Disneyland Tips – Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2015

If you’re a Disneyland annual passholder (AP), you’re probably excited about Halloween Time and the upcoming Christmas decorations at the park. (Check out OC Mom Blog’s Instagram!) I recently read through The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2015  for a few reasons besides general Disneyland tips. First, I was a cast member during undergrad and I wanted to see if there were any “secret tips” that I had missed while working there. Second, I wanted to see what a non-SoCal native would find beneficial with a book like this. Would this guide book be worth it for someone new to Disneyland? Third, now that Baby Spawn has joined our family, I wanted to double-check the newest information about bringing a small child to the Park. Lastly, I wanted to see if they had a listing of all the churro carts in the Park. Mmmm… churros….

The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2015

What I Liked About the Guidebook:

• Layout. I liked the way the book introduced readers (and presumable new-to-Disneyland guests) to the Park and what to think about before going.
• The Dining section. No one wants to eat crappy food at an amusement park. That includes Disneyland. There are quick-service restaurants in the Park that sell bad hamburgers and crappy pizza. But you do not have to spend your hard-earned money on that crap.
  • More on this: The book includes suggestions sent in by readers that were helpful or snarky:
    • “Every fast food restaurant has a menu the size of billboards, but do you think anybody reads them?… Tell your readers to PULEEZ get their orders together ahead of time!” Hahaha! #truth
  • The other thing to note for kids with food allergies – yes you can still eat at Disneyland. Just plan ahead and let the restaurant know in advance of their allergies. Have you read my review of Disneyland’s fancier entrees at Techmunch LA? 
• Attractions Rankings. The author ranks attractions’ appeal by age bracket and load speed (how long the wait would be), which I thought was pretty genius. He also describes each attraction and provides tips. For example, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters ride ranks 4 stars for every age bracket (appeal), and the average wait time per 100 people ahead of you is 3 minutes. (Who knew?)
• Fastpass education. People don’t always use their heads when they’re caught up in the excitement at Disneyland. The section on how to use a Fastpass was great for someone new to the Park. If you’re a regular Disneyland guest, you’d better be well-versed or you’ll be the sucker waiting hours in line for an attraction.

The Wife, preggo me, and Sofia the First – DCA

Who Knew About These Tips:

• Disabled Guests info. Did you know there’s a phone number you can call to ask about disabled guest accommodations? I didn’t. Call 714-781-7290. I think this should be expanded a bit, especially with the new rules regarding disabled guests and waiting in line. I know plenty of parents whose kids are autistic and cannot wait in line. (This rule was changed because thousands [my guess] of a-hole guests took advantage of this pass and ruined it for everyone.)
• Candy-making menu. Did you know there’s a phone number you can call to find out what candy the Candy Kitchen is making every day?!! Call 714-781-0112.

The One Tip I Side-Eyed:

• Advising visitors to wear a fanny pack. No. Just bring a backpack. It’ll carry more, like a light jacket, camera, water bottle and snacks for your kid (or you). Fanny packs. Pshhhhttttt, how OLD are you?

Parade! Disneyland

Final Verdict:

Buy or Borrow: Depends on your familiarity of Disney Parks. Buy if you’re a newbie. Borrow if you’re not. The guidebook retails for $17.99 but you can get it on Amazon for $13.86. (Cheaper if you order it on your Kindle!)

If you’re a Disneyland veteran, share a tip in the comments! What’s your favorite go-to eatery? What attraction do you hit first?

PS – There was no listing of all the churro carts in the book.

Disclosure: A complimentary copy of the guide book was sent to me for review consideration. The above is my honest review and opinion. Post contains affiliate links.