I did a TON of research before our last two trips to
Disneyland and especially since we have become Annual Pass Holders. Here is some information I have
gathered along with tips I have learned.
Sunscreen:
The absolute first tip is to wear sunscreen and
reapply. Seriously.
Ask A Cast Member:
The absolute second tip, is to ask any Cast Member,
anything, any time. Disneyland has
the most impeccable customer service and staff training there is. If you need anything, anything at all,
ask someone. They are not allowed
to say "I don't know."
(Or point. They're not
allowed to point with one finger, always an open palm or two fingers.) ;-) Cast Members are also great sources of Disney facts and
history.
Medicine & Gum:
There are some minor meds available in the park, but they
are hard to find. Pack a few of
everything. Gum is not sold in the
parks for cleanliness. Bring your
own if you're a gum chewer.
Arrive Early:
It really is way less crowded if you get there before the
park opens. Allow at least 30-45
minutes to park, catch the tram, and get to the gate.
Lockers:
Get a locker.
In the past, you’ve had to pay each time you open your locker. That is simply not the case. You rent it by size and create a pin
code to open your locker. We like
to put a change of clothes in it for later based on the season, water, and a
change of shoes. You don't need to
lug all of that around. We usually only visit the locker once,
maybe twice. Usually just to
change clothes or shoes. Your feet
will LOVE your Uggs when they are cold and sore. And if your shoes get wet in
the summer time, a pair of flip-flops will save you.
Buttons:
Pick up a free I'm Celebrating pin from City Hall on Main Street
in Disneyland or Guest Services at Disney's California Adventure. Just for the
asking you can receive a Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Just Married,
Family Reunion, Happily Ever After or First Visit Button.
We get pins every time and I write with
a sharpie the date and celebration on the back.
Buy lanyards and wear them on your lanyards.
Keep asking. Each store and restaurant has pins. When Jason and I went on our anniversary Guest Services had the "Happily Ever After Pins" but we didn't find the "Happy Anniversary" pins until lunch at a restaurant. So keep asking until you find the ones you want.
Birthday:
Birthday guests can get a phone call from Goofy at City
Hall. After you enter the park, go
to the first building on the left.
Don’t forget your free birthday pin!
Look The Part/Buy Ears First:
You'll feel the Disney magic more if you look the part.
Plus your photos will be cuter.
The Mad Hatter is right when you walk
in on the right.
If you have a
specific hat in mind, ask around.
The stores are not the same.
My boys love Star Wars, so Star Trader is our favorite store, near
Space Mountain.
Disneyland is one
of the only places where you can dress kind of crazy and no one cares.
If fact they love it.
EVERYONE wears ears AND a
lanyard with pins at Disneyland.
Pick up a photo card from a photographer and they will take
pictures all day. They simply scan
it after they’ve taken the pictures.
The PhotoPass photographers in the parks will take pictures with their
cameras at no charge, but it will cost you big to actually buy the photos.
Bypass this charge by asking the PhotoPass photographers to use your camera or
phone to take your picture. They’re happy to do it and most of them are pretty
good at composing a shot as they do it all day long. You'll have to pose while they take photos with both
cameras, but it's worth it. They
all wear the same uniform and can be found at photo opp places in both
parks. Take your time with these
photos, don't be in a hurry, and put your bags down. The photos look horrible with all your gear in them. I usually make my boys take a few of
these family shots right when we get there. I want to get it done, while we all still look cute. ;-) My favorite posed family spots are in front of the train
station right when you walk in, and on Main Street where the Christmas tree is
placed. A tip: You can buy a photo disc of all of the
photos the PhotoPass photographers take.
They are a great price at $69.95 regardless of the number of pictures. I’ve heard that if you plan to buy these discs, tell the
photographers. They will take more
time and more pictures with you.
Ride Photos:
These are always my favorite, and a favorite of my friends
on facebook to poke fun at me about.
A new feature at Disneyland, you can buy an Attractions Plus Photo
Card.
I believe they are $50.
You can load unlimited ride photos from
either park for two weeks onto these cards.
