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Today we’re going to look at the best Disneyland tips and tricks, plus a few secrets.

In this post you will learn about the best way to purchase tickets, which rides to use FASTPASS on, snacks and accessories to bring with you, beverage hacks, the best ways to get around the parks, the ultimate fireworks spots, and more!

Disneyland is an enormous amount of fun, but can be an overwhelming experience because there is just so much going on.

I live in Southern California and was a Cast Member at Disneyland, so I consider myself an expert of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure (DCA).

With my recommendations will help you have a magical time at Disneyland Resort and take away some of the stresses involved.

Let’s get right into the 27 best Disneyland tips and tricks!

1. Purchasing Disneyland Tickets

You basically have 2 ticket options when going to any Disney park: admission to one park per day or a Park Hopper ticket. The difference being you are either confined to one park per day or you can bounce between the different parks with your ticket.

When going to a Disney theme park I highly recommend getting a Park Hopper ticket. This is especially true if you are spending multiple days at the parks.

The benefit being, if one park is super crowded, you can just hop over to the other park with shorter wait times.

A Park Hopper ticket also gives you the opportunity to get in more rides each day at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

These tickets are more expensive, however, in my opinion they are totally worth it.

One of my favorite Disneyland tips and tricks is to buy tickets through a 3rd party vendor to save money.

After visiting several sites, the one I found with the best prices was Undercover Tourist.

For a 3-day Park Hopper ticket purchased through Disney was going to be $355.

Whereas through Undercover Tourist it only cost $329. That’s a savings of $26 for 1 person – a total win in my book!

I recommend you print out the e-ticket they send and bring it with you to Will Call at the entrance to get your actual ticket.

You might be able to just pull up the email to show it to them and receive your tickets. However, I always recommend printing out the email and bring it just in case.

You do not want to travel all the way to Disneyland only to be told that you can’t get a ticket because you didn’t have the printout.

Take a look at the table below to see how you can save up to $29 per Disneyland ticket by purchasing through Undercover Tourist!

Bonus Tip

The daily ticket prices drop for each additional day you add to your purchase.

A 1-day Park Hopper Ticket was $129. However, the per-day price of a 3-day Park Hopper ticket was $118.33.

Also, ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week and time of the year.

READ MORE: How to Save Money at Disneyland

2. Park Hopper Tickets and Combining Parks on Multi-Day visits

If you are visiting Disneyland on multiple days, I highly recommend purchasing Park Hopper tickets. Park Hopper tickets allow guests to go to multiple parks in one day.

The regular entrance ticket only allows you to enter 1 park per day. The Park Hopper tickets allow you greater flexibility during your visit.

If one park is really packed and the lines are long, you can open up the Disneyland mobile app to see if the other park has shorter lines.

I use this hack often, especially at Disneyland Park. Disneyland Park is the busiest park, and thus has the longest lines.

If you run out of FASTPASSes and can’t stand to wait in long lines, check out the other park to find better ride options.

Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are right next to each other, as in a 2-minute walk across from each other. It’s super easy to get from one park to the other.

3. Download the Disneyland Mobile App

I highly recommend downloading the Disneyland mobile app for your phone.

Through this you can get a FASTPASS reservation (with MaxPass), see the park showtimes, park hours, wait times for each ride, make mobile food orders, and see your GPS location inside the park.

Mobile ordering is a really cool feature on the Disneyland mobile app and will totally save you some time getting your food.

You can use the Disneyland mobile app to order your food and beat the line. You pay through the app and just pick your food up from the window once it’s ready. This is awesome when you are at Disneyland with toddlers.

You can also use the Disneyland mobile app to find the locations of all the characters in the park. This is super helpful when you’re visiting Disneyland with toddlers.

The Disneyland mobile app is very helpful in navigating the parks to get the most out of your visit.

You will use this app more than you imagined during your stay.

READ MORE: The 21 Best Travel Apps You’re Not Using (But Should)

4. Purchase MaxPass

A great Disneyland tip for anyone wanting awesome pictures is to buy MaxPass. For only $15/guest you can purchase MaxPass.

