Disneyland
YOUR GUIDE TO
Start exploring...
YOUR FORMULA FOR A LAID-BACK DAY IN DISNEYLAND
first, make sure you
- Have a Disneyland reservation for the day you want to visit
- Download the Disneyland app and have all your tickets + party linked
- Have a credit card ready and tied to your account (this makes it easy to purchase Lightning Lanes and mobile order food)
and remember...
- If you have a single-day ticket, you can still leave the park to take a break and come back later.
- Park hopping starts at 11am each day. You’ll have to scan into the first park (the one you have a reservation for) before you can hop to the next.
- Kids under 3 are free! No ticket required.
01. Planning Your Day
What's the best day to visit?
Historically, Disneyland's highest wait times are on Mondays, and the lowest crowds are on Fridays + Sundays.
BONUS: DISNEYLAND SECRETS GUIDE
DOWNLOAD HERE
One of our favorite things about Disneyland is the history. Nikki has compiled all the best secrets and hidden gems around the park for you to show your kids and friends!
Disneyland’s 3 lots.
- Mickey & Friends Parking Structure
walk or tram to the park - Pixar Pals Parking Structure
attached to Mickey & Friends - Toy Story Parking Area
Requires a bus, great for those without strollers! But if you have one, it needs to be folded down.
You can upgrade to Preferred Parking at any of these 3 parking lots for $20 more, but personally, I don’t think this cost is worth the upgrade unless you have trouble walking and need to be closer to the elevators and exit.
02. Getting There
A PARKING tip from nikki
Mickey & Friends parking structure is attached to Pixar Pals parking structure, which has its own entrance and is typically open between the hours of 8:00 am - 12:00 pm.
If you are arriving during that window, this is a great way to skip a parking structure line.
Drive as if you are headed to Mickey & friends, but instead of heading left into that lot, continue on Disneyland drive, turn right at Magic Way and you’ll see the entrance to the structure.
Once you've parked...
OPTION 1: The Tram
Once you’ve parked, you'll walk through security. The tram will drop you off right near World of Disney and the front gates of both parks.
Note: if you have a stroller, it WILL need to be folded.
OPTION 2: Walk
If you don't want to fold your stroller, walking through Downtown Disney is a great option! The Pedestrian walking path is attached to the Pixar Pals side and has access to the bridge on the 2nd (Coco) level.
You can access this from the Mickey and Friends side, too, as there is an easy path between the two. From there you will follow the path to security and walk through Downtown Disney to the front gates. From car to gate is about a 20-minute walk.
OPTION 3: Monorail
There is one monorail entrance in Downtown Disney across from the Lego Store. Use your park ticket to scan in and the monorail will take you to Tomorrowland.
The monorail can also take you back from Tomorrowland to Downtown Disney.
OPTION 4: Bus
The bus option is from Toy Story Parking lot. This lot is less crowded and can be a great option! You'll be dropped off on the Harbor Side, which is an easy 5-minute walk to the front gates.
The Anaheim Regional Transportation also drops off at Disney. You will often use this method if you are staying at one of Disney’s “Good Neighbor” hotels, such as the Marriott Convention Center. See rates here. Note, that these buses run every 15-20 minutes.
BONUS OPTION: Uber/Lyft
Bypass all of the trams and have your friend or ride-share drop you off a
the designated drop off location on the Harbor side of Disneyland.
This drop off can be found on Google maps by searching “Disneyland Drop Off.”
Guests of Disneyland Resort hotels are allowed into the park 30-45 minutes before official park opening, or "Early Entry.” See the schedule here and make sure you plan your park reservations to accommodate the day you have Early Entry!
EARLY ENTRY
Disneyland park typically opens around 45 minutes before "official" park opening to allow guests time to walk around Main Street, get a coffee, take a few pictures and wait for Rope Drop.
I love getting to the gate 45-60 minutes before park open to maximize our morning and take a few family photos with less people!
WHEN TO GET THERE
03. A Magic Morning
- Alice in Wonderland
- Astro Orbitor
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Disneyland Monorail
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Mad Tea Party
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- Space Mountain (40")
- Star Tours (40")
"Rope Drop" is lingo for when the park (or one of the lands) opens for the day. When the rope is removed or “dropped”, guests are free to enter. If you're rope-dropping during Early Entry, you’ll be held near the Plaza Inn near the curve of the bushes.
