tour of disneyland california

Disneyland Resort VIP Tours

Roll out the red carpet for your family with our customizable vip experience—and get ready for your most magical day ever, reservations are required. email us or call (714) 300-7710 to book today, private tour guide.

Welcome to the ultimate Disney experience—Disneyland Resort VIP Tours—that combines the hospitality Disney is known for, plus a wealth of premium benefits!

Hassle-Free Planning

Personalized scheduling.

“Let your concierge be your guide” and design a customized yet flexible schedule for your family.

Concierge Booking

Get your specific needs and priorities served—including booking your dining reservations in advance!

Reserved Viewing

A night to remember.

Enjoy reserved viewing for fireworks at Disneyland Park and World of Color at Disney California Adventure Park, subject to availability.

Look Who’s Passing By!

Wave hello to some of your Disney pals during a Disneyland Park parade from a reserved viewing section, subject to availability.

Expedited Access

Vip service, from the very first greeting….

Delight in Disney’s acclaimed hospitality and attention to detail—and get help for your needs.

Insider Storytelling 

Your own personal guide will entertain your family with insider tips and stories throughout the day.

Immerse Yourself in Disney Magic and Stories

Valuable tips, how to book.

Planning Your VIP Tour

Get help planning your trip with important information along with the assistance of VIP Tour Coordinators. 

• VIP Tour Coordinators can help you preplan major items such as start times, special celebrations, specific family priorities for the day and special dining needs.

• VIP Tour Coordinators can also help you book Disneyland Resort dining reservations.

• Your VIP Tour schedule will not be a minute-by-minute itinerary but will allow you the flexibility to make impromptu changes along the way.

• Tour length is customizable to your needs, with a minimum of 7 hours and a maximum of 10 hours.

• Tour services are available during normal park operating hours only.

Know Before You Go

Theme Park Admission

Separate theme park admission and park reservation are both required to enter a park and for all Disneyland Resort Tours.

• Park admission is not included in the VIP Tour price. 

• Park reservations will be obtained for Guests with confirmed VIP Tours.

• Same-day visits to one or both theme parks—Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park—requires separate admission to both parks.

Tips and Information about Your Special Day

Questions? Here is some information that might help answer them.

• Minors (Guests under the age of 18) must be accompanied by an adult (18 years of age or older) during the entire tour.

• Complimentary strollers and wheelchairs offered to VIP Tour Guests (based on availability).

• VIP Tours are outdoor walking tours, so please wear comfortable walking shoes—and remember to check the weather forecast in advance and to dress appropriately. Inclement weather may also affect available entertainment, attractions and experiences.

• All offerings, services and experiences are subject to availability, change or cancellation without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

Related Activities

The 21 royal experience.

Host an extraordinary dinner party—with the help of an expert sommelier—at a private residence in the heart of Disneyland Park.

Crown Collection by Disneyland Resort

Explore a thoughtfully curated suite of personalized services and offerings at the Disneyland Resort.

Walt’s Main Street Story Tour

Learn little-known facts about Main Street, U.S.A. during this enchanting tour—which includes a visit to Walt’s apartment in Town Square!

Land of Dreams VIP Tour

Ultimate Guide to a Magical Tour of Disneyland

Greetings fellow Disney enthusiasts! If you’re dreaming of a magical adventure at the happiest place on Earth, look no further than Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. As a Disney fanatic myself, I’m thrilled to share with you the ultimate guide to planning an unforgettable tour of Disneyland .

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney fan, this guide is packed with valuable information to ensure you make the most of your Disneyland experience . From iconic attractions to insider tips, we’ll cover it all. So put on your Mickey ears, and let’s dive into the world of Disney magic!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways:

• Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is the dream destination for Disney lovers.
• This guide will provide you with everything you need for a magical tour of Disneyland .
• Discover the best attractions, hidden gems, and insider tips for an unforgettable Disney adventure.
• Explore Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park for unique experiences.
• Plan your visit carefully, considering the best times to go and how to make the most of your trip.

Disneyland Park: The Original Magic

When it comes to Disney magic, there’s nothing quite like experiencing the enchantment of Disneyland Park . As the original Disney theme park, Disneyland Park holds a special place in the hearts of Disney fans of all ages.

Opened in 1955 and masterfully designed by Walt Disney himself, Disneyland Park is spread across a sprawling 40 hectares. Within its gates, visitors can explore nine themed areas that transport them into a world of imagination and wonder.

Step into the magical land of Fantasyland, where beloved fairy tales come to life. Experience the thrill of Tomorrowland, where futuristic adventures await . Embark on exciting journeys in Adventureland, or embark on a galaxy-spanning adventure in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

But it’s not just the immersive themed areas that make Disneyland Park a must-visit destination. The park is also home to a plethora of iconic attractions that have captured the hearts of millions.

Take a daring ride on Space Mountain and feel the exhilaration as you zoom through space. Explore the eerie halls of the Haunted Mansion and encounter the supernatural. Or hop aboard Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, a new and exciting experience that brings the beloved characters to life like never before.

Disneyland Park truly offers something for everyone. Whether you’re seeking classic Disney adventures or thrilling new experiences, this park guarantees an unforgettable journey for visitors of all ages.

• Explore the nine themed areas that make up Disneyland Park.
• Immerse yourself in the magic of Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, and more.
• Discover iconic attractions like Space Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
• Create lifelong memories with your loved ones in the original Disney theme park.

Disney California Adventure Park: A World of Fun

Disney California Adventure Park , located adjacent to Disneyland Park, offers a different Disney experience with its eight themed lands. From Cars Land to Pixar Pier , there are thrilling rides, entertaining shows, and delicious dining options to explore.

One of the must-visit attractions in Disney California Adventure Park is the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! This exhilarating ride takes you on a high-speed journey with Star-Lord and his gang as they battle against the Collector. Hold on tight and prepare for an out-of-this-world adventure.

For those who are fans of the beloved movie Frozen , the Frozen – Live at the Hyperion show is not to be missed. Experience the magic of Elsa, Anna, and Olaf as their story comes to life on stage with stunning visuals, enchanting music, and captivating performances.

Disney California Adventure Park is a must-visit destination for those looking for even more Disney magic during their Disneyland vacation or Disneyland trip . Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a lover of entertainment, or a foodie, this park has something for everyone.

When to Go and How to Plan Your Visit

Planning your visit to Disneyland is crucial for a smooth and enjoyable experience. While the park is open all year round, there are better times to visit than others. Winter is generally a quieter time with mild temperatures, making it a great option for those looking to avoid crowds. However, certain attractions and shows may have limited availability during this time.

Summer , on the other hand, is the busiest season at Disneyland. With kids out of school and families on vacation, expect larger crowds and longer wait times for popular attractions. It’s essential to plan ahead and arrive at the park at least an hour prior to the official opening to maximize your time.

To fully experience the magic of Disneyland, consider purchasing multi-day tickets . This allows you to explore both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park without feeling rushed. Plus, it provides flexibility to revisit your favorite attractions and catch shows you might have missed on your initial visit.

If you want to skip the long lines and make the most of your time, consider adding Disney Genie+ to your Disneyland vacation package. Disney Genie+ offers a convenient way to access popular attractions through Lightning Lane entrances, minimizing wait times and maximizing fun.

Another pro tip for planning your visit is to make dining reservations in advance. Restaurants can get busy, especially during peak times, so securing reservations ahead of time will save you the hassle of waiting for a table and ensure you don’t miss out on any culinary delights Disneyland has to offer.

Whether you’re planning a Disney vacation with your family, friends, or going solo, careful planning and consideration of the best time to go will enhance your overall Disneyland experience . Now that you know the ins and outs of timing and ticket options, you’re one step closer to a magical adventure at Disneyland!

Must-See Attractions and Insider Tips

With so many attractions to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. But fear not, I’m here to guide you through the must-see attractions and provide some insider tips for an unforgettable Disneyland vacation .

Classic Disney Experiences

When visiting Disneyland Park, make sure to experience the iconic rides that have delighted guests for decades. Take a thrilling plunge on Splash Mountain, journey through the haunted halls of the Haunted Mansion, and blast off into space on Space Mountain. These attractions are a testament to the timeless magic of Disney.

Disney California Adventure Park Thrills

If you’re looking for excitement, head over to Disney California Adventure Park, where you’ll find a world of fun waiting for you. Don’t miss the heart-pounding adventure of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, the high-speed thrills of Incredicoaster, and the immersive race through Radiator Springs on Radiator Springs Racers. These attractions will leave you wanting more.

Utilize Disney Genie+ and Guided Tours

To make the most of your time at Disneyland, take advantage of Disney Genie+. This service offers faster access to popular attractions, minimizing wait times and maximizing fun. Additionally, consider joining one of the guided tours, such as Walt’s Main Street Story Tour. These tours provide a deeper understanding of the park’s history, hidden secrets, and behind-the-scenes magic.

Now that you know the must-see attractions and have some insider tips, it’s time to plan your magical Disneyland vacation . Get ready to create memories that will last a lifetime!

Dining and Entertainment Options

When it comes to a Disneyland vacation, the fun doesn’t stop at thrilling rides and enchanting attractions. Disneyland is also known for its delectable dining options that cater to every taste and budget. From quick snacks to character dining experiences, there is something to satisfy everyone’s cravings.

One of the must-try treats at Disneyland is the famous Dole Whip. This refreshing pineapple soft-serve is a fan favorite and perfect for a hot day in the park. Another iconic treat is the Mickey-shaped beignets, fluffy pastries dusted with powdered sugar that are simply irresistible.

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience, head to the Blue Bayou Restaurant. Located inside the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, this restaurant offers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere with its dimly lit ambiance and views of the passing boats. Indulge in delicious Cajun and Creole-inspired dishes while immersing yourself in the enchanting world of the Pirates.

Aside from dining, Disneyland also offers a variety of entertainment options to enhance your magical experience. Catch one of the parades, where beloved Disney characters come to life with lively music, colorful floats, and sparkling costumes. Be sure to check the schedule ahead of time, so you don’t miss out on these magical performances.

In addition to parades, Disneyland presents enchanting shows and nighttime spectaculars. From the classic “Fantasmic!” to the mesmerizing “World of Color,” these breathtaking performances will leave you in awe. Sit back, relax, and prepare to be dazzled as Disney magic unfolds right before your eyes.

Plan your day accordingly to make the most of the dining and entertainment options at Disneyland. Consult the park schedule, which can be accessed through the official Disneyland website or mobile app, to ensure you don’t miss any of the magical experiences. Whether it’s dining on delectable treats or immersing yourself in captivating shows, Disneyland has something to delight every visitor.

Disneyland is the ultimate destination for a magical vacation and a truly unforgettable trip. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney fan, this guide has provided you with all the information you need to plan the perfect Disneyland experience . From the iconic Disneyland Park to the thrilling Disney California Adventure Park, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

By following our tips and recommendations, you’ll be well-prepared to make the most of your Disneyland vacation. Don’t forget to explore the must-see attractions, utilize Disney Genie+ for faster access, and indulge in the delicious dining options. And let’s not forget the incredible entertainment options that will leave you in awe.

So, gather your loved ones, pack your bags, and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime at the happiest place on Earth. Disneyland offers a variety of packages and tours to suit every budget and preference. Whether you’re looking for a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a solo adventure, Disneyland has it all. Create memories that will last a lifetime and experience the magic of Disneyland!

When is the best time to visit Disneyland?

The best time to visit Disneyland is during the winter months, as it tends to be quieter with mild temperatures. However, if you prefer the hustle and bustle, summer, Halloween, and Christmas are the busiest times.

What should I do to avoid long waits at Disneyland?

To avoid long waiting times, it is recommended to arrive at the park an hour prior to the official opening. You can also purchase multi-day tickets to fully experience the magic of Disneyland and consider adding Disney Genie+ for skip-the-line access. Additionally, making dining reservations in advance can help you avoid long waits for meals.

What are some must-see attractions at Disneyland?

Some must-see attractions at Disneyland include classic rides like Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain. In Disney California Adventure Park, make sure to visit Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Incredicoaster, and Radiator Springs Racers.

Are there any guided tours available at Disneyland?

Yes, Disneyland offers a variety of guided tours that provide a deeper understanding of the park’s history and secrets. Some popular tours include the Walk in Walt’s Footsteps tour and the Walt’s Main Street Story Tour.

What dining options are available at Disneyland?

Disneyland offers a wide range of dining options, from quick snacks on the go to character dining experiences. Don’t miss the famous Dole Whip, Mickey-shaped beignets, and dining at unique locations like the Blue Bayou Restaurant.

