10 Disneyland Insider Tips from the Parks' Top Gay Couple

The Disneyland Resort has been a second home for Manny and Páll who moved to Los Angeles from Iceland. They've spent countless days hanging out at the parks and have made many friendships there. Through their experience, they've come up with some tips to help you have a great visit to both parks.

1) Prioritize the attractions you want to experience and use the free fast pass system! There is no way that you would be able to do everything, and trying to do so will lead to wasting your day in endless lines. Pick a few attractions and try to get a fast pass, which will let you skip the line and come back at a certain time. Be quick, though, as fast passes will run out early for some of the more popular attractions, such as Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Space Mountain, and the new Incredicoaster!

2) Go to Disneyland’s website to see if there are any closures or early closing hours that might affect your visit. While you’re there, make a dining reservation. Reservations at the Blue Bayou, Carthay Circle, and the new Lamplight Lounge can be hard to come by, so book those as early as possible.

3) Download the Disneyland app on your phone. This will show you maps of the parks, show times, restaurant menus, and current wait times for all attractions. You can even order food in advance from most counter service restaurants! It will make your day so much easier.

4) Consider purchasing a MaxPass for each person in your group. For a small fee, this will let you book fast passes to attractions from your phone! This saves you time and energy, freeing up your day for even more fun. MaxPass also includes your photo downloads for that day. Be sure to take advantage of that by getting their photographers to take plenty of beautiful pictures!

5) Do not miss Disney California Adventure! Some people choose to only do one park, and honestly, we prefer Disney California Adventure. It tends to be less crowded then Disneyland, has beautifully themed area, has some of the larger thrill rides, and it serves alcohol for those old enough to drink! Some of our favorite days are spent just walking around Disney California Adventure, people watching with a cocktail in hand.

6) Plan going to some of their special annual events! Some of our favorites include the Food & Wine Festival (in Spring) and the Festival of Holidays (November and December)! The parks are transformed into a paradise for foodies, with multiple booths spread throughout the park offering some incredible bites. They also have incredible decorations for Christmas and Halloween.

Gay Days

7) Take breaks from the crowds and heat. It is easy to get exhausted and cranky, especially on busier days. We like to sneak away to a nice, quiet air-conditioned bar to recharge. Our favorites are the downstairs lounge at Carthay Circle and the Alfresco Tasting Terrace. Both of these are located in California Adventure.

8) Stick around after the fireworks. Many guests leave immediately afterward, which means you can often walk on to some of the most popular attractions with little-to-no wait times! Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and many other attractions are often empty towards the end of the night!

9) If you are celebrating a special occasion, such as a birthday or an anniversary, get a button from City Hall. These are free and you will feel like royalty throughout the day. The cast members will spot your buttons and often help to make your day more special.

10) Treat the cast members nicely. They really go out of their way to create the magical atmosphere you expect at Disneyland. If you show them respect and gratitude, everyone will have a much better day.

We hope these tips help you have a great time at the Disneyland Resort! We’ll see you in the parks!