Disneyland Resort FAQ’s

Find the answers to all your Disneyland Resort FAQ’s and more!

Everyone knows that Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth. With all the rides, shows, music, and food bringing so much joy and excitement to people of all ages. That being said, with so much to do at the Disneyland Resort, there is a lot of unknown. Luckily, I’ve partnered with Get Away Today to bring you all the most frequently asked questions about Disneyland and the answers to go with them. Plus, there might be a promo code to save you money on your Disneyland vacation package later on in the article!

What is the difference between a Park Hopper and a 1-Park Per Day ticket?

There are two different types of tickets offered for the Disneyland Resort, a Park Hopper and a 1-Park Per Day. Each of them gets you into both Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park. Park Hoppers are the most popular type of ticket because it lets you go back and forth between the two parks throughout the day. This flexibility does come at a little bit of a higher price. The 1-Park Per Day tickets are a little less expensive, but they are less flexible. You are only allowed to go into one park each day you visit. You can pick between Disneyland or California Adventure, but you need to stay in that park for the whole day. Both tickets are great! If you are looking for flexibility I recommend the Park Hopper, but if you want to save a few dollars, the 1-Park Per Day ticket is going to be your best choice.

Can you get discounted tickets?

When it comes to discounted Disneyland Resort tickets, you want to be careful before you purchase them. If you see a deal that is too good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately, there are scammers out there who will try to sell you used or fake tickets for much lower than the gate price. However, there are reputable companies that sell discount tickets! I always use Get Away Today for my Disneyland tickets. They are the number one seller of Disneyland, have a 5-star rating with the Better Business Bureau and have been in business for over 28 years; talk about reputable!

Can I bring food into the parks?

Disneyland food is so delicious, but the cost can add up pretty quickly. Luckily, the Disneyland Resort allows you to bring in small snacks like granola bars and fruit snacks and water bottles. Disney understands that for large families, food can get expensive and there are dietary restrictions, so as long as you don’t bring in and large coolers or glass containers you’re set.

We usually hit up Costco before our trip for a couple large boxes of snacks. Although that doesn’t stop us from buying churros at every cart we see. Haha. We just empty the boxes into our suitcases for flying. Then we have room in our bags for souvenirs on the way home.

I have a baby under three years old, should I leave them at home?

Short answer: No!

Long answer: No way!

While your little one might be too little to remember much about their experience at the Disneyland Resort, that doesn’t mean they won’t have fun. Children under three get into the park for free, and eat free at all Character Dining experiences, what is better than that? Plus, you can use Rider Switch on rides they aren’t big enough to go on, so all the adults will have a chance to ride their favorite rides. Plus, there are tons of rides that you can take your baby on in both parks. In California Adventure, they can go on rides like Flik’s Flyers, Monster’s, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. In Disneyland, they can experience rides like Alice in Wonderland, Jungle Cruise, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Plus they love seeing the characters, the parades, and shows. And photos of them with their little mouse ears on are too cute!

How do I use the FastPass and what is the MaxPass?

Disney knows that lines can get a little long, especially during peak season. Because of this, they came up with the FastPass System. This is included in your ticket and all you need to do is take your park ticket and insert it into the FastPass kiosk that is designated for the ride you want. The FastPass then links to your park ticket and it will print you a paper reminder with a return time to come back to ride the ride and skip most of the line. The MaxPass is a new addition to the FastPass system. This allows you to link your ticket on your smartphone and get all your FastPasses reserved on your phone. It is only $10 a day per person, plus it includes unlimited downloads of any PhotoPass pictures taken.

The PhotoPass plus alone is worth it! This allows you to get all your ride photos (Splash Mountain anyone?), character dining photos, and any photos from park photographers. That way the whole family can be in the shot. And the photos are taken by someone who knows what they are doing. Funny story, my husband and I asked someone to take a photo of us in front of the fountain at Epcot in Disneyworld. What we got was us, centered in the frame. Which is great, but the statue behind us was chopped in half so it’s us in front of the statue’s genitals. Haha. We still laugh about that photo. If I could find it I would post it here for you to see and laugh about too.

Also with the PhotoPass if you have your photo taken by a park photographer out and about they will sometimes photoshop characters into your photo. So we had a picture taken outside of Haunted Mansion and when we got it back there were ghosts from the mansion in it. We also have pictures with Tinkerbell flying over in front of the castle. It’s really a great value in my opinion.

