Planning a trip to Disneyland can feel overwhelming, from picking the right hotel to knowing which rides and experiences are truly worth it. That’s why I’m so excited to share some insider tips and firsthand experiences from a special training I recently attended at Disneyland! If you’re dreaming about a visit (or even just starting to think about it), keep reading — you’ll find helpful insights, favorite spots, and a few fun surprises you won’t want to miss.
I started my trip super early, which, to be honest, I don’t recommend unless you’re traveling with kids and early wake-ups are inevitable. This time, I flew into LAX, and let’s just say that’s a choice I won’t be making again. The airport itself is enormous and hard to navigate, and the shuttle ride to the Uber or Lyft pickup area felt endless. The bus filled extremely fast; we stopped at three different spots to let people on the shuttle. Getting to the Lyft or Uber site was a short 5- to 8-minute ride after all the pickups. When you exit the area, on the left is the Uber pickup, and across the street is the Lyft pickup. My Lyft ride cost nearly $100 one way, just for the two of us. Typically, we pay around $50 each way for a Lyft from SNA. My advice? Save yourself the hassle and fly into either SNA (John Wayne Airport) or LGB (Long Beach Airport). Both are significantly more convenient for Disneyland vacations.
Once I finally arrived, I checked into Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel—a hotel straight out of my dreams! It’s beautifully themed after an upscale ski lodge with multiple fireplaces to get warm by, gorgeous greenery all over, and offers amazing perks:
- Private entrance directly into Disney’s California Adventure Park
- Exclusive viewing spots for the spectacular World of Color show
- Direct access to Downtown Disney
- Stunning views of both Disneyland parks
Most rooms also feature charming balconies—though they’re not guaranteed, you can always request one, and I definitely recommend doing so! I adored discovering all the little Disney touches in my room. Curious what it looked like? Check out my room tour!
After I checked in, I put my bags with the bell service because my room wasn’t ready yet, and headed straight to the parks. Typically, I don’t advise using your arrival day to visit the parks, but since I have a Magic Key (annual pass), I always make the most of my park time! I met up with other Smart Moms Travel Agents, did some shopping, walked through the Adventureland Treehouse, rode the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean (my favorite ride!), and then headed to Disney’s California Adventure for my dining reservation at the Lamplight Lounge.
Lamplight Lounge is located on Pixar Pier in DCA. You can only hop back and forth between parks if you have a park hopper pass. This restaurant is a fun experience for both adults and kids. They have incredible drinks (alcoholic and non alcoholic) and extra yummy food. My favorite way to enjoy this restaurant is to sit on the outside pier area. This is the only way to get my favorite food item there: lobster nachos! I enjoyed my drink, delicious tamales, and the excellent company with a fantastic view!
My room was ready early, so I decided to head back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. One of the huge perks of staying onsite is how easy it is to walk back and forth between the parks. This makes it very convenient if you want to take a break in your room at any time.
Next up was an incredible surprise—a dining experience at Carthay Circle in Disney’s California Adventure. I’d never eaten there before, and it was fantastic! Our four-course meal was genuinely one of the best I’ve ever enjoyed. Here’s what we indulged in:
- Carthay Baby Gem Salad: Fresh strawberries, rhubarb, pistachios, peas, and crème fraîche vinaigrette.
- Spanish Potato Croquettes: Rich Manchego cheese, savory Soria chorizo, and roasted garlic aioli.
- Snapper: Accompanied by Thai green papaya salad, crunchy cashews, and a spicy mango-lemongrass curry.
- Baklava “Carrot Cake” Cheesecake: Served with spiced honey syrup and carrot butter sauce—yes, you read that right! This dessert was phenomenal, and I’m still dreaming about it.
To top off our incredible first day, we were treated to reserved seating for World of Color: One. It was fantastic having unobstructed views so close to the action. If you haven’t seen this nighttime spectacular, put it on your must-do list! My favorite way to view this is by doing the World of Color Dessert Party. This is such a fun experience for many reasons: sitting down at a table, eating desserts, having no one in your way to view the show, and of course, free drinks. My daughter’s favorite was unlimited hot chocolate. I finished the night by riding Guardians of the Galaxy, a favorite ride of mine, before heading back for a good night’s rest.
We kicked things off bright and early the next day with breakfast provided to us by Disney. We were given these adorable 70th anniversary Mickey Mouse ears and notebooks. We were given an insider peek at what’s coming to the parks—new attractions, fresh entertainment, and exciting updates as part of Disneyland’s big expansion. We got to see the latest info about the TWO NEW rides coming to Avengers campus, the design for the Coco Doll that’s going to be added to It’s a Small World, plus the Coco ride that will be coming to Disney’s California Adventure. These new expansions are so exciting!
