Disneyland Worth It cover

Ah, the age-old question. Is visiting Disneyland worth it in 2026? Throughout its history, Disneyland has set the standard in themed entertainment. When it debuted in 1955, it broke the mold on what a theme park could be and also created the mold for the modern theme park. It’s the second most visited theme park in the world, with its sister park Disney California Adventure (DCA) also commanding a sizable attendance figure. Both parks create magical experiences for visitors everyday. It’s no wonder why they have such a big fan following.

Disneyland Worth It me

But that being said, there are aspects of Disneyland that reduce its overall quality and enjoyment. Things like increasing prices, attraction downtimes, and the current nature of a Disneyland vacation are starting to make the resort unattractive to some potential guests. So in the end, is visiting Disneyland worth it for its positive points or do the negative aspects of it far outweigh the positives? That’s what we’re going to discuss in this post. 

I’m going to go into every aspect of a Disneyland vacation, from the rides to the entertainment to the hotels and everything in between. I’ll be critiquing each aspect of Disneyland honestly, and will give a final assessment on my part if I think Disneyland is worth visiting this year. I will try to be as unbiased as possible, but as with anything, my subjectivity will tinge this post a little bit. Just something to keep in mind! 

Now let’s begin!

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Rides

First up: the rides. Rides are the lifeblood of any theme park. They’re usually the main draw of a theme park, and the Disneyland Resort has the good fortune of being the best Disney resort for rides. Yup, you read that right. While I think that Tokyo DisneySea is the best single theme park for rides, the Disneyland Resort as a whole is the best Disney resort for rides, and it’s not even close. 

Now I know that’s a bold claim to make, but you have to take into account the sheer number of rides that the Disneyland Resort has. Fun fact: Disneyland has more rides than Walt Disney World, even though Walt Disney World has two more parks than Disneyland. Fantasyland in Disneyland alone has more rides than Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. 

And the crazy thing is, a majority of the rides at Disneyland I would say are worth riding, even the smaller ones. For example, rides like the Mad Tea Party, which in my opinion is the prettiest of all the Mad Tea Party rides around the world due to its roofless setting, the Sailing Ship Columbia, Mark Twain Riverboat and canoes that go around the scenic Rivers of America, and the Storybookland Canal Boats, with its lovingly recreated locales of Disney movies, perfectly capture how Disneyland puts so much thought, care, and detail even into their non-headliners.

Disneyland Worth It mmrr

This can be seen in Disney California Adventure as well. Rides like Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, with its bespoke soundtrack and trailblazing, albeit simple, ride system, and the Pixar Pal-A-Round, with its unique swinging gondolas, show how Disney puts an enormous amount of effort and detail to make sure that even their secondary rides are unique experiences. They even made the effort to theme and add a story into an otherwise generic flat ride (I’m talking about the Silly Symphony Swings here).

But of course, the two parks have their own fair share of headliners, with many of them being the original incarnations of these attractions which have since been cloned in other parks all over the world. DCA is home to the original Soarin’, Toy Story Midway Mania, and The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. At Disneyland, rides like Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Jungle Cruise, Autopia, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Big Thunder Mountain all got their start at Disneyland. 

Then there are the headliners that are exclusive to the resort. In DCA, rides like Incredicoaster, Monsters Inc Mike and Sulley to the Rescue, Grizzly River Run, and Goofy’s Sky School cannot be found in any other Disney Park. At Disneyland, you have rides like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Alice in Wonderland, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, and Matterhorn Bobsleds as the rides that are unique to the park, all of which are one-of-a-kind experiences that have become famous among Disney fans. 

There are also rides in the resort where the best versions of those rides are found in the Disneyland Resort. Pirates of the Caribbean, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, It’s a Small World, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway are all at their absolute best at the Disneyland Resort. 

We then have to talk about the stars of the parks. The one ride that defines the park’s identity the most. At DCA, it has to be Radiator Springs Racers. Blending dark ride elements with a fast, thrilling ending, this ride, which is still exclusive to DCA, is as fun as it is immersive. It’s the highlight of any DCA day, and the one of only two rides in the resort I would cancel a trip for if it was under refurbishment on the days of my visit.  

