Disneyland Tips

Disneyland California Tips and Secrets

disneyland travel tips

Betsy Malloy Photography

Disneyland Park is America's first real theme park, operating for more than fifty years as the self-proclaimed Happiest Place on Earth. In nearly 20 years of writing about Disneyland, I've made a lot of mistakes, which means I have a lot of tips, so you don't have to repeat my slip-ups.

Some of the Disneyland tips you see online are great. Some are not. A few tips are just wrong or out of date. 

I have tested every single item on this list of Disneyland tips. Most of them more than once. To compile a complete list, I talked to other Disneyland fans, theme park experts, former cast members and a couple of fanatic season pass holders, too.

The practical tips below can help you make the most of your Disneyland Park visit. You can learn more by reading  Disneyland Guide: Planning Your Trip . It has ideas that apply to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. 

You never know when something will be closed and unfortunately, the Disney website doesn’t keep up. For example, you could visit the web page for one of the restaurants and it wouldn’t tell you that it was closed. For things that really matter to you, your best defense against disappointment is to check. For rides and entertainment, use the daily schedule online  or on the Disneyland app, then scroll down to find the list of things closed for refurbishment. 

If you're a gal going to Disneyland, I know how hard it can be to figure out what to pack. I've been there so many times - and seen all my friends packing failures - that I created a guide just for you. Here's  what you need to pack for Disneyland - and what you don't . 

3 Ways to Make the Most of Disneyland Entertainment

  • Where to See the Fireworks: Use our guide to watching the Disneyland fireworks to find out all the best places to see them.
  • Where to Watch Fantasmic!: This show is so popular that it can be frustrating trying to find a good place to view it - and for this one, a so-so spot just won't do. Use our Fantasmic! Tips to find a good viewing spot without having to sit for hours to do it.
  • Where to Watch the Parades: Parades travel between a gate near it's a small world and a gate next to the Opera House. They go down Main Street U.S.A. At the hub, the turn slightly left past the entrance to Tomorrowland, then they circle the square in front of City Hall - or vice versa. You can watch anywhere along that route, but the best place is from the front of the crowd - if you can manage that.

7 Tips for Doing Disneyland Like a VIP + 11 More

  • You can get into Disneyland early. The program has various names like magic morning or early entry. The details change, but you may get it by staying at a Disney hotel, a Good Neighbor hotel and sometimes with multi-day tickets. Some people think it's a must, but it has some pitfalls. Use these tips to make the most of your early entry .
  • You can also get in early on a morning when there's a Rope Drop . You can get as far as the hub, where you wait for the super-fun moment when the park officially opens. It doesn't happen every day, and it isn't on any schedule, but you can get some tips about it here .
  • Main Street U.S.A. often opens 30 minutes before the rest of Disneyland park. You can eat breakfast, shop, grab a cup of Starbucks or pose for photos with the characters.
  • You can stay at Disneyland after the official closing time , and you don't need VIP status to do it. All you need to do is get into any ride line just a couple of minutes before the official closing is announced and you can stay in it until your ride is finished, even if the ride has a super-long wait. You absolutely must watch your timing for this one - be late to the line by even a couple of minutes and a cast member will kindly but firmly turn you away. If you try this, we hear that the Space Mountain line gets super crowded just before closing time. 
  • You can stay in Disneyland late for shopping , too. The shops on Main Street shops U.S.A. stay open after park closing time. They will be packed with people who also put off their purchases to the end of the day, so it's probably best to make your selections earlier and be ready to pay for them right away.
  • If your little Jedi wants to get some training , go straight to the sign up area at the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost immediately after the park opens. Spots are open by reservation only and are on a first come, first served. Your child must be with you when you register and must be between four and twelve years old.
  • You don't have to be a VIP to get someone else to take care of your purchases , either. If you're staying at one of the Disney hotels, you can ask to have your packages delivered to your room. Otherwise, you have them put on hold for you to pick up later. Your salesperson can fill you in on pickup locations.

