Though I’m Canadian by blood, I’m American by nature -- which is why I was more obsessed with Disney characters than 'The Friendly Giant' (a popular Canadian kids show) when I was growing up. My first trip to the land that Walt built was at 6 years of age, and though the park has matured a lot and gone through many incarnations since that time (how long is none of your business), my fascination with it hasn’t changed. Which is why I feel it’s my civic duty to share with you the tips and tricks I’ve learned to ensure the fullest, most complete Disneylanding experience you could possibly have … unless Mickey Mouse himself were to escort you through the park.
Tip 1: Give Yourself a Pre-Park Day to Get AcclimatedThough it’s tempting to walk right off the flight and right onto Space Mountain, you’d be foolish to waste the beautiful opportunity to experience the fun but dramatic tension that ensues when you’re this close to the park, but can’t go in -- which makes your entrée the following day that much sweeter. But on top of that, you’d miss all the great dining and shopping opportunities in Downtown Disney, the resort’s premiere shopping area with a unique collection of stores and eateries. Get some great smelly bath stuff at Basin, do some pre-Disney mania immersion in World of Disney, power up at Jamba Juice, catch a movie at the AMC theatres, and wrap things up with some video games at ESPN Zone. Or dinner at the Rainforest Café. Maybe some time at the House of Blues, too. In fact, you might want to skip the park and just spend all your time here!
Yeah, right.
Tip 2: Stay at an On-Site Hotel
Although there are plenty of off-site hotels that are friendly with the Disneyland resort, there’s really no experience quite like staying in an on-site hotel. Your options are the Paradise Pier, the Disneyland Hotel, and my new favorite, the Grand Californian. Built to look like a classic California craftsman home, the lobby alone is worth the room rate. With dramatically high ceilings, giant fireplaces, stained glass and warm wood accents, you almost don’t want to go to your room … but you should, because it’s there that you’ll be greeted by the most comfortable beds on property, marble tubs, and flat-panel televisions that give you a direct connection to classic Disney cartoons, or a bedtime story. (No, I didn’t bother tuning in to HBO. Yes, I watched the reenactment of Cinderella as read by Cindy herself. What of it?) With a world-class spa, incredible dining experiences, and some of the best service you’ll ever get at a hotel -- not to mention a view of Disney’s California Adventure from some rooms -- you’d be mad enough to be a character in Alice in Wonderland not to book here.
Tip 3: Get a Two-Park Pass
No matter if it’s for one day or five, you’ll want the option. Trust me.
Tip 4: Use Your Early-Morning Entry
The other benefit of staying at an on-site hotel? Early entry. This gives you the option to enter the park an entire hour earlier than everyone else, allowing you the privilege of getting two of the most crowded lands -- Fantasyland and Tomorrowland -- out of the way long before the park gets to capacity. If you have little ones, start with Peter Pan’s Flight, arguably the most unique of all the “dark rides” (as the vets call them -- that’s code for “those rides where you’re in a little car and you drive through scenes”). Pan’s Flight has the longest line in Fantasyland from morning to night, so best to get it out of the way early.
That said, the Tomorrowland relaunch of the submarines -- now themed to Finding Nemo -- has consistently won the Longest Line moniker since its early June debut, so if you had to choose I’d say do Nemo first, as the line filters slower. If your goal is to nail as many rides as you can in one fell swoop, Early Morning Entry can really put you at the head of your game.
One drawback to Early Morning Entry? No rope drop, which is a ritual they do wherein Walt’s iconic opening-day speech is played on loudspeakers through Main Street just before they drop the rope to officially open all the lands. It’s a fun little treat, so make sure you experience it at least once.
