First Timers Guide to Disneyland | Ticket Price Comparisons
Visiting Disneyland for the First Time
The first time I visited Disneyland, I had a lot of questions. We are all first-timers at some point! Instead of spending hours researching different groups and websites, I hope you can take advantage what I’ve learned and put it to practical use with the information provided on this blog post!
Learn how I scored FREE FLIGHTS to Disneyland recently – it’s a simple hack that anyone can do!
Do’s and Don’ts when Scheduling your Day
Disneyland oozes magic, and although you may feel like you need to account for every minute of the day, I’m here to tell you that is a big mistake as a first-timer in Disneyland.
Don’t do this: Your kids won’t appreciate running from ride to ride to catch the next; they probably won’t even remember exactly what rides they went on! They definitely didn’t sign up to have every minute of every day scheduled.
Do this instead: What they will remember is stopping to chat with a cast member in costume (or CM that helps beautify the parks), favorite Disney Character, or Princess!
Maybe they’ll remember grabbing a new yummy treat to try like a churro, or slushy drink to cool down and watch the world go by with their family. The most important thing is the time spent with people that they love.
It seems counter-intuitive to not try to maximize the money you spent buying tickets to Disneyland to do absolutely everything, but hear me out on this – that is impossible.
The reason “magic keys” (annual Disney ticket passes) exist is because people love Disney so much. There is always something new to see! Some people visit the parks several times A MONTH and still don’t get tired of it.
Read more below to find out how to get the most ENJOYMENT out of Disneyland as a First-Time Visitor.
Where to get your Tickets as a First-time Visitor to Disneyland
Where not to buy
I’ve used AMA/CAA in the past to purchase Disney tickets. They longer have any discounts unfortunately, and their website takes you straight to the Disneyland Page.
The same goes for Costco. You can buy travel “packages” including hotel and tickets through Costco travel, but there is no discount for tickets.
Where to buy Tickets
Get Away Today
The best place to get a discount on tickets now is Get Away Today. I have personally used this website to purchase Disneyland tickets and had a wonderful experience! Their customer support is amazing.
They offer several options of packaging hotels and park tickets together, along with a lay-away option which is so helpful for folks struggling to save for this big expense.
Click the button below to search up deals for you and your family from Get Away Today.
Just remember that the ticket purchase doesn’t automatically get you a ‘park reservation’. You have to book that separately through the Disney App. I’ll talk about that below.
Check your Corporate Health Spending Account
I’d also advise you to check any health/wellness accounts you have with your job or place of employment. For example, my job allows me to be part of the ‘Telus Health/Lifeworks Network’ and gives me additional discount on tickets and hotel rooms.
Here is the breakdown below of the different costs for a ONE PARK PER DAY/TWO DAY TICKET (adult):
- Disneyland: $310USD/per person ($155/day)
- Get Away Today: $308USD/per person ($154/day)
- Lifeworks: $285USD/per person ($142.50/day)
More Days = More Savings
The more park days you buy, the cheaper it becomes. If you buy a 5 day park pass on the Get Away Today website, you get the 5th day free. Here is a breakdown of the ONE PARK PER DAY/5 DAY PARK PASS:
- Disneyland: $480/per person ($96/day)
- Get Away Today: $445/per person ($89/day)
- Lifeworks: $427/per person ($85/day)
Download the Disneyland App
Making Reservations
Now that you’ve got your tickets, lets talk about making the reservation for the park on the app.
(Please note, if you are thinking of buying 1 day park tickets note that they are tiered and have different values. This means you can only access the park on certain days of the week.)
Once you’ve opened the app, simply go to the settings menu (the 3 lines at the bottom), and click on “my tickets and passes”. There is a spot you can scan bar codes for the tickets you’ve pre-purchased.
If scanning doesn’t work you just enter the confirmation code for each individual ticket you’ve purchased. After you’ve linked your tickets, you can reserve the specific days you want to spend at the park.
I recommend doing this as far in advance as possible. Do not do it on the day you want to go to the park – if they’re at capacity, you won’t gain entry.
Disneyland App vs Disney World App
The app for Disneyland and Disney World are different, but they work almost the same. The app for Disneyland is called just that, “Disneyland”. The app for Disney World is “My Disney Experience”. Both are found on your device’s app store.
Easy-peasy. Surfing the app, is by far my favorite way to pass the time when I’m bored!
@foolishmortalsupply Anyone else do this? I regularly check wait times even while I’m in a different state than a Disney park ? #disneyland #disneyworld #disneyparks #distok #disneyadult #disneytiktok ? original sound – Foolish Mortal Supply
From here you can see real time updates of the wait-times for the lineups, order food, make breakfast/lunch/dinner reservations and see what time the characters are out and when the shows will start.
The app is VERY comprehensive and you can even look at specific menu items, find out where you can eat if you have dietary restrictions etc.
Top 10 favorite Disneyland foods that a first-time visitor has to try:
- Dole whip
- Mickey Beignets
- Ronto Wrap
- Turkey leg
- Churros
- Mint Julep
- Sundae’s from Ghirardelli
- Jack Jack Cookie Num Num
- Jungle Grub Punch
- Mickey bar
Top 6 ‘best rides’ worth waiting in line for the first time visitor to Disneyland:
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Space Mountain
- Rise of the Resistance
- Incredicoaster
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Guardians of the Galaxy
Where to stay as a first time visitor to Disneyland
As a first timer, options for hotels may seem overwhelming! I’ll briefly touch on the Disney hotels, and then provide some great options off site.