What entertainment options are available at Disneyland?

Disneyland hosts a variety of entertainment options, including parades, shows, and nighttime spectaculars. Be sure to check the schedule and plan your day accordingly to catch these magical performances.

Is there a separate ticket for special events at Disneyland?

Yes, Disneyland occasionally hosts special ticketed events, such as seasonal celebrations and themed parties. These events typically require a separate ticket in addition to your regular park admission.

Can I take a behind-the-scenes tour of Disneyland?

Yes, Disneyland offers behind-the-scenes tours that take you on a journey to discover the magic behind the park. These tours provide a unique perspective and insight into the inner workings of Disneyland.

How can I make the most of my Disneyland experience?

To make the most of your Disneyland experience, plan your visit in advance, prioritize must-see attractions, utilize skip-the-line options like Disney Genie+, and take advantage of guided tours for a deeper understanding of the park. Don’t forget to immerse yourself in the dining and entertainment options to truly soak up the magical atmosphere.

Related Posts

Explore Best California Road Trips – Top Routes!

Looking For a Place to Visit in California? Go to these Must-See Spots!

Top San Diego Visiting Places to Explore

Experience the Best of SanFran – Top Attractions & Tips

Discover Sonoma California – Wine Country Charm

Top California Attractions | Must-See Gems

Ultimate Travel Guide to California: Tips & Spots

Vacationing In Palm Springs: Essential Tips for a Memorable Desert Oasis Escape

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Disneyland Tours You Will Be Delighted You Took

Betsy Malloy Photography

A Disneyland tour is just the thing for anyone who loves Disneyland and Walt Disney. But many of the most ardent Disney-loving fans never heard of them. They aren't well advertised, and it's hard to find information about them even if you know they exist.

If you're a true Disneyland fan, you may find taking a Disneyland tour is just the thing to add your Disney Bucket List. If you're a first time visitor, you may not want to tie up several hours of your day on a tour, but that depends on how much you love Disney.

This guide covers all the ways you can go behind the scenes at Disneyland, to see how they make the magic and get some insider stories,

Some Disneyland tours are seasonal, and others may only be offered during busier times of the year. You can get current prices and find out which tours are available  at the Disneyland Tour web page .

How to Reserve a Disneyland Tour

To take a tour on your own, you must be at least 18 years old. A paying adult must accompany guests under 16 years old, and there may be height restrictions on some of the included attractions.

To take a tour, you'll first need to buy a ticket to get into the park. It must be valid for the day you take the tour. To avoid disappointment, reserve your tour as soon as you can bu no more than 30 days in advance.

The only way to reserve your tour is by calling 714-781-8687. Write down the confirmation number they give you because you won't get a confirmation email. You must pay when you reserve and the fee is not refundable.

When you get to Disneyland, go to the tour kiosk near City Hall. Give them your confirmation number and be prepared to show your ID. Or give them your name and show them the credit card you used to pay for your reservation. You will meet your tour guide in the same area.

These are the Disneyland tours you may be able to take. Except for the Adventures by Disney tour, they don't include much that's really behind the scenes, but you will learn a lot and see things from a different perspective. The souvenir pins are unique fun collectibles, too.

Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour : Designed for the Disney-lover, this 3.5-hour, fact-and-trivia-filled tour explores how Walt Disney's vision became a reality. The tour also includes a delicious meal and a collectible souvenir.

VIP Tour : Ths experience is just what you might imagine, with priority access to attractions, reserved seating, and a personal coordinator. Before you look at the price, know that it covers up to 10 people.

Grand Circle Tour : Go behind the scenes to explore Walt Disney's love for trains and get a ride in the Disneyland Railroad’s special parlor car, the Lilly Belle.

Behind the Scenes at Disneyland and in Hollywood

This multi-day tour definitely belongs on your Disney Bucket List, if you're a hardcore fan.

Adventures by Disney runs guided tours all over the world, but not are quite like their Backstage Magic tour. It's a six-day, five-night ramble you'll never forget. It goes behind the scenes at Disney Studios, Disney Imagineering, and both California theme parks. And the most fun is that you get into places not open to the public, which may include Disney Imagineering and Disney Studios.

Seasonal Disneyland Tours

Check the Disneyland website for seasonal tours. They include: 

Disney's Happiest Haunts is a Halloween-themed tour that features some spooking sightings at Disneyland, spine-tingling tales. And of course - a collectible souvenir pin, which is redesigned every year.

Holiday Time at Disneyland tours are offered from mid-November through early January. They usually include a chance to explore all the holiday traditions and decorations. You also get express boarding for "it's a small world" Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday. And reserved seating for the Christmas parade. And to keep it fresh, they change parts of the tour every year.

Things for Your Disneyland Bucket List

Disneyland vs. Disney World: Which Is Better?

The Complete Guide to Disney's Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

The 20 Best Things to Do Near Disneyland in California

10 Reasons to Visit Disneyland at Halloween

Disney World Vs. Universal Orlando

The Best Haunted Attractions

Disneyland at Christmas: What to Expect

How to Celebrate Your Disneyland Birthday

How to Actually Meet the Disneyland Characters

How to Have a Fantastic Disneyland Experience at Fantasmic!

Things You Can Get for Free at Disneyland

The Best Disneyland Souvenirs

Disneyland Tips

Disneyland Train

How to Make Disneyland Restaurant Reservations

THE 10 BEST Disneyland Resort Tours & Excursions

Disneyland resort tours.

• Walking Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Private Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. The History and Architecture of Downtown Los Angeles

2. Disneyland Resort Tickets

3. Los Angeles: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

4. LA Food Tour: Exploring America’s Culinary Frontier

5. LA Little Tokyo to Olvera St Smartphone (App/GPS) Walking Tour

6. Self Guided Driving Adventure Through Coastal Orange County

7. Disneyland Resort Tickets - Australia / New Zealand Residents Only

8. Pretty Gritty Arts District Bike Tour

9. Thai Cooking Class in Fullerton near Disneyland

10. The Los Angeles Sightseeing Flex Pass: Save Big on 20+ Hollywood Attractions

11. Los Angeles Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches and More

The Best of LA Tour: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Griffith Park +More

Small-Group Hollywood, LA Beaches & Filming Location Tour from Anaheim

Best of LA, Hollywood, Griffith Park, Santa Monica & Venice Tour from Anaheim

Full-Day Los Angeles Sightseeing Tour from Anaheim

Hollywood to Beverly Hills Sightseeing Tour from Orange County

The Los Angeles & Hollywood Tour from Orange County

Private Air Tour Above Orange County Coastline

Moke Rentals in Huntington Beach

Orange County Coastal Sightseeing Tour

Catalina Island Trip with Hotel transfers & Optional tours

Private Surf Lesson in Huntington Beach - Bolsa Chica State Beach

Private Surf Lesson Newport Beach, California

The Los Angeles & Hollywood Tour From Anaheim

Private Hollywood To Beverly Hills sightseeing tour from Orange County

Santa Ana Scavenger Hunt: Wind Through Santa Ana’s Downtown

Anaheim Puzzling Adventure

Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Garden Grove by Zombie Scavengers

Lower Antelope Canyon LV and Yellowstone 6-day Tour|Los Angeles

What travelers are saying.

Filed under:

• Theme Parks

A visit to virtual Disneyland

Experience Big Thunder Mountain, Jungle Cruise, and Haunted Mansion from your couch

If you buy something from a Polygon link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement .

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: A visit to virtual Disneyland

Theme parks are closed for the foreseeable future , but online theme park culture lives on. If a Disneyland attraction exists (in the time of YouTube, at least), then chances are a high-definition video ride-through, walk-through, or POV of said attraction exists, ready to be experienced from home.

Disney parks have a fairly lax policy when it comes to bringing cameras on rides to film the experience. While technically, officially not allowed, as long as filming doesn’t pose a safety hazard (which they would on Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘N Roller coaster, which goes upside down) or use flash on dark rides like Haunted Mansion, cast members permit recording devices on most rides at Disney parks. While selfie sticks specifically are prohibited at the parks, GoPros, iPhones, and DSLR cameras are all allowed. (Which explains how one mad genius covertly directed an entire black-and-white thriller inside the parks.)

Ride-through and walk-through videos are a big part of theme park culture, showcasing many attractions and interactive areas of the park. Since almost every attraction has at least one video associated with it, one can theoretically hit all the iconic landmarks of Disneyland without every leaving the comfort of home. So behold, a virtual exploration through Disneyland, Anaheim, broken down by each individual land in the park.

Adventureland

Indiana Jones Adventure

The Indiana Jones-themed attraction opened in 1995. A dark, fast-paced ride, Indiana Jones adventure is more thrilling than the typical Disney ride experience, sharing a specific ride track technology used at only one other Disney park attraction: Animal Kingdom’s terrifying Dinosaur .

Jungle Cruise

The live-action movie of this classic Disney attraction may be postponed, but you can get your fix — with all the cheesy animal jokes! — with this ride-through video. Jungle Cruise is one of the attractions that opened with the park and evolved over the past 50 years. One noticeable change? The original Jungle Cruise skippers had real pistols and fired blanks at the animatronic hippos.

Tarzan’s Treehouse

The replica of the treehouse that Tarzan’s parents built at the beginning of the 1999 movie isn’t a ride so much as it is an experience. Luckily, walk-through videos are just as popular as ride throughs.

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

The iconic Disney park show features a bunch of talking and singing birds. And it’s available on YouTube so you too can relieve the heavily accented birds crooning about their tropical paradise.

Hulu/Disney Plus bundle

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Disney is offering a bundle combining its three streaming services — Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus — for $12.99/month.

• $13 at Disney Plus

Critter Country

Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes

No motors or tracks on this ride! Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes is a free floating boat experience, which takes guests on a tour around the park, following the tracks of the larger Disney boats, Mark Twain River Boat, and the Sailing Ship Columbia.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

This family-friendly dark ride spins up the adventures of Winnie the Pooh. There are versions of the Winnie the Pooh attraction at Disney’s Orlando, Shanghai, and Hong Kong locations, but the Disneyland one is the only one to feature beehive ride vehicles instead of honey pots.

Splash Mountain

Based on the highly controversial Song of the South (so controversial that the movie isn’t on Disney Plus), Splash Mountain itself is a cheery ride about animated animals in a briar patch. The best part about a video version of this one is that you don’t get wet if you sit in the first row!

Fantasyland

King Arthur Carousel

This carousel was actually constructed 30 years before Disneyland opened and operated in Sunnyside Beach Park in Toronto, Canada. The lead horse, named Jingles, was so popular that all the other horses were painted white.

Snow White’s Scary Adventure

One of the attractions that debuted with the park in 1955, Snow White’s Scary Adventure had one major overhaul in 1983. It was set for another in January.

Alice in Wonderland

A dark attraction based on — you guessed it! — 1951’s Alice in Wonderland (not the 2010 Tim Burton one). Unlike some of the other based-on-a-movie dark rides in Disneyland’s Fantasyland, this one is exclusive to the California location.

Casey Jr. Circus Train

A miniature railroad based on thee train from Dumbo , Casey Jr. Circus Train takes young guests on a little tour of the Storybook area of Fantasyland.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Ride the skies on Dumbo’s back. This is one of the staples of Disney parks, the one they use in promotional material all the time.

It’s A Small World

It’s a small world after all, it’s a small world after all … get all the joys of riding this multicultural ride, without the stank of old water. No promises on if you’ll be able to get the Sherman Brothers’ earworm out of your head afterward.

Mad Tea Party

Take a virtual spin on the iconic tea cups. For added effect, prop your laptop on your lap as you spin your home office chair in time to the video.

Matterhorn Bobsleds

Modelled after the mountain of the same name in the Alps, which borders the Swiss and Italian border, the Matterhorn Bobsleds borders Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride

This zany ride takes you through the “Wind in the Willows” segment of Disney’s The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad — and to the depths of hell, even though that isn’t in the movie! That’s right, at one point the ride “crashes” and you “die” and get sent to hell. It’s a ride for kids!

Peter Pan’s Flight

Though this dark attraction is one of the oldest in the park, it is still one of the most popular. Is it the enduring legacy of Peter Pan as a movie? Or the fact that Peter Pan is popular amongst edgy Hot Topic teens? We may never truly know.

Pinocchio’s Daring Journey

Based on Disney’s second theatrical animated feature, Pinocchio , this ride was added to the park in 1983, when Fantasyland underwent a huge revamp.

