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Disneyland Resort®

Disneyland® Park is Walt Disney’s original park—and you can feel his impact everywhere. Here in Anaheim, California, Sleeping Beauty Castle is quite different from the Cinderella Castle in Orlando, but the magic is everywhere. Similar in layout to the Magic Kingdom® Park, this truly is the happiest place on earth where you can see all your favorite Disney characters.

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Plan for enough days to discover two amazing Theme Parks - Disney California Adventure® Park featuring the 12-acre Cars Land and the one-and-only original Disneyland® Park with its world-famous attractions and beloved Disney Characters.

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21 Tips to Enjoy Your Disneyland Trip

Your guide to savings, discounts and beating the crowds.

A visit to Disneyland Resort in California can be a rich, unforgettable experience. But it can also be expensive and shockingly crowded, especially with the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened May 31. As an annual Disneyland passholder who first visited the Anaheim theme park 55 years ago, I’ve earned my mouse ears. Here are my best tips to get the most from your trip:

1.  Buy Disneyland tickets online before you arrive , so you don’t have to wait in line at a ticket booth. Note that Disney takes your photo and attaches it to a digital image of your ticket when you first arrive, so you can’t swap tickets with anyone.

2.  Do Disney on a weekday.  Disneyland now has three tiers of pricing based on crowd projections. Weekends and holidays are usually the most expensive. The cheapest time to visit is the off-season, when it’s not summer, spring break or the winter holidays. 

3.  Consider a Park Hopper ticket , which allows you to travel between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. When one park gets crowded, dip over to the other park next door. AAA Washington members can  purchase  discounted multiday Disney tickets that include Park Hoppers .

4.  Get into Disneyland early  by staying at one of the three hotels at Disneyland: the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, or Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. You’ll pay a premium, but it might be worth it. You’ll be within easy walking distance of the parks, and you’ll also probably get the Extra Magic Hour early admission option, which enables you to enter the parks an hour before the rest of the visitors. (You might also get a guaranteed reservation for Galaxy’s Edge; ask when you reserve.) My favorite non-Disney lodging is the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground, about a 10-minute walk from the Disneyland entrance. It has a small water park (good mostly for small children), a view of the fireworks, and a cool midcentury vibe. Keep in mind that a hotel that advertises itself as “across from Disneyland” might be on the back side — and a long walk from the gate. A professional travel agent like those at AAA Washington can help you find the best deals and packages.

5.  Time the Disneyland “rope drop”  by arriving at the parking garage 60 to 90 minutes before the park opens. Seriously, it’s worth it. You can get a beverage at the Market House coffee shop and wait at the ropes at the end of Main Street USA. At the exact moment the park opens, a welcome announcement goes out over the loudspeaker. Head to your favorite ride without delay, and you’ll have at least an hour to enjoy the morning before the hordes descend.

6.  Get free FastPasses.  This reservation system puts you into a shorter line at a designated time, say between 2:05 and 3:05 p.m. You’ll still have to run around the park to each attraction to get them, and you’ll still have to wait in line, but it will be a shorter line than the stand-by queue, which can be excruciating.

7.  Get MaxPass.  It costs an extra $15 per person, but allows you to order FastPasses electronically. This means that while you’re standing in line for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, you can acquire a FastPass to ride Space Mountain later in the day. Also note that MaxPass gives you unlimited digital photo downloads, so every time you see a Disneyland photographer, ask to have your picture taken. You must be inside one of the parks to order a FastPass; you can’t do it from home.

8.  Take a relaxing break  by reserving a table at a sit-down restaurant, such as the Carthay Circle Restaurant in California Adventure. You must reserve with a credit card, and you can reserve up to 60 days in advance. Cancellation is free until the day before arrival. Reserve a Disneyland restaurant online at  disneyland.disney.go.com/dining  or by calling the Disney dining hotline at (714) 781-DINE (3463). You can also look at menus online. 

9.  Save on Disneyland souvenirs by buying them in advance.  You can save half or more on souvenirs — for kids and adults — at a Disney Outlet store. (These places might also sell merchandise made for the outlets that might not be a deal, so be careful.) Or head for the Target store on Harbor Boulevard, near the Toy Story parking lot for Disneyland. The licensed Disney merchandise here will cost a fraction of what you’d pay for a similar item inside the park. Buy matching Disney T-shirts for the whole family. It’s fun, and it makes it easy to find each other in a crowd.

10.  Be aware of smoking rules.  As of May 1, you cannot smoke or vape inside Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, or the Downtown Disney District. Smoking and vaping is allowed in designated areas outside the entrances to those places and at designated areas at Disney hotels if you’re a guest or you have a dining reservation.

11.  Download the Disneyland app in advance.  It’s chock-full of information ranging from real-time wait information for rides to food choices and locations.

12.  Bring your lunch.  Rent a locker for $5–$7 at Disneyland or the Downtown Disney District and leave a small cooler there. Downtown Disney has a small picnic area near where people disembark from the parking tram; it’s a nice place to enjoy a meal while people watching.

