Disneyland is The Happiest Place On Earth, right? Well, some people might argue that, but I believe it is – IF you do a little bit of preparation. That way you’ll know what you’re in for, and you’ll be able to avoid some of the mistakes others make that keep Disneyland from being as amazing as it can be. Follow a few steps and you’ll be on your way to the best trip you’ve ever had.

1. Find the Perfect Hotel

There are a thousand places to stay that claim to be the best hotel near Disneyland. We might be a little bit biased (no surprises right?), but there are definitely a few things you want to look for. Consider your budget, length of your stay, season you’ll be traveling, and be sure to check for proximity & cost. Once you’ve determined each of these things it will be easier for you to sort through the clutter and find the place that will be perfect for your family.

2. Get Familiar with Your Disney Characters

Nobody wants to offend their child by not knowing which character is their favorite. Even worse, nobody wants a screaming child when they realize they didn’t even know their favorite character existed. You don’t have to watch every movie, but it will mean a lot to your child to know the characters and why they are important.

3. Be Ready to Walk. A Lot.

We’ve seen several accounts of people who walk roughly 10 miles over the course of a long day park hopping at Disneyland. That doesn’t mean everyone walks that much, but as a rule of thumb, you can expect to walk 3/4 of a mile each hour you spend in the park. That means if you spend 5 hours in the park you should be ready to walk 3.5 miles that day.

4. Be Prepared with Food

If you or your children have food allergies, it’s always best to be prepared. But if you’re in that situation, you probably have a great handle on this. I’m talking about hungry children. Hungry children can make an otherwise great day at Disneyland a total mess. I know from experience. The parks allow you to bring outside food and drink, so bring snacks to hold you over until you can find yourself a proper meal. Meal times at the park can get pretty hectic, and lines can be long during the busy seasons.

5. Utilize Disney’s Resources

Disney offers a free Vacation Planning DVD that they will send upon request. There are also Disney Apps you can download to help map out your assault on the parks by providing wait times for popular attractions, GPS-enables park maps, dining guides and more. These are very useful resources a lot of people don’t even know about.

6. Pack Your Own Ponchos

You should always be checking the weather, but once it starts to rain you’ll be glad you brought ponchos. They’re cheap and easy to pack. But if you forget and need to buy them in the park, just be warned they’re subject to availability and they sell at quite a markup.

7. Study the Maps Before You Go

I mentioned an app that has the maps available to you anytime, but they’re also available online. Find the quickest route from A to B, find places to eat, restrooms, where your favorite characters are and more. It might seem like a lot of work, but when you have a hungry child or find yourself in desperate need of a restroom, you’ll be glad you did.

 

Can you think of anything we missed? Let us know in the comments and we might mention you in a post in the future!