Our Tips for Disneyland California

Disneyland in California is one of the world’s most iconic theme parks and a place where magic comes to life. Whether you’re a child or an adult, Disneyland will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime.

We first visited the Californian park in January 2020. As our love of Disney parks grew we wanted to experience some of the parks outside Florida. At the time, Nick wasn’t too keen on the idea of Disneyland Paris (little did he know he would end up loving it) So we planned a few days at the Californian resort.

With it being the first Disney park, it has a special feeling as soon as you walk into the park and onto the town square. Knowing Walt walked down Main Street and his office was above the Fire Station gives it that extra bit of magic.

Planning Your Trip:

To help you have a more stress-free and enjoyable time at any Disney park, it’s important to plan your trip well beforehand. The flight time from London to Los Angeles (LAX) is around 11 hours. It sounds way longer than Florida but once you are on the plane and sat watching movies and eating the inflight meals, we found it didn’t feel all that much longer. Disneyland is located around a 45-minute drive from LAX airport.

We decided to tag our first trip to California onto our Florida holiday which made it significantly less time in the Air. The flight time from Orlando is around 5 and a half hours. We used Virgin Points to secure a cheap flight with Delta. The internal flight planes are just as good as the long-haul ones we are used to from the UK. Back seat TVs, free wifi (most flights from the UK charge you extra for this), and meal service.

If you do fly direct from the UK then you will need to go from London Heathrow. For those of us in the North of the UK it adds a bit of time onto your journey. We prefer staying over the night before a flight (we once set off the same morning as a flight and forgot to take a wallet, had to head back home for it, and were the last ones to check into the flight. Since that time we have never wanted to repeat that stress) so look for a Premier Inn or something along those lines close to the Airport.

Best times to go to Disneyland California:

In terms of weather, here’s a general idea of what to expect throughout the year in the surrounding areas where Disneyland is:

1. Winter (December to February): The average temperature during this time is in the mid-60s to low-70s °F (around 20°C). There is a low chance of rain, but temperatures can drop to the low 50s °F (around 10°C) at night.
2. Spring (March to May): The weather starts to warm up, with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to low-80s °F (around 20-27°C). The chance of rain increases slightly, but it is still mostly sunny.
3. Summer (June to August): Summer in Los Angeles is warm to hot, with average temperatures in the mid-70s to low-90s °F (around 25-35°C). This is the warmest time of the year and can get quite humid (but nothing like the humidity you may be used to in Florida)
4. Autumn / Fall (September to November): Temperatures start to cool down, with average temperatures in the mid-60s to low-70s °F (around 20-25°C). It is still sunny and warm, but the chance of rain increases slightly.

Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park, operate year-round, but there are certain times of the year when special events and seasonal experiences take place.

Some of the seasons and events at Disneyland California include:

• Halloween Time: typically from mid-September through early November, when the parks are decorated for Halloween and feature special shows, treats, and decorations. Oogie boogie bash is typically the special ticketed Halloween event held in Californa Adventure. It can be pricey as tickets start around $139 on top of your normal day ticket. If you do fancy going, make sure you book early as it sells out fast. Our friend Jade went to the event last year and she had this to say about it:

‘The range of characters is amazing without the huge wait times because they’re part of the treat trail. There’s characters you’ll never see in any other park! I highly recommend taking your own larger bag because you get far too many treats to fit into the small bag they give you!’

Jade – Girl Up North

• Christmas: starting in early November through the beginning of January, Disneyland and California Adventure get into the holiday spirit with decorations, festive foods, and special entertainment. The haunted mansion gets a makeover and you will experience Jack skellington and the cast of Nightmare Before Christmas taking over the mansion. We love seeing this, it’s a shame Walt Disney World doesn’t do the same but it does take time for them to do the makeover so the attraction closes for a while to get it ready and again after the holiday season. So be sure to check if this is an attraction you really want to see. We were disappointed when we went in January 2020 that it was closed.

• Festival of Holidays: this holiday celebration typically takes place from mid-November through the end of December and features holiday-themed food and entertainment from different cultures and traditions.

