Please comment with any additional tips you might have!
Before you go to Disneyland:
- Buy a lanyard on eBay! My favorite ones are available from this store. They are inexpensive, quick to arrive and they have the most options for a single store so you can get all the ones everyone wants in one place! http://stores.ebay.com/pumpkinandbabycakes/. They even do multi packs so you can save on shipping. Wherever you order from, make sure the lanyards you order have a badge holder. These are awesome to keep your tickets and FastPasses in check. For young kids you can also put parent contact information in them just in case you get separated.
- The night before, make sure you freeze multiple water bottles and or juices (my favorites are Kiwi-Strawberry Capri Suns). Drinks can be very expensive at the park but sometimes when it is hot you just need a cold beverage. These frozen drinks can act as your ice packs for food, a way to keep you cool and a yummy way to hydrate. FYI: Coca-Cola gives Disneyland all their Coca-Cola products for free as long as they don’t allow any of their competitors to be sold at Disneyland. So when you buy a coke at the park for $3.99 you are giving Disney 100% profit... not worth it!
- PACK SNACKS! Personally all I ever want to do when I am standing in a long line is snack. Although there are a few fun snacks at the park, the food really isn't that good. Save yourself time and money and just fill a back pack with food and drinks. Decide on a few things you will definitely buy (I always get a Dole Whip) but don't buy everything at the park.
- Get to the park early! There are certain attractions (Like Cars Land Fastpasses and meeting the Frozen Characters) that fill up/sell out quickly.
- Check the schedule online and plan out your day! There are so many attractions that if you don't have your head straight you will miss out on. Here is a link to the Disneyland Daily Calendar!
- Remember that most characters are out in the morning until about 1. After that they are in the parades and shows. That means if you want pictures with them plan to do that in the morning. There are cast members with pins that say "ask me about characters" they can give you a schedule of that days appearances. This list is also available at City Hall or the Chamber of Commerce.
- Download a wait time app. It tells you what attractions are open and their wait time. There is a specific one that is better than any of the others. Get one that has a lot of reviews, that means there are more people using it and often makes it more accurate.
- Every Disneyland guest should take full advantage of the FastPasses. Here is a list of the attractions that have a FastPass. Updated: Make sure to book a ticket with the MaxPass. This way you save time walking between attractions to get new Fastpasses as it can all be booked online. You also get photo downloads!
- You can only get one FastPass at a time (or sometimes if the FastPass time is much later there will be a time on the pass to get an additional one) BUT you can get one per park. So if you have a park hopper ticket you can have one for an attraction at California Adventure and one at Disneyland.
- If you are planning to go to World Of Color at California Adventures (which you should) collect a FastPass near Grizzly River Run. This FastPass is unlike any other in that you can have it and also have another FastPass. This pass determines the area you will be in for the show. It will automatically assign you a time, but you can switch for your preferred time with the attendant.You don't need a FastPass but you get a better view this way!
- The Cars Land FastPasses usually run out before lunch time so make your way over there first. The line for these passes is by A Bugs Land.
- Additionally, always get a FastPass for a water ride (Grizzly River Run at California Adventures or Splash Mountain at Disneyland). When it is 95* out, you will thank me!
- Also, if you don't mind splitting up your group, single riders is a great way to save time. They're available on Radiator Springs Racers, California Screamin', Indiana Jones, and Splash Mountain and a few others. (thanks to Rebecca Alder for the tip!)
- Updated: Frozen Live at the Hyperion has replaced the Aladdin show. Currently the show requires fast passes so line up early. You can't pick the time of the show you go to so keep an eye out on the app for which time they are giving out. The show is super cute and lasts about 50 minutes. There is no bathroom in the venue so go before you line up or you will need a bathroom re-entry pass.
The Aladdin show is one of my favorites! Its a great way to break up the day, relax a bit, and its AIR CONDITIONED! The show is about 45 minutes long but it is funny and interactive and totally worth it. - If you visit the Ghiradelli shop they will give you free chocolate. Its always a nice little treat!
My absolute favorite area of either park right now is the Mad T Party. This show happens only on weekends, usually at 6, 7, 8 and 9 pm. The Alice in Wonderland characters put on a show with popular music and its a blast! Although there is alcohol being served this is an area for kids, teens and adults alike!- Like I mentioned in the FastPass section, the World of Color show is absolutely fantastic. Everyone should go and experience it. I don't to give anything else away but it really is amazing.
- The character lunch at Ariel's Grotto is one of the only things truly worth splurging on. Lunch costs about $40 for adults and discounted for kids but it is worth it. It costs more at dinner time so lunch is usually a better option. Also, its often best to call ahead and make a reservation. While you are there at least 4 princesses will come around to meet you and take pictures. It is one of the best way to get character time in while at the park. Additionally, the food is fantastic and there is lots of it! You get an appetizer platter to share, a main entree, and a bunch of deserts. We even had bread rolls and cookies to save for later. They also serve unlimited beverages included in the cost of your meal. Make reservations for any of the restaurants here!
- Just get a Dole Whip. Its worth waiting in the line. Just do it. That is all. There are two lines so go into the area for the Tiki Room and there is a shorter line than the one outside.
- If you want the best spot for the fireworks show stand outside the candy shop at the very end of Main Street towards the castle. This spot allows you to see all the different aspects of the show and was recommended to me by a Disney employee of 25 years.
- The parade is really super fun to watch and the characters are great at interacting with the audience. Grab a seat a few minutes before things get too crazy!
- There are a whole lot of pressed pennies in the park but many of them are hidden in shops and in corners. Here is a list of the the pennies: http://www.parkpennies.com/penny-machine-locations.pdf. An official Disney penny list is available at City Hall.
- There is also a special Disney pressed penny book available at many of the shops.
- Disneyland is one of the few places I have seen that even has pressed dimes and quarters. There are special places for these coins in the special Disney penny book.
- Pin collecting is something that took me a while to understand but it is actually fairly simple. These are great to decorate your lanyard with and a relatively inexpensive way to commemorate each trip.
- There are a lot of cast members who wear a lanyard or a side bag of pins. Any cast member will trade you for whatever pin you want as long as it is an official Disney pin. There are also a few stores with trading spots. Each cast member choses whether they want to be involved in trading or not and the park provides them with the pins so don't feel like you are stealing from their collections are anything.
- One great way to build up your collection is to order a "lot" of pins from eBay. But make sure they are specifically Disney pins. Then you can trade for whatever pins you do want!
- There are often avid collectors with books filled with pins. Be aware that although they will often trade with you, they don't always trade 1 for 1 they might want multiple pins in exchange for 1 of theirs. The best thing to do is stick with Cast Members.
- Getting a passport is really the way to go. With a Southern California Select Passport if you visit the park for three days it is paid for. All you need to do is pay for the pass using a card that has an address in SoCal.
- Also, if you have a passport you get a discount on most food and merchandise purchases.
- Any of the hotels near the park are pretty good. The only important thing is to make sure that it is on the Anaheim Rapid Transit Route. These buses will take you straight to the park. Walking the extra mile or two from the hotel isn't worth it when you are walking all day. Here is a link to the website: http://www.rideart.org. Here you will be able to buy tickets to collect at your hotel, check times/routes, and much more.
- If you chose to park at the park :P, park in the Mickey and Friends Lot on W.Ball Road. This lot is much better than the Toy Story Lots because it is a bit closer, and more enclosed. Instead of riding a bus you ride trams that are so much more fun!
- There are also a few hotels that are close enough to this lot that you can walk to the tram and it will take you into the park.
- Check out my post on Hotels.com for more info!
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