Disneyland in Southern California is famously referred to as the Happiest Place on Earth. However, this magical experience becomes even more enjoyable for those who arrive well-prepared. Navigating a Disney theme park can often be complex, confusing, and pricey. Yet, with a well-thought-out plan, you can avoid many lines and spend less money compared to the typical visitor.
After dedicating countless hours to exploring the two theme parks in Anaheim over the years, I’ve gathered numerous Disneyland tips and tricks. Here are the key tips you should know to maximize your money, reduce your time in lines, and enhance your vacation experience.
Remember to book your theme park reservations.
At the beginning of this year, Walt Disney World in Florida removed the necessity for most guests to make theme park reservations. On the other hand, Disneyland in California did not follow suit. Visitors to the California parks are still required to book a reservation for the first park they intend to visit each day.
When purchasing a theme park ticket directly from Disney’s website, you’ll be asked to make park reservations immediately. However, if you purchase from a third-party reseller such as Get Away Today or Undercover Tourist (which can be a wise decision since you might save money with multiday tickets), you’ll need to handle the reservations yourself. Connecting a ticket and making selections only takes a minute or two, but it’s crucial not to delay this task until the last moment.
How far in advance should you plan? Fortunately, many dates at Disneyland are not fully booked for regular ticket holders anymore. However, if you intend to visit during a peak period, such as the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, it’s wise to reserve at least a few weeks ahead to ensure availability.
Compare the cost of single-day tickets, even if you plan to visit for several days.
Disneyland offers both single-day and multi-day park tickets that are valid for up to five days. If you plan to visit for two or three days, you might be surprised to learn that buying a multi-day ticket isn’t always the most economical option.
It may seem counterintuitive, but this occurs because Disneyland has fixed prices for multiday tickets and fluctuating prices for single-day tickets. There are seven distinct price levels (Tier 0 to Tier 6) for single-day tickets. In some cases, two or even three of the lower-priced single-day tickets (like Tier 0 or Tier 1) can be cheaper than their multiday ticket counterpart.
Related: Here are the optimal times to visit Disneyland.
You don’t need to calculate costs if you’re traveling during peak times like school holidays when single-day tickets are pricey. Conversely, if you plan your visit for a less busy period with typically shorter lines, you might be pleasantly surprised by potential savings.
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Please note that single-day tickets are somewhat less adaptable compared to multi-day tickets, because the more affordable ticket categories are valid only on specific days. If you choose to change the date of your visit or come on a different day of the week, single-day tickets might not provide the flexibility you require.
Stay within walking distance, but not necessarily on the premises.
Disneyland is significantly smaller than Disney World. Its two theme parks, three Disney-operated hotels, and the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment area are all situated close together, making them accessible by foot. This closeness allows you to accomplish much more in a short period since you won’t be spending time traveling between locations.
Make the most of Disneyland’s compact layout by choosing a hotel nearby. Although all three Disney-owned hotels (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel, and Pixar Place Hotel) are within walking distance of both parks, there are several off-property hotels that are equally close and significantly more affordable. While these off-property accommodations won’t offer the same perks and Disney-themed décor, you can avoid waiting for shuttles and the hassle of parking.
Similar: Top hotels at Disneyland and in the surrounding areas
You can also utilize points and miles to reduce the cost of your vacation at many of these properties. Every major hotel loyalty program — such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, among others — has at least one hotel located within a 15-minute walk from the theme parks.
Related: The Marriott Courtyard at Disneyland can cost as much as $700 and offers valet parking exclusively.
Reserve character dining experiences at optimal times.
Meeting characters is a favorite Disneyland activity, particularly for children, but standing in lengthy queues under the hot sun might not be the best way to spend your vacation. An alternative for getting photos with Mickey and his friends is to book a character meal. Disneyland features four restaurants that provide character dining experiences: three located in two Disney hotels and one inside Disneyland Park.
Character dining at Disneyland can be quite costly, so it may not be worth the expense when you’re already paying a lot for theme park tickets. I suggest opting for a character meal outside the parks, either on the evening you arrive or the morning you leave. This way, your family can still enjoy some Disney magic without the need for an extra day of park tickets or missing out on the top rides at Disneyland.