The other ride is the star of Disneyland, Rise of the Resistance. The fact that it can also be found in Orlando doesn’t diminish its greatness. Filled with jaw dropping effects, an immersive and captivating story, and multiple story segments, it epitomizes the full potential of a narrative themed entertainment experience. You simply cannot miss it when you visit Disneyland. The imagineers knocked it out of the park. 

Now the parks still have some negatives ride-wise. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is the worst Pooh ride currently operating in a Disney Park. Golden Zephyr is likewise a boring experience to the point where tearing down that ride would be an improvement. Nearby Jumpin Jellyfish and Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind are likewise very ordinary experiences that seem to be there just to pad the ride count. But those are, to me, the only misses in the entire resort. Every other ride has some sort of redeeming value to it. 

If there’s one aspect of a Disneyland vacation that is absolutely worth it, it’s the rides. Their variety and sheer number make Disneyland such a fun and exciting place to visit. That being said, as great as the rides are, Disneyland shares the same problem Walt Disney World has where rides frequently break down and become unavailable throughout the day.

Rides like Rise of the Resistance, Radiator Springs Racers, and Indiana Jones Adventure, among others, repeatedly break down throughout the day, sometimes for hours at a time. This can make it particularly frustrating for those that like to plan out their entire day. The rides have just become so unreliable these days, and it seems to only be getting worse. 

But the main reason why I think this doesn’t pull the rides aspect into “not worth it” territory is that, because of the sheer number of rides at the Disneyland Resort, there’s always something to do even if some rides are temporarily shut down. When 2-3 rides are down at a time at Disneyland, there’s an additional 32 rides that you can do in their place, with an additional 15+ rides at DCA if you have park hopper tickets. And that’s just the rides. Add in entertainment and the list grows to over 50+ things to do. Safe to say that, if you’re a ride lover, Disneyland is the ultimate Disney resort for you. 

Read my Disneyland and DCA Ride Rankings for an in depth look at each ride. 

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Rides Debuting This Year

Disneyland Worth It soarin

In 2026, there will be even more magic with two ride reimaginings opening this year. First, there’s Soarin’ Across America, a special, USA focused Soarin’ to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary. This will open on July 2 at Disney California Adventure. The new Soarin will fly over different locations across the United States, and will be the third version of Soarin to premiere at the resort. 

Over at Disneyland, a new mission will be coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. The new mission will have guests aiding the Mandalorian and Grogu in a special mission. The new mission will debut on May 22, the same day that the Mandalorian and Grogu movie premieres in theaters. Accompanying the mission will be all new assignments for the different roles on the ship, with the Engineers now being tasked to take care of Grogu.

If you’re looking for more reasons to go to the Disneyland Resort in 2026, these new experiences should give you more reasons to book those tickets and give the resort a visit. 

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Lands

While most of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure’s lands are thematically rich, detailed, and bursting with character, some areas of both parks leave a lot to be desired. There are a couple of lands that could use a new coat of paint, or a new concept entirely. 

Let’s start with the bad: Tomorrowland at Disneyland is a mess. Thematically incohesive and dated, the whole land could use a huge refresh. It’s probably the worst Tomorrowland currently existing in the world, which is a shame because it includes a wide variety of high quality attractions. The packaging of the entire experience, however, needs to be rejuvenated. Another negative is Bayou Country. From its confusing name to its mismatched attraction with no consistent theme, the land is pretty but soulless. 

The same can be said for some DCA lands. Pixar Pier was already great as Paradise Pier, but with the slapping of Pixar IP on that land, it has made that part of the park the epitome of corporate oversight. Avengers Campus feels more like Concrete: The Theme Park, and Paradise Gardens Park’s theme feels more like an afterthought than a product of intentional placemaking. Finally, Hollywoodland proves once again why a studio theme is never a good idea for a park as the “on set” theming just makes that part of the park feel fake. 

Another negative, which is really only a problem at the old parts of Disneyland and not DCA is that the walkways in the lands tend to be narrow, which causes some bottlenecks. This is especially evident in Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, and New Orleans Square, which are all old parts of the park.

