How to do Disneyland as an adult—our foolproof guide

Fact: Disney is a delight at every age—but there are definitely some experiences that shine extra bright for adults. Yes, adults. After all, now that you’re the one calling the shots, you can ride any ride, eat anywhere, stay out until the park closes, then come back the next day and do it all over again.

And then there’s the decidedly adult annual Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, which is on now through April 26. It’s packed with food, wine, and spirit seminars and exclusive events all over the resort–including in Downtown Disney District and on-property hotels.

One person who knows a lot about park playtime for grownups is Nataly Guzman. As a kid, she made yearly visits with her parents, who would save up for these special trips. And as an adult, she returned to the park as a Disney VIP Tour Guide and is now one of two Disneyland Ambassadors.

To Guzman, it’s no secret why Disneyland delights adults. “It's this small pocket of charm and wonder in this huge world,” she says, and a place where childhood dreams can come true at any age. “I've seen grown adults burst into tears in front of the Millennium Falcon or geek out when seeing Spider-Man swing through the air above Avengers Campus.”

Beyond the festival food, Guzman points out that park eats have always provided an adult version of playtime. She’s found a new fave in the Elote Loaded Pretzel from PYM Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus, raving about its soft pretzel deliciousness “with all the makings of street corn.”

Another adult Disney favorite? Date night, and Guzman has ideas. “Go on a fairy-tale date! Ride some of our classic attractions based on ‘happily ever afters,’ like Snow White's Enchanted Wish or Ariel's Undersea Adventure. Storybook Land Canal Boats are so whimsical at nighttime.” Plus, hitting outdoor rides at night is guaranteed goosebumps. “Radiator Springs Racers, Incredicoaster, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Matterhorn Bobsleds get an added element of thrill when experienced at night!”

But of course Disney is really about tapping into that kid-at-heart. And an easy way to do that is dressing the part. “I think everyone needs to own a Disney headpiece of some kind!” Guzman says there’s a special magic of getting your first pair, no matter your age. “Where else can you wear ears and not be questioned about it?” “Bounding,” aka using everyday clothing to channel your favorite characters, is another cool way to get into the Disney spirit. When Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opened, Guzman had fun “‘Batuu-bounding,’ or dressing in a way I imagined a rebel version of myself in the Star Wars universe dressing!”

Before you set off, Guzman offers this practical pro advice: Bring a portable battery pack to keep your phone charged (the Disney App is key), ask cast members for advice (they’re experts and have tons of great ideas), and, most of all, “Be prepared for anything, go with the flow, and remember that you're there to have fun!”

In this Disneyland edition of the WeekEnder, we’ll show you how to get giddy—even as a grownup—in the House that Walt Built. Read on for our picks below.

—Christine Sarkis, SoCal’s Senior WeekEnder Guide

Bring on the nostalgia and get ready to play.

Great news: World of Color is coming back to Disney California Adventure on April 22! For the uninitiated, this show is 22 minutes of Disney and Pixar movie dialogue and songs set against an amazing backdrop of lasers, water jets, and pyrotechnics under the stars. TBD on whether you’ll be able to book reserved seating like in the old (pre-Covid) days, but no matter what, there are plenty of great vantage points around the park to catch the show.

Even if those childhood astronaut dreams didn’t pan out, you’ve still got Space Mountain. The famous Disney mainstay will take you to the stars and back on a super zippy coaster ride through space. Board your rocket ship and blast off, climbing up through the ‘70s-tastic strobe lights before launching into the darkness, gaining speed as you dodge stars. After the ride, pause to laugh at your coaster-face pic (terrified? happy screaming? weirdly casual?) and buy a throwback Space Mountain tee.

BREAKOUT!: A few years ago, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure Park was replaced by this fun romp through the universe of Guardians of the Galaxy. Here’s the set up: Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket, Drax and Groot have been taken hostage by the Collector, and it’s up to you and Rocket to save the day. This big-thrills drop ride has a bangin’ classic rock soundtrack and six different storylines, so you get something a little different with each ride. Which gives you the perfect excuse to ride it twice.

Now that you’re a grown-up, you can splurge on what you love, and for Disney diehards, that means seeing The Happiest Place on Earth as a true VIP. This tour scores you and up to nine others a personal concierge who will listen to all your Disney dreams and plan your ultimate day with a dedicated guide. Priority access to rides and dining reservations are all part of the package, as are insider tips and cool stories. True, this perk is pricey (about $3,000), but splitting the bill with friends drives down the per-person cost of this ultimate Disneyland experience.

Save your time inside the park for riding the rides, watching the parades, and going back for thirds on Dole Whip. When you’ve made the most of your ticket, head to Downtown Disney to find the ultimate souvenir at The World of Disney. This massive store offers the West Coast’s biggest selection of Disney merch. Want a classic ringer Mickey tee? An “I’d Rather Be at Disneyland” flair pin? A replica vintage “Main Entrance” marquee sign? A sparkly Tomorrowland Minnie Mouse ears headband? It’s here, along with memorabilia, movie gear, and so, so much candy.

From stellar sweets to upscale eats, here’s where to fuel up at Disneyland.

