Disney Series Part Two

14 Random Tips for Visiting Disneyland

 

 

Cover up Buttercup!

 

I would recommend using a hat, sunscreen, or sunglasses. It can get hot walking around and waiting in lines, especially during the Spring and Summer seasons.

 

Get good shoes

 

Sounds like a no brainer but invest in good shoes! I wore Nike shoes which I thought were good for the occasion, but towards the end of my trip, my feet were hurting! It is possible though that my shoes were still new and weren’t broken in enough.

 

 

 

Plan + Organize

 

Plan out your day. Ask yourself what rides and attractions you want to prioritize and what eateries are nearby. Make dining reservations in advance if possible. Even if you don’t follow the plan exactly, having an idea will help minimize excessive walking, avoid long lines during peak mealtimes, and prepare you with a backup plan should any of the rides be closed.

 

Check out the Disney Mobile App

 

On that same plan and organize note, read, and familiarize with the Disney Mobile App before your trip. Here you’ll find the Genie Plus feature and have access to purchase the Lightning Lane. Lightning Lane is a ticket that allows entrance to some of the highly popular attractions. In my opinion, the operation of Lightning Lane was a lot of information to take in and a bit confusing at first. So, be sure to give yourself time to read everything carefully to make the most of your purchase (should you purchase it).

 

         

Water Rides

 

 

 

Consider doing water rides, like Splash Mountain and Grizzly River Run, first thing in the morning or late at night. Doesn’t sound appealing, since going early can mean spending the rest of the day wet and going later implies that the weather is colder. However, this strategy works because the lines aren’t as long.

 

 

Single Rider

 

Some rides have what is called a “Single Rider” line. If you and your party are okay with splitting up for the ride, I suggest you do it! Single Rider allows you to stand in a separate line, which tends to move faster than the regular line, because you’re basically filling in the empty seats after all the larger parties have been seated.

 

When you gotta go, you gotta go

 

A random one for ya, but don’t wait to use the restroom. If you see one and you have to go, you should just go. To me it seemed like some places were loaded with restrooms, while other areas in the park seemed like it was a mile’s walk just to find one. Then when you finally find a restroom, chances are the line is long!

 

Keep a full battery

 

Taking pictures, recording videos, and uploading to social media, will all burn the heck out of your battery life. Remember to switch to the energy saving mode in your battery settings.

 

 

Keep your USB cord on you. Places like the airport have charging stations, as well as the plane*. The USB port I saw was located below the seat, where your feet would be. I didn’t use it to see if it really worked because I noticed it so late. But you can try and let me know how that goes!

 

 

 

If you don’t already have a portable charger, I noticed portable phone charging kit kiosks in the hotel and around the park. These kiosks are basically like little vending machines that dispense a USB cord and battery. You just connect your phone to the battery with the USB cord and charge it up! Whenever the battery dies, you just look for another kiosk and swap out the old battery for a fully charged one. 

Portable Phone Charging Kiosks | Disneyland Resort (go.com)

 

Pack a Water Bottle… and Snacks

 

Having a bottle is such a life saver! At the start of my trip, I was purchasing bottled water, but it soon got too expensive. I ended up using the complimentary water, offered by many of the eateries around the park, to fill my bottle throughout the day.

 

On that same note, pack a few snacks, such as granola bars, to help keep your energy up, keep your spending down, and save you time from standing in long food lines.

 

Souvenir Shopping

 

Consider doing your shopping at the end of the day. Chances are there are less people in the park, meaning you can take your time and shop in peace. In addition, it’ll be less stress to carry your items since you’ll be exiting the park, versus lugging it around during your busy day.

 

Cash or Card?

 

I took cash on my trip for “just in case” reasons. However, many places inside the park, and Downtown Disney, accepted card payments. Even small places like the churro stand accepted card. I made sure to note that many places accepted Apple Pay for all you Apple users.

 

Another thing to note, is that there are ATM machines in the park but there are very few and they are very spaced out. So, if you do need to take out cash, your best bet would be to check for a machine in your hotel before heading to the park. Or you could just withdraw before your trip to avoid the ridiculous ATM fees.

 

Take a Snooze

 

If you’re staying close to the park, consider taking a break when the park crowds are high. Go back to your hotel and take a nap, cool off in the pool, or even get something to eat. You’ll have energy to go, go, go again and maybe even stay until closing to make the most of it!

 

Plane Seating in Extra Comfort Row

 

The short:

Pros- More leg space, Closer to the restroom

Cons- No luggage storage, People passing in front of you during the entire flight

 

The long:

 

Luggage Storage 

People choose extra comfort seating for what the name implies “extra comfort”. Surely you do get more leg space than a regular economy seat, however, you aren’t allowed to store luggage in that space in front of you nor under your chair. Even if you tried, you can’t because the chair legs are in the way and the passenger behind you has their items stowed under there.

 

Same predicament goes for the overhead storage space. There isn’t an overhead cabin necessarily meant for the extra comfort row. There was a tiny little one right above on both sides of the plane, which you’d think is meant for you, but most likely, the flight attendants have it snatched up with their things.

 

Emergency Exit

If you’re sitting window side of the extra comfort row, be prepared to be extra briefed on emergency landing procedures. The reason why your row is “extra comfort”, is because there’s nothing in front of you other than the emergency exit. So, in the event of an emergency, you’ll have to assist the flight attendant with opening the emergency exit.

 

Restrooms

I must say being close to the restroom was convenient. But being literally right next to the restroom meant that people were constantly trying to cross over from one side of the plane to the other, in that extra space in front of you. People would try to cross with their luggage, trying to find their seat, and during the flight, people would cross to get to whichever restroom was vacant. It was a bit disturbing.

 

 

Food + Beverage Service

 

During my flight, it seemed like forever had passed until the attendants started the drink service. Then when they finally did, I swear they tried to sell me the waters and sodas before offering the complimentary stuff! So glad I bought water from the convenient store in the airport before boarding. I didn’t have to wait to ask an attendant or be pushed into purchasing one.

 

In addition, be sure to pack your own food and snacks. The complimentary lunch served was not at all appealing, and the snacks they offered were barely even a tickle.

 

 

Note: *The USB port that I mentioned might be applicable only to the Extra Comfort seating row/s. I think it’s an “extra perk” or selling point to get customers to upgrade to Extra Comfort. I am not too sure if there are any USB ports in regular economy seating.

 

Be sure to do research before your trip in case any park related information has changed.
Disney website: https://disneyland.disney.go.com

 

Cover photo Credit: Shopify AI