I have been to Disneyland nearly twenty times over my life. During each trip, I have picked up a few pointers to help make your vacation even more magical. These pointers should be your guide to your next Disneyland vacation.
The number one piece of advice that I can give you is to invest in a multi-day park hopper pass. Now that there are two parks on the Disneyland Resort, there is so much more to see and do. I would suggest that you get a 3 day pass at the very minimum. If you are going to be in town longer you can get a 4 or 5 day pass as well. This allows you and your family to see every attraction, show, parade, ride, and event in each park. You won't feel rushed at all and you will be able to have a more magical experience with your family.
One thing that Disney has implemented in the last ten years is the Fast Pass. The first time I visited Disneyland while on vacation after the Fast Pass was implemented, I was so stoked! With the Fast Pass, you are issued a ticket, or place in line and then you come back at a later time and get right on the ride. This is something that you need to plan out as you can only have one Fast Pass at a time. Strategy is key!
When planning your Disneyland vacations, you need to buy your tickets as soon as you decide to go. If you purchase them beforehand, you will have access to specials not available at the gate.
If you are planning on visiting Disneyland on vacation during the off season, you need to schedule your trip with at least one weekend day spent at the resort. The reason for this is the amazing fireworks show that only takes place on the weekends. During the peak season, they have fireworks every night.
If you are looking for a free snack while visiting Disneyland make sure to visit the Bakery Tour and the Mission Tortilla Factory in the California Adventure theme park. During this tour you will learn how sourdough bread and tortillas are made and learn how great they taste when they are fresh!
If you are looking for face-to-face character interaction, make sure that you make a reservation for a character meal. If you want to wine and dine with the princesses, you need to reserve a seat at Ariel's Grotto. You can also eat with other characters at Goofy's Kitchen. These are always a favorite for my family and the kids are in heaven when eating with characters.
The most important thing that you need to do is enjoy your time spent with your kids and other family members. These are truly the moments and memories that will last a lifetime.