This past week my family and I were invited by Disney to spend 3 magical days at the Disneyland Resort and our mission was to maximize the magic – not only did I immediately say yes, I also said, challenge accepted! We are literally on Cloud 9 from being apart of this experience. We are truly grateful for being included for this special event and don’t take these experiences for granted. So first and foremost, sending a BIG thank you to Disney for inviting us to experience and maximize the magic this week. It is a dream come true! And right now is such a special time to visit the parks because Disneyland is celebrating 70 magical years this year!
“Here you Leave Today and Enter the World of Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Fantasy” – Walt Disney
In my personal opinion, the Disneyland Resort is the BEST theme park experience hands down compared to every single other theme park I have ever visited. If I were a theme park critic, I would rate the Disneyland Resort a 10/10 in customer service, consumer products, cast member kindness and knowledge, food options and quality, top notch entertainment, ride thrills and ride safety, and overall experience. The Disneyland Resort puts so much thought and care into everything they do to help families, like me, have a magical visit, each and every time they visit the parks. And just to be clear, this is entirely my own opinion from experience! One of my favorite parts about the parks is that there is constantly something new to do, new to try, new to eat, new entertainment, and new to ride! From season to season, your experience will be different than the one before, so each time you go, you can participate in some of the nostalgic and some of the brand new, which makes your experience even more magical every time you go! And there is so much included in the price of your park ticket!I can boldly and confidently say that you won’t beat the experience you get from the price of your park ticket anywhere else, and it’s honestly worth every penny. And here’s why:
15 Free Ways to Maximize The Magic
(included in your park ticket)
Complimentary Water: There are multiple dining areas in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park that you can grab a quick and absolutely free cup of fresh ice water. This will keep you hydrated around the parks that won’t take up much time. Some of these quick service food and drink locations include Bengal Barbecue, Harbour Galley, Aunt Cass Cafe, and Lucky Fortune Cookery.
Walkthrough Attractions: Take advantage of experiences like walking through the Adventureland Treehouse inspired by Walt Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson or Sleeping Beauty’s Castle where lines are typically shorter, you can catch some shade, and there is no height requirement!
Play Areas: Let your children get out the wiggles and play, wander quiet areas of the parks, and enjoy scenic views away from the crowds at Pirate’s Lair at Tom Sawyer Island in Disneyland Park. If you are on the Disney California Adventure Park side, you can explore the outdoors and get some nature therapy at the Redwood Challenge Trail where they have a kid’s zip line, slides, and massive playground structures with bridges and climbing areas!
Animation Academy: Take advantage of a free sketching class drawing your favorite Disney character, taught by talented Disney artists. You’ll get step by step instructions on how to draw a character and then get to take your drawing home as a souvenir! This is also a great way to sit down in the air conditioning for about 15 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the parks! The schedule of each character is listed on a sign right outside the Animation Academy entrance.
Celebration Buttons: Some of our favorite collectables are the celebration buttons we have gotten over the years, whether I’m celebrating being cancer free, a graduation, a birthday, being a train conductor, or any special occasion, these collectable buttons are some of the best complimentary souvenirs! Stop by City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A.®, and choose a special Celebration Button to mark the occasion (also available at some merchandise shops near the main entrance of both parks). Here are some I have collected over the years for me and my children!
Park Maps: My children LOVE picking up a park map and bringing it home to relive the magic after our trip is done. They look at their map and relive their day/s in the parks, recalling all the rides they went on, etc. And the maps change seasonally so they can be fun to collect!
Disney Parks Play App: Download the Disney Parks Play App completely free and transform your device into a Star Wars Datapad, a fun activity for all Guests to enhance their experience in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Free Photos: Enjoy complimentary digital downloads on select attractions including Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Incredicoaster, and Space Mountain! And yes, these are the photos of you ON the ride itself and make a really fun keepsake!
Complimentary Food: Learn how sourdough bread is made (you can watch it live in real time) and enjoy a free sample at the Bakery Tour in San Fransokyo Square in Disney California Adventure Park.
Hitting Your Steps: One of my favorite free perks about walking around the parks is how many steps I walk throughout the day! During the 3 days I was in the parks this past week, I hit approximately 71, 766 steps! One of the days I hit 26, 392 in just ONE DAY!
