30 Tips for a Wonderful Disneyland Vacation

Disneyland, it is known to be “the happiest place on earth,” a world where fantasy and excitement can make all your problems disappear (at least for a little while!). How could you not be happy seeing all your favorite Disney movies come to life? It’s the one place where everyone can feel like a kid again. Both kids and adults alike flock here to enjoy the youthful ambiance.

As one of the most visited tourist attractions in the US, you can expect heavy crowds throughout the year. Despite the high prices, crazy crowds, and exhausting endless walking, a vacation here is an incredible experience which will lead you with a lifetime of memories. I would definitely add it to your Southern California bucket list.

I didn’t take my first vacation to Disney World until my late 20’s and Disneyland in my early 30’s. You are never too old to explore the wonder and exciting of the world’s best theme park. Since my first visit, I have returned to both parks many times. After many a visit, you learn the best ways to make your trip smoother, more affordable, and more fun. Enjoy my guide and have a wonderful vacation!

1. Order tickets online

You will save time by not waiting an hour plus at the gate. There really is no discount for one day tickets online, although you will save money the more days you buy. For example (as of 2026), a 2 day ticket starts at $168 a day, while a 5 day ticket starts at $104 a day. The more days you purchase, the more you save. In my opinion, the 3 day park pass is the best value, saving you some money, while giving you plenty of time to see everything worth seeing.

2. Arrive right at opening

Park hours vary from 8am-10am based on the date/time of year. The park is not as busy for the first few hours, meaning you can use this time to get on the popular rides that have the longest wait time later in the day. It’s a Small World, The Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and Thunder Mountain are all quite popular. In my opinion, they are also the best rides in the park. Just be sure to get on them early on before the insane afternoon crowds hit.

3. Consider purchasing a 3 day ticket

A 3 day ticket will give you enough time to see just about everything worth seeing without feeling rushed. Another advantage of this ticket option is that you will receive one Magic Morning ticket (be aware that this is only offered on select dates so check the calendar), which can be used to get into the park an hour early. During this time, you will get on a lot of rides as there will not be nearly as many crowds! I recommend heading straight over to Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

4. Avoid park hopper tickets

First off, the 1 Park per day tickets are cheaper. Second, it is less stressful and saves time to visit only 1 park per day. There is so much to do at Disneyland that wasting time to get over to the other park (California Adventure) is really not worth the time. If you plan to visit California Adventure too, plan for an entire day instead of wasting unnecessary time and money hopping around.

5. Look into CityPass for discounts on other SoCal attractions

CityPass is a great deal if you plan on also visiting Legoland and Seaworld. You will save a bundle off regular admission tickets. As of 2024, you can save over $369 per child on 2 and 3 day tickets. You will also receive one Magic Morning hour early admission to Disneyland.

6. Plan your visit during a non peak period

The benefits of scheduling your vacation during a non peak period include fewer crowds and cheaper tickets. Typically, most of January, February, May, and September and October weekdays are the least busy times at the park. Therefore, this is when you will be able to take advantage of lower priced value tickets. December, especially the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and the majority of the summer season, is typically the park’s busiest season. With so many Socal residents who can take advantage of the local deals, I am not surprised that summer weekends are always packed.

7. Consider a weekday visit

Weekends will always be crowded, more so than Disney World, as many local residents have the annual pass. Disneyland is just a quick drive away for much of L.A. county and the pass is a fantastic value (I know I would have one if I still lived in L.A.!). December will be one of the most crowded times as both locals and tourists will be at the park to enjoy the holiday decor and festivities.

8. Get tickets to the Oogie Boogie Bash

My favorite month to visit the park is October. Crowd levels are down, temps are slightly cooler, and there is a lot of festive seasonal decor. Mickey’s Halloween party (now Oogie Boogie Bash) is a fantastic time for Halloween and fall lovers. As a big fan of the holiday, I give this event an A+ (although in all honesty, the WDW version is even better). The special event includes seasonal themed rides, tasty Halloween treats, trick or treating stations, and a spirited Halloween themed parade & fireworks display.

This event requires a special ticket (book early as they sell out every year) after the normal park closes. You get to enter the park 3 hours prior to the event. At this time, the park will seem loaded as both regular daytime guests and those attending the party are crowding the park.

However, once the regular park traffic leaves, the crowds begin to disperse as guests enjoy both the rides and festive Halloween attractions. This means, despite the limited time, you will still get on a lot of rides. In fact, I have never experienced a shorter wait time for rides. Popular rides like Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion had only a 20 minute wait compared to several hours, and most other rides a 5 minute or less wait. It was amazing to be able to get on dozens of rides within just a few short hours! As an example of how short the wait lines are during this event, we got on Thunder Mountain (one of the park’s most popular rides) 3 times within 15 minutes.

