planning a trip to disneyland from australia

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Hi, I'm olivia

Creative, entrepreneur, mother, speaker. I thrive on learning, growing and sharing my journey in the hopes to inspire others to live independently, confidently and courageously.

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So I know I have a lot of content around Disneyland and making the most of your trip. But I wanted to put something together specifically for Aussies making their way ALL THE WAY across the Pacific. You want to really get it right if you’re gonna spend all that money and go ALL that way.

Unlike those lucky Californians who get discounted annual passes and can visit the Happiest Place on Earth every single day if they desire. Us Aussies need to make the most of it because who knows if you’ll ever get back again!

So here are my top tips for planning that first magical trip, including accommodation, ticketing, plans for each day and how to really maximise everything you see and do!!

Do Your Research

As soon as that thought pops into your mind and you have got Disneyland on the brain, start doing your research.

If you are flexible on when you can go, then use this time to find deals and specials to save on cost.

If you’re determined to go at a specific time, possibly peak like Halloween or Christmas – that is even more reason to plan because it is gonna be BUSYYYYY and expensive. LOL – no sugar coating.

There are hundreds of blogs, Pinterest posts and accounts out there dedicated to helping you – us Disney addicts are a cult! 

Pop alerts on airlines for the dates you want to go to Disneyland. Speak with travel agents and shop around online booking sites for deals and cashback offers.

The more you plan, the more you will save and maximise your park experience! It’s not one to wing first time, trust me!

Getting There

Thankfully from the east coast of Australia, getting to LA is one direct flight if you want. Around 14-16 hours depending on winds and direction.

There are always great specials running too, so it pays to check all the airlines and set up alerts as I mentioned before.

My personal preference for flying, especially with a family is Qantas. They are amazing when flying with kids and if you have Qantas Club , the lounge is a lifesaver on long haul flights.

If you are a frequent flyer member too, I like to save my points for longer flights like this to put in for upgrades, as it’s nice to have the comfort of business on the overnight legs.

I find their flight cost really competitive too, with regular specials to California. We have travelled both in the summer months and winter and got flights less than $900 return.

If you’re thinking of heading to Disneyland anytime soon, I’d sign up for your Frequent Flyer membership so you can start earning those points (your kids too, here).

But you can always apply for the points after a trip as well and have 6 months to do so.

Where to Stay

Like I mentioned above, if you’re going all this way you want to make the most of it. My suggestion would always be to stay onsite at a Disney hotel because the perks are really great for getting the most out of the parks.

The Grand Californian is my prefered hotel as it has direct entry to California Adventure Park.

A HUGE time saver on busy days and even better when you have Magic Hour. You can skip lines and crowds and easily get to the bigger rides early.

You can also select a package that includes The Verandah, which is an absolute lifesaver when you have kids. Also, a great way to save on food.

It is basically a self-serve kiosk with nibbles and snacks all day long. We would come here for brekkie, lunch and dinner and the kids love just being able to snack on fresh fruits and veg or sandwiches, rather than big meals all the time.

It was also handy to be able to come in and out of the parks so easy when we needed a break or nap. Either with kids or without 😉

When booking on site I would recommend speaking to an agent because they often have access to great deals and discounts specifically for Aussies, which can also include ticket packages.

Or check directly online for any specials.

If staying onsite isn’t possible, there are plenty of options close by the park. My suggestion would be to compare online booking sites.

Check for deals and cashback offers on places like Expedia or Booking.com and compare the ShopBack or Cash Rewards offers.

Here is a list of the top 10 hotels on Booking.com around Disneyland .

If you’re going to be offsite, you want to take advantage of having a bit more space and head to the local Walmart to stock up.

Food offerings outside the park weren’t super exciting. But plenty of places to stock up, and amenities like laundromats.

This is an important one, especially for Aussies coming so far!

Firstly, you need to decide how long you wanna spend there. My suggestion for first-timers is AT LEAST 4 days, two days per park.

It can be overwhelming that first time in the park and you loose so much timing walking around and getting your bearings.

Personally I would get a 10 Day Pass, and take advantage of the other great things in the Anaheim area and give yourself lots of flexibility.

Anything over a 3-day ticket will give you access to the early magic hour, so I would say this is the minimum.

Magic hour, even just on one morning is LIFE CHANGING. On each of the mornings we used it we managed to get on around 5-6 rides, and even rode some multiple times without getting off!

I also suggest getting the Park Hopper tickets. This allows you to enter both parks on the same day. It means you can have fast passes for different rides and plan your days better based on lines or whats going on in each park.

There is currently an offer for Australia or New Zealand Residents, buy a 4-Day Park Hopper Ticket for the price of a 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket .

If at all possible, I would suggest the 10-day ticket. Allowing you the flexibility to come and go as you please and get some other sites in around the area. Have rest days and really take in the Disneyland experience!

Like I said if you’re coming all that way, make the most of it!

Food & Drink

There are so many options for places to eat at Disneyland. And they cater exceptionally well to any dietary requirements or allergies.

I would suggest mapping out some of the most appealing places in the parks and Downtown Disney before you go, so at least you have some idea on where to go when you get in.

If you are staying onsite with Verandah access, then you will almost always have access to nibbles and drinks throughout the day. And I would stock up on cans of drink and snacks to take with you to the park.

If you are staying offsite, then I suggest heading to the local Walmart or convenience store and stocking up on a few essentials.

Eating out gets expensive on any trip, however, the dollar is at an all-time low. And has been going this way over the last few years, so it isn’t something likely to correct overnight.

In saying that, there are a few musts when visiting Disneyland. Including Mickey waffles, pretzels and you MUST book at least one character breakfast.

I have done both Napa Rose and Storytellers, both within Grand Californian hotel. And I hear wonderful things about Plaza Inn.

You can book this in advance, and I suggest as far ahead as possible to make sure you get the date and time you would like.

You might not also know that you can use the app to order from anywhere in the park and take your receipt to the collection counter to collect. A big time saver.

Plan Out Your Days

This is critical to getting the most out of your trip. From what park you go to first to which rides and how you board them!!

As I mentioned before, if you have Early Magic Hour – then use it. Get on as many rides as you can with little to no lines.

Take on the most popular rides first like Incredicoaster, Guardians, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Soarin’ and the new Star Wars – Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run.

The best way to work out your best order of attack is via the app and wait times listed.

You will also need to get a digital boarding pass for Rise of Resistance. This can only be done at park open time, not during EMH.

For more on that, you can check out my IG post here .

After EMH, it is every man for himself and the best way to plan out your day is with FastPasses and rides with smaller ques in between.

How To Use The FastPass System

This is a common question I get. And I understand why, as it differs from park to park.

At Disneyland California, there are two ways to use them:

• Traditional Paper Passes: You go to the ride and get a physical ticket that has a return time for your Fast Pass. You can get one of these every two hours, and you need your original ticket to do this. You cannot do it with a digital ticket.
• Via the Disneyland App with MaxPass: If you have the Disneyland App and get a MaxPass for the day you can book your FastPass via the app (all digital no physical ticket needed). MaxPass is $20 USD per ticket, per day. It also gives you any photos taken in the park by the official photographer without watermarks on that day. You can also get a FastPass every 90 minutes using this system (unless your return time is earlier)

If you have a large family or you are staying multiple days then it’s not really cost-effective to do this every day. I would choose a busy day, maybe the weekend, and use it to get on all the bigger rides.

Be strategic and leave the smaller rides with shorter lines for standby.

Use Single Rider, Rider Switch & Buddy Pass Lines

The single rider line is amazing. Especially if you’ve ridden the rides before and just want to get a few extra goes in. Great for parents who want to take it in turns as well. Kids over 7 can use single rider also.

Rider Switch is for parents to take it in turns, let them know as you go up. This is available even if there is no single rider line.

There is also Buddy Pass on both Toy Story Midway Mania and Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue. This works similar but you can actually go with a friend, it’s to fill up empty rows!

These are not advertised and don’t have a separate line, you need to go to the attendant and ask. A hot little tip!

Suggested Order For Rides

I would also note, you can search “single rider” on the Disneyland app and it will tell you which ones have Single Rider lines. It will also tell you what current Fast Pass return time it is giving out.

If the time is beyond the 90-minute window (using MaxPass) or two hours using traditional, you can have more than one Fast Pass at a time.

Everything beyond these usually doesn’t have a line over 20-30 minutes or don’t offer FastPass anyway.

If you are after more handy tips on how to tackle the parks I have dozens of more blogs you can check out.

I hope these tips have been handy in planning out your first Disneyland trip. And if you have any other questions, do not hesitate to ask!

And don’t forget to ask for your free “first visit” badge from any guest relations kiosk in the park to keep as a memento from your trip!

Overall Costs

In 2018, we took out a family of 4 over for a total cost of $12,000. This also included 3 days in Palm Springs and 2 in San Diego.

Depending on your accommodation selection, it is not unreasonable to take get your family over to Los Angeles, and spend 4-5 days at Disneyland for under $10,000.

As well as some good strategic planning round fights and tickets, staying vigilant for sales and offers.

You can check out my travel budget blog, with our entire Disneyland family trip budget here .

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A First Timer’s Guide to Disneyland

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Park Strategies

Updated June 14, 2024

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

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

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

There’s a lot to know.

Let’s get started.

Who to Book Your Trip With

I recommend booking with Get Away Today .

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

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

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

An Overview

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

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

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

Recent photos of Disneyland can be found here .

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

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

Recent photos of DCA can be found here .

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

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.

Solo Trips to Disneyland and Walt Disney World

The Ultimate Guide to Downtown Disney

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The Ultimate Guide for Planning a Trip to Disneyland

By Valerie Marino

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

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

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

All about the parks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What to know about ticketing

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

By Niccolo Serratt

By Caitlin Gunther

By Caitlin Morton

By Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

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

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

Where to stay

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

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

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

Where to eat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Special events to consider

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

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

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

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

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How to buy Disneyland tickets in Australia

• May 5, 2021
• Anaheim , California , Disneylands around the world , Family activities , Family holidays & travel , School Holidays Ideas , Theme parks

Disneyland Resort in California makes an unforgettable Australian family holiday destination – but it’s not all fun and games! You need to do some planning before you go – and that includes how to get your Disneyland entrance tickets.

Firstly, if you haven’t read our Aussie family Disneyland Park feature, read it here .

Or our Australian family Disney California Adventure Park feature here .

Here are some handy tips for what, why and where to buy the right Disneyland tickets in Australia so that you can make the most of your time at Disneyland Resort…

One of the biggest questions on Aussie parent’s minds when planning a trip to Disneyland is where to buy cheap Disneyland tickets

Where can I buy Disneyland Tickets in Australia?

Our first stop for Disneyland tickets is Klook, a Disneyland ticket reseller.

Not only are Klook Disneyland tickets cheap, once purchased you always have them on you digitally on the Klook app. It’s a simple scan in process at the Disneyland entrance, skipping the queue for tickets.

Use our Disneyland promo code discount!

Even better, if you’re new to Klook, Let’s Go Mum Readers get $20USD off Disneyland tickets with our code:  LETSGOMUM20

Buy your Disneyland tickets online here

In Australia (and many other countries around the world) you can also buy your Disneyland Resort theme park tickets direct from a travel agent in your country, but you will be paying a premium. A travel agent can also include tickets in a Disneyland holiday package.

Disneyland App online Disneyland ticket

If you are already in the USA or Japan Disneyland tickets can be purchased via the official Disneyland website here  or the Disneyland App (like my ticket pictured above).

Which Disneyland tickets should I choose?

Disneyland Resort Multi-day tickets are the best choice if you’ve never been to Disneyland before.

It’s best to allow at least three days to cover both parks. Five or seven days are even better! Multi-day tickets of three days or more also include a Magic Morning entry, which is early entry to the park a great bonus.

Tickets are available singly into either theme park, or Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets allows you to cross between the two theme parks during the same visit (It’s simply a matter of walking across from one park to the other).

What is the difference between Disney FastPass and MaxPass?

Disneyland App FastPass in action

One thing is for certain – your Disneyland time is precious – and valuable. You may have traveled half-way around the world to visit Disneyland. You need to make the most of your time whilst you are there – this is no time to try and save a few dollars! So, it makes good sense to spend a bit more on a MaxPass and streamline your Disneyland ride and entertainment experiences.

What is Disneyland Fastpass?

Fastpass automatically comes with all tickets – it gives each ticket holder the option to virtually queue, so, jump the ride queue up to three times each day.

Your FastPasses are best saved for the most popular rides where there is likely to be a queue, particularly at busier times of the year. They can book up on popular rides, so if you have one ride in mind it’s best to book your FastPass sooner in the day rather than later.

What is Disneyland MaxPass?

Disney MaxPass will cost you an extra $20 USD per ticket and allows you to pre-book your FastPasses virtually using the Disneyland App on your smart phone.

So you can be boarding one ride and simultaneously booking a FastPass for your next.

Max Pass also includes an unlimited Disney Photopass to download all of your Disney ride photos taken throughout the day onto the Disneyland App.

MaxPass is a Disneyland Resort advantage at anytime, but if you are only visiting Disneyland Resort for a limited number of days, you should definitely consider upgrading your standard FastPass ticket to a  MaxPass for a more efficient visit.

Download the Disneyland Apps

In preparation for your days at Disney Resort, download the Disney Resort App before you go at the App Store and Google Play . The Play Disney Parks App. is another Disney family essential.

The Disneyland Resort App is essential to make the most of your Disney days. Us this app for virtual entry tickets, FastPass, MaxPass, live navigational maps, to find out ride wait times, event information and even where Disney characters are going to appear! Your photo pass ride photos can also be loaded into your app as you make your way around the theme parks.

The Disneyland App shows you ride wait times

In the USA or Japan, you can also use the Disney Parks App to purchase park tickets. We decided we wanted an extra day at Disneyland before flying home to Australia, and bought tickets using the Disneyland App.

The Disneyland Resort Play App comes in very handy if you are waiting in line for a ride, as families can use it to play Disney games together! It keeps everyone entertained and is a lot of fun.

Can I connect my paper Disneyland ticket to the App?

Yes you can. It’s a good idea to link your Disneyland Resort ticket to the Disneyland App on your phone before your visit, however you can do this anytime, such as after receiving your ticket (if you bought tickets online) at the gate.

Ticketing and Max Pass work seamlessly within the Disneyland Resort App on your smart phone via a scannable barcode system.

Does holding a Disneyland ticket guarantee entry?

No. Like any other theme park, Disneyland has the potential to reach a maximum number of Guests in the park after which time they will close entry.

Therefore, at peak times such as USA holidays and weekends, it’s highly recommended that you arrive early in the day, prior to opening time.

Where to stay when visiting California Disneyland Resort

Anaheim Marriott Suites apartment hotel

Disneyland is located around 45 minutes drive from LAX in the city of Anaheim,  so it’s important to stay in Anaheim so that you aren’t wasting your precious Disney time commuting each day.

Whilst in Anaheim our family stayed in the Anaheim Marriot Suites, in Garden Grove . Located only minutes from the Disneyland Resort attractions, this elegant hotel is the perfect base for any Disneyland family holiday. Find out more about the Anaheim Marriot Suites hotel here .

Buy your Disneyland tickets here and use our discount code

Let’s Go Mum Readers new to Klook get $20USD off Disneyland tickets with our Disneyland promocode:  LETSGOMUM20

Book your Australian family Disneyland holiday today!

Contact your travel agent to book your own magical Disneyland Resort Holiday. More information can be found at Disneyland.com.au

You may also be interested in Tokyo Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Orlando…

Book cheap tickets online to Tokyo Disneyland

Book tickets online to Walt Disney World in Orlando

You may also be interested in reading…

Read all about the three exciting California destinations, including Disneyland, we visited in 2020 here!

Let’s Go Mum may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you with bookings made with Klook

The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Visit California and their supporting partners for this trip.  As always, all opinions are our own.

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4 Responses so far.

I WILL ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE MY NEW DREAMS AT DISNEYLAND.

I’m Taryn Mullins-Smith, daughter of Meremull and Robert’s. We are going to see Disneyland right away. I got three wishes to make. I wish that my mum and I were special delivery onto my mummy’s computer. And I wish that I was become the kindness of them all of Disney Princess Academy. and I wish is we will lived happily ever after.

From Taryn.

Good for you Taryn, I hope you have a wonderful time at Disneyland!

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The Total Guide for Your First Trip to Disneyland

When you step into Disneyland for the first time, everything feels like a vibrant burst of childhood nostalgia, no matter your age. It’s a place where every detail tickles your senses, where iconic characters from your favorite stories roam the streets of a wonderland. To navigate this bustling world of amazement, planning goes a long way. One bright Disneyland tip: snag the Disneyland app. This little wizard in your pocket will be your guide to wait times, dining reservations, and where to catch a wave with Mickey.

OFT Explore Highlights

Which disneyland park, maximizing your experience with genie+ and lightning lanes, disneyland tickets and reservations, when to visit disneyland for the best experience, accommodation options near disneyland, dining and entertainment at disneyland, preparing for your disneyland visit, bottom line.

• Start your Disneyland adventure at the iconic Disneyland Park to experience the classic magic and new attractions.
• Utilize the Disneyland app for real-time updates and to plan your visit efficiently, including dining and FastPass selections.
• Consider the Genie+ pass to maximize your time and enjoy more attractions with less waiting.
• Stay at a hotel near Disneyland for convenience, or explore Airbnb options for a budget-friendly stay.

Deciding between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park is like choosing between two perfect slices of pie – they’re different, but both are incredibly sweet. Disneyland Park is where Walt Disney’s original vision comes to life. It’s the perfect place for first-timers to soak in the classic Disney magic, with its variety of themed lands from the enchanting Fantasyland to the futuristic Tomorrowland. The park’s charming Main Street, U.S.A. sets the scene, transporting visitors to an idyllic Americana filled with nostalgia.

Then there is the recently revamped Mickey’s Toontown, which is like walking into a living cartoon perfect for families who want to meet their favorite characters and experience interactive play areas. It’s a trip into a zany, animated town where laughter echoes from every corner – not to be missed if you’re traveling with kids.

Best Attractions for First-Timers

Of course, first-time visits aren’t complete without the thrill of Space Mountain or sailing through the swashbuckling scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean. These Disneyland staples are a must-see for the sheer joy and craftsmanship poured into them. And let’s not forget the charm of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the newest addition that’s pulling fans into its animated world with a burst of new-age Disney enchantment.

15 things to buy and send to hotel ahead of your Disney trip

Taking a spin on the Disneyland Railroad should be your first move. It’s not just transport; it’s a classic attraction that gives you a sneak peek of the entire park. And a tip from me: hit up the new attractions early before the queues reach the length of a dragon’s tail.