• Lunar New Year: this celebration typically takes place in late January and early February and features special entertainment, food, and decorations to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

• Food & Wine Festival: This festival typically takes place in California Adventure from late February through early April and features a variety of food and wine offerings, as well as cooking demonstrations and other events.

These are some of the main seasons and events at Disneyland California, but there may be additional special events and experiences throughout the year. If you can only go at a certain time of the year then just check the Disneyland California website for any special events taking place.

Where to stay

Disneyland has three hotels on site:

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel (this will be re-themed at some point to Pixar Place Hotel)
Disneyland Hotel

Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian are the closest with the GC having its own entrance straight into California Adventure. We liked the relaxing feeling of GC when we sat inside trying to escape the heatwave that we were in the middle of on our last trip. It has the look and feels of Wilderness Lodge in Florida and Sequoia lodge in Disneyland Paris. Booking an onsite hotel obviously comes with its costs but if you want that all in Disney holiday it’s a great way to stay.

If you don’t want to spend extra money on a Disney hotel then offsite hotels are also very convenient. Most of them are within walking distance of the parks. If you have only been to Florida then you may be surprised when you get to Disneyland and see that the parks are just off a main street with lots of hotels and cars going by. This gives you lots of options for places to stay. When you walk off the street into the park you still get fully immersed in the Disney bubble and Disney does a great job as usual at blocking the rest of the world out.

How long to go for?

You won’t need a 14-day holiday to Disneyland California to see everything it has to offer. This, along with Disneyland Paris is one of the great bonus points of choosing Disneyland over Disneyworld in Florida. The parks are within walking distance of each other and Downtown Disney is right at the side of both parks.

We have had two days to explore. One day for Disneyland Park and one day for California Adventure. We don’t feel that was long enough and would probably recommend a week at least so you can fully explore everything without feeling like you are rushing. If you feel a week is a little too long then you can tag on a trip to Universal Studios and the many other attractions not far from Anaheim such as the Warner Bros studio tour which we did in 2022.

Trying to cram both parks, one each day sounds like a good idea but we felt at the end of each day we had still a lot left to do, and both times we still haven’t managed to do certain things (we have still not been on the Monorail! ) Both parks have an evening show so you will want to stay late for those. If you head to the park right after Landing from the UK you can expect Jetlag so may not make it to the evening on your first day so try to plan those for your second and third days.

A few tips for all Disney parks:

• Make a list of the attractions you want to see and prioritize them. This is always a good idea, but, the wait times are usually shorter than in Florida. We paid for Genie Plus in California Adventure and found we could get on most rides during the day without using it so wouldn’t bother getting that again. In CA, make your way to Cars Land and do Radiator Springs Racers first then head back to Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Get those two done first. In Disneyland pick your favourite rides and head there first. We would recommend Rise of Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway but you may prefer Peter Pan
• Know the park’s hours and plan your day accordingly.
• Arrive early to beat the crowds and make the most of your day. Always another good idea. If you can get up and out early then you will do most of the big attractions while everyone else is having breakfast. If your hotel is close by then nip back for a rest throughout the day then head back in for an evening show.

Attractions and Entertainment:

Disneyland Park has a variety of attractions and entertainment options that cater to different ages and interests. Some highlights below will be familiar if you are a regular in Florida or Paris.

• Matterhorn Bobsleds. I love this but Nick isn’t too keen on it. It throws you around a lot, definitely not a good ride if you have a bad back
• Space Mountain. Slightly different from the Florida version as you sit side by side which we prefer
• Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye. Similar to Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom. The ride system is the same
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
• It’s a Small World. One of Nick’s favourite rides👀. It’s a classic and you have to go on it when you are there. We love the look of the one in California, its much more iconic than the Florida one

• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
• Haunted Mansion. We love this version of Haunted Mansion. It was brilliant with the Halloween overlay

