2024 Disneyland Planning Guide

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Our Disneyland vacation planning guide covers what’s new & next in 2024, when to visit to avoid crowds, best restaurants, hotels in Anaheim, money-saving ticket tips, Halloween & Christmas in the parks, and more. It’s a great resource for first-timers to Southern California or lifelong WDW fans. (Updated March 4, 2024.)

Let’s start with all of the latest updates. Disney has released the Full Seasonal Events Calendar for 2024 at Disneyland , which includes the following:

  • DCA Food & Wine Festival (now through April 22, 2024)
  • Star Wars Season of the Force (April 5 to June 2, 2024)
  • Pixar Fest (April 26 to August 4, 2024)

Disney has also shared that Halloween 2024 at Disneyland will start early (August 23), which likely means Oogie Boogie Bash Party dates beginning earlier. Conversely, Christmas 2024 at Disneyland will start later than normal (November 15), which is unexpected given the popularity of the holiday season. Those are the big things for the 2024 calendar at Disneyland, but there’s a ton more to cover…

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

Everything you need to know, including ride priorities, where it’s NOT necessary to buy Genie+ or Lightning Lanes, and much more is covered in our Guide to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland and DCA . That’s regularly updated to include the latest price increases and additions to the Lightning Lane ride roster–both of which have changed in the last few months.

We’ve used Genie+ and Lightning Lanes many times, and cover our experiences and strategy there. If you’re a Walt Disney World regular, the good news is that Genie+ is much easier to use at Disneyland. We’d recommend definitely recommend that guide to get a sense for how to use it and priorities–and would also advise having savvy strategy for Early Entry (if eligible) and rope drop plans. Other than that, you don’t need to overthink things. Genie+ makes visiting Disneyland and DCA so much easier.

Regardless of whether you end up buying the Genie+ paid line-skipping, you’ll want to make the decision ahead of time, and plan your strategy accordingly to either get the most mileage out of Genie+ or have an efficient itinerary that finds alternatives for beating the crowds. (Our strong recommendation is to purchase Genie+ for at least one day. If cost is an issue, trim the ‘fat’ from your vacation budget somewhere else.)

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Disneyland has been relatively busy in the last couple of years, which is precisely why we recommend buying the Genie+ service to save time waiting in line. It hasn’t been all bad–and it does appear that “revenge travel” is starting to exhaust itself. However, not nearly to the same degree as Walt Disney World. It’s still varying degrees of busy–just slightly less busy than last year.

Our expectation is that pent-up demand continues to die down in 2024. The holiday season hasn’t been bonkers busy across the board–there was a post-Thanksgiving and early December lull for pretty much the first time in the post-reopening period. It  feels like Disneyland is on the precipice of returning to a pre-2020 level of normal crowd dynamics, but we’ve thought this before only to have things get crazy again.

To that point, choosing less busy dates is incredibly important and that’ll continue to be the case even if pent-up demand fizzles out. Our totally free 2024 Disneyland Crowd Calendars 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.

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We’re able to keep on top of all the changing crowd patterns and additions because we are Magic Key Passholders who reside in Southern California. Typically, we visit Disneyland and DCA at least once per week to refine this guide and provide you the best info.

In addition to park visits, we do frequent hotel stays, lots of eating, and field testing of Genie+ and Lightning Lanes as well as other itineraries and strategy for beating lines at the parks. Emphasis on typically since this past year has been a bit atypical and slower-paced for us as we our family grew in size. Suffice to say, expect more posts like Baby Bricker’s First Visit to Disneyland in 2024!

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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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The Magic Happens daytime parade is also back, and not to be missed. We recommend catching the parade’s first performance from the end of Main Street on the back side of the flagpole. Alternatively, the west side of Main Street will offer shade; welcome reprieve from the sun and heat during the summer months.

Then there are the nighttime shows. Mickey’s Mix Magic is back, and has a couple of separate runs in the first half of the year. In between, fan-favorite Magic Journeys will be shown during the heart of the spring break season. In Summer 2024, Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular returns for Pixar Fest.

Also coming back from another year-plus hiatus is Fantasmic, which will be presented in modified form on the Rivers of America once again. See the 2024 Disneyland Entertainment Schedule for the dates of what’s returning and what’s missing.

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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 completed an overhaul of 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. (In other hotel news, special offers are currently available:  2024 Discounts on Hotels of Disneyland Resort .)

If you’re curious about the specifics of other additions on the horizon, consult our What’s New & Next for Disneyland in 2024 . This gives you an idea of when you might want to visit if you’re still choosing dates, trying to find the best time in terms of special events, new rides, and more.

More is coming in 2024 and beyond, but those are the main things to know. Now, let’s get down to business: what you need to plan a Disneyland vacation…

When to Visit Disneyland

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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.

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As for seasonal events, we have two favorite times to do Disneyland. We highly recommend Halloween, which is our #2 time of the year at Disneyland. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Disneyland at Halloween for reasons why, and assistance planning a trip during that specific timeframe.

We’re already looking forward to the return of Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party , which will be back for Fall 2024 ( and probably late summer! ). That’s a hard ticket event, meaning that tickets to it cost extra; you do not need  to attend Oogie Boogie Bash to have a great time during the Halloween season at Disneyland, but we recommend it to anyone who is willing and able to splurge–especially fans of rare characters ( and villains! ).

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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!

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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. Some tiers of these APs have already sold out, but others remain available for purchase. 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

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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 .

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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…

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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In general, there are a variety of ways you can save money on a trip to Disneyland. If you’re looking for the best way to save on an entire vacation package, many of our favorite hotels near Disneyland can be booked via Get Away Today at a discount . If you bundle tickets into your hotel stay, you’ll get an even better deal. You can check package prices here .

Between this blog and TravelCaffeine.com , you should be totally covered with what you need to know if you’re thinking about visiting Disneyland Resort and Southern California sometime in 2024. We can’t encourage people enough to give Disneyland a try, especially Disney fans who are biased towards Walt Disney World as their “home” park. Disneyland is a totally different, much more relaxed experience. It’s intimate in both size and feel, and is oozing with history and incredible attractions.

I could go on for pages and pages about why I love Disneyland, and why everyone owes it to themselves to visit Disneyland, but hopefully this is a good-enough jumping off point. If you’ve never been to either Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort, it’s a good place to start as we attempt to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each in an unbiased manner. If all of this is still overwhelming or you want personalized recommendations for Disneyland Resort, click here to get a vacation quote from a no fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner .

Your Thoughts

Are you planning a Disneyland Resort visit in 2024? Debating between Halloween and Christmas? Have you already visited Galaxy’s Edge and done Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance? What about Avengers Campus? Are you excited for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway or the reimagined Toontown? Thoughts on Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, where to stay, best restaurants and snacks, or anything else covered here? Have you previously visited Disneyland? Have any tips of your own to add? Any questions you still have that this guide did not answer? We really appreciate reader feedback and your thoughts, so please share in the comments below! 🙂

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Written by Tom Bricker

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Thank you so much for all your help. Had a great Disney experience thanks to you!

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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!

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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!

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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?

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Excellent information and orientation! Kind regards.

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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.

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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!

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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 🙂

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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?

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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!!

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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.

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If you are doing a 1 day visit to Disneyland, your best bet would be to park at at the Mickey and Friends parking structure. That’s the main structure for the parks and it’s the best option for park visitors.

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ThemeParkHipster

Ultimate 3-Day Disneyland Itinerary (2023 Travel Guide)

Are you trying to plan the BEST Disneyland itinerary for your trip?

A trip to Disneyland is always magical, but doing it over the course of three days is even better. Honestly, three days is plenty of time to explore all that the Disneyland Resort has to offer.

We’re breaking down the ultimate 3-day Disneyland itinerary by day, and what you should do, where you should eat, and where you should stay at the Disneyland Resort.

Disneyland Pinocchio Statue with Matterhorn in the Background. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY  DISCLOSURE  FOR MORE INFO.  Which means if you click on certain links, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Day 1: Arrival Day at Disneyland Resort

Try to arrive at the Disneyland Resort as early in the morning or afternoon as possible. This will help you to be able to have as much time as possible at the parks without wasting time on the crowded California highways during rush hour.

Disneyland Monorail Mark 7 in 2014. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

I’ve found that the best time to land at LAX is anywhere from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., allowing for morning traffic to dissipate before the afternoon rush hour has started.

LAX Airport Famous Sign. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

This makes the ride to the Disneyland Resort about 30-45 minutes versus almost two hours at peak traffic times!

If I could, I would always stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa. The luxury resort offers sweeping views of Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney District , or the majestic California mountains.

Disney Princess Adventures Breakfast at Disneyland Dining at Napa Rose. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

The resort boasts beautiful rooms that are a sweet escape after a day at the theme parks.

I love this Disney-owned resort most because of how warm and inviting the space is, as well as how easy it is to get to the parks from there.

Get Your Discounted Disneyland Tickets here!

Did you know that the Grand Californian is the only resort at Disneyland with direct access to a theme park?

That’s right, Disney’s Grand Californian has an entrance right into Disney California Adventure for resort guests only!

Disneyland Carousel Ride in Fantasyland. A perfect option on your Disneyland itinerary.

For the sake of this Disneyland itinerary I have you arriving at Disney’s Grand Californian at 12:30 pm. After you check in you’re going to want to grab some lunch .

Skip lunch in the park today and head straight for GCH Craftsman Grill, and sit at the pool bar to order the lobster quesadilla!

This is the perfect California-inspired lunch and the quesadilla is filled with so much lobster it’s almost as if the cheese is just a binder to hold all of the lobster together.

REVIEW: Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Waterpark (Hotels Near Disneyland)

Disneyland After Lunch

The first place you should go after lunch is Disneyland Park . There’s nothing like walking down Main Street U.S.A. at Walt’s original Magic Kingdom. Typically Disneyland Park is open late so you’ll have lots of time to enjoy rides.

Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

If we had to choose one ride to go on first it would be the Disneyland Railroad.

This classic attraction gives a grand circle tour of Disneyland Park with stops at New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland, then back to the Main Street Station.

Mr Toad's Wild Ride Attraction Entrance at Disneyland. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

After that first ride the world is your oyster. Here at ThemeParkHipster, I prefer to do one section of the park at a time versus crisscrossing the park again and again to get on rides.

Disneyland Space Mountain. A great choice for your Disneyland itinerary.

Typically Fantasyland, Star Wars Land , and Tomorrowland are the busiest sections later in the afternoon, so opting to go to the left and start in Adventureland is a good idea.

Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!

Disneyland at Dinner

Dinner on your first day at the Disneyland Resort should be easy since you’ll want to enjoy as much of the park as possible.

We love Cafe Orleans, which is a table service restaurant serving up the iconic Monte Cristo. Something you MUST add to your Disneyland itinerary.

Disneyland Monte Cristo Beignets. Something you must add to your Disneyland itinerary.

For the ultimate dining experience, be sure to ask to sit outside, where a live jazz band or Captain Jack Sparrow might come by the gated patio to say hello.

5 Best Restaurants in Downtown Disney You MUST Try (Anaheim)

Late Night at Disneyland Park

After dinner, consider staying at Disneyland until they close.

Haunted Mansion Secrets Disneyland. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

This late night time in the park is the best time to get on many of the attractions in Fantasyland, since most parents traveling with smaller kids will be lined up to watch the fireworks, Fantasmic!, or the parade.

Fantasmic Disney Company Photo 2

This is also a great time to ride Haunted Mansion since the lines in the afternoon get long and the space in the queue is limited.

Once the park is closed take the quick walk back to your room to turn in for the night and get ready for another big day tomorrow.

REVIEW: Is the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures Worth It? (2023)

Day 2: Your First Full Day at Disneyland Resort

Staring off your first full day at the Disneyland Resort by going to whatever park has Extra Magic Hours for hotel guests.

Disneyland Avengers Campus with Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Disney California Adventure

This time is when the park is going to be the most empty, and when you can get on some big ticket attractions like:

  • The Incredicoaster and Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: Breakout at Disney California Adventure
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run or The Matterhorn at Disneyland Park

They will have a super short wait.

After Extra Magic Hours (EMH) are over, head over to Disney California Adventure (or stay there if that’s where EMH was) and explore the park. This park is really a half to three quarter day park if the crowds are light to do everything.

I definitely encourage the use of Genie+ for rides like Radiator Springs Racers and Grizzly River Run.

Disney California Adventure Carsland Where are Disney Parks Located

Time for Breakfast at Disney California Adventure

Breakfast on the second day of your trip should be quick. Since you’ll most likely be spending the morning to late afternoon at Disney California Adventure we suggest eating breakfast at Flo’s V8 Cafe in Cars Land.

Disney California Adventure Flo's V8 Cafe in Carsland

Here you’ll find breakfast favorites like eggs and bacon, and some sweet treats like brioche French toast with caramelized bananas!

Sit outside to enjoy the view of Radiator Springs Racers as cars go by Ornament Valley.

After Breakfast

The time between breakfast and lunch is a great time to get in more rides and see some characters along the main hub of Disney California Adventure before the park starts getting too busy.

Dr. Strange Show in Avengers Campus Disney California Adventure. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

Do not miss out on snagging a spot in line to see Mickey Mouse in his Hollywood glam outfit. Specific times for character meet and greets can be found on the Disneyland app.

If you’re thinking about making a trip out to any of the parks at the Disneyland Resort in California, then be sure to get your tickets here!

Lunch at Disney California Adventure

Before leaving Disney California Adventure to go back to Disneyland Park you’re going to want to have lunch at Lamplight Lounge.

Lamplight Lounge at Disney California Adventure Park DIsneyland

Typically this restaurant is reservations only, but they usually have some first come first served seating at their downstairs bar. This is where we like to sit.

Partly because reservations can be hard to come by, and partly because the view out to Pixar Pier is beautiful!

Do not miss out on the tasty drink menus, yummy sushi rolls, and juicy burgers! Be sure to explore the restaurant before you leave too. It’s filled with nods to all of the Pixar films from Toy Story to Onward.

Your Plans After Lunch

After lunch on day two is the best time to head back over to Disneyland Park to explore more of what that park has to offer.

Disneyland Pirates of the Caribbean

Consider grabbing a Ronto Wrap with a drink at Oga’s Cantina inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Disneyland’s version of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Using Genie+ will allow you to get through most of the big attractions before dinner.

How to Dress for Dapper Day at the Disney Parks: Your 2024 Fashion Guide!

Dinner at Napa Rose

Speaking of dinner, day two is really where you should treat yourself to a nice dinner. There are two places worth checking out, Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa, and Carthay Circle at Disney California Adventure.

Disney Princess Adventures Breakfast at Disneyland Victoria Wade at Napa Rose

Depending on your taste and the current menu you should be able to decide between the two which is the best for you.

Carthay Circle is more elegant and fine dining, where Napa Rose is more centered around California cuisine and fresh ingredients. If we had to make a choice we would choose Napa Rose, mainly for their incredible wine list and attention to detail on the plates.

Your Plans After Dinner

After dinner you’re going to want to find a spot for either World of Color or Fantasmic! if they are showing at either park.

Fantasmic Disney Company Photo

You will not be able to see both on the same night unless Fantasmic! has two showings. If we had to choose we would always pick Fantasmic! just for the opportunity to see Mickey in a classic show.

Recommended: The ULTIMATE California 7-Day Road Trip Itinerary and Guide!

Late night at the Disneyland Hotel

After the parks are closed for the evening you’re going to want to head over to the Disneyland Hotel. The easiest way to get there from either park is to walk through the Downtown Disney District.

Ralph Brennans Jazz Kitchen Downtown Disney

Here is where you’ll find Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar , which is home to yummy tiki-inspired drinks, zany antics, and a good time.

Trader Sam's Disney Tiki Room with volcano cocktail. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

The bar has limited seating so you might have to wait, but it’s worth it to have a late night drink at the classic Disneyland bar.

So, be sure to add Trader Sam’s to your Disneyland itinerary.

Save up to 65% off exploring the attractions in Los Angeles with Groupon TODAY!

Day 3: Disneyland Departure Day

It’s your last day at the Disneyland Resort but that doesn’t mean that you have to get up and leave right away.

Disneyland Mark Twain Riverboat overlooking Frontierland. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

Here at ThemeParkHipster, we like to get the most out of our Disney days as we can!

LAX Airport Red Eye Flight from Disneyland

This means always getting the red eye flight back home to have a pretty full day at the parks.

How to Find Cheap Flights to Orlando (10 Pro Tips for Flying to Orlando)

Breakfast at Disneyland

This is the day to have that leisurely breakfast you’ve been waiting for. The one place not to miss is Carnation Cafe right on Main Street U.S.A.

They are serving up breakfast favorites like Mickey waffles in a turn of the century setting. We love getting the Mickey Waffles with a side of potatoes and bacon to get us through til lunch.

Disneyland Solo with Dapper Dans in red, blue, yellow and purple along with NikkyJ. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

If there’s open space, ask to be seated outside to take in the sights and sounds of Main Street U.S.A. Sometimes the Dapper Dans will come by to sing a song, and you might even see a famous mouse wave hello.

One of the coolest things to add to your Disneyland itinerary.

What to Wear to Disneyland in July (These Theme Park Outfits Will Help You Decide)

Your Plans After Breakfast

After breakfast while the parks are still less crowded is the best time to get on those last minute rides that you might not have gotten to yet, or favorites that you want to ride one more time.

Disneyland Storybook Ride Entrance. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

We always park hop during this time until lunch trying to get in as many rides as we can!

Lunch at Disneyland

The last day at the Disneyland Resort should always be held for the best quick service lunch at Disneyland Park- the grilled cheese and tomato soup at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe.

Jolly Holiday Cafe Disneyland Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Grab your lunch then sit out on the plaza to eat while enjoying views of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Secrets Revealed: Disneyland Mint Julep Recipe!

Depending on when your ride back to the airport is set to pick you up this may be your last opportunity to get on any rides or buy any souvenirs you haven’t picked up yet.

Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle with Partners Statue of Walt and Mickey. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

You can’t leave Disneyland without a new Christmas ornament or trading pin, which are always easy to pack away in full suitcases.

Disney Christmas Ornaments Dalmatians Cars and Tiki Room ornaments. Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

If you’re planning a last ride, I think it should be either Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: Breakout or Pirates of the Caribbean.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind at Disney California Adventure Disneyland

Both tell a great story and are a lot of fun! Before getting picked up be sure to get those last selfies in front of the castle. A perfect way to end your Disneyland itinerary.

Final Thoughts on Your Disneyland Itinerary

With so much to do at the Disneyland Resort it can be hard to figure out a good game plan for a short three day trip.

How to do disneyland in only 3 days! Keep reading for your own Disneyland Itinerary!

However, I think this Disneyland itinerary is a pretty good one, and I’ve used this format for trips lots of times and haven’t missed one thing yet!

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

About the Author

Megan DuBois Theme Park Writer

Megan is a theme park expert and frequent traveler to magical places. She covers all things Disney and Universal and runs marathons for fun.

She thinks you can tell a lot about someone by the name of their signature lipstick, and hers is NARS Dragon Girl.

UP NEXT: 13 BEST Tips For Your First Time At Disneyland

(Original Article Date: August 23, 2020/Updated on June 14, 2022)

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Disneyland Planning Guide (2024 & 2025)

Last updated on Jan 24, 2024 by Adam Bryan . This post may contain affiliate links.

Welcome to my comprehensive, in-depth Disneyland planning guide that will provide with all the necessary information and tools needed to plan the best, most magical Disneyland visit possible.

Although this guide won’t give you every single detail you’ll need to plan your amazing trip to Disneyland Resort, it will at least give you a great overview of various topics and then point you in the right direction by liking to related articles and guides on this blog.

That way you can dive into the nitty-gritty details and plan the perfect trip that fits your needs and preferences. So, with that said, let’s jump right in!

Notable Dates to Look Forward To

Disneyland trip planning essentials, how to budget for a disneyland vacation, cheapest time to visit disneyland, buying disneyland tickets, what is genie+ and do you need it, booking your hotel, where and what to eat and drink, best rides at disneyland, character meet and greets, other helpful planning essentials, final thoughts.

Before we go any further, here are some major things to expect and look forward to at Disneyland Resort in 2024:

  • Late 2024 – Splash Mountain reopening as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

More future plans and updates are likely to be announced throughout the year so I’ll be sure to update this accordingly.

Disneyland Trip Planning Guide

If you are currently planning a Disneyland vacation or day visit, then these resources and guides will help you make the most of your visit by providing you with everything from Genie+ priorities and snack recommendations to money-saving tips and hotel recommendations.

