HUNTING PIXIE DUST Tips & Tricks

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HUNTING PIXIE DUST Tips & Tricks Guide BY M. SCHMIDT

Welcome to the Hunting Pixie Dust Disneyland Tips and Tricks Guide. We are Mark and Heidi and our goal is to help people create Pixie Dust on their next Disney vacation! In this guide you will find 79 tips and tricks to visit the Disneyland Resort like a Pro! We have compiled these tips and tricks from our years of visiting the parks and research we have conducted. We know you will get a lot Pixie Dust out of this guide. This guide is sectioned into groups to help you find the tip you want fast. Not all of the tips will be useful to all people. For example, you may be driving to the Disneyland Resort, so you will not need the tips on flying. While some tips may only apply to certain groups, there are more than enough practical tips to help you save money and get the most out of your Disneyland vacation. If you are planning your first trip to the Disneyland Resort, check out our overview articles to learn more about the parks. Overview of the Disneyland Resort Overview of Disneyland

Table of Contents Pre-Arrival Tips ...... 5 Travel Tips ...... 12 Money Saving Tips ...... 18 Packing Tips...... 26 Hotel Tips...... 27 General Disneyland Tips ...... 34 Cheap/Free Souvenirs ...... 44 Security Line Tips ...... 47 Parking Tips ...... 49 Conclusion ...... 51 Join Us on Social Media ...... 51

1. Pre Arrival Tips

The following tips will help you plan for your trip. A well-planned trip can make the different between an average trip and pure Pixie Dust.

1. Deciding on when to visit Disneyland Deciding when to go to Disneyland is more complicated than you might think. Disneyland has become more crowded each year as attendance rises. That doesn’t mean you can’t find the right dates to go, it just means you have to figure out what your goal is. If your Goal is to avoid crowds, try these dates:  First full week of January through the middle of February  Third Tuesday of February to mid-March (when spring break starts)  Mid-April through the third week of May  First Tuesday of September to the beginning of October  Second week of November If you have a specific time in mind and can’t avoid the crowds, check out the following tips:  Sundays are usually less busy than Saturdays—unless the following Monday is a holiday.  Weekdays are less busy than weekends, but the parks close earlier on weekdays. Fridays are the busiest weekday.  School holidays and three-day holiday weekends will be busy. This includes President's Day (third Monday of February), Memorial Day (last Monday of May), Labor Day (first Monday of September), and Columbus Day (second Monday of October). The first week after Annual pass blackouts end is also busy as all those pass holders rush back for their Disneyland fix. You can find the blackout dates on the Disneyland website.

2. Restaurant Reservations Restaurant reservations are becoming more important as more people go to Disneyland. There was a time when you could simply drop in on a restaurant and get a seat with minimal wait. Now the wait times for the sit-down restaurants can be as long as 45 minutes to an hour.

Planning your Reservations: Heidi often reminds me that we need to get our reservations in as early as possible. She likesto get reservations done 60 days in advance of our trips. I know this sounds like a long time in advance, butthis ensures that we will get into the restaurants we want. There are both counter service and sit-down restaurants inside the Disneyland Resort. You only need to make reservations for the sit-down restaurants. Decide which sit-down restaurants you wish to eat at and reserve them on the Disneyland Website. If this is your first time going to Disneyland, check out our Article on Best Places to Eat at Disneyland. 3. Hotels around Disneyland Hotels can be one of the more expensive parts of a Disney Vacation. Check out our Travel Partner for some great hotel prices. There are basically three options when it comes to hotels near Disneyland. You can stay at a Disney Hotel on property, Stay at a hotel within walking distance, or stay at a hotel further away from the Park. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. We will provide more tips and tricks about hotels, in our Hotel Tips below. But for now, let’s look at a brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages for each option: Stay on Disney Property Pros:  Closest Hotels to the Park, less walking  Special Entrances to the parks

 Do not need to drive and pay parking fee  Early Magic Mornings Cons:  Expensive  Hotel charges daily parking fee in hotel parking lot

Stay at a hotel within walking distance Pros:  Do not need to drive and pay parking fee  Restaurants outside Disneyland are sometimes cheaper than inside Disneyland  Cheaper rooms than the Disney Hotels Cons:  You have to walk back to hotel after a long day in the Park.

Stay at a hotel further away from Disneyland Pros:  The further away from Disneyland the Cheaper the Room Rates  If you are going to multiple Theme Parks in the area, you can get a hotel between your two destinations Cons:  You have to pay the Parking fee to park at Mickey and Friends parking structure.  Could be a long drive back to the hotel after a long day at Disneyland. If you are bringing pets to Disneyland with you, check out our article 3 Hotels that accept pets.

4. Download Apps There are a lot of useful Disney Apps that can enhance your time in the Parks and help create more Pixie Dust. Here are a few Mobile Apps, Heidi and I recommend you download:  Mouse Wait: Mouse wait provides line wait times, so you will always know how long a line is and when to get a fast pass.  Disneyland App: This app's strength is that it's connected to Disney's wait time database. You can make and check your restaurant reservations and you can link your tickets to the app in case you lose them.  Starbucks App: Starbucks is the coffee provider of choice at the Disneyland Resort. You can't use their app's line-bypassing pre-ordering feature inside the parks, but it can help you when you're on the way in at the two Starbucks in Downtown Disney. Starbucks Downtown Disney is closest to the security gates, and the East location is near the Disneyland Hotel.

5. PhotoPass Service

The PhotoPass service at Disneyland is one of the best things offered in the park. Photos are must have souvenirs for any vacation and the Disneyland PhotoPass service makes getting great photos super easy.

Throughout the Parks, you will find Photo Cast Members that will take your picture at great picture stops. This allows your whole family to be in the picture. The pictures taken are linked to your tickets and you can view your photos online and decide if you want to buy a download or buy prints.

You have 30 days to review the pictures online and see if you want to buy them.

How it works:  Link your ticket to yourDisney Account. This is the same account you will use to make your reservations for Disneyland Restaurants.  Each time a Photo Cast Member takes you picture, they will scan your ticket.  Log into your Disneyland.com Account to view your photos. This service lets you get great pictures from a professional photographer. They also create digital effects for photos, such as adding Tinkerbell in the palm of your hand. They are very fun.

We definitely recommend you link your account to the PhotoPass Service so you can take advantage of it.

6. Buy Tickets online / Print at home

Disneyland Tickets are expensive, but there are ways to get them a little cheaper than at the ticket booths at the park. Hunting Pixie Dust has partnered with an Authorized Disney Ticket seller to offer discounted tickets. You can save up to $30 per person. One of the advantages to purchasing your tickets online, is that you can print them at home and go directly to the gate, skipping the annoying ticket booth line. Simply, walk right to the gate and present your print out and your tickets will be given to you at the gate. Once you have your tickets printed, you can link them to your Disneyland.com account by entering the code on the tickets. This ensures that if you lose your tickets, you can get replacements by showing your Disneyland.com Account information. This is one of the first things Heidi and I do when we buy tickets.

7. Checkout free Disney planning videos

Whether this is your first trip to Disneyland or you just want to get excited for your trip, consider requesting Free Disney Planning videos from Disneyplanning.com. Disneyplanning.com is a branch of the Disneyland website and offered free video downloads and DVDs to help you plan your next Disney Vacation.

