It’s the happiest place on earth, Disneyland! I’ve been going to Disneyland since I was a little girl. My very first trip was when I was a wee little baby and according to the parents, I slept through the entire trip while my mum collected autographs for my Minnie Mouse Autograph book.
Now that I’m an adult, I still love Disneyland and I love the energy when I visit the parks. Do I turn full kid mode? The answer is yes, yes I do.
I live in Vancouver, so Disneyland California in Anaheim is just a quick 2-hour flight away. Disneyland doesn’t have to just be for kids, in fact I’ve mostly gone as an adult with my girlfriends. Going to Disneyland always puts a smile on my face, and an ache in my old lady back, but whenever I make a trip down to Los Angeles, I somehow manage to complete both parks – Disneyland and California Adventure in one day! Hence, I’m excited to share these tips with you-
How to do Disneyland California in One Day :
When in the year to go + What time of the day is best
This is always a tricky part and really depends on your situation. Are you in school/university, or have kids? Can you take time off work during certain parts of the year?
Summers and school breaks tend to be more busy with families and children on school break. This is something to keep in mind when planning a trip to Disneyland. That, or if you just hate crowds- though I think crowds are unavoidable when it comes to Disneyland.
This year, I went once in January and again in July after my trip to Miami with the girls. The weather was much cooler (even in LA) in January so I had to bring more jackets to the park but it wasn’t that much of a hassle because there are lockers for rent.
When I went in both January and July, I did find that the lines are a tad bit shorter with fewer crowds. This means you can do your favourite things twice! It also makes for those coveted pictures where no one is in your Disney castle shot.
Also, early bird catches the worm!
We went early in the day, around 9:30 am from LA to make sure we were able to skip the traffic (that didn’t work out because it’s LA) but we did skip the longer line ups and get to the rides we wanted to without too much of a wait time/crowds.
We also decided to stay in Los Angeles instead of Anaheim and just Uber over because of the hotel prices in Anaheim. It’s a hotspot for families and if you want to go to the parks over a course of a couple of days, then hotels might be an option to look at. For us, one day was enough and so we decided to Uber in instead. The Uber fare wasn’t too bad either if you compare it with a hotel stay.
Plan out your Disneyland strategy based on which rides you want the most!
There definitely is a strategy in making the most of Disneyland and California Adventure. It really depends on what you value more and the dynamics of the group or people you’re travelling with.
When I went during my last trip to LA, my friend and I were on a goal of getting on all the popular roller coaster rides. We knew exactly which rides were a must, and which ones we could go without.
We headed to the parks earlier in the day and went straight ahead to the popular rides such as Space Mountain, the new Incredibles-Coaster (which is SCARY), the Guardians of the Galaxy ride (which used to be the Hollywood Tower of Terror). My friend also wanted to take some photos with Marvel characters in California Adventure.
Fast passes are great and we usually get the Fast Pass for the rides with the longer wait time, as you can only grab passes once every hour or so.
We made sure to get the passes for the longer wait rides and then wait in line as usual for the shorter rides. OR we would hit up the stores and do some shopping in between but I really suggest leaving this to the end or get a locker so you’re not carrying it on rides.
Both times I’ve been to Disney with my gal pals, we were able to get on all the rides we wanted to in a day, plus some other ones in between.
Good thing about going during school days or low season is that some rides have zero line ups. They’re usually the ones kids go on more but hey, I enjoy the breezy Cars ride like every other kid out there too.
The difference between Disneyland and California Adventure:
There is a difference between the two parks and knowing this can help with how you plan your day at Disneyland.
To put it simply, I like to describe Disneyland as geared to the characters that we grew up watching. The pillar characters of Disney – like Mickey Mouse, or Disney Princesses. I also find that Disneyland is a little more catered towards children in terms of the merchandise they sell in store and the overall feel of the park.
California Adventure on the other hand have different types of characters- such as the Marvel superheroes and the vibe is definitely catered towards an older audience – teens and adults.
But again, it really depends on what you love and I’d suggest going to the park you want to see more of first before lining up for the next.
For myself, I enjoy California Adventure more because of the restaurants, older more retro vibe of the park and the scarrier rides.