9. Save gift shop purchases until the end of the day

It’s tempting to spend hours strolling around the World of Disney store, as it greets you as soon as you step off the tram. You will want to use all your park hours at the park, not shopping! As this massive gift shop is open well after the park closes (until 1am), you can browse as much as you like when you are ready to leave the park.

This store is amazing for Disney fans – they basically carry every souvenir you could ever imagine. I love just browsing around. It’s a great place to shop for holiday gifts too. Also be aware that you can have your items shipped rather than lug them around the parks all day. Shipping price is based on the cost of the item, not the weight.

10. Be prepared for sudden temperature drops at night

Temperatures in the L.A. area tends to vary more drastically from day to night than the East coast. While it could be 70 and sunny during the day, as soon as night falls it will feel really chilly, especially due to the lack of humidity. While you could be happily wearing shorts and a tank top by day, at night you will be reaching for a sweater. Instead of buying a pricey sweatshirt on the fly, pack one in your backpack. If you get cold, it will be easily accessible. If not, it doesn’t take up much space.

11. Wear a camelbak for easy water access

A camelbak is basically a hands free hydration product where a hydration bladder is put into a backpack and you can drink from a little tube. In a dry climate where you will be walking around the entire day, drinking extra water is a must. Instead of stopping for multiple water runs, simply wear this backpack. It comes with a few extra side pockets too which can be used for storing your wallet, car keys, sunblock, etc.

Asides from your day at the park, this backpack will come in handy for any recreational activities like hiking and biking. If you are looking for something a bit bigger to store clothing items, more food, etc. than I recommend a quality hiking backpack. I use the Tempest 20 (pictured below) as it has a dedicated space for a hydration bladder and lots of room to store anything I need.

Learn more about the Disney bag policy

12. Skip the Starbucks

It is very tempting to stop for an espresso drink as you pass right by the store. It’s a big attractive location and very hard to pass up on if you are a coffee lover. However, from personal experience, I recommend skipping the coffee or you may end up spending too much time looking for a bathroom. Plus, coffee is a diuretic, and you want to be drinking extra water! I stick to one cup in the morning and then drink water for most of the day.

13. Go on water rides mid-afternoon

The best time to go on water rides is during the middle of the day. The morning and night will be too cold. Night is even worse as you have no sun to help dry you off. Splash Mountain at Disneyland and Grizzly River fun at California Adventure are the only 2 water rides. Both are okay but not the best in my opinion. If you wait too long, you will be freezing your butt off for the remainder of the night. Based on my own personal, this is a very uncomfortable experience!! Update: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has replaced Splash Mountain (still a log flume ride so you will get soaked).

14. Sun protection is a must!

Most of the day you will be standing outside in lines with no shade. Since it is sunny almost everyday (less so during the summer season), you will want to apply sunscreen so you are not fried like a lobster the next day unable to move from your hotel room bed.

15. Concentrate on the best rides

The best rides in the park (my opinion) are Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain, and Indiana Jones Adventure. You really want to make time for these ones. If you are severely limited on time, I would say these are the top picks. Next up for me would be Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Mad Tea Party, Jungle Cruise, Davy Crockett, and Peter Pan. Also, It’s a Small World is worth at least one go, even though the song is super annoying and sure to be stuck in your head all day (note – the ride here is much longer & better than DisneyWorld!).

16. Skip the following rides

Some rides are just not worth the wait, especially if you intend on only purchasing a 1 day ticket. These include Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (a definite no if you are claustrophobic), Astro Orbiter, Autopia, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and Mark Twain Riverboat.

17. Skip the sit down restaurants

In my experience, sit down restaurants take up too much of your park time. If you do decide to eat out, I recommend scanning menus on the Disneyland website in advance so you do not have to walk around the park all day searching for something you like. My favorite quick service restaurant is Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland. The line is never too long and you get your food in under 10 minutes. They have a small, yet diverse menu which includes burgers, chicken sandwiches, and even a fantastic veggie wrap. Plus, the fries here are amazing!

On a side note, if you have any food allergies, you can bring snacks into the park. Our bags were checked with food in them and we had no problems. Additionally, many of the restaurants now offer allergy-friendly menus and chefs/servers are trained on how to handle guest’s special diet requests. If you absolutely insist on a sit down restaurant, you must make reservations in advance (sometimes a few months ahead!).

18. Download the Wait Times App

This handy free wait times app provides regularly updated info on wait times for all rides within the park. It is really convenient to have on hand as you can plan your day around the wait times and not feel like you are wasting your pricey ticket standing in line all day. From my experience, the times are pretty accurate the majority of the time. You can download the Wait Times App for free on the iTunes website.

