disneyland travel guide

2024 Disneyland Planning Guide

Our Disneyland vacation planning guide covers what’s new & next in 2024, when to visit to avoid crowds, best restaurants, hotels in Anaheim, money-saving ticket tips, Halloween & Christmas in the parks, and more. It’s a great resource for first-timers to Southern California or lifelong WDW fans. (Updated March 4, 2024.)

Let’s start with all of the latest updates. Disney has released the Full Seasonal Events Calendar for 2024 at Disneyland , which includes the following:

• DCA Food & Wine Festival (now through April 22, 2024)
• Star Wars Season of the Force (April 5 to June 2, 2024)
• Pixar Fest (April 26 to August 4, 2024)

Disney has also shared that Halloween 2024 at Disneyland will start early (August 23), which likely means Oogie Boogie Bash Party dates beginning earlier. Conversely, Christmas 2024 at Disneyland will start later than normal (November 15), which is unexpected given the popularity of the holiday season. Those are the big things for the 2024 calendar at Disneyland, but there’s a ton more to cover…

From a planning perspective, the big newish thing is Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, which are essentially paid FastPass, for those who were familiar with that. It’s important to understand how this works and whether you should buy Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes before you visit Disneyland.

Everything you need to know, including ride priorities, where it’s NOT necessary to buy Genie+ or Lightning Lanes, and much more is covered in our Guide to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland and DCA . That’s regularly updated to include the latest price increases and additions to the Lightning Lane ride roster–both of which have changed in the last few months.

We’ve used Genie+ and Lightning Lanes many times, and cover our experiences and strategy there. If you’re a Walt Disney World regular, the good news is that Genie+ is much easier to use at Disneyland. We’d recommend definitely recommend that guide to get a sense for how to use it and priorities–and would also advise having savvy strategy for Early Entry (if eligible) and rope drop plans. Other than that, you don’t need to overthink things. Genie+ makes visiting Disneyland and DCA so much easier.

Regardless of whether you end up buying the Genie+ paid line-skipping, you’ll want to make the decision ahead of time, and plan your strategy accordingly to either get the most mileage out of Genie+ or have an efficient itinerary that finds alternatives for beating the crowds. (Our strong recommendation is to purchase Genie+ for at least one day. If cost is an issue, trim the ‘fat’ from your vacation budget somewhere else.)

Disneyland has been relatively busy in the last couple of years, which is precisely why we recommend buying the Genie+ service to save time waiting in line. It hasn’t been all bad–and it does appear that “revenge travel” is starting to exhaust itself. However, not nearly to the same degree as Walt Disney World. It’s still varying degrees of busy–just slightly less busy than last year.

Our expectation is that pent-up demand continues to die down in 2024. The holiday season hasn’t been bonkers busy across the board–there was a post-Thanksgiving and early December lull for pretty much the first time in the post-reopening period. It  feels like Disneyland is on the precipice of returning to a pre-2020 level of normal crowd dynamics, but we’ve thought this before only to have things get crazy again.

To that point, choosing less busy dates is incredibly important and that’ll continue to be the case even if pent-up demand fizzles out. Our totally free 2024 Disneyland Crowd Calendars offer day by day guides as to when the parks will be least busy and busiest. These crowd calendars are influenced by a variety of factors, including marketing, discounts, park hours, new attraction openings, special events, Anaheim Convention Center events, and even weather (good or bad). We strive to keep our Disneyland crowd calendars updated to reflect changes in attendance trends.

We’re able to keep on top of all the changing crowd patterns and additions because we are Magic Key Passholders who reside in Southern California. Typically, we visit Disneyland and DCA at least once per week to refine this guide and provide you the best info.

In addition to park visits, we do frequent hotel stays, lots of eating, and field testing of Genie+ and Lightning Lanes as well as other itineraries and strategy for beating lines at the parks. Emphasis on typically since this past year has been a bit atypical and slower-paced for us as we our family grew in size. Suffice to say, expect more posts like Baby Bricker’s First Visit to Disneyland in 2024!

But enough about us. Suffice to say, we’re at Disneyland and DCA frequently, and have planning updates and news to share on a regular basis. If you want to receive updates when discounts are released, new things are announced, etc., sign up to receive our free Disney email newsletter , which covers Disneyland plus Walt Disney World and the international parks.

Before we get to the nuts and bolts of Disneyland vacation planning, let’s start with quick background. Disneyland is “Walt Disney’s original magic kingdom.” It’s the castle park that debuted in 1955 and paved the way for other such theme parks around the globe. Disneyland is the only park that Walt Disney himself set foot in and had an active role developing. Beyond its historical legacy that makes it a California institution, Disneyland is incredibly attraction-dense, with enough rides to fill two full days or more (if you’re so inclined).

Directly across from Disneyland is Disney California Adventure (DCA), the second gate of Disneyland Resort. DCA is ostensibly inspired by the Golden State, but is more just a catch-all park with some attractions having a vague California connection and others being driven by Marvel, Pixar, and other Disney franchises.

In addition to the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks, Disneyland Resort is home to Downtown Disney and three official hotels. Downtown Disney is a shopping, dining and entertainment district just outside the two parks. The aforementioned resorts are Pixar Place Hotel, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel–which is directly connected to DCA. The entirety of Disneyland Resort is walkable, with no transportation aside from your feet needed to get anywhere within the property.

Now let’s dig into planning, starting with what’s new and next at Disneyland Resort…

What’s New & Next at Disneyland

Beyond the aforementioned substantive additions, there are smaller ‘experience improvements’ at Disneyland. Specifically, the start of Park Hopping has been moved forward to 11 am; this makes it easier to switch parks for lunch.

There are also a handful of new on-site perks for hotel guests, the best of which is Early Entry. See our Guide to Early Entry at Disneyland for what you need to know about this pre-park opening access to Disneyland and DCA. (Note that Early Entry is now every other day for each park as of 2024; it was previously in both parks every day of the week.)

Additionally, PhotoPass digital photo downloads of on-ride photos are now free for all guests on the Disneyland app. This includes attraction photos captured on Radiator Springs Racers, Space Mountain, Incredicoaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, and more.

In terms of new rides, the biggest relatively recent addition is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and its two attractions, Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The latter is Disneyland’s biggest blockbuster addition since 1995, a modern masterpiece of Imagineering that is immensely popular and well-worth the multi-hour waits.

Over at Disney California Adventure, the most recent expansion is the Avengers Campus Marvel Land. This features one ride, one restaurant, meet & greets, and shopping. It’ll also showcases a Stuntronics Spider-Man, which is a sight to behold.

The Magic Happens daytime parade is also back, and not to be missed. We recommend catching the parade’s first performance from the end of Main Street on the back side of the flagpole. Alternatively, the west side of Main Street will offer shade; welcome reprieve from the sun and heat during the summer months.

Then there are the nighttime shows. Mickey’s Mix Magic is back, and has a couple of separate runs in the first half of the year. In between, fan-favorite Magic Journeys will be shown during the heart of the spring break season. In Summer 2024, Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular returns for Pixar Fest.

Also coming back from another year-plus hiatus is Fantasmic, which will be presented in modified form on the Rivers of America once again. See the 2024 Disneyland Entertainment Schedule for the dates of what’s returning and what’s missing.

Two of the biggest additions for 2024 at Disneyland are at the hotels. Late last year, the brand-new Discovery Tower opened at Disneyland Hotel. This is the new Disney Vacation Club wing, which can also be booked by cash-paying guests. Although they’re all technically part of the same resort, there’s a night-and-day difference between the DVC and hotel towers. See our Photo Tour of the Villas at Disneyland Hotel for more on the new tower.

In early 2024, Disney Imagineers completed an overhaul of Paradise Pier Hotel into Pixar Place Hotel. So here, it’s a matter of the same “bones” of the hotel, but with a fresh coat of paint ( and much more ). This project was truly transformative, breathing new life into the aging tower hotel. (In other hotel news, special offers are currently available:  2024 Discounts on Hotels of Disneyland Resort .)

If you’re curious about the specifics of other additions on the horizon, consult our What’s New & Next for Disneyland in 2024 . This gives you an idea of when you might want to visit if you’re still choosing dates, trying to find the best time in terms of special events, new rides, and more.

More is coming in 2024 and beyond, but those are the main things to know. Now, let’s get down to business: what you need to plan a Disneyland vacation…

When to Visit Disneyland

The single most important part of planning a trip to Disneyland is determining when to visit. As mentioned above, crowds are a big component of this, but should not be the sole determining factor. Weather, seasonal events, pricing, and other variables are all important.

To that point, our we also have the Best & Worst Months to Visit Disneyland list, which ranks every month of the year. Even more to the point, this covers our 3 favorite weeks of the year to take a Disneyland trip. That’s more qualitative, and thus can more useful than crowd calendars for many Disneyland planners.

Again, our crowd calendars and month by month ranking resources have been updated to take into account changing attendance patterns brought on by Magic Keys, make-up travel, discounted SoCal tickets, returning entertainment, and more. Crowds have already changed, and we will continue to monitor and update accordingly in the future. Just be warned that crowd calendars are less reliable right now due to pent-up demand, capacity limits, and everything else.

As for seasonal events, we have two favorite times to do Disneyland. We highly recommend Halloween, which is our #2 time of the year at Disneyland. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Disneyland at Halloween for reasons why, and assistance planning a trip during that specific timeframe.

We’re already looking forward to the return of Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party , which will be back for Fall 2024 ( and probably late summer! ). That’s a hard ticket event, meaning that tickets to it cost extra; you do not need  to attend Oogie Boogie Bash to have a great time during the Halloween season at Disneyland, but we recommend it to anyone who is willing and able to splurge–especially fans of rare characters ( and villains! ).

Our favorite time of year at Disneyland–by a wide margin–is the holiday season. Unlike Halloween, there is no Christmas hard ticket event, meaning that everything is included with the price of regular admission. This means holiday fireworks, special parades, decorations, attraction overlays, entertainment, and so much more.

You could literally spend multiple full days focused exclusively on the seasonal offerings at Disneyland during the holiday season. Read our Ultimate Guide to Disneyland at Christmas to learn more about what makes this time of year so special–and see photos of the parks in all of their Christmas glory!

Finally, before solidifying your travel dates, you’ll also want to check out our 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar to make sure any must-do attractions won’t be closed for renovations during your visit.

We typically do not recommend relying heavily on the refurbishment calendar. While Disneyland provides advance notice of most major multi-month closures, that’s not always the case. Some are scheduled last minute for necessary repairs or preventative maintenance. Short projects are sometimes scheduled at the last minute, and unannounced downtime (due to breakdowns or other issues) can also impact attractions.

Our biggest piece of advice with regard to refurbishments is not to visit in January or February if a high number of ride closures will negatively impact your trip. Winter is typically Disneyland’s refurbishment season, with many attractions going down for annual maintenance after the holidays.

Where to Stay

There are a ton of options in terms of where to stay near Disneyland: Good Neighbor Hotels, official Disney resorts, nearby hotels within driving distance, sprawling resorts in nearby beach towns, and more. In  Best Hotels Near Disneyland , we cover our top 10 picks for hotels within walking distance of the parks, with 5 family-friendly budget options, 3 luxury resorts, and 2 Disney-owned hotels. That’s a concise resource if you don’t want to comb through our more comprehensive hotel info.

