travel stories disneyland

Urban Explorations

A Smithsonian magazine special report

The Stories Behind Disneyland’s Hidden Wonders

As the amusement park celebrates its 60th anniversary, here’s the truth behind some of its more unusual features

On July 17, 1955, Walt Disney stood near Sleeping Beauty Castle and, as  millions of Americans watched live on television ,  dedicated Disneyland  to the “ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all of the world.” 

Today, as Disneyland readies itself for  its 60th anniversary  celebration, the theme park is one of the world's most successful tourist attractions. However, the “happiest place on Earth” was anything but on that July day. While the opening ceremonies were only intended for invited guests, many crashed the party  using forged tickets, and the park grew overcrowded . A plumbers’ strike had left Disney with a choice of having completed bathrooms or water fountains (he chose bathrooms). Many of the rides broke down amid power shortages. Disney himself later would dub the day “Black Sunday.”

Bob Penfield   was there working on Disneyland's opening day. That later helped him earn entry into  Club 55 , a special group for those present at the park's very beginning. Penfield was also  the last member of the club to retire  from Disneyland, which he did in 1997.  “I was supposed to work at Peter Pan on the 17th, but it wasn’t running, so I got moved the carousel. It was very hot and [there were] no drinking fountains … So every time I got a break from work, I went over to the Welch's Grape Juice Stand,” says Penfield.

Disneyland eventually worked out the kinks, and over the next six decades the company would open theme parks all over the world, from Paris to Orlando to  Shanghai—where a Disney  attraction will open in 2016. But the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California, will forever be the place that Walt Disney built. It is the only park that he personally oversaw construction of from beginning to end before dying  in 1966 amid complications from lung cancer .

Like many others who worked at Disneyland, Penfield has fond memories of those early years. “My mother started to work there in ’57 as the first matron … and was known as the Grandma on Main Street. I met my wife at the park and we married in ’64. My son worked there too for ten years while finishing high school and college ... It’s a magical place ...  I still can't walk by a door and not see what's behind it.”

That urge to look behind the doors is a common one at Disneyland, and the internet is rife with urban myths and tall tales about this Southern California landmark. Here’s the truth about seven Disneyland secrets, based on extensive research, interviews with cast members and confirmations with Disney archivist Justin Arthur:

The Cats of Disneyland

Yes, this urban myth is true—there are feral cats that roam Disneyland, whose job is to control the rodent population. (They even have their own Twitter account .) Though they are more often seen late at night, daytime sightings do happen. “I’ve seen them, especially in the Big Thunder Mountain area … They are not domesticated or anything, but I believe they are fed and taken care of,” confirms Arthur.

The story goes that Walt Disney originally found a feline colony taking up residence in Sleeping Beauty Castle . Instead of getting rid of them, he allowed the cats to stay, provided they earned their keep. He laid down only one rule—no chasing the park’s two most important mice, Mickey and Minnie. 

The Skull on Pirates of the Caribbean

The Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride was the last attraction Walt Disney worked on before his death in December 1966. When it opened in March 1967, the ride was revolutionary for the use of audio-animatronics in its storytelling. But it may have been notable for other reasons, too: “When it opened, my understand is that most of [the skulls and bones] were procured from medical institutions. There weren’t really good, realistic fake skeletons out there at the time, so they had to use real ones,” says Arthur.

As the years have passed, most of the bones have been swapped out for fakes—except, possibly, for one skull. “There is nothing official, but I have heard it is the one in the headboard above the bed. When they did get rid of the real ones, that one was molded into something,” says Arthur. 

The Basketball Hoop Inside of the Matterhorn

When the Matterhorn opened in 1959, it was  the world’s first tubular steel roller coaster , but Disney wanted more. So, he hired real climbers to scale the 147-foot manmade mountain as if they were climbing the original Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps.

But once the climbers reached the top of the Matterhorn, they didn’t have much to do. So, Walt Disney built a basketball hoop in the top third of the mountain to keep them occupied. Contrary to some reports, it's not an entire court, Arthur says. “I don’t ever call it a basketball court. You can potentially play a game, but it’s not quite a whole court … It has been there for a very long time.” 

Walt Disney’s Petrified Tree Stump

In front of Frontierland sits a rather large, odd artifact—a five-ton piece of petrified wood. The plaque says little more than where it came from—Pike Petrified Forest, Colorado—and that it was presented to Disneyland by Walt’s wife in September 1957. The real story behind the stump sheds some light on Disney’s original intention, which was to make parts of the park a sort of natural history museum, complete with a mineral hall . 

In 1956, Walt and his wife were on a road trip in Colorado when they stopped   at Pike Petrified Forest. Touring the forest, he decided that a petrified tree stump would be perfect for his still-new park. Walt purchased the stump for $1,650 from a local dealer and had it delivered to Disneyland. To justify such an extravagant purchase, he told the media and his family alike that it was an anniversary gift to his wife. Since she didn’t want it, he joked, she had donated to the park. Disneyland eventually became more focused on entertainment than education, and the stump seems rather out of place in the park today. 

Disneyland's Illusion

Walt Disney wanted everyone who stepped through the gates of his park to feel like a child, no matter their age. One of the ways he chose to do this was by using the architecture and photography technique known as  forced perspective.  The technique involves shrinking (or enlarging) objects to scale in order to make a building or object seem larger (or smaller) than it actually is.

While the entire park has elements of this, the most profound examples are Sleeping Beauty Castle and the buildings on Main Street. Many of the shops on Disneyland’s main road are built to three quarters scale on the first story , five-eighths scale on the second story, one half scale on the third story. This gives the illusion of a full three-story building without the building actually being as high as a three-story building. 

“Walt brought in a lot of set designers and a lot of people who worked on films, who employed a lot of principles from there, including forced perspective. Part of the reasoning was that Walt wanted [Disneyland’s buildings] to be more personal … and to make you feel like a kid because everything is bigger,” says Arthur.  

The Secret Message at the New Orleans Square Train Station

If one listens closely while waiting for the Disneyland Railroad at the New Orleans Square station, a tapping sound can be heard coming from the Telegraph Cable Office. This tapping is actually a message coded in Continental Code (and not in Morse Code, a frequent misconception ).

There is some uncertainty about exactly what it's saying. Originally part of Frontierland, the telegraph was supposed to tap out a portion of Disney’s famed opening day speech . In order for it to be ready to go for July 17, 1955, a memo was distributed on July 8   with an early draft of Disney’s remarks. Of course, as anyone who has spoken in public knows, sometimes what is written on paper is not what comes out. While the variation in what got coded into the telegraph and what Disney actually said is slight (a few added words), it's unclear whether the telegraph was ever updated. However,  an amateur ham radio operator did some digging and claims that he helped to fix a missing gap in the message. 

Don’t Bring the Ashes of Your Loved Ones to Disneyland

Disneyland holds a special place in the lives of many, so it's only natural some might wish it to be their home forever. While the park has never confirmed that they have caught people scattering human ashes,  according to multiple Disneyland sources, it does happen somewhat frequently, and it's a health hazard.

The Haunted Mansion and the Pirates of the Caribbean seem to be the most popular spots for the practice. When it happens, health code regulations dictate that rides have to be shut down for draining and cleaning. 

Get the latest Travel & Culture stories in your inbox.

Matt Blitz | | READ MORE

Matt Blitz is a history and travel writer. His work has been featured on CNN, Atlas Obscura, Curbed, Nickelodeon, and Today I Found Out. He also runs the Obscura Society DC and is a big fan of diners.

These 15 Disneyland Secrets Have Been Kept Quiet For Years

Disneyland in California is the only theme park that Walt Disney ever set foot in. The park’s nearly 70-year history is filled with incredible secrets and stories. Each of these stories is from my book “Disneyland Secrets: A Grand Tour of Disneyland's Hidden Details.” Here are some stories that you may not know!

Planning a Disneyland Vacation?

Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don't miss our travel hacks newsletter!

In this planning guide:

Those smells making you hungry are there on purpose!

Below the Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen windows on Main Street there are small vents pumping out the incredible smells of the candy being made inside. These vents are called the “smellitzers” after the “howitzer” World War 2 shell launcher. Rather than launching deadly shells, the vents blow delicious aromas.

No-Fly Zones Located Above Disney Parks

Disneyland and Walt Disney World are some of the only permanent no-fly zones in the U.S. that do not relate to national security.

The no-fly-zones were established after 9-11 as part of a 2003 budget bill that included Homeland Security measures. No flights may fly within a three-mile radius or below 3,000 feet above Disneyland, though some daring pilots have pushed the limits during the COVID-19 park closure.

Walt Disney had a private box reserved for him at the Golden Horseshoe

The box is on the side at stage level. You can still see it today. Roy Disney, Walt’s brother, also frequented the show, but he chose to sit in a front-row seat. The Golden Horseshoe Revue set a Guinness World Record for having the greatest number of theatrical performances at the time of their last show. They performed the show 42,921 times.