  • Disneyland Trip Planning Timeline and Checklist

Before embarking on your Disneyland adventure, I recommend checking out this straightforward Disneyland planning checklist and timeline, which will simplify the planning process by giving you a targeted schedule for completing essential aspects of your trip planning.

For instance, 8 months prior to your trip, it’s an ideal time to set your budget, select your travel dates, and keep a lookout for any upcoming attraction openings, festivals, or events. Additionally, when you’re 60 days away from your visit, make sure to secure any desired restaurant reservations and book special experience activities like Savi’s Workshop.

This timeline will guide you through all the necessary details and steps you should take 8 months, 6 months, 4 months, and 60 days before your magical visit to Disneyland.

Disneyland Bucket List

There are so many fun and incredible things to do at Disneyland that planning your visit might feel overwhelming because the last thing you’d want to do is miss out on anything great.

That’s why I recommend that you check out this Disneyland Bucket List that will tell you everything you must see, do, eat, and drink during your visit.

My personal favorites include eating a specialty churro, breaking your back on the Matterhorn Bobsleds, build a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop, pairing a Mickey beignet with a mint julep, ride some opening day rides, ride Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout during Halloween, and visit California Adventure during their food and wine festival.

  • Disneyland Bucket List (75+ Things to Do)

Disneyland Planning Guide

Disneyland in general is pretty expensive. There’s no way to sugarcoat. But there’s a reason why they make $21 million a day .

That said, if you are able to budget for a Disneyland visit without going above your means, you can easily have one of the best times of your life.

Here’s how:

Choosing When to Visit

Before you even set a budget, the first thing you need to do is choose when exactly you’d want to visit the parks.

Like most vacation destinations or even Disney World, Disneyland experiences a large influx of crowds, tourists, and even locals during certain times of the year, while other times are surprisingly very relaxed, empty, and “affordable.”

If your schedule is pretty flexible, I recommend the you plan your visit around the holidays for the best decorations and parades, or around the beginning quarter of the year.

Regardless of when you want to visit, at the end of the day, the best time to come to Disneyland is when it works for you the best . Then from that point on, you can start to budget accordingly.

How much does it cost to go to Disneyland?

Disneyland is very expensive and unfortunately, prices are only going up.

Here is how much you should expect to pay on average each day when visiting Disneyland Resort:

  • Park Tickets : Start at $104 per day plus an extra $65 for Park Hopper
  • Food and Drinks : $70 per day per person on average
  • Hotels and Resorts : Disney’s hotel rates range from $415 to $675 per night on average and around $200 per night off-property
  • Transportation : $160 to $249 roundtrip from LAX on Uber/Lyft, plus around $10+ each way around Anaheim resort

These costs are only estimates and depend entirely on specific dates of the year.

For a more in-depth breakdown of a Disneyland trip cost, be sure to check out this guide:

  • Disneyland vacation Costs – A Simple, In-Depth Breakdown

Food Costs at Disneyland

Food and drinks (especially alcohol), are pretty expensive at Disneyland.

Here’s how much you should expect to pay for food and drinks at Disneyland broken down by Quick Serve, Table Service, snacks, drinks, and alcohol:

  • Snacks = $8 on average
  • Drinks = $4.59 – $5.29 each, bottled water costs $4.39
  • Alcohol – $9 – $15 including beer, wine, and cocktails
  • Quick Service = $15 – $18 per meal, excluding beverages
  • Table Service = $36 – $60+ per meal

How to save money at Disneyland

Although saving money and Disneyland doesn’t appear to go together, there are surprisingly a number of ways that you can visit Disneyland on a budget .

Here are some of my favorite ways:

  • Buy discounted park tickets from authorized sellers like Undercover Tourist
  • Skip the Park Hopper if you have two or more days at the parks
  • Stay off-property because Disney hotels are insanely expensive, even during the offseason
  • Visit during the off season such as mid-January through February
  • Bring your kids when they are under the age of 3 since their tickets will be free
  • Skip out on souvenirs, especially balloons

The cheapest time to visit Disneyland is from early January through February. The second cheapest time is late-August.

During late August and January, you’ll find the cheapest park ticket prices.

These are also a few of the times during the year where you can expect the parks to be least busy .

Of course you’ll want to avoid all of the major holidays like Thanksgiving week and Christmas, not to mention Orange County Spring Break and Easter week. This is generally the busiest (and most expensive) time of of the year which means that the crowds and wait times are miserable. Plus, this is usual when Genie+ sells out.

For a full breakdown of when it’s the cheapest time to go to Disneyland in terms of hotel room rates, park tickets, and travel/transportation, I got you covered in this complete guide:

  • Cheapest Time to Go to Disneyland (Ultimate Guide)

Disneyland Planning Guide

Due to the park reservation system, buying Disneyland tickets is by far one of the most important steps to planning a Disneyland visit. Although rare, both parks can sell out during certain times of the year so it’s always important to lock down your tickets as soon as you can.

Disneyland Ticket Prices

A standard Disneyland park ticket starts at $109 per adult and $104 per child (ages 3-9). Children under the age of 3 are free .

Ticket prices vary depending on the time of the year, the number of days, and any ticket add ons like Park Hopper.

Where to Find Disneyland Ticket Discounts

The best way to save money on your Disneyland tickets (besides taking advantage of military or Souther California resident discounts) is by practicing them from an authorized seller like Undercover Tourist .

The discounts are steep but if it saves you even a couple of dollars, the savings can add up to a free Dole Whip or churro.

Disneyland Planning Guide

Genie+ is a paid ticket add-on that will give you g unlimited access to the Lightning Lane during a specific time window at a majority of attractions in Disneyland Park and California Adventure.

Honestly, it’s just a worse FastPass+ system that can get pretty pricey. Plus, even as a Magic Key holder, you still have to buy it (at a discount, but still).

The one annoying thing is that some rides don’t participate in Genie+ but instead you’ll need to purchase access to them a la carte via Individual Lighting Lane Selections.

Here are some helpful resources on Genie Plus:

  • Genie+ Attractions List
  • Disney Genie+ Ultimate Guide

Individual Lighting Lane Attractions and Prices

Here’s how much Individual Lightning Lanes costs as well as which rides are eligible:

  • Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway = $15 – $20
  • Radiator Springs Racers = $7 – $20
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance = $20 – $25

Please note that you can only purchase Individual Lightning Lane Selections for up to 2 different attractions per day.

How much does Genie+ cost at Disneyland Resort?

Genie+ at Disneyland Resort costs between $25 and $30 per day .

Generally, the busier the parks are, the more expensive Genie+ will be, especially during peak season, holidays, and weekends.

Cheapest Day to Buy Genie+ at Disneyland

The cheapest day of the week to buy Genie+ at Disneyland is Friday with an average price of $25.60, according to Thrill Data .

The most expensive day is Saturday.

Sample Itineraries without Genie+

I believe that you can still have a ton of fun at Disneyland without buying Genie+. Here is a sample one-day itinerary that’s perfect for anyone that doesn’t want to cough up any additional money on Genie plus for the day.

  • Disneyland without Genie+ (Both Parks)

Deciding on where to stay during your Disneyland vacation may seem frustrating due to the fact that the three Disney hotels are very pricey , but thankfully, there are a number of other hotel and resort options nearby that will fit any budget.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

There are three Disney hotels in Disneyland Resort:

  • Grand Californian
  • Disneyland Hotel
  • Pixar Place Hotel

The Grand Californian is the flagship property but unfortunately, that also comes with a high price-tag. But if there’s one thing that separates this hotel with the rest, it’s the fact that there is a dedicated entrance into California Adventure.

The Disneyland Hotel is the most modern of the bunch but it’s also the furthest. But they do have very nice villas.

The Pixar Place Hotel is the cheapest of the three but it also comes with its own dedicated entrance into California Adventure. It’s not directly connect to the hotel like the Grand Californian’s is, but it’s still a fantastic perk.

The best part about staying at a Disney resort are the perks such as:

  • Early Entry (enter the theme parks 30 minute before opening)
  • Close proximity to the parks
  • Preferred access to hotel dining reservations
  • Next-day package delivery

Disneyland Resort Hotel Room Rates

Here are the average nightly rates for all three hotels:

  • Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa = $584 – $767 per night (with rates as high as $1,000 a night during peak season)
  • Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel = $355 – $466 per night
  • Disneyland Hotel = $464 – $631 per night

For a more accurate range of room prices, see this chart .

Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels

The Anaheim Resort area outside of Disneyland property is home to hundreds of hotels, motels, and resorts that can accommodate every budget.

But for the best options, be sure to book a Good Neighbor Hotel .

Hotels within Walking Distance to Disneyland

The hotels outside of Disneyland are very walkable, which is great if you plan on staying off-property.

Here are some of my favorite hotels within walking distance of Disneyland:

  • Westin Anaheim (9 minute walk to Downtown Disney)
  • Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance (9 minute walk)
  • Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground (11 minute walk)
  • Hyatt House Anaheim (13 minute walk)
  • Best Western Plus Park Place Mini Suites (4 minute walk)

Here is the complete list of every major hotel within 5 to 20+ minute walking distance to Disneyland:

  • All Hotels Within Walking Distance to Disney

Hotels Near Disneyland with Bunk Beds

If a standard room with 2 queens and a pull-out sofa doesn’t cut it, then getting a room with bunk beds is a great alternative, especially if you have kids.

Here are some Good Neighbor Hotels that have rooms with bunk beds:

  • Anaheim Portofino Inn and Suites
  • Best Western Plus Raffles Inn and Suites
  • Courtyard Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance
  • Hampton Inn and Suites Anaheim Convention Center
  • Homewood Suites Anaheim Convention Center
  • Hyatt Orange County

Here are 12 more hotels that have bunk beds .

My Two Cents

As much as I love staying at one of the three Disney hotels (especially the Grand Californian), it’s just getting more and more difficult to spend all that extra money for something that I will only be in from midnight to 8 am.

That’s why no matter how “inconvenient” staying off-property may feel like, at the end of the day, I’m 100% with saving that Disney hotel money and instead putting it towards something fun inside the parks like special event tickets or even a VIP Tour .

So if you don’t mind taking a shuttle or walking, stay off property and save hundreds of dollars.

Disneyland Trip Planning Guide

I’m obsessed with the food at Disneyland. In my opinion, it’s a step above anything you’d find at Disney World .

One of the best things I love about Disneyland is that they offer some of the best, most unique food and drink options that you won’t find at any theme park.

Here’s a brief overview of my favorite things to eat and drink at Disneyland.

Best Snacks at Disneyland Park

These are my favorite snacks (and things to eat in general) at Disneyland Park that you can’t miss:

  • Mickey Beignet
  • Seasonal Funnel Cake
  • Tigger Tail
  • Beef Birria Toasted Cheese

Best Snacks at California Adventure

And these are my favorite food and drinks at California Adventure that I think are worth the money:

  • Choco-Smash Candy Bar
  • QuesaBirria
  • Beef Bulgogi Burrito
  • Lobster Nachos
  • New York Tastiest
  • Funnel Cake Fries

Food and Drink Lists

Here are some food and drink recommendations that will help with your planning:

  • Best Foods at Disneyland, California Adventure, and Downtown Disney
  • 10 Best Disneyland Snacks (California Adventure too!)

Disneyland Trip Planning Guide

There are so many incredible and iconic attractions at Disneyland that it might feel overwhelming when planning out which ones you’d want to hit between the two parks.

Best Rides at Disneyland Park

Here are the best rides in my opinion at Disneyland Park:

  • Space Mountain
  • Indiana Jones
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Best Rides at California Adventure

Here are the best rides in my opinion at California Adventure:

  • Incredicoaster
  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
  • Radiator Springs Racers
  • Soarin’ (Over California)
  • Silly Symphony Swings

Which Day of the Week Has the Lowest Wait Times?

The best day of the week to visit Disneyland Resort in general is Friday which will generally have the lowest wait times of the week.

The best day of the week to visit Disneyland Park is Thursday with an average wait time of 26 minutes.

The best day of the week to visit California Adventure is Friday with an average wait time of 30 minutes.

Single Rider Lines at Disneyland

If you don’t mind splitting up your party in order to cut down your wait time at select attractions, hopping in the Single Rider Line is a great way to ride some popular rides without waiting for hours.

There are currently 9 attractions between both the parks that offer a Single Rider Line:

  • Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Splash Mountain (Tiana’s Bayou Adventure)
  • Grizzly River Run
  • Soarin’
  • Goofy’s Sky School
  • Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

Disneyland Roller Coasters Ranked

Disneyland doesn’t have the crazy rollercoasters that Disney World has , but they still have some great hits including the second best Space Mountain of any Disney park.

The number one spot goes to Incredicoaster followed by Space Mountain (or Hyperspace Mountain).

For the full list of Disneyland roller coasters ranked, check out my top 6 .

Fastest Rides at Disneyland

Although no ride at Disneyland cracks 60 mph ( like at WDW ), that doesn’t mean that adrenaline junkies won’t have a blast.

Here are the fastest rides at Disneyland :

  • Incredicoaster –  55 mph
  • Radiator Springs Racers –  40 mph
  • Splash Mountain –  40 mph
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad –  35 mph
  • Space Mountain –  35 mph
  • Goofy’s Sky School –  27 mph
  • Matterhorn Bobsleds –  27 mph
  • Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster –  22 mph
  • Disneyland Ride Lengths and Duration

Here’s the complete listing of every attraction length and duration at both parks:

  • Disneyland Height Requirements for Every Ride

Here’s the full listing of height requirements for every ride at both park:

Every Ride That Doesn’t Have a Height Requirement

Disneyland Resort is without a doubt one of the best theme parks to visit thanks in part to the sheer amount of rides and attractions that don’t have a minimum height requirement.

Some of the popular rides (some of which are minor “thrill” rides) that don’t have height requirements are:

  • Astro Orbiter
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
  • Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sully to the Rescue
  • Pixar Pal-a-Round (Swinging and Non-Swinging)
  • Toy Story Midway Mania!

For the full list of 40+ attractions without height restrictions, check this out .

Disneyland Trip Planning Guide

I’m not a huge fan of meeting characters so I really don’t have much to share on that topic. That said, here’s a resource on all of the character meet and greets you’ll find at Disneyland, California Adventure, and some Disneyland hotels.

Disneyland Trip Planning Guide

Here are some extra resources that don’t really fit any of the categories above but are still pretty helpful:

Disneyland Abbreviations You Should Know

This is very random, but you might find yourself stumbled upon a secret language at Disney Parks, that may not make much sense at first.

Some popular ones include:

  • DAS : Disability Access Service
  • DCA : Disney California Adventure
  • DL : Disneyland
  • DLR : Disneyland Resort
  • GR : Guest Relations
  • LL : Lightning Lane
  • ROTR : Rise of the Resistance
  • FP : FastPass

For an entire list of Disney abbreviations and acronyms, check out this complete list .

Planning an Accessible and Sensory-Friendly Visit

The sights, colors, and loud sounds of a Disney theme park may be exciting for some guests, but they can also be pretty overwhelming to people with ASD.

Here’s my complete guide to planning an accessible and sensory-friendly Disney World vacation:

  • Planning a Sensory-Friendly Theme Park Visit

Disneyland Planning Guide

Planning for a visit to Disneyland might feel overwhelming at times, especially with all the updates, but with the help of some of these guides and resources, I’m confident that you’ll be able to plan the most magical time at Disneyland Resort possible.

More Travel Planning

Most Affordable Weeks to go to Disneyland and California Adventure

About Adam Bryan

Hey what's up, I'm Adam, founder of Urban Tastebud Disney and I spend most of my days eating (and researching, but mostly eating) around Disney Parks to create useful travel planning content that will help you maximize your time and money at Disney.

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Small World This Is

California , Orange County

2023 Detailed One-Day Disneyland Itinerary (Genie+ tips included)

Let’s be honest: planning a Disneyland itinerary can be overwhelming, to say the least. Especially now in 2022, when Disneyland had made a host of changes, including park and entry ticket reservations, Genie + and  Individual Lightning Lanes (more on that below). Not to mention closely monitored health regulations that can change in an instant.

This is where this guide comes in handy. From everything you need to know about strategizing which attractions to check off first to what time of year is best to visit the park, it’s all here. Plus all the other logistics like where to stay near the park, how to prep for your visit, what you can and cannot bring inside, and even things to do nearby Disneyland when you need a break from it all.

Think of this guide as a highlight reel of the most popular attractions, though you will not be able to do them all in one day. Instead, feel free to mix and match in a way that fits your personal style and that of your group. Most importantly I hope you have fun planning your dream Disney trip. That’s what is most important!

This post contains affiliate links (with no extra cost to you). Read the full disclosure policy click here . Thank you for supporting Small World This Is.

disneyland itinerary

Start your Disneyland itinerary at Main Street U.S.A., which was modeled after Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri

Best Time To Go To Disneyland

This Disneyland itinerary is created for a less crowded day in the park and is not applicable for those almost-to-capacity days during summer, spring break, and holidays, so take this into consideration.

Especially during the holiday weekends during Halloween Time and Christmas, you will have to cut your schedule in half and endure crowds that are not for the faint of heart.

Speaking of lesser crowds, the off-season after the holidays (January-March) or in early autumn once school begins again is the best time to go for lesser crowds. Early autumn in Southern California is the region’s warmest time, so be prepared for hot and dry weather, when the Santa Ana winds blow in.

It does rain occasionally in the winter in Orange County and can get chilly once the sun goes down, but nothing a warm coat and an umbrella can’t remedy.

Related post: Disneyland For Adults

Getting to and around anaheim.

If you just plan to go to Disneyland, you can get by without a car and take only rideshare options to/from the airport and Disneyland. Depending on the hotel there may also be complimentary shuttles available as well.

If your itinerary includes days beyond Disneyland, renting a car is highly recommended for convenience if you want to explore Anaheim or further cities like Los Angeles. You can rent a car from SNA (the airport closest to Disneyland) or LAX (about an hour away from Anaheim and much more chaotic but more airline options).

For rental cars, I usually do a search on this site that sorts through top companies like Hertz, Enterprise, and Avis to get the best deal.

What Are Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes?

After over a year of shutting its gates, Disneyland reopened to much fanfare on April 30, 2021. There were a lot of changes put into place, including limited capacity, required ticket and theme park reservations, and FastPasses and MaxPasses being suspended.

Fast forward to early 2022, Disneyland has now added the Genie System (Genie + and Lightning Lanes) in place of FastPass and MaxPass as well as Magic Key to replace Annual Passes.

Genie+ is an add-on feature (not to be confused with Disney Genie, a free planning app) that you can purchase either before your visit or on the Disneyland App after park entry. It’s $20 per ticket per day. This feature allows you to use the Lightning Lane entrances on certain attractions during a specific arrival window and essentially “cut the line” (similar to FastPass).

You can make one ride selection for Lightning Lanes at a time (though you can always cancel your reservation) and only use it once for a specific ride per day. Visitors in the same group can link up their accounts so they can reserve arrival windows together.

Please note that some of the most popular attractions in Disneyland (and Disney California Adventure) will have a separate Individual Lightning Lane option that both Genie+ and non-Genie+ visitors can purchase.

The limit is two attractions per day for both parks with the Individual Lightning Lane feature and ranges from $7-$20 per attraction. Unlike Genie+ reservations, you cannot cancel your Individual Lightning Lane reservation after it’s booked.

Disneyland Genie+ rides:

  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Space Mountain
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Indiana Jones Adventure
  • Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • Splash Mountain
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • It’s a Small World
  • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin

Disneyland Individual Lightning Lane:

  • Rise of the Resistance

There have been a lot of negative reviews regarding Genie+ and having to constantly refresh your phone’s screen to check for updates on available arrival windows, as well as limited ride options at a certain time. If you are visiting on a slower weekday, Genie+ is not necessary, but on weekends and holidays purchasing Genie+ can help you maximize your time in the park.

In this one-day itinerary, I have included options for visiting Disneyland with and without Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane passes.

disneyland tickets

Essential Disneyland Travel Tips

  • Entrance Requirements -Disneyland now requires all guests to purchase both a ticket AND a theme park reservation for guests ages three years and older. Prices start from $104 for a one-day Disneyland pass (ages 10+) and go up depending on the day and month you’re visiting.
  • Rope Drop -try to arrive at the park right when it opens at 8 am to make the most of your day. The extra magic hour and Magic Morning are currently suspended for all guests staying on property at a Disneyland hotel. Disneyland park hours can change depending on the season, so be sure to check them before you go.
  • Disneyland App – download the official app before you arrive since it will allow you to gain access to virtue queues, ride wait times, make dining reservations, join a mobile dine walkup list, and mobile order food ahead of time. It also allows you to purchase your park ticket and reservation on the app so you can have it easily accessible at the entrance gates.
  • Face Masks are now optional for vaccinated guests -for the complete details check out the requirements on the official page here . The exception is in indoor health settings like First Aid, for guests 2 years of age and older.

cinderellas castle disneyland

Where To Stay Near Disneyland

There is a trio of Disney hotels: the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, and Grand Californian Hotel, but if you are looking for a more moderate price range these are great alternatives that are close by. If you don’t have a rental car, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are great options for zipping to and from the park.