MaxPass allows you to make FASTPASS reservations through the Disneyland mobile app instead of having to go to the machines in front of the actual ride.

This is such a huge time saver!

Once you walk into the park, start making your reservations and just hit the rides.

You can also get unlimited free Disney PhotoPass downloads (if you purchased that plan).

This is a big money saver, because often you have to pay to download those pictures.

5. Rides to Use a FASTPASS On at Disneyland

Disneyland Park to Use a FASTPASS On

Space Mountain

Space Mountain is an incredibly popular ride and the standard line is usually quite long.

Unlike at Disney World, there is only 1 line for everyone to queue in.

I also have to say, Space Mountain at Disneyland has a much smoother ride and, in my opinion, is a little better.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean is incredibly popular and always has a long line. The line does move at a decent pace because they can pack a bunch of people into the boats.

I have used a FASTPASS on Pirates and only had to wait about 2 minutes.

Totally worth it. 

The Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion is a classic.

This attraction is definitely a fan favorite and always has a long line, especially during Halloween when it is transformed with a Nightmare Before Christmas Theme hosted by Jack Skellington.

This is an attraction you don’t want to miss and can get on quickly by using a FastPass.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

I love Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

So do the majority of the rest of the guests visiting Disneyland.

This is one of the top rides for kids and toddlers. They love it!

It’s a great little shooter attraction and definitely warrants a FASTPASS for the long lines.

Big Thunder Mountain

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is an older classic roller coaster set in a mining town. The lines are always long for Big Thunder Mountain and the FASTPASSes tend to go quickly.

Be sure to get one early if you want a FASTPASS before they run out.

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain is a blast!

This is Disney’s classic log flume ride with a couple dips and a 5-story drop near the end.

On hot days, this ride is great because it gives you a chance to cool down.

The lines can get pretty long, so if you don’t want to wait, pick up a FASTPASS for it.

Indiana Jones Adventure

Indiana Jones Adventure is an awesome ride that has you riding in a lurching and jerking jeep as you follow Indy on an adventure.

This ride is a lot like DINOSAUR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

It’s very popular and always has a long line, so be sure to get a FASTPASS for it.

Matterhorn Bobsleds

Does anyone else yodel when they go on the Matterhorn?

This is one of the OG rides at Disneyland and is always packed.

Another thing that affects the Matterhorn is somehow this rollercoaster often has breakdowns or maintenance done for some reason throughout the day. Usually it’s just for a little bit, but it still really slows up the line.

Avoid the long lines and get a FASTPASS for sure.

Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

For Star Tours, I highly recommend checking the wait times before getting a FASTPASS.

This is a very popular ride, however, early in the day and later at night it has a reasonable line (5-20 minutes).

That being said, during peak times of the year or the middle of the day you will totally need to use a FASTPASS on this attraction.

It’s a Small World

It’s a Small World is a classic slow and long ride that all ages will enjoy.

Children and toddlers will probably enjoy it more because there is so much to see.

This all adds up to It’s a Small World being super popular with long lines until around dinner time.

I love seeing all the cultures that are represented from around the world.

It’s also really long, so it’s a great ride if you need to sit back and relax for a little bit.

That being said, you will have the “It’s a Small World” song stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

In fact, it is now stuck in my head as I’m typing this. SMH.

Fantasmic!

Fantasmic! is Disneyland’s big water and light spectacular that takes place just before the fireworks show, and it is awesome.

The crowds get pretty big for Fantasmic! and you will want to use a FASTPASS to get good seats up front.

Also, using a FASTPASS on Fantasmic! does not block out your ability to use FASTPASS on a ride.

Disney California Adventure to Use a FASTPASS On

Incredicoaster

The Incredicoaster is the best roller coaster at Disneyland (either park). The line gets really long for it, so it’s best to grab a FASTPASS.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is a great ride that replaced the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

There is always a long wait for this attraction, so be sure to secure your FASTPASS for this great elevator ride!

Toy Story Mania!

Much like Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Toy Story Mania! is an attraction that has guests competing with one another for a high score by shooting targets.

Also like Buzz Lightyear, this attraction has really long lines all day long.

