, and a re-themeing of the Haunted Mansion based on Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas , which—fittingly—continues into the Christmas season. Christmas time brings festive decorations to the park, a holiday overhaul of "it's a small world", and the Christmas Fantasy Parade brings the joy of the season to the streets of Disneyland.

Disney California Adventure [ edit ]

Disney California Adventure is Disneyland's sister theme park which opened in February 2001. The park struggled at first, with poor reviews and low attendance given the lack of focus or "Disney feel". However, the park underwent a major overhaul, with new lands, new rides, and refurbished areas, and the response has been very positive. The park has a heavy California theme, with lands representing fanciful imaginings of certain parts of the state, although this is also where you'll find most of the Pixar-themed attractions.

Buena Vista Street [ edit ]

Based on 1920s Los Angeles, the entrance to the park is lined with Mission and Art Deco styled buildings with red streetcars running up the street to Carthay Circle, where the path splits into the other themed areas of the park beneath a replica of the classic Carthay Circle Theatre movie palace. There aren't many attractions here; as the main entrance and exit, this area is mostly shops, restaurants, and guest services.

• The Red Car Trolley — Based on the Pacific Electric Railway trolleys that used to ply Los Angeles streets in the 1920s, these streetcars will take you between Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land (see below).

Grizzly Peak [ edit ]

Representing the Northern California wilderness, this area is oriented around the man-made Grizzly Peak, a mountain shaped like a grizzly bear.

• Grizzly River Run — Roar down this white-water raft adventure around and through Grizzly Peak. Note that visitors will likely get very wet on this attraction.
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail — A large play area based on the Mount Shasta wilderness, with attractions based on the films Brother Bear and Up .
• Soarin' Around the World — A simulator film that shows famous world landmarks as if one was hang-gliding over them.

San Fransokyo Square [ edit ]

The newest land in the park, inspired by the city of San Fransokyo in Disney's 2014 film Big Hero 6 .

• The Bakery Tour — A presentation of how sourdough bread is made; be sure to get your free sample!
• Walt Disney Imagineering's Blue Sky Cellar — Closed for refurbishment. A preview of Disneyland's future attractions.

Pixar Pier [ edit ]

The largest land in the park, Paradise Pier is set around a lake at the far end of the park and is a fanciful version of an early 20th century seaside amusement park.

• Incredicoaster — A high speed roller coaster that launches from 0–60 MPH in just 4.5 seconds!
• Games of the Boardwalk — An arcade modeled after old-fashioned boardwalk games, with Disney themes.
• Golden Zephyr — A spin ride with retro rocket ship models as the spinners.
• Goofy's Sky School — A "Wild Mouse" style roller coaster, which is relatively slow but has sharp turns, with Goofy themes.
• Jumpin' Jellyfish — A mini-drop ride with "parachutes" painted to look like jellyfish.
• Jessie’s Criter Caroseul — A Toy Story -themed carousel.
• The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure — An indoor dark ride based on the movie The Little Mermaid .
• Mickey's Fun Wheel — A 150-foot tall Ferris wheel with swinging and stationary gondolas.
• Silly Symphony Swings — A classic swing ride.
• Toy Story Midway Mania! — An interactive Toy Story ride; grab some 3-D glasses before boarding your ride vehicle and zipping past a set of midway-style games.
• Inside Out Emotional Whirl Wind — An Inside Out -themed spinning ride.

Hollywood Land [ edit ]

To the east of Buena Vista Street, this area is a fanciful re-creation of a Hollywood street and a studio backlot.

• Animation Academy — A presentation on how to draw Disney characters.
• The Animation Courtyard — A display on the animation process with artifacts from the Disney animation studio.
• Sorcerer's Workshop — A presentation where visitors can create their own animation.
• Turtle Talk with Crush — A show in which visitors can interact with Crush from Finding Nemo .
• Disney Junior: Live on Stage! — A musical performance with characters from Disney Junior preschool shows.
• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! — An indoor dark ride based on the movie Monsters, Inc.
• Red Car Trolley — Based on the Pacific Electric Railway trolleys that used to ply Los Angeles streets in the 1920s, these streetcars will take you between Hollywood Land and Buena Vista Street (see above).

Cars Land [ edit ]

A faithful recreation of Radiator Springs from the Pixar movie Cars .

• Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters — Board one of Luigi's cousins who do a synchronized "dance" behind his tire shop.
• Mater's Junkyard Jamboree — A spin ride, much like the tea cups in Disneyland, with tractors as the spinners.
• Radiator Spings Racers — Based on the same technology used on Epcot's Test Track, here you board a racing car and race side-by-side with another racer through desert scenery inspired by the film.

Avenger's Campus [ edit ]

The newest land at Disney California Adventure, with elements inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT — This drop ride sends you plunging several stories up and down, to the tune of several classic rock favorites, as you observe the Guardians of the Galaxy escape captivity from an out-of-control gantry lift.
• WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure — Guests experiencing this interactive attraction utilize Spider-Man's web-shooters at screens as the ride vehicles engage in a "swinging sensation" akin to the superhero's web-swinging through the New York City skyline.

Shows and parades [ edit ]

Disney California Adventure is home to the Pixar Play Parade , with floats based on the Disney/Pixar movies, The Incredibles , Toy Story , Ratatouille , A Bug's Life , Finding Nemo , and Monsters, Inc. as well as water and bubble effects including small water jets that shoot water into the crowd. The parade takes place most days in the late afternoon, and travels along the parade route from Hollywood Land to Paradise Pier.