But wait! There's 11 more ! Check out these  11 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do at Disneyland .

7 Tips for Finding Things at Disneyland

  • City Hall and Guest Relations are just inside the left tunnel after the entry plaza . That's where you can pick up a button for your special occasion. They can also help you with a multitude of questions and issues, including getting an access pass if you have mobility concerns.
  • First Aid is just off Main Street. You'll find it by walking past down the side walkway past the Corn Dog cart. That's where you can get an aspirin your headache, a bandage for your blister or get help with any other medical need.
  • The Baby Care Center isn't as well known as it might be, judging from the number of moms I've seen struggling to take care of their littles ones around the park. It's also near the Corn Dog cart. They have quiet places to change a diaper, rock a cranky baby or nurse in a more private setting. And your littlest ones will absolutely adore those child-sized toilets, which are restricted to little ones less than 42 inches tall.
  • If your phone battery is running down from all the texting, game playing, taking photos and posting to social media, you can find battery powered lockers next to the Cone Shop on Main Street U.S.A. Or try this list of electrical outlet locations  or the Mouselets app.
  • If you packed too much in your backpack and regret it, find a locker. Regular lockers are at the end of the walkway next to Starbucks. More lockers outside left of entrance
  • Disneyland is a no smoking area , except for the places on this list .
  • Did you lose something? Someone may have returned it. Lost and found is outside the main gates on the left.
  • Did your balloon pop or did your mouse ears fall off? According to a cast member at the Main Street Emporium, you can get a replacement on the day of purchase.

2 Best Disneyland Meeting Places

  • City Hall is where children wait for their lost parents to show up , and it's a good, easy-to-find spot to meet your entire group. It's just on the left after you go through the tunnel.
  • The Snow White Grotto next to the castle is also a good place to meet your group . And a fun spot to take a group photo with fewer photo bombers in the background. Veer to the right just before you reach the castle's drawbridge. It's a good idea to walk there together as soon as you get in so everyone knows exactly where it is.

6 Disneyland Food Tips

  • If you're craving a Disneyland corn dog - and who doesn't once in a while - you don't have to stand in a long line and balance your dog on your knee to eat it. The Stage Door Saloon has the same corn dogs, but shorter lines - and there's a place nearby to sit down. Or go inside the Golden Horseshoe to sit.
  • The Stage Door Saloon serves  ice cream nachos . They're a hidden item that you won't see on the menu board, but all you have to do is ask. What is an ice cream nacho? It's ice cream served atop pieces of crunchy waffle cones.
  • If you want to enjoy the nearly legendary Disneyland Monte Cristo sandwich , you can make a reservation at the Blue Bayou restaurant - or you can get the same sliced turkey, ham, and Swiss cheese sandwich fried in a light batter at the Cafe Orleans. 
  • Mickey-shaped beignets (New Orleans-style donuts) are also on the menu at Blue Bayou.
  • If you're dying for a Dole Whip but fear you'll die standing there  in that long line, slip into the Tiki Room waiting area and order from there. 
  • There's a hidden patio where you can eat in peace next to Rivers of America. It's behind the Harbor Gallery, which is across from Haunted Mansion. The passageway behind it looks like it might be for cast members only, but it actually leads to several quiet tables.
  • No alcohol is served anywhere in Disneyland , except in members-only Club 33 and Oga's Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

5 Step Savers and Short Cuts at Disneyland

  • Use the Main Street conveyances to save some steps between the train station and the castle. Don't just stand there looking at them and say "how quaint." Get on one and save some steps. You might get a chance to travel in a horse-drawn streetcar, a fire engine or a spiffy yellow jitney - that's an early automobile without a roof.
  • Ride the train to save even more steps . It stops at the station on Main Street, at New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland and Toontown, a 1.2-mile round trip.
  • Take the monorail, too . It stops at Tomorrowland and at a station in Downtown Disney, which is a convenient place to get into the park.
  • Walking to New Orleans Square quickly:  Don't take the obvious route through Adventureland. Instead, use the Frontierland entrance where you won't get tangled up in the bunches of people who are trying to get onto Indiana Jones Adventure and the Jungle Cruise .
  • To get down Main Street U.S.A. during the parade or fireworks , don't fight your way down the sidewalk. Instead, use the side of Main Street where the Carnation Cafe is and walk inside the shops as much as possible.

