Disneyland Dining Guide 2023: Mobile Order, Dining Reservations and More
Between Downtown Disney, Disney California Adventure, and their classic, namesake park, the Disneyland Resort offers a plethora…
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.
Genie Plus Now Live at Disneyland: How It Works, Cost and More!
On August 18th, 2021, Disney announced, “Disney Genie”, a new service and digital planner that was touted as a tool park guests could utilize…
3 minute read | contains affiliate links
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…
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!
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:
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 was never an easy task. How many days are we going? Which park are we going to visit on this day?
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!
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:
Make sure you’ve created an account
Tap the + symbol at the bottom of the screen
Tap, “Buy Tickets and Passes”
Select, “Theme Park Tickets”
Select the number of days you’ll be in the parks
Select the quantity of tickets (adults, child, etc)
Select either “One Park Per Day” or “Park Hopper”
You’ll then be shown available reservations (Note: You will not be able to purchase tickets without available reservations)
You’ll then select which park you want to begin each day of your reservations
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):
Follow steps 1 & 2 above
Select, “Magic Key Passes”
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)
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)
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:
Be ready to go at either 7am or 12pm
Go to the “Virtual Queue” section of the app
Tap, “Join Virtual Queue”
Select the park (Disneyland for “Rise” or DCA for “WEB”)
If you see a blue tab that says, “Join Virtual Queue”, quickly tap it
Verify your party and make sure each person’s ticket is selected
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.