Storybook Land Canal Boats

Take a leisurely virtual boat ride around the Storybook section of Fantasyland. Think of it as the aquatic companion to the Casey Jr. Circus Train.

Fire TV Stick 4K

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K is an all-in-one streaming device with apps for most major streaming services, 4K streaming and a voice remote powered by Amazon’s Alexa. It’s listed at $50, but often drops down to $35 during Amazon device sales.

• $35 at Amazon

Frontierland

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The runaway railroad ride is a staple of Frontierland across Disney parks worldwide. The red rock designs are inspired by the American Southwest. With sharp twists and turns, it’s one of the more thrilling rides in Disneyland.

Mark Twain Riverboat

Yet another riverboat ride in Disneyland. Fun fact: this boat runs on a hidden rail beneath the ride. The pilot doesn’t so much drive the boat as they serve as a lookout to make sure it doesn’t collide with the Davy Crocket boats or the rafts to the Tom Sawyer island.

Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island

This video captures some of the raft experience, but is primarily a walk through of Tom Sawyer’s island. The island itself was originally just themed after the Mark Twain novel, but in 2007 got a pirate-themed revamp due to the popularity of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Sailing Ship Columbia

A full-scale replica of the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe, the Sailing Ship Columbia takes guests on a 12-minute tour around the waters of Disneyland. It also serves as a pirate ship backdrop for the Fantasmic! nighttime show.

Main Street U.S.A.

The Disney Gallery

Walkthrough video culture runs so deep, you can peruse the art gallery on Main Street U.S.A via someone’s high-res footage.

The Disneyland Story presenting Moments with Mr. Lincoln

You can now watch an animatronic Abraham Lincoln from the comfort of your own home. It’s like the Hall of Presidents in Magic Kingdom, but if the Hall of Presidents was only about Abraham Lincoln.

Main Street Cinema

This video is a little walkthrough of one of the staples of Main Street U.S.A.

Mickey’s Toontown

Chip ‘n Dale Treehouse

Most of the Toontown attractions tend to be walkthrough focused. This one is the treehouse residence of the mischievous chipmunk duo.

Donald’s Boat

Donald has a boat! Here it is. It’s called the Miss Daisy, which is real cute.

Gadget’s Go Coaster

One of the attractions in Toontown, Gadget’s Go Coaster is geared towards kids.

Goofy’s Playhouse

Goofy’s playhouse has a “loony!” layout, according to the official description on the Disneyland website .

New Orleans Square

Haunted Mansion

Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion was already closed for refurbishment back in January. The spoopy attraction features a very catchy song and once spawned an Eddie Murphy live-action movie. Each Haunted Mansion attraction across Disney parks features a different architectural design deepening on what land the attraction is located in. The Disneyland one, in New Orleans Square, evokes old Southern mansions.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean existed long before the movie trilogy (which to this day remains the only Disney movie based on a ride that’s found any critical success). Various refurbishments, including the addition of a Jack Sparrow animatronic and an update of one of the more outdated parts of the ride where women were being auctioned off , have kept the attraction fresh.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run

The attraction that opened with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge takes place inside the iconic Millenium Falcon. It’s like one giant video game .

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

The most ambitious new attraction to open its doors at Disneyland had to close them rather quickly. But check out the action-packed Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance with this ride through video (or our own much abridged version from Hollywood Studios ).

Tomorrowland

Astro Orbiter

This high-flying ride is like the rocket ship equivalent of the Dumbo ride, perfect for Tomorrowland’s retro-futuristic aesthetic.

The Disney race track ride exists under different names at other Disney parks. In Magic Kingdom, it’s called Tomorrowland Speedway; in Tokyo Disneyland, it’s Grand Circuit Raceway. The concept, however, remains the same: drive car, zoom, zoom.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

The Buzz Lightyear attraction is an arcade-style ride where guests shoot blasters at targets. A ride-through video can’t quite capture the thrill of competing against your seatmate, but it’s still a neon-swathed blast (pun intended).

Disneyland Monorail

Disney fans love the Disney monorail. It technically goes around the whole park, but since it’s stationed in Tomorrowland, it fits here.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

The Finding Nemo revamp of the original Submarine Voyage ride debuted in 2007 and gave the underwater attraction some Pixar characters. Refurbishing the ride was Disney Chairman Bob Iger’s first major parks project as CEO — right on the tails of his acquisition of Pixar.

Space Mountain

Space Mountain, a roller coaster which hurdles guests almost entirely in the dark, doesn’t seem like it’d make for a fun ride-through video (since it, you know, takes place in the dark of space), but you can’t have the full Tomorrowland experience without a ride on Space Mountain.

Star Tours: The Adventure Continues

Because Star Tours contains a lot of copyrighted footage, there aren’t as many ride-throughs of it floating around on YouTube as there are on other rides. This ride existed long before Galaxy’s Edge, and regularly adds new experiences as Star Wars movies have rolled out. The latest version included planets from The Rise of Skywalker .

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy .

Disneyland VIP Tour 2024 Service Review and Guide

Disneyland VIP Tours provide for easy access to all of the Disneyland Resort attractions and special treatment at shows with reserved seating.

Save on your stay! Disneyland COMBO Hotel + Ticket Discounts Save big when you book your Disneyland tickets and hotel through our recommended travel sponsor that's worked with Disney for over 30 years! Get the best deal for your vacation so you don't break the bank! Book now >

On one day of our trip we were with a large group of close friends and family touring both Disneyland and California Adventure. We went on every single attraction that we wanted to and the most that we waited for any attraction was 20 minutes. How did we do this you are wondering? With the amazing Disneyland VIP Tour service!

Disneyland VIP Tour 2024

The Disneyland tour guides, often called plaids by the public, are a Disneyland staple. Walt Disney first established the tour guide program in 1958 to help welcome Disneyland park guests into what was then a revolutionary foreign idea to them. Since then the types of tours have greatly expanded and the VIP tour was introduced.

Disneyland VIP Tour Guide Benefits

I am sure that you are thinking, “that's great, but why should I get it?” Well here is why. The VIP tour guide will cater for your every need. You will be VIP for the day, being waited on hand and foot. Your tour guide acts as a “concierge” as many of us adoringly called our guides. Anything was possible with a phone call.

The biggest perk of the guide is the special access to the Lightning Lane line and skipping the line all together. When you are with a tour guide they will almost immediately escort you on every attraction. It was really cool to see them join us on the rides (I'm sure that this a huge perk to the job)…as seen above.

Another benefit of the tour program was we had our choices of reserved seats for the fireworks, World of Color, Fantastmic!, and both parades. At meal time your guide will find and reserve perfect restaurants for your family or group.

VIP tour guides are able to get access to a ride on the Lilly Belle, an exclusive train car on the Disneyland railroad that is very hard to get a spot on.

You also get unlimited PhotoPass downloads from the day! This includes any attraction photos, character dining experiences, and magic shots!

Tour guides can also show off the Disneyland Pet Cemetary located behind the Haunted Mansion. Regular Haunted Mansion Cast Members can sometimes take guests out to see it like in the video below, but it is so much nicer with your guide.

Once you book your tour (details below), your tour guide will get in touch with you to figure out the details of the day or entire trip and decide on what attractions your family should ride and where to eat.

Disneyland VIP Tour Details 2024

Your Disneyland VIP tour includes a few perks that start before you even enter the park! Make sure you're prepared with what you want your day to look like when you talk to the VIP Tour Coordinator. Make your reservation as far in advance as possible because these tours are quite popular!

Planning Details

• The VIP Tour Coordinators will contact you to help you plan your day including start times,  special celebrations, specific family priorities for the day and special dining needs.
• They will also book your Disneyland dining reservations and get your VIP reserved seating set up for the shows you select.
• The minimum length of your VIP tour is 7 hours and allows for flexibility for any spontaneous decisions along the way.
• Tours are available only during normal park operating hours.
• Complimentary strollers, wheelchairs, and lockers are offered to VIP tour guests.
• Minors must be accompanied by an adult throughout the entire tour.

Reservations 

• Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Disney Special Activities at [email protected] or (714) 300-7710.
• Tours in other languages besides English may be available with advance notice.
• Starting at $3,500, this cost covers the tour for you and up to 9 other guests with a minimum of 7 hours. Additional guests past the maximum of 10 will require a second tour guide at an added cost.
• Theme park admission to either park is not included in this price. If you plan on seeing both parks on your tour then you must get Disneyland park hopper tickets.
• Cancellation notice of 48 hours is required to avoid a cancellation fee equal to 2 hours at the booked rate per each VIP Tour Guide.

Disneyland VIP Tour Tips

While in line or walking around, the guides will provide back stories and interesting factoids about the park if you ask….make sure to ask, the stories are really fun and enhance your entire day. It is customary that if you stop for a snack to offer to buy the guide food. Often times they will refuse anything, but still offer. At meal times it is your choice to decide if you want your guide to join your or not. Also, throughout the day guides may slip away while you are on an attraction or having a meal. Don't worry, they just went off to “clock in” and check on other pieces of your day. Final super important tip, make sure to tip about 15-20% for your tour guide. It makes sense since they just spent the day catering to your every need. 

Our Experience

As we said above, the tour guides made our Disneyland vacation. The ability to cut lines and sit in areas with perfectly unobstructed views is simply amazing. The only problem with the experience is that it is highly addicting. It was a very special experience that I am very happy to have enjoyed.

If you end up deciding to have a Disneyland VIP tour guide make your day magical at Disneyland then you will be the envy of all of the “regular” Disneyland visitors . Remember not to gloat to much when you are cutting them in line, you have been there too. 

Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience

Universal Studios Hollywood offers a VIP Experience that rivals the Disneyland VIP tours in both cost and content. At Universal Studios you'll pay less than $400 for the entire day and receive tons of great extras with the experience.

Everyone has been raving about this new tour. You can learn more and get a discount on my discount Universal Studios tickets page .

Ready to Plan Your Vacation? Check Out Our Ultimate Vacation Tips on MickeyVisit.com!

Anxious to plan your trip to see the new changes at the Disneyland Resort? We have a team of writers covering the most sought after Disneyland and Walt Disney World planning tips. Sign up for our newsletter over at Mickey Visit for exclusive discounts on tickets, hotels, and dining along with ultimate guides to planning your vacation.  Join the Mickey Visit FREE newsletter here>

• Pixar Pier: What You Need To Know
• 40+ Places To Find Cheapest Disneyland Food That Actually Tastes Good!
• Disneyland Morning Touring Strategy
• California Adventure Morning Touring Strategy
• Ultimate Guide to Extra Magic Hour & Magic Morning at Disneyland

Related Posts

Favorite Downtown Disney Store Just Reopened in New Location

We Went to Disneyland and Didn’t Ride Anything – Here’s What We Did

NEW Themed Port Opens Today at Disney Park with Frozen, Peter Pan, and Tangled offerings

Popular Entertainment Offering Closing Soon at Avengers Campus

Disneyland Halts Magic Key Annual Pass Sales Ahead of Unprecedented Summer Ticket Offer

Pixar Fest Offering at Disneyland Ending Months Early

22 comments add your comment.

I wonder what guests would pay WED Graduates and ITF Veterans for an Inside Knowledge Tour of attractions they have worked on? One way to employee our Disney Seniors and Veterans. I remember my first Tour Guide in 1958, on my 3rd visit to Disneyland. The price was much lower back then, as was everything else.

I don’t know, but boy would that be awesome. I have friends in the VIP Tour/Guest Services department who have received special tours of the Haunted Mansion and other attractions. They have a chance to win these tours by winning raffles in their department.

I think 355 per hour is way too much. Then you ask for a20$ per hour tip. Who gets the 355 per hour? Disney will not get my season pass money next year wither. Shiesters

Kindly contact me to arrange conceirge services at Disneyland from the 13th to 17th August 2014

Regards Farzana

Sorry for the late reply, but we aren’t the people to ask about that. Contact Disney directly as said above.

