Disneyland can be a fun and memorable family vacation, but it can also be stressful and frustrating, especially when standing in line for hours, battling crowds, and dealing with meltdowns.
We have learned a great deal over the years and have developed these tips and tricks for visiting Disneyland, so that your time at the Happiest Place on Earth will truly be a happy one!ย
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13 Tips and Tricks for Visiting Disneyland
Table of Contents
- Use a Crowd Forecast Predictor
- Tips for Rope Drop
- Don’t Use Multi-day Passes Consecutively
- Tips for Using the Lightning Lane Pass
- Use the Rider Switch Pass
- Use the Single Rider Line
- Get to Know the Disneyland App
- Tips For Passing the Time in Line
- Don’t Waste Your Money on Expensive Souvenirs
- Where to Get Cheap Souvenirs
- How to Experience the Magic of the Holidays For Cheaper
- Where to Find the Best Food in Disneyland
- Where to Stay at Disneyland
- Final Thoughts
Use a Crowd Forecast Predictor
Before purchasing tickets, we always like to check Is It Packed for a crowd forecast predictor to see when the park is least crowded.
Also, keep in mind that the park is open longer in the summer, so you’ll get the most bang for your buck.
Hours are subject to change during special events, and ticket prices are the same regardless of whether the park closes early.
For instance, during Mickey’s Halloween Party, the park will close at 6:00, and there will be no fireworks show at night.
Tips for Rope Drop
Arriving for rope drop takes some extra planning, but it’s worth the extra effort and early wake-up call!
The ticket booths and security open at 7 am. You’ll need to arrive at the park around 6:30 am if you want to be at the front of the line.
Entrance to Disney’s Main Street USA opens at 7:30 am. Walk down Main Street to reach the castle, where everyone lines up for rope drop.
There is a rope at the entrance to each section of the park (Frontierland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, etc.). Decide which ride you want to go on first, then line up at the entrance to the land it is located in.
Rise of the Resistance (accessed through Frontierland) is one of the most popular rides and generally has the longest wait time. It is currently closed for refurbishment with no reopening date announced. Once it does reopen, that is the first ride I would go to, especially since you can’t use a Lightning Lane Multi Pass on this ride.
As of January 2026, guests staying at any of the Disneyland Resort Hotels no longer get early park access, so only rope drop guests will be waiting in line for the rides.
Don’t Use Multi-day Passes Consecutively
Keep in mind that multi-day passes do not need to be used consecutively. If you purchase a 2-day park hopper pass, you will have 13 days from your first visit to redeem your second visit.
Disneyland is so fun, but it can be exhausting. One of our favorite tips and tricks for visiting Disneyland is to consider planning a relaxing day at the beach in between your visits to the park to re-energize.
You can also visit some other attractions in the city. See our Orange County Travel Guide, Newport Beach Travel Guide, and Downtown LA Travel Guide for recommendations.
After a much needed day of rest, everyone will be ready to hit the ground running again!
Tips for Using the Lightning Lane Pass
The Lightning Lane Pass allows you to bypass the regular standby line and queue up in the shorter Lightning Lane Line instead.
If it is a crowded day, it is worth purchasing the Lightning Lane Pass, but there are a few things you should know.
You have the option to add the pass on to your park ticket at the time of purchase, or you can wait and purchase it in the park through the app.
If you don’t think the park will be too crowded, then it’s worth waiting to purchase it. We’ve found that on less busy days, we can just monitor the wait times on the app, and it isn’t worth the extra cost. However, the price of the Lightning Lane Pass fluctuates according to demand, so you may end up paying more if you wait to purchase it on the day of.
Also, keep in mind that the Lightning Lane Multi Pass isn’t available at some of the most popular rides, including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers. For these rides, you will need to purchase an additional Lightning Lane Single Pass.
There are a limited number of Lightning Lane Passes available per ride per day, and the most popular ones get booked up quickly.
You can request your first Lightning Lane Pass starting at 7 am on the day of your visit, so you will want to submit your request for the most popular rides first.
