Disneyland Guide: Have *THE BEST* Disney Day!
Back in May, after a photography work trip and to celebrate my 25th birthday, I went to Disneyland for the first time with my best friend! As someone who has always loved movies by that classic mouse, I was ecstatic and researched Disney ins and outs before going. Disneyland is so much fun but also takes a lot of planning to make the most of your day(s) there! Here is a guide for your next Disney Trip:
General Tips
Getting to and from the park:
There is public transport available to the park through ART (Anaheim Regional Transport) but we just walked from our hotel which took about 15 minutes or so. (We stayed at the Clarion Hotel which was perfect for us because we just needed a place to rest our head at night.) Plan to arrive 1 hour before opening if you want a full day of fun!
Fast Pass:
Disney offers a Genie Fast Pass for $20 per person. I think it’s totally worth it if it’s your first trip—IF you know how to use it! The Genie Fast Pass is not a “fast pass” in the traditional sense but more so a reservation system. You have to plan out what rides you are going on in advance and book them. Keep this in mind before buying. :) It took my friend and I a while to get a hang of it so we used it mostly at the end of the day when the park was already clearing out but that made for an even quicker rush of fun. You can also speed up your wait time by choosing the left line or the single rider line, apparently, but we didn’t do that much!
Parades and Shows (like World of Color):
Go 1 hour before the posted time to get a good spot! It was totally worth the wait for the awesome experience!
Spots to Cool Down:
With all the fun under the sun, you’re bound to get pretty hot out there. Beat the heat for a bit by popping into Main Street Cinema in Disneyland or Animation Academy in Disney California Adventure Park. Plan ahead by buying a portable fan or one that attaches to your smart phone!
Disneyland Essentials LIST
Belt bag/backpack/etc.
Sunglasses
Water bottle (Yes! You can bring a water bottle into the parks. Stay hydrated to stay having fun, friends!)
Phone fan
Camera (Disposable, polaroid, etc.)
Power banks for your cell phones (*Tip: Turn your Bluetooth off to save battery and put your phone on Low Power Mode!)
Disney attire (I bought a Pirates of the Caribbean shirt at the park on Day 1 and wore it Day 2 and a security team member complimented it and asked where I got it! The shirt was that cool, y’all. Pop around the shops for some rare finds.)
Mouse ears (Which I also bought at the park, of course!)
Hold onto your physical ticket just in case! (And it’s super cute for scrapbooking later.)
Get your “First Visit” button (People say to go to Disneyland City Hall for this but they were actually out of pins there when we went. You can get your “First Visit” button at any gift shop!)
And… have fun! (That shouldn’t be too hard!)
Kayla’s Picks:
DISNEYLAND Must-Haves:
The Haunted Mansion
Mad Tea Party (*Tip: Stop by Fantasyland early in the day to avoid a crowd of kiddies!)
Pirates of the Caribbean (THIS RIDE WAS CLOSED WHEN WE WENT!!! Just a sign I will have to go back someday!)
DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE Must-Haves:
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Toy Story Midway Mania!
Favorite Treats:
Dole Whip (Go to the Tiki Room! *Tip: This is also one of the largest/less crowded spots for a restroom break.)
Pretzel Mickey (I would NOT STOP talking about how much I wanted a pretzel Mickey the whole day! Yes, it absolutely lived up to the hype.)
Classic churro
*Hilarious zoomed-in photographic proof of the Guardians of the Galaxy ride changing my life above. Enjoy.
This experience was two days of absolute serotonin OVERLOAD—and I loved every minute of it!! I am so thankful to share these memories with my best friend of over a decade who always makes me feel like a kid at heart. Andy, ily. <3
