Disneyland and Disney California Journey are two of our favourite locations on earth, and we seldom have a foul expertise at both park. With that stated, now we have had our share of terrible experiences over the past decade-plus, and have come up of this just-for-fun record of issues we are going to by no means do once more. (Up to date December 17, 2024.)
In truth, there are only a few issues at Disneyland or DCA that we are going to by no means do once more. Nearly every thing deserves a second likelihood–menus at eating places change, lodges are overhauled, and points of interest are tweaked or re-imagined over time. That is very true on the California parks, that are essentially receptive to suggestions, as they rely upon repeat enterprise from locals. (It’s not as straightforward as with the unsuspecting first-time vacationers that populate the parks at Walt Disney World!)
There are additionally methods the parks have modified. If this record had been made a number of years in the past, it could’ve included particular days of the week, under-the-radar holidays, and even bag examine areas at sure instances. Regardless of being issues for ages, all of these issues are just about non-issues now. An excellent instance of that is the much-maligned Paradise Pier Resort, which I hated with a ardour for years. Now that it’s been reimagined into Pixar Place Resort, it has improved significantly, to the put that we contemplate it a good bang-for-buck choice for company wanting to remain on-site at Disneyland!
Past the parks altering, there are methods we have modified. Folks change, as do preferences; issues that had been as soon as loathed are actually cherished, and vice-versa. As our household has grown, we’ve discovered ourselves making an attempt new issues–and revisiting previous ones–with Child Bricker. She has already modified our minds about sure issues, and our preferences and priorities have modified due to touring with a toddler versus being a few Childless Disney Millennials.
Lastly, if I’m being trustworthy with myself and also you all, there’s additionally the truth that I’ve the reminiscence of a goldfish blue tang fish named Dory. Insane because it is likely to be, I make the identical errors repeatedly, both forgetting previous errors or foolishly anticipating a special final result. “Reside and study” is my motto, minus the study half.
One other factor to notice is that this record solely covers issues which are inside our management. Through the years, the corporate has made the “selection” for us, by eliminating a whole lot of issues that we’d in any other case like to do once more. We’d like to enter the grid of elecTRONica, see Nation Bear Jamboree, or redeem a free FastPass, however it appears that evidently Disney will deny us these alternatives. And I feel I communicate for each Disneyland fan who would love one other experience on the PeopleMover or Celebrity Limo. 😉
These are issues we are going to technically by no means do once more at Disneyland, however are very a lot not within the spirit of this record, which is extra like shouting “NEVER AGAIN!” than lamenting by no means once more. 😢 With that in thoughts, listed here are the “prime” 10 issues that we’ll (attempt to) by no means do once more at Disneyland and Disney California Journey…
Goofy’s Sky Faculty – Whereas testing Lightning Lane technique, we did Goofy’s Sky Faculty for the primary time in a very long time. For no matter motive, I used to be truly wanting ahead to the attraction, fondly remembering the enjoyable particulars and Easter eggs whereas, apparently, forgetting simply how punishing the experience is…and with zero payoff.
On a number of events, I felt like I used to be going to fly off the nook of the experience (so in a means, it does ship thrills!) or was in bodily ache because the coaster abruptly began, stopped, and whipped round. There are many rides which are overrated or underwhelming at Disneyland, however that is the one one which’s downright disagreeable and presents no upside to counterbalance that. I’ll in all probability neglect this in one other 5 years (hopefully it’s demolished by then), however for now, I’ve no intentions of ever doing Goofy’s Sky Faculty once more. Properly, at the least till I’ve to re-test Lightning Lane technique.
BONUS: Matterhorn – This can’t legally be included on my record as a result of it’s a “mistake” I make repeatedly on goal. Each time I experience Matterhorn, it’s a painful expertise because of the vibrating of the bobsleds on the observe. The rickety ‘ole curler coaster makes me really feel like a rickety ‘ole geezer after I get off…but I hold getting again on to relive nostalgia for bygone days. And so goes my love-hate relationship with Matterhorn, which I’ll by no means cease using, though my physique is pleading with me to offer it up!