For most vacation planners, the decision comes down to choosing among Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa ( our favorite! ), Disneyland Hotel (second favorite), and Pixar Place Hotel, or one of the cheaper hotels on Harbor Boulevard. We cover the pros and cons of each choice in our Where to Stay at Disneyland: Off-Site v. On-Site Hotels post.

If you’re looking for something more thorough, we’ve stayed at every on-site Disneyland hotel and most of the Good Neighbor Disneyland hotels and other off-site hotels within walking distance of the Disneyland Esplanade.

All of these are covered in our Rankings & Reviews of the Best & Worst Hotels Near Disneyland . This post ranks ~60 hotels near Disneyland at which we have stayed, along with room photos, pros & cons, and other useful information. That also details how to score a good deal on a hotel that’s close to Disneyland.

Fair warning: those comprehensive rankings can be overwhelming. We do a lot of hotel stays in Anaheim and report on them; most of that’s overkill for planners–you just need to know which ones are the ‘hotel hell’ options (bottom of the list) to avoid at all costs and the best ones to book (top of the list). If you’ve already booked accommodations, you might also want to search the list to see where your selected hotel ranks!

Park Tickets

Our Money-Saving Guide to Disneyland Tickets is a huge resource with recommendations on what type of Disneyland tickets you should buy, including how many days, whether you should get Park Hopper, and where you can buy Disneyland tickets to save some money.

There are some great offers right now–we recommend bundling park tickets and your hotel stay to save even more, especially with the 3rd and 4th night free specials at hotels near Disneyland . These package deals can save you a lot of money.

For the vast majority of guests visiting Disneyland, we recommend the Park Hopper ticket option. This allows you to bounce back and forth between the two parks throughout the day, which is easy to do given that their about a football field apart.

The practical upsides of this is starting at the park that opens first and ending your night at the park open later (Disneyland is often open 2 hours later than Disney California Adventure). You can also eat in the park with the dining options you prefer, grab a beer in DCA (there’s no alcohol in Disneyland outside of Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars Land), and enjoy the nighttime spectaculars in both parks.

If you’re a local or just a big diehard Disney fan planning to make multiple trips in a single year, Magic Key Annual Passes are also an option. Some tiers of these APs have already sold out, but others remain available for purchase. See our Guide to Magic Keys at Disneyland: 2024 Prices, Perks, Blockout Dates & Discounts for more details.

Prior to moving to California, we were Disneyland AP holders while living in Indianapolis, Indiana followed by Orlando, Florida. We’d make several long weekend trips out to Disneyland each year, and the APs more than paid for themselves.

With that said, Annual Passes were  much  cheaper when we lived in the Midwest–a fraction of the current price–and we blogged about Disney by the time we moved to Central Florida. So our circumstances are a bit unique. Nevertheless, if you live in Nevada, Utah, or even Northern California…and can do a few long weekends each year, Magic Keys might make sense for you, too!

Disneyland Strategy & Itineraries

There are over 75 attractions between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. On a normal day, the average guest will only experience 10-11 of those. It would thus take you at least 6 days to experience everything in the two theme parks, assuming you didn’t want to re-ride anything. Obviously, not many people are devoting over a week to their Disneyland vacation.

As such, we’ve developed a few step-by-step Disneyland touring plans, each of which will enable you to efficiently experience the parks, while also enjoying their leisurely offerings and atmosphere. More to the point, you’ll be able to do 20+ rides per day–and skip the ones not worth your time.

Here are our best and recommended itineraries:

• Disneyland 1-Day Itinerary – Only have one day to visit Disneyland? This is a step-by-step plan of attack for which attractions you should do, where you should eat, what to see, and more. This covers all of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, including Rise of the Resistance.
• Disneyland 2-Day Itinerary – Same idea, but spread over two days. We recommend most guests allocate two full days to Disneyland.
• Disney California Adventure 1-Day Itinerary – Unlike Disneyland, DCA is easier to fully experience in a single day. This touring plan includes strategy for beating the crowds at Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Web Slingers Spider-Man Adventure, and more!

We are currently working on additional multi-day itineraries for trips of 4+ days at Disneyland Resort. For now, if you plan on spending more time at DCA, consult our Disney California Adventure Ride Reviews & Guide . The article reviews every attraction at Disneyland, giving each a numerical score out of 10, plus highlights key attractions that we consider the best ones, which should be prioritized if you have limited time.

Our Disneyland Ride Reviews & Guide does the same thing for the castle park, in case you want to spend 3+ days there. (Which you totally could, especially now that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is open!)

Dining at Disneyland

Food is half the fun at Disneyland. Both parks have great restaurants, iconic snacks, decadent desserts, and great drinks. We typically go all-out when visiting the parks, doing breakfast at one of the hotels (or sometimes in the park), followed by a mid-morning snack, counter service lunch, and table service dinner.

The stereotype that all Disney food is unhealthy food like burgers and hot dogs is entirely false. Disneyland has inexpensive unique dining options as well as expensive fine dining. Good dining can help define a trip! To that end, we highly recommend checking out our List of the 23 Best Restaurants at Disneyland . Those are the places we dine the most, and recommend to friends visiting the parks. You’ll find several hidden gems on there, as well as explanations for why we’ve snubbed several hotspots.

If you want advice, food photos, and more about all restaurants, see our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews . (Honestly, we think that’s probably overkill for 95% of you. The ‘best of’ list above covers where you should do meals, and there are more lists below for bars, snacks, and desserts.)

Beyond full meals, we have a few resources that can help you plan memorable meals at Disneyland. If you have kids, we highly recommend consulting our Disneyland Character Dining Guide , which covers the best character buffets in the hotels and parks.

Looking for the best quick meals? Our Top 10 Disneyland Counter Service Restaurants list ranks the best meals in the castle park, while our Top 10 Disney California Adventure Counter Service Restaurants list offers the same for DCA.

Want to have fun with your food at Disneyland? Our Top 10 Delicious Desserts at Disneyland covers delicious treats, including some hidden gems, plus brand new items and recently-added restaurants in Downtown Disney!

If you’re into drinking, we also have posts about a few of our favorite lounges: Trader Sam’s , Lamplight Lounge , GCH Craftsman Bar , and Carthay Circle Restaurant . The last one is particularly noteworthy because–in addition to the lounge downstairs–the restaurant upstairs is the best in-park restaurant in either park.

Transportation

Should you fly or drive to Disneyland? Rent a car or use public transportation? What about getting around Southern California? There are a ton of questions you might have, and our Guide to Disneyland Transportation covers everything you need to know, answering these questions for you based on our first-hand experiences visiting Anaheim as tourists and living nearby as locals.

If you’ve already decided on flying to California but aren’t sure of the pros & cons of each option, check out our Guide to Airports Near Disneyland. That covers the strengths and weaknesses of the 5 airports in Southern California that are relatively convenient to Disneyland.

In a nutshell, our strong recommendation would be flying into SNA (or even LGB) over LAX. Even if the flight is a little more expensive, it’s worth it. Not only is SNA closer to Disneyland, but LAX has tons of chaos, construction, and crowds.

We like LAX and its eclectic energy, but it’s more than a little overwhelming for a first-timer. If you’ve never been to Southern California or a large city like Los Angeles, it can be a bit much and start your trip off on the wrong foot. Meanwhile, SNA is laid back and quiet. If there were a list ranking the best airports for napping, it would be near the top and LAX would be near the bottom.

In addition to this, SNA is much closer to Disneyland than LAX, which makes it easier to simply take an Uber or Lyft from the airport to wherever you’re staying near Disneyland. In most cases, we’d recommend rideshare over renting a car at the airport, as the vast majority of hotels near Disneyland now charge for parking. So not only will you be paying to rent the car, but also to park it.

The vast majority of hotels near Disneyland are within walking distance, so you won’t need a vehicle during the theme park portion of your trip to Southern California. If you’re staying at one of the hotels we recommend in Anaheim, it’s literally counterproductive to drive to Disneyland since the parking structures are all farther away than most of the nearby hotels.

If you’re venturing beyond Disneyland to one of the destinations discussed below–and we strongly recommend that you do–while visiting Southern California, our advice would be to book a rental car in Anaheim. There are numerous rental car companies within walking distance of Disneyland, and most offer one-way rentals to the nearby airports. Walk over to one of those on your checkout morning, pick up your rental car, and continue your California adventure!

We do not  recommend relying on rideshare if you’re heading to Los Angeles. However, if you’re doing Laguna Beach or another coastal community, a rental car may not be needed at all. Many coastal towns have free trolley service that is fantastic. Simply take an Uber or Lyft from Disneyland to wherever you’re staying in the beach cities.

Southern California BEYOND Disneyland

If you want to venture beyond theme parks, you’re in luck. Southern California is one of the best places in the world to visit! Thanks to Los Angeles, San Diego, and the beach cities in between, there’s a ton to do in the area.

In addition to this site, we have non-Disney blog: TravelCaffeine with resources for on an eclectic mix of the places where we’ve lived or visited extensively. California is one such emphasis, as we’ve spent a ton of time exploring our home state. If you’re planning on heading to LA after Disneyland, be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Los Angeles .

While LA is one of the greatest cities in the world, we’re particularly partial to Laguna Beach. It’s home to the best stretch of coast in California, has small-town charm and personality, and tons of things to do. To that point, see our  Ultimate Guide to Laguna Beach, California for extensive advice. If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of visiting Los Angeles, then Laguna Beach is for you!

In addition to these planning resources, we also give away a free eBook, 101 Things to Do in Southern California over on TravelCaffeine, so be sure to download that totally free resource!

If you’re thinking of visiting other theme parks in Southern California, we also have guides to those…

Universal Studios Hollywood Trip Planning Guide – In just a few years, USH has transformed and improved dramatically. The opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was what really put the park on the map as a vacation destination, but many other additions have made this a great park in the last few years. Our favorite new attraction is Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, a new family-friendly dark ride. (Read our review of it in Universal’s New Dark Ride Rivals Disney’s Best! )

The blockbuster new addition is Super Nintendo World. We love this land, and rate two of its biggest components in our Ride Review: Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge and our Review of Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World . For practical planning advice, check out our comprehensive  Strategy Guide for Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood . That offers tips & tricks, how to beat the crowds, and a ton of other advice for making the most of your time in this incredible new land.

Aside from that, the Studio Tour is our favorite attraction, which is a 45-minute plus tram tour through the working backlot of Universal’s studio. If you are only interested in this Studio Tour, you might broaden your potential options beyond just USH, and also consider the Warner Brothers Studio Tour and Sony Pictures Studio Tour as alternatives.

Guide to Knott’s Berry Farm – An Orange County institution that proudly proclaims itself as “America’s 1st Theme Park.” Really, Knott’s is a tale of two theme parks. It has modern roller coasters and other fare for thrill-seekers. Thematically, this leaves a lot to be desired.

Then there are the quainter areas, reminiscent of Frontierland at Disneyland. We love these areas–and the park’s annual Boysenberry Festival. All things considered, we love both Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios Hollywood, and together with Disneyland Resort, these four gates make for a great theme park vacation in Southern California!

Other Disneyland Planning Resources

Now that we’ve covered the essentials to ensure you have a great trip to Disneyland, we have a bunch of other resources that will guide you through the planning process to make your visit to Disneyland more enjoyable, helping you save time and money. Armed with all of this knowledge, you will have a much better vacation.

What to Pack – Packing for Disneyland is comparable to packing for any vacation, but with a few twists. Here’s our list of “unordinary” items to pack that will help enhance your Disneyland trip!

