Greetings, Kevin, and welcome to planDisney! Your first visit to the Disneyland Resort – that is so exciting! I can't wait for you to experience the Happiest Place on Earth. You'll be happy to know that so many fun experiences are included with your theme park ticket. Let's talk about some ways you can use that extra spending money!
The
Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a convenient way to experience many popular attractions with shorter wait times. However, you have a fantastic opportunity to use the
Single Rider service instead. It's available at a few popular attractions that are included in the multi pass. There's a designated queue for Guests who can help fill remaining seats that aren’t occupied by those from the standby lines. It's a great way to save time, and it doesn't cost anything extra to use!
My other tip is to be at the park early. The first two hours after the park opens are excellent for experiencing attractions, since the wait times are typically shorter than at other times of the day. The ticket gates usually open 30 minutes early, so scan in and walk down Main Street, U.S.A. until you reach the roped-off area. The ropes "drop" right at the opening time. I'd head to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Haunted Mansion first, since they don't offer Single Rider queues.
You are also allowed to bring your own food into the park, as long as it doesn't require heating, processing, or refrigeration, and isn't in a glass container. There are
bottle-filling stations across the park, so bring a refillable water bottle, too. Of course, you could allocate some of your $50 to a tasty snack or quick service lunch. A Dole Whip or churro would be a perfect midday treat. My husband loves the Garlic Cheesy Pretzel Bread from
Maurice's Treats. Each of these items is currently priced under $10 (prices subject to change).
There are so many souvenir options. Buying a Disney Parks pin can be fun – you can even stop by the pin boards to trade. You could also use the
pressed coin machines across the park to start a little collection. Many retail locations have complimentary celebratory buttons – make sure to ask for a "1st Visit" button!
Don't miss all of the entertainment. It can easily fill your day between attractions. The
Hours & Events Calendar lists all of the shows and their schedules. There are also other activities to enjoy, such as riding on the Main Street vehicles,
walking through Sleeping Beauty Castle, meeting Characters, exploring
Tom Sawyer Island, and more.
Before you arrive, make sure you have the
Disneyland mobile app on your device. It is a useful tool, especially since you're new to the Resort. You can even use the
Disney Genie service to get a suggested itinerary based on your interests.
Kevin, if you think of any other questions ahead of your visit, please reach out. We're always happy to help here at planDisney. Have the best time ever!
Your pal,
Kriss