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A trip to Disneyland is a dream for most families with young children. It doesn’t matter whether your kids are 5 or 15, there is a reason that it’s the happiest place on Earth…
I, Kalyra, aged 11, had an awesome time at Disney California Adventure Park (DCA) in Anaheim, California. It was my favorite park within the Disneyland Resort, and I believe it’s a must-do on any trip to visit Anaheim.
We got the 10-day park hopper pass which allowed us entry to both Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park, and we still didn’t get to do everything!
I know that having 10 days to spend just as Disneyland is a lot, and not many people have that luxury, so I’ve written this guide on the best things to do, the best rides and attractions, so that you can plan an unforgettable day or two.
How the Disney Lightning Lane Pass Works
Ok before we get into rollercoasters and parades, we need to talk about the best tickets and passes. We had the Park Hopper pass, which allowed us entry to both Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park, but we also had a Lightning Lane Pass, formerly called a FASTPASS.
Lightning Lane Passes are great at Disneyland because they grant you the desirable luxury of being able to skip the queue. They are an additional fee, and you can choose between a single or multi-use pass, so you need to decide which rides you want to get passes for (more info on rides later to help you decide).
People with the Lightning Lane Pass get a time slot and enter the ride via a separate queue, so you can avoid long lines. I recommend you get Lightning Lane Passes for Toy Story Mania, located at Pixar Pier, which always has long lines.
To claim your Lightning Lane Pass, go to the area near the ride where you can use a Lightning Lane Pass, put your park ticket in the machine, and out comes the Lightning Lane Pass. It is as easy as that!
The Lightning Lane Pass then gives you a time to return to the ride, and when you return, you walk straight up to the front of the line bypassing all those in the general line.
Sometimes if the general line is only a 10-minute wait, we’d just stay on that line so as to not use up our Lightning Lane Passes.
With my cousin Jared exploring Cars Land
If you get the multi-use pass, you can only get one Lightning Lane Pass for each ride, and you can only book one Lightning Lane Pass every 90-minutes. So you don’t want to waste a Lightning Lane Pass on a short line, if the next ride you want to ride has a 60-minute wait.
You’d then have to wait for 60-minutes because you wasted your pass. Or come back in 90-minutes to get your Lightning Lane Pass and run the risk they’d be all gone.
Lightning Lane Pass do run out at popular rides! There is only a certain number of people that can go on rides all day. So they limit the number of Lightning Lane Pass and when they’ve all been allocated, you’re forced to wait in the general queue, which on the popular rides can be 1 to 2 hours long.
So be careful with how you use the Disney Lightning Lane Pass. You’ll want to be strategic with them. Hopefully this guide will help you pick your rides for the Lightning Lane Pass and you can download the Disney App to start planning your own itinerary.
You will need a Lightning Lane Pass for the Incredicoaster
HOT TIP: You can send a runner from your group with everyone’s park tickets to reserve the Lightning Lane Pass for a particular ride. However, all parties must be present in the park that day! If they have not checked into the park through the entrance gates, their park tickets won’t work to get the Lightning Lane Pass!
Park Hopper Tickets
As mentioned, we got Disney Park Hopper Ticket tickets, which is the best way to experience Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park in one day.
You can buy a ticket for a certain number of days, and the ticket allows you to hop between both parks.
We recommend at least a 4 day park hopper ticket. Two days at each park will ensure you’ll get to experience all the highlights on your list without madly rushing around.
You will need this time even though you can get Lightning Lane Passes, especially if you visit during a busy time of year.
We visited in September, just after summer break, which meant fewer crowds than normal.
The best place to buy your Disneyland tickets is through Undercover Tourist, who sell authentic theme park tickets at discounted prices. Buy online and go straight to the park entrance gate – no exchange necessary!
Unmissable things to do in Disney California Adventure Park
Now I’m going to tell you about the best rides and attractions at Disney California Adventure Park. To make it easier for you, I’m going to separate them by each land.
If you’ve not been to a Disney before, basically the whole theme park is divided up into zones, called Lands.
Savannah and her cousin in Cars Land
The current lands inside Disney California Adventure Park are:
- Buena Vista Street
- Pixar Pier
- Paradise Gardens Park
- Grizzly Peak
- Hollywood Land
- Cars Land
- Avengers Campus
- San Fransokyo Square
My personal favorite lands are:
- Cars Land
- Pixar Pier
- Hollywood Land
So I will start with them first…
Pixar Pier
Pixar Pier has to be my number one fave land in Disney California Adventure. This land is themed around Pixar films, like the Incredibles, Toy Story, and more.
But is also themed around a California Coastal Boardwalk. It has a fun beachy vibe to it. It used to be Paradise Pier, but closed in 2018 and turned into all things Pixar!
If you want to learn more about the creation of Pixar Pier, be sure to visit the Blue Sky Cellar. It offers a fascinating insight into what went into the design and making of it.
The best rides in Pixar Pier
IncrediCoaster
The Incredicoaster is my favorite ride in the park.
It is a roller coaster that shoots off at the start and goes really fast around the track and has one loop. It plays the Incredibles theme song which makes it more intense, and it’s a long ride too.
