Disneyland

If this is your first trip and you only have time to visit one of the parks, Disneyland Park is the clear choice. With Main Street U.S.A. leading up to Sleeping Beauty’s castle and most of Disney’s older and classic characters available to meet, there’s a great combination of rides and experiences for all ages, plus several thrill-seeking rollercoasters for older children and adults. It’s also home to the famous firework show in the evening, and it technically has more attractions (though you’d struggle to do everything in either park in a day!) so you really can’t go wrong by picking Disneyland Park. If you’ve already been on a previous trip, then there’s plenty to love at Disneyland California Adventure Park! With more areas dedicated to recent Disney and Pixar movies, plenty of big rides for adrenaline junkies, it’s newer and designed for slightly older visitors (you can also purchase alcohol there, while Disneyland Park is an alcohol-free zone). You’ll have an amazing time whichever you choose, but if you really can’t decide then opt for a Park Hopper ticket and see them both!

Yes! Just be careful with the size of any coolers you want to bring as you’re officially not allowed to bring a cooler larger than a six-pack into the park, but you can leave one in the lockers outside the park and head outside to pick it up when you want to break for lunch.

You’ll need everything you’d usually pack for a day out in the sun - sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and plenty of water. If you’re using the app on your phone for the park map, wait times, and FastPasses then you’ll probably also need a battery pack and phone charger. If you’d rather not get wet on any of the water rides then you can save money by bringing your own waterproof coat or poncho. Rain is rare, but check the forecast and bring an umbrella if it looks like there’s going to be bad weather!

Guests aged 13 and under can wear costumes and masks, as long as their masks don’t cover the whole face and their eyes are visible. The parks request that guests aged 14 and over don’t wear costumes except during special events when there are specific guidelines for safety and security reasons. Capes (as long as they don’t reach below the waist), themed items of clothing, headwear (as long as it doesn’t cover the face), and accessories including wings, tutus, lightsabers and toy swords can be brought and worn or carried. Shoes must be worn. The park is family-friendly, and guests wearing items of clothing or with visible tattoos showing objectionable language or inappropriate images will be asked to change or cover the offending images.

The Downtown Disney District is outside the parks and is free to visit! It’s a promenade full of stores and dining options, plus a bowling arcade and a virtual reality experience called The Void. Since it opens earlier and closes later than the parks, it’s a great place to grab breakfast, a late dinner, or drinks after the parks close.