12 Disneyland Tips and Secret Spots + More Ride Tips

To get the most out of Disneyland and the magic that went into its making, you need to get into the details. These are a few of the ones that I have discovered that I think make the place so special.

  • The windows on Main Street U.S.A. have lots of names on them. It's fun to check them all out and even more fun to know that they all honor real people, who are former employees or friends of Disneyland. My personal favorite is the Palm Parlor, dedicated to imagineer Rolly Crump who designed the Haunted Mansion and many other rides.
  • Hidden Mickeys are something you hear about everywhere. All it takes is three circles to create the iconic mouse silhouette. There's even a book to help you find them. It's fun to look around for them.
  • Touch everything in Toontown . Almost everything in the area around Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin does something. Pull a door handle and you might hear an explosion. Pick up the telephone and you'll eavesdrop on a hilarious call. I won't spoil the surprises by telling you all the other things you can find there, but don't miss the water fountain.
  • Listen in on a Party Line. Just inside the Main Street U.S.A. Starbucks entrance, you'll see two old-fashioned telephones on the wall. Pick up a receiver and listen in on a lively conversation between a couple of very gossipy women.
  • Step into the side area near the Starbucks entrance and walk toward the back, where the lockers are. You may hear Goofy and his friends getting ready for the day - or some disturbing sounds coming from the dentist's office.
  • Those yummy smells near the candy shop on Main Street U.S.A are coming from a vent beneath the window.
  • Snow White Grotto: There's a wishing well and marble statues of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs to the side of the castle drawbridge. The soundtrack playing in this quiet little corner is from the film. Guests can toss pennies into the wishing well which are donated to children's charities. This romantic little spot is also a perfect place for a marriage proposal.
  • Rub the brass apple outside Snow White's Scary Adventures and you'll hear the witch cackle.
  • Wicked Witch is Watching: If you're in line at Pinocchio, look at the upstairs window of the Snow White ride, and you may catch the Wicked Witch pulling open the curtains to peek out of the window. 
  • A voodoo priestess curses in the restrooms near the New Orleans Square train station.
  • The New Orleans Square train station telegraph isn't just making random dot and dash sounds; it's spelling out the opening lines of Walt Disney’s opening day speech in Morse Code - or so the experts say. 
  • Where to Rest : You could just lay down on a bench and catch a few winds, but that's a little too public for me. However, I may or may not have taken a short nap while watching Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln in a cool, dark auditorium. The Tiki Room is also air-conditioned, and the show is long enough that you'll feel refreshed afterward.

I have a lot more tips for enjoying every single ride and show at Disneyland. They're in the Disneyland Ride Guide .