The park also hosts a nightly show called World of Color in the Paradise Pier area of the park. It's a spectacular water and light show on a scale larger than a football field. If you don't mind the cost, buy some "Glow with the Show" mouse ears, which are remotely controlled and will automatically change colors along with the fountains. It is highly recommended that you get a FastPass at the Grizzly River Run area to assure access to a main viewing area. Special World of Color viewing areas are also available to those who have dinner in certain Disney California Adventure restaurants; inquire when making your dinner reservations.

Downtown Disney [ edit ]

• AMC Downtown Disney 12 — Catch a first-run movie at this cineplex, with stadium seating, digital projection, and surround sound.
• ESPN Zone — Watch your favorite sports event or play one of many arcade games.
• House of Blues — A stage that frequently hosts musical acts.
• Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen — Experience the best of Bourbon Street jazz outside New Orleans.

Buy [ edit ]

Within the theme parks [ edit ].

There are many gift shops throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. They are so abundant, it is close to impossible to throw a stone and not hit a store. Some attractions even have gift shops located right at their exits. The complete list of shops in both parks may be found on the official website .

Downtown Disney's anchor store is the World of Disney , the second largest of its kind, after the one at Walt Disney World. Essentially, this is a Disney Store on steroids. Downtown Disney also showcases a wide range of well-known retail chains. These are just a select few; see the official website for the complete list.

• Build-a-Bear Workshop .  
• Disney Vault 28 . Specializes in boutique style pieces with Disney characters and from various designers.  
• Disney's Pin Traders .  
• Fossil .  
• House of Blues .  
• The Lego Store .  
• Rainforest Cafe .  

Eat [ edit ]

Disneyland dining [ edit ].

If dining at the more upscale or "sit down" restaurants, there is a chance of not being able to get seating without an advance reservation. Some locations, especially the Blue Bayou Restaurant and Goofy's Kitchen, require a reservation weeks in advance. Reservations are made through Disney Dining at +1 714 781-DINE, or up to 60 days prior at Disney Dining's website . It is important to cancel or call Disney Dining if you will be late, as a $10 fee per person is charged for missed reservations.

The restaurants in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are good about accommodating gluten-free and other dietary restrictions. However, you have to ask; this information is not advertised. Restaurants which serve hamburgers will provide gluten-free buns on request. Blue Bayou and Carthay Circle (which are sit-down restaurants, and normally provide a bread basket) will provide gluten-free bread on request.

• Market House . Baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, Starbucks coffee.  
• Refreshment Corner . Hot dogs, chili, soft drinks.  
• Bengal Barbeque . Barbeque kabobs as well as snacks and drinks.  
• Tiki Juice Bar . Dole Whip ice cream deserts, floats, pineapple spears and pineapple juice.  
• Tropical Imports . Fruit stand, trail mix, veggie snacks.  

• Village Haus Restaurant . Hamburgers, pizza and salads.  

Disney California Adventure dining [ edit ]

Unlike Disneyland Park, where alcohol is not available to the general public, most restaurants in Disney California Adventure serve alcohol.

• Carthay Circle Lounge . Cocktails, wine, beer, sodas, and bar snacks, in an elegant atmosphere with big comfy chairs. Table service. Located on the first floor of the Carthay Circle Theater.  

• Alfresco Tasting Terrace . Wines and appetizers, table service.  
• Lucky Fortune Cookery . Prepackaged rice and Teriyaki bowls.  
• Mendocino Terrace . Wine bar with an extensive selection.  
• Rita's Baja Blenders . Margaritas and nonalcoholic frozen drinks.  
• Sonoma Terrace . Beer garden.  

Paradise Pier [ edit ]

• Bayside Brews . Beers and pretzels.  
• Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta . Pizza, pastas, and salads.  
• Cove Bar . Above Ariel's Grotto is this patio bar with beers, wines, cocktails, and bar food. Table service.  
• Paradise Pier Ice Cream Company . Ice cream stand.  
• Fairfax Market . Whole and sliced fruit, trail mix, hummus, and juices.  

• Fillmore's Taste-In . Fruit stand, trail mix, and drinks.  

Downtown Disney dining [ edit ]

Downtown Disney has a wide array of choices for dining; the complete list may be found on the official website . Those that shouldn't be missed are:

• Crossroads at House of Blues . Southern cuisine.  
• Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria . Pizza, pastas, and more. Entrees $17–$25.  
• Rainforest Cafe . Nearly a theme park in itself, Rainforest Cafe is fully decorated to theme with a jungle. Entrees $15–$40 (for the Lobster).  
• Tortilla Jo's . Mexican food, with hand-made tortillas and live music.  

Sleep [ edit ]

Hotels within the resort [ edit ].

Other hotels [ edit ]

There are many designated Good Neighbor Hotels which are either within walking distance or provide transportation to and from the Disneyland Resort. Many other hotels and motels of varying cost and quality may be found in the local area. Start with Anaheim .

Go next [ edit ]

Disneyland is within close distance of a number of other Southern California tourist attractions. Not surprisingly, some of these attractions have the word "Anaheim" in their names.

Other theme parks [ edit ]

• Adventure City , in Stanton on Beach Boulevard south of the Ball Road intersection ( about 4 miles west of the Disneyland Resort ).  
• Knott's Berry Farm , in Buena Park ( take Metro Route 460. Or if you have your own car, travel west on Katella Avenue or Ball Road, then north on Beach Boulevard ).  
• Legoland California , in Carlsbad ( take the Pacific Surfliner to Carlsbad or the Orange County Line south to Oceanside and transfer to Carlsbad ).  
• SeaWorld San Diego , in San Diego ( take the Pacific Surfliner all the way to its southern end ).  
• Universal Studios Hollywood , in Universal City ( take the Pacific Surfliner or the Orange County Line to Los Angeles Union Station, then transfer to the Metro Rail Red Line and disembark at the Universal City station ).  

