A Guide to the Disneyland Resort
Located in the lovely city of Anaheim in Southern California, the Disneyland Resort is the happiest place on earth and is home to the original Disney theme park which opened on July 17, 1955.
Since then, the Disneyland Resort has grown substantially and now features two theme parks (Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park), the Downtown Disney District and three on-site Disney operated-hotels (Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa).
Disneyland will always be special, it the original Disney theme-park which Walt Disney enjoyed himself along with his family and friends, he even built his own apartment inside Disneyland Park, located above the Fire Department building on Main Street U.S.A.
If you’re planning on visiting for the very first time, or are looking to return to the magic; you’ll find my guide on how to maximize your visit below. Be sure to check out my advice on where to stay and how to avoid the queues too!
Getting to Disneyland
The Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, California – which is roughly 35 kilometers south of Los Angeles, that’s about an forty-five minute drive depending upon traffic. The nearest airports are Los Angeles International, John Wayne and the Orange County Airport. Regular transportation shuttles run between the three airports and Anaheim.
If you’re like me and live in the UK, you can fly direct to Los Angeles from London Heathrow with a variety of airlines, including Air New Zealand, British Airways, United, Virgin Atlantic and even Norwegian Air. The average flight time to Los Angeles is roughly 11 and a half hours. And California is on located on the west-coast of the United States therefore they are on Pacific Time, which is eight hours behind GMT. You will need to be in possession of a valid ESTA in order to enter the U.S.A.
If you are staying in Anaheim or the surrounding area, then take advantage of the Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) System where, you can enjoy convenient transport to and from your accommodation at a low price. If you’d prefer to walk, the pavements are big, and it would be pretty hard to lose your way. It’s more than likely that people will be heading in the same direction as you too.
The Disneyland Resort has a large parking structure, aptly named “Mickey and Friends” where the majority of day visitors park their vehicles. From the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure, trams regularly transport guests to and from the Downtown Disney District, from where the theme parks are a just a short stroll away. Alternatively, the Toy Story parking area is located just off Harbor Boulevard, from where buses will transport guests near to the esplanade.
Theme Park Parking is currently charged at the following daily rate:
- $18.00 for Cars and Motorcycles
- $23.00 for Over-sized Vehicles and Motor Homes without Trailers
- $28.00 for Buses and Vehicles with Trailers
Alternatively, you can enjoy the first two hours of parking for free at the Downtown Disney District and then an additional two hours if you have your parking ticket validated at selected restaurants, bars or at the AMC cinema. If you stay longer than this time, then each additional hour is charged at $12, charged in 30-minute increments.
Finally, if you are lucky enough to be staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel, then parking is $18 per night for and valet parking is $23 per vehicle. Alternatively, if you are visiting the Disneyland Resort Hotels for a dining experience, you may be able to enjoy up to five hours of parking. But please check this with the hotel first.
Getting around the Resort
One of the many things I love about visiting the Disneyland Resort is that you don’t need to catch a bus from one theme park to another, you can simply walk! Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are located opposite each other, so it is as simple as leaving Disneyland and two minutes later you are inside Disney California Adventure.
The bustling Downtown Disney District runs between the theme parks and the Disneyland Resort Hotels. On average, it took me ten minute to walk at a normal pace from Disneyland Park to the Disneyland Hotel, not bad. However, if you do not feel like walking, then hop on the monorail at the Tomorrowland or Downtown Disney District Monorail Stations and enjoy the scenic journey to and from the stations. – You’ll need to have theme park admission for this!
Staying in the magic.
There is nothing quite like staying in the heart of the magic and excitement. The Disneyland Resort has three on-site hotels that are big on the magic and offer the superior level of service that Disney has become renowned for.
The grandest hotel of them all would be the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which is located in a prominent position, moments away from the Downtown Disney District and the hotel even has it’s very own private entrance into Disney California Adventure – exclusively reserved for the use of Disneyland Resort Hotel guests. The hotel is modeled after the great American national parks and the attention to detail is out of this world. For a treat, be sure to visit the Mandara Spa.
As the name would suggest, the Disneyland Hotel is the original on-site Disney hotel and has just wrapped-up a multi-million dollar renovation. You can read more about the Disneyland Hotel on a separate page.
Disney’s Paradise Pier hotel is a fun and fancy-free style of accommodation that offers guests perfect views of the Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure Park. The hotel is just a short walk from the Downtown Disney District and all the fun of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park.
If you’re staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel, you’ll also benefit from the following:-
Key to the Magic – use your room key to charge meals and merchandise from select locations direct to your room.
Package Express – have your purchases from inside the parks and Downtown Disney delivered to your hotel.
Extra Magic Hour – access Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park up to an hour prior to regular opening on select days.
DCA Exclusive Entrance – access Disney California Adventure Park through the entrance at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Amenities for everyone – enjoy use of all the facilities at the three Disneyland resort hotels.
What to do when the parks are closed?