8 Disneyland Tips You May See That Are Wrong - Or Out of Date

  • The Haunted Mansion doesn't give out death certificates . I pity the poor cast members at who must be tired to "death" of being asked for one. People report visitors getting more than reasonably upset about this, shouting: "PINTEREST SAID YOU WOULD!" Get over it now. They don't give them out and apparently never did.
  • You can't get a jungle cruise map from the skipper anymore, either. But you can download one for yourself from the Disney Parks Blog .
  • “Toy Story” characters like Woody, Buzz and Jessie don't drop to the ground and play dead if you yell: “Andy’s coming!” You can imagine that one got old pretty fast.
  • Answer poll takers' questions if you want to, but don't expect to get any rewards or free tickets for doing it.
  • The lavender teacup is fastest. This may have been true before Disney regulated their speed in 2004, but it isn't true now.
  • Step into the walkway next to the perfume shop in New Orleans Square and listen. You'll hear tinkling bells and soft chanting. I haven't confirmed this, but it sounds like a voodoo priestess to me. She is sometimes mistakenly reported as being in the restrooms nearby, but what do I know? Maybe she moves around.
  • Driver's licenses aren't free at Autopia any longer, either.
  • You can find the Cheshire Cat at the Mad Hatter Gift Shop , but he doesn't appear IN the mirror. Instead, he's part of the mirror frame.
  • Y ou can't use an expired FASTPASS . Cast members would once accept an expired FASTPASS any time after its official end time, but now they only allow a few minutes' grace period. This killed a lot of older touring plans that depended on using expired passes.
  • You Can't Get 4 Fastpasses Within 15 Minutes of Entering Disneyland , no matter what you see on Pinterest. In fact, that pin no longer leads to the same content it once did.
  • Lines 13, 20, or 21 move fastest at the Disneyland entrance - or so people say. I won't say this one is wrong, but I'm skeptical about whether it's true.
  • The Secret Restroom  which was near the Carnation Cafe is now gone.
  •  Don't try knocking on the door to the Ink & Paint Club at Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin and saying Walt sent me. I did it and looked like a buffoon so you don't have to. In fact, nothing happens. The window opens sporadically, but knocking doesn’t affect it.

Best Disneyland Rides for Kids and Toddlers

Disneyland Ride Guide

Disneyland Tips and Tricks

Disneyland vs. Disney World: Which Is Better?

Things for Your Disneyland Bucket List

Things You Didn't Know You Could Do at Disneyland

The Top Tips For Visiting Disney California Adventure

Disney California Adventure: The Complete Guide

Disneyland Train

Disneyland's Haunted Mansion: The Complete Guide

The Top 10 Things to Do at Disneyland

Walk Through at Sleeping Beauty Castle

60 Reasons to Visit Disneyland's 60th Anniversary

Disney Monorail: What You Need to Know

How to Make the Most of Disneyland's Fastpass and MaxPass

Disneyland at Christmas: What to Expect

MickeyVisit - Ultimate Disneyland Guide

Save money, experience more.

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

disneyland travel tips

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

disneyland travel tips

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

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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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Everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland

Ariana Arghandewal

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Disneyland is one of those rare places that offers fun and entertainment for everyone, from bright-eyed kids to well-traveled adults. A visit is on every kid's wishlist and planning a trip to The Happiest Place on Earth is a rite of passage for every parent.

From figuring out the type of tickets to buy, knowing where to stay and how to get around, and avoiding long lines, a lot goes into creating a seamless experience on your trip to Disneyland. Lucky for you, we've done all the research to help you make those decisions.

Here's everything you need to know about booking a trip to Disneyland.

How to start planning a Disneyland vacation

Although a Disneyland vacation won't require as much planning as Disney World , a little organization can create a more enjoyable experience.

If the planning process is still overwhelming, you can actually hire professionals to do it for you, free of charge. TPG's Summer Hull and Richard Kerr have both utilized Mouse Counselors to plan their Disney vacations and both of them swear by it.

The planning service is free because the planners make their money via commissions paid out by Disneyland. All you have to do is submit a request for a quote and they'll plan your entire vacation. They'll even look for discounts, so you get the best deal possible.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

disneyland travel tips

Choosing the best hotel for your Disneyland vacation

There are many hotel options for your Disneyland vacation, depending on your budget and needs. You can pay a premium to stay on-site (which includes some added perks), or you can stay at a more budget-friendly off-site hotel within walking distance of the park that lets you book with, or earn, points.

Below is an overview of the best hotel options near Disneyland.

Disneyland hotels

Disneyland operates three on-site hotels. The main benefit of staying at a Disneyland resort is proximity to the parks, Early Entry (admission to the parks 30 minutes before it opens to the public), preferred dining reservation access, character wake-up calls and more.

Rates at Disneyland properties tend to be quite a bit higher than at off-site hotels. Disney does offer seasonal discounts and sales during lower-demand times of the year that can reduce the cost.