Professional sports [ edit ]

• Anaheim Ducks . National Hockey League. Plays in Honda Center, just north of Angel Stadium.  
• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim . Major League Baseball. Plays in Angel Stadium.  

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How can I get the most out of my Disneyland trip? Pro tips from insiders who know it best

If there were ever a golden (or in honor of Disney100 , platinum) opportunity to visit Disneyland, this is it.

Not only is the Southern California resort celebrating 100 years of the Walt Disney Co. with two new nighttime spectacular shows and other special offerings, but Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway just opened, the beloved " Magic Happens " parade just returned,  Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival  runsthrough April 15, and Mickey's Toontown is reopening March 19 after a major overhaul.

To make the most of a trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth," we turned to three people who know Disneyland inside and out: cast members who grew up as annual passholders.

From what to avoid to what not to miss, here are their pro tips.

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Is one day enough at Disneyland?: No, and here's why Disney fans may want to avoid it

What to do at Disneyland

Like many Disney cast members, Michael Parisi fell in love with the parks as a kid.

"Specifically it was the Haunted Mansion  stretching rooms that would always really get me excited. It set up the story for the attraction, and it involves the cast member," he smiled. "I loved watching them perform that role and so ever since I was little, I always specifically wanted to work the Haunted Mansion."

He got his wish, then did some working in attractions before shifting into a maintenance response specialist role at the resort.

Ride the attractions

He still loves Haunted Mansion and  Rise of the Resistance , which he rides regularly and highly recommends to guests. "There's just so many details and so many things to look at that you can go on it dozens of times and you may notice something you didn't notice the time before," he said. "It just never gets old."

He also recommends Indiana Jones Adventure , which isn't available at Walt Disney World. "That is another just incredibly immersive attraction that just tells the story so clearly and really makes you feel like you're actually part of the world," Parisi said.

Nostalgic fans may also appreciate another of his favorites,  Mr. Toad's Wild Ride , one of the original opening-day rides at Disneyland. It closed in Florida decades ago.

"It has the charm of classic Disney," Parisi said. "You can feel a lot of Walt's hand in the storytelling and just progression of the attraction and how much love and attention to detail it has. ... And luckily it never has too long of a wait."

Gallery:  These Disney rides are long gone, but their memories are holding still strong

Use the Disneyland app

Parisi's go-to tip for first-time guests is to use Disneyland's free app to check wait times at attractions. "That's generally how I strategize my day," he said. "Also the very first thing in the morning or the very last thing at night, generally those are shorter wait times, so you can kind of prioritize the attractions that are a little bit more popular."

Be strategic with steps

He tackles the parks section by section, hitting up everything he wants to do in one before moving on to the next, instead of traversing back and forth all day. 

"The more amount of time that you're walking from area to area, that's just not wasted time, but that's essentially time you can utilize for other things," he said, adding one caveat. "If an attraction has a shorter wait time than it normally does, that's usually when I just book it over there as fast as I can."

Interact with cast members

Another tip he shares is to engage with cast members throughout the day. "A lot of the cast members that work in the resort are extremely passionate about the company, the job, their role in everything, and so they're always really excited to talk about it," he said. "They always have some of the best tips possible, especially over at Galaxy's Edge . ... All the cast members on Batuu have their own stories that they've incorporated with their show, and so you're able to have these really unique, fun interactions."

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What to see at Disneyland

When Esteban Valerio isn't working, he likes to sit in the parks and soak everything in.

"Just immerse yourself. Focus on the small things," the guest relations manager said. "There's something so incredible to me when it comes to just relaxing on a park bench on Main Street or on the Hub, looking at Sleeping Beauty Castle." 

His love for Disney "goes back really all the way to the '90s, growing up with Disney on VHS tapes" and visiting the parks. "I've always considered Disneyland to be my home."

He knows many guests come with a long checklist of things to do.

Slow down and savor

"My tip for people who have the checklist: Study the checklist at home, but when you're at Disneyland, stop and smell the roses. Stop and smell the churros," he laughed. "And just appreciate that you're here because for some of those families, they may have saved for five years to visit our parks and that moment when they're finally here, appreciate that moment."

One of Valerio's favorite ways to slow down is to savor the entertainment offerings across the resort.

"Obviously I didn't design any of the shows, but there's a huge joy that I get when I hear people react," he said. "I don't think anyone, including myself, ever gets tired of watching Fantasmic! " 

During the holidays, he enjoys the live performances of Disney California Adventure's  Disney ¡Viva Navidad!  Right now, he's into the new nighttime spectacular Wondrous Journeys . "I want to be able to watch it from all the little different vantage points and just be able to see all the hidden Easter eggs and all the tributes to all of our films that are in the show."  

All showtimes can be found under the Entertainment tab of the map on Disneyland's app. "It'll show you where all these shows are going to be, whether it's a big nighttime spectacular like World of Color – One  or the Dapper Dans  (barbershop quartet) on Main Street, U.S.A.," he said.

Don't watch spoilers

There are two things he advises against: watching spoiler videos before your visit and getting disappointed if you don't get to everything while you're there.

"One of my philosophies when it comes to traveling, in general, is if I don't see it, I'm able to enjoy this (now), and it gives me a reason to hopefully come back one day," he said. 