Guide to Downtown Disney – We sort of gloss over it here, but Downtown Disney is a massive area within Disneyland Resort’s security perimeter. You can easily leave either park and get to one of these restaurants for a meal…or some of the best ice cream you’ll ever have…in under 10 minutes.

Our 101 Best Disneyland Tips – This is not nearly as structured as our other advice, but these tips offer great advice and sometimes obscure little things that will help you visit the parks like a local. This is more granular advice than what you’ll find in our other planning articles, but we’ve had a lot of positive feedback from readers who really got a lot more out of their trips because of those tips.

Renting DVC Points to Save Money on Accommodations – This is written from a WDW perspective, but there are also Disney Vacation Club villas at the Grand Californian. Booking there can be a challenge (it’s incredibly popular), but you can save a ton of money if your timing is right and you get lucky.

Best Credit Cards for Disney Travel – Leveraging credit card rewards can be a great way of getting free airfare or hotel rooms, and there are several options near Disneyland that you can book for free thanks to signup bonuses.

Tips for Buying Discount Disney Gift Cards – Want to save at least 5% on every single thing you buy at Disneyland? These hacks are for you. Some are relatively simple and straightforward (like using the Target RedCard) while others require a bit more effort.

In general, there are a variety of ways you can save money on a trip to Disneyland. If you’re looking for the best way to save on an entire vacation package, many of our favorite hotels near Disneyland can be booked via Get Away Today at a discount . If you bundle tickets into your hotel stay, you’ll get an even better deal. You can check package prices here .

Between this blog and TravelCaffeine.com , you should be totally covered with what you need to know if you’re thinking about visiting Disneyland Resort and Southern California sometime in 2024. We can’t encourage people enough to give Disneyland a try, especially Disney fans who are biased towards Walt Disney World as their “home” park. Disneyland is a totally different, much more relaxed experience. It’s intimate in both size and feel, and is oozing with history and incredible attractions.

I could go on for pages and pages about why I love Disneyland, and why everyone owes it to themselves to visit Disneyland, but hopefully this is a good-enough jumping off point. If you’ve never been to either Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort, it’s a good place to start as we attempt to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each in an unbiased manner. If all of this is still overwhelming or you want personalized recommendations for Disneyland Resort, click here to get a vacation quote from a no fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner .

Your Thoughts

Are you planning a Disneyland Resort visit in 2024? Debating between Halloween and Christmas? Have you already visited Galaxy’s Edge and done Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance? What about Avengers Campus? Are you excited for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway or the reimagined Toontown? Thoughts on Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, where to stay, best restaurants and snacks, or anything else covered here? Have you previously visited Disneyland? Have any tips of your own to add? Any questions you still have that this guide did not answer? We really appreciate reader feedback and your thoughts, so please share in the comments below! 🙂

Written by Tom Bricker

We’re headed to California in June. Family of five with three young boys. Love Disney World, never been to Disneyland. Plan to do 2-days in the parks June 18th and 19th with non-hopper tickets. Seems like Disneyland is closing at 8pm on the 18th for an event. Will crowds be down that day like they are in DW for these kind of events? Other factor is Juneteenth is on June 19. Bottom line, which day should we Disneyland and which day should we do DCA? Thank you for any and all advice!

I have been going to the Disneyland Resort with my daughters since they were four and six and I have enjoyed reading your blog as a planning guide that entire time. Now they’re 17 and 15! My question is I’ve always wondered if you have an opinion about what park to start at if you have a Park hopper tickets, and now since we need to reserve what park we start at, is there a preference one over the other? Maybe depending which has early entry is? We are not staying at a hotel that will have early entry, so should we try to not go to the park that has early entry or just ignore that? Any other comments about where to start your day with a hopper? Thanks and congratulations on your new family! You’ll discover how wonderful Disneyland is in a whole new way and as the years go by it only gets better!

Early Entry doesn’t move the needle that much since it’s such a small pool of guests.

Personally, I’m a big fan of starting at Disneyland if you’re into the Fantasyland dark rides, because it’s so easy to knock out a half-dozen of those in an hour, which is such a satisfying feeling. I also think that, due to greater ride density, Disneyland wait times build slower over the course of the morning, whereas DCA can get busy quickly.

That’s my very subjective take, though. If you want to do Radiator Springs Racers, Avengers Campus, or other high-profile rides in DCA, maybe that’s a better option than Disneyland for you.

It looks like we have a chance to visit Disneyland for the first time (as hard core WDW people) in April. Unfortunately it’s a very busy weekend (Apr 5-8) but I’ll take what I can get. We will buy Genie+ of course.. we will skip Galaxy’s Edge as we’ve done that many times in FL. Do you have a 2 day Itinerary for DL + DCA for people who are used to WDW? In other words – what are all the OG and unique to DL rides, and top 3 snacks/dining experiences? I’m thinking Lamplight Lounge for one meal and some snacks. It’s weird to feel like a noob with Disney since we are so familiar w/ WDW.

We have visited WDW many times. Most recently first week of December 2022. It was fantastic!! Thanks for your recommendation on the week. Thinking about a first time trip to Disneyland this year. Would like to catch some other area sights as well. How many days should we plan as first timers to the parks? Best place to stay when we likely won’t be back for a while. Thanks!

Thanks for the updated guide. Full of lots of great information as usual, and it’s nice to see more pictures of Sarah and Megatron! (And Tom of course.) We’re planning to go around November 10-12. Do you think Dapper Days combined with the start of the holiday season plus Veteran’s day will make it extra crowded? If so, any touring tips besides rope drop? We’re hopefully staying at the Grand so will have early entry.

Thank you so much for all your help. Had a great Disney experience thanks to you!

I’m wondering if you have a 1 day itinerary article that covers both Disneyland and DCA with park hopper. We only have 1 day to visit during this trip and we’re traveling with an infant so it does cut out on a bunch of high priority rides. We’re also diehard WDW people and have rode those attractions SEVERAL times so we’re ok with cutting out things like Galaxys edge, Toy story mania… there are a few rides we want to do without the baby, ie radiator springs racers and can utilize single rider or rider swap for those, but are most interested in original dark rides for a more nostalgic experience. Thanks for being such a great resource for planning research, your blogs have been more then helpful!

Hello, My name is Jenna Taylor, and I’m a travel writer. I was simply conducting some research for content ideas when I came across your site.

What can I do to obtain a do-follow link on your site? Would you be willing to accept a guest post on your blog? If that’s the case, can you please let me know how much you would charge?

Please let me know what you think and please contact me if there are any additional specifics!

Tom, appreciate all your work to put these guides out. Your site was a big help when our family first started going to Disney World back in 2015.

We’re looking at our first visit to Disneyland sometime in summer 2023. I saw mentioned in a few different places that weekends are worse than weekdays. Looking back at summer 2022, Friday-Sunday showed significantly lower wait times than Monday- Thursday (per Thrilldata). I’m assuming that had to do with Magic Key blackouts – would that pattern be expected to repeat in June/July 2023?

Excellent information and orientation! Kind regards.

Hello! So, I am one of those people who hate to compose trip itineraries. I LOVE to go, but hate to plan the details. Do you offer this as a service? My husband and I are planning to take our oldest 2 granddaughters (ages 6 & 8) to Disneyland in July 2023. We will be arriving on a Sunday, leaving on a Thursday. Your information on lodging, flying, the airport, and transportation is fantastic.

You will have an amazing time! One tip I don’t see that often that we have found very helpful every time we go with our now 9 year-old is that we generally take a break from the parks sometime after lunch, go for a swim, relax a bit have a snack or get an early dinner and then head back to the parks a bit refreshed. Also, stay hydrated, sunscreen and i usually pack some lollipops for long lines;) Have a wonderful time!

If you’re looking for an itinerary planning service, check out Melanie B on Instagram (the_disney_rn). I’ve never needed an itinerary other than Tom and Sarah’s tips, but I know many people love them! Melanie always has amazing advice as a local Disneyland fan, so I’m sure her itineraries would be super helpful to you 🙂

If I buy a five day hopper with genie plus through getaway today does it include photo pass service for every day or for just one day or what?

The best plan is to purchase Disneyland tickets at Ralph’s, Smart and Final, Raleys, Target, Cardenas, Superior and Super A. The tickets are sold through ScanIt where you find the giftcards. Scan the QR code, select your tickets, enter your email and a barcode is generated for purchase at the register. Reservations are really open right now!!

Also, Target is offering a $20 instant rebate right now if you buy their current promo in their stores!!

A really good option is to purchase your Disneyland tickets at the grocery store – Ralph’s, Smart and Final, Raleys, Target, Cardenas, Superior and Super A. The tickets are sold through ScanIt where you find the giftcards. Scan the QR code, select your tickets, enter your email and a barcode is generated. Purchase in store. You get your credit card grocery points this way – I get cash back for grocery!!! Plus at Ralph’s you get FUEL rewards. Disneyland currently is running their $83/day through September. Get in the grocery store! Reservations are really open right now!!

Do you have any recommendations or information about parking options for day visitors? We will be in the Anaheim area visiting family and I am hoping to do a 1 day visit to Disneyland. We will be staying about 20 minutes away at the Hyatt House in Cypress, as that is the location that is near the people we are visiting.

If you are doing a 1 day visit to Disneyland, your best bet would be to park at at the Mickey and Friends parking structure. That’s the main structure for the parks and it’s the best option for park visitors.

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Park Strategies

Updated April 10, 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

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. Commission is built into every Disney package purchased, regardless of who you book with. So, you do not pay a penny more than if you book with Disney directly.

I recommend booking with Love of the Magic Vacations for many, many reasons. I share all about this agency in this post . And, you can get a free quote from them at this link .

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.

A Disney Yes Day

What to Do When it Rains at Disneyland

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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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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.

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 :

• Southern California Resident 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).

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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.

Save money, experience more.

Disneyland Planning Guide 2024: Start Here to Plan Your Disneyland Trip

We cover everything from finding the best hotel near Disneyland to the most recent Disneyland updates to advice on saving money on Disneyland tickets. Our guide to planning a trip to Disneyland is laid out in the order of steps you would go in as begin planning to make it as simple as possible for first time guests and well-seasoned park goers!

You can read all about what Disneyland is like right now and the  Disneyland reservations system in our guides.

Common Questions:

• Where to find best discount Disneyland tickets?
• Where to find cheap Disney World tickets?
• How to find discount Universal Studios Hollywood tickets? 
• What should I bring to Disneyland? 
• Which are the best hotels near Disneyland?
• Which airport is closest to Disneyland?
• When is Disneyland least crowded?
• Should I go to Disneyland or Walt Disney World?
• How much does Disney FastPass cost in 2024?
• How do I navigate Disneyland with a wheelchair?

Before jumping into planning and reading the pieces of the guide below, I invite you to join our newsletter . It will help you along the way with more information, discounts, and more tips.

In this planning guide:

When to Visit Disneyland 2024

Your first step to planning a Disneyland vacation is to first decide on when you would like to visit the park! There are special events to consider throughout the year along with your own schedule to consider. In order to help you decide when is the best time to visit Disneyland consult our Disneyland crowd calendar which includes crowd predictions along with monthly events for the entire year.

Visiting Disneyland during the summer is often the most obvious choice for guests due to summer vacation for school aged kids. This is a great time to visit Disneyland as you will enjoy longer operating hours and newly introduced events or entertainment. Our guide to summer at Disneyland covers the pros and cons of a summer vacation at the resort. Spring at Disneyland can be another great time to visit, especially if you're looking for discounts for on-site Disney hotels and cheaper airfare.

