Disneyland Dining Guide 2023: Mobile Order, Dining Reservations and More

5 minute read | contains affiliate links

Between Downtown Disney, Disney California Adventure and the classic namesake park, the Disneyland Resort offers a plethora of popular dining options.

Due to their popularity, Disney has implemented many methods in which to enjoy them, including; traditional reservations, mobile ordering and a mobile walk-up list.

If you don’t know what these are or how to navigate them, it could mean disappointment for you and your party if you’ve had your hearts set on a particular place.

In this guide, we’ll cover all the information you’ll need to hopefully avoid that disappointment and make you the ultimate Disney dining insider.

We’ll also go over the varying dining options, such as quick service, table service and character dining. (Updated April 19th, 2023.)

Mobile Ordering

The first thing you’ll want to do is download the Disneyland app and create an account. At most mobile order locations, you’ll see signage at the entrance presenting a QR code to scan.

Scanning this code will just take you to a section of the Disneyland website and will eventually prompt you to download the app anyway.

Disneyland Wifi is notoriously slow, so it’s best to do this before arriving at the parks. Trust us, it’ll save you valuable time.

Mobile Order Locations

Mobile ordering is available at most counter-service locations and at a handful of snack carts as well. You will NOT be able to mobile order for any table-service location.

Below, we broke down each mobile order restaurant by name and where they’re located on property:

Disneyland Park

• Alien Pizza Planet

• Bengal BBQ

• Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo

• Edelweiss Snacks

• French Market Restaurant

• Galactic Grill

• Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor

• The Golden Horseshoe

• Harbor Galley

• Hungry Bear Restaurant

• Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe

• Milk Stand

• Mint Julep Bar

• Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante

• Red Rose Taverne

• Refreshment Corner

• Ronto Roasters

• Royal Street Veranda

• Stage Door Cafe

• Tiki Juice Bar

• Troubadour Taverne

Disney California Adventure

• Award Weiners

• Bayside Brews

• Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream

• Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

• Corn Dog Castle

• Cozy Cone Motel

• Flo’s V8 Cafe

• Hollywood Lounge

• Lucky Fortune Cookery

• Pacific Wharf Cafe

• Pacific Wharf Distribution Co.

• Paradise Garden Grill

• Pym Tasting Lab

• Pym Tasting Kitchen

• Rita’s Baja Blenders

• Schmoozies!

• Smokejumper’s Grill

• Sonoma Terrace

• Studio Catering Co.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

• The Coffee House (Disneyland Hotel)

• GCH Craftsmans Grill (Disney’s Grand Californian)

• Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill (Disneyland Hotel)

As you can see, there’s a lot of locations accepting mobile orders. Restaurants in Downtown Disney currently don’t accept mobile orders through the Disneyland app.

Most, though, offer their own version of it (including Starbucks and Jamba). In front of those locations are signs with QR codes on them providing instructions on how to utilize their systems.

How To Use Disneyland Mobile Order

Using this feature to order your lunch or dinner is straight forward and easy. Below, we laid out step-by-step instructions, with screenshots, to describe the process.

Step One

The first thing you’re going to want to do is download the Disneyland app and create an account (if you haven’t done so already).

To begin an order, tap on the plus sign at the bottom center of your screen. On the menu that pops up, select, “Order Food”.

Step Two

On the next screen, you’ll be shown a list of open restaurants to order from and their next available pick-up window. If that time doesn’t work for you, select “More Times”.

On that screen, you’ll not only see additional pick-up times, but you can also see where that restaurant is on the digital park map and also browse its menu.

Step Three

As an example, we selected Bengal BBQ. It’s one of our favorites. As you can see in the image below, this is where you’ll make your selections.

With each item you’ll choose your desired quantity, select any additional add-ons, and even customize it to your liking. Then, you’ll add each item to your cart.

Step Four

Once you’re happy with your selections, tap, “View My Order”, then, “Review Order Summery”. Here, you’ll see your total and select your payment method.

Currently, you can pay for mobile orders with:

• Disney Gift Cards

• Disney Rewards Redemption Cards

• Credit or Debit Card (Including American Express and Discover)

• Apple Pay

If you’re a Magic Key holder or member of the Disney Vacation Club, your applicable discount will automatically be applied provided your pass and/or membership is linked to your account.

Step Five

After submitting your oder, you’ll be shown your selected arrival window. From here, you simply go about enjoying an attraction or shop until you’re summoned.

If you need to change your arrival time or even cancel your order outright, you can still do so without incurring any charges.

Step Six

When your arrival window comes, you’ll head over to your selected restaurant. Once there, pull up your order on the app and select, “I’m Here. Prepare My Order”.

At this point, your selected payment will be charged and you will no longer be able to make any changes to your order.

Step Seven

When your order is ready, you’ll receive a notification (be sure to turn those on) and will be given instructions as to which pick-up window to go to.

Then, simply show the Cast Member your order (or provide them with your name) and you’ll be off with your food. It’s that easy.

Mobile Walk-Up

If there’s a particular table-service restaurant you really want to dine at but don’t have a reservation (more on that later), you can try adding your name to the mobile walk-up list.

While reservations are highly recommended and mobile walk-up shouldn’t be depended on, it’s your final Hail Mary if tables are booked.

How Mobile Walk-Up Works

First, like making a mobile order, you’ll need the Disneyland app and an account. There’s no need to speak with a cast member, but you will need to be near the desired restaurant to use it.

To add your name to the mobile walk-up list:

• Tap the “+” symbol at the bottom center of the app.

• Tap, “Check Dining Availability”.

• Select your party size.

• In the calendar, select the current date then tap, “Now”.

• A list of restaurants will appear. If there’s no availability, it’ll say so.

• If there’s room and you’re not near the restaurant, it’ll ask you to move closer before continuing.

• Once you’re near the restaurant, you’ll add your name to the walk-up list.

• When your table is ready, you’ll receive a notification.

• Your entire party must be present when you arrive to the restaurant.

Mobile Walk-Up Locations

The following is a list of restaurants currently participating in mobile walk-up:

• Blue Bayou (Disneyland)

• Cafe Orleans (Disneyland)

• Carthay Circle - Alfresco Dining (DCA)

• GCH Craftsmans Bar (Grand Californian)

• Lamplight Lounge - Boardwalk Dining (DCA)

• Magic Key Terrace (DCA)

• Oga’s Cantina (Disneyland)

• River Belle Terrace (Disneyland)

• Storyteller’s Cafe (Grand California)

• Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (Disneyland Hotel)

• Wine Country Trattoria (DCA)

Disneyland Dining Reservations

The Disneyland Resort has come a long way as it pertains to food. For the longest time, theme park staples like burgers and hot dogs ran supreme.

In recent years, though, Disney has been setting standards for theme park food at not only their table-service restaurants, but at quick-service spots as well.

Many of them have become so immensely popular that if you don’t have a reservation, your odds of scoring a table are slim (baring a lucky last-minute cancellation).

A few examples of those restaurants that you can have a difficult time scoring a table include Lamplight Lounge, Napa Rose and Carthay Circle.

If your must-do restaurant is one of those (or others), you’ll want to make a reservation by following the directions below.

How To Make A Dining Reservation

Disneyland Dining Reservations Phone Number

The phone number is 714-956-6425. A recording about vacation packages will come up. Press “4” when prompted and let them know you want to make a dining reservation.

Going this route is slow going. Depending on call volume (which is often high), it could take a significant amount of time to reach someone.

It may only be a few minutes, but those few minutes could mean the difference in whether or not you’re successful.

Mobile or Online Reservations

The best way, in our opinions, is to do it through the Disneyland app or Disneyland.com. If you ask us, the app is the simplest of the two.

To make a dining reservation through the app:

• Tap the “+” symbol and select, “Check Dining Availability”.

• Select your party size, date (reservations can be made 60-days in advance), and time preference.

• You’ll then see a list of available restaurants and meal times.

• If you don’t see the restaurant you want, that means it isn’t available. Keep checking daily as cancellations often happen.

• If you do see one you like, select your meal time and complete the reservation.

• You will be asked to provide a credit card guarantee to hold your table. You will NOT be charged unless you fail to cancel within 24 hours of your reservation (more on this below).

Locations Accepting Reservations

• Blue Bayou (Disneyland)

• Cafe Orleans (Disneyland)

• Carnation Cafe (Disneyland)

• Carthay Circle (DCA)

• Catal Restaurant (DTD)

• Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure (Grand Californian)

• GCH Craftsman Bar (Grand Californian)

• Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel)

• La Brea Bakery Cafe (DTD)

• Lamplight Lounge (DCA)

• Napa Rose (Grand Californian)

• Naples Ristorante (DTD)

• Oga’s Cantina (Disneyland)

• Plaza Inn (Disneyland)

• Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen (DTD)

• River Belle Terrace (Disneyland)

• Splitsville Luxury Lanes - Dining (DTD)

• Storyteller’s Cafe (Grand Californian)

• Tortilla Joe’s (DTD)

• Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (Disneyland Hotel)

• Uva Bar & Cafe (DTD)

• Wine Country Trattoria (DCA)

What If You Can’t Get A Reservation

Reservations can be made up to 60-days in advance and most often, you’ll need to be on the ball right at that timeframe to have a chance. So be ready!