Celebrate Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month: This celebratory month begins September 15-October 15 and at the Disneyland Resort, there is free, live entertainment at the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage and the Hotels of the Disneyland® Resort.
Do a Craft: Create an alebrije mask of Pepita or Dante from Disney and Pixar’s Coco at Plaza de la Familia in Disney California Adventure® Park. Calling all Disney history fans!
Learn History: Stop by The Disney Gallery inside the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland® Park to view the “Evolution of a Dream” gallery exhibit featuring items on loan by the Walt Disney Family Museum.
Watch a Show: One of our favorite ways to sit down and rest in air conditioning while soaking in the magic is by visiting the Main Street Cinema on Main Street in Disneyland. It’s dark and quiet and there are plenty of benches to sit and rest and watch shorts including the iconic Steamboat Willie before heading back out into the park.
Free Movie Nights: Don’t have a park ticket? No problem! The Downtown Disney District is magically hosting free movie nights during October! This film festival features six family-friendly Halloween themed movies like Hocus Pocus. These free movies will run starting at 7pm on Wednesday evenings from September 24-October 29, 2025. You can find this movie area near the LIVE! stage grassy area between Din Tai Fung and Parkside Market Food Hall.
8 Additional Ways to Maximize The Magic
(extra ways that may cost more in addition to your park ticket)
Take The Photos: Capture priceless memories with Disney PhotoPass with pictures taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers that use professional quality, digital cameras and wear Cast Member name tags, so they are easily identifiable. Choose a favorite or purchase all of them from the day! This service comes in especially handy when you want a keepsake family or group photo and have no one to take the photo for you.
Treat Yourself: Sometimes maximizing the magic means snagging that hard to get reservation and treating yourself to a special and unique meal that you’ll remember forever. My favorite way to treat myself is having lunch or dinner at the Blue Bayou and don’t forget to order the infamous Disneyland Mint Julep! I also recommend having breakfast at one of the Character dining restaurants like Goofy’s Kitchen located in the Disneyland Hotel!
Get the Treats: Churros, Dole Whips, Popcorn, Beignets, Mickey bars…the snacks are part of the experience. Many food and beverages change seasonally, so there is always something new to try! One of my favorite ways to bring the magic home is to collect popcorn buckets that change seasonally. My ultimate and favorite treat are the Nuttles that are often only made fresh on Mondays (and possibly once again later in the week) and sell out quickly at Candy Palace. Since they aren’t made and sold everyday, this makes this treat extra special! On that note, the best treat I drank this week was the Toffee-Nut Cold Brew sold at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe.
Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit: This is a seasonal experience but worth the extra charge of $11.99 each (that includes a small prize) – Magic Key holders also receive a discount. You can find kiosks and stores that sell the pumpkin map in many locations in the Downtown Disney District, Disneyland, and Disney California Adventure Park. Basically, it’s a magical scavenger hunt where you search for hidden decorative pumpkins based on Disney characters and placing corresponding stickers on your map (based on which location you are in, since there are three different maps total, based on which area you buy it from and search.) And you don’t have to wait until you fill your map to collect your prize, you can pick it up at the same time you buy your map! No park ticket? No problem, do the search at the Downtown Disney District! Additional note: there is typically also a similar scavenger hunt in the spring where you can find Disney character eggs instead of pumpkins!
Get the Merch – Whether it’s ears, pins, or spirit jerseys, bring home a little piece of the magic. Honestly, there is something for everyone based on preference, collectable, favorite character, and budget. I personally love to collect mugs and ears and my children love to collect keychains and pins! The quality of the merchandise is excellent, so if you are buying a train set or a stuffed animal, it will last you for years! Some merch I’m wearing in the last 3 photos (the gold ears, fanny pack, and black hat) were gifted by Disney and I love them!
Build Your Own Coffee: My suggestion when visiting the parks is to take advantage of all of the special and unique experiences (almost like a secret menu) that you can experience in or around the parks. One of my favorite out of the box ways to do this is by visiting the Sketch Pad Cafe and building your own coffee concoction located in the lobby of the Pixar Place Hotel.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass: Want to skip the lines on a crowded day? If you only have one or two days in the parks and want to maximize the magic, purchasing a Lightning Lane Premier Pass is the way to go. The price of the pass varies by date and demand so visit the Disneyland app up to 7 days in advance of your park visit to learn more! Purchasing is subject to availability.