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What to eat at Disneyland

Aprille Hwang tries to eat everything she can when she visits the parks as a guest.

"I always try to plan what I'm going to eat before I go," she said, reading up on  foodie guides and blogs. "Gotta optimize my trip, get as much food in my belly as possible."

The marketing strategy manager always knew she wanted to work at Disneyland and says she still has to pinch herself sometimes working behind "it's a small world."

Before beginning her career at the resort, she always got three staples during visits: clam chowder in a bread bowl,  Plaza Inn's  famous fried chicken, and "obviously churros," which she's convinced are "magically dusted" and come in a rainbow of flavors like sweet and sour and lemon raspberry pie.

Try new foods

"I love that Disneyland continues to cycle out new flavors and offerings and takes new takes on classic items," she said. "For example, there's this really good toasted birria sandwich at Jolly Holiday . ... I actually didn't have birria prior to birria being brought into Disneyland. I don't know if that negates me from being a foodie by saying that."

She encourages guests to be open to unfamiliar cuisines. Guests can try eight dishes with a shareable  Sip and Savor Pass  during Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. Hwang likes to share with friends to be able to try more flavors.

Mobile order to save time

She also mobile orders, when possible. "I'm a big fan of not waiting in line so that I can maximize my foodie adventure."   

Reserve dining early or walk up last minute

For table-service meals, particularly at high-demand restaurants like Blue Bayou , Hwang recommends booking reservations as soon as possible, up to 60 days in advance, and considering dining packages that guarantee reserved viewing of parades and nighttime spectaculars . If you can't get advance reservations, she advises joining walk-up lists for restaurants once inside the park.

"There's so much opportunity to explore through taste," she said. "I think that's what makes us such a unique place."

Is Disney character dining worth it?: What families should know before booking.

Here for the food: You don't need a park ticket to try these 10 iconic Disney World snacks

The Best Ways To Travel From Paris Airport To Disneyland

• Last updated May 18, 2024
• Difficulty Advanced

• Category Travel

Are you planning a trip to Disneyland Paris? One important thing to consider is how to get from the airport to the magical park. Luckily, there are several convenient and efficient ways to travel from Paris airport to Disneyland. Whether you prefer a direct train ride, a private transfer, or a budget-friendly shuttle, there is an option to suit every traveler's needs. In this article, we will explore the best ways to travel from Paris airport to Disneyland, so you can start your Disney adventure the moment you land.

What You'll Learn

Overview of transportation options from paris airport to disneyland, taking the train from paris airport to disneyland, using shuttle services to travel from paris airport to disneyland, hiring a private taxi for transportation from paris airport to disneyland.

When planning a trip to Disneyland Paris, it's important to know how to get from the airport to the theme park. Fortunately, there are several transportation options to choose from, each with its own advantages. In this article, we will provide an overview of the transportation options from Paris airport to Disneyland, so you can choose the one that suits your needs best.

The RER train is one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to travel from Paris airport to Disneyland. The fastest RER train line is the RER A, which takes you directly from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Marne-La-Vallee/Chessy station, located right at the entrance of Disneyland Paris. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes and trains run regularly throughout the day. The RER train is a popular choice for many travelers as it offers a direct route and avoids traffic congestion.

Magical Shuttle Bus:

Another popular option is the Magical Shuttle bus, which provides direct transportation from both Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport to Disneyland Paris. The bus service operates from early morning until late at night, and the journey takes about 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. The advantage of taking the Magical Shuttle bus is that it offers a door-to-door service, picking you up from the airport and dropping you off at your hotel or directly at the entrance of the theme park.

Private Transfer:

For those who prefer a more personalized and hassle-free experience, a private transfer is an excellent option. Several companies offer private transfer services from Paris airport to Disneyland, where a driver will meet you at the airport and take you directly to your hotel. Private transfers provide the convenience of not having to deal with public transportation or finding your way around. This option is especially suitable for families or larger groups who may have more luggage or prefer a dedicated vehicle.

Taxis are readily available at both Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport and offer a convenient way to travel to Disneyland Paris. However, taxis can be more expensive compared to other options, especially during peak hours or if you are traveling with a large group. Taxis in Paris are metered, and the fare will depend on the distance and time of travel. It's important to ensure that the taxi you choose has enough space and can accommodate all passengers and luggage comfortably.

Car Rental:

If you prefer the freedom and flexibility of driving on your own, you can rent a car at the airport and drive to Disneyland Paris. Both Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport have several car rental companies onsite. However, it's important to note that driving in Paris can be challenging for those who are not familiar with the city's roads and traffic. Additionally, parking at Disneyland Paris can be expensive, and there may be traffic congestion during peak hours.

In conclusion, there are several transportation options available to travel from Paris airport to Disneyland. The RER train offers a direct and cost-effective route, while the Magical Shuttle bus provides a convenient door-to-door service. Private transfers offer a personalized experience, while taxis provide a quick and readily available option. For those who prefer the freedom of driving, car rental is also an option. It's important to consider factors such as cost, convenience, and personal preferences when choosing the transportation option that best suits your needs.

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If you're planning to visit Disneyland Paris and flying into Paris, you might be wondering how to get from the airport to the magical theme park. Fortunately, there's a convenient option available - taking the train! Here's a step-by-step guide on how to travel from Paris airport to Disneyland by train:

Step 1: Arriving at the Airport

Upon landing at either Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Orly Airport (ORY), follow the signs for the train station. These signs are usually well-marked and easy to find. In CDG, the train station is located in Terminal 2, which is easily accessible by free shuttle buses from other terminals. In ORY, the train station, the Antony station, can be reached via the Orlyval shuttle train.

