Disneyland 2024: What You Need to Know

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Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and fountain at Toontown in Disneyland
Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland park – Image credit: Julie Bigboy

If you’re planning a Disneyland visit in 2024 you might be wondering what is different. We’ve got you covered. Here’s what you need to know about visiting each of the Anaheim California theme parks in 2024. We’ve got tips for Disneyland and California Adventure – plus what is open and what might be new during your visit!

It’s a great time for a Disneyland vacation! Photo credit: Julie Bigboy

What are the Rules for Disneyland in 2024?

Travel changed dramatically in 2020 and Disneyland changed too. Here are some of the ways visiting Disneyland in 2024 is different:

  • Park reservation system. Anyone holding a valid park ticket must also make a Disneyland park reservation.
  • Advance ticket purchase. Disneyland new ticket sales are open and there was a price increase. Tickets are not sold at the theme park gates and must be bought ahead of your trip.
  • Park Hopping. Available daily after 11 am for those holding Park Hopper passes.
  • Face coverings are optional. Some guests continue to wear them in crowded or indoor locations, as a personal preference.

Read More: Disneyland Ticket Prices: What it Will Cost This Year

How can you get Disneyland tickets right now? Photo credit: Julie Bigboy

Disneyland Tickets 2024: Changes and Things to Know

Disneyland’s Annual Passholder program was discontinued several years ago. Its replacement, Disneyland Magic Key, provides reservation-based admission to one or both Disneyland parks.

Prices increased on all ticket tiers except for Tier 1. A new tier, Tier 6, was added to cover the busiest days of the year.

Where to Buy Disneyland Tickets

She Buys Travel recommends Get Away Today for discounted Disneyland tickets and vacation packages. Book your hotel reservations with Get Away Today now to lock in travel dates. With Disneyland ticket sales now open, Get Away Today can add these to your hotel package.

Get Away Today also offers price monitoring and a complimentary concierge service that’s invaluable to travelers.

After you buy your tickets, someone from Get Away Today will reach out to answer any of your Disneyland vacation questions or help you create and book your itinerary.

Guests are racing back to the Disneyland parks. Photo credit: Julie Bigboy

Park Reservations are Required at Disneyland

Just like in Walt Disney World, park reservations are required. One nice thing about Disneyland is that you can purchase your tickets and make your reservations at the same time! If you already have tickets be sure to reserve your dates ASAP. You can check the calendar for availability.

Both an advance park reservation and valid ticketed admission for the same park on the same date are required for anyone age 3 and up. Park Hopping between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure park is allowed beginning at 11 am each day.

Read More: Disney Genie Service: How it Works

More Changes for Disneyland in 2024

Similar to the Disney World changes, these are the modifications that guests have seen at Disneyland since the reopening:

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  • Limited capacity of guests allowed inside parks by utilizing park reservations.
  • Early Entry is available for guests staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel.
  • FASTPASS and Disney MaxPass have been replaced with Disney Genie Service.
  • Touchless transactions is recommended. Disneyland is encouraging guests to use debit, credit and gift cards rather than cash for purchases and to use mobile ordering for quick service meals. You’ll be able to use gift cards to pay via the Disneyland app under a change to the system.

Read More: Disney World Changes: Different, But Still Magical

Mobile ordering is key through the Disneyland app. Photo credit: Julie Bigboy

Which Disneyland and Disney California Rides Are Open?

Most rides and attractions are currently open and operating, with a few closures for refurbishment or “reimagining”. These closures can certainly alter plans for your vacation so be sure to check the Disneyland website calendar before your visit to verify which attractions are available or down for refurbishment.

Where Can I See Disney Characters at Disneyland?

Traditional character meet ‘n greets are back in the theme parks, including hugs, photos ops, and autographs! Popular Disney characters are making appearances in and around the parks.

At the Disneyland park, guests can expect to spot Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Pluto near Main Street USA. Disney princesses chat with guests in Fantasy Faire and a variety of other characters walk around in Fantasyland.