You can request another pass on the app’s Tip Board after redeeming your first pass at the ride, or 2 hours after you made your first request, whichever comes first.
Another perk with the Lightning Lane Pass is that it allows unlimited downloads of the digital photos taken with the Disney PhotoPass.
As of January 2026, guests staying at the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and the Pixar Place Hotel receive one complimentary Lightning Lane Pass per registered guest.
In addition to the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and the Lightning Lane Single Pass, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass is also available for purchase. This pass allows you a one-time entrance at each ride at Disneyland and California Adventure that offers the Lightning Lane.
This pass is more expensive, but the main advantage is that you do not need to reserve a time in advance for each ride, as you do with the multi-pass.
Use the Rider Switch Pass
If you have young kids, be sure to take advantage of the Rider Switch Pass, where both parents can enjoy the ride without having to wait in line twice.
Once one parent rides, the other parent (and up to one other guest) who was waiting with the child can then go on the ride with minimal wait time.
This is a free service offered at the park. Just check in with the Disney cast member about getting the pass before waiting in line.
Use the Single Rider Line
The Single Rider line is always shorter. As long as everyone in your party is over 7 years old and you don’t mind being split up, then this is a great option.
Get to Know the Disneyland App
The Disneyland App will be your most helpful tool both while planning your trip beforehand and while you’re in the park.
This is where you’ll access your tickets, purchase Lightning Lane Passes, see the daily event schedule, monitor wait times, get notifications if a ride is closed, create an itinerary, locate rides on the map, place mobile food orders, join a virtual queue for special events (such as World of Color), shop the Disney store, make dining reservations and so much more!
To make the most of your time at the park, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the app before your trip.
Tips For Passing the Time in Line
Even with all the planning, you will inevitably be waiting in line. To pass the time, we love playing games. Heads Up! is one of our favorites. Just download the app beforehand, and everyone in your group can participate.
The Play Disney Parks App is also filled with Disney-themed games and trivia questions to help pass the time.
We also used this article to identify hidden things in Disneyland. Such as, did you know that there are a few secret things to look out for while standing in line for Indiana Jones?
If you look closely, you can find messages written along the walls in Mara. The Play Disney App even has a Mara Decoder, so that you can translate it while waiting in line at Indiana Jones. ย
Don’t Waste Your Money on Expensive Souvenirs
My son was seriously considering buying this Jedi Robe from Star Wars Land for $120, until we looked on Amazon and found a similar one for $14.99!
I only wish that we had seen that beforehand so that he could have worn it while we were in the park.
It is fun being able to dress up at Disneyland, but it will cost you a fortune if you wait to buy the clothes and accessories in the park.
Before your trip, hop on Amazon and purchase an inexpensive pack of Mickey and Minnie Mouse headbands or t-shirts. Hide them in your suitcase, and you’ll get the mom of the year award when you pull them out and surprise them!
If you do wear a Disney t-shirt, bring a Sharpie marker and have the characters sign the shirt for a fun and memorable souvenir.
Along those same lines, check the forecast and if there is any chance of rain, be sure to bring your own umbrellas and ponchos.
We learned the hard way just how expensive they are in the park. It’s worth picking up some inexpensive ponchos for the water rides as well.
Where to Get Cheap Souvenirs
If your child is dying for a souvenir, the pressed pennies are the cheapest souvenir option at only $.51.
Your child will be fascinated watching as the penny gets pressed and stamped. It makes for a fun keepsake without breaking the bank!
If you want a free souvenir, kindly ask any cast member at the Jungle Cruise, and they will give you a free antique-style map.ย
As a side note, while you’re on the Jungle Cruise, look for the large Banyan tree near the angry hippo.
The designers of the Jungle Cruise would drive the streets of Beverly Hills looking for the perfect tree. They discovered this tree in the front yard of a Beverly Hills home.
The owner said he hated the tree, and they could have it for free if they would just remove it and plant something new. The tree has since been thriving in its new home!
The captain of Mark Twain’s Riverboat will also give you a special certificate if you ask to steer the vessel.
How to Experience the Magic of the Holidays For Cheaper
Disneyland at Christmas time is absolutely magical! However, it is also extremely crowded, and the ticket prices are much higher.