Unshelled Peanuts and Gum Aren't Sold at Disneyland

There are no unshelled peanuts or gum sold in Disneyland. The rule dates back to the opening when Walt Disney and then Anaheim Mayor Charles Pearson set out ground rules to keep Disneyland pristine. This was all part of Walt Disney’s plan to be very different than other theme park.

Fire! Inside Pirates of the Caribbean

When the Pirates of the Caribbean first opened, the flames inside the attraction appeared to be so real that the Anaheim Fire Department was concerned that if there was a real fire they would not be able to distinguish between the faux and the real flames. They put a system in place that turns off the burning town effect if there are any real signs of fire.

Disneyland Splash Mountain Named After a SURPRISING Film

Disney named Splash Mountain after the successful Tom Hanks film Splash. When Disney CEO Michael Eisner saw the movie Splash, he wanted to integrate the movie into the new water ride they were putting into Disneyland. The ride was based on the Song of the South and didn’t quite fit with the Manhattan setting of the movie. One Imagineer joked that they could call it “Splash Mountain” and the name stuck. Originally they were going to call the attraction the Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah River Run.

Real Prop from Indiana Jones Movies Is at Disneyland

The truck parked next to the exit of the Indiana Jones Adventure is the real vehicle used in the filming of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The bars sticking out from the front bumper have golf balls (now painted to match the truck) mounted on the ends to give the stunt performers better grip while shooting. You can also find a mine car from the second Indiana Jones movie elsewhere in the queue.

Real Alligators Escaped into the Jungle Cruise!

When Disney first opened the Jungle Cruise river ride in Adventureland, there were live alligators kept in pens near the line. Many guests thought the gators were fake like the rest of the animatronics in the ride and taunted them by throwing popcorn into the cages. Sometimes the alligators would escape their cages into the waterways of the attraction. When gators escaped, trainers from the Buena Park Gator Farm had to be called in to cage them again. The alligators did not last long in Disneyland.

Traditional Practice Continued at Disneyland

When building the Columbia Sailing Ship, the construction crews put a silver dollar under each mast. This tradition was based on the Roman custom of putting coins into the mouths of fallen warriors to serve as payment for passage across the River Styx into the underworld. The coins were placed in the mast hulls because sea travel was so dangerous in the times of the Columbia that ships sinking was common. When Disney built their exact replica of the Columbia, they included the silver coins. The Disneyland coins went missing in the 1990s when they replaced the wooden masts with steel ones.

Disneyland Announcers are married in real life

“Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls!” You’ll hear these words kicking off most announcements over the loudspeakers throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Bill Rogers, the announcer for Disneyland Park, and Camille Dixon, the announcer for Disney California Adventure, are married in real life.

Walt Disney's Fleet of Disneyland Submarines

Walt Disney was proud of his “fleet” of eight submarines in Tomorrowland that made up the Submarine Voyage Attraction. The number made Walt Disney the commander of the eighth largest submarine fleet in the world.

Amazing Disneyland Holiday Stats!

Disney uses more than one mile of garland to decorate Main Street during the Disneyland Christmas season . The decorations go up in mid-November and stay up until the beginning of January. From 1955-2008, Disney used a real tree from the Mount Shasta glacier, but in 2008 they began using a large artificial tree instead. The new tree has over 70,000 lights and 2,000 custom made ornaments.

Disneyland Toontown. Mickey's Trips Around the World!

Inside Mickey Mouse’s house in Toontown in a glass case, you can find his passport. The passport is stamped with the locations of Disney Parks around the world including Anaheim, Orlando, Hong Kong, Paris, and Tokyo. Each is dated with their opening day.

Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland was recently completely refurbished and a new attraction, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway (details) , was added.

Disneyland's Seasonal Tribute to Famous Writer

Ray Bradbury, the influential writer, was a close friend to Walt Disney, had a big hand in helping to develop Epcot in Walt Disney World, and was an early supporter of the value of Disneyland’s optimism. Each Halloween at Disneyland the Disney Company transforms a tree outside of the Golden Horseshoe into the “Halloween Tree” to honor Bradbury and his short story with the same title. I included a beautiful quote from Bradbury describing the power of Disneyland in the introduction to my book as it beautifully captures the magic of Disneyland.

Disneyland and Walt Disney World tickets never lose their value

A guest who purchased one of the lettered ticket books back in 1955 could apply the value of those tickets to purchasing a Disneyland ticket or Walt Disney World ticket today, though the tickets are probably best kept as souvenirs because the most valuable of these tickets only fetches 95 cents.

These Celebrities Might Love Disney as Much as You Do

Even celebrities love Disney! These celebrities all love visiting Disney Parks almost as much as you do. Click here for the list of celebrities and their comments about their favorite rides, how they visit, and what inspired their passion for the parks.

Disneyland Secrets Best-Selling Book!

These secrets are all from my best-selling book “Disneyland Secrets: A Grand Tour of Disneyland's Hidden Details”. See all details on the book here .

MISTAKES! You Need to Avoid On Your Disneyland and Walt Disney World Trips

Do not make these rookie mistakes when you are visiting Disneyland and Walt Disney World! Read our top guides to avoid causing problems on your family vacation.

10 ROOKIE Mistakes to Avoid on Your Disneyland Vacations

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Walt Disney World Vacation

Wow! Disney Dining Reservations Can Be Difficult to Get

We have tips for getting the most difficult Disneyland and Walt Disney World dining reservations. These are the hacks that will help you get your seat at the table.

Get the Most Difficult Disneyland Dining Reservation – Top Five Tips

Walt Disney World Dining Reservation Dining Tips for Last-Minute Reservations

CROWDS! CROWDS! CROWDS! These Are the Worst Times to Visit Walt Disney World

These are the worst times to visit Walt Disney World . See all the specific dates and times you should be avoiding when planning your trip. You can also see our Disneyland crowd calendar and Walt Disney World crowd calendar .

Planning a Disney Vacation? Get Exclusive Discounts + Free Bonuses

In addition to exclusive discounts for Mickey Visit subscribers, get our free planning printable and guide to make your life SO much easier.

Related Posts

What star wars land could be. special event reveals previously planned additions that would improve land., disneyland update new entrance open, haunted mansion construction, halloween merchandise, and more, check out this fun disneyland halloween merchandise—coco, the nightmare before christmas, and more.

Best Disneyland Desserts Ranked 2024. We’ve Tried All!

Disneyland Pros Know Not to Ignore These 10 Overlooked Food Items at the Parks

You Can Now Get This Iconic Disneyland Breakfast Item All Day at Quick Service

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

About 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

Read more about Gavin.

See MuckRack Profile Here.

Exclusive Discounts + BREAKING NEWS

Join our newsletter of 100,000+ readers for discounts, planning tips, and breaking news about Walt Disney World and Disneyland. “Essential for planning your trip!” -Helen from Portland, Oregon

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

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

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

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

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

Disneyland vs. Disney World: What's the difference? How to choose.

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

What to do at Disneyland

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

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

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

Ride the attractions

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

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

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

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

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

Use the Disneyland app

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

Be strategic with steps

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

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

Interact with cast members

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

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Done: Why some Disney fans are done with Splash Mountain

What to see at Disneyland

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

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

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

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

Slow down and savor

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

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

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

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

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

Don't watch spoilers

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

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

Does Disney have military discounts?: Yes, and so do these popular theme parks

What to eat at Disneyland

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

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

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

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

Try new foods

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

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

Mobile order to save time

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

Reserve dining early or walk up last minute

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

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

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

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

North America Chevron

United States Chevron

California Chevron

Los Angeles Chevron

The Ultimate Guide for Planning a Trip to Disneyland

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

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

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

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

All about the parks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What to know about ticketing

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

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.

Recommended

Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles-Beverly Hills

The Georgian

Los Angeles Travel Guide

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

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!

Did you know that …

When you purchase something through our links we earn a small fee. However, you still pay the same. Win-win!

Find Hotels via hotels.com

Find a Rental Car via Discover Cars

Find Cheap Flights via CheapAir

Book Tours & Attractions via GetYourGuide

Get Travel Insurance via SafetyWing

City Pass/Discounts via Sightseeing Pass

Most popular

Every Option of Disneyland Tickets Reviewed

Disneyland , Planning

Disneyland california opening hours – schedule, tips and more.

Family Travel , Korea , Other experiences

Our 3-days exploring seoul with kids.

How Much Does It Cost to Go to Disneyland California

New Zealand

New zealand north island: 4-day itinerary (and suggestions for 5 or 6 days).