Operating since 1955, the Disneyland Hotel is the first and oldest property within the Disneyland Resort. The hotel had a minor renovation in 2021 and is next to the Downtown Disney shopping district.

Standard rooms typically go for around $500 to $650 per night.

disneyland travel tips

If you want a slightly more upscale experience in a better location, look no further than Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa . The hotel is behind California Adventure Park and offers guests an exclusive entrance to the park.

disneyland travel tips

While rates at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa start at around $700, they can creep up as high as $1,000 per night for a standard room during peak times.

Across from the Grand Californian, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel is the cheapest Disneyland hotel option. Rooms are usually priced in the $400 to $450 range and the resort also has a private entrance to Disney California Adventure Park. The hotel is currently undergoing construction and will reopen as Pixar Place Hotel in the coming months.

disneyland travel tips

Disneyland Good Neighbor hotels you can book with points

There are currently 58 designated Good Neighbor hotels near Disneyland. These are hotels recommended by Disneyland for offering convenient locations and overall value. Many of these hotels can be booked with points; at some, you'll even find special deals and packages.

Related: Where to stay at Disneyland: On vs. off-property hotel comparison

Hyatt has three hotels near Disneyland and all of them are designated Good Neighbor properties. As of August 2023, all three properties are Category 4 hotels, with standard awards requiring 15,000 Hyatt points and off-peak awards available for 12,000 points. Alternatively, use an annual free night award from your World of Hyatt Credit Card.

The Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort Convention Center is the closest to the park entrance, just a block away. I stayed here three years ago and found the rooms spacious enough to accommodate three kids and two adults. Our room had a small living area separate from the bedroom and a pull-out couch for an extra person.

Everyone gets free breakfast regardless of Hyatt elite status , which is great for families. Overall, this is a solid choice for a Disneyland hotel.

The nearby Hyatt Place is a block farther, and it's a good option if you want a slightly cheaper limited-service hotel offering free breakfast. Room rates tend to be $20 to $50 cheaper than the Hyatt House when paying cash.

If you want a more upscale experience and don't need to be within walking distance of the park, the Hyatt Regency Orange County is the way to go. The hotel is in the Anaheim Resort area, about 2 miles from the hotel. For families needing more space, you can also opt for a Kids Suite starting at 21,000 points per night. The Kids Suite offers a king bed, bunk beds for the kids, and a microwave and fridge for those late-night snacks.

The Hyatt Regency Orange County operates a shuttle to Disneyland every half-hour. The cost is $6 per person per day and free for kids 3 and under. You can often find package deals that include shuttle service for four as well as parking and a Disney-centric welcome amenity.

Related: Here's how to quickly stock up on Hyatt points for your next vacation

IHG has five hotels near Disneyland, three of which have the Good Neighbor designation. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Anaheim Resort Area is a Good Neighbor property and is the closest of them all; it sits about a 10-minute walk from the park entrance. Award rates fluctuate wildly and can sometimes be as high as 50,000-65,000 points per night, so it's sometimes a better value to book this property with cash.

disneyland travel tips

Marriott has 11 Good Neighbor hotels near Disneyland. The closest properties to the park entrance are the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Anaheim Resort and the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance . The Fairfield Inn charges anywhere from 34,000 to 59,000 points for an award night.

Depending on the date of your stay, you can redeem your up to 35,000-point certificate from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card or the annual up to 50,000-point award from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. This could be a great redemption, considering the hotel can go for more than $250 per night at peak times.

The Courtyard is a higher-end hotel with a water park requiring 68,000 to 98,000 points per night.

Hilton has a whopping 12 Good Neighbor Hotels in the Disneyland area, although quite a few are not within reasonable walking distance.

For the best location, you'll want to consider the Home2 Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort or the Hilton Garden Inn Anaheim Resort. These two hotels occupy a single shared building, which is nearly right across from the park entrance.