All of that being said, however, the good far outweighs the bad, lands-wise. 

At Disneyland, Fantasyland is a walkthrough daydream. With so many little pockets to explore, it truly is the most charming land in the resort. Toontown, my personal favorite land at Disneyland, is colorful, vibrant, and full of interactive elements that can keep you busy for hours. Main Street USA, New Orleans Square, and Frontierland each bring to life a classic American locale in vivid detail. 

Disneyland Worth It castle

The most impressive land at Disneyland, however, has to be Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Walking through this land is unreal. From the massive Millennium Falcon at the back of the land to the shopping and dining spaces, the layers of story and theming make it unlike any other land Disney has ever made before. It truly is so unique stepping into that world. 

On the other side of the esplanade, DCA is no slouch with lands as well. San Fransokyo Square combines the eccentricities of Tokyo with the appeal of San Francisco, to fantastic results. Grizzly Peak is a nature lover’s dream, and perfectly captures the feel and vibe of a California National Park. Buena Vista Street is the perfect entryway to DCA, immersing you in 1920s Los Angeles.

But the best land in the park, and probably the entire resort and one of the best themed lands Disney has ever made, is also exclusive to DCA: Cars Land. Whenever I enter Cars Land, I feel like I was just dropped right in the middle of the movie. Radiator Springs was recreated in so much painstaking detail that it takes your breath away. How each part of the street was also repurposed into shops, attractions, and restaurants is genius. Some of the best vistas in any Disney Park can be seen here. It’s the gold standard for a themed land, and it’s only found in the Disneyland Resort. 

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Entertainment

Now coming from the strong rides and lands segment, we have to talk about a segment of Disneyland that used to be world-class but has since fallen by the wayside a little bit: Entertainment. Entertainment at Disneyland used to be plentiful, with every theater filled with Broadway-quality shows and different areas of the park oozing with things to watch and experience. Now, however, that isn’t the case. 

The Hyperion Theater at DCA has been sitting empty for over 2 years. Small atmospheric shows have been cut, most notably in Avengers Campus. And even with the 70th Anniversary Celebration, there is currently no daytime parade in either park. The noticeable lack in entertainment offerings can be traced back to budget cuts done by Disneyland leadership, which has subsequently negatively affected the experience at the parks. 

That being said, one aspect of Disneyland that is still thriving is the non-live entertainment shows. Things like The Enchanted Tiki Room, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Mickey’s Philharmagic, and Walt Disney – A Magical Life are all great experiences. They’re immersive, captivating, and just plain fun. In this sense, the current entertainment at Disneyland is superb. 

Disneyland Worth It tiki

But when you take a look at the live entertainment and nighttime spectaculars at the Disneyland Resort, there’s a noticeable drop in the quality of the offerings. Disneyland has yet to find a World of Color show that tops or even matches the quality of the original World of Color, with both World of Color: One and World of Color Happiness both falling short of the magic of the original World of Color. 

On the other hand, Wondrous Journeys is an amazing nighttime spectacular, but Disney refuses to run it daily outside of special events. Its usual replacement, Mickey’s Mix Magic, is fun but lacks a lot of the emotion that you’ve come to expect from a nighttime spectacular. 

Disneyland Worth It nighttime castle

Now we also need to talk about Fantasmic. Ever since it came back after a year of being shut due to the infamous dragon fire, Fantasmic has been a shell of its former self. It operates without pyro on most nights, a lot of effects have been cut, and the former jaw dropping battle between Mickey and Maleficent has been scaled back so much that it’s neither fun nor exciting. They need to refurb that show again or completely replace it, because as it exists it’s just not good. 

As for the parades, as mentioned there is no current daytime parade at either of the parks. Disneyland’s current nighttime parade, Paint the Night, is only running until August 9th, which is the end date for the anniversary. There are cavalcades present, but other than that there’s nothing plying the streets of either park. Disney needs to bring back Magic Happens or Better Together (or both), to give guests something to see and enjoy in the middle of the day. 