Kids and toddlers get a kick out of seeing all their favorite Toy Story characters and getting to participate in the ride.

Soarin’ Around the World

Soarin’ Around the World is one of my favorite rides.

It’s super chill and mellow, and you fly around the world as though you’re on a hang glider.

It’s also indoors, so it’s great on a hot day.

Soarin’ is an attraction that totally warrants a FASTPASS.

Radiator Springs Racers

Radiator Springs Racers is an awesome race car ride in Radiator Springs.

It’s a lot like Test Track at Disney World.

You are seated in a giant car and then race through Radiator Springs in Cars Land.

It’s so awesome and always busy. You definitely want to use a FASTPASS on this ride.

Grizzly River Run

You will love Grizzly River Run during hot days.

Grizzly river run is a big water ride where everyone is in a raft that goes down drops and through waterfalls.

During the summer it’s really busy, so you will want to get a FASTPASS.

World of Color

California Adventure has an awesome water and light show called World of Color.

This awesome show gets pretty packed, so use a FASTPASS on it.

Also, using a FASTPASS on World of Color does not block out your ability to use FASTPASS on a ride.

6. Stay on Top of Your FASTPASS Times

It works best to have 1 person in your group have all the tickets and be the main person to get the FASTPASSes. This just ends up being easier for everyone and way more efficient.

Pay attention to your FASTPASS times.

You cannot get another FASTPASS during the same time period you already have one.

An awesome trick is to see when the FASTPASS return times are, then get one for the next open window. That way you can just go from ride to ride without having to wait in the main line.

You might be able to get a 10-15 minute window on either side of your return time to still use that pass.

I did return outside the time range for one ride and was still allowed to enter, though. This will not always happen. I was very polite and explained the reason for my lateness and was allowed through.

A main goal of visiting Disneyland is to go on as many rides as you can.

One of the best Disneyland tips and tricks is to stay on top of your FastPass times.

Grab more when they are available is vital to maxing out the number of rides you go on.

7. Use the Single Rider Line to Cut Down Wait Times

One of the best Disneyland tips and tricks is to utilize Single Rider Lines. Single Rider Lines can be even faster than using a FASTPASS on rides.

In fact, there are times where your whole group might get on the ride at the same time.

My family always uses the Single Rider Lines when we go to Disneyland for maximum efficiency during the day.

I highly recommend using the Single Rider Lines for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Space Mountain, Radiator Springs Racers, and Incredicoaster.

Those rides have the longest lines and you’ll really save time in your day.

Disneyland Single Rider Attractions

• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

Disney California Adventure Single Rider Attractions

• Goofy’s Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Incredicoaster
• Radiator Springs Racers

8. Do Disney California Adventure First Before Going to Disneyland Park

A Disneyland top tip for anyone with a Park Hopper ticket is to visit Disney California Adventure first before going into Disneyland Park.

DCA has fewer big-draw attractions and is smaller. Because of that, there are fewer people inside the park.

Disney California Adventure also closes much earlier than Disneyland Park. DCA will close at between 6pm-10pm, 2 to 6 hours before Disneyland Park closes.

Just hop in to DCA, ride all the rides you want, then cross over into Disneyland to tackle the rest.

You’ll find that typically around 5-7pm there will be a rush of people in Disneyland coming over from DCA.

However, after that, the lines tend to get shorter because a lot of people are eating dinner or leaving for the day.

9. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Tips and Tricks

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has finally opened, and boy, is it awesome!

Once you walk into the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (commonly referred to as Star Wars Land) you are transported to the Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu.

The first thing that stands out is the giant life-sized Millennium Falcon docked at the space port. The level of detail is unreal and makes the Millennium Falcon look totally authentic and real.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is open, and it will be packed for sure.

The best Disneyland tip I can give you is to get over to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge right away. However, be prepared for massive lines.

Join the Virtual Queue for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run

The first thing you want to do is join the virtual boarding queue on the Disneyland Mobile App. You can actually do this from as far away as the parking tram before you enter the park.

Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run has a virtual queue for the ride, which you can access through the Disneyland Mobile App. The virtual queue is designed so you don’t lose your spot in line during the long ass waits.

Once you are in the queue for Smugglers Run, you get to walk through the inside of the Millennium Falcon. There are so many great photo opportunities inside.

Guests will come across several interactive features inside the ship, so definitely play around with everything.

There is currently no FASTPASS for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run. You will need to either stand in line or use the virtual boarding option.

Make a Reservation to Build Your Own Lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop

The area to build your own lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop, and it is by reservation only. Make that reservation as soon as you can on the Disneyland Mobile App.

There are so many different ways you can customize the lightsabers. Choose from 4 different Jedi or Sith themes, several hilts, colors, and activation switches for your lightsaber.

However, be forewarned that the lightsabers are not cheap. Be ready to spend at least $200 on those bad boys.

Build Your Own Customized Droid at the Droid Depot

You can also build your own droid at the Droid Depot, which kids will absolutely love!

Guests can design and create their own BB-series or R-series droid in a really cool interactive experience.

There are endless ways the droids can be put together, from different domes and bodies to a variety of colors and legs.

The droids cost $100 and come in a carrying box. You can purchase other Star Wars-themed carriers, of course.

The droids will interact with different artifacts in Galaxy’s Edge; however, you cannot play with the droid inside the park. You can only hold it.

Use the Play Disney Parks App for More Interactive Experiences in Black Spire Outpost

Open up the Play Disney Parks App on your phone and it turns into a Star Wars Datapad!

You can then use your phone to translate languages (like the signs in Aurebesh – the Star Wars language), scan items to discover precious cargo, tune and decrypt communications sent by local residents, and hack into devices and droids located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

You can also choose a side during your trip and either be part of the Resistance or the First Order.

Guests can then take on jobs to get rewards, such as maps, ship schematics, and credits (which can be used inside Black Spire Outpost)!

It’s such a cool interactive experience for kids and adults!

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is absolutely incredible. You don’t want to miss it!

10. Bring a Stroller to Disneyland for the Younger Kids

If you are thinking, “Should I bring a stroller or not,” bring one. Even if your child walks around all the time, going to theme parks is exhausting and a ton of walking.

Younger children will wear down and pushing them in a stroller is much easier on everyone than carrying your worn-out kiddo.

There are stroller parking areas near most of the attractions with tons of strollers there.

I believe it to be totally safe to leave your stroller parked amongst them. I’ve never heard from anyone I know or anyone I talked to at the parks about any theft issues.

I feel it’s very safe, however, as always, use your best judgement.

Another smart thing to do is to mark your stroller so it stands out in the parking areas.

A popular way of doing this is by attaching a balloon to the handle.

As an added bonus, you can pack up your stroller with sweatshirts, sunblock, hats, and other extras you won’t have to carry.

Which brings me to my next Disneyland tip…

11. Bring Snacks and Drinks with You to Disneyland

Disneyland Resort is super expensive, especially if you are with a family. Paying for snacks, meals, drinks, sweets, and souvenirs really adds up.

Good news is that Disney theme parks allow you to bring in bags, food and drinks.

You cannot bring a cooler, however, everything else is pretty much fair game.

I always bring drinks (like Gatorade and water) and snacks.

Protein bars are great because they give you energy throughout the day without having to splurge on a meal. Also, stopping for meals cuts into your time spent on rides!

For kids, bring juice boxes and whatever snacks they like.

You can bring your refillable water bottles and fill them up at select locations throughout Disneyland Resort. Disneyland and DCA offer free cups of water at all counter service restaurants.

Just be really nice and ask. If one place shoots you down, go to the next one.

I never had any difficulty having my water bottles refilled. Often times the cast members would ask if I wanted ice, too.

Be polite and you’ll get hooked up.

12. Adult Beverage Hacks

Hey, you’re out there walking around all day, lugging kids around and standing in line. There’s nothing quite like having a beer or cocktail to get you through the day.

Both Disneyland and DCA have alcohol for sale, but those drinks are hella expensive.

The only place to get any alcohol at Disneyland Park is at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

There is a way to have easier access to alcohol and save money while at Disneyland.

