Disneyland has changed so much since the time I went as a kid, or even just a few years ago when I had a season pass. As life changes, even the most solid companies have to shift with it.
My parents bought me a ticket to Disneyland for Christmas, because I love it so much (and they do too). This time of year they also offer a SoCal guest deal that makes it much cheaper to go. We were able to go this past weekend, but didn’t leave as early as we normally do.
Parking in the Toy Story lot is a much better way to go, in my opinion. It doesn’t seem to take quite as long as Mickey and Friends, and it feels quicker to jump on the bus shuttle versus the trams. Although, I haven’t been over there in some time.
We made it into the parks around 11 a.m. By the end of the day, that was the perfect decision.
The crowds weren’t unbearable and the lines weren’t too crazy - It didn’t get truly crowded until nighttime when the season passers (or Magic Key holders, I should say) came in. The longest time we had to wait was about 50 minutes, which is nothing compared to some times we've waited in the past. Some just feel like they move faster than others. We were able to ride just about everything, with the exceptions of the Disneyland Railroad, the Monorail and It’s A Small World, since they were closed. I also haven’t been a fan of Hyperspace Mountain, which is what I thought it would be (only to find out that it only runs as a Star Wars/Force Be With You overlap, March 28-May 11), so we didn't make it over there. Now I know!
After a few rides (Thunder Mountain, Mark Twain and Pirates of the Caribbean), we decided to have lunch. We stopped at a few places (Tiana’s Palace, Cafe Orleans and River Belle Terrace), but they were either too pricey or didn’t have a lot of options that everyone would enjoy. So, we settled on Hungry Bear with classic food, like BBQ and cheeseburgers. It was PACKED! My dad went to find a seat while my mom and I waited for the food – And proceeded to carry down a couple flights down stairs. Thankfully, we survived. We sat near the Rivers of America, where occasionally the Mark Twain Riverboat would float by. The restaurant also had many duck visitors. The guy behind us fed the duck nearby which proceeded to push said duck closer to us when he wasn't feeding it. I’m not afraid of ducks or birds, but I also did not like its closeness. I was waiting for the little thing to peck his beak at me every time we made eye contact. He did peck at my dad when he fed him.
When we finished lunch, we walked through the newly renamed Critter Country – appropriately named, Bayou Country, in honor of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which replaced Splash Mountain.The attention to detail is something I’ll never get over with Disney. Next up, the Haunted Mansion. They've redone the queue/line outside with more details and storytelling. It feels more interactive and helped pass the time as we waited. I didn't enjoy the demonic looking statues they've added and some of the newer details that make it even creepier than it used to be.
We made our way over to Main Street to check out the shops, too. Some of my favorite moments are just walking down Main Street, perusing the shops, taking in the sweet smells of Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor and all the other treats (candy, rice krispy treats and more), hearing The Dapper Dans singing in the distance somewhere or the clacking of horses hooves, ringing the bells as they make their way down the tracks, while kindly telling people to move out of the way so they aren’t run over.
No trip to Disney is complete without souvenirs, so we found a few things, then went back on our merry way to decide what to do next. I even got one of the Disney pickles. It wasn't the best one I've had but it did the trick.
Back to the rides we went — My dad and I went on Matterhorn. It’s a bit too rough for my mom (and just might be for me, too, HA). I always forget how intense it is until I’m on it and the yeti is screaming in my face on the inside of the mountain. But, it was the perfect time of night. The lights were coming on all around, although it was a bit hard to see any of that, while whipping through the caves and alcoves of a pretend Switzerland. Then it was onto Indiana Jones.
We took a break for dinner at the Mexican restaurant next to Thunder Mountain. It tends to be the spot we go every time. Good food, good prices, what’s not to like? By that point, I was crashing hard and only wanted a Diet Coke. I also love the ambiance; metal stars and lights, darker patio, and Thunder Mountain pulls into the station right in front of you. Once we ate, I was ready to go again.
We went back over to Bayou Country where I decided to go with The Princess and the Frog bag I’d looked at earlier. Tiana is one of my favorite newer characters (tied with Rapunzel). It was nice just taking in the views with the lights around that area, especially since we don’t go over there too often, and to watch people go down the drop of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. I can’t wait to ride that next time! The Winnie the Pooh shop also sells sweet treats, so I got a Mickey shaped cake pop for the road – It was extremely rich, but yummy just the same.
We went on Pirates again and the Jungle Cruise because they were pretty short lines. When Fantasmic is in progress, it’s the best time to hit the other major rides. Last time, we were able to ride Thunder Mountain three or four times. So, we were going to make it our last stop…But, unfortunately for us, it had broken down. A crowd of people were walking up the track and back to the start of the ride. They didn’t know how long it was going to be down. So, we went over to Astro Blasters, which we were able to walk right on. It’s always fun to get in the zone of fighting the intergalactic galaxy with Buzz Lightyear.
The ride was over and Thunder Mountain was still down. We had a long drive home, since we weren’t staying the night, so we figured it was best to get on the road. It was about an hour or so later when we found out Thunder Mountain was up and running again. But, we decided we’ll make it an earlier day next time.
The beautiful thing about Disneyland is that no two trips are the same. Keeps you on your toes 😉
Buy the SoCal residents pass when it goes on sale. It's essentially a 3-day pass that comes out to about $65/day. It's the best way to do it (it runs from January-May).
Make sure you have the Disneyland app on your phone. It's literally your ticket to get in, as well as finding information for shows, wait times, mobile ordering and more.
You can find really cute Disney ears that are just as good as the ones at the Parks on Amazon, and for much cheaper. They also have different designs, so it makes them more unique. Temu is another good option!
Bring your own snacks to make it throughout the day. Again, it's much cheaper.
Park in Toy Story lot, because it seems to be less crowded and quicker with getting you to and from the parks.
Have a plan for your day – With all the changes Disney has thrown in the last couple years, it really just makes the most of your time when you know exactly where you want to go or what you want to do.
Take castle photos on the left (if you're looking at the castle straight ahead). It's less crowded and tends to have less people in the background.
Bring a hat, a charger, hand sanitizer — all the essentials to get you through the day, so you didn't
If you want to do a sit down meal at Disneyland (or another park), it's best to make a reservation ahead of time. If you wait until the day of, you risk no openings or having to wait a long time.
Finally…Just enjoy yourself. While it may be the Happiest Place on Earth, you're going to have to shift and you might not make it on everything you wanted to. That's okay. Take the selfies, act like a goofball and make your own magic.
