Five Things People Won't Tell You When Planning A Disneyland Vacation

You will find countless Disneyland vacation guides all over the internet. Many of the posts you will read will be helpful. You will learn many insider tips from reading blogs devoted to Disney.  But, you will encounter issues that may not come up on those blogs.

Did you know Disneyland can stop selling tickets and admitting guests into the park if it is at capacity? Or if it rains many of the rides will close? You cannot ride the Tea Cups or Big Thunder Mountain in the rain. These are topics you won’t hear much about.

Thus, I recommend you do these five things before your Disneyland vacation.

Follow This Twitter Account

Follow Disneyland Today on Twitter. Disneyland Today is on Facebook, but it’s the Twitter account that posts the important updates. Is a parking lot full? They will post it on Twitter! Has the park reached capacity? That will be on Twitter too. Sometimes Disneyland Today will post this information on Facebook. Look at the Twitter and Facebook feed. You will find the Facebook feed does not post the same information, especially in regards to parking and crowds.

Check Disneyland Today on Twitter daily during your vacation to stay up to date. They tweet park hours. Disneyland Today will also inform you of any parking lot closures. If one or both parks are at capacity, they will tweet about it.  

It Does Rain In California

Have a plan in case it rains. You will hear people say Disneyland is a ghost town when it rains. That is not always true. That legend has been around so long that when it rains, the locals can come out in full force. Sometimes Disneyland gets busy during the rain. Sometimes it does not. When it rains, there is a 50/50 chance the crowds will thin.

Some people plan their visit during our rainy season. Which can backfire because many rides cannot operate in the rain. Which many people do not know.

If you have good shoes and a rain jacket, you will be ok. Know which rides are indoors. I would also suggest finding out what entertainment is indoors. At Disney California Adventure visit Mickey’s Philharmagic. Or the Animation Academy. The Frozen show at Disney California Adventure is a great stay dry option. Great Moments with Mr Lincoln at Disneyland is 23 minutes. Waiting in line to see Mickey Mouse in his Toon Town house is a great way to stay inside for 15-20 minutes at a time. 

Prepare For The Heat

In Southern California it can be hot- just as hot as Disney World, only less humid. In this post here I instructed on how to beat the heat. However, it never hurts to pack shorts and tank tops. USB chargeable fans help a lot too. 

Make sure you check for weather updates prior to your trip. It was so hot I had the run the air conditioner in November, and only a few days later, it was in the low sixties to mid-fifties. It is hot here a good portion of the year. So prepare yourself. 

Disneyland Is Small

The Disneyland Resort is 500 acres. Disney World is 43 miles. If you have only been to Walt Disney World and are spending four or five days, here you may feel underwhelmed. People expect Disneyland to be massive, so much so that people plan on visiting Disneyland for days, only to discover they can ride and watch everything in a day or two. 

Disneyland is a scaled down Magic Kingdom. Disney California Adventure is like Hollywood Studios with a California and Pixar twist. Both parks are small compared to Walt Disney World. There is less to do at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure because of the size. Disney World has more entertainment and rides than Disneyland, which means you can do it all at Disneyland in one short visit unlike Disney World. This is a positive thing. It makes the trip more affordable and you do not feel you need to visit a few times to do it all. 

If you get great FastPasses and it’s not crowded, you can do a lot in one day. You may feel like it's time to leave before the fireworks. If you are not taking advantage of Magic Mornings, sleep in a day or two and wait an hour after rope drop in the off season. Many people will not admit you can end up feeling bored towards the end of the day.

I never realized how small Disneyland was until I started going there once or twice a week. After visiting Disney World, it seems even smaller now, especially when compared to other local theme parks like Magic Mountain, Legoland, and Universal Studios. I can walk from Main Street to Critter County at the opposite side of the park in minutes- it’s that small. 

You Need A Back Up Plan

Have more activities for non-park days planned, or a plan in case the parks are at capacity. Unless you plan on eating at every restaurant in Downtown Disney, there isn't that much to do. The movie theatre is long gone, and I feel the hotel arcades are a letdown. There are things to do but if you have small children who dislike bowling or bar crawls, your best bet is the hotel pool. After that, then what?

If you are here for 3 days or more, you may find yourself bored at Disney. It’s possible when planned well during the right time of a year to do everything at Disneyland in two days or fewer. 

The Santa Ana Zoo is close by and very affordable. So is the Discovery Cube. Even Old Towne Orange can be fun for kids to explore. There is even a Great Wolf Lodge in Anaheim you can visit. Each is a perfect way to spend 3-5 hours. You could opt to visit Disney’s rival theme park Knotts Berry Farm, which is so much cheaper than Disneyland. Many local bloggers do not mention that while Dana Point is about a 40 minute drive, this town has much to offer. The Wharf (whale watching) and Ocean Institute are an excellent place to spend a non park day. 

You may plan a day at the park and find yourself at 5 in the afternoon wanting to leave and do something else. Make sure you have some just-in-case activities planned. Sitting in your hotel room can be boring, and for kids full of energy, it may be torture.

Sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation. So plan a few activities outside of the park. 

Conclusion

I hope this list was helpful. Many bloggers do not bring these issues up, so it shocks many to learn these things when they arrive. Be prepared for the weather, crowds, and have a few activities planned to help you relax.  Sometimes it’s good to leave the Disney bubble for a few hours. If you prepare, you will have a great trip.