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance & Smugglers run. If you are a regular at the Florida parks then it always seems a bit strange to turn right at the Castle and be in Batuu. The layout is pretty much the same as Florida and it’s a great addition to Disneyland Park
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Don’t do this one if you are claustrophobic as you are taken underwater in a submarine. If you aren’t then it’s a great little ride
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is now open in Mickey’s Toontown. Always one of our favourites in Hollywood Studios and not one to miss
• Disneyland Monorail. I can’t believe that at the time of writing this blog, we still haven’t been on the Disneyland Monorail. Time just got the better of us on each trip there and we never made our way onto it. Guests with valid theme park admission can skip the Main Entrance by boarding the Monorail at the Downtown Disney District station and traveling straight to Tomorrowland. We must do this the next time we go.
• Check out this Disney Link for a list of all attractions and parades in Disneyland Park

Right across the road in California Adventure are some great rides.

• Pixar Pal-A Round/Mickey’s Fun Wheel. You have two options with this. The swinging carriages or the non-swinging side. If you can stomach it then the swinging carriages are a great laugh and provide some fun. The tamer side is good for anyone who likes Ferris wheels

• Incredicoaster. This is a high-intensity roller coaster not for the faint-hearted and is the most severe coaster in either park with a top speed of 55 miles per hour. At 122 feet high, it is the tallest roller coaster of any Disney resort. As the ride is located close to a residential area, Disney had to install tunnels throughout the ride to mask the screams from riders and reduce noise complaints from nearby residents. And scream you will. We spend the whole time on this ride from the moment it sets off, screaming. If you get a little motion sick then this may not be the ride for you. We always enjoy it but the last time I was glad when we came to a stop as I felt a little queasy (it could have been the heatwave we were experiencing)

• Radiator Springs Racers. Think of this as Epcot’s test track with a Cars theming and another car at the side of you which you race. Always a very popular attraction and the wait times can get very long for this. Try hit it early on in the day
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout. If there is one reason to go to Disneyland California, it is this ride. We both love Tower of Terror and were disappointed when we found out they were retheming the Disneyland one. All disappointment went out of the window the moment the ride sets off. We spend the whole time laughing and screaming. The music is amazing, the video you watch is fantastic and it all adds up to a thrilling ride which we think is one of the best in all three Disney locations we have visited so far (Florida, Paris, California) You cannot miss this ride.

• Soarin Around the World. Always one of our favourites in Epcot. This version, for whatever reason just doesn’t seem to have the same edge as the Florida equivalent. The screen doesn’t look quite as sharp and you can see some lines running through it which dampens the experience. We still make sure to go on it each time though as we love the musical score.
• Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure. In Avengers land. This is a great Spiderman ride and one you will never experience in Florida (as Universal holds the rights to Marvel rides in Florida). It is the same ride as in Disneyland Paris. It has a feel of the Spiderman ride in Universal but it’s more interactive as you use your arms to throw webs at the enemies on screen. It’s a great workout for your arms.
• Check out this Disney Link for a list of all attractions and parades in California Adventure

Watch some of the rides we did in the below video

Downtown Disney

For anyone who has been to the slightly disappointing Disney Village in Paris, you’ll be happy to hear that the Californian version is much better (like night and day). You can have a night out in Downtown Disney with a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and cafes.

Grab some delicious fresh seafood at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen or enjoy the elegance of fine dining at Catal Restaurant. For something quick there’s the ever amazing Early of sandwich or grab a pizza at Napolini Pizzeria.

You must try the Beignets at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express. They are so good. We got the
The Original New Orleans Beignets – Family Size – 10 for just $15.99.

We also enjoyed the unusual flavours of ice cream at Salt & Straw

Find out all the restaurants and attractions in the Downtown Disney District at this Disney Link

We purchased our Disneyland tickets from Expedia before we arrived there.

At the time of writing this post, you need to reserve your day at the park before you get there. As reservation rules keep changing as we get further from lockdown, check with the Disney website to see the latest rules on reservations.

If you are heading out to Disneyland California or anywhere else on your travels, don’t forget to take a look at our range of travel day merchandise on our store by clicking on one of the t-shirts below

You can watch all our Disneyland California vlogs below