You can find videos for the following vacations:  Walt Disney World Resort  Disneyland Resort  Disney Cruise Line  Adventures By Disney  Disney Vacation Club  Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa

After you have watched the Official Disney Videos, if you want more videos about Disneyland, Check out our Youtube Channel for more tips and tricks as well as reviews and park history.

8. Establish a meeting place in the Parks Disneyland is big place, especially when you consider Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney. It is easy to lose your group when you split up. Even with cell phones, which have a tendency to run out of batteries from all the use they get in line, it is always smart to have a designated meeting place if people get separated from the group. Here are a few recommendations:  City Hall – Main Street, Disneyland  First Aid Center – Main Street, Disneyland  Outside La Brea Bakery – Downtown Disney  Guest Relations – Buena Vista Street, Disney California Adventure  Carthay Circle – Buena Vista Street, Disney California Adventure So establish your meeting place with the entire group before you leave for the parks.

9. Purchase trading pins before you leave Are you into Trading Pins? If so, check out Amazon for some bulk pins to use for trading. You can get a lot of pins for a cheap price. This will allow you to easily trade for the pins you want with the Cast Members. Here are a few bulk Pin collections you can purchase on Amazon:  25 Pin trading Lot  50 Pin Trading Lot  75 Pin Trading Lot If you are new to Disney trading Pins. Check out our Article, Quick tip Friday Episode 7 – Pin Trading. If you prefer video, check out our Explore the basics of Disney Pin Trading video

10. Print out maps of streets near Disneyland Driving around a new city can be difficult and while Anaheim is not too difficult to navigate, it always helps to be prepared. Print out maps of the surrounding area and create maps to specific destinations. Here are a fewmap ideas to create:  Map from Hotel to the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure at Disneyland  Map from Hotel to Knotts Berry Farm  Map to Universal Studios  Map from Airport to Hotel (if you rent a car) Most of us have access to GPS, and use apps such as Google Maps to help us navigate around a new city, but when traveling, it is always a good idea to have an old fashion paper map with you. By the time Heidi and I have spent all day at Disneyland, our Phones are pretty close to being out of juice. If you phone dies, having a map to guide you is a good backup. If the maps stay in the glove box and never get used, so be it. But it is better to have something and not need it, than need something and not have it. 11. Plan out shows and parades you want to see and when Shows and parades can get very crowded at Disneyland, so it is always a good idea to plan which shows and parades you want to see. In order to get the best views of a show or parade, you will need to camp out your spot at least 1 hour ahead of the show. Check out the Disneyland Website for shows and show times before your trip to see what you might be interested in. There are shows in both Disneyland and California Adventure, so make sure you check out both parks. If you want a great view of the Fireworks, check out our article on the Best Places to View the Disneyland Fire- works. Here are some of the shows Heidi and I recommend:  Fantasmic – New Orleans Square, Disneyland  Paint the Night Parade – Near Pixar Pier, Disney California Adventure  Jedi Training – Trails of the Temple – Tomorrowland, Disneyland  Remember… Dreams Come True Fireworks, Main Street – Disneyland  World of Color – Pixar Pier, Disney California Adventure  Seasonal Offerings — Various Locations Don’t forget to pick up a show program when you first enter Disneyland or Disney California adventure. These programs are next to the maps when you first enter the Gate and let you know times for shows, parades and character visits.

2. Travel Tips

12. Choose which LA Airport you want to fly into If you are flying to Disneyland, you need to look carefully at which airport youchoose to fly into. Here are the five airports in LA and their distance to Disneyland:  Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - 34.9 miles to Disneyland  Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) – 40.7 miles to Disneyland  Long Beach Airport (LGB) – 23.3 miles to Disneyland  John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) – 14.5 miles to Disneyland  Ontario International Airport (ONT) – 35.7 miles to Disneyland Quick Note: Don’t confuse Ontario International Airport with the Canadian Province. ONT is an airport near Riverside and San Bernardino. For the most part, I find that John Wayne Airport (SNA) is the best airport to fly into due to iteing b closer. The advantage is that you can take a quick shuttle or Uber ride to your Hotel near Disneyland. Other Airports such as LAX have Disneyland Shuttles, but the ride is longer and the shuttles run lessoften. That said, cost can also be a consideration. If you are willing to take a longer shuttle or if you are renting a car, you can shop the 5 different airports to get the best deal on your Airfare. Having traveled a lot for business and pleasure, I found that the deals on Expedia are very good and allow you to check out different airports.

13. Use Ride share or shuttles instead of renting a car There are advantages and disadvantages to renting a car on your trip. The nice thing about renting a car is that you have it available to travel to different destinations, such as Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm or Universal Studios.

But there is a cost to renting a car. In LA, a rental car can cost around $50 a day on average. Add to that the $20 a day for parking at the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure, the cost of renting a car begins to add up.

If you are only going to Disneyland, then a rental car may not be necessary. If you are staying at a hotel near Disneyland, you will find a Shuttle between your hotel and Disneyland convenient and cheap. You can even take a shuttle from the airport to Disneyland for less than $20.

Finally, you can also use a ride share service such as Uber or Lyft. You can take an Uber from LAX ot Disneyland for around $40 to $60. Or $15 - $30 if you are coming from SNA.

There are a lot of ways to save money on transportation. You simply need to determine yourvacation plans and pick the best transportation for your needs.

14. Check out the Baby Care Centers Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have Baby Care Centers. The Baby Care Centers offer nursing rooms, changing rooms, feeding area with high chairs and an on-site shop offering formula, baby food, juice, diapers, and more.

In Disneyland, the Baby Care Center is located at the end of Main Street, USA, next to the First Aid Center.

In Disney California Adventure, the Baby Care Center is located next to Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate shop across from the Bakery Tour in Pacific Wharf.

15. Consider visiting other Theme parks While Disneyland is Heidi and my favorite vacation destination, there are a lot of other theme parks around LA that are great to visit. Two of our favorite theme parks are Universal Studios and Knott’s Berry Farms.

Universal Studios is 36 miles to the north of Disneyland. If you rented a car, then it is very easy to get to Universal Studios. If you don’t have a rental, an Uber or Lyft will cost you about $50 and take about an hour. If you haven’t been to Harry Potter World, you should treat yourself. It is a very kool place to visit.

If you are looking to go to Universal Studios as part of your Vacation, check out our Discount Tickets. You can save up to 36% with Our Tickets. 13

For the more adventurous, you can take the train from the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) which is located on Katella near the Angels Stadium. From there you can travel to Universal City. A ticket on ARTIC will cost around $17.

Another great place to visit is Knott’s Berry Farm. Knott’s is located 7.3 miles from Disneyland and is easily accessible from Anaheim Rapid Transit (ART). Knott’s is a great park and is a favorite among kids. It is also home to one of Heidi and my favorite restaurants, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant. It has the best chicken and dumplings.

If you are looking to visit Knott’s Berry Farm as part of your vacation, check out our Discount Tickets. You can save up to $117 for three tickets! If there are less than three members of your group you can still save up to $43 per ticket on our site.

16. Make Photo Copies of important documents Make Photocopies of important documents such as your passport and Driver’s License. Several things can happen during travel, but one of the worst is losing your ID and other documents. Most of the time you can deal with the situation if you have a photocopy of the document you need. In a lot of instances, you cannot not fly without ID, but most airlines will accept a high quality photocopy in place of the real ID, if you explain your situation. American Express offices will also accept a photocopy ID, if you lost your wallet and need to use their services. I usually store these copies in my carryon luggage.