Plan ahead: Blue Bayou is, hands-down, one of Disneyland’s hottest tickets. Not only does a dining reservation score you a trip to the Louisiana bayou, complete with moonlit fireflies and the gentle sound of lapping water, it also puts you right inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. From the restaurant’s New Orleans Square entrance, you step into a world where moss-draped oaks and hanging lanterns provide the surprisingly romantic backdrop for your meal. Too hard to score a seat at Blue Bayou? No problem: Try the charming Cafe Orleans next door, where the Monte Cristo sandwich is a must-order.

Batuu’s most notorious watering hole? This is it. Step straight into Star Wars at Oga’s Cantina, where Droid DJs spin out-of-this-world music sets and space smugglers are the local bar flies. This is one of the few places to drink inside Disneyland, and this mostly standing-room joint is a hard reservation to score, so plan ahead (or perfect your Jedi mind trick). Once you’re in, it’s time to soak up the atmosphere and order a drink. There are non-alcoholic options, but the stars of the show are the themed cocktails like the Bourbon-based Jet Juice, the rum-tastic Yub Nub, or the Gin-and-elderflower Tarkenian Night Flower.

Tucked above the pool area at the Disneyland Hotel sits one of Disney’s hidden gems: Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. Heads up, there’s a lot going on at this Jungle-Cruise-inspired spot, with walls lined in global trinkets, volcanoes erupting on the regular, and fun-loving bartenders. Cocktails go all in on the tropical theme–try the popular Pago Pago, which blends rum, chartreuse, creme de cacao, pineapple, and lime. And dishes like ramen and poke bowls are worth the trip alone.

It’s a toss up whether the real winner is your tastebuds or your Instagram followers, but let’s just say both are going to love the truly over-the-top milkshakes available at the CrazyShake window at Black Tap in Downtown Disney. These gravity-defying desserts look amazing, and they taste just as good. Think: entire wedges of cake balanced on the rim of a candy-encrusted glass. Signature shakes include The Bam Bam, a Fruity Pebbles shake topped with a Rice Krispy treat, strawberry Pop Tarts, and Laffy Taffy; and the Brooklyn Blackout, a chocolate-heavy concoction topped with two chocolate brownies. There’s even a vegan version of the crowd-pleasing CakeShake, so everyone can sip happy.

At Uva Bar, you won’t miss a minute of the action. That’s because this open-air bar and patio is an island surrounded by the sea of Downtown Disney. Soak up the sunshine or grab a seat in the shade of an oversized yellow umbrella, then browse the menu of Cal-Med options like flatbreads, crispy calamari, and chicken gyros. There’s also a full range of burgers and fries, plus faves like carne asada fries and fish tacos. And like the name implies, Uva has a full bar with a ton of cocktails and a great wine and beer list for a decidedly adult take on Disney eats.

For sweet dreams close to the Disney magic, check out these hotels.

The fact that Hyatt House sits just across the street from the rides of Disney’s California Adventure means that the night-before-your-big-day excitement starts as soon as you pull up to the hotel. (Just note, it’s a 14-minute walk to the parks’ entrance.) You can expect the Hyatt’s usual sleek and modern look, and 230 of its 264 rooms are suites–including some Kitchen Suites with fully equipped kitchenettes. Free breakfast makes it a cinch to fuel up pre-park, and the pool and hot tub are the perfect spot to recharge at the end of the day. There’s also a 24-hour gym, but let’s face it, you’re definitely going to get your steps in even without the help of a treadmill.

If your goal is to go big on Disney, the Disneyland Hotel will make it happen. The magic starts with the teacup seats in the lobby and continues with playful design touches everywhere. Rooms have all sorts of great details like oversized headboards of Cinderella's Castle topped with fireworks. (Spoiler alert: They sparkle!) The pool area has just the right amount of tropical resort vibes—plus plenty of room for lounging poolside with a drink. And the hotel’s location puts you right at the gateway to Downtown Disney and super close to a Monorail station that can deliver you straight to Tomorrowland.

High up on the list of reasons to stay at the brand-spankin’-new Westin Anaheim is the rooftop bar with unbeatable Disney California Adventure Park views, which pair perfectly with its cocktails, tapas, and live music. Other resort perks include poofy cloudlike Heavenly Beds, fab new guest rooms (some with private balconies looking onto DCA), and a made-for-relaxing heated pool. From The Westin, it’s about a 20-minute walk (or an eight-minute drive) to the parks’ entrance.

Just because you're a Disney fan doesn't mean you want to sleep in bunk beds outfitted with Goofy sheets thankyouverymuch. For the Disney sophisticate, there's JW Marriott Anaheim. In addition to the gorgeous rooms packed with deluxe bath products, 400-thread count linens, and pillow-top mattresses, you get access to the pool, yoga room, and well-outfitted fitness center (complete with Peloton bikes). From the rooftop bar, you can watch the Disney fireworks with a drink in hand; and you’re close to a ton of great dining options including the hotel's Italian chophouse and a whole slew of eateries at the neighboring Anaheim Gardenwalk. The resort is about a 20-minute walk from Disneyland, yet it somehow feels a world away.

When your priorities are a comfortable-but-unfussy hotel as close as can be to the park entrance, the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn delivers. Pair its primo location—at the crosswalk to the pedestrian entrance to Disneyland—with the free hot breakfast, and you’ve got all the tools to be an unstoppable early riser ready for a full day of fun. Bonus: The hotel’s mini suites sleep up to six, which means you can invite all your favorite Mouseketeers.

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