If you checked at exactly 60-days out and still couldn’t get a table, don’t give up. There’s a few things you can try:

• Check often, daily if you have to. Cancellations happen often as no one wants to get hit with the no-show fee. So keep checking. We couldn’t get a reservation for Lamplight Lounge but we kept checking and ended up scoring a table two days out. DON’T GIVE UP!

• Check the day before. If you weren’t able to get one but still have your heart set, check the app the day before your desired date. That’s when people will be cancelling reservations to avoid that no-show fee. Check in the evening or even early morning on the day-of.

• Try going through the Disneyland website instead of the app. There’s been a couple times where we couldn’t get a reservation for a restaurant through the app but when we checked on the website, there was an open spot.

• Take advantage of mobile walk-up. If the restaurant you couldn’t get also accepts the mobile walk-up list, try that! There’s no guarantees, though, so you should have a back-up in mind, just in case.

Cancelling Reservations

As stated above, when making a dining reservation, Disney requires a credit card guarantee to hold your table.

This was implemented in response to people hoarding reservations and never cancelling them, leaving people out in the cold and Disney with empty tables.

It’s important to note that when making the reservation, your credit card will NOT be charged unless you fail to cancel within 24 hours of your selected date.

No-Show Fee

If you no-show a reservation, your credit card will be charged $10 per person (the number of people in your party).

If you arrive on-time but your entire party isn’t present, that’s ok. As long as the person who made the reservation is present, you’re fine.

*TIp: They don’t check ID’s when checking in. So if the person who made the reservation is running late or can’t make it, just use that name when the cast member asks.

Another noteworthy piece of information is the 15-minute grace period offered by Disney. We’ve never tested this but if you’re running a bit late, you won’t be penalized before that grace period.

Avoiding The No-Show Fee

The best way to avoid the no-show fee is to show up to your reservation but hey, things happen. Kids don’t always cooperate, queue lines take longer than expected or you just simply forget.

Once you’re within that 24-hour period of your reservation, you cannot cancel. You can try calling and pleading your case, but there’s no guarantee.

So say you’ve forgotten about your reservation and it’s the day of. You can’t cancel, so what do you do? Our tip is to modify your reservation.

Modifying Your Reservation

Again, you cannot cancel a reservation once you’re within that 24-hour window. However, Disney does allow you to make modifications.

You can modify aspects such as party size, dining time and date. So if you find yourself in this predicament, simply change the date to one further out. Then you can cancel without penalty.

While we obviously don’t recommend you rely on this hack every time, it is something you can fall back on in order to avoid paying the no-show fee when all other options fail.

Disneyland Dining Categories

At Disneyland, there are three main categories restaurants fall under; quick-service, table-service and character dining.

Below, we’ll briefly discuss the difference between them and give you a few examples of restaurants in each category.

Table-Service

These restaurants are traditional sit-down eateries where you’ll be seated, order through a server and the food is delivered to your table.

These restaurants range from casual to fine dining. Some examples of these include:

• Casual Table Service: River Belle Terrace, Cafe Orleans, Lamplight Lounge and Wine Country Trattoria

• Fine Dining: Carthay Circle, Napa Rose and Club 33

Price-wise, the later will be at the top of the scale and the former, while not as pricy, will still come with a higher price tag than quick-service eateries.

Quick-Service

Quick-service restaurants make up the majority at the Disneyland Resort. Aside from price, the biggest difference from table-service is the lack of a server.

Whether you choose mobile-order or stand-by, you’ll collect your order at the window and take it to your table (if you can find one) yourself.

*Pro Tip: Have someone in your party search for a seat while you order/wait for your food. It’ll save you a lot of time and hassle.

A few examples of quick-service restaurants throughout the resort include; Red Rose Tavern, Cocina Cucamonga, Flo’s V8 Cafe, Hungry Bear and Bengal BBQ.

Prices are higher than what you’ll find at fast-food chains, but they’re a deal compared to table-service restaurants.

The portion sizes heavily depend on where you go but typically, we’d rate them medium to large at most spots. Saving money by splitting plates is possible at many locations.

For example, if you’re looking to split, we recommend avoiding Bengal BBQ. Each kabob has only three pieces of meat (sometimes four) on it.

At Alien Pizza Planet, however, you can get a slice of pizza that’s much bigger than a usual slice. So splitting that between two small kids is possible.

Character Dining

Character dining is arguably one of Disney’s greatest ideas. The concept is simple; You enjoy a delicious meal (usually a buffet) while some of Disney’s most beloved characters visit you at your table.

It’s an awesome experience for anyone - not just kids - who enjoy interacting with characters. You get more time with them and you’re not having to queue up in the sun.

At most locations, you’re typically guaranteed at least three character experiences during your meal. We usually manage to enjoy much more than that, though (except at Storyteller’s Cafe).

The following is a list of character dining locations:

• Plaza Inn: Located in Disneyland Park, character dining is currently only offered during breakfast. The characters you’ll typically see here are; Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Coco, Rafiki and Tiger. This one is our favorite.

• Goofy’s Kitchen: Located in the Disneyland Hotel, character dining is offered here for breakfast and dinner. Typical characters include; Goofy, Pluto, Chip n’ Dale and More!

• Storyteller’s Cafe: Located in the Grand Californian Hotel, character dining is offered during breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Typical characters include; Chip n’ Dale, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. This was our LEAST favorite of the four.

• Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures: Located inside the Napa Rose restaurant at the Grand Californian Hotel, this premium character dining option is only available for breakfast and on select days. Typical characters include; Snow White, Jasmine, Tiana and Cinderella.

Prices for the first three tend to vary between $35 - $60 per adult and $15 - $35 per child. Final price depends on time of year, meal type, etc.

Princess Breakfast Adventures is another story. This one comes with an eye-watering price tag of $125 per person. Notice the word person. That’s right, even children are at that price.

Our Thoughts…

It’s no secret, dining at the Disneyland Resort can be an expensive, and often times confusing, endeavor. It’s no longer as simple as showing up to any restaurant and ordering your food.

The advent of mobile ordering, while convenient in many ways, has made the process of dining at the park something you need to plan out.

By that, I don’t mean just making a list of where you want to eat. I mean choosing where, what, and at which time you want to eat.

During our recent visit, I attempted to mobile order a black caf cold brew at Docking Bay 7 in Galaxy’s Edge. The closest window I could choose was in 45-minutes.

I arrived at docking bay to see if I could just do stand-by but found the line was so huge it easily would’ve taken that long before I got it anyway.

On another morning, at around 9am (two hours before it opened), I mobile ordered my lunch from Cocina Cucamonga in DCA.

By the time I arrived to pick up my meal (which was fast, by the way), the stand-by line was already an easy 20-30 wait.

I got curious and checked the mobile-order pick up times at that moment and thay were already two hours out (around 1pm). It was insane.

So while mobile-ordering has improved the park experience in some aspects, it’s also ruined it even more so for those who don’t want to plan every aspect of their visit.

Unfortunately, this is the world we live in. Disney has gone all-in on digital payments and is showing absolutely no signs of turning back. All we can do is learn, adapt and excel.

Your Thoughts…

What are your thoughts on mobile ordering and having to make reservations so far out? Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from readers!

Please support our website by sharing this article with your family and friends.

Thank you for reading.

6 Ways To Fully Enjoy Disneyland Without Buying Genie Plus

In late 2021, Disney announced their newest line-skipping service, Disney Genie+. Since its debut, it has been praised by some, but loathed by most.

Genie plus costs park-goers an extra $20 per person, per day ($15 at Disney World), on top of what they’ve already paid for their ticket. That can be preventable for some.

You may be thinking your park experience will be diminished if you don’t purchase it. While it certainly does provide you with advantages, it’s absolutely possible to have a great time without it.

Our favorite Disney-centric YouTube channel, Fresh Baked Disney, recently did a video about this (you can view that below), but we’ve decided to put our own version together as well.

Be sure to show them some love by watching the above video and subscribing to their channel. David and his team are huge Disney fans and are constantly putting out great content.

Let’s get into it!

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1) Rope Drop

Any Disney fan worth their salt will tell you that rope drop is a must. Especially if you’re short on time. It’s the number one way to knock out a lot of rides in a short amount of time.

Essentially, if you’re not here for rope drop, you’ll already be playing catch up by the time you arrive. Whether you’re buying Genie+ or not.

Typically, Disney opens the gates 30-minutes prior to the official park opening time. So if the park opens at 8am, the gates open at or around 7:30am.