I was pretty much horror stricken while reading this review. Had my former beloved overlords at the Mouse House finally taken one shortcut too many and gone to the Dark Side? Of course profit is important, but the guest (all guests rich or not) should enjoy the parks in equal fashion. See, back in the late 80s early 90s I worked in Guest Relations as a V.I.p. tour guide and so much of this article was contrary to Disney S.O.P. (standard operating procedure). Tips??? No Disney theme park employee is allowed to accept tips. The exception: if a guest offers 3 times despite your refusal, you can accept the tip, if you explain it will be donated to the United Way. But that’s a minor detail. I knew it has been over 20 years. A lot can happen in that time. I was hoping that Disney hasn’t gone through a huge shift in policy since the early 90s, but I’d learned from my Grandmother, to expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised if/when it doesn’t happen. So I called Disneyland Guest Relations to find out what in the name of Walt was going on! Guess what I learned? Disney policy hadn’t changed at all. You can rent a V.I.P. Tour Guide, but that doesn’t entitle you to backdating attractions! EVERY tour I had thought a guide could backdoor them onto rides and thought the person booking the tour was not bein

Thanks for the comment. We never “backdoored” any attraction except for Toy Story Midway Mania if I remember correctly.

Thanks for clarifying Gavin! Disneyland and WDW offer very different guided tours and I was very nervous that Disney had finally fallen to allowing guests to buy their way to the front of the line. I hope you read the continued comment. I hope its clear that I didn’t think there was.any intent to misinform readers (I can’t say that about all sites). I wish I hadn’t used my Kindle to post the comment. Some of.the autocorrect words are laughable and worse, it posted the portion you commented on before it was completed. My own fault for not writing in a traditional format. That premature posting meant that I wrote the 2nd half was a mad dash to clarify not only my initial point but explain my own intent as well as express my admiration for the work done on this site. I had hoped to have it posted before it was read by the editors. I know that typos abound, but it was a calculated risk as I hoped that if read as a whole my comments wouldn’t sound too snarky and I especially hoped it wouldn’t sound like I was scolding you. If I did, I hope you’ll accept my apology. I’ll be writing in external word processing programs and pasting the completed text from now on!

Continued…. Truthful when they were told so over the phone. I had a White House Press coordinator and her family that had to stand in line with the unwashed masses. Ironically, Jamie Lee Curtis refused a guide and any other perks her celebrity status would afford her. She explained (turning a truly horrible day into a magical one for a jaded tour guide whose pixie dust was way past its expiration date) that she wanted to have a “normal everyday guest experience in the park” with her daughter. She assured me that she could blend into the crowd, I asked her jokingly to prove it, she put on sunglasses and her entire look changed. I could’nt stop smiling and agreed she could blend. I said something about having a lot of experience considering her father is Tony Curtis and she was raised in the spotlight… (why use one.word when 50 will do just as well). She smiled.and said simply, “actress”. Btw-when I saw the pirates movies, I wondered if someone I told the story to .was on the cast of writers when Jack Sparrow simply says “pirate” when Elizabeth Swan gets angry when he behaves piratical – lying, stealing etc. See, celebrities get a VIP Guide who can backdoor them onto a ride, but it’s NOT for the celebrities benefit, it’s for the safety of the guests in line. Imagine Michael Jackson standing in line for the Haunted Mansion for a moment. No, imagine him standing in line when he was still alive! I saw him walk through the utilidors next to the cast member’s cafeteria. He was with body guards, Disney execs, record company execs and there was a mad dash to get to him! By Disney employees who are taught to never approach celebrities and never ask for autographs etc..if that had been in the park itself, I’d be concerned for his safety and.the other guests. It was that moment that MJ went from freakishly to tragic figure. He was a man trapped.in a prison of fame, a tower of isolation created not by him, but by Joe Jackson and Barry Gordy. Anyhow… Ive distressed enough… So back.to the.article.- I called Disneyland Guest Relations and asked about this article and the nice host I spoke to.assured me that Disneyland had not gone.through a change.of philosophy regarding guest experience. He assured me that no amount of money will buy a backdoor pass. HOWEVER, they offer a guided.tour called Walking in Walt’s Footsteps. The tour includes some backstage experiences. It sounds like the reviewer simply misidentified the tour as being a VIP Tour. While it may seem to be a minor error, it’s one.of.those errors that make cast members cringe when told “…but I read on the internet/in the newspaper/in my guidebook that..”. As a Guest Relations host, one of the main duties was distributing information and correcting misinformation the guests had gathered when planning their trip. I’d never heard of us being called Plaids, but had heard the term “Grounded Sky Witches” more than once. I was told that the term came from the fact that the G.R. costume resembles a flight attendant uniform. Some of us had a reputation for being “cranky” which was caused by our inability to fly. I’m sorry to tell you that a great deal of this review is incorrect, however I’m pleased to say the rest of the site is fantastic! I’ve read many of the other articles which seem to be examples of solid reporting, fact collection and summation/conclusion. This article’s errors seem to be an anomaly in an otherwise fantastic website. I can’t imagine that the author was motivated by malicious intenet or desire to mislead readers. It seems that the site is maintained by kindred spirits, and even located in The City I call home. I’m sorry rather selfishly because I had hoped to approach the web masters about writing some articles for this blog. I don’t know how receptive they will be to the idea of me contributing articles after I assaulted one of their posts. I wrote this directly in the comments box on the site, using a kindle and the on-screen keyboard so it’s not as polished as I would like.. it’s in two parts because I accidentally submitted the article before I intended. I really love this site. I visit several on a regular basis and this site often has material I haven’t seen elsewhere. More than anything, I enjoy the passion for the parks.and.all things Disney. It’s infectious and it really does deliver my doctor’s recommended Disney Dose.

I was at Disneyland for the 4th of July weekend and I just want to tip my hat off to Andrew, our guide for doing such an excellent job. He covered everything and kept a smile on his face the entire time.

Wow Lonnie, that is worth mentioning. The 4th of July Weekend was crazy in the parks this year.

You need to update the costs…

The cost of Disney’s VIP Premium Tour Service varies between $360-500 per hour depending on the season. Please call Disney Special Activities at 714-300-7710 for the current pricing.

DISNEY VIP Tour Guide Service

For all those wondering about the Disney’s VIP Premium Tour, I searched endlessly and found very limited up to date or recent info and chose to write this informal but informative review for those considering it. This post will focus on the Disney Owned and Operated VIP Premium tour that only they offer. This is not referencing the many knock off tour companies in Orlando and California that use “VIP tour” in their titles but can NOT offer direct unlimited priority access to attractions, shows, and Disney reserved seating. Please forgive spelling typos and grammatical errors (not proofreading) as this is not meant to be fine poetry but useful information for those interested. My goal will be to provide info on what to expect and what not to expect as well as make comparisons between VIP Premium tours at Disneyland (Anaheim) as well as Walt Disney World (Orlando). I have participated in both of these and recently completed my first Disneyland trip this Christmas 2015 for which I booked a Premium VIP tour. I have gone to WDW in Orlando over 100 times with my family since we have family in Orlando and did the premium VIP tour there approximately 2 years ago so some procedures may have changed at WDW but the Disneyland VIP tour info is as recent as it gets! We also chose to stay on property even though we have family in Orlando and for those with family and in-laws know why! I will try to address certain topics and compare the two when appropriate. The first thing to remember is this review is referencing the Disney VIP Premium Tour Only and not the other hundreds of tours Disney offers. This is the ultimate premium VIP experience and as you can imagine is NOT CHEAP but is convenient and every person who reads this review will need to determine if the experience is worth the money. This info is not meant to be gospel but the info presented here is based on my personal recent experiences and may not reflect current offerings but is current for me. Here we go…

COST: This will vary depending on the time of year you visit and obviously the holiday times are the most expensive and you do pay by the hour (6 hr minimum at both DL and WDW). I paid $550/hr on our recent Disneyland (DL) Christmas trip and about $400/hr on our past WDW Christmas trip. However, like all things at Disney, prices change and usually if not always go UP!. The WDW website now lists the cost to vary between $400-$600/ hr. This buys you and your group of up to 10 people a private VIP guide (wearing plaid) . If you have more than 10, a separate guide will be required and same costs apply for each guide! So if you like someone enough to share a tour guide that may average out cheaper per person but you may not get as much done having a full group of ten or separate families who may not agree on what to do next. Either way it’s beyond EXPENSIVE, but to me worth it for my family of 5 to do alone. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said standing in a 2hr line for a 2 min ride “Oh what I would pay to get priority access”, but it has to make sense for you.

SEPARATE ADMISSION REQUIRED?: YES, in both DL and WDW separate admission is required and is in addition to the cost of the tour, so buy those park tickets. If you plan on park hopping you better buy park hopper tickets and not single park, single day tix or you will be stuck in that one park. Be aware.

RIDE ACCESS: Be aware this is not instant “front of line” access despite the cost. As a general rule, most if not all attractions that offer Fastpass (FP) access allow you priority access. This means your guide can get you through the fast pass line as many times as you want to go. Know however, there may still be a short wait, but my recent experience at DL took a 110 minute standby wait to 5 min with our VIP guide. Ride access also varies between DL and WDW. In DL, most of Fantasyland is not available for premium access due to size of exits we were told and for $550/hr this was disappointing. (we could not get premium access to some of our favorites like Peterpan, Snow white, Mr. Toads, Winnie the pooh, Dumbo etc. mostly the small kiddie rides. ) At WDW, most of Fantasyland was accessible) This was a big difference between the two parks. All of the big rides at DL and WDW (FP access) are included and save a ton of time. Some rides you just enter the FP line with your guide where other rides you and your guide enter through the exit (even faster access) It really depends on the particular attraction.

RESERVED SEATING: This is another nice feature which is included in the VIP tours at both DL and WDW. There are special reserve seating areas for the Nightime Fireworks and other BIG shows specific to each park as well as the Parades. The key to this is to remember you have to arrange this seating for the specific shows you want to see when you call the Disney VIP number to book your tour. The reserved seating of the VIP tour is a nice perk for several reasons…first- since it is reserved seating you don’t have to start finding a viewing spot along the parade route or in front of castle for fireworks an hour and a half or longer before the show!! This gives you a ton more time to continue to ride attractions with your guide… second- in many cases the Disney cast members and characters know where the VIP sections are and tend to acknowledge you and make an effort to wave or smile at your kids or party. third… if certain shows involve picking someone out of the crowd to help or participate in a show, you can bet it usually is a VIP tour party individual that is selected. (coincidence? I think not)This may not always be the case but still another great photo opportunity if it happens. REMEMBER to book or at least request this reserved seating at the time you book the tour.

WHEN TO BOOK: As with Dining reservations or FP reservations, it pays to call or reserve as much in advance as possible to ensure availability. DL books VIP tours 90 days in advance and last I knew WDW books 6 months in advance. Confirm these dates on the websites as this may have changed. I called exactly 90 days out to book our Christmas DL VIP tour since Christmas can be so crazy. Also reserve seating is on a first come first serve basis so you don’t want to book a tour a week before Christmas and then act surprised or worse get upset that all reserved seatings are booked! PLAN AHEAD.

HOW LONG IS TOUR? There is no set time as far as a maximum number of hours but there is a minimum for each day. Current minimum is 6 hrs at both DL and WDW.

IS FOOD INCLUDED? No, food and beverages are NOT included with the VIP Premium tour. It is also up to you whether you want your guide to join you or not while eating. If they do, you are not expected to pay for their meals but we chose to do that since we considered them more a part of the family for the day rather than just a human FastPass ticket. One thing to keep in mind, especially during the busier times of year and holidays is that even with Dining reservations it can take at least an hour to an hour and a half to eat a sit down meal. Keep this in mind if rides are your priority. It can wind up being the most expensive sit down meal you’ve ever had at $550/hr plus the cost of your food and the meter keeps running while you eat. I’m lucky in that our kids are picky with food and one has a Gluten allergy so we usually hit the quick service or counter ordering locations to avoid wasting time sitting for a long meal on the clock. I’m not suggesting to NOT make dining reservations and if the princess dinner or lunch in the castle is a must for you then by all means, do it…after all, you dictate the pace and priority of the day. It’s your tour and you’re paying a lot of good money for it.

CHARACTER GREETINGS: Nothing eats up more time if you have young ones wanting to meet, take pictures or get autographs with the Disney Characters . Thankfully, many of the more popular characters now offer a FP meet and greets or are present at “character” meals. The character meals are nice because you kill two birds with one stone. You feed yourselves and the characters come to you!!! No waiting in a random line that suddenly appears where the character is standing. On our recent DL trip, we had a private meeting with Mickey and Elsa and Anna. This was nice and did not feel rushed through. No other characters were accessible on the tour. Thankfully my kids are getting tired of the meet and greets and have started and never finished about a dozen autograph books. Parents know what I am talking about here. WDW seem to have better access to characters and bypassing lines than DL. If there is a certain character you must meet and don’t want to wait in the endless line, ask the VIP cast member when you call to book the tour.

