Disneyland, the iconic theme park located in Anaheim, California, is a place where dreams come true. For many Disney enthusiasts, visiting the park on their birthday would be a dream come true as well.

The idea of receiving a special birthday gift in the form of free admission to Disneyland is indeed enticing.

In this article, we’ll explore the history of this tradition, any current offerings, and alternative ways to make your birthday at Disneyland a magical experience.

Book your next magical family adventure through our friends at Get Away Today! They are truly the Disney experts and can make planning your trip a breeze for both Disneyland and Disney World. You can browse their website or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Magical Family Travel Guide sent you or use the code MFTG for $10 off a Southern California

Does Disneyland really offer free entry on your birthday?

Unfortunately for all us Disney lovers- No, Disneyland does NOT give free tickets on your birthday.

The History of Disneyland Birthday Freebies

For years, Disneyland did have a tradition of allowing visitors free entry on their birthdays. This policy was part of the “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign, which ran from 2009 to 2010. During this time, guests could receive a free, single-day admission to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park on their actual birthdate.

However, this generous promotion came to an end when the campaign concluded.

It’s essential to check the latest updates on Disneyland’s official website or contact Disney directly to confirm if any new promotions or changes have occurred since then.

Alternative Ways to Celebrate Your Birthday at Disneyland

While free birthday admission may not be available as of my last knowledge update, there are still various ways to make your birthday at Disneyland extra special:

Birthday Buttons

Visit City Hall at Disneyland or the Chamber of Commerce at Disney California Adventure Park to pick up a complimentary “Happy Birthday” button. Wearing this button can lead to cast members and fellow guests wishing you well throughout the day, adding a sprinkle of Disney magic to your celebration.

Character Dining

Consider booking a character dining experience at one of the park’s restaurants. It’s a memorable way to enjoy a special meal while meeting beloved Disney characters and receiving personalized attention on your special day.

Birthday Treats

Disneyland has a reputation for creating delightful treats. On your birthday, indulge in a special dessert or snack from one of the park’s many food stalls, bakeries, or ice cream shops.

Photo Opportunities

Make use of Disneyland’s numerous picturesque settings to capture memories of your special day. Don’t forget to ask photographers for a birthday-themed photo!

While the tradition of free admission to Disneyland on your birthday has ended, the park still offers a plethora of ways to celebrate your special day in true Disney style.

With a “Happy Birthday” button, character interactions, delicious treats, and special packages, you can create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Remember to check Disneyland’s official website or contact Disney directly for the most up-to-date information on birthday promotions and offerings.

Ultimately, whether or not you receive free entry, Disneyland remains a magical place to celebrate your birthday.

More Posts You Might Enjoy:

• The Best Rain Ponchos for Disney + Rainy Day Tips (2021)
• Where to Stay: Hotels Around Disneyland
• Disneyland Transportation: Getting Around In AND Outside the Park

The post Do You Get Into Disneyland For Free on Your Birthday? appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Choosing the best days of the week to visit Disneyland can greatly impact your overall experience at the park. While the popularity of Disneyland means that it can be crowded throughout the year, certain days tend to be more manageable in terms of crowds, wait times, and overall enjoyment.

Planning your visit on the right days can make a significant difference in your ability to explore attractions, enjoy shows, and have a magical time.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the considerations for selecting the optimal days to visit Disneyland and help you make the most of your trip.

Book your next magical family adventure through our friends at Get Away Today! They are truly the Disney experts and can make planning your trip a breeze for both Disneyland and Disney World. You can browse their website or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Magical Family Travel Guide sent you or use the code MFTG for $10 off a Southern California

What are the best days of the week to visit Disneyland?

The best days to visit Disneyland can vary depending on factors like crowd levels, park hours, and special events.

However, some general guidelines can help you choose the optimal days for your visit:

Midweek Days (Tuesday to Thursday)

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are often the least crowded days at Disneyland. Most people visit during weekends or extend their trips to include Mondays and Fridays, leaving the middle of the week relatively quieter. This means shorter wait times for popular rides and a more enjoyable overall experience.

Off-Peak Seasons

Aim for times when schools are in session to avoid the large crowds associated with school vacations and holidays. The months of January, February (except Presidents’ Day weekend), September, and early December usually see lower attendance.

Avoid Holidays and Special Events

Major holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July tend to attract large crowds. Additionally, during certain events like Halloween and Christmas celebrations, the parks can be busier due to their unique offerings.