A simple little hack I do is, well, I just bring my own alcohol on the DL!

The Genius Alcohol Hack for Disneyland Resort

Take a Gatorade bottle, dump it out (or some of it out) and fill it with the cocktail or liquor you want that is a similar color.

I would take a lemon-lime Gatorade, pour it out, then fill it with a margarita.

Then, you just need to get a cup of ice from anywhere inside the park and you’re good to go!

I have brought ice packs and stuffed them in my backpack to keep the bottles cold, however, they don’t really work as well, especially on hot days.

If you have a stroller, fill a flask and mix it in with all the stuff you’re bringing on the bottom. I recommend using a plastic flask – it’s what I use. You can also fill a plastic water bottle up with tequila, rum, gin or tequila.

Cast members search your bags before you enter. They do not, however, take the lids off bottles to give a sniff test.

That being said, if you spill on the outside of the bottle, wash it off so your bottle doesn’t smell like booze. Let’s be smart about this.

Also, don’t get too wasted or they will kick you out.

Be sure to drink plenty of water, too, especially on hot days. Heat stroke and alcohol poisoning are real folks!

13. Plan Ahead, but Be Prepared to Call an Audible

Have a loose idea of your plan of attack for the day. Wandering around aimlessly just wastes time.

Pick out which ride you want to go on first, then select your next rides from attractions nearby. This is the most efficient way of going on rides.

You waste a lot of time crossing back and forth around the park. Select a land and do what you would like in that area before moving on to the next land.

Another solid move is to go get a FASTPASS for the really popular rides. Those times will be spread out in 1-hour increments throughout the day.

In-between those FASTPASS times, hit up the other attractions you want to experience (hopefully the ones with short lines).

That being said, sometimes things change. There are meltdowns, a sudden rush of people, or an attraction closes/breaks down.

When that occurs, have a plan B in mind.

Have That Plan B Ready to Go!

Pirates of the Caribbean broken down?

No problem, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain are not too far away. Make your way over to one of those rides instead.

Another time-saving Disneyland hack is to go on rides during parades and fireworks shows.

The lines tend to go down while people are watching those events.

As an added bonus, you can see the fireworks from the line or on the ride if it’s outside.

I did that for Big Thunder Mountain and got to see the fireworks display from the ride. It was a unique experience and totally awesome.

14. Rider Swaps – for Parents with Children that Can’t or Won’t Go on Rides

You and your partner are at Disneyland and your child is asleep when you get to the front of the line at Space Mountain. Instead of just leaving or forcing the kid to wake up, just let the cast member know you will be doing a rider swap.

Rider swaps allows your group to go on the ride, while someone (or a couple) stay back with children that are not riding. This is one of the best Disneyland tips and tricks for families!

The cast member will have the one(s) watching the kid(s) wait in a designated area while the rest of the group rides.

Once the ride is over, you just swap places.

Whoever was doing the watching lets the cast members know they are doing a rider swap and now they get to ride.

It’s really easy and an awesome feature to utilize when you go to Disneyland with toddlers.

15. Dress Appropriately

Before entering the parks, the first thing you want to do is check the weather report.

Is it going to be hot and sunny?

Throw on some sunblock, bring a hat, some shades, and wear lighter clothes.

Is it going to be cold?

Bring a jacket and maybe a scarf or beanie.

It is incredibly important to be prepared for the weather.

During winter it gets cold. It also cools down significantly at once the sun goes down.

Be sure to bring a sweatshirt when you visit Disneyland!

In some instances, it will rain. Anaheim gets about 20 days of rain, with most of those being a light misty rain. You should be prepared for those days.

Disneyland does not close for rain.

If you see rain in the forecast for the day, bring a raincoat or a rain poncho and/or an umbrella.

It’s way cheaper and easier to get them ahead of time as opposed to purchasing something inside the park.

Some of the outdoor attractions will close, however, the majority of the park is open. Have your rain gear ready for those times.

Bring Comfortable Walking Shoes!!!

The most important attire I can recommend is having comfortable footwear.