It’s super fun, and once I got lucky and got to sit at the front!
Savannah (aged 7) was about to get on the ride, but then chickened out. (Right at the gates!)
When you get off the ride, make sure to get a Jack Jack Num Num cookie near the entrance! They are delicious, but probably not nutritious! That’s what Mum says anyway.
Enjoying my Jack Jack Num Num cookie
Toy Story Midway Mania
Toy Story Mania ride is like Buzz Lightyear: Astro Blasters at Tomorrowland, in Disneyland.
Except it has all the Toy Story characters, and it’s more fun (It’s a 4D ride too).
So you go around in a spinning car and shoot things, collecting points along the way.
I got the most points out of everyone, 100,000!
Pixar Pal-A-Round
Pixar Pal-A-Round (also called Mickey’s Fun Wheel) is the giant ferris wheel that is one of the focal design points of Pixar Pier.
I didn’t do this because I hate Ferris Wheels. You can choose different rides on it: Ride in a normal stable Gondola, or one that slides back and forth on a track.
Excuse me? Like a normal one wasn’t bad enough!? Some of our crew did the swinging Gondolas and said it was terrifying
Jessie’s Critter Carousel opened in 2019, so we missed that, but it would be a great experience for younger children.
Dining in Pixar Pier
The only actual ‘Dining’ in Pixar Pier is Lamplight Lounge. We didn’t eat there (though we tried) because it was always busy. (That’s a sign that it’s good!)
Make reservations for big groups or if you are going at busy times!
Otherwise there’s a chicken hut shack, Poultry Palace, where you can get turkey legs and chicken drum sticks.
The land next door to Pixar Pier, is the San Fransokyo Square, which has more variety of dining options.
It’s themed as San Francisco’s Pier. You’ll find chowder in a bread bowl, Asian, and Mexican food options (Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill).
Cars Land
With mom and dad and Savannah
Everybody in our group loved Cars Land. All the decorations were for Halloween (we were there in September) and the scenery was made to look like you were in the movie; it was pretty cool.
Rides in Cars Land
Radiator Springs Racers
This ride is super fun – and fast! Try to beat the other racers to the end of Route 66.
I recommend a Lightning Lane Pass for this ride, especially if you are there at busy times. This ride is one of the most popular!
This is a younger kid ride, but all ages can do it! As soon as you enter DCA go straight here to get your Lightning Lane Pass as they go very quickly and you may miss out.
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree is for younger kids, but my younger sister (7) really enjoyed it.
You sit in a baby tractor, which drives around and you feel like you’re getting thrown all over the place.
Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
My nana and pop
Ride in cars that spin and “Dance” autonomously in patterns, with trackless GPS technology.
The younger kids loved this ride. Again, all ages can ride too and was fun for all our family!
Dining in Cars Land
We ate at Flo’s V8 Cafe almost every day we were at DCA. It was quick and easy, (thanks to the use of the Disneyland app) and everyone liked it.
And there were gluten free options for Mum and Dad, which is never easy for them in a theme park like Disneyland.
But there are other options, like Cozy Cone Motel and Fillmore’s Taste – In. We only ate at Cozy Cone Motel for Ice Cream, so we don’t really know what it’s like.
Don’t miss some of the Cars characters driving around too!
Hollywood Land
Hollywood Land is themed around the golden age of Hollywood, and all things California Television and Cinema.
Rides in Hollywood Land
Monsters, inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
As soon as we were about to get on the ride, it broke down! And we couldn’t wait because Savannah and our cousin, Brooklyn wanted to do the Disney Junior Dance Party.
Entertainment and Attractions in Hollywood Land
Disney’s show: Frozen
Savannah and our cousin Brooklyn loved the Disney Junior Dance Party. They saw it twice, and dragged me along the second time.
Savannah’s favorite part was dancing with all the characters. I recommend it for younger kids!
This isn’t available any more, but you can still find Anna and Elsa here at the Disney Animation Building. (I didn’t really like that part). You can also go to the Sorcerer’s Workshop, and try to find the Beast’s hidden Library.
We saw Disney’s show: Frozen – Live at the Hyperion. Everyone thought it was amazing but I didn’t really like it, lol.
Turtle Talk with Crush
Don’t miss Turtle Talk with Crush, inside the Disney Animation building! The younger kids loved it, and it was pretty funny.
Buena Vista Street
Buena Vista Street is a shopping district in Disney California Adventure Park. We’re not big shoppers, and prefered to spend our time on the rides, so didn’t explore this much.
There’s Elias & Co, a turn of the century emporium, Trolley Treats sweet shop, Julius Katz & Sons and Kingswell Shop which has Disney themed toys, gifts, and Mickey Mouse hats, and Oswald’s for retro merch.
Paradise Gardens Park
This land is what I would consider “Classic Disney” and has rides dedicated to the most famous characters, such as Goofy, Little Mermaid, Snow White, and more.
It’s where you can watch the “World of Color” nighttime spectacular show.
Rides in Paradise Gardens Park
Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Ride in a clamshell and ride through a the broken hull of Prince Eric’s ship, where you are greeted with the song “Under the Sea” and have Ariel’s story retold as you descend underwater and travel through rocky underwater passages.