Step 2: Purchasing Train Tickets

Before boarding the train, you'll need to purchase a ticket. Ticket machines are available at the train stations, and they can be operated in multiple languages, including English. Make sure to select the destination "Marne-la-Vallee - Chessy," which is the station closest to Disneyland Paris.

Step 3: Boarding the Train

After obtaining your ticket, proceed to the train platform. Trains to Disneyland Paris operate regularly, with direct services departing from both Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport. Look for a train heading to "Marne-la-Vallee - Chessy" or "Disneyland Paris" on the electronic departure board.

Step 4: Train Journey

Once on the train, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride! Trains from Paris airports to Disneyland Paris are comfortable and equipped with amenities such as air conditioning and luggage storage. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes from Charles de Gaulle Airport and around 1 hour and 15 minutes from Orly Airport.

Step 5: Arriving at Disneyland Paris

The train will arrive at the "Marne-la-Vallee - Chessy" station, which is connected directly to Disneyland Paris. This means you won't need to worry about additional transportation to reach the theme park. Simply follow the signs within the station to the Disneyland Park or Walt Disney Studios Park entrances.

Important Tips:

• Make sure to check the train schedule in advance, especially if you're arriving late at night or early in the morning, as train services may be less frequent during those times.
• Keep in mind that there are different types of trains operating on the same line, including regional trains (RER) and high-speed trains (TGV). Either one will take you to Disneyland Paris, but high-speed trains may be faster.
• Ticket prices may vary depending on the time of day, so it's a good idea to check for any discounts or promotions before purchasing your ticket.
• If you have a lot of luggage, consider using a luggage storage service at the airport or the train station to make your journey more comfortable.

Paying a Traveling Nanny: Essential Tips for Fair Compensation

Traveling from Paris airport to Disneyland is a common concern for many tourists. While there are several ways to get to Disneyland from the airport, one convenient option is to use shuttle services. These services provide a reliable and hassle-free way to reach your destination, allowing you to enjoy your trip right from the start.

Shuttle services are particularly popular because they offer a direct transfer from the airport to Disneyland. This means that you don't have to worry about navigating the public transportation system or figuring out the best route on your own. Once you arrive at the airport, you can simply follow the signs to the shuttle service area and you'll be on your way in no time.

One of the key benefits of using a shuttle service is that they cater specifically to tourists visiting Disneyland. This means that they understand the needs and expectations of their passengers and strive to provide a comfortable and efficient journey. The drivers are experienced and knowledgeable about the area, ensuring a smooth ride to your destination.

To book a shuttle service, it's recommended to reserve your spot in advance. Many shuttle companies have online booking systems, allowing you to conveniently choose your date and time of travel. This way, you can secure your spot and avoid any last-minute stress or uncertainty.

On the day of your travel, it's important to arrive at the designated meeting point on time. The shuttle service will usually provide clear instructions on where to find them at the airport. Once you locate the shuttle, simply show your booking confirmation and the driver will assist you with your luggage and help you find a seat.

During the journey, you can expect a comfortable and air-conditioned vehicle, equipped with amenities such as Wi-Fi and on-board entertainment. This provides a pleasant and relaxing experience, allowing you to unwind after your flight and prepare for all the excitement that awaits at Disneyland.

The shuttle service will take you directly to Disneyland, dropping you off at one of the designated stops. From there, it's a short walk to the entrance of the park. This eliminates the need to search for public transportation or worry about getting lost on your way.

When it's time to return to the airport, you can simply book a shuttle service for your departure date. The process is similar to the arrival, with the shuttle picking you up at the designated meeting point and ensuring you arrive at the airport with ample time before your flight.

Overall, using shuttle services to travel from Paris airport to Disneyland is a convenient and stress-free option. By booking in advance, following the instructions provided, and enjoying the comfortable ride, you can start your Disneyland adventure on the right foot. So sit back, relax, and let the shuttle service take care of the rest!

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Are you planning a trip to Disneyland Paris and wondering how to get there from the airport? While there are various transportation options available, hiring a private taxi is one of the most convenient and hassle-free choices. In this blog post, we will guide you on hiring a private taxi for transportation from Paris airport to Disneyland.

Research and Book in Advance:

Before your trip, it's a good idea to research and compare different private taxi services operating between the airport and Disneyland. Look for companies that have good reviews, reliable vehicles, and professional drivers. Booking in advance will ensure that you have a confirmed reservation and will save you time and stress upon arrival.

Choose the Right Taxi Size:

Consider the number of people and amount of luggage you will be traveling with. Private taxi companies offer vehicles of different sizes, so make sure to choose one that can comfortably accommodate your group. It's always better to have some extra space than to be cramped during the journey.

Provide Flight Details:

When booking your private taxi, make sure to provide accurate flight details, including the airline, flight number, and arrival time. This will allow the driver to track your flight and adjust the pickup time in case of delays. It's essential to communicate any changes in your flight schedule to ensure a smooth pickup.

Meet and Greet Service:

Many private taxi companies offer a meet and greet service, where the driver will be waiting for you at the airport arrivals hall with a signboard displaying your name or the company logo. This personalized service makes it easy to locate your driver and provides a seamless transition from the airport to your taxi.

Comfort and Safety:

Private taxis are usually well-maintained vehicles equipped with comfortable seating and amenities like air conditioning, ensuring a pleasant journey. Additionally, reputable taxi companies prioritize safety and employ licensed and professional drivers who have good knowledge of the routes and traffic conditions.