13.  Take non-alcoholic beverages from home.  Disneyland allows you to bring your own drinks into the park as long as they’re not in glass bottles. Take frozen water bottles to keep sandwiches cold, and when they thaw out, drink from them. As of May 1, you cannot bring ice or dry ice into the park, although reusable ice packs are okay. You can ask for cups of ice at quick-service dining locations.

14.  Bring a backup battery charger.  You’ll probably use up your phone battery with all the picture taking and app using. Do not count on being able to find an outlet. If you have a Fuel Rod brand charger, look for kiosks where you can swap yours out for a new one, or buy one there. 

15.  Buy rain gear in advance.  If there’s even a hint that it might rain, stock up on cheap, single-use ponchos. You can find them at nearly any dollar store. (Inside the resort, ponchos are expensive.) Also, dollar-store umbrellas can be useful for sun protection.

16.  Take a photo of your car’s location in the parking garage.  For example, you might be near “Goofy 3D.” Trust me: Later, you’ll want to know that.

17.  Get your FastPasses for your most sought-after rides as soon as you enter the park  (use your MaxPass or run around and get paper ones). Don’t delay, because the most popular rides sell out. 

18.  Order and pay for quick-service meals in advance.  On the Disneyland app, select a counter-service restaurant that appeals to you, then enter a time frame for picking up your meal. You can browse the menu and pay for your meal in advance; then, when you get near the restaurant, the app will ask you if you’re ready to eat. When you say “yes,” your meal will be ready to pick up within minutes at a special window. If you change your mind, you can cancel your order. You can mobile order food only in the parks, not before you enter them.

19.  Feel free to ask for water.  You don’t have to pay $4 for a bottle of water; any restaurant will gladly give you tap water in a cup.

20.  Keep an eye on your stroller.  You’d be surprised how many disappear. Either leave the expensive strollers at home or stick a tracking device inside them. You’re not allowed to secure the stroller to anything in the park in case employees have to move it, but you can disable the front wheels so it’s not easily wheeled away. Police suggest you put your name and information on the bottom of the stroller in case it’s found. Also, snap a photo of your child inside the stroller when you enter the park. And, of course, never leave valuables inside.  NOTE:  As of May 1, you cannot bring into the park any stroller wagons or strollers larger than 31-inches-by-52 inches.

21.  To beat the heavy Disneyland crowds leaving the park at the end of the day , jump on the Disneyland Railroad at any station and ride it to Main Street, then exit the park easily from there. Alternatively, take the Monorail from Tomorrowland to Downtown Disney, where you can disembark only a few hundred feet from the tram that takes you to the parking lot. When you’re driving home from the park — tired and, hopefully, happy — you’ll reflect on your family’s Disney day.

–Written by Marla Jo Fisher

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Disneyland Resort Tickets - Southern California Resident Offer

1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, California

TICKET PRICES STARTING FROM

Taxes and fees will be calculated at checkout

Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth - Disneyland® Resort! From as little as USD83 per day, your Anaheim vacation will be more than magical when you book your admission tickets in advance. Head right to the turnstiles so you can spend more time enjoying everything these two amazing theme parks have to offer! Be sure to visit ** disneytraveltradeinfo.com/dlrcalendar ** to check availability and operating calendar for your desired dates. For more information, please visit: www.disneytraveltradeinfo.com/dlrws ** RESERVATIONS REQUIRED ** Disney’s Genie+ service allows you to select the next available arrival window for Lightning Lane entrances at a variety of attractions at both parks, one at a time (subject to availability). Disney Genie+ also includes unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from your day, as well as fun new audio experiences! ** VALID FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ONLY. See Additional Info section below for more information **

Ticket Options

8 Options Available

3 Day One Park per Day (WD): $225

Valid Monday - Thursday Only

3 Day 1 Park/Day - Genie+ (AD): $365

Valid Monday - Sunday

3 Day Park Hopper (WD): $295

3 day park hopper (ad): $345, 3 day 1 park/day - genie+ (wd): $315, 3 day park hopper-genie+ (ad): $435, 3 day one park per day (ad): $275, 3 day park hopper-genie+ (wd): $385, meeting point.