Character Experiences and Dining

If you crave some face time with the Disney stars beyond the parades, booking a character dining experience is the way to go. It’s a crash course in autograph hunting, with a side of scrumptious meals, where characters like Mickey and friends come to your table for selfies and scribbles. Plus, with the Disneyland app, you can skip the time-eating hunt for grub with mobile food ordering. Tap a few buttons and voilà, food appears like magic, leaving more time for adventure.

Planning Your Day

An ace in the hole when visiting Disneyland is the unassuming Disneyland app. We highly recommend marking the must-see sights and planning your day land by land to keep things simple. It’s about maximizing fun while minimizing weariness, especially for those with little ones. Your feet will thank you when you bring or rent a stroller to move around with ease, because believe me, Disneyland is a marathon, not a sprint.

Let’s cut to the chase: nobody likes wasting time in line, especially at Disneyland, when there’s a whole kingdom waiting out there. That’s where Disney Genie+ steps in – your fast pass to fun. For a few extra bucks, this nifty service lets you skip the regular queues on a ton of attractions, revving up your park experience. Think of it like this: Genie+ is your VIP ticket to those screaming rides and fairy-tale moments without the slow crawl of the standby line.

The price tag for Genie+ isn’t exactly small change, but let’s break down the time-saving magic it offers. Time is the currency at amusement parks, and Genie+ is like investing in a time-rich fund. By handing over the extra cash, you can book access to select attractions right on the Disneyland app. It’s about strategizing; you can reserve ride times in advance, and when your slot whizzes around, you waltz past the regular line like you own the place.

Now, here’s some Disneyland tips straight from the seasoned playbook: start early, and be smart about your Genie+ selections. The heavy hitters — those rides that pull crowds faster than free churros — book up quickly. Get those on your Genie+ list first thing. Pro tip: keep refreshing the app; sometimes, you’ll snag a spot on rides like Space Mountain or the Haunted Mansion that seemed full moments before.

And for those attractions that are the star-studded celebs of the park, Individual Lightning Lanes are like backstage passes. Forking out some extra dough can get you a one-time shot to slip into the fast lane without the wait. But pick your moments, folks. These aren’t cheap, and they’re limited, so make it count — use it for that one ride where the queue snakes longer than Main Street.

When we’re talking about stepping into the magical world of Disney, it all begins with a Disneyland ticket. Nabbing those passes is your first step toward adventure. For the best deals, I’d always suggest checking out Disneyland’s own website. That’s where you’re gonna find official discounts, special offers, or even a package deal that includes a stay at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels.

After you’ve gotten your hands on those tickets, don’t nap on making park reservations—it’s as crucial as deciding whether to hit Space Mountain before or after lunch. This reservation system is Disneyland’s way of managing the crowd sizes—it keeps the magic alive and the elbowing to a minimum. So, log in and reserve that spot as soon as you have your tickets.

For those of you making your first trip to Disneyland, consider splurging a little on Park Hopper tickets. This little upgrade gives you the power to move between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day. And trust me, you’re going to want to sample all the flavors of this ice cream sundae, not just one scoop.

Now for the locals or the Disney die-hards, the Magic Key Annual Pass is your ticket to the kingdom all year round. If the names Main Street and New Orleans Square get your heart thumping more than your first love, this pass is made for you – offering reservation-based admission to one or both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, discounts on select dining and merchandise, and a bunch more perks.

Planning your first trip to Disneyland is like preparing a gourmet meal — timing is everything. To really dig into that Disney magic without the side of long lines and elbow-to-elbow crowds, aim for that sweet spot when the park is less packed and the Southern California sun decides to play nice. Our intel suggests that off-peak months, typically mid-January through mid-March, late April through early June, and mid-September through mid-October, serve up the best mix of thin crowds and gentle weather.

Now, every seasoned traveler to the land of Walt knows the rhythm of the park changes with the seasons. Scouring the Disneyland events calendar for 2024 might reveal when you can catch the park dressed up for Halloween Time or bursting with cultural celebration during the Lunar New Year. Foodies might want to circle the dates for the Food & Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure Park. These special events can dial up the crowd levels, but they also turn a regular visit into a full-blown fiesta.

Speaking of crowds, let’s get real for a second: Disneyland Resort is almost always bustling. Holidays and summer months can feel like the entire world decided to descend upon Main Street, U.S.A., at the same time. But, with some shrewd planning and a sprinkle of luck, you can slide through the gates on days where the longest line you’ll encounter is for a Dole Whip.

Length of stay? If you’re angling for that perfect balance between ‘saw everything’ and ‘need a vacation from my vacation’, let’s call it five days. This lets you sink your teeth into three full days spreading across Disneyland Park, California Adventure Park, and even some Downtown Disney District action, plus two travel days for good measure. It’s an itinerary that won’t leave you feeling like you missed the grand finale fireworks because you blinked.

When planning your first trip to Disneyland, deciding where to stay is as crucial as picking the right Disneyland ticket. If convenience is your north star, the Disneyland Resort Hotels, like the Disneyland Hotel or the Grand Californian, are right up your alley. Parking your bags here means the parks are just a hop, skip, and a jump away—plus, you get some pretty sweet perks like magic hour access before the general crowd storms in.

On the flip side, there’s a whole universe of hotels just beyond the Disney bubble that won’t leave your wallet aching. You can find places that range from “won’t break the bank” to “okay, that’s a bit of a splurge,” all within a short distance of the Disney California Adventure Park. Staying off-site means you might forego some Disney-specific benefits, but the savings can be worth it—and you’ll still be close enough to cruise over to Main Street at a moment’s notice.

For a more home-style vibe, Airbnb throws a curveball into the mix. You can snag a whole house, kick back like a local in Southern California, and sometimes even cut costs—especially if you’ve got a gang with you. But remember, you might be a tad farther from the Disneyland magic, and you’ll have to wrangle your own breakfast—Mickey-shaped pancakes not included.

So, whether you dream of dozing in the shadow of Space Mountain or you’re happy with a cozy spot in the surrounding neighborhood, your options are as varied as the attractions in California Adventure Park. Just think about what matters most: the Disney immersion of the Disneyland Resort Hotel, the savings of nearby hotels, or the homeliness of an Airbnb.

Venturing to Disneyland isn’t only about the thrill of the rides or the charm of Magic Street; it’s also a food lover’s ticket to dining nirvana. Picture munching on Mickey-shaped waffles at a character breakfast or tucking into New Orleans-style gumbo amidst the bustling vibe of New Orleans Square. Disneyland Resort is brimming with dining spots that span the gamut from quick snacks to immersive, themed restaurants that’ll transport you to another place and time.

For those of you plotting your first trip to Disneyland, tipping my hat in your direction, here’s a Disneyland tip that’s worth its weight in churros: make dining reservations. This isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a necessity if you’re eyeing those popular sit-down restaurants. You can start booking these up to 60 days in advance, and, trust me, this little step can save you from the gnawing hunger pains that can turn the happiest place on earth into a hangry nightmare.

But let’s not forget the after-dinner show. Disneyland Park lights up brighter than a Southern California July with nighttime extravaganzas that’ll blow your mind—a clear sign that Walt Disney World’s sibling knows a thing or two about entertainment. We’re talking fireworks exploding over Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, parades that light up Main Street U.S.A., and the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that’s something straight out of a space opera fan’s wildest dreams.

To get the most bang for your buck with these spectacles, think about grabbing dining packages that include reserved seating for the popular shows. It’s like the Lightning Lane of Disneyland entertainment—skipping the worst of the crowds for a prime viewing spot. With these packages, you can elevate your Disneyland California Adventure Park experience to the next level. And hey, if you can watch the latest Main Street parade or the jaw-dropping feats in California Adventure while nibbling on dessert, why wouldn’t you?

• Disneyland Dining: A cornucopia of culinary options awaits—character meals to themed eateries.
• Reservation Heads-Up: Book your tables early to avoid disappointment.
• Entertainment Galore: Nighttime shows, parades, and character encounters ensure a spectacle worth every second.
• Showtime Strategy: Consider dining packages to secure the best seats for nighttime entertainment.

Alright, let’s get down to brass tacks. Before you hit up the magic at Disneyland Resort, you’ve got to pack like a pro. Tops on your list should be comfortable walking shoes because, let’s face it, Disneyland is to walking what peanut butter is to jelly – they just go together. And hydration is key in sunny Southern California, so a water bottle is a must-have. It’s always sunny in Disneyland, almost annoyingly so, which means sunscreen is your best buddy. And in today’s connected world, a portable charger will save your life – or at least your phone’s battery life.

Now, don’t stroll into the park without the Disneyland app on your device. This little digital gem is like having a park guru in your pocket. It’s got maps, wait times, and even a handy feature to order food. And if you’re eyeing some Disney merch, grab it early at the stores in Downtown Disney or at a Disneyland resort hotel. The selection is like the first scoop out of a peanut butter jar – untouched and full of possibilities.

Still feeling a bit like a fish out of water? Disneyland cast members are the local gurus. They’re the folks who can give you that Disneyland tip which can turn a good day into a great one – like where to snag that hard-to-get dining reservation or the best spot to catch the parade. They’re friendly and know the park like the back of their Goofy hand, so don’t hesitate to ask them for help.

So, you’re about to set foot in that realm where elephants fly and castles touch the sky for your very first trip to Disneyland. It can be as overwhelming as tackling a five-course meal without knowing which fork to use first. But, take it from someone who’s walked those colorful paths and zipped through Space Mountain: proper planning is your FastPass to a fabulous time. Layer on comfy clothes like an onion (that Southern California sun could cook an egg on Main Street), and consider the Disneyland Resort Hotel as your base camp for easy access and those delicious extra magic hours.

That Disneyland app you downloaded? It’s your compass through the maze of delight that awaits you in both Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park. And don’t forget about the Genie Plus service; it’s like having a Disney wish-granted right in your back pocket. It may cost a little extra, but the Lightning Lane access it gives could mean the difference between swaggering onto Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance like a Rebel Alliance VIP or waiting in a line longer than the Sarlacc pit.

But here’s a hot Disneyland tip: leave room for spontaneity. Those unplanned moments? They can be pure Disney magic. The kids might remember the surprise Disneyland parade sighting more fondly than the meticulously scheduled princess breakfast. And remember, Downtown Disney is just a hop, skip, and a jump away for a breather from the ribbons of crowds, maybe even a trip down to New Orleans Square for a quick gumbo refresher.

Wrap it all up in a Park Hopper ticket, and you’ve got the golden ticket providing access to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day. That way, if California Adventure gets too intense or the kiddos are begging for another Haunted Mansion run, you’re covered. And if the feet start protesting from all the trekking around, consider a midday break at the Disneyland hotel for a quick power nap—trust me on this.

Let’s get down to business. Make every second count with Magic Morning or Extra Magic Hour, exclusively for those who stay at Disneyland resort hotels like the Grand Californian—talk about prime real estate. And definitely hit up those iconic rides—like Space Mountain early in the day to avoid the lines that snake around like a Disneyland conga line heading into eternity.

At the risk of sounding a bit soppy, your first trip to Disneyland should be sprinkled with a bit of pixie dust and a whole lot of heart. Watch the fireworks, eat the churro, hug Mickey Mouse, and when the day is done, don’t be shy about consulting that pair of Mickey ears on your head for some dreamy inspiration.

Final tip, folks: let go a little. Allow yourself to chuckle at the over-the-top parades, and don’t bat an eye when Goofy crashes your family photo. Create those memories, collect that laughter, and leave with your heart so full it feels like it’s been hanging out with Olaf in a warm hug. That’s the wonder of the Disneyland Resort, a place where stories leap off the page and into your lap, begging you to take them home. So step on up, take a deep breath, and let Disneyland do what it does best: make believe.

Co-Founder of the OFT Blog. Mother of 2 who disguises as a 9 to 5 finance professional on most days. She loves to travel, is an amateur website builder and cook. And given her day job, she loves travel planning and saving money. Follow along!

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• Plan Your Trip

How To Plan For A Disneyland Trip

Published: December 1, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Deane Weiss

• Family Travel
• Travel Tips

Introduction

Welcome to the magical world of Disneyland! Planning a trip to Disneyland can be an exciting and thrilling experience. Whether you’re a Disney fanatic or a first-time visitor, this comprehensive guide will help you navigate the planning process and ensure you have a memorable trip.

Disneyland is a renowned theme park and resort located in Anaheim, California. Known as the “Happiest Place on Earth,” it offers a wide array of attractions, entertainment, and enchanting experiences for visitors of all ages.

Before diving into the planning process, it’s important to note that Disneyland consists of two main parks: Disneyland Park, also known as Disneyland Resort or Disneyland Resort Theme Park, and Disney California Adventure Park. Each park has its own unique offerings and attractions, making it essential to plan your trip accordingly.

Now, let’s dive into the essential steps to ensure your Disneyland trip is a success. From choosing the best time to visit, to creating a park itinerary and packing essentials, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make the most of your magical adventure.

Step 1: Choose the Best Time to Visit

Choosing the right time to visit Disneyland can greatly enhance your experience. Factors such as crowd levels, weather, and special events can all impact your trip. Here are some tips to help you select the best time for your Disneyland adventure.

First, consider the crowd levels. Disneyland tends to be busiest during holidays, school breaks, and weekends. If possible, try to plan your trip during the off-peak season when the parks are less crowded. This will allow you to enjoy shorter wait times for attractions and a more relaxed atmosphere.

Next, take into account the weather. Southern California is known for its mild climate, but it’s important to be prepared for fluctuations. Spring and fall generally offer pleasant temperatures, while summers can be hot. Winter can bring cooler temperatures and the possibility of rain. Be sure to check the weather forecast before your trip and pack accordingly.

Special events at Disneyland can also influence the best time to visit. From seasonal celebrations like Halloween Time and the Festival of Holidays to limited-time experiences, these events add an extra sprinkle of magic to your trip. If there’s a particular event you’re interested in, plan your visit accordingly to ensure you don’t miss out.

Another factor to consider is the park’s operating hours. Disneyland typically opens early in the morning and closes late at night, but there may be variations depending on the season and day of the week. Be sure to check the park’s official website for the most up-to-date information on operating hours.

Lastly, take into account any personal preferences or constraints. If you have young children or prefer a more laid-back experience, weekdays outside of school breaks may be ideal. On the other hand, if you’re a thrill-seeker or looking for a lively atmosphere, weekends or special events may be the way to go.

By carefully considering crowd levels, weather, special events, operating hours, and your personal preferences, you can choose the best time to visit Disneyland. This will ensure that you have a magical and memorable experience from the moment you step foot in the park.

Step 2: Determine the Duration of Your Trip

Now that you have an idea of when you want to visit Disneyland, it’s time to determine the duration of your trip. The length of your stay will depend on various factors, including your budget, availability, and the number of parks you wish to explore.

Disneyland Resort offers two main parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Both parks have a plethora of attractions, shows, and entertainment options to enjoy. To truly immerse yourself in the magic, it’s recommended to allocate at least one full day for each park. This will give you sufficient time to experience the major highlights and soak in the enchanting atmosphere.

If you only have a limited amount of time or would like to focus on specific areas within the parks, you can consider a shorter stay. However, keep in mind that cramming everything into a single day can lead to a rushed and exhausting experience. It’s important to strike a balance between exploring the parks and allowing time for relaxation and enjoyment.

In addition to the parks, you may also want to factor in other attractions and activities in the vicinity of Disneyland Resort. Southern California offers a wide range of attractions, such as Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, and beautiful beaches. If you plan to explore these additional destinations, you may want to extend your stay to make the most of your trip.

Consider your budget and travel preferences when determining the duration of your trip as well. Keep in mind that the cost of accommodations, meals, and park tickets can add up, especially for longer stays. Be sure to plan your budget accordingly and allocate enough time to enjoy all that Disneyland has to offer without feeling rushed.

Ultimately, the duration of your trip should strike a balance between the time needed to experience the parks and attractions you desire, as well as your personal preferences and available resources. By carefully considering these factors, you can determine the optimal length for your Disneyland adventure and make the most of your magical getaway.

Step 3: Set Your Budget

Setting a budget for your Disneyland trip is crucial to ensure that you have a financially manageable and enjoyable experience. From park tickets and accommodations to meals and souvenirs, there are several expenses to consider when planning your budget. Here are some tips to help you set your budget for a magical Disneyland trip.

First, research the cost of park tickets. Disneyland offers various ticket options, including single-day tickets, multi-day tickets, and park-hopper tickets which allow you to visit both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day. Take note of the ticket prices and choose the option that best suits your itinerary and budget.

Next, consider your accommodation expenses. Disneyland offers several on-site hotels, which provide the convenience of staying within walking distance of the parks. However, these accommodations might come at a higher cost. If you’re looking to save money, consider staying at a nearby off-site hotel or exploring other accommodation options in the surrounding area.

Food expenses can also add up during your Disneyland trip. While the parks offer a variety of dining options, the cost of meals and snacks can be higher than average. Consider setting a daily food budget or bringing your own snacks to save money. You can also explore nearby restaurants and eateries outside of the park for more affordable dining options.

Don’t forget to budget for transportation as well. If you’re driving to Disneyland, consider the cost of fuel and parking fees. If you’re flying, factor in the cost of flights, airport transfers, and possible rental cars. Plan your transportation options carefully to ensure they align with your overall budget.

Lastly, set aside some funds for souvenirs and merchandise. Disneyland is known for its extensive selection of themed merchandise, and it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of bringing home a piece of the magic. Set a limit on how much you’re willing to spend on souvenirs or consider purchasing them strategically to make the most of your budget.

By carefully considering the costs of park tickets, accommodations, food, transportation, and souvenirs, you can set a budget that works for your Disneyland trip. Remember to factor in extra expenses, such as parking, stroller rentals, and any additional activities or experiences you may be interested in. Planning your budget in advance will help you make informed decisions and avoid any financial stress during your magical Disneyland adventure.

Step 4: Buy Tickets and Make Reservations

Now that you have determined the best time to visit Disneyland and set your budget, it’s time to buy your park tickets and make any necessary reservations. Here are the key steps to follow when purchasing tickets and making reservations for your magical Disneyland trip.

Start by visiting Disneyland’s official website or authorized ticket resellers to explore ticket options and prices. Consider whether you want single-day tickets or multi-day tickets, as well as whether you want to visit one park or both with a park-hopper ticket. Take note of any special offers or discounts that may be available during your travel dates.

Once you have selected your ticket type, proceed with the purchase. Follow the prompts on the website or contact the authorized ticket reseller to complete your transaction. It’s advisable to use a secure payment method and ensure that you receive a confirmation of your purchase.

After buying your tickets, it’s important to check the availability and make any necessary reservations. Due to high demand, some experiences at Disneyland may require advanced reservations. One such example is the highly popular Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction, which often requires a virtual queue reservation.