• Our Services
• Dining Plan
• Stroller Rental
• Disney Dream
• Disney Fantasy
• Disney Magic
• Disney Wonder
• Adventures by Disney
• Aulani - Hawaii
• Disney's Hilton Head Resort
• Disney's Vero Beach Resort
• Destination Overview
• A Marvelous Guide to Universal Orlando
• Universal Orlando Resort™ Hotels
• Sandals Resorts
• Beaches Resorts
• Virgin Voyages
• Cruise With Norwegian
• Stroller Rentals
• Activities & Tours
• Shore Excursions
• Walt Disney World
• FunJet Vacations

A First-Timer's Guide to Disneyland

By:   Stephanie O'Donnell , a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent

The moment I stepped through the turnstiles at Disneyland, I felt like I was transported to a world of enchantment and wonder. As a first-timer, I was overwhelmed with excitement and even more anticipation than had already been building for weeks leading up to this trip. The Fall colors and decorations, the cheerful music, guests gasping with excitement, and the aroma of all the yummy sweets in the air all added to the magical atmosphere that surrounded me. Join me as I recount my unforgettable experience as a Disneyland first-timer in this First-Timer's Guide to Disneyland

The Entrance: A Dream Come True

Walking down Main Street, USA, towards the Sleeping Beauty Castle, I couldn't help but begin to take in  all of the attention to detail. Nothing was left out and every building seemed to have a story to tell, and the friendly cast members in their vintage costumes made me feel like I was part of the magic of Disneyland. Cast members went out of their way to greet everyone walking by with a huge smile, a wave,  and a “Welcome!”

Tip: Make sure and arrive early! The park is less crowded first thing in the morning so you can really take advantage of shorter wait times and have more time and space to explore. 

The Rides: Thrills, Adventure and Chills

Disneyland is known for its iconic rides, and I was determined to try as many of them as I could. From the classic teacups at the Mad Tea Party to a breathtaking intergalactic ride on Space Mountain, there was a ride for thrill seekers, non-thrill seekers, and everything in between. 

• Space Mountain: This indoor roller coaster through outer space definitely had my adrenaline rushing in a good way. The darkness added to the suspense, making it an unforgettable experience.
• Pirates of the Caribbean: A somewhat calm boat ride through a Caribbean island full of pirates was both thrilling and magnificent, thanks to the incredible animatronics and  storytelling. There were a few surprises thrown in, too!
• It's a Small World: A calming boat ride that is a charming journey through different cultures and nations. It's a heartwarming reminder of unity and harmony. Just as Walt built it!

I could go on and on!

A Foodie’s Paradise: Dining at Disneyland

Disneyland isn't just about rides and attractions; it's also a culinary adventure. I got to truly savor some delicious treats while in the parks such as an alien shaped macaroon from Pizza Planet, indulged in quite a few Fall themed treats, way too many churros,  and also got to enjoy a wonderful meal at Carnation Cafe. There was a fun food cart at every turn and every corner. 

Pro Tip: Make dining reservations in advance for restaurants you really want to experience to ensure you get to enjoy them while you’re there. Also, make sure you research the current snacks to try and make a list before you go!

Character Encounters: They are everywhere!

Meeting some of my favorite Disney characters was a dream come true. Characters freely roam around the parks which is different from Walt Disney World. From Mickey and Minnie, Goofy and Cinderella, to Pluto and Chip and Dale, I cherished the moments I spent with these characters. The character meet-and-greets were not just for kids; adults like me felt the joy and as they are so patient and interactive while taking pictures. The best thing; there was never a long line to meet them and what lines there actually were went fast! I never felt rushed with a character. They were definitely there to add to the magic.  

Parades and Fireworks: A Real Spectacle!

The day at Disneyland wouldn't be complete without experiencing the magical parades and fireworks shows. The ‘Magic Happens’ parade and the nightly fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle were both unforgettable experiences. The little girl inside me was beaming and my heart was overflowing!

Conclusion: Memories made to last a lifetime

As I left Disneyland, I couldn't help but reflect on the special days I had in the park and all the memories that were made. Being a first-timer at Disneyland was a magical experience that definitely surpassed all my dreams and expectations. The laughter, the smiles, time spent with friends, and the sense of wonder were truly something I’ll never forget.

If you're planning your first trip to Disneyland, remember to embrace the magic, take lots of photos, and cherish every moment. It really is a place where dreams come true, and the memories will certainly last a lifetime. 

Disneyland, I'll be back for more magical adventures!

If you’re ready to book your next, or first, Disneyland adventure, be sure to reach out to your travel agent! If you don’t already have a travel agent, reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels to get connected with one!  

Quick Links

Marvelous mouse travels, connect with us.

2024 Disneyland Planning Guide

Our Disneyland vacation planning guide covers what’s new & next this year and in 2025, 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 August 6, 2024.)

Let’s start with all of the latest update, which is that summer season is now over and Pixar Fest is ( thankfully ) finished. If you didn’t miss it, you frankly did not miss much. School districts around Los Angeles and Orange County are now going back into session, resulting in a brief lull before the next big ‘season’ begins at Disneyland.

That’ll start in a few short weeks on August 23, when Halloween Time at Disneyland kicks off earlier than ever –which also means Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween Party starting at the end of the month. Conversely, Christmas 2024 at Disneyland will start later than normal (November 15), which is unexpected given the popularity of the holiday season.

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

If you’ve visited Disneyland in the last couple of years, Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Pass might sound like a new thing. It’s not. It’s literally just a name change from Genie+ for the sake of continuity with Walt Disney World, where there actually were material changes to the line-skipping system. If you were already familiar with Genie+ at Disneyland, all you really need to know is that it’s now called Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Single Pass. And honestly, the new names make more sense and are less confusing to casual guests than pairing Aladdin  and  Cars  characters for no reason in particular.

Everything you need to know, including ride priorities, where it’s NOT necessary to buy Lightning Lanes, and much more is covered in our Guide to 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 Lightning Lane Multi-Pass many times, and cover our experiences and strategy there. If you’re a Walt Disney World regular, the good news is that it’s 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. Lightning Lanes make visiting Disneyland and DCA so much easier.

Regardless of whether you end up buying the 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 Lightning Lane Multi-Pass or have an efficient itinerary that finds alternatives for beating the crowds. (Our strong recommendation is to purchase LLMP 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 Lightning Lane Multi Pass 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. Disney is doing everything possible to fight this, offering a range of discounts–including an unprecedented general public ticket deal through September 2024 that was only available to California residents in past years. 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.

Despite Disney’s best efforts, the slowdown is still happening. Disneyland is returning to a pre-2020 level of normal crowd dynamics, thankfully. Choosing less busy dates is important and that’ll continue to be the case going forward, 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 Lightning Lane Multi-Pass 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.

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 is that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will debut at Disneyland between mid-October and Thanksgiving 2024. However, extensive technical difficulties with the Magic Kingdom version of the same ride could delay it beyond that. Personally, that’s our hope. We’ve experienced Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and while it has a lot to love, it also has a lot of squandered potential. (To say nothing of the breakdowns and unreliability of the ride, which is flatly unacceptable.)

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 has been fully-approved by the Anaheim City Council. More details are expected at the D23 Expo.

If you’re curious about the specifics of other additions on the horizon, consult our What’s New & Next for Disneyland in 2024 & 2025 . 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 2025 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 starting in late August. 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 this year or in 2025? Debating between Halloween and Christmas? Thoughts on Lightning Lanes, where to stay, best restaurants and snacks, or anything else covered here? Have you previously visited Disneyland? Have any tips of your own to add? Any questions you still have that this guide did not answer? We really appreciate reader feedback and your thoughts, so please share in the comments below!

Written by Tom Bricker

We will be in Anaheim Disneyland for thanksgiving this year. Do you know if there are any after hours/disney after dark events we can look into?

Thank you for passionately sharing about your Disneyland adventure. ‘m so glad I came across your blog before our planned Disneyland Trip in 2025 for my son’s 10th birthday. I have yet to click all those links and read EVERYTHING I need to know since I’m the adventure planner of the family.

Btw, do you have a YT Channel? and really quick though, my son is autistic/ADHD…Is it true that we could “skip the line” if we have some kind of a pass? Thanks in advance for replying

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.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland

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

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

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

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

How to start planning a Disneyland vacation

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

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

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

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

Choosing the best hotel for your Disneyland vacation

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

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

Disneyland hotels

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disneyland Good Neighbor hotels you can book with points

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Types of Disneyland tickets

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

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

Let's take a look at each option.

Single-day tickets

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

Related: How to make a reservation at Disneyland

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

Multiday tickets

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

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

Park Hopper

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

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

Magic Key (annual pass)

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

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

Disneyland ticket discounts

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

Here's a look at common Disneyland ticket discounts:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets

Best time to visit Disneyland

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

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

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

Related: 9 things families should know before visiting Disneyland

How to reduce your time in line at Disneyland

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

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

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

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

Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes

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

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

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

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

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

Early Entry

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

Use the Disney app

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

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

Use the Ridemax app

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

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

Related: The best restaurants at Disneyland

How to save money on your Disneyland trip

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

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

With the 60,000-point sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening), you could cover up to five nights at one of these hotels.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another great option for earning and redeeming miles towards a Disneyland trip. The card currently offers 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and then redeem miles toward the expense. And if you don't quite have enough miles now, you have up to 90 days after purchase to save and redeem miles toward a travel expense.