Entertainment at Disneyland is good, don’t get me wrong. But is it great? Outside of Wondrous Journeys and the soon-to-end Paint the Night, there’s nothing truly spectacular at the Disneyland Resort anymore. This is one area Disneyland needs to improve on, as entertainment is the cornerstone of themed experiences, at least in my humble opinion. 

Read my Disneyland and DCA Attraction Guides for an in-depth look at the entertainment options at Disneyland and DCA. 

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Entertainment Debuting This Year

With that being said, Disney is starting to correct this problem. Debuting in March at the Fantasyland Theater is Bluey’s Best Day Ever! This all-new show is inspired by the hit children’s tv show Bluey. There are actually two versions of this show that you can see, so it has some re-watchability to it. The show is also very interactive and fun for both kids and grownups alike. I’d highly recommend checking it out when you’re at Disneyland. 

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Seasonal Events 

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Now I’m going to say something that I’m not sure is controversial or not: outside of Tokyo Disney Resort, I think Disneyland puts on the best seasonal events of any Disney resort. I think Disneyland’s seasonal events are just so magical and I look forward to them every single year. 

From the Lunar New Year event to the Food and Wine Festival, Halloween, and Christmas, the Disneyland Resort always brings its a-game for seasonal events. For Lunar New Year, Food and Wine, and Christmas, California Adventure is host to multiple food booths selling tasty delicacies themed around the current seasonal event. 

Then there’s the seasonal entertainment. With things like the Lunar New Year processional, the Halloween Screams and Believe…in Holiday Magic fireworks shows, the special A Christmas Fantasy parade, and the Coco and Viva Navidad shows at DCA during Halloween and Christmas respectively, the seasonal entertainment at the Disneyland Resort is always top notch. 

Another thing worth mentioning is the decor. Disneyland goes all out every year for the decor. Trees will glow purple on Buena Vista Street during Halloween, which also has a nearby statue of the Headless Horseman. Halloween also sees the return of the large Mickey pumpkin nicknamed Blinky by fans of Disneyland. Christmas sees garlands and a huge Christmas tree popping up on Main Street USA. Disneyland knows how to get into the festive spirit during seasonal events. 

I haven’t mentioned the best part about seasonal events at Disneyland yet: the ride overlays. Disneyland has several overlays of existing rides that they put on during special events. Hyperspace Mountain takes over Space Mountain during Season of the Force in the Spring. It’s a Small World Holiday lights up during the holidays. Guardians of the Galaxy: Monsters After Dark brings the spooky energy during Halloween. And the best overlay of them all: Haunted Mansion Holiday turns the infamous mansion into a Nightmare Before Christmas ride for Halloween and Christmas. 

If you’re going to Disneyland during a seasonal event, rest assured that they do put on great events all the time. This is one of Disneyland’s strongest assets, and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future. 

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After Dark Events

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In addition to the regular seasonal events, Disneyland has separately ticketed nighttime events called After Dark Events! They usually take place throughout the year and have different themes. In 2026, the after dark events were: Sweethearts Nite, Disney Channel Nite, Star Wars Nite, Pride Nite, and Oogie Boogie Bash. 

Each of these events have special food, merchandise, character meet and greets, photo ops, and entertainment all themed around the event. Some of the best ones include the Frightfully Fun Parade and Villains Grove at Oogie Boogie Bash, the Zombies x High School Musical cavalcade and Descendants show during Disney Channel Nite, and the Pride Nite Fireworks. 

As mentioned these are separately ticketed events, and they do sell out, but if you can attend one I would highly recommend it! Disneyland’s After Dark Events are always a good time and they’re the perfect way to add extra magic to your visit.  

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Dining

Dining at Disneyland I would say is good, but not great. There are a lot of great food options from snacks to table service restaurants, and there’s a lot of variety. But the food pales in comparison to Walt Disney World, which I think is still the gold standard for themed entertainment food. But that being said, there are still great, varied, and tasty options for you to try while you’re at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure. 