I do NOT recommend rope dropping Peter Pan’s Flight. Because of early entry guests, the line will already be about 30 minutes long and you could use that time in the early morning to do several other rides (seriously, you can get 7-8 rides done in Fantasyland in the same time you do Peter Pan!)
Some thoughts on "rope-dropping"
90 minutes before Park Opening
30 minutes before Park Opening
- Early Entry begins. See the schedule here.
DISNEYLAND OPENS!
- Disneyland parking structures open.
- If buying Lightning Lanes, you can make your first selection after scanning into the park.
45 minutes before Park Opening
- All guests are allowed onto Main Street.
Download and print your itinerary to use as a baseline to craft your own laid-back day, or follow step-by-step!
04. Itineraries
05. Getting Familiar
Let’s check out the attractions and shows in bite-size pieces according to the 9 different areas of Disneyland.
Alice in Wonderland
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Fantasy Faire
it's a small world
King Arthur Carrousel
Mad Tea Party
Matterhorn Bobsleds (42")
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Peter Pan's Flight
Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Pixie Hollow
Sleeping Beauty Castle
Snow White's Scary Adventure
Storybook Land Canal Boats
NEXT
BACK
Fantasyland
Space Mountain (40")
Star Tours (40")
Star Wars Launch Bay
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Autopia (32")
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Disneyland Monorail
Tomorrowland
Disneyland Railroad
Chip and Dale's Treehouse
Gadget's Go Coaster
Goofy's Playhouse
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
Mickey's House
Minnie's House
Miss Daisy - Donald’s Boat/Splash pad
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Mickey's Toon Town
Indiana Jones (46")
Jungle Cruise
Adventureland Treehouse
Enchanted Tiki Room
Adventureland
Big Thunder Mountain (40")
Mark Twain Riverboat
Sailing Ship Columbia
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
Pirate Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island
Golden Horseshoe
Frontierland
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Disneyland Railroad
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (40")
New Orleans Square
The Disneyland Railroad
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
Main Street Vehicles
Main Street Cinema
Main St USA
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
Critter Country
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (38")
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (40")
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
05. Getting Familiar
Let’s check out the attractions and shows in bite-size pieces according to the 9 different areas of Disneyland.
Alice in Wonderland
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Fantasy Faire
it's a small world
King Arthur Carrousel
Mad Tea Party
Matterhorn Bobsleds (42")
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Peter Pan's Flight
Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Pixie Hollow
Sleeping Beauty Castle
Snow White's Scary Adventure
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Fantasyland
Tomorrowland
Space Mountain (40")
Star Tours (40")
Star Wars Launch Bay
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Autopia (32")
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Disneyland Monorail
Mickey's Toon Town
Disneyland Railroad
Chip and Dale's Treehouse
Gadget's Go Coaster
Goofy's Playhouse
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
Mickey's House
Minnie's House
Miss Daisy - Donald’s Boat/Splash pad
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Adventureland
Indiana Jones Adventure (46")
Jungle Cruise
Adventureland Treehouse
Enchanted Tiki Room
Frontierland
Big Thunder Mountain (40")
Mark Twain Riverboat
Sailing Ship Columbia
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
Pirate Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island
Golden Horseshoe
New Orleans Sq.
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Disneyland Railroad
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (coming 2024!)
Critter Country
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
Main Street USA
The Disneyland Railroad
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
Main Street Vehicles
Main Street Cinema
Galaxy's Edge
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (38")
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (40")
Fireworks
Right now we are in between holidays with Christmas starting November 15th. Until then you can enjoy Mickey's Mix Magic & on the 15th we will see the spectacular, Believe in Holiday Magic. Check the website here to see dates of fireworks and dates of projections only.
Over in Batuu, you can view the same fireworks, but with different music in Fire of the Rising Moons , a Star Wars themed spectacular.
You can watch the fireworks from all over the park, but these are my favorite spots
BEST SPOTS TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS AND SEE PROJECTIONS
Parade
Starting November 15th, A Christmas Fantasy Parade will march down Main Street
Showtimes are 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm and it's almost a different experience in both day and night.
You may want to get a great spot 30-60 minutes before the parade, but if you do want to catch it last minute I always love jumping in around Town Square.
I love watching from Main Street or Town Square, but you can also watch near the Castle, Small World or the Matterhorn!