Disneyland Park

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Ticket Information

• Mobile or paper ticket accepted
• One per traveler

What's Included

• Genie+ (if option selected)
• 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Tickets (ticket type selected at time of booking)

What's not Included

• Genie+ (if option not selected)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
• Food and drinks

Cancellation Policy

• All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Additional Info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Valid only for California residents within ZIP codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000-22999. Proof of eligible residency will be required by showing government issued ID
• On any given date, park reservations may be available for general theme park tickets even though park reservations allocated. to the California Resident Tickets are fully reserved. California Resident Ticket holders are not entitled to any reservations Disney makes available to others.
• To enter a park, both a theme park reservation and a valid ticket for the same park on the same date is required. Theme park reservations are limited, and availability is subject to capacity. Certain parks, attractions, restaurants, experiences and offerings may be modified or unavailable, limited in capacity, and subject to limited availability or even closure. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit www.disneytraveltradeinfo.com/dlrws for important information about park attendance requirements and other restrictions that you need to know before visiting Disneyland® Resort.
• Multi-day 1-Park Per Day eTickets are valid for entrance into either Disneyland® Park or Disney California Adventure® Park each day over a specified number of days. Park-per-Day tickets are not valid for visits to both theme parks on the same day
• Multi-day Park Hopper® eTickets are valid for entrance into both Disneyland® Park or Disney California Adventure® Park each day over a specified number of days. Park hopping can commence after 1pm.
• eTickets must be redeemed on selected date of travel
• As to all Disney properties, images and logos ©Disney. © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. ©Disney/Pixar © 2023 MARVEL
• Tickets expire June 2, 2024

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2024 AAA Disneyland Tickets: Pricing & Purchase Guide

Purchasing Disneyland tickets from AAA can be great…if they can offer you a deal. AAA does sell Disneyland tickets online, including Park Hopper and 1 Park Per Day, but you must be a AAA member to buy them. And believe it or not, while it might seem best for your budget to go for the AAA tickets, Disney admission can often be purchased for a better price thank AAA Disneyland Tickets.

According to AAA’s website, if you purchase online or at your local branch, you can save up to $35 per ticket. Or, if you’re lucky enough to be a resident of Southern California residents, as much as 40% off.

And while those AAA Disneyland tickets do sound pretty good, we know you can do better. Why? Because we know that our ticket partner, Undercover Tourist , can help you save even more – and you don’t even need to be a AAA member to do it.

From time to time, they’ll even offer some very special promotions, including free days and character dining. You can’t beat that! To purchase your tickets for 2022, just click here or use the button below.

Is It Cheaper to Book Disney Through AAA?

If you’re looking to save some cash on Disneyland tickets, AAA can often be an excellent, thrifty option. However, while AAA has tons of great member benefits, it doesn’t always mean they are the cheapest place to book a Disney vacation.

While their tickets are certainly cheaper than general admission, you can usually find a better deal with an authorized ticket seller like Undercover Tourist. In fact, depending on where you live, your regional AAA branch may not even offer savings on Disneyland discount tickets.

AAA locations, for example, are more likely to have Disneyland tickets if you live near the west coast, while those who call southeastern states home will generally have access to Disney World tickets. If you do plan to go to a physical location, look into getting tickets through Costco at your local warehouse.

That’s why if you’re planning to go to The Happiest Place on Earth, it’s always wise to do some comparison shopping before you buy your Disneyland tickets, AAA discount or otherwise. To compare the current ticket pricing , look at the chart a bit further down. 

How to Buy AAA Disneyland Tickets For 2024

After doing your due diligence, if you’re a AAA member and you’re still looking to purchase AAA Disney discount tickets, just follow these simple instructions :

• Go to AAA.com and log in using your online account information.
• Click on Travel on the banner at the top of the page. 
• Alternatively, you can also s croll down the page until you see “Theme Park Discounts,” then click Buy Tickets . Unfortunately, it doesn’t always show Disneyland tickets as available on this page. This is why we recommend searching specifically for “Disneyland” instead. 
• Once you see which tickets are available, simply click on which ones you’d like, notate how many you need and complete your purchase. 

Of course, if you’re missing human interaction during these Covid-19 times, you can also go into your local AAA office and buy your tickets that way. Remember, just be sure to compare pricing on tickets before you buy because there’s a good chance our friends at Undercover Tourist will have better pricing.

What to Expect if You Visit Your AAA Office

If you decide to purchase with AAA directly in person, call your local office beforehand and check to see what the price is on the tickets you’re interested in buying. Since offices may have irregular hours due to Covid-19, this is also a great time to check when, and if, your area AAA office is actually currently selling tickets in person.

Typically, purchasing from a AAA office is like sitting down with a travel agent. You can make an appointment or just walk in and wait for the next available agent. When someone is assigned to you, let them know that you have a AAA membership – this is required – and that you’d like to buy Disneyland tickets from AAA.

The agent will look up what they have available and let you know the pricing on the tickets. Then, they will require some information, including names of guests, the date you’re going to the parks and how many tickets you need.

Don’t be surprised if while you are buying your Disneyland tickets, AAA tries to rope you into one of their AAA Disneyland packages. Offering everything you need for your trip to The Happiest Place on Earth, these AAA Disney vacations include things like hotel stay, flights and car rental, and can be an even better savings . (Of course, Undercover Tourist also offers similar discount Disneyland packages.

Once your order is finalized, they will need a form of payment to complete your purchase. After accepting the terms and conditions of the tickets, they will complete your order. Tickets should be emailed to you after your purchase within one to two minutes or less.