Also consider the Disneyland Park hours and Disney California Adventure park hours when planning.

The holiday season is also another popular time to enjoy the parks as Disneyland goes all out for both Halloween and Christmas . You can enjoy seasonal ride overlays, an abundance of decorations, seasonal treats and themed entertainment. Picking what time of year to visit Disneyland will alter your resort experience in regards to the type of entertainment you may experience at the park, decorations, crowds, weather and even prices.

Prices will always be higher during holiday weeks like spring break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Labor Day, etc. Crowd levels also usually coordinate with these higher prices. Our guide to experiencing crowds at Disneyland help you prepare for surviving anything. Be sure to read our top Disneyland tips here .

You may also want to take into account the usual yearly refurbishments that may take place at Disneyland when picking your trip dates- these are just the yearly ride closures for usual maintenance or closures for seasonal overlays that happen each year.

You may also consider visiting for a birthday or anniversary which are great milestones to celebrate on Disney! In fact, Disney will help you celebrate those special birthdays and anniversaries .

Regardless of what time of year you pick, there is always a pro/con to each and every day of the year is just as magical as the rest!

Disneyland's New Reservation System 2024

Once you've picked your dates for your Disneyland vacation your next step is to purchase your tickets! You can save nearly $20 per ticket for travel when you book with our recommended travel partner  Get Away Today . They offer the best discounts while providing top notch customer service. They have worked with Disney for over 30 years selling millions of 2-5 day discount Disney tickets and give our Mickey Visit readers (who book through links on our website) an exclusive discount rate on tickets. I highly recommend going that route for your Disneyland theme park tickets. You can read more about the different ticket options, how many days you need and more in our discount Disneyland guide. 

If you're looking to do Disneyland on a budget, I've got you covered in our budget tips for Disneyland guide. Our list of budget tips will help you save money on park tickets, hotel, dining, and includes information on how to save 5% on Disney gift cards!

It's not enough to just have your theme park tickets to Disneyland, you also need to make a reservation for each day of your visit once you've purchased your tickets! This is extremely important because reservations can run out as your trip dates get closer and since this new reservation system has been implemented it hasn't been uncommon to see guests without a reservation be turned away at the gates… even if they have tickets.

Theme park reservations are available on a 90 day rolling basis for one day tickets and Magic Key Holders and a 120 day basis for multi-day ticket holders (available via our travel partner) in order for Disney to access guest availability and you should reserve your park days the instant you purchase your park tickets. You can easily change these later if you need to but better to book them once you've picked your dates. Our guide to the Disneyland theme park reservation system can walk you through how to make a reservation.

What Disneyland Hotel To Stay In

There are two types of hotels to choose from when visiting the Disneyland Resort. You can either stay at an on-property hotel that is owned by Disney or stay at a Disneyland Good Neighbor hotel, a third party hotel approved by Disney. There is a large price different between these two but the on-property Disney hotels all place you within the “Disney bubble” of being able to access Disneyland by walking through the popular Downtown Disney District which connects the entrance to the theme park and the hotels.

Downtown Disney contains plenty of shopping, restaurants and live entertainment. It's a great place to spend your arrival day to get your family in the Disney mood before their full day at the parks.

The are three Disney owned hotels with three different price tiers: Paradise Pier Hotel , the Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Each of our reviews for these hotels detail the perks each offer along with the theme, dining and Disney details the hotels offer. You can also set aside a day of relaxation at the newly imagined Tenaya Stone Spa inside the Grand Californian with a full body massage, foot treatment, facial, and more! Plus they even offer fitness classes , some inside the parks before they open.

You can also bundle your Disneyland tickets and hotel into one Disneyland all inclusive vacation package. You can find more information on exclusive discounts, the best places to find powerful discounts, and when to book your package in our Disneyland vacation packages guide.

For guests that are looking to save money or prefer the variety the off-site hotels offer at Disneyland, there is a plethora of options near Disneyland! This is actually one of the best perks Disneyland has over Walt Disney World. Due to its close proximity of being centrally located in the city of Anaheim it's a breeze to use a hotel nearby and walk to the theme park each day. In fact, some of the off-site hotels are actually fewer steps to the entrance gates than some of the Disney owned hotels.

Our comprehensive guide to hotels at Disneyland covers our favorite hotels near Disneyland plus includes a detailed list of our personal reviews of these hotels with tips on how to save money by booking through our trusted travel partner. If you're the type of family that plans to spend numerous hours in the park and little time at your hotel, you can save hundreds by staying off-site at a no frills (but clean!) hotel and spend that money saved inside Disneyland instead.

Traveling to Disneyland

The Disneyland Resort sits in the middle of numerous nearby airports giving you plenty of options to fly in to the resort. My personal two favorites are Long Beach Airport and John Wayne Airport due to their close proximity (less than 20-30 minutes away!) and their small size. It makes traveling a breeze and I always chose to pay a bit more to fly into Long Beach over Los Angelas Airport which is a much larger airport. LA is also much further away and you will have a longer car ride to Disneyland with plenty of traffic to hold you up.

You can read more about the airports and transportation options to and from the airports in our Disneyland transportation guide. 

Where to Eat on Your Disneyland Vacation

The Disneyland Resort provides a wide variety of different types of food. You will find classic amusement park food mixed in with upscale restaurants. The food quality is outstanding and whether you are eating a corn dog or pork shank, it will be the best you have ever had.

Disneyland classifies their dining options in two categories: table service and quick service. Table service is defined as restaurants where you are seated with a typical waiter/waitress and offer advance dining reservations you can reserve 60 days in advance. You can book a reservation on the  official Disneyland website or call the reservation hotline at (714) 781-3463. Most of the restaurants are Disneyland that are considered table service book up in advance so its highly recommended you book reservations for the ones you're interested in.

Quick service refers to walk up locations which typically also offer mobile ordering you can use with the Disneyland app or just a regular walk up line. This is a quick grab and go option and also tends to be more cost effective. Most of the quick service locations at Disneyland offers really great food!

One popular experience that you shouldn't overlook, especially if you have kids, is the character dining at Disneyland! You can find character dining inside the park and at the Disney owned hotels offering a variety of experiences from Princess dining to dinner with Goofy! You can read more about each experience offered in our full guide to character dining at Disneyland .

Another popular dining experience at Disneyland is the option of reserving dining experiences that come with reserved seating for popular nighttime entertainment! These experiences are called dining packages and are offered for the popular nighttime spectaculars at Disneyland. This is a great way to combine a great dining experience while also taking the hassle out of saving a spot for a popular show in advance.

Read through our full guide to dining at Disneyland to see a review of all the different restaurants at Disneyland, tips on saving money on food and how to get the best dining reservations.

Disneyland 2024 Packing List

Once you've made all your theme park reservations, dining reservations and have all those finer details made the next big question becomes…. what should I pack? You want to be prepared for your Disneyland vacation but you also don't want to be so overburdened in the parks you're tipping over backwards with a giant backpack! Our Disneyland packing list helps cover everything you should bring so you come prepared.

Disneyland will have you covered with essentials if you do find you forgot something crucial but you will pay a higher price. It's good in a pinch especially if you forgot something you need immediately in the moment like headache or stomach medicine. Yes, you can even find medicine at Disneyland!

If you want to avoid that giant backpack from tipping you over, you could always rent a locker ! Disneyland offers daily locker rentals which is a great solution if you find yourself wanting to store the extra snacks or lunch you brought, the jackets you no longer need or the extra souvenirs you bought.

Disneyland has a great selection of souvenirs which can easily run your wallet down before you have a chance to blink. But there's some souvenirs that are more timeless than others and help preserve the memory of your trip. Read through my top recommendations to the best Disneyland souvenirs to see what are the most unique souvenirs you can find at the parks that are longer lasting memories than the typical t-shirt.

A great idea for Disneyland souvenirs that doesn't break the budget and that kids love are to collect the pressed pennies around the Disneyland.

Another popular item to collect and trade at Disneyland are Disney pins which you can trade with other guests and inside the Disney shops. Our guide to Disney Pin Trading gives an overview of this time honored tradition.

And if you find yourself wanting to purchase something that's too large to pack into your suitcase, Disneyland also gives you the option to ship your souvenirs back home. This is especially helpful since purchasing lightsabers has become a popular option! You can also find shipping options from many of the local stores in Downtown Disney which is a good option if you find yourself splurging on the big Lego set!

Disneyland 2024 Park Ride Touring Plans

Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks: Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park . Disneyland is the original theme park which is home to all the classic rides such as Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mad Tea Party plus the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is also the theme park where you can find the popular Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge! California Adventure Park opened in 2001 and is now home to favorites such as Cars Land, Pixar Pier plus the new addition of Avengers Campus.

You can orient yourself with our map of Disney California Adventure and map of Disneyland Park .

The great thing about Disneyland and one of the biggest differences from Walt Disney World is how easy it is to park hop! Disneyland and California Adventure are located mere steps away from each other making it incredibly easy to walk between each other throughout the day if you wanted. So in the case of visiting Disneyland, I highly recommend you purchase a park hopper ticket .

One of the biggest questions we get from guests about to visit Disneyland is: how do we beat the crowds? There are two quick and easy methods to doing this that can work well for families of all dynamics. Arrive early or stay until park closing. Or you can hit the hotel in the afternoon for a nap and do both! Crowds will always be dramatically more manageable- even during peak travel times- in the morning and end of the night. Nighttime doesn't require much strategy, just stay until after the fireworks end and hang in there until the park closes. Most families will leave after the fireworks and the lines will decrease significantly- even on holidays! And don't forget about using single rider lines!

For more detailed touring plans, we've put together a step by step touring plan to managing Disneyland in the morning . This guide will give the best list of rides to go on first along with what time to arrive so you have a clear plan when you arrive. We have a similar touring plan for California Adventure in the morning giving you a specific game plan to follow so you don't miss out on any of the newly added attractions and popular rides.

Disney Genie+ is a paid program at Disneyland that replaced the previous FastPass/MaxPass program at the parks. This paid service includes access to quicker lines to 15 attractions in both parks plus the option to pay for access for certain individual attractions. Essentially for certain attractions there's two line options: a standby line and a Lightning Lane.

The Genie+ program gives you access to the Lightning Lane which is significantly shorter than the standby line. It costs $20 per person, per day and include your access to ride reservations plus all your photo downloads for the day. Disneyland has professional photographers stationed around the park to take your picture in front of iconic areas like the castle, the main entrance, Main Street, U.S.A., etc. You can also purchase these photos separately through their service called Disneyland PhotoPass .

You reserve a return time in advance via the Disneyland app to use the Lightning Lane and you can book a return time every two hours or after you have redeemed your last booked Lightning Lane reservation. There is also the option to purchase access to the Lightning Lane to select popular attractions individually but these attractions aren't included in the general per day purchase.

I highly recommend you read more about the Disneyland Genie+ program in our guide so you're prepared before your visit. Our guide features the basics of what this paid service can do, the free service that's included for all guests plus tips on how to best maximize its use and get your moneys worth!

Don't forget to spend some time in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge featuring two great themed rides such as the chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon and the infamous e-ticket ride Rise of the Resistance which is said to be one of the best rides Disney has ever done! Explore Star Wars themed shops, dining plus the chance to build your own droid and lightsaber .