NOTE: the cavalcade starts at “it’s a small world” for the 2:30 performance and for the 5:30 pm it starts in Town Square.
It takes ~20 minutes to get to the other side of the park, so if you are waiting in Town Square at 2:30, you will see the parade around 2:50 pm.
- Front of the Castle: this spot is pure magic, but it does require a wait. I would plan to stake out a spot around 6:30-7:30 pm to get in front of the castle. Here, the earlier, the better.
- It’s a small world: A great last minute spot to watch fireworks. They are close and spectacular and you get projections on the front of small world. Arrive here about 30 minutes before showtime for a decent spot.
- Main Street USA: The place I go when I literally jump in last minute. You can get a spot here up until showtime, but I recommend arriving about 15 minutes before. Projections show on all the buildings on Main Street and you can still spot the fireworks flying characters over the castle. It's a bit further away, but still magical.
- Rivers of America: Another magical spot if you’re hoping to watch closer to showtime and you want some space from the crowds. Projections show up on Tom Sawyer’s Island and the view is beautiful. I love seeing the reflection off the water!
06. Where to Eat
Carnation Cafe
in love with their fried pickles and baked potato soup (try them together!)
Jolly Holiday
grilled cheese and tomato soup is a must!
Plaza Inn
for fried chicken and Mickey waffles!
Refreshment Corner
cream cheese pretzel anyone??
Main Street USA
Edelweiss Snacks
kiosk near the Matterhorn entrance with turkey legs, chimichangas and corn-on-the-cob.
Troubadour Tavern
inside the Fantasyland Theater area, with sausages, baked potatoes, pretzels, and other snacks.
Village Haus
Quick service restaurant with burgers and pizza, indoor
and outdoor seating areas.
Fantasyland
Tiki Bar
head here for the infamous Dole Whip!
Tropical Hideaway
another spot for Dole Whip (not complaining)
Bengal BBQ
try their chicken skewers and rice!
+ Fruit Stand
Adventureland
New Orleans Square
Blue Bayou
Dine inside Pirates of the Caribbean? YES PLEASE.
Cafe Orleans
Two words: Monte Cristo.
Tiana’s Place (opening in 2024)
Mint Julep Bar
Mint juleps, Mickey-shaped beignets, pastries, and coffee. (currently closed. Find beignets at Royal St Veranda!)
Golden Horseshoe
you have to try the mozzarella sticks!
Stage Door Cafe
a solid spot for chicken fingers.
River Belle Terrace
may or may not be in love with their monkey bread!
Rancho del Zocalo
great portions for the cost. The tostada salad is top-notch.
Tomorrowland
Hungry Bear
burgers and basics
Harbour Galley
the lobster roll here is a favorite of mine!
Critter Country
Galactic Grill
Star Wars-inspired burgers, sandwiches, and snacks
Alien Pizza Planet
pizza and pasta (we love their chicken fusilli!)
Tomorrowland
Cafe Daisy
pizza turnovers and mini corn dogs
+ Picnic stand
Mickey's Toontown
Ronto Roasters
love a ronto wrap!
Docking Bay 7
still can’t describe what type of food is here, but it's fun!
Oga’s Cantina
the reservation-only Star Wars “bar”
Kat Sakka’s Kettle
great snack for popcorn lovers
Galaxy's Edge
NEXT
Good news: Disneyland has upped its dining game over the years and no longer falls into the category of just boring old “theme park food.”
Here’s a breakdown to help you plan your food schedule.
Place an Order
Search the Disneyland App for "mobile order" or use the plus button at the center of the app to start a mobile order, choose your location, items & slot to return and pick up your food.
Change Arrival Window
If you're not able to secure your desired arrival time, try using the "toggle method." Choose the soonest time, then after completing the order, tap "change my arrival window." Go back and forth to search until it does the time you want appears. People cancel orders constantly, so the return times change quickly!
"I'm Here, Prepare My Order"
It's different for every location, but I always push the "I'm here, prepare my order" a few minutes before I'm actually walking over to ensure that I'm not waiting when I arrive (I know, it may only be a minute or 2, but when you have hungry kids - that minute matters!
Canceling
Don't worry if you can't make an order or decide on something different, Disneyland allows you to cancel your order even within your pick up window time. However, if you are late for your window you will either need to chat with a cast member or reorder your meal.
