This post we talk about some helpful hints for Disneyland first timers. The Disneyland® Resort in California is one of the greatest vacation spots in the world. Its one of those amusement parks that people of all ages can enjoy and very few grow tired of visiting. Disneyland® Park is a massive 85 acres and Disney California Adventure® Park is 67 acres, so as you can imagine, there is a lot of ground to cover. When visiting Disneyland® Park or its counterpart, Disney California Adventure® Park, you know you’ll be in for a treat and a special adventure. Between the two there are so many different themed lands, rides and restaurants that it can be overwhelming for a first time visitor. Other theme parks like Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain may not require too much pre-planning when visiting but if you have a Disneyland® Park trip coming up and you or your party are first timers, it is best to come up with a plan. Doing a little research on what the park offers and what you should and should not bring will save you from mindless walking, save you money and prevent sore shoulders from packing things you may not need. You’ll also feel a sense of calm knowing that you didn’t forget something as important as your camera at home or back at your hotel. (Hint hint: By staying at Grand Legacy At The Park you’d be able to easily walk back to your hotel room in the event that you forget something or for an afternoon nap.) Get your pen and paper ready because we have created a list of tips for all of our first Disneyland first timers.
Tip 1: Buying Tickets Beforehand
Simply put, buying your tickets before you get to the park saves you a lot of time. The line at the park can get pretty long so buying online or at your hotel’s front desk allows you the convenience of not wasting valuable park time in a line that is completely avoidable. Did you know we sell Disneyland® Resort in California tickets at our front desk? Although there are no special discounts you receive for purchasing your ticket(s) early, there are several deals available if you plan on getting 2-5 day park-hopper tickets. Mouse Savers has a list of all the available deals for you to browse through to see if any fits your occasion. The last ticket tip: Do not buy your tickets off of Craigslist or Ebay. There may be a chance that the tickets are invalid.
Tip 2: Packing
Packing is important for those first timers that are traveling long distance to visit Disneyland and for those that live in the area. Overall the weather is pleasant in California and Anaheim experiences about 280 days of sunshine a year but it is best to always check the forecast ahead of time. Sometimes it can get unusually hot and, although not too often, it will rain and get pretty cold. Eating at the different restaurants inside the park is all a part of the experiences but packing your own snacks will give you extra energy to conquer the park and will help you save a few dollars in between those meals. Food is allowed inside as long as it is not in a plastic cooler or a cooler on wheels or stored in glass. Also, if you plan on packing sandwiches make sure they are pre-made. You will also want to bring refillable water bottles. Free ice water is available at the quick service restaurants’ soda fountains and is a life saver, especially on a hot day.
If you are traveling with small children it is very important to bring your own stroller. You can rent single and double strollers at the park or purchase one at a near by location like Target but there is nothing like saving money from bringing your own. Your strollers will come in handy for a sleepy child or one that likes to wander off. It will also act as a traveling storage unit for purses or backpacks, jackets, souvenirs or anything else your family may not want to hold. You’ll be glad you brought one with you.
A small souvenir tip is to buy your Disney® souvenirs beforehand at Target, the Disney® Store in Downtown Disney® District or anywhere else that sells Disney® items outside the parks and wait until you get in the park to give them to your kids, family, or friends with you. The souvenirs in the park can be pretty pricey so this is a nice tip for those that are visiting on a budget.
Via www.disneylandtouristblog.com
Tip 3: Dining
As mentioned before, dining at Disneyland® Park is all a part of the experience. The best thing you can do if you want to enjoy a sit down restaurant is to make reservations to avoid any extra wait time. You especially will want to make reservations if you plan on character dining. Dining reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance and you can make them by calling (714) 781-3463.
Tip 4: Download Apps
Disney® Mobile Magic: The official Disneyland® Park app that is great for checking ride wait times.
MouseWait: This app is similar to Disney® Mobile Magic plus its a food guide with menus, restaurant reviews, wait times, hours, events, showtimes, California Adventure, Downtown Disney + EVERYTHING you need for your next trip to the Disneyland Resort!
RideMax: The app to help you spend less time in Disneyland® Park’s long lines.
Lots To Do In Line: Disneyland: Waiting in those long lines can be boring but this app aides in maximizing your fun in line by bringing you trivia questions and treasures to find throughout the park.
Things To Keep In Mind
Fireworks/Parades
One of the many spectacular things about Disneyland® Park
is the fireworks. The fireworks can be seen from anywhere in the park and from surrounding hotels but if you want to see the entire show you have to be facing Sleeping Beauty’s Castle from the front or anywhere in Main Street, U.S.A.® area. For the very best view outside of the parks, you would go up to our rooftop lounge, The Fifth, opening soon! Another Disneyland® Park perk is the parades. There are two ways to view them: either by securing a good spot early or by trying to fill in empty spots closer to the time of the parade.
Single Rider
Many may not know this but there are special lines for single riders who act as seat fillers. This option is great for adults or older children who want to skip the line and don’t mind riding alone. Not all rides have this option available but here is a list of them that do.
Child Swap
As magical and fun as Disneyland® Park is there will still be some kids who may be too scared to ride some of the rides or some who are simply to sleepy to ride; this is where the Child Swap pass comes into play. When you enter a ride queue, just tell one of the Cast Members that you would like a Child Swap pass. This pass allows one parent to ride alone while the other stays with the child. Once that parent comes back the pass is handed off and the parent who stayed with the child is able to bypass the line for their turn to ride.
Arriving Early
It may be in your best interest to arrive to the park at least 30 minutes before it opens. This way you will be able to knock out twice as many rides in the first hour compared to the rest of your time there. Make sure to account for the time it takes to park and actually walk to the park. When it comes to parking , take a picture of where you parked your car! After a long day of walking and being tired from being on your feet for hours, it can be easy to forget where you’ve parked. Snapping a quick picture before walking away will save you time and energy when its time to head out. Of course, if you stay at Grand Legacy At The Park you will not have to worry about this because you would simply leave your car parked at the hotel and walk across the street to the main gate of Disneyland® Resort in California.
These are just a few simple tips for our Disneyland® first timers. We hope this list has helpful and wish you a magical Disneyland® Park experience!