E-tickets should be provided so that you can skip the box office lines and head straight into the parks. The entire process to buy AAA Disneyland tickets should only take about 15 minutes, assuming an agent is available to help.

AAA and Disneyland

For many years, AAA and Disney had an agreement that allowed AAA to sell wholesale Disneyland tickets, meaning that AAA could set their own prices and offer better deals for their members. This worked out great for AAA members as the discount came with their membership, and all they needed to do was visit a AAA location or call their agent to purchase tickets.

Unfortunately, that wholesaler contract expired in recent years, and now, AAA only offers tickets via retail with Disney. What this means for AAA members is that they can no longer receive those bigger discounts AAA used to dole out for theme park tickets.

How Much Are AAA Discount Disneyland Tickets?

Disneyland AAA discount tickets can be affordable, especially compared to general admission tickets bought at the parks. However, compared to what you’ll find at Undercover Tourist, they’re definitely not the cheapest Disneyland tickets out there.

Below are the current prices as of November 22nd, 2023, with options that also include Disney Genie+ service:

Keep in mind that all prices above do not include taxes and represent the available pricing for AAA members for AAA Disneyland Tickets . Pricing is subject to change due to promotions or a price increase.

A Cheaper Alternative: Undercover Tourist Disneyland Ticket Options

Everyone likes to save money, especially when they know they have a pricey trip to Disneyland in their future. So, why settle for slightly discounted Disneyland tickets from AAA when you could get the exact same tickets at even better prices from us and Undercover Tourist?

Just like AAA, Undercover Tourist offers discount Disney tickets, including Park Hopper and 1 Park Per Day. If you like, you can also add on Disney Genie+ , Disneyland’s new paid, line-skipping service. Undercover Tourist even offers the same kinds of promotions offered by AAA and Disney, like the Southern California Resident Weekday Special, but at great, lower prices. 

Cheap tickets don’t mean you’re getting less of a ticket. In fact, tickets we offer through Undercover Tourist have the exact same features as buying directly from Disney, like being linkable to the Disneyland Resort app or a MagicBand. Keep in mind that as with other tickets, due to the pandemic, you’ll also need to book a Disney Park Pass Reservation to enter the park.

To top it all off, unlike other companies that require you to visit the box office to redeem your tickets, those purchased through Undercover Tourist are conveniently delivered straight to your email inbox. This saves you a huge amount of time that you could have spent wasting away in the box office ticket line. 

We especially love e-tickets because they work just like actual tickets, but you don’t have to worry about losing them. You can go straight to the park gates and simply show your e-tickets from your mobile device. Once there, a cast member will scan them and you’ll be on your way! It’s so simple and time-saving that you’ll never want to use another method again.

Helpful Disneyland Tips

All set for your trip to The Happiest Place on Earth? Now that you know where to buy your tickets (Park Savers and Undercover Tourist, of course!), you might be wondering how many days you should spend at Disneyland and when is best to travel.

How Many Days Do You Need to Do Disneyland Resort?

As long as you’re planning to visit both theme parks, you will want to plan at least two days at Disneyland at a minimum. Or, if you want to experience everything the Disneyland Resort has to offer, we suggest purchasing the 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket instead. With changing parades and firework shows , along with new and updated attractions and restaurants, we’re sure there will be something you don’t want to miss. 

If you’re a true fan and are heading to Anaheim for the entire week, both 4 and 5-Day Tickets are available as well. Each of these options gives you plenty of time to see and do it all at Disneyland, and at a leisurely pace, to boot. Because one park may be busier than the other, we always suggest purchasing the Park Hopper option as it offers the most flexibility. That way, if you find that Disneyland Park is really busy, you can easily head over to California Adventure Park and take advantage of slower lines.

Which Seasons Are Best for Disneyland Ticket Discounts?

In addition to your ticket options , there are also certain seasons when special promotions may be available. Although Undercover Tourist always offers discounts on your Disneyland tickets, sometimes specific deals are only available during certain times of the year.

Additionally, Disney typically will raise their prices towards the end of February. So, if you want to purchase tickets at the older, lower prices, buy January through mid-February for the rest of that year. Not traveling until the fall or winter? No worries, even if you’re going in November, you can still buy in January.

The other season we recommend purchasing tickets is from the end of April to early May. Spring breaks are over so the parks are a lot slower in terms of traffic. During this time you can find special promotions like free days, adult tickets at kid prices and free character dining meals. 

When to Travel to Disneyland to Avoid Crowds

Now let’s talk about crowd seasons . You don’t have to be a genius to figure out the slow seasons at Disneyland. Simply avoid these times and you’ll be just fine:

• Spring breaks
• Major conventions
• New ride and attraction debuts
• Special events including runDisney races

Summer is one of the busiest times of the year, as is Christmas through January 4th. Historically, New Year’s Eve and Day have been the busiest followed by Christmas Eve and Day. You’ll experience much smaller crowds and shorter ride times if you avoid these things. You’ll also see shortened park hours during these times though, so just be aware. No time is perfect – it’s just based on what you prefer. 