To make reservations for specific attractions or experiences, visit Disneyland’s official website and navigate to the reservations section. Follow the instructions provided, select the desired date and time, and complete the reservation process. Be sure to double-check your reservation details and make any changes or cancellations if needed.

In addition to attraction reservations, you may also want to consider making dining reservations. Disneyland offers a variety of dining options, from quick-service eateries to table-service restaurants. To secure a table at your desired restaurant, visit the Disneyland website or use the Disneyland mobile app to make dining reservations in advance.

It’s important to note that some experiences, such as character dining or special events, may have limited availability and may require additional reservations or separate tickets. Be sure to thoroughly research and plan for any specific experiences you wish to enjoy during your Disneyland trip.

By buying your park tickets, making necessary reservations for attractions and dining, and securing any additional tickets or reservations for special experiences, you can ensure a smooth and seamless Disneyland experience. Planning ahead and securing your tickets and reservations in advance will help you make the most of your time in the parks and avoid disappointment.

Step 5: Plan Your Accommodation

Choosing the right accommodation during your Disneyland trip is crucial for a comfortable and convenient stay. There are various options to consider, ranging from on-site Disneyland Resort hotels to off-site hotels in the vicinity. Here are some tips to help you plan your accommodation for a magical Disneyland experience.

If you prefer the utmost convenience and immersive experience, staying at one of the on-site Disneyland Resort hotels is a great choice. These hotels offer easy access to the parks, complimentary transportation, and other exclusive perks such as Extra Magic Hour, which allows you to enter the parks earlier than the general public. Keep in mind, however, that on-site hotels tend to be pricier compared to off-site options.

If you’re looking to save on accommodation costs, consider staying at off-site hotels near Disneyland Resort. There are numerous hotels within walking distance or a short shuttle ride away from the parks. These hotels may offer more affordable rates, and many of them provide complimentary shuttle services to and from the parks. Be sure to check the amenities and reviews of these hotels to ensure they meet your expectations.

In addition to hotels, there are alternative accommodation options available such as vacation rentals or Airbnb properties. These options may offer more space and amenities, particularly for larger groups or families. However, be mindful of the location and distance from the parks, as well as any additional fees or restrictions.

When planning your accommodation, consider the duration of your stay and your budget. Take note of any special offers or packages that may be available during your travel dates. It’s also advisable to book your accommodation in advance to secure the best rates and availability, especially during peak travel seasons.

Furthermore, don’t forget to check for any additional fees that may apply, such as parking fees, resort fees, or taxes. These costs can significantly impact your overall accommodation budget, so it’s important to factor them in when making your decision.

Lastly, read reviews and gather information on the hotels or accommodations you are considering. Websites like TripAdvisor or travel forums can provide valuable insights from other travelers, helping you make an informed decision.

By carefully considering your accommodation options, taking into account factors such as location, cost, amenities, and reviews, you can find the perfect place to rest and recharge after a magical day at Disneyland.

Step 6: Create a Park Itinerary

Creating a park itinerary is essential to make the most of your time at Disneyland. With so many attractions, shows, and entertainment options, it’s important to plan your days in the parks strategically. Here are some tips to help you create a park itinerary that will maximize your magical Disneyland experience.

Start by researching the attractions and entertainment options available at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Take note of the must-visit attractions, parades, shows, character meet and greets, and any special events happening during your visit.

Next, decide which park you want to visit on each day of your trip. If you have purchased a park-hopper ticket, you have the flexibility to visit both parks in a single day. If not, divide your visit into separate days for each park.

Once you have determined which park to visit each day, prioritize the attractions and experiences you most want to see. Make a list of the top attractions you want to experience and any shows or parades you don’t want to miss.

Consult the park maps and show schedules to determine the best order and timing for your chosen attractions. Take note of any FastPass or MaxPass options available for popular rides, as they can help you skip the queue and save time waiting in line.

Consider factors such as ride wait times, show durations, and parade schedules when creating your park itinerary. Plan to tackle attractions with longer wait times earlier in the day or utilize FastPasses to minimize wait times.

Be sure to include time for breaks, meals, and rest throughout your park itinerary. Disneyland can be physically demanding, so it’s important to take breaks to rest, refuel, and recharge. Consider dining reservations in advance to ensure you have designated meal times and avoid waiting in long restaurant lines.

Keep in mind that it’s okay if your park itinerary doesn’t go exactly as planned. Be flexible and open to changes, as unexpected events or attractions may catch your attention. Allow yourself some downtime to explore the parks at a leisurely pace and soak in the magical atmosphere.

By creating a park itinerary that balances the must-see attractions, shows, and experiences, while allowing for breaks and flexibility, you can make the most of your time at Disneyland and ensure a memorable and enchanting visit.

Step 7: Packing Essentials for a Disneyland Trip

Packing for a Disneyland trip is an important step to ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. From clothing to essential items, here are some packing essentials to consider for your magical Disneyland adventure.

First and foremost, pack comfortable clothing and footwear. You’ll be spending long hours walking and standing, so opt for breathable and lightweight clothing that allows for ease of movement. Comfortable walking shoes are a must to keep your feet happy throughout the day.

Since weather in Southern California can be unpredictable, it’s a good idea to pack layers. Bring a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings or indoor attractions, as well as a hat and sunscreen for protection from the sun.

With all the excitement and activities at Disneyland, it’s essential to stay hydrated. Bring a reusable water bottle to refill throughout the day and keep yourself hydrated. You can also pack some snacks to fuel your energy between meals and save money on purchasing food inside the parks.

Other essential items to pack include a backpack or day bag to carry your belongings, a portable phone charger to keep your devices powered, a camera or smartphone for capturing magical moments, and any necessary medications or personal care items.

It’s also wise to bring a small first aid kit with band-aids, pain relievers, and any other medication or items you may need for minor injuries or ailments. While Disneyland does have first aid stations, it’s always helpful to have these items readily available.

Lastly, don’t forget to pack your park tickets, IDs, payment cards, and any necessary travel documents in a secure and easily accessible location.

Remember to pack light and only bring essential items to avoid unnecessary weight and clutter. Take into account any specific needs or preferences you may have, and adjust your packing list accordingly.

By packing the essentials and being prepared for the day’s activities, you can ensure a comfortable and worry-free Disneyland experience. Enjoy your magical adventure knowing that you have everything you need to make the most of your time in the parks.

Step 8: Plan for Transportation

Planning for transportation is an important aspect of preparing for your Disneyland trip. From getting to the parks to exploring the surrounding area, here are some tips to help you plan your transportation for a seamless and stress-free experience.

If you’re driving to Disneyland, consider the best route and parking options available. Disneyland Resort offers several parking lots, both self-parking and valet, for a daily fee. Be sure to check the current parking rates and availability before your trip. Alternatively, you can choose to park at nearby off-site parking lots or utilize rideshare services for convenience.

If you prefer not to drive, consider using public transportation. There are various public transit options available, such as local buses or trains, that can take you to Disneyland Resort or nearby stations. Check the schedules and routes in advance to plan your journey accordingly.

Another popular transportation option is utilizing shuttle services. Many hotels in the area offer complimentary or paid shuttle services to and from Disneyland Resort. Taking advantage of these services can save you time and hassle, especially during peak travel seasons.

If you’re flying to the area, you’ll need to plan for transportation from the airport to Disneyland. Most airports in Southern California have designated shuttle services or taxi stands available. You can also opt for renting a car or utilizing rideshare services for added flexibility.

Once you arrive at Disneyland, the transportation options within the parks are convenient and efficient. Disneyland Resort offers a complimentary transportation system called the Disneyland Resort Transportation (DRT). This includes the Disneyland Monorail, buses, and trams that can take you between the parks, hotels, and parking lots.

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the transportation options and schedules before your trip. Check for any updates or changes to the transportation services, especially during holidays or special events when there may be adjusted schedules.

Lastly, consider any additional transportation needs you may have during your trip, such as visiting other attractions or exploring the surrounding area. Rental cars, rideshare services, or organized tours can help you navigate the area and make the most of your time off-site.

By planning your transportation in advance, you can ensure a smooth and efficient journey to and from Disneyland, as well as convenient transportation within the parks. This will allow you to focus on enjoying the magic of Disneyland without worrying about the logistics of getting around.

Step 9: Familiarize Yourself with Park Rules and Regulations

Before embarking on your Disneyland trip, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the park rules and regulations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Disneyland has specific guidelines in place to maintain the magic and ensure the well-being of all guests. Here are some key rules and regulations to be aware of:

First and foremost, familiarize yourself with the park’s security measures. Be prepared for bag checks and metal detector screenings upon entering the parks. Understanding the security procedures in advance can help expedite the process and alleviate any surprises.

Disneyland has guidelines regarding appropriate attire. Refrain from wearing costumes or clothing that may be deemed offensive or obstructive to others. Additionally, clothing with offensive language or graphic content is not allowed. Familiarize yourself with the specific dress code guidelines provided by Disneyland Resort.

During your visit, remember that Disneyland is a family-friendly environment. Guests are expected to refrain from engaging in any disruptive or disrespectful behavior. Follow the instructions of cast members, be mindful of others, and maintain a positive and courteous attitude.

Smoking is strictly prohibited within the parks, with designated smoking areas available outside the park gates. Familiarize yourself with the designated areas if needed.

For the safety of all guests, Disneyland has specific rules regarding the use of cameras, selfie sticks, and drones. Selfie sticks and drones are not allowed within the parks, and camera usage must be respectful of others and not obstructive to view or safety.

It’s essential to follow the guidelines and restrictions related to attraction and ride usage. Each attraction has specific height requirements, and some rides have health and safety restrictions. Be sure to familiarize yourself with these requirements to prevent any disappointment or inconvenience.

Alcoholic beverages brought from outside the park are not permitted. However, Disneyland offers a variety of dining and entertainment options where alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed responsibly.

Familiarize yourself with the park’s policies regarding strollers, wheelchairs, and mobility aids. Disneyland provides accessibility options and services for guests with disabilities. It’s advisable to review the park’s accessibility information in advance and plan accordingly.

Lastly, make note of the park’s policies regarding lost items and guest services. In the event of a lost item, report it to a cast member or visit the Guest Relations location for assistance.

By familiarizing yourself with the park rules and regulations, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience at Disneyland. Respecting these guidelines will contribute to the overall magic of the park and create a positive atmosphere for all guests to enjoy.

Step 10: Enjoy Your Magical Disneyland Trip

Congratulations! You’ve completed all the necessary steps to plan your Disneyland trip. Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in the magic and enchantment of Disneyland. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your magical experience:

First and foremost, embrace the childlike wonder and joy that Disneyland offers. Let go of any worries or stresses and fully immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere. Allow yourself to be swept away by the enchanting rides, captivating shows, and breathtaking fireworks.

Take your time to explore every nook and cranny of the parks. Disneyland is filled with intricate details and hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Don’t rush from one attraction to another; instead, take the time to appreciate the craftsmanship and storytelling that goes into each land and attraction.

Be sure to take advantage of the various entertainment options available throughout the day. Catch the parades and shows, meet your favorite characters, and soak in the delightful atmosphere. Don’t forget to check for any scheduled events or special performances during your visit.

Capture the magical moments by taking photos and videos to preserve your memories. Disneyland is a treasure trove of photo opportunities, so have your camera or smartphone ready to snap away. You can also take advantage of Disney PhotoPass for professional photos taken by Disney’s talented photographers.

Plan your meals strategically to experience a variety of dining options. Treat yourself to a character dining experience or indulge in some iconic Disney treats. Don’t forget to try the famous churros, Mickey-shaped snacks, and other delicious treats that Disneyland is known for.

Remember to pace yourself and take breaks when needed. Disneyland can be physically demanding, with long hours of walking and standing. Take advantage of seating areas, restrooms, and shaded spots to rejuvenate and recharge.

Engage with cast members and fellow Disney enthusiasts throughout the park. They can offer valuable tips, recommendations, and insights to enhance your experience. Don’t hesitate to strike up conversations or participate in interactive experiences offered by cast members.

Lastly, make sure to catch the nighttime spectaculars, such as fireworks or nighttime shows. These breathtaking displays add an extra layer of magic to your Disneyland experience and are not to be missed.

Most importantly, cherish the moments and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Disneyland is a place where dreams come true, so allow yourself to be fully present and savor every magical moment.

Enjoy your Disneyland trip to the fullest and create memories that will last a lifetime. Have an unforgettable adventure and embrace the enchantment of the happiest place on Earth!

Congratulations on completing all the essential steps to plan your magical Disneyland trip! By following this comprehensive guide, you have equipped yourself with the knowledge and tools to have a memorable and enchanting experience in the happiest place on Earth.

From choosing the best time to visit and determining the duration of your stay, to setting a budget and making necessary reservations, every aspect of your trip has been carefully considered. By familiarizing yourself with park rules and regulations and creating a well-planned itinerary, you’re prepared to make the most of your time at Disneyland.

Remember to pack the essential items, plan for transportation, and fully immerse yourself in the magic of Disneyland. Capture magical memories, indulge in delicious food, and take advantage of the various entertainment options offered throughout the parks.

Throughout your journey, embrace the childlike wonder and joy that Disneyland brings. Be present in the moment, enjoy the finer details, and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Disneyland is truly a place where dreams come true, and your experience is sure to be filled with smiles, laughter, and enchantment.

So, go forth and embark on your Disneyland adventure with confidence and excitement. Prepare to be transported to a world of magic and wonder. Enjoy every moment, from the first steps down Main Street to the final glimpse of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

May your Disneyland trip be everything you’ve dreamed of and more. Cherish the memories and hold onto the magic as you leave the parks, knowing that the enchantment will stay with you forever.

Here’s to the most magical trip of a lifetime at Disneyland! Have a fantastic journey and create memories that will bring a smile to your face for years to come.

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Planning a trip to Disneyland? Here is everything you need to know!

May 29, 2019 by ohsobusymum 2 Comments

After receiving several emails each week asking about Disneyland, I thought it was time to create a post about planning all things Disneyland.

Firstly, if you haven’t joined my new Disney Mums Australia Facebook group, you can JOIN HERE! You’ll find lots of Disney travel and product advice from fellow Disney mums. As most of you know, I’m a self-proclaimed Disney addict, along with my family, who love Disney as much as I do. I’m in the process of planning our first trip to Disney World, and I can’t wait to come back and share that post with you soon.

Here are a few tips to help you plan your trip to Disneyland, California

Disneyland California is made up of 2 parks: Disneyland and California Adventure Park. They are both located in Anaheim, California, and are side by side.

Australian and NZ residents can purchase a 10-day Disneyland & California Adventure Park hopper ticket, which is around the same price as a five-day park hopper. It can only be purchased here in Australia from travel agents or online via sites like Expedia. You can’t purchase it from Disneyland direct, so make sure you don’t wait to purchase it at the gate. On redemption you need to show your passports, but we didn’t show them again for the rest of the trip.

Prices as of May 2019 for the 10-day hopper Adult (Ages 10+) $647 Child (Ages 3 – 10) $618

Where to stay

This really depends on your budget. If you can afford to stay in a Disney resort or hotel, do it! You really can’t get that Disney magic anywhere else and the Disney customer service is worth it alone. If, like us, you have a bigger family and are travelling on a budget, check out some hotels right across the road that offer breakfast and are only a short walk to the park.

Things you should do before you arrive

Download the Disneyland app The Disneyland app will allow you to see wait times, access park maps, use and view the FASTPASS system, book and manage dining reservations, order food and locate characters.

Get to know the FASTPASS system The FastPass system can be a little confusing on your first trip, so it’s great if you can understand how it works before you arrive. Disneyland now offer a paid MaxPass option ($15 USD per person) which I personally think is worth every cent! Less time standing in lines and more time having fun. Here is a link to a site that explains the FASTPASS and MAXPASS in more depth.

Reserve your Disney dining You can reserve your Disneyland dining 60 days in advance, and I recommend you do it as soon as you can, due to limited availability. Each Disney trip, we make sure we do at least one character breakfast and one dinner.

Reserve your child’s spot at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique This can be a little expensive and not within everyone’s budget, but it is really magical! My girls have done it on both of our trips to Disneyland and they still talk about it regularly. Kids are made to feel super special and get the royal treatment with each package.

What to take to Disney I don’t like to overpack when we go to Disney; with the long days and all the walking we will be doing, the last thing I want to do is carry a heavy backpack around all day. Disneyland does have limited lockers available but it’s such a big park and I find it a hassle to walk back to the lockers to get things.

• Camera • Sunscreen • Water bottle • Change of clothes for younger children • Jumper or jacket depending on the weather • Portable phone charger • Snacks

Things to do at Disney

This might seem like silly tips because there is just so much to do at Disneyland, but there a few things that you really don’t want to miss!

Visit City Hall in the main street to get your first visit or celebration button You can get your button (or badge, as we call them in Australia) from City Hall for most celebrations and your first visit to Disneyland. You’ll also find some buttons at select food stands – for instance, the dole whip stand has “my first dole whip” buttons available.

Magic Morning Make sure you utilise your magic hour and get to the parks before they’re open to the general public. Magic hour or morning gives you access to the parks one hour before opening to the general public.

Get a signature book and pen for the characters to sign Each character you meet will sign their name in a signature book if you have one. You can get them before you go online from eBay, or buy them in the park. I like the ones that have a spot to stick a photo next to each character’s signature.

Watch the parades You don’t want to miss the magic of the Disney parades. Make sure you check out the app for the times and locations of each one and go early to grab your spot.

Buy Disney's ears One of the first things we do on each Disney trip is to buy a new set of Disney ears. They are a MUST for all your special Disneyland photos.

Get photos with the characters You’ll find the times and location of all the characters on the Disneyland app.

Eat your way around Disney There a few “must eats” that you need to try on your first Disneyland trip. Make sure you try a dole whip, visit Main Street bakery for Disney-inspired treats and try a giant turkey leg in California Adventure.

Watch the fireworks It isn’t a trip to Disney if you don’t get to watch the magical fireworks at the end of the night. Fireworks are on select nights, which you’ll be able to find via the Disneyland app.

World of Color World of Color is an amazing water and lights show that brings together all the Disney classics with music. In order to see the World of Color you will need either a FASTPASS or World of Color dining package.

Hot tips you should know!

Rider Switch If you have children too little to ride, you can ask the attendant for a rider switch. One parent rides while the other adult or supervising guest (14 years or older) can wait with non-riders. Then, they simply switch roles to allow the supervising guest to experience the attraction without waiting in the regular queue again. You can read more about how it works here.

Late Night When the park shuts, the main street stays open for another hour or so (unless there is an event on). Wait until the crowds disappear, and use this time to take photos in front of the castle and check out main street without the crowds. It’s a fun, unique time to explore and the perfect opportunity to get photos without the crowd.

Disney PhotoPass Save all your precious memories with a Disney PhotoPass. View all your Disney PhotoPass photos, then purchase photo downloads and prints to share.