Totally worth it if you will be there for multiple
days.
OR, be ready with that
camera or phone after the rides where photos are taken and snap a picture of
the screen.
Disneyland does not
stop you from doing this, and if you’re ready you can get a pretty good shot
for free. (They’re only up for a minute or two, so be ready.) Taking a picture
of the screen is handy no matter what as when you go to buy your photo they
will ask for the number off the screen.
Camera:
Leave your SLR at home.
You'll want to take great pictures I know, but that thing
will feel like 20 lbs at the end of the day.
And you'll worry about it because it's expensive. Take a smaller camera.
You'll also use it more if it's already in your hand.
Don't forget that video!!
Pictures at the Castle:
Everyone will be crowded around the front of the castle
trying to get pictures. As you
face the castle, go to the right (East).
There is a path leading to Snow White’s wishing well where you can get
awesome photos of the family with the castle behind you. And no one will be in your way. Shhhh… can you hear Snow White singing?
Character Autographs:
Bring a blank book and large sharpie for autographs.
When I was a child, the characters
roamed the park and kids would freely run up to them as their parents fought
for a picture.
This is not how it
is today. There are set places where you meet the characters and you wait in
line etc. This is nice because you get that good photo of just your
family.
Take the time to at least
meet Mickey in Mickey's House in Toontown.
Every character will autograph anything for you.
Yes, you can buy one of Disney's
autograph books, but they can be pricy.
Create a unique memento of your trip by having them sign a t-shirt or canvas tote bag.
Have a daughter?
Carve out at least an hour, maybe more
to meet all of the princesses at
Fantasy Faire. Buy her a princess outfit
at home and let her wear it.
She
will want to, and they are totally expensive at Disneyland.
If you want to splurge, there is an awesome package at the
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique that STARTS at $200.
For the most awesome princess experience, this is THE way to
go.
*Only children under 8 or 10 are allowed in the park in
costume.
Rides:
Know what rides your child can and cannot go on.
Here are the
ride requirements.
FastPass:
Learn about FastPass and USE IT!!
It is the smart thing to do to plan your day a bit, find the
rides and attractions that offer FastPass and use them.
You can only get one at a time, or the time that you can get
another one will appear on the bottom of your FastPass.
Click here for more info.
It can feel tricky and confusing at first, but by your
second day you'll totally be mapping out your day with FastPasses. *A little
trick. You can have one FastPass
at each park. So we'll get one for
Radiator Springs, go over to Disneyland for awhile, and go back to California
Adventure when the time frame opens up.
I'm telling you, learn to work the FastPass system!
Rider Swap:
Rider Swap is a great way for parents with young children
that want to get in a few thrill rides.
Simply ask a Cask Member at the beginning of the line for a Rider Swap
Pass. (We've never done this, so
I'm unsure where you get the pass, before the ride or after.) After one parent
and an older child ride the rider "swaps" with the other parent and
one other person and they get to skip the line. It really works well.
The older child can even ride both times with both parents. Win!
Popular Rides:
Peter Pan, Mr. Toad's, Pirates of the Caribbean are ALWAYS
popular. Try to do those first, or
early in the am. Do Space Mountain
or The Matterhorn during a parade or fireworks. The lines tend to be shorter then. Do kiddy rides at night when the families with little ones
have gone back to the hotels.
Wet Rides:
Always plan on doing these rides early on a hot day so you
can dry off. Do them multiple
times in a row, get the wet part of the day out of the way. Buy some cheap ponchos at the dollar
store and then toss them afterwards.
Use a freezer Ziploc to put your camera and wallet in for the ride. Bring a pair of flip-flops and change
into them just for the wet rides.
I can’t walk all day in flip-flops. But walking around in wet tennis shoes is horrible. Take your shoes off, another use for
those freezer bags, slip your flip-flops on for the ride, and you’re good to go
afterwards!
Balloons:
If you break a balloon or even just find a broken balloon on
the ground, take it to any balloon vendor for a free replacement. I dare you to find anything on the
ground at Disneyland. Trash is
picked up before it hits the ground it seems.