OTHER VIP TOUR PERKS: Even though WDW and DL now offer a Disney Photopass service which is where their photographers take the shots and then give you a card to view them later is convenient, you are at the mercy of where these photographers are located. Plus you don’t own the pics and have to pay for them. For me, family photos and memories are priceless and the more , the better. Having a VIP guide allows me to actually be in the pics with my family rather than looking at years of photos where I only exist behind the lens and not in the picture!!! Your guides can also assist with having purchases you make in the park get stored at the exit to pick up or transported back to your hotel. Beats carrying them around all day. VIP Guides can not get you employee discounts on items and meals so don’t ask.

CLUB 33: For those Disney Veterans and those who know about it, the highly coveted reservation or ability to eat at the exclusive private club 33 in DL is not accessible from the tour. Sorry, I tried too. I did not ask to see the Cinderella suite in WDW Cinderella castle or Walt’s private apt in DL, or the Disney Dream Suite in DL so I can’t say if the guide would have accommodated. I doubt it but it never hurts to ask.

TIPS FOR GUIDE: This topic continues to be a confusing one. When at WDW, our VIP guide said tips could not be accepted. This was NOT the case this Christmas trip to DL. Our guide was happy to accept one and in my opinion earned it. We had him for a full day tour for 2 days back to back. What is appropriate? Up to you, but I heard a one hr rate tip is good and a 2 hr rate tip is for an excellent experience. I went between and paid a 1 1/2 hr rate tip for our guide. Yes, this can be a $500 -$1000 tip but if you’re fortunate enough to be booking the Premium VIP tour, just go with it and reward your guide..

At the end of the day, each person has to decide if this VERY EXPENSIVE VIP experience is worth it. We were able to ride everything we wanted to in DL and had reserved seats for all the shows and parades at Peak Christmas time. This would have never been possible without our VIP guide. A prime example of this is where we completed three of the big rides and were done in 25 mins. Total wait time otherwise would have totaled over 270 minutes without our guide.!!!! Is it worth it? You decide! Hope this was helpful and informative. Walt and his creations are timeless and truly amazing. Enjoy them how you wish and Thanks for reading.

Visited December 2015

Awesome addition with new information! Thank you for taking the time.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a comprehensive and informative review. It is really hard to find accurate information about the VIP tours.

Happy to help. This information is always changing though, so be sure to ask lots of questions at the time of your booking.

Say you book a VIP tour from 9 am to 3 pm. You want to watch the parade at 3:30 pm and the fireworks show later that night. Will the plaid worker still be able to make arrangements for preferred seating for these shows or must you be with the plaid worker during that time in order to enjoy that perk? TIA

This is a good question. You should be able to have them make the reservations for you, but this is a question better answered via their phone line.

As a former Tour Guide from the 1970’s I am really disappointed in the expectations of those posting on this site. I am guessing none of you ever heard Walt’s words…”everyone is a VIP, no one should receive special treatment”. It is a sad day when dollars and cents will allow anyone to move into a position before another guest. Then again, the 10-ride ticket book (including admission) was less than $10 in my day! I do wonder how you feel when you step in front of a child or international guest standing in line for an hour to see It’s a Small World for the first time?

My goodness. Bless your heart

Pricing is incorrect for 2023. I just took a VIP tour and the price range is now $500-900 per hour (with the high end applying to peak times such as Christmas), with a 7 hour (NOT 6 hour) minimum. So, no, you are not getting a VIP tour for anywhere near $2550.

Currently $500-900/hr in Fall 2023

Previous Post: Star Wars Rides at Walt Disney World- History, Tips, Plus the BEST Ride at Disney

Next Post: Disneyland in August 2024: Everything You Should Know

Exclusive Discounts + BREAKING NEWS!

Join our FREE newsletter of 100,000+ readers for exclusive discounts, planning tips, and Disneyland & Walt Disney World breaking news. "Essential for planning your trip!"

- Helen from Portland, Oregon

Save money, experience more.

Ultimate Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide

Hi, Ho, Hi, Ho if it’s off to Disneyland you go, you will definitely need to read our Ultimate Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide! With over 50 rides and attractions to choose from within Disneyland Park, our guide will make it easier for you to navigate your way through this magical land; helping you get the most out of your Disney vacation!

With this guide, you will get an overview of all Disneyland rides and attractions broken down land-by-land, what to expect from each ride and attraction, and valuable tips that will help make your Disney vacation more magical. All ride names are linked to Disneyland’s website where you will be able to find height requirements, thrill levels, and hours of operation.

We also recommend reviewing our guides to FastPass and MaxPass so you can avoid long waits for the most popular attractions on this list.

Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don't miss our travel hacks newsletter!

Discount Disneyland Tickets

Our favorite Disney-approved re-seller,  Get Away Today, offers the best Disneyland discount tickets around. In addition to great discount prices, their customer service and easy support is absolutely fantastic. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.

Get your discount Disneyland tickets here through our exclusive link!

Buying tickets from Get Away Today is easy and convenient since all their tickets are sent electronically. You can take their vouchers and head straight to the gate without needing to wait in any ticket booth lines. They also offer layaway plans so you can pay off your vacation over time.

You can read our editor's review on her personal experiences booking through Get Away Today and how much you can save here!

One day at Disneyland is just not enough time to experience every ride and attraction this Park has to offer. This is where our Disneyland Ultimate Ride and Attraction Guide helps! All must-experience rides are highlighted in red . If you also have park hoppers for Disney California Adventure Park and you are attempting to do that Park on the same day, read our Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide , written to help you manage your time so that you are able to get the full Disney experience.

In this planning guide:

Disneyland Ride Guide to Disneyland Railroad

Chugging along this infamous railway is a majestic steam-powered engine that’s iconic bellow lends to the magical music of the Park. The Disneyland Railroad is, by far, the best way to get around the Park because trains run every 5-10 minutes on most days and there are four stations conveniently located throughout the Park that will help you get you where you need to go. The four stations are Main Street U.S.A. Station, New Orleans Station, Mickey’s Toontown Depot, and Tomorrowland Station.

What to Expect: During peak seasons, expect long wait times for trains. And also keep in mind that trains stop running during the nightly firework show, so the only way to get around the Park during those times is the old-fashion way: walk!

Tip: Because the train ride is 18-minutes long, this is a great opportunity to rest your tired feet (and grab a few zzz’s if you are pulling an all-day adventure in the Park).

Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide to Main Street U.S.A.

Main Street Vehicles give you a feel of what travel was like during the turn of the century. Take a leisurely ride down Main Street U.S.A. in one of four choice vehicles:

• Horse-Drawn Street Car – Climb aboard this horse-drawn old-fashioned trolley. A fun experience that is a must for horse lovers.
• The Jitney is an early automobile without a roof and a loud horn (which the driver loves to blow).
• Fire Engine – A replica of the very first fire trucks roll down Main Street. This is a fun ride for fire-truck-loving guests.
• Omnibus – This two story gas-powered, open-air bus is a unique way to make your way down Main Street. Sit on the top level of this bus! It is a must!

What to Expect: Hours of operation for the Main Street Vehicles are 9am to 1:30pm. Not all vehicles run at the same time and I find that there really is no set schedule on when to catch a ride. So you may be standing around for awhile. All rides are one-way trips and drop you off the short distance from Main Street to Town Square or in front of the castle.

Tip: If you are really into nostalgia and want to experience this attraction at least once, go for it! Although it is faster to walk, something must be said about moving through the crowds with ease!

The Disneyland Story Presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln – Watch history come alive right before your eyes with an audio-animatronic Abraham Lincoln!

What to Expect: Not many people know about this awesome historic presentation so the theater is almost always empty!

Tip: If the California sun is too hot for you or you need to take a load off your feet, relax in this  air-conditioned theater.

Experience the Magic of Disneyland and Save! Disneyland COMBO Hotel + Ticket Discounts Book your Disneyland tickets and hotel through our recommended travel sponsor (they have worked with Disney for 28 years) and save BIG. We negotiated the lowest prices on tickets and hotels so you don't have to worry. Book now >

Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide to Adventureland

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room – Enter a cool Polynesian-inspired hut where the tropical birds sing words and the flowers croon, where you will enter the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki room.

What to Expect: Of all Disney lines, this is one that is actually enjoyable. The Tiki show starts in the waiting area with the surrounding talking totem poles who introduce themselves. Although the crowd builds before each show, don’t worry, the Tiki Room has lots of seating and really, any seat in the room provides excellent viewing of the show.

Tip: Shows run for 15 minutes. So if you find yourself having to wait, enjoy an irresistible pineapple Dole Whip soft serve from the Tiki Juice Bar . You can bring food into the Tiki Room but please take your trash with you when you leave!

Jungle Cruise – Sail along a river that cuts through a jungle overrun by gun-blazing, destructive gorillas, trumpeting elephants, furious tigers, headhunters offering two heads for your one, and much more! What to Expect: Expect your skipper to deliver bad jokes worth laughing at. Lines can get pretty long for this ride so plan to ride early in the morning. Tip: Ask the crew at the exit for a map of the ride!

Indiana Jones Adventure is a fast-past thrill ride that has guests riding a Jeep through a cursed temple in search of Indiana Jones.

What to Expect: This is one of the more popular rides at Disneyland. Expect long wait times that feel every bit as long as the line. This ride is also very jerky since you are in a Jeep that is simulating driving through rugged terrain. If your child is afraid of dark, fast, loud, and rough rides, you may want to skip this ride!

Tip: To avoid the wait, get a Fastpass for this ride! You still end up waiting, but at least it is in a cool cursed temple rather than out in the hot Southern California heat. If distribution of Fastpasses has ended, try the single rider line! You will not be riding with family, but at least you can say you experienced Indiana Jones’ adventure!

Tarzan’s Treehouse – Explore Tarzan’s tree-top home nestled at the top of an 80-foot-tall tree! Follow the journey of his wild jungle upbringing as you climb across rope bridges, through a dusty hut, and around hundreds of intertwining leafy branches.

What to Expect: Expect to climb up numerous stairs and walk through narrow passageways. If you do not like heights, this may be an adventure you can view from the bottom of the tree!

Tip: Make some noise at the base of this tree by banging, pulling, and stomping around Jane’s camp!

Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide to Frontierland

The Mark Twain Riverboat is a majestic steam-powered paddler that transports guests back over a century ago to witness the scenic simplicity and beauty of frontier living. This 14-minute cruise takes guests on a round trip journey along the Rivers of America around Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

What to Expect: There is limited seating on the first deck, so expect to stand. However, standing against the guardrails is the best place to take in all the beauty this cruise offers.

Tips: If you are the first to board this mighty vessel, you can ask to ride with the captain in the wheelhouse. You may or may not be able to depending on the crowd. Be sure to check out the boiler engineer on the first level of this boat! You can watch him control the speed and direction of the riverboat as he switches levers and valves.

Sailing Ship Columbia is a full-scale replica of a 3-masted ship from the 18th century. Set sail for a trip around Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island and take in the sights of old frontier life as it was over a century ago.

What to Expect: Expect to stand for the 15-minute journey. Also, there is limited shade so apply your sunblock!

Tip: Explore the historic museum below deck that gives you an idea of how life was like as an 18th century sailor.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a fast-pace thrill ride that has guests barreling through caves and an abandoned mine shaft on a runaway train.

What to Expect: Although Disney’s website claims this ride to be a “train ride for the entire family,” be aware that this super fast roller coaster can get bumpy, loud, and emerge riders in darkness at times.

Tip:  If you're a thrill seeker, keep an eye out of the goat coming up on your right with a stick of dynamite in its mouth. Keep your eyes on the goat as you swing around the curve- it'll make you feel like you're going faster!

Ride and Attraction Guide to New Orleans Square

Pirates of Caribbean – Sail away on a boat ride that takes you down into the dark, intoxicating world of swashbuckling pirates.

What to Expect: Expect long wait times for this iconic Disneyland ride since there is no Fastpass distribution. However, the line does move fast since Cast Members run lots of boats to accommodate large crowds. This ride is approximately 15 minutes long so plan accordingly if your child cannot sit that long. Also, be aware that this Disneyland ride is dark and can be scary for little kids.

Tip: Plan to ride early in the morning because afternoons are the busiest time of day for this ride. If you can’t ride in the morning, try the line during Fantasmic! or the fireworks show since most of the crowds are watching those.

Pirates Lair at Tom Sawyer Island – Board a rickety raft that floats guests across the Rivers of America to a private island based on stories by Mark Twain. Trails, caves, floating bridges…. there is so many paths to explore.