One of my favorite moments of the morning was meeting Chef Nubia, the mastermind behind many of the amazing desserts across the parks. She’s also the talent behind those jaw-dropping gingerbread houses and show-stopping chocolate displays in the resorts. (Like the chocolate Death Star currently on display at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel!) She is also the sole inventor of the Wookie Cookie. We then each received the famous Wookie Cookie to enjoy!
After we finished up that part of the training, we were then given the surprise of a lifetime. Just when we thought the magic couldn’t get any bigger… we were told to change and meet back in the lobby for a very exciting surprise.
Drumroll, please…
We were headed out on our very own VIP Tour! Everyone, meet Jodie—our incredible VIP tour guide for the day! Not only did she share everything we needed to know about Disneyland’s VIP Tours, but she also led us through an unforgettable experience filled with magic and efficiency.
We spent four hours with Jodie, who expertly navigated the parks and hit eight rides in record time. Here’s what we conquered:
•Radiator Springs Racers
•Toy Story Midway Mania
•Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!
•Space Mountain
•Peter Pan’s Flight
•Jungle Cruise
•Pirates of the Caribbean
•Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
We even got to shop for exclusive VIP merchandise, received a complimentary VIP pin, and honestly felt like royalty walking through the parks with our guide. It was such a surreal, bucket-list kind of experience!
After dinner, I spent the rest of the evening enjoying the Sip and Savor Pass at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival—and let me just say, the dishes I tried were some of the best I’ve ever had at any Disney event!
Here’s what I sampled on night one:
•Asa’dos
•Birria Mac & Cheese
•Dulce de Leche Cake
Don’t let the portion sizes fool you—these three dishes were more than enough to fill me up for the rest of the night.
On the last day, we woke up early to take advantage of Disney’s Early Entry. When you stay at a Disney Resort, you get to explore Fantasyland or Tomorrowland 30 minutes before off-site guests—an absolute game-changer when you have little ones! We barely waited 15 minutes for Peter Pan’s Flight, then walked right onto the Mad Tea Party.
Then we checked out of our room and dropped our bags off with Bell Services to be transferred to the Disneyland Hotel—I love that Disney will move your bags to your next hotel for you! Checking into my favorite on-site hotel was pure nostalgia: the Disneyland Hotel’s classic theming, magical room details, dreamy pools, and unbeatable location never gets old. After a brief rest (and ordering room-service breakfast), we headed to Disney California Adventure for more Food & Wine Festival eats. I devoured the Musubi Fried Rice—an Aulani-inspired steamed rice dish with egg, glazed ham, umami mayo, and furikake—and the Western BBQ Burger Bao, packed with sweet BBQ sauce, Nueske’s Applewood bacon, and crispy onions. Highly recommend it!
Back at Disneyland Park, we hopped on the Disneyland Railroad—a wonderfully relaxing way to rest weary feet as you circle the park or hop off at any stop. We rode to Toontown (note: no strollers permitted onboard) and fell in love with Minnie’s House. It’s a short walkthrough, but you can lounge on her couch, pretend-wash your “laundry,” and host a playful tea party—perfect for reliving childhood memories as you wait to meet Minnie herself.
To cap off our adventure, we made our way to Oga’s Cantina. The lively, music-filled atmosphere is ideal for adults; you’ll likely be standing at high-top tables for an hour of quirky drinks and small bites, so little ones may find it less magical unless they don’t mind standing.
All in all, it was the perfect final day: a seamless mix of favorite attractions, tasty treats, and unforgettable memories. I ended the night by heading to the laundry machines located in the new DVC tower.
The next morning, we enjoyed room service breakfast and said goodbye to the Disneyland Hotel. We took our very expensive Lyft back to LAX Airport. Make sure to arrive with ample time when flying out of this airport. Our Lyft driver ended up dropping us off at the wrong section, so we had to walk back to the Delta side. My Digital ID and TSA Pre-check were the only reasons I made it through in time. If you don’t have these, I highly recommend getting them.
This was an amazing trip and gave me incredible insight into new ways to make your vacations even more magical. As a travel planner specializing in Disney, I help create itineraries for all the families who book their Disney trip with me. I also offer a 15+ page guide and 15+ years of Disney experience. If you want to book a trip with me, fill out my form HERE, and I’ll be in touch with you soon! And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for all the Disney tips and tricks! @disneywithjojo