Despite the gates opening, the furtherest you’ll get to go is the hub (the area around the Castle). You’ll see literal ropes blocking access to each land.

At 8am (the presumed opening time), Cast Members will take the ropes down and you’ll then be free to go about your day. Where you begin brings us to number two on the list…

2) Start at Tomorrowland

Much like David, we also recommend beginning your day at Tomorrowland. It has the most rides in one land that are included in Genie Plus. Those rides are:

• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

• Autopia

• Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

• Space Mountain (This attraction has consistently long lines throughout the day)

If you line up at the rope for Tomorrowland, you’ll easily be able to knock out every Genie Plus attraction within 90-minutes or so. Space Mountain is practically a walk-on during this time.

There’s simply no need for Genie Plus during the first hour or so of rope drop. Most attractions will have a stand-by of 15-minutes or less while some will be a walk-on.

Since Tomorrowland has the most Genie Plus attractions, it makes the most sense to start there. When you’re done, you can start utilizing another advantage…

3) Single Rider Queues

You may not be aware of this, but there are a few attractions in Disneyland that cater to single riders. This is done in an effort to fill ride vehicles as much as possible.

The Disneyland Park attractions that currently offer this are:

• Matterhorn Mountain Bobsleds

• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

• Splash Mountain (currently under refurbishment)

• Indiana Jones Adventure (currently paused)

The attractions that offer single rider at California Adventure are:

• Goofy’s Sky School

• Grizzly River Run

• Incredicoaster

• Radiator Springs Racers (a big saver considering this is a Lightning Lane premium attraction)

• WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure (New)

Keep in mind that with single rider, you probably will not ride in the same vehicle with your party. Hence the name. You also don’t get to pick your seat. You go where they need you to go.

If you’re ok with not experiencing the attraction with your party, it can be a huge time saver for all of you. This method doesn’t work well with families with small children, though.

4) Save Non-Genie+ Rides for The Afternoon

There’s a reason why not all attractions are available on Genie+; it’s either their lines don’t get very long or they tend to move quickly.

The two most notable names not included are Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise. Also, Fantasyland dark rides are not included as well.

Based on research, the busiest time of day for Lightning Lane attractions is the afternoon. That’s when most people utilize the service because typically, that’s the busiest time of day.

So if your goal is to not purchase Genie+, a smart tactic for you would be to ride the non-Genie+ attractions in the middle of the day.

5) Look For Stand-By Opportunities in the App

The Disneyland app is a great resource for all park goes. One of the main features of the app is being able to see the wait times at each attraction.

Let’s say you want to ride Matterhorn and the app says the stand-by is 80-minutes. Most people, when they see that, are not going to want to wait in that queue. That’s the advantage!

The reason why that’s an advantage is because the app doesn’t update in real time. So a ton of people check the app, see an 80-minute wait, and head elsewhere. Meanwhile, that line continues to diminish.

So by the time you arrive, that 80-minute wait could have actually turned into a more manageable 45-minute wait. It’s not guaranteed, but if that attraction is important to you, it’s worth a shot.

6) Save Rise of the Resistance For Later

In case you haven’t heard, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, has become the undisputed top attraction at Disneyland Park. The consistent 2-3 hour stand-by queue confirms that.

In short, there’s no real way to “beat” Rise. Your only two options are to wait in the stand-by or purchase a Lightning Lane premium.

You could get here super early for rope drop and head straight for Rise. Our good friends did this and managed to get on fairly quickly each day. However, you’ll be in a massive crowd of others doing the same thing.

Your other option is to save it for after 7pm. By this point, all or most of the Lightning Lane passes would have been used, making the stand-by move a bit quicker.

Just keep in mind that the queue for Rise typically closes 2-3 hours prior to park closing time. This is due to technical glitches that often occur on this attraction causing them to have to reset it regularly.

Another thing you could do is skip it all together. Especially if nobody in your group is a Star Wars fan. With that, your options for Rise are:

• Try your luck at rope drop

• Put it off until after 7pm (but not after 8pm due to it closing early)

• Skip it all together

• Bite the bullet and purchase the Lightning Lane premium

Conclusion

Bottom line, you don’t absolutely need to purchase Genie plus in order to enjoy your vacation at Disneyland. It certainly makes things easier, but it isn’t do or die.

What are your thoughts? Have you used Genie plus? Do you love it or hate it? Do you plan to use the tactics described in this article so you don’t have to purchase it? Let us know in the comments below!

We hope you've found this article helpful in planning your Disneyland vacation. If so, please support our site by sharing it with your friends and family on Facebook or Pinterest. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

Disneyland Magic Key: 7 Things You Need To Know Before Buying

Since the writing of this article, Disney has revamped the Magic Key program with new benefits, higher prices and more. Check out our article below for all the new information.

“New Magic Keys: Increased Price, New Benefits, Name Change, and More”

For years, Disneyland’s most die-hard fans proudly wore their status as an Annual Pass (AP) holder like a badge of honor. Depending on which tier they were in, their pass gave them near unlimited access to the parks for a full year.

In March 2020, right as Covid began to spread rapidly throughout the United States, Disney announced the closure of both domestic parks for an initial period of two weeks.

That two weeks would eventually turn into the longest closure in company history; a whopping 13 months. Before re-opening, Disney would drop a bombshell on their fans by announcing the cancellation of the AP program as of January, 2021.

To some, this was an unexpected surprise. Many others (like us) saw this coming. Disney was having a rough time convincing the California Governor to allow them to re-open Disneyland (Disney World, by this point, had been open for months).

This was seemingly done as a way to control the huge influx of crowds that would undoubtedly turn up on opening day and beyond. Disney would offer former AP holders food and merchandise discounts courtesy of the, “Legacy”, program.

This program would serve merely as a placeholder until a more permanent solution could be offered. That permanent solution wouldn’t take long to come as a new AP called, “Magic Key”, was announced.

Magic Keys are virtually the same thing as their predecessor. There’s multiple tiers and depending on which one your purchase you’ll be offered access to the parks, a variety of discounts, free parking, etc.

If you’re already a key holder, this article isn’t for you (feel free to keep reading, though). However, if you’re thinking of getting one and have never held an AP before, read on and discover the seven things about the Magic Key program you need to know before buying.

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1) Reservations Are Still Required

One Park Visit

One of the ways Disney is controlling crowds is by making reservations a requirement before entering the parks. This rule doesn’t just apply to vacationers, though. It also applies to Keyholders.

While this isn’t confirmed by Disney, there’s been multiple reports of two separate blocks of reservations. One for day guests and another for Keyholders. This helps level the playing field a bit.

Essentially, if one or both parks are out of available reservations for the day you want to go, you won’t be going. No matter which tier key you hold. For some, this is a deal breaker. So it’s good to know before buying.

Park Hopping

Park hopping is possible with your Magic Key without an additional cost. You can do this by making a park hopper reservation for the day you want to go and you’re set.

Something to note - you will NOT use up two of your allotments (more of those later) to make this type of reservation. You will only use one. Simply begin the day at the first park and hop over to the other after 1:00pm.

There is one major perk to know about, though. Let’s say you’ve made a park hopping reservation and you choose Disneyland as the starting park. If you arrive after 1:00pm, you do not need to start there. You can head straight for DCA!

Regular park ticket holders don’t have that luxury. They must begin their day at their selected park before hopping over. So if you’ve arrived a bit late and want to go to the second park - go for it!

2) You Cannot Buy A Magic Key At The Ticket Booths

We’re both convinced that the days of showing up to the park and buying a ticket at one of the booths are numbered. We firmly believe that all ticket sales will eventually be done digitally.

At this time (and probably for good) you can only purchase a Magic Key on the website or through the Disneyland app. If you want to upgrade your park ticket to a Magic Key, this, too, must be done digitally.

The rules for upgrading depends on which type of ticket you hold:

• If you have a single day ticket, you have until midnight on the day you visited to upgrade.

• If you have a multi-day ticket, you have until midnight on the final day (so if you have a three-day ticket, you have until midnight on the third day).

You can do this by opening the app, going to the, “Tickets and Passes”, section, and following the steps. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to link your tickets to your account before trying this.

3) You Get Discounts

With your Magic Key, you get a certain amount of discounts and freebies, depending on the type of key you purchased. Some of these include free & discounted parking, dining, merchandise, and more!

Below, we’ll list each Magic Key pass and their accompanying discounts:

Imagine Magic Key (Available only to Southern California residents) - $399

• 10% off select dining & merchandise

• No parking included

• 2 reservation holds at a time

Enchant Magic Key - $649

• 10% off select dining & merchandise

• No parking included

• 4 reservation holds at a time

Believe Magic Key - $949

• 10% off select dining & merchandise

• 50% standard theme park parking

• 6 reservation holds at a time

Dream Magic Key - $1399

• 20% off select merchandise

• 15% off select dining

• Free standard theme park parking

• 6 reservation holds at a time

*Note: As of November 2021, both the “Dream” and “Believe” Keys are sold out and no longer available for purchase (for now).

