Disneyland Resort Guide

Where to stay and what to do at “The Happiest Place on Earth.”

STAY

THINGS TO DO

EAT

I have many thoughts about where to stay and what to do at “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Along with my daughter, I have visited every Disney Resort around the world. I also grew up in Orange County, meaning I have been to Disneyland Resort in California more times than I can count.

We are lucky enough to live just a car ride away. I know it’s a bucket list destination for many people and families, so I created this guide. My goal is to help you maximize your Disneyland Resort California visit by sharing tips and tricks that I’ve picked up over many visits to the parks and the Disneyland Resort Hotels.

Disneyland Hotels

If visiting Disneyland Resort is a major stop on your California vacation, I recommend staying close to the parks. If you want to enjoy an immersive Disney experience, stay in one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels. There are three: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, Disneyland Hotel, and Pixar Place Hotel.

They offer guests perks like character breakfasts, themed decor, the Extra Magic Hour, preferred access to experiences like makeovers for kids at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, wake-up calls by favorite Disney characters, and easy access to the parks. Guests at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa can actually walk right into Disney’s California Adventure Park via an entrance near the pool area.

There are also a lot of great hotels near Disneyland Resort that will generally cost less to book but are still close to the parks. Nearby hotels that meet quality guidelines laid out by Disney are called Good Neighbor Hotels. There are about 50 Good Neighbor Hotels, and 11 of them are just across the street from the parks.

Hotels near Disneyland Resort

Best Hotels Near Disneyland Resort

Find a list of Anaheim hotels near Disneyland Resort including major brands, suite hotels, and hotels across the street from Disneyland.

Fun Activities and Events

There are many things to do at Disneyland Resort beyond riding the rides, but like all families, we have favorites. Here are some of our top picks. I hope this list makes your visit even better.

Get the ears — You won’t regret it. Once upon a time, the Mad Hatter haberdashers would only stitch real names on, but they’re usually happy to get creative these days.

Ride the Disneyland Railroad — Taking a relaxing grand circle tour around the park is a great way to begin and end your day, or to take a load off when you get overheated.

Spot the Hidden Mickeys — Disney mega fans make searching for and recording their sightings part of every trip, and it’s a lot of fun. There are over 100 of them, and if you’re impatient, check out my list of Hidden Mickeys.

Take a VIP tour — This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime option because it’s not cheap, but experiencing Disneyland as a VIP is pretty special. You’ll get insider info about your favorite rides and preferred seating for shows and at parades, along with front-of-line ride access for as long as your tour lasts.

View of the Incredicoaster roller coaster and Pixar Pal-A-Round ferris wheel over the water.

Is Disney MaxPass Worth It?

Find out whether Disney MaxPass is worth adding to your Disneyland ticket so that you can manage FASTPASS selections on a mobile phone.

Where and What to Eat

There is so much to eat at Disneyland Resort. I love the old standbys like the Dole Whip and the exotic small plates at The Tropical Hideaway, but there are plenty of delicious sit-down options, too.

One of my favorites is The Blue Bayou in Disneyland. Guests dine on a terrace overlooking the Pirates of the Caribbean. The Carthay Circle Restaurant in the Carthay Circle Theater (a beautiful replica of the theater that premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) offers guests a surprisingly lovely fine dining experience — the perfect way to unwind after a long day at the park.

Disney’s California Adventure has great dining, too. Pixar Pier, in particular, has tons of counter service options and the Lamplight Lounge, which serves gastropub cuisine in an atmosphere inspired by all your Pixar favorites.

Just don’t make the mistake of thinking you can walk in and get a table. Many sit-down dining experiences at Disneyland parks are booked weeks or months in advance. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for Disneyland character dining.

More Disneyland Tips

When to Visit

The best time to visit Disneyland if your goal is to avoid crowds is during the middle of the week in January, February, and March. But if you want extended hours, fireworks displays, parades, and shows, the best time to visit Disneyland will be during the summer and holidays.

You don’t have to map out every minute of your itinerary, but one of my top Disneyland tips is that you should have a loose idea of how you’ll spend your time before your trip. After all, there are 50 attractions and rides, plus many shows, restaurants, and shops in Disneyland Park alone, along with more at Disney California Adventure. Think about what you want to do, eat, and see the most, and build your day around dining reservations, Lightning Lane, and shows.

You can absolutely buy discount Disneyland tickets (click the link for info and options), but be careful because scammers are out there. Make sure you are buying from a Disneyland Authorized Ticket Seller. Never buy partially used passes or try to “rent” someone else’s pass.

Want to breeze through security? The easiest way to get through the security line fast is to not be carrying a bag. The Harbor Boulevard security lines even have a special express line for guests without bags. If you must carry a bag into the parks, have it open and make sure you stash anything metal on your person (keys, belt, etc.) in that bag before you get to the front of the line.

It’s also possible to enter Disneyland early. You can take advantage of Early Entry if staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel. Just be sure to check the calendar because each park has an early entry on different days of the week.

Tickets and Passes

Lightning Lane will save your sanity, so add it to your ticket. It will help you avoid the longest lines by giving a time to join a separate and shorter queue.

Classic kid rides like Peter Pan are usually most busy in the afternoons. If you’re worried that your little ones will get antsy in line, plan to hit these rides first thing in the morning when they have the shortest wait times. The wait times are shortest for all rides across parks after 5 p.m. on Sunday.

DISNEYLAND, DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE®… OR BOTH?

It isn’t a question of Disneyland versus Disney California Adventure. I recommend visiting both Disneyland Resort parks over at least two days, but it is doable if you must hop between both on the same day. You may be dreaming of enjoying that old-fashioned Disneyland ambiance, but Disney California Adventure has come a long way and has a lot of great rides.

If you can really only do one, then the right choice will depend on what’s most important to you. Disneyland has the best rides for families with younger kids, as well as classic rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and The Haunted Mansion. Disney’s California Adventure has the more thrilling rides — like the Incredicoaster — but nothing here is as intense as the coasters you’ll find at other California theme parks.

Need to Know

LANGUAGE
English

CURRENCY
US Dollar

TRANSPORTATION
ART (Anaheim Resort Transit) offers affordable shuttle service throughout the 1100-acre Anaheim Resort District, including between area hotels and Disneyland Resort.

BEST TIME TO VISIT
Weekdays during the school year, avoiding major holidays, is the best time to visit Disneyland.

Disneyland Resort