My Simple Survival Tips for Disneyland

Disneyland seems to be a childhood staple for many young families. My Facebook feed is filling up with families getting ready for their summer vacations in California with excited kids and countdown calendars. I’ve been to the Anaheim park 4 times, twice as a kid and now twice as an adult and it still holds that special kind of magic. However, it can be full of meltdowns and frustration if not planned properly. We’ve managed to keep our trips (nearly) tear free and here’s how we’ve done it.

• Travel in off season. The website “Is it Packed?” breaks down how busy different theme parks will be on a calendar. It also gives live updates.  But if at all possible, travel on days listed as ” Ghost Town”
• Obviously travelling in off season doesn’t work for everyone. And that’s where this tip comes in. Run over to the RideMax website and pay for a subscription to their analytic based ride software. I know this sounds a bit crazy, but the program is actually worth it’s wait in gold.  Last May, we visited the park a week prior to the 60th celebration. The place was nuts. We previously made up our schedule on RideMax and did every single ride we wanted to in the park (within our height restrictions) in one day. We also met a handful of characters, went back to the hotel for a 2 hour nap and had a leisurely lunch.  The software schedules everything in- from breaks to parades to shows. It gives advice on loopholes I never knew about. You decide what you want to do and it figures out the best plan. It’s also full of tips and tricks for where to sit for parades and when to do character greets. Another case-in-point: My brother bought the software for his trip last year with four kids. The first day they flew through the park, everyone was happy and they had a fabulous day. So the next day the decided to just wing it- Disneyland didn’t seem THAT busy.  But by lunch time the kids were begging to go back on the RideMax schedule. Having a game plan eliminates aimless wandering, arguments about what to do next and reduces MUCH longer waits then necessary. During our entire day we never spend more the 15-20 minutes on any ride line-up and some with no wait at all.  Just try the software, it offers a money back guarantee if you don’t trust my review.
• Be at the parks, with your tickets already purchased, waiting in the turnstile 30 minutes before the park opens. You will get into the park before the rides even open and can literally be the first one in line. Our family did the entire Fanastyland area in the first hour of the park opening. You’ve spent the money to be there, it’s amazing what just showing up early will do. But also be aware which park have the “Early Magic Morning” and try to go the the other park that day to ensure you really are first in line. Our first two hours at the park were our favourite of the day. Make them count.
• Head down to Target or Walmart to pack your bag full of snacks, treats, water bottles or juice boxes. Disneyland still allows you to bring in your own food. We decided to only purchase one meal a day in the parks, the rest we would bring in ourselves. We saved a ton of money (and had the all-you-can-eat buffet for a “lupper” in Frontierland). Also it’s good to note that any quick service food station will also give you free ice water at anytime.
• If your kids are under 8, consider bringing a stroller, even if they seem to big for it. Walking the park can be exhuasting and being able to sit down for those long walks can give kids much needed breaks. Strollers can also have storage for your food and drinks, so you’re not carrying it on your back. I honestly thought the stroller would be annoying, but as I looked around and saw parents dragging around crying kids while Violet sat happily in her seat I was singing praises for having it along.
• Do your research ahead of time. Figure out how tall your children all and plan for those rides. Let your kids know what they can’t do (if any) to avoid disappointment at the park.  Engage your kids in planning by using Disney’s website which is extremely interactive (and will build the anticipation!).
• Use Google street view to choose your hotel based on distance from the park gates. I researched hotels from Expedia and then cross referenced them with Google Street View to get the cheapest hotel in the closest distance from the gate. I was also able to see which restaurants were close by and how far away Target was for last minute supplies.  Our choice ended up being Hotel De Sol, which was very basic but good enough for a quick 2 nights stay- and the least expensive choice at the time. It was literally across the street (5 minute walk from the gate) and was a fraction of the cost of the larger chain hotels. I wanted to be close to be able to get back to the room easier for naps, and to arrive early at the park before the crowds. Obviously if the Disneyland Hotels had been in the budget, I might have splurged for them- but we are always on a budget over here 😉
• Use the Rider Switch passes. Maeve was too short to ride Big Thunder Railway or Splash Mountain so we simply asked the attendant for a pass. Then one of us could stay with Maeve while the other one went on the ride with Violet. Afterwards the adults could swap places and Violet got to go on the ride a second time with no wait. It was the best system.  The adult waiting with Maeve could take her on another ride (Winnie the Pooh was right near Splash Mountain), grab a treat (Churros or Dole Whip anyone?) or explore a bit while waiting.
• Use the fast pass system throughout the park. The RideMax program tells you when and where to get your passes, but if you aren’t using Ridemax definitely take advantage of getting the passes first thing in the morning to bypass the long line-ups later in the day.
• Check out one of the major websites for Disneyland tips- Mousesavers or The Dis board (where you can post questions and get quick answers from other travellers). Both were super helpful when I was trying to plan our last trip and had a question google couldn’t help me with. There are so many great blogs and website what so much information- try to utilize it as much as possible. When you’re spending nearly $100 a day per person, it’s worth your time to plan ahead.
• Buy a few souvenirs ahead of time and bring them out in the park like glow sticks for the fireworks, Mickey shaped treats,  and even themed clothing can be purchased for cheap, leaving you extra funds for the one special souvenir (or a silhouette portrait on Main Street, hand cut by talented ladies with stories to tell. By far, my favourite thing from our trip.)
• Don’t try to do it all. Because you can’t. Decide what’s most important for your family and go from there.  But A little research ahead of time is worth your time. Figure out Parade times, firework times, what rides are closed for maintenance,  and any special events that are happening. Then set your priorities and enjoy your family vacation. Remember to take breaks, spend some time people watching and take it all in.

Here’s what Main Street USA looks like it if you arrive as soon as the park opens. I should have turned around and got picture of the crowd behind us. But my girls were too excited looking out for the castle. Truly Magical. The rides opened 30 minutes after the gates opened, so we had a bit of time to roam and get in line and be first!

Just some snapshots from our latest trip last May from Tim’s old iPhone. We didn’t even bring our camera in to the park since it was just a day to devote to playing and I didn’t want to worry about a camera or my even good phone.  We were the first ones at the castle and the rope hadn’t even dropped yet. They do a little ceremony in the morning to open the park which was fun, and then we were off to Fanastyland. My girls loved all the classic themed rides, so it was perfect doing them first. We saw quite a few characters roaming around first thing in the morning and we were even able to play a game of “unbirthday tea” with the mad hatter, all by ourselves! Both girls were given buttons by cast members since it was their 1st visit. You can also get them from the TownHall/ Forestation on Mainstreet for free.
What’s your best Disneyland tip?