Check Crowd Calendars

Many online resources provide crowd calendars that predict attendance levels at Disneyland on specific days. These calendars take into account historical data and trends to help you plan your visit during quieter times.

Consider Weather

Southern California generally enjoys mild weather, but rain can sometimes deter crowds. If rain is forecasted, you might experience shorter wait times for attractions.

Rope Drop and Park Hopping

Arriving at park opening (rope drop) allows you to experience popular attractions with shorter wait times before the crowds arrive. Additionally, with the Park Hopper ticket option, you can start your day in one park and then switch to the other once it gets busier.

Use Disney Genie Plus

Use Disney Genie Plus to reserve access to select attractions, minimizing your time spent waiting in line.

Remember that even on the best days, Disneyland can still have some level of crowd activity.

Planning ahead, arriving early, and use resources like Disney Genie Plus can help you make the most of your visit, no matter when you decide to go.

More Posts You May Enjoy:

• Disneyland Balloons: Everything You Need to Know
• The Best Places to Buy Disney Clothes for Your Disney Vacation
• Where Can You Buy Rain Ponchos at Disney World? Your Complete Guide

The post What Are The Best Days of the Week To Go to Disneyland? appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Walt Disney World is much more than a loose string of unrelated theme parks. It’s a cohesive realm separate from the rest of Orlando affectionately referred to as the “Disney Bubble”.

Within the more than 43 Square miles of mostly undeveloped land there exist multitudinous opportunities for guests. You could spend weeks experiencing them and never get bored.

The challenge for most of us becomes the art of distilling all of this potential into one week. In doing so, we are likely to skip over a lot while planning and even enjoying our stay.

That is why despite the internet so many Disney World secrets remain so well kept. Read on for just a few of the Walt Disney World secrets you likely never discovered. Some of these may enhance our trip, while others are just fun to know!

Book your next magical family adventure through our friends at Get Away Today! They are truly the Disney experts and can make planning your trip a breeze for both Disneyland and Disney World. You can browse their website or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Magical Family Travel Guide sent you or use the code MFTG for $10 off a Southern California

Walt Disney Did Not Design The Magic Kingdom

Disney signed off on the concept of another Disney theme park within his greater Florida Project. However, he did not have a hand in planning the park.

Walt Disney World’s public relations often imply that Disney favored The Magic Kingdom over Disneyland. They cite that it solved problems that irritated him about his original park. This is partially true, Disney bought extra land to keep the riff-raff away and the underground tunnels of the Magic Kingdom do solve some of Walt’s concerns.

However, the only park Disney actually oversaw and had design input on was Disneyland.

The Dining Plan Doesn’t Save You Money

The assumption of a bundle is that you save money and that’s one reason guests who are planning their Walt Disney World vacations clamor for the prepaid Dining plans.

These plans convert dollars into credits, which is really the first red flag. They don’t want you to connect your experience with a dollar value.

Disney is betting you won’t do the math. If you do, you have to bend over backward to break even on the dining plan.

The reason is that the dining plan presents a value while making all kinds of assumptions about how you would otherwise spend your money. The Disney World secret they don’t want you to know is this bottom line: You can eat much cheaper and be happier with your choices if you ditch the prepaid plan.

There are ways to save and get a lot of value of the meal plans, but for the average person, you are better of just buying food as you go (and really, bringing some into the park with you).

Disney Puts a Price on Priceless Experiences

Part of how Disney tricks you into spending more on the Dining Plans is one of the best kept Disney World secrets. They use a tried and true method of offering benefits and perks with no dollar value to sweeten the pot and make you think you are getting a good deal.

There are other hotels in Disney World not owned by Disney. Disney even partners with them. These hotels often cost much less than the comparable accommodations on the Disney-owned site. Yet, Disney can charge double or more based on the perceived value of staying at a Disney-owned site.

Perceived value is the concept that a product or experience is worth more money than it actually is. Things like unlimited refills, extra time in the parks, Fastpasses, and other complementary experiences seem to bridge the pricing gap between other similar, but less costly options.

You see this principle with packages such as the Disney Dining Plan, Memory Maker, Annual Passes, Disney Vacation Club… any package that includes a lot of perks that you can’t put a price tag on.

Before you signup for what seems to be an “exclusive experience”, make sure you look into all the options. While there are benefits to staying on site at Disney World, you might find more value staying somewhere else. Even staying at a hotel in Disney Springs might save you a lot of money and still give you some of the perks of being closeby.

Disney World Was Supposed to Have an Airport

The original Disney World plans called for one theme park, an industrial park, a prototype city of the future, and an airport.