Disney’s holiday season typically lasts through the end of the first week in January. They still have the holiday parade, holiday fireworks show, specialty holiday foods, and the holiday decorations, but without the holiday crowds.
We visited at the beginning of January, and the tickets are almost $100 cheaper! It was still a little more crowded than we had expected, but not nearly as crowded as it was before Christmas.
A Disneyland trip is such a fun Christmas present to surprise your kids with!
Where to Find the Best Food in Disneyland
- Mickey-shaped Beignets at the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square
- The Plaza Inn offers the best bang for your buck. Their fried chicken adult-sized meal is big enough for a few kids to split and is cheaper than individual kids’ meals. They also have the best caramel apples!
- The cafe in front of Adventureland offers more flavors of Dole Whip
- Lemon soft serve from the Adorable Snowman in California Adventures
- The Corn Dog Castle in California Adventuresย
- Bread Bowl with Clam Chowder or Mac & Cheese at the Pacific Wharf Cafe in California Adventures
- Chicken and beef skewers and bacon-wrapped asparagus at the Bengal Tiger near the Jungle Cruise
- Birria Grilled cheese sandwich & tomato soup at the Jolly Holiday Cafe
- Lobster rolls from the vendor in front of the Haunted Mansion
- Cheesy Garlic Pretzel Bread from Edelweiss Snacks or Maurice’s Treats
- The Monte Cristo sandwich at the New Orleans Cafe or Blue Bayou
- Ghost Pepper Mac&Cheese from one of the Food & Wine specialty kiosks in California Adventures
- Red’s Frozen Apple at the Cozy Cones in Cars Land (frozen apple juice with whipped passion fruit and toasted coconut)
- Churro Funnel Cake at the Hungry Bear Restaurant
- Churro English Toffee at Bing Bongs Candy Shop in California Adventures
- Raspberry and Coconut Macaroons (and any baked goods) from the Jolly Holiday Cafe. Just be sure to place a mobile order before 9 am, or there is a good chance they will sell out.
- The Cookie Butter Churro Shake from the Golden Horseshoe is unbelievable!
- Skip the Blue Milk at Galaxy’s Edge. It’s expensive and not that good.
- Pineapple Upside-down whip at the Tropical Hideaway by the Jungle Cruise
- Cheesy Pepperoni Popover Pizza from the Daisy Cafe in Toontown
- Waffle Cristo from the Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square
- Mac & Cheese Chili in a Sourdough Bread Bowl from the Refreshment Corner
And if you love Disney World, check out our guides to the Best Snacks at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and 10 Disney World Magic Kingdom Tips and Tricks!
Where to Stay at Disneyland
Disney has 3 themed hotels near the park, including the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and the Pixar Place Hotel. These hotels are closest to the park, and each guest staying at the hotel receives one complimentary Lightning Lane Pass. However, the rates are usually significantly higher than those of other hotels in the area.
We like staying at the Hilton Anaheim Hotel. It is only 1 mile from the park, and the rooms are reasonably priced.
It is so close that you can even see the Disneyland fireworks right from your hotel room window!
The hotel underwent a massive renovation project that was completed at the end of 2025. Everything is new and beautiful! The rooms are chic, spacious, and comfortable. They even offer suites and adjoining rooms that are perfect for families.
The heated outdoor pool and hot tub are a great place to relax after a long day at the park. They also have lawn games, a large splash pad, and an expansive fitness center.
There are a few onsite restaurants, a Starbucks, and a cute little market. We thought the food was good, but it was a little pricey.
They don’t offer a complimentary shuttle bus to the park, but there is a public bus you can catch just outside the hotel for $4. We just walked, and it took less than 20 minutes.
Final Thoughts
The most important thing is to just relax and have fun! There will be crowds, there will still be long wait times, and there will still be those inevitable melt-downs.
One of the best tips and tricks for visiting Disneyland is just to stay positive. Don’t let the little things ruin the day, and remember to laugh and smile in those moments of chaos. You’re making memories that will last a lifetime!
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