The Home2 Suites tends to be the better value of the two even though it usually costs a bit more, as it includes free breakfast. Additionally, a standard two-queen studio room at this hotel sleeps up to six, offering two queen beds, a sofa bed and a full kitchen. Even though the award rate is steep at 60,000, it could be worth it since most families will need just one room. That being said, TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents each, so it's generally not a good idea to redeem points unless standard rates are at least $360 per night.

The SunCoast Hotel is the next closest option, less than a mile from the park entrance. It's a doable walk, or you can opt to take the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) bus that stops outside the property. The SunCoast is a Tapestry Collection property offering beautiful, light-filled rooms with bright pops of color to give you that Disney vibe.

Related: I spent 6.5 hours on hold to buy Disneyland tickets — was it worth it?

Types of Disneyland tickets

disneyland travel tips

There are multiple types of Disneyland tickets available. The type of ticket you should get depends on factors like which park(s) you want to visit and for how long, how often you plan on visiting Disneyland and your budget.

Disneyland tickets fall into seven tiers (Tier 0 through 6). Tier 6 is unrestricted, and the remaining tiers are subject to increasing blackout dates . Before you purchase a ticket, be sure to check the theme park calendar for park reservation availability.

Let's take a look at each option.

Single-day tickets

Disneyland's single-day tickets range from $104 to $179 per day and provide admission to one park only (either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure). Disney classifies children as those aged 3 to 9 (and offers a slight discount on child rates); it classifies adults as those 10 and older. Children 2 and younger do not need a ticket.

Related: How to make a reservation at Disneyland

Ticket prices vary per day based on demand. You can search the ticket calendar to see prices on the day(s) you plan to visit.

Multiday tickets

Multiday tickets are a good option if you want to visit Disneyland parks for several days, with per-day prices being discounted the more days you add on. Two-day tickets cost $285 (an average cost of $142.50 per day), and five-day tickets cost $83 per day.

Multiday tickets get you into both Disneyland and California Adventure — but not on the same day. You'll need to stick to a single park per day.

Park Hopper

Park Hopper tickets allow you to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on the same day. You can add this option to any multiday ticket for $60 per ticket or single-day tickets for $65. These tickets are ideal if you want ultimate flexibility in the attractions you visit in a day. The 1-Day Park Hopper tickets are especially ideal if you want to experience both parks on a short timeline.

Note that Disneyland currently only allows guests to park hop at 11 a.m. or later.

Magic Key (annual pass)

Disneyland also offers Magic Keys, which are annual passes. Passes are limited in number, so not all pass types are always on sale. Prices range from $449 to $1,599.

Related: Everything you need to know about Disneyland tickets and pricing

Disneyland ticket discounts

While Disneyland tickets can be pricey, there are several ways you can save money. Some discounts are exclusive to members of specific groups and may be limited to certain times of year, while others are open to the public.

Here's a look at common Disneyland ticket discounts:

California residents: California residents living within qualifying zip codes can sometimes purchase special multiday discount tickets for as little as $83 per day. Disneyland tends to offer these tickets to Southern California residents in spring and to all California residents in summer and early fall, but these offers are not guaranteed. Proof of residence and a valid government ID are required for purchase.

Military discounts: Qualifying military personnel can purchase three-day Disneyland Park Hopper Tickets for $245 and 4-day Park Hopper tickets for $280.

There is a limit of six discounted tickets and blackout dates apply. These tickets are available to active or retired military members, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.

AAA: AAA members can save on multiday Disneyland tickets, including Park Hopper tickets. However, the savings are not as big as advertised because AAA tacks a fee onto the final purchase page. Membership fees vary, ranging from $56 to $119.

CityPASS: CityPASS offers Disneyland ticket discounts ranging from $5 to $26 , depending on your ticket type.

Undercover Tourist: Undercover Tourist is a tried and true way to save on Disneyland tickets. The site currently offers discounts ranging from $7 to $33 per ticket.