You will be walking and standing a lot. Your feet and legs will get tired. I love my sandals, but a Disney park is not the best place for them.

I always bring a comfortable pair of shoes that I know won’t wear me out after a long day.

My favorite shoes for walking and travel are the Kuru Chicanes. These are by far the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.

16. Make the Most out of Rainy Days

When it rains at a Disney Park, things clear out fast. Most people don’t like being out in the elements like that.

An awesome Disneyland tip is to hit the park hard if you’re prepared for the rain. The popular rides might have lines early in the day, but later on they clear out when people are just over walking around in the rain.

Rainy days are perfect for getting in a lot more rides than you’d normally be able to.

As I said before, it only rains maybe 20 days a year in Southern California and you’ll know in advance if it will.

Anaheim is not like Orlando where you have random showers throughout the day. If it’s going to rain, chances are it’s going to rain all day.

READ MORE: Come see the best Disney World tips and tricks!

17.  Best Views for Fireworks Shows

The Disney Parks do not hold back with their fireworks and light shows. They are simply amazing, and you need to see at least one during your trip to Disneyland.

Most people try to mash up as close to the launching point as possible for the shows.

In the Disneyland, everyone tries to get as close to Sleeping Beauty’s castle as they can.

This is not the best course of action.

The best way to see the fireworks shows is to be a little further back and toward the center. You want to try and be middle back and to the center.

This gives you a great view of everything going on without having to turn your head side-to-side to see everything in the periphery.

Being a little further back is also ideal for filming because all the lights and fireworks will be in frame without panning.

You want to make sure you show up and claim your spot at least 45 before the show, though.

What we usually do is have 1 or 2 members of the group hold the spots while the others get in one last ride.

This can be a dangerous move, though, because certain parts of the park are blocked off for the fireworks.

I would probably say your best move is to try and get on Star Tours real quick and then head back if you’re going to try this.

Another amazing Disneyland trick is to be on a ride when the fireworks are happening. The Storybook Land Canal Boats, for instance, will stop in the middle of the ride to give you an incredible view of the fireworks.

18. Go on Popular Rides During Fireworks and Parades

The parades and fireworks shows gather large crowds. Certain pathways are also roped off and no one is allowed to cross those lines.

This is a great time to head over to some of the more popular rides to get in line.

The lines are typically much shorter during parades and fireworks shows, allowing you to sneak more attractions in during your visit.

19. Have a Home Base or Meet Up Point

This is probably the most important of all my Disneyland tips and tricks for families.

When you go to Disneyland with older kids that go off on their own, or with a group of friends that split up, it’s always wise to set a home base or meet up point.

When I’m with my family, we always pick a spot before going on a ride that we will use as home base.

The best home base locations are the Walt Disney and Mickey statue in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland and the water fountain near the entrance at Disney California Adventure.

Those 2 locations are easy to find and always have cast members around for safety.

Tell your whole group that if they ever get separated to go to your selected meet up location and to wait there until someone comes for them.

20. Bring a Portable Charger

Now, this isn’t a total necessity, but a portable charger is nice to have with you.

Between texting, social media, the Disney app and taking pictures your phone will use up a lot of juice.

I’ve definitely seen people really stressed out because their phone was dying or dead.

The easy solution for this is to bring a small portable charger with you. I bring one with me whenever I visit Disneyland Resort, and it has saved me more than once.

I recommend this 10,000 mAh charger by Anker. It is smaller than a cell phone and can charge an iPhone or Galaxy fully twice before needing to be recharged.

21. Rent a Locker to Stash Your Belongings

You will want to rent a locker if you bring a backpack or a bunch of gear.

They are so clutch, and your back will thank you.

I always use a locker to stash my sweatshirt, snacks, and a water bottle. My brother uses it to store a backpack with a change of clothes and supplies for the kids.

I recommend using the lockers on Main Street. They are about halfway down on the Tomorrowland side of the park.

You will be very happy getting a locker and not lugging around all your gear all day.

22. Bring a Fanny Pack (or Bum Bag)

A fanny pack, like this water-resistant fanny pack, is super helpful and convenient when you visit a theme park.