Check for package deals

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

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

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

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

Buy Disney gift cards on sale

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

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

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

Bring your own swag

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

Related: 7 Reasons why Disneyland is better than Disney World

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

Related: How much does a Disneyland vacation cost?

How to get around Disneyland

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

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

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

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

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

The best credit cards to use at Disneyland

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

When it comes to spending at Disneyland theme parks, you'll want to use a card that earns bonus points on dining . The Citi Prestige® Card (card no longer available) is a great option, as it earns 5 points per dollar spent in this category. The American Express® Gold Card is also a great choice, earning 4 points per dollar at restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).

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

Bottom line

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

Additional reporting by Leslie Harvey.

Search for: Search Button

The 10 Best Documentaries About Disneyland

Jul 29, 2023 | Best Of , History , Media , Performing Arts

Take a fascinating journey through the history of Disneyland with these incredible documentaries. From its beginnings as a modest amusement park to its current status as one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the world, these films offer an intimate look at how this magical place has grown and evolved over time. With interviews from some of Disney’s key players, never-before-seen footage, and behind-the-scenes secrets revealed, you’ll get an exclusive glimpse into what makes this beloved destination so special. So grab your popcorn and join us on a captivating exploration into the past and present of Disneyland!

1. Disneyland Secrets Stories

Discover the hidden secrets and untold stories of Disneyland in this captivating documentary! From its earliest days to the current era, explore how Disney has shaped a magical world that continues to enchant guests from around the globe. See exclusive interviews with former cast members, historians and creative minds who have helped bring Disneyland’s unique magic to life over the years. Experience how true imagination can create an unforgettable destination where dreams come true for all ages!

2. A Complicated History

Have you ever heard of Disney’s FastPass? This revolutionary system has been an incredible asset to the theme parks, but did you know that it wasn’t always like this? In this documentary, we take a look at the complicated history of Disney’s FastPass and how it was created. We’ll explore the successes and failures along the way and learn about some of the unique features that make this system so special! Join us as we dive into a fascinating story about one of Disney’s most beloved inventions.

3. Disneyland: Walt’s Impossible Dream

What do you get when you combine the vision of an innovator, the hard work of a team, and years of planning? On July 17th 1955, Walt Disney opened up Disneyland to stunned visitors from around the world. This video dives into how this revolutionary park was created – exploring Walt’s dream and his journey to make it a reality. From conception to construction – this is the story of how Disneyland changed entertainment forever!

4. The BEST KEPT SECRETS of Disneyland

Join Molly as she takes you through the original Disneyland Park in California ! She’ll explore all of the hidden secrets, relive backstories from classic rides, and even share some helpful tips for your next visit. Plus, get a taste of some park-favorites snacks while learning about Disney history – including the disastrous opening day! Come with us and discover all that Disneyland has to offer.

5. Defunctland: The Failure of Euro Disneyland

Take a journey to explore the story behind Euro Disneyland, one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken in Europe. From its grand beginnings to its eventual demise, this documentary takes you through the failure of Euro Disneyland and examines what went wrong. Learn why it failed and how this project changed the landscape for future amusement parks. Join us as we delve into Defunctland: The Failure of Euro Disneyland!

6. The Disneyland Story

Take a journey with Harry Anderson and explore the magical history of Disneyland! From its inception to its future projects, this documentary will take you on an unforgettable time travel adventure as you board the Disneyland railroad. Learn all about how this iconic theme park began and what lies ahead for it in the years to come. Don’t miss out on this incredible trip down memory lane!

7. The Disney Story

The story of Walt Disney is one of the most inspiring tales in history. From a small cartoon studio to a multi-billion dollar empire, this documentary follows the rise and fall of an American icon. With rare interviews and never before seen footage, It All Started With A Mouse: The Disney Story takes you inside the life of Walt Disney – from his humble beginnings to his incredible success. Learn how he revolutionized animation with groundbreaking films like Mickey Mouse and Snow White, created theme parks around the world, and made it all happen with hard work and determination. This is an inspirational journey that will make you believe anything is possible!

8. Causing a Natural Disaster to Party

In 1993, a devastating flood swept through the Midwestern United States. Billions of dollars in damages were caused by this historic flooding and many lives were tragically lost. In Quincy, Illinois however, one man was convicted under an obscure law for intentionally causing a levee to fail. James Scott was 24-years-old when he allegedly breached the West Quincy levee with the intention of stranding his wife on the other side and having more freedom to party and go fishing with his friends. Though no deaths occurred from this breach, James is still serving a life sentence due to being the first person ever convicted under this 1979 Missouri law. This documentary explores James’ story in detail as well as looks at how such an extreme punishment could be given for such an act that seemingly had no casualties involved.

9. Walt Disney World

Celebrate the 15th anniversary of Walt Disney World with this special documentary created for the Disney Channel in 1986! Get a glimpse into how the iconic park was born, and get an exclusive preview of what Imagineering had planned. Plus, see some behind-the-scenes footage that will make you feel like you are part of the magic. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to experience history!

10. The ULTIMATE Guide to Disneyland

Are you ready for an unforgettable Disneyland experience? Join us as we take a walk down the secret theme park walkway and explore all that Baby Yoda has to offer. Plus, we’ll show you how to plan a spectacular 100th birthday party! Get ready for your trip with DFB Guide and get the most out of your visit to one of the world’s most magical places.

Read On – Our Latest Top Documentaries Lists

The best documentaries about esports, the 11 best documentaries about madrid, the 3 best documentaries about vancouver, the 11 best documentaries about mumbai, the 9 best documentaries about the pretenders, the 11 best documentaries about usher, the 9 best documentaries about steven tyler, the 11 best documentaries about simon and garfunkel, the 11 best documentaries about sting, the 10 best documentaries about chance the rapper.

Discover New Content

The Best 1 Day Disneyland Itinerary

Posted on Published: 06/12/2024

If you are visiting Disneyland Resort for a family vacation, I generally recommend a 3-day itinerary. That way, you can enjoy both of the theme parks – Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure.

However, sometimes, you really only have one day to explore Disneyland. Perhaps you are doing a day trip, or you are including a day at Disneyland in a longer Southern California vacation. In that case, we have some recommendations for the best one-day Disneyland itinerary.

For this one day trip, we recommend only visiting one of the two theme parks. Disneyland is the most classic option, and so that is the itinerary we are recommending.

Keep in mind that if you do plan to visit both parks in one day, you will need to purchase the park hopper option on your ticket. In addition, you will need park reservations.

Disclosure: We’ve received complimentary tickets as part of a conference, and have also paid our own way. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you.

Save money on your Disneyland 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. 

To get the most out of your one day at Disneyland, you’ll want to start at park opening. In Disney-speak, this is referred to as “rope drop”.

Rope drop is when they officially “drop the rope” holding back the crowds, and allow guests into the area with the attractions. At this time, guests can already be through bag security and the ticket turnstiles. Therefore, you’ll want to arrive at the front of Disneyland well before the official park opening time.

Guests staying at one of the three hotels on Disneyland property ( the Grand Californian , the Disneyland Hotel, or Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel ) will have access to early park entry. Each day, one specific park is open to resort guests 30 minutes before the official opening time. Again, this means you can already be through security and the park turnstiles.

Not every attraction is open during that time, but it does give you a good head start. If you are able to take advantage of it for your one day at Disneyland, you should.

To fully take advantage of your time at Disneyland, we recommend getting Genie+. Although this is offered at an additional cost, it can be helpful if you only have one day to visit the park.

You are able to add it on right when you purchase your tickets. With Genie+, you can make “reservations” to the most popular attractions and minimize the wait times.

If you don’t purchase Genie+, we would recommend using the free Disney Genie service. To use this, you’ll select your top experiences on the app. Then, the Disney Genie will give you an overview agenda with general times to experience your choices.

Where to Start

This is going to depend on a few things. If you are traveling with younger kids who want to experience the fairytale rides of Fantasyland, start there. Otherwise, we’d recommend starting in Tomorrowland. Some attractions in both lands are open during early park opening.

As soon as you can, we recommend booking your first Genie+ allocation. Indiana Jones Adventure is usually my choice because it’s a popular ride and then lines can get long.

In addition, if you want to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, you’ll want to purchase your Individual Lightning Lane. Unlike at Walt Disney World, you can’t choose the time of your Individual Lightning Lane, so keep an eye on the times and book it when the time is convenient for you.

Rides to consider at Disneyland include:

Tomorrowland

• Space Mountain
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

Fantasyland

• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Alice in Wonderland
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• it’s a small world

Adventureland

• Indiana Jones Adventure

Frontierland

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

New Orleans Square

• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Haunted Mansion
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

When it’s time for lunch, you’ll have lots of options. We recommend eating in Disneyland Park to save time during your one-day visit.