Best Western Plus Stovall’s Inn

A 15-minute walk to Disneyland (you can see Disney California Adventure across the street), this hotel is a clean, spacious home base. The area is well lit, so you can feel safe coming home from the park late at night. The pool area is a nice retreat with two large pools, two hot tubs, and shaded cabana areas. A hot breakfast is included.

Staybridge Suites Anaheim At The Park

A bit further from the park, this 3-star hotel is modern, clean, and offers spacious suites complete with modern kitchenettes. A reasonably-priced option for families or travelers looking to have the convenience of a fridge, microwave, and stovetop in their rooms. Walking to the park is a bit far (25 minutes or more), but a blink of an Uber ride takes you straight to the front gates.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Anaheim Resort Area

A mid-range hotel that is a solid choice with amenities that include an outdoor pool, snack bar, and a complimentary hot breakfast buffet. Suite rooms include a separate living room area with a sofa pull-out bed, that is perfect for larger groups. Ask for a back-facing room to avoid highway noise. Disney is a quick 11-minute walk door to door.

Additional Things To Do Near Disneyland

If you want to venture out of the Disney bubble, here are a few fun things to do around Anaheim:

  • Anaheim Packing House – a two-story food hall located in the historic Anaheim Packing District, that has indoor and outdoor seating (try The Blind Rabbit)
  • downtown Anaheim – a few blocks from the Packing House, there are cute cafes, restaurants and the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center, as well as the farmers’ market on Thursday from 11 am- 3 pm
  • Anaheim GardenWalk – a family-friendly outdoor entertainment and retail district a stone’s throw from Disneyland that often features live music acts and has beautiful murals throughout
  • Joe’s Italian Ice – a beloved local institution that serves up Italian ice with creamy vanilla soft serve and is a few blocks from Disneyland
  • Angeles Stadium – catch a baseball game at this ballpark that is known to be family-friendly (clean restrooms!), has a good selection of food, and firework shows at select games
  • Honda Center – if you’re a fan of hockey, catch the Anaheim Ducks (founded by the Walt Disney Company and based on The Mighty Ducks film) on their home turf
  • Medieval Times  Dinner and Tournament- technically in Buena Park, this immersive experience is fun for all ages with live sword fighting, jousting, and medieval-style games while guests enjoy a four-course feast fit for a king or queen

1-Day Disneyland Itinerary

Early morning.

In order to avoid the standby line that replaced the former free virtual queue, it’s recommended that you purchase the Individual Lightning Lane pass for this popular dark ride. The earlier you are able to snag a reservation, the better, especially on weekends and major holidays. Remember you do not need to have purchased the Genie+ to buy an Individual Lightning Lane ticket.

storm trooper galaxys edge

Stormtrooper from Star Wars’ Rise of the Resistance

If you have small kids and want to go the character breakfast route, Storytellers Cafe in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is always a hit with the little ones. It’s pricey, but it’s buffet-style, and there are great food choices including a make-your-own omelet station and the classic Mickey Waffles and Buttermilk Pancakes.

The weekend brunch buffet is $51 for adults ($49 for the weekday breakfast buffet) and $29 for children 3-9 years old for both the weekday and weekend breakfast buffets.

If you want a quicker grab-and-go breakfast option, Market House on Main Street offers Starbucks drinks and breakfast sandwiches and wraps, as well as yogurt, applesauce, and juice for kids that you can get once you’re inside the park.

Whatever your breakfast plans, make sure to get to the entrance gates of Disneyland at least 45 minutes before opening since there will be a line that will grow longer as it gets closer to 8 am. If you have Genie+ make the first reservation for Splash Mountain before heading to your first ride.

For your first ride, head to Adventureland and get in line for Indiana Jones , which can get quite long later in the day. Once you’re finished conquering the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, get in line for Pirates of the Caribbean .

indiana jones disneyland

The enchanting entrance to Indiana Jones

If you don’t mind getting wet, Splash Mountain next door in Critter Country should not be missed. Pro tip: the closer you sit to the front, the wetter you’ll get. Make sure to also pose for the camera at the top of the drop.

Afterward, if you are looking for a classic thrill ride, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland brings you on a memorable trip through the Wild West. For Genie+ visitors, while in line for Big Thunder, make sure to book It’s A Small World for afterward.

An alternative morning itinerary for those who have small kids or want to go the slower, more low-key ride route, is to start out in Fantasyland with dark rides like Peter Pan’s Flight , Pinocchio’s Daring Journey , Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride , and Alice In Wonderland . This land tends to get more crowded as the day progresses so it’s much more enjoyable earlier.

If you have the stomach for it take a whirl on the Mad Tea Party , but if spinning around in circles is not your thing, go straight to It’s A Small World , a classic Disney water ride that is not to be missed and is a great way to escape the heat and crowds for a few minutes.

mad tea party

Mad Tea Party

By now you’re probably getting hungry, so make your way back to New Orleans Square to eat lunch at Cafe Orleans . Sit on their spacious patio with views of the Rivers of America, while enjoying signature dishes like the Monte Cristo Sandwich or Shrimp and Grits.

If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, Bengal Barbeque in Adventureland is a great alternative with quick service options like Bengal Beef Skewers and Outback Vegetable Skewers.

Take advantage of mobile ordering and avoid the line at this popular spot. There is limited seating, and if you cannot find a table, take your kebabs to the benches near the Walt Disney statue in front of Cinderella’s Castle.

bengal barbeque disneyland

Bengal Barbeque veggie skewers

For dessert, stop by the Tiki Juice Bar to get a dole whip, or if you are feeling fancy a dole whip float (dole whip in pineapple juice). Mobile ordering is available and recommended.

For a leisurely post-lunch ride, jump in line for the newly remodeled Jungle Cruise in Adventureland or head back to New Orleans Square to board the Disneyland Railroad , which takes guests around the perimeter of the park and also has stops in Main Street, Toontown, and Tomorrowland.

Late Afternoon

Disneyland naturally tends to be more crowded in the afternoon, so this is a good time to take it slow. Take a breather on Main Street, where you can shop for souvenirs at the Emporium , or take a ride on the Horse-Drawn Street Cars .

If you have smaller children, a fun afternoon alternative is Toontown , where you can meet Minnie and Mickey in their respective houses. It’s also a fun town to walk around in and admire all the quirky details and is an ideal area where kids can be entertained without having to wait in long lines.

goofy water toontown

For dinner, the Plaza Hotel is famous for its fried chicken platter, grilled salmon, and ornate Victorian interior. It’s casual cafeteria-style dining, where you pick up your food at different stations and then seat yourself at either the indoor or outdoor tables.

Disney PSA: the serving for the fried chicken can easily feed two people, or you can always get a half order. You can also get a side order of the salmon as well.

plaza inn disneyland

For a fancier option, the Blue Bayou Restaurant has similar items on the menu as Cafe Orleans, including the Monte Cristo as well as dishes like Jambalaya, but is set next to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The dining room feels like you’ve been transported to an evening on a bayou, and is a memorable experience for the ambiance and a great break from the crowds.

Reservations are highly recommended as spaces fill up quickly.

For Genie+ guests, make sure to make a reservation for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run right before dinner.

After dinner, make your way to Galaxy’s Edge , where it feels like you are on a different planet. Drop by Oga’s Cantina , where you can taste themed cocktails like the Jedi Mind Trick. The evening is an ideal time to visit this land, where crowds thin out as the night progresses and the line for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is more bearable.

Seeing this land illuminated makes it feel like you truly have been dropped into Batuu’s Black Spire Outpost.

Genie+ visitors can check for an open arrival window for Space Mountain or Matterhorn, depending on whether you like in-the-dark roller coasters or a visit from the Abominable Snowman.

Related post: Disneyland Packing List

galaxys edge disneyland

Galaxy’s Edge

If there’s any ride you cannot miss, it’s the Haunted Mansion , which shines especially at night. It has been my favorite since I was a kid, and during the holidays it transforms into a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay.

As it gets later, the main attractions like Space Mountain and Matterhorn have shorter lines, especially closer to the fireworks. You can usually knock out a few rides in an hour’s time versus waiting in line for an hour for a single ride if you didn’t opt for Genie+.

Another one of my favorite low-key nighttime rides is the Storybook Land Canal Boats , which gives guests a tour of different miniature scenes from popular Disney movies all lit up. Note that this ride tends to close to accommodate the firework shows.

haunted mansion disneyland

Haunted Mansion Holiday decked out for the holidays

There are rotating seasonal Disneyland fireworks on select nights, depending on the season. It’s important to note that shows can get canceled due to weather conditions like wind or rain. Currently, the nighttime shows are Disneyland Forever on Main Street with fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle; Fantasmic! on the Rivers of America, and Main Street Electrical Parade , as well as seasonal shows throughout the year. Make sure to get there early for optimal viewing!

Make sure to grab one of Disneyland’s beloved churros at carts around the park right before a show. There’s nothing like having a warm churro while watching the fireworks. There are churro carts near/in Sleeping Beauty Castle, Haunted Mansion, Critter Country, Big Thunder Railroad, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Casey Jr. Circus Train, and the Small World Promenade.

On your way out on Main Street, stop by the Candy Palace to take care of all your sweet tooth cravings, including seasonal Mickey-shaped rice crispy treats, caramel apples, and cake pops.

minnie mouse rice crispy treat candy palace

Minnie Mouse rice crispy treat from Candy Palace

Updated: 2/15/22

Photo source: Haunted Mansion

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The Ultimate Guide for Planning a Trip to Disneyland

By Valerie Marino

Disneyland pink castle Disney park. Anaheim California USA

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.

Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land in California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort

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.

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

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

Where to stay

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

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

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

Where to eat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Special events to consider

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

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

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

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

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Disneyland Trip Planner Guide – Plan The Best Trip & Save Money

Categories Disney Parks , Disneyland , Vacation Planning Resources

DECIDING TO VISIT DISNEYLAND IS EASY, BUT PLANNING IT IS MUCH HARDER! OUR IN-DEPTH GUIDE CAN HELP.

From transportation to tickets, there’s a lot to wrap your head around before you can experience the magic of the happiest place on Earth.

a woman's hand holds a Mickey Premium Bar at Disneyland

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here .

We all know Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth – but it’s important to plan your trip carefully to ensure that you can enjoy everything the park has to offer.

One detail going wrong can derail a whole vacation, and it can be hard to know where to start planning.

After visiting Disneyland many times, I’ve learned how to plan a magical trip to the Dsneyland theme parks like the back of my hand.

There are a lot of factors to account for, from budget planning to reservations, but you’ll thank yourself later for coming up with a great Disneyland plan.

Making a good Disneyland plan isn’t just useful for making sure your trip goes smoothly and stress-free. It can also save you a ton of money while giving you access to some of the park’s most exclusive attractions!

The early bird gets the worm and that’s especially true at Walt Disney parks.

With all of the tips and tricks from my Disney vacation planner, you’ll be able to make a smart and early plan that will make your Disneyland trip absolutely enchanting.

Why Visit Disneyland?

Disneyland park is the original Walt Disney theme park, and it’s a beautiful sight to see.

It opened its grand doors in 1955 and includes nine lands: Main Street U.S.A, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, Critter Country, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, and Fantasyland.

The classic Disneyland is more popular than the Disney California Adventure Park since Disneyland offers classic attractions like Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain.

Disney California Adventure Park is becoming increasingly popular, however, as Disney improves the theming of the park and guests flock to visit lands like the Pixar Pier and Avengers Campus.

When you’re planning your first Disneyland park visit, it’s important to be thorough and make sure that your vacation turns out as stress-free as possible.

Researching and planning your visit date, transportation, hotel, tickets and add-ons, and any extras is a great way to ensure your vacation is completely magical.

Many people debate whether they should visit Disneyland vs. Disney World , and that’s because both offer a wonderful experience.

But once you know the differences between Disneyland and Disney World , you may find that Disneyland is the right park for you!

Disneyland theme park in California

Budgeting for Disneyland

The most important thing to do before you visit Disneyland is budget for your magical Disney vacation.

Knowing how much your Disneyland trip will cost will allow you to make sure that you prioritize the things that will make your vacation the most memorable while putting aside attractions and activities that just aren’t as interesting to you.

Whether you want the most luxurious hotel available or an exclusive piece of merchandise, budgeting (and using the Disney payment plan ) can bring this dream into reality.

You should budget for tickets, food, hotel, transportation, and souvenirs, plus any extras such as renting strollers at Disneyland .

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices vary by length of stay and time of year and there are certain times of the year when you can visit the happiest place on earth for much cheaper!

Also be on the lookout for package deals, which can save money when you bundle tickets and lodging.

Food can vary based on the venue, with Disneyland offering many quick-service food venues with affordable prices and also providing luxurious restaurants with high price points.

Best of all, there’s a ton of variety available at any price point. We have a list of the best Disneyland foods and the best food at Disney California Adventures to help you get started.

Also, many of the servings can be a little too magical!

If you’re looking to save money on food, considering kids’ meal options or sharing a full-size meal with a friend or partner is a great way to practically halve your costs.

And remember, water bottle refills are free!

Hotels & Transportation

Hotel prices can vary based on popularity, quality, and how far the property is from Disneyland park.

It’s worth considering what amenities you’d like from your hotel, and whether you would rather walk or drive to the park.

If you’re planning to fly or take another form of transportation to the park, you’ll need to account for that in the budget as well.

Don’t forget extraneous travel costs like food and baggage!

Also, using discount services where you can is a great idea to pinch pennies.

Many visitors find that Get Away Today is the best platform for discount Disneyland park tickets, and they also partner with many nearby hotels.

By using discounts where you can, you can put more of your budget towards delicious meals or fun activities. And if you’re a California resident, remember that you’re eligible for extra discounts on tickets!

Of course, using a travel agent is another great way to ensure you’re getting the best deals on your Disney vacation. An authorized Disney vacation planner with plenty of Disney experience is your best bet.

Credit Card Benefits

Lastly, it’s worth checking if your credit card offers any benefits for hotel or theme park purchases.

You may be able to get extra cashback and save money on your trip.

The Chase Disney card is a great option for getting extra perks for your Disney vacation.

Mad Hatter Teacup Ride at Disneyland

When Should I Visit Disneyland?

No matter when you visit, it’s always a great time to be at the happiest place on Earth.

But timing your visit to be on less popular days can help you avoid crowds and save a lot of money while you’re at it!

As a rule of thumb, crowd calendars show you can expect to find the park emptiest during September until mid-November and mid-January through mid-March. This is the best time to go if you’re hoping for fewer crowds.

That doesn’t include holidays or any park events, which you should avoid if you want low crowds.

Holidays off from school and work are the perfect opportunity to take the kids to Disneyland for most families, and the special events give an extra incentive for Walt Disney lovers to visit.

As a result, holidays and park events tend to result in huge crowds and enormous waits for most attractions.

When the park is less crowded, tickets are sold for much cheaper than on peak days, so it can be a good time to save some money..

Also, you won’t feel nearly as pressured to purchase add-ons like Disney Genie + and Individual Attraction Selections, which while convenient can quickly add up and sink your budget.

How Do I Find Lodging at Disneyland?

While there are hundreds of options available for lodging around Disneyland, choosing the right hotel can make a difference.

Whether that’s finding the best room you could dream of, or finding an option that works great with your budget!

Aside from the official Disney resorts, there are many unaffiliated hotels nearby that can offer affordable prices and great service.

Staying at a Disneyland Resort

It’s a good idea to first determine whether you would like to stay at an official Disneyland resort hotel.

These officially affiliated resorts do offer a lot of unique benefits which can add to your vacation.

For example, they offer things like an Extra Magic Hour every morning, and they tend to be themed around Disney content.

Also, you get the added benefit of being able to walk through the Downtown Disney District to enter the theme park.

All three Disney hotels, which are the Paradise Pier Hotel, Disneyland Hotel, and Grand Californian Hotel & Spa are popular for a reason — if you’re looking for a signature Disney vacation, staying at one of these resorts is practically a must.

Staying Outside of Disney

Unaffiliated hotels (which are off site hotels) are still a great option, though. As mentioned before, they can be comparably very affordable while still offering great services.

And there’s a variety of hotels to choose from, depending on whether you’d like a hotel room with full service and the best view or something simple and budget-friendly.

It’s important to read reviews about a hotel you’re considering staying at before committing, however.

Good Neighbor hotels are unaffiliated but are endorsed by Disney, which makes them highly reputable options for a medium budget.

The booking process depends on where you decide to lodge for your Disneyland vacation, but one thing is important regardless: you should be making reservations and preparing for your visit as early as when you’ve secured your Disneyland tickets and park reservations.

You don’t want to find yourself scrambling for any subpar place to stay the day that you should be going to the happiest place on Earth!

Paradise Pier at Disneyland at night

How Can I Plan Transportation to Disneyland?

If you’re driving to Disneyland, you should start by factoring in gas costs and the Disney parking fee (approximately $20 per day).

If you’re renting the car, you also need to include the rental costs in your estimate.

The roads can be fairly busy around Disneyland, but driving to the park does offer the added benefit of being able to visit other SoCal attractions easily.

Flying to Disneyland

If you’re flying to Disneyland, you should start by noting that there are three airports in service near the park.

Specifically, you can fly to the Orange County John Wayne Airport (SNA), the Long Beach Airport (LGB), or the Los Angeles Airport (LAX).

SNA is a smaller airport and the closest to Disneyland and includes Disneyland Resort Express motorcoach services.

LGB is slightly further from Disneyland, while LAX is the most popular airline but is also nearly an hour away from the parks.

As mentioned before, some of the airlines do provide complimentary transportation services to the Disneyland parks.

SNA provides Disneyland Resort Express motorcoach service, while all three airports offer Karmel Shuttle Service to Disney resort hotels in addition to Good Neighbor hotels.

There’s also always the option of using ride services like Uber or Lyft.

If you’re taking any other method of travel to Disneyland, it’s worth simply factoring in the direct expenses (such as train or bus tickets) in addition to what you might spend on food, toiletries, and other necessities to form an estimate.

If you aren’t brought to Disneyland, you will also need to include the cost of a taxi service or car rental.

How Do I Get Disneyland Tickets?

Right now, Disney allows visitors to purchase tickets for vacations ranging from one to five days.

You’re also given the option of purchasing a Park-per-day ticket or a slightly more expensive Park Hopper ticket.

You can only choose one park per day with the former, while the latter gives you the flexibility of switching parks on the same day.

Once you have an idea of when you’d like to visit the park and what type of park ticket you would like, you can go to the Disneyland website to purchase tickets.

After selecting whether you’re a standard or California resident guest, the website will prompt you to enter the number of days you would like to visit and the amount of child and adult tickets you would like to purchase.

Lastly, it asks whether you would like to purchase a Park Hopper pass.

After entering all of this information on the website, you’re almost ready to purchase your tickets.

The website will offer a calendar of available dates, which conveniently includes the availability status of both the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Parks.

Once you’ve selected the dates that you would like to visit the parks, you can check out any desired add-ons (like Genie+) and finalize your reservation for a Disney vacation.

(It’s worth noting that the more days you purchase for a ticket, the cheaper the cost-per-day is. When you combine this with the savings on transportation, you might find that planning for a longer Disneyland visit is cheaper than taking several shorter vacations. It’s a hack worth considering!)

Lastly, you should remember two important rules about Disneyland tickets:

  • Disneyland tickets expire 13 days after the first use.
  • Disneyland tickets can only be used by one person!

Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar with a bite taken out of the ear

What Special Offerings Should I Research Before Visiting?

If an attraction or restaurant you’re interested in is very popular, you should consider making a reservation beforehand.

Disney encourages early reservations, so it’s worth exploring the Disneyland website and making reservations for any experiences you just can’t imagine a magical vacation without.

Character dining experiences are a wonderfully magical thing to consider making reservations for, especially if your child has a favorite character that you just need to meet.

Character dining has the added benefit that you’ll get a lot more one-on-one time with the character, and won’t have to wait in line to see them!

