Tips for Disneyland can be found all over the internet. Everyone has their own favorite tips regarding the Disneyland Resort. Myself included. Therefore, today I would like to share with you my top 10 tips for Disneyland.
Top 10 Tips for Disneyland
Whether you have been to Disneyland before or not, tips for Disneyland can be very useful. Some things you might possibly already know, some you have already read about, or some things might be new to you! If you have heard it before, then having a reminder might help you to remember it when you need that tip for Disneyland.
First, get tickets before you go.
First on the list of tips for Disneyland is to get your tickets before you go! I can’t express enough, how much time this will save you when you arrive at the park! When you have your tickets in hand, you are able to go right into the entrance lines to the parks or you can ride the Monorail into the park. If you do not have your tickets in hand, you will have to wait in line to purchase your tickets. This could eat up a chunk of your time that you could be getting into the park and getting on a ride.
Second, try to visit Disneyland during the offseason.
My second tip for Disneyland is to visit the Disneyland Resort during the offseason. Now, this can be tricky to figure out when the best time to go is anymore. As a result of all the Annual Passholder special perks that happen from time to time, Disney marathons, holiday special events, etc. that all happens during the year.
However, a couple of things to keep in mind are:
- Avoid all holidays if possible.
- Avoid school breaks.
- Avoid Anniversary celebration years.
September after Labor Day and before Halloween Time is a slow time at Disneyland. Also, January is a slow month. However, during these slow times, some rides and areas of the parks will be closed due to refurbishment. If avoiding crowds is your highest priority, then try one of those two months.
Anniversary celebrations happen every five years at Disneyland. They last for 18 months. Be aware, the parks are very crowded during this time. However, they will have special merchandise and events happening during this time. It is something you have to weigh for yourself and your tolerance level.
My family and I would prefer to avoid these celebration times. Although, we managed to hit the 50th and 60th celebrations. It was super crowded! As a result, we will try to avoid those times again.
Since Disneyland opened in 1955 and the celebration comes every five years, the next one will be in 2020.
Third, go through the park counterclockwise or go to the farthest part of the park.
Next, go through the park counterclockwise. At least when you start your day. A majority of people will start off clockwise.
Another part of this tip is to go to the farthest part of the park first thing. A lot of people will go to the first popular ride they come to. However, if you keep heading out, you just might walk right onto a ride first thing in the morning.
Fourth, ride the Monorail into Disneyland.
If you are staying at The Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier Hotel you will walk right by the Monorail station in Downtown Disney. In addition, if you are not doing Early Magic Hour, I recommend getting in line a little early to ride the Monorail in. You won’t get into the park first, (the Cast Members time it pretty close to park opening though), but you will get into Tomorrowland pretty close to opening. Then I recommend hitting Space Mountain after you exit the Monorail. (There are lots of other close options to choose from as well.) However, Space Mountain can be a long wait anymore. Especially if it is Hyperspace Mountain. Getting there early is a great tip for Disneyland.
This tip is one that my family and I have done for years! Sometimes my brother and I would get on this attraction a few times before the line would be too long.
Fifth, shop when it’s hot.
While there are a few things to do when it is hot at Disneyland, shopping can be a very cooling experience. Especially if you start at one end of Main Street and continue to the other end inside of the shops. They all have a doorway into the next shop. Try it out next time!
Sixth, eat at off times.
Next, on this list of tips for Disneyland is that you will want to avoid prime time eating times. This is when the restaurants will be at their busiest. If you can avoid those times, I recommend it.
If you can’t avoid these times, you might want to use the new Mobile Ordering Service. Disneyland has now started a Mobile Ordering Service at select locations. If you download the Disneyland App before your visit (which can tell you ride wait times, show you a map of the park, etc.), you can order your food from your phone from anywhere in the park! Then you pick a window of time to arrive. When you are at the restaurant you picked, you tell them you are there via the app and wait at the pickup counter. This can save you time waiting in line to order!