Would it be fun if I don’t have kids?

Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth even for people over the age of 14. Everyone will have a wonderful time at the Disneyland Resort. Between the rides, shows, food and all-around atmosphere, there is no shortage of a magical experience for the young at heart.

What is the difference between a Magic Morning and an Extra Magic Hour?

Both a Magic Morning and Extra Magic Hour get you into Disneyland park an hour early on select dates, which is an amazing perk! The only difference is how you get them. A Magic Morning is included in any 3-day or longer Disneyland Resort ticket. An Extra Magic Hour is for anyone staying at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels. By staying at one of the Disneyland Resort properties, not only can you get into Disneyland an hour early, but California Adventure too. If you are wanting to stay at one of the Disney properties, check out Get Away Today. They have discounted rates on each of the hotels!

What’s the difference between Premium and Regular Character Dining?

Each Character Dining Experience is such a fun thing to do. They are classified into two different categories, Premium and Regular. Premium tickets are a little more expensive than Regular. Premium dining includes breakfast or dinner Goofy’s Kitchen and Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey and Friends. Regular includes Minnie and Friends Breakfast in the Park and Chip n’ Dales Critter Breakfast. No matter which experience you choose to have, you are going to have a great time, just don’t forget to make a reservation! Reservations open up 60 days in advance, and you can make these either online or by calling Disney Dining Services. If you want to save a few extra dollars, get your Character Dining Tickets through Get Away Today. They will save you the most money, plus they included taxes and gratuity.

We did Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey and Friends our last time at Disneyland. It was fun and the food was really good. We still talk about how yummy it was.

How much is parking at the Disneyland Resort?

Right now parking is $20 a day at the Disneyland Resort. Keep in mind that this can change at any time, so check online before you leave on your trip!

When is the best time to visit the Disneyland Resort?

Any time spent at the Disneyland Resort is going to be time well spent. To find the best time for you to travel, it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want low crowds and you’re okay with a few ride refurbishments, then off-peak times are going to be the best time for you to go. Usually, these months are January to early March, early May, early September and early November. In short, you want to go anytime people are in school and you’ll want to avoid major holidays. Weekdays will also be the best bet for lower crowds.

If you want longer park hours, the most ride openings, fireworks, and celebrations, then peak-season is the time for you to go! Sure, crowds will be a little bit higher, but there are ways to get around that. Using FastPasses and the MaxPass, eating meals at off times, and going on rides during shows and parades will help you navigate the crowds easily.

Do you need a ticket for Downtown Disney?

No admission ticket is needed for Downtown Disney. You can go at any time; you will just have to pass through security checkpoints to get in. No big deal! Check the different shops and restaurants for parking validation after making a purchase. Most of them are happy to validate your parking.

How many days should I spend at the park?

Disneyland has 1-5 day tickets available, but I recommend a minimum of two days. The 3-day ticket is the most popular, but if you have little kids, I recommend 4-5 days so you don’t feel guilty about taking time during the day to go back to the hotel for nap time. The more days you have in the park, the more time you have to relax and go at your own pace.

How far away is Disneyland from California Adventure?

Disneyland and California Adventure are just a hop, skip and leap away from each other, really! In between the two parks is just a few hundred yards. Nothing like Walt Disney World. It is so convenient to go between the two parks; you won’t have to worry about wasting any time doing so.

Does Disney offer dining options if I have diet restrictions?

Disney is incredibly mindful of diet restrictions. They are very aware that not everyone can eat everything and that is why they offer plenty of options at each restaurant that are allergy free. If you are making reservations for dining, let them know at the time of making your reservation of any diet restrictions and they will prepare a menu for you.

I hope this helps you with your Disneyland planning! If you are ready to book or if you have any more questions, give my friends at Get Away Today a call. Not only do they have the lowest prices around, but they are experts in all things Disneyland. You can go online to getawaytoday.com or call their travel experts at 855-GET-AWAY. They also have the option to put your vacation on a payment plan so you can pay a little each month and make it more manageable for your budget. Plus, if you book a hotel and tickets package, you can use promo code Simmons to get $10 off your package. Don’t forget to let them know that Amber Simmons sent you!

Have a question not answered here? Ask it in the comments below and I will get it answered ASAP!

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