How to Survive Disneyland

As we explore How To Be in Healthy Relationships–with our dogs, with our significant others, Indy delves into his relationship with . . . Disneyland. 

By Senior Indiana Behr

Two weeks ago, I went to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and I realized I just had to write an article about it. I have tips like how to not spend half your day in line, where to eat, how to save money, and which are the best rides.

Keep this in mind when reading: Disneyland Resort has two parks, Disneyland Park and California Adventure. You need separate tickets to access them, or you can pay extra and get Park Hopper tickets–where from 11:00 a.m. until close you can switch parks as much as you wish. When I say Disneyland, I am referring to the entire resort including both parks, hotels, etc. When I say Disneyland Park, that just means one of the two parks within the resort.

Preparation

There are a few things that you should do before you even start driving to Disneyland. (It’s a two-hour drive from the desert.) Firstly, try to make a plan as early as possible. If you buy tickets at the last minute, it can be more expensive, and you will also have fewer options. Some parks will sell out, or they won’t let you buy a Park Hopper ticket. If you are a California resident, you can usually get a two-day pass for only $83 per person per day (Note: you cannot get a Park Hopper ticket with this). 

There’s one thing you should always get if it’s available, and even last minute; it sells out almost never–Get Genie+ Service. It is $25 per person each day, and it applies to both parks if you have a Park Hopper ticket. At several times throughout the day, you will be able to buy a pass to get in separate shorter lines. If you’re strategic, it’s totally worth it, and you can double the amount of good rides every day.

Planning to go for several days? Then you’ll have to think about hotels. Hotels are much harder and way more expensive to get last minute than park entrance tickets. If you start looking weeks in advance, you will most likely be able to pick any of the three Disneyland resort hotels. If you’re not staying in the resort, there is a list of 58 hotels that are approved by Disney to be of good quality. These hotels are not overpriced, and they are all near the resort–either within walking or bus distance. You can check the list of recommended hotels here. Also, there is a 24-hour IHOP, a McDonald’s, and a Panera immediately outside Disneyland near the off-resort hotels. Keep these in mind if you do not want to spend lots of money to get the often mediocre food inside the parks.

There are three hotels in Disneyland, and all are within a five-minute walk to both parks. One of them is much fancier than the others, yet the others are still very nice, and generally better than those outside the resort. 

Let’s talk about the Disneyland Hotel. The first Disney hotel in the world, and the only one Walt Disney was involved with, it opened just a few months after Disneyland did in 1955. Technically, the hotel expanded a lot over time as demand increased, and eventually some of the original hotel was demolished, and now, none of the original hotel is still there. This hotel is pretty cool. It has a very retro Disney feel, and it has not modernized as much as the rest of Disneyland has, which I think is really fun. You will have to walk through Downtown Disney, essentially an outdoor mall that you do not need tickets for. If you are able to get into Disneyland Park, you can take the Monorail that goes into Tomorrowland –that way you can skip the line at the gate, and you can skip the walk. On the Monorail, you also get some cool narrated facts and sightseeing on the way.

If you’re willing to pay a premium for one of the nicest Disney hotel experiences ever, consider the Grand Californian. This hotel is visually stunning, whether it’s the exterior, lobby, or rooms. There are incredible wood accents everywhere; it has the best amenities of any of the hotels by far, and everything about it is pure Disney luxury. During the holidays, it’s even better. Additionally, if you have a ticket for California Adventure, you can go straight into the park through a small entrance on the side of the hotel. That entrance to California Adventure almost never has a line and is so convenient. And, it’s usually quicker to get to Disneyland Park by cutting through here and just walking across the main plaza. 

Lastly, there is the Paradise Pier hotel. I would say this is for now my least favorite hotel. It’s themed around what was known as Paradise Pier in California Adventure, which was a Santa Monica-inspired pier with a ferris wheel and some carnival rides and games. In 2018 it became Pixar Pier. For whatever reason, at that point, the plan was for the hotel to stay the same, and it’s honestly just not my preference. It’s not as fancy as the Grand Californian, but the theme isn’t as fun as the Disneyland Hotel. It is, however, usually a little cheaper and quicker to get to both parks than the Disneyland Hotel. This winter, they are finally going to make it Pixar themed and call it the Pixar Place Hotel, which I think will be a very nice upgrade. I am definitely looking forward to seeing it.

