First Time at Disneyland? Do These 7 Things If You’re Used to Disney World
Disneyland Resort just released its 2027 vacation packages, meaning as of today, you can book your Disneyland vacation for arrivals through December 31, 2027. With D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event fresh in our rear view mirror, a lot of eyes are on the Happiest Place on Earth as a potential vacation destination…as it should!
If you’re considering a trip to Disneyland, this is the article for you. I grew up on the East Coast vacationing to Walt Disney World, but found myself living in California for most of my 20s, during which time I was a Disneyland Cast Member-turned-Annual Passholder-turned-local theme park reporter at the start of my career.
TL;DR: I know a thing or two (or a hundred) about making the most of a trip to Disneyland, especially if you’re more familiar with Walt Disney World. Don’t be mistaken by its smaller size; there’s plenty to do to fill up a vacation! But whether it’s your first time visiting or first time in a while, it’s always a good idea to brush up on your Disneyland 101. The following seven strategies will help you make the most of your trip.
Prioritize Disneyland-exclusive attractions
Two to three days at Disneyland Resort should be sufficient to see all that there is to see. But if you’re on a time crunch or you want to make sure you check off those must-dos, I’d start by prioritizing rides you can only find at Disneyland Resort.
These rides don’t exist anywhere in Walt Disney World, though you may spot similarities in some of the ride designs (for example, Radiator Springs Racers in California Adventure is an awful lot like Test Track in EPCOT).
Lightning Lane Multi Pass will be your greatest asset during a visit to Disneyland, as many report it functions much more smoothly and enables you to get a lot accomplished in one day than Multi Pass in Disney World.
My top picks:
- Radiator Springs Racers (Disney California Adventure, Cars Land)
- Indiana Jones Adventure (Disneyland Park, Adventureland)
- Matterhorn (Disneyland Park, Fantasyland)
- Storybook Land Canal Boats (Disneyland Park, Fantasyland)
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission – BREAKOUT (Disney California Adventure, Avengers Campus)
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (Disneyland Park, Tomorrowland)
Ride “duplicate” Disney attractions as well
I know, I know, I literally just told you to prioritize the rides you can only find at Disneyland. But I also want to make sure you don’t take that as permission to skip the “repeat” rides you’ll find at Walt Disney World. On the contrary, I implore you to ride the duplicates. Most of the time, the Disneyland counterpart is the superior version of the ride.
If your must-do list of rides is growing, you may want to consider purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass. This will help you bypass the standby queues at most rides and attractions at Disneyland Resort.
My top picks:
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Disneyland Park, New Orleans Square)
- Haunted Mansion (Disneyland Park, New Orleans Square)
- Space Mountain (Disneyland Park, Tomorrowland)
- Disneyland Railroad (Disneyland Park, Main Street, U.S.A.)
- “it’s a small world” (Disneyland Park, Fantasyland)
READ MORE: MY ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIGHTNING LANE
Eat lots of snacks
When in Walt Disney World, hot-button vacation planning topics include how to optimize the Disney Dining Plan and which restaurants to book first when your 60-day reservation window opens.
Disneyland is home to some great restaurants, but I recommend you stick to snacks and counter-service dining. Not only does this open your day up to giving you more time to ride the rides, but the snacks are what Disneyland is known for among fans.
From Dole Whip to Turkey Legs, you’ll find all of the usual suspects, but you’ll also find a wide variety of treats exclusive to Disneyland. And yes, the churros here are better than in Walt Disney World. Not to mention the churro toffee. Oh, and if you’re a corn dog fan, they’re a must at Disneyland.
My top picks:
- Bengal Barbecue (Disneyland Park, Adventureland)
- Jolly Holiday (Disneyland Park, Main Street, U.S.A.)
- Cozy Cone Motel (Disney California Adventure, Cars Land)
- Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland Park, Fantasyland)
- Tropical Hideaway (Disneyland Park, Adventureland)
Check out the bars and lounges
If you want more of a sit-down option, I’d still opt to skip the traditional restaurants and instead seek out a bar or lounge. Not only will you find great food, but they’re accompanied by creative cocktails and a wide assortment of beer and wine to choose from. Nonalcoholic beverages are becoming more popular these days, too.
To top it all off, several of the bars and lounges at Disneyland are highly themed and act as a great extension of your theme park vacation.