When Disneyland and Disney California Adventure close in the evening, that does not have to be the end of your magical day, far from it to be exact. Head on over to the Downtown Disney District, a shopping, entertainment and dining district that runs between the theme parks and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Downtown Diney is the place to be to shop till you drop at World of Disney (the resorts flagship merchandise store) and many high-end boutiques. If you’re hungry, then you’ll find a variety of dining options to suit your taste and budget. Experience the taste of New Orleans at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, the taste of Mexico at Tortilla Jo’s or venture into the depths of the Rainforest at the Rainforest Café. But that’s not all, you could enjoy a meal at the House of Blues, Catal Restaurant or even at the ESPN Zone! If you’re in the mood for some good food and entertainment, then be sure to take a look at what special events are going on, from live music to swing dance parties and much more. The fun never has to end.
Maximising your time in the parks.
There are a few things that can help you spend more time enjoying and less time queuing!
Firstly, take advantage of Disney’s FastPass Service. This is a service included with admission into the parks and allows you to enjoy select attractions with a minimal wait. Head on over to the participating FastPass attraction of your choice, insert your park ticket and you will then receive a FastPass Card. On this card, there will be a time window printed, for example lets say 1415-1445 for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. When your time rolls around, simply rock on up to the designated FastPass entrance to the attraction and enjoy the ride, without the wait! This is a brilliant service that allows you to go off and enjoy more of the parks knowing you’ll be able to ride a certain attraction without the hassle known as queuing!
Tip: FASTPASS for both Fantasmic! and World of Color are disconnected, meaning you’ll be able to obtain these and make use of the FASTPASS tickets on offer for many attractions across both parks.
If you’re planning on having lunch inside the parks, then try to avoid having a meal between midday and two o’clock. The same applies for dinner between six and 7 o’clock. This way you won’t have to endure the “food rush” and wait in long queues, now that would be a great time to enjoy some attractions!
On the dining note, if you are wanting to dine at many of the popular table service, buffet, or character dining locations within the resort; then it is best to book in advance… since it gets very busy at the Happiest Place on Earth. Reservations for the majority of these restaurants can be booked online, by calling (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-(3463), or simply e-mailing dine@disneyland.com up to sixty days in advance. Recently, Disney introduced a new policy which requires a credit card to be noted at the time the reservation is made. A fee of $10 will be applied if a guest does not show for their reservation, or if it isn’t cancelled at least the day before. This helps to reduce the amount of “no-shows”.
Secondly, be sure to take advantage of the dining packages available for both Fantasmic! and World of Color. These are available at a number of restaurants within the relevant theme park, but I would strongly recommend booking in advance.
If you’re at the resort for a couple days, an ideal time to enjoy the attractions is during the the daily parade. From my own past experiences, this is usually when many attraction wait-times can be at their shortest, especially the big-thrills.
If you have little ones, then take advantage of Disney’s Rider Swap Service. It really does come in handy when travelling with little ones.
The top tip would be to plan as little or as much as you want in advance, and be flexible!
If you have a smart-phone; be sure to download the official Disneyland mobile application from the app store. It will provide you with accurate wait times, the entertainment schedule and dining options across the resort. Additionally, your phone can be used to access the park! If you’re an annual passholder; you’ll still need to have your card handy to obtain any applicable discounts.
What not to miss!
When visiting the happiest place on earth, there are so many things to see and do, but here are just a few things that I think that you will not want to miss. For starters, be sure to race on in to Radiator Springs, take a stroll along Buena Vista Street or enjoy a meal at the Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge, the new additions to Disney California Adventure Park are endless. Be sure not to miss the nighttime spectacle World of Color, which takes place on the shores of Paradise Bay. World of Color is an amazing show that will take you on a journey through music, dancing fountains and wondrous light and colour! Oh, and don’t forget to check out some of the delicious treats on offer.
This year, Disneyland is celebrating sixty years of magic with the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration! It really is a dazzling occasion with special decor, merchandise and food & beverage offerings. But that’s not all! You simply must catch some of the new entertainment; including the “Paint the Night” parade and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular at Disneyland Park, and “World of Color: Celebrate!” at Disney California Adventure Park. Disney have recently announced the Diamond Celebration will be in full swing until September 2016!
When to visit?
To be perfectly honest, anytime is great to visit Disneyland! However certain moments in the year may appeal to you more than others. For example, January through March is typically the low season. Because the visitor numbers are typically lower during these months, certain attractions may be closed for lengthy refurbishments, just be sure to check the schedule before booking. Late March through to late April is typically when it is time for Spring Break, therefore the resort picks up pace again, plus the temperature increases nicely, so its not too hot and not too cold. From early July to September you can expect the resort to be considerably busy due to the summer season. Schools are out and the parks are open for much longer. Bear in mind it can get quite humid at this time of year though. From late September through to early November, Halloween takes over the resort, keep an eye out for special experiences only available during the most spookiest time of year and you may even get some free sweeties! And finally, from early November all the way through to January, its Christmastime at Disneyland, so be ready for a lot of festive events, decorations and special experiences.
How and When to book?
24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.disneyland.com, by phone during opening hours or through your travel agent.
Want more information?
If you would like more information about planning a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth; then I would be more than delighted to help!
Since 2012 I have visited the Disneyland Resort on several occasions, and I’m willing to share my tips, tricks and personal recommendations with you. Feel free to contact me for more information.