Smoking:
Smoking is allowed inside Disneyland & California Adventure, but only in designated areas
in:
Disney California Adventure:
Journals For Kids:
Free Beads at New Orleans Square:
Head on over to New Orleans Square when the bands are
playing, the beads are usually thrown out by cast members and are a fun treat.
If you have a child that is remotely into Star Wars, then
you must try to get them into the Jedi Training Academy. A live show with over 20 kids selected,
these padawans learn the ways of the Jedi with training light sabers. They even fight Darth Vader. So cool! Tips for getting your child selected: Wear a Star Wars shirt; have them jump up and down. Wave a sign that says: “It’s My Birthday.” Go multiple times. My goal for this year is to get Gabriel
on stage for this.
Flattened Pennies:
Bring quarters and pennies for the flattened coin
machines. These make great, cheap
keepsakes. They also sell books to
keep them in. "MouseWait" app for iPhone has a full list of all the machines in the parks. I'd like to get one
from every machine at some point this year. I also saw that there are some special flattened quarter machines. Must do a few of those!
Glow Sticks:
Bring a cheap tube of glow sticks. Trust me you will thank
me for this one! When it gets dark Disneyland has tons of light up toys that can really add up. The Dollar Store usually has a great selection of glow items.
Souvenirs:
Buy Disney items ahead of time at Wal-Mart or on line.
Surprise your kids at the hotel.
Disney Store online is having a great
sale right now.
Don't buy clothes
at Disneyland, you can find Disney licensed apparel lots of places.
Be prepared for
cold weather at night, they turn up the AC by their sweaters to boost sales.
I swear, it's a fact.
Souvenirs For Kids:
I've heard of this tip, which sounds especially good if you
have multiple children. Set a
souvenir limit for each child and load onto Disney Gift Cards. That way they can keep track of what
they spend, and you'll have to deal with less cash and keeping track of who
spent how much.
Food:
Bring food, bring food, bring food.
We bring granola bars, beef jerky, goldfish,
pretzels, pop chips, grapes, apples,
Go Go Applesauce, anything easy to pack and carry.
Heck, make some PB & Js. You will
get hungry, and if you have to stop to buy food every time, this will cost time
and money.
Waiting in line is a
great place to get a snack in, what else are you going to do?
We usually only try to do one meal in the park.
Our favorite restaurant is
The Plaza Inn.
You can get a pot roast or
fried chicken meal with mashed potatoes and green beans for around $16.00.
My son and I split one.
We like it because it's real food, not
gross heavy park food.
This is
also a great place to watch the fireworks if you time it correctly.
All menus and restaurant descriptions are
posted online. You can make reservations,
which is always a good idea at the more popular restaurants, Ariel’s Grotto
(California Adventure) and The Blue Bayou.
Have a food game plan.
Figure out which meal(s) you want to buy in the park and plan to eat
there at non-peak times.
We eat
breakfast at the hotel, pack snacks, and buy a meal inside.
I've been told that we have to get a Pineapple Whip from
outside The Tiki Room. We haven't
done that yet, it's on our list.
Water:
Bring water, bring water, bring water. In the past, we have brought multiple
bottles of water, carried some, and put some in a locker. In the future I think that we will
each carry our own re useable bottle and fill up at restaurants. Any restaurant will give you free ice
water OR hot water. Bring a
hot/cold water bottle and some instant coffee, tea bags or hot coco for cold weather!
Ziplocs:
Your best friend at Disneyland. I put my camera & phone in one on wet rides, band-aids,
snacks, souvenirs, anything. Can’t
have too many Ziplocs. I usually
have a few freezer and sandwich-sized bags on me.
Disney Trading Pins:
If you go for the pin craze, which I did, be careful with
your special pins.
I bought one
commemorating our anniversary, very special, and then my son's pin fell off his
lanyard.
We found it, and then I
learned they sell "locking pin backs."
I immediately got some for our special pins.
Other than that, we bought a bunch of
pins on eBay for about a $1 a pin.
Now we just spend money on one pin there to commemorate that trip.
You can trade pins with other guests
and certain cast members.