Learn more about making last minute Disney Dining reservations .

Disney Genie + and Lightning Lane Passes

Determining whether you’d like to use Disney Genie + and Individual Attraction Selections is important to research because it can mean the difference between saving a lot of money and saving a lot of time (especially on Disney park peak days).

Disney Genie + offers lightning lane reservations for less popular rides, while Individual Attraction Selection allows you to purchase a lightning lane reservation for the most popular attractions available for a maximum of twice daily.

These services can get expensive since Genie+ is offered at $20 per person per day and Individual Attraction Selections can range from $7 – $15.

This is the best way to avoid long lines, and it may be a Disney splurge worth taking if you’re visiting on a busy day!

Fireworks Shows & Attractions

If you’d like to see a show like Fantasmic! or the World of Color, you should research when the show is going to be available and plan your trip around one of those dates.

Likewise, any limited-time show, attraction, or holiday festival should be planned for. It’s worth noting that if you choose to attend a Disney park special event, it’s likely to be much busier than usual.

Tickets may also sell for slightly higher prices.

If you’re planning to attend a firework show, in particular, making dining reservations or even purchasing a dining package to get a great view can be an excellent investment.

Many restaurants in the Disneyland parks offer wide-open windows and a beautiful view of any fireworks shows, and you won’t regret getting to enjoy these spectacles of color and light paired with a delicious meal.

Enjoy Your Disneyland Vacation Planning… And Have Fun!

Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth and it’s been attracting visitors from all over the globe since its opening in 1955.

With two parks in Southern California and over a dozen thematic lands to explore, there’s something for everyone in this enchanting theme park.

Planning out your vacation thoroughly will make sure that your Disneyland vacation is as magical as it can be.

While this may seem like an intimidating and complex process at first, it’s as simple as determining your budget and priorities and finding the lodging, transportation, time, and offerings that best suit your family.

There’s no wrong way to do a Disney vacation as long as it makes you happy.

And with nearly 70 years of history delighting and entertaining guests, Disneyland is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Once you’ve planned your trip to your Disney destination of choice, it’s finally time to let go of your worries and open your heart to the magic of Disney.

Related: Plan Your Disneyland Wedding

collage of two images of Disneyland--one of the theme park and one of Paradise Pier. An overlay reads,

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Disneyland trip planner (updated for 2024).

The anticipation, excitement, and adventure of a Disneyland trip allows you to leave your worries behind and immerse yourself in the magical world of Disney, long before you’ve even left the house. Planning a Disneyland trip is half the fun. Even if you don’t have children, you’ll thoroughly enjoy making travel plans for Disneyland theme parks.

We’ve always loved our trips to Disneyland. My husband grew up a few hours away from the theme park and went so often that he knew exactly which rides to get on and when to maximize the fun and minimize the waiting in line. There are a few tips that can make your trip to Disneyland much more enjoyable, and way less stressful that we will share in our Disneyland Trip Planner.

» You might like Halloween at Disneyland: What to Expect .

Planning a trip to Disneyland?

  • Get your Disney tickets. Save $26 on a 4-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket!
  • Book your private airport transfer from Anaheim hotels to LAX.
  • Renting a car isn’t necessary for a Disney-only trip, but it is if you plan to go anywhere else. We always find the best deals on cars through DiscoverCars.com .

Where to Stay in Disneyland:

  • The Westin Anaheim Resort (Very close to the park, tons of room options)
  • Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa  (Direct access to the park + perks)
  • SpringHill Suites by Marriott Anaheim Maingate  (Free breakfast, kids stay free)

Best Tours and Experiences in Disneyland:

  • Save $25 on Los Angeles 5-day Go Card including Universal Studios Hollywood!  
  • Whale-Watching and Orange County Beaches Tour from Anaheim (A great adventure!)
  • Universal Studios Round Trip Transportation from Anaheim

Planning your trip? We’ve got tons of helpful Disney planning guide s from our awesome list of 40 essential tips , to how to get to Disneyland , where to stay near Disney , what to pack , what to wear , where to park , and what to eat in both Disneyland and California Adventure.

That’s why we’re sharing our best Disneyland planning tips with you. If you do it right, Disneyland can be about so many things, including fulfilling your childhood dreams, eating fun Disney food, and getting a day or two completely away from the stresses of every day life.

If you’re spending more time, see our guides to Los Angeles and Anaheim . You can also purchase discount Los Angeles attraction tickets .

Train station at Disneyland

Table of Contents

When to Go to Disneyland

Crowds can have a huge impact on your Disneyland experience. If you’re putting valuable time and money into your trip, you should make sure you understand the best time to go to Disneyland and when to avoid, if possible.

It is best to go to Disneyland during the shoulder season, which is roughly around early January to mid-February, or August-September. Holiday’s like Halloween and Christmas are a special time at Disneyland and are becoming more and more busy.

While there isn’t ever truly an “off season” for Disneyland, there are less people, less congestion and less headaches for you during this time. What’s more, it rarely gets cold in southern California, even during winter season, but it gets very hot and humid during summer, so early spring, late fall and winter really are the best times to go.

Adventureland Treehouse

How to Start Planning

Now that you know when you want to go to Disneyland, the questions remaining are how many days to spend, how to break up your time, and where to stay.

You’ll want to make time to see Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney.

It’s a great idea to download the Disneyland app at this point. You can purchase tickets and make park reservations from the palm of your hand. Plus, there is great information there on food, ride times and park requirements that may always be changing.

While you are at it you will want to download the Play Disney app as well. It has fun games and trivia that you can play to help standing in lines pass more quickly and some of the games are specific to what lines you are in.

» See these 40 essential tips for Disneyland First Timers you might not know about.

The castle with Walk and Mickey

How Many Days to Spend in Disneyland

There are around 90 attractions between Disneyland and California Adventure. Unless you have a few weeks to spend, you really need to have a plan of attack. For more information, check out this information on how many days you need in Disneyland.

If you just want to experience the parks and don’t have any set things in mind that you want to do, then one day in each park might be sufficient for you. Just keep in mind that you might not get a chance to ride a popular attraction if you only have one day, because tickets can be difficult to come by. Having 2 days will increase the chance of getting a ticket.

If you have a list of things you have to see and you want enough time to see them, you’ll need to plan for at least 3-5 days.

To answer this question you’ll need to make a list of the “must see” and “want to see” attractions to determine how much time you need.

Buying Tickets

Disneyland band in front of the train station with Disney characters dancing.

Buy your Disneyland tickets online in advance (save $26 on 4-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper through our affiliate link on Undercovertourist.com – an authorized Disney vacation planner). You can easily purchase them through the Disneyland app as well.

You will need a park reservation for the days you plan to attend as well as a ticket. If you are purchasing park hopper passes you will stipulate which park you will be starting the day in. You can purchase tickets up to 120 days in advance.

Don’t buy single-day single-park tickets, unless that’s all you want to do. The park-hopper ticket is the way to go, if you’re planning to see both parks. This ticket will allow you to change parks during the day, so you can leave one park and go to another after 11 am. They aren’t that much more expensive and give more flexibility.

Tickets expire 13 days after first use, so if you buy a 3-day pass, you don’t have to use them on back-to-back days. You reserve the specific days you want to go on a calendar on the website, then choose which park you want to visit first that day.

You can also add a parking pass to your purchase online.

Mickey and Friends Parking structure

How to Spend Your Days in Disneyland

To maximize your time, make your list of attractions and rides and then divide it up into sections of the park. That way you can work your way around the park without having to double back for missed rides. Make sure to use a park map so you don’t get lost. It’s very easy to move away from a section of the park without even realizing it!

Plan your days around what’s close by each other, and check to see what dining areas are in each section of the park so that where ever you are, you know a good place to stop for lunch or a snack.

Here’s our 1-day itinerary for Disneyland and for California Adventure that can be modified to stretch to 2 or 3 days.

best disneyland trip planner

Top Attractions to See in Disneyland

With over 50 attractions and 30 rides, there is a ton of stuff to do at Disneyland. That’s only going to make your decisions harder, though because you can’t possibly get through all of it in the time you have – even if you were to spend weeks there.

Most people will spend 2-3 days at Disneyland, so it’s important to plan out your schedule so you can hit up the things you want to do most. To help you get started, below are a few of the top features at Disneyland that most visitors want to fit in.

  • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019 and the Rise of the Resistance ride opened in 2020. You will need to get a boarding group through the virtual queue in the Disneyland app to ride this ride
  • Space Mountain – this iconic ride is one of the most popular in the park, and is a must for anyone who loves dark rides.
  • Haunted Mansion – an oldie but goodie, this attraction blends humor and haunting with a ride in a Doom Buggy. This is a classic ride that you can’t miss!
  • Pirates of the Caribbean – the ride that started the famous franchise of the same name is worth a visit. Catchy songs paired with creepy and fun visuals make this ride unique.
  • Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye – this ride simulates one of Dr. Jones’ escapades and aptly immerses you into the world of Indiana Jones and his world of ancient secrets and amazing stunts.
  • Splash Mountain – Reopening in 2024 as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – A thrilling interactive smuggling mission.

Other rides you’ll want to make time for, if possible, are Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, It’s a Small World, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (this is my personal favorite), the Matterhorn Bobsleds and the rides in Cars Land.

Be sure to check out the Disneyland Map so you can see where everything is located and plan a route.

Laura and Nick with Mater from Cars

Disney Genie Service

Disney has now done away with the Fast Pass system. The new system is called Disney Genie Service. Be aware that there is Genie, Genie Plus, and Lightening Lanes. If you’re wondering if it’s worth it, here’s our thoughts .

What does all this mean?

Disney’s Genie Service

They like to say it’s like having a genie right in the palm of your hands. The Genie service is built right into the Disney app, which you will download on your phone to use while you’re in the park. You can view your map, recommendations, and make changes along the way.

Genie Service is complimentary. It creates your best Disney day inspired by your top interests. You’ll have access to planning tools so you can build an itinerary in the app. You just tell the Genie app what you’re most interested in and it will give you personalized recommendations for rides and restaurants based on that. It will also map out the best route for you to take to see the things you want.

To get the extra benefits of Genie Plus, you’ll pay at least $20/day per ticket. With Genie Plus, you can select the next available arrival window for Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane entrances at select attractions (19 in total), one at a time, throughout the day. You also get audio experiences and unlimited PhotoPass downloads from your day.

You might be asking yourself if paying extra money to buy Genie+ is worth it? We have broken it down for you here. You can make your own decision.

Stormtroopers on Rise of the Resistance

Lightening Lane

The Lightening Lane is a way you can purchase individual passes that grant you quicker access to the attractions you really want to see. You can select the next available arrival window for up to 2 attractions per day. You don’t have to have Genie Plus to buy the Lightening Lane tickets.

The thing to know is that there are only 2 attractions you can purchase and inside Disneyland it’s only Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. However, this ride isn’t included in the Genie Plus attractions.

Where to Stay

The Disneyland hotel

If you’re looking to stay inside the park, which is great for convenience and making the experience feel more magical, finding the right hotel is super important. You can also buy Disneyland vacation packages that will include hotels, tickets, etc.

  • Disney Grand California Hotel & Spa – This beautiful and luxurious hotel has great accessibility to Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney District.
  • Disneyland Hotel – This modern and themed hotel adds whimsy to any visit to the park, and there’s several types of rooms to choose from.
  • Disney Paradise Pier Hotel – This boardwalk and beach themed hotel is close to the park, and sometimes guests can see characters at breakfast.

Hotels outside the park

  • Best Western Plus Park Place Inn – Only a few minutes walk from the front gate of Disneyland, this hotel is a great relaxed place to stay on your vacation.
  • Anaheim Desert Inn & Suite – A short walk from the park, this hotel has a great deck that you can watch the Disneyland fireworks from.

For more information on where to stay you will want to read about these 7 best Disneyland hotels within walking distance of the park.

Grand Californian Hotel

Where to Eat in Disneyland

Disneyland has a lot of very mediocre food, but there are some amazing hidden gems to eat inside the park. Be prepared to spend quite a lot for food. Nothing is cheap inside Disneyland. Read up on these great Disneyland snacks and desserts before you go.

Consider placing a mobile order for your snack or dinner through the Disneyland app. Choose the locations you want to order from and pay directly through the app. Then wait for your appointed time to pick it up. It really is the way to go. It’s so convenient and there is very little waiting.

Mobile ordering on the app

Fun Foods to Eat in Disneyland

This is the most famous food from Disneyland and there is a reason for that. This zingy and fresh soft serve is perfect to refresh you after a day running around the park. Get some at the Tropical Hideway in Adventureland.

The line is often long for this treat. Just around the corner at the Tiki Juice Bar by the entrance to the Enchanted Tiki Room you can use mobile ordering and pick it up without waiting in line.

Dole Whip

Ronto’s Roasters

Ronto’s Roasters in Galaxy’s Edge is a great place to eat, and they have wonderful pita wraps, as well as delicious vegetarian options!

Grey Stuff Gateau

this red velvet cake filled with raspberry and topped with white chocolate mousse can be found at the Red Rose Tavern in Fantasyland, and is a perfect dessert to end your day with.

Mickey-Shaped Beignets

Located in New Orleans Square at the Mint Julep Bar, use mobile ordering to get your hands on these tasty beignets. Served in a white paper bag, just close the top and give it a shake before eating the powdered sugar covered treat.

Mickey shaped Beinget

You can find these crunchy, cinnamon-sugar treats all around the park. Make sure to grab one or two or three, you won’t be disappointed. Check around the park for special holiday flavored churros as well.

Churros

Tips For When You Arrive

  • Get to the parks early in the day. Most families like to sleep in and enjoy a late breakfast. So even with the parks opening early in the day they are relatively empty first thing in the morning.
  • The rope drop for entering the park is at 8 am. That takes place within the park not at the gate. So, get to the park and make it through the security screening and park gate before 8. This is helpful for rides with long wait times.
  • Ride the park rides at the back of the park first. It may take a while to walk into the park, but most people stop at the first rides. As the park starts to fill they move to the back rides. Utilize this time to enjoy some of the popular rides at the back of the park.
  • Make sure that you carry a backpack with you into the park. This pack will serve you well during the day. At a minimum, you should bring water, sunglasses, and sunscreen. And, if you don’t want to carry it with you look for lockers within the park. They are cheap and convenient. See our full list of what to pack and what to wear to Disneyland to make sure you’re prepared.

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How to Avoid Long Lines

If there’s one thing that visitors to Disneyland find annoying and frustrating, it’s the long lines for rides. You can literally spend several hours of your day standing in line for popular attractions. While all lines cannot be avoided in Disneyland, there are a few ways you can dodge the lines.

  • Download the Disneyland app to check current ride times. They are being updated all the time so they are pretty accurate.
  • Download the Play Disney app for games and trivia to play while standing in line. Some games are specific to what line you are standing in.
  • Get Disney PhotoPass for the day. It costs $20 per day, per ticket, but could be worth it if you have limited time. PhotoPass is also included with Genie+ for free.
  • Ride popular rides later in the evening, while the majority of people are watching the night time entertainment. This is a good time to find shorter lines. Of course, it means you’ll miss the entertainment, but if you’re visiting Disneyland for a few days, you can always see the night time entertainment on another day.
  • Avoid going to Disneyland during busy times such as between Christmas and New year, spring break, the summer months, and on Saturdays.
  • Get to the park early. The lines are shorter in the morning when the park first opens. Instead of jumping in line for the first ride you see, head for the rides you want to ride the most.
  • Make a plan of attack and stick with it. Check out how to spend one day in the park for strategies and tips.

Disneyland main street

Stay Up to Date on Changes

This Disneyland trip planner 2024 is a general guide to Disneyland and isn’t updated with all the changes and goings-on in Disneyland day by day. Read this  What’s New & Next for Disneyland for details of what’s going on, so you can make an informed decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there lockers to store my stuff.

Yes, you can take advantage of the lockers that are in the park to store your stuff so you don’t have to carry it around all day. There is one set in the cul-de-sac between Market House and Disney Clothiers and another to the left of the ticket turnstiles before you enter the park. They are pay lockers – the small are $7, large are $10 for the day. You can pay with your credit card.

Can I take a stroller into the park?

If you are taking a stroller to the park, make sure that it fits the size requirements. Strollers larger than 31” x 52” and wagons are not permitted. You can rent single ($18) and double ($36) strollers per day outside and to the right of the ticket turnstiles.

Can you bring food into the park?

Yes you can. Make sure food is wrapped up. You can bring drinks in as well. No glass and all ice must be contained. You can bring a cooler in with your lunch if you want. A soft sided cooler works best with reusable ice packs. 

How to Get to Disneyland

Kylo Ren show

These are the main airports to choose from to get to Disneyland: 

  • John Wayne Airport in Orange County (SNA) – 15 Miles from the park. 
  • Long Beach Airport (LGB) – 25 Miles from the park. 
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – 35 Miles from the park. 
  • Hollywood Burbank Airport, Bob Hope Airport (BUR) – 45 Miles from the park.  

Drive times vary depending on the time of day. On-site car rental, taxis, and rideshares are available at all airports.

Uber and Lyft are convenient options. Consider checking the price of both before deciding. Prices will vary depending on the time of day.

Shuttle services can be reserved in advance. Lansky shuttle car service has a complimentary 30 minute grocery/fast food stop on the way to the hotel and they provide car seats. Karmal Shuttle car service only goes to LAX and John Wayne Airport and they don’t provide car seats.

One Final Note

Visiting Disney’s California Adventure is definitely worth adding a few extra days to your trip. It has a completely different feel than Disneyland. If you are a Marvel fan or love Pixar movies this is the park for you. Explore Avenger’s Campus and enjoy superhero sightings, meander through Radiator Springs, and enjoy the feel of old California throughout the park.

Here are a few resources to help you plan a visit to Disney’s California Adventure:

  • Disneyland vs California Adventure: Which One to Choose?
  • 20 Disney California Adventure Foods You Must Try

Disneyland is one of the happiest places on earth, as the saying goes. And half the fun is in the planning. This guide is just the start of your amazing adventure. If you have any tips and advice to share from your own planning, we invite you to leave a comment below.

Like this article? Save it on Pinterest so you can find it again. FOLLOW US on Pinterest and Facebook for more California travel inspiration and tips!

Laura in California

Laura is a travel fanatic who loves seeing and doing new things. She lives in Ventura, CA, and spends a lot of time exploring California’s cities, beaches, and national parks.

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2024 Disneyland Planning Guide – Plan the Best Trip & Save BIG

The Park Savers 2024 Disneyland Resort Planning Guide covers everything you want to know about planning a vacation to this fun-filled destination: crowds, dining, best hotels, saving money on tickets and other tips & tricks. We also cover how to get on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance so you don’t leave disappointed. (updated January 27, 2024)

Bridge, Water, and View of Paradise Pier with Mickey Mouse Ferris Wheel

Disneyland Resort

The resort had recently experienced quite the change before being rudely interrupted by COVID. The biggest was Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened its doors to guests in 2019. While that may not seem “recent,” its biggest attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, only opened in January 2020. That’s right, this attraction only saw about two months’ worth of guest time before the pandemic forced the parks to close.

Rise of the Resistance is one of Disneyland’s most immersive attractions and by far one of the most popular. When the attraction first opened, there were no standby lines for guests to enter. FastPass? No way. With this attraction, Disney introduced the virtual queue, a way for guests to “get in line” for the attraction, keep exploring the park while they waited, and then later enter the queue to actually ride.

We realize this sounds a lot like FastPass (and the new Disney Genie+), and it sort of is, but sort of isn’t. While Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections (and FastPass before them) allow guests to come back during a scheduled period and go through a faster queue, the virtual queue only represents a line where all guests must enter. No guests receive priority or a quicker way to experience the attraction. It also keeps guests from just walking up and getting in line.

This was introduced because of the attraction’s popularity (and rightfully so) and will likely continue to be the way guests get to experience it for the foreseeable future. That is, unless the attraction goes the way of its Disney World counterpart and nixes it. So when it comes to planning and hoping to score a boarding group in this virtual queue, you may want to see our guide for getting a  guaranteed boarding group for Rise of the Resistance .

Disneyland was also in the middle of several other new resort additions, including  Avengers Campus and a new hotel. While these were all delayed for a time, Avengers Campus actually opened to guests on June 4th, 2021.  The new hotel, which is an extension of Disney Vacation Club, hadn’t made much progress other than being announced. Our guess is that this has been pushed back to 2023 or later.