Direct Transfer to Disneyland:

One of the advantages of hiring a private taxi is that it provides a direct transfer from the airport to Disneyland. Unlike public transportation, you won't have to navigate multiple transfers or make stops at different hotels. This saves you time and allows you to start enjoying your Disneyland experience sooner.

Cost and Payment:

Private taxis may be costlier than other transportation options, but they offer convenience and comfort that is worth the investment. When booking, inquire about the total cost of the journey, including any additional charges like tolls or parking fees. Most taxi services accept various payment methods, including credit cards, making it convenient for international travelers.

In conclusion, hiring a private taxi for transportation from Paris airport to Disneyland is an excellent choice for a stress-free and comfortable journey. Research and book in advance, choose the right taxi size, provide accurate flight details, enjoy the meet and greet service, prioritize comfort and safety, benefit from direct transfer, and inquire about the cost and payment options. By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable start to your Disneyland adventure.

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Uncovering Disney World: A Guide to Navigating the Lines

I have always been fascinated by Disney World, a land where magic meets reality. Yet, amid the enchantment, one challenge constantly loomed – the daunting wait times. With parks like Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom brimming with eager visitors, especially during the peak season, mastering the art of navigating queues became an essential skill. Utilizing tools like Disney Genie, FastPass, and Lightning Lane selections offered a glimmer of hope.

Additionally, strategies for planning the perfect Disney trip, such as consulting crowd calendars and optimizing visit times through the Disney app, revealed themselves as invaluable. Hence, I embarked on a quest to uncover secrets to tackling ride wait times head-on. This guide aims to arm you with tips for visiting that will transform your Disney experience, whether you’re a seasoned park hopper or planning your first magical journey. Fasten your seatbelts, as we dive into a world where the thrill of the ride is matched only by the triumph of beating the queue.

Understanding Disney World’s Peak Seasons

Peak seasons at Disney World bring a special kind of magic, where the parks brim with excitement and joy. During these crowded times, the wait times for attractions at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom soar. Families, thrill seekers, and Disney aficionados flock to this enchanting world, chasing adventures and creating memories. These bustling periods typically align with school vacations — summer break, Christmas, and Easter.

The surge in guests means longer queue times, making an encounter with Mickey a test of patience. Planning a trip during these peaks demands strategy, from leveraging Disney Genie and FastPass services to optimizing park hopper tickets. This reality underscores the vital role of the Disney app and crowd calendars in orchestrating an unforgettable Disney experience. Each tool serves as a compass, guiding through the sea of people towards lesser-known gems and shorter lines, transforming a crowded visit into a smoother, more enjoyable adventure.

The Role of Technology in Queue Management

I grasped how vital technology became in managing my Disney World adventures. Tools like the Disney Genie service and the user-friendly Disney app emerged as game-changers. They offered real-time updates on ride wait times at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. I learned quickly that leveraging these digital services could significantly enhance my visit. By doing so, navigating through peak seasons and long queues felt less daunting.

Planning my Disney trip without these innovations could have resulted in unavoidable delays at popular attractions. Thanks to Disney Genie and the Disney app, I could make more informed decisions, even considering a park hopper ticket for an optimally flexible experience. This strategic use of technology meant I spent less time standing in line and more time creating magical memories. Essentially, embracing these tools paved the way for a streamlined, stress-free Disney experience.

Strategic Planning: Beat the Crowds

In my journey through Disney World, I realized the value of meticulous planning. It dawned on me that getting to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot at the crack of dawn wasn’t just about capturing the sunrise behind Cinderella’s Castle; it was a strategic move to beat the notorious queues. With a park hopper ticket in hand, I navigated from Hollywood Studios to Animal Kingdom, making the most of my time and dodging the peak season crowds. Moreover, dining during off-peak hours proved to be a game-changer. While everyone else queued for Space Mountain, my companions and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch. These methods weren’t just about saving time; they transformed our Disney experience, letting us enjoy more rides and create joyful memories without spending half our day standing in line.

Utilizing FastPass and Disney Genie+ Services

In the past, Disney World offered us the FastPass, a magical tool that let visitors skip long queues for their favorite rides. Now, we’ve seen a transition to something even more innovative – the Disney Genie+ service along with Lightning Lane selections. While both services aimed to significantly reduce wait times, the Disney Genie+ has revolutionized how we plan our day at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

By allowing us to reserve access to certain rides and attractions, it empowers us to optimize our visit times, making our experience smoother. I learned quickly that utilizing these services could transform a potentially overwhelming day into an enjoyable adventure. Especially during peak season, when the parks are bustling and wait times can soar, having Disney Genie+ felt like having a magical guide. It not only suggested the optimal times to visit popular attractions but also saved us hours that would have been spent standing in queues.

Insights into Wait Times for Popular Attractions

I’ve found that the Magic Kingdom often boasts the longest lines, with fan favorites like Space Mountain seeing wait times soar, especially during peak season. Epcot’s global attractions, including the ever-popular Frozen Ever After, can also present lengthy waits. Over at Hollywood Studios, the allure of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been known to draw massive crowds, leading to extended queue times. The majestic Animal Kingdom is no different, with Avatar Flight of Passage often claiming the title for the longest wait in the park. Remember, these wait times can fluctuate wildly, heavily influenced by the time of year and day.

To keep a pulse on the rhythm of Disney’s heartbeat, I swear by the Disney World app. It has become my go-to for real-time updates on ride wait times, making it an indispensable tool in planning my Disney experience. By weaving through the parks with this digital compass, I’ve navigated my way through Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ services, embraced virtual queue opportunities, and even decided when and where to park hop with unparalleled ease.

