Whether it’s your very first time going to Disneyland or you’ve been going for years, the anticipation of an upcoming trip can be a little nerve-wracking. Let us put your mind at ease with some of our favorite tips and tricks for planning the smoothest trip ever to the Magic Kingdom.
Getting to the park
Getting to Disneyland can be a challenge, so let us take some of the burden off of you with our shuttle service to the House of Mouse. Our direct-from-the-airport shuttle service can pick you directly up from the gate and whisk you to any of the local hotels or right to the gates of the park itself. No need to wait in long lines of cars just to pay an expensive parking fee, only to park far from the trams that take you to the entrance. This is even more important at the end of a long day trudging through the vast parks.
We can pre-arrange the most convenient pick-up spots with you, and your tired feet will thank us at the end of the day. If you’re traveling with a larger group, we’ve got that covered, too! Don’t take multiple cars and pay double or even triple the fees; our fleet of vans, buses, and motor coaches can accommodate groups of up to 52 people!
Download the Disney App
Right after you purchase your park tickets and make reservations, you should download the Disneyland Mobile App for iPhone or Android. The Disneyland app is like having a genie on your phone that can do everything—it can help you make dinner reservations, display ride and attraction wait times, provide maps of both parks, create an itinerary for your day, purchase and schedule times to pick up food, and much more.
The biggest perk is getting access to the Genie + service, an add-on, paid service that allows you to select the next available arrival window at certain rides and attractions. This allows you to avoid longer wait times and maximize your ride time at the park! You’ll want to pick someone in the group who will be responsible for managing the app and planning which rides you will be riding.
Know what to bring (and not bring)
If you know beforehand what you can and cannot bring into the park, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and hassle. Snag a locker for the non-essentials as soon as you get into the park and lighten your load while traversing the park. Bring a backpack, and only keep the essentials while you’re in the park. This will allow you to save room for any purchases you might make.
You’ll also save time, money, and meltdowns by packing your own snacks and water (don’t bring glass bottles). Bring collapsible water bottles or other clear plastic bottles, and you can refill them at any of the restaurants or water stations scattered around the park. Avoid the long lines at food kiosks with snacks from home if you or anyone else starts to get hangry. If you really want to save time and money, bring your own lunch, picnic style- like sandwiches, chips, raw veggies, and fruits.
Bring the right clothes
Depending on the time of year, you want to bring the best and most versatile clothes for the season. Southern California in the summertime is hot during the day and warm at night, so you’ll want to bring loose-fitting, fast-drying clothes for the day. A lightweight poncho is a must-have for any water ride, or you can even use a garbage bag without breaking the ban. Bear in mind that later in the day or evening, some outdoor attractions are chillingly cold. This is especially true if you’re riding the Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Incredicoaster, and Radiator Springs.
Lastly, you’ll want to bring comfortable shoes that are not too tight and will allow you to walk more than you could’ve ever imagined. Avoid flip-flops, brand-new shoes, open-toe shoes, or shoes with no cushion or arch support. Rest assured that if you are not a regular hiker or are not used to walking eight hours on a treadmill, your feet will get achy and/or swollen. If you do happen to get a blister, ask a park cast member for the nearest first aid station, where staff can provide you with simple, over-the-counter medications or band-aids.
Mind your phone
If you arrive before what’s known as “rope-drop”, when the park officially opens, you can spend as long as 16 hours in the park! While much of that time is spent walking from one attraction to the next, a lot of that time is also spent indoors or even underground, where there is no cell service. While the park does provide complimentary Wi-fi, it isn’t always the most reliable.
So rather than having your phone continually search for service and drain your phone’s battery, make sure to regularly implement Airplane mode to avoid having it die in the middle of the day. Better yet, bring a power bank for all of your devices and each person with a phone can plug them in while they’re waiting in line or riding an attraction.
Plan for the parade & fireworks
While the Disneyland app helps you to prioritize which rides you will be going on, if your group has big and small kids who love the park’s legendary parades and awe-inspiring fireworks, then you’ll also want to carve out some time to pick out a good spot to hunker down until they begin. Check the weather conditions as well as the parade and fireworks schedule, and try to plan your day’s itinerary with a meal during your downtime so that you can take advantage of the waiting. If you arrive early in the park, try to scout for your favorite locations and keep them in mind for later.
Dinner reservations
You may want to forego breakfast at the park to start your day earlier, so eat beforehand or have a light snack. While most of the popular locations are often booked weeks in advance, many of the smaller restaurants are just as good or better and usually have same-day reservations. If you don’t want a sit-down lunch or dinner, you can use the Disneyland App to order and pay for your food in advance. This is also a great idea if you are going from one side of the park to another, as it allows you to select your pick-up time, and your meal will be hot and ready by the time you get there!
Have an emergency plan
Most importantly, if you have kids in your group, make sure they have your phone number memorized or written down, preferably on a piece of paper in their pockets or somewhere discreetly on their clothing. Instruct them to go to a cast member if they get lost or separated from the rest of their group and go over which points in the park are emergency meeting points. If you have very small children, you may even want to consider placing a tracking tag either in their clothing or, if they’re wearing a backpack, somewhere that it cannot accidentally fall from.
Have your reservations booked, and now you just need a ride? Book a super convenient pickup or drop-off at the Disney parks today!