How To Navigate Disneyland Park in California With Ease

Put on your Mickey Mouse ears and grab your cameras—we’re heading to Disneyland Resort in California! The ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ lives up to its name ‘cos this Disneyland is not like other theme parks you’ve visited before. First of all, there are two theme parks at the Disneyland Resort: Disneyland Park, and Disney California Adventure.

This guide will focus on Disneyland Park but if you’re heading to both, we’ve got one just for Disney California Adventure Park as well.

Did you know? Disneyland Resort in California was the first Disney theme park that ever opened. This Disneyland opened under the supervision of Walt Disney in 1955, and set the scene for Disney parks all around the world. The park has since brought countless visitors endless joy, and continues to do so as they open new attractions every few years. 

So, what can you look forward to at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California this time around? Read on to find out, but before that, make sure you’ve got your tickets ready for this enchanting adventure. 

The Disneyland Park map is a must-have when roaming around the park. There are nine themed lands that make up Disneyland Park, and it might be difficult trying to decide what to do first when there are so many options. Let us break it down for you! The park opens with Main Street U.S.A. and leads directly to Fantasyland, which is right in the middle of the park. The rest of the lands circle Fantasyland, beginning with Adventureland on the left of Main Street. Follow Adventureland all the way around to Tomorrowland, and you’ll be right back at Main Street.

Inspired by Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri, Main Street U.S.A is a fantastic trip downtown. Various shops and arcades, as well as the Disney Art Gallery and the Opera House, line its vintage streets. This is where you can do most of your souvenir shopping at the beginning of your adventure or at the end to remember your experience by. The Disneyana is also worth a visit for one-of-a-kind art pieces inspired by the park and all things Disney.

Gear up for a thrilling adventure into the exotic forests of Adventureland. Test your bravery on a trip into the Temple of the Forbidden Eye at the Indiana Jones Adventure ride. Then, cool down at the Tiki Juice Bar with the famous Pineapple Dole Whip or fuel up at Bengal Barbecue with sizzling skewers of meat and veggies. 

Travel back to 19th century New Orleans! It was the first addition to the park after it opened, so there’s a lot of history to this jazzy place. However, if you’re looking for some thrills, the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean rides await! But if you came to New Orleans Square for the food, we don’t blame you; the Blue Bayou Restaurant is the perfect spot for Louisiana-inspired cuisine and romantic ambience with twinkling lights and boats passing by. 

Round up the squad, it’s time to head to Critter Country. Here, you’ll find Splash Mountain—a ride that you may want to tick off earlier on in the day, so the California sun can help you dry up before your next adventure. For some sea-vory cravings, the Harbour Galley offers a great selection of seafood. Finally, don’t forget to grab some sweet souvenirs at Pooh Corner, which is filled with tasty treats and confections the hunny-lovin’ bear would surely love. 

One of the park’s newest additions is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened in 2019. By far the most immersive ride in the galaxy, the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance gives you a first-class seat at the Resistance’s battle against the First Order. Fight alongside Reyand BB-8 against Kylo Ren and his stormtroopers. But, you’ll need the right tools to do so! Drop by Savi’s Workshop to create your very own lightsaber fit for a Jedi. 

Can’t wait to explore the galaxy far, far away? Find out more about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge here, so you can make the most of your time when you visit.

Was a trip through a haunted gold mine on your itinerary today? Either way, you’re at Frontierland, so you might as well drop by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to investigate the creepy trains that speed through the mines on their own! If that’s not quite your speed, a live show starring Mickey Mouse might be. Head over to Fantasmic! for a dazzling show of special effects and performances featuring your favourite Disney characters. 

Live out your fairytale dreams at Fantasyland, where all things magic and whimsy await. Everybody knows your first trip to Disneyland isn’t complete without embarking on the “it’s a small world” cruise. One of the most popular songs of all time sets the tone for a colourful ride through different countries, even featuring beloved Disney characters in their hometowns. For Disney princess fans, Fantasyland is the place to be for one-on-one photos with your favourite princesses, which you can do at the Royal Hall. The famous and delicious turkey legs can also be found here at Edelweiss Snacks—do you think it lives up to the hype?

Last but definitely not least, travel to the future at Tomorrowland. Any trip to Disneyland is not complete without a ride on Space Mountain. Take on the most epic coaster as soon as you can because the line can get long pretty quickly. While waiting for the line to shorten a little bit, you could also drop by the Little Green Men Store Command for souvenirs that are out of this world. 

There are a few more rides you won’t want to miss out on aside from Space Mountain. Check out our take on the best rides at Disneyland California here.

The Disneyland Monorail was the first of its kind in the USA. Although it opened in 1959, the monorail has been updated with a futuristic look and ecologically-conscious design so it emits no direct exhaust or pollutants into our atmosphere. Catch a ride at Tomorrowland station for a 13-minute round trip over Fantasyland and through California Adventure Park. This is definitely a unique way to experience Disneyland California!

The Disneyland Railroad gives you the opportunity to board an authentic steam-powered train that will take you through recreations of some of America’s greatest rivers: the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Missouri, and the Rio Grande. If that doesn’t impress you, maybe the views of Walt Disney’s dioramas of the Grand Canyon and the Primeval World - Land of the Dinosaurs will. Don’t miss out on this trip; you can hop on at any of the four stations on Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland. 

For the authentic old-time experience at Main Street, hop aboard any of their vintage vehicles. Take your pick from a horse-drawn street car, a jitney, a fire engine, or an omnibus. The vehicles only travel along Main Street, but this is a cool way of getting to Sleeping Beauty’s castle, located in the middle of the park. 

A trip to Disneyland park is a whole-day adventure, so if you’ve only got a day to explore, you’ll want to plan out your itinerary by knowing a little bit about what each land has to offer, and, of course, purchasing your tickets for your trip. See you there!