Let me know if there is anything I missed or anything you would like to add on the comments below!

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Reader Interactions

June 12, 2022 at 6:39 pm

Thank this is great we are planning a trip in the next two years.

September 05, 2022 at 8:29 am

Do you have a write up about Japan disneyland? Comparing it to the US?

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Ultimate Disneyland Trip Planning Guide: Free Downloadable Planner Included!

Updated: May 15

Planning a trip to Disneyland is part of the fun when it comes to a Disneyland vacation. Whether it's your first visit to Disney or a seasoned Disney enthusiast, assuring a magical Disney experience requires careful preparation to ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience for all.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through every step of the planning process, from choosing the perfect time to visit to navigating the park like a pro. Plus, we've included a free downloadable planner to help you organize your trip with ease.

This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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The Magic of Disneyland and Its Iconic Attractions

Why Disneyland? Disneyland is more than just an amusement park—it's a place where dreams come true and memories are made. From enchanting fairy tales to thrilling adventures, there's something for everyone to enjoy at the Happiest Place on Earth. With its iconic landmarks and beloved characters, Disneyland boasts a diverse range of attractions that appeal to guests of all ages.

Whether you're soaring through the skies on Space Mountain or embarking on a swashbuckling adventure with Pirates of the Caribbean, each ride offers a unique and immersive experience that transports you to a world of fantasy and fun. At Disneyland Park, you'll find Star Wars: Gaaxy's Edge, where you can immerse yourself inside the world of Star Wars. At Disney California Adventure Park you'll find the Avengers Campus where you can meet some of your favorite Marvel characters.

Before You Go

Before your Disneyland trip, it's essential to do your research and plan. Start by setting a budget and determining how many days you'll spend at the park. Consider purchasing tickets in advance to save time and money, and don't forget to pack essential items such as comfortable shoes, sunscreen, rain ponchos, and a refillable water bottle.

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Choosing the Right Time

When planning your trip to Disneyland, timing is everything. Consider visiting during off-peak seasons to avoid large crowds and long wait times. Alternatively, if you're hoping to experience special events such as Halloween Time or the holiday season, be prepared for larger crowds and plan accordingly.

Sometimes going to Disneyland during off-peak seasons is not an option. If you can, avoid going to Disney during the weekends. Another way to beat the large crowds and wait times at Disneyland is to plan on purchasing individual lightning lane entrances and Genie Plus Lightning Lane entrances. This will allow you to book arrival windows for select attractions.

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Special Events Calendar

Keep an eye on Disneyland's special events calendar to stay informed about upcoming celebrations, parades, and fireworks shows. From seasonal festivals to character meet-and-greets, there's always something exciting happening at the park.

Transportation Options

Disneyland is conveniently located in Anaheim, California, making it easily accessible by car, plane, or train. If you're flying in from out of town, consider booking a flight to nearby airports such as John Wayne Airport or Los Angeles International Airport. Alternatively, if you're traveling by car, be sure to check traffic conditions and plan your route accordingly.

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Parking Tips

Parking at Disneyland can be a breeze with a bit of planning. Consider purchasing a parking pass in advance to save time upon arrival, and be sure to familiarize yourself with the various parking options available, including standard, preferred, and accessible parking.

Accommodations

When it comes to accommodation, there are plenty of options to choose from near Disneyland. Whether you prefer to stay on-site at one of Disney's resort hotels, which can entitle you to early park entry, or opt for budget-friendly off-site accommodations, there's something to suit every traveler's needs and preferences. Some more budget-friendly none-Disney hotels are even at a walkable distance to Disneyland!

Popular Disneyland hotels include:

Disneyland Resort Hotels

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa : Immerse yourself in luxury at this elegant hotel inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. Enjoy convenient access to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, as well as exclusive perks such as Extra Magic Hour and Disney Character Dining experiences. Only a 5 minute walk to Downtown Disney® District, a 7 minute walk to Disney California Adventure®, and a 5 minute drive to Disneyland® Resort.

Disneyland Hotel : Step into the nostalgic charm of this classic hotel, where Disney magic comes to life around every corner. From themed rooms and suites to whimsical dining options and a legendary pool complex, this hotel offers a truly enchanting stay for Disney fans of all ages. Only a 3 minute walk to Downtown Disney® District, a 9 minute walk to Disney California Adventure®, and a 5 minute drive to Disneyland® Resort.

Pixar Place Hotel : Get ready to step into the world of Pixar like never before with Disneyland's highly anticipated Pixar Place Hotel! Nestled within the heart of the Disneyland Resort, this innovative hotel promises to bring the beloved characters and stories of Pixar to life in an immersive and unforgettable way. Experience the magic of Disneyland's newest hotel and embark on a Pixar-inspired journey like never before. Book your stay today and get ready to make memories that will last a lifetime at the happiest place on earth!

Good Neighbor Hotels

Anaheim Hotel : Stay across from the magic! At this AAA Three-Diamond hotel, you can experience Disneyland's fireworks from the comfort of your luxury hotel.

The Westin Anaheim Resort : Elevate your vacation with park view rooms! At the Westin Anaheim Resort you'll have a spectacular view of Disney California Adventure® Park and be able to watch the Disneyland Resort fireworks.

Navigating the Park

Upon entering Disneyland, be sure to pick up a park map and familiarize yourself with the layout of the park. Take note of key landmarks and attractions, as well as the locations of restrooms, dining options, and first aid stations. You can also use the MyDisney app to view a map of the parks.

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Disneyland offers a diverse array of dining options, from quick-service eateries to fine-dining restaurants. Be sure to make reservations in advance for table-service restaurants, especially during peak meal times, to ensure you secure a spot.

You may also take advantage of the mobile food ordering services. Place your order before you get on a ride, and go pick it up when you're done with the ride!

Character Meet-and-Greets

No trip to Disneyland is complete without meeting your favorite Disney characters in person. Be sure to check the park's character meet-and-greet schedule and keep your camera ready for photo opportunities with Mickey, Minnie, and more.

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Parades and Fireworks

End your day at Disneyland with a magical parade or fireworks show that will leave you in awe. Be sure to stake out a prime viewing spot early, and prepare to be dazzled by the spectacular sights and sounds.

Souvenirs and Keepsakes

Don't forget to pick up souvenirs and keepsakes to commemorate your trip to Disneyland. From plush toys and apparel to collectible pins and artwork, there's no shortage of treasures to bring home as a memento of your magical adventure.

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Memory-Making Ideas

Capture the magic of your Disneyland trip with creative memory-making ideas that you'll cherish for years to come. Consider keeping a journal, creating a scrapbook, or compiling a photo album to preserve your favorite memories.

Tips for Families

Child Swap System. Families traveling with young children can take advantage of Disneyland's child swap system, which allows parents to take turns riding attractions without waiting in line twice. Simply request a child swap pass from a cast member at the entrance to eligible rides.

Family-Friendly Amenities. Disneyland offers a variety of family-friendly amenities to make your visit as enjoyable as possible for guests of all ages. From stroller rentals and baby care centers to kid-friendly dining options, there's everything you need to keep your little ones happy and entertained.

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Services for Guests with Disabilities

Disneyland is committed to providing a magical experience for guests of all abilities. If you or a member of your party requires special accommodations, be sure to inquire about the park's accessibility services, including wheelchair rentals, companion restrooms, and sensory-friendly experiences.

In conclusion , Planning the ultimate Disneyland trip requires careful consideration and preparation, but the memories you'll make along the way are well worth the effort. From iconic attractions to hidden gems, there's something new and exciting to discover around every corner. With this guide and free downloadable planner in hand, you're ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime at the Happiest Place on Earth.

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1. Is Disneyland suitable for all ages?

Absolutely! Disneyland offers attractions and entertainment for guests of all ages, from young children to adults.

2. What is the best time of year to visit Disneyland?

It depends on your preferences. Off-peak seasons generally have smaller crowds, while peak seasons offer special events and celebrations.

3. Are there accommodations for guests with disabilities?

Yes, Disneyland offers a range of accessibility services and accommodations to ensure all guests can enjoy their visit to the fullest.

4. Can I bring my own food and drinks into Disneyland?

Outside food and drinks are permitted at Disneyland, with some restrictions on glass containers and alcoholic beverages.

5. How can I make the most of my time at Disneyland?

Plan ahead, arrive early, and take advantage of tools like Disney's Lightning Lane system to minimize wait time and maximize fun!

Disneyland Planner

Click here to download our Disneyland Planner!

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Planning a Trip to Disneyland (2023): The Best Tips + Free Checklist

Tips on How to Plan a Trip to Disneyland

More than a magic spell, a good deal of strategic planning is what you need to fully enjoy a trip to Disneyland with your kids when they reopen. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt if you have a few must-knows up your sleeve. Follow our guide on how to plan a trip to Disneyland and you'll be the star of the family in no time!

Here are some important Disneyland COVID-19 updates you must know:

⚠️COVID-19 Updates on Disneyland

✔️  The Downtown Disney District, including a variety of shopping and dining experiences, has gradually reopened. Learn about their  newly implemented health and safety measures right here . ✔️  Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Hotels of the Disneyland Resort remain closed and will reopen at a later date. They are still waiting for state and local government approvals to operate again. ✔️  There will be some changes or temporarily suspension of certain parks, hotels, restaurants, attractions, experiences, and other services when the resort reopens. Expect limited capacity and availability on these offerings. ✔️  The resort strongly recommends their visitors to follow all posted instructions regarding their enhanced health and safety measures while visiting the Disneyland Resort.

Best Time to Visit

Lines are very long but waiting time can be shortened. The good news is, the park is trying all kinds of line management schemes to shorten the average wait times for rides. The bad new is, it looks like  they still haven't found the right one yet .

So until the day you don’t have to wait an average of 65-minutes to experience all 2-minutes and 30-seconds of Space Mountain, keep your kids tantrum-free while in line with these Disneyland trip tips:

Tip #1 - Go when the crowds are low.

The best months to go are March through May to beat the spring time and summertime rush. Temperature's around 60 to 70°F, perfect for walking around. Lines might be still a bit long but more bearable than during peak seasons. Late August to early September is also perfect as the crowds die down for kids to go back to school. Traffic has also calmed down during this time but temperature might be slightly uncomfortable at high 70s and low 80s. Just don't forget to bring sunscreen and sunglasses! If you're planning to go on October (which is usually considered as an off-season), consider Arizona schools' fall breaks, Gay Days, Columbus Day weekend and Halloween. The crowds might start to swarm during this time. November through February is also a great time to visit if you're ready to brave the crowds and long lines. Events and holidays surrounding these months may pose increased prices as well. Just make sure to book well in advance. Check out this crowd calendar to help you plan your visit. Some rides, such as Haunted Mansion, King Arthur Carrousel, and Gadget's Go Coaster may be closed in January. Visit this website to see Disneyland's refurbishments and closings.

Tip #2 - Get there early.

The parks will be quieter the first few hours after its opening. It's the perfect time to ride the most popular rides with the shortest lines. If you're staying in one of the many budget hotels outside the resort, up your chances of being first in line by being at the gates at least 30-minutes before it opens.

Tip #3 - Avoid the weekends.

As a general rule, weekends are specially busier than weekdays at Disneyland. People usually have their days off on Saturdays and Sundays. Be sure to crush dates that fall on a weekend out your planning list.

Things to Do Before You Go

Include your kids in the planning stage of your trip. Ask their opinion for which attractions, events, and rides they want to see! Involving them at this stage in the process will give them a sense of ownership about the plan. Because it was their idea after all, right? *wink, wink* 

Here are things you need to do before you leave:

Tip #4 -  Measure your kids' heights.

It would be a good time to sort out all the little things , like questions about why they won’t be able to ride Space Mountain just yet, before you go. Explain how there is an  age limit (and height restriction) but give them hope by telling them when they are all grown up they will be back!  Trust us, you'd rather have this conversation now than while you're already in the park, and a tantrum is approaching.  Check this list for which rides they make the cut for. Some rides have specific height requirements.

Tip #5 -  Make reservations.

And we're not kidding, months in advance for any restaurants (mostly for nice places) at the park and at the hotel. And, if your plans include a character dining experience, best to book that early too.

Tip #6 -  Download the park's map.

Print or screenshot the map on your phone and mark all the important locations using different colors . Label all the rides you're planning to go on that day, where the bathrooms are, charging stations, first aid stations, baby care centers, police, etc. Create one map for each day, if you're planning multiple visits during your stay, to pace your day.

Getting to Disneyland

One of the best ways to truly enjoy a hassle-free trip to Disneyland is to know the fastest and most convenient way of getting there. Here are some tips and an overview of the available transportation you can use to get to Disneyland.

Tip #7 - Choose the closest airport to Disneyland.

Spoiler alert, the closest one (travel time-wise) to Disneyland is John Wayne Airport (SNA). You can get there in 17 minutes because it's only 14.3 miles away. If you just can't wait to get to the happiest place on earth, make sure this is where you land.

Although technically, Long Beach Airport is the closest to Disneyland (only 12.6 miles away), it will take you longer (about 23 minutes) to get there due to traffic. But if you're going to disembark from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), it will take you about 30 to 40 minutes to get to Disneyland since it's approximately 33.3 miles away. You must also consider high traffic times of 7-9am and 2:30-7pm for your drive estimation.

Tip #8 - Know the fastest way and route to take.

Here are the different ways and transportations that can take you to Disneyland:

① Get an  Uber -  A simple and affordable yet very efficient way of going to Disneyland from the airport. Just download the app (before your trip), and book a ride going to the happiest place on earth. Check out their promos and you might just get a free / discounted ride! ② Take a Taxi -  Taxi service is available in all airports, however they can be quite expensive. If you're traveling with more than 4 members of the fam, you're going to need a seven passenger van. It's a much better deal than getting an Uber!

If you're taking a taxi from John Wayne Airport/Orange County, it would cost you about $40. And from LAX, it would be about $100 with traffic and $80 without.

Pro Tip : If you're going to take a cab with children, be sure to bring your own car seats.

③ Rent a Car -  If you have other destinations in mind aside from Disneyland, renting a car would definitely be a good option. There are a lot of car rental services in airports that you can avail.

However, if you're planning to visit Disneyland only and you're staying in one of the Disney resorts, you most definitely don't need to rent a car. Consider other modes of transportation if that's the case. ④ Use Shuttle Services -  Most of the shuttle services, including Disneyland Resort Express and Super Shuttle have ceased their operations. Here are the available shuttles you can take:

✔️ Karmel Shuttle -  A cost-effective shared ride service to or from the airport and hotels around Disneyland. They don't have booster or car seats for kids so be sure to have yours ready, if you're traveling with children. Check out their website for more detailed information. 

✔️ Lansky -  If you don't mind splurging, Lansky is the best transportation service for you. You'll be taken from the airport to your hotel in style with luxury vehicles. Expect it to be pricey but if you're traveling with a large pack to split it with, it can be a grand one-time experience. They also provide booster or car seats for your little one.

Available at airports closest to Disneyland such as John Wayne Airport, LAX, Long Beach Airport, and Bob Hope Airport.

⑤ Take the Train

✔️ The Coaster -  If you're up for some commuting adventure, taking the Coaster is the way to go! This train system runs through San Diego County and you can take this from Santa Fe Depot up to Oceanside, CA and back, which costs $5.50. This train doesn't go all the way to Disneyland so you must disembark at the Oceanside Transit Center and get on the Metrolink or the Amtrak to get to Disneyland. 

✔️ The Metrolink  -  This train system runs from Oceanside, CA to Riverside County or Los Angeles County and back. It will take approximately an hour to get to Anaheim from Oceanside and costs $12.75. Most travelers take this train to reach Disneyland.

✔️ Amtrak   - This is the best (but quite expensive) option if you want to go all the way from the Santa Fe Depot to Anaheim (costs $28) without having to switch trains in Oceanside. This train system takes a longer route from Oceanside to Anaheim. But don't worry, you'll enjoy larger reclining seats, footrests, outlets for your mobile device at your seat, and free WIFI! 

For a complete list and guide of transportations and how to get to the happiest place on earth from other airports, please visit Disneyland's website right here .

Park Tickets

There are different types of park tickets for your needs. Whether you'd like to stay for a day in just one park or two parks, or if you've prepared a 3-day itinerary, Disneyland's got just the right ticket for you!

Tip #9 - Save money & learn how the ticket system works.

Knowing the difference between a 1-Park Per Day ticket, a multi-day ticket, and a Park Hopper ticket can certainly save you some extra cash for Minnie ears. Read below to find out the different ticket types during a Disney trip.

① Any child 0-3 years old can enter for free.  Adult ticket prices apply to kids 10 years old and above. Children's tickets (age 3-9) are slightly cheaper.  You can purchase your tickets here  (when Disneyland reopens, of course!) or using the official Disneyland app .

② 1-Park Per Day Tickets  get you into one park - either Disneyland Park or California Adventure - on the day of your visit. This is your best option if you're only staying for a short time.

If you're going for Disney California Adventure, we recommend going for rides like Incredicoaster, Toy Story Midway Mania, Pixar Pal-A-Round, and Jumpin Jellyfish in the morning while Grizzly River Run, Pixar Pier, and Goofy's Sky School in the afternoon. Check out this website for a complete one-day itinerary at Disney California Adventure.

If you guys prefer Disneyland Park, Fantasyland is great for starting your early morning adventure. Start with Peter Pan's Flight, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, and a whole lot more in just an hour after the park opens. Also, don't miss out on Tomorrowland's Space Mountain! For a One-Day Disneyland Ideal Day Plan, take a look at this site.

③ Multi-Day Tickets  get you in one park on one day and another park the following day. You have 13 days to use this ticket from the first day you enter a park. This is a better option if you're planning on doing other things aside from going to Disneyland, or want to stay two days.

If you're planning to have a 3-day adventure, we recommend spending each day at the two parks and then go back to your favorite rides or the ones you haven't ridden yet in both parks. For example, Day 1 will be spent in California Adventure Park, Day 2 will be for Disneyland, and Day 3 will be for both! If you want to have an idea what it looks like, check out this 3-Day Disneyland Itinerary for families.

④ Park Hopper Tickets are a bit more pricey, but they allow you to hop from one park to the another on the same day. This is a better option if you have favorite rides located in both parks, or aren't sure which park you'll love the most.

We recommend taking turns in both parks and plotting out the rides you'd want to have. Make a checklist so you won't spend too much time thinking where to go next. For example, you start with Disneyland and accomplish at least 5 rides, and then hop to California Adventure and at least have a go at 10 rides, and then go back to Disneyland for the remaining rides. So you'll have a more concrete idea, visit this website.

⑤ If you're visiting for more than three days, consider getting three- to five-day tickets . These are also available in 1-Park Per Day and Park Hopper options.

