Welcome to planDisney, Christian!
Your son is in for such a magical day! I enjoy going to the parks with my friends as an adult, and I can only imagine the joy of getting to experience it with your pals at a young age. What a blast!
Happy to report that the
Disneyland Resort still accepts cash - hooray! If you are hesitant to hand over a large sum, my recommendation would be to give him a
Disney Gift Card in the amount that you would like him to have on hand. The gift cards can be used at most dining and merchandise locations, including food cards if he loves a churro or Disneyland popcorn, like me. There may be a few carts that do not offer payment via a gift card, so I'd recommend double checking with the Cast Member before ordering. Generally, if they have a credit card swiper, he should be good to go. Even if your son doesn't use all of his funds during this visit, Disney Gift Cards never expire, so that money will be waiting for your next magical visit to the parks!
As a fellow parent, my next concern would be ensuring that he stays hydrated. There are several
bottle-filling stations throughout both Disneyland and California Adventure if he'd like to bring along a refillable water bottle. Likewise, he can always ask for a complimentary ice water at any quick service restaurant. This is a tip I like to have in my back pocket on a hot day!
If they plan to stay until the park closes, I sure hope they are able to watch
World of Color Happiness!—the brand new nighttime spectacular in honor of Disneyland's 70th Anniversary! They won't want to miss the pre-show either, featuring the one and only Muppets.
Christian, I hope we've set your son up for a successful day at California Adventure! If you have any more questions, we love to share our best tips and tricks to maximize the magic at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Magic awaits!
Tara