Avengers Campus is the newly added Marvel themed land which opened in California Adventure in 2021 featuring a Spider-Man themed ride, opportunities to meet Marvel characters, an Ant-Man focused food eatery and brewery plus a built to scale Quinjet.

It's also a good idea to check the  Disneyland Height Requirements to get the full information on ride height requirements plus the ability to do rider switch – this allows parents with children that don't meet height requirements to only wait in line once so they both can ride!

First time visiting Disneyland or feeling overwhelmed? Don't worry, everyone feels that way their first trip to the Happiest Place on Earth because there's just so much to see and do! Have your family pick a few must see rides and make those priority knowing you won't be able to do it all. Our first timer guide for Disneyland can also help you with those essential tips to make sure you know the basics.

Fireworks and Nighttime Entertainment at Disneyland 2024

One of the aspects that makes Disneyland so special is the nighttime spectaculars with the most infamous being the Disneyland fireworks shows . Fireworks take place nightly during peak seasons (Spring break, summer, Halloween and Christmas) and on weekends. Each time of the year will feature a different fireworks show as some are changed out seasonly depending on what event is being celebrated at the parks. These fireworks are a must see Disney experience with state of the art projections, lighting effects and some featuring original musical scores.

Aside from fireworks, the biggest nighttime spectacular show in Disneyland is Fantasmic! which debuted in 1992 and has been a beloved part of Disneyland entertainment ever since. Fantasmic! includes fireworks, live performers, water effects, pyrotechnics, music, watercrafts, decorated rafts, animatronics, and projections on the Rivers of America in Frontierland. Our full  guide to Fantasmic! includes everything you need to know including tips on getting the best spot.

The big nighttime spectacular over at Disney's California Adventure is World of Color! This breathtaking show uses nearly 1,200 fountains capable of shooting water 200 feet up into the air equipped with LED rings to create vivid colors and beautiful water screens. Guests can watch the water dance along with perfectly timed pyrotechnics and momentous music as they enjoy memorable scenes from their favorite Disney and Pixar films. Our extensive guide to World of Color gives you an idea of what to expect and helps you figure out how to get the best spot!

You can also find plenty of unique daytime entertainment around Disneyland such as the Disneyland marching band, the Dapper Dans along with the The Tale of the Lion King, the adaptation of the Lion King, coming to the Fantasyland Theater in Disneyland this year.

Disneyland Parades 2024

Parades at Disneyland change seasonally with the popular A Christmas Fantasy parade running during the holidays with the Frightfully Fun Parade taking place during the ticketed Halloween event Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure. During the summer the current parade will often switch out with various options which we detail, along with our best tips for getting a good viewing spot, in our Disneyland parade guide . 

Disneyland Characters 2024

Characters at Disneyland are another great piece of Disney magic that you cannot miss on your trip! You can meet a variety of beloved Disney characters like the classic Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Pixar characters in California Adventure to Marvel heroes and Star Wars favorites. Character autographs are a big part of meeting characters and its one of the most exciting parts for kids to collect during their trip. This also makes for a great memory and souvenir!

If you want to meet a variety of characters at once, you can enjoy character dining in Disneyland and the Disney resort hotels. These meals offer a buffet selection that guests can enjoy while characters roam throughout the restaurant interacting. This is a great way to meet popular characters without waiting in lines or searching for them in the park.

Tips for Families at Disneyland

Families traveling to Disneyland can find plenty of options at Disneyland to make their visit more comfortable as Disney considers how to best serve their guests needs in the best way they can.

You can begin your planning by seeing which hotels we recommend for kids at Disneyland plus find the best dining options with the best kids meals !

If you're traveling to Disneyland with an infant I highly recommend reading through our guide to traveling with babies to Disneyland so you're prepared for everything you need to know. This guide covers information information on the Baby Care Centers plus tips on rides that you can bring babies on, how to survive hot days, and more. Baby Care Centers are two centers located in both theme parks that offer private nursing rooms with chairs, changing rooms, kid-sized toilets, feeding areas and a fridge to store breast milk. Parents with toddlers can also find plenty of toddler friendly activities and rides in the park- especially in Fantasyland!

There's also plenty do for all ages whether you take advice directly from an eight year old on how to enjoy Disneyland or cruise our list on the best things teens will love in Disneyland and California Adventure ! If you're looking for an adult only day, there's also a variety of activities adults will enjoy at Disneyland if you get a break away from the family.

Pregnant mothers can also find tips on which rides they can enjoy along with how to manage comfort in our guide to being pregnant at Disneyland.

Parents traveling alone with their kids to the park can also read my best tips on taking your kids to Disneyland by yourself based on my own trial and error of years of visiting the parks. On the flip side, if you're traveling with a large family or group you can read our guide on navigating Disneyland in a large group effectively. Or perhaps you're traveling to Disney alone and planning your solo Disneyland trip for the first time!

Most of all, be realistic on your trip to Disneyland with your kids and manage expectations with your family . Disney has something for everyone, even those in your group that be a bit less enthusiastic about a day in Disneyland .

We also cover tips on how to stay safe at Disneyland in our lost Children in Disneyland guide with full information on Disneyland's lost child protocol and tips to keep everyone together. If you're looking for tips on traveling safety, our guide to traveling safe with kids has you covered with our best tips on traveling safely and effectively with small children- especially if this is will be their first trip!

And don't forget to plan a creative way to announce your Disneyland trip to your kids!

Disabilities at Disneyland 2024

One of the best things about Disneyland is the strides towards inclusivity it has taken by ensuring that the theme park goes above and beyond for guests with disabilities. Disneyland strives to make their parks accessible for all guests and offers accommodations that may go overlooked for many guests that may benefit from them.

All of the attractions at Disneyland are wheelchair accessible with each attraction having varying degrees of accessibility from staying in the wheelchair on an accessible boat on “it’s a small world” or transferring directly to the ride vehicle. Disneyland offers a variety of assistive listening systems to handheld captioning devices for guests with hearing disabilities. There is also sign language interpretation available for select live experiences and character interactions on certain days of the week.

DAS (Disability Access Service) is a tool that Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have provided its guests for those who cannot wait in a normal line queue for a variety of medical reasons. DAS grants qualifying guests a return time (equal to the standby wait) for the attraction, one at a time, and then guests can access the Lightning Lane to ride. Guests that have a mobility disability can access rides without using DAS since all line queues are wheelchair accessible.

Disneyland also offers an extensive range of dietary accommodations at their restaurants for guests that may have allergies or certain dietary preferences like vegetarian/vegan diets . Disneyland is also a size inclusive park with many ride vehicles fitting larger sized guests, our guide offers some insight on what to expect with ride vehicle size at Disney.

Read more about disabilities at Disneyland in our comprehensive guide so you're prepared for any accommodations you or your group may need.

Universal Studios Hollywood 2024

If you're looking to add a day at another theme park to your Disneyland trip, many guests decide to add on a day at Universal Studios Hollywood which is a great addition to your Southern California vacation. You can also bundle your Disneyland tickets with a day at Universal Studios Hollywood making the process of adding a day to this park easier than ever.

The popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter along with the infamous studio tour to see real movie sets, the Jurassic World ride, the Simpsons focused area plus the new Pets ride. Universal Studios Hollywood is also known for its movie quality stage shows with the show Waterworld being a fan favorite at this park.

Beach Day at Disneyland 2024

Many families pair their Disneyland trip with a visit to a local beach to enjoy the beautiful Southern California weather. Disneyland is a close drive away or ride share away from some of the most beautiful beaches in California. Our full guide to planning a beach day for your Disneyland trip covers beach recommendations, transportation advice and tour reviews.

Top Disneyland Lists 2024

Looking for top must dos at Disneyland? Our top lists give you simple check lists to add to your Disneyland planning guide so you don't miss out on anything at the Happiest Place on Earth.

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Let Us  Help You Plan Your Disneyland Vacation!

That should be everything that you need to plan your Disneyland vacation. If you still have questions about planning, see our Ask Us page .

Keep reading our blog to keep you updated on everything you need to know to prepare for a Disney Parks vacation! We have a team of writers working hard to keep you updated weekly on events in the parks and tips for navigating the magic. Subscribe to our  free deals newsletter to receive helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere.

Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay is a college English instructor and has years of writing experience through various nonprofits, charities, newspapers, and online magazines. As the content director of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disney Parks trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose- you can also view her recently featured posts on Disney Parks travel on Visit Anaheim, Nerd Wallet and SFGate. Lindsay comes from a dedicated Disney family and enjoys taking her son to the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Ultimate 3-Day Disneyland Itinerary (2024 Travel Guide)

Are you trying to plan the BEST Disneyland itinerary for your trip?

A trip to Disneyland is always magical, but doing it over the course of three days is even better. Honestly, three days is plenty of time to explore all that the Disneyland Resort has to offer.

We’re breaking down the ultimate 3-day Disneyland itinerary by day, and what you should do, where you should eat, and where you should stay at the Disneyland Resort.

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Day 1: Arrival Day at Disneyland Resort

Try to arrive at the Disneyland Resort as early in the morning or afternoon as possible. This will help you to be able to have as much time as possible at the parks without wasting time on the crowded California highways during rush hour.

I’ve found that the best time to land at LAX is anywhere from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., allowing for morning traffic to dissipate before the afternoon rush hour has started.

This makes the ride to the Disneyland Resort about 30-45 minutes versus almost two hours at peak traffic times!

If I could, I would always stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa. The luxury resort offers sweeping views of Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney District , or the majestic California mountains.

The resort boasts beautiful rooms that are a sweet escape after a day at the theme parks.

I love this Disney-owned resort most because of how warm and inviting the space is, as well as how easy it is to get to the parks from there.

Get Your Discounted Disneyland Tickets here!

Did you know that the Grand Californian is the only resort at Disneyland with direct access to a theme park?

That’s right, Disney’s Grand Californian has an entrance right into Disney California Adventure for resort guests only!

For the sake of this Disneyland itinerary I have you arriving at Disney’s Grand Californian at 12:30 pm. After you check in you’re going to want to grab some lunch .

Skip lunch in the park today and head straight for GCH Craftsman Grill, and sit at the pool bar to order the lobster quesadilla!

This is the perfect California-inspired lunch and the quesadilla is filled with so much lobster it’s almost as if the cheese is just a binder to hold all of the lobster together.

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Disneyland After Lunch

The first place you should go after lunch is Disneyland Park . There’s nothing like walking down Main Street U.S.A. at Walt’s original Magic Kingdom. Typically Disneyland Park is open late so you’ll have lots of time to enjoy rides.

If we had to choose one ride to go on first it would be the Disneyland Railroad.

This classic attraction gives a grand circle tour of Disneyland Park with stops at New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland, then back to the Main Street Station.

After that first ride the world is your oyster. Here at ThemeParkHipster, I prefer to do one section of the park at a time versus crisscrossing the park again and again to get on rides.

Typically Fantasyland, Star Wars Land , and Tomorrowland are the busiest sections later in the afternoon, so opting to go to the left and start in Adventureland is a good idea.

Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!

Disneyland at Dinner

Dinner on your first day at the Disneyland Resort should be easy since you’ll want to enjoy as much of the park as possible.

We love Cafe Orleans, which is a table service restaurant serving up the iconic Monte Cristo. Something you MUST add to your Disneyland itinerary.

For the ultimate dining experience, be sure to ask to sit outside, where a live jazz band or Captain Jack Sparrow might come by the gated patio to say hello.