So, from current prices to an even cheaper alternative, that’s everything you need to know about purchasing discounted AAA tickets. Disneyland can no doubt be a truly enchanting trip; however, it’s even more magical when you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg. 

For even more budget-friendly tips, learn how to save on your Disneyland vacation . Then, be sure to check out our Disneyland Planning Guide for more park planning details or our What To Pack For Disney Guide to help you bring all the right stuff for your pixie-dust-filled vacation.

And to unlock spectacular savings on Disneyland tickets, visit Undercover Tourist today.

10 ways to save money on a trip to Disneyland

This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet . 

One-day theme park tickets to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., and its sibling, Disney California Adventure Park, start at $104 per person, so calling Disneyland cheap is about as believable as saying an elephant can fly. But at Disneyland, elephants do in fact fly (Dumbo, anyone?) — and successfully planning a trip to Disneyland on a budget isn’t as impossible as it might seem.

Here’s how to go to Disneyland for less.

Authorized third-party sellers such as Undercover Tourist often sell Disneyland tickets for less than buying directly from Disney

Some membership programs, including AAA and Costco offer tickets or vacation package deals, though they typically command a membership fee to join. Other affiliations, such as employee or student discount programs, might similarly unlock discounts. 

Disney also sometimes offers discounts to groups, including U.S. military members or Southern California residents.

Also see: The good and bad on booking a vacation through Costco Travel

There are two Disney theme parks in Anaheim, and if you want to see both in one day, you’ll need a  Park Hopper ticket . The problem? Park Hopper tickets cost $65 more per person for a single-day ticket.

If your one-day trip will feel incomplete if you don’t see both, say, Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle and Avengers Campus across the way at Disney California Adventure, then you’ll need the pricier Park Hopper option. But if you’re there for multiple days, save by visiting one park per day. The best way to do Disneyland is by focusing on one park at a time, anyway.

Plus: 7 off-the-radar places worth stopping on a California road trip

The theme park turnstiles typically open for business slightly before official park opening time, and it’s likely guests will be waiting. By arriving early, you’ll be able to pass the security check and scan your tickets. From there, you’ll typically be able to linger within the first few hundred feet inside the park, browse the shops and be ready to power walk to the rides as soon as they open.

You can race to your priority experiences, like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This new ride opened just in time for the  Disney100 Celebration . By hitting your must-do rides early, you’ll avoid the longest wait times. According to Disney trip planning website Touring Plans, which tracks ride wait times, lines are usually the longest from 1-2 p.m.

Also on MarketWatch: Disney CEO Bob Iger blasts DeSantis over ‘anti-business’ retaliation

When it comes to meals, the cheapest way to do Disneyland is to bring food from elsewhere. Disneyland explicitly allows outside food and nonalcoholic beverages, with just a few stipulations, such as no glass containers.

Pack nutrient-dense snacks like protein bars and nuts. Road trippers might stop at a supermarket along the way. Nearby cafes and fast food restaurants can offer similar-quality food for less money, and a few are within walking distance of the park. If you’re willing to venture out further, dine at Anaheim Packing District — a food hall in a renovated, historic 1919 citrus-packing house that’s a 10-minute drive away.

The official Disneyland app has many capabilities, including displaying GPS-enabled maps, live attraction wait times and — perhaps most useful — mobile food and beverage ordering.

This feature is offered by almost all quick-service restaurants, including the notoriously popular home of the Dole Whip, the Tiki Juice Bar. Budget your time and skip the lines by ordering and paying for your food and drinks in-app.

Another tip in the time-is-money vein: Single Rider. A handful of especially popular attractions, such as the Millennium Falcon at Disneyland and the Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure, offer Single Rider queues, where folks willing to ride separately from their group fill unused seats.

The Single Rider line almost always gets you on board faster than the standard queue.

Forgo the expensive Disney gift shops inside the parks. Instead, purchase plushies or character garb from your local toy store in advance. Then, hide “souvenirs” in your suitcase and spring them on the kids while you’re on vacation. They likely won’t realize their new plushies aren’t actually from Disneyland.

The “Disney tax” on food and souvenirs also applies to other items. For instance, the plastic poncho from the gift shop near Splash Mountain is likely far pricier than what you’d buy elsewhere.

Plus : How to choose the best seat on a plane

Many folks think that the best airport for Disneyland is Los Angeles International Airport — the fifth-largest commercial airport in the U.S., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. 

But LAX is actually close to 40 miles away from Disneyland, and that distance can equate to a couple of hours in traffic. Two smaller airports, John Wayne Airport and Long Beach Airport, are each about 15 miles away, which can mean a cheaper and faster trip to the park.