Amazingly, Disney even managed to reimagine the Snow White attraction in Fantasyland during the resort’s closure into something magical. With all-new scenes and audio-animatronics,  Snow White’s Enchanted Wish is significantly better than its previous iteration, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and guests can finally enjoy the full story of Snow White.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DISNEYLAND

Sleeping Beauty Castle with Spring Flowers

Disneyland is Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom, opening in 1955 with just one park. Over the years, it has grown immensely (to a certain degree), adding an additional park, California Adventure, in the early 2000s. Disneyland Park’s abundant charm flows through each of the theme park’s lands: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Mickey’s Toontown , Fantasyland and Galaxy’s Edge.

Most guests find this park to be the most “magical” of Disney’s two California theme parks, with many original attractions like Peter Pan, Snow White, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain, just to name a few.

Directly across from Disneyland is Disney’s California Adventure Park. Initially, the park was built to represent the state of California. After that pretty much failed, it was revamped to make it more “Disney” in 2012 and has since grown in popularity with the help of new lands and attractions.

Some of our reasons for visiting Disneyland over Walt Disney World include:

  • Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!
  • New Orleans Square
  • The original World’s Fair version of “it’s a small world”
  • The Blue Bayou Restaurant (yes, this makes our list)
  • Avengers Campus
  • World of Color

NEW TO DISNEYLAND

Avengers Campus Spider-Man

Besides all the new COVID guidelines we already mentioned, Disneyland saw significant changes to the parks in 2021. The biggest of all of these is the opening of Avengers Campus in California Adventure Park. This new land took the place of A Bug’s Land and will soon connect Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! to the rest of Marvel.

The land features one new attraction, a dining location, shopping and character meets. There is also an impressive “stuntronics” Spider-Man swinging from rooftop to rooftop, which is truly amazing. Additionally, as we mentioned earlier, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish Wish, a classic dark ride in Fantasyland, is also “new” to guests as it received a major makeover inside and out.

FIRST-TIME VISITORS

Statue of Walt Disney with cherry blossoms

It’s exciting to plan a vacation to Disneyland for the first time, but it can also seem overwhelming. Trust us, we get it: You want to see and do it all. It’s a worthy cause and very much achievable for anyone who plans correctly. If you want a detailed guide on how to spend your day(s), you can see our Disneyland Itinerary Guides for more information.

For your initial planning, however, here are the most important things to know about:

  • When to visit
  • Picking the right hotel
  • Saving on your theme park tickets
  • Transportation and airfare
  • Disney Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections
  • Magic Morning Early Entry and Extra Magic Hour
  • Entertainment including parades, fireworks, World of Color and Fantasmic!

DISNEYLAND TICKETS

Three Disneyland Park Tickets

Currently, you can purchase tickets that range from one to five days. Depending on how long you want to play, it’s always best to buy as many days as possible, as the price per day drops the more you add. For instance, the 2-day ticket costs about $128 per day, but the 4-day ticket costs about $90 per day. So, the more you play, the less you pay!

Guests can choose from either 1 Park Per Day or Park Hopper tickets.  1 Park Per Day tickets give you access to one of the two parks each day of your visit. You CANNOT visit both parks on the same day.  Park Hopper tickets  give you access to both parks as much as you want for the length of your ticket.

We always recommend this ticket as it gives you a lot of flexibility to switch parks when the other is busy. For a great Disney deal, be sure to purchase your Disneyland tickets at a discount with our trusted partner online.

Remember that tickets are only valid for 13 days after first use unless you have an annual pass. Also, tickets cannot be used by different people; the same person must use them on each day of use. Disney takes this very seriously and will revoke your ticket if you’re caught doing this. Only buy your tickets from vendors who are authorized.

For more information on  discount Disneyland tickets , be sure to read our comprehensive guide so you can save the most money. We talk about many different places, including  Sam’s Club ,  AAA  and  Costco . 

ANNUAL PASSES

Disney Vacation Club Annual Passes

Keep the magic going all year-round with an annual pass, or Disneyland’s Magic Key Passes . These give you one year of access to the parks, some with restrictions and blackout dates. All offer discounts on food and merchandise, tours, and special events.

Please  visit here for information on the Magic Key Program, including the four levels of annual passholder membership: Dream Key, Believe Key, Enchant Key and Imagine Key.

DISNEYLAND HOTELS

Overhead shot of Disneyland Hotel pools

It seems like there are a million and one options for hotels at and near the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. The city itself is basically made up of hotels with a few houses and apartment buildings sprinkled in between, so your options are immense. Having said that, there are ones you’ll want to avoid.

Disneyland has three hotels on property, including the Paradise Pier Hotel, Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. While these hotels tend to run a bit pricier then most hotels near the resort, they also offer a lot of extras for guests like short walks to the parks, package delivery from the parks, and Extra Magic Hour each morning.

Most hotels surrounding the resort (but not owned by Disney) will most likely fall into the Good Neighbor Hotel category. You can read about these and the Disney Hotels in  our complete Disneyland Hotel Reviews guide . There are some great ones out there like  Desert Palms Hotel and Suites , Residence Inn Marriott and the new  Westin Resort by Marriott .

Silhouette of Palm Trees and Airplane at Sunset

Three airports service Disneyland within a 45-minute drive or less:

  • Orange County  – John Wayne SNA
  • Long Beach Airport  LGB
  • Los Angeles Airport  LAX

SNA  is the closest airport to Disney and typically takes about 15 minutes to drive from there to Disneyland with clear traffic. While the airport is a smaller one, it’s really nice and offers lots of places to eat, shop and, of course, catch your flight. It’s also part of the Disneyland Resort Express motorcoach program, which you can read about below. Airlines include Southwest, Delta, United, American, and Alaska. 

LGB  is the second closest airport to the resort and typically takes about a 20-25 minute drive with clear traffic. It’s also a smaller airport, but was recently re-done and has some great eating places. Airlines that service Long Beach include Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, and American Eagle.

LAX is the furthest airport from Disneyland and can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to drive. This is a major airport with many airlines servicing it. We won’t list them all, but most likely, your airline will fly into it. It’s great for international flights. LAX is part of the Karmel Shuttle motorcoach program, which you can read more about below.

The best way to score some serious discounts on airfare is  to use Google’s Flight Search , which compares most major airlines and allows you to track prices, all for free.

TRANSPORTATION

Cars Characters In Car-Stume For Haul-O-Ween!

Getting to and from the airports can be pricey, depending on which type of transportation you take.  Rental cars  can be picked up at all three of the airports around Disneyland. If you choose to rent a vehicle, keep in mind that your hotel may charge a parking fee.

Disneyland also charges a parking fee if you’re thinking about parking at the resort. It’s approximately $20 per day for cars and motorcycles. However, driving your own vehicle or renting one can be a great idea if you plan to leave the resort a lot and head to the beach or other Southern California attractions.

Alternatively, the  Karmel Shuttle Service  is a great way to go from SNA, LGB and LAX to the three Disney hotels and surrounding ones like the Good Neighbor hotels.

Taxis, Uber and LYFT  are great options if you don’t want to pay parking and rental fees. We highly recommend  Uber  and  LYFT  for getting to and from the airport. They are readily available and cheaper than taking a taxi. Use our  coupon codes  to get your first ride free with both companies!

If you don’t have these apps on your phone, we suggest taking a taxi. Many of them offer a flat rate to Disneyland and back – just be sure to ask them. Likewise, if you’re staying at a Disneyland property hotel, ask the bell desk for a flat rate coupon upon departure.

DISNEY GENIE

Genie coming out of lamp material

The key to a successful trip to Disneyland is going in with a plan. Fortunately, Disney’s newest piece of tech, the Disney Genie Service , helps guests to make the most of their days whether they did their research or not. Already launched at Walt Disney World but yet to make its Disneyland debut, this complimentary service will be incorporated into the existing Disneyland app.

Utilizing preferences like your favorite characters or attractions, along with current and anticipated wait times and your location in the park, Disney Genie creates a personalized digital itinerary just for you. This helps you to take advantage of short lines and skip out on rides that may not interest you so that you can make the most of your time in the parks.

DISNEY GENIE+ & INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANE ATTRACTIONS

Unfortunately, you are no longer able to use FastPass or MaxPass to skip the line at Disneyland. Instead, guests will be able to fast-track their trip by purchasing Lightning Lane access. By upgrading their tickets with Disney Genie+ and/or Individual Attraction selections, guests can jump to the front of the line at some of the Disneyland’s most popular attractions.

Disney Genie+ will cost $20 per person per day and cover such popular rides as Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain. Meanwhile, guests will also be able to make Individual Lightning Lane Selections. Unlike with Genie+, you must buy Individual Lightning Lane Attraction access for each applicable ride you’d like to go on. While we don’t yet know how much this will cost, front-of-the-line access to some of Disney World’s rides are going for between $7-15 a pop.This skip-the-line option will only cover two popular attractions at each theme park, such as Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park.

WORLD OF COLOR

Paradise Pier Mickey Mouse Ferris Wheel Decorated with Neon Lights and Neon Fountains

World of Color is, quite possibly, the most wonderful show you’ll ever see. With lights, colors, water, fire and your favorite  Disney characters , all set to classic Disney music, honestly, what’s not to like? It’s something you have to experience!

The show returned returning in 2022 for the first time in over 2 years.

Fantasmic! is a nighttime spectacular that takes place around the Rivers of America in Frontierland and New Orleans Square. You won’t want to miss this one-of-kind show starring Mickey Mouse and some nasty villains.

The show includes some of your favorite characters and the Mark Twain Riverboat, singing, dancing, and even fireworks, making it an absolute must-see.

The show made its return in 2022 after being on hiatus for over 2 years.

PARADES AND FIREWORKS

These change seasonally and yearly, so it’s essential to stay updated on what’s currently being presented at each park. If you’re looking for fireworks, Disneyland Park is the place to go, as there aren’t any offered at California Adventure Park. Fireworks are typically done later in the evening and are most likely occur on the weekends, though they tend to run more during the summertime and major holidays. Always pick up an entertainment times guide when entering the parks (or check the Disneyland app) so you know when these are.

Parades change often, and each park can have its own. The Magic Happens Parade will make its way down Main Street, USA once more beginning February 24, 2022.

Be aware that these types of entertainment are subject to change, mostly due to weather. For example, high winds will cancel a fireworks show, while rain will cancel a fireworks show and a parade.

MAGIC MORNING EARLY ADMISSION

Exclusively for Disneyland Resort guests, this feature comes on 3-day tickets or higher only. It allows you entrance into Disneyland Park one hour before it opens to the public. It only runs on certain days, typically Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. It comes on your ticket.

It is different than Extra Magic Hour (see below) that is offered only to guests of the three Disneyland-owned hotels.

EXTRA MAGIC HOUR

This perk is only available to guests staying at one of the Disneyland-owned resort hotels including Paradise Pier Hotel , Disneyland Hotel , and the Grand Californian Hotel . Extra Magic Hour is every day at a different park.

It typically follows the schedule of Magic Morning Early Entry, with Disneyland Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. All the other days, Extra Magic Hour is for California Adventure Park.

Times are subject to change, so check with your hotel the night before to verify the time. Take it from us and this Disneyland Planning Guide, Extra Magic Hour is a must-do each day! You’ll get a lot done in just an hour because the park is pretty empty. This is currently suspended in 2023.

BEST TIME TO VISIT DISNEYLAND

Statue of Walt and Mickey Outside Cinderella Castle Decorated for Christmas

There’s a lot to be said about  visiting  Disneyland. Of course, we all want to travel when there are smaller crowds and shorter wait times. But, we also want to go when it’s easy for families to travel  and  everything is open. Finding a balance between the two can be challenging, but it’s possible.

Over the last several years, we’ve studied the crowds and have broken down what you can expect each month and when the best weeks are to visit.

In a nutshell, these are the best times to go to Disneyland:

  • January & February (minus holiday weekends)
  • May (first half of the month)
  • September (after Labour Day)
  • Early October
  • Early November
  • Early December

Avoid major holiday weeks like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Summers are crazy because kids are out of school. March and April are full of spring breakers, and late May is full of graduation nights. In other words, any time that’s not convenient for a family to go is the best time to go.

Be sure to read our  Best Time to Visit Disneyland Guide  to see what may work for you. You can also check out our free  Disneyland Crowd Calendars  to see which days will be the busiest and which ones will be slow.

Another option is to subscribe to a crowd calendar like  Touring Plans , which has made it their business to project how busy the parks will be, using science! These calendars can be invaluable in helping you to determine the best days to visit.

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  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Front-of-Line Services: Genie+, Individual Lightning Lane
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  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Basics
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  • Magic Kingdom
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  • Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House)
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best disneyland trip planner

  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Early Park Admission
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  • Halloween Horror Nights
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best disneyland trip planner

  • Universal Studios Florida
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  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> CityWalk Restaurants
  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Hotel Basics
  • Hard Rock Hotel
  • Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
  • Loews Royal Pacific Resort
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  • Downtown Disney

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  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Early Entry
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  • Lunar New Year
  • Food & Wine Festival

Disneyland Park

Disney california adventure park.

  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Ratings for All DLR Restaurants
  • Disneyland Restaurants
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  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa
  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Pixar Place Hotel
  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
  • sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
  • sidemenu#activeChild" class="text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-between pt-3 md:pt-14 leading-30"> Planning Your Cruise
  • sidemenu#activeChild" class="text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-between pt-3 md:pt-14 leading-30"> Tips for During Your Cruise

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Planning a trip to Disneyland is a daunting task, even for repeat visitors. But TouringPlans can simplify the process with our step-by-step guides and easy-to-use tools, saving you time and money all along the way.

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Our Crowd Calendar shows when the Disneyland parks will have the lowest wait times.

best disneyland trip planner

With three on-site hotels and many other lodging options at various price points within walking distance, there are a lot of options. Let us help you decide whether it’s worth staying on-site or off-site with in-depth overviews and photos of every on-site hotel, plus other ways to save money on your stay.

best disneyland trip planner

Disneyland practically invented the theme park industry when it opened in 1955. To this day, no place better reflects Walt Disney’s spirit and creative vision than that original park. It’s also jam-packed with attractions, shops, and restaurants spread across nine lands. And with our Touring Plans and Crowd Calendar, you’ll learn the best times to see everything. Plus, we’ve got over 120,000 attraction reviews from families of all ages, so you can get a wide range of opinions on every experience.

best disneyland trip planner

Theme park tickets at Disneyland are fairly straightforward. You really only need to know the dates when you’re visiting and whether you want to visit both parks on the same day (which requires the Park Hopper option).

best disneyland trip planner

All guests must have a theme park reservation in addition to a theme park ticket. You’ll need an account on Disneyland's website/app and valid theme park admission linked to that account in order to make your park reservations. If you buy your admission directly from Disney, it's easy to make your park reservations at the time of purchase. Reservation availability may be different for guests staying at Disney hotels, Passholders, and day guests.

best disneyland trip planner

World of Color and Fantasmic were worth the wait, the noise, and the drenching!

June 11, 2019

I was a bit dubious at first about a Disneyland vacation for two thirty-something adults. it was great and there was more we could have done!

January 31, 2020

best disneyland trip planner

Follow our Touring Plans (or create your own computer-optimized plan with our Personalized Touring Plan tool) to help you plan the best times to experience the attractions. Download our Lines app to your phone to help you build plans that let you experience everything the parks have to offer while spending the least amount of time waiting in lines.

best disneyland trip planner

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50 Disneyland Tips For 2024 (Listed By Category)

disneyland top tips

A trip to the happiest place on earth is always exciting, but the anticipation of planning in the weeks leading up can also be an integral part of your Disneyland experience. Whether this is your first visit to Disneyland or your hundredth, we have plenty of tips that will make your park experience as smooth and convenient as possible.

We will focus on the 50 key Disneyland tips for making your experience amazing, breaking these down by category: preparedness, rides, food, kids, navigating the offerings of the park, and fun. If you just planned a Disneyland trip and want to do some research to make sure everything goes perfectly, be sure to read our top 50 crucial Disneyland tips below for everything you need to know!

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In this planning guide:

Preparedness Disneyland Tips

Disneyland Tips- World of Color

First, we will share some tips to prepare for your day at the park! Some of these are things that you might forget about or not consider when visiting Disneyland.

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1. Make sure you pack everything you need . From sunscreen to snacks, bandaids, and more, make sure that you account for everything that you might need for your trip. This doesn't need to take up much room, as there are several smaller items that will make your Disneyland trip run more smoothly. While packing needs may differ per party, you can check out our ultimate Disneyland packing list for a breakdown of everything that will be helpful for your day at the park.

2. Avoid the times of year when Disneyland is the most crowded . During school breaks, holidays, and three-day weekends, the park tends to be the busiest. If you want to avoid long lines and crowds, be sure consult our Disneyland crowd calendar . There are still certain months when you can enjoy seasonal offerings during summer, Halloween, and Christmas without falling victim to huge crowds, which we break down in our guide to the best months and specific dates to visit Disneyland .

3. Bring a charger for your phone . Especially if you're utilizing Genie+ and the Disneyland app in general to keep track of wait times, mobile ordering, park experiences, and more, you need to make sure your phone doesn't run out of battery. You can either bring a charger and plug it into an outlet or utilize a portable charger to carry with you as you wait in lines and explore the park. CLICK HERE for a link to our favorite portable charger we bring on every trip . If you forget your portable charger, don't worry, as these are available for purchase at Disneyland.

4. Know where to find the best discount Disneyland tickets. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance, and you can get the best prices through our travel partner and authorized ticket re-seller, Get Away Today. Get Away Today is committed to providing their customers with the best prices for Disneyland tickets out there. They price-match competitor prices through their Best Price, Best Service Guarantee and offer incredible customer service, on call to help you before and during your vacation. Be sure to buy your tickets and hotel nights through our exclusive Mickey Visit link ! They also have discounts on the best hotels near Disneyland .

disneyland tips

5. Know the best airport to fly into. While LAX offers the most flight options, we recommend flying from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Disneyland if you are able. This airport is smaller and easier to navigate than other options, and it's also the closest airport to Disneyland. From here, we recommend getting an Uber for a quick ride to Disneyland. You can read more about details for the best ways to get from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to Disneyland in our guide.

6. Wear comfortable clothes . While it's tempting to don the not-so-comfy photo-perfect outfit for your Disneyland day, keep in mind that you'll be wearing this through lots of walking and potentially warm weather. Clothes that are breathable and comfortable walking shoes are a must! Also, remember to bring layers like a light jacket, as it can get slightly chilly at nights when watching the shows or walking around.

7. Get to the Disneyland gate 30-45 minutes before opening. Getting up a little earlier than you'd like will pay off, as you'll be able to enjoy the quieter morning hours when waits for popular rides are shorter. Many days, the parks open before their scheduled opening time, so you'll be prepared for this if you arrive early. Be sure to use our Disneyland morning strategy and Disney California Adventure morning strategy .

8. Note where you parked your car! It's so easy to forget where you parked, so you can either take a picture, write down where you parked in your notes, or drop a pin in your car’s location so that you can remember where your car is at the end of the day. The Disneyland app (read our guide) also has an easy car locator feature that is easy to use.

9. Download games to play on your phone as you wait in lines. You can download the Play Disney Parks app (which has lots of great trivia and games designed for single-players or large groups), try our daily Mickeyrdle (a Wordle-inspired Disney game), or download any other mobile game to keep busy. Try to look at options ahead of time so that you don't have to worry about downloading apps while you're on the move! We love the Heads Up game.

Grizzly River Rapids aerial view

10. Bring a poncho for water rides . These are also offered at the park, but if you'd like to get out ahead of things, you can buy one ahead of time. Our favorite ponchos linked here . I promise, it's no fun walking around in soaking clothes all day if you decide to ride Grizzly River Run in the morning. You won't walk away completely dry, but you'll definitely be more comfortable. Note – Splash Mountain is currently being transformed into Tiana's Bayou Adventure .

11. Do your research to see what seasonal offerings will be at Disneyland when you visit. From riding Soarin' Over California during the Food and Wine Festival at California Adventure in the spring to checking out the themed treats offered at Disneyland during Christmas , be sure to make a list of everything you want to see and experience so you don't miss anything. Read our full Disneyland calendar for happenings every month .

12. Have a plan for transportation to and from Disneyland . While Disneyland is designed as a pedestrian park, you'll want to account for the time it take for you to travel to and from your hotel. You can utilize the ART shuttle bus or account for the time it takes to walk to Disneyland from your hotel so that it doesn't bleed into the valuable morning hours right after park opening. You want to be at the parks at least 45 minutes before official park opening.