Tips from Seasoned Disney Goers

• Arriving early at Disney parks, like Magic Kingdom or Epcot, helps us beat the crowds. We always found lighter queue times then.
• Disney apps turned indispensable for monitoring ride wait times. This tactic let us pivot our plan on-the-go, optimizing our Disney experience.
• Packing snacks and entertainment proved crucial during peak season waits. They kept everyone’s spirits up, especially in lengthy lines at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.
• Utilizing Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane selections dramatically cut down our wait times. It felt like having a FastPass to Disney magic.
• Off-peak dining times became our secret weapon. Eating when others were on rides meant we encountered shorter queue lengths afterwards.
• Exploring park hopper options offered flexibility. We hopped to less crowded parks when we anticipated or encountered high wait times.
• Virtual queues and planning Disney trips required patience. We learned that meticulous planning and adjusting expectations made for a smoother trip, enriched by the joy of simply being in Disney World.

The post Uncovering Disney World: A Guide to Navigating the Lines appeared first on Busy in Florida .

Stories and tips to get the most of your Disney Rewards

Insider tips for walt disney world ® resort after hours events.

May 14, 2024

What happens in Walt Disney World ® Resort after the gates close? Now’s your chance to see for yourself as you light up the night at Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom ® Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios ® and EPCOT®, as well as Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park! For these magical nighttime adventures, we’ve got all the intel on what to wear, what to bring and what to see at the parks. Cardmembers, remember you can redeem your Disney Rewards Dollars toward attending these separately ticketed events to enjoy all the evening excitement. 1

What to expect at Disney H2O Glow After Hours

When the sun goes down at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, the fun is just getting started! Disney H2O Glow After Hours, running from 8-11 p.m. on select summer nights, is sure to make a splash. (If you have a ticket for Disney H2O Glow After Hours, though, you can enter as early as 6 p.m.!) This seasonal event is full of splashing attractions all aglow, DJ dance parties and so much more. Here are some key tips to make the most of the festivities.

Get your tickets in advance

Be sure to plan ahead if you’re set on illuminating your nights. Tickets for this exclusive summer event are subject to availability. Once you snag your tickets to Disney H2O Glow After Hours, note that you don’t need to purchase general admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park unless you want to visit before 6 p.m.

Ride some favorite attractions with lower wait times

One of the brilliant perks of this after-hours event is that all of the attractions of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park are available by night (subject to change due to inclement weather or other reasons) with fewer Guests. That means less time waiting in line for popular attractions like the sensational Storm Slides and the thrilling Crush ‘n’ Gusher and more time zipping, twisting and churning through aquatic adventures!

Come hungry: Snacks and Towels are included

Ever find that splashing to your heart’s content gets your appetite going? At Disney H2O Glow After Hours, your ticket to the party includes tasty snacks like ice cream novelties, popcorn, select fountain beverages and towels. And if you’re hungry for even more deliciousness, you can get more by redeeming your Disney Rewards Dollars toward special themed foods and beverages available for purchase. 1

Bust a move at the DJ dance party

Light up the dance floor and mingle with some Disney pals during the high-energy dance party. Pumping music and flashing lights really bring the enchantment to life by night!

What to expect at Disney After Hours

A whole new world awaits by night at Walt Disney World ® Resort! Come rediscover the parks in a different light during Disney After Hours, a special, separately-ticketed evening event that allows you to explore for three extra hours. Delight in tasty snacks, feast your eyes on nighttime spectaculars and experience the area like never before with these handy tips.

Pick your perfect park (or parks!)

When it comes to Disney After Hours, you can choose your own adventure. Step into a land of enchantment at Magic Kingdom ® Park (available now through June 27, 2024), embark on an adventure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios ® (available now through August 29, 2024) or blast off into a night of thrills at EPCOT® (available now through July 18, 2024). Can’t decide on just one? You can purchase multiple event tickets to visit different parks on different nights—it’s up to you!

Spend less time waiting for some iconic attractions

Since Disney After Hours is a limited-capacity event, you’ll spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying incredible attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tron Lightcycle / Run (which uses a standby queue).

Snag some complimentary snacks

Tasty snacks are included in your ticket to Disney After Hours. Follow signage at the event to find and indulge in complimentary goodies like select ice cream novelties, popcorn and bottled beverages at carts located throughout the three participating parks. And if you work up even more of an appetite, you can redeem your Disney Rewards Dollars toward additional snacks that are available for purchase. 1

Enter the park before the event starts

Get a head start on the fun: Although Disney After Hours officially starts at 10 p.m., your event ticket lets you enter the park as early as 7 p.m. Guests with a valid ticket to Disney After Hours do not need a separate theme park reservation or additional ticket.

Keep an eye out for extra nighttime entertainment

When you arrive early, you get extra time to experience even more nighttime entertainment before the event begins! Early arrivals to Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom ® Park get to watch not one, but two fireworks extravaganzas: Happily Ever After, before the park closes, and Disney Enchantment, which is available exclusively once the gates shut. Not only does EPCOT® feature its beloved attractions and entertainment before closing, but it’s also home to a new nighttime spectacular, Luminous The Symphony of Us. And at Disney’s Hollywood Studios ®, you can catch an exclusive performance of Fantasmic!, where Mickey dreams up an epic battle between heroes and villains.

