(NerdWallet) – The Walt Disney Co. is about to show 100 years outdated this 12 months, and the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, is celebrating with new exhibits and a Mickey-themed attraction throughout its two theme parks: Disneyland and Disney California Journey. Each parks may even be decked out with new decor.
Festivities formally start on Jan. 27. And although it’d really feel such as you want a fairy godmother to plan (or pay for) your go to, there are many methods to maximise your money and time to see the brand new sights.
Rush to the brand new Mickey-themed journey within the morning
A lot of Disney’s in style characters have their very own rides, so it’s solely becoming that Mickey Mouse ought to lastly get one in all his personal. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will open on Jan. 27 as a darkish journey.
Len Testa, president of Disney trip planning web site Touring Plans, recommends lining up on the “rope drop,” which is when the park opens, to beat the crowds.
“The one approach to keep away from an extended look ahead to Runaway Railway shall be to reach on the park early — at the very least an hour earlier than the park’s scheduled opening time,” Testa says. “You then’ll be on the head of the pack speeding to Runaway Railway very first thing within the morning.”
The remainder of the renovated Mickey’s Toontown land will reopen on March 8. If in case you have toddlers who would benefit from the kiddie curler coaster or new play areas, plan your Disney100 journey for the spring or later within the 12 months.
Choose a parade viewing spot
The short-lived Magic Occurs parade is returning on Feb. 24 after a hiatus as a result of pandemic. This rendition of the parade options characters from newer films, together with “Frozen 2” and “Moana.”
“Search for spots at the very least an hour earlier than if you would like an unobstructed viewing spot in entrance of the gang,” Testa says.
Whereas he says any spot alongside the parade route is ok, photographers ought to prioritize Essential Avenue, U.S.A. or the park’s central hub in entrance of the fort for higher backgrounds.
Beci Mahnken, founder and CEO of journey company MEI-Journey and Mouse Fan Journey, prioritizes crowd avoidance.
“I want the realm close to It’s a Small World or Pixie Hole, the place it’s much less crowded and it’s possible you’ll even discover a bench when you arrive early sufficient,” she says.
Keep late for the brand new nighttime exhibits
Disneyland will debut a nighttime present referred to as Wondrous Journeys on Jan. 27 with a brand new tune and projections across the park. Baymax, the inflatable robotic from the movie “Large Hero 6,” will star within the present, retreating by the skies round Sleeping Magnificence Fortress.
Not each efficiency of Wondrous Journeys will embrace fireworks, however these much less dazzling exhibits will in all probability be much less crowded, too. If you wish to see fireworks, you’ll need to go on the weekend or a peak evening in the course of the spring or summer time, in line with an e-mail with a spokesperson for Disney.
“The perfect spot to view fireworks is within the central hub with a transparent view of the fort and the sky above Disneyland,” says Testa.
At Disneyland’s sister park, California Journey, the long-lasting water present, World of Colour, is about for a refresh as effectively. The brand new present is named World of Colour – One.
Purchase tickets and make reservations
Maximizing your time — and cash — at Disney begins long before you arrive at the park. First, you’ll have to determine once you’re going to go to and what kind of ticket to buy. Hold the opening dates of the brand new sights in thoughts.
Park Hopper tickets can help you entry two parks in a single day, and so they’re costlier per day than the alternate one-park-per-day ticket. When you solely have someday to go to each parks, then Park Hopper is the one approach to go to each. It’ll put you again at the very least $169 for one-day, two-park grownup admission. However if in case you have at the very least two days, it’s typically cheaper to get a one-park-per-day ticket, which begins at $143 per day for 2 days of grownup admission.
Ticket costs fluctuate relying on the dates you intend to go. Whenever you purchase your ticket, you’ll want to order the dates you intend to go to the park. It’s additionally a very good time to consider whether or not you need to buy line-skipping privileges, corresponding to Disney’s Genie+ or Lighting Lane.
All these ticket choices could be complicated to some company, so Mahnken recommends doing your personal analysis or working with a fee-free journey agent.
“There’s an preliminary studying curve, and typically an extra cost, however when you perceive easy methods to use the instruments, it may be a giant time saver,” Mahnken says. “It’s no secret {that a} go to to Disneyland isn’t so simple as shopping for a ticket and simply displaying up.”