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Late Night at Disneyland Park

After dinner, consider staying at Disneyland until they close.

This late night time in the park is the best time to get on many of the attractions in Fantasyland, since most parents traveling with smaller kids will be lined up to watch the fireworks, Fantasmic!, or the parade.

This is also a great time to ride Haunted Mansion since the lines in the afternoon get long and the space in the queue is limited.

Once the park is closed take the quick walk back to your room to turn in for the night and get ready for another big day tomorrow.

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Day 2: Your First Full Day at Disneyland Resort

Staring off your first full day at the Disneyland Resort by going to whatever park has Extra Magic Hours for hotel guests.

This time is when the park is going to be the most empty, and when you can get on some big ticket attractions like:

• The Incredicoaster and Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: Breakout at Disney California Adventure
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run or The Matterhorn at Disneyland Park

They will have a super short wait.

After Extra Magic Hours (EMH) are over, head over to Disney California Adventure (or stay there if that’s where EMH was) and explore the park. This park is really a half to three quarter day park if the crowds are light to do everything.

I definitely encourage the use of Genie+ for rides like Radiator Springs Racers and Grizzly River Run.

Time for Breakfast at Disney California Adventure

Breakfast on the second day of your trip should be quick. Since you’ll most likely be spending the morning to late afternoon at Disney California Adventure we suggest eating breakfast at Flo’s V8 Cafe in Cars Land.

Here you’ll find breakfast favorites like eggs and bacon, and some sweet treats like brioche French toast with caramelized bananas!

Sit outside to enjoy the view of Radiator Springs Racers as cars go by Ornament Valley.

After Breakfast

The time between breakfast and lunch is a great time to get in more rides and see some characters along the main hub of Disney California Adventure before the park starts getting too busy.

Do not miss out on snagging a spot in line to see Mickey Mouse in his Hollywood glam outfit. Specific times for character meet and greets can be found on the Disneyland app.

If you’re thinking about making a trip out to any of the parks at the Disneyland Resort in California, then be sure to get your tickets here!

Lunch at Disney California Adventure

Before leaving Disney California Adventure to go back to Disneyland Park you’re going to want to have lunch at Lamplight Lounge.

Typically this restaurant is reservations only, but they usually have some first come first served seating at their downstairs bar. This is where we like to sit.

Partly because reservations can be hard to come by, and partly because the view out to Pixar Pier is beautiful!

Do not miss out on the tasty drink menus, yummy sushi rolls, and juicy burgers! Be sure to explore the restaurant before you leave too. It’s filled with nods to all of the Pixar films from Toy Story to Onward.

Your Plans After Lunch

After lunch on day two is the best time to head back over to Disneyland Park to explore more of what that park has to offer.

Consider grabbing a Ronto Wrap with a drink at Oga’s Cantina inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Disneyland’s version of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Using Genie+ will allow you to get through most of the big attractions before dinner.

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Dinner at Napa Rose

Speaking of dinner, day two is really where you should treat yourself to a nice dinner. There are two places worth checking out, Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa, and Carthay Circle at Disney California Adventure.

Depending on your taste and the current menu you should be able to decide between the two which is the best for you.

Carthay Circle is more elegant and fine dining, where Napa Rose is more centered around California cuisine and fresh ingredients. If we had to make a choice we would choose Napa Rose, mainly for their incredible wine list and attention to detail on the plates.

Your Plans After Dinner

After dinner you’re going to want to find a spot for either World of Color or Fantasmic! if they are showing at either park.

You will not be able to see both on the same night unless Fantasmic! has two showings. If we had to choose we would always pick Fantasmic! just for the opportunity to see Mickey in a classic show.

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Late night at the Disneyland Hotel

After the parks are closed for the evening you’re going to want to head over to the Disneyland Hotel. The easiest way to get there from either park is to walk through the Downtown Disney District.

Here is where you’ll find Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar , which is home to yummy tiki-inspired drinks, zany antics, and a good time.

The bar has limited seating so you might have to wait, but it’s worth it to have a late night drink at the classic Disneyland bar.

So, be sure to add Trader Sam’s to your Disneyland itinerary.

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Day 3: Disneyland Departure Day

It’s your last day at the Disneyland Resort but that doesn’t mean that you have to get up and leave right away.

Here at ThemeParkHipster, we like to get the most out of our Disney days as we can!

This means always getting the red eye flight back home to have a pretty full day at the parks.

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Breakfast at Disneyland

This is the day to have that leisurely breakfast you’ve been waiting for. The one place not to miss is Carnation Cafe right on Main Street U.S.A.

They are serving up breakfast favorites like Mickey waffles in a turn of the century setting. We love getting the Mickey Waffles with a side of potatoes and bacon to get us through til lunch.

If there’s open space, ask to be seated outside to take in the sights and sounds of Main Street U.S.A. Sometimes the Dapper Dans will come by to sing a song, and you might even see a famous mouse wave hello.

One of the coolest things to add to your Disneyland itinerary.

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Your Plans After Breakfast

After breakfast while the parks are still less crowded is the best time to get on those last minute rides that you might not have gotten to yet, or favorites that you want to ride one more time.

We always park hop during this time until lunch trying to get in as many rides as we can!

Lunch at Disneyland

The last day at the Disneyland Resort should always be held for the best quick service lunch at Disneyland Park- the grilled cheese and tomato soup at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe.

Grab your lunch then sit out on the plaza to eat while enjoying views of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

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Depending on when your ride back to the airport is set to pick you up this may be your last opportunity to get on any rides or buy any souvenirs you haven’t picked up yet.

You can’t leave Disneyland without a new Christmas ornament or trading pin, which are always easy to pack away in full suitcases.

If you’re planning a last ride, I think it should be either Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: Breakout or Pirates of the Caribbean.

Both tell a great story and are a lot of fun! Before getting picked up be sure to get those last selfies in front of the castle. A perfect way to end your Disneyland itinerary.

Final Thoughts on Your Disneyland Itinerary

With so much to do at the Disneyland Resort it can be hard to figure out a good game plan for a short three day trip.

However, I think this Disneyland itinerary is a pretty good one, and I’ve used this format for trips lots of times and haven’t missed one thing yet!

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

About the Author

Megan is a theme park expert and frequent traveler to magical places. She covers all things Disney and Universal and runs marathons for fun.

She thinks you can tell a lot about someone by the name of their signature lipstick, and hers is NARS Dragon Girl.

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(Original Article Date: August 23, 2020/Updated on June 14, 2022)

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TRANSPORTATION MAP

Our Disney World Transportation map shows all the transportation options throughout Disney World.  Click on your Resort and see the travel times to each Disney Park.

DISNEY AGENTS

Looking for a little advice and assistance with planning your next Disney World vacation? Talking to a reputable Disney Travel Agent is your best bet.  Take a look at our list of top Disney Travel Planners!

CROWD CALENDAR

Our Disney World Crowd Calendar will help you know which is the best time of year to visit Disney World to maximize your time on the rides and minimize your time in line.

Free Disney World Stock Photos!

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Wondering what to do about Strollers at Disney World? Should you bring your own?  Rent a stroller? How much does it cost?   Look no further.  Here’s our complete guide to Strollers at Disney.

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Disney’s Moderate Resorts are the next step up in luxury and amenities in your magical Disney vacation.  Stay on Disney’s property with improved transportation and resort amenity options.  Here are our top Disney Moderate Resorts ranked.

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Disney’s Deluxe Resorts are the pinnacle in Luxury on offer at Walt Disney World.  Stay on Disney’s property and experience only the best and most luxurious amenities & transportation options.  Here are our top Disney Resorts Resorts ranked.

Our Complete Disney World Resort Comparison Guide

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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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• United States

• 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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Strollers at Disneyland: A Complete Guide

Need a stroller at Disneyland? We’re sharing everything you need to know about strollers at the resort, from bringing your own to renting onsite.

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Heading to Disneyland Resort with little ones means you’re toting a lot of gear with you – but nothing is as important as the stroller. Key for both kids and parents, a stroller makes getting around the theme parks and resort at large easy. But first, you’ve got to decide if you’ll be bringing your own stroller or renting one once you arrive.

This Disneyland stroller guide will help you choose. We’re covering stroller requirements and regulations for the theme parks, stroller rental options, and even a few of our favorite stroller picks. 

Click to learn more about strollers at Disneyland Resort:

Disneyland’s Stroller Policy

The best strollers for disneyland, renting strollers at disneyland.

• Third-Party Stroller Rentals at Disneyland

If you’re planning to bring your own stroller to Disneyland Resort, you’ll need to make sure it meets the guidelines set for both personal and rented strollers. These include:

• Stroller Size: Cannot be larger than 31 x 52 inches
• Stroller Type: Wagons and stroller wagons are not permitted
• Designated Stroller Parking: There are areas designated for stroller parking to keep pathways clear for Guests
• Stroller Use Restrictions: Strollers are not allowed on escalators; most strollers must be collapsed or folded when riding on parking lot trams

Additionally, Disneyland requires that children must be removed from their strollers while riding on parking lot trams. Be prepared to remove your child from the stroller when getting in line for attractions, dining at table service restaurants, and entering entertainment venues (like the Hyperion Theater at California Adventure Park).

You have a few different options to consider when it comes to strollers in Walt Disney World, including renting at the park, renting through a third-party, or bringing your own.  If you have a stroller that works for you that fits into the parameters of what is required to visit the parks, great! But, if you are looking for our top recommendations, this is what our team has used and can recommend for the parks:

Colugo Travel Stroller ($299.99)

Photo Courtesy of Amazon

This lightweight stroller comes with its own attached travel strap, making it easy to travel anywhere you go. The stroller can accommodate children up to 55 pounds, and comes with a UPF 50+ canopy, as well as a Rain Cover and Cup Holder. What makes it extra useful for Disneyland, though, is the roomy basket with three pockets to keep everything organized.

Nuna Demi Grow ($950)

Photo Courtesy of Nuna

Suitable to use both in the parks and out, the Nuna Demi Grow is a fantastic option for all ages. As the name suggests, this stroller will grow with kids from infants to toddlers up to 50 pounds. It’s also easy to convert into a double or twin like the Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller. If you’re looking for a stroller you can use anywhere (including Disneyland), this is one our team has tried and loved.

Baby Jogger City Mini 2 ($279.99)

This is one of the most popular travel strollers for a reason! It’s a lightweight stroller that can be customized to fit infant car seats, making it perfect for all ages. The stroller can accommodate children up to 65 pounds, and it includes tons of added features that make it easy to maneuver and travel with.

Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller ($450)

Photo Courtesy of Target

While not the most travel-friendly option on our list, if you’re looking for a stroller that can easily be converted from a single to a double, the Mockingbird is a great investment. It also has a huge storage basket underneath, making it easy to carry around whatever you need through Disneyland.

If you don’t plan to bring your own stroller, you can rent one easily once you arrive at Disneyland Resort. You can rent directly from Disneyland, or you can opt for a third-party rental service. 

Disneyland Stroller Rentals

Stroller rentals are located right on the Esplanade, making it easy to pick one up before you enter either theme park. The rental shop sits just east of Disneyland Park’s main entrance (if you enter via the Disneyland Main Transportation Center off Harbor Boulevard, it’ll be to your left).

