Planning Your Trip to Disneyland: A Guide SEE FULL GUIDE prev next How to Meet the Characters Disneyland Shows & Entertainment The Best Rides at Disneyland Rollercoasters at Disneyland Disney's Best Rides for Kids What to Do at Night at Disney Making Restaurant Reservations Character Dining at Disney Disney's Best Table Service Restaurants Disney's Best Quick Service Restaurants Disney's Best Snacks & Desserts Disney's Best Ice Cream Things You Can't Bring to Disney How to Reduce Your Wait Times The Best Disneyland Apps Things to Do for Free at Disney 13 Terms to Know for Your Trip The Best Time to Visit Disneyland Disneyland Weather The Best Disneyland Hotels How to Get to Disneyland Getting Around Disneyland & Anaheim Opening & Closing Times The Best Souvenirs to Buy at Disney Disneyland Ticket Options FastPass & MaxPass Disneyland Magic Morning Fireworks at Disneyland Birthdays at Disneyland Things to Do at Disneyland on Halloween Mickey's Halloween Party Disneyland at Christmas The Best Things to Do at Disneyland Planning Your Trip to Disneyland: A Guide close Overview United States California Disneyland The Top 10 Things to Do at Disneyland By Betsy Malloy Betsy Malloy Facebook Twitter Betsy has been writing about California for nearly more than two decades as TripSavvy's expert on the state. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 05/02/20 Fact checked by Jillian Dara Fact checked by Jillian Dara Instagram Emerson College Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Michelin Guides, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Forbes. TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email Disneyland in California is packed with so many things to see and do. The park always has something going on, such as shows, fireworks, parades, and special events. And even on quieter, less eventful days at the park, you can still easily fill your day there with plenty of the other fun attractions and activities. Use this guide to learn about some of the best things to do when visiting Disneyland to make your trip there a memorable one. 01 of 10 Enjoy the Rides Mark Downey / Getty Images Rides are the reason most people go to Disneyland, and they've got a broad range of options, from gentle boat trips to the white-knuckled, scream-yourself-silly kind. The Disneyland Ride Guide and California Adventure Ride Sheet have all the details, listed by type, height restrictions, and photos. 02 of 10 Meet Disney Characters smckenzie/Getty Images What could be more fun than meeting your favorite Disney character in person? Minnie and Mickey Mouse have residences in Disneyland's Toontown where you can drop in, and the Star Wars characters hold meet and greets in the Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrowland. You'll also find a whole host of other characters around the parks and at special character breakfasts. 03 of 10 Celebrate a Birthday, Anniversary, or Special Occasion Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland Resort If you're going to Disneyland for a special birthday, honeymoon, anniversary or another occasion, you don't have to celebrate alone. And you don't have to pay a penny extra, either. When you arrive, stop at Disneyland's City Hall or California Adventure Guest Relations to pick up a souvenir birthday or celebration button. Wear the button and you'll feel like a celebrity all day, with Cast Members and other guests offering you best wishes all day. 04 of 10 Go Shopping Betsy Malloy Photography You'll find a themed store outside many of the most popular rides full of tempting souvenirs. You'll find lots of shops along Main Street U.S.A. and along the street near New Orleans Square. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique near the castle sells costumes to suit all the mini princesses that visit the park. The Disney Gallery on Main Street or Off the Page in California Adventure are the best places to head to score a special collectible, or try the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney. Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 Celebrate the Holidays Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland In some respects, every day feels like a holiday at Disneyland. It's like Fourth of July every time they set off the fireworks. Disneyland also gets gussied up for Halloween, and Mickey Mouse hosts a Halloween Party that has its own parade and fireworks. The park also celebrates Christmas with handmade candy canes, festive treats, and holiday-themed overlays at It's a Small World and Haunted Mansion. 06 of 10 See a Show Scott Brinegar/Disneyland Resort Disneyland and California Adventure have some great live shows featuring singing, dancing, and sometimes a little audience participation. If you aren't into rides, you could easily spend an entire day just watching the shows. The Frozen show at California Adventure is a favorite. California Adventure has other options, too, including the World of Color, a water-and-lights show worth staying up late for. 07 of 10 Watch a Parade Courtesy of Disneyland Resort In most places, you're lucky to see one parade a year, but at Disneyland, you can watch two or three in a single day. In Disneyland, the Pixar Play Parade (which was previously at California Adventure) runs once or twice a day. 08 of 10 Watch the Fireworks FrozenShutter/Getty Images Disneyland has fireworks about 250 times a year, and they're some of the best you'll see anywhere. They're launched using low-smoke, low-pollution, quieter technology. Plus, they're not just pretty, but they tell a story, too, with the help of some amazing projection effects that go with them. A perennial favorite Fantasmic! also offers a generous helping of fireworks and special effects. Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Have a Meal Courtesy of Disneyland Resort You'll find plenty of places to eat in the parks and just outside them, too, from a simple pretzel and a fountain drink to a full, sit-down dinner. Most are first-come, first serve, but a few require reservations. You can also have a meal while getting a chance to meet the Disney characters at the hotels and inside the theme parks. 10 of 10 Do Some People-Watching Kayte Deioma People-watching is a favorite thing to do at Disneyland while you're relaxing and taking a break from running around and exploring the park. Find a bench or a place to rest, and watch all the visitors and characters stroll by. Some of the best spots to do this are the benches around the "hub" between Main Street U.S.A. and the castle. In California Adventure, head to Paradise Pier or Hollywood Land. How to Meet the Characters Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit