Top tips for where to stay, what to bring, what to splurge on and more
If your family has tots or teens or everything in between, a family trip to Disneyland is a rite of passage. We've just made another visit to Disneyland in California and updated our best tips. As you plan your trip to the Magic Kingdom or are just thinking about when is the right time, read on for our top 10 tips to ensure your visit is as enchanting as you dreamed — and that your kids come home with happy memories, no matter their age.
Table of Contents
- 1. Grab the new MaxPass to beat the lines and access park photos free
- 2. Stay onsite at a Disneyland Resort and get an extra hour in the parks, or save by staying nearby
- 3. Pack water bottles and snacks and have older kids haul their own stuff
- 4. Multi-Day Park Hopper Passes are worth it if you plan to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure
1. Grab the new MaxPass to beat the lines and access park photos free
Before you head to Disneyland, download the Disney App on each of your family members' phones. The app will show you wait times for rides, when and where characters are appearing, when events like the popular seasonal parades are happening.
Once inside the park, purchase a Disney MaxPass online for the app, currently $15 per ticket, per day. Once each member of your group has the MaxPass, you will be able to link your tickets so that you can select Fast Passes electronically, together or individually. This will allow you to maximize your time at both parks as you can make a Fast Pass reservation for a popular attraction in California Adventure while you are still in Disneyland — or from anywhere inside each park.
2. Stay onsite at a Disneyland Resort and get an extra hour in the parks, or save by staying nearby
Whether you have toddlers or teens, splurging and staying onsite at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels offers some great advantages. Staying onsite is more expensive than hotels located in surrounding Anaheim, but being able to take the monorail back to the hotel for a midday nap or swim, or to allow teenagers to roam free-range, can make the expense worth it for some families.
Photo of the Disneyland Hotel
Bonus: You will also have access to either Disneyland or California Adventure for an early Extra Magic Hour when the parks open early for guests of the resort’s hotels.
You can also save a bundle by staying offsite — but still close by — at a Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel.
For easy, all-in-one travel planning, consider package deals that include admission to the park and lodging (onsite or offsite). Check out Disneyland’s packages or Disneyland packages available from Costco Travel.
3. Pack water bottles and snacks and have older kids haul their own stuff
If you see a toddler melting down at Disneyland, it's a safe bet that they're tired, dehydrated or hungry. Bringing healthy snacks and a collapsible water bottle for each member of your family will save you money and help keep everyone hydrated and happy.
4. Multi-Day Park Hopper Passes are worth it if you plan to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure
Disneyland and California are separate, adjacent parks. It can help to note that there are fewer rides and attractions that appeal to toddlers in California Adventure, so some families might opt to visit Disneyland alone.
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