Be sure to read: These are the airlines with the most delays and cancellations

That said, according to 2021 FAA data, LAX served 6.2 times more passengers than John Wayne Airport and 22.7 times more passengers than Long Beach Airport. This suggests that if you opt to fly into LAX, which is further away, you’re more likely to find a direct flight or have more route options. 

And if you can avoid a layover, you’ll likely save a little money on flight costs. A 2019 study from the MIT International Center for Air Transportation, a research arm of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, found that the cheapest nonstop flight is, on average, $31 less expensive than the cheapest flight with a layover.

Don’t miss: 5 travel hacks to beat the summer crowds and high prices

There are three Disney-owned hotels in Anaheim, and they’re almost always more expensive than non-Disney hotels of similar quality nearby. Unlike at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., where staying on-property usually has benefits like more frequent bus transportation to the parks, that’s typically not the case on the West Coast.

In California, many off-site hotels remain within walking distance — and many can be booked using credit card points.

See: Learn these 5 myths about credit card rewards to reap more benefits

If you end up spending $13 on a turkey leg in the park, you might as well earn some rewards. Though the best Disney credit cards aren’t actually Disney-branded.

Instead, look to travel credit cards that earn bonus points on general travel spending and at restaurants. Some command high annual fees, but they typically offer even higher spending rewards, plus extras such as TSA PreCheck statement credits and airport lounge access. Consider holding a  premium credit card  as the plastic (or metal) equivalent of the royal treatment.

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The unmissable addition to Disneyland’s Star Tours ride? Space whales

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Disneyland’s Star Tours: The Adventures Continue has proved to be one of the theme park’s most versatile attractions.

Though perhaps no longer the groundbreaking technological marvel that it was when it debuted in 1987, the flight simulator ride has shifted with the franchise, withstanding cultural trends and aligning with whichever version of “Star Wars” is popular at the moment — or in need of a marketing boost.

The latest update to Star Tours brings the ride into the Disney+ era, with nods to series such as “The Mandalorian,” “Ahsoka” and “Andor.” More noteworthy, at least for Disneyland guests, is that the centerpiece of the latest upgrades is a scene that provides a slight tonal shift for the attraction, one focused, albeit briefly, on slowing down and giving so-called starspeeder riders a look at one of “Star Wars’” more majestic creatures. Star Tours will now rocket guests straight to a moment that boasts a close-up with the purrgil, essentially large, mysterious space whales that move with a galactic grace.

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For the 3-D attraction, it’s a moment that provides a breather. The motion simulator lingers for a few seconds, and our makeshift animatronic captain, the golden droid C-3PO, turns to face riders. C-3PO shifts into tour guide mode, appearing in awe of the purrgil and commenting on how serene the animals are.

“This will be different from other sequences, to have a moment,” said Tom Fitzgerald, a senior creative executive with Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s secretive arm devoted to theme park attractions, when asked about taking a patient approach to the scene. “You don’t get many moments. It’s so compact. But it’s a moment to let people look at the beauty of this, and the 3-D gives you the scale of those creatures.”

The additions to Star Tours are arguably the centerpiece of Disneyland’s all-things- “Star Wars” promotion Season of the Force , which debuted this past weekend and runs through June 2. The “Star Wars” festival also sees new droids making their way to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge through the duration of the event, as well as the return of Space Mountain overlay Hyperspace Mountain and a new free scavenger hunt that aims to get players to pay close attention to the minute details of Galaxy’s Edge.

Fitzgerald has been with Star Tours since the ride’s beginning, and oversaw the latest Star Tours additions, which further deviate the attraction from any strict “Star Wars” timeline and instead focus it on being a sort of “greatest hits” for the brand. The purrgil scene also features Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano and the character’s svelte, fast-rotating starship above the planet of Seatos. Tano’s ship inspired Imagineers to see if they could add some new tricks to the attraction, mainly in the way the simulator can move. When Tano’s vessel twists and spins, for instance, the starspeeder attempts to mimic it, endeavoring to create the feeling of a 360-barrel roll. At other times, the starspeeder glides among the purrgil.

Key to Star Tours’ longevity, and what makes it the rare motion simulator that doesn’t feel rooted in the 1980s, is its ability to create new sensations via its movements. The ride now has more than 250 storyline variations, and when adding to the attraction, Imagineers are looking for ways to heighten the contrast among its various scenes, both tonally and in its maneuvers. Though Star Tours is typically randomized — for the foreseeable future, and definitely throughout Disneyland’s spring Season of the Force promotion — all riders are guaranteed to visit the new location and receive an early-flight transmission from one of the recently added characters.

“How do we make each of the places we go have a different color palette?” says Fitzgerald, who then recalls different “Star Wars” planets that can be featured in the attraction’s random programming. “Mustafar is all lava. Kashyyyk is all green jungle. So they feel very different when you get the combos. And then motion-based. Could we do a barrel roll? That’s the fun of doing it, and programming it and trying it. And we needed something else. What have we not done? So with the purrgils, what if we do skiing through the tentacles? We had never done that. So those are the two big motion changes.”