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What to wear in Disneyland
Being a blogger myself, I do love Disneyland because of the cute photos you can take at the parks.
That being said, being comfortable is key to having fun and taking good photos. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of bad wardrobe decisions when I dress solely for the shot.
Wear comfortable sneakers and dress for the weather. I really don’t recommend wearing short skirts or dresses- you might end up flashing some kids. Even in the late Summer, I’d suggest bringing a jacket or sweater as it can get chilly at night. I share more travel packing tips HERE!
Shopping in Disneyland
There are a ton of fun shops on Main Street at the Disneyland side of the park. There are some crystal glass shops that do hand blown pieces and vintage candy shops that have sweet treats from some of your wildest dreams.
They are also plenty of clothing stores that sell more than just the typical Disney sweaters. I love that they have everyday pieces as well with a little Disney flare.
In New Orleans Square, you’ll feel as if you were dropped into another state! I love checking out the shops here because they have a large variety of stories that sell some of my favourites.
There is a Pandora shop that sells Disney and non-disney charms. It is a great way to take a little break from the hustle and bustle of the park. There are also some New Orleans themed stores that sell fragrances, parasols and trendy fashion apparel you would normally see at a regular store. Window shopping here gets very tempting!
Within Disneyland, close to Cinderella’s castle is one of my favourite stores because they have the best variety of character mugs! I might’ve snagged a Mickey and Minnie paired mug set for Elbert and I.
That said, be sure to rent out a locker so that you have somewhere safe to store the items you purchase. No one likes carrying a bunch of items in bags around, but also it would be pretty terrible to misplace.
The thing about Disneyland though, it’s easy to get caught up and buy a lot of stuff that you may or may not need or end up using. I usually get something that I know I can use in the long run – like a cup or keychain.
Also, if you want to buy those popular Mickey ears, I’d suggest waiting a bit as you walk through the park because there are usually better designs in the middle of the park. A little tip to save your money and not buy doubles.
Be sure to stay hydrated and eat!
The great thing about going on your own with friends is most of the time they are willing to slow down and just relax. Disney actually has some great sit down options for dining!
One thing I only found out about after entering the park is that you can actually bring water and food in. This is a great way to save money because food in Disney is EXPENSIVE, and not always the best tasting. Also, line ups are a pain. There are also a couple water filling stations so you can help save the environment by bringing your own bottle.
Some restaurants in the park do accept reservations so that’s also something to think about. PS: I don’t enjoy the food in Downtown Disney restaurants. They’re expensive and mediocre.
That said, a whole day walking takes a toll on your body! The smart way to do Disneyland is to stay hydrated and eat.
Disneyland doesn’t serve alcohol but California Adventure and Downtown Disney do! It’s weird to think about drinking in Disneyland but their beers and mixed drinks are relatively affordable and so delicious! Many of them are even Disney-themed too.
Fireworks at night at Cinderella’s Castle
One of my favourite parts of Disneyland is catching the fireworks at the end of your day!
Disneyland offers fireworks every night at 9:30 pm (times may vary so still check) at Cinderella’s Castle and it is a must-do for me. It can get pretty crowded so I would recommend heading to your viewing spot a little early. I usually just hang around close to the castle about 10 minutes before because I’m not too keen about being caught in the crowds.
Here are some top spots to watch it from:
Main Street
Usually pretty busy 30 minutes beforehand so I would come early and set up on the concrete. If you sit near the end of Main Street near the entrance, you get a great view of the fireworks!
The Hub
The Hub is the circular area surrounding the Walt Disney and Mickey statue you see near the castle. This way you get to see all the lights and the fireworks in the background. It can get busy here so I’d grab a snack and head over early
It’s a Small World
There’s reserved seating near the It’s a Small World ride that gives an incredible view of the show. Also, I find that the area just behind the reserved seats gives just as great of a view. Get there early and stand near the reserved seats.
Best part? It’s a Small World also does a mini-show with special lights and effects that go along with the fireworks.
That’s all of my tips on how to do Disneyland and California Adventure in One Day guys! I hope you found this helpful and let me know if you have tips of your own by tweeting me! Check out my other travel posts :
I hope you have a wonderful time at Disneyland with your friends. You’re never too old for a little magic!
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Till next time,
xoxo
Sam