Experiencing the Reopened Disneyland

Yesterday marked a significant day for theme park enthusiasts and Californians alike.

The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California has finally reopened after over 13 months of pandemic-related closures. Only California residents were allowed entry on reopening day, so I boarded a plane (my first flight since last March!) from the San Francisco Bay Area to join them.

The last trip I took before everything shut down last spring was to Disneyland. I vividly recall the large crowds gathered for the evening World of Color show at California Adventure on February 28, 2020, as news of the first coronavirus cases in our country began to emerge. A thought kept nagging at me: "This place is going to have to close."

And close it did.

Fortunately, the gates are finally open again, and Disneyland is inviting guests to experience its new socially distanced operations. As a Disneyland enthusiast, visiting under these new conditions felt both reassuring and somewhat disorienting. While I was grateful to return, it was odd to see some of my favorite attractions still closed or significantly altered. It was also tough to navigate my usual strategies, honed over decades of visits, as they didn't seem to apply anymore. But I was ready to tackle the challenge of discovering new ones for this new era.

My Experience Returning to Disneyland

On my first day back at Disneyland, coinciding with its official reopening, I immersed myself in new attractions, refined touring strategies, sampled new foods, and handled the usual complexities of covering countless theme park details. Thankfully, I managed to steal a few moments to reflect while surrounded by many fellow Disneyland fans who had worked hard to secure a coveted opening day reservation.

Everyone present was a Californian, and Californians faced some of the strictest and longest lockdowns over the past year within the United States.

It has been challenging to convey to friends and family outside the state just how overwhelming the situation felt at times, particularly this past winter when Southern California became the epicenter of the pandemic. Disneyland stands as one of the most iconic and cherished symbols of California. Its reopening carried significant meaning, serving as a powerful indicator of how much progress has been made.

Disneyland reopened under very different conditions compared to Walt Disney World last summer.

At that time, much of the country was facing a second wave of rising COVID-19 cases. Many believed that reopening theme parks was both irresponsible and hazardous. Guests and reporters present at Disney World's reopening day had mixed emotions about the situation, including TPG's own Summer Hull.

The atmosphere at Disneyland — amidst widespread vaccine availability and over 50% of residents having received at least one dose — was far from ambiguous. It was purely a joyful experience to return.

I witnessed much-anticipated celebrations alongside tears of joy. There was a palpable sense of relief and gratitude shared among both cast members and guests. Naturally, caution was also very much present. However, after enduring more than a year of challenges, hope emerged as the prevailing sentiment.

What’s different at Disneyland

Now that the emotional highlights are out of the way, let’s dive into the specifics.

Life at Disneyland is still far from normal. Some changes are immediately noticeable, such as the mask mandates and social distancing in lines and seating on rides. But beyond these visible alterations, what else distinguishes Disneyland now, and how significant are these differences to the overall experience?

Crowds and capacity

Currently, Disneyland is allowed to operate at a maximum of 25% capacity due to state regulations. Disney was somewhat unclear about the actual capacity on opening day, but I believe it was significantly below that threshold. The lighter crowds seemed intentional, aimed at helping cast members adjust and ensuring ample space on the first day back.

This led to a wonderfully refreshing crowd experience at Disneyland. Frequent visitors to Anaheim know that the parks often have several bottlenecks—much more so than Walt Disney World, which was designed for larger crowds in a different era.

Most of those bottlenecks were eliminated, especially since parades are currently suspended. The few crowded areas I noticed were in New Orleans Square (where the extended queue for Pirates can be obstructive) and Main Street USA at closing time when everyone wants to shop in the limited-capacity stores.

I anticipate that crowds will grow slightly in the coming days as Disney analyzes guest flow and adjusts to a true 25% capacity. Therefore, I expect that visitors in June, after schools are out for summer (and once Avengers Campus has opened at California Adventure), will not find the walkways as empty as I did on opening day.

Guests who choose to visit sooner rather than later can enjoy a remarkably uncrowded theme park experience.

Attraction wait times

All the traditional strategies for minimizing wait times at Disneyland became mostly irrelevant in the reopened park. There are no FastPass, MaxPass, single-rider lines, Extra Magic Hours, or Magic Mornings available.

However, in a park with reduced capacity, the standby lines are quite manageable. By the end of the day, I managed to experience nearly every attraction in Fantasyland, scream my heart out on Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain, savor classics like Pirates and Haunted Mansion, and geek out on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (which employs a special virtual queue with boarding groups).

I also made a park hop to Disney California Adventure in the afternoon, where I managed to ride the Incredicoaster, Soarin' Around the World, and Toy Story Midway Mania—three attractions that typically had long standby lines before COVID. I took plenty of breaks to snap photos, chat with cast members, enjoy a table service lunch, and take multiple necessary water and mask breaks in the 90-degree heat.