What to Expect: The afternoon sun heats up the island. Bring lots of water and find a shady spot to sit (although there are not many benches on the island).

Tip: Let your child loose on this interactive island. They can’t get lost!

Extra Tip: Be aware that the line may grow for the raft rides back to the main island so it may take you a bit longer to make your way back.

Haunted Mansion – Set against the backdrop of New Orleans Square is an ominous mansion home to 999 ghosts. Guests climb into a Doom Buggy for a supernatural and hair-raising tour of this haunted estate.

What to Expect: Expect darkness, screams, and creepy scenes. If your child gets spooked easily, skip this Disneyland ride!

Tip: The Haunted Mansion closes in late August through the end of September when Jack Skellington transforms the house into the Haunted Mansion Holiday .

Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide to Critter Country

Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes – Paddle your way around Tom Sawyer Island from a true-life, trackless canoe.

What to Expect: Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes run seasonally and is closed during bad weather. Hours differ throughout the day, so when you see the canoes gliding across the Rivers of America, take your opportunity and row!

Tip: There’s always a chance that you will get wet on rides that take place on the water. Listen closely to the Cast Members for instructions on how to paddle the canoe.

Extra Tip: Who gets the opportunity to ride in a real- life canoe? For that reason alone, this ride is worth experiencing!

Splash Mountain takes riders on a 9-minute journey through back country in a hollow log.

What to Expect: Expect to get very wet on this ride that has three dips and a giant 5-story drop at the end of the ride.

Tip: Sit in the back because the front riders get soaked!

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – Join Pooh in a colorful adventure through a powerful windstorm and experience his honey-filled dream!

What to Expect: Expect short lines for this ride. And don’t forget to wish Pooh a Happy Birthday at the end of the ride!

Tip: As you exit this ride, reward yourself with a sweet treat from Pooh Corner ! A delicious sugary snack always cures a rumble in your tummy!

Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide to Fantasyland

Snow White’s Enchanted Wish  – Venture under the watchful eye of the Evil Queen (peeking out from the window between the velvety drapes in front of this attraction) into Snow White’s adventures. Recently refurbished to be much less “scary” than the previous version, this attraction will have a happy ending kids will enjoy.

What to Expect: This ride used to be considered scary but now after its refurbishment, has a much more light theme and a happy ending.

Tip: This ride closes before, during, and after the fireworks show.

Pinocchio’s Daring Journey – Watch what happens when Pinocchio’s strings have been cut and he is off on a wild journey – all beginning at Stromboli’s Puppet Theatre! A frantic carnival and a close encounter with Monstro the Whale leaves riders feeling relieved with the appearance of the Blue Fairy!

What to Expect: This ride is dark and can be scary for young children!

Tip: Ride closes before, during, and briefly after fireworks show.

Peter Pan’s Flight – Soar through the star-studded night sky in a pirate ship destined for Neverland!

What to Expect: Due to the popularity of this ride, wait times are almost always over 30 minutes. Also, ride closes before, during, and briefly after fireworks show.

Tip: Head toward this ride once the rope drops!

Mr. Toad Wild Ride – This car ride is like no other car ride imaginable! Take a ride through scary scenes that take you literally through hell and back!

What to Expect: This ride is dark and can be scary for young children.

King Arthur Carrousel – Mount a mighty steed and gallop up and down around this majestic carrousel.

What to Expect: Not your typical carrousel, this classic attraction is adorned with Disney history. King Arthur Carrousel and most of its 68 white-carved horses and one pristine chariot date back more than 90 years.

Tip: Look for Jingles, Walt Disney’s favorite lead horse! This decorated horse was dedicated to Julie Andrews in 2008 when she was chosen as Honorary Ambassador. Don't forget to admire the painted details on the saddle!

Dumbo the Flying Elephants – Soar through the sky atop Dumbo the Flying Elephant as he circles around Timothy Q. Mouse, his magic feather tucked in the tip of his trunk.

What to Expect: Due to its popularity, Dumbo the Flying Elephant’s line is almost always long. Try riding in the early morning.

Tip: Can’t capture that perfect picture while on the ride? No worries! There is a stationary Dumbo just outside the exit of the ride for the sole purpose of capturing that perfect picture!

Casey Jr. Circus Train – Climb aboard Casey Jr., a little train with a lot of willpower. Casey Jr.’s track cuts through a beautiful countryside through hills and valleys where riders can take in the immaculate miniature villages of some of Disney’s most beloved stories.

What to Expect: Because there is only one train, the line does move slow. And the wait, for the most part, is in direct sunlight.

Tip: Any seat on this train equally produces flawless views of Storybook Land. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

Mad Tea Party – Take a spin under an umbrella of colorful lanterns in a pastel teacup that will take you on one amazing, head-spinning adventure!

What to Expect: Every bit as mad as the Mad Hatter, Mad Tea Party will get you very dizzy if you choose to spin it fast.

Tip: Do not spin the wheel in the center of the tea cup if you’d rather not spin yourself dizzy.

Alice in Wonderland – Follow Alice into an enchanted rabbit hole where you will encounter some wondrous creatures: a garden of singing flowers, the Cheshire Cat, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and even the Mad Hatter.

What to Expect: This ride is very popular so expect long wait times. Plan to go on this ride in the morning when lines are not so long.

Storybook Land Canal Boats – Take a cruise on a boat ride through the miniature worlds of some of Disney’s most popular movies.

What to Expect: With over 10 intricately replicated Disney houses, villages, and palaces, what is not to love about this truly magical boat ride?

Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough – Step inside the corridors of this enchanted castle to watch the story of Sleeping Beauty come alive through dioramas!

What to Expect: If you plan on entering the castle, know that the corridors are narrow, dark, and there are stairs to climb throughout this walking tour.

Tip: Not many people are aware of this hidden attraction! It is a magical experience to be able to walk through parts of this iconic castle!

Matterhorn Bobsleds – Brave the icy peaks of this famous mountain when you board a bobsled destined for speed. Along the way, you may just encounter the Abominable Snowman who will stop at nothing to protect his mountain.

What to Expect: The ride down the mountain is a bit rough and bumpy, so hold on tight! And you may get a little wet at the bottom of the mountain when your bobsled glides through a waterfall!

Tip: Grab a Fastpass for this Disneyland ride since it is one of Disneyland most popular attractions!

It’s a Small World – Sail around the world all in one song on this whimsical boat ride!

What to Expect: Expect to hum the catchy tune, It’s a Small World , throughout the rest of your day as it has its way of replaying over and over in your head!

Tip: Grab a Fastpass for this Disneyland ride when lines are long. Fastpasses are located near Matterhorn Mountain.

Disneyland Ride Guide to Toontown

Read more about the current renovation that is ongoing in Toontown here . Details on the new Mickey Mouse E-Ticket attraction and renovations for the entire land.

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin – Go for a spin in this twirling taxi cab in the dizzying world of Roger Rabbit.

What to Expect: The wait for this Disneyland ride is long and boring. Although I must say, while you wait there are fun interactive props and great photo ops!

Tip: Unlike the tea cups, this ride is super difficult to spin. It is almost worth your while to just sit and not even bother spinning it.

Gadgets Go Coaster – Go, Go, Go on this super chill rollercoaster designed for kids.

What to Expect: This line is every bit as long as it is boring only for a minute ride.

Tip: If you or your kids desperately want to ride this coaster, go on right when Toontown opens.

Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide to Tomorrowland

Astro Orbitor – Blast off into orbit on your very own rocket ship! With you in control of how high or low you fly, there is no limit on how far you will soar!

What to Expect: Expect to wait a long time to board these space ships.

Tip: Nighttime flights are the best because you soar through the night sky with picturesque views of the surrounding Park!

Star Tours – The Adventure Continues – Aboard a Starspeeder 1000, you will blast off into a galaxy far, far away helping the resistance escape The New Order!

What to Expect : This 3D, motion-simulated Disneyland ride is very jerky so hold on tight.

Tip: The excitement of this attraction is that there are many different scenes and adventures sporadically playing so don’t be shy, go on more than once!

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – Go to infinity and beyond as you fire lasers to defeat Zurg in this interactive Disneyland ride that has you right in the middle of all the action!

What to Expect: Expect to have an out-of-this-world experience as you shoot your laser blaster at targets to score points!

Tip: At the exit of this ride, stop by the kiosks and enter your email address to have your Astro Blasters photo emailed to you – FREE!

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – Travel by submarine through the deep, dark sea where you will watch scenes from Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo come alive. Is Nemo found? You may have to take the plunge to find out!

What to Expect: Due to the compact size of each submarine, boarding and exiting is a bit tricky so be very careful and watch every step you take! This ride is not for the claustrophobic guest because space is very limited once inside. If you or your children are afraid of the dark, this might not be the ride for you!

Tip: About the only time to take this voyage is either right when the Park opens or right at closing because the lines during the day are super long.

Disneyland Monorail – The first of its kind, the Disneyland Monorail glides along a single rail high above the Park, offering riders an aerial view of Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Grizzly Peak, Buena Vista Street, and Hollywood Land.

What to Expect: Monorail closes before, during, and briefly after fireworks show.

Tip: Some Monorail rides are one-way only so check with the Cast Members before boarding.

Autopia – Climb behind the wheel of this classic car ride that takes drivers on a course into the future!

What to Expect: The line for this attraction is misleading. It may look short, but with all the twists and turns, the wait time is much longer than you may think!

Tip: The beauty of Autopia is having your child drive you around for a change! Children must be at least 32 inches tall to drive (accompanied by an adult, of course) and children 48 inches tall can drive themselves!

Space Mountain – Take flight on a rocket ship destined for outer space!

What to Expect: Space Mountain may not be for the squeamish! This high-speed roller coaster emerges riders in complete darkness as it speeds through star-studded outer space. This is a favorite Disneyland ride of many.

Tip: Definitely worth the wait or Fastpass!

Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run- On this interactive Millennium Falcon ride, aspiring pilots can test their skills and maneuver Han Solo’s beloved ship through a mission while shooting blasters and thrusting into hyperspace. Just like other Disney interactive rides, such as Toy Story: Midway Mania, guests will be rated on how well they pilot.

What to Expect:  Guests can expect a 3-D simulated ride with small drops. Each experience of this ride will be different as guests will either pilot the ship or operate the defenses with each run.

Tip:  If you're prone to motion sickness, ask for the gunner position- this will help you feel more grounded during the ride.

Rise of the Resistance-  Guests will feel like they are hurtling through a massive Star Destroyer as they are being pursued by the First Order. In one scene riders will face massive two story tall AT-AT figures and dodge through their legs below. In another scene, guests will come face to face with Kylo Ren in an interrogation. This ride is one of the most impressive creations to date from the Disney Imagineers!

What to Expect:  This nearly 30 minute long experience is truly four attractions in one. Guests will board multiple ride vehicles, face enemies, and walk down the halls of a real Star Destroyer as if you are truly a Resistance fighter captured by the Dark Order. This Disney ride moves you from experience to experience in different vehicles and different segments to really capture that immersive feel that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is aiming to achieve.

Tip:  You need to get a Boarding Pass for this attraction, read about how to get one in our Rise of the Resistance guide. 

Start Planning Your Disney Vacation Now!

Can't wait to experience the magic of Disneyland? Subscribe to our FREE Deals newsletter where you will receive helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere. You can find more information on planning your vacation here:

• California Adventure Touring Strategy: Guide to Maximize Your Mornings
• Disneyland Morning Touring Strategy: Guide to Maximize Your Mornings
• How to Plan Your Disneyland Trip
• Disneyland in the Summer
• Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide

Related Posts

You Can Only Get These New Disney Pin Designs By Trading With Cast Members

Top Disneyland Restaurants for Kids with Great Food and Atmosphere

Disneyland Weekly Update—Critter Country & Haunted Mansion Updates, Security Entrance Closed, Party Over, and More

I’ve Written About Disneyland For 13 Years, This is the SECRET Restaurant I Eat at Almost Every Trip

Disneyland Budget Hotel With Free Shuttle is Fine Option For Those Who Won’t Walk

Shopping at Disneyland- Full Guide to ALL the Disneyland Stores

Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

About Kim Schultz

Kim has her Bachelor's Degree in English Literature with a minor in Technical and Professional Writing from San Francisco State University. She received her editing certificate from University of Berkeley Extension and won numerous awards for fiction writing from the San Mateo County Fair Literary Stage.

One thing she loves most in life besides family and writing is Disneyland! Kim and her family are season pass holders and travel to Disneyland numerous times a year (between 10-15 times to be exact!).