19. Avoid the following rides if you have motion sickness

Although almost any ride will affect those with serious motion sickness, the following rides will be especially problematic: Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party, Autopia, and Astro Orbiter. A few people I know with motion sickness swear that ginger root pills help.

20. Book an on-site resort for special perks

The 3 Disneyland resort options are: Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel, and Paradise Pier Hotel. Benefits of staying at an on-site resort which make up for the higher cost, include an hour early admission to the parks, being within walking distance of the parks, and fun extra amenities like pools and waterslides. Pricing starts from $260+ to $400+ per night. It’s super pricey but probably worth it in the long run for the convenience.

21. Stay as close to the park as possible

Staying at a hotel as close as possible to the park means that you do not have to waste your time driving in the hideous Los Angeles traffic. It’s a really frustrating experience let me tell you. One time while we were staying in L.A. for a wedding (just 40 minutes away), it took us more than 2 hours with the traffic to get to the park!

After spending an exhausting day walking around the theme park, it was difficult to drive home so late. There are many non-Disney hotels located within walking distance or just a short shuttle ride away. Check out the list of Good Neighbor Hotels.

22. Book a hotel with a free breakfast

A free breakfast will save you both time and money. Starting your day off with a full breakfast means that you do not have to waste the morning seeking food, meaning more time for rides and fun! Plus, the food is so expensive at the parks, therefore, the less stops, the better.

The Embassy Suites South Hotel offers a free cooked-to-order breakfast, complimentary cocktails, and an outdoor pool and hot tub. It is located just a mile away and a shuttle to the parks is available for just a small fee. Take a look at the full list of hotels nearby which offer a complimentary breakfast.

23. Check hotel websites for special offers

Most of the time, you can save money and receive a few extra bonuses by booking some type of package deal. These deals can include a variety of attractive amenities such as a free night if you book a certain number, resort credits, special spa packages, and just about anything else.

24. Book the flight and hotel in advance

For the best prices, always purchase airfare and lodging way in advance. Not only will you receive the best deal, but you will also cut down on the stress associated with last minute planning.

25. Leave the selfie stick at home

Thankfully, they are not allowed (I personally love this policy!). Thank goodness as they really distract from other guests’ park experience. Bring a phone or slim, lightweight camera if you want to take pictures.

26. Book a flight with Southwest

They almost always offer the best deals. Plus, you can check 2 bags for free! Sure, there is less leg room and less amenities, however, I will take it for the cheaper prices and 2 free bags! Allegiant also offers cheap flights, but only flies from a limited range of cities. Update: Sadly, the free bag policy ended in May of 2025. Regardless, they still offer the best flight prices. Rapid Rewards credit hard holders still receive one free checked bag.

27. Have a packing checklist handy

Write down everything you would possibly need for a trip so you do not forget anything. Bringing with anything you would possibly need is smarter than paying for overpriced items at the park/resort. I start a list at least a week before a trip so I can add to it as needed. I never want to spend time on a vacation shopping around for essentials which I could have packed at home.

28. Keep your suitcase organized for a stress free trip

Keeping everything organized and neat leads to a stress-free travel experience. I always bring with travel sized version of everything. I recommend a TSA approved kit – I like Burt Bees kit which contains all sorts of moisturizing products which are great after being in the dry air. Also, a hanging cosmetics bag works really well in hotel rooms as there are compartments to neatly store all your products plus a hook to hang it conveniently on the door. Packing cubes are also a must as they save space and keep all your clothes separated in their own compartments.

29. Wear gym shoes to the park

Although athletic gym shoes may not be the most fashionable, they are way more comfortable than sandals. By the end of the night, your sandals will be killing your feet and you will be wishing for the gym shoes. I’ve gotten so many painful blisters after walking around in sandals all day – it is just not worth it. I also recommend athletic apparel as you will sweating and basically doing a workout with all your walking! I easily put in 10 miles a day – now that’s a workout!

30. Be aware of ride closures

It’s a good idea to check the park website for ride closures. Some like Davy Crockett seem to always be closed, while others like The Haunted Mansion close for a few weeks every August to get ready for the special Halloween themed version of the ride. Others are periodically closed for refurbishment. I reocmmend checking the schedule to avoid any disappointment.

Park details

The address for Disneyland is: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802.

Parking is $40 per car. Preferred parking (closer to elevators) is $60. Parking opens 60 min prior to the park.

A Limited number of electric charging stations (chargepoint card required) are available

Disabled parking available (must have license plate). Wheelchair rentals available to the right of the main entrance.