Doing Disneyland Your Way
- LaShai H
- Nov 11, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2023
Everything You Need to Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck at Disneyland
Let's get A-W-A-Y to Disneyland! As a California native, I've been very fortunate to visit Disneyland with my friends and family to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, family vacations and even got the chance to enjoy a few romantic visits with just my hubby. No matter what brings you to Disneyland or who you're going with - it's a significant investment. Disneyland is certainly a luxury entertainment experience, and the ticket prices reflect that as well.
The park itself is massive and spans 85 acres with over 100 rides and attractions. There is so much to see and do, it can quickly be overwhelming. I've found that those who enjoy Disneyland and return often as season pass holders or just frequent visitors, all have one thing in common- they plan out their Disneyland day well in advance. Showing up and then figuring out what to do is the most ineffective way to visit the park. So, I'm going to share with you my insider secrets and everything you need to know to have a great time at Disneyland with your kids, adult friends and no kids, or large extended family vacations.
This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. I independently evaluate all recommended products and services.
ACTIVITIES
Disneyland has so many attractions, where do you start?
Disneyland has no shortage of top-tier entertainment experiences. Whether you're there for the thrilling rollercoasters, theatre-quality shows, captivating simulation rides, character encounters, or magically entertaining parades, Disneyland truly has something for everyone.
From a planning standpoint, there are a few options available for how to organize your best Disney day. If you aren't sure what you want to do and you've booked a few days, you could go land by land and just do everything. If you have a limited budget of time and money, I'd recommend reviewing the list of rides online, building a wish list of 5-10 rides, and focusing on going to the most popular on your list first to avoid some of the long lines and wait times. If you have limited time but some flexibility in your budget- spring for the Genie+ Lightning Lane. This fee-based feature offers lightning lanes for select attractions which can save you hours. There is also an interactive AI that will recommend activities and attractions based on your wish list, wait times, and your current location in the park. I honestly think it's absolutely worth the cost for first-time visitors because takes so much of the stress and guesswork out of your visit.
I've included a chart of my favorite rides by audience below. The ride on the top is the one with the longest wait the later in the day you go, so I recommend starting with that one. Hope it helps in your planning!
Tiny Humans | Thrill Seekers | Star Wars Fanatics | Classic Family Fun |
Peter Pan’s Flight | Space Mountain | Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance | Pirates of the Caribbean |
Dumbo the Flying Elephant | Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run | Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters |
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye | Star Tours – The Adventures Continue | Disneyland Monorail |
Final food for thought on activities- if you want a paper map of the park, they will still give you one at the entrances. While this is helpful for seeing all the lands laid out at once and determining where things are, it doesn't beat the app. Even without paying the additional fee for the fast pass, downloading the app to see current wait time estimates and get turn-by-turn directions is super helpful at this HUGE theme park.
WHERE
Doing more than one day at Disneyland? Here’s where you should stay overnight…
We've talked a bit about how pricey a trip to Disneyland can be. Well once you've sorted out ticket prices it can be really hard to decide if you need a hotel and how close the hotel should be. No surprise, the closer you stay, the more you'll pay. For those wondering if you even need a hotel room if you're just going for one day- trust me it's worth the additional cost ESPECIALLY if you have small kids. Being able to go back to the room for naps, change of clothes or snack replenishment can make a big difference in your Disneyland experience. I've outlined my location thoughts below and provided pointers on how to make it work for you.
Onsite at a Disney Resort- $$$$
The most expensive option will always be staying onsite. But there are tons of perks. Disney resort guest have access to experiences and benefits that regular theme park visitors don't have. For example, there are early park days where guest can enter the park before anyone else and that time allows you to explore more of the park super-fast because the lines are significantly shorter. It's very convenient to get back and forth. The rooms are also themed which makes it extra special and fun for the kids.
Nearby at non-Disney Resort - $$$
Less convenient than staying on site but still very beneficial, are the various options available within walking distance to the park. My personal favorites are Fairfield Anaheim, Courtyard and Sheraton. What's great about these locations is that you're still close enough for naps, meals or outfit changes but you don't have to break the bank for the convenience.
Options 2+ Miles Away -$$
The least expensive but also least convenient option is to stay two or miles more away from the theme park. This option assumes that you'll use lockers instead of going back and forth to the hotel. Keep in mind that I would NOT recommend staying more than 2 miles away. Southern California is absolutely one of those places where it can easily take you 30 minutes to drive 3 miles if it happens to be a Friday afternoon during rush hour. So please take note that if you are staying in Downtown Los Angeles, or anywhere near the airport, commuting from these locations will be a trek. If you come across a hotel that seems far but offers a free shuttle to the park, that would be the best option from an affordability standpoint because you'll also save on parking.
Affordable
Yes- you can save money even at Disneyland!
With food, parking and only one day passes to Disneyland, a family of five can easily spend a thousand dollars or more for again just one day. Expenses rack up pretty quickly at the most magical place on earth. When planning a trip to this ultimate tourist destination, you still have options to make your trip affordable.
1. Plan and Pack Meals -
Thanks to the popularity of allergies and specialty diets, you can now bring your own food into most theme parks including Disneyland. Doing so can save you hundreds of dollars. It can add to everything you're carrying around, but if your kiddos are old enough, they can actually wear and carry their own snacks. I've also let my kids pick their food so they can be excited about what they've packed and look forward to it. I do recommend packing things that can really compete with the fun and tasty treats available. For example, if your kid will be asking for a churro, offering an apple probably won't cut it and even worse will lead to a meltdown.
2. Sign up for Discount Tickets
Discount tickets for Disneyland can be hard to come by, but they aren't impossible to find. To start, you can start directly with Disney and also check out options from AAA if you have a membership or if Disneyland is part of your larger trip to California, CityPASS is also a great option to get access to discount tickets. If tickets aren't on sale but you're still looking for options to save, create your own Disney registry. I've shared with friends and family in the past that we were planning on going to Disney and for birthdays and Christmas, we collected Disney gift cards instead of traditional toys and gifts. These really add up, especially when the cost per person/per day is so high.
3. Bring your own souvenirs and swag
While I don't support being dishonest with your kids, I do support saving money by buying them souvenirs in advance and calmly presenting them when necessary. For example, I've purchased Disney dolls, princess dresses, light sabers and even ears in advance to avoid the temptation of purchasing in the park. All of these items in the park cost 50% more than they do online in advance.
Your Packing List
Bring your own Magic with these finds:
Mado Mouse Ears - There are so many cute designs for every occasion and the price point is perfect.
Natural Underwear Matching Family Shirts- I got these for our last family trip to Disney and at first I wasn't sure if it was worth the investment, but the photos were so cute.
Toy Life Light Up Sabers - This one goes out to my Star Wars fans. My sons absolutely loved these and were on cloud 9 when I pulled them out as a surprise at Disney.
Incat Small Crossbody Bag - I mainly use this bag when traveling with just my husband, but it's perfect for holding your important items while strolling on main street.
Adidas Cloudfoam Shoe- Disneyland is HUGE and you will walk 50 gazillion steps. This shoe will keep you comfortable while doing it. They are super lightweight and comfortable. I own them in four different colors.
Furtalk Sun Visor- Anaheim can get really hot and this sunhat will come in handy especially on those warmer days. When you don't need it, you can roll it up which is super convenient.
Nefeeko Collapsible Water Bottle- Absolutely a money saver. This bottle is compact and can save you from spending $5 or more on water bottles at the park.
There you have it folks! Everything you need to plan a great vacation to Disneyland. Please drop a comment and let me know which tip you found most helpful.
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Remember no matter where the road takes you, stay curious, kind, and compassionate.
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