Get Away Today: Get Away Today is another travel agency that specializes in Disneyland travel and offers discount tickets as well. Get Away Today will always price-match the best deals you may find elsewhere.

Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets

Best time to visit Disneyland

The best time to visit Disneyland depends on a variety of factors.

For the best experience, you'll want to avoid school holidays, weekends and major ride openings. Late summer and early fall tend to be less crowded, but the weather in August and September can be excessively warm (although never as hot as Walt Disney World in Florida).

A great way to plan the best time to visit Disneyland is to check your desired travel dates against the IsItPacked crowd calendar . The calendar considers all of the previously mentioned factors to generate a crowd forecast.

Related: 9 things families should know before visiting Disneyland

How to reduce your time in line at Disneyland

Disneyland may be The Happiest Place on Earth, but it's not immune to long, stressful lines. That's especially true on weekends, holidays and when it comes to popular attractions.

Start at the back of the park and move your way up front

If you arrive just before the park opens, a good strategy to avoid crowds is to start at the back of the park and move your way forward. Many visitors (especially those with kids) will get caught up in the crowd-control mechanism near the entrance — character meetings, retail shops — before making their way to the rides closest to their path.

You can beat the crowds by moving in the opposite direction. The same goes with mealtimes: Plan to eat before or after the noon rush, and you won't encounter crazy long lines. You might also find shorter wait times at your favorite rides while most guests are preoccupied with lunch.

disneyland travel tips

Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes

Disney Genie+ (along with a related service, Individual Lightning Lane) allows Disneyland guests to skip the standby line on many of the park's most popular attractions. The Disney Genie+ service starts at $25 per person per day and allows you to make Lightning Lane reservations throughout the day. You can make your first reservation after you enter the park and then subsequent reservations as you redeem each one or after two hours pass (whichever comes first).

Related: How I maxed out Disneyland's Genie+ and rode 26 attractions in a single day

You'll also get unlimited photo downloads from all attraction photos and those taken by PhotoPass photographers; and you'll receive features like audio tales and AR photo lenses to help you pass the time waiting in line.

There are a few attractions that do not participate in the Disney Genie+ service, but most of these attractions nevertheless have Lightning Lanes. You need to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane reservation (sold separately) to skip the line for these select attractions. Pricing ranges between $15 and $25 per person per attraction, and you can purchase up to two attractions per day. The current list of attractions participating in each program is available on Disneyland's website .

Related: 10 line-busting tips for less waiting and more playing

Early Entry

Guests staying at Disneyland resorts can enter either park 30 minutes before they open to the public. This is worth taking into consideration when making your hotel reservations since an extra 30 minutes before park opening means virtually no lines.

Use the Disney app

The Disneyland mobile app is key to a seamless Disneyland experience. Aside from storing your park tickets, the app helps users book restaurant reservations, make Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane reservations, order meals to-go on mobile and see wait times for rides.

The Disney app can be an invaluable tool in avoiding lines for rides and restaurants, allowing you to enjoy your limited time at the park.

disneyland travel tips

Use the Ridemax app

If you want to avoid lines like a pro, consider downloading and subscribing to Ridemax . The app creates a custom itinerary for you based on the rides you choose and the amount of time you plan on spending at the park, to minimize wait times. A 90-day subscription costs $14.95, while an annual one costs $24.95.

There's also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if it is not as helpful as you'd hoped, you can get a full refund.

Related: The best restaurants at Disneyland

How to save money on your Disneyland trip

There are many ways to save money on your Disneyland trip, whether it's getting discounted park tickets or deals on your hotel bookings.

We'd be remiss to start the money-saving portion of this guide without mentioning points. Whether it's your airfare, hotel or park tickets, you can use points to offset a large chunk of your Disneyland vacation. Disneyland has lots of point hotels starting at just 12,000 points per night for off-peak awards at any of the area Hyatt hotels.