Even as Walt Disney World began its initial phase of openings, the airport looked like it was still going to happen. A landing strip still exists which was meant to be a part of an airport that would fly guests on STOL (short take-off and landing) aircraft directly into Walt Disney World.

Now that Disney’s Magical Express will be going away, maybe this will be the new option! I’m kidding of course, but you can see the landing strip just off of World Drive, south of Bay Lake

A Secret (Fictional) Organization

One of the most interesting Disney World secrets is actually fictional and daily pervasive.

One of the many detailed story elements that fly right over most people’s heads is the organization called the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Nods to this club occur in Disney parks all over the world, but Walt Disney World is where its origins began on Pleasure Island.

The Adventurers Club (an actual club with an adventure theme) had a backstory that has now built into a global phenomenon. Find references to SEA at Typhoon Lagoon, Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Skipper Canteen. You can also expect more tie-ins to this unique fictional society in the upcoming reimagining of The Jungle Cruise.

So tell us – did any of these come as a surprise to you? What secrets about Disney World do YOU know? Comment below and let us know!

More Posts You Might Enjoy:

• 5 Epcot Secrets You Still May Not Know About After 39 Years
• Animal Kingdom Secrets You May Still Not Know
• Hollywood Studios Secrets You Still Might Not Know
• 5 Major Ways Smart Walt Disney World Planning Pays Off

The post Five Walt Disney World Secrets You Might Not Know appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

We know very little about Walt Disney’s actual involvement with the design of the Magic Kingdom. It’s actually kind of a big mystery that nobody seems to want to talk about. What we do know is that he had absolutely nothing to do with Epcot. At least, not as we know it. That makes it a very interesting experiment for Imagineers. As that experiment continues, here are some Epcot secrets you may not already know about.

Book your next magical family adventure through our friends at Get Away Today! They are truly the Disney experts and can make planning your trip a breeze for both Disneyland and Disney World. You can browse their website or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Magical Family Travel Guide sent you or use the code MFTG for $10 off a Southern California

Secret Drinking Experiences

There is a brand new Agave VIP CLub Experience within the Mexico Pavilion at Cavo De Tequila. It’s a paid tasting course led by an expert who will teach you more than you ever thought you could know about tequila while (of course) drinking amazing tequila. The event is for four-6 people and costs $100 per person. It’s by reservation only, but you can’t even book it yet.

Epcot has a long history of drinking experiences. One is the on again off again wine walk. Although you can’t purchase the wine walk experience now, you can still do the tastings in Germany, Italy, and France respectively.

The Coral Reef

When you think of great food in Epcot you most likely think of the table service restaurants all around the World Showcase. The best among the best is in Japan, France, and Canada, with plenty of other options gaining high marks on the basis of their cultural experiences. Most people who plan never consider dining in Future World unless they want a character meal at Garden Grill. Don’t make this mistake and miss one of the best kept Epcot secrets in Disney Dining. The Coral Reef only recently came into view for visitors during the new construction at Epcot. But even now, guests bypass the restaurant which hides so well from view even to rerouted guests. Don’t miss this unique dining opportunity if you can pull yourself away from the trendy and bustling (read: crowded) World Showcase.

The Lost River Cruise

So many pavilions never appeared in the Epcot World Showcase. We fans are still waiting for some of these to eventually come to fruition. Disney even announced some in the earliest printed materials for Epcot prior to its 1982 opening. Although there is still plenty of space to build these new pavilions, there have also been plenty of canceled additions to existing ones. At one point very early on, Some countries’ plans included more attractions for guests to ride. Japan’s bullet train simulator and carousel theater show may be the most ambitious, but a Rhine River Cruise in Germany came very near to happening. You can still see the sealed up wall in the back of the pavilion that would have opened up into a riverboat loading area.

Ideas never die at Disney, however. Watch for the bullet train simulator concept to reappear as a Monorail Mach X simulator in the upcoming Play Pavilion in the new World Discovery section of Future World.

The Fountain of Nations

Although it is gone now and unlikely to return The Fountain of Nations truly was what it claimed to be. Dignitaries from over 20 countries across the world brought water from their respective homelands and contributed to the fountain at an opening ceremony for the park. The area where the Fountain of Nations once flowed is now under construction, though the new multi-level festival center that was meant to go there is indefinitely postponed. Another nearby site, the Science and Discovery Discs that charted major inventions and discoveries throughout world history was also demolished for future construction. Are these beautiful landmarks gone forever? What new secrets will replace them?