The attraction is also livened up by appearances from Dawson’s Tano, Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor and a masked Din Djarin from “The Mandalorian.” While the latter is played and portrayed by Pedro Pascal on the Disney+ series, many have noted that the Djarin on “Star Tours” features a slightly different vocal cadence than Pascal, and an Imagineering spokesperson says the company is not revealing its voice actors for the attraction. Nevertheless, “The Mandalorian” moment features some comic relief — and clever 3-D usage — courtesy of Grogu, colloquially refered to as “baby Yoda,” and his penchant to use Force powers to toy with and eat frogs.

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The three appear as transmissions that help define the suddenly urgent narrative of Star Tours. “Each one is different,” Fitzgerald says. “Mando and Grogu we played for comedy. And Andor is mysterious. You don’t see his face. You see this thing coming toward you. Is that a friend or foe? And then he pulls his hood and the music changes.” Tano, meanwhile, arrives like an old friend who knows C-3PO and fellow droid R2D2. Riders are advised to pay close attention to the opening cinematic in a ship’s hangar, as there is a new randomized opening that features Tano in a lightsaber battle with Stormtroopers.

As for why the new additions perhaps lean a bit more heavily on “Ahsoka,” as it is that series that features the planet of Seatos and the purrgil, Fitzgerald had a simple answer: Yes, it’s the space whales.

With access to early scripts from Lucasfilm, Fitzgerald says he singled out the purrgil scenes. “Reading about that, not knowing what they looked like initially, I was going, that’s going to be really cool.” And, at least for a few seconds, relatively calming.

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5 disneyland rides to go to first when the park opens.

Disneyland Park guests should prioritize rides such as Rise of the Resistance, Peter Pan's Flight, and Indiana Jones Adventure due to long wait times.

• Disneyland visitors should prioritize popular rides like Peter Pan's Flight, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
• Visitors can utilize Disney's app to check wait times and may consider purchasing Lightning Lane passes.
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a must-visit in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, but visitors should prepare for potentially long wait times.

When Disneyland in Anaheim first opens its gates every day at eight in the morning, there are a few rides visitors should make a beeline for if they don't want to be standing in line for hours. Since it debuted in 1955, Disneyland has boasted many popular rides and other experiences that capture the magic of the company's extensive list of films and shows, primarily of the fantasy and adventure genres. Some of the rides that have been there since the beginning remain incredibly popular and are sure to have long lines every day of the year.

On the other hand, new franchises have led the Disney Imagineering team to design new rides based on these popular stories. Every day at Disneyland is a game of making the most of one's time; the Disney app provides visitors with wait times for all the attractions from anywhere in the park, while Lightning Lane entry passes are also available for purchase (and Disneyland does have free Wi-Fi ). Nonethless, having a sense of what rides are most likely to have a long wait and where they are will help Disney tourists plan their day strategically.

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5 peter pan's flight, located in fantasyland.

Peter Pan's Flight's status as a staple attraction of Disneyland has endured throughout its almost 70 years in operation.

Peter's Pan Flight is an original Disneyland ride, present when the park first opened and redesigned in 1983. It is based on the characters and settings of Disney's 1953 animated adaptation of J. M. Barrie's story. The slower but decent pace and small drops from the safety of a pirate ship make it a great ride for all ages. Additionally, some of the designs within the ride are simply breathtaking, such as the blacked-out, star-dotted sky when visitors fly over and around Neverland.

Peter Pan's Flight is a good first ride because it is as close to the entrance as one can get. Fantasyland is generally a good place to start because it is home to classic rides such as the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. After going through the main gates, visitors need only walk straight down Main Street (at a brisk pace) and go through Sleeping Beauty's Castle to get to Fantasyland, where Peter Pan is the first ride on the right.

However, even running, there is likely to be a wait when visitors get there. Peter Pan's Flight's status as a staple attraction of Disneyland has endured throughout its almost 70 years in operation. It also has wider appeal because it is geared at kids and there is no height requirement. While the queue of pirate ship vehicles moves fast, the staff can only let two or three people on the ride at a time. Additionally, guests of the Disneyland hotels get to enter the park 30 minutes early and may also have Peter Pan in mind as their first stop.

4 Matterhorn Bobsleds

Matterhorn Bobsleds opened in 1959 and was the first roller coaster at Disneyland. The ride is inspired by its real-life counterpart; Walt Disney traveled to Switzerland to film Third Man on the Mountain and set out to create a fantastical version of the landmark. Visitors board a bobsled of six people and are brought to the top of the mountain, before making a high-speed, twisting descent, occasionally encountering the Abominable Snowman — who can be heard roaring at other parts of the ride.

Disneyland's Matterhorn is 100 times smaller than the real mountain, and the snowfall is heavier on the north-facing side, just like it is in real life. Matterhorn Bobsleds is also located in Fantasyland, and it is possible to get there relatively quickly from the front gates. When visitors reach Sleeping Beauty's Castle, they should take the pathway off to the right instead of going through the castle's archway. The recreation of the Matterhorn mountain will be visible from this location in the park, so finding it should be no trouble.