17. Pack extra cloths in carry on If you are like me, you travel with a rolling carry-on bag and store it in the overhead bins in the airplane. It is important to pack this case properly. This bag is your safety net if your main luggage is lost during travel. Pack things that cannot be easily replaced when you reach your destination. I always pack 2 sets of spare cloths. This allows me to have cloths on my trip for a few days if my luggage is lost. Medications and electronics are also great things to pack in this case. Everything else can usually be purchased after you arrive.

18. Mix up cloths between bags As I mention before, luggage can be lost or stolen during a trip. Aside from putting cloths in your carry-on as suggested in tip # 17, you can also ensure that you have the cloths you need by mixing your items in different bags.

For long trips, Heidi and I may take a suitcase each. Instead of packing all your items in a separate suitcase, try mixing the items together. Pack some cloths in each suitcase, so that if one suitcase is lost or stolen, you still have some cloths for the trip. No one is happy when they lose luggage and it is even worst when one person has cloths, but the other doesn’t. By mixing cloths in each suitcase you ensure that everyone has cloth no matter which luggage is lost.

19. Know your hotel info Before I leave on a trip, I make copies of all my important documents. This includes my hotel information. I usually keep the copy of this information in my backpack so I have access to it at all times.

Why is this important? There are several reasons you may need your hotel information. If your luggage is lost, you will need to provide the airline with this information, so they can send the luggage to the hotel. If you miss a connecting flight, you will need the hotel information to call them for a late ckche -in.

Before you leave home, print out the hotel’s name, address, phone number and conformation number. Also keep track of what credit card you used to book the hotel. Hotel’s sometimes ask for this information to verify a reservation.

20. Mark your bags with an easily recognizable item Almost every suitcase is purchased at the same stores made by the same manufacturers. In essence they all tend to look the same. Mark your bags with a special color ribbon, or stitch a unique patch on to soft suitcases or place stickers on a hard case suitcase. This allows you to easily identify / describe your luggage to airline ersonnel.p

21. Economy lots are your friends If you cannot take a taxi or Uber to the airport and need to leave your car in the airport parking lots, use the economy lots. These lots are far cheaper than other lots at the airport.

The downside is that they tend to be further away from the terminal. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to take the bus from the lot to the terminal.

Most airports have buses or monorails running regularly from the lot. I find that I need an extra 30 minutes or so to get from the economy lot to the terminal.

If it is a major holiday weekend, the economy lots are less crowded as people are often rushing to catch their flight. Give yourself a lot of extra time, save money and reduce parking stress by using eseth economy lot.

22. Bring water and snacks on planes Airlines have been cutting back on amenities over the years and now most airlines charge for food on most flights. You often get a small snack, like peanuts or a cookie, but any real food will cost you.

I have found that travel becomes easier for me when I have a little bit of food with me. Airport security will allow you to bring solid food through the security and 3.4 oz of liquid. I tend to cook up some chicken and bring some carrots, celery and a small (less than 3 oz of ranch for dipping.

Here is a good lunch case that you can use to pack your lunch for the flight.

Airlines will provide soda, juice, water and other beverages during the flight. Of course, you have to wait for the attendants to bring the cart down the aisle. You can ask for a drink from an attendant when the cart is not there as well.

But since I already have my reusable water bottle for use at Disneyland, I simply bring it with me onto the flight for some extra water. I leave the bottle empty through security, but once Im a through, I will get some ice water from one of the many food counters on my way to my flight. Having a full bottle of water helps keep me refreshed whenever I need it.

The Zojirushi Stainless Mug, is Heidi and my favorite bottle. This bottle keeps drinks hot or cold for hours. In fact, Heidi brewed some tea in it once and we forgot it on the kitchen counter. When we returned home 9 hours later the tea was still hot. So, pack some food and a reusable water bottle to make your flight to Disneyland a littlemore pleasant. 16

23. Nonstop vs Direct Flights There is a difference between a direct flight and a nonstop flight. The difference can save you a lot of money on your next Disney Vacation.

A nonstop flight takes off from your home city and goes to your destination without any stops in between. These flights tend to be shorter but are more expensive. If you have young children, then the cost may be worth it, but if you are looking to save money, try looking at Direct flights.

A Direct flight also goes from your home city to your destination but has one or moretops s in between. A direct flight keeps the same flight number throughout the flight, and you stay on the plane while they load new passengers.

Direct flights take longer to get to your destination but are cheaper. With a Direct Flights allow airlines to use smaller planes, and less fuel. This along with being able to pick up and drop off passengers in different city, helps the airline keep the flight full throughout the trip. This allows them to offer the flights cheaper than a Nonstop flight.

Of course, the cheapest flights are Indirect flight that would have layovers, but Direct Flights are a happy medium. So next time you are booking a flight, check out the flight details and see if a direct flight is cheaper than a Nonstop Flight.

24. Getting through airport security like a pro Security lines at the airport tend to stress people out. It makes sense to look for the shortest line and go for that one, but that may not help you get through security faster. In addition to looking at the length of the line, check out who is in the line.

You want to choose the line that contains businessman and single individuals who look like experienced travelers. These lines will go faster since the people know what they are doing. Avoid lines with large families, or families with small children. These lines will go slower, even if the line has less people in it.

25. Download Google Maps of the area If you are renting a car, be prepared by knowing the streets around the airport and how to get to the Disneyland Resort. Download google maps for the area you are visiting. Here is a good article on how to download maps for offline use.

Be prepared with directions on how to get to the Resort. The GPS in your phone will work without using mobile data and with a downloaded map you can navigate your way around unfamiliar areas.

3. Money Saving Tips

26. Buy souvenirs for children ahead of time Souvenirs at Disneyland can be expensive, and if you have children, they are going to find something they want inside the park. A lot of the souvenirs can be purchased outside the Disney Resort.

One way to save money is to pre-purchase Disney “souvenirs” before you leave. Once inside the Parks, you can give the souvenirs to the kids. This will cut down on the souvenirs you will need to purchase on your vacation.

Plushes and toys at Disneyland can cost more than $25 per item. Here are a few examples of Disney toys on Amazon.com.

Winnie the Pooh Flounder Slinky Dog Dumbo

One fun thing you can do is set out the pre-purchased toy in the morning, so they can see it when they wake up and bring it into the park with them.

27. Buy dresses online before you go to the park Disney Princess Dresses are a staple at the Disneyland Resorts. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique offers a lot of great Disney Princess Packages that include a Princess dress, such as the Castle Package for $199.95, The Disney Frozen Package for $164.95 and the Princess Signature Dress Col- lection for $450.

You can save a lot of money by purchasing a Princess Dress from Amazon. On top of that, on Amazon Prime day you can save even more. Check out our article on Great Disney dresses on our website.

28. Go to character breakfasts instead of character dinners Both the Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa offer Charac- ter meals. Goofy’s Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel and Storyteller’s Café in The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa are great restaurants that allow you and your family to get up close and personal with your favorite Disney Characters.

Character Breakfasts are cheaper than the Character Dinners and have the same Disney Characters and great atmosphere. If you are willing to miss a little morning time in the Parks, the Character Breakfasts are the way to go.