⑥ If you're at Disneyland multiple times in a year, consider getting an Annual Passport . At the very least, all of them offer free parking.

You can also get discounts on your tickets if you're a resident of Southern California, if you're an AAA and CSAA member, or if you're a member of the military. You can even get a discount simply by being Canadian!

Power of the Passes

Navigating Disneyland or California Adventure would be made extra special when you use the power of the passes. The key here is to have a strategy how to properly use these passes for the ultimate Disneyland experience.

Tip #10  - Consider buying passes when planning a trip to Disneyland.

A pass reserves you a place in line so you don’t have to be physically in line. You can use one type of pass or a combination of passes to beat the long wait times while making more use of your time.

①  FASTPASS  assigns a Return Time on your ticket. All you have to do is be at the entrance of the ride (at your designated time) to skip the line. Now you can go ahead and do a Disney Princess selfie spree with the kids.

We recommend getting a FastPass for rides that usually have longer waiting time. For example, if Haunted Mansion has a 10-minute wait while Indiana Jones Adventure has 60-minute wait, get a FastPass for Indy while you enjoy the Haunted Mansion. You can check out this website for a guide to using FastPass at Disneyland, if you're a newbie.

②  Rider Switch  or also known as the "stroller pass" are best for groups who have kids of mixed ages and/or heights. With this pass, one group goes on the ride first, while the next group waits until the "switch" to get on the ride without having to line up again.

Take a look at Disneyland's website to know which attractions offer Rider Switch. Take note of the height requirements so you can plan accordingly.

③  MaxPass  combines the FASTPASS and  PhotoPass  and can be accessed using the Disneyland app.

The best rides to use this pass is for Radiator Springs Racers, Toy Story Midway Mania, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Space Mountain. Visit this website if you want to know the best MaxPass tips for Disneyland .

Where to Stay

Whether you've just arrived from the airport or exhausted from a fun-filled whole day of activities in Disneyland, what you want to do is just rest and relax. We've got just the right tips for you on where to stay.

Tip #11 - Stay on-site for a magical Disney experience .

If you have a couple bucks to spare, staying in one of the three-on site Disneyland Resort hotels will be a one-of-a-kind magical experience for you. You can choose among Disneyland Hotel , Disney's Grand Californian Hotel , or Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel . Whatever you choose, you'll get to enjoy their awesome Disney themes, which will be extra fun for the kids!

Note: All these hotels are temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Be sure to check their website for updates.

Tip #12 - Stay off-site if you're on a budget.

Staying on property is not the only way to fully enjoy your trip to Disneyland. There are a lot of budget-friendly places to stay near the park that will make the experience worth your while. And out of those many places, we rounded up the Top 5 Best Budget-Friendly Places to Stay Near Disneyland for Families.

Packing & Essentials to Bring

Another important thing that will make your Disneyland trip a memorable and not stressful one, is having all the essentials packed and ready for your adventure. Trust us, it's not that difficult. Allow us to show you how to pack your travel essentials like a pro.

Tip #13 - Use a packing list.

Such a trip as magical as this deserves to be well-planned, let alone well-packed. You might be too excited to get everything in the suitcase so having a packing list will be best to make sure you've got all the essentials you need. Good thing we have a free printable Disneyland packing list at the end of this post  that you can use. You're welcome!

Tip #14 - Prepare a Disney Daily Essentials kit.

This kit will have all the items that you'll reach for during your day at the park, such as: chargers, tissues, lip balm, snacks, reading glasses, poncho, hat, sunglasses, sweater, etc.  

Tip #15 - Organize with packing cubes.

Disneyland is a mission - and the only way to survive it is with careful planning and strategic packing.  One organizing trick used by seasoned jetsetters is packing cubes . It will help you prevent over packing, save space, and organize items into different color cubes. Its see through design will also get you through TSA faster.

Here’s how you can use each cube in our  Starter Set :

✔️ Extra Small Cube  - Perfect to organize your toiletries (it's TSA approved!), makeup, first aid kit, cords and chargers, and other travel size items! 

✔️ Small Cube   -  Roll your shirts, tank tops, leggings, tights, and other flimsy piece of clothing into this spacious cube.

✔️   Medium Cube   - You can use this to organize your jeans, shorts, jackets, and it can also double as your Disney Daily Essentials kit.

✔️ Large Cube -  Pack a change of clothes, cardigan / light sweater, raincoat or poncho, some snacks and a hat.

Apps to Download

Having trouble locating a ride? How about keeping track of your FASTPASS tickets? Wouldn't you love to know how long a line is before you get there? You’ll want to download some helpful Disney trip planner (and time saving) apps onto your phone pronto. Make use of apps when visiting Disneyland.

Tip #16 - Use a family locator app for kids' safety.

The GPS feature of Life360 lets you know exactly where everyone is in real time. You can upgrade to the premium version if you want to use it after your Disneyland visit. Make sure to install this on your kids' phones (if they're old enough to have one). Also a good tracker if ever they lose their phone.  

Tip #17 - Get the official Disneyland resort app for park navigation.

The Disneyland Resort App  can do it all - check wait times, buy park tickets, locate rides via GPS-enabled maps, monitor FASTPASS return times, skip ticket lines, make and manage reservations, order food ahead of time, locate favorite characters, and so much more!

Tip #18 - Download RideMax to create your own Disneyland itinerary.

RideMax is only $14.95 for 90-day subscription and it's available for Android & iOS. When you subscribe it can help you create a personalized time-efficient itinerary based on the attractions you want to visit. This will save you loads of time!

Tip #19 - Install SNOW to take fun selfies!

You can download SNOW for free on  Android & iOS  users. Up your selfie game with the kids by adding stickers to your photos. You can also use different face filters on your videos.

Tip #20 - Install FaceDance to keep the kids entertained in line

This app is free for  Android  users . It's like Dance Dance Revolution for your face. That alone should explain how this game will keep your kids entertained. It's a fun way to take their attention off the long line and just enjoy every moment. Check it out here .

Pro Tip:  Just keep in mind, that the park-wide guest wifi service is still in the testing phase, so these apps' are still dependent on your data service in the area.

Where to Get Freebies

Who doesn't love freebies!? And yes, there are still free things in this world. You just need the right tips to be able to find it. And we've listed some helpful tips down below just for you!

Tip #21  - Know where and how to get freebies!

While it may be the happiest place on earth, it certainly isn't the cheapest. So, if you're on a tight budget, make sure to load up on all the freebies you can get to enjoy your Disneyland trip. Make sure to do your research and try them out during your visit. We've got a couple of them listed here!

Tip #22 - Request a FREE planning DVD.

This planning DVD contains an overview of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line, which you can use to plan your upcoming trip. These videos help you prepare and get oriented before your appointed visit. Make sure to request the videos as soon as possible because it usually takes quite a while on Disney's end to process it.

Tip #23 - Pick up Special buttons for special occasions.

Disney's Special Buttons (e.g. 1st visit to Disneyland button, Birthday button) entitles you to  more free stuff . Like a makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a part in the Princess and the Frog show, autographed card from Disney characters, and so much more. You can find these buttons at your Disneyland Resort hotel, at the City Hall or Guest Relations as you enter the park.

Tip #24 - Visit Pacific Wharf for chocolates, bread, and more!

If you find yourself at the Pacific Wharf, don't miss out on  free chocolate from Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop  and  free bread from the Boudin Bread Factory . Afterwards, if you're feeling thirsty, there are also places where you can get  free water . But if soda is more your thing,  Club Cool in Epcot’s Future World serves free fountain drinks .

Tip #25 - Find a cast member.

Finding a cast member almost always guarantees that you can get something for free. For example, you can get a balloon (as well as a replacement balloon, if the first one popped), stickers, trading cards, a map of the Jungle Cruise, ice cream, even cotton candy.

Other Tips & Hacks!

Here are other equally important tips and hacks that you can use for your Disneyland adventure!

Tip #26 - Pack your own snacks.

Whether you're on the road to Disneyland or walking around the park, the last thing you want is a  hangry  pack of kids (and adults).

If you're coming from out of town, you can fill a  Medium Packing Cube  with all your snacks for the days ahead. If you plan to be at the Disney parks for more than a day, you can take a  Small Packing Cube  with the snacks you need just for that day and leave the rest in the hotel room!

When packing snacks, choose snacks that are in spill-proof containers, don't need extra utensils to eat, and that have some kind of substance (protein). Avoid the sugary snacks that will make the kids even more hungry the next hour. Some of our healthy favorites include granola bars, trail mix, nuts, dried fruits, crackers and sandwiches.  

If you're on a budget, you can use a  Large Packing Cube  to pack a few breakfast items (granola, fruit, yogurt, etc) which will come in handy, if your hotel doesn't offer a complimentary breakfast.

Tip #27 - Prepare your kids for “getting lost”

We can share all Disneyland planning tips we have so you can enjoy your trip, but we all know that the only hack a parent really needs is how to keep a peace of mind . Pre-trip, prepare your children for the possibility that they might get separated from you in the park. Here are some tips on what to do in emergency situations. 

① Print a map , marking a specific location where they should go to in case they get separated from you.

② Use a temporary tattoo to write your phone number on your child, or a lanyard or a  button  with all your important contact info.

③ Dress them in brightly colored or distinct clothing which you can spot a mile away in a crowd.

In case they need medical help:

In case they require special assistance:

Disneyland's website has a pretty comprehensive guide on the  services they offer for guests that require special assistance, including suggested attractions that are safe to ride as per your child's condition.

Tip #28 - Expect that things will go wrong.

If you're traveling with kids, this goes without saying. But it doesn't have to be a bad thing. In fact you can use, what may seem like an unfortunate situation, as an opportunity to teach your kids valuable life lessons.

You can show them how to be creative problem solvers. Or how to exercise patience when faced with frustrating situations. Or simply how to appreciate the magic of being together at the happiest place on Earth.

Your Disneyland trip will definitely be made extra special when you follow these tips and tricks! Make sure to check their website or follow their Facebook page  to get the latest updates on their reopening date.

Safe travels soon!

P.S. Want more travel tips? Check out our post on The Best Travel Tips: 100 Ways to Travel Smart (er)!

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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 May 1, 2024.)

Let’s start with all of the latest update, which is that a couple of seasonal events are now underway with Star Wars Season of the Force running through June 2 at Disneyland and Pixar Fest continuing until August 4, 2024 at both parks. Of the two events, Pixar Fest is definitely bigger, with a new daytime parade at DCA, refreshed fireworks at Disneyland, plus dance parties and character meet & greets in both parks.

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. Following spring break season, the parks were definitely quieter in April, but it wasn’t consistent every single day–or even within days. For example, we were in the parks every day from April 27-30. Every single day during that stretch, wait times were low and crowds were slow in the morning.

The big difference is that there were massive evening rushes on a couple of days, to the point that one night DCA felt every bit as busy as during spring break. On another two days, even the nighttime hours were peaceful (at least comparatively speaking). It doesn’t help that Magic Key sales are now wide open, ticket deals are back, and park reservations are frequently fully booked (only to open more availability last minute). All of this can make crowds less predictable and more scattershot.

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. Choosing less busy dates is important and that’ll continue to be the case even if pent-up demand fizzles out, but to the above points, you only have so much control. Trying to completely avoid crowds can be a fool’s errand, as they’re impossible to perfectly predict.

This is something we even admit in our totally free 2024 Disneyland Crowd Calendars . Those 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.

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.

The Magic Happens daytime parade is 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. As of Summer 2024, Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular has returned for Pixar Fest. This is a fun show with new music and added scenes from Turning Red, Onward, Soul, and other movies that have come out in the last 4 years.

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 overhauled 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. See our Pixar Place Hotel Review for 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 next big attraction on the horizon is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure , which opens at Disneyland in late 2024. Our expectation–based on visible progress as compared to the version of the same ride at Walt Disney World (which opens this summer)–is that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will debut at Disneyland between mid-October and Thanksgiving 2024.

Looking even further down the road, at some point sometime before 2030 (maybe?), an Avatar experience is coming to Disneyland . This is part of the nebulous DisneylandForward proposal, which is on the precipice of being fully-approved by the Anaheim City Council in May 2024. More details are expected at the D23 Expo in August.

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. 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

Do you have any thoughts/tips related to Ontario’s airport? We got a great deal on flights and are flying into Ontario in September. I used to live in LA, and while I have been to every other So Cal airport, I have never been there.

My husband and I are planning a trip back to Disneyland this year. We are debating whether to fly or drive (we live in Utah). We stayed at a hotel across the street last time and it was a lifesaver with two toddlers and a stroller, so we plan to stay there again. We would both prefer to fly, but our dilemma is we have 3 and 1 year olds who will need carseats. Is there a shuttle or rental company that would provide carseats to and from the airport (SNA or LGB) so we could avoid having to rent a car for the whole trip?

I am planning a trip to Disneyland for my husband and I’s first trip. We typically go to Disney World yearly. We’re going during a very busy week December 19th-24th and bought 4 day park hopper tickets with Genie+. Do you have a strategy for the parks for this time of year? I’m a bit nervous as we’ve never been this time of year. This is one of the only times we’re able to go though. Do you think the parks will be achievable in 4 days? Would you do 2 days in each park?

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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Tips for Planning a Trip To Disneyland

Posted on Published: 11/16/2023

If you are a regular reader here, you know that I am a frequent traveler to Walt Disney World in Florida. I’ve been so many times that it’s fairly easy for me to plan a Walt Disney World vacation, because I know exactly what to do, and where I’ll want to go when I’m there.

In recent years, I finally had the chance to plan a trip to Disneyland, and while there are some similarities, there are lots of things you’ll need to know. Since my first trip to Disneyland several years ago, I’ve returned multiple times and have always loved my visits.

Disneyland, with its two theme parks and central Anaheim location, is very different from Walt Disney World . So, if you are planning a trip to Disneyland, you’ll want to do your research and some planning in advance so that you’ll be prepared.

This post contains affiliate links. A purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.

I visited Disneyland as part of the AWESome Retreat conference and Mastermind and received complimentary admission and some media perks. I have also received a complimentary stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim. I’ve also paid my own way several times.

Save money on your Disneyland California tickets and your Southern California vacation by booking through  Get Away Today . You can also save $10 on your Southern California vacation of 2 days or more with the code FTM10. 

Planning a Trip To Disneyland

Before planning a trip to Disneyland, it’s a good idea to review the two parks – Disney’s California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park. There are different shows, rides, restaurants, and other attractions in each park, and you’ll want to have an idea of how much time you’ll want to spend in each park. Disneyland also offers Downtown Disney, and there are no water parks.

Planning Your Disneyland Vacation 

Unlike Walt Disney World, you probably don’t need to spend quite as much time at Disneyland Resort. The two parks are adjacent to each other, and you can easily walk from one to the other multiple times per day. For our family, I’d probably plan for a three-day trip, although you can even get quite a bit done in just one day.

Before you go, you’ll want to do some research. What time does Disneyland open during your trip? If it’s open late, and you can stay up late, you can get a lot more done. You’ll also want to look at dates and crowd levels.

As you’d expect, weekends, holidays, and school vacations (including summer) can be more crowded. While I wouldn’t completely avoid those dates (sometimes it’s unavoidable), it’s important to know so you are prepared for long waits. You can see the best times to visit Disneyland here .

Disneyland Discount Tickets

When purchasing your Disneyland tickets, you’ll definitely want to get a discount if possible. Our friends at Get Away Today offer discounted park tickets as well as Southern California vacation packages. Use this link to purchase , and you can get $10 off a valid vacation package with the code FTM10.

You’ll be able to buy a package that includes nights at an official Disneyland hotel or an off-property hotel. Third or fourth night free deals are offered at select off-property hotels. Saving money on your hotel and ticket means you’ll have more for souvenirs and food!

Even if you don’t book a vacation package, it’s best to buy your tickets in advance since you also will need a valid park reservation. Get your tickets early and go right to the park entrance.

When purchasing your tickets, you’ll have several options. You can choose the park hopper, which means you will be able to go to either park during the day. A standard ticket allows you admission to just one park.

I’d recommend getting the park hopper. Because the parks are so close together, you can go between them easily.

You’ll also select how many days you want to include on your tickets. If you’d like to experience most of the attractions, I think a three-day pass would be the best for a family. When visiting with my son, we went for three days and had a great time.

Hotels in Anaheim Close to Disneyland

There are lots of wonderful family-friendly hotels located on and off property in the Anaheim area near Disneyland . On property, you’ll find the following hotels:

• Disneyland Hotel
• Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel
• Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel

Like Walt Disney World, Disneyland also has Good Neighbor hotels . Many of these are located directly across the street from the parks, so they are incredibly convenient. Most are family-friendly chain hotels , so you’ll have a good idea of what to expect. These hotels are located right across from the parks:

• Anaheim Camelot Inn and Suites
• Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground
• Fairfield Inn by Marriott Anaheim Resort
• Homewood Suites by Marriott Anaheim Resort Convention Center
• Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance (also offers an outdoor water park)
• Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn
• The Anaheim Hotel
• Grand Legacy at the Park
• Springhill Suites Anaheim Resort Convention Center
• Westin Anaheim

During my most recent trip to Disneyland, I had the chance to do a complimentary stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground . This family-friendly hotel is about an eight-minute walk from the front entrance of Disneyland. I would definitely recommend staying there.

I’ve also stayed at the Westin Anaheim, and the Courtyard by Marriott – both were excellent. It’s best to choose the hotel that has the rooms and amenities (as well as price range) that best suit your family.

There are other Good Neighbor hotels that are located a bit further away. Some may offer shuttles. If you book a vacation package through the Get Away Today link listed above, you may be able to get a third or fourth night free.

The hotel we stayed at during my first trip, the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel , was located about 20 minutes away from the parks. They offered complimentary shuttle service throughout the day, but it was on a set schedule and you needed to book it in advance.

If your hotel offers a shuttle, check to see what the schedule and process is. Some may have a separate fee.

Wondering if you need a car during your Disneyland vacation? If you are just visiting the theme parks and are staying within walking distance, you won’t need a car. During my four-night visit with my son, we didn’t have a car and just walked to the parks and Downtown Disney.

Planning Disneyland Dining

Disneyland, like Walt Disney World, offers a wide variety of dining options. While quick-service restaurants don’t take or require reservations, the table service restaurants do accept reservations. It’s a good idea to make reservations well in advance to ensure availability.

Reservations can be made 60 days in advance by calling (714) 781-DINE or by booking online. This is a much shorter window than Walt Disney World, making it easier to make more last-minute vacation plans.

There are lots of different dining venues, including character dining , hotel restaurants, themed dining, and Downtown Disney restaurants. There are also several dining packages that give you priority access to some of the shows.

Mobile ordering on the Disneyland app is available at many of the quick service venues. Order on the app, and select an arrival window. When you are ready to pick up, indicate that on the app and then go to the special mobile order window and provide your order number.

