A Disney vacation of any type is a big undertaking and requires at least minimal planning. I’m sure that while you’re in the parks you’ve seen other guests that are clearly, at least to a Disney Addict, making a mistake. So, to ensure an enjoyable and magical Disneyland vacation, avoid these mistakes.

• Not Wearing Comfortable Shoes – Comfortable shoes are a must! You will be doing a lot of walking and shoes that don’t fit right will end up giving you blisters before the day is out. So, put on your favorite, most comfortable shoes, whether they’re sneakers, sandals, flip flops, flats or heels to ensure happy feet.
• Underestimating Size – This one ties in with not wearing comfortable shoes. While the Disneyland Resort is nowhere near as large as the Disney World Resort, and the two park entrances are directly across from each other, you will do a lot of walking. This past weekend my family and I spent the weekend at Disneyland – we had a relaxing weekend at the parks, we didn’t go all out and try to ride everything, and we even left the parks soon after dinner, but we still walked about 7 miles each day! Be prepared to walk A LOT!
• Not Drinking Enough Water – Drinking enough water is always important, but it is especially so when you are outside for long periods of time and when you are doing a lot of walking. Making sure that you drink enough water will help you to be able to enjoy a longer day at the park – it will keep you hydrated which will help you to avoid headaches and crankiness.
• Over/Under Dressing – For much of the year it can be pretty warm in Southern California, but there are some days where it can be cool or even rain. Proper clothing is important! During the fall and winter wearing layers and having a jacket can be greatly advantageous. It can get warm during the day, but it cools down quickly at night and you will want pants and a jacket. In the same way, it can be quite hot in the spring and summer, so wearing the cooler clothing then is important is well. Brining the right clothing with you will save you from having to buy a sweatshirt or pants in the winter or even a pair of shorts in the summer time.
• Not Having the Essentials – Each family or travel party is different, so what each group needs could also be different. However, there are somethings that you MUST have with you in your park bag to ensure a smooth trip. Sunscreen, Band-Aids, snacks, a refillable water bottle, money, camera and/or phone, a jacket during the winter, and baby essentials (diapers, wipes, extra clothing) are among them. Remember, you can also bring food into the parks!
• Bringing Too Much Stuff – While there are somethings that really should be brought into the park with you, there is also such a thing as too much stuff. Remember, you will be carrying your bag around with you all day – in lines and on rides – you don’t want to be hurting at the end of the day because you carried around a heavy bag all day. If you don’t think you’ll actually need it, don’t take it.
• Not Doing Research – When compared to a trip to Disney World, Disneyland does not require as much planning, however some advance research should be performed. There is TONS of information out there about rides, attractions, shopping, and dining at the Disneyland Resort and you should do some research so that you know what you’re getting yourself into. On our weekend trip we were in line for the Haunted Mansion and a child asked the mom what the ride was about – she responded that she had never been to the park so she did not know. I think that reading about rides and dining, and looking at wait times before I leave home is both advantageous and FUN!
• Over Planning – While some planning and researching should be done before a trip over planning is another mistake. I have seen families with printed out plans that laid their trip out for them minute by minute. A general plan and knowledge of the parks is a great thing, but over planning can make it so that you are just rushing from one attraction to another and not actually enjoying your time with your family and friends and in the magic.
• Not Using Fastpasses – Unlike at Disney World Fastpass reservations at Disneyland cannot be made months in advance – we’re still using the paper Fastpasses out here on the West Coast – and there are many attractions for which Fastpasses are not available. The rides that do have Fastpasses, though, are the big name rides like Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion, and Radiator Springs Racers all of which had wait times of over an hour this past weekend. To ensure that you can make it onto all of your favorite big name rides stop by the Fastpass distribution stations.
• Not Using the Disneyland App – The Disneyland app can be incredibly helpful. No one wants to decide that they want to ride something only to walk over to it and find out that it has a wait time of 120 minutes. Being able to see the current wait times in the palm of your hand makes it so that you can be informed and not have to stand in those crazy long lines – unless you want to, that is.

Did we miss any? Have you made any of these mistakes? Let us know in the comments!

My name is Miriya Whitaker, I am a travel agent with World of Magic Travel, a writer for Chip and Co and Disney Addicts, and a Disneyland Annual Passholder. I would love to help you plan your next magical vacation! Contact me at [email protected] to get started and follow me on Facebook for more Disney and travel information!