It’s been just over a year since Disneyland reopened its gates after an unexpectedly long closure. And since then, there have been a lot of ups and downs for guests. But with an almost fully staffed park (approximately 30,000 cast are now back on the job) and the return of nighttime entertainment and character hugs, I’m happy to say that the park is back and feeling like Disneyland again. But if you haven’t visited the Resort in a while, or if you’re considering your first trip to the Happiest Place on Earth, I have five tips for visiting Disneyland which will make things easier for you.
Top 5 Disneyland Tips for Visiting in 2022
1 – Rope Drop
I know every Disney Parks expert recommends this one but it works, especially these days. Truly. How else could you complete seven rides before lunchtime without purchasing Genie+? I’m no morning person, but it is more than worth the sacrifice. And you can always go back to your hotel room for an afternoon nap while others are suffering through long standby wait times. As a general rule, plan to get to the park no less than 45 minutes before the official opening time. They will usually let you into the park 30 minutes before park opening, though you won’t be able to make it any further than Main Street or the Hub area (where ropes keep you from entering the lands until the park officially opens).
2 – Don’t Buy Genie+ Right Away
Genie+, the $20-a-day-per-person replacement for the Maxpass/Fastpass system has been met with mixed results. Although Genie+ has changed the landscape of your average Disneyland visit, it can be useful if you intend on visiting the parks during peak times.
NOTE: On expected busy weekends and holidays, you may wish to purchase Genie in advance and begin booking your selections as early as 7am on the day of your visit. But on most days this is not necessary.
That said, if you go to the parks in the morning when it’s quieter, or if you are lucky enough to be there on a less crowded day, you’ll find Genie+ may not even be necessary. On our last three-day trip, we purchased Genie around mid-morning on our first day and found it to be most useful in the afternoon when the park became crowded. We were so efficient with it that we were able to ride almost everything we wanted that first day, so there was no need to purchase it again on Day Two and Three. So, my tip is to purchase Genie+ only if needed after you enter the park.
Learn to use Genie+ in the article below:
Lightning Lane & Genie Out of the Bottle – The Pluses and Minuses of the Massive New Service
3 – Utilize Single Rider
If you want to skip the lines at Goofy’s Sky School, Grizzly River Run, Incredicoaster, Matterhorn, Millennium Falcon, Splash Mountain, or most importantly, skip paying an additional fee for WEB SLINGERS or Radiator Springs Racers, using the single rider is a godsend. How else could you ever walk onto a ride like Radiator Springs without a wait? Yes, your family will be split up (which makes this a less than optimal choice for parents of small kiddos), but it is a huge time and money saver – so I’d say it’s worth it!
4 – Book a Character Meal
If your goal is to get that long-awaited hug from Mickey Mouse and spend some quality time with your favorite characters, your best bet is to look at booking a character meal at either Plaza Inn, Goofy’s Kitchen, or Storyteller’s Cafe (my personal favorite).
Yes, the Sensational Six (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto) are now available for hugs at Town Square and Buena Vista Street, but only one or two of them are usually out at one time. The way I see it, you have to eat anyway, and if you want to guarantee some good one-on-one time with the characters and get it out of the way so you don’t have to wait elsewhere in the parks later in the day, book a character meal 60 days in advance of your trip (the current maximum number of days in advance dining can be booked at Disneyland).
It’s all about time: the time you’ll save waiting in character lines in the park and the extra quality time the characters will spend with you and your family at a leisurely breakfast or brunch.
5 – Nighttime Spectaculars Should Not be Missed
I’m the first to admit I’m not a huge Main Street Electrical Parade fan (bring back Paint the Night!), and I usually skip World of Color so I can jump on Toy Story Midway Mania with a shorter wait time. But if you haven’t been to the parks in a while, my recommendation is you don’t skip any of it.
I don’t know what it is about having nighttime entertainment back that brings the magic back with it, but it does. So make getting in that World of Color virtual queue at noon a priority. And if you don’t want to wait hours for a spot to watch the Electrical Parade, just get to the front of Small World about 30 minutes before it starts… or see the 2nd show of the night when it is MUCH easier to find a good spot.
Discount Disney Theme Park Tickets & Hotels!!!
MiceChat works with Get Away Today to bring you the BEST theme park ticket, hotel & package deals! (You’ll find extra nights free, big discounts, and special offers as well).
Check out the latest offers for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm:
(MiceChat works with Get Away Today to provide you with the best theme park travel deals and we may make a small commission on any sales made through our links)
My family and I just returned from our most recent Disneyland visit. Although we’ve visited the parks since it reopened (and countless times before the shutdown), this was our first trip since character meet and greets and big entertainment have returned. For us, this was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken to the Disneyland Resort. Whether it’s the nighttime entertainment, the cast members, or the rides, it all feels renewed and refreshed… and that definitely means more magic.
Let’s Hear From You
Things have certainly changed since pre-2020 Disneyland. But I think many of those changes have made it easier to visit, as long as you keep these tips in mind! What do you think about my top 5 tips for making a Disneyland trip easier in 2022? Do you have any tips of your own that you’d recommend in today’s era of visiting the parks? Please share your thoughts, tips and tricks in the comments below!
You must be logged in to post a comment.