With the 60,000-point sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening), you could cover up to five nights at one of these hotels.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another great option for earning and redeeming miles towards a Disneyland trip. The card currently offers 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

All you have to do is charge your Disneyland hotel or vacation package to the card and then redeem miles toward the expense. And if you don't quite have enough miles now, you have up to 90 days after purchase to save and redeem miles toward a travel expense.

Check for package deals

You can save a lot on your Disneyland vacation by booking a package deal through a site like Get Away Today . For example, a four-night stay in September in a one-bedroom suite at the Element by Westin Anaheim Resort Convention Center with three-day park hopper tickets for a family of four will cost $3,297.88 when booked with Disney directly.

disneyland travel tips

Through Get Away Today, the same package deal costs $2,682.53.

disneyland travel tips

Costco is currently offering Disneyland travel packages that include savings on on-property Disneyland hotels and a Disney gift card:

  • Stay two to four nights and receive a $185 Disney Gift Card
  • Stay five nights and receive a $205 Disney Gift Card
  • Stay six nights and receive a $225 Disney Gift Card
  • Stay seven or more nights and receive a $245 Disney Gift Card

Buy Disney gift cards on sale

Buying Disney gift cards can save you about 5-10% on the cost of food and merchandise at Disneyland hotels. Sam's Club, Staples, Target and Safeway occasionally discount the price of Disney gift cards by about 5%. Add cash back bonuses and savings from a card that earns bonus points at grocery and office supply stores , and the savings will stack up.

I've personally had success using my Chase Ink Plus Business card (card no longer available) to buy Disney gift cards at Staples, stacking the savings with 5% cash back through Dosh (Note: I will earn a $10 referral if you sign up with my link and make your first qualifying purchase).

The information for the Chase Ink Plus Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bring your own swag

If you're taking your kids to Disneyland, buy all your swag ahead of time. Everything is incredibly overpriced at the park, and there's no reason to spend $30 on mouse ears when you can find equally cute ones on Etsy or Amazon for $5.99. The same goes for all trinkets and toys that end up in a forgotten pile somewhere.

Related: 7 Reasons why Disneyland is better than Disney World

You might feel sentimental about bringing back a $40 snow globe, but trust me: The memories you make are more important (and lasting) than the overpriced merchandise you buy at the park.

Related: How much does a Disneyland vacation cost?

How to get around Disneyland

Unlike the sprawling Disney World resort, Disneyland is easy to get around on foot. But if you get tired after a day of park hopping, you can take various modes of transportation around the park. The Disneyland Railroad offers an 18-minute ride with stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown and Tomorrowland.

The high-flying Monorail is great if you want a faster way to get around the park. The Monorail makes the 2.5-mile journey through the area in just 13 minutes, stopping in Tomorrowland and the far end of Downtown Disney.

For a slow, fun ride, you can hop aboard one of Disney's Main Street Vehicles near City Hall and Central Plaza. They include the Jitney, a horse-drawn streetcar, the classic fire engine and omnibus.

Over at California Adventure, the Red Car Trolley makes four convenient stops throughout the already walkable park.

Related: The essential guide to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland

The best credit cards to use at Disneyland

disneyland travel tips

You may be surprised to find that the Disney Visa Card isn't among the best cards to use at Disneyland, though it can be a good option if you're looking to finance a Disney vacation. The best cards for booking Disneyland packages will be ones that earn bonus points on travel , like the Chase Sapphire Reserve . You'll earn 3 points per dollar and use your $300 annual travel credit to offset part of the expense.

When it comes to spending at Disneyland theme parks, you'll want to use a card that earns bonus points on dining . The Citi Prestige® Card (card no longer available) is a great option, as it earns 5 points per dollar spent in this category. The American Express® Gold Card is also a great choice, earning 4 points per dollar at restaurants.

The information for the Citi Prestige and Disney Visa card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

While it's not as large as its Florida counterpart, Disneyland does require some planning. This guide should make the process of planning your Disneyland adventure a little easier.

Additional reporting by Leslie Harvey.

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