However, not all lines are short. Snow White's Enchanted Wish, the reimagined version of Snow White's Scary Adventures, had one of the longest queues of the day as many guests wanted to experience the updates. The Haunted Mansion in Disneyland and Radiator Springs Racers in Disney California Adventure also had long lines throughout the day, along with Toy Story Midway Mania and Indiana Jones at times.

In summary, there's no need to worry too much about lines at Disneyland just yet. Use the official Disneyland app to check posted wait times before trekking across the park to join a queue. If you spot a short line for an attraction that catches your interest, jump in! Crafting the perfect touring plan isn't critical at the moment.

That said, I still recommend arriving for the "rope drop" in the morning. While there's no literal drop like at Disney World, Disneyland opens security lines well before the park opens, allowing guests to head straight to the open rides. I managed to enter the parks by 8:22 a.m. after queuing at 7:20 a.m. Before the official 9 a.m. opening, I had already ridden three attractions. Wake up early—well before the posted opening time—and make the most of those first moments.

It's all about using the Disneyland app now.

One major change that many visitors will notice is that the Disneyland app has transitioned from a nice-to-have tool to an absolute necessity.

Disney aims to minimize touchpoints, making the app and its related technology vital. Want to place a mobile order for a quick-service meal? The app is required. Need to check the menu at a table-service restaurant? You’ll have to scan a QR code with your phone. Looking to get a boarding pass for Rise of the Resistance? You guessed it—the app again.

For those who aren’t tech-savvy or unfamiliar with the app’s features, there may be some challenges. One significant issue is that mobile ordering time slots can fill up quickly. It’s crucial to place food orders well ahead of meal times to secure a slot that aligns with your hunger and break time.

Food & restaurants

Before my trip, I noticed a significant decrease in the number of restaurants opening alongside the parks. Not only are fewer establishments available, but those that are open also feature more limited menus.

Currently, only two table service restaurants are operating in each park: River Belle Terrace and Cafe Orleans in Disneyland, and Lamplight Lounge and Carthay Circle Lounge in Disney California Adventure. With dining becoming a primary focus for many Disney visitors, I was concerned that the experience would be significantly less enjoyable compared to pre-pandemic Disneyland.

I believe guests making a quick day trip, as many Californians are currently doing, won’t find the food experience too lacking. You can still enjoy your Dole Whip or churro, and if you plan ahead, it's still possible to reserve a table service meal for lunch or dinner. The quality of the food served remains consistently good.

As out-of-state visitors—many of whom plan longer stays—begin to return, Disneyland will need to expand its food options and streamline dining operations.

I'm heading back in mid-June with my entire family for a three-day visit. If my kids (ages 12 and 7) were with me, we would have preferred more accessible snack carts instead of needing to mobile order at a counter service restaurant for a later pickup time. The lack of character meals would also be noticeable.

The Disneyland management is aware of these concerns and is preparing to open more dining locations soon. I expect the food options will improve in the coming weeks.

Additional tips for navigating the Disneyland reopening era

Here are a few additional changes you might notice in the reopened parks:

• While character meals and cavalcades like those at Walt Disney World are absent, the parks feature distanced character encounters, including several unique characters and costume variations.

• Neither park faced capacity issues thanks to the flow of guests with park hopper tickets. If you need to take a break during the day or wish to hop between parks multiple times, you can do so without worrying about being turned away from your chosen park.
• Disneyland has introduced hundreds of distanced benches and tables throughout the parks, most of which are clearly labeled as "designated dining areas." Unlike Walt Disney World, Disneyland doesn’t have relaxation zones due to state regulations, but these dining areas provide a place to sit, take a mask break, and hydrate or snack.

• Guests at Disneyland must still keep their masks on for photos, in contrast to Walt Disney World, which has recently eased this requirement.
• During the initial weeks of reopening, park hours are shorter: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until mid-May. After that, the parks will stay open until 9 p.m., which is still earlier than the midnight closing times locals are accustomed to.
• Most queues are now outside due to indoor capacity restrictions imposed by the state. On warmer days, be sure to apply sunscreen and stay hydrated, as you won't have the same air-conditioned breaks as before.

The final verdict: Is it worth visiting Disneyland right now?

With shorter park hours, all-day masking in warm weather, full ticket prices, and limited food options, is the reopening of Disneyland still worthwhile? Absolutely. Would I encourage other eligible Californians to visit soon? Definitely.

For Californians who have had limited options this past year, the reopening of Disneyland felt like a long-awaited victory.

The shorter lines and reduced crowds were just the cherry on top. I’m excited to return with my family in a few weeks, even anticipating larger crowds by then. Hopefully, guests from other states will soon be able to relive the magic of the Happiest Place on Earth as well.