29. Pack your own snacks and water Food at the Disneyland Resort is a big expense, especially if you have a large family. One of the best ways to save money is to pack drinks and snacks.

Sodas can cost almost $3.00 and bottle water costs around $2.50. Heidi and I take a reusable water bottle with us, so that we can save money on water. We also pack a few snacks such as crackers, chips and peanuts.

One tip to save money is to bring your own chips to add to your meals. Buying individual serving chip bags is cheaper in bulk.

The Corn Dog stand across from the Coca Cola Corner charges $9 for a corn dog, drink and a bag of chips. If you bring your own drinks and chips, you can purchase just the corn dog for $6 and save $3 per meal.

30. Bring your own stroller instead of renting At Disneyland you can rent a stroller for $15 or two strollers for $25. While $15 a day is not the worst price in the world, there are two ways to save money on stroller rentals.

First, you can save money by bringing your own stroller. This is a no brainer, I know, but if you are willing to bring your own stroller you can save money and have a stroller that is better than the ones they rent at Disneyland.

If you don’t want to bring your own stroller, maybe you are flying and don’t want to deal with the hassle of dealing with it at the airport, you can pick up a cheap stroller when you arrive in Anaheim. There is a Target store at 12100 Harbor Blvd. This store is only 2.7 miles from Disneyland. At Target you can buy a cheap Stroller for under $20. This will save you more than $50 over a 5 day vacation. There are a number of other stores near Disneyland that you can purchase a stroller from.

There are a lot of advantages to bringing or buying your own stroller to Disneyland.  Rental Strollers are turned in when you leave Disneyland, but with your own Stroller you can push your child back to the hotel without having to carry them.  Of course you save money as I mentioned above  If you are visiting other theme parks, such as Universal Studios, you can use the stroller there as well.

If you purchased a stroller, you can gift it to a family in need at Disneyland before you leave. This will save you the hassle of bringing it back home with you.

31. A popped balloon can be replaced It is important to the Cast Members at Disneyland that everyone has a magical time during their vacation. Disney is one of the few places that will replace a deflated or popped balloon.

It doesn’t matter if it is Day 1 of your trip or Day 5, simply bring the balloon to a Balloon Cast Member and they will replace the balloon for free.

Disney is truly a magical place that cares about the enjoyment of its Guests.

32. Grizzly Bear lockers are free for the first two hours The Grizzly Bear Lockers are located in Disney California Adventure next to the Grizzly River Run. This is a great water ride that is guaranteed to be thrilling and get you wet.

On the left side of the ride entrance you will find the Grizzly Bear Lockers. They are located behind the Fast Pass machines. You will not see the lockers from the main walkway and will need to walk into the River Run area to see them.

If you are worried about items getting wet during the ride, you can “rent” these lockers for free for a period of two hours.

If you want to take your camera or cell phone on the river, simply place the device in a Zip Lock bag to keep it dry on the ride. Bring Flip-flops with you and store your shoes in the locker to prevent having to walk around in wet sneakers for a few hours.

33. Children under the age of 3 can eat for free around the park Disneyland has three pricing levels in the parks. The first level is Adult (age 10+), the second is Child (Age 3 to 9) and finally free (age under 3).

Children under the age of three can eat off a parent’s plate for free. They can also order Kids meals of course, but why spend the money? This will save you money at Table Services and Buffets inside the park.

Also, Children under the age of 3 do not need a ticket to enter Disneyland.

34. Anyone can order a kid’s meal Lunch can be expensive at Disneyland. One of the cheaper options is the Kid’s meal.

The great thing is that Disney does not care who orders and eats the Kid’s meal. To save some money, order the Kid’s meal for yourself. Not only will it save you money, but you will have room for a nice dinner or snacks later in the day.

Some of the best Kid’s meals include:  Fried Chicken – Carnation Café, Plaza Inn, or Flo’s V8 Cafe.  Chicken nuggets – Carnation Café, Ga- lactic Grill, Hungry Bear Restaurant, or Flo’s V8 Café.  Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Jolly Holliday Bakery Café  Mac and Cheese – Carnation Café, French Market, River belle Terrace, and Red Rose tavern.

35. Go to Blue Bayou for Dessert instead of dinner The Blue Bayou is one of Heidi and my favorite restaurants. It has great food and an amazing atmosphere. That said, it is one of the more expensive restaurants in the Parks.

Heidi and I love going to the Blue Bayou and watching the Pirate boats pass by. But an Entrée at the Blue Bay- ou can cost between $29 to $46 dollars. This is expensive for Heidi and me with only two people. If your group is larger then the dinner will of course be more expensive.

To save money, go to Blue Bayou for desert instead of dinner. You get all the ambiance for a fraction of the cost. Deserts at Blue Bayou cost $10 each. So, if you have four members of your group then desert will be cheaper than the $46 steak dinner.

36. PhotoPass Cast Members will take your picture with your own camera The Disney PhotoPass is a great service. This service allows you to have great pictures taken by Disney Pho- toPass Photographers throughout the parks.

When you have your picture taken by a PhotoPass Cast member, you will be given a card with a unique ID. You can then use this ID to purchase and download your photos from the Disneyland Website.

PhotoPass Pricing:  Disney One Week - $39 (includes digital copies of your pictures, no physical prints)  Disney PhotoPass Collection- $78 (includes digital copies of your pictures and 1 set of physical prints)

 Disney PhotoPass Collection Plus disc - $119 (includes digital copies of your pictures, 1 set of physical prints and all pictures on a Disc)

While the PhotoPass service has a lot of advantages, there are ways to get great pictures and save money.

The Photo Cast Members will take photos with your camera for free. Don’t be afraid to ask a Cast Member to help you take a picture but remember to have your camera setup a head of time. Cast Members will not make adjustments on your camera or phone.

37. Monte Cristo is cheaper at Café Orleans then Blue Bayou The Blue Bayou is known for some of its famous meals, such as the Monte Cristo Sandwich. The Monte Cristo Sandwich is a sandwich with ham, turkey and swiss cheese, dipped in an egg/milk mixture and fried to a golden brown.

The Monte Cristo Sandwich costs $29 at the Blue Bayou, but if you go to Café Orleans, this sandwich costs $21. The Café Orleans also offers a Three Cheese Monte Cristo, which includes Swiss, Mozzarella and Double Crème Brie that you will not find at the Blue Bayou.

So, instead of buying the Monte Cristo at the Blue Bayou, save a little money at Care Orleans. Check out our review of Café Orleans here.

38. Share meals to save money An easy way to save money is to share food between people. A lot of the restaurants offer large servings allowing you to share. When sharing, pick out an entrée and a secondary dish, this will ensure that two people get enough to eat.

One of Heidi and my favorite restaurants is the Café Orleans in New Orleans Square. The first time we went there, we each ordered a Monte Cristo Sandwich, Pommes Frites and of course the Mickey Beignets. This meal cost us about $60.

We quickly found that this was way too much food for us. Now we share a meal at the Café Orleans. Our typical meal consists of one Monte Cristo Sandwich, La Salade de Maison and occasionally the Mickey Beignets. This meal costs us $38, or a little more than half the cost of buying induvial meals.

So next time you look at a menu at Disneyland, see if there is an option to split a meal to save some money.