If you need to arrange a meal on a theme park day, avoid scheduling it for early in the morning. The morning is ideal for exploring the parks and benefiting from shorter lines for rides. A more suitable choice is to plan a late morning brunch or lunch and use this mealtime as a break after spending several hours on attractions. After all that walking, you will have earned your Mickey waffles.
Think about getting Park Hopper tickets, even if you decide not to use them at Disney World.
Visitors have the opportunity to explore both theme parks in one day for an extra fee. The Disneyland Park Hopper ticket ranges from $65 to $75 more for the duration of the ticket, leading many guests to opt-out to save money. While bypassing the Park Hopper ticket can be a wise decision in certain situations, it is not always the best choice.
The parks at Disneyland are very close to each other, making it convenient to switch between them multiple times in a day if your group is energetic and willing. Park hopping allows you to create a more efficient touring schedule and enjoy your favorite rides more often. I often manage to accomplish as much in two days with a Park Hopper ticket (particularly when utilizing Disney’s Genie+ service) as I would in three days with a single-park-per-day ticket.
Even if you typically avoid park hopping at Walt Disney World due to the distances between parks, reconsider that approach at Disneyland.
Order ahead to avoid food lines.
Most casual quick-service eateries at Disneyland now provide mobile ordering. Rather than waiting in another lengthy line, you can order through the Disneyland app and collect your food within a 30-minute timeframe at your selected time.
Time slots for mobile orders quickly fill up, especially during peak meal times at popular restaurants. To secure a pickup window that fits your schedule, try placing your order one to two hours before lunch or dinner rush periods. This can easily be done while waiting in line for a ride. If your plans change or you need to adjust the time, you can modify your pickup window within the Disneyland app to another available slot with just a few taps.
Utilize MouseDining to secure elusive dining reservations.
Booking reservations for table service restaurants at Disneyland has grown more difficult. High-demand eateries such as Blue Bayou and Lamplight Lounge frequently fill up immediately upon release (typically 60 days prior). Being on Disney’s website at the precise moment doesn’t guarantee you’ll secure the preferred restaurant or time slot.
Other guests frequently cancel their reservations, and occasionally Disney releases more spots, making it feasible to secure a table even if you miss the initial booking window. Additionally, a third-party service named MouseDining can search for these newly available spots on your behalf. MouseDining offers a free tier that sends email notifications and a paid tier that sends text alerts. I’ve successfully used MouseDining to grab at least a dozen hard-to-get reservations over the past few years.
Indulge and enjoy at California Adventure’s culinary festivals.
Disney organizes numerous food festivals annually at Disney California Adventure Park, such as Lunar New Year in January and February, the Disneyland Food & Wine Festival in the spring, and the Disney Festival of Holidays during the winter holiday season. Many visitors take pleasure in sampling meals from the distinctive offerings at these festivals.
At numerous festivals, Disney provides a Sip & Savor pass. For a fixed cost, visitors buy a pass that allows them to trade it for six to eight different menu selections at the festival stalls. These passes can be an economical option for families or groups of friends to enjoy a variety of food items while saving money.
Ensure you perform some calculations to redeem the pass for items that offer good value compared to the pass’s cost. Generally, you will often save several dollars on most main dishes, but drinks and desserts may not always be worth the value.
Buy Genie+ in advance along with your park ticket.
If you’re aiming for shorter wait times at many of Disneyland’s most popular attractions, consider using Disney Genie+. This service allows guests to book reservations for high-demand rides, granting them access to faster queues known as Lightning Lanes. While Genie+ can be very helpful, it’s not necessary, particularly if you visit during less busy periods or focus on rides without Lightning Lanes.
For travelers intending to utilize Genie+ daily during their vacation, it’s advantageous to purchase park tickets that already incorporate this service. If not, the sole option is to buy it upon entering a theme park each day. Disneyland offers Genie+ for $30 per person per day if bought during ticket purchase. However, if purchased later, the cost can vary, reaching up to $35 in 2024.