Tips for Rides at Disneyland

Disneyland Tips

One of the best parts of any Disneyland experience is the moment when you're about to step on your first ride. We'll talk about some tips for making the most of Disneyland's iconic ride offerings!

13. Be sure that everyone in your party goes on the top attraction they want to ride . Plan ahead by asking everyone what they're looking forward to, and this will ensure your group is happy and satisfied during your park day. On a similar note, if someone doesn't want to ride a certain attraction, you can help make a plan for what they'll be doing during the time the rest of the group is riding. Perhaps another member of your party also isn't wild about a certain attraction, so they could spend that time together getting a treat or meeting characters, etc. Check out our Disneyland 1-day itinerary and Disney California Adventure 1-day itinerary .

14. Take advantage of Single Rider , which allows you to split from your party and fill in individual spaces on rides that aren't occupied by stand-by line guests. At Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, Single Rider is offered for several rides, which you can read more about in our guide to Disneyland Single Rider lines . We recommend this trick for Radiator Springs Racers in particular, as it can dramatically minimize your wait time.

15. Use Genie+ to skip long lines . Disneyland's Genie+, a paid service that replaced the old FastPass and MaxPass services, offers Lightning Lanes that allow you to skip the lines for select attractions in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Lightning Lanes are offered for the most popular attractions, and you can select return times that will allow you to bypass the long wait time once per ride each day of your visit. You can read more information about pricing and tips for making the most out of the Genie+ service in our guide to Disneyland Genie+ .

16. Know when to buy Individual Lightning Lanes for rides . Individual Lightning Lanes provide you with the option to skip long lines for an additional fee per person, offered at an a la carte rate for the most popular rides at the park, and they are not included with the purchase of Genie+. There are certain rides that we recommend buying Individual Lightning Lanes for, like Rise of the Resistance, while you can get away with a very short wait for rides like Radiator Springs Racers using Single Rider. You can read our guide to Disneyland Individual Lightning Lanes for a full breakdown of pros and cons of purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes per ride offered, costs, and more.

17. You can request specific rows for rides . You will need to wait slightly longer, and of course, be respectful to the Cast Member helping you. My favorite rows are the front of the Incredicoaster and Space Mountain (some people love the very back row too!) and Row 1 Concourse B (center section) of Soarin'. Personally, I really love the experience of an unobstructed ride view for these three attractions.

18. Be conscious of your battery while on underground rides . On underground rides, your phone battery will be drained more quickly while searching for a cellular signal, so putting it in Airplane Mode can help combat this. I'll often put my phone on Low-Power mode on rides in general or during periods when I know I won't be using it often.

19. Attractions don't close right when the park closes. When the park closes, the lines to these attractions will cut off new guests, but you can still join the queue before official park closing. This is helpful to keep in mind for riding popular attractions late at night with often shorter wait times. Pick an attraction to end your night with by hopping in line right before the cutoff. During this period, Disneyland Cast Members work hard to get everyone on the line quickly so everyone can go home. There is also minimal, if any, Genie Plus line at this hour so the standby line moves quickly.

20. Some of the attractions take on-ride photos, which will be shown on a screen as you are walking out. Know which rides offer these (currently Space Mountain at Disneyland and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, the Incredicoaster, and Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure). Be sure to strike a pose for these! They occur near the end of the ride. Grab the code from these an add them to your app. Currently, Disneyland is sharing complimentary digital downloads of these photos for guests at no charge.

Tips for Navigating Disneyland's Offerings

Disneyland Tips

21. Know where the Disneyland parade starts. Watching from the point the show is starting from means that you'll be done viewing it before everyone else and at the actual start time. The first parade of the day will start back by “it's a Small World” and the second parade will start in Disneyland Town Square near the entrance of the park. The parade can take up to 20 minutes to reach your spot if you are sitting at the far end of the parade route from where the performance begins.

22. Don't be afraid to take a break during the day. One of the biggest rookie mistakes you can make at Disneyland is neglecting to take the time you need to rest for the second part of your day. You can stop by the hotel and take a nap, swim in the pool, start a Disney movie, or find a dining option outside of Disneyland to get a break from the park chaos. That way, everyone in your party will be well-rested and ready to tackle the nighttime offerings and attractions. We'll talk about a few of our favorite locations to take a break below!

23. Watch shows later in the day to escape the busier park crowds that form during peak hours . This applies to both parades and shows, as they provide you with a nice rest from the crowds while still soaking in all of the Disney magic. Right now, you can enjoy the new Marvel-themed Rogers: The Musical in Disney California Adventure .

24. Visit the Animation Building for a nice break . At the Animation Academy, you can draw Disney characters, chat with Crush in the Turtle Talk With Crush show, and explore The Beast's Library and test to see which Disney character you are. This is a great way to take a breath and relax before returning to the excitement of the rest of the park.

25. Go to the Grand Californian Hotel lobby to relax. The Hearthstone Lounge has a great atmosphere, and you can stop for a drink and a snack here. You can read more recommendations for quiet places to take a breather in our list of relaxing places at Disneyland.

26. Don't neglect the live shows offered at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure! From the mini-shows offered in Disney California Adventure's Avengers Campus to the Enchanted Tiki Room, make sure to explore all of these offerings. These shows always provide spectacularly high-quality entertainment! You can read more about the top 10 shows at the Disneyland Resort you shouldn’t miss in our guide.

Tips For Families With Kids at Disneyland

Disneyland Tips

We'll cover some tips for visiting Disneyland with kids so that your family has the safest and most enjoyable experience possible!

27. Try not to promise your kids they'll see a certain character in case the one you promised doesn't show up in the park that day. To avoid disappointment, it's better to avoid any promises, as you never know for sure which characters will appear. Be sure to read our guide to character meet-and-greets at Disneyland to see the characters you can find at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure listed by land.

28. Be sure to check height restrictions before your trip . Look ahead of time to see if your child is tall enough for certain rides. On a similar note as the above, it will be disappointing for kids to anticipate going on a certain ride for the first time and then be turned away based the height requirement. You can read more about this in our guide to Disneyland height requirements and Rider Switch , the latter of which we will discuss more below.

29. Take advantage of Rider Switch . This allows an adult in the group to wait with a child who is not tall enough to ride while the other rides the attraction, then they switch. This way, the child is always supervised and both adults get to experience the ride. You can read our guide to Disneyland Rider Switch here .

Babies at Disneyland: Baby Care Center Sign

30. Utilize the baby care centers at Disneyland. If your party has a baby with you on the trip, you can use the baby care centers at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure that are fully stocked with everything you may need, from nursing chairs to diapers and baby food from vending machines. There is also medicine available here. Read our guide to finding medicine at Disneyland for more specific tips on this.

31. Establish an emergency meeting point in case your party gets separated, and make sure it's very specific. This way, if your child gets lost, they will know exactly where to meet you with a Cast Member. For more information, be sure to check out our guide with tips to avoid losing kids at Disneyland .

32. Bring your own stroller if you can. The ones you rent from Disneyland can only be used in the park, so you can't use them to go back and forth between your hotel, which can make for some problems at the end of the day. Read our guide to Disneyland stroller rentals for a full breakdown of your options when visiting Disneyland!

Food Tips for Disneyland

best disneyland trip planner

Dining is an integral part of the Disneyland experience, and we have several tips to help you save money and make the most out of dining experiences while at the park.

33. Make dining reservations ahead of time . Not only is this extremely important in ensuring you have a spot at your preferred dining location, but it also gives you an extra thing to look forward to for your trip. Especially for very popular experiences, make sure you're ready at the 60 day mark to make reservations. You can read more in our top five tips for getting Disneyland dining reservations and Disneyland restaurant reviews and dining tips .

34. Know you can order kids menu items from Quick Service restaurants . Even though the kids menu items have recommended ages, you can order these at counter service restaurants in Disneyland. The smaller portion sizes are perfect for lighter eaters or those who get full easily and don't want a bigger meal.

35. Another option is to split meals with someone else in your party if you're a lighter eater. My family did this for the Food and Wine Festival, and it was definitely worth it to be able to try several of the foods without overeating!

36. You can bring your own food and snacks into Disneyland . There are certain conditions surrounding this, like no loose ice in coolers, so make sure you pack something like a sandwich that doesn't need to be reheated. You can read more about details in our guide to bringing food into Disneyland .

disneyland tips for snacks and mobile order

37. Bring a refillable water bottle . There are locations across Disneyland where you can refill these, which you can find on the Disneyland app under “Bottle-Filling Stations.” You can also find these locations on the Disneyland website . There are less stations in Disney California Adventure (one in Avengers Campus and one at Eureka Fitness Center in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa).

38. We recommend not eating breakfast at the park. Because the morning time at the parks is so valuable with lower crowds and shorter wait times for popular rides, we recommend getting breakfast at your hotel (or if you're in the area, at home). For all other meals, we recommend eating in the park due to the amazing variety of options offered. For more tips on how to make the most of your mornings, be sure to read our Disneyland morning touring strategy .

39. Mobile order though the Disneyland app . You can see which locations offer mobile ordering through the Disneyland app, and this is an effective way to bypass long food lines. You can mobile order while waiting in line for a ride and then walk right up to the counter to get your food without the wait!

40. Try Character Dining, which can be a great guaranteed way to meet characters during your Disneyland visit. There are a few different options offered for character dining, with most in the Disney Resort Hotels and one in the park. Be sure to read our guide to Disneyland Character Dining for our reviews of the different experiences and tips!

41. Mix it up with your dining and try new food locations . While it's tempting to stick to the same routine, don't ignore the variety of options offered at the parks, from snacks to sit-down dining locations. If you've been wanting to try that Black Caf Cold Brew at Galaxy's Edge or have never enjoyed a Mickey cream cheese pretzel, go for it! You might find a new favorite.

42. Consider a dining package for shows.  If your priority is securing great viewing for shows like Fantasmic! or World of Color, you can get two birds with one stone by buying a dining package for these experiences. There are several dining package options offered for the shows at Disney California Adventure and Disneyland, which you can read about in our guide to Disneyland dining packages .

Fun Tips for Disneyland

best disneyland trip planner

Now that we've covered some of the major tips important for planning your Disneyland trip, we'll go through some fun tips that can enhance your experience!

43. Ride an outdoor attraction at night when the fireworks are going off . Big Thunder Mountain is a fan-favorite option for this, as you get a completely unique seat for the fireworks show as you go racing by. Especially for guests who have already experienced rides multiple times, this is a special and memorable way to experience them. Recently, Disney just started running the Incredicoaster during World of Color . Seeing the show from this angle enhances the ride and show.

44. Keep an eye out for the Disneyland cats ! There are about 200 feral cats, cared for by Cast Members, who roam around Disneyland and help keep the rodent population in check. Look for them during the day, as you may spot one emerge for a brief moment although many stay hidden.

45. Try a new ride or revisit and old one! It's easy to get into a routine where you ride the same attractions every visit to Disneyland. Branch out a bit and go on an underrated or nostalgic ride you've been passing up.

46. Accidentally popped Disney balloons can be replaced . If you bring evidence of your popped Disneyland balloon to a balloon vendor, they will provide you with a new one.

47. Look for Hidden Mickeys around the park . These are hidden Mickey Mouse heads that Disney Imagineers sprinkled throughout the park that are incorporated into the architecture. Be sure to read our guide to Hidden Mickeys at Disneyland for a full breakdown of what they are and where to find them. You can also spot the entrance to the exclusive Club 33 .

48. Don't let the rain get you down! Rainy days can make for excellent park experiences, as crowds tend to be smaller with Southern California locals deterred from visiting.

49. Try out pin trading.  You can buy a base set of pins in bulk for trading, then find Cast Members with pin lanyards or other guests willing to trade at the park. This is a fun activity that allows you to collect Disney-themed pins of attractions, characters, and parks! Be sure to read more about this activity in our guide to pin trading at Disneyland .

50. Be sure to leave room for spontaneity. While it is tempting to try to plan your Disneyland trip down to the minute, keep an open mind in case something unexpected pops up. If you're walking towards a ride and become captivated by the parade, you can always find a viewing spot out of the way of foot traffic and enjoy the show for a few minutes. Don't let your plan get in the way of what your interests might be in the moment!

Plan your Disneyland Vacation Today

To get started planning your Disney vacation, make sure you subscribe to our FREE Deals newsletter ​. Here, you will receive helpful​ information to plan your trip, including exclusive Disney deals, breaking Disney news, reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, and Disney experiences, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere. Make sure to check out our other planning guides here:

  • Discount Disneyland Ticket Deals 2024: Get Cheap Tickets Here!
  • 60+ Best Walt Disney Quotes to Inspire You
  • Best Hotels Near Disneyland 2024: Disneyland Hotel Reviews to Help Plan Your Stay

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About Emily Midgley

Emily Midgley is a writer and educator from San Diego, California. She graduated from Hamilton College with a BA in English and a concentration in Creative Writing. She was introduced to Disneyland when she was two and has been hooked ever since! At Mickey Visit and Disney Dose, she will keep you updated on all things to do with Disneyland Park and California Adventure. Her favorite rides are Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Space Mountain, and Rise of the Resistance. She loves Marvel (especially Guardians of the Galaxy) and lives and breathes anything to do with Star Wars.

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Trips With Tykes

The Ultimate 2024 Disneyland Guide: Planning & Touring Tips

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: February 13, 2024

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The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California has now been reopened for nearly three years, and operations have returned to normal for quite some time. But things are still, practically speaking, quite a bit different in 2024 at the Happiest Place on Earth – some of them permanently so.

If you haven’t been to the parks in awhile, it’s important to get up to date! As a guest, that means you need to come prepared for things to work in very new ways. Many of the old pre-2020 Disneyland tricks and hacks won’t work anymore. You need to have a few new tools at the ready to have the best vacation experience. That’s where this Disneyland guide comes in.

Disneyland Railroad by Small World

If you are planning a trip to Disneyland in Southern California in 2024, this complete Disneyland planning guide will walk you through all the basics of what to expect this year – new requirements, changes from what you might have experienced in previous years, new ride and land openings, revised touring strategies, and more. I’ve been there first hand all along the way, visiting Disneyland and Disney California Adventure numerous times each year, including another recent trip in February 2024.

I’ll continue to update this annual guide regularly to reflect more changes. So be sure to bookmark and come back to it if your trip is several months down the road from now.

(Trips With Tykes uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through links in this post. See our full disclosure policy linked in the menu at the bottom of this site.)

What’s New, Returning Soon, or Closed at Disneyland in 2024

Before we get to all the operational changes and new park touring tips, let’s briefly dive into what’s new to see and do at the resort in 2024. And of course, we have to discuss the flip side as well – what’s closed this year for refurbishment or for good.

MagicBand+ at Disneyland Castle

A little over a year ago, Disney finally brought an important technological feature to its California parks. MagicBands had been in use at Walt Disney World for about a decade, but now the third generation MagicBand, MagicBand+, works at Disneyland too.

The uses for MagicBand+ at Disneyland are more limited. As a result, fewer guests have chosen to use them than do in Orlando. I’ve found some value in using mine, but they certainly aren’t essential – especially for infrequent visitors. That said, they are a fun and sometimes useful accessory or souvenir.

To explore what MagicBands do at Disneyland as you decide whether they are a must-have or can-skip item for your 2024 trip, check out my guide to Disney MagicBands and the new MagicBand+ .

Nighttime Spectaculars: World of Color – ONE & Wondrous Journeys

Disneyland Wondrous Journeys Fireworks for Disney100

In 2023, Disneyland celebrated 100 years of Disney company history during the Disney100 celebration. While this event has come to a close, a few remnants have been left behind in 2024. Most notable of these is the World of Color – ONE nighttime spectacular.

This show runs nightly in Disney California Adventure. For access to some of the better standing viewing areas, be sure to log into the Disneyland app at noon to secure a virtual queue reservation. If you want a seat to view the show, however, you’ll have to spring for the World of Color Dessert Party package.

Related : Get details on the best spots to view World of Color from my pal Jessica at The Happiest Blog on Earth.

The other nighttime spectacular for the Disney 100 celebration was the well-reviewed Wondrous Journeys in Disneyland park. In fact, it might just be my favorite Disney nighttime spectacular ever. It hasn’t run since last summer, but Disneyland recent announced that it will be returning for a limited engagement run from March 22-April 14, 2024. So if you have a spring break trip planned this year, I highly recommend adding a viewing to your agenda!

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Mickey and Minnies Runaway Railway El Capitoon Theater Exterior Disneyland

The year 2023 brought a brand new attraction to Disneyland – Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Runaway Railway has already been in Orlando in Hollywood Studios for several years, but now it also has a home in Toontown in Disneyland park. The indoor dark ride is family-friendly and has one of the very best queues that Disney Imagineers have ever created.

Check out my complete ride guide and wait time tips article on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway for all the latest details.

Toontown Renovation

Mickeys Toontown Entrance Disneyland

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway isn’t the only new offering of note in that area of the park. In fact, the remainder of Toontown around the attraction reopened in early 2023 after a significant facelift. The land has several new and reimagined play areas and much more green space. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin returned, and the Gadget Go-Coaster got a new theme as Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Gadget Coaster.

Related: Best Non-Ride Things to Do with Preschoolers at Disneyland

There were some unfortunate hiccups in 2023 with the durability of some of the new play areas, but all seems to be repaired well as of my first 2024 visit. Just be aware that if you are used to retreating to Toontown during the heat of the day to escape crowds (as I often did when my kids were little), you’ll find the crowds have followed you into Toontown now!

Magic Happens Parade

Disneyland Magic Happens - Mickey Mouse opening float

The Magic Happens Parade parade had only just debuted when the parks closed unexpectedly in March of 2020. The parade ran from February through October in 2023, and a lot of guests wondered what would become of it after that. But as of February 2024, Magic Happens is back again!

This edgy parade has an energetic vibe and soundtrack and is a much-needed addition to Disneyland park. The parade goes between Main Street U.S.A. and it’s a small world twice daily. The first showing is in the daytime, and the second is usually after sunset, where elements on the floats light up, making for an extra magical show.

Tiana’s Palace Restaurant

Tiana's Palace Exterior Disneyland

The counter service restaurant French Market in New Orleans Square closed for good but reopened in September 2023 with a new theme and new menu. The restaurant is now called Tiana’s Palace, featuring Princess and the Frog, leading the way in that section of the park for the refurbishment of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure later this year.

The food is some of the very best quick service that Disney has to offer, and has already become one of my favorites (and I’m Southern, so I’m a tough judge of Cajun and Creole cuisine!). Thankfully, it has mobile order (more on that later!) to dodge the long lines.

San Fransokyo Square

Child at Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransokyo in Disney California Adventure

Last year, an often overlooked part of Disney California Adventure received a refresh. The Pacific Wharf area (in between Cars Land and Pixar Pier) is now themed as San Fransokyo, the hybrid West-Coast-Meets-Asia city featured in Big Hero 6.

Like Pacific Wharf, the area is mostly seating and quick service eateries, but there are a lot of new menu items that make it much more of a foodie destination, especially at times when DCA is in between food festivals. And Baymax is a frequent character meet and greet in the area as well. Definitely a major improvement to this area of the park worth seeing!

Disneyland Hotel DVC Tower

Disneyland Hotel DVC Villas Tower

As of late September 2023, a new tower debuted at the original on-property Disneyland resort hotel – the Villas at the Disneyland Hotel. This property features a variety of studio and one to three bedroom Disney Vacation Club (DVC) units plus a Steamboat Willie splash pad.

Related: Disneyland Hotel vs. Disney’s Grand Californian: Which Hotel is Right for Your Family?

Our family took a trip last fall to stay in the new Villas and were very impressed by the addition. Rooms feature one of several different characters (we had a Tiana-themed studio unit), and the accommodations feel luxurious while matching the hotel’s classic Disney vibe. Rooms aren’t that much pricier than the Disneyland Hotel regular rooms, so if you need the extra space or can make use of the kitchen, definitely give it a look. If you aren’t visiting at a peak time, I recommend looking into renting DVC points as a way to save big on these accommodations.

Adventureland Treehouse

Adventureland Treehouse in Disneyland 2024

What used to be the Swiss Family Treehouse and later became Tarzan’s Treehouse has now returned to its roots (pun intended). The newly renovated treehouse reopened at the end of 2023 and is inspired by the Swiss Family Robinson movie once again.

I didn’t get a chance to walk into it on my most recent visit (I’m saving it to experience with my kids!), but the exterior is breathtaking. For classic Disney fans, the treehouse seems to blend the old with the new in a highly satisfying way.