World of Shade Dessert Social gathering – I’m usually averse to upcharge choices at Disneyland, particularly given its extra laid again nature than Walt Disney World. However, there’s a pervasive sense of FOMO on social media and in sure on-line planning communities–even Disneyland-centric ones–that drives many individuals to spend on pointless add-ons. That is exacerbated by sure well-liked experiences reserving up shortly, which solely serves to perpetuate the cycle of hype. (In actuality, it’s much less a mirrored image of high quality and demand than it’s restricted provide.)
The FOMO machine go into overdrive with the World of Shade Dessert Events. Sure, this will ebook up shortly and ensures a seat for the favored (and glorious) nighttime spectacular. However the high quality of the dessert unfold and substance of the expertise leaves a lot to be desired. Past that, it merely isn’t mandatory for watching World of Shade.
There are different (comparatively straightforward) methods to get nice views. I can perceive why sure company with distinctive circumstances ebook it, however for 95% of individuals, it’s pointless overkill and a waste of cash. (For extra, see our World of Shade Dessert Social gathering Evaluation.)
Most important Road Earlier than Fireworks or Parades – This used to incorporate New Orleans Sq. round Fantasmic, however that actually hasn’t as been as painful this yr because it was prior to now. A giant a part of that’s in all probability that the present has been downgraded with out the dragon, so there’s much less demand for it. We anticipate this pattern accelerating in 2025, as new and returning leisure steals the highlight.
Talking of which, it’s going to be a nightmare navigating the entrance of the park earlier than the fireworks or nighttime parade as soon as Wondrous Journeys and Paint the Evening return in Summer time 2025. Each are distinctive, independently drawing enormous crowds. I nonetheless keep in mind the chaos and congestion final time Paint the Evening ran down Most important Road virtually a decade in the past, and that was a completely totally different (much less busy) period at Disneyland.
It looks like half of the park turns into one-way, and also you actually may must do a 10-minute loop to entry one thing that began in your basic neighborhood, however was on the opposite aspect of the one-way walkway. All of that is compounded by the truth that Disneyland PAC Forged Members are “battle hardened.”
To place it politely, they’ve seen some issues, experiencing chaos, congestion, and the aforementioned fights. Consequently, they (understandably) run a decent ship and ensure walkways are stored clear and other people proceed transferring. The draw back to it is a lot of yelling (don’t you dare cease for a photograph of Sleeping Magnificence’s Winter Citadel!) to maintain folks in examine.
Let this function a warning for all of you heading out to Disneyland on New 12 months’s Eve, when all of that is exponentially worse. Belief us, we’ve been down this street, and also you’re higher off with watching World of Shade–Disney California Journey largely empties out as a result of folks need to see the NYE fireworks at Disneyland–or seeing the New 12 months’s Eve Fantasy within the Sky Fireworks Spectacular from someplace within the park different than Most important Road. You’ll be able to see the fireworks from anyplace–because the title says, they’re within the sky!
Eat in Tomorrowland – Did you hear that Galactic Grill has a brand new menu merchandise that appears incredible within the inventory picture? Do you know that Alien Pizza Planet is definitely good if you happen to order X and modify your order to Y? Have you ever tried this new seasonal dish that has the makings of one thing particular?
If one thing sounds too good to be true with Tomorrowland eating at Disneyland, it’s. The entire “questions” above are variations of issues I’ve heard over time, most many instances. I’ve eaten in Tomorrowland at the least two-dozen instances over the past decade, and I can depend the variety of passable meals on one hand. Suffice to say, there’s a motive why none of those eating places make our Record of the 24 Finest Eating places at Disneyland.
In contrast, I’ve misplaced observe of what number of nearly-inedible “meals” I’ve consumed in Tomorrowland. In the event you hear one thing surprisingly optimistic about meals in Tomorrowland, keep in mind the smart phrases of Admiral Ackbar: it’s a lure!