Eating at a quick-service location will save you the most time. Use mobile ordering on the Disneyland app to skip the line to order. It can be very easy to order everything you want and then just go to the pickup area to get your food.

If you’d rather have a table-service meal, our favorite place is Blue Bayou. In this New Orleans Square restaurant, you’ll be dining along the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. The food is great, and it’s a fun experience (although less time and budget-friendly). Make a reservation because it’s very popular.

In addition to standard mealtimes, you’ll probably want to enjoy some snacks during your visit. The full list of our favorite Disneyland treats is in this post . But, we’d most recommend the beignets at the Mint Julep Bar and the iconic Dole Whip.

Disneyland is even more than just attractions and food. There’s also lots of great shopping that you can do, right in the park.

Our favorite Disneyland shop is the Emporium along Main Street USA. At the Emporium, you’ll find a large selection of traditional Disney souvenirs, including stuffed animals, collectibles, jewelry, and clothing.

There are also some great specialty shops throughout the parks offering specific items, like Star Wars souvenirs and French perfume. During your one day at Disneyland, you’ll need to prioritize your shopping. So, it’s a good idea to look at the shops in advance and decide where you want to go.

Entertainment

In addition to attractions, you may consider seeing some entertainment at Disneyland. This includes Fantasmic!, character greetings, fireworks, and the Magic Happens parade. Look at the list of options and the entertainment schedule on the app before you go, so you can add these to your plan for the day.

Park Hopping

This one day plan only includes Disneyland Park. If you want to park hop, you’ll need to be aware of a few things:

• You’ll need to have a park hopper ticket and that comes with an extra cost
• Guests can hop to the next park starting at 11 am
• You’ll have to prioritize certain rides at each park, because you won’t be able to do everything
• To maximize park hopping, plan to spend most of your time, from opening to close, in the parks

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The scientific reason why you can’t stop going to Disneyland

• Copy Link URL Copied!

To say a lot of people flock to Disneyland and Walt Disney World doesn’t do the mass migration justice. Each year, people descend upon the parks by the tens of millions, and many of them don’t fund the increasingly expensive experience by using their savings alone. Disney die-hard Maddy Thompson of Phoenix says her husband once got a second job to pay for her self-described “Disney addiction.”

“Another time, we put off our son’s dental work to be able to afford our annual trip to Disneyland,” she says.

She’s far from being alone. One analysis showed that 18% of Disney park goers go into debt to pay for their Disney vacation. For fans like Jeff Reitz of Huntington Beach, who famously visited Disneyland 2,995 days in a row, such habits can become an obsession.

Every ride at Disneyland, ranked

Ranking the rides and attractions at Disneyland and California Adventure from best to worst is hard — but not impossible. Here is the ultimate Disneyland ride ranking.

April 20, 2023

And though other theme park destinations can claim they have loyal fans of their own, none of them can deny Disney’s appeal to the masses. Disney’s six U.S.-based theme parks are visited more annually than the next 13 most popular U.S.-based theme parks combined.

Why are people so drawn to the happiest place on Earth? The answer may have to do with how our brains are wired. While many factors no doubt contribute to Disney’s enduring popularity, some scientists believe that Disney-related vacations prompt more compulsive travel behavior than others, due to the powerful strategies the company employs. The next time you find yourself with a strange yearning to inhale the damp, musty air of Pirates of the Caribbean or walk along charming Main Street U.S.A., consider these possible reasons for it.

Travel craving is real

Though research around “travel craving” is new and relatively sparse, behavioral psychologists and cognitive scientists believe a yearning for travel can fit the clinical understanding of craving as “a strong desire to modify ongoing cognitive experiences” in ways that don’t only relate to addictions.

Neuropsychologist Paul Nussbaum, an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, explains that such cravings can be especially focused on getting specific outcomes from one’s vacation. “Our brain’s circuitry is wired to both desire things and to have our desires resolved temporarily with action,” he says. In other words, for people who describe their love of Disney travel this way, craving a trip to Disneyland may not only be a desire, but a yearning that continues to grow until satisfied.

Something smells funny

Such yearnings are fed by any number of factors, of course, but smells are high on the list because of how they trigger memories and positive emotions. “The brain region critical to smell is located near the hippocampus, which is an important brain structure that helps us remember,” Nussbaum explains. “That is why the sensation of smell can trigger memories.” Indeed, multiple studies show how one’s sense of smell has a stronger link to memory and emotion than any of the other senses.

Disney seems to understand this as it has filled its parks with machines called Smellitzers — apparatuses carefully disguised or hidden away throughout attractions, shops and walkways, each pumping out soothing and familiar scents to passersby. In a 2017 interview , a 30-year Disney parks veteran said these machines release these familiar scents “on purpose” because the company is mindful that visitors “are using all their senses” when they’re there. But beyond simply releasing the smells, Disney also uses carefully timed systems and fans to ensure those scents reach the nostrils of guests. One Disney attraction patent notes that the ride’s Smellitzers’ “nozzles may be provided to direct scent materials into proximity to the fans so that appropriate scents may be directed to the passenger.”

While many parkgoers undoubtedly love the distribution of such smells on attractions and while shopping, one fan went viral on TikTok for saying Disney’s use of Smellitzers “brainwashes” people who attend the parks into making purchases they may not otherwise make.

41 Disneyland tips, tricks and food secrets from park fanatics

Disneyland and California Adventure visitors who’ve been multiple times share their favorite tips, tricks and hacks for having the best day at the parks.

Brainwashing or not, the effect “is ingenious,” says Melanie English, a licensed clinical psychologist in Seattle. She explains that not only do such smells release happy hormones in visitors, but breathing them in can actually reduce stress. When taking the slow, deep breaths required to take in each aroma, she explains, parkgoers “complete some inadvertent meditation, which slows their heart rate down and reduces their cortisone levels.”

Not only do Disney Smellitzers enhance the visitor experience, but because of how strongly smells are linked with memory, the scents can pull visitors back to the parks whenever they get a whiff of similar aromas that remind them of the woodsy pines around Grizzly Peak in Disney’s California Adventure park or the freshly baked goods along Disney’s Main Street U.S.A. One scented candle company understands how powerful these smells can be and sells candles that capture the “ damp ocean air ” associated with the Pirates of the Carribean attraction, the “ etherealizing scent ” of riding Haunted Mansion or the “ earthiness ” of Soarin’ Around the World.

“Smell is a chemical sense, and it is evolutionarily ancient, so it connects more directly with the emotional parts of the brain than the other senses do,” explains David Ludden, a professor of psychology at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Ga. “While some odors rise to the level of consciousness, many smells influence our behavior at an unconscious level,” he says, adding that Disneyland’s ability to evoke such unconscious emotions and connect with visitors so deeply is “a big part of Disney’s success.”

Feeding peer influence

Beyond its unique methods for distributing smells, Disney also benefits from and contributes to established social behaviors regarding peer influence. Though people frequently take and share pictures of many types of travel, few vacations feel as obligatory to document as a trip to Disneyland. Andrew Selepak, a social media professor at the University of Florida, says people are highly influenced by the images their friends and family members share on social media. “Family vacations to Disney are not just photos of the family in mouse ears or after a fun ride, but the entire park,” he says. “We take pictures of our food, the things we buy, the lines we wait in, and even the most minor of moments to post and share in social media.” Ludden echoes that because of how often people chronicle their Disney vacations, those following them from home feel especially driven to experience and share the same vacations so they can “belong to the elite group of those who have ‘been there, done that.’”

Selepak believes Disney recognizes its influence and points to the effort it puts into setting up meet-and-greets with beloved characters, creating eye-popping backdrops and decor, and coming up with photo-worthy treats and souvenirs. This year, Disneyland also made Disney PhotoPass digital attraction photos free for ticketed guests, encouraging more people to share images with their friends and followers.

And while lines at amusement parks aren’t unique to Disneyland, the experts say Disney’s efforts to entice social media sharing pays off in ways efforts at other destinations simply don’t. “How many other theme parks have you been to where the line to get a photo with a costumed character like Mickey Mouse is as long as some of the rides there?” asks Selepak.

Nostalgia we’re wired to crave

Perhaps Disney’s most powerful strategy is how it triggers feelings of nostalgia through its many throwback details: old-time attraction posters at park entrances, a train whistle sounding from a steam-powered locomotive as it loops around the park, classic movie characters mingling in real life with guests, a horse-drawn street car transporting visitors along Disneyland’s most visible walkway and the architecture of Main Street U.S.A. built to resemble Walt Disney’s idyllic turn-of-the-20th century hometown. Even more recent attractions take guests back to the classics — for instance, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is designed to transport riders into vintage-style Mickey Mouse cartoons.

“Visiting Disney parks allows people to indulge their nostalgia by immersing themselves in this reliable world filled with familiar colors, characters, smells and music,” says Erica Hepper, a lecturer of psychology at the University of Surrey in England and author of multiple nostalgia-related studies.