Below is a graphic of the four Magic Key tiers and what their discounts are, if it helps more.

As you can see, Disney has definitely pulled back on the discounts. The prior AP program had different percentages for each tier. Now, the only way to get anything higher than 10% is by springing for the most expensive option.

Nearly every shop and restaurant in Disneyland Park, California Adventure, and Disney Hotels offer keyholders these discounts. You can find the complete list here.

Downtown Disney

Unlike the parks, not every location in Downtown Disney offers a discount to Keyholders. The following is a list of every DTD restaurant and shop offering a Magic Key discount:

Restaurants

• Ballast Point Brewing Co - 10% (excludes alcohol)

• Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes - 10%

• Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs - 10%

• California Churros - 10%

• Catal Restaurant - 10% (excludes alcohol)

• Earl of Sandwich - 10%

• Jamba - 10%

• Kayla’s Cake - 10%

• La Brea Bakery & Express - 10%

• Naples Ristorante e Bar - 10%

• Napolini Pizzeria - 10%

• Splitsville Luxury Lanes - 10%

• Tortilla Joe’s - 10% (excludes alcohol)

• Uva Bar & Cafe - 10% (excludes alcohol)

• Wetzel’s Pretzels - 10%

Shops

• California Sole - 10%

• Curl Surf - 10% (certain exceptions may apply)

• Disney Home - 10% - 20%

• Disney’s Pin Traders - 10% - 20%

• Marceline’s Confectionery - 10% - 20%

• Sugarboo & Co - 10%

• Sunglass Icon - 10%

• Disney Dress Shop - 10% - 20%

• The Lego Store - 10%

• WonderGround Gallery - 10% - 20%

• World of Disney - 10% - 20%

4) You’re Limited On Reservations & Have Blackout Dates

Blockout Dates

As you’ve probably noticed in the graphic above, just because you’re technically buying an annual pass, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to go whenever you want. You’ll have to deal with limitations.

The only way to ensure you won’t have blockout dates is to spring for the $1399.00, “Dream Key”. This pass has none. Including major holidays. However, you’ll still need a reservation, and you are limited on those.

Below are links to calendars listing blockout dates for each pass for your reference:

• Imagine Key Blockout Calendar

• Enchant Key Blockout Calendar

• Believe Key Blockout Calendar

You’ll notice that all three keys above have major holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving blocked. The lower two have most of summer plus a variety of weekends blocked as well.

Reservation Limits

Each key holder is limited on how many reservations they can make at a time. It goes off a rolling 90-day window and basically, once you’ve reached your limit, you won’t be able to make another one.

The top two passes, “Believe” & “Dream”, each allow you to make six reservations in a 90-day window. “Enchant” gives you four and “Imagine” (SoCal only) gives you two.

Once you’ve hit your limit, you won’t be able to make any additional reservations until you’ve used or canceled one. This was done to - you guessed it - manage attendance.

Reservation Cancellations

It isn’t something to be overly concerned about, but it’s worth mentioning. Magic Key holders who no-show on a reservation three times in a 90-day period will be suspended from making any reservations for a 30-day period.

You must cancel by midnight the day before for it to not count against you. Something to note - if you do get suspended, any pre-booked reservations you have will not be canceled.

5) You Get Additional Benefits

Aside from getting access to the parks throughout the year and discounts on some of the finest restaurants on property, there are a few other perks you’ll enjoy being a Keyholder:

• MK Terrace: A Keyholder-only lounge in California Adventure where appetizers, small plates, and adult beverages are sold.

• First Access: There are countless new things being introduced at the resort throughout the year. As a Keyholder, you’ll be given first crack at them.

• MK Merchandise: You’ll be able to show off your Magic Key pride by purchasing and sporting MK clothing, collectibles, and more!

• MK Holder Month: A special month celebrating Magic Keyholders.

• MK PhotoPass Opportunities: You’ll get special photo spots and other opportunities throughout the year.

• Much, much more!

We haven’t had the opportunity to experience the lounge (as we’re not yet keyholders), but we’ve heard some good things about the food and drinks. Check out this great review from, “Disney Tourist Blog”.

6) Monthly Payments Are Still Offered (For California residents only)

To the delight of former AP Holders - and the chagrin of practically everyone else - the monthly payment option is once again available for the Magic Key program. There’s a catch, though.

If you don’t live in the state of California with a zip code between 90000 - 96199, you are not eligible for monthly payments. For those of you who do, this is how it works:

California Residents

Let’s say you want to purchase the, “Enchant Magic Key”…

• The total purchase price is $649 per pass

• You’ll pay $179 as a down payment at time of purchase

• You’ll then pay $40 per month for 12 months

After you’ve made your down payment and completed your purchase, simply link your new Magic Key to your account and start searching for open reservations.

Non-California Residents

This is a great, affordable way to be a Keyholder as you can pay over time with no finance charges. For those of you who live outside the state but still want to make payments, you can:

• Open a credit card with a 0% APR intro rate with cash back. You’ll make payments without incurring interest (provided you pay it off before the special rate ends) and will get a discount with the cash back offer. Or….

• Pay for the passes out of your savings (if you can afford it) and make payments back to yourself to your savings account. Or….

• Figure out what the monthly payment on your MK of choice would be (also consider the down payment) and start putting that amount away for the next year. Then make your purchase in full.

*We’re not financial advisors. These are just a few suggestions from what others have said they’ve done.

7) Disney’s Genie+ Add On

The original AP program wasn’t the only covid related casualty this year. Time saving services FastPass (free option) and MaxPass (the paid, app-based version) were both done away with as well (we saw this coming, too).

However, it didn’t take long before Disney announced a replacement, and that replacement is Genie+ and, “Lightning Lane”, which will debut sometime in the fall (no specific date has been announced).

We’ll cover all the finer details of this new service in a separate article. Right now, just know that much like MaxPass was an optional add on for AP’s, this service will likely be as well.

One fact that has been confirmed is that all photos taken from PhotoPass Photographers will be included in Genie+ (much like it was with MaxPass). So while photos may not be included in Magic Keys natively, they can be with this potential add on.

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Genie Plus Now Live at Disneyland: How It Works, Cost and More!

***UPDATE: As of mid-2024, Genie Plus has been scraped and re-named, “Lightning Lane”. Additionally, there have been several changes in regards to tiers, pricing, perks, and more. To see all of the updated information, read “Lightning Lane Disneyland Tiers Explained” here.

On August 18th, 2021, Disney announced, “Disney Genie”, a new service and digital planner that was touted as a tool park guests could utilize to help get the most out of their trip to Disneyland and Disney World.

This announcement came on the heels of their previous one about the retirement of two popular services; FastPass and MaxPass. Disney Genie will be their official successor.

There are three tiers to this service, each with their own features and benefits - along with costs. All of this, and more, will be covered extensively in this article. While this service will be offered on both coasts, this guide will focus on how it will affect Disneyland, specifically.

While this new service has been live at Disney World for some weeks now, we have received confirmation that Genie will be in service at Disneyland beginning December 8th, 2021. In this article, we’ll delve into all the facts you’ll need to know.

The Three Tiers

As mentioned above, this new service is going to have three tiers to it with each having its own features and price. They are:

• Disney Genie - This is the free, in-app planning tool that will be featured heavily in the Disneyland app.

• Disney Genie+ - If you’ve used MaxPass before, this will sound familiar to you. This paid add-on gets you front-of-the-line access to many attractions at the Disneyland Resort.

• Lightning Lane - This will be the replacement for the physical FastPass queues. Lightning Lane is an additional option that enables you to pay, A la carte, for access to select, premium attractions not included in Genie+ (More of this later).

The list above is just a quick break down. Below, we’ll go over each in detail including individual price, inclusions, and more.

Disney Genie

Launching on December 8th, 2021, Disney Genie will be the free arm of this new service. With this planning tool, you’ll be able to utilize many helpful features, such as:

• Create an Itinerary: Customize your day-to-day itinerary tailored to and your families specific interests.

• View Wait Times: Currently, the Disneyland app does a great job showing the real-time wait times at the attractions. Genie will take it one step further by showing you the best times to ride a particular attraction.

• Personalization: Give Genie your three wishes and he’ll suggest attractions, experiences, dining, and more!

• Improved Dining Reservations: You can already do this in the app, but Genie will bring along a brand new, improved interface for reservations, check-in, and stand-by dining queues.

• Receive Tips: Let’s say you just got off Pirates and you’re not sure what to do next. Go to the tip board to find Genie’s top recommendations!

• Virtual Assistant: If any questions come up, utilize the virtual assistant tool to get your answers.