Despite having a height requirement of 42", Matterhorn Bobsleds has one of the most consistent waits in the park, which can reach a couple of hours. It is ideally positioned in the line of sight of the entry, so people who want to prioritize their favorite roller coasters can dash there. Even then, the single-person wide sleds only seat six people and there are only two tracks. Disneyland.disney.go.com notes that the staff may choose to only have one track in operation during slower periods. After enjoying Matterhorn Bobsleds, visitors are ideally located to go on more rides in Fantasyland or venture into Tomorrowland.

3 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Located in frontierland.

The runaway train roller coaster known as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad became a signature attraction of Disneyland in 1979. Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland was the forerunner of this ride, although this was a much slower train ride where the main entertainment was animatronic animals and forest facades. Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland operated in Disneyland from 1960 to 1977, when it was closed to make way for the rising demand for more high-speed rides. Some elements of Thunder Mountain appear to be derived from this previous attraction.

While there are some additional paths to navigate, Frontierland also branches off Main Street and is easy to access. While visitors will find Tomorrowland to the right, Frontierland is to the left. Frontierland is also located next to other subsections of the park, including Adventureland, New Orleans Square, and Critter Country. These areas include famous rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure (previously Splash Mountain; opening date unconfirmed at the time of writing).

Thunder Mountain typically does not have the biggest turnout of all the attractions in Disneyland Park, but it does have the potential to get busy. People who are hoping for a shorter wait for other nearby rides might end up at Thunder Mountain. It is a classic roller coaster with an interesting design and is unsurprisingly popular. However, if visitors go there first, the wait will probably be short as everyone else will be trying for another ride. Furthermore, Thunder Mountain is not inspired by any particular Disney movie, but Disney is now working on a Big Thunder Mountain movie .

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2 indiana jones adventure, located in adventureland.

The Indiana Jones Adventure ride has a notoriously long wait. The ride's construction is somewhat deceiving since most of the line is concealed from view within the mountain itself. Yet determined visitors endure this wait year after year to get on the unique roller coaster. The vehicles are styled as jeeps and everyone is in for a bumpy ride, encountering terrors such as snakes, traps, and the famous boulder that Indy successfully avoids at the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark .

Disneyland's Indiana Jones attraction opened in 1995, long predating Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm. Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm also negotiated rights and collaborated on other attractions, such as Star Tours in Tomorrowland. Indiana Jones Adventure might not have the broadest appeal since it is darker and louder, therefore more likely to frighten children. However, the wait time for the ride remains high, likely due to a limited number of vehicles and passengers per vehicle.

Indiana Jones Adventure is also more difficult to get to than the Fantasyland rides, since it is tucked back into the corner of Adventureland, wedged between Jungle Cruise and New Orleans Square. To get there, take a sharp left at the first pathway off of Main Street and walk past Jungle Cruise and Tarzan's Tree House. Visitors should consult a map to be completely sure of where they are going if they want to get to Indiana Jones first. However, after this long wait, New Orleans Square is an ideal place for breakfast, serving Mickey Mouse-shaped beignets.

1 Rise Of The Resistance

Located at star wars: galaxy's edge.

Galaxy's Edge is perhaps more interactive than anywhere else in Disneyland, including workshops for designing lightsabers and droids. The rides themselves comprise different narrative experiences.

Since it opened in 2019, replacing Big Thunder Ranch, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge has been one of the most popular spots in Disneyland. The design and construction are truly spectacular, including a life-size Millennium Falcon. Connections to the expanding Star Wars canon appear in Galaxy's Edge, like nods to Darth Vader and Thrawn's shared backstory . The flagship ride Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run could easily have a wait time of more than two hours. The new and even better ride, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, is the same situation.

Galaxy's Edge is perhaps more interactive than anywhere else in Disneyland, including workshops for designing lightsabers and droids. The rides themselves comprise different narrative experiences. For instance, Smuggler's Run puts visitors in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, with everyone having a different task, such as piloting, operating the ship's guns, and lifting goods. Alternatively, in Rise of the Resistance, visitors board "Resistance transports" (and later get off them) and go on an adventure to escape the First Order, accompanied by Finn, Rey, and BB-8. They also run across Kylo Ren and General Hux.

The potentially hours-long wait time is daunting, especially since Galaxy's Edge is at the back of the park. However, while the rest of the park opens at eight, Star Wars Land opens at nine, giving visitors more time to get there. There is still an early entry for some guests. After enjoying the rides, Galaxy's Edge has many interesting businesses to explore, including Oga's Cantina. The Star Wars rides pose the biggest challenge when it comes to achieving a decent wait time. However, with a little bit of research, going on popular rides throughout Disneyland Park will hopefully not be too exhausting.

Source: Disneyland.disney.go.com