How To Make The Most Out Of Your Day At Disneyland!

For those of you who find yourselves new or often lost at the Disneyland Resort California, this article will show you one of the best ways to navigate the park!

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While the Disneyland Resort remains closed due to safety procedures amidst the coronavirus pandemic, we Disnerds are forced to wait and hope for the park to open its gates once again sometime in the future (hopefully this year!). This got me thinking about how strange it would be to finally reach a point where everything would go back to normal post-pandemic. In a general sense, Disneyland can be challenging to navigate through and manage your time and money there. And sometimes, you may find yourself stuck on deciding what it is you want to do first. That is why in this article, I am inclined to show you how to make the most out of one day at Disneyland (based on my experiences before its closure). So, without further ado, let's get started!

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1. Download the Disneyland App

The Disneyland App

The first thing you should do before even going is to prepare beforehand. I recommend you download the Disneyland app on your phone if you haven't already. It tells you all of the estimated wait times for the attractions, it shows you what kind of restaurants there are, and it even has a map that shows you where you are when you enter the park. Not only that, but you can also buy and access your tickets there, which is a must have. It is also a useful tool to let you know about the park, such as new events, attractions, or places to visit! The Disneyland app can be downloaded on the apple store and google play entirely for free.

2. Check Crowd Calendars Beforehand

The next thing to do would be to choose the right day to go there. Because Disneyland is extremely popular, it is crucial to pick a day when it is not packed. And you can do this by simply searching into google "Disneyland crowd calendar," and it should tell you what days you can expect to be the busiest and what days aren't crowded. Yes, it's really that simple! And if you decide to go with friends, I recommend carpooling because parking there is a $25 fee so by carpooling, you can save yourselves some money.

3. Disney Fastpasses

Now, what should you do when you enter Disneyland? Well, the first thing that I usually do is get fastpasses for the popular rides and shows that I like. For example, last time I went with my siblings, we went to Tomorrowland and got a fastpass for Space Mountain and then to Fronteirland to get a fastpass for the show Fantasmic. Also, just a little tip, fastpasses for rides and shows are considered two different types of passes, so you don't have to worry about not being able to get one for a ride immediately after you get one for a show or vice versa. If you are in a group, you can also link all of your tickets to one app, so if you scan your phone to get a fastpass, it will also get fastpasses for the entire group. For just $20 per person a day, Maxpasses are another option, which gives guests the ability to pay in advance to make Fastpass reservations on their phone and access Photopass downloads taken by photographers or rides.

4. Disney Treats Galore!

Monte Cristo Sandwich available at Café Orleans for $21.00

Pork Belly Skewer at Bengal Barbeque for $6.49

Thirdly, what is a Disney experience without trying some of their fantastic food? Disney has a large variety of selections guests can choose from. Craving something savory? Well, Café Orleans serves entrees like steak and potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or my favorite, the Monte Cristo sandwich, which is served with a berry puree. I do not recommend going to Bengal barbeque if you are looking for a meal because their portions are quite disappointing. We're talking about kebabs roughly the size of six inches! If you are looking for a quick savory snack, this might be your place to go, but otherwise, they are not worth the $5.

DOLE Whip Raspberry, Orange, and Pineapple

Soft Serves at Tiki Juice Bar for $5.99

Speaking of snacks, if you're still not satisfied, you can always visit some of the food vendors scattered throughout the park. Popular treats include the iconic dole whip with a pineapple swirl—and also now with new flavors like the orange and raspberry swirl at Adventureland's Tiki Juice Bar. (And we're hoping you're just as optimistic for the NEW Minnie Watermelon Dole Whip Cup in Walt Disney World to make its way down here to us in California!). Now, if you find yourself running short on time, you can always use the Disney app for mobile ordering, so by the time you reach where you want to eat, your order will be right there waiting for you. But, if you don't have enough money to afford the food there because they are quite expensive, Disney has a policy that allows guests to bring in whatever food they like. Just make sure not to bring anything made of glass because that is banned from the park!

5. Disney Merchandise

Monster Inc.'s Sulley Popcorn Bucket at Pixar Fest

Lastly, if you are considering getting yourself some merchandise, there are essentially two ways you can handle getting it by my standards. First, if the item in question is relatively new or exclusive, you will want to buy the object before you start going to attractions. You do not want to wait because it will most likely sell out. However, if you don't have a specific item in mind or something that you know will still be in stock, I recommend saving time to buy it after you finish everything you want to do. When it comes to buying souvenirs, I typically look for things that come off on the sillier side, so for example, I have a sorcerer mickey hat and gloves. And in my personal opinion, having merchandise that you can wear makes something about the Disney experience feel more magical.

To recap, I recommended ways to efficiently prepare for a day at the park using the Disney app and money-saving methods. I discussed how to save time with fastpasses, delicious food you can try, and what to do when buying merchandise. So next time you go to Disneyland, consider using these tips to help enhance your experience!

Did you find this article helpful? Got some Disneyland tips of your own? Let us know in the comments section below!