My top picks:
- Lamplight Lounge (Disney California Adventure, Pixar Pier)
- Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (Disneyland Hotel)
- Hearthstone Lounge (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa)
- Carthay Circle Lounge (Disney California Adventure, Buena Vista Street)
- Broken Spell Lounge (Disneyland Hotel)
Soak in the history
As the only Disney theme park that Walt Disney himself stood in, Disneyland Resort has a unique charm that you won’t find anywhere else. While a visit to Disneyland can be busy, it’s to your great benefit to find moments to pause and soak in all of the history, especially along Main Street, U.S.A.
Several opening day rides are still operating in Disneyland today, including the Disneyland Railroad (you can board the train throughout Disneyland Park), Autopia (Tomorrowland), Jungle Cruise (Adventureland), Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (Fantasyland), and the Mark Twain Riverboat (boards in Frontierland). For a bite to eat that honors the park’s history, Carnation Cafe features several of Walt’s favorite dishes (get the chili!), and Carthay Circle pays homage to Walt’s time in Los Angeles.
For an additional purchase, you can fully immerse yourself in the history of Disneyland Resort by booking the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps Guided Tour. The two-hour tour is filled with special moments like riding those aforementioned attractions plus rare access to Walt’s apartment located above the firehouse on Main Street, U.S.A.
My top picks:
- Walt Disney – A Magical Life (Disneyland Park, Main Street, U.S.A.)
- Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln (Disneyland Park, Main Street, U.S.A.)
- Walk in Walt’s Footsteps Guided Tour (additional purchase)
- Mark Twain Riverboat (Disneyland Park, boards in Frontierland)
- Carnation Cafe (dining at Disneyland Park, Main Street, U.S.A.)
- Carthay Circle (dining at Disney California Adventure, Buena Vista Street)
Experience the entirety of the resort
Walt Disney’s dream of building a new destination in Central Florida was bolstered by what he described as the “blessing of size.” While Walt Disney World is roughly 50 times the size of Disneyland Resort, I’d argue that the blessing of size is true in the opposite direction.
Less than one square mile in totality, Disneyland Resort is easily walkable and navigable, no buses, Skyliners, or Monorail required (though Disneyland does have its own Monorail that transports guests between Tomorrowland and Downtown Disney).
Don’t mistake Disneyland’s small size as something you can breeze through in just a few hours. If there’s anything I hope you take away from this article, it’s that Disneyland offers more to see and do than meets the eye. If it’s your first visit, I’d recommend planning at least two full days to experience the entirety of the resort.
Downtown Disney District is a great shopping and dining neighborhood currently in the midst of an exciting refresh. You really can’t go wrong with a meal here if you want a sit-down lunch or dinner (if you have an extra day, carve out time to eat in Downtown on a day you aren’t in the theme parks).
All three of Disneyland’s resort hotels – Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, and Pixar Place Hotel – are all within walking distance of the parks’ main entrances. They all make for a quiet break if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the parks, plus you’ll find some good dining and drink options.
Visit during the holidays or seasonal festivals
It’s never a bad time of the year to visit Disneyland, but if you want a little extra magic during your visit, there are a few seasons worth highlighting.
Disneyland goes all-out for Halloween with its popular after-hours event, Oogie Boogie Bash. Taking place on select evenings from August to October, Oogie Boogie Bash includes immersive treat trails with an array of Disney villains ready to greet guests. There’s also seasonal entertainment and party-exclusive bites. You’ll also find Cars Land transformed just for this season. Disneyland Park is home to the Halloween Screams fireworks spectacular as well as festive decorations.
The through-line between Halloween and Christmas is Haunted Mansion Holiday, an incredibly popular ride overlay that transforms Haunted Mansion into a not-so-scary tribute to Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Speaking of Christmas, the holidays at Disneyland are one of my favorite times to visit. Seasonal decorations are plentiful, and holiday treats are available resort-wide. “it’s a small world” Holiday is another great attraction overlay.
Disney California Adventure is home to multiple food festivals that add even more scrumptious snacks and beverages to your must-eat list. Lunar New Year Celebration is typically around mid-January through mid-February, quickly followed by the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, which usually takes place from late February through late April. Mid-November through early January is when you can enjoy the Disney California Adventure Festival of the Holidays.
Similar to EPCOT, California Adventure’s food festivals offer outdoor booths where you can purchase small bites and beverages. There’s also everything from live entertainment to food demonstrations and exclusive merchandise. Downtown Disney usually gets in on the festivities as well with limited-time menu items at select restaurants.
I hope this article helps you plan your trip to Disneyland! It’s truly my home away from home so I want everyone who visits the Happiest Place on Earth to get as much out of it as possible.