Goofy’s Sky School
Goofy’s Sky School is a roller coaster based on the short film Goofy’s Glider. It’s fun for small kids to teens and adults.
Jumpin’ Jellyfish
This is a carousel style ride for preschoolers and small kids. It goes around in a circle whilst bumping up and down, like a jellyfish.
Golden Zephyr
This is a vintage, sci-fi looking zephyr swing ride where you sail around the sky in a galactic looking gondala!
Grizzly Peak
This is an outdoor themed land designed to look like a camping and mountain retreat. It’s a small land and looks like a more fantastical version of Yellowstone!
Best rides in Grizzly Peak
Soarin’ Around the World
This is the only ride in this land. You are raised above the ground infront of an 80-foot projection dome and go on a virtual tour with aerial footage around the world, while the seat simulates the motion of flight. It’s basically like 4D cinema.
You get to see things like the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal in India.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
This is a small rock climbing wall designed for small children from preschoolers up to teenagers.
Grizzly River Run
This is a fun, whitewater rafting ride where you splash through a mountain!
Avengers Campus
We didn’t go to the Avengers Campus because it opened after we visited, but it’s the place to go if you want to meet your favorite superheroes. We did get to ride one ride in this land because it used to be in Hollywood Land.
Rides in Avengers Campus
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
This ride is so fun, and terrifying!
Surprisingly, Savannah did it, and loved it! This ride used to be in Hollywood Land and is now in the Avengers Campus.
It’s exactly like Tower of Terror, but re-themed. I definitely recommend it, and not just once!
Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure
Web Slingers is a unique ride where you ride around in the dark in a carriage, and shoot webs at an interactive screen. It’s fun for all ages.
Meet the characters at Disney California Adventure Park
Keep an eye out for some of your favorite characters in Disney California Adventure Park.
We met Mr. Incredible, (Incredibles) Sully, (Monsters Inc) Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story), Black Panther, Groot and so much more!
My cousins with Disney characters
Don’t Miss the Paint the Night Parade
We saw one parade in Disney California Adventure Park (the park has different parades throughout the year). Paint the Night was my favorite parade that we saw.
This nighttime parade is amazing, and VERY popular. I would recommend at least getting seats half an hour before the show starts, especially if you want the front row.
The best thing about this show is that everything is lit up.
It’s mesmerizing watching all the bright and colorful floats go past. This parade has lots of floats, and dancers. It’s about 20 minutes long.
I would recommend the later show, (10:45) because there will be less people, but if you have younger kids or don’t want to stay out late, then do the 8:45 show.
And get a seat where you’re looking out over the Pixar Pier, it’s pretty with the ferris wheel in the background all lit up and Mickey’s beaming face on the Incredicoaster.
Some other popular shows are Pixar Pals Celebration and World of Color Happiness.
Tips for visiting Disney California Adventure Park
- When Magic Morning hours are on at Disneyland, go to DCA. And when DCA is doing Magic Morning hours, go to the other park.
- Do the more popular rides first. Like Guardians of the Galaxy, Radiator Springs Racers, and Toy Story Midway Mania.
- Wear the right clothes and shoes.
- Get the DisneyLand app to get meals faster, find rides and characters, and more. You can see wait times for rides on the app and where your favorite characters are located. Mum’s favorite thing on the app was ordering your meals through it. This saved lining up and waiting for ages. Your meals generally were ready within five minutes. However, on our last evening (Friday) the park was so busy that the wait time to order through the app was over an hour and so was the actual line. So we left the park to eat elsewhere.
- For the best experience, time your trip to outside peak seasons. Peak visiting seasons are on Holidays such as Halloween and Christmas, and during Spring Break and the summer months (June-August).
Where to stay at Disneyland Anaheim: Disneyland Hotel
View from our room at the Disneyland Hotel
We stayed at the Disneyland® Hotel for one night as guests of the hotel.
We spent the day hanging out at the pool, and going on all the water slides. Which was pretty fun. Except for one part when a kid peed in the main pool. Yummy. not.
The coolest thing about our hotel room was that on a wall on top of the beds was the Castle, and if you flick a switch, the lights come on and music plays. That part was cool.
It was also fun to see characters in the lobby, out the front of the hotel, and around the pool area.
Meeting Minnie and Goofy at Disneyland Hotel
We danced with Goofy out the front of the hotel, and playing with kids around the pool. We also walked around the lobby with chip and dale, and met Minnie at her kitchen.
Staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel can be a very expensive way to experience Disneyland. To reduce your Disneyland costs, consider staying at another hotel near Disneyland or in a Disneyland vacation home. We rented one that slept 9 people and was only a 10 minute walk from Downtown Disney.
Video: Watch our adventures at Disneyland California Adventure Park
Press play below and discover the Disneyland magic!
More Southern California Travel Tips
Need more inspiration for visiting Disneyland Anaheim and the rest of Southern California? Here are some other helpful guides…
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Are you planning to visit California Adventure Park? What’s are you most excited to do there? Let us know in the comments!
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