Planning a Disney Vacation? Get Exclusive Discounts + Free Bonuses

In addition to exclusive discounts for Mickey Visit subscribers, get our free planning printable and guide to make your life SO much easier.

Previous Post: Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney World’s Cheapest Food Finds

Next Post: Ultimate Guide to Disneyland for Guests with Disabilities

Exclusive Discounts + BREAKING NEWS

Join our newsletter of 100,000+ readers for discounts, planning tips, and breaking news about Walt Disney World and Disneyland. "Essential for planning your trip!" -Helen from Portland, Oregon

• 714-670-3480
• Client Center
• Manage My Trip

Quotes & Reservations:

• Airport & Cruises
• Hourly Charters
• Tours & Packages

Disneyland® Tickets

Get your tickets to Disneyland® Resort theme parks PLUS roundtrip Hotel Transfers from LA area hotels!

Disneyland® Resort theme parks PLUS roundtrip Hotel Transfers from LA hotels!

As low as $214 per person. minimum 2 people, season: year-round. purchase tickets, 2 parks, endless fun with hotel transfers from los angeles area hotels, includes hotel pick-ups located in beverly hills, west hollywood, hollywood, downtown la, get your e-tickets and hotel transfers now. pre-reserve your park ticket and transfers to two theme parks— disneyland ® park and disney’s california adventure™ park.

• Hotel pick-up and return with Karmel Transportation, the most reliable service in So Cal!
• Scan your ticket from your phone. Don’t waste part of your day standing in ticket lines!
• 2 person minimum required!

Upgrade to Park Hopper and enjoy the flexibility of both parks on the same day and experience unlimited rides and attractions! 

7:00am hotel pick-up from Beverly Hills, or Universal City hotels! 

7:30am hotel pick-up from Hollywood or West Hollywood Hotels

8:00am hotel pick-up from   Downtown LA hotels

• A Park Hopper ticket at Disneyland allows guests to visit more than one park in a day.
• Guests can reserve the first park they want to visit up until 11 AM.  
• After entering the first park, guests can visit the next park starting at 11 AM. Guests can go between the parks until each park’s regularly scheduled closure.

Disneyland ® Park 1313 Disneyland Dr Anaheim, CA 92802

• Andaz West Hollywood
• Best Western Plus Stovall’s Inn, Anaheim
• Castle Inn and Suites, Anaheim
• Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim
• Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Anaheim
• Howard Johnson, Anaheim
• Hyatt Place at Anaheim Resort
• Loews Hollywood Hotel
• Magic Castle Hotel, Hollywood

Making Magical Experiences

Plan your disneyland vacation with help from the experts, frequent rider rewards.

Sign up for a FREE Frequent Rider Account. It saves you time making future reservations and you’ll receive special discounts and service updates.

Stay Connected

Scan the QR code to store our contact information on your device.

Reviews on TripAdvisor

• Terms of Use
• Accessibility

Copyright © 2024 Karmel. All Rights Reserved.

Don't stress! Relax with our Private Disneyland Tours

(310) 750 4978

private theme park tours

Let us do the planning for you

Our Background

Planning a theme park vacation can be an overwhelming experience, and is without a doubt, definitely a lot of work, especially once you are inside the crowded parks. That’s why having professional, experienced, in-park assistance is not only a valuable time saver, but a huge stress reliever as well. With over a decade of experience in guided theme park tours, our goal is to make the whole process easy, entertaining, and even more enjoyable for the whole family. We will handle all the logistics while you make memories with your family. 

Let us be your guide. 

Our Services

We specialize in private theme park tours in California. Whether you're looking for a VIP experience in one park or the whole package, we have you covered! Simply tell one of our reservationists where you would like to go and we'll help customize the rest.

Follow the leader. Our private tour guides save you valuable time and help your days flow as efficiently as possible. That way you can spend more time riding rides, enjoying attractions, swimming at the hotel, or just relaxing , instead of planning , waiting in long lines, looking through maps, or downloading apps.

Theme Park Tours

Disneyland & california adventure park.

Visit both California theme parks with your private Disneyland tour guide. Explore the original 1955 Walt Disney creation and enjoy such popular attractions as Space Mountain, Star Wars Rise of the Resistance, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Then hop over to Disney's California Adventure, and zoom through Radiator Springs Racers, drop with the Guardians of the Galaxy, or sling with Spider-Man.

LEGOLAND California

Everything is awesome when following your private guide. Let us help you build your perfect LEGO get away, and enjoy family favorites like Ninjago or the new LEGO Movie World.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Enjoy a private tour of the entertainment capital of LA, where your family can explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and experience movie making magic up-close on the classic Studio Tour.

Join Our Mailing List

Be the first to hear about upcoming special events, exciting new attractions, and fun updates from Southland Tour Co!

Copyright © 2021 Southland Tour Co. - All Rights Reserved. Southland Tour Co. is a private company and not affiliated with Disneyland, the Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, or Legoland.

Powered by GoDaddy

Cookie Policy

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.

Disney Closes Magic Kingdom Park Area Amidst Severe Weather

Disney park suspends mary poppins indefinitely after controversial incident, “beachfront property”: bob iger says it doesn’t matter how disney is monetized.

• Disney World Updates “Hazardous” Area, All Guests Blocked
• This Secret Drink From Starbucks Is Inspired By Mrs. Potts
• Dig a Little Deeper and Order a Starbucks Tiana Matcha Latte

Disney Dining Serving up the latest Disney Eats, Treats, News, and More!

New tour of disneyland resort and southern california available to walt-lovers everywhere.

Posted by: Becky Burkett January 20, 2023

A tour of Walt’s first park and of Southern California is Adventures by Disney’s newest offering for Walt Disney and Disney enthusiasts everywhere!

Adventures by Disney is the only way to go when traveling, and when it comes to travel that includes a trip back in time to look at Walt’s history and the beginnings of The Walt Disney Company and Disneyland Resort, there’s no better team of guides to take fans than the guides at Adventures by Disney.

The group has just unveiled a new experience, sure to tickle the fancy of any fan of Walt and Walt’s “Disney.” It’s the Disneyland Resort and Southern California itinerary .  Trip prices start at $4,199, and the itinerary is exciting! Per Disney Parks Blog :

You’ll spend your first two nights of the adventure in the show business capital of the world: Hollywood.

Then, you’ll make your way to Anaheim, California, to stay at the beautiful Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at Disneyland Resort. Evoking craftsman-style elegance, this gorgeous hotel is a short walk away from the parks. In fact, it has an entrance providing direct access to Disney California Adventure Park. And the impressive amenities are a plus. The spa, heated pools, and award-winning dining create the perfect way to wind down from a fun-filled day of exploration.

The first two days of the adventure will have you saying, “hooray!” in Hollywood as you visit the TCL Chinese Theatre (you know, where you can see all the celebrity handprints), followed by an exclusive VIP tour of the Jim Henson Company. For any Muppets fan, like me, this is a highlight for sure! Then, you get to enjoy a delicious lunch at the Tam O’Shanter. For those of you well-versed in Disney heritage, you might recognize this legendary Scottish steakhouse, established in 1922, as a place Walt and his team frequently dined. Pro tip: Try the Yorkshire pudding.

Tam O’Shanter Restaurant/Credit: NBC

The adventure continues with a private tour of The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California . This is where so many of your favorite films have been created over the years – not to mention, it’s The Walt Disney Company’s worldwide headquarters.

RELATED: Imagineers Unfreeze Walt’s Head, and He’s Furious About the Current State of His Beloved Parks

Credit: USA Today

There, you might visit Legends Plaza, home to the handprints of the  Disney Legends . You’ll see the original Animation Building and learn about its unique layout and how it was designed intentionally for the animation process. (Did you know the building was oriented so that animation artists would get the most natural light possible? That explains the unique architecture of the building’s iconic shape.) You’ll even eat like Walt! That is, you’ll eat where Walt used to dine at the Studio Commissary. And, of course, this trip includes a fascinating visit to the Walt Disney Archives, where you’ll see original props and artifacts from some of your favorite Disney stories!

Credit: D23

The behind-the-scenes Disney adventure will continue with visits to  Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. You will enjoy Disneyland Park like never before with access to special experiences, including a 90-minute guided tour of Main Street, U.S.A., that includes a visit to Walt Disney’s apartment above the Disneyland Fire Station in Town Square. Then, you’ll be able to explore the resort on your own and choose from the many exciting attractions and dazzling entertainment options!

Credit: IGN

If this exciting adventure sounds like the most magical experience ever, but you’re a bit short on time, there’s an option for you! Adventures by Disney offers an “Escape” package, featuring a 4-day, 3-night getaway with several of the highlights from the longer itinerary shared above. For more information about that package, click here .

About Becky Burkett

Related Articles

June 12, 2024

Disneyland | Look inside Peter Pan’s Never Land pitched…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Food & Drink

Amusement Parks

• Theater & Arts

Breaking News

Disneyland | lakers legend and clippers executive jerry west dies at age 86, things to do, disneyland | look inside peter pan’s never land pitched for disneyland expansion, the world’s first peter pan themed land debuting june 6 at tokyo disneysea has been dangled as a possible project for a proposed theme park expansion in the disneylandforward plan..

Peter Pan’s Never Land has been pitched as a possible project for the DisneylandForward theme park expansion plan recently approved by the city of Anaheim.

ALSO SEE: What will Disneyland build first in theme park expansion?

The new Peter Pan’s Never Land officially debuts on June 6 at Tokyo DisneySea following an extended soft opening.

ALSO SEE: Look inside Tangled land pitched for Disneyland expansion

Peter Pan’s Never Land will be part of Fantasy Springs, the newest port set to debut at Tokyo DisneySea that also features Rapunzel’s Forest and Frozen Kingdom . Visitors will enter Fantasy Springs through an archway surrounded by rockwork representing Peter Pan, Rapunzel, Anna and Elsa.

ALSO SEE: First look at Avatar themed land proposed for Disneyland

The backstory for Peter Pan’s Never Land finds visitors joining the now gender-neutral Lost Kids on a fun-loving adventure stretching from Pixie Hollow to Captain Hook’s pirate ship.

ALSO SEE: Look inside Frozen land pitched for Disneyland expansion

The marquee attraction is Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure 3D dark ride where our mission is to help Peter, Tink and the Lost Kids rescue John from Captain Hook and his band of pirates. Along the way we encounter Wendy, Michael and the mermaids before finally reaching Hook’s Jolly Roger ship for a swashbuckling showdown.

ALSO SEE: DisneylandForward proposal allows 300-foot-tall thematic icons

Riders board 12-seat boats sprinkled with a hefty dose of fairy dust courtesy of Tinker Bell and take off through the sky on a six minute epic journey.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland commits $1.9 billion for theme park expansion

Walt Disney Imagineering combined motion base ride vehicles with 3D effects, custom animation and practical sets to create the sense of flight on the new dark ride.

Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies, the second attraction in Never Land, sends riders around Pixie Hollow with Tink as she delivers gifts to her fellow fairies.

The Busy Buggies queue is filled with larger-than-life flowers, mushrooms, paint brushes and nibbled cheese to create the illusion riders have been shrunk to the size of a fairy.

Riders climb into wicker baskets with seat backs made from envelopes for a two-minute ride through the fairy valley on ride vehicles with spinning bases.

“Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies is an outdoor track ride that might give Disneyland resort fans in California flashbacks to Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train,” according to Theme Park Insider . “Again, you’re shrunk to a small size for a tour around common objects that now appear super-sized.”

The Lookout Cookout counter service restaurant assembled from a salvaged shipwreck is themed as the Lost Kids’ hideout, complete with comfy hammocks and hastily strewn pajamas.

The Lost Kids Snack Box on the menu comes with chicken tenders, seaweed fritters, shrimp chips and banana chips.

The signature drink: A kiwi-flavored Pixie Dust Soda with a gold star floating on top that dissolves with a silver sparkling effect.

The Never Land Popcorn Wagon will serve an exclusive roast beef flavor with black pepper seasoning and gravy aromas available only in Fantasy Springs.

Peter Pan’s Never Land was among the possible projects floated in the DisneylandForward expansion plan approved by the Anaheim City Council in early May that updates a 1990s city plan to allow for a mix of theme park, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment on the eastern and western edges of the Disneyland resort.

DisneylandForward dangled 10 themed lands based on Peter Pan, Tangled, Avatar, Frozen, Zootopia, Toy Story, Black Panther, Coco, Tron and Encanto as potential expansion projects in Anaheim.