My personal favorite restaurants at Disneyland are Jolly Holiday Bakery for baked goods and their grilled cheese combo, Tropical Hideaway for Dole Whip, Bengal Barbecue for their beef skewers, Cafe Orleans for their Monte Cristo, Blue Bayou for the immersive dining experience, Harbor Galley for the Chocolate Chip Cookies, Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree for their barbecue dishes, Ronto Roasters for their Ronto Wraps, Red Rose Taverne for The Grey Stuff, Cafe Daisy for their Pizza Flop-Overs, Galactic Grill for their Chicken Tenders, and Carnation Cafe for Walt’s Chili. Then you’ve got the classic Disneyland snacks. Mickey Ice Cream Bars, Turkey Legs, Corn Dogs, and Popcorn, just to name a few. 

Disneyland Worth It food

At DCA my personal favorites are Cocina Cucamonga for their birria tacos, The Cozy Cone for their chocolate soft serve and bacon mac and cheese cones, Flo’s for their milkshakes, Lucky Fortune Cookery for their dumplings, Corn Dog Castle for their, obviously, corn dogs, Smokejumpers for their chicken tenders, Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta for their, well, pizza and pasta, and jack-jack’s num num cookies for their cookies. DCA also has great sit down restaurants, with Carthay Circle, Wine Country Trattoria, and Lamplight Lounge being some of the best restaurants in the resort. 

I would say Disneyland is better than Walt Disney World for Quick Service restaurants, but the overall dining quality at Walt Disney World is better. This makes dining a so-and-so aspect of Disneyland in terms of whether it’s worth visiting Disneyland specifically for it. There are some standouts definitely, as there are with every park, but unlike Walt Disney World where you could go to Epcot and just eat the food and feel like your day was well spent, you can’t say the same for the Disneyland Resort. 

One thing I have to mention is the price of the food. Water will set you back more than US$5, which should tell you just how expensive the food there is. There’s no sugarcoating it: food at the parks is expensive. It’s a good thing Disney allows you to bring food in because if not, I’m sure a lot of people would balk at the prices. The good thing is a lot of the good food at Disneyland is on the cheaper side. Still expensive, but cheaper since you’re eating at quick service restaurants or snack carts.

I would say even with the price, Disneyland food is worth it. The quality is good and to me it’s better than at least Paris and Shanghai in terms of food. It is expensive, but you don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to. My top tip is to just go grocery shopping and bring food in if you have budgetary constraints.  

Read my Disneyland Snack Guide and DCA Snack Guide!

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Shopping and Merchandise 

I will actually go against popular sentiment and say that Disneyland’s merchandise is actually pretty good. I know a lot of people like to rag on the US Disney Parks for not having good merch, especially compared to the Asia parks, but I personally find the merch selection at Disneyland just as good as the Asia parks. 

Merch, just like food, is a pretty subjective thing. I like Disneyland’s merch because I’m a fan of spirit jerseys, pins, and attraction-specific merch, which Disneyland does a lot of. If you want a specific character tee or merch for some rarer characters, Disneyland may not be the place for you. The Asian parks do character merch really well. I once even saw the oysters from Alice in Wonderland represented in merchandise at Hong Kong Disneyland. The cuts are that deep over there.  

But for what it is, Disneyland merch is great. There will be some misses here and there, but for the most part the merchandise is cute, varied, and the apparel is very size inclusive, unlike the Asian parks.

One thing we have to mention, though, is how expensive the merch is and how prices keep increasing every year. The spirit jerseys are nice, but they cost around US$80 now. Loungelfys cost even more than that. Prices all around at the Disneyland Resort are on the rise, and this is especially seen in merchandise and food. 

Some of the merch are worth the high price tag, specifically, the artworks, some t-shirts, and some of the toys. Everything else runs a little expensive. But if you’re not into buying merch anyway then this shouldn’t affect your decision as to whether or not visiting Disneyland is worth it.  

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Tickets

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For the purposes of this article, I won’t be reviewing the Magic Key annual passholder program. Presumably, if you’re reading this, you’re still on the fence about visiting Disneyland and are not the target market for a Magic Key unless you loved your first visit so much that you want to go back. You also probably aren’t visiting for long enough to make buying a Magic Key for your trip worth it. So for now, I’ll just stick to regular tickets. 