39. Cut a day from the parks One way to save money is to cut a day from the parks. Of course, the point of going to Disneyland is to actual- ly go to Disneyland, but at over $100 a day per person, it can get expensive. The Disneyland Resort has several activities that you can do with your family aside from Disneyland. Down- town Disney offers a lot of activities for the family. You can go to the AMC theaters and watch the latest summer block buster or head over to Splitsville for some lunch and bowling. If you want to save more money you can have a pool day. The Disneyland Hotel has an amazing pool area with multiple pools and slides for you and your family to enjoy. Most hotels around Disneyland have pools. Finally, for a special treat you could take your family to the beach. There are several public beaches within driving distance of Disneyland. You can spend a cheap day at the beach and get a little rest before heading back into Disneyland.

40. Skip the park hopper Park Hopper Tickets are nice and allow you to enter and exit both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. This give you more options during your trip, but can be more expensive.

A 5-day Park Hopper can cost close to $380 per person, but a 5-day single park ticket costs around $320 per person. This can save you about $60 per person or $240 for a family of four.

To save even more money, check out our Discount tickets. Check out our offers HERE.

You may have to plan your vacation a bit more, since you will be restricted to a specific park on a specific day, but with a little planning you can have a great vacation, see everything in both parks and save money on your trip.

41. Buy Autograph books online before trip

Gathering Disney Character signatures and photos are a fun activity for the children and after the initial cost of the Autograph book, is free. In between rides, you can visit the various character signature spots throughout the parks to collect pictures and autographs.

You can play games with your family to see who can spot the characters walking around. Don’t forget to pick up the attraction brochure when you enter the park. This brochure will give you the times and location for most of the characters.

Here are a few links to Autograph Book on Amazon.com

Walt Disney World Disney Princess Autograph Book Disney Parks

Walt Disney World Four Parks Official Autograph Book – Set of 2 Books

4. Packing Tips

42. Pack a light jacket / dress in layers Don’t be fooled by sunny California, Anaheim can get a little chilly at night, even during the summer. Bring a light jacket to keep warm at night.

If you don’t want to carry the jacket around in your backpack, you can always rent a locker on Main Street, USA.

43. Pack a Poncho for rain and water rides I know it is a shock, but sometimes it rains at Disneyland. You can purchase a 4-pack of ponchos, which usually sells for around $14. This will save you a ton of money, since Ponchos inside the park cost $10 each. 8-pack Ponchos are also available for around $25. Even if it doesn’t rain during your trip, Ponchos are great for the water rides, such as Splash Mountain or the Grizzly River Run. 4Pack or 8Pack Rain Ponchos Family Pack Resuable Raincoats Jacket

44. Bring a way to recharge your phone. During your visit to Disneyland you will be using your phone a lot. Whether it is texting group members who have split from the main group, playing games while in line or checking wait times on the Disneyland App. Your phone will run out of juice. To prevent this, bring a small external phone charger. The charger listed below allows 3 phones to charge simultaneously, so you don’t have to wait for each person in the group to charge their phone. Portable Charger RAVPower 22000mAh Portable Phone Charger 22000 Power Bank

5. Hotel Tips

45. List of Hotels near Disneyland There are a lot of great hotels near Disneyland. Here is a brief list of hotels you may want to consider on your next Disneyland Vacation. Grand Legacy At the Park

 100% Non-Smoking Property  In-Room Refrigerator  Accessible Guestrooms  Jacuzzi/Hot Tub (Outdoor)  Cable/Satellite Television  Maid Service  Complimentary Breakfast  No Pets Allowed  Complimentary Local Calls  Non-Smoking Rooms  Front Desk Open 24 Hours  Parking  Ice Machine  Pet Friendly  In-Room Flat Panel Television  Pool (Outdoor Heated)  In-Room Hairdryer  Rollaway Beds (Based on Availability)  In-Room Heating & Air Conditioning  Suites Available  In-Room Iron & Ironing Board  Wake-Up Service  In-Room Microwave  Wi-Fi (Complimentary)

Anaheim Desert inn and Suites

 100% Non-Smoking Property  In-Room Hairdryer  Accessible Guestrooms  In-Room Iron & Ironing Board  Business Center  In-Room Microwave  Cable/Satellite Television  In-Room Refrigerator  Complimentary Continental Breakfast  In-Room Safe  Cribs (Based on Availability)  Jacuzzi/Hot Tub (Indoor)  Dry Cleaning/Valet Laundry  Maid Service  Elevator(s)  No Pets Allowed  Fax Service  Non-Smoking Rooms  Front Desk Open 24 Hours  Pool (Indoor)  Game Room  Rollaway Beds (Based on Availability)  Guest Laundromat  Suites Available  In-Room Coffee Maker  Wake-Up Service  In-Room Flat Panel Television  Wi-Fi (Complimentary)

Best Western Plus Park Place Inn

 Accessible Guestrooms  In-Room Hairdryer  Cable/Satellite Television  In-Room Iron & Ironing Board  Complimentary Continental Breakfast  In-Room Microwave  Complimentary Local Calls  In-Room Refrigerator  Cribs (Based on Availability)  Internet Access (Complimentary)  Dry Cleaning/Valet Laundry  Maid Service  Elevator(s)  No Pets Allowed  Exterior Corridors  Non-Smoking Rooms  Fax Service  Parking  Front Desk Open 24 Hours  Pool (Outdoor)  Gift Shop  Safe Deposit Boxes  Guest Laundromat  Vending Machines  Ice Machine  Wake-Up Service  In-Room Coffee Maker  Wi-Fi (Complimentary)

Camelot inn & Suites

 Accessible Guestrooms  In-Room Microwave  Cable/Satellite Television  In-Room Refrigerator  Connecting Rooms (Based on Availability)  In-Room Safe  Dry Cleaning/Valet Laundry  Jacuzzi/Hot Tub (Outdoor)  Front Desk Open 24 Hours  Luggage Storage  Gift Shop  Parking  Guest Laundromat  Pool (Outdoor)  In-Room Coffee Maker  Rollaway Beds (Based on Availability)  In-Room Flat Panel Television  Suites Available  In-Room Hairdryer  Wake-Up Service  In-Room Iron & Ironing Board  Wi-Fi (Complimentary)

Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim

 100% Non-Smoking Property  In-Room Flat Panel Television  Accessible Guestrooms  In-Room Hairdryer  ATM/Cash Machine  In-Room Heating & Air Conditioning  Bar/Lounge  In-Room Iron & Ironing Board  Business Center  In-Room Pay-Per-View Movies  Cable/Satellite Television with Premium Channels  In-Room Refrigerator  Complimentary Newspaper (Weekdays)  Internet Access (Complimentary)  Concierge  Jacuzzi/Hot Tub (Outdoor)  Connecting Rooms (Based on Availability)  Maid Service  Convenience Store (Open 24 Hours)  Meeting Facilities  Copy Service  No Pets Allowed  Cribs (Based on Availability)  Non-Smoking Rooms  Dry Cleaning/Valet Laundry  Parking  Elevator(s)  Pool (Outdoor)  Fax Service  Restaurant(s)  Fitness Center  Safe Deposit Boxes  Front Desk Open 24 Hours  Vending Machines  Guest Laundromat  Wake-Up Service  Ice Machine  Wi-Fi (Complimentary)  In-Room Coffee Maker

Choosing the right hotel for you vacation can be difficult. Your choice of hotel depends aon number of factors, such as cost, amenities, number of guests, distance from Disneyland, and more. The hotels above are a few of hotels Heidi and I have stayed at or researched. If you are looking to save money on your hotel, check out our hotel deals HERE. We also offer discount Disneyland Tickets.

