Summary
• min read
Disneyland remains a timeless attraction, and with the upcoming launch of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, there is yet another compelling reason to experience its enchantment. While our excitement mirrors that of the children, orchestrating a visit to America’s beloved theme park can introduce a degree of stress. How can you guide your family through the marvel and wonder of Disneyland while preserving your own sense of amazement?
Advanced Planning
The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, includes two parks: Disneyland and California Adventure Park, featuring Star Wars Galaxy Edge in the former. Prior to your visit, allocate some time to investigate attraction locations to establish how many days you wish to dedicate to each park and determine which passes align best with your family’s needs.
Each park provides a day pass that enables entry once per day, and a park hopper pass that facilitates exploration of both parks on a single day. Your selection should reflect your preferences: enthusiasts of Marvel may prefer to spend extended periods at California Adventure, whereas princesses are prevalent at Disneyland (with the exception of Elsa and Anna, who reside at California Adventure).
Lightning Lanes and the App
Before departing, download the Disneyland app. Invest time familiarizing yourself with its features to avoid requiring assistance from a cast member, although they are more than willing to assist if needed.
The app is extensive but not particularly intuitive. It provides information on attraction wait times, character locations and schedules, dining options, and show times. Additionally, users can pre-order food and reserve tables through the app. I find the pre-order feature valuable, and it’s helpful for securing last-minute dinner arrangements. I appreciate a degree of spontaneity when traveling, and the app accommodates that.
The app is also incredibly useful for locating characters—advance knowledge of a character’s location can significantly enhance the experience of filling an autograph book.
Recently, Disney introduced Lightning Lanes to facilitate quicker access to attractions. Guests can purchase a multi-pass, enabling them to secure three ride times immediately and additional times as they enjoy their experiences. This allows guests to maintain three reservations concurrently. Individual Lightning Lanes for more popular rides, such as Rise of the Resistance, can also be purchased. This flexibility allows families to tailor their experience based on preferences and budget considerations.
If your group includes devoted fans, I recommend purchasing individual passes for those particularly eager to experience specific rides. Conversely, the multi-pass is sufficient for the majority of guests.
Pace Yourself
There is a multitude of attractions to experience! The parade at Disneyland is enchanting, and the fireworks display is extraordinary—nighttime at Disney is exhilarating. However, you may find it challenging to endure the entire day if you arrive at opening and remain until closing. Consider returning to your accommodations for a brief rest or a refreshing swim.
Younger children often struggle with the demands of standing in lines, remaining still, and staying close all day. Let them explore the Redwood Creek Adventure Trail at California Adventure Park or Disneyland’s Tom Sawyer Island, which are ideal locations for expending some energy.
Additionally, we found that acquiring a bubble wand was surprisingly effective not only in entertaining our little one but also in providing amusement for others in line. It may be worth considering when compiling your list of souvenirs.
Food & Drink
Hard-sided coolers are prohibited; however, you may bring your own food in a soft cooler. It is advisable to carry water to reduce reliance on single-use plastic bottles; any vendor will provide ice upon request.
The culinary offerings at Disneyland Resort range from fruit and vegetable sticks to burgers and fries. Having the flexibility to choose what is suitable for your family proves beneficial, especially when managing a hungry child. A convenient snack, such as a pickle or pineapple, can provide a delightful boost before enduring a lengthy wait in line.
Downtown Disney, located just outside the parks, boasts an array of dining establishments. This area serves as an excellent setting to enjoy a meal and a refreshing drink prior to the fireworks display.
What to Take with You
In addition to essentials like snacks and a water bottle, what to bring largely depends on your group composition. If you have young children accompanying you, consider using a stroller (which doubles as storage for other necessary items).
Additional clothing is advantageous in the event of getting wet on rides or if a costumed child becomes uncomfortable.
It is prudent to bring a power bank for your phone. The combined usage of applications and photography tends to deplete battery life swiftly.
Try Not to Pack It All In
Realistically, this insight stemmed from a serendipitous experience during a prior visit to the parks. Owing to fortunate circumstances, we found ourselves with three days to explore the two parks, rather than our initial plan of two. This turned out to be immensely beneficial for our family. On the first day, our enthusiasm and disbelief at Disney’s offerings led us to simply absorb everything. Equipped with an autograph book and Minnie Mouse ears, we freely wandered in search of princesses. At one moment, Peter Pan graciously took my daughter’s hand and guided her to story time, seamlessly weaving children and Captain Hook into the retelling of Cinderella—a magical experience that would likely have been lost had we adhered to a strict itinerary.
As was the case, we felt no compulsion to ride every attraction or choose between characters or shows; we simply engaged in whatever felt instinctive at that moment, which proved to be incredibly enjoyable. This is where Disney’s magic truly lies: in enabling everyone to feel like the protagonist. Consequently, if you’re considering whether that additional day is genuinely worth your time, I confidently affirm that it is. You may even require more!
This article first appeared on May 31, 2019, and was updated on October 3, 2024.