The Truth About the Second Entrance

For a long time, the second entrance to Epcot was a great secret for guests staying in the Crescent Lake area. Now with the Disney Skyliner, the jig is up. But why was this entrance there to begin with? When Epcot was first conceived, it was meant to be two parks. This is why the monorail track swings around through the middle of it. It was supposed to drop guests between the two parks. It came to pass that Imagineers eventually decided to combine the two, but the idea for a separate entrance to the World Showcase remained.

More Posts You Might Enjoy

• Animal Kingdom Secrets You May Still Not Know
• Hollywood Studios Secrets You Still Might Not Know

The post 5 Epcot Secrets You Still May Not Know About After 39 Years appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the newest Walt Disney World theme park at only 23 years old. As such, it has seen the fewest changes and refurbishments. However, it still has plenty of those classic Imagineering nods and attention to detail that often goes unnoticed. It’s entirely possible to go an entire day in the park and miss every one of these Animal Kingdom secrets.

Book your next magical family adventure through our friends at Get Away Today! They are truly the Disney experts and can make planning your trip a breeze for both Disneyland and Disney World. You can browse their website or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Magical Family Travel Guide sent you or use the code MFTG for $10 off a Southern California

Safari So Good

It’s a major theme park and a major zoo. You can bet that Disney’s Animal Kingdom was designed by people who knew and understood the challenges John Hammond was up against in Jurassic Park. One of those challenges was getting the animals to show up on schedule. This was a problem Walt Disney struggled with when he wanted to build a Jungle Cruise with live animals. It didn’t work then, but over 40 years later, Disney “found a way.” When you take the Kilimanjaro Safari, you may not even notice how easy it is to see animals that should be hiding. That’s because strategically placed food troughs and air-conditioned rocks are among some hidden tricks Disney uses to keep the safari animals out in view of the guests.

No Zebras Allowed?

Actually, yes. Yes, there are. I read somewhere that Animal Kingdom does not have any Zebras and I had to follow that up. I don’t know where the original story came from, but it turns out that it isn’t true. In fact, there are not only Zebras at Animal Kingdom, but a baby zebra was just born last year to very little fanfare. This was right when the COVID pandemic was beginning to shut down the country, including Walt Disney World, so with no one to notice the Zebra’s birth became an unintentionally kept secret.

The Prehistory of Dinoland

When sharing the best kept Animal Kingdom secrets, you have to look to Dinoland USA. This intricately designed two-part land is despised for garish first impressions. But there is so much more to it than you find at first glance. There is an entire backstory to Dinoland that comes to life all around you when you know what to look for and it really becomes the most fun place to be in the entire park. It all starts with the Dino Institute, Which has its own crazy history involving buyouts and investors.

The institute houses students in a facility that also serves food to Institute visitors. This area has some of the most amazing detail and exceedingly high levels of immersion. Next to the institute a pair of opportunistic gas station owners set up a Dino themed roadside attraction called Dino-Rama. The fuel theme pervades the carnival atmosphere and the gift shop is as dazzling a display of commitment to a gag as I have ever seen! On top of it all it satisfies the need for an American section to the park as well as a section for Dinosaurs.

This area of the park is also where you’ll find a living dinosaur. Okay, it’s a crocodile. But it’s a surprise viewing opportunity that most people fail to notice. find the location near Dino-Bite Snacks.

Exposition Everest

Another intricately themed section of the park is Expedition Everest, the E-Ticket ride in the Asia section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As Animal Kingdom secrets go. This is less about finding a secret reference to the park’s opening day or a nod to an Imagineer. There are plenty of those around. This is more about the clues Disney Imagineers left for guests to pick up on that few ever truly do.

The whole queue area for Expedition Everest sets up the story for this quick ride. If you don’t look around you miss out on key elements that put you at the center of the events about to unfold. The train is not a rollercoaster but a passenger train that once carried tea through the Himalayas to the base of Mount Everest. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the railways past and its fate, so keep alert as you approach the station.

Fake Tree, Real Chimp

There are hundreds of relief carvings in the “bark” of the Tree of Life at the center of Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. But one cherished figure is that of a chimpanzee named David Greybeard. This real-life ape was the first specimen Jane Goodall observed in the wild. It was a visit by Goodall to the park prior to its opening that inspired the carving which pays homage to the chimpanzee responsible for teaching humans so much about the intelligence of other primates.