The Only Character Dining Spot
There is only one place to see characters while you eat in Disneyland and it’s at the Plaza Inn for breakfast.
We love this spot for the ambiance and seeing some of our favorite characters like Minnie, Captain Hook, Chip & Dale, Pooh, Tigger and more.
I highly recommend a reservation, but they often take walk-ups, too. Head to the Plaza Inn first thing in the morning to check availability.
Outside of the park you can find character dining at Storytellers Cafe at the Grand Californian or Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel.
DINING TIP #1
Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney has some great dining we love if you plan to leave the park.
I 10/10 recommend Naples Pizza, followed by ice cream at Salt & Straw.
DINING TIP #2
Making Dining Reservations
Dining reservations are tough to come by! They are released 60 days in advance at 6am EST, but sometimes it can be as early as midnight.
If you didn't get what you wanted, set up alerts with Mouse Dining. Just make sure you pay for text alerts (the email ones aren't fast enough IMO.)
DINING TIP #3
CROISSant sandwich
While everyone raves about the garlic bread at Maurice's Treats, my current fav is the melted ham and cheese croissant. YUM.
Cream Cheese Pretzel
Head to Refreshment Corner for my favorite snack in all the land (no pun intended.)
MICKEY MACAROON
Jolly Holiday has so many delicious pastries, but my favorite is the Raspberry Rose Mickey Macaroon
CHURRO
You can't go wrong with a classic churro in Disneyland from any of the churro carts!
DOLE WHIP
Tropical Hideaway has the most Dole Whip options, but if the line is too long, mobile order a classic from the Tiki Bar!
07. Magic with Kids
BEST KID RIDES
- Alice in Wonderland
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- Dumbo
- It’s a small world
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Mad Tea Party
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-thru
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
- Jungle Cruise
- Adventureland Treehouse currently under refurbishment
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- Tom Sawyer Island
- Sailing Ship Colombia
- Astro Orbitor
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Disneyland Monorail
- Finding Nemo Submarine
- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
- Main Street Cinema
- Main Street Vehicles
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Haunted Mansion
Our favorite spot to catch classic
characters is Town Square.
Look for the beige door behind the Mad Hatter in a blue building.
Tip: Always look for where the characters enter and exit in order to jump right in their line as their lines do fill up fast.
You may even get a sweet interaction where your child may hold a characters hand and walk around Disneyland!
WHERE TO FIND CHARACTERS
SPOTS TO PLAY
I don’t know about your kids, but after being in the stroller or waiting in lines, mine need a place to get the wiggles out. Here are a few of our favorite spots:
Mickey’s Toontown
Goofy’s House, Centoonial Park, grassy areas, fountain, and more.
Tom Sawyer’s Pirate Lair
prepare yourself for small caves!
Town Square
to chase all the characters!
Main Street
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln & Main Street Cinema
Front of it's a small world
large open space to run around
Tomorrowland Terrace
in front of Galactic Grill - also has a dance party sometimes in the day!
Adventureland Tree House - coming soon!
Water Ball
in front of Space Mountain. Always a fave!
Oh, you want Mickey??
Mickey is usually in Town Square, but if you don’t catch him there, you can find him at his house in Mickey’s ToonTown.
You'll be able to walk through and explore Mickey’s house and finish with a personal meet & greet in his most famous look. We love when we meet Steamboat Willie Mickey!
Making Memories
- Embroidered Mickey ears
We have a family tradition of embroidering our child’s name on the back of Mickey ears for their first visit *cue the tears.*
Steal this tradition by visiting the Mad Hatter in Town Square or Fantasyland. They are typically ready within 10 minutes. - Get Pixie-Dusted
For FREE stop by the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to have a fairy give you a little sparkle! NOTE: children must be able to voluntarily close their eyes. For babies, you could try asking for pixie dust on their toes. - Penny Presses
Throughout the park, you can collect penny presses with different characters and rides. Ranging from $1-3, This is an affordable and memorable souvenir!
A few things to know
- Keep in mind that the studio doesn't open until around 12pm. There can sometimes be a line, but often you will get a callback time.
- You can add multiple people to your silhouette for more $.
- The child doesn't need to be with you. Just take a profile photo of their face and bring that!
- Frames can be purchased for an extra $19.99. (Magic Key Discounts apply on frame)
the sweetest
PLAYGROUNDS
Space Base (indoor)
This playground reminds me of the ones we loved as kids at McDonalds #noshame.