During my visit, I made sure to get two iconic Disneyland snacks – the Mickey Shaped Beignets and a Dole Whip. Both were delicious!

If you are most familiar with Walt Disney World, I’ve found that Disneyland dining is a bit different. There are fewer must-try table service restaurants, with lots of good quick-service options. Therefore, you may not need to make as many table service reservations.

My must-try restaurants at Disneyland are the Lamplight Lounge at Disney’s California Adventure (make a brunch reservation on the weekend), and Blue Bayou at Disneyland Park.

Airports Near Disneyland

When it’s time to book your airfare, you may be wondering which airports are near Disneyland. Luckily, you’ll have some choices. While Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the largest and most popular, there are other small airports that may be easier.

Long Beach Airport (LBG) is a small airport that is so easy to fly in and out of. I flew through there on Jetblue and found it to be so convenient.

John Wayne Airport (SNA) is another option that is relatively small and convenient. Other options in the area are Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and Ontario International Airport (ONT). If you are visiting San Diego , you can also fly through that airport.

In the past, guests flying into LAX or SNA could take the Disneyland Resort Express, which was offered for an additional fee. Unfortunately, that service has been discontinued. See more details here .

Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane

To maximize your time in the parks, you may want to take advantage of Genie+ and the individual lightning lanes.

Unlike the old Fastpass system, Genie+ is not free. It’s closest to the old Maxpass program. You can add this to your tickets, and it’s completely options.

Once you have Genie+ on your ticket, you can use it to book return times through the Lightning Lanes. While you may still have to wait in a short line, it’s definitely going to be a shorter wait.

Individual lightning lanes are a separate purchase available for the most popular attractions. Again, these are optional but will save you time. The current attractions with an individual lightning lane are Radiator Springs Racers and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Learn more about Genie+ and individual lightning lane here .

Attractions at Disneyland

I love the rides at any theme park, so I was most excited to experience the attractions. There are so many different options – from kiddie rides to thrill rides.

You’ll want to research these in advance so you know what your must-dos are. If you are a Walt Disney World fan, you’ll definitely want to do those attractions that are different. Here are my top rides at Disneyland .

Disneyland offers nine themed lands: Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square, Fantasyland, ToonTown, Adventureland, Main Street USA, Frontierland, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Critter Country.

In Disney California Adventure, you’ll find Buena Vista Street, Hollywood Land, Cars Land , Grizzly Peak, Avenger’s Campus , Paradise Garden Park, and Pixar Pier . I absolutely loved the theming of Cars Land – it looks exactly as I’d expect Radiator Springs to look!

Events at Disneyland Resort

Disneyland is home to several events during the year. These include the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, which was taking place during several of my visits. During this festival, you can visit various kiosks to purchase drinks and food samples.

We ended up eating both lunch and dinner at the California Adventure Food and Wine Festival. I had some delicious food, like the Salt and Vinegar Parmesan Chicken Wings, the Shrimp Boil Tacos, and the Verlasso Sustainable Salmon Peruvian Poke with Cucumber-Lime Salad and Aji Verde Salsa. The offerings for the California Adventure Food and Wine Festival change each year.

Downtown Disney

In addition to the two parks, there’s also Downtown Disney. It offers dining, shopping, and entertainment, including Splitsville Lanes. Tickets aren’t required to visit Downtown Disney, so it’s a great place to visit on your first day if you don’t want to buy tickets to the theme parks. There are also some fantastic restaurants for lunch or dinner.

Quick Tips for Planning a Disneyland Vacation

• Book your vacation package (purchase through Get Away Today with the discount code FTM10) and decide whether you want to stay on or off property.
• Plan your flights looking at all of the nearby airports to get the best prices.
• Book your dining reservations 60 days out.
• Download the Disneyland app and create an account.
• Develop a Genie+ plan if you are thinking of purchasing it.
• Enjoy your vacation!

Visiting Disneyland CA? Click to see all of our Disneyland posts with reviews, tips, overviews of the best rides, and more.

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What is the best time of year to go to disneyland.

Plan to go between March and May or September and October. The temps are comfortably warm and American schools are still in session. Watch out for holidays we don’t have in Australia such as Thanksgiving (which takes place on the fourth Thursday in November) as the park gets properly crowded. 

How far is Disneyland from Los Angeles Airport (LAX)?

The Happiest Place on Earth is around 50 kilometres from LAX. 

What is the best way to get to Disneyland from Los Angeles airport (LAX)?

Shuttle services like LAX Airport Shuttle charges around $125 for the first person and around $18 per additional passenger up to nine passengers. An Uber X will cost you around $75.

How long should you stay at Disneyland?

You can do it in two days but we’d allow three to take queues into account and keep things at a leisurely place.

Where to stay at Disneyland?

There are three hotels in the park: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. Aside from the fact they are adjacent to the park, you get to enter 30 minutes before the place opens to the public - but bear in mind you will still need to purchase passes to the park. They also offer a service whereby any merch you pick up in the park will be delivered to your room the next day. More affordable options can be found nearby in properties and Disney has collated a bunch in its Good Neighbour collection.

How is Disneyland set up?

For generations of Australians, it was all about the classic Disneyland Park. It’s still thrumming with beloved attractions like the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and It’s A Small World as well as new ones such as Tale of The Lion King. Within Disneyland Park, you will also find Star Wars: Edge Of The Galaxy which comprises Star Wars: Rise Of The Resistance and Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run. An entirely separate universe to explore is the Disney California Adventure Park , home to the Avengers Campus, Incredicoaster and Radiator Springs Racers.

How much does a Disneyland visit cost?

After taking into account airfares, accomm, visa fees and travel insurance (an absolute must when visiting the United States), park passes start at approximately $150 per person for one day. Two-day passes start at around $190 per person before dropping to around $163, $134 and $113 for three, four and five day passes respectively. Bear in mind that you need to make a reservation for the park or parks you want to explore that day.

Can you pay to skip the queues at Disneyland?

Not really. You just get to join shorter ones. Certain rides have prebookable Lightning Lanes , where between $10 and $25 will get you priority access for up two attractions per day. Alternatively, the Disney Genie + service costs around $30 per ticket per day and can be used throughout a day to access Lightning Lanes. One of more notable features of the Genie + is the ability to select the next available arrival window via your mobile phone. 

What are the must-see attractions at Disneyland?

We’ve already mentioned some of the classic rides and we’re delighted to say that the parades curtailed by Covid are beginning to return. From November 11, 2022 to January 8, 2023, Main Street will host the Christmas Fantasy Parade. If superheroes are your jam you absolutely must check out the new Avengers Campus where you can explore the Inner Sanctum of Doctor Strange, go on a mission with Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy or sling some webs alongside Spidey.

What to pack for a trip to Disneyland?

Sneakers and socks are an obvious. You will be walking around heaps. One visitor on the discussion board Micechat pegged it at roughly nine kilometres a day. Best choose some that already have some miles on them. Water bottles are a must, as is sunscreen. Another item to have in your daypack is a portable battery to recharge your mobile as you will be taking bulk photos/videos. Throw in an autograph book for each child in tow - it’s a big thing at Disney - and spare a thought for the actors who had to learn how to sign their character names with massively gloved hands. Throw in some Band-aids for the inevitable blisters and some cheap ponchos because sometimes it even rains in Cali. Speaking of damp, some spare socks in case your feet get drenched on a ride are always a winner.

Do you tip at Disneyland?

Minnie don’t want your dollars. What kind of a mouse do you think she is? Save the gratuities for food service workers and hotel staff.

How to get around Disneyland?

Definitely download the official app help you find where you’re going, make ride or restaurant reservations, join virtual queues and more.

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Hi, what do I need to think about when planning a trip to Disney land LA? I am coming from Australia and am planning two days there. I have heard that you can pay more to skip queues - which ticket is that and can I buy that beforehand? ”

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Disneyland Genie+ 2024: Tested Tips to Experience the MOST!

Our 2024 guide to Disneyland Genie Plus shares what you need to know about the replacement of MaxPass & FastPass at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, Disney Genie Plus tips to formulate your park day, answers to frequently asked Genie Plus questions, the difference between Genie Plus and a la carte attractions, and what else is included in the new Genie Plus program.

The Disney Genie+ program is a paid service on the Disneyland app that includes 19 attractions across both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. The new service is very similar to the popular MaxPass service that was launched a couple of years ago.

Keep reading for information on tips for utilizing the new Disney Genie Plus system at Disneyland.

Discount Disneyland Tickets and Adding in Disney Genie+

Before we dive into the tips for experiencing more with Disney Genie Plus, I had to share my favorite way to save money at Disneyland and how to use them in concert with Disney Genie Plus. We have worked with our favorite Disney-approved ticket re-seller, Get Away Today, for over six years and they have been working with Disney for 31! They offer our readers exclusive discounts on Disneyland, plus their customer service and support are world class. And now, you can add Disney Genie+ to your tickets in advance through our travel partner. Just select the Genie+ option when you are booking your discount tickets.

They have an entire team dedicated to giving each guest a 10/10 experience before, during, and after your vacation.

You'll save big on Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Legoland, and more in Southern California and Orlando.

Book your discount tickets NOW >

When you purchase your tickets from Get Away Today, they will immediately send them to you electronically. You head directly to the gate with their email. No hassle!

What is the Genie Plus Service at Disneyland?

Disneyland Genie+ is a paid offering for Disneyland guests to skip the normal standby queue for 20 attractions at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Using Disney Genie Plus, guests can secure reservations for access to a shorter line called a Lightning Lane for select attractions.

This new replacement of FastPass at Disneyland is remarkably similar to the previous MaxPass program which essentially allows you to book return times from the Disneyland app for popular rides to wait in the newly named “Lightning Lanes” – the old FastPass queues – and avoid longer standby queues.

Disney Genie+ costs $25 per person, per day and includes access to 19 rides along with unlimited PhotoPass downloads. As of now, Disney has not announced any options for adding the Genie Plus service to Magic Key passes although Magic Key passes do receive a discount on purchasing it per day.

Get our FREE Genie+ printable with our best tips>

If you wait to purchase Genie Plus until you are in Disneyland, pricing will start at $25 per person but may vary depending on the date.  You may pay a higher price for Genie+ on busier days of the year which usually coordinate with peak travel times such as October during the Halloween season, the Holiday season, three day weekends, Spring break, etc. We have seen Disney Genie Plus cost $30 at Disneyland multiple times recently. This is just further reason to consider adding Genie+ to your discount Disneyland tickets .

Disneyland also offers individual attraction purchases to access the Lightning Lanes for select attractions not included in the Genie+ price. At the Disneyland Resort, these attractions are currently limited to Rise of the Resistance,   Radiator Springs Racers , and  Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway .

Read our guide to Disneyland Individual Lightning Lanes .

Below we dive into the Genie+ service, tips on how to best utilize it, what rides are included what Genie+, what prices to expect for individual attraction purchases and how to make the most of the complimentary services Genie provides!

What attractions are included with the Disneyland Disney Genie+ Program?

Here is the full list for both parks for attractions that are included with the Genie+ for $25 per person, per day. You can purchase Genie+ in the Disneyland app once you've entered the park or you can add it on to your tickets before you arrive! You can begin making your Lightning Lane reservations as soon as you enter the park.

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Haunted Mansion
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• “it's a small world”
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Millennium Falcon : Smugglers Run
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Disney California Adventure

• Goofy's Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
• Incredicoaster
• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
• Soarin' Around the World
• Toy Story Midway Mania
• WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

You can only ride each attraction once using the Genie+ selection . If you want to ride something again you will need to use the standby line. It's also important to know that if you don't show up for your specific time slot you reserved without canceling it, Genie+ won't let you book another one and consider it as your one ride. So if you can't make a reservation, make sure you cancel it so you can book another one later!

You can book a new reservation every two hours or once you've redeemed one. If you book a reservation that's more than two hours out in advance you will be able to book a new one at the two hour mark.

After you make a selection within the app you're also able to click the “Modify Plan” button to see other options for available attractions without canceling the original window. The modifications are only available within the same theme park. For instance if modifying Space Mountain you will be able to select from another attraction in Disneyland Park.

Disney Lightning Lanes – Premium “a la carte” Charge for Individual Attractions

Before I dive into my tips for Disney Genie Plus, it is important to know that there are three marque attractions not included with the base level of Disney Genie Plus.

For these attractions, guests are able to purchase and schedule special access to the Lightning Lanes.  This new premium up charge is similar to the Disneyland Paris FastPass paid offering , but on a much smaller scale. You will be able to book up to two return times each day for these high demand attractions starting when you enter the park for the next available arrival window.

At launch, this “a la carte” option will be offered at the following attractions:

• Star Wars : Rise of the Resistance
• Radiator Springs Racers

Initial pricing will be dynamic and can fluctuate depending on day and time but will range between $7-$20 for access for each attraction, per person. During our trip we paid $20 to skip the line for Rise of the Resistance.

This additional paid service is not for everyone but I will refrain from saying any option is “worth it” or not. Personally using our touring strategies I am confident in my ability to easily get on Radiator Springs Racers with a sub-20 minute wait, but there is less of guaranteed window to do this for Rise of the Resistance.

Disneyland Genie Plus Tips For Your 2024 Disneyland Trip

During my recent trip to Disneyland I finally got my hands on Disney Genie Plus so I can share the tips you need to know to plan out your trip.

As a long time Disneyland attendee and experienced park goer, the system was very familiar. The FastPass and MaxPass strategies you are familiar with largely still work. Let's dive into the top tips for using Disney Genie Plus at Disneyland.

Once you have entered Disneyland for the day you can make your first Disney Genie Plus reservation. Guests can hold one reservation at a time throughout the entire day within the Disneyland app. Again, this system is remarkably similar to MaxPass which I know is a big relief for many guests.

We had a great experience with the service on our recent trip! We visited on one of the busiest weekends during the holidays and never waited in a line longer than 20 minutes while experiencing everything that Disneyland has to offer.

Get all of these below tips and our most helpful advice on Genie+ in a convenient downloadable PDF.

Check out our Youtube video with all of our Genie Plus planning tips here:

Here are some actionable tips to take full advantage of Disney Genie Plus:

• Have a plan for using the new Disney Genie Plus in the morning. As we always say, it isn't as important which day of the year you visit Disneyland to avoid crowds, as much as it is important what time you arrive at the parks on the day you are visiting. Make sure you follow our Disneyland morning strategy or Disney California Adventure morning strategy to get the most out of your morning. Combining these strategies plus the new Disney Genie Plus service will supercharge your park day. You will want to arrive at least 45 minutes before official park opening and use the first hour of the day to experience attractions with little to no wait before using your first Disney Genie Plus Lightning Lane pass. On our recent trip on our Disneyland start day we rode in the standby queue for Space Mountain then rode Star Tours and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster twice before using our first Lightning Lane for Indiana Jones. On our Disney California Adventure start date we rode WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure (in the standby line), Toy Story Midway Mania twice, and Radiator Springs Racers ( in the Single Rider line ) before using our first Disney Genie Plus pass for the Incredicoaster.
• Pace out the Disney Genie Plus passes in your day! In some cases you'll have a Disneyland dining reservation or other planned experience like a Disneyland Parade and don't want a Genie Plus pass for an attraction at the time listed. Keep an eye on the app times to time out your Genie Plus passes. Unlike using Disneyland dining mobile order you cannot select a return time window and instead have to select the next available time.
• Pre-Purchase Disney Genie Plus on your tickets! You can either add Disney Genie Plus to your tickets each day of your trip or add them in advance when you purchase your tickets. I highly recommend you add Disney Genie Plus in advance to your multi-day tickets to avoid the hassle of scanning in your tickets and entering credit card information while you are trying to keep up with the rest of your group hustling down Main Street USA to get to your first attraction. Trust me, you'll want Disney Genie Plus each day of your trip so you should add it in advance when you purchase. Our travel partner, Get Away Today, provides our readers exclusive discounted Disneyland tickets and provides you the ability to add Disney Genie Plus in advance for the same price the service would be if you waited to fumble with it day of.
• Always be attentive to the opportunity to get a new Disney Genie Plus pass. You can only hold one Lightning Lane reservation (Disney Genie+ Pass) at a time. You can make a new pass reservation once you have utilized your other Genie Plus pass or 2 hrs have passed. Whichever comes sooner. If your next Disney Genie Plus pass reservation is more than 2 hrs away then I recommend setting a 2 hr timer on your phone so that you are alerted to get a new pass when it is time. The Disneyland app has now also been updated to include the time that you can next pull a Genie Plus reservation.
• Take advantage of large parties all traveling together! You can only make one reservation per attraction per day, but here's a good way around that for super fans of some attractions. In our group of five, a couple of people didn't want to experience “Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission – Breakout!”. In that case the two who did want to ride got to go twice because they still made reservations for everyone.
• Take advantage of your Disneyland Park Hopper ticket! If you a Disneyland park hopper ticket and are planning to switch parks in the afternoon (Park Hopping is permitted beginning at 1 pm each day), you should start looking at return times in the other park around noon. You can make a Disney Genie Plus reservation for an attraction in either park regardless of your location so long as your ticket has been scanned in for the day.
• DIFFERENT FROM FASTPASS! Take advantage of ride breakdowns. If an attraction breaks down during the time window that you have a Genie Plus return time for that attraction, your Genie Plus reservation will automatically turn into a Multiple Experience Pass. The top tier attractions at Disneyland are considered Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain and Matterhorn Bobsleds. If your reservation was for one of those rides, you will be able to use your pass on anything in the park except Peter Pan or Rise of the Resistance. If it was for another attraction, it will exclude those rides too as it wasn’t an e-ticket Genie+ reservation. At California Adventure, the e-ticket attractions are Toy Story Midway Mania and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. The pass is even better than it sounds! You can use it to walk up to any attraction exit that doesn't have a Lightning Lane and they will walk you in the exit. We had a couple of breakdowns and used these passes to walk in the exit of Snow White's Enchanted Wish, Jungle Cruise, and Pirates of the Caribbean. We also used one of these passes in a regular Lightning Lane – these passes are not tied to the same restrictions of only using at each attraction once per day. We rode Guardians of the Galaxy using the pass so that we could go multiple times.
• Use the Modify Plan Button. Disney recently added the “Modify Plan” button to attraction reservations so now you can click on modify and see what the other times are available for the same attraction or other attractions within the same park. This tip now allows you to keep refreshing the app to see if there are earlier return times for Genie Plus reservations. During a recent busy Saturday it worked something like this. I got a Genie Plus reservation for 5 pm for Space Mountain. It was only 10:45 am. I then kept clicking the modify button and refreshing this screen for a couple of tries and then a Space Mountain time popped up for 12:00 pm for our group. I immediately grabbed this and got on that ride much earlier than the original 5 pm time. I could have also grabbed a different time for another attraction. Be warned that you do have to be quick to grab the reservation quickly as it can disappear for the most popular attractions before you even click it. So, if you don't have a return time you like you can always go into the “Modify Plan” option to look for another option. This works best during the mid morning/early afternoon period when there is still some availability for attractions.