We have yet to see Genie’s effectiveness and accuracy but if these features work as intended, we can see this service being a huge asset to park guests. Especially ones who’ve either never been or haven’t in a while. Plus, it’s free. You can’t beat that.

Disney Genie +

To us Disneyland fans, Genie + is nothing new. It’s essentially a clone of the prior digital service, “MaxPass”. Many - including us - were huge fans of that service, so Genie + will undoubtedly be welcomed by most. With this paid add-on, you’ll get:

• PhotoPass Photos: Get all the photos you can get taken by Disney Photographers because they’ll be included in the price (For Disneyland guests only. Guests of Disney World do not receive this perk, unfortunately).

• Skip the Line: Using your smartphone, you can select one attraction at a time to skip the line. Once you’ve checked into said attraction, you are then able to select another, and so on. There is NO limit to how many attractions you can do this for, per day.

This upgrade will cost park guests:

• $20 per person, per day (ages 3 and up).

• For a family of four coming for three park days, this will mean $240 total. This is in ADDITION to your park tickets.

That’s what the cost of MaxPass was prior to the shutdown, so most Disney fans are already accustomed to that price-point. Disney World fans, though, are not used to paying for their “FastPass” system. They’ll pay $15 per ticket/per day (for now).

Attractions Included with Disney +

Disneyland Park

• Autopia

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

• Haunted Mansion

• Indiana Jones Adventure

• “it’s a small world”

• Matterhorn Bobsleds

• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

• Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin

• Space Mountain

• Splash Mountain

• Star Tours - The Adventure Continues

Disney California Adventure

• Goofy’s Sky School

• Grizzly River Run

• Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!

• Incredicoaster

• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!

• WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

• Soarin’ Around the World

• Toy Story Midway Mania

You will be able to purchase Genie +, in advance, when you purchase your park tickets or you can purchase them day of.

• If you purchase Disney + while buying your tickets, you’ll be charged for each day. So for a 3-day park ticket, it’ll be $60, per ticket.

• If you would rather purchase Genie + for just one or two days, you can do so by purchasing the day of your visit.

What Does Genie + Do?

Genie +, much like its predecessors MaxPass and FastPass, holds your place in line (virtually) while you go off and enjoy other attractions or dine.

While you’re not limited in how many reservations you can make throughout the day, you are limited in how many you can make at a time - which is one.

• Let’s say you want to ride Haunted Mansion first thing: You’ll open the app and search for available return times.

• You’ll be presented with one-hour return windows. Make your selection.

• From this point, you won’t be able to make another reservation until one of three things happens -

  • 1) You scan in at the attraction during your arrival window

  • 2) Two hours pass. So if you made your reservation at 8:02am, you can make another one (without using your existing one) at 10:02am.

  • 3) You cancel your existing reservation or the ride goes down.

If you select a return window of 9:05am - 10:05am, you MUST arrive at the attraction within that window. While it is possible the Cast Members will accommodate late arrivals, it isn’t guaranteed.

Lightning Lane Premiums

Up until now, everything has sounded like it’s just going to be another iteration of MaxPass and to a certain extent, it is. However, unlike before, not all attractions are going to be available to Genie +.

A few premium attractions are going to be A la carte. In other words, you’ll only have two options for these rides - either wait in the stand-by or pay a premium to skip the line.

At launch, prices to utilize Lighting Lane will range from $7 - $20 and will depend on ride, demand, time of year, etc. Some other things to know are:

• You will only be able to purchase a maximum of two per day.

• Prices will be per person/per ride.

• Prices will fluctuate based on demand.

• You will not be able to purchase individual Lightning Lanes until you have entered the park.

The premium attractions that have been confirmed for Lightning Lane (and their typical prices) are:

• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway ($15 - $20 per person)

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ($25 per person)

• Radiator Springs Racers ($10 - $15 per person)

So far, these are the only three. However, it’ll probably be safe to assume that most new attractions will be added to this list as well (lookin’ at you Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway).

*Side Note: Disney did, in fact, make runaway railway a premium lighting lane option at its opening on January 27th. There’s currently no traditional stand-by. You’re only two options are purchasing a Lighting Lane or by getting a boarding group through the virtual queue system.

Lightning Lane Purchases

As mentioned above, you are limited to just two Lightning Lane purchases per day. There are also some rules that pertain to when you can purchase them.

• ALL Park Guests - You can begin making Lightning Lane purchases when you are physically in the park. This is true for regular Genie + line reservations as well.

Additional Facts

• You will NOT have to buy Genie + in order to purchase Lightning Lane. Each tier compliments one another, but they’re each their own entity. You can use the free Genie service without ever buying anything. Likewise, you can purchase Lightning Lane premiums without buying Genie + (and vice versa).

• You will NOT be able to use Genie + or Lightning Lane Premiums during early morning entry or during special events. Regular stand-by will apply here. This includes early morning entry, Oogie Boogie Bash, Merriest Nites, and other events.

• You can still ride attractions without purchasing anything. We’ve already covered this but it bears repeating - you will NOT have to purchase anything other than a park ticket to ride any attractions.

Magic Key Add-On

There’s been no word from Disney as-of-yet about whether or not Magic Keyholders will have an add-on option for Genie + or receive any discounts on Lightning Lane premiums.

In the past, MaxPass was available to AP Holders as an add-on for an additional $119 or so per year/per pass. We can only assume Genie + will offer something similar.

We’ll keep our ears open for that news and will update this as soon as we know more.

*Note: As of August 2022, Magic Key holders now receive a discount of 20% off when purchasing Genie Plus.

What Do We Think About Disney Genie?

We usually keep our opinions to ourselves and stay mutual but we’ve been asked a few times so we’ve decided to add this in. We’re all for Genie +. The individual Lightning Lane premiums? Not so much.

We were big fans of MaxPass. We didn’t mind paying the upcharge because instead of having to go to each attraction to attain a return window, we were able to do it on our phones while line for another ride. It was a huge time saver.

While that aspect is still present with Genie +, we’re not-too-happy about the fact that we’ll have to pay even more for the more popular attractions.

We get it, Disney is a business and they have to make money. They also need to keep their stock holders happy and making more money is the best way to do that.

Despite that, we can’t help but feel like Disney is overdoing it with the premiums. If you’re a family of five, visiting in the summer, and want to ride Rise of the Resistance - you’ll be shelling out a cool $100 to ride…..once. Or wait in an hours long stand-by.

To some, it’s worth the money. To others, who are coming just for one day and had to save up for that one day, it could mean not being able to ride it at all.

Time will tell how receptive Disneyland fans will be to it. We’re sure it’ll be successful as Lightning Lane premiums have sold out multiple times for Rise at Disney World.

Unlike Disney World, though, Disneyland is largely made up of locals. Many being Magic Key holders. One could argue that they can come at anytime so why pay for the ride when you can just wait until the next visit.

One caveat to that is Magic Key holders don’t get to go whenever they want. They have to make park reservations as well. So depending on how difficult it is to get a reservation, they may be willing to shell out the money to guarantee a seat.

We’ll just have to wait and see how it goes.

Conclusion

What are your opinions on this new service being offered? Do you plan on using any of them? How do you feel about Disney wanting to charge on a per ride basis with Lightning Lane? Let us know in the comments below!

We hope this guide was helping in planning your Disneyland vacation. If so, please support us by sharing it with your family and friends on your favorite social media site. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

11 Common Mistakes People Make At Disneyland and How To Avoid Them

Many people, especially those new to Disneyland, make a lot of mistakes both during the planning stage and while they’re there. It’s easy to do. There’s so many moving parts that it can be hard to keep up.

So based on our knowledge and first-hand experience, we decided to compile a list of eleven common mistakes people make when visiting the Disneyland Resort.

While this list focuses on Disneyland in California, everything on this list could apply to any of the other Disney Parks around the world. For each mistake, we will give our suggestions on how to avoid making them yourself.

Let’s get into it!

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1) Not Taking Breaks

As much as we love the parks, being there all day long just isn’t in us anymore. If you’re an open-to-closer, more power to you. For the rest of us, taking mid-day breaks is a must. This especially applies to those with little ones.

What We Suggest

Get there early (rope drop) and spend the morning hours knocking out as many attractions as you can. A Disneyland vacation is not a time for sleeping in. Take advantage of the majority who are and you’ll be rewarded with little to no wait times.

At mid-day - when the park is most crowded and warmest - go back to your hotel for a break. We typically go back for two to three hours. Then you can take a nap, eat lunch, relax in the pool, etc.

Once you’re feeling rested, head back to the park. By this point, the crowds will have subsided a bit, the sun starts working its way down and you’ll soon see the park’s lights in a dazzling display.

2) Not Planning Ahead

As we’ve covered in some of our other Disneyland articles, a Disney vacation - for better or worse - takes some planning. Between tickets, lodging, dining reservations, attractions you want to ride, etc, you NEED to plan.