In fact
the cast members have to trade with you.
Here is some
Pin Trading Etiquette.
Strollers:
I've never taken a small child to Disneyland, but I would
think this is a must. Either bring
yours or rent one, although they are first come first serve, same with wheelchairs and scooters. Everyone leaves
their strollers with food, blankets, baby bags, etc… in "stroller
parking," no one touches them. I
wouldn't leave your camera or valuables there of course. A great place for your child to rest and sleep when they
need to, not to mention, a great way to lug all of your stuff around.
History:
Disneyland is filled with history. Research it a bit and as you walk around you'll appreciate
it more. Mr. Disney truly loved
education and history, which is evident throughout the park.
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln:
Don't pass this up, it's too good.
We try to do it every time.
A great attraction to save for when everyone needs a rest
inside from the heat or cold.
Hidden Mickeys:
Hidden Mickeys are everywhere.
Searching for them can be a fun waiting in line game for
kids.
For a list,
this book seems to be the best. Speaking of things to do in line,
check this book out.
Sunglasses:
You have a high chance of losing these on a ride.
Do what I did and leave the expensive
Diors at home.
I found a cute pair
for $5 at Target.
Perfect for Disneyland,
and I didn't care if anything happened to them.
Tired Kids and Feet:
Plan some things to do when the kids are tired or you need a rest. Fireworks and parades are obvious choices, but both parks offer a variety of small shows throughout the day. They will hand you a list of performances as you enter the park. Other things to do when you need a rest, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Captain Eo, the Monorail and the Disneyland Railroad. The railroad is a great place to take a 30 minute rest and take in the sites, you also get a little bit of history of the park as you travel around. If you're trying to make it all day/night, make sure to let them rest when they want or they'll never make it. Gabriel is usually DONE by the end of the night.
Utilize Your Smart Phone:
Some apps for my iPhone that I found and love are:
*MouseWait - Gives you wait times on rides and attractions,
also a daily crowd index. You'll
get hooked like me and check the crowd even when you aren't there. ;-) This app also has a "restaurants nearby" feature, lists of every flattened coin machine in the park, and much more very useful information.
*DL Maps - Map of Disneyland
*Story and Disney Memories HD- Apps to add Disney Magic to
your photos and videos.
*Disneyland Mobile Magic - This is the newest app I have
downloaded. I haven't gotten a
chance to use it, as special features unlock when you are in the park. Reviews say this is THE app to
have.
Buy A Portable Phone Charger:
You will love me for this if you're like me and use your
phone to take pictures and videos.
I found an awesome rechargeable charger at Kohl's for $20. We did go through our power during the
day. It was so nice to get in line
and plug in my phone.
Warm Clothes:
Mittens are a great thing to have in cold weather. I also saw families with blankets that
they just wrapped around themselves.
These are great at parades and fireworks to claim your spot and make the
cold ground a little nicer to sit on.
For the Disney Enthusiast:
Just ask a Cast Member to ride in the Wheel House of The Mark Twain Riverboat. This is an awesome experience that is totally on my to do list. You get to sign the guest book and even get a certificate commemorating the day.
Another item on my to do list is to ride in the Presidential Railroad Car, "The Lilly Belle."
If you’d like to ride the Lilly Belle on your next trip, here’s what you need to know. I found this useful information
here.
- Arrive at the park before it opens and proceed directly to the 2nd floor of the Disneyland Railroad Station.
- Wait outside, in line, until you hear the official park opening announcement.
- When the Railroad Cast Members arrive, ask who is taking the reservations for the Lilly Belle Car (if it is available).
- Arrive early for your scheduled departure time.
You should also remember the following…
- The Lilly Belle does not operate everyday, nor is it available all day long. Only a few trips are available each day.
- Guests must reserve their ride with a Disneyland Cast Member and
must also be escorted in the car with a Cast Member (Club 33 members can
ride at anytime, unescorted).
- Rides are round-trip from the Main Street Train Station.
- The escorting Cast Member will share the history of the car while you travel.
Shopping:
Stores on Main Street and in Downtown Disney sometimes have
different/later hours than the park.