This is the exit to Jungle Cruise where we showed our Multiple Experience Pass (detailed directly above) in order to skip the queue.

How do you use the Disney Genie Plus app?

The Disneyland Genie Plus app can be confusing. The interface is a little clunky and it is not immediately clear how to navigate to an attraction you want to make a reservation for. The Disney Genie Plus system is burrowed within the free Disney Genie Plus tool so you'll see attractions with regular line wait times and options to purchase attractions a la carte interspersed with your options to secure a return time.

When you are first logging into the Disney Genie Plus system you will be prompted to select attractions that you are interested in for the day. This list of selections will be used to curate a personal dashboard within the app. Take a moment here to select the attractions that your group will want to experience and entertainment such as Disneyland fireworks or Disneyland parades you are interested in (I really like the feature that displays the next showtime for your selected entertainment). This list will then populate the attractions you want to experience at the top of the “Tip Board” screen. You can access this by selecting the hamburger menu button in the lower right hand corner of the screen.

Another tip that makes it easy to access attractions is to navigate to the screen from the map view. Select the attraction on the map and then click the Lightning Lane button to see the current wait times.

How much does Disney Genie Plus at Disneyland cost?

As of October 11th, Genie+ at Disneyland costs $25 per person, per day when purchased in advance as an add-on for ticket and vacation packages. If you wait to purchase Genie Plus until you are in Disneyland, pricing will start at $25 per person but may vary depending on the date.  This variable prices means you can likely expect to see an increase for Genie+ on peak travel times of the year such as busier weeks during Halloween, the Holiday season, three day weekends, Spring Break, etc.

Because of the variable pricing, you may want to consider adding Genie+ to your discount Disneyland tickets . Generally I am pleased with the cost and scope of the new service.

You also have the option to pay for individual one time access to Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers. Previously WEB Slingers: A Spiderman Adventure was an individual purchase attraction but now it is included with the purchase of Genie Plus.

How does the Disneyland DAS program work with Disney Genie+ for guests with disabilities?

The existing Disability Access Service program remains unchanged except for the addition of new enhancements! Now guests are able to pre-enroll in the program before arrival and reserve their attraction return times via the app. This is a huge improvement for DAS guests so they don't have to walk back and forth across the park finding cast members to issue return times.

Guests can utilize live video chat to register for the program with a cast member up to 30 days in advance of their visit. During the video chat, guests can also select two experiences per day using the new DAS advance planning option.

But the same in-person DAS program will continue so if you don't want to use the app for return times you won't have to! You can read more about options for guests with disabilities at Disneyland in our guide.

What else is included with Disney Genie+ program?

The Disneyland Disney Genie+ program also includes free Disneyland PhotoPass downloads and exclusive audio tours of the parks with Walt Disney Imagineers and special guests. People loved the extra perks of the Disneyland PhotoPass downloads for MaxPass. This is a great additional offering.

During our trip testing out Disney Genie+ we really enjoyed the PhotoPass option. We stopped at about 4 different photographers during our two day trip and also were able to load in the in on-ride photos. We could then download these professional grade photos! A great feature.

More Disneyland Genie Plus Frequently Asked Questions

Is disney genie plus worth the money for disneyland and disney california adventure.

We highly recommend Disney Genie Plus for guests trying to fit as much as possible into their Disneyland vacation. Unlike Walt Disney World (where we say you don't need Disney Genie Plus for every park), both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have plenty of attractions to make the service worthwhile. ( Read about Disney Genie Plus at Walt Disney World here ).

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have a low enough of density of guests using the Genie Plus service that there is plenty of availability for return times for attractions throughout the day.

How should we utilize Disney Genie Plus in our Disneyland and Disney California Adventure day?

We have a full Disneyland morning strategy and Disney California Adventure morning strategy outlining the perfect itinerary to kick off your day right at both parks. These strategies also provide the right tips to get you started using Genie Plus.

Can you select return times for Lightning Lanes and a la carte Lightning Lanes?

No. Unlike the mobile order return times in the Disneyland app, you cannot book a specific time window for either a Disney Genie Plus Lightning Lane selection or an a la carte Lightning Lane .

When can I make a Lightning Lane selection at Disneyland?

Guests can make a Lightning Lane selection immediately after scanning into the theme park. It does not have to be after the official park opening time to make your first selection – often the parks will open 30 mins before the official opening to allow guests into the park for rope drop.

Can one person make Disneyland Genie Plus Lightning Lane selections for the entire group?

Yes. Once all members of the group have signed into Disneyland, one member of the group can make Disneyland Genie Plus reservations for each member of the group from their Disneyland app. The group leader can connect all of the tickets to their Disneyland app.

What if some people in the group don't want to experience a particular attraction?

When making a Lighting Lane reservation you can either remove the members of the group that don't want to ride the specific attraction or you can get the Disney Genie Plus reservation for their ticket and use it to allow others in the group to experience the attraction multiple times. Remember that each ticket can only be used once per day to experience each attraction so don't use another person's Genie Plus redemption if they plan on riding later.

How does park hopping work with Disney Genie Plus at Disneyland/Disney California Adventure?

As we outlined in the tips above, the best way to get the most value out of the Disneyland Genie Plus service is through Park Hopping.

Another quirk here – if you try to make a Genie Plus reservation for an attraction before 1 pm when Park Hopping is allowed, the return time will automatically be moved to 1-2 pm. We just experienced this during our last trip. We started our day in Disneyland Park but my sister wanted to ride Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! in Disney California Adventure so she went to make a Lightning Lane reservation. The reservations were still for some time around noon (before the 1 pm park hopping). When she went to make the reservation for the attraction it automatically move the return time to 1-2 pm.

Should I be worried about my phone battery after being on the Genie Plus all day?

In a short answer, yes! While you only have to be on your phone every 1-2 hrs for Disney Genie Plus you'll also want to be utilizing Disneyland mobile order , checking wait times, and playing games (we love Headsup) in line.

Combine the use of the Genie Plus service with the likelihood that you'll be taking photos and video all day at Disneyland. In our Disneyland packing list , we recommend you carry a battery pack with you in the parks. Whenever I am in Disneyland I carry the Anker PowerCore 1000 to replenish my (and my group's) phone batteries throughout the day. I can't recommend this high quality yet inexpensive (only $25) battery pack enough.

You could also consider setting up a Disneyland MagicBand+ to store your ticket so that you don't have to take your phone out every time.

How do the a la carte Lighting Lane purchases and the Disney Genie Plus Lightning Lane reservation interact?

The individual a la carte Lightning Lane purchases are completely separate from the individual Disney Genie Plus Lightning Lane reservations system. This means that there is no waiting required to book either of the other lanes. For instance, if you buy access to Rise of the Resistance there will be no impact on your next Lightning Lane reservation time.

How does park hopping with Disney Genie Plus work?

Disney made a change to the way that park hopping works with Disneyland Genie Plus. Previously guests could book a Genie Plus reservation for an attraction in the other park and it would automatically shift their reservation back to sometime after park hopping was allowed (1 pm).

This policy has now changed. Guests will no longer be able to book attractions on Genie+ in the other park before the attraction return times have passed 1 pm. You will now have to keep an eye on the app to catch when the return times have crept past the 1 pm mark. This change was already made at Walt Disney World .

This is all a little nuanced and is an edge case, but does impact the way you'll use the program on park hopping days. Here's examples of what the process was previously and will be now.

In practice this meant that if you saw that Soarin' Over the World had an 11 am return time and you were in Disneyland

• Before: If you were in Disneyland and park hopping to Disney California Adventure – you could book a return time for Soarin' Over the World that was for 10AM and the Genie+ system would then automatically shift your return time back to 1 pm or later
• With Change: Same scenario, if you are in Disneyland and going to park hop to Disney California Adventure – you would have to monitor the Soarin' Over the World Disney Genie Plus return times in the Disneyland app until the Genie+ return time passes 1 pm and then book that attraction

This is an added layer of complexity for those who were park hopping, but with the amount of attractions at the Disneyland Resort on Disney Genie Plus I don't expect this will too much of an impact.

Read our more complex answer to this to Genie Plus question – does Genie Plus sell out at Disneyland? for details on when the service has sold out and how to avoid it happening to you.

Disneyland Free Disney Genie Program Overview

The Disney Genie service is a new itinerary planning tool that allows guests to customize their days by either selecting all their favorite Disneyland experiences that they want to optimally experience throughout their day or picking specific character themes and allowing Disney to customize your day.

How can Disneyland MagicKey Annual Passholders add Disney Genie Plus to their passes?

The Disneyland Disney Genie Plus program is available to Disneyland Magic Key Passholders on a per day basis. Disney has said that they are exploring adding the option to allow pass holders to add the Disney Genie Plus to their pass. Much of the reason that the Disneyland Genie Plus service operates so much more smoothly than the Walt Disney World Genie Plus service is that fewer people take advantage of Genie Plus because of the large Magic Keyholder population. Based on this finding, I do not expect that we will see a Genie Plus yearly add on available very soon.

What about people who do not purchase Disney Genie+?

Standby queues remain the same for all attractions so guests can utilize those. If you're following one of our touring strategies for the morning , you know how easily you can knock out long wait rides quickly that way!

Regardless if you pay to upgrade to Disney Genie Plus, all guests have access to the Disney Genie app services that are included for all guests. These services include:

• Personalized itinerary planning
• Continually updated tip board
• Forecasted future and current wait times for attractions
• Virtual assistant
• Mobile order
• Restaurant wait list, check in and reservations
• Attraction virtual queues (available at select attractions)

Disney Genie offers many of the same features as the Disneyland app already does but with additional benefits!

Personalized Itinerary Planning

• Guests tells Genie what their interests and must dos are based on selecting individual rides/experiences OR picking a specific a profile (princesses/thrill rides/etc.)
• Genie will remember guest preferences and what has been experienced already in their visit

Once a guest has selected their plan and preferences, Genie will create a personalized itinerary based on the availability of experiences, existing plans the guest may have like dining reservations and forecasted wait times for attractions. This optimized plan will take into account walking distance, wait times, park hopping plus any additional preferences like height requirements and accessibility. The app is also careful to consider how many people are being recommended to do certain experiences at once so it's not directing everyone to do the same thing at the same time.

Guests also have the ability to swap, remove or add any additional experiences to their day giving you full flexibility of this itinerary. Genie will also explain why its recommending experiences with a “Why This?” feature so you know what the reasoning is for the order of the recommendations. For instance, it may recommend an indoor show with air conditioning in the afternoon!

There is also the option to ask a cast member in the app if you have questions as you go along your day!

Included with the Genie planning service is the Tip Board feature which gives guests an overview of:

• Standby wait times
• Available mobile order pick up times and dining reservations/join walk ups
• Attraction Status
• Entertainment Showtimes
• Virtual queue options

Disney has mentioned they've also been forward thinking about cell phone battery usage when developing these features. Using Genie will not continuously drain your cell phone battery as it will only reoptimize your plan when opening the app, it will not be running the background. So this shouldn't have too large of an impact on your cell batteries.

Plan Your Disneyland Vacation!

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Click the links below for more planning information on Disneyland Halloween and more!

• Disneyland Halloween Guide
• Where to Find Discount Disneyland Tickets 2021 Information
• Universal Studios Hollywood Tips and Tricks
• Best Places to Eat at Disneyland
• Disneyland Christmas Guide
• Disney FastPass Price – Disney Genie+ vs Old FastPass
• Disneyland Park hours and Disney California Adventure park hours

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About Gavin Doyle

Gavin Doyle is a best-selling author and founder of Mickey Visit. He is an expert on helping families save money and experience more at Disney, Universal, and beyond. He has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, ABC7, Travel+Leisure, the OC Register, Orange County Register, LA Times, Yahoo! News, and more.

Education: University of Southern California Favorite Ride: Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout! at Disney California Adventure

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40 comments add your comment

You’ll never be able to make up for the losses you had. Your making almost impossible for a family of 4 to visit. This will be the last time I will ever vist

The legacy Signature Plus annual passports included MaxPass at no additional charge. Do you think Disney Genie Plus will be included with the higher end Magic Key pass the same way…with no additional charge?

From what we have heard so far, the Disney Genie Plus service will only be available on a per day basis. On the plus side, there will not be that many people using the service at all and you’l have a great experience when you do choose to use it.

Yeah this is a make or break item for me – if the top magic key pass includes Genie in the price (and I’m still not clear on photos), then I will buy it. Otherwise, I am out. Those were the items that really made the Signature Plus pass worth it, unless you were going during the holidays.

Only 1 reservation at a time, that is not exciting news. So disappointed in Disney charging for everything! I will not be paying $20 a day per person for a fastpass.

That’s Dylan White… the best genie Disneyland ever had

I know where that Genie picture is from! It’s ME! I played the Genie in Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at Disney California Adventure for ten years!

Dylan, thank you for commenting along! Your show was incredible and always a highlight of our visits.

I might just go make a TikTok about this. We are @DisneylandSecrets on there. I have been enjoying your jokes.

I’d love to see you take some of the jokes from the show and try out some current cultural references on TikTok.

Thanks Gavin! Very helpful

do we know if you can have a genie reservation and a paid reservation at the same time?

Yes, that will be likely!

No one seems to be looking at this problem. The average park visit is 9 hours in a day. Most cell phones batteries with moderate to heavy use will be quickly depleted in less than that time. You’re rolling out an app and program which is entirely dependent upon the use of a smart phone, yet you have no public charging stations? So on top of my additional ticket costs, now I have to purchase heavy duty back up battery packs for all 6 of my family members? And as many others have said, the signal in the park and app performance during high crowds is abysmal. Finally, as far as the elephant in the room, how dare a company who promotes their guest experience as ‘magical’ place a poor tax on the families who struggle and save for years to give their children a once in a lifetime vacation? These parents will be forced to tell their children that they couldn’t afford to pay (or in my case chose NOT to pay) for the privilege of stepping over others. When Universal rolled out their version of this caste system, we were shocked and said many times how that personified the difference between Universal and Disney’s Mission Statement. Sadly, Disney has fallen to that level. What was once a place where everyone could have an equally magical experience upon passing through the park gates will now turn into everyone looking down at their phones frantically trying to get the best rides and enjoying nothing.

Could not have said this better.

I think you have over-dramatized this A LOT. First off, only one person in your party needs a good charged phone. Not all 6. Secondly, if you can’t be cool standing in the normal lines, there is a problem. If you parent your kids well, they won’t even know what they are missing. If you tell the kids that you can’t afford to make it go faster, well then, that’s on you.

Exactly! I think this is horrible for Disney to do to people.

When will this and lightning lane be starting? And how to you add it to your ticket?

No official date set yet, all Disney has said is it will start in Fall.

Are there fast passes at all until genie rolls out or is it all standby aside from the virtual queues? I’m going on the 18th and if Disneyland goes with the 19th too it could be a kind of fun last day before genie launches!

Until Genie begins all the lines are standby only.

Where can I find information about wheelchairs and access to lines? has this changed at all with Genie? Also – do I have to/can I reserve one on the app?

If there are five of us in the group (including 3 kids), do we all need Genie if we want to use it? Or can one person make the Genie reservation for all 7 of us?

Great question! Everyone has to purchase Disney Genie Plus, but the Disney Genie Plus passes can all be managed from one person’s Disneyland App. That person will have the option to make reservations for attractions for all or just some of the people in the group.

I don’t quite get this point you made “In our group of five, a couple of people didn’t want to experience “Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission – Breakout!”. In that case the two who did want to ride got to go twice because they still made reservations for everyone. ”

So the two people who got to ride twice . . . does the lighting lane reservation transfer between the tickets? Do the people who wanted to ride go on the ride then the two that didn’t get to transfer the reservation over to the ones that already rode it. . . . sorry I just don’t quite see how you do this and wondering if you could explain it in a bit more detail. Thanks!

The Genie reservations appear in the app when you make them and you can scan in to the attractions to redeem with the app or the your physical ticket. We had all the tickets scanned into one phone. The people who wanted to use the other reservations on the tickets scanned the tickets from the app to enter the queue twice.

We have 6 days in Disneyland this month. We have 2 X 4 day hoppers with genie 2 X 1 park for 2 days with genie for days 3 of 6 & 6 of 6. Trying to decide if upgrading 4 day hopper to magic key to get food and souvenir discounts earlier than later. Will Disney include what I paid for genie (via get away park hoppers)? Also it mentions only 4 reservations per pass are allowed. Would this affect the days we have the 1 park per day reservations? Just trying to figure out if it is worth doing right when we get there or the last day of our hoppers. It’d be nice to get the 10% for magic key for meals & souvenirs earlier than later but also don’t want to give up our reservations if there’s low availability or options.

after trip recommendations – for our last night on our 4 day hoppers we were able to upgrade to Enchant keys. They included what we paid get away today for genie so it was $149/pp and we can use towards another 1-2 trips to visit from WA. we ended up activating our enchant keys since a reservation opened for the park on our last 1/2 day the next day. Disneyland City Hall helped us with this and actually refunded full price of the 1 park per day 2 day tickets to a gift card in the amt of $282 total we could use it anywhere parks, stores etc for Disney including towards lightsabers which is not part of the magic key discounts. Genie is great if you start in the morning and even if you take a break midday you can book lightning lanes from the hotel once Genie is active. We miss Max pass as well for fast passes to do some rides more than 1 X but we found we still would book lightning lanes and do standby lines in between waits & got on more rides quickly. our record was 19 rides in a day w/both parks. For a shorter day I might not have paid for Genie but if you love getting through lines for rides it’s really worth it. Take home for lightning lanes – 1-refresh your app often as we found times sometimes showed up being earlier or later than first viewed & if you don’t like the 1st time keep trying 2- if you’re starting to stack your lighting lanes every 2 hours, keep in mind if you cancel a lighting lane time, you’ll still have to wait every 2 hours to schedule which is kind of a bummer. With Max pass you could cancel and book something else 3- don’t always trust the wait times for standby. It’s always good to do a drive by of ride lines especially if they’re having shows at night 4-Use photopass to download ride and other pictures to your email or phone -they’re only on the app 45 days 5- we took a Costco small square (VHS sized) battery unit normally used to jumpstart cars which had USB outlets to charge phones in the backpack & worked all day when we needed it. If you’re flying the battery must be in your carry on. We’ve taken the one on 2 trips and it was worth not having to look for charging stations. Web Slingers now has a single rider line after we got home and I’d highly recommend this option to get through faster.

It sounds like a lot of drama. We are coming from Australia. Can you still get on rides and not worry about your phone and have fun ??