Tickets are expensive. I’m just going to put that out there right now. I bought a 2-day park hopper recently and the cost of the ticket was more than my annual pass to Hong Kong Disneyland. The prices are crazy. And the thing is the high prices are not deterring people from going to the park. People are still buying tickets even with the crazy prices. 

This is probably the one aspect of Disneyland that is overwhelmingly a notch in the “not worth it” column. While Disneyland has offered promotions for cheaper tickets in the past, specifically ticket deals for Southern California residents, as well as cheaper tickets when you book via a third party website, there’s no denying that prices are still insanely high. 

Disneyland likes to boast that they’ve kept the price of the cheapest 1-Day ticket (Tier 0) the same for multiple years now, but the truth behind that is there aren’t that many Tier 0 days on the calendar. Most days fall under Tiers 2 and above, and those ticket prices have been increasing steadily every year. 

If you really need to save on your tickets and you’re not a California resident, I would suggest buying from a third-party provider. I would highly recommend booking through Klook (I have an affiliate link for that which I will link here) or through Getaway Today. I’ve had good experiences with both websites and they’re both legitimate sellers of Disney tickets, most of the time at discounted prices. You can even bundle your tickets with a hotel stay on Getaway Today.

Tickets are a necessary evil for going to theme parks, but they don’t have to break the bank. Check out my Disneyland tickets guide for more info on how to buy and how to save money on your Disneyland tickets.  

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Lightning Lanes

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This is another aspect of Disneyland that, in my opinion, makes visiting not worth it. Lightning Lanes replaced the once free Fastpass system, now requiring guests to pay a fee, sometimes over $30 dollars, to skip the lines at popular attractions at the Disneyland Resort. 

When this was first introduced in 2021, it seemed like an obvious cash grab by Disney. They placed a once free service behind a paywall, and just like everything else at Disneyland, the prices of Lightning Lane Multi and Single pass have gone up since 2021. The crazy thing is, customers are still willing to pay these exorbitant fees to skip the lines, so as long as there is demand, Lightning Lane prices will keep increasing. 

Disneyland Worth It matterhorn

What’s even more disappointing is that, although you can access most Lightning Lane rides with a one-time, per day fee with Lightning Lane Multi Pass, there are two attractions not covered by this and that require a completely separate fee to gain access to the Lightning Lane Line. These rides are Radiator Springs Racers and Rise of the Resistance. 

The good news is that, fortunately, you don’t need to buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass to have a good day at the parks. Therefore, in terms of whether this contributes to making visiting Disneyland worth it, I would rank it pretty low. If you can afford it then by all means purchase it, but it’s not a requirement to have a good time at Disneyland. 

I have itineraries for both parks that can help you plan your day, with and without Lightning Lanes! 

1-Day DCA Itinerary

1-Day DCA Itinerary with Lightning Lane

1-Day Disneyland Itinerary

1-Day Disneyland Itinerary with Lightning Lane

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Hotels

Disneyland has three onsite hotels, namely the Disneyland Hotel, the Grand Californian, and the Pixar Place Hotel. All three of them have distinct themes, and have their own pools, restaurants, shops, and other amenities. I was lucky enough to stay at the Disneyland Hotel, and while I liked the pool, restaurants, and other amenities, I wouldn’t recommend staying here for one huge reason that should be obvious by now: the cost. 

Disneyland doesn’t have any value accommodations like Walt Disney World. I would say Pixar Place is a Moderate resort while the other two are Deluxe. Because of that, they can cost around $500 to $700 dollars a night, and based on what I experienced at the Disneyland Hotel, it is not worth the price. 

The room was nothing special, and there are better amenities in other cheaper 4-star hotels. Nothing really justified spending more than $700 a night. There were also no benefits to staying onsite. Disneyland has since removed the Early Entry perk and only gives hotel guests one complimentary lightning lane per person per stay. Again, this is just based on my experience, and your mileage may vary, but to me it isn’t worth staying on site at the Disneyland Resort.