What We Suggest

It’s simple, really. Plan, plan, and then plan some more. There are hundreds of great resources out there that can help you if you don’t know where to start (our site, for example). The YouTube channel, “Fresh Baked Disney”, has hundreds of excellent videos that are great resources.

Make sure you sit down with your family ahead of time and decide which restaurants and/or attractions you each must experience and go from there. Check which rides are down for refurbishment and which restaurants accept reservations.

One of your biggest considerations is where you’ll stay. There’s a myriad of options as it pertains to hotels near the park but you also have AirBNB and RV Parks to choose from. Research it ALL so you get the best deal.

3) Not Dining in the Parks

Listen, we get it. Disneyland restaurants are not cheap and it only gets worse if you have a family of four or five. One simple dinner has the potential of setting you back a good chunk of change. But hear us out…

What We Suggest

It’s your vacation! If you can, splurge a little. We’re not saying you have to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the parks but even if you decide on just one, it’ll be an incredible memory for your family.

Here’s a few of our favorites, where they’re located on property, and their price range indicated by the number of dollar signs (three being most expensive):

• Lamplight Lounge: California Adventure - ($$)

• Wine Country Trattoria: California Adventure ($$)

• Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen: Downtown Disney ($$)

• Bengal BBQ: Disneyland Park ($)

• Carnation Cafe: Disneyland Park ($)

• Blue Bayou: Disneyland Park ($$$)

• Cafe Orleans: Disneyland Park ($$)

Whether it’s a high dollar, full-service restaurant or one of the many great quick service eateries, try to fit at least one of them into your budget. After all, you can’t dine at these places anywhere else!

We typically bring breakfast and snack items to hold us over so we can splurge on dinner that night. Disney will allow you (to a certain extent) to bring food into the park. So don’t be shy about it.

4) Not Using the Disneyland App

When it comes to theme parks, Disney has always been at the forefront when it comes to implementing technology into the parks. If there’s a way to increase profit and improve guest experience, Disney is going to do it. Case in point; the Disneyland app.

What We Suggest

The app has steadily risen to become the number one most important planning tool for a Disneyland vacation. Not only can you utilize it in the planning stage, but there’s plenty of ways to utilize it during your trip as well.

In short, download the app and create an account, if you haven’t done so already. We wont go into great detail about the app here because we’ve already written a separate article about it, but we will do a quick break down.

Some of the features include:

• Book dining reservations

• Purchase & store park tickets & Magic Keys

• Utilize Disney Genie & Genie+ (Coming Fall 2021)

• Use as a hotel key (if staying on property)

• Mobile order dining at many quick service restaurants

• Book virtual queues

• Much, much more….

The app is simply too useful to not utilize. Sure, one could argue it takes away from the experience by causing you to look at your phone a lot. We get it, but in our opinion the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

5) Not Living in the Moment

Full disclosure, this is one instance where I need to heed my own advice. I am super guilty of this. Since I’m a Photographer and we’re running a travel related blog, I tend to get lost in always trying to photograph everything I see and not just enjoy the moment.

What We Suggest

My better half will often remind me that while I do need to gather content for the site, I also need to enjoy myself. Stopping to, “smell the roses”, is important to any vacation. Even a business one.

So put down the camera from time to time and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the park. Sometimes, allowing a moment to exist only in your memory makes it that much more special.

6) Not Making Advanced Dining Reservations

We’ve already discussed dining inside the parks above, but there’s an important aspect of this you need to be aware of; making reservations for some of the more popular eateries as soon as possible - sixty days out is preferable.

What We Suggest

Dining reservations for most sit-down restaurants at the Disneyland Resort can be made up to 60-days in advance. By sit-down, we mean the pricier joints such as Lamplight Lounge, Napa Rose, and Blue Bayou.

If one or more of the above is a must on your vacation, depending on the time of year you’re visiting, we recommend making your reservations right at the sixty day mark, especially if you’re planning to visit in the summer or holiday seasons.

Here is a list of all restaurants at the Disneyland Resort that currently accept reservations (*Denotes restaurants that are particularly tough to get a last minute reservation):

Disneyland Park

• Blue Bayou*

• Cafe Orleans

• Carnation Cafe*

• Oga’s Cantina*

• Plaza Inn Character Dining*

• River Belle Terrace

California Adventure

• Carthay Circle Lounge

• Carthay Circle Restaurant*

• Lamplight Lounge*

• Magic Key Terrace

• Wine Country Trattoria

Grand Californian Hotel

• Princess Breakfast Adventures*

• GCH Craftsman

• Napa Rose*

• Storyteller’s Cafe

The Disneyland Hotel

• Goofy’s Kitchen

• Palm Breeze Bar

• Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar*

Pixar Place Hotel

• Great Maple Modern American Eatery

Downtown Disney

• Naples Ristorante

• Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio

• Splitsville Luxury Lanes

• Tortilla Jo’s

• Uva Bar & Cafe

While it’s still entirely possible to get a table by walking up (my parents scored a table at Blue Bayou on a busy Saturday night just by asking nicely), we still recommend securing a reservation to ensure you get the restaurant, date and time you really want.

7) Not Staying Near the Park

There are dozens and dozens of options when it comes to accommodations around the park. Some people like to splurge and stay at one of the three on-property hotels. Others prefer to save some money by staying at what Disney refers to as a, “Good Neighbor”, hotel.

What We Suggest

If you’re looking for the ultimate Disney experience, go all out and book one of the Disney owned hotels on property. Those are:

• Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

• The Disneyland Hotel

• Paradise Pier Hotel

However, if you’re looking to save some cash and put it elsewhere in your budget, this is where you can save big while still staying close to the action.

Our recommendation is to stay at one of the Good Neighbor hotels on South Harbor blvd near the park. Rates fluctuate based on time of year but unless you’re going during the dead of summer, you can usually get a room for less than $200 per night.

A few of these that we have personally stayed at and can vouch for are:

• Clarion Hotel Anaheim Resort

• Four Points by Sheraton (formally Hotel Menage)

• Desert Palms Hotel & Suites

• Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground

• Motel 6 Maingate (off South Harbor, down Disney Way)

It may be tempting to book a cheaper hotel that’s further from the parks, but that choice comes with its own downsides. You’ll either be dealing with lengthy shuttle rides, paying for Uber rides, or driving yourself and paying $30 bucks to park.

8) Not Buying Souvenirs Ahead of Time

If there’s one company who has mastered the art of monetizing their IP, it’s Disney. We have seen them turn even the most basic idea into a highly sought after collectable that people literally throw money at (popcorn buckets, anyone?) However, it often comes at a steep price.

What We Suggest

If you know you’re going to be buying souvenirs, particularly if you have children tagging along, do yourself a favor and buy them ahead of time. You’ll not only save precious park time, but you’ll likely save money as well.

For instance, instead of buying Mickey Ears in the park, buy them from a designer/seller on sites like Etsy. Sure, Disney comes up with some adorable designs, but the ones you’ll find on Etsy are usually much more creative and unique.

9) Not Bringing Your Own Snacks & Drinks

We may be contradicting what we said in number three on this list but like we said, food at Disneyland is expensive. While we stick to what we said about dining in the parks, that doesn’t mean you can’t save a little money while you’re at it.

What We Suggest

We recommend bringing your own bagged snacks and drinks in the park with you. Reusable water bottles are great as you can fill it to your hearts content (even at quick service restaurants) and you’ll avoid paying $3-$4 bucks per bottle.

Also, salty snacks are a great way to help you stay hydrated on warm, summer days. Salt helps you retain water and it’s one of the ways we stay hydrated while hiking. It may make for some unflattering photos, but it’s better than the alternative.

10) Not Using PhotoPass Photographers

On a family vacation, there’s always that one person (typically Mom or Dad) that are always behind the camera. So much so, it can feel like you were never there after going through them. Thankfully, Disney has a solution; PhotoPass.

What We Suggest

We absolutely recommend utilizing PhotoPass Photographers as often as possible. They’re at most of the popular photo spots and will take around 5-6 photos of you and your group. Plus, they’ll add in fun surprises (as pictured above).

Unfortunately, Disney Photographers (or any Cast Members) are not allowed to use your phone or camera anymore. This is to help limit the spread of Covid-19. This could (and probably will) change in the future.

For now, you can purchase an individual photo for $14.99 or $19.99 for that entire days worth of photos. Obviously we recommend spending the extra $5 bucks and getting all of them. Soon, though, you’ll get all your PhotoPass photos included in the purchase of Genie+. Speaking of which…..

11) Not Buying Genie+

Genie+ is the successor of former time-saving services, FastPass and MaxPass. Disney did away with those two in favor of this one, though in many ways, Genie+ is a lot like MaxPass.

What We Suggest

We wrote a detailed guide explaining Genie+ and it’s three tiers (you can read that one here), so we’ll just do a quick rundown.