Absolutely! But without Genie you will only be accessing the standby lines which will have a longer wait time than the Lightning Lanes. If you arrive to the parks early you can get on rides with low waits and if you stay late (after fireworks) the crowds will die down so it won’t matter not having Genie as much then either.

If going in the Summer, would you advise waiting a while after opening before starting to reserve the Genie rides or starte reserving them right at opening due to the worry about them “running out”…I would love to start the day doing standby and then start reserving Genie attractions after we have done some rides but don’t want to screw us out of utilizing the rides on Genie since we already paid for it!!!

Definitely start reserving your rides right away, some of the more popular rides will have return times later in the morning so it will work well with using standby in the morning.

I learned something from a cast member at disneyland. I had a lightning lane pass for Rise of the resistance. The ride broke down it turned into a multiple experience pass. I also had a Genie Plus reservation for Thunder Mountain that ride broke down and also turned into a multiple experience pass. A cast member told me not to use any of my multiple experience passes if I wanted to get back on Rise of the resistance because the app will automatically take that one away from me first. She said that she tested it at the park and that’s what happens. You either have to go to City Hall and get your money back for the lightning Lane or you can wait until that ride reopens and use it before you use any multiple experience passes. I hope that made sense, but it’s important for people to know that paid $20 and might lose that pass.

I have a very basic question. I purchased a package through Get Away Today and the invoice shows that Genie is included. When I downloaded and logged into the app, it has my tickets already linked, but offers me the option to buy Genie . How/when does Genie get linked to my ticket? I’m concerned because the Get Away Today invoice shows that Genie is included, but the app is asking if I want to buy it.

You will see Genie activated once you enter the park and your ticket is scanned in! Until then, you won’t see it in the app because it won’t activate until you’re inside the parks.

I have a question about photo pass. I’ve never used it before so I don’t know how it works. When I add genie plus at the park do I need to do anything to have the photo linked into my app such as in a ride or with a photographer? Do they need to scan something or you do? My other question is with the 120 min. So I understand that you can add another selection every 120 min but let’s say you go into the park and make a selection for 4-5 for haunted mansion therefore at 11am you can make another selection and there is time for 12-1 buzz can you make another once you scanned at 12 or do you need to wait till 1 for that 120 min time since you already have a genie selection for 4-5 for haunted mansion?

There is a code inside the app (located under photos!) your photographer will scan to link your photos to the app.

Yes, you would have to wait 120 minutes due to that 4-5 Haunted Mansion time which is why I recommend booking reservations at first with more immediate return times.

What about handicap concerning the genie park hopper

Our guide for guests with disabilities covers anything you need to know!

Can you explain this comment a little more specifically? “We also used one of these passes in a regular Lightning Lane – these passes are not tied to the same restrictions of only using at each attraction once per day. We rode Guardians of the Galaxy using the pass so that we could go multiple times.”

Do you mean that if you book a genie for say Guardians and it turns into a multi-experience pass and even though you use it to ride Guardians you, in a way, get back you opportunity to make a genie selection for Guardians once again?

Yes, you are correct!

When we lived in southern California up to 1972 when we moved to northern California we could afford Disneyland. Opening preview day was free because Walt himself gave dad tickets for the family as he was a writer and he saw the studio earn a lot from his writing including Davy Crockett. Now, living in northern California and 90 years old I would like to visit. However, reading these posts and checking ticket prices, it is now way too expensive (no discount for seniors). I don’t understand the phone technology that evidently is required to experience the rides for which one must endure additional cost to the already high entry fee. After California Adventure came into being one could easily walk back and forth between parks at any time at no additional cost. Now, only at extra cost and after 1:00 pm? What had been the happiest place on earth is now a difficult, high-priced cash cow for the company to pay for ill-advised takeovers of other media companies that are losing money. Too bad. I wish we could visit but at my wife and my ages we can’t afford it, can’t move as fast as apparently is now a requirement, and can’t fathom the technology required to use the park.

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Before Booking: 15 Non-Obvious Things To Consider When Planning a Trip

Posted: February 23, 2024 | Last updated: February 23, 2024

Without a doubt, there will be something you forget when you travel, whether it’s your favorite sweater or some essential item. As long as you’ve got your passport, everything is fine, but there are some things that you need to know before you travel. Of course, this varies from place to place, but here are some top things people might want to consider before booking a vacation.

1. Banking and ATMs

In some places, cash is king. In some places, you will find a few ATMs or places that accept cards. Do your research. Australia, for example, loves tap-and-go technology, whereas many Egyptian businesses prefer cash. In some cases, cash is the only thing some locations accept. 

2. Attraction Closures

Some major attractions, like Disneyland, rarely close. Still, museums and other things of interest may close at certain times of the year in some locations.

For example, suppose you visit Prince Edward Island in Canada. In this case, most Anne of Green Gables -related attractions are closed between October and May. In Greece, ferries to some Greek islands stop running in winter. Whatever your chosen location, research what you want to do before you go.

3. Travel Time

While your ticket might say it takes 22 hours to get from Chicago to Athens, for example, the reality is that it may take a lot longer. If there are airline delays, your flight will need to be rescheduled. Remember that you may need to change terminals when flying.

Suppose your plane gets into Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Terminal D late, for example, and you only have 30 minutes until your next flight from Terminal B. In that case, there’s a real possibility you will miss it, especially if you have checked luggage to collect.

4. Data and Wi-Fi

We are lucky in the U.S. with plenty of access to free Wi-Fi at various outlets, especially near a Starbucks. However, you may find yourself in a remote location without it. Find a SIM that offers data if you’re going to a place that may not have Wi-Fi.

5. Free Hotel Breakfasts

A lot of hotels offer these — especially in Europe. If you’re booking your hotels online through a site like Booking.com or Trivago, check the “breakfast included” filter, and it will show you hotels with it. How much money and time this can save on your daily trip is impressive. Of course, if it’s a $20 add-on per person, you’re better off finding a local café.

6. Tourist Workshops/Tours

There is so much stigma around being a tourist that people will go out of their way to avoid it. Don’t. You are a tourist, and you need to start somewhere. Take that local foodie tour or a cooking class. You’ll not only meet some amazing people but also become more knowledgeable about the area you’re visiting.

7. Different Banking Options

People have been stuck when their banking cards suddenly stopped working and found their banks couldn’t readily fix the issue. Having a few options on hand is best — preferably from different banks. One forum member had their sister on hand to help pay for things while the bank sorted out the issue. Solo travelers will have no such luck.

8. Hop-On, Hop-Off Buses

These are usually cheap tour options. In some cities, they’re amazing, with a live guide; in other cities, you get a cheap pair of earphones and a scratchy, hard-to-hear recorded voice. Whatever the case, they make a great first base when visiting a new city. You can get your bearings and some basic information and make notes about places you’d like to know more about.

9. Rest Days

It’s easy to pack in an extremely busy itinerary. You’re only in the location for a few days, and you’ve paid a fortune to be here, so you want to do as much as possible but will exhaust yourself. Try putting in a full itinerary on one day and leave the next open. If you feel up to doing something, you can, but opting for a low-stress activity is best.

10. Location, Location, Location

Be careful when you’re booking your hotels. I made the mistake of booking some hotels near a train station the first time I was in Europe. My thinking was that having travel options nearby would be convenient. However, you might find that these are some of the seedier areas of a city.

11. Medicine

Besides making sure you pack your usual medications, there are a few others you may want to consider depending on the location you’re visiting. Many people have been caught out while visiting a foreign nation and finding their stomachs can’t handle the various new foods they’re eating, especially street food.

Having something like an over-the-counter digestive aid such as Travelan on hand could help prevent those issues. Another thing to consider is sleeping on a long flight. Some people like to have things like melatonin pills on hand to help them sleep.

Check what visas you’ll need to enter a country. These things constantly change, so it’s always good to research where you’re going. However, if you can get a visa online, ensure you’re getting it from a reputable site. For example, foreigners require a visa in Egypt, which you can buy at the airport for $20. Still, plenty of websites are trying to scam you for more money without even providing a visa.

13. Customs and Traditions

This honestly comes down to being respectful of the places you’re visiting. Many temples, churches , and historic sites have particular dress codes. Even some countries will have dress codes. While it’s okay in some places to where short-shorts and bikinis on the beach or by the pool, it’s best to find out what you should be wearing in areas where you need to cover up a little more.

14. Scammers

It’s unfortunate, but scammers are everywhere. While it might be nice to think a random local is just being friendly, chances are they may want your cash. Stories abound around the globe about various scams and local scam artists, from people attempting to sell you CDs of their “music” to people offering to take you to your hotel. Be careful and know what to look out for.

15. Power Outlets

This may seem obvious to some, but this is news for a first-time traveler. Most European places have a different power outlet; you will need an adapter for any appliances you bring. Australia and New Zealand also have their own, and the U.K. is different again. Many places in Asia have U.S.-style power outlets. Check your requirements.

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Disneyland australia for melbourne mp reveals bold plan: ‘at the top of the list’.

An Aussie politician has gone public with his desire to bring Disneyland down under, naming three Melbourne locations where “the happiest place on earth” could possibly be constructed.

Libertarian MP for Melbourne’s south-east metropolitan area, David Limbrick, said the popular theme park would bring entertainment and bolster job growth in the state.

In September, Disney announced a $60 billion investment in its theme parks over the next decade — double what it spent on them in the last decade.

And Limbrick said Australia would be a top contender for international expansion.

Limbrick, who is also the chair of the Select Committee on the 2026 Commonwealth Games Bid, said three sites south-east of Melbourne offered enough undeveloped land to be considered.

“Disney would need 50 hectares or more and that is easily obtainable in suburbs where we still have sizable farms such as areas around Cranbourne, Langwarrin and Lyndhurst,” he told 7NEWS.com.au .

“Southeast Melbourne has the land, the transport infrastructure, and a pool of talented artists and performers.

“Australia must surely be on the list of possible places to expand, and I am going to put south-east Melbourne firmly at the top of the list.”

Disney said last year that it had “over 1000 acres of land for possible future development to expand theme park space across its existing sites” both in the US and internationally.

The company said there were a number of popular animated franchises, such as Frozen and Coco, which were yet to be reimagined in a theme park context.

“Wakanda has yet to be brought to life. The world of Coco is just waiting to be explored. There’s a lot of storytelling opportunity,” Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro said at the time.

Melbourne Acting Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece has also backed the idea of the Victorian capital’s ability to host an Aussie Disneyland.

“We welcome any investment that adds to our bumper calendar of events and we are unrivalled when it comes to world-class hotels, fine dining, entertainment and culture,” Reece told 7NEWS.com.au.

A Victorian government spokesperson also told 7NEWS.com.au: “As Australia’s major events and tourism capital, we welcome new opportunities and events that would be enjoyed by Victorians and bring more interstate and international visitors to our state.”

Any proposal would only be considered by the government based on its merits.

And any relevant permits would need to consider environmental impacts, transport connections and the surrounding area.

And as P&O Cruising is absorbed by its sister company, Disney said it also aimed to “double the worldwide capacity of its cruise line”.

The major investments at Disney come as the company faces revenue challenges in its streaming services, and movie and television assets — almost everywhere but its international theme parks.

Disney already has 12 parks across six sites globally: two in California and four in Florida; two in Chiba, Japan; two in Marne-la-Vallée, France; one in Hong Kong; and one in Shanghai.

But, according to Disney’s internal research, the company said: “There is an addressable market of more than 700 million people with high Disney affinity (that Disney) has yet to reach with its Parks.”

Limbrick hopes a new park location on Australia’s east coast would help the company tap into that market.

“The local people have the right attitude,” he said.

“The response I’ve had to this idea has been overwhelmingly positive, so I know we can make all of Disney’s dreams come true.”

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How much should I tip in: Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand

• Tipping is not widely expected in Asia, and can actually be seen as offensive in some countries.
• In most of Africa, a 10-15% gratuity on restaurant bills is customary.
• In Europe, it varies from country to country, but in general visitors don’t need to leave a huge tip.

To tip or not to tip – and how much – is a question on many American travelers’ minds as they venture abroad this summer.

The U.S. is known around the world for its generous tipping culture, but that standard, as much as 20% on some bills in some cities, hasn’t exactly been exported to other locations. In fact, according to Justin Chapman, a travel expert who specializes in safaris at Go2Africa , tipping in some locations may actually be seen as offensive.

Here are his rules of thumb depending on where you’re visiting this summer.

How much to tip in Europe

It varies from country to country, but in general visitors don’t need to leave a huge tip in most of Europe. In some countries it’s becoming increasingly common for a 10%-15% service charge to be included in the bills in places like restaurants, while in others, it’s up to the visitor’s discretion.

Chapman said a good rule of thumb for Europe is to leave a little change and round up to the nearest euro on a bill if you’re not sure what to do. The same goes for taxis, bars and coffee shops.

How much to tip in Africa

In most of Africa, Chapman said, a 10%-15% gratuity on restaurant bills is customary, as are tips equivalent to $10-$20 per day for staff at your lodging or any tour guides you may do business with.

How much to tip in Central and South America

A 10%-15% tip is customary in most restaurants in Central and South America, but tips are even more important for tour guides, who Chapman said rely heavily on that income. In Colombia, he said, $10-$20 per day is appropriate for guides, while $5-$10 is all right in most of the rest of the region. Chapman said it’s especially important to tip generously for guides in Brazil. 

Taxi drivers across the region don’t necessarily count on tips, but rounding up to the nearest whole currency amount is often appreciated.

How much to tip in Asia

Tipping is not widely expected in Asia, and can actually be seen as offensive in some countries, particularly in China and Japan. In Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Vietnam, tipping is becoming more common and around 10% is generally seen as an acceptable gratuity there.

In general, Chapman said, it can often be best not to tip in Asia if you’re unsure to avoid inadvertently causing offense.

Theme park adventures: Why Disney fans will travel all the way to Japan for Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea

How much to tip in Australia and New Zealand

Tipping isn’t generally expected in Oceania, but Chapman said 5%-10% or rounding up to the nearest Australian or New Zealand dollar can be appreciated, especially in high-end establishments.

Travel tipping advice

If you’re planning to tip but aren’t sure of the etiquette, Chapman said here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Tip in cash whenever possible.
• Consider the cost of living: More expensive areas, or places with high tourist traffic, are more likely to expect higher tips.
• Ask a local if you’re not sure what the regional custom is.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opens This Month at Disney World — and We Were Among the First to Ride

We’re “goin’ down the bayou” and making a splash on Disney World’s newest attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

Elizabeth Rhodes/Travel + Leisure

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opens at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park on June 28, and we were among the first guests to experience the attraction this week. Disney first announced that Splash Mountain at both Disney World and Disneyland would be transformed into a new “The Princess and the Frog”-themed ride in 2020. Nearly four years and a complete overhaul later, Disney World’s version of the ride is “almost there,” just a couple of weeks out from its grand opening — and it’s a Mardi Gras-level celebration of the fan-favorite princess and New Orleans.

“Tiana was our inspiration because Tiana is everybody’s princess,” Walt Disney Imagineering’s Charita Carter said during an event celebrating the new attraction. “She comes from a real place in America, she wasn’t born into royalty, she has a working mom, she has military ties, and there’s so much about her life that is relatable.”

Elizabeth Rhodes/Travel + Leisure

The previously orange, rocky mountain covered in briar patches has been transformed into a lush interpretation of the Louisiana bayou, complete with colorful flowers and fireflies. And rather than retelling the film’s story, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure picks up where the film leaves off, with many of the original voice actors, including Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana, Michael-Leon Wooley as Louis, and Jenifer Lewis as Mama Odie. The bones of the ride system haven’t changed much from Splash Mountain as the log flume attraction still carries guests through twists and dips and they sail through different scenes before reaching the 50-foot drops and festive grand finale moment. But beyond the physical movements, the ride feels brand-new with 48 all-new audio-animatronics featuring beloved characters Tiana, Louis, and 19 adorable, musically gifted critters, and a delightful soundtrack featuring songs from the film. The ride also features a catchy original song, “Special Spice,” made especially for the attraction.

Inside the Ride

As the story has it, after opening her restaurant, Tiana’s Palace, the princess-entrepreneur opens Tiana’s Foods, an employee-owned cooperative housed in a former salt mine that creates all kinds of local food products, from hot sauce to pecan oil. Riders enter the queue and pass through Tiana’s office and kitchen, where she’s cooking up some of her tasty beignets (you may smell them before you see them!).

The ride takes place during the Mardi Gras season of 1927 and Tiana is hosting a party to celebrate, but she needs guests’ help because Louis hasn’t booked a band for the event yet. That means it’s time to board your log and go to the bayou with Louis and Tiana to round up some musicians. Cute critter bands playing zydeco, rara, and Afro-Cuban versions of songs from the movie are an attraction highlight, along with the incredibly fluid audio-animatronics of Tiana, Louis, Mama Odie, and other favorite characters.

Olga Thompson/Courtesy of Disney

After seeing some of the animal bands, Mama Odie uses some of her magic to shrink you down to the size of the frogs before restoring you to human-size just in time for the Mardi Gras party — and the big drop. The grand finale scene brings riders to the larger-than-life celebration with Lottie, Prince Naveen, and other famed movie characters, plus the critter crew gathered throughout the ride. It’s a scene that you want to last forever, with plentiful audio-animatronics, beautiful set pieces while “Special Spice” plays in background.

It certainly is joyful to see logs flying down that iconic Magic Kingdom hill again, this time with a story that showcases Princess Tiana and the one-of-a-kind city of New Orleans . And of course, due to their impeccable attention to detail, Disney Imagineers traveled to New Orleans and worked with Louisiana artists to make sure the ride felt like a celebration of the city, from the foods to the music to the murals along the buildings. And the fun doesn’t end after you get off the ride; the gift shop sells a range of specialty merchandise, plus a very special spice with a deeper meaning.

Leah Chase, the legendary New Orleans chef of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant and the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” was a real-life inspiration for Princess Tiana, and her family was involved in the development of the attraction. Now, guests can even buy some of the brand’s spice mixes in the gift shop and take a little bit of the New Orleans magic home with them.  

Know Before You Ride

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will use a virtual queue when it opens, so you will have to request to join the queue via the My Disney Experience app at 7 a.m. or 1 p.m. According to a release shared with Travel + Leisure , a standby queue is expected to open soon after the ride opens to the public, however a date was not released. Guests will also be able to book Lightning Lanes with Disney Genie+ service. 
• You must be at least 40 inches tall to ride. 
• You’ll spot several “You May Get Wet” signs on your way in — and I’m here to say you’ll definitely at least get a little splash, and you might even get soaked. I wore a rain poncho and shoes that were okay to get wet, and I’d highly recommend you do the same in case you’re one of the lucky guests that get totally drenched. 
• This is a family-friendly attraction with a cheerful atmosphere (no scares or things going catastrophically wrong here!), but the drops may be intense for some riders. 

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