Camp Out for Opening Day Stuff – Right here’s a “do as we are saying, not as we do” entry. Few folks know this, however Disney bloggers have a code of conduct that’s extra stringent than the American Board of Neurological Surgical procedure Code of Ethics. Okay, probably not. The blogger code is extra what you name pointers than precise guidelines.
A kind of is that we attend the opening day of every thing, regardless of how insignificant. And since there are a whole lot of bloggers, vloggers, and social media influencers residing in Southern California, this implies surprisingly large crowds for seemingly inconsequential issues. (I nonetheless vividly recall ready in line a number of hours for Tremendous Heroes HQ, an overlay to Innoventions that may by no means have any wait.)
I’m extremely excited for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary. I can’t wait to see Paint the Evening and Wondrous Journeys once more, and World of Shade: Happiness. I’m additionally dreading the day one crowds which are positive to descend upon the parks. Disneyland, specifically, goes to be completely nuts. Certain, I might simply go the next week, however the code calls for in any other case. Allow us to function a cautionary story, and don’t make the identical “mistake” as us if you’re not required to by some so-called code!
(And actually, Disneyland might be going to be chaotic all summer season, the remainder of 2025, and into 2026. Paint the Evening crowds by no means let up final time. This entry actually applies extra to small scale opening day stuff. Paint the Evening and Wondrous Journeys are fan-favorites which are going to have critical drawing energy for the following ~18 months.)
Fly into LAX – One other “do as we are saying, not as we do” entry. We fly into and out of Los Angeles Worldwide Airport continuously. Though each John Wayne and Lengthy Seaside are a lot nearer to us, neither have continuous flights to the locations we frequently journey (particularly, Orlando). For household journeys, we favor fewer flights. For solo analysis journeys, I’ve a “favourite” Delta itinerary out of LAX. This has meant much more LAX flights than LGB or SNA this yr.
Though LAX isn’t my favourite airport on this planet, however I additionally don’t agree with the entire hate LAX will get. When you study the ins and outs (talking of which, you should definitely make a pit cease on the In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda earlier than flying out!), it feels a bit like taming a beast. You already know the tips for avoiding the site visitors jams into and out of the airport, the place the perfect lounges are positioned, and easy methods to get by safety in minutes.
Nonetheless, you should have precisely none of this data in your first journey to California. For the uninitiated, LAX is totally overwhelming, bordering on nightmarish. That is very true if you happen to’re from a small/suburban city or your property airport is regional, you’ll possible expertise vital tradition shock. LAX is like trial by hearth, and the chaos and crowds can begin your journey off on the fallacious foot. (That’s very true if you happen to or somebody touring with you already has unfavourable, preconceived notions about California.)
In the meantime, John Wayne Airport (SNA) is laid again, quiet, and infrequently crowded. Regardless of being in a extremely populated space and solely a brief drive from Disneyland, it feels very very like a quaint, regional airport. If there have been an inventory rating the perfect airports for napping, SNA could be close to the highest and LAX could be close to the underside.
Parking on the Constructions – It is a new entry, as one in all our New 12 months’s Resolutions for 2025 is to not park at Mickey & Buddies or Pixar Buddies. These have been our go-tos for years, however a pair issues have modified.
The primary is that the constructions have grow to be rather more hit and miss. There have been instances when it has taken over one full hour from the time we exited the 5 till we had been within the park through the constructions. There have been backups on the parking attendant cubicles, no Forged Members parking automobiles (leading to site visitors backups), after which lengthy strains at safety on this aspect.
Worse but, that is completely unpredictable. We’ve had this occur at seemingly random instances when the parking course of was easy and seamless. This is able to be irritating with simply the 2 of us, however it’s downright excruciating with a child. There have been a few instances when, by the point we obtained parked, we had been wired and virtually prepared to only throw within the towel and go away. Not a good way to begin the day at Disneyland!
After one significantly terrible expertise, we’ve switched to the Toy Story Lot and by no means regarded again. This has been a revelation, to the purpose that I’m actually a bit of embarrassed we weren’t doing all of it alongside. Frankly, I don’t even know what turned us off from the Toy Story Lot years in the past…or if something even did? Perhaps it simply turned routine to park at Mickey & Buddies and we obtained caught in our methods? I don’t keep in mind. Regardless, it’s Toy Story Lot for us in 2025!