Gear up with glow-in-the-dark accessories

By night, new experiences come to life across the parks with magnificent light displays and decorations, and you can match the vibe by wearing glow-in-the-dark Disney accessories. Stock up for your glow-up at DisneyStore.com , where you can save 10% on select purchases with the Disney® Visa® Credit Card. 2

So much evening adventure awaits at Walt Disney World ® Resort once the park gates close, whether you’re splashing the night away at Disney H2O Glow After Hours or marveling at twilight delights at Magic Kingdom ® Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios ® and EPCOT®. Make the most of these exclusive experiences by redeeming your Disney Rewards Dollars toward your After Hours tickets and enjoy the party well into the night! 1

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NEW CARDMEMBERS CAN

EARN A $300

STATEMENT CREDIT

after spending $1000 on purchases in the first 3 mos. from account opening. 3

Member FDIC

Services for Guests Who Are Neurodivergent

Disney is committed to delivering a wide range of innovative support services aimed at helping our guests with disabilities visiting our theme parks. explore ways and resources for guests with neurodivergent disabilities to use throughout the theme parks and in the resort hotel areas. some tools found on this page may benefit a variety of individuals and are not limited to guests with neurodivergent disabilities., know what to expect at the parks.

For more information, download the Accessibility Planning Guide & Recommendations.

How to Prepare

Plan a visual schedule.

Next, fill in the remaining times with possible attractions and use a question mark or a change card to build flexibility into the schedule. Review the visual schedule with your family member before your visit so they have an idea of what to expect.

By providing a possible timeline, you can help the Guest with a neurodivergent disability understand what to expect—such as crowds, sights, sounds, and smells—and so that they can learn the routine.

For an example of a timeline, please download our Accessibility Planning Guide & Recommendations .

Study Location Maps

Review the maps with the Guest with a neurodivergent disability and try to lay out a plan for the day. We recommend that you consider downloading the My Disney Experience app to have information on your mobile device, including entertainment showtimes. You can even order food and beverages via the My Disney Experience app .

What to Bring

Being prepared for a day at Walt Disney World Resort goes beyond the parks. Plan ahead by bringing along an assortment of items.

Some suggestions include:

• A Safety Bracelet or Nametag
• Ear Plugs or Headphones
• A Favorite Device or Activity
• A Sensory Toy

Practice Waiting in Line

To prepare, practice waiting with the Guest with a neurodivergent disability at home or in lines at places they might already frequent.

Attraction Planning Resources

Sensory experience details.

Review a list of details about Walt Disney World experiences—including details about scents, lighting effects, attraction vehicle speeds and more.

Accessing Attraction Queues

Walt Disney World Resort offers tips and a variety of programs to help Guests with disabilities access attraction queues including Rider Switch, Single Rider, Disability Access Service and more.

At the Parks

Companion restrooms.

Learn more about restrooms

Choose a Meeting Location

Should they get lost, stress the importance to the Guest with a neurodivergent disability of finding a Cast Member who will assist in attempting to reunite you. In addition, there are also designated locations in each park where lost persons can be escorted.

It is recommended that you take a photo of the Guest with a neurodivergent disability on your mobile device or digital camera, especially if they tend to wander off. You may also consider making a nametag that includes their name, as well as your name and mobile phone number.

Take a Break

Some examples include:

Magic Kingdom Park:

• Main Street, U.S.A. – Center Street
• Adventureland – Area near Swiss Family Treehouse; Area next to the Pirates of the Caribbean restrooms
• Frontierland – Miner’s Cove; Area near Tiana’s Bayou Adventure restrooms
• Liberty Square – Area behind Ye Old Christmas Shoppe; Area next to the Hall of Presidents
• Fantasyland – Area near the Wishing Well; Area outside Pete’s Silly Sideshow
• Tomorrowland – Pathway near TRON Lightcycle/Run leading towards Fantasyland; Area between Space Mountain and the Rockettower Plaza Stage; Area near Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
• World Celebration – Areas throughout
• World Nature – Area between the Seas with Nemo and Friends and the Coral Reef Restaurant; Imagination Pavilion near the restrooms
• World Discovery – Area near Mission: SPACE and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Mexico Pavilion – Accessible ramp to right of pavilion
• Norway Pavilion – Corridor between Norway and China
• China Pavilion – Area next to the Temple of Heaven
• Italy Pavilion – Seating nook next to Pizza Al Taglio
• America Pavilion – Corridor between Joffrey’s Coffee and Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue
• Japan Pavilion – Garden seating area
• Morocco Pavilion – Near Restaurant Marrakesh and Lamps of the Wonder
• France Pavilion – Between France and the United Kingdom near the water
• United ­­Kingdom Pavilion – Garden area
• Canada Pavilion – Garden walkway towards Le Cellier Steakhouse

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

• Sunset Boulevard – Courtyard near Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
• Sunset Boulevard & Hollywood Boulevard – Area next to The Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant
• Animation Courtyard – Near the restrooms
• Pixar Place – End of block near archway
• Toy Story Land – Corridor between Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Area next to First Order Cargo; Area between Oga’s Cantina at the Walt Disney World Resort  and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run; Area next to Toydarian Toymaker
• Grand Avenue – Corridor on right just before Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge; Pathway between Muppet Vision 3D and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
• Echo Lake – Area by Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost to the right of 50’s Prime Time Café

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park:

• Discovery Island: Areas throughout
• DinoLand USA – Area next to theater
• Asia – Maharajah Jungle Trek (locations throughout) and the pathway next to Caravan Road leading to Africa
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch – Locations throughout
• Africa – Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail (locations throughout)

All Parks – First Aid and quick-service restaurant seating areas (during non-peak periods).

Learn more about break areas in the Accessibility Planning Guide & Recommendations.

Dietary Accommodations

View more information about  special dietary requests  throughout the Resort.

Guest Health Care Services Presented by AdventHealth