To get there, go through the exit for Mission Space -- you don't have to ride it to get inside, and you can bring your stroller with you.
A perfect spot to get some A/C!
PLAYGROUNDS
Bruce's Shark World (indoor)
Here's another indoor playground that you'll see when you're exiting the Seas with Nemo + Friends ride.
It's a little guy, but there's enough to keep the kids busy and stretch their legs for a bit.
RIDES WITH RIDER SWITCH
Autopia (32")
Big Thunder Mountain (40")
Chip n' Dale's GAGDETCoaster (35")
Matterhorn Bobsleds (42")
Millenium Falcon (38")
Space Mountain (40")
Star Tours (40")
Rise of the Resistance (40")
Indiana Jones Adventure (46")
Tiana's Bayou Adventure (40")
3. After riding, the adult that just rode stays back with the "not riding" child.
4. Now the adult that waited doesn't have to wait in the regular standby line: they will scan into the Lightning Lane.
Here's the best part: the adult using the Lightning Lane can bring someone with them! So someone could ride a second time!
This is when 1 adult rides while the other stays back with the kid(s) not riding because they're either too little/scared!
Then they *switch* The adult that stayed behind can use the Lightning Lane instead of waiting in regular standby.
1. Find a Cast Member (they'll usually be holding a device) at the attraction with your entire family.
2. The adult whose staying behind will have their ticket/MagicBand scanned along with whoever wants to ride with them. You can bring up to 1 person back with you, which means someone can ride twice!
RIDER SWITCH
Find it at the end of Main St next to the Plaza Pointe Christmas store and across from the red corn dog wagon. You'll find:
- Nursing room with chairs
- Changing room with tables
- Toddler-size toilets
- Eating area with highchairs
- Sink, bottle warmers + microwave
You can also buy last minute things like formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, some medications, etc.
While I don’t mind nursing around the park, the quiet and cool temps make this a go-to spot for me.
BABIES
The best hack for waiting with older kids?
If you have other kids with you that may need entertainment while you nurse, I pack each kid a small “busy bag.”
Inside the bags have coloring books, stickers, snacks and other forms of entertainment to help pass the time.
I also love this trick for restaurants and waiting for entertainment.
Nikki's Top Tip: For waiting in line, I love bringing stickers and letting myself become a sticker "mural"!
Also, these suckers are amazing inventions. They aren’t sticky, but still take some time for kids to finish.
2. Oga's Cantina
A lot of my friends make this hard-to-get reservation at in Galaxy's Edge without looking at the menu first.
Know that this is more of a lounge. For the Star Wars fan, it's a cool experience. Just know that this isn't going to be a reservation where you get a full meal.
Pro Tip: If you have littles, order the Blue Batha with an extra cookie for them and the Outer Rim for you :)
Even if your child doesn't use a stroller at home, we think kids under 9 will need one! We bring our double stroller from home to stow our drinks, bags, sweatshirts and of course, children ;)
Here's what you need to know:
STROLLERS
- Strollers can't be larger than 31" wide and 52" long. Double strollers are okay.
- Stroller parking can be in different spots than where you enter the ride. Look for designated signs before getting in line!
- Within these parking areas, Cast Members will move strollers around to make room. So no - your stroller didn't get stolen - just moved!
- Tie something on your stroller so you can spot it easily like a balloon or bright bandana.
- Wagons/stroller wagons are NOT allowed.
- The park has strollers to rent, but they are hard plastic, don't recline, and I 10/10 do not recommend
PRO TIP: If you are worried about theft, you can hide an AirTag inside your stroller. It will show you the exact location if someone takes off with it!
If you need to rent a stroller, here are the best options I've found
1 STOP MOBILITY
OC BABY GEAR
CITY STROLLER RENTALS
BABY QUIP
These are my favorite lollipops to hold over the kids in lines. They're less sticky and take longer to finish!
Your phone WILL drain from the app, ordering food, and Lightning Lanes. Make sure you have a portable battery!
08. In My Park Bag
TO CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
Disneyland park is only one of the two parks inside Disneyland Resort. California Adventure has more to offer, which means we have MORE things to teach you! Head here next.
Wait, there's more!
THE HAPPIEST GUIDE GETS HAPPIER