46. Special Occasions at the Disneyland Hotel and Resort If you have a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, first trip) call Disney hotel in advance to let them know. They tend to do special things. If you are staying at the Disneyland Hotel, check out the Disneyland website for Celebrations and Special Occasions they offer. Below is a list of Special events the hotel offers for an extra cost.  Birthdays at Disneyland Resort  Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings  Quinceaneras at the Disneyland Resort  Grad Night at the Disneyland Resort  In-Room Celebrations

47. Disneyland hotels bell service will hold you bags until check in One of the advantages of staying at a Disneyland Hotel is the Bell Services. Heidi and I often arrive too early to check in and want to go into the parks while we wait for our room to be ready. The Bell Service will store your luggage until your room is ready. This allows you to enter the parks or have a nice sit-down breakfast without having to worry about your luggage.

48. Souvenirs can be sent to your hotel room if you are staying on property Souvenirs are awesome, but they are heavy and if you are like me, you do not want to lug them around the park all day. Staying at one of the Disneyland hotels allows you to have your purchases from the park delivered to the hotel. You can purchase any souvenir you want, and you do not have to worry about carrying it around with you all day.

49. Grand Californian has a special world of color view deck for guests staying at the hotel The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the most expensive of the Disneyland Hotels, but the amenities you receive are well worth the cost, in my opinion. One of the special amenities is a private viewing deck that looks out into Disney California Adventure and overlooks Pixar Pier. This viewing deck offers a unique view of the World of Color.

6. General Disneyland Tips

50. Rent a locker As your day in Disneyland progresses, you will start to accumulate packages as you buy souvenirs throughout the park. There are two ways to deal with your newly purchased souvenirs.

First, if you are staying at one of the three Disneyland Hotels (The Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier, or The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa) you can have the packages sent directly to your hotel. Simply let the Cast Member know and they will have your packages sent to your hotel.

You can pick up the packages at the concierge desk at your hotel. Understand that it can take up to 24 hours for your packages to arrive at your hotel, although you will often have them by the end of the night. I would not recommend sending packages to the hotel on the last day of your vacation, as they may take time to arrive at the hotel.

If you are not staying at a Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland lockers are available in four locations:

Outside Disneyland in the Esplanade to the left of the Disneyland Main Entrance, next to the Lost and Found / Guest Information center. Disneyland on Main Street U.S.A. past the Main Street fruit cart. Buena Vista Street, past the Red Car Trolley, inside Disney California Adventure Next to the Grizzly River Run, inside Disney California Adventure If you want more information about the Lockers at Disneyland, check out our article Where can I find Lockers?

51. Make use of FastPass Disney’s FastPass service is free to all Guests and allows you to make a reservation to enjoy an attraction with little to no wait.

Simply find the FastPass machines, located next to the attraction you wish to enjoy. You will receive a ticket to return at a later time. You can enjoy other rides and attractions in the park instead of waiting in line.

When you return at the specified time, you will enter the FastPass line, which is shorter than the Standby line for the attraction.

To take full advantage of the FastPass System, always make sure you have a FastPass. When you use one, pick up another for a different ride. This will allow you to ride more attractions throughout the day.

The following are rides that currently offer FastPass:

Disneyland Park  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad  Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters  Haunted Mansion  Indiana Jones Adventure  It's a Small World  Matterhorn Bobsleds  Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin  Space Mountain  Splash Mountain  Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

Disney California Adventure  Goofy's Sky School  Grizzly River Run  Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission: BREAKOUT!  Incredicoaster  Radiator Springs Racers  Soarin' Around The World  Toy Story Midway Mania

52. Purchase MaxPass for your trip The MaxPass is a great way to save you time and allow you to see more attractions in a single day. MaxPass costs $10/person per day. Aside from allowing you to book FastPasses on your mobile device, you also get the ability to download PhotoPass photos taken by Disneyland Photographers and on-ride attractions. You are paying for the convenience of not walking to a FastPass machine–almost every other rule applies. This is helpful when you are in Disney California Adventure and want to schedule a MaxPass in Dinseyland. You don’t need to walk back to Disneyland to get your FastPass.

53. Take advantage of Magic Mornings Each day one of the two Parks, Disneyland or Disney California Adventure, is open one hour earlier that the normal operating hours. This is call Magic Mornings.

Disneyland Magic Mornings falls on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The Disney California Adventure Magic Mornings falls on Sunday, Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.

Take advantage of these Magic Mornings, you not only get an extra hour inside the Parks but the Park will be less crowded then other times of the day, allowing you to get in a few more rides before the crowdsarrive.

You can get access to Magic mornings with one of the following:  Purchase a valid 3+ day theme park ticket in advance of Resort arrival.  Purchase a Southern California CityPASS online, or at the Main Entrance Ticket Booth.

Here are a few things you should know before you go:  Valid theme park tickets must be purchased in advance of Resort arrival. Southern California CityPASS may be purchased in advance or at the Main Entrance Ticket Booth.  Each Guest (age 3 and older) must have a valid and eligible theme park ticket for admission into one Magic Morning early entry  Applicable days and times of operation and all other elements including, but not limited to, erationop of attractions, entertainment, stores and restaurants and appearances of Characters may vary and are subject to change without notice.  Magic Morning Guests with Disney MaxPass can start making mobile FASTPASS selections for the day as soon as they enter the park. FASTPASS arrival windows, however, will be issued only for times when that experience is open to the general public.  Subject to capacity, cancellation and other restrictions.

54. If you are not using Magic Morning, start your day in the opposite park As I mentioned above, Magic Mornings allow you to enter one of the Parks an hour earlier than normal. But what do you if you do not have access to a Magic Morning?

If you do not have access to a Magic Morning, then consider starting your day in the opposite Park. Most people tend to stay in the Park they start in. If the Magic Morning is in Disneyland, people will stay in Disneyland after the Magic Morning ends. This makes the other Park less crowded in the morning.

Disneyland Magic Mornings falls on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The Disney California Adventure Magic morning falls on Sunday, Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.

Always go to the opposite Park in the morning.

55. Use Rider Switch if you have young children If a Guest doesn’t meet the boarding requirements or doesn’t wish to experience a particular attraction, it’s not a problem for family and friends who do!

With Rider Switch, one adult or supervising Guest (14 years or older) can wait with non-riders while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction. Then, they simply switch roles to allow the supervising Guest to experience the attraction without waiting in the regular queue again.

Rider Switch is available at select attractions in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

To Use Rider Switch:  First check with a Cast Member to see if Rider Switch is offered at the attraction you’d like to experience.  Upon arriving at the selected attraction, approach the greeting Cast Member with your entire group. Members will be divided into 2 parties—“Party 1” includes those riding the attraction first, while“ Party 2” consists of non-riders and their supervising Guests.  The supervising Guests of Party 2—which can include a maximum of 3 people— will have their admission media/tickets scanned and must wait in the designated area—usually outside the attraction—while Party 1 waits in line to experience the attraction.  After Party 1 experiences the attraction, they’ll assume supervision of the non-riding Guests.  The supervising Guests of Party 2 should then return to the appropriate attraction entrance (e.g., FASTPASS queue or attraction exit) to have their admission media/tickets re-scanned by a Cast Member for the Rider Switch entitlement. At this point, Party 2 may enter the appropriate attraction return line and board without waiting in the regular queue.