The rewards associated with such wistful remembrances or feelings of nostalgia are many and include improved mood , feelings of optimism , stronger social bonds and reduced anxiety . Hepper says experiencing nostalgia this way not only rewards park visitors while they’re in the parks, but also motivates them to want to return when they see nostalgia-triggering Disney films at home or encounter Disney-themed merchandise and ads, which are everywhere.

Disneyland feels classist now. Is it killing the magic for everyone?

Genie+, Magic Band+ and other add-ons have introduced a new feeling at the Happiest Place on Earth: the sense that you could be having more fun if you shelled out more cash.

What’s more, because Disneyland opened nearly 70 years ago, many adults today have some of their fondest childhood memories rooted in a visit there. “Childhood is a time of security, innocence, fantasy, and carefree and exuberant joy,” says Krystine Batcho, a psychology professor at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. Because of this, she says Disneyland is “strongly evocative of nostalgia” and makes people naturally long to return to experience their treasured childhood emotions anew.

Ludden agrees, saying that Disney theme parks provide a “nostalgic refuge” for adults seeking to escape their stressful lives.

Indeed, it’s this use of nostalgia marketing combined with these other subtle strategies that the experts say contributes to the overall experience and makes guests of all ages want to return to the happiest place on earth again and again. “Disney is absolutely special in creating smells, foods, experiences and merchandise that pair very well together,” says English. “Collectively, this brings people back to their parks — and with joy.”

More to Read

Disneyland fans with disabilities enraged by changes: ‘We had the worst day ever there’

Aug. 27, 2024

At D23, even Disney’s biggest fans feel the pinch of high park prices

Aug. 13, 2024

In defense of Disney adults

July 18, 2024

Sign up for The Wild

We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Yosemite’s Wawona Hotel, age 168, will close indefinitely for ‘intensive’ checkup

Sept. 12, 2024

Travel & Experiences

A thrilling way to see Little Tokyo? Chase down a spy in this interactive mystery game

This under-the-radar city is the hiking trails capital of California

Sept. 10, 2024

This must be Venice

Sept. 6, 2024

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Culture + Design
• TV + Movies

There's a Secret Basketball Court Hidden Inside One of Your Favorite Disney Rides — and You Can Finally See It (Video)

There are plenty of rumors about Disneyland , but thanks to The Imagineering Story , a six-part documentary on Disney+ about the history and legacy of Disney’s vast theme parks, a few are finally being put to rest.

The new series offers a rare glimpse at the creators and the process behind building Disney theme parks worldwide. With an in-depth look at Walt Disney Imagineering — known in the past as WED Enterprises and MAPO — this series will fulfill every behind-the-scenes dream any Disney fan has ever had.

That oft-rumored basketball court hidden inside Disneyland’s Matterhorn Mountain is real — and for the first time ever, you’ll see it. The fabled court is revealed in the first episode of The Imagineering Story on a tour led by none other than Imagineer Bob Gurr, who helped create the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction . The new show also reveals the biggest secrets of the Haunted Mansion, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the famed attraction’s ballroom scene works. (It’s a “pepper’s ghost” effect, but for the full reveal, you’ll have to check out the documentary.)

Ever heard about those secret tunnels Mickey Mouse uses to get around the Magic Kingdom? The new Disney+ series actually takes you inside the fabled Walt Disney World underground. Watching staff members cross through the interconnected “Utilidor” system is incredible, but brace yourself, as it won’t look anything like what you’ve seen at Walt Disney World before. The company only beautifies areas that guests will see, so like all other “backstage” areas, the utilidors are fully industrial, exposed pipes and all. (Part of the reason Disney World’s flagship park remains so clean is that garbage is whisked outside the park through a system of pneumatic tubes installed in the underground tunnels.)

Packed with plenty of intriguing tidbits and unbelievable stories, like how Tokyo Disneyland staffers shadowed Disneyland employees for an entire year to learn their jobs, it’s perfect for casual fans and Disney devotees alike. With details Disney fanatics are familiar with — like how the Haunted Mansion’s floating fortune teller was the company’s own artist, Leota Toombs — as well as ones lesser-known facts, like how her iconic scene was casually shot on her lunch break, there’s plenty for everyone.

The Imagineering Story is now streaming on Disney+.

Related Articles

Family Travel Folio

Plan. Enjoy. Remember.

Disneyland with Toddlers: Best 15 Helpful Books to Read First

Star Wars Reading Level 2

Jungle Cruise Board Book

The Haunted Mansion Little Golden Book

Disneyland books for kids are one of the best ways to prep your kids for a Disneyland vacation.

They can connect with the characters and storylines in whatever way works best for their age.

Toddlers especially will benefit from reading these Disneyland books for kids to help make character meetings and Disneyland rides a success for their first Disneyland visit.

Notes About a Toddler’s First Disneyland Vacation…

So many people are questioning going to Disneyland with babies and toddlers , and here I am counting down the days until we can go again with them before they turn school-age. It’s true, they may not remember the trip- or at least, not for very long, BUT they can still enjoy every moment.

They may not be able to ride on every ride, but there are so many rides they can go on , so many characters to meet , and foods to eat , and parades to see – Disneyland is an entire experience , not just a theme park of roller coasters. In fact, her favorite part was meeting the characters.

OK, but how do you make sure they have fun? Aren’t little kids afraid of costumed characters and terrified of rides? Don’t they get overstimulated and hopped up on sugar then have epic meltdowns that frustrate the whole family?

Top 3 Tips to Prep Toddlers for Disneyland

Regarding toddler meltdowns at disneyland: .

Try our Snack, Nap, Distract routines. These tips for little (and adults) help minimize and bypass tantrums , and give you the needed tools to keep positive and keep up everyone’s spirits despite any potential setbacks.

Regarding Disneyland Rides for Toddlers:  

Ride on little kid rides at local fairs or theme parks BEFORE going to Disneyland. That way you can

• See how they react
• Get them used to the concept of rides
• Enjoy most if not all Disney rides they can go on

Regarding Disneyland with Toddlers: 

Disneyland: the rides, parades, characters, environment, and experiences all come down to recognizing familiar faces and storylines .

Being able to connect the seemingly chaotic theme park around them with cherished stories from the safety of home is a huge help in not only minimizing potential meltdowns but in helping littles to fully enjoy the experience.

There are so many lists of what movies to watch before going to Disneyland, but I believe books are a better way to prepare them .

Don’t get me wrong, we watched some movies with our girls before going, but not all movies are appropriate and books have a tangible aspect that movies will never accomplish. 

Our toddler was obsessed with “ Star Wars Land ” (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge) because of the set of kid-friendly star wars books she always begs me to read. She still hasn’t seen any of the saga but recognized Chewy and the Storm Troopers.

Books can be read to babies and toddlers. They can flip through the pages themselves. They can look at pictures. They can learn letters and words. It’s something that is good for them and something they love to do. 

So, if you want your Epic Family Disneyland Vacation to be a success, I recommend reading together as a family the list of books below.

If you don’t have the exact book I do, then just find a book that has the same story or the same characters- there are so many remakes of the same Disney stories to tailor the different reading levels and types of books . 

Reading any of the following books will accomplish the following:

• Reading to Increase Vocabulary and Creativity
• Disney Introductions

Side Note: There are more books you could read, but I focused on those that had not only a character meet & greet option, but also had a ride or attraction attached to them- and were our focus for our girls’ first Disney Vacation.

Fantasyland Books for Kids

1. it’s a small world.

A classic Golden Book for a classic Disneyland Ride.

It’s a Small World is the perfect ride for everyone. It’s slow, goes through air conditioning, and has no height requirement.

The story takes you through the different parts of the world represented in the Disneyland Small World ride and has the word “Hello” in various languages (with a pronunciation guide).

For some extra fun, sing the song along with your toddler. Music is such a great way to play and connect.

2. Peter Pan

Ride: Peter Pan’s Flight (no height requirement)

Character: Meet Tinkerbell in Pixie Hollow

Peter Pan’s Flight is one of my favorite rides. It’s just so relaxing and magical- truly a favorite every time we go. Our girls loved it too- although to be fair our then 4-month-old wore the noise-cancellation headphones and slept through it.

We read the story Peter Pan ahead of time so our then almost-3-year-old would recognize Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. She loved riding on the ship and seeing the characters.

Plus: she and her cousin were so excited to meet Tinkerbell in Pixie Hollow, and Tinkerbell made an appearance in the parade.

Ride: Dumbo the Flying Elephant (no height requirements) 

Ride: Casey Jr. Circus Train (no height requirements)

Dumbo has 2 rides represented: the Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Casey Jr. Circus Train.

Nice, easy, introductory rides for the whole family to go on, and so easy to connect back to the book.

There’s even a stationary Dumbo for a photo op. SeaWorld actually has a similar Elmo-themed ride we had gone on before, so our toddler was very excited about this one. 