Buying Genie+ in advance can save you money and spare you the trouble of handling your phone each morning after entering the park. That time is better spent benefiting from shorter ride lines.
Adjust (don’t cancel) Genie+ Lightning Lane reservations.
If you’re considering buying Genie+, make sure to invest some time in understanding how to use it effectively to get the most benefit.
Visitors can secure a Genie+ reservation at intervals of at least every two hours, and occasionally even more frequently. A common error among users of Genie+ is canceling a reservation when their itinerary changes. Doing so resets the two-hour countdown, resulting in lost time. Consequently, they’ll end up booking and experiencing fewer attractions throughout the day.
Rather than canceling, consider adjusting your Genie+ reservations. Adjustments do not reset the eligibility timer. You can change the reservation to a different time for the same ride or switch to another ride within the same park.
Secure Genie+ reservations for high-demand attractions promptly — but avoid doing so excessively in advance.
Not all rides are the same in terms of Genie+ at Disneyland. Certain attractions are significantly more popular. The return times for these rides will be pushed much later into the day, and they will be the first to have their Genie+ reservations booked up. Guests who want to use Genie+ effectively should reserve these high-demand attractions as early as possible.
What should you prioritize booking first? The most sought-after Genie+ attractions at Disneyland Park are Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain, and Haunted Mansion Holiday (available during the fall and winter seasons). At Disney California Adventure Park, the rides that tend to fill up fastest are Toy Story Midway Mania, Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout!, and Web Slingers. Be sure to select these attractions as your first or second options to avoid missing out on the early return times.
While it’s important to reserve these attractions early, you shouldn’t use them right at the start. The parks generally have shorter standby lines early in the morning, so using a Genie+ reservation right after the park opens can be inefficient. Take advantage of the shorter standby lines while they last (especially for attractions not included in Genie+ or for those you may wish to experience multiple times in a day). Then, begin using Genie+ Lightning Lanes an hour or two into the day as lines start to build up.
Consider the early entry schedule when making park reservations.
At Disneyland, visitors staying at any of the three on-site Disney hotels can enter the parks 30 minutes before general admission guests each day. In contrast to Walt Disney World, early entry is provided at only one park per day. Disneyland Park allows early access on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while Disney California Adventure Park offers early entry on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
The staggered timetable involves crucial strategic considerations. As a hotel guest staying on the property, it’s advantageous to utilize early park access each morning if feasible to benefit from shorter ride queues. Therefore, you should arrange park reservations for the park offering early entry each day.
If you don’t have early admission benefits, consider doing the opposite instead. Book your visit to the park that isn’t offering early entry. When the park opens, all visitors will start at the same time, so no one will have had an advantage or be occupying the lines. If you can wake up early and be among the first arrivals, you can enjoy shorter lines for rides without the need to spend extra on a hotel within the property.
Avoid starting your day with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Over four years since its debut, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance continues to be the most favored ride in Disneyland Park. Numerous visitors, both those who haven’t yet been on it and those who have, wish to experience the attraction without enduring long lines or paying an additional $20 (or more) for an individual, paid Lightning Lane. As the ride isn’t available during early entry, a common approach is to head straight for it as soon as the park opens.
Although it’s possible to encounter a shorter wait early in the morning, being among the first to line up for Rise of the Resistance may not be the most efficient overall touring strategy. The attraction is situated at the very back corner of Disneyland Park, requiring a considerable walk to reach. Guests who move at a slower pace may find it challenging.
Even those who move quickly experience a delay. The ride includes several preshows and is fairly lengthy. Even entering the queue swiftly, it will take at least 30 to 60 minutes after the park opens to finish. By then, many other attractions will have substantial standby lines.
What are some effective strategies for Disneyland rope drop? For families with young children or those who appreciate Disney nostalgia, heading to Fantasyland is a great choice. You can enjoy five or more classic dark rides within the first hour of the park opening with minimal wait times. Alternatively, another good approach is to start with Space Mountain and then experience a few Tomorrowland attractions before the crowds and lines build up.
Bring back an affordable Disneyland keepsake.