Save your shopping for later, although the stores do tend to be crowded
at this time. I like to shop as I
go as each store in each land is different. We do usually save Downtown Disney
for the end of the night, and take our time leaving.
Closing Hours:
Let's say the park closes at 11:00pm. You can get in an hour long line at
10:55pm! Make use of this, make
sure you get there before they close the line, and it's like getting extra free
time in the park.
California Adventure:
I don’t have nearly as many tips for California Adventure as
I do for Disneyland. I hope that
changes by the end of the year.
Bug's Land:
Make sure to catch
“It’s Tough To Be A Bug.” It’s a 3D film and live show in Bug’s
Land.
My son is 10 and he loved
it, made me watch it twice.
It's
fun, cute and interactive, another great place to rest tired feet.
Cars Land:
Free Buttons In Cars Land:
In Cars Land ask Cast Members for free buttons. Some have them to hand out. Some cast members will make a game with
children by asking them Cars trivia to earn the buttons.
Radiator Springs Racers:
As we all know, it’s all about Radiator Springs Racers.
Period.
FastPasses for this ride often run out by 9:30am!
First thing in California Adventure is
to get a FastPass for this ride.
Sometimes the line for the FastPass is 30 minutes!
Get the FastPass, and then if the wait
isn’t long, wait in the regular line, and save those FastPasses for another run
when it gets busier. When we went in mid November the wait was only 45 minutes, by far our longest wait of the trip. I have heard during peak days the wait can be hours long. I have also heard that is a totally difference experience at night. That's on our to do list.
Alcohol at Cone 3 in Cozy Cone Motel:
California Adventure and Downtown Disney are the only places
you can buy an alcoholic beverage at Disneyland Resort. Cone 3 in Cars Land is my favorite
where they sell Skyy Vodka and Lemonade for $8. ;-) You are
allowed to walk around the park with these drinks, but the PhotoPass
photographers will ask you to put them down before posing for a picture. Funny, huh?
World of Color:
I thought this was really cool! Disney has recently added interactive features where you can
upload pictures of yourself ahead of time and they may be used during the
show. (Watch for features like
this coming to multiple attractions in the coming years.) You need to get a FastPass for this
attraction. This is the only
attraction that you can get a FastPass for that DOES NOT prevent you from
getting other FastPasses during the day for rides. You may get a little wet if you're up close, and it's pretty
much a standing area thing. There
are a few restaurants including Ariel's Grotto that have special viewing areas
that come with a dinner. I don't
think these are that much better though, so maybe something to look into in
person before you spend the money on the dinner & show package.
Downtown Disney:
FREE DINNER at Tortilla Joe's:
Join this
restaurant club, and for your birthday they will
send you a $30 gift certificate.
One of the restaurants that accepts this GC is Tortilla Joe's in
Downtown Disney.
I think you have
to be over 21 to register for this and the GC says that you must present your
ID.
The GC is good for 60 days
after your birthday.
We have
already received Jason's $30 for his birthday this month!
I plan to use mine in April
when we go for Gabriel's birthday.
For the LEGO Lover:
Stop by the LEGO store at Downtown Disney. You can stay as
long as you like, playing with unique LEGO shapes and racing LEGO cars. This is
THE MOST AWESOME LEGO STORE we have ever seen, and we've been to LEGOLAND. Save your money for this store, there
is an entire pick a brick wall.
Truly awesome.
Disabilites:
Do you or your child have a disability? If so, check ahead of time with
Disneyland for what you need to do for line passes. The rules have recently changed. This can be amazing if your child is autistic, in a wheelchair,
or has any sort of disability.
Disney wants to make sure that every guest can enjoy their
experience. I know that skipping
the crowds and the noise is the only way some children could have a magical
experience. Scooters and wheelchairs are rented strictly first come first serve. Not based on true need. I'd bring my own and not count on
Disneyland having one for me to rent.
Well, I guess I can't think of anything else. I'm sure I could if I tried. What do you think? Did I leave anything out? Have a tip for me? I'd love to hear it, please share!