This particular book is called Walt Disney’s Fantasyland . It compiles many classic stories that end up represented in Fantasyland, Disneyland.

4. Alice in Wonderland

Ride: Mad Tea Party (no height requirement)

Ride: Alice in Wonderland (no height requirement)

Character: Meet Alice & the Mad Hatter 

I used to ride the Alice in Wonderland ride with my grandma instead of going on the Matterhorn with everyone else. Now, of course, I love the Matterhorn, but the Alice ride holds a special place in my heart and it was so exciting to share it with my own little girl.

This Alice in Wonderland story was her favorite for several weeks before she let me read something else at bedtime.

She was absolutely ecstatic to go on these 2 rides and to meet Alice and the Mad Hatter.

We even did an Alice in Wonderland theme for our Halloween costumes later that year: she was the Red Queen, her baby sister was Alice, and my husband and I were Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

The teacups are a bit much for some kids even though there is no height limit- the spinning can make them a bit nervous.

We went on a similar ride at SeaWorld multiple times before going to Disneyland, so with that and reading the book, she was prepped and ready to go!

If your little one is nervous about too much spinning, you don’t have to turn the middle wheel to spin faster, just sit back and enjoy the ride’s slower spins.

5. Sleeping Beauty

Attraction: Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (no height requirement)

Character: Meet Aurora

Enjoy this set of Disney Princess short stories. Each story is in a different book compared to most current editions which are put into one large book. Not looking for separate short stories? Try this book of 5-minute Princess Stories .

In the Disneyland parks, Aurora makes an appearance as a meet & greet opportunity and in the parade and Fantasmic, but the real reason for making this list is the castle walk-through. 

It’s such a beautiful story, and the walk-through literally walks you through the pages. All ages can enjoy beautifully recreated scenes from this Disney classic through dioramas.

For all of the princesses, there are fun additional short stories that give you a glimpse into their lives before and after the time frame, the movie covers. It’s a great way to really connect with the characters and get that much more Disney magic out of the fairy tales.

6. Snow White

Ride: Snow White’s Enchanted Wish (no height requirement)

Character: Meet Snow White (Royal Hall)

This ride can be a bit loud and scary at the end with the dwarfs chasing the evil queen (still disguised as an old hag) up to a cliff, so it’s really good to have gone through the storyline already. 

Read Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Little Golden Book , or check out the additional Snow White short stories in the collection mentioned above.

Comfort and familiarity made it easy to explain away the sudden scary music that quickly changes to happily ever after. 

You may also be able to see the 7 dwarfs dancing along in the parade. And who can resist a photo op with the littlest munchkins dressed like Snow White?

Royal Hall was a great place to meet 3 princesses back to back. We were there with Cinderella, Snow White, and Ariel. Take a look at our post on Meeting Characters at Disneyland and California Adventure for more info.

7. Beauty and the Beast

Entertainment: Storytelling at Royal Theater (no height requirement)

Character: Meet Belle (Royal Theater & Fantasyland)

Our little one’s absolute favorite. We watched the live theater performance which is entertaining even for adults with the witty banter and side comments. It’s such a fun introduction to live theater for the little ones.

After the performance is the only photo op with Belle in her yellow dress.

Belle was so sweet as she taught our munchkin to hold her dress off to the side for a picture like a princess. They also talked about books, and Belle was surprised to find out our toddler’s favorite books were Star Wars books.

It made my nerd heart so proud. Belle has been our munchkin’s favorite since day one. I didn’t even think a 2 year old would fully recognize Belle’s dress for what it was when she got it for Christmas, but she knew exactly what it was. Belle’s Song (Tale as Old as Time) is still her bedtime song of choice every single night.

You can also find Belle walking around Fantasyland in her blue dress, and the Red Rose Taverne also has Beauty and the Beast-themed treats. Try the grey stuff…it really is delicious!

Read this Beauty and the Beast Seek and Find Book to make story time fun and interactive. The movie can be a bit tense for toddlers (like the wolf scene!), so reading a storybook is a great help!

New Orlean’s Square/Critter Country Books for Kids

8. the haunted mansion.

This is perhaps a ride that both works and doesn’t work for families with young kids.

The Haunted Mansion is a slow ride with no height requirement, so anyone can go on it.

Babies don’t usually have issues. Put on noise-cancellation headphones, and they will probably nap the whole time on the air-conditioned Disneyland ride.

Toddlers, however, might start to be more aware of the haunted surroundings and get a little nervous.

My first tip is to read this book with them. It follows a kid character and sums up the layout of the ride and the different ghosts and haunts they will come across.

My second tip is to go on it when it is the Nightmare Before Christmas holiday layover. This happens in September and goes through January.

I find it to be a much less spooky version of the ride (even if they haven’t seen or read the Nightmare Before Christmas), and it gets them excited to go on the original version of the ride on their next trip.

9. The Princess and the Frog

Ride [future]: Splash Mountain remodel (height = 40” or 102 cm)

Entertainment: New Orleans Square shops and restaurants

Character: Meet Tiana 

This one made it on here because of 2 reasons: 1) they are remodeling Splash Mountain after a Princess and the Frog theme, and 2) New Orleans’ Square with its music and beignets is the perfect environment to connect with Tiana’s story.

Oh, and in case you didn’t know- beignets taste like donuts and Disney makes an amazing beignet. May seem silly, but if you’ve never had one you don’t know, right?

Try The Princess and the Frog: Tiana’s Cookbook for Kids . It’ll be another fun read with delicious activities.

10. Winnie the Pooh

Ride: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (no height requirement)

Character: Meet Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore (Pooh’s Thotful Spot)

Who can resist riding the Winnie the Pooh ride and singing along to the heffalumps and woozles song? Slow ride, perfect for the little ones. It is inside, which usually means it’s louder audio, so we used the noise cancellation headphones for our 4-month-old.

Plus there’s an amazing meet & greet opportunity in an adorably themed “Pooh’s Thotful Spot” right next to it. This was so fun for our toddler and her cousin- they were bouncing up and down just like Tigger.

Read up on several of Winnie the Pooh’s Adventures with this Classic Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Treasury .

Adventureland Books for Kids

11. jungle cruise.

Ride: Jungle Cruise (no height requirement)

I can’t tell you how excited I was to find this gem at Barnes & Noble one day. It’s also available on Amazon . If you find any more Disney-themed kid’s books that focus on the rides, let me know!

It captures the essence of the ride, including the skippers who make it just that much better with their jokes.

Really, who can resist jumping aboard to go see the backside of water?! Hehe.

Attraction: Tarzan’s Treehouse (no height requirement)

*2022 Update: Tarzan’s Treehouse is still closed for Refurbishment. We will update this post once a release date is announced. The newest information (as of 12/23/22) is that this will be rethemed as Adventureland Treehouse.

Another favorite for me growing up- although it wasn’t Tarzan themed to begin with (Swiss Family Robinson). I absolutely love this tree house and it’s great for the kids to walk through and play around a bit.

Our Tarzan story comes in this beautiful compilation of Disney’s Animal Stories . We are talking Lion King, Bambi, Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp- all of your animal favorites put into one book.

Side note- if you try and watch the movie Tarzan in Spanish to help with learning new words in another language…well, there isn’t a lot of dialog to go off of…anyway- off to Toontown!

Mickey’s Toontown Books for Kids

*2022 Update: Toontown will be reopening on March 8, 2023!

13. Chip and Dale

Ride: Gadget’s Go Coaster (height = 35” or 89 cm)

Attraction: Chip & Dale’s Treehouse (no height requirement)

Character: Meet Chip & Dale 

This roller coaster is so fun, but it’s not for every little munchkin. Still, it’s fun to point out then walk through Chip & Dale’s treehouse. We actually met Chip & Dale at the Storytellers Cafe Character brunch , but you can also see them around the park.

Our girls love reading about these fun-loving chipmunks. The stories are just so cute and many have a detective aspect as they follow the full Rescue Ranger crew.

The Big Cheese Caper is a fun story that involved some great detective work, and a lot of cheese!

14. The Fab 5: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy

Attraction: Mickey’s House (no height requirement)

Attraction: Minnie’s House (no height requirement)

Attraction: Goofy’s Playhouse (no height requirement)

Attraction: Donald’s Boat (no height requirement)

Character: Meet these characters around the park

* ToonTown is being refurbished/remodeled and will open on March 8, 2023.

Best Halloween Time Tips for Disneyland in October

All you need to know about visiting Disneyland in October and during Halloween Time, including seasonal festivity reviews and tips & tricks.

I don’t think I need to explain this. The Fab 5 are everywhere in the park- Mickey & Friends are kind of the staple of Disneyland and Toontown is where they live.

Enjoy walking through their houses, experiencing meet & greets, and don’t forget to wear your Mickey Mouse ears too!

So many stories to choose from to show the kids the magic of Mickey Mouse and the imagination of Walt Disney.