Disneyland Worth It hotel

With that being said, I would still say that the hotels segment is notched in the “worth it” column when it comes to assessing whether visiting Disneyland is worth it. Why, you may ask? Well if you didn’t know, there are over 50 offsite hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts located around the Disneyland Resort! Most of them are cheaper than the Disneyland hotels, and some of them are even closer to the parks than some of the Disneyland hotels.

For the best location, I would look at the accommodations along Harbor Boulevard and Katella Avenue. I have personally stayed at the Castle Inn and Suites, as well as the Alpine Inn, and have loved my stays at both. They’re not the most up to date rooms, and the Disney hotel rooms are probably better, but if you just need a place to rest your head after a long day at the parks, then they’re well worth it. 

I remember 6 nights at the Castle Inn and Suites costing us $1000. If you’re keeping track, that’s only $300 more expensive than a 1-night stay at the Disneyland Hotel. You also get easy access to restaurants and stores around the Disneyland resort, making getting snacks and other essentials easy. Another hotel I’d recommend is the Howard Johnson.

You have so many options for hotels when you visit the Disneyland Resort, at prices that are actually pretty affordable. This is one of the aspects of a Disneyland vacation that I think are very worth it. 

Read my review of the Disneyland Hotel.

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Downtown Disney

I will admit this: Downtown Disney is not as good as Universal CityWalk. CityWalk has more shops, restaurants, and things to do. But that’s not to say Downtown Disney is bad. It’s still a great place to explore before or after your Disneyland days! There’s a plethora of unique shopping, dining, and other experiences that make it a really fun place to spend a couple of hours. 

Some of my favorite places are Splitsville, the Lego Store, Din Tai Fung, and Earl of Sandwich. And while it’s not open yet, Downtown Disney will soon be the home of a Porto’s Bakery. It’s also home to a huge World of Disney store, Disney Home store, and other specialty Disney stores. 

While I don’t agree with the new mid-century modern design scheme they’re currently doing at Downtown Disney, I still like the area and think it’s worth perusing at least once on your Disneyland vacation. When I went with my family we did Downtown Disney the day before our park days, and we had a good time wandering around and taking in all the stores. It was a great way to soak up the Disney vibe before we actually went to the parks. 

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Transportation

Disneyland Worth It canals

The Disneyland Resort is so compact. You can reach almost everything by walking. This is a big contrast from Walt Disney World where you need to take multiple transport options to get to where you want to go. At Disneyland, you just walk 5-10 minutes and you’ll end up at your destination pretty quickly. 

Park hopping at Disneyland only takes 1 minute. You simply walk across the esplanade and you’re already at the other park. Downtown Disney is also really easy to get to, and you can walk to most of the off-site hotels and on-site hotels easily from the parks. The only real area that you might have to take transport to get to the parks from are the two parking lots, which I will talk about in the next section.  

Disneyland Worth It inside out

But yes you can get almost anywhere in the Disneyland Resort area by walking. Now this might be a negative for those who don’t like walking after a full day at the park, but to me this is a positive because it makes getting around so simple. There’s no waiting for shuttles or timing your exits to beat the crowds to the transport bays, you simply just walk where you want to go. In some cases it might be a far walk, but at least you know it’s an option. 

There is also an Uber and Lyft area on Harbor Boulevard, for those that don’t want to walk back to your hotel after a long day at the parks. Some hotels will also offer a shuttle that will drop you off at the Harbor Boulevard entrance. But overall I would say that Disneyland excels at transportation options. 

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Parking

Now that being said, one thing that is neither good nor bad at Disneyland is their parking. Mostly because of, you guessed it, the price. Parking at Disneyland costs $40. And it doesn’t matter where you park. You could park in the, admittedly quite far, Toy Story Parking Lot and it’ll still cost $40. 

Now there are some ways to get around this. You could park at your hotel which usually provides free parking throughout the duration of your stay. You could also park towards the end of the night when sometimes they let people in for free. But other than that you’re looking at paying $40 for parking (and even more for preferred parking). 

Having said that, parking is generally a minor aspect of a Disneyland vacation, but it’s one that can sneak up on you if you don’t come prepared. I wouldn’t cancel a vacation just because the parking is expensive, but it’s something to keep in mind when you decide to visit Disneyland. 

