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Getting Ready to Return to the Magic: Here’s Your Planning Checklist for Your Visit to Disneyland Resort

Michael Ramirez

by , Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort

Are you incredibly excited for your visit to the Disneyland Resort? We are absolutely thrilled to welcome you back to the magic! Along with the information we have been sharing on the Disney Parks Blog and Disneyland.com, we wanted to share a planning checklist as you prepare for your upcoming visit to the Disneyland Resort!

As we begin the phased reopening of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa in just a few days, here are several reminders and tips to help you have a seamless visit!

Before You Arrive
  • Make sure you have your ticket AND theme park reservation confirmation

Remember that all guests ages 3 and up will need both a valid ticket and theme park reservation for the same day and same park they want to visit, in order to be admitted into the theme parks. Theme park reservations have to be made in advance, and they’re limited and subject to availability. If you do not have an applicable theme park reservation confirmation, you will not be granted access to the theme parks.

Also, be sure you have proof of California residency with you as only California residents may visit the parks at this time. You may be asked to show such proof of residency, as necessary.

Link your tickets, mobile order food and beverages at select locations, view attraction wait times, park maps, and hours of operation, make dining reservations in advance, and so much more. These features also help with a more contactless experience!

Also, be sure to have location services and notifications enabled for important updates and information about the Disneyland Resort.

  • If you’re starting your day at Disneyland park, access the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance virtual queue from wherever you are, beginning at 7 a.m.

As previously mentioned, we will continue using a virtual queue system for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The attraction’s virtual queue is only accessible via the Disneyland mobile app, and you can only experience the attraction by joining the virtual queue. Beginning April 30, our distribution times for the virtual queue enrollment will be at 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. daily.**

Guests with a valid ticket and theme park reservation who will start their day at Disneyland park will be able to access the virtual queue system with the mobile app and check for an available boarding group starting at 7 a.m. on the day of their park reservation. This can be done before you leave your hotel, home, or wherever else you may be at that time! Guests will need to have their park tickets linked to their Disney account.

If you don’t begin your day at Disneyland park, you may still be able to access the virtual queue opportunity beginning at 12 p.m. Guests who have a valid ticket and park reservation, and have entered Disney California Adventure park with a Park Hopper ticket by noon, may access the virtual queue system to check for available boarding groups beginning at 12 p.m. Such guests who obtain a boarding group may then enter Disneyland park with their Park Hopper ticket after 1 p.m. for their boarding group, subject to availability. For additional details on the virtual queue, visit Disneyland.com.

  • Hotel guests may use online check-in service in advance

If you’re staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the new pre-arrival online check-in service feature (available up to five days in advance of arrival) saves time and is one more way to promote physical distancing. You can opt-in to receive a text message to let you know when your room is ready on arrival day, and your keys are available for pick-up at the Front Desk. For more information, check out our hotel Know Before You Go blog story here.

When You Arrive
  • Park at Mickey & Friends or Pixar Pals parking structures

When you arrive at the toll booths for Mickey & Friends or Pixar Pals parking structures, you will be asked if you have tickets and a theme park reservation. Because you will already have a theme park reservation, there’s no need to rush or get here early. But do allow time for a leisurely stroll along the pedestrian bridge from the parking structures, as the tram will not be operating. For your convenience, stroller, wheelchair and ECV rentals will be available at the parking structures.

To help us with physical distancing requirements, we don’t encourage early arrivals, and line ups will not be allowed prior to 6 a.m. on opening weekend, when the parking structures and security screenings will open. Note that state guidelines prohibit eating or drinking while waiting in line, so please finish your coffee in the car first. 

  • Visiting Downtown Disney District

Downtown Disney District will be open at 10 a.m. on April 30 and at 9 a.m., May 1 and beyond. The shopping and dining promenade will remain open after the theme parks close, so it’s a great place to explore before, during or after your day at the parks. Downtown Disney District parking is located in the Simba Lot, which will change to payment upon exit beginning April 30, and hourly prices with validation returns. For more parking information and to check hours of operation, . visit Disneyland.com.

  • Remember your face covering

And as a friendly reminder, appropriate face coverings are required for all guests ages 2 and older throughout the resort.

During Your Visit
  • Reminder – Park Hopper ticket benefits begin at 1 p.m.

If you have a Park Hopper ticket and an appropriate park reservation, you may visit the second park on the same day anytime after 1 p.m.

  • Plan ahead and use the mobile ordering service to order food and beverages

Our mobile order service is the primary way to order food and beverages at many dining locations throughout the Disneyland Resort. More locations are being added and existing locations are expanding mobile order lanes and pick-up windows. Food and beverages can only be consumed in dedicated dining areas, following the state’s health and safety guidelines.

Tip! Place your order early in the day to make sure your meal is prepared at your preferred dining time. When you arrive at the restaurant location, tap “I’m here,” in the mobile app and head to the pick-up area. The number of available times at each food and beverage location is limited to ensure guests are able to dine efficiently, so be sure to check the many dining choices throughout the parks!

  • Use cashless transactions for a contactless payment experience

We now have more contactless ways to pay throughout your day, including Apple Pay and Disney Gift Cards.

And as always, visit Disneyland.com for the latest details and everything else you need to know before you go! We can’t wait to see ya real soon!

*Available for iPhone, iPad and smartphones for Android. Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

**You must have a valid admission ticket and theme park reservation for Disneyland park. Access to a Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance boarding group is subject to availability and not guaranteed. In order to give as many Guests as possible the opportunity to join the Resistance, each Guest can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day. Distribution times are subject to change or cancellation.  Joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Apple, the Apple logo, Apple Pay, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android is a trademark of Google LLC.

Comments

  • I have my party’s tickets on my app. Will they automatically be the Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance? There used to be an option to “Create Your Party” ahead of time, so when you were getting a boarding group, you just had to make one click to join.
    Thank you

  • In regards to Park Hopper, if you do visit 2nd park, can you switch back to first park later? Also what about photo pass? How is that going to work? And is the PhotoPass option on APs going to still be good like discounts?

  • We are not Southern California residents. We are in a military family and had planned to take a vacation after a long hospital stay last year (very preemie baby who is doing wonderfully now). Of course Covid had other ideas and now pretty much EVERYONE on earth needs and deserves a vacation, too 🙂 When can we expect to be able to start planning our vacation?

  • Thank you for the magical news!!

  • would love to see Magic Bands migrate west

  • What types or forms of “proof of residency” will be accepted by Disneyland? (Driver’s license? Utility bill?)

  • Celine, Congratulations on Baby ❤👶
    Curious if you’ve received a response to your question yet?? Hoping they can “take care” of our Active Duty Military 🙏🏻🤞🏻💯❤🤍💙🧐🇺🇲 God Bless your Family!!!

  • How do we provide proof of residency for 3-4 year olds who aren’t in school yet?

  • How do we provide proof of residency for 3 and 4 year olds who aren’t in school yet?

  • How will the proof or residency thing work? Will everyone in the group be checked? And how do you show proof of kids living in California or is it just the adults who are Checked?

  • how do you show proof of kids living in California or is it just the adults who are Checked?

  • When will non-residents of California be able to come to the park?

Comments are closed.