• Newsroom Guidelines
• Report an Error

More in Disneyland

Disneyland | Disneyland president remembers ‘kind’ and ‘gentle’ employee who died after backstage accident

Disneyland | Niles: Disney finds a new challenge in The Bahamas

Disneyland | State inspectors investigating fatal Disneyland accident

Disneyland | Club 33 manager dies in ‘tragic’ Disneyland accident

Disneyland Employee Dies After Falling From Moving Golf Cart at Theme Park

By Selena Kuznikov

Selena Kuznikov

• ‘Sausage Party: Foodtopia’ Trailer: Seth Rogen’s R-Rated Comedy Comes to TV 1 day ago
• Disneyland Employee Dies After Falling From Moving Golf Cart at Theme Park 4 days ago
• Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Sherry Cola and More Urge for Improved LGBTQ Representation in Hollywood: We’re ‘Multidimensional, and We Have Something to Say’ 4 days ago

A Disneyland employee died from her injuries Friday after falling from a moving golf cart at the theme park two days prior.

Anaheim Police and Anaheim Fire and Rescue personnel arrived at the resort Wednesday at around 11:30 a.m. PT to the area of West Ball Road and South West Street in response to a collision that occurred backstage, according to the Los Angeles Times .

Related Stories

Why long-form tiktok videos make perfect sense, john mulaney on whether he will make more 'everybody's in l.a.,' return for 'the bear' season 3 or host the oscars, popular on variety.

Lear, who worked at Disneyland Resort for 24 years, most recently supported membership services at Club 33, a private dining club located in the New Orleans Square area of the theme park. The members-only club, which was inspired by executive VIP lounges at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, is located above the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and opened in 1967.

The Anaheim Police Department is continuing to investigate the traffic incident.

More from Variety

Ryan reynolds is ‘surprised’ disney allowed ‘deadpool and wolverine’ to be so hard r: ‘it’s a huge step for them’ and i’m not trying to ‘sound condescending’, peacock content spending patterns show shifting priorities, ‘deadpool and wolverine’ unveils sexual, ‘dune’-inspired popcorn bucket, hugh jackman ‘really thought’ wolverine was done, then he joined ‘deadpool 3’ without telling his agent: ‘by the way, i’ve just committed to a movie’, ‘sight’ and upcoming films demonstrate angel studios’ tricky leap of faith, more from our brands, here’s how john cale stays on the cutting edge at 82, robb recommends: the body wash and moisturizer combo that amplifies your cologne, kelce brothers take stake in ohio-based garage beer, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, jerry west, nba legend, dead at 86: ‘the personification of basketball excellence’, verify it's you, please log in.

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Disneyland employee dies after golf cart accident.

Bonnye Mavis Lear, 60, supported membership services at the exclusive Club 33 restaurant and had worked for Disneyland for 24 years.

By Hilary Lewis

Hilary Lewis

Deputy Editor, East Coast, THR.com

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Send an Email
• Show additional share options
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Reddit
• Share on Tumblr
• Share on Whats App
• Print the Article
• Post a Comment

A Disneyland employee died Friday after she suffered a head injury in a golf cart accident, the Anaheim Police Department confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter .

The employee, identified as 60-year-old Bonnye Mavis Lear by the Orange County Coroner’s Office, fell from a moving golf cart and struck her head on Wednesday morning, a police spokesman said. Lear was a passenger in the cart and the driver wasn’t injured and no drugs or alcohol are suspected, according to TMZ .

Related Stories

Disneyland character workers vote to unionize with actors' equity, disneyland unveils new 'avatar' land concept art: "we're investing aggressively and thoughtfully".

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Bonnye and offer our sincere condolences to everyone who cared for her,” Disneyland Resort president Ken Potrock said in a statement. “At this time, we are focused on supporting her family and our castmembers through this tragic event and making sure they have the resources they need.”

Lear supported membership services at Disneyland’s exclusive Club 33 restaurant and had worked for the Disneyland Resort for 24 years, a Disney spokesperson said.

The members-only elite eatery Club 33 opened in 1967 and is located near the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed last month that Club 33 is getting the movie treatment , with Goosebumps and Shazam! writer Darren Lemke writing the script for the feature set in a fantastical world about the club.

Shawn Levy is among the producers of the 21 Laps Entertainment project.

Disney California Adventure attractions castmember Rae Delgado, who didn’t know Lear, wrote on Facebook that Lear suffered a fractured skull and brain swelling from the accident.

“Bonnye was traveling on a rear-facing seat of a golf cart along with 3 passengers behind Critter Country,” Delgado wrote on Facebook. “The driver of the vehicle was driving at least 20 mph on the route. The golf cart came in contact with a bump/dip in the road which caused Bonnye to react immediately. As she went to grab the handrail, it gave way and sent her out of the vehicle. … She was deemed unconscious when paramedics arrived.”

Though doctors performed surgery, “it was beyond repair,” Delgado said, and Lear was declared “brain dead” on Thursday morning.

“Managers are telling CMs [castmembers] to not speak about the circumstances of Bonnye’s death to others,” Delgado wrote on Facebook. “They’re asking for silence. They want it to be forgotten.” Degado adds, “Justice isn’t ultimately finding someone to blame — it’s rectifying a wrong. It’s taking responsibility. It’s finding out what went wrong. It’s fixing what’s broken.”

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Celine dion reveals she took near-lethal levels of valium while battling stiff-person syndrome, kevin jonas shares experience removing cancerous mole: “time to heal”, jin is back: first member of global sensation bts completes military service, rihanna on why she’s “starting over” with her next album, ‘the boys’ to end with season 5 at amazon, celine dion had to adjust her songs as she first experienced stiff-person syndrome symptoms.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Black Disney Princess Ride Replaces Splash Mountain and Its Racist History

The ride was closed last year because of its connection to a racist film. Disney overhauled it to focus on Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess, drawing praise and backlash.

By Brooks Barnes

Photographs by Todd Anderson

Reporting from Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla.

In the summer of 2020, as a reckoning on racial justice swept the country, Disney said it would rip out Splash Mountain , a wildly popular flume ride with a racist back story.

Some people cheered, saying the move was long overdue: After 31 years at Disneyland in California and 28 at Walt Disney World in Florida, the attraction — with its animal minstrels from “Song of the South,” the radioactive 1946 movie — had to go.

But Disney also faced blowback. Last year, when Splash Mountain finally closed, someone started a makeshift memorial near its entrance — the kind that pops up at scenes of horrific crimes. Distraught fans spirited away jars of the water . More than 100,000 fans signed a petition calling on Disney to reverse its “absurd” decision.

Now, Disney is rolling out Splash Mountain’s replacement, which is based on “The Princess and the Frog,” the 2009 animated musical that introduced Disney’s first Black princess. The lighthearted new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will open to the public on June 28 at Disney World, with a similar version expected to arrive at Disneyland by the end of the year.

It’s a historic moment for Disney: After 69 years in the theme park business, the company will have a marquee attraction based on a Black character. Disney has spent at least $150 million on the bicoastal project, analysts estimate. (A Disney spokesman declined to comment on the cost.)

“For young Black children, it is, of course, a wonderful and amazing way to show representation,” Anika Noni Rose , who voices Tiana in the film and recorded new lines for the ride, said when the project was announced. “For children who don’t look like Tiana, it is a way to open their eyes.”

Disney has remade rides before, often to howls from devotees, but this particular overhaul is especially delicate. In recent years, Disney has found itself enmeshed in nationwide debates over diversity and inclusion initiatives, with prominent Republican politicians and conservative media pundits pointing to Disney as an example of corporate political correctness run amok.

The pressure has started to die down, in part because Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is no longer running for president and attacking “Woke Disney” at campaign stops. Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, has also repeatedly said he has moved Disney away from “agenda-driven” content.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure could drag Disney back onto the cultural battlefield. Or it could provide more evidence that the debate has moved on.

“Our parks are treasured, and our fans care deeply about how they evolve and change — just as we do,” Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s theme park chairman, said in an interview. “One thing fans always tell me is ‘If you change it, promise to make it even better.’ And I think we’ve delivered on that promise with Tiana.”

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure uses the same ride tracks as Splash Mountain, and riders still travel in vehicles made to look like hollowed-out logs. But everything else has been redesigned. Instead of a suspenseful story involving Br’er Rabbit’s getting tossed into a briar patch, the new attraction focuses on a Mardi Gras party: Tiana and her pal Louis, a trumpet-playing alligator, are searching for critters to form a band.

Halfway through, the jolly Mama Odie, a voodoo queen in “The Princess and the Frog” and now a “bayou fairy godmother,” casts a spell, supposedly shrinking riders to the size of fireflies.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure also has a pointed new catchphrase: “Everybody’s welcome.”

As he rode Tiana’s Bayou Adventure with a reporter during a test-opening phase, Ted Robledo, the attraction’s executive creative director, pointed out numerous inclusive touches — decorative items in Spanish and French, reflecting the multicultural history of New Orleans; a diversity of music (jazz, zydeco, blues) playing on the sound system.

“That’s a nod to the Indigenous people in the region,” Mr. Robledo said, referring to a Choctaw stickball racket in a diorama near the ride’s entrance.

“We’re always looking at ways to cast a wider net,” Mr. Robledo said. “With the old property, for a variety of reasons, it wasn’t that relevant anymore. It had kind of run its course.”

“The Princess and the Frog,” about a working-class woman who becomes royalty, was a box office disappointment. Tiana, however, has become crucial to Disney. In consumer polls conducted by the company, she ranks No. 2 in popularity — out of Disney’s entire character roster — among Black women. (Characters from “The Lion King” are No. 1.)

Disney has high hopes for merchandise tied to the new attraction, which expands the movie’s story. (There are two gift shops near its exit.) An animated Tiana series is coming to Disney+ and will continue part of the story set up by the ride.

“Tiana is a modern princess who resonates with everyone,” Mr. D’Amaro said. “She wasn’t born into royalty, but her story of perseverance and pride is timeless. This enduring quality is crucial for our parks’ attractions, as they need to entertain across generations.”

Mr. D’Amaro likened complaints about Splash Mountain’s removal to a prior situation at the Disneyland Resort. In 2017, Disney closed the popular Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a hotel with malfunctioning elevators, and remade it around Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Fans booed — until they had a chance to ride the replacement.

“It was a controversial decision at the time, but by introducing a modern story with different emotions, we created an entirely new experience,” Mr. D’Amaro said, noting that visitor ratings of the remade Tower of Terror soared.

This month, Disney posted a nine-minute video tour of the new Tiana attraction on the internet. As of Monday, it had been viewed 625,000 times, with 10,000 people giving it a thumbs up and 38,000 a thumbs down. The ride “seems to lack dramatical tension and stakes,” Jim Shull , a retired Disney parks designer, wrote on X, based on the video. A smattering of Splash Mountain die-hards nicknamed the new ride Tiana’s Bayou Blunder.

The reaction has been much more positive from those who have ridden the attraction, which is in a soft-opening period.

“I loved it,” Victoria Wade , a social media influencer from Baltimore, said on X on Thursday. “I love how this whole attraction adds more to the continuation of Tiana’s story.” She called the ride’s 48 animatronic figures “absolutely incredible.”

Drew Smith , 21, a self-described Disney “super fan” from Windermere, Fla., talked his way onto the ride during a testing phase. “Splash Mountain was my absolute favorite attraction since I was a little kid, and I’m extremely happy to say that the new ride is just as great,” he said in an interview. “Don’t believe the haters!”

Brooks Barnes covers all things Hollywood. He joined The New York Times in 2007 and previously worked at The Wall Street Journal. More about Brooks Barnes

Explore Our Business and Tech Coverage

Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping the worlds of business and technology..

A Big Decision for Boeing’s Next C.E.O.: ​​Some analysts say building a new plane soon would help the company regain ground it has lost to Airbus. But doing so would be difficult and expensive .

A British Invasion of U.S. Media: ​​As a historic presidential election looms, several of America’s largest newsrooms are now being led by English journalists .

What Retail Apocalypse?: ​​Shopping center vacancy is the lowest it has been in two decades. The properties are thriving  even as retailers shutter many stores.

How a Bold A.I. Device Flopped: ​​Humane’s Ai Pin was supposed to free people from smartphones, but sales have been slow. Now the company is eyeing a potential sale .

The Napoleon of Your Living Room: Gary Friedman, who runs RH, is out to conquer the world, one luxurious sofa at a time. Next stop, Waterloo ?