The three tiers of this new service are:

• Genie: A free planning tool park guests can utilize to plan their day-to-day activities. Not sure which attraction to ride? Want suggestions on where to eat? Just ask the Genie and he’ll point you in the right(ish) direction.

• Genie+: This paid option costs $30, minimum, per person/per day and allows users to bypass the stand-by queue at attractions such as Haunted Mansion, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Space Mountain.

• Individual Lightning Lane: This option will allow guests to pay to completely skip the line on select premium attractions such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers, a la carte. This can cost anywhere between $7 and $30, depending on attraction and demand.

Conclusion

There you have it. Our list of the eleven most common mistakes people make when visiting Disneyland. Truth be told, there are SO many more mistakes our there. So much so that we could easily write another article or two about this subject (perhaps we will).

Tell us, what are some mistakes you have seen first timers or just people in general make at the parks. Is there something you’ve done that you’ve since learned not to do? Tell us about it in the comments below!

It is our hope that you’ve found this article helpful in planning your trip to Disneyland. If so, please support us by sharing it with your family and friends on your favorite social media site. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above!

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

6 Reasons Why You Need The Disneyland App

Planning a trip to Disneyland has never been an easy task. How many days are we going? Which park are we going to visit on which day? Which restaurants are we going to try? Mistakes are bound to happen.

Unfortunately, with the popularity of the park ever increasing and the rise of smartphone technology offering unprecedented convenience, being prepared is more important now than ever. Enter, the official Disneyland app.

The app is free to download/use and is available on both IOS and Android platforms. If you don’t have one already, you will want to create an account so you can take advantage of everything the app has to offer.

During our most recent trip to the parks, we found ourselves using the app constantly and realized how imperative it is to not only the planning stage, but while you’re actually inside the parks as well. So we decided to put this little article together.

So follow along while we list the six reasons why the Disneyland app is essential to the success of your trip to the Disneyland Resort.

Let’s get to it!

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1) Mobile Dining Orders

Perhaps the biggest reason to use the app is having the ability to place your food orders at some of your favorite restaurants and pay for it ahead of time. No cash or standing in line required.

Just in the last couple years, the availability of mobile order has grown from just a few restaurants to nearly every quick service location in either park. It’s truly a tremendous time saver and super convenient.

Below is a list of each restaurant currently offering mobile order. Some (indicated by the *) are mobile order only.

Disneyland Park

• Alien Pizza Planet (Tomorrowland)

• Bengal BBQ (Adventureland)

• Docking Bay 7 (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge)

• Edelweiss Snacks (Fantasyland)

• French Market Restaurant (New Orleans Square)

• Galactic Grill (Tomorrowland)

• Gibson Girl Ice Cream (Main Street U.S.A)

• The Golden Horseshoe (Frontierland)

• Harbour Gallery at Pelican Landing (Critter Country)

• Hungry Bear (Critter Country)

• Jolly Holiday Bakery (Main Street U.S.A)

• Milk Stand (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge)

• Mint Julep Bar (New Orleans Square)

• Red Rose Tavern* (Fantasyland)

• Refreshment Corner (Main Street U.S.A)

• Ronto Roasters (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge)

• Royal Street Veranda (New Orleans Square)

• Stage Door Cafe (Frontierland)

• Tiki Juice Bar (Adventureland)

• Troubadour Tavern (Fantasyland)

Disney California Adventure

• Award Weiners (Hollywood Land)

• Bayside Brews (Paradise Gardens)

• Clarabelle’s (Buena Vista Street)

• Cocina Cucamonga Grill (Pacific Wharf)

• Corn Dog Castle (Paradise Gardens)

• Cozy Cones* (Cars Land)

• Flo’s V8 Cafe (Cars Land)

• Hollywood Lounge (Hollywood Land)

• Lucky Fortune Cookery (Pacific Wharf)

• Pacific Wharf Cafe (Pacific Wharf)

• Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. (Pacific Wharf)

• Paradise Gardens Grill (Paradise Gardens)

• Pym Tasting Lab (Avenger’s Campus)

• Pym Test Kitchen (Avenger’s Campus)

• Rita’s Baja Blenders (Pacific Wharf)

• Schmoozies! (Hollywood Land)

• Smokejumpers Grill (Grizzly Peak)

• Sonoma Terrace (Pacific Wharf)

• Studio Catering Co. (Hollywood Land)

Disney Resort Hotels

• GCH Craftman’s Grill (Grand Californian)

• The Coffee House (Disneyland Hotel)

• Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill (Disneyland Hotel)

Downtown Disney

• Marceline’s Confectionery

As you can see, the list is long and they’re even starting to branch out to the hotels. It wouldn’t surprise me to see more eateries in Downtown Disney join this list in the future. As mentioned, some are even testing being mobile order only locations.

A couple of those we encountered were, “Red Rose Tavern” and “Cozy Cones”. They weren't accepting cash or cards at all. It was strictly mobile order. We can verify that both, “Bengal BBQ” and “Hungry Bear”, were accepting walk ups.

However, the lines at both were long. Mobile ordering was quick, easy, and definitely the way to go.

2) Buying & Scanning Tickets

The days of being able to walk up to the ticket booths in the esplanade are slowly, but surely, coming to an end. Mark my words. Not only is this due to the spread of Covid, but it will also save Disney a few bucks. So, yes, it’s going to happen.

Thankfully, the app makes it super easy to purchase single-day tickets, multi-day tickets, and their newest offering, Magic Key passes. In fact, the app or website are your only options to purchase Magic Keys at the moment.

Theme Park Tickets

To purchase tickets in the app:

1. Make sure you’ve created an account

2. Tap the + symbol at the bottom of the screen

3. Tap, “Buy Tickets and Passes”

4. Select, “Theme Park Tickets”

5. Select the number of days you’ll be in the parks

6. Select the quantity of tickets (adults, child, etc)

7. Select either “One Park Per Day” or “Park Hopper”

8. You’ll then be shown available reservations (Note: You will not be able to purchase tickets without available reservations)

9. You’ll then select which park you want to begin each day of your reservations

10. From here, select “Checkout” and fill in your payment info

Bob Chepek, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, has publicly stated that their park reservation policy will be in effect, “for the foreseeable future”. In our opinion, it’s here to stay. This applies to both day guests and Magic Key holders.

Magic Key Passes

To purchase a Magic Key pass (the replacement for the former Annual Pass program):

1. Follow steps 1 & 2 above

2. Select, “Magic Key Passes”

3. Select which pass you want (Note: If you are not a Southern California resident, you will NOT be able to purchase the “Imagine” Key Pass)

4. Select the number of passes and who to assign them to (Note: You will only be able to take advantage of the monthly payment option if you’re a State of California resident)

5. Enter your payment info and follow the steps to link your new Magic Key to your account

If you’re still deciding whether or not a Magic Key would be a good fit for you or your family, check out our article, “Magic Key: 7 Things You Need To Know Before Buying”.

Another benefit of tickets in the app is they’re stored in there for the duration of your visit. It totally eliminates what every park guest dreads; losing their tickets.

When you arrive at the gate simply pull up the tickets on your phone. The Cast Member will scan them, take your picture, and hand you physical copies (Hang on to those in case your phone dies).

Each time you come back to the parks after that, the Cast Member will scan your phone and you’ll be on your way. It’s a fast, efficient, and contactless way to enter the parks.

3) Attraction Virtual Queues

*Editor’s Note: As of January 2022, Disneyland no longer utilizes the virtual queue system. Attractions that used to now fall under that purview now are part of Disney Genie+ premium selections and traditional stand-by. For detailed information on Disney Genie+, go here.

Currently, two of the Disneyland Resort’s newest attractions can only be experienced by using the app to secure a boarding group. You cannot just show up and get in line. This may change in the future but for now, this is how it is.

The two attractions with this special requirement are, “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance”*, in Disneyland Park and, “WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure”, in California Adventure.

If you or anyone in your group had any desire to ride one or both of these rides, then you’re definitely going to need the app. However, even with the app, there’s still no guarantee you’ll receive a boarding group.

Due to this, we’re working on a detailed, no-holds-barred guide providing tips on how to secure a boarding group and what you can do to increase your chances. Keep an eye out for that one!

If you just want a quick rundown:

1. Be ready to go at either 7am or 12pm

2. Go to the “Virtual Queue” section of the app

3. Tap, “Join Virtual Queue”

4. Select the park (Disneyland for “Rise” or DCA for “WEB”)

5. If you see a blue tab that says, “Join Virtual Queue”, quickly tap it

6. Verify your party and make sure each person’s ticket is selected

7. You’ll then be taken to a page where you can view your boarding group number, estimated wait time, and your entry code.

*Note: As of November 2021, “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance”, no longer uses the virtual queue system.

