Expert Advice
Disneyland is The Happiest Place on Earth and we don’t disagree. But even the happiest place on earth can be a little bit happier if you use some of our insider tips and tricks. Disneyland Resort Daily’s Park expert Tabitha Magee shares some of her top tips so you can enjoy Disneyland at its best. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us with more helpful tips.
Stay Close to the Resort
Staying at a hotel within walking distance of the Disneyland Resort is the key. You don’t have to deal with traffic or with the Disney parking lot. This is important as it will help you get to the park earlier. All three Disneyland Resort Hotels (the Disneyland Hotel, the Grand Californian, or the Paradise Pier) are all a quick walk to the entrance gates. These Disney Resort Hotels are by far the best places to stay because of the Disney experience they provide. There are several good non-Disney hotels within walking distance to the main gates. We will share some of the best non-Disney hotels in future updates and on our blog.
Arrive Early
Arriving early is the key. You can ride several of the popular rides before the park gets busy. You generally have about two hours before the park starts to get crowded. If you want to avoid lines, be at the entrance gates 30 minutes before the park opens—8 A.M. in summer (10 A.M. for California Adventure). Use this time between rides to get FASTPASS tickets for later use.
Arrive Even Earlier
The Magic Morning package offered to guests of the three Disneyland Resort hotels lets you into parts of Disneyland or California Adventure an hour before the official park opening. They generally rotate the early entrance days. You can avoid long lines and ride a lot of the favorite attractions with no waiting before the official opening of the park.
Enjoy Disney California Adventure
With the Park Hopper ticket, you can visit both Disneyland and California Adventure on the same day. California Adventure tends to be less crowded than Disneyland, and it has some awesome rides, including the Incredicoaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Soarin’, and Radiator Springs Racers. Arriving before the park opens is a must if you want to make sure you ride Radiator Springs Racers first thing or get a FASTPASS.
Master the FASTPASS
The FASTPASS saves you a place in line for the most popular Disneyland and California Adventure attractions. Get to a FASTPASS ticket machine, swipe your ticket, get the FASTPASS ticket then return at the time printed on the pass. You can then hop on the ride with very little or no waiting. The catch is that you can only get one FASTPASS at a time and you can’t get another until that one expires. That’s one more reason to take advantage of an early morning visit. See my FASTPASS page for more in-depth tips.
Take a Break
As we said, the rush of Disneyland visitors arrives late morning and remains through the afternoon. This is a perfect time to take a mid-day break. Have a relaxed lunch, head back to the hotel (another reason to stay close by), enjoy a nap or a swim, and then head back to the park in the late afternoon.
See a Show and a Parade
Disney’s Frozen show at the Hyperion Theater in California Adventure is polished and highly entertaining. On a hot summer day, it’s the perfect place to spend 40 minutes in a comfortable seat in an air-conditioned theater. Disney Junior – Live on Stage is another indoor show geared towards small children. There are also parades at both parks to rest your weary feet.
Enjoy the Evening
In the summer, Disneyland is open until midnight, and California Adventure is open until 10 pm. Enjoy this time. The parks after dark are truly magical, with fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and fantastic nighttime entertainment. Visit the World of Color at California Adventure, Fantasmic, and nightly fireworks at Disneyland.