Over at Disney California Adventure park, Anna and Elsa from Frozen meet inside the Disney Animation Building. Characters from Pixar films including Toy Story, Inside Out, and the Incredibles meet in the Pixar Pier area.

Character Dining is also back! Guests that book these dining experiences have one-on-one interactions with characters that visit each table within the restaurant. Be sure to make advance dining reservations for these character dining experiences.

Disneyland Resort Changes in 2024: What Has Returned?

Disneyland 2024 has essentially returned to full operation. Many attractions at the Disney theme parks in California that were previously closed have reopened.

  • Parades, performances, live indoor shows, fireworks and nighttime spectaculars have fully returned to the theme parks. View the Disneyland entertainment calendar online or in the app for exact dates and times during your visit.
  • Children’s play areas have reopened, including those in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, Goofy’s How-to-Play Yard, and Mickey’s House.
  • Restaurants are open and operating at full capacity for both indoor and outdoor seating.
  • Disneyland souvenir shopping remains a popular part of the travel experience. Souvenir shops are fully available, including the iconic Silhouette Studio.
  • Lockers are available in all locations at Disneyland, making storing your personal belongings and purchases a little bit easier.
Disneyland lockers located in the esplanade between the theme parks. Photo credit: Julie Bigboy

What’s NEW at Disneyland 2024?

There is a lot that is new now that Disneyland has reopened. While most of these adjustments are procedural, some are exciting changes everyone should be looking forward to.

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and fountain at Toontown in Disneyland
Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland park. Photo credit: Julie Bigboy

Mickey’s Toontown Opening

The whimsical Toontown area at Disneyland has received a colorful make-over that includes new rides, dining, and playgrounds. Disneyland Toontown rides and attractions include Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster, and Goofy’s How-to-Play Yard.

Mickey’s Toontown is a must-do! Aim to purchase Disney Genie+ in order to use the Lightning Lanes. This will allow a shorter wait time for several of the popular attractions in this new (and often crowded) new area.

Mobile order food for quick service meals at the Disneyland Resort. Photo credit: Julie Bigboy

Improved Mobile Ordering at Disneyland

I’m a huge fan of mobile ordering. They’ve expanded the quick-service locations using the app. Mobile ordering allows you to order via the Disneyland app, choosing a pick-up time for meals. Then, simply pick up food at a special window, bypassing the stand-by ordering queue.

Within the program, guests will be able to use a Disney gift card as payment. For Magic Key pass holders that had their pass scanned into the Disneyland app, the applicable membership discount will still apply to dining purchases. The discount will apply automatically to your total in app.

The Quinjet atop Avengers Headquarters. Photo credit: Julie Bigboy

Avengers Campus

Avengers Campus is the newest Disney California Adventure land that opened to guests on June 4th, 2021. This highly anticipated Marvel-themed area includes WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure ride, interactive character meet ‘n greet locations and quick service dining.

Read More: Avengers Disneyland Campus: What You Need to Know

San Fransokyo Square

The Pacific Wharf area in Disney California Adventure has been rethemed into San Fransokyo Square, based upon the Big Hero 6 movie. Guests can enjoy new dining, a Baymax and Hiro greeting, and souvenir shopping.

Entrance sign for the Disneyland Hotel. Photo credit: Julie Bigboy

Disneyland Resort Hotels

All Disneyland Resort hotels are open and fully functioning. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel has been rebranded to Disney’s Pixar Place and is now open after a full remodeling.

Read More: Consider one of these 15 off-property Disneyland hotels for your next trip.

A travel writer who specializes in Disney and family travel destinations, Julie Bigboy also enjoys quilting, watching baseball, and spending time with her four children. A San Diego native, Julie writes with a detailed eye, to provide families with helpful tips and guidance for planning every aspect of a trip with children. Julie is the owner and content creator for the website Mom Rewritten, a lifestyle blog. She also co-owns Disneyland With Kids, a Facebook group and podcast for families.
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