Pirates of the Caribbean Genie+ Lightning Lane

Pirates of the Caribbean Lightning Lane Entrance in 2024

For a limited time in 2024, there is a new attraction offering Lightning Lane access via Genie+ at Disneyland . Pirates of the Caribbean is temporarily available for booking with Genie+ while several other attractions nearby in Disneyland park are down for refurbishment (more on that below).

This means that savvy Genie+ users will need to adjust their Genie+ strategies to take the addition into account. So far, this isn’t an attraction that runs out of Lightning Lane times that early thanks to its high capacity. I recommend securing more popular Lightning Lanes like Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and even Big Thunder Mountain first.

And as you might imagine, the addition of Pirates to Genie+ also means that guests who are used to riding this attraction through reasonable standby lines will have to adjust their strategies too. Regular lines are quite a bit longer now for Pirates, and the queue stretches through New Orleans Square in ways that unfortunately block access to visitors just walking by.

Disney hasn’t announced how long Pirates will be offering Lightning Lane, but we expect it could be until the end of summer (when Haunted Mansion reopens again). Stay tuned and watch for an end date if you have a trip during the second half of 2024.

Pixar Place Hotel

Pirates of the Caribbean Lightning Lane Entrance in 2024

Last but certainly not least of all things new in 2024….Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel just completed the final stages of a renovation to become the Pixar Place Hotel. This property was in dire need of a major refresh so I was super excited to see the finished product when I stayed at Pixar Place just a week after its January 31, 2024 reopening.

I must admit I was very pleasantly surprised by the transformation after being pretty hard on Paradise Pier in the last few years. It really feels like the property got a complete gutting – far more than the regular refresh that Disney hotels often get.

Rooms are quite large with completely renovated and bright bathrooms. Two queen rooms have a couch that turns into a daybed to sleep families of 5. Bold and bright Pixar themed character and colors are everywhere.

Pixar Place Hotel Room Two Queen Beds

The rooftop pool and splash pad are ideal for younger kids. Bonus that Bing Bong often hangs out in the lobby for a free and unique character meet and greet.

Bing Bong at Disney's Pixar Place Hotel Lobby

That said, Pixar Place Hotel is certainly not cheap by any means. I paid $405/night plus tax and some peak dates are already listed at $500+ a night. But Pixar Place is running about $150 a night less than the Disneyland Hotel. For visitors who want the benefits of an on-property stay like Early Entry, this is definitely the hotel where you can get them for a little less. The price is now much more in line with what the hotel has to offer.

Closures & Coming Soon

Disneyland is always evolving and changing, so you can also expect some closures and construction this year too. There are always a number of short term attraction closures on calendar, so always be sure to check official Disneyland sources before your trip for those. But more major things to watch include the following:

Downtown Disney

Disneyland’s shopping and entertainment district, Downtown Disney, is a serious construction zone in places right now. For now, La Brea Bakery is gone and has been replaced by a temporary location for Earl of Sandwich. A lot of other new restaurants are coming including Porto’s Bakery and Din Tai Fung, so keep watching Disney news for other announcements.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

The attraction formerly known as Splash Mountain took its last rider last year. But the log flume drop will live on in a new form! Disney is re-theming and re-doing the attraction to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The opening date won’t be until well into 2024, so expect construction walls on that end of the park.

Haunted Mansion Area Refurbishment

This year has also brought construction walls all around the Haunted Mansion. The queue and gardens area to the left of the mansion is getting an expansion, and the area next to Tiana’s Palace Restaurant will eventually have more open space as well. Additionally, a new shop is going in to the right of the mansion (closer to where Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be).

Essential Tips for Disneyland Planning & Touring in 2024

Disneyland 2024 Merchandise

So now that all of those dates are out of the way, how do you plan your Disneyland vacation differently in 2024? And how do you approach touring the parks in new ways? Here are all my very best practical tips.

Plan Earlier!

Remember the days when you could wake up and decide to go to Disneyland for the day? Or if you are not a local but are within a few hours driving distance, the days when you could decide mid-week to head down to Disneyland for the weekend? While I won’t say those days are long gone, they are certainly fewer and farther between.

With an ever-increasing number of folks traveling again, the demand for Disneyland has continued to exceed supply many times of year. That means you need to plan early to be able to go at all – to find theme park reservation availability, to lock in a hotel that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg, and to book flights to Disneyland if you are coming from longer distances.

How early is early enough? Thankfully, supply and demand have normalized a bit so you don’t need to plan quite as early as you might have in 2021 and 2022 especially. But even still, I’d say you need to plan at least a couple of weeks in advance from drive markets. I’d recommend a month or more if you are coming by air or hope to go at peak times like the holidays. If you want to snag the best pricing and availability for hotels, at least several months in advance is necessary.

Secure Theme Park Reservations ASAP

Disneyland park reservations final confirmation image

In the last couple of years, we’ve all gotten used to the fact that an increasing number of activities require advance reservations to take part. While a lot of those activities have dropped their reservations requirement (and indeed Disney World dropped theirs in January 2024!), Disneyland is one place keeping them around for the indefinite future for now.

Be sure to read my comprehensive guide to Disneyland reservations as you are planning your Disneyland trip to make sure you get the reservations part right. The bottom line is that you need to a) check to make sure there are reservations available for the days you want to visit and the ticket type you plan to buy before planning a trip and b) book those reservations ASAP.

While reservations open 120 days in advance for regular theme park tickets, it’s certainly not necessary to book them quite that early. But earlier is better, especially if you plan to go at a high demand time like Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays.

Practically speaking, reservations at at least one park usually remain open for almost all dates more than a few days in advance now (especially if you have park hopper tickets, where reservation availability is more generous). Sometimes, there are still reservations available the night before or even same day! No, that shouldn’t make you complacent. Availability can really fluctuate.

There are a lot of factors that might cause the parks to book up more quickly at some times of year. Ticket specials (especially SoCal resident deals), Disney adjusting allotment of space to annual passes (now known as Magic Keys), or the draw of seasonal offerings like Food and Wine Festival or Oogie Boogie Bash can all cause one or both parks to fill farther in advance. For example, last year I noticed most dates in October booked up in Disney California Adventure weeks in advance for one park per day tickets due to the popularity of Halloween offerings there.

Buy the Right Ticket Type

Disneyland Tickets 2022

Before making park reservations, guests of course need theme park tickets. So what are your options for regular tickets? Disneyland offers both single day or multi-day tickets (up to 5 total days). There is an optional park hopper add on for both of these as well that costs a $65-75 extra, depending on length of ticket.

Related: Disneyland Park Hopper Tickets: Worth it or Waste of Money?

Over the course of the past year, I have heard a lot of stories of guests who bought the wrong ticket in the first place or who changed their minds about what ticket was right for them after more research. In most cases, however, you really can’t afford to do this right now. You need get your ticket purchase right out of the gate because Disneyland doesn’t make it easy to change or upgrade tickets from afar.

For this reason, I also highly recommend buying multi-day Disneyland tickets from Trips With Tykes partner Get Away Today. Get Away Today is the only place that offers refundable Disneyland tickets if you get this ticket purchasing step wrong (free if you purchase their Peace of Mind Plan or otherwise a per ticket fee). Plus, their tickets are discounted off of regular Disney direct prices! Book discounted Disneyland park tickets from Get Away Today here . (And also be sure to peek at their discounted Disneyland hotels and vacation packages too – use code TYKES10 for $10 in additional package savings.)

So what else do you need to watch for in terms of tickets? Here’s what can trip up many guests and what to know:

  • One day tickets are the most complicated, with 7 different prices, corresponding to 7 different tiers (inexplicably numbered Tiers 0-6). Only Tier 6 tickets can be used every day on the calendar. Other tiers have blockout dates. Be sure that the tier you purchase will allow you to go on the day you want (as well as any day you might switch to if your vacation plans are not yet firm).
  • Multi-day tickets thankfully do not have tiers at all, so you are eligible to book any day on the calendar with them.
  • Multi-day tickets expire 13 days after first use. This makes them great for a multi-day vacation for out-of-towners. Locals who can bunch up several single day visits in a two week window might find some value as well, although usually the SoCal ticket specials (when offered) are better for anyone who lives nearby.
  • Park hopper tickets and single-park-per-day tickets each have their own separate reservation availability calendar , regardless of the number of days you purchase on these tickets. Make sure you are checking the reservation calendar that matches the ticket type you intend to buy. The single-park-per-day reservation calendar usually fills up first. If you are booking more last minute, paying extra for park hopper will likely open up more days on the reservation calendar to you.
  • Magic Key (annual pass) reservations are a totally separate system. Magic Key dates open up 90 days in advance, and many popular dates become booked very quickly. Magic Keys are not always on sale (or only some types are available), so they may not be an option for many guests to even purchase.

Consider New Hotel Options

Westin Anaheim Resort Exterior at Night

A lot of Disneyland visitors have their favorite hotels they’ve stayed in year after year, and loyalty and familiarity are certainly good things. But whether it’s been a while since you’ve investigated the choices or you are coming to Disneyland as a first timer, I’d encourage all Disneyland visitors to shop around and look at the hotel options anew.

The 2020 closures brought a lot of changes to the hotel market. Multiple new hotels have opened, some of which have some pretty tempting perks and value propositions. Additionally, the prices of a lot of hotels have gone up quite a bit in these inflationary times. As I’ve been monitoring prices closely, I’ve noticed some hotels have had much more substantial price increases than others and some have changed their included benefits. The relative prices have shifted considerably, and a hotel that used to be a deal or value may not be anymore relative to its current benefits.

If you want to get a peek at what my top hotel picks are in 2024, check out this fully updated guide to hotels within walking distance of Disneyland .

Additionally, Disney is always tweaking its benefits for on-property hotel guests. This changes the incentives for some guests deciding between a Disneyland owned hotel or an off-property Good Neighbor Hotel nearby. Extra Magic Hour and Magic Morning from pre-2020 times have both been gone for quite awhile, but Disneyland began offering guests at on-property hotels 30 minutes of early entry.

As of early 2024, however, this Early Entry benefit has changed yet again. Disneyland opens early on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and DCA opens early on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. You can get a lot done in 30 minutes, but query carefully whether this is a benefit you will fully use before paying several hundred dollars more per night to stay on-property, especially given the new alternating park schedule.

Finally, one important thing to keep in mind – conventions and other special events have largely returned to the Anaheim area making hotel demand higher than ever at some times you might not expect . Walking distance hotels especially seem to book up quickly in 2024 as a lot of travelers don’t want the hassle of shuttles or harder-to-find (and increasingly expensive) ridesharing to the parks. So earlier really is better when it comes to being able to plan a Disneyland vacation with your preferred logistics.

Park Hop at 11:00 AM!

For guests who purchase Disneyland’s park hopper ticket add on, the year 2023 brought a welcome policy change for the better. When the parks initially reopened back in 2021, park hopping was only allowed at the Disneyland Resort starting at 1:00pm. As of February 4, 2023, the park hopping time at Disneyland has been moved up to 11:00am.

It’s still not quite like the good old days when there was no time restriction on park hopping, but at least this frees guests up to make lunch reservations in whatever park they prefer. It also helps with using and redeeming Genie+ Lightning Lanes more strategically (more on that below).

Adjust Your Disneyland Dining & Restaurant Strategy in 2024

Disney-California-Adventure-Lamplight-Lounge-Pixar-Pier

For a long time after the parks first reopened, things simply weren’t up to speed on the Disneyland dining front. Finally almost all restaurants are open (and at full capacity) in 2024, but the dining scene has changed quite a bit.

Some menus are still pared back to a more limited number of choices at some restaurants. Reservations at table service restaurants are also harder to get, and quick service restaurants have increasingly moved towards encouraging guests to mobile order.

Table Service Restaurants

For table service restaurants, my best advice is to book early (and often). Reservations didn’t used to be incredibly hard to get at Disneyland except for a very few popular restaurants, but they are much more challenging in 2024. You may not be able to secure your top choice, so consider making backup reservations for restaurants you are happy with when you see they are available – because those too may soon be gone!

When do you need to plan to book dining reservations? Officially, Disneyland table service reservations open up exactly 60 days in advance, usually at 6:00 am PT. Some restaurants, however, will not open up availability at that time, releasing all availability several days later or releasing additional times in dribs and drabs.

How do you navigate the uncertainty? My best advice is to at least set an alarm to try first thing in the morning 60 days in advance. After that, I would suggest saving yourself dozens of fruitless refreshes and sign up for a Disney dining reservation monitoring service.

I highly recommend the site Mouse Dining , which is a great tool to help you snag a hard to find reservation by notifying you of cancellations or Disney adding capacity. Mouse Dining has both a free and a paid version, and I’ve had personal success using it to snag reservations many times.

If you are serious about a specific hard-to-get restaurant you’ll likely need the paid service to be competitive. This version sends instant text alerts. If you are more casually looking for openings at one of several places, the free version which sends email alerts can usually get the job done. A lot of guests book multiple or extra reservations to hedge their bets and cancel some as their plans firm up. Snagging those cancellations is possible, especially with some assistance.

All hope is not lost for the last minute planners either! Disneyland recently changed its cancellation policies for table service reservations, allowing guests to cancel until 2 hours in advance with no penalty. This means it’s possible to snag a same day reservation off of these cancellations.

Additionally, most table service restaurants have walkup availability too. You can join a same day walkup wait list on the Disneyland app on the day of your visit.

Quick Service Restaurants & Mobile Ordering

Disneyland Pym Test Kitchen Mobile Order Pickup Window

If you don’t want a fancier or longer meal, head for one of Disneyland’s quick service restaurants. Actually, don’t physically head there. First, you need to open the Disneyland app. The new normal for these dining locations is that you need to mobile order your food on the app. Disneyland thankfully still has regular lines with cashiers to enable walk up orders, but they are in smaller numbers than before. Mobile ordering will still save you time almost all the time.

To use mobile ordering, the app will first display a list of available time windows for you to return to each restaurant to pick up your order. The closer you get to peak mealtimes, the more other guests start to place their mobile orders. And the farther out the return times become (although this thankfully has improved somewhat).

The bottom line? It’s essential to order on the early side, especially if there is a particular popular restaurant that is a must-do for you (like Tiana’s Palace!). You can always cancel an order with no penalty before your pickup window if you change your mind. You can also modify your pickup window if you are running late. See the quick and easy guide to Disneyland mobile ordering that my friend Casey at Disneyland Daily has created with step-by-step instructions.

Master the Disneyland App

Speaking of the Disneyland app, it’s important for more than just mobile ordering. It’s a backup for your theme park ticket, your ticket to Lightning Lanes (more on that later), your park map, the way to access your PhotoPass images, and more. Disneyland has even been testing it to check out of stores by allowing guests to self-scan merchandise in the app.

It’s essential that you download the app, know your login and password, and load a credit card to your account. Every adult doesn’t need to have it, but the most tech-savvy adult in your party (or at least the one managing the Disneyland vacation planning) should. If more than one adult will be using it, it is sometimes easiest for both to log in to the same account so that both phones get alerts.

Note that Disney gift cards are a permitted method of payment in the app as of a few years ago. So if you’ve acquired Disney gift cards at a discount , you can use them to save on food too. The only problem is that the app doesn’t store the gift card each time, so be prepared to enter the 16 digit code anew for each purchase (hot tip: copy and paste the number in your phone’s text notes so you don’t have to fish out the card each time).

My friend Jessica from the Happiest Blog on Earth has even more detail and information in this detailed guide to the Disneyland app .

See Characters Up Close & Get Hugs Again!

Chip n Dale Character Meet and Greet at Disneyland Disney100

One of the favorite parts of a Disneyland vacation for many visitors – especially young kids – is seeing favorite Disney characters. These encounters were highly modified for a long time. But in 2024, hugs and close encounters are fully back for character meet-and-greets!

There are still characters that pop up in the distanced spots (especially on the Disneyland Railroad balcony overlooking Town Square in Main Street U.S.A.). So if you don’t want to wait in a long line to see a character, this is a helpful alternative I’m glad has stuck around. Check the Disneyland app under the Entertainment menu option to see the many locations where characters will appear in the parks, both near and far.

Disneyland character dining has returned entirely to its pre-2020 modes of operation as well. Characters come by tables again in addition to sometimes doing a parade or dance a few times per hour. Some restaurants will also take a character photo with guests to start the meal. See all the details in my complete guide to Disneyland character meals .

Have a New Strategy for Lines & Crowds

Disneyland Peter Pan Wait Time sign

If you don’t want to be standing in line for rides (who does?), you’ve got a LOT new to learn in 2023. Fastpass, MaxPass , Extra Magic Hour, Magic Morning, even virtual queues for rides…. most of the tricks and hacks we used to use to shortcut lines in the good old days are GONE.

In their place are a few brand new tools that you absolutely need to know about. Whether you use them or not, they will affect how long the lines are and what rides you should do and when.

So what are these new options? The most important ones to know about are Disney Genie+ and paid Lightning Lane . Disney Genie+ is a pretty close cousin to MaxPass and allows guests Lightning Lane access for up to 20 eligible attractions. Paid Lightning Lane is a separate Fastpass-like offering for 3 additional super-popular rides with a separate fee.

If you want short waits most like the Fastpasses of old, these are upcharges that you should seriously consider. The flip side of course is that they can make standby lines for everyone else much longer. See my complete FAQ for Disneyland’s Genie+ and Lightning Lane and then read these additional advanced Disneyland Genie+ strategies for all the details.

Genie Plus Lightning Lane Sign at Disneyland

For those of you who like to shortcut lines by going during less busy times, is it even possible to find a less crowded day to go to Disneyland in 2023? With the theme park reservations requirement, there are fewer really slow days at Disneyland. That said, midweek dates are still usually going to be less crowded than a holiday weekend – except for when a SoCal resident special is live.

Disneyland crowd calendars can help, but I find them less reliable than before, especially many months in advance. Personally I’d say that it’s less important to try to game the dates you are going to go to hope to luck into low crowds rather than just pick what works best for your travel schedule.

How else can you minimize your Disneyland wait times in 2023? This is an ever changing target, but here has been working of late:

  • Rope dropping still works. Starting early is vital to a successful touring plan. Get in the front of the line to enter the parks up to an hour before park opening and you’ll be in prime position for your first ride of choice – and probably also your second and third. Although early entry means that on-property guests have a half hour head start on all other guests, there aren’t enough on-property guests to make lines long by the time everyone else is let in at rope drop. And because early entry is in alternating parks, rope drop in the park not offering early entry is a level playing field for all.
  • Use single rider lines when available. Single rider lines are back but not necessarily for all the rides that offered them in 2020 and in quite the same way. But they are a great benefit, especially if you are flying solo or have older kids who are ok riding alone.
  • Know when paid Lightning Lanes may sell out for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. While most rides offering Genie+ or paid Lightning Lane don’t run out of reservation times until late in the day, paid Lightning Lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge can still go very fast on high crowd days. Check out the latest strategies and trends in my Guide to riding Rise of the Resistance .
  • Hop in line for one last ride a minute or two before closing time. As long as you are in line before the park officially closes, you get to ride. Lines are often very short at this hour as many guests head for the exits. Squeeze in one last ride, especially if you are a night owl!
  • Ride during the fireworks or parades. Now that fireworks, parades, and other shows are back at Disneyland, a lot of guests won’t be on rides in the minutes that lead up to and during the shows. Fantasyland attractions close during fireworks nights (usually weekends only), but you can head elsewhere in the park to find shorter ride lines.

Final Thoughts

Disneyland Jungle Cruise Entrance

Disneyland is undoubtedly different in 2024, but still exudes much of the same joy that we all expect from the Happiest Place on Earth. And now you should be armed with all the information you need to adjust accordingly and take maximum advantage of the new rules.

Where to Book Your Disneyland Vacation & Save Money!

Get Away Today Graphic Disneyland 2024 Kids Ticket Deal

Save big on your Disneyland vacation with trusted Trips with Tykes partner, Get Away Today. Get Away Today sells park tickets at a discount, helps you find great deals at both on-property and off-property hotels, and provides expert customer service from representatives who visit Disneyland all the time.

For park tickets, don’t purchase direct from Disney and pay more! Book discounted Disneyland park tickets from Get Away Today here . Tickets purchased now are valid through December 31, 2025. Both park hopper and single park per day tickets are available, as well as tickets that include Genie+.

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Current Get Away Today Specials & Deals :

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Taking a trip to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California in 2024? Get all the latest planning and touring tips, from park reservations to Disney Genie+ to what's new and coming soon at Disneyland in 2024.

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John McFarland

Sunday 29th of May 2022

Thanks for all of the helpful information. My wife and I are trying to plan a trip for us, our 4 kids (all under 9, with the youngest being almost 3) and probably a few grandparents. We are excited!