It’s so nice not stashing everything you need in your pockets.

I keep a portable charger, a couple snacks, sunblock, and my sunglasses at the end of the night and when I’m on a ride in mine.

23. Get Back to Your Car Easier at the End of the Day

Getting out of Disneyland at the end of the night can be a nightmare.

There are tens of thousands of people all being ushered out of the park and into a line for the shuttles to get back to the parking structure.

There are a few options with this.

You can dip out a little early to beat the rush or look through the shops (they stay open later) while everyone else waits in line.

Or you can just go out with everyone else and wait in a long line for the shuttles back to the parking structure.

My recommendation would be to wait out the lines by going through the shops on Main Street or Downtown Disney.

The stores on Main Street will be busier than the ones in Downtown Disney. However, this will be the perfect time to pick up souvenirs and get an ice cream, coffee, or that final churro before you leave.

I have also found that it is quicker to get back to your car and on your way home when parking at the Toy Story parking lot off Harbor Blvd. Their are a lot of shuttles to take people back, so you get to your car quickly, and it’s not as difficult to exit the parking lot.

24. Stay at a Disney Hotel if You Don’t Have a Car

If you are not going to rent or bring a car and don’t plan on visiting the other places in Southern California, then I recommend staying at one of the Disney resorts.

All the Disney resorts have easy access to the Monorail and park entrances.

Hotel guests can board the Monorail either from the Downtown Disney or Grand Californian Hotel and Spa stops. You can skip the park entrance and be dropped off in Tomorrowland!

Extra Magic Hours Are Awesome

Another really cool benefit is you get to enjoy select attractions before or after regular park hours with their Extra Magic Hours. Disneyland Resort guests get access to 1 park on select days.

Disneyland Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and Disney California Adventure Park on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Unfortunately, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is not available as part of the Extra Magic Hour. Visit here for more information on Disneyland Resorts. 

Guests staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa also get to use a special entrance into Disney California Adventure.

This is a great option to avoid having to pay for parking or renting a car.

25. Save Some Money by Staying at a Hotel Near Disneyland

Looking for a way to stretch your dollars a little more and save some money during your trip to Disneyland?

Stay at a hotel near the park! There are several that are under $150/night.

There are about 5,000,000 hotels within 15 minutes of the park that are much more affordable than the Disney hotels.

Some are walking distance away, some a short bus ride away (yes, the buses and public transportation in California is safe), and others are a short Uber away.

If you stay at a hotel near Disneyland, you will never have to pay for parking. There are much cheaper and easier options available to you.

26. Use Apple Pay, Google Wallet or Android and Samsung Pay

The days of having to whip out your credit card to pay for stuff is coming to an end.

You can use Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Android Pay and Samsung Pay at both Disneyland Resort parks.

I love using these contactless payment methods. I have an iPhone and Apple Watch, and use Apple Pay all the time. It is so easy to set up and use and really saves you time at checkout.

No more digging through your purse or wallet to find your credit card.

Just tap your phone or watch to the card reader and the transaction is done. Welcome to the 21^stcentury everyone!

27. The Best Times to Visit Disneyland

Everyone wants to pick the best time to visit Disneyland. Personally, I prefer the days when the parks have the fewest guests so I can get on more rides.

The best days to visit the Disneyland parks are Monday through Thursday. Weekends are always busier, even during off-peak times.

Typically, the busiest days of the year are as follows:

• The first week of January
• MLK Jr. Day
• President’s Day Week
• Spring Break and Easter (second week of March through the third week of April)
• Memorial Day weekend
• Summer (middle of June through the last week of August)
• Labor Day weekend
• Thanksgiving week
• Christmas week until the end of the year

Excellent times to visit Disneyland are February, May, October, and November (minus Thanksgiving week).

Now I’d Like to Hear from You

I hope you enjoyed my post on the best Disneyland tips and tricks.

Now I would like to hear from you.

What did you think of my list of Disneyland tips and tricks?

What are your favorite Disneyland tips and tricks when you visit?

Is there anything you think I left out?

Let me know by leaving a quick comment below!

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