Now there are three places to park at the Disneyland Resort: Mickey and Friends, Pixar Pals, and Toy Story. Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals are the main parking areas, with the Toy Story Lot being the secondary parking lot. I would say that parking at Mickey and Friends is easier as the tram ride is shorter than the bus ride from Toy Story, and they all cost the same anyway. 

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Crowds

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Disneyland is always crowded. There’s no way around it. Even when visiting in low season you’ll still experience crowds. They’re inevitable as Disneyland is one of the most visited places in the world. But that doesn’t mean it will ruin your vacation. I don’t see crowds as a negative, as there are many ways to get around them when you’re at Disneyland. 

You can wake up early and rope drop or stay till park close so you can maximize your time and get on many rides with little to no wait. You can use Lightning Lane Multi passes and Single passes to avoid long queues. You can ride attractions during parades and nighttime spectaculars. You can use single rider lines and buddy pass lines to skip queues as well. There are so many things you can do to skip the lines on attractions. 

I would actually even say that it’s more worth it to go when it’s a little more crowded (such as in early Summer or October) than going in January and February since hours tend to be longer in more crowded months and most attractions will be open as well compared to January and February when multiple attractions go down for refurbishments. Obviously, it’s good to avoid very crowded times like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break, but for the most part crowds can be managed with a little planning. 

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Cast Members

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I always say that cast members are the magic, and this is especially true at Disneyland. I know some people online have had bad experiences with cast members, but I wouldn’t generalize and say all of them are like that. A huge majority of Cast Members are nice, friendly, and will go out of their way to make your day better. They all understand that they have a role to play in creating the magic, and each and every one of them is vital to the operation of Disneyland. 

Some of my favorite cast members are the Jungle Cruise skippers, the Haunted Mansion cast members, the Rise of the Resistance cast members (particularly the First Order cast members), and all the performers who always work hard to put on a good show. But I have had great experiences with so many other cast members as well. 

They are the reason why the Disney parks are as successful and beloved as they are. All the rides and shows in the world would not be as fun or magical if the cast members weren’t there. So if you encounter an exceptional cast member, be sure to leave a cast compliment at Guest Relations or send one on the app. It just lets Disney know that you appreciate them, which goes a long way.  

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Is Visiting Disneyland Worth It in 2026?

Disneyland Worth It blues

So in the end, is visiting Disneyland worth it in 2026?

I would say yes! Absolutely!

The new attractions in Soarin Across America, the new Smugglers Run, and Bluey’s Best Day Ever, coupled with the seasonal events, the end of the 70th celebration, and cheap hotel options make this a great time to visit! You might have to spend extra on things like park tickets, food, and merch, but the latter two are essentially optional and I think the quality of the rides and shows that are there right now more than make those things worth it, especially the ticket price. 

The resort being so walkable, having good parking options, and superb cast members also are positives for the resort. Just remember to schedule a visit to Disneyland on a semi-off peak time and you should have a great time at the resort. 

Ultimately, however, the choice is up to you. If you think the park tickets are too expensive or the food is too expensive and it isn’t in your budget to make a trip like this, then don’t do it. Take a couple more months or years to save and then go on that trip if you still want to. Disneyland will still be there in a couple of years, so no need to rush a trip if you aren’t ready. 

That being said, it might be worth it to postpone your once-in-a-lifetime trip for a couple of years as DCA is undergoing its biggest expansion since the reimagining finished almost 14 years ago. They’re adding two rides to Avengers Campus, a Coco boat ride, and an Avatar-themed area. There’s so much to look forward to in the coming years, so if you would rather wait for that then by all means delay your trip by a few years. 

But in terms of whether it’s worth going to this year, I would say it is! If you’re on the fence about doing a trip, I say go book it! I promise you won’t regret it. Disneyland is charming, magical, and the original and only park Walt ever stepped foot in. It’s an enchanting place, and I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time.

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Is Visiting Disneyland Worth It in 2026 Conclusion

I hope this post was able to convince you to book that trip to Disneyland. It’s an incredible time to be at the Disneyland Resort. If you have any questions or need planning advice, feel free to send me a message on my socials!

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