Disneyland Hotels
You can stay right at one of Disneyland’s 3 hotels.
- Pixar Place (recently remodeled)
- Disneyland Hotel (original hotel for the park)
- Disney’s Grand California Hotel and Spa (exclusive and the most expensive)
Staying at one of these hotels gives you the option to enter the park before the public, but they recently changed it so you only get 30 extra minutes.
In my opinion, the 30 extra minutes is not worth the hefty price tag of the Disney themed hotel room ($600+/night). Although if you’re looking for a completely immersive experience, there would be no better way to do it.
The Grand Californian Hotel has direct access to the park in Disney California Adventure.
Off-site Hotels
Most Popular Hotel Choices
Closest to the parks
- Courtyard Marriott Theme Park Entrance (P)
- Howard Johnson (P)
- Holiday Inn Express (P*)
- Homes2Suites (P*)
- Hyatt House (P*)
(The P represents a pool and * represents free breakfast)
Hotels and The Options
As a first time visitor to Disneyland, you’ll want to consider the different options the hotels in the area have to offer.
Napping: Firstly, are you going with young kids who might need a nap/break midday? It gets hot in the California sun, and even I appreciate a break from the heat with a dip in the pool and something to refuel the body. If this is the case, being within a short walk of the park might be in your best interest.
Save Money: Do you want to save a little extra money by booking a hotel with free breakfast? Many of the hotels in the area offer this as an option, and we typically like to take advantage of it for pre-park fueling in the morning.
Views: Do you have little kids that need to go to bed or at least be settled down before the 9:30pm fireworks? It might be nice to consider a room or hotel that has a view of the fireworks from the property!
Pools: Do you kids love to swim? Is a big pool or maybe a hot tub necessary for those aching legs at the end of the day? Most hotels have nice large pools to relax by, and some of them even have fantastic waterparks! (Courtyard Marriott Theme Park, and Cambria Anaheim Suites)
Parking: Renting a car? Parking at your hotel will mostly likely cost you money. Depending on the location it could run from $15-$40/day. If it’s important to you, this is definitely a place to consider and trim back for your overall budget.
First-time visitor to Disneyland MUST SEE
So you’re heading to Disneyland for the first time? It can feel a little intimidating trying to know what you should prioritize vs what isn’t really that important.
As I mentioned above, the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do at the park is spend quality time with your family! I promise your day will be awesome if this is number one on your list.
Must-See Attractions
If you’re looking for fun things to do and see there are many many options. I would encourage you to go with an open mind and visit some of the very first attractions in the park that Walt Disney himself created:
- The Jungle Cruise
- The Pirates of the Caribbean
- The Tiki Room (best enjoyed with a Dole Whip)
- The Matterhorn Bobsleds
- It’s A Small World.
These are some of the most iconic attractions, but definitely not comprehensive.
Don’t Miss these Small Details
Take some time to admire the small details. For example the effort and detail that goes into making the entire place a fairy-tale;
- Mainstreet
- Sleeping beauty’s Castle
- New Orleans Square
- Frontierland with the ship and paddle steamer.
Unforgettable Shows
Make time to catch a parade if you can, and definitely come back for the fireworks display in the evening or the World of Color water show in California Adventure. All the showtimes are listed in the Disneyland App.
Be sure to be on the lookout for ‘hidden mickeys’ throughout the park!
Friendly Cast Members
Find your favorite character (also called Cast Members) and have a chat and grab a photo! The times the characters are available are on the Disneyland App, with their location.
Your best best is sticking to main street if you’re not bumping into them throughout the rest of the park.
Character Dining + Interaction
If you don’t feel like tracking the cast members down, a character dining experience is great because the characters COME TO YOU! We did Goofy’s Kitchen and loved the food and interactions.
FAQ
Lets jump in to a couple of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to the beaches near Anaheim.
Are There Beaches Near Anaheim?
Yes! Do you need a day trip to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks? I recently reviewed a whole bunch of beaches near Anaheim. They’re the perfect day out, and located only 30 minutes away by car.
What Else Can I Do in Anaheim?
There are plenty of great activities to do in Anaheim outside of the parks. My family and I love taking a couple of days to explore the local area. Disneyland can be pretty expensive, but there are lots of free activities to do in Anaheim, along with some other great attractions.
Love taking photos? Grab my free guide on the secret locations for the best photos in Anaheim below instantly.
THE ONE THING YOU SHOULD NOT DO IN DISNEYLAND AS A FIRST TIME VISITOR
The mistake I often see people making is panicking about getting on ALL of the rides. Lower your expectations, go with the flow, and most importantly HAVE A TON OF FUN!
Disneyland is so much more than the rides, and I think a lot of people forget this. There are so many things every day to enrich your experience here, don’t miss out on them because you are rushing to the next lineup.
There are plenty of other theme parks in California if you’re biggest worry is riding rides. On our last trip we enjoyed a 5 day pass at both parks, and still didn’t see & do everything.
Save it for next time! If you take my advice as a first-timer here, I promise you’ll want to go back again and again.
As you head to Disneyland as a first-time visitor, bring your excitement and leave your worries behind. Immerse yourself in the world of Disney and get ready for a magical experience! Enjoy making memories, and may your first visit be so amazing that you want to come back again and again.
Until next time at the happiest place on earth,
Tanya