The locations using the Mobile Ordering Service at The Disneyland Resort are:
In Disneyland
- Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street, U.S.A.
- Jolly Holiday Bakery and Cafe on Main Street, U.S.A.
- Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland
- Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country
- Red Rose Taverne in Fantasyland
- Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland
- Tiki Juice Bar in Adventureland
- Harbour Galley in Critter Country
In California Adventure
- Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream on Buena Vista Street
- Award Wieners in Hollywood Land
- Lucky Fortune Cookery in Pacific Warf
- Pacific Warf Cafe in Pacific Warf
- Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill in Pacific Warf
- Corn Dog Castle in Paradise Pier
- Paradise Garden Grill in Paradise Pier
- Flo’s V8 Cafe in Cars Land
- Smokejumpers Grill in Grizzly Peak
- Bayside Brew in Paradise Gardens Park
Seventh, sit with a drink or treat and listen to one of the musical entertainments.
Another tip for Disneyland that is good for any time you come across musical entertainment, but is also a great option for taking a break from crowds is to sit and listen to music while enjoying a beverage or a tasty treat!
This tip for Disneyland is a great way to take a break from crowds, cool down in a shaded spot, or to just take a moment and slow down from the rushing here and there around the park that can happen when you try to squeeze everything in.
Eighth, have souvenirs sent back to your Disney hotel.
Next, if you are staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel, you can have souvenirs you purchase sent back to your hotel for you to pick up the next morning! This tip for Disneyland saves you from carrying everything all over the park, chancing breakage or losing them. This is a wonderful perk at no extra charge!
Yes, it is FREE! Free is always good. Especially at a Disney resort…
Note:
- They only will do this service until a certain time in the evening. It depends on when the closing time is for that specific day. Make sure to ask before you purchase.
- Another thing to know is that they will not transport any food or drink items. Those items you will have to cart around.
Ninth, go to California Adventure’s Early Magic Hour
Another tip for Disneyland is to go to California Adventure for Early Magic Hour when it is available! However, this is only for guests staying at the Disneyland Resort Hotels.
Unlike Disneyland’s Early Magic Hour, the one at California Adventure is only for Disney Hotel guests! This was so awesome! It was nowhere near as crowded as Disneyland was for the Early Magic Hour. (If any Disney executives are reading this, it would be nice to have Disneyland’s Early Magic Hour to be a Hotel only perk too. Disneyland was so crowded it wasn’t worth it for us.)
As I digress, the California Adventure Early Magic Hour was great for us. Not as crowded and we went straight to Cars Racers in Cars land and we were able to ride it twice before park opening! Try it out for your next trip. This is a great tip!
Finally, get in line early at Disneyland on non-Early Magic Hour days.
This final tip for Disneyland is to get in line early on non-Early Magic Hour days. Cast Members will try to get everyone pumped and excited for coming into Disneyland. It was a fun thing to experience. They will also pick a family out ahead of time and have them come in the gates before anyone else and get their photo taken in front of the floral Mickey. Then they get to help with the countdown. (Subject to change.)
This is why being one of the first ones in line is important to get a chance at this fun experience!
In Conclusion
To recap the Top 10 Tips for Disneyland:
- Get tickets before you go.
- Try to visit Disneyland during the offseason.
- Go through the park counterclockwise or go to the farthest part of the park.
- Ride the Monorail into Disneyland.
- Shop when it’s hot.
- Eat at off times.
- Sit with a drink or treat and listen to one of the musical entertainments.
- Have souvenirs sent back to your Disney Hotel.
- Go to California Adventure’s Early Magic Hour.
- Get in line early at Disneyland on non-Early Magic Hour days.
With all the tips at Disneyland that you can find, these are my top 10 choices for the Disneyland Resort. I hope that these tips will help you out on your next trip to the parks!
Questions or Comments?
I hope you enjoyed this post Top 10 Tips for Disneyland. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below!
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