DisneyLand in California: tips, attractions and campgrounds!

Are you going on a road trip to DisneyLand, looking for tips about the destinations so you and your party can enjoy it, be comfortable and not spend a fortune?

Here are some of the top tips about visiting.

About DisneyLand

Disneyland in Anaheim, California opened on July 17, 1955.

Contact info and prices

Reservations are required due to COVID; to enter a theme park, Guests (ages 3 and older) will need a valid ticket and a theme park reservation for the same day and same park they want to visit. A 3-Day ticket (or any multi-day ticket) saves money per day and not be subject to tiers and blackout dates (like the 1-Day tickets are). You have 13 days after the first use to visit.

What to see in DisneyLand

There are so many websites dedicated to visiting DisneyLand, it would be pointless to try to duplicate it here. The best can create a guide to the park (which I have used) that will make the visit much better. It routes you in a sequence that helps to avoid lines and crowds, frequently going in a back of the park to the front order.

Top DisneyLand Tips:

Use an online Disney Park planning service. Some of the best are:
Mickey Visit Disneyland Planning Guide
Park Savers Disneyland Planning Guide
How to plan a Disney visit
Buy your tickets and get your reservation online. At present, you can only book reservations for up to 60 days in advance
Go when the park is typically less crowded. See Disneyland Park Availability Calendar and Disneyland 1-Day Ticket Tier Calendar
Stay on the park at a Disneyland Resort hotel. for extra hours and saving time
Or stay at a hotel/motel nearby
Or stay at a campground near by
Get to the parks early, before they open. And stay late; the first 2 and the last 2 hours of park opening are the least crowded.
Don't forget sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, cell phone chargers and their cords.
Bring your own snacks and water.
Bring your own lunch and store it in a locker
Use a Locker to store your food and gear.
Download the Disneyland mobile app and use virtual queues.
Get a Park hopper pass.
Go to shows and sit-down experiences late in the day when you are tired!
Use the Single Rider Line and Buddy Pass.
Make dining reservations ahead and check the walk-up availability
Or use the Disneyland Mobile Order service, so you can order food from anywhere in the park.
Eat during a parade. Many restaurants have outdoor seating so you can eat and watch!
Go on the rides during showtimes, while the lines are shorter.
Finally, get in a ride line when the park closes. If you are in line BEFORE closing time, you will get to ride, even if it is already past park closing time by the time you get to the front of the line.

DisneyLand Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

Anaheim has near perfect weather, like a Mediterranean climate it is dry most of the year and rains in the winters, which are mild. Summers are long, and hot but with low humidity.

Food

It's no secret that food at Disney parks is incredibly overpriced! But you may not have known that Disneyland allows guests to bring food into the parks. So, pack sandwiches, especially those that are low risk and do not require being kept cold, like PBJ. nuts, trail mix, etc.

Parking

Disneyland charges about $20 per day for daily (no overnight) parking for most vehicles, $25 for RV's. If you stay at a nearby RV park ( Anaheim Harbor RV Park is the closest, less than a mile away) you can walk to the park each day (about a 20 minute walk). Some, like Anaheim Harbor RV Park , also have a twice a day shuttle.

DisneyLand Camping tips

First, get reservations ASAP. They usually fill up weeks in advance. And while there are a few last minute cancellations, those go instantly.

Anaheim Harbor RV Park -
1009 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805. Phone: (714) 535-6495. The the closest campground to the park, less than a mile away.
The Anaheim Resort Transit shuttle stops just outside of our park at a green city bus bench on Harbor Blvd and comes by approximately every 30-40 minutes. The shuttle runs to and from the Disneyland® Resort, Angels Stadium, Anaheim Convention Center and other local attractions. Passengers ages 10 and over will be required to have an adult ART pass. Children ART passes will be required for all children ages 3-9. Children ages 2 and under are free. You can purchase tickets and find more information at www.RideART.org . Please note, downloading the TripShot app will be required to use the shuttle. Anaheim Harbor RV Park is pet-friendly. discount for AAA, US Military or Seniors 55+. The discount is applied at check-in with a valid ID or membership card. They only have 2 tent sites (about $45 per night in 2021). In 2021, short term RV rates for 2 people were $55 to $71 per day plus $4 per extra person over age 9. Long term was $320 to $437 per week , plus $25.00 per person, per week, over 32 people, over age 9. Located about 36 to 43 miles to Universal Studios Hollywood
Canyon RV Park -
24001 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd, Anaheim, CA 92808. Phone: 714-637-0210. A huge (795-acre) campground in a natural wilderness area next to the Santa Ana River. They have a swimming pool, a store, cabins and campsites. They are farther away, about a 30-minute drive.
Orangeland RV Park -
1600 W. Struck Ave, Orange, California 92867. Phone: (714) 633-0414. Email: contact@orangeland.com. They claim to be the highest rated RV Park in the Anaheim and Los Angeles Area! Park your RV here and visit Disneyland Resort, Angel Stadium, Honda Center, Old Town Orange, and the many Anaheim attractions. Our location in Orange, California is ideal for visitors to Los Angeles and all of Southern California. Orangeland RV Park has the friendly ‘a-peel’ of an old fashioned family-run business. The park was built in 1972 on an orange orchard and the same family still operates Orangeland today. We welcome you to come stay with us, pick fresh oranges off of our trees, relax in the sun and enjoy. RV Park Amenities include: Wide premium pull-thru RV Sites, Large Heated Swimming Pool and Spa, Free Wi-fi, Cable TV, Full Hookups, and a Central Southern California Location. The resort facilities are maintained with the care you’d expect from a dedicated staff who are committed to guest satisfaction. The RV park sites are manicured, the interior roads are in great shape, the wi-fi works, and our recently renovated swimming pool is large, blue and refreshing. Click here to see our Amenities page with more about our many guest amenities.

The following parks are closed as a consequence of the COVID Lockdowns and Disney park shutdowns,

But hopefully if California ever opens back up again, maybe someone will buy them and re-open them

Anaheim RV Village - PERMANENTLY CLOSED. Gee, thanks Gov. Newson! This campground had both RV sites and tent camping sites and is the largest and closest to the park. It also had a camp store, playground, spa, large swimming pool, several nice bathroom facilities and a laundry. ""
CC Camperland - PERMANENTLY CLOSED. It had lots of shade trees, about 1.4 miles from Disneyland, just for RV camping.. They have showers, a laundry and free internet.
Anaheim Resort RV Park - PERMANENTLY CLOSED. "I am extremely sad to have to announce that after 64 years, Anaheim RV Park will be permanently closing."
- 200 West Midway Drive, Anaheim, CA. Phone: (714) 774-3860. Email: info@anaheimresortrvpark.com.
This campground has been around since 1956 and can accommodate both tents and RV's. They have a spa, swimming pool, clubhouse with a wide-screen TV, free WiFi, a laundry, bathhouse, and a dog walk.

Campgrounds near DisneyLand in California

California has both state parks and private campgrounds..

More resources

The NPS has a vacation planner guide is full of great tips and ideas of Things to do in Yosemite and Mariposa County. Start planning your Yosemite vacation today by clicking here: (Download Yosemite Vacation Planner PDF) to download the digital version of the planner. For more helpful info to plan your trip signup for the Yosemite Mariposa County ne wsletter.