5 Must Do’s on your First Disneyland trip

5 Must Do’s on your First Disneyland trip

Although many casual travelers will find Disneyland much smaller and less magical than Walt Disney World, for die hard Disney fans, Disneyland might surprise you. Is it smaller? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of magic to be found. If you follow us on Instagram, you’ll know that we are all about the details. And Disneyland has a lot of them! So if you’re short on time for your first Disneyland trip, here are a few of our must do’s!

Your First Disneyland Vacation

There is so much to do at Disneyland and California Adventure Park that it’s hard to figure what you absolutely must do! Especially if you’re on a budget, or trying to smash these two parks into one day! To help you get a handle on it all we’ve rounded up tips on Planning a Disneyland Vacation  to get you started. But if you need something more direct check out our 5 Must Do’s at Disneyland. We’ve pulled together the BEST things to do.

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See World Of Color at California Adventure 

World of Color is a gorgeous light show held at Paradise Gardens Park. Using lights, lasers, fire and music, this show is set on the water and can be best viewed if you have a Fast Pass. Even though we’ve now been to Disneyland several times, World of Color had been under refurbishment during the last year and we hadn’t been able to see it. If there is one thing you plan to see/do on your first Disneyland trip, this is it. It’s beautiful, sentimental, and completely worth the wait. And if you know us, we don’t like to wait. 

 

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Ride the Classic Rides at Disneyland

Especially if you are an avid Walt Disney World goer, this is a must. Why would you ride the same rides that are at Walt Disney World? Well, because they’re not the same. The classic rides at Disneyland are better kept up, because they are catering to local travelers, rather than world travelers who might be only visiting one time in their life. Most of the rides at Disneyland are longer, and the classic rides will be familiar, yet different if you’re familiar with Walt Disney World. Even if you’re not a Walt Disney World traveler, the classic rides are beautifully done and we highly recommend trying out a few! This is one of the 5 Ways that Walt Disney World and Disneyland are Different.

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Visit Pixar Pier at California Adventure 

Pixar Pier is all about that nostalgic boardwalk feel you may have found in the good old days! Think cotton candy while strolling along the water, and a ferris wheel in the background. With new places to get food and other treats, play games, and enjoy rides, all themed around Pixar, Pixar Pier is bright, fun, colorful and will make you feel like a kid again.  Ride the Incredicoaster, play carnival games, and check out the gift shops. You can even grab a Jack Jack Num Num Cookie! Pixar Pier has such a fun atmosphere, it’s an experience you won’t want to miss. Want to really take it in? Grab brunch at the Lamplight Lounge! With great views on the pier you’ll feel super easy and breezy before heading into your day. 

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Visit Both Disneyland and California Adventure

This may seem like a no brainer, but sometimes there seems to be a lot of confusion about this. There are TWO Parks at Disneyland: Disneyland and California Adventure. Each are fun and unique in their own way, and you’ll want to experience both since they offer different things! Disneyland is more of a classic, cute Park, with classic rides and lands whereas California Adventure is more exciting and “grown up”, meaning they have more thrilling rides and you can purchase alcohol throughout California Adventure.  Both are worth exploring for at least a day each. 

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Explore Downtown Disney at Disneyland 

Maybe you’re looking for something to do on the day you arrive, or a day that you don’t have a Park ticket.  Or maybe you’re trying to escape the crowds. Downtown Disney is a great spot to grab some food, get in some shopping and if you have a Park ticket, you can take a ride on the monorail from Downtown Disney. They also have live music often, so head over to Downtown Disney for some food and fun. Downtown Disney is a just couple minutes walk from the Park entrances so it’s easy to hop over for a short time and get back to the Parks quickly.

Our Favorite Things To Do at Disneyland

So there you have it! 5 things we think you must see as a first time visit to Disneyland! Disneyland may be small, but there is no shortage of things to do or magic to be found. What are your must do’s at Disneyland?!  

 

Whether you're taking your first trip to Disneyland or just another Disney Family Vacation to the most magical place on earth. Check out these 5 Must Do Things at Disneyland. From Pixar Pier to Flo's Cafe. We've got the most important things to make sure you do by vacation's end. #disneyland #disneyvacation #familyvacation #polkadotpixies

Co-Founder and Director at Polka Dot Pixie Co LLC | Website | + posts

Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .


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