Check the Disneyland Website for a complete list of attractions that allow Rider switch.

56. Save time in line for a Dole Whip So, the obvious way to save time in line for a Dole Whip is to head to the Tiki Room side of the ar.b By entering the Tiki Room waiting area, you have access to the Dole Whip concession stand from that side.

This line tends to be shorter than the line outside the Tiki Room.

Over the years, this has become common knowledge and the line on the Tiki Room side has grown a bit longer but is still shorter than the outside line.

But there is another way to save time in the Dole Whip Line. In May 2018 the Disneyland App has added the ability to pre-order snacks. Simply order your Dole Whip inside the Disneyland App and head to the Pickup window at the Tiki Juice Bar and bypass both lines.

57. Save shows and parades for later in the day

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure tend to be less busy in the early mornings. This is the best time to jump in line for a ride, since the wait will be shorter.

As the day progresses more people enter the park and wait times of the rides increase.

Save shows for later in the day. You don’t want to be stuck in a 30-minute show when the wait times are low, only to get out of the show to longer wait times.

Also, try planning your indoor shows for mid-afternoon to get out of the heat for a bit.

58. Make use of single rider lines Certain rides at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have lines for single riders. These lines tend to be even faster than the FastPass line and can greatly maximize your time in the Parks.

If you are willing to ride separately from your party, Single Rider lines are the ways to go.

You can also use them instead of the Rider Switch and it may be faster. Just have one person go on the ride, single rider while the others take care of the Guest who cannot or does not want to ride. Then switch.

Below are the attractions with single rider lines:

Disneyland Single Rider Attractions:  Indiana Jones Adventure  Matterhorn Bobsleds  Space Mountain  Splash Mountain

Disney California Adventure Single Rider Attractions:  Radiator Springs Racers  Incredicoaster  Goofy's Sky School  Grizzly River Run

59. Make sure you are in a ride line at closing time Just because Disneyland or Disney California Adventure is closing does not mean the fun has to end.

Disney will not kick people out of line, just because the Park is closed. Instead they close the line and allow anyone currently in line to ride the attraction. This is true no matter how long the line is.

Some suggested rides to ride at the end of the night:  Matterhorn  Space Mountain  Haunted Mansion  Pirates of the Caribbean  Mission: Breakout  Incredicoaster  Soarin’ around the world

So remember to jump into a line right before the official close time for one last erid in the park. 39

60. The mail boxes in Disneyland are real If you walk around Disneyland you will find mail boxes painted in the theme of the land they are in. These are not just great decorations, they are real mail boxes.

If you put a post card in one of these mail boxes, the Anaheim Postal Service will pick them up and mail them out. Standard rules for US Mail applies.

As a fun game you can purchase postcards and have your children write about their day for each day of you vacation. Have them drop them into the mail box and when they get home, they can read about the great time they had at Disneyland.

61. Enter the parks from either the Grand Californian or the monorail in Downtown Disney The main entrances are not the only way to enter the Parks. If you are heading into Disneyland, you can get on the Monorail in Downtown Disney and it will take you to the station in Tomorrowland.

If you are heading into Disney California Adventure, you can enter the park from the Grand California Hotel & Spa. This entrance is supposed to be for hotel guests, but I have never seen anyone stopped unless it is Magic Morning for Disney California Adventure.

62. Best times to visit Fantasyland Fantasyland get very busy and the lines for rides like Peter Pan can be close to an hour. There is also less shade in Fantasyland than other lands, making it blazingly hot during the afternoon. But there are times when Fantasyland is less busy and cooler.

If you want to avoid long lines and heat, try going to Fantasyland first thing in the morning. Lines will still be around 20 minutes, but it is much shorter than in the late morning or early afternoon.

Another good time to visit Fantasyland is right after it reopens after the fireworks. The fireworks generally start at 9:30 and last around 20 minutes. If you watch the fireworks by the Alice in Wonderland Ride, you will be in a good position to enter Fantasyland when the ropes drop.

I suggest you head to Peter Pan first.

63. Disneyland offers great touring groups Most people experience the Disneyland Resort on their own, heading to different lands and different rides based on what they enjoy. But that is not the only way to enjoy Disneyland.

The Disneyland Resort offers paid tours that give you a different look at the park. These tours cost extra but give you special benefits as well as exploring the History of the Parks and Walt Disney.

If you want a personalized experience, check out the Live the Disney Day of your Dreams Tour. This VIP tour gives you and your family a personalized Tour Guide that accompanies you through the Park. With this Tour, you receive Hassle Free Planning, Priority Access to over 40 rides, Reserved Seating for select parades, shows and nighttime spectaculars, and much more.

The Grand Circle Tour gives you a behind-the scenes look into Walt Disney’s love for trains. This Tour is a 2- hour tour letting you learn about Walt Disney’s passion for trains. It includes a walk through the park listening to stories about Walt’s train creations. You will also take a ride in the Lilly belle parlor car for a trip around Disneyland.

The Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps is a Tour across Disneyland. On this tour you will hear stories about Walt Disney and what inspired him. You will learn what inspired Walt to create Disneyland and his personal History. You will experience the classic attractions opened in 1955. Finally, you will be treatedo t a lunch or Dinner (depending on the time of your Tour) at the Jolly Holiday Bakery.

Check out the Disneyland Website for information on the Tours that they offer. Each tour must be reserved. The Disneyland website has the days, times and phones of each Tour.

64. Tree in front of Disneyland are faster lines We are all in a rush to get into Disneyland when it opens, and the lines seem to get longer and longer these days.

A trick to getting though the Main Gate quickly is to look for the trees in front of the Main Gate.

There are four trees in front that are directly in front of gates. Most people avoid these gates, because the trees prevent a long line from forming.

Simply head up to one of the tree and get into the short lines there and you will be inside Disneyland in no time.

65. Shop Main Street and Downtown Disney after closing Carry heavy or fragile souvenirs around can be a pain and sometimes renting a Locker is not an option. Sometimes it is better to do your shopping right before you leave the park.

Main Street, USA and Downtown Disney are open for one hour after the park closes. While the shops may be busy during this time, since people are leaving Disneyland, it is a great time to do some oppingsh so that you don’t have to carry souvenirs with you all day.

One of the things Heidi and I do is look around the Main Street Shops during the day. This gives us an idea on what souvenirs we want to buy. Then we wait until the end of the night to purchase the souvenirs. While the shops are busy, most people are browsing. We simply grab the items we decided upon ahead of time.

66. Ride during show times Disneyland and Disney California Adventure has several shows. From Fantasmic to the World of Color, these shows draw large crowds. This means that a lot of people are not waiting in line for Rides.

If you want to maximize your ride time, look at the show schedule and head to attractions while the crowds are busy watching the shows. You will find the lines much shorter.

Heidi and I tend to ride the Haunted Mansion or the Pirates of the Caribbean during Fantasmic. But keep an eye of the time. You do not want to be caught in the area of a show when it lets out.