Here’s how much a stroller rental costs at Disneyland:

• $18 per day for one stroller
• $36 per day for a double stroller

Additionally, you’ll want to note that you cannot take your Disneyland rental stroller off property. It must stay within the security “gates” of the resort – meaning you can’t take the stroller back to your hotel, even if you’re staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels. You also can’t bring your stroller along on transportation, like the ART shuttle bus or parking lot trams.

Visiting for more than one day? You’ll have to pay the $18 or $36 fee each day of your visit. Disneyland does not currently offer multi-day stroller rental options.

Third-Party Stroller Rentals

Instead of renting directly from Disneyland Resort, you can also consider a third-party stroller rental. These services allow you to rent a stroller in advance of your visit and use it for the entire duration of your stay. You’ll be able to choose from a wider selection of brands and stroller types, giving you more customization. And because you can take third-party rentals offsite, you aren’t restricted to using your rented stroller solely at Disneyland Resort.

Two of the most popular options are ScooterBug Rentals and City Stroller Rentals . One of the biggest perks of both of these stroller rental companies? They’ll deliver your rental right to your hotel or resort, and then pick it up once your vacation ends. Additionally, City Stroller Rentals offers a wide selection of stroller accessories and baby gear, meaning you can completely customize your stroller (and reserve other items if you need them!).

Here’s a look at pricing estimates for third-party stroller rentals:

• ScooterBug Rentals: The City Mini 2 costs $20 per day, with a 2-day rental
• City Stroller Rentals: The City Mini GT starts at $40 per day

If you plan on renting other baby needs, BabyQuip is another option one to consider. On BabyQuip, you can rent strollers as well as cribs, toys, car seats, and other baby/toddler needs that will be delivered and picked up directly to you. If you need to rent multiple larger items that are too big to travel with, BabyQuip is a great option to use.

The post Strollers at Disneyland: A Complete Guide appeared first on WDW Magazine .

The Best Time to Travel? The Off Season

By Gianluca Longo

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In 2021, I spent a blissful year traveling solo across Italy. Not just because I didn’t have a companion, but because, with international travel still largely blocked due to COVID, my country felt empty. Can you imagine Venice without the crowds? I don’t have to. I lived it. So exhilarating was my time training through the boot that when travel opened back up, and the hot spots became flooded with travelers, I said to myself: never again. From now on, I would rearrange my travels to avoid the crowds—and the headaches that come with them. I will be an off-season traveler, for life.

The waters at Borgo Santandrea on the Amalfi are warm enough for swimming in April

Aperitivo at Borgo Santandrea

The benefits of off-season travel can feel endless. Yes, of course there are fewer crowds to interrupt your flow, and steal your tables at the restaurants you want to eat at. I went to the Amalfi in April—April!—and found it heavenly. The weather was glorious—not too hot, but warm enough to swim. The staff at the then-new Borgo Santandrea were friendlier and upgrades more likely due to the time of year. And my room was spectacular. I still remember the scent of lemon flowers and fresh herbs in the terraced gardens. The views over the sky-merging sea were pure, with no yacht or boat to interrupt them. I even enjoyed a walk through the Amalfi’s narrow streets, devoid of the hundreds of clueless tourists, especially from cruise ships which populate the sea in High Summer.

Local engagement is always higher outside peak season, and for me, that is why we travel. Last year, I chose June for Patmos in Greece, which is never as crowded as it is in July or August. The island was greener and the heat more bearable. The crowds? Still tolerable. I arrived with a last-minute booked cabin on the BlueStar from Athens , all much more relaxing. I met with some of the home owners of the Chora, there to ‘open’ the houses, after long cold months, piling cushions and mattresses outside on the terraces to let them breathe in the sun. I swam every morning, and had lovely conversations with restaurant owners and locals. I loved the place so much I went back in August. Guess what? I regretted it.

Traveling in lesser expected times of year also help you to see a place in an entirely different way. Is it weird that I didn’t realize that St Moritz is not just a winter destination? With a major heat wave hitting central Europe and the UK I made my way to the Engadin Valley at the beginning of August. I checked in at the old-fashioned Suvretta House , at a reasonable price, where I was welcomed by name. Long walks through the valley, skinny dips in the clear waters of the alpine lakes, visits to interesting museums and art galleries kept me very busy. And I wore cashmere in the evenings, for the outdoor cinema. For the rest of August I was in London . And it wasn't that bad. I found it fairly easy to book my favorite restaurants , I went to see ballets at the Royal Opera House and a couple of plays at the theater. And reconnected with some good friends. A trick about cities and seasons? They are amazing in the summer, when the people who live there or normally visit, flock to the outdoors.

Eden Rock on St. Barts is open well into shoulder season.

But of course, that means that the sea is best outside of summer, too. I went to one of my lifelong loves, Capri , in September, because, yes, July and August are just too popular, too expensive, too hot. And I fell in love with it again. I stayed at La Palma, the new hotel, chic in every single detail, and I did all the things I love: early morning hikes, swimming by the Faraglioni, with no fear of being decapitated by the hundred of speed boats of High Summer, sunset spritzes at Bar Tiberio in the piazzetta, without having to queue (or beg) for a table. One October, I did St Barts . I stayed at the wonderful Eden Rock (upgraded again) and loved it. The island was not full, a paradise. One day I found myself swimming alone at Colombier Beach, with the whitest sand and the most intense turquoise sea.

As I write this in tail end of winter, I am sitting in my hotel room in Venice , the newly opened Violino d’Oro . Out of the window, the cold and misty lagoon meets my gaze. It’s marvelous. Venice in winter is magical: the fresh air, the cozy small restaurants with dimmed lights, the noise of the boats crossing. With not so many tourists, you really own the city. The joy of the off season.

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The 17 best Disney World hotels for your 2024 stay

Things have certainly changed since Walt Disney World opened more than 50 years ago . There used to be just a handful of hotels and one theme park. Now, you have the magic — and the challenge — of choice. There are more than 25 hotels to choose from and multiple parks to visit when you embark on a Disney vacation.

Related: The best travel credit cards

Choosing the best Disney hotel is a fun challenge, but a challenge all the same. The resorts at Walt Disney World range from those with views of live zebras and giraffes to treehouse villas and even log cabins in the woods.

When you choose a Disney World hotel, you not only stay in the "Disney bubble" but also gain access to the parks 30 minutes early each morning. Additionally, you can purchase individual Lightning Lanes for newer rides — like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tron / Lightcycle Run — before non-resort guests, starting at 7 a.m. This means you'll have a better chance of snagging those coveted ride passes.

Related: 14 reasons to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort property

Still, not all Disney resorts are created equal. Fortunately, TPG is here to help sort through the best hotel options at Walt Disney World. We've tried dozens of Disney-area hotels and carefully considered the best (and less-than-stellar) features of nearly every on-property resort to bring you this list.

Whether you're looking to be treated like a fairy tale princess or a grown-up who happens to be staying near a theme park, Disney World has you covered.

Here are our top picks:

• Best Deluxe Disney World resorts: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge , Disney's Contemporary Resort , Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Best Moderate Disney World resorts: Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter , The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Gran Destino Tower at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
• Best Value Disney World resorts: Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's Pop Century Resort
• Best Disney World resort pools: Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Disney's Beach Club Resort , Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Best Disney World resorts for large families: Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa , Disney's All-Star Music Resort
• Best Disney World resorts for adults: Disney's BoardWalk Inn , Disney's Riviera Resort

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

Best Deluxe Disney World resorts

The cream of the crop among Disney World hotels in terms of amenities, quality and price are the Deluxe resorts. These resorts have multiple on-site full-service restaurants and extensive pool areas with waterslides. Some are within walking or monorail distance of the theme parks.

All of this comes at a cost, though. Deluxe Disney resorts can range from $400 to $800 per night for a standard room. Renting Disney Vacation Club points can help bring this cost down at times, but a Deluxe resort stay will be an investment compared to the other tiers of Disney hotels.

As mentioned, Deluxe resorts are the most expensive of Disney's hotels.

While some offer luxury amenities like spas and fine dining venues, others emphasize great themes and proximity to the parks. You also get access to select parks two hours later than everyone else when staying in a Deluxe resort on eligible nights.

A true safari involves incredibly long flights and the possibility of malaria pills. For a safari-style vacation closer to home, there's Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge .

Offering an unforgettable wildlife experience within U.S. borders, Animal Kingdom Lodge is its own ecosystem away from the hustle and bustle of most of the Disney World complex.

The soaring ceilings at Jambo House are adorned with traditional decor. If you want to see giraffes, zebras, ostriches and a host of other animals, all you have to do is merely walk past the lobby's expansive windows.

Dining at this Deluxe resort is another highlight of a stay here. Boma and Jiko are excellent choices if you want to experience an authentic African meal at the resort.

Look into the nighttime Starlight Safari , which comes with loaner night vision devices, for a unique experience.

The property is an example of an excellent time to rent DVC points, especially if your family wants more space while saving money. During low seasons, rooms start at just 7 points per night, with DVC points typically available to rent from David's Vacation Club for $21 to $25 per point.

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge average around $485 per night.

Disney's Contemporary Resort is another original Disney World resort from the 1971 opening. It's about as close as you can get to The Magic Kingdom without pitching a tent inside the gates (and subsequently getting kicked out by security).

It may have been built over five decades ago, but its amenities have recently been updated. The rooms now sport an incredible new look. While the theme and renovations are a big step up, the main draw of this property is undoubtedly its monorail design and Magic Kingdom-adjacent location.

We prefer tower rooms over garden-wing options as they are more centrally located to the amenities and monorail, and many offer superb views of The Magic Kingdom's nightly fireworks.

When you've worked up an appetite, you'll find a few of our favorite Disney World restaurants on-site, including Chef Mickey's. At this popular eatery, you can dine with characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. For something more upscale, there's California Grill. If you time it right, it has some of the best views of The Magic Kingdom fireworks around.

Related: The 3 best Disney World character meals you've never heard of — and how to book them

If you're ready for a splurge-level stay at the Contemporary, there is also a club level where bites and beverages from the aforementioned restaurants are included.

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Contemporary Resort average around $575 per night.

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is arguably the most traditional and iconic of Disney World's high-end hotels. You won't find many bright, in-your-face character themes here, but you will have access to some of Disney's most upscale amenities, including a spa and the fanciest (and priciest) restaurant at Disney.

It's one of Disney World's most expensive resorts thanks to its proximity to The Magic Kingdom, top-notch facilities, and over-the-top Christmas displays, including a gingerbread house in the lobby.

Fortunately, the Grand Floridian is undergoing a resort-wide renovation involving converting one of the hotel buildings into beautiful DVC studios. So, there's now one more reason to visit.

Dining is another highlight here. The acclaimed Victoria & Albert's experience is unparalleled, with a dress code and a no-little-kids policy to match. For an equally excellent but more affordable option, grab a cocktail or mocktail at the "Beauty and the Beast"-inspired Enchanted Rose bar on the second floor of the Grand Floridian's lobby.

Related: More rides and fewer crowds: What to expect at Disney After Hours

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa average around $750 per night.

A short drive or boat ride away from The Magic Kingdom, Disney's Wilderness Lodge is equal parts Great Wolf Lodge , Yellowstone National Park and Disney magic. There are great attractions and restaurants on-site, including a water feature that starts in the lobby and becomes a creek that feeds into one of two outdoor pools.

For a fun, reasonably priced family dining experience, try Whispering Canyon Cafe — and be aware that if you ask for ketchup, you may get a lot of ketchup. If rare Disney characters are more your jam, enjoy dinner with the Evil Queen at Story Book Dining at Artist Point .

