Hi, Melissa. Welcome to
planDisney, and thanks for bringing this great question to us. I love visiting the
Disneyland Resort and always have, but there is something especially magical about learning about the parks on these amazing tours. Let’s check them out together.
There are five options to consider, and I definitely have a favorite, but I’ll keep that to myself for now. They are:
Disney's Happiest Haunts Guided Tour,
Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour,
A Story of Celebration: 70th Anniversary Guided Tour, Women Who Make the Magic Guided Tour, and
Walk in Walt's Footsteps Guided Tour. There isn't an age minimum, but children aged 3 and above must be counted in the reservation. Let’s see how they stack up.
The Happiest Haunts Tour would be great for kids who are a little older, whose cadaverous pallor betrays an aura of foreboding. This lighthearted and spooky walk through Disneyland Park explores a few eerie park legends. You may even get to hop in a Doom Buggy to visit the
Haunted Mansion. This tour is not currently offered, but will be available in the Fall. The Disneyland Railroad Tour would likely be the best tour for your little ones, though it's temporarily unavailable. As a part of the tour, you even get the opportunity to ride in the luxury parlour car that Walt personally used to entertain dignitaries and celebrities, the Lilly Belle! Throughout the tour, it’s easy to see the impact trains had on Walt’s animation, films, and even Disneyland itself.
I think the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps Guided Tour takes the prize. Beginning August 14th, 2026, this tour will include a new segment in
Disney California Adventure that explores the Golden Age of Hollywood when Walt hit the big time. You’ll then return to Disneyland to visit original attractions and hear stories about how he brought a fantasy to life.
As I’ve said, I love Disneyland dearly. It’s my favorite place to go with my favorite people. For those of us who grew up visiting the parks, going on dates there, taking our children there on their birthdays, and meeting up with old friends, it holds a very special place in our hearts. Writing about it this minute launches me back to the many beautiful memories made at Disneyland. The last experience on the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps tour is one of those beautiful memories. You walk alongside the Disneyland Fire Station on Main Street, travel up a staircase, and go inside Walt’s apartment above the firehouse. It’s calm, quiet, and you can feel the magic in the room. You can see the room's clever design, which I’m sure he was proud of, as well as family pictures. You can sense what he was like, not as a leader of a great company, which he was, but just as Walt. I’ll never forget that experience, and every time I look up there and see his lamp on, it reminds me that he’s there. Melissa, I hope you feel that, too.
Whichever tour you choose, it’s bound to be magical, because that’s what Disneyland is. I hope it brings you and your family all the happiness in the world. Stop back by planDisney if you have any other planning questions. We’re here for you. I hope you have a magical day.
Corey