Purchasing souvenirs from the numerous Disney stores along Main Street, U.S.A. or Downtown Disney can be quite expensive, sometimes totaling hundreds of dollars. However, there are several worthwhile keepsakes available, including some that are delightful nods to Disneyland’s distinctive and whimsical past.
One of my favorites is a classic silhouette. In their small studio on Main Street, U.S.A., a few highly skilled Disney artists can cut a side-view portrait of you or your child within minutes. The portrait is priced at just $11.99, and basic frames are also quite affordable. Over the years, my family has loved collecting these silhouettes of our children at different ages and stages at Disneyland. We’ve also had a few silhouettes made in other Disney parks around the globe.
Another budget-friendly keepsake from Disneyland is the pressed penny. For just one dollar, you can acquire a coin imprinted with a beloved character or scene. Many children enjoy collecting them in an affordable portfolio available at one of the gift shops. These machines are also found at numerous other tourist spots and travel destinations, making pressed pennies a cost-effective souvenir outside of theme parks as well.
If you’re looking for a more unique souvenir that comes with an experience, visit one of Disneyland’s fortune-telling machines. For just a quarter or two, an audio-animatronic character will provide you with a fortune card. Keep an eye out for Esmeralda (located in the Penny Arcade on Main Street, U.S.A.), Fortune Red (found near the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean), or Shrunken Ned (situated in the Bengal Barbecue seating area across from the Jungle Cruise).
Be on the lookout for wandering characters.
One of Disneyland’s standout features—more so than Walt Disney World’s—is its impromptu character encounters. While Disneyland does have the standard designated areas for meet-and-greet sessions where visitors can line up for pictures and autographs, it’s also common to see characters wandering throughout the parks in spontaneous, unscripted locations. Sometimes, these encounters result in truly magical and memorable moments.
In Disneyland Park, Fantasyland is where you will encounter the most impromptu character interactions. Additionally, you can explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. At Disney California Adventure Park, Avengers Campus offers numerous opportunities for spontaneous character engagement.
Prepare for changing weather conditions.
Fortunately, the weather in Southern California is generally quite enjoyable, especially when compared to the intense heat often experienced at Disney World in Orlando. Due to the favorable climate, a greater number of Disneyland’s attractions are either partially or entirely outdoors. This necessitates readiness for varying weather conditions if the forecast is not ideal.
Rain is relatively rare, especially for extended periods, but bringing a poncho is always a smart choice. To reduce the likelihood of encountering rain at Disneyland, steer clear of January and February. Similarly, while heat waves aren’t frequent, they do occur a few times annually. The warmest months to visit are typically August and September.
You should be ready for different weather conditions when you visit. Disneyland usually has extended operating hours, and if you plan to stay from early morning to late at night, you might encounter temperature changes of 20 to 30 degrees throughout the day. Wearing layers is crucial. Even on scorching days when I’m dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, I often begin the morning and finish the evening with a hoodie.
Take advantage of single-rider queues and the Buddy Pass.
If you’re not starting early or using Genie+, there are still several strategies to find shorter lines at Disneyland. One effective method is the single-rider line. In this line, Disneyland employees use a special queue, which is typically shorter than the regular standby line, to fill any vacant single seats. You can take advantage of this line if your group is okay with splitting up and if your kids are old enough to ride solo (at least 7 years old).
Single-rider lines are typically most effective in the mid-morning. During afternoons and evenings, particularly on weekends, a higher number of locals with annual passes crowd the parks, and many of them are aware of this shortcut. The availability of single-rider lines can vary, but they are frequently offered at popular thrill rides such as Radiator Springs Racers, Space Mountain, and Incredicoaster.
A similar system to the single-rider option is the Buddy Pass, which organizes small groups to occupy empty rows on larger ride vehicles. This practice has commonly been used for the Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue attraction. There is also a variation called the Roo Pass, occasionally implemented for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Although the Buddy Pass is less consistent than single-rider lines, it can sometimes provide a quicker route to another ride during your visit to Disneyland.
Bottom line
Proper preparation can indeed enable you to save both time and money on a Disneyland theme park vacation. By following these touring and booking tips, you’ll be well on your journey to becoming a Disneyland aficionado.
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