Underestimate Southern California Climate – The primary time we visited Disneyland, it was the center of summer season. In typical Southern California trend, the climate was good. Loads of sunshine, minimal humidity, not a cloud within the sky, and heat sufficient that it was not chilly even at night time. We even missed the notorious June gloom. That ideally suited climate was a part of the explanation we fell in love with the state–a far cry from what we had skilled in Florida throughout the identical timeframe.
The subsequent time we visited Disneyland, it was late November into early December. It rained virtually day by day (one thing I didn’t know was attainable in Southern California!) and each early mornings and evenings had been freezing. I used to be completely unprepared, having regarded solely on the common each day excessive temperatures (which weren’t that far off from our summer season journey) when packing.
I discovered quite a bit that journey about California climate, and have by no means made the identical mistake once more. On the contrary, we now use it to our benefit–focusing on wet days or instances when there’s a pointy drop in daytime versus nighttime temperatures. I’ll fortunately put on a parka to the park if it means low crowds and wait instances!
Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Evening – Over the course of the final decade, I can solely recall using Disneyland’s Splash Mountain at night time twice. In contrast, I did Magic Kingdom’s Splash Mountain at night time far more instances than I can depend. There’s a motive for that. Truly, two causes. One in all which is mentioned above–the dramatic distinction in climate between Florida and California.
The opposite distinction is that you just get completely soaked on this log flume experience. This was one thing that, I assume, I forgot when Tiana’s Bayou Journey opened. It was as if avoidance of the attraction turned instinctive after a extremely unfavourable expertise someday ages in the past, and misplaced as soon as the brand new Princess and the Frog incarnation opened.
Suffice to say, I cannot be making that mistake once more. It was a protracted trudge again to the car parking zone with a soaked shirt and pants that regarded like I’d had an accident (the least of my issues on the time) within the winter climate, and even blasting the warmth in our automotive wasn’t sufficient to heat me up. I’m getting chilly simply eager about this expertise! Anyway, let my mistake function a cautionary story if you happen to’re visiting on a cold California day. Tiana’s Bayou Journey is healthier within the morning or noon, when you will have time to air dry within the solar!
Overplan – You don’t must commit almost as a lot time to planning a Disneyland journey as you’d a Walt Disney World trip. Actually, it’s higher to be “underprepared” for Disneyland than overprepared. Planning every thing right down to the minute and even hour leaves no room for spontaneity, and Disneyland is all about the spontaneous experiences.
Characters seem out of nowhere, there’s atmospheric leisure you by no means knew about, and a wealth of “little issues” you’ll need to cease to expertise. These spontaneous little moments could be the spotlight of a Disneyland trip, and planning every thing right down to the smallest element may “drive” you to skip this stuff while you see them.
An in depth itinerary additionally units unrealistic expectations. In the event you plan a visit guidelines type with 15 issues that you just “should accomplish” in a given day, you’re setting your self up for disappointment. The sensible realities of navigating crowds, climate, longer-than-expected strains, attraction downtime, or different unplanned variables imply you may not have the ability to get every thing performed.
It’s higher to enter a Disneyland journey with a tough plan of assault with loads of downtime–and be ready to bail on even what you do have in your schedule. Typically now we have essentially the most enjoyable once we toss apart our plans. The underside line is that arriving early, staying late, or shopping for Genie+ at Disneyland will provide you with a whole lot of latitude to take pleasure in an easy-going tempo, roll with the punches, and benefit from the spontaneity of the more-relaxed Disney parks in america.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Suggestions for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site lodges in our Anaheim Resort Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and tons of different locations!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What issues at Disneyland and Disney California Journey would you by no means do once more? Is any restaurant, resort, or experience past redemption for you? Any day of the week, vacation, or time of yr you’d by no means go to? Do you agree or disagree with our record? Would you do any of this stuff once more? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