The girls get so excited when they see anything Mickey or Minnie Mouse themed.

Our Character Meal mentioned above ( Storytellers Cafe ) let us meet all of these wonderful characters, but you can also meet them around Disneyland and some in California Adventure.

This Disney Mickey Mouse & Friends Music Sound Book is one of their favorites. Anything with buttons, music, and dancing!

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge/Tomorrowland Books for Kids

15. star wars.

Ride: Millennium Falcon: Suggler’s Run (height = 38” or 97 cm)

Ride: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (height = 40” or 102 cm)

Attraction: Droid Depot (no height requirement)

Character: Meet many Star Wars Characters

The rides are not for little kids (you can use rider swap to still go on them), but oh my goodness. My munchkin was attached to the Star Wars world from these books.

She absolutely loves it- and she’s never seen any of the movies (yet!). Our friends gave us this boxed set of Reading Level 2 Star Wars Books and she continually asks me to read them over and over again to her- which, of course, I happily oblige.

When we got to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge (“Star Wars Land”), she was so excited to be in the cantina, drink Blue Milk, meet Chewbaca, see Storm Troopers, get her very own Ewok, and make her own droid.

She even got excited over the bathroom, telling me “look mom…a Star Wars bathroom!”

Something to keep in mind is that this land is an immersive experience.

You won’t be lining up for autographs, because the cast members act out their roles as if you’ve really stepped foot onto Batuu. It truly is an unforgettable experience for everyone.

16. Toy Story

Ride: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (no height requirement)

There are more Toy Story themed things over at California Adventure, but that doesn’t mean we skip over it here. Astro Blasters is so fun, and easy for the kids to get involved.

Personally, I prefer Toy Story Midway Mania over in California Adventure because I think it’s easier to hit the targets, but I’m not good at aiming.

It’s still really fun and the line for the ride is full of Toy Story themed fun including an animatronic Buzz Lightyear.

There are Character Meet & Greets over at Pixar Pier in California Adventure.

This Pixar Storybook Collection has all of your favorite Pixar Stories, including Toy Story, and Finding Nemo mentioned below.

17. Finding Nemo

Ride: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (no height requirement)

*Update 2022: Finding Nemo Submarine is currently being refurbished. Join our e-mail list for updates!

This is one we actually didn’t get to go on for the girls’ first Disney trip, but she keeps saying she needs to ride the submarine ride next time. 

We were with many family members over 6 feet tall, so scrunching in on the submarine ride didn’t take priority.

Still, you could hear the seagulls shout “mine! Mine!” and see the submarines go around.

I have always loved this ride (although it wasn’t always Finding Nemo themed), and I can’t wait to go on it next time. Our girls love Nemo and Dori, I’m sure they would find this so exciting.

Planning Your Disney Vacation

I can keep adding in more and more stories such as Tangled , Pinnochio , the Haunted Mansion , and a whole host of other stories that have themed rides, meet & greets, & photo ops, but these were the ones we focused on the most. 

You have your own personal favorites and use storytelling, toys, equivalent rides (at SeaWorld and fairs), and Disney movies to really get your little ones into the spirit.

Is it all necessary? I like to think so. Chances are our girls would have still had so much fun at Disneyland even if I hadn’t made sure to read these stories to them and expose them to similar rides and beloved characters, but it increased my own confidence.

It helped me know what my girls liked and didn’t like- both with characters and types of rides. It helped me connect things to stories and prior experiences when I started seeing overwhelm or nerves or confusion. 

When we were younger, my mom showed us the movie of a play before we went to the live theater performance of it. This let us ask as many questions ahead of time (when she could press pause) and we all had a more enjoyable theater going experience because of it.

So I like to think my pre-planning and pre-reading helped immensely, but I’ll be honest when I say every kid is different. There’s only so much you can do to plan out the perfect Disney vacation , and the most important things you can do are to be patient and flexible .

The kids will be over-tired and overstimulated. Check out our Top 3 Tips on How to Avoid Tantrums for more info on preventing and sidestepping these issues.

5 Tips for Planning Your Perfect Disney Vacation

• Prep for the Parks: Read Disney books, watch Disney movies, play with Disney character toys. Ride rides and meet costume characters at fairs and amusement parks. Get an idea of what your little ones are ok and not ok with before the big Disney Vacation.
• Plan Ahead : Make reservations, have ideas of an order of rides and attractions in mind, think about what food you want to buy vs. what food you want to bring. List your “Must Do, Could Do, Won’t Do.” 
• Be Flexible: You made a plan- now forget the plan. It’s good to have a general direction but be able to stop and pivot when needed. Kids are unpredictable.
• Be Patient: Soak everything in- look at their reaction to the magical world around them. The environment is just as important as the food and the rides. Enjoy slowing down and living in the moment.
• Remember: Scrapbook, photo album, picture frame- somehow, make sure to capture at least a couple of highlights for you to look back on and smile. You’re not just paying for a fun vacation, you’re paying for an experience. Memories of that experience will last forever.

Really it comes down to Plan, Enjoy, Remember – our approach to all of our adventures.

Your Family Adventure

Ready to book your next Disney Vacation? I know I am! Get Away Today is booking for now and in advance, so if you’re looking to go next week or next year, take a look at their discounted Disneyland Parks tickets and Vacation Packages .

They are such a fun-loving, family & Disney-centered company. They work with you on flexible payment plans and see how they can help save you money. Give them a call today .

What Would You Read?

How does your list of books line up with ours? Anything you would add or take away?

Disneyland is so magical for so many different reasons.

What do you enjoy most about the parks that you want to share with your kids or nieces or nephews or grandkids?

It’s our goal to inspire and help families go on adventures so they can make amazing memories, learn about the world, and spend quality time together.

Travel Blogger

Family Travel Folio was created in 2019 by Katie to help and inspire parents to travel with their kids from Camping to Disneyland and everything in between.

Katie is a Disney obsessed bookworm who loves to explore with her husband and their 2 girls. You can find her learning fun facts about animals or eating sour candy while planning another fun adventure.

Similar Posts

Save with Discount on Family Travel & Disneyland Tickets

*This page may include affiliate links where we may earn a small commission from your purchases at no additional cost to you.* Family Travel Folio is a proud Affiliate of Get Away Today. What does this mean? We may earn a small commission on purchases made through our links at no additional cost to you….

Packing List for Family Vacations

Tips & must have items to pack for your next family vacation!

Roar and Snore San Diego Safari Park Sleepover Review

The Roar and Snore San Diego Safari Park sleepover is the perfect way to camp in comfort under the stars and wake up to lions roaring at dawn!

Best Hiking in Banff: Top 10 Winter Trails

Banff National Park is in Alberta Canada and should be added to your top list of places to visit if you haven’t been already. In fact, it immediately turned into one of our favorite family vacation destinations. There is so much to do and see in and around Banff National Park such as natural hot…

10 Best Ways to Manage Car Sickness in Toddlers

Preventing car sickness and dealing with car sickness are 2 different things. One helps you to never get sick in the first place, the other is a way to make sure the experience is as minimal as possible while quickly and efficiently cleaning up the mess.

These 10 ways to manage car sickness include some preventative measures, some tricks to minimize nausea, and some tips on quick and effective clean ups.

It’s a combination of years figuring out how to deal with my own motion sickness while traveling as well as dealing with the signs and cause-effects of our youngest’s car sickness.

17 Best Disney Parks Loungefly Backpacks (2024 Guide)

Get all the latest details about the best Disney Parks Loungefly Backpack designs and hints as to what’s coming up next…

Disney TikToker Collapses, Dies at Disneyland Race

"I really hope I get through the race tomorrow morning," Caleb Graves, a popular Disney travel TikToker, posted in a video Saturday, the day before the Halloween Half Marathon at Disneyland resort in Anaheim, California. It was his final social media post—and at the finish line of the race the next day, Graves collapsed and died. The race was held Sunday amid record, triple-digit temperatures in southern California, and Graves could be seen clutching his chest as he crossed the finish line, the Los Angeles Times reports. A volunteer caught him, and though lifesaving procedures were attempted for an hour, he was ultimately pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The race started at 5am and he finished about two hours later, People reports. He died of cardiac arrest, but the cause of that has yet to be determined; the 35-year-old had no known health issues.

In his video the day prior, he had shared with his more than 18,000 followers that he is particularly "susceptible" to heat, and that he was worried about the race the following day. "I was outside for like 20 minutes, walking my dog, and it was hot, but I felt fine," he recounted about an incident that had apparently just taken place. "And then like 10 minutes after I got back in, I just passed out. I just fell asleep—no control over my body. It was heat exhaustion, it's only happened once to me before," said Graves, an experienced distance runner who had previously competed in marathons and half-marathons at Disney World. (More Disneyland stories.)

• A DuckDuckGo extension in your browser, please access Newser without it: Either by removing it, whitelisting us, or using another browser.