Stay the Night: Book a room nearby! When you are well rested, you will have more energy and patience (your little ones also need these calming breaks) so having a hotel nearby helps you and your family be able to take a midday relaxation break (bath or nap) to recharge for a better experience in the parks! Take it from a licensed child play therapist, these midday breaks will help everyone regulate and will help prevent less power struggles, meltdowns, and tantrums due to being overtired and overstimulated. Plus having a hotel room will help you get up early for rope drop to maximize your time in the parks when the temperatures are cooler and there are less wait times for rides and attractions. A hotel stay will also allow you to stay late to experience the nighttime spectaculars like the projection shows, parades, and fireworks without having to worry about driving home late. Stay at one of the Disneyland Resorts or at one of their Good Neighbor hotels. With over 50 different hotels to choose from, you are sure to find one that fits your family’s travel style, size, and budget! During this trip we stayed at the Westin Anaheim and it was a beautiful property within walking distance to the parks. In fact, it was less than a 15 minute walk from the lobby to the entrance to the Downtown Disney District. Vacation packages are also available!
6 Ultimate Tips on How to Maximize the Magic
Get there early – Fewer crowds, shorter lines, cooler weather, and the magic feels extra fresh in the morning! The other day, we arrived at rope drop and snagged a table for breakfast at the Carnation Cafe as a walk up because no online reservations were available and got on 5 rides in 30 minutes!
Stay late – The nighttime shows, lights, and atmosphere are pure Disney wonder.This week we watched Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and it was a 10/10! Check the Disneyland app for times!
Don’t skip the entertainment – From parades to character encounters, the in-between magic is just as special as the rides. Right now, you can catch the Paint the Night Parade, Halloween Screams Projections (and Fireworks on select nights), and Fantastic! on select nights. Check the day’s showtimes in the Disneyland app!
Ride the classics + the thrills – Balance nostalgia with adventure for the full Disney experience. The best time to get on rides with the lowest wait is in the morning during rope drop! My suggestion is always choose to ride the ride even if it means getting soaked on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (see below) – but you can always buy a plastic poncho at the gift shop near the entrance to the ride, too. On this trip, we went on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Alice in Wonderland, Astro Orbitor, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Disneyland Monorail, Golden Zephyr, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Incredicoaster, Indiana Jones Adventure, it’s a small world, Jumpin’ Jellyfish, The Little Mermaid, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Silly Symphony Swings (pictured), Soarin’ Around the World, Space Mountain, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room! I feel like I am missing a few, but it’s amazing how many rides you can get on in 3 days in addition to all of the other activities and having time to rest at the hotel midday!
Mobile Order: This is a game changer! Don’t wait in line, order on the go while you are in line for a ride and pick up your order when it’s ready during your alloted time! This service doesn’t cost anymore than if you were to stand in line and wait to order, so save yourself time and maximize your experience by ordering from the Disneyland app! This will allow you to go on one more ride before sitting down to eat instead of standing in a crowded line when you’re hungry. My favorite lunch items are the Chopped Chicken salad from Galactic Grill and the Teriyaki Chicken bowl (I get mind gluten-free) at the Lucky Fortune Cookery.
Channel your inner Child – Sing, laugh, wave at characters, and let yourself believe in magic again. You are never too old to be a kid again! Take the photo or have them sign your autograph book!
A day at Disneyland® Resort, for example, can provide up to 12-15 hours of entertainment families of all ages. Throughout the year, you can check the ticket calendar on Disneyland.com to see the range of available dates, ticket options, and prices and check Disneyland.com/offers for the latest ticket offers. Their lowest priced 1-Day, 1-Park ticket (for Guests 10 years of age and older) is $104 (subject to availability) – and for families with toddlers and preschoolers, children younger than age three don’t need a ticket.
Disneyland is what you make of it—so lean in, savor it all, and make every moment magical.
#Disneyland70 (Hosted experience by Disney included park tickets, dining cards, hotel accommodations, and merchandise). All opinions, photos, and experiences are my own.
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