The post Animal Kingdom Secrets You May Still Not Know appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has yet to complete its transition from Disney MGM into a totally different and more immersive park. For the last decade, the 32-year-old park has had a bit of an identity crisis. Many of the old secrets are dead and buried. However, there is still a lot to discover about this unique park even in the internet age. To begin with, Hidden Mickeys are huge at this park. The craze was just picking up when Disney-MGM Studios was being built. So you’re likely to see mouse ears in a lot of places. Here are five more Hollywood Studios secrets you might not know.

Book your next magical family adventure through our friends at Get Away Today! They are truly the Disney experts and can make planning your trip a breeze for both Disneyland and Disney World. You can browse their website or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Magical Family Travel Guide sent you or use the code MFTG for $10 off a Southern California

The Chinese Theatre Was Built to Exact Scale

In a rare move, Disney Imagineers built the Chinese Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to exact scale. Typical Disney structures are built to a 5/8 scale. This approach along with forced perspective and other artistic tricks helps give Disney parks their magical feel. However, When they set out to create the Great Movie Ride facade, Imagineers used actual blueprints from the Hollywood original. While other architectural references to real Hollywood structures exist within the park, none of them are built at full scale. That puts the Chinese Theater among the stranger Hollywood Studios secrets most people never notice.

A Weenie is Not an Icon

True to tradition, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a weenie. The term coined by Walt Disney himself refers to a large eye-catching structure that draws people deeper into the park. While weenies exist at the end of nearly every avenue of a Disney park, the main ones become park icons. You instantly recognize Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, and the Tree of Life as theme park icons.

However, The icon for Hollywood Studios has changed from the Earffel Tower (a water tower with mouse ears), The Hollywood Tower Hotel, and the Sorcerer Hat from Fantasia. Why the Chinese Theater has never been considered as the park’s icon remains a mystery, but it may have to do with its non-Disney origins. Either way, it’s never talked about, ever. By anyone. It’s just one more of those Hollywood Studios secrets centered around the mysterious theater.

Each Train on Rockin’ Rollercoaster Plays a Different Aerosmith Song…

Or two. There are five trains and the attraction features 8 songs. One of the songs: “Love in an Elevator” was rerecorded to play “Love in a Roller Coaster” but that’s not a suggestion. You can get a hint of what song your “limo” will play by the license plate if you catch a glimpse of it. 1QKLIMO plays “Nine Lives”. UGOBABE plays “Love in a Roller Coaster” and “Walk This Way”. BUHBYE Has the most tracks: “Young Lust”, “F.I.N.E.”, and “Love in a Roller Coaster”. H8TRFFC (which refers to the dislike of being stuck in traffic, not trafficking hate) will get you either “Back in the Saddle” or “Dude Looks Like a Lady”. Finally, lucky riders of 2FAST4U will get a live recording of “Sweet Emotion”.

Dok Ondar Has the Ark of the Covenant

How The Ark of the Covenant got into this hammerhead’s hands, in an outer rim spaceport on Galaxy’s Edge is a story worth telling. Whatever took place in this massive Lucasfilm crossover event has yet to be revealed. It’s possible that the Ark was simply left there by Imagineers as an Easter Egg (After all, airing the Ten Commandments is a long-held Easter tradition). But considering that Batuu is meant to be a real planet and not a theme park location, it’s only reasonable to assume that that is the real Ark of the Covenant and Indiana Jones 5 just got really interesting… Whatever the case, this rare antiquity is quite a find in the Black Spire Outpost if you have a sharp enough eye. There are plenty of other Hollywood Studios secrets to discover right within the shops at the Black Spire Outpost.

Echoes From the Past

There is so much to play with here. Firstly, Echo Lake is a real place. It was a handmade body of water where silent films used to be shot. The irony of shooting silent films in Echo Lake is fun enough, but the Echo Lake in Disney’s Hollywood Studios has even more fun with the name because the lake itself makes up the left ear of an enormous hidden Mickey you can only see from a bird’s eye view. Of course, this is no secret. You can see it right on your map. What you may not know is that this area is a special part of the park.

One of the only original sections, it’s also one of the only places that continue to pay homage to old Hollywood with (shall we say?) echoes from the past. The architecture around this area is all inspired by Hollywood structures, including studio sound stages and some references to film pioneers. The most Legendary is Gertie, the dinosaur on the lake. This ice cream shack is a reference to the earliest known theatrical animation. Gertie was part of a vaudeville act where the animated screen character did tricks and reacted to a live performer.

The post Hollywood Studios Secrets You Still Might Not Know appeared first on Magical Family Travel Guide.