Like you, my wife and I are planners and since, this will most likely be our only Disney trip for the foreseeable future, I want to do all that I can in the pre planning stages to help set the trip up for most success (knowing that there will be unforeseen things, ride closures, melt downs, and other unexpected issues.) With all that being said, we are looking at trying to go to Disneyland one of the three following dates, so I wanted to see if you had any insight and advice on these dates and any other thoughts that can help us plan a truly magical trip for our family.

1) November 14-17, 2022 - this is currently our first choice, as it will be Christmas season but probably without the thanksgiving to New Years crowds? It seems park hours, shows, rides, and everything should be going strong as it’s the start of Christmas season at Disneyland. Thoughts?

2) September 5-9, 2022 - this is our second choice, as it seems to be less crowded. - in your experience what do park hours and entertainment look like in what in theory is off season? - saw that D23 is 9/9-9/11, which in theory will bring crowds before and after, right?

3) October 10-13 - 3rd choice, but know that due to Fall Breaks, tends to be more crowded then the other two options. - if crowds are comparable then would rather see Christmas then Halloween at Disneyland.

I know that this become a long post and you probably get a lot of “please help me plan my trip” comments, but any advice and insight you can share would be greatly appreciated! Again, thanks for all that you do and all the helpful posts! And, thanks in advance for any advice you can give my wife and I.

best disneyland trip planner

Best Disney Travel Agents

There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to Disney Travel Planners. Why would anyone use Disney travel agents in this fast-paced digital world when they could just book their own trip online, right? Well, not exactly. You certainly can book your own Disney vacation, but we wouldn’t recommend it.

While there are plenty of online resources to go it alone, the truth is booking your Disney vacation with a specialized Disney travel planner can bring a lot of added value to your trip. And since not all Disney travel agencies are created equal, it’s especially important to work with a reputable one. Therefore, you should always book your vacation with the best Disney travel agents so that everything is done correctly and, ultimately, your Disney trip is as magical as it can be.

Below you will find our list of the top 6 best Disney travel planners in the business today. We follow this list with some of the key reasons why you should always seek out the assistance of a Disney travel agent in the first place. So let’s get started!

Top 6 Disney Travel Planners

(best disney travel agencies).

As you’ll discover later in this article, booking with a Disney travel agency is the smart approach. But before we get into that, let’s take a look at some of the best Disney travel agencies in the business today. Here’s our list of the top 6 Disney travel planners (in our opinion):

1. The Vacationeer

The Vacationeer Travel Agency Logo

Our top-rated Disney travel planner award goes to The Vacationeer because of their impressive track record of customer satisfaction and professionalism. And we aren’t the only ones who are impressed.

A Diamond Level Earmarked Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

Disney has recognized The Vacationeer for its success and professionalism. As such, Disney has designated The Vacationeer as both a Diamond Level Producer and an Earmarked Authorized Disney Vacation Planner . These designations are only reserved for top-tier Disney travel agencies.

Earmarked Diamond Producer logo

Satisfied Customer Base

The Vacationeer is a boutique travel agency specializing in Disney , Universal, cruise line, and destination resort vacations. With a satisfied client base from around the country, Vacationeers gives their clients personalized touches that larger agencies do not. They go above and beyond their competitors and strive to exceed their client’s expectations from the start to the completion of a Disney trip.

The Vacationeer’s goal is simple: to create magical vacations filled with memories that will last a lifetime. Sounds great, but how do they accomplish this?

Depth of Disney Knowledge

It starts with a staff of knowledgeable “Vacationeers” – all graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge – who not only know a lot about Disney but are also passionate Disney fanatics. In other words, this isn’t just a job; crafting their client’s stress free Disney vacation is rewarding and exciting.

To have this kind of in-depth knowledge, the Disney travel agents at The Vacationeer frequently visit the park. This allows them to keep abreast of all the frequent changes that happen there. That first-hand expertise is something you won’t find with travel wholesalers such as Costco !

The Right Vacation Package For You (At The Lowest Cost)

Vacationeers also stay on top of the latest Disney promotions and best deals. This allows them to pass on as many savings to their client as possible.

Each vacation package is uniquely tailored to the client’s specific goals to ensure satisfaction. At every step of the way, The Vacationeer is there to help you and ensure your vacation is as magical as possible.

Whether you are looking for the best value, a luxury vacation fit for a king or queen, or something in the middle, The Vacationeer has you covered!

You can rest assured that the Disney travel planners at The Vacationeer are some of the best in the industry. They’re in the business of satisfying each customer’s expectations while striving to be among the friendliest to work with. And the proof is in the pudding: The Vacationeer has hundred of 5-star Google reviews.

So, whether it’s your first trip to Disney World or your 30th, we think The Vacationeer is the premier agency to depend on. Contact them today!

Disney Travel Services

The Vacationeer will help you plan and book your hotel accommodations , theme park tickets, advanced dining reservations , and more. In addition, they will advise you through making your Disney Genie+ selections and seting up a payment plan that fits within your monthly budget. And it’s no small bonus that they’ll contact Disney for you if anything pops up… much better than you waiting on hold!

Besides Disney World, the agency is well-versed and fully authorized to book travel for other popular resort destinations and cruise line vacations . And if you’re considering cruising with Disney , you’ll be happy to know that The Vacationeer offers one of the highest onboard credits around — that’s free money to use while you’re onboard the ship! So whether it’s a family vacation, honeymoon, romantic getaway, or just a solo trip away from the grind, The Vacationeer is the best travel agency in the business (in our opinion).

And, of course, their services are 100% free . Click the button below for a free, no-obligation quote, or call them toll-free at  1-833-4MY-TRIP.

Prefer to work with a travel agent who lives near you?

The Vacationeer has agents in most states:

AL ∙ AZ ∙ CA ∙ CT ∙ FL ∙ GA

IL ∙ IN ∙ KY ∙ LA ∙ MA ∙ MD

ME ∙ MI ∙ MS ∙ NC ∙ NJ ∙ NV

NY ∙ OH ∙ OK ∙ PA ∙ RI ∙ SC

TN ∙ TX ∙ VA ∙ VT ∙ WI

The Vacationeer books the following travel destinations:

✓  Walt Disney World Resort (FL) ✓  Theme Parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios ✓  Water Parks: Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon ✓  All Disney World Resort hotels, as well as non-Disney resorts ✓  Disneyland Resort (CA) ✓  Disney Cruise Line ✓  Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa ✓  Adventures by Disney ✓  Universal Studios (FL and CA)

✓  SANDALS® Resorts: Caribbean 5 Star Luxury Included Resorts ✓  BEACHES Resorts ✓  Atlantis Bahamas ✓  Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

2. EnchantAway Travel

The Logo for EnchantAway travel, a rose inside a compass-point enclosure

We know the team behind EnchantAway Travel very well. It was founded by the owner of one of the top selling Disney Travel Agencies in the country, and their leadership team boasts more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry.

EnchantAway is a boutique travel agency staffed solely by dedicated Disney fans just like you, who’ve chosen to use their vast knowledge (and love) of the parks and resorts to help other families plan the perfect trip.

EnchantAway and its agents are true professionals, through-and-through. Agents must graduate from the College of Disney Knowledge, and they have decades of Disney experience. EnchantAway holds its agents to the same high standards of service and accuracy that apply to Authorized Disney Vacation Planner agencies twenty times their size.

Thanks to their love of Disney and their dedication to a mission of “fans helping fans,” EnchantAway is already garnering rave reviews from its clients. We’ve heard from several who can’t say enough about the dedicated, one-on-one service they get. A consistent refrain is that “they cared about my trip as if it were their own” and “I think my agent was just as excited about my vacation as I was!”

Whether you’re planning for the parks, considering a cruise, or looking to adventure further abroad, you’re sure to be enchanted by the exceptional service you get from the passionate, expert Disney vacation planners at EnchantAway Travel.

Their planning services are completely free, so get your no-cost, no-obligation quote today!

EnchantAway Travel can help with these destinations:

✓  Walt Disney World Resort (FL) ✓  Disneyland Resort (CA) ✓  Disney Cruise Line ✓  Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa ✓  Adventures by Disney ✓  Universal Studios (FL and CA)

3. Glass Slipper Concierge

Glass Slipper Concierge logo - best Disney Travel Agencies

Glass Slipper Concierge is a division of Sanborn’s Travel Service and is based in Corpus Christi, TX. The Agency is headed by author Cara Goldsbury, whose travel articles have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Travel Weekly, Forbes Traveler , and more.

Cara’s agency has received praise for its dedication to its customer base and is staffed with enthusiastic Disney fanatics. However, what really differentiates them from other Disney Travel agencies is their focus on crafting luxury Disney vacations . So if you refuse to settle for anything but the best in Disney accommodations, fine dining, and services – and have the budget for the golden treatment – Glass Slipper Concierge may be the people you need to talk with.

Please note that Glass Slipper’s “Gold Key Advisor” planners charge a vacation management fee for their services.

Glass Slipper Concierge books the following travel destinations:

✓  Walt Disney World Resort (FL) ✓  Disneyland Resort (CA) ✓  Disney Cruise Line ✓  Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa ✓  Adventures by Disney ✓  Four Seasons Resort Orlando ✓  Other Destinations

4. Mouse Vacation Planning

mouse vacation planning

Jeffrey Merola is a busy guy. He’s a husband, a father, an author of 11 Disney guidebooks, and the founder of the Disney travel agency Mouse Vacation Planning, LLC.

Jeff has toured Disney World over 340 days despite being situated in upstate New York. There’s no question he is a Disney fanatic!

As a Disney travel agent, Jeff is committed to providing his clients with the 1st class service they deserve. His goal is to make their vacation dreams become a reality.

So whether it is your 1st visit or your 21st, Jeff will be there to help you create the most magical Disney vacation possible.

He’ll take the stress out of planning and booking your family vacation so that all you have to do is pack your suitcase and go!

Mouse Vacation Planning books the following travel destinations:

✓  Walt Disney World Resort (FL) ✓  Disneyland Resort (CA) ✓  Disney Cruise Line ✓  Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa ✓  Adventures by Disney ✓  Universal Orlando

5. Fairytale Journeys

Fairytale Journeys Travel logo

Fairytale Journeys has been helping clients save time and money since its founding in 2009. As authorized Disney Vacation Planners and a Universal Orlando Preferred Travel Agency, Susanne and Steve’s team of more than 150 agents certainly know the ropes when it comes to traveling to Orlando’s major attractions.

Thinking of cruising? They can book your trip on Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, Virgin, and more!

The agency has been designated as Earmarked Platinum through Disney, and its agents consistently receive high marks from their clients.

Fairytale Journeys specializes in the following travel destinations:

✓  Walt Disney World ✓  Universal Orlando ✓  Disneyland ✓  Adventures by Disney ✓  Disney’s Aulani ✓  Disney Cruise ✓  Other Cruise Lines ✓  Sandals/Beaches Resorts

6. The Magic for Less

best disney world travel agencies

The Magic for Less Travel is another large Disney travel agency. Located in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, the agency currently employs over 40 Disney travel planners. Their mission statement reads: “We make dreams come true by providing the best vacation planning services so our guests will experience a truly magical vacation.”

The Magic for Less Travel professionals are there to help you find the best price, features, and value at the various Disney Destinations. As an added bonus, they also book Hawaiian vacations and Disney’s Hilton Head and Vero Beach resorts. So if a larger agency focusing on value is music to your ears, The Magic for Less Travel may be the right Disney travel agency for you.

The Magic for Less books the following Disney destinations:

✓  Walt Disney World Resort (FL) ✓  Disneyland Resort (CA) ✓  Disney Cruise Line ✓  Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa ✓  Adventures by Disney ✓   Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort ✓   Disney’s Vero Beach Resort ✓   Universal Orlando Resort

Top Reasons why you should use

Disney travel planners.

Disney Travel Agents

Is a Disney Travel Agent the Way to Go ?

Simply put…YES!

Not only can Disney travel planners answer all of your questions, but they also find you the best possible vacation package – at the best promotional rate available anywhere.

Disney travel planners also do the time-consuming “heavy lifting” of booking as many aspects of a Disney World v acation as you wish. And- trust me – there are plenty of time-sensitive details to book!

But what is most surprising to a potential client is that the services of Disney World travel agents are entirely free of charge. No hidden fees, no fine print – nothing.

When you add all the pluses and minuses, there’s really no advantage whatsoever in booking your own trip. So when you see the value Disney travel planners can offer you, it’s a no-brainer decision.

With that said, let’s review some of these key advantages in greater detail.

Here are the main reasons why booking your Disney World vacation with a specialized Disney travel planner is the smart choice:

⭐ A Disney Travel Planner’s Depth of Knowledge of Walt Disney World

This one is especially important if you are visiting Disney World for the first or second time.

Since Disney is a massive theme park filled with all sorts of parks, attractions, resorts, restaurants, entertainment, and transportation options, you need someone who can help you plan and navigate through every step of your Disney World trip. Of course, your input is the most important. But their help and guidance will be invaluable if you don’t already know the ropes.

As amazing as Disney World is, it fast becomes less amazing when you realize you don’t know where you are going. In addition, your experience suffers when you encounter crowded attractions, can’t get a table at popular restaurants, or have booked a vacation package that isn’t perfect for you.

Guidebooks and online blogs can be helpful, but you need to talk with someone with first-hand Disney knowledge of the park’s aspects. A Disney Travel Agent can help you navigate through all of these unknowns and craft a vacation package that’s right for you.

Not all Disney travel planners (and Disney travel agencies) are created equal. Thus, it is important to find a dedicated Disney travel planner whom you can trust for the correct information and guidance.

When you first contact a Disney travel planner, don’t be afraid to ask questions like: how many times have you been to Disney World? When was the last time you were at the park? Which restaurant has the best buffet? Which Magic Kingdom attractions have the shortest lines ? What are the most popular Disney Genie+ (Lightning Lane) attractions? Etc., etc., etc. Many things change over the years, so you want to be sure the person making your recommendations has the most current official Disney information and knows the ropes.

⭐ The Personalized Service Disney Travel Agents Provide

The best Disney Travel Planners should make you feel like they are “on your side” and looking out for your best interests. For example, if you tell them you want to spend 4 nights at a budget-friendly Disney resort, then a good Disney travel planner will respect your goals. They will never try to up-sell you with a more elaborate Disney vacation package.

Disney travel planners should give you the personalized attention any client deserves. This means answering your questions, giving tips and advice to help you decide an itinerary based on your goals, meeting your deadlines, and putting in the extra effort to make sure that every aspect of your Disney World vacation is extra magical.

You certainly won’t get the same level of personalized service if you were to book your trip online. And even when you call Disney’s reservation hotline, you will speak with a different Disney employee each time you call. That can get confusing!

Going through a Disney travel planner is the only way to feel like you have a friend helping you.

Unless you already know Disney all there is to know about Disney World, there’s no downside in having someone on your side to help you plan your trip.

⭐ To get the Best Possible Rate: They Monitor Deals and Special Promotions

Another key advantage of using a Disney travel planner is that they are constantly monitoring new discounts and promotions offered by Disney. It’s their job to do this so you don’t do have to do it yourself.

As you book your trip, a Disney travel planner will find the best current rates available (based on any deals/promotions that Disney is running).

Once the trip is booked, your Disney travel planner will continually monitor all Disney promotions available. Suppose any discounts spring up after a trip has been booked. In that case, a Disney travel planner will modify any existing client’s reservation to take advantage of these applicable discounts.

Having an astute Disney travel planner – constantly on the lookout to save you money – is never a bad thing!

⭐ Booking your Advanced Dining Reservations for You

Some clients prefer to be more hands-on than others. No problem! You can still utilize the services of authorized Disney vacation planners while also doing a lot of the legwork – and some of the booking – yourself. This may include the planning/itinerary and booking of things like transportation, stroller rentals , and Advance Dining Reservations. On the other hand, some clients prefer to leave every single detail up to the Disney travel agent. It’s really up to you how involved you want to be.

At the minimum, the only aspects that a travel agent would need to take care of would be to book your hotel/ticket/dining plan package and to process the payments for your trip. Otherwise, your level of involvement is up to you. However, be warned that some of the bookings are confusing to the uninitiated, not to mention time-consuming and time-sensitive.

Most clients are happy to let their experienced travel planners make all the reservations because they know exactly what they are doing. Plus, they have the time – and obligation – to do it, so why not let them handle it?

If unforeseen circumstances arise after booking your trip, your Disney travel agent is there to help. So if you encounter a medical or family issue, hurricane, pandemic, or whatever, your planner will help you change your existing reservations or re-book the entire trip to a later date.

⭐ All of this – and it’s Free!

Most travel planners receive a small commission for booking their client’s trips. However, this commission comes directly from Disney (not the clients). The clear beneficiary of this policy is you – the client. Some authorized Disney vacation planners do, in fact, charge for their services. Avoid them like the plague! No need to pay someone to do the work that most agencies do for free.

And – if you think there is some sort of catch or hidden fees somewhere – rest assured that there are none. The best Disney travel agencies are strictly no fee. And not only are the services of a Disney travel planner entirely free, but they put you in a position to get the absolute best rates offered anywhere (by closely monitoring the discounts/promotions and adjusting your Disney vacation package anytime a better offer becomes available).

Ready to Book? Choose an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

We recommend working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner . Disney bestows this award on only a limited number of agencies in the country – the few that have proven themselves in terms of exceptional customer service and sales volume. Knowing this, why work with unproven travel agencies when a Disney-approved Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? They are the best in the business and 100% free to use!

So just to make this clear, when you book with a Disney travel planner, you’ll be speaking with a Disney expert who will answer your questions and steer you in the right direction. Your Disney travel agent will also find you the best possible rates. Furthermore, after you decide what to do and where to stay, your dedicated agent will book all aspects of your Disney vacation for you. So yes, you still get to call the shots. However, you won’t have the hassle of booking everything yourself. No headaches and no stress.

How often do you get this level of service for free ?! Probably NEVER! There’s really no downside to using a good Disney travel planner on your next trip.

Have we convinced you? If so, then contact one today. You won’t regret it!

Best Disney Travel Agents

Have a magical Disney World vacation!

Thank you for reading our Best Disney Travel Planners page. For more helpful Disney World vacation information, see our Disney Dining Plan Calculator , Disney World Transportation Map , Disney World Resort Map , Disney World Tips and Tricks , and our Disney World Crowd Calendar pages.

And if doing all of this — and getting a paycheck for it(!) — sounds like your idea of a dream job, be sure to check out our  How To Become a Disney Travel Agent article, too!

Related Posts:

Universal Travel Agents

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    Plan your Disneyland Vacation Today. To get started planning your Disney vacation, make sure you subscribe to our FREE Deals newsletter. Here, you will receive helpful information to plan your trip, including exclusive Disney deals, breaking Disney news, reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, and Disney experiences, and access to the lowest ...

  19. How to Plan for a Disneyland Trip in 2024

    Here's what you can do to best prepare for your Disneyland 2024 trip: Determine when to visit and how many days to spend in the parks. For multi-day trips, plan a rest day in the middle if you can. Spend it at the beach, pool or doing hotel character dining. Buy tickets and book a hotel room in advance.

  20. The Ultimate 2024 Disneyland Guide: Planning & Touring Tips

    Southern California Resident Offer: SoCal residents can get three day tickets for as low as $75 per day for visits on weekdays from January 2 -June 2, 2024. Can be used on non-consecutive days. Extra Day Free Tickets: Get 5 days at Disneyland for the price of 4 with this extra day free special for longer vacations.

  21. Top 6 Disney Travel Agencies [Best Vacation Planners for Disney]

    A Diamond Level Earmarked Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Disney has recognized The Vacationeer for its success and professionalism. As such, Disney has designated The Vacationeer as both a Diamond Level Producer and an Earmarked Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. These designations are only reserved for top-tier Disney travel agencies.

  22. Looking for a Disney vacation planner. As thi...

    An Authorized Disney Travel Planner can take the stress out of planning and add more enchantment to the process, leaving you more time to dream about the magic that awaits. Remember, the best travel planner for you is someone who listens to your wishes, understands your family's needs, and sprinkles every step of the planning process with a bit ...

  23. Book through a Disney Travel Planner or Costco? : r/DisneyPlanning

    However, a Costco Travel package (hotel, tickets, and flight) is about $126 cheaper than booking through Disney or any of their authorized planners. (Full disclosure: booking a hotel and tickets through Undercover Tourist would be about $86 cheaper than going through Disney.) Is it worth the extra money to book through Disney/an authorized ...