19 Quick Tips for Disneyland and California Adventure
1.) Download the Disneyland app from your App Store BEFORE you enter the park. A strong wifi connection is recommended.
2.) Link your Disneyland ticket to the app BEFORE you enter the park.
3.) Use the free Disney wifi.
4.) Get MaxPass. It’s worth it. You don’t have to go up to the kiosks to get your FastPass, you’re able to do everything from the app, and you get “free,” unlimited, professional Disney photos you can download from the app including photos of you screaming for dear life as you loop around on a roller coaster. Just keep in mind that, aside from the roller coaster rides at California Adventure which take your photo during the ride, you may have to wait in line for a Disney photographer as you would any attraction there. I was kind of confused on what “MaxPass” was until I used it in real life. “MaxPass” isn’t a superior version of FastPass…you don’t really go any faster now considering FastPasses ((whether you have MaxPass or not) can be obtained through the app). The one benefit is you get unlimited, free photos.
5.) Park-Hopper is also worth it. The parks are within walking distance of each other. You can also take the Disneyland train which will drop you off at the entrance. This will make it super quick to run over to California Adventure.
6.) The best way to optimize your time is to plan around Fast Passes. If you have an hour and a half until your next FastPass, you may consider going to the general area of your next one and going on other rides until your reservation time frame to ensure you are prompt but also getting to experience everything that area has to offer before moving on to the next one. Going back and forth from one to the other i.e. Tomorrowland to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is really inefficient. I know this may seem contradictory to Point #3, but Park Hopper is worth it when you want to spend the day at Disneyland and do dinner and a nighttime show at California Adventure, for example. For most of the day, you should stick to one park. For example, the three of us did Disneyland on Day #1 and decided to stay there the whole time. On Day #2, we started off at California Adventure, went to Disneyland in the afternoon to finish up some rides we had missed the first day, went back to California Adventure, watched a nighttime show there, and ran back to Disneyland to do some shopping.
7.) Per the above point, Disneyland is open two hours later than California Adventure. So run back for some last-minute rides (most of the park has emptied at this point…parents with kids have given up on life after the Disney Fireworks Show at 10 p.m.) and shopping. It’s also worth it to take the monorail to Downtown Disney and spend some time shopping and hanging out there. Downtown Disney is technically open until 2 a.m., but most shops including World of Disney will close around midnight.
8.) Human watering holes are scarce at Disneyland, but feel free to fill up your reusable water bottle when you get off the Millennium Falcon ride at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
9.) Wear open-toed shoes. Let those puppies breathe. Trust me.
10.) On the topic of shoes, wear comfortable ones! I, much too-late (on the way to Disney), researched good shoes for flat feet. My Doc Martens did really well though, all things considered. Another noteworthy brand: Birkenstock.
11.) Wear synthetic underwear if you plan on going on any of the water rides. Just trust me on this one too.
12.) Laurel brought this wonderful lotion - “Arnicare” - a homeopathic medicine for muscle pain and stiffness, swelling from injuries, and bruises. Don’t let the name “Disney” fool you. It may be the “Happiest Place on Earth,” but there will be pain - make no mistake about it. Apply this before and after your Disney visit. It did wonders for healing our legs/feet. And if you maximize your day at Disney, you’re pretty much on your feet for about 16 hours.
13.) Bring loads of sunscreen. Loads.
14.) Bring a water bottle unless you’d prefer to purchase an expensive one from Disney. In fact, for a full list on what to pack for Disney, see my recent post.
15.) Reserve your first FastPass on the app AS SOON as you go past security and enter the park. This is not a drill. Maximize your time, people!
16.) Choose FastPasses for rides with the most wait time (the app will show you) that also aren’t too far into the future. The goal is to maximize. Use as many FastPasses as you can throughout the day. Remember, you can’t reserve your next FastPass until you’ve used your existing, reserved one. You can also always cancel your FastPass and choose another one too (i.e. if a popular one opens up for a sooner time).
17.) Reserve your fast pass for one or more of the night shows. Unlike fast passes for the rides, you don’t have to wait until a FastPass reservation time is over before you can request your next FastPass. The night show FastPasses are completely separate.
18.) Bring a mobile charger. Surprisingly, Disneyland does not have a ton of charging stations or outlet options available to guests. My preference is Zoom. This one is lightweight, portable, and trust me, when you’re waiting in lines, there is nothing better than knowing that at least your phone is being fueled to capture some exciting moments that are about to happen. My tech-savvy friend, Laurel, was impressed with it’s battery life and how quickly it charged.
19.) If you have a Disney Visa Credit or Debit Card, be sure to ALWAYS ask if it’ll work at a given cart/store. Even though you would think the systems would pick up on a Disney card automatically (apparently, we’re not there yet), they don’t so we have to inform the cast member checking us out each time. Cast members ask if you are an annual passholder. They don’t ask about this. At many places throughout the park, you’ll get 10% off on a purchase of $50 or more.
*Information is accurate as of July 2019. Visit the Disneyland website for any updates and for the latest information.