Once You’re There

Okay, you’re in Disneyland. It’s the happiest place on earth, and you want to have a fun day or even a few fun days. Maybe you have a Park Hopper ticket and hopefully a Genie+ pass; your hotel could be just outside, or maybe you’re only there for a few hours. Regardless, I have some tips for you. First, try to get there early. If you are staying in a resort hotel, you can usually get into the park 30 minutes before opening. This means arriving between 7:30-8:00 a.m.; you can get on lines for several rides when there is almost no wait. However, only some attractions open at this time. You can check the Disneyland app or site to see which will be open during this period. If you don’t get the app, you can still be efficient. If you get through the security checkpoint before the parks open, you can rope drop, which essentially means being among the first to enter. If you run to your favorite attraction after this, you can usually skip a long line. 

No matter the plans, get the Disneyland app. It’s free. Just trust me. There are so many things that you can only do on the app, like getting Genie+ passes, or accessing wait times for rides. Make a Disney account for even more options. If you paid for the Genie+ service, you will need the app to use it, and you will also need to scan your tickets into the app. You can only start buying Genie+ passes to get on faster lines once you are inside a park, but if you have a Park Hopper ticket, you will be able to get Genie+ passes for both parks, not just the one you’re in. Passes will be gone quick. Last week, I got to Disneyland Park 20 minutes after opening, and the earliest Haunted Mansion Holiday pass was for 10:00-11:00 p.m. If you are  arriving at the park within the first hour, go get in line. Use the time you’re standing there to get on the app and buy your Genie+ passes. 

If you’re there early, once you’re on line, start looking at what options you have. Try starting with a ride that is hours away and/or has a really long standby line. In Disneyland Park, think the Matterhorn, Haunted Mansion between September and December (when it’s holiday themed), Space Mountain, and Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.  At California Adventure, try Toy Story Midway Mania, Incredicoaster, Soarin’, or Guardians of the Galaxy. All of these have really long lines day and night, and getting passes will save you hours.

Let’s talk food (and some beverages, too). I will be honest; a lot of food at Disneyland isn’t very good. However, there are some places that I recommend. In Disneyland Park, I have found  all of the best food is in the New Orleans Square section. If you can get reservations, the Blue Bayou is a Cajun restaurant located inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It’s very fun and also has pretty good food. If you want to grab something to-go, a new restaurant, Tiana’s Palace, just opened a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, I missed it by two days. However, most reviews say it’s pretty good. My personal favorite Disneyland food is the beignets sold at the Mint Julep Bar. Honestly, I don’t care for the mint juleps, but the beignets are amazing. They are hot, covered in powdered sugar, and Mickey-shaped! You can also mobile order these from the app which is very convenient. Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge has some pretty cool drinks and weird snacks from another galaxy. If you’re a Star Wars fan, you have to visit this spot. If you are addicted to Starbucks, the Market House on Main Street is actually just a Starbucks.

In California Adventure, there are a few good options. The Pym Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus has some pretty interesting items – things like huge soft pretzels with lime and bacon condiments and chicken sandwiches with tiny buns and giant patties. They also are one of the only places that have a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine which means way more drink options. The Smokejumpers Grill in Grizzly Peak has good burgers and chicken tenders. The fried chicken at Flo’s V8 in Cars Land is really good, too. You can mobile order at all of these places. Just like the Market House in Disneyland Park, there is a Starbucks in disguise in California Adventure as well. It’s called Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe, and it’s on Buena Vista Street. For what it’s worth, I prefer this location over the Market House. This one has indoor seating, and in my experience the line moves quicker. I also just think this whole area, inspired by Los Angeles in the 1920s, is pretty cool. 

If you follow some of these tips, I guarantee you can pack more fun into your day at Disneyland while possibly paying less.