7. Cheap / Free Souvenirs

67. Penny Presses Penny Presses are a great souvenir that is cheap to purchase. Each Penny Press Machine has on average 3 images and with over 50 presses throughout the Disneyland Resort that is a lot of pennies to collect.

While called penny Presses some machines stamp Nickels, Dimes and Quarters as well. A pressed penny will cost 50 cents (plus the penny). Nickels and Dimes cost 75 cents (plus the coin) and Quarters cost a dollar (plus the quarter).

This can be a fun collectable and help get the children a cheap souvenir in a store with out breaking the bank. Much like Pin Trading, Penny Press is an activity that you can enjoy each time you go to Disneyland.

If you wish to collect Penny Press pennies, you can pick up a Mickey Mouse and Friends Coin Book to store your collection like the one below.

68. Lilly Belle Ticket The Lilly Belle Train Parlor Car is a historic car that is added to the Disneyland Railroad at random times or for special events or tours. This Parlor Car was decorated by Lillian Disney and was named after her.

This beautiful train car is fully enclosed with pictures of the Disney family and early memorabilia. The Lilly Belle is the last remaining train car from the opening day of Disneyland.

Since this train is sparingly run, the Lilly belle Ticket you get when you ride this car is an uncommon and great souvenir.

To ride the Lilly Belle, you will need to arrive early and head straight to the Main Street Station. Once there ask the Cast member if the Lilly Belle will run that day. If it is, you can sign up to ride it, but realize that space is limited. If just a few groups are in front of you, there may not be room for you and your group. So, race there as soon as the rope drops.

Another way to ride the Lilly Belle is to pay for the Grand Circle Tour. While this tour costs $85 per person, it is a guaranteed way to ride the Lilly Belle.

69. Get a Free button from City Hall Disneyland offers free buttons for special occasions. These include Birthdays, First Visits, Celebrations and more. These buttons are fun and Cast Members give a little extra Pixie Dust when they see the button.

You can get these button from City Hall in Disneyland or in Disney California Adventure. If ouy are staying at the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier or the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, you can get the basic button, like celebrating and birthday buttons.

70. Get a recipe from City Hall Disneyland has some great food. As I have already mentioned, I love the Monte Cristo Sandwich from Café Orleans. The fried chicken from the Plaza Inn is also a popular dish. If only you can make some of these great recipes. Well you can!

Disneyland will print out almost any recipe from the Park at City Hall on Main Street in Disneyland. Just go to City hall, let them know what restaurant and what recipe you want and they will print it for you for free.

Heidi did this for a few recipes. We went in to get the recipes for the Monte Cristo Sandwich and the La Salade de Maison for Café Orleans. We were able to get the recipe for the Monte Cristo Sandwich, but they did not have the recipe for the Salad. They did have the recipe for the delicious Pomme Frite that is also served at Café Orleans.

So while you cannot get every recipe in the Park, they do have most of them.

8. Security Tips

71. How to get through security quickly Getting through Security into the Disneyland Resort can be a pain, especially if you have children. Here are a few tips to help you get through the line as quickly as possible:

 Make sure your bags are open before you reach the Security Cast Member. Open up all pouches and any small bags inside your Disney backpack as well.  Have your Keys, Cell Phones, coins and any other metal items ready to place in the plastic bins before the security scanners. This may include belts.  If you have stroller have every bag in it ready for inspection. Your stroller will be searched before you can enter the Resort.

Finally, spilt up instead of going as a group. Heidi and I take our dogs with us to Disneyland. Often one of us will take all the bags, while the other takes only the dogs. This allows the dogs to get through security fast and away from the crowds. This can work if you have small children too. Have one person take the children through to get them out of the crowd, while another person brings the bags and stroller through security.

72. Glass bottles are not allowed, bring a metal or plastic water bottle Glass bottles are NOT allowed inside the Disneyland Resort. As we have mentioned before, bring aeusable r metal or plastic water bottle with you instead. If you purchased drinks before entering the Park, make sure it is a plastic bottle or can and not glass.

73. Selfie Sticks are not allowed Selfie Sticks are not allow anywhere inside the Disneyland Resort. Disney Security takes this very seriously. Camera items will be inspected to make sure they do not extend like a selfie Stick.

This does not mean you can’t bring other photo equipment. I regularly bring in my small tri-pod to shoot video in the park for our Youtube Channel. Disney Security allows anything for your camera that does not extend above your head. So leave the selfie Sticks at home.

74. Security lines are faster from Grand Californian or Downtown Disney parking Not all security lines have the same crowds. Most people enter the Disneyland Resort from either the Mickey or Friend’s parking Structure, from the Harbor Blvd entrance or from the Downtown Disney entrance from the Disneyland Hotel. But there are two more security lines that enter the Resort and tend to be less crowded.

The entrance from the Grand Californian enters Downtown Disney and has only one line, but tends to be shorter than the others. If you are entering from the Disneyland Way side of the Resort you can walk into the Grand Californian lobby and head to Downtown Disney to Access this security checkpoint.

Another shorter Security line is the checkpoint at the Downtown Disney Parking lot. You can access this lot easily from Disneyland Way. This check point has multiple lines and since it is main used for short term Downtown Disney parking, the lines tend to be shorter.

Of course, both of these checkpoints are located on the left Side of the resort, so if you are coming from Harbor, they will not help.

9. Parking Tips

75. Fold up your stroller ahead of time for the tram When you board the Tram from the Mickey and friends Parking Structure, you are required to fold up your stroller and your children must be seated. Save yourself some trouble and leave the stroller folded until after the Tram ride. Simply have your partner carry the stroller folded down the escalator instead of waiting for the long lines at the elevator.

76. Overflow parking The Mickey and Friends Parking Structure is not the only place to park at the Disneyland Resort. Simply drive down Hotel way to the Pumba parking structure. It is a simple walk from there to Downtown Disney. You can also park at the Toy Story Parking Lot on South Harbor Boulevard. This lot provides free transportation to the Disneyland Parks.

77. Use Drop off on harbor Located on the west side of Harbor Boulevard is a Guest Drop-off and Pick-up area. If you are arriving early for a Magic Morning, drop off you group and have them save a place in line at the Main Gate, while the driver parks.

Also, at the end of the night, if you have strollers, lots of people and/or souvenirs, have your group wait at the Pick-up area while the driver goes to get the car. One person trying to get through the Tram ride to the parking Structure is easier than many.

78. Downtown Disney offers three hours free parking with validation If you are visiting Downtown Disney, park in the Downtown Disney Parking lot. This lot gives you three hours of free parking while you visit Downtown Disney. If you eat at one of the restaurants or visit the AMC Theater, you can have your parking ticket validated for an additional 2 hours of parking.

79. Trams load from both sides of the loading area

At the end of the night, everyone is rushing to the Trams to get back to their cars. Most people do not realize that Trams pick up from both sides of the Tram area. As you leave the Parks, head to the Trams on the right side, closest to Disneyland, instead of the Downtown Disney side. The lines tend to be shorter on this side.

10. Conclusion:

Thank you for reading the Hunting Pixie Dust Disneyland Tips and tricks Guide. We hope you enjoyed the tips and tricks we have learned over the many years we have been to the Disneyland Resort.

If you are looking for more Disneyland information to enhance your Disney vacations, check out our website Huntingpixiedust.com or check out our Youtube Channel for articles and videos on tips, reviews, Souvenirs, Disney history and much more.

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