Those who want more space and ambience than a standard hotel room should reserve one of the Copper Creek Cabins in the woods adjacent to the Wilderness Lodge or the truly spectacular two-bedroom Yosemite Suite . Both are pricey, but we promise you'll love staying in either option.

If you do opt for standard rooms (or even club-level rooms ), the good news is that Disney's Wilderness Lodge is generally one of the more affordable of the Deluxe Disney resorts. So, you can rest easy knowing you're paying a little less than average for Disney's high-end properties.

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Wilderness Lodge average around $500 per night.

Best Moderate Disney World resorts

If you want a balance of price and amenities, the Moderate category of Disney resorts can be a sweet spot. At Moderate Disney resorts, there are some full-service restaurants, more on-site amenities, waterslides at the pools, and a great variety of themes and locations to choose from.

Expect rates at these hotels to range from $250 to $400 on most nights for a standard room.

One of the best Moderate resorts at Disney World is Port Orleans. We're especially partial to the French Quarter side, with its charming wrought-iron railings, bubbling fountains and an eatery serving tasty Mickey-shaped beignets.

This property is much more compact than other Moderate resorts like Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. This makes everything from parking and catching a Disney bus to grabbing dinner that much easier.

It isn't the newest or fanciest option in Disney's resort portfolio, but it is a calm and lovely balance of theming and easily accessible amenities. Although you'll need a bus or car to get from this resort to any of the Disney World theme parks, you can catch the free boat to Disney Springs for shopping and dining.

In addition to the property's relaxing vibe and manageable size, the greatest asset of Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter is the price.

Rooms here are often more affordable than what you'll find at other Moderate properties, most likely because it's not connected to the theme parks by anything other than ground transportation (and Minnie Vans ).

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter average around $300 per night.

One of Disney World's lesser-known Moderate resorts is also one of its most entertaining.

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort has plenty of campsites for tents and spots for recreational vehicles .

However, if you're not interested in either, The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort are an excellent choice. It gives you the best of many worlds regarding space, price and resort activities — especially if you're not planning to spend all your time at the theme parks. The cabins sleep up to six and offer a queen-size bed, a set of bunk beds and a relatively comfortable pullout sofa bed. And soon, Disney will replace the current cabins with 350 all-new cabins .

Related: How to enjoy Disney World without park tickets

Trust us, there is one essential Fort Wilderness expense you'll want to budget for — golf carts .

It costs $65 to $84 per day to rent one. However, it makes it much easier to travel to the Meadow Trading Post for snacks, the docks for transportation to The Magic Kingdom, and other parts of the 700-acre property. Lock in your golf cart reservation as far in advance as possible since they're known to sell out.

Fort Wilderness has a nonstop list of activities you probably didn't know you could do at Disney World, including pony rides, archery, fishing, and rides in wagons and horse-drawn carriages.

When the day winds down, you can also check out the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue , a lively performance full of dancing, singing and comedic moments.

Rates for standard cabins at The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Lodge average around $460 per night.

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is the poster child of a Moderate Disney property. It's an older resort with two-story buildings spread across a large area.

Complimentary theme park transportation is limited to buses, and on-site dining venues are mostly quick-service options, given the resort's large convention clientele. Additionally, the rooms are on the smaller side, though they were recently renovated.

But one thing changed a couple of years ago that catapulted part of this property onto our favorites list: the new Gran Destino Tower .

This "hotel within a hotel" has a stunning lobby and an equally snazzy lobby bar. If you're looking for a completely different perspective, let an elevator whisk you up to the 16th floor, where the rooftop Dahlia Lounge awaits — along with an award-winning wine list. Gran Destino Tower is light on a Disney theme, but otherwise, its accommodations are on par with many Deluxe resorts.

Gran Destino is also the only Moderate option at Disney World that has a club lounge, should you prefer an exclusive space to visit and grab refreshments throughout your stay.

Rates for standard rooms at the Gran Destino Tower at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort average around $400 per night.

Best Value Disney World resorts

Value Disney resorts are the most affordable Disney World hotels.

Nightly rates start around $125 and increase to about $300 on peak dates. None of these hotels are walkable from the theme parks, but some are close to the Skyliner. Others require bus transportation.

Value Disney hotels don't have full-service restaurants or fun extras like waterslides, but they do offer grab-and-go food outlets, lively pools and colorful themes.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort is the king of Value resorts at Disney World.

The resort features bright colors and memorable Disney cartoon characters. It's also accessible from both Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios thanks to the Disney Skyliner gondola system .

Art of Animation really shines with its family suites, which provide a lot more room and have three beds in each suite (one traditional bed, one Murphy bed and a pullout sofa bed). The family suites have your choice of "The Lion King," "Cars" and "Finding Nemo" themes, while standard rooms feature decor inspired by "The Little Mermaid."

When it comes to pools, the Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation is actually the largest option available at any Disney World resort.

While the food here won't blow you away, Landscape of Flavors is a reliable cafeteria-style venue that can be a nice, easy option for families.

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Art of Animation Resort average around $240 per night.

Disney's Pop Century Resort is across from Art of Animation. While it doesn't have our favorite theme (it's themed to bygone decades), it is usually the lowest-priced Disney resort that isn't one of the All-Star properties.

We generally prefer it to the All-Star resorts, as Pop Century is a stand-alone property that doesn't have to share a bus service. It's less likely to be packed with thousands of cheerleaders and children's sports groups. In addition to the included bus service to the parks, it also sits on the Skyliner route, so you can soar in a gondola to various parks and resorts.

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Pop Century Resort average around $200 per night.

Best Disney World resort pools

Nothing beats an afternoon dip in your hotel's pool, so if you want to know which Disney resort hotels have the best pools, here are our top picks.

Disney's Beach Club Resort and its sister property, Disney's Yacht Club Resort , share access to Stormalong Bay, which offers top-notch poolside fun for the whole family.

Both resorts have the distinct feel of a beach in an otherwise landlocked resort thanks to sand-bottomed pools, a lazy river, a pirate ship and a wicked waterslide, among other amenities that will keep young swimmers entertained for hours.

Related: The best pools at Walt Disney World

The Yacht Club is marginally more convenient to the large pool complex, but the Beach Club is a little closer to Epcot. Choose accordingly. No matter which property you pick, don't miss the huge sundaes at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, steps from the pool.

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Yacht and Beach Clubs average around $540 per night.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is one of Disney's Moderate resorts and one of the largest. Because the resort is so spread out, there are multiple pools across the property — six in total. The main Fuentes del Morro Pool is themed to resemble a Spanish fortress, with two waterslides, a zero-entry area, a 12-person hot tub and a pirate-themed splash area for kids.

The resort has a colorful island style, and some guest rooms recently received a Little Mermaid makeover. Despite the resort's size, it does offer convenient transportation options, including bus service and a Disney Skyliner station that can take you to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Rates at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort average around $300 per night.

One of the original Disney World resort hotels inspired by Walt Disney himself, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort sits on the monorail only a few minutes from The Magic Kingdom. Yet, it transports you to a lush Pacific island the moment you enter. It's such a great property we almost warn against staying at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort because it will set the bar pretty high for future Disney resort stays.

At "the Poly," you'll find a couple of our favorite Disney restaurants. Notably, there's Ohana — a Polynesian-inspired dining venue within the resort's main building that serves delectable noodles and a mouthwatering bread pudding — among other options on the family-style, all-you-care-to-enjoy menu.

There are plenty of activities and amenities on the grounds, such as free outdoor movies at night and a 142-foot waterslide that drops riders into the main Lava Pool (there is a secondary quiet pool, as well). There's also a large splash area with several smaller waterslides for younger guests, a zero-entry section, a separate quiet pool and a nearby stand to grab Dole Whip. The icing on the on-site Dole Whip is being able to watch The Magic Kingdom fireworks from the pool in the evenings as the perfectly timed music pipes in.

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort average around $640 per night.

Best Disney World resorts for large families

Large families and groups can really rack up a bill when visiting Disney World since most on-property rooms are designed for no more than four or five people. As a result, your choices tend to be limited if you have at least five or six people in your group. Fortunately, a few resorts offer plenty of space for larger families.

Related: The best Orlando hotels for large families

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is another DVC property, with room sizes ranging from studio suites to one-, two- and three-bedroom villas. Deluxe studio rooms have a kitchenette and a balcony or patio, and villas have separate bedrooms, a full kitchen, in-room laundry and a balcony or patio.

The resort also has multiple pools, bike rentals, tennis and basketball courts, and a Community Hall with movies, video games and daily activities like crafts and games.

In the woods behind Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are several Treehouse Villas that sleep up to nine people. Offering three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen, these spacious accommodations can easily fit an extended family.

Rates for Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa average around $500 per night, while the Treehouse Villas average around $1,300 per night.

Best Disney World resorts for adults

We love Disney, but we're not afraid to admit that having a brief break from its intensity is sometimes nice. Luckily, a couple of options are ideal for those who want to stay near the magic without living with Mickey and his friends 24 hours a day.

Disney World's newest stand-alone hotel is easily one of the larger resort's best options for adults who want to balance a Disney trip with some less in-your-face Disney elements.

On the Disney Skyliner route, Disney's Riviera Resort offers easy access to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot without placing you right in the heart of all the theme park action.

The real highlight of this easygoing property, though, is its Mediterranean vibe. The blue-and-white decor, music and cuisine will transport you to the Mediterranean coast.

You'll find all the usual Disney amenities at this Deluxe resort, but it's just a touch more refined and grown-up without being stuffy.

We're serious Riviera fans thanks in part to its design, which includes everything from "Tangled"- and "Peter Pan"-inspired mosaics to marble bathrooms that may be the nicest in all of Disney.

Don't worry if you want to bring the kids, though. There's plenty for them to enjoy, including poolside gelato, a waterslide and our favorite toddler splash area at Disney World.

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's Riviera Resort average around $500 per night.

Disney's BoardWalk Inn is a DVC resort along Disney's BoardWalk in the Epcot resort area. That means you can easily walk to Epcot to eat and drink global cuisine around the World Showcase or to Disney's Hollywood Studios to fly the Millennium Falcon at Galaxy's Edge. The resort also offers water taxi and bus service around Disney World.

Related: Is a Disney annual pass worth it?

Guest rooms range from standard rooms to multi-bedroom villas, and the resort has three pools. You can splash and slide at the Luna Park Pool (or soak in the hot tub) or head for one of the quieter leisure pools.

This resort is all about location. In addition to being close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, Disney's BoardWalk Inn is close to the dining, shopping and nightlife that line Disney's BoardWalk area. When you are done visiting the parks, you can visit Abracadabar, a magic-themed cocktail lounge, or Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar.

Rates for standard rooms at Disney's BoardWalk Inn average around $600 per night.

Bottom line

Choosing the best resort hotel at Disney World gets easier once you identify your budget and priorities.

Do you want a great pool, more space, proximity to the parks or perhaps an immersive theme? No matter what is most important to you, you'll find a Disney property that will likely satisfy your needs.

Whether you're itching to splash around in the Stormalong Bay pool complex at Disney's Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts, stretch your budget at Disney's Pop Century Resort, retreat to a cabin at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort or get an iconic eyeful of the monorail coming through Disney's Contemporary Resort, there's a Disney resort that will have every member of your family excited to be on vacation at Walt Disney World.

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