I’ve been getting this question pretty frequently, so I think it’s time to address it!
Can you do all that Disneyland has to offer in just one day?
Short answer: No. Not even close.
You can’t do everything Disneyland has to offer in an entire week!
BUT! You can get a lot done in one day at Disneyland if at the right time of year, and if you go in with a plan! And that’s what I’m here to talk about today!
Depending on the age of your kiddos, you will have a different set of priorities for your visit to Disneyland. If you have teenagers, you’ll want to focus on getting as many of the bigger thrill rides done as possible. Younger kids might like the kiddie rides and meeting the characters, or you might want to go just for the snacks and photo opps!
In this post, I am talking about How to do Disneyland in one day IF your priority is eating all the delicious food!
General tips you should ALWAYS FOLLOW:
1. Get to the park for rope drop
2. Do not go in the peak months (mid-June-mid August) Too many people to get anything done and it’s way too hot.
3. Get a feel for the park layout beforehand, so you don’t have to constantly be looking at a map.
4. Go with, and stick to a plan!
Priority: Food
To be honest, I’ve never gone to Disneyland just for the food, and I’m usually on the hunt for affordable meals my kids will eat. So I’ll focus on affordable, kid friendly meals, and the snacks I’ve tried and liked!
Kid Friendly Meals!
1. Alien Pizza Planet – they have the basic pepperoni pizza and kid’s spaghetti but also really delicious pizza and salads for adults! View the full menu here. Expect to pay about $8-10 per person.
2. Hungry Bear Restaurant – serves American food, including kid’s hamburgers, chicken nuggets, and macaroni and cheese. Expect to pay about $12 for adults and $8 for kids. View the full menu here. Accepts mobile orders!
3. Galactic Grill – offers a breakfast menu with TONS of allergy friendly options at really good prices! For lunch and dinner, they have kid’s chicken nuggets and hamburgers for $8, and a delicious Veggie Wrap for under $10. Seriously, the wrap is so good. View the full menu here, accepts mobile orders!
4. Rancho del Zocalo – I wasn’t super impressed with my meal here, but they have a kid’s burrito and chicken taco for $8 each! View full menu here!
5. Red Rose Taverne – Also serves a lot of allergy friendly breakfast foods! For lunch and dinner, they have a kid’s mac n cheese, hamburger, and cheese pizza all for under $8. The beef poutine flatbread is hands down the most delicious thing EVER. And I’ve heard the Grey Stuff is delicious 😉 View the full menu here, accepts mobile orders!
Snacks:
1. Churros – these are $4.75 and can be found all over the park, but I seem to always get mine at the cart in Adventureland near Big Thunder! They are pretty big and can definitely be shared if you’re feeling generous.
2. Dole Whip – these famous treats can be found at the Tiki Juice Bar right outside the Tiki Room. They accept mobile ordering so do yourself a favor and order online! They get them out super fast and you won’t have to wait in the ever present line. These are about $5 and can definitely be shared, and they’re dairy free!
3. Mickey Beignets – I have been trying to taste these for weeks and it has never worked out! You normally find them at the Mint Julep Bar, but that is under construction at the moment. Until that is back up and running, you can find them at the French Market in New Orleans Square or Cafe Orleans (requires a reservation).
4. Popcorn – we almost always get popcorn when we go to Disneyland! The stand outside It’s a Small World sells bags of the most delicious kettle corn for $7. We like to grab a bag before watching the Mickey and the Magical Map show!
Finer Dining:
1. Lobster Rolls – you find these at the Harbour Galley near The Haunted Mansion! They are pricier at $15 but are DANG good and worth the splurge every once in a while! Harbour Galley also has clam chowder bread bowls for about $12 that are delicious and very filling, especially on cooler weather days! View the full menu here.
2. Blue Bayou Restaurant – I haven’t eaten here, but my mom and brother did once and they loved it! This restaurant is inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride so the ambience is soooo good, and would make a fun date night spot! Meals are definitely on the pricier side, and you’ll need to make reservations far in advance. View the menu here.