4) Check Attraction Wait Times

This one will be short and sweet. Let’s say you just got off Space Mountain in Tomorrowland and you get the sudden urge to ride Splash Mountain all the way in Critter Country. So you hike it all the way over there all to discover a massive, 2-3 hour line has formed. Total bummer.

The app eliminates that disappointment by showcasing a section dedicated to providing real time wait times for each attraction in both parks. So all you’ll need to do is look for the attraction you want to experience and check before go.

In our experience, the wait times are mostly accurate. For example, the app stated a 30-minute wait for Haunted Mansion. It looked daunting and I didn’t believe it, so I timed it. By the time we reached the stretch room (which I consider the beginning), we waited 31-minutes. Close enough.

They’ve also been known to high-ball the wait times to avoid you being upset about having to wait longer. For example, we pulled up Radiator Springs Racers and it showed a 35-minute wait. We ended up waiting around 20-minutes.

5) PhotoPass

Until Disney Genie gets up and going (and probably even after it does) the app is where you’ll go to find all your photos taken by PhotoPass Photographers. If you’ve never used this service before, it’s pretty cool.

Using Disney Photographers is free (until it’s time to purchase your photos, that is). They take all the headache out of getting that perfect family vacation portrait in front of the castle, Mickey shaped pumpkin, etc. They’re scattered throughout both parks.

When you’re done taking your photos, you’ll pull up the barcode in the “photos” section and the Photographer will scan your photos into the app. They usually take around 1-2 hours to appear.

Photos used to be included in the purchase of a MaxPass but now that it’s discontinued, the current cost of PhotoPass is:

• $14.99 - Per photo

• $19.99 - That entire day’s worth

They’ll stay in the app for 45 days after you take them. So you’ll have plenty of time to purchase them.

*It’s recently been announced by Disney that when Genie+ goes live, PhotoPass photos will be included in the purchase price. This includes photos taken by Disney Photographers and Attraction photos.

6) Restaurant Reservations & Plans

Most restaurants at the Disneyland Resort are quick-service. Meaning you order your food, sit down, and eat. At table-service restaurants, it’s more traditional where you’re seated at a table and have a wait staff tending to you.

Some of these include Lamplight Lounge (pictured above), Napa Rose, Blue Bayou, and Wine Country Trattoria. These restaurants, and others, are very popular, so making an advance dining reservation is almost required most of the time.

In the app, you can make dining reservations 60 days in advance. Best part is, all of your reservations, boarding passes, etc, all appear in the, “My Plans”, tab of the app. You’ll be able to view and modify your plans and even receive reminders.

Conclusion

As you can see, the Disneyland app has become essential to both the planning process and the execution of the day-to-day aspect of your visit. We highly advise you to download it, create an account, and get familiar with the layout and its features.

We hope that you found this article useful in planning your vacation to the Disneyland Resort. If so, please share it with your friends and family on your favorite social media site. You can further show your support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Disneyland Announces “Merriest Nites" Holiday Event Coming This November

Earlier today, Disney announced a brand new, separate ticket, limited-capacity event called, “Disney Merriest Nites”, debuting this November exclusively at Disneyland Park. This is great news as Disneyland fans have been clamoring for a Christmas Party for years!

The event will be celebrated on five select nights during the months of November and December and will consist of six themed parties throughout the individual “lands” in the park. The event starts at 8:00pm and ends at midnight, with early entry into Disneyland starting at 5:00pm.

This was just announced and not many details were released, so this article will contain everything that is known thus far; such as where the themed parties will be, cost, dates, and more. It will be updated on a continuous basis as more details are released. We’ve also contacted Disneyland Guests Services to confirm a few details.

Tickets for this event will go on sale at 9am on September 14th, 2021, via the Disneyland app and website.

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Themed Party Locations

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Main Street U.S.A

The first of the six parties you’ll come across takes place right on Main Street. Mickey Mouse will be your host along with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and more! The characters will travel around in a coach decked out in holiday decor and will sing Christmas carols with event guests. How cool!

New Orleans Square

Not much detail has been given about this party but from what we’ve gathered, it will be hosted by Princess Tiana herself in a bayou-inspired holiday celebration.

It may be just speculation on our part, but with all the construction walls currently up in New Orleans Square, there’s been rumors of a Tiana’s Place eatery coming. This party would make for an excellent debut of a highly desired restaurant.

Frontierland

Miguel, from the Disney/Pixar film, “Coco”, will be on hand wishing attendees Feliz Navidad in Frontierland. According to the Disney Parks Blog, there will be music and dancing aplenty in this small section of the park.

We were at Disneyland recently and seen the beautiful meet and greet area set up for Miguel (pictured above). It was small, but impressive. We have a feeling the entire land will now be adorned in similar fashion.

Fantasyland, Adventureland, & Tomorrowland

Even less has been revealed about the final three parties, but they will take place in some of the park’s most popular lands and like the others, will have their own, dedicated host:

• Fantasyland: The host will be none other than the Snow Queen herself, “Elsa”, from the uber popular Disney animated film, “Frozen”. This will undoubtedly be the most in-demand and densely packed party. Fair warning.

• Adventureland: Lilo & Stitch will be the co-hosts in this laid back, tropical gathering. This is the smallest land of the six, so it’s interesting to see how they’ll pull this off.

• Tomorrowland: Last - but certainly not least - the host of this galactic-holiday celebration will be the toy, the myth, the legend himself; Buzz Lightyear.

It seems that the hosts and theme of the parties will be the biggest differences between them as all will come with themed photo opps, special character appearances, and exclusively themed food and beverage offerings.

More Experiences

The six parties above won’t be the only experiences you’ll get with your ticket. You’ll also get:

• Holiday Experiences: Watch the streets get lined with snow while taking part in a meet and greet with Santa himself.

• Early Admission: The event doesn’t begin until 8:00pm, but with your special event ticket, you’ll be granted early access to Disneyland starting at 5:00pm.

• Merry Entertainment: Witness a special performance of, “A Christmas Fantasy Parade”.

• Attractions After-Hours: Experience classic Disneyland attractions such as “it’s a small world” Holiday and “Haunted Mansion Holiday”, with shorter than usual wait times.

• Character Appearances: Rare and classic characters alike decked out in their holiday best will make appearances throughout the park.

• PhotoPass: All photos you get from Disney PhotoPass Photographers for the night will be included with your ticket. So wear your holiday best!

• And Much, Much More!

Dates & Price

Much like the Halloween parties held in Disneyland Park in the past and currently at Disney California Adventure, “Merriest Nites”, will require a separate ticket, have limited capacity, and will be held after-hours.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, these special event tickets will go on sale on September 14th at 9am, on Disneyland.com and the Disneyland app for the following dates:

• November 11th, 2021

• November 16th, 2021

• November 30th, 2021

• December 7th, 2021

• December 9th, 2021

The cost of a ticket to the first event (November 11th) will be $175, per person. The price for all subsequent dates will be $165, per person.

There will be no special price for children (with the exception of those under 3. Much like general admission, they’re free).

Magic Key Holders

While not officially announced by Disney, the expectation is that there will be NO discount offered to Keyholders for this event.

Reservations

Since only a certain number of tickets will be sold for this event per night, you will NOT need to make a reservation. Your ticket is your reservation (including your early admission perk).

However, if you’re a Magic Keyholder and you wish to enter the park earlier than 5:00pm, then you will need a reservation for that day.

Closures During the Event

While this event sounds like it’ll be packed to the gills with entertainment and attractions, there are a few closures worth mentioning.

During the event, the following areas won’t be accessible for the entirety of the night:

• Critter Country (Including Splash Mountain)

• Mickey’s ToonTown

• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (Bummer. I’m sure every Star Wars fan would’ve loved to see a real-life Christmas special)

If you really had your heart set on spending time in one or more of these lands, our advice would be to get there right at the early admission time (5:00pm). That’ll give you three hours to enjoy them before the event begins.

Candlelight Processional

As of the time of this writing, there’s been no word from Disney about whether or not their annual Candlelight Processional will return to Disneyland. Also no word about DCA’s, “World of Color” show either.

As previously mentioned, we’ll keep this article updated as more information becomes available.

Expectations

Being that this event has been something Disneyland fans have been wanting for years, we can predict with near certainty that ALL dates will sell out fast. Probably on the first day. So if you want to attend this event, be ready to go right at 9:00am on September 14th. Make sure you have an account set-up.

So why are they only running it for five nights? We think they’re using the inaugural year as a test-run. Now that their annual Halloween Party has shifted over to DCA, it takes a bit of the burden off of Disneyland Park. If proven successful (let’s face it, it will be), we predict next year will hold far more dates.

Conclusion

Are you excited about this newest event coming to the resort? Do you plan on going? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

We hope this article was helpful in planning your trip to Disneyland. If so, please support us by sharing it with your friends and family on your favorite social media site. You can further show your support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!