10 Things We’ll Never Do Again at Disneyland

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are two of our favorite places on earth, and we seldom have a bad experience at either park. With that said, we have had our share of awful experiences over the last decade-plus, and have come up of this just-for-fun list of things we will never do again. (Updated December 17, 2024.)

Truthfully, there are very few things at Disneyland or DCA that we will never do again. Just about everything deserves a second chance–menus at restaurants change, hotels are overhauled, and attractions are tweaked or re-imagined over time. This is especially true at the California parks, which are necessarily receptive to feedback, as they depend upon repeat business from locals. (It’s not as easy as with the unsuspecting first-time tourists that populate the parks at Walt Disney World!)

There are also ways the parks have changed. If this list were made a few years ago, it would’ve included specific days of the week, under-the-radar holidays, and even bag check areas at certain times. Despite being problems for ages, all of those things are pretty much non-issues now. A great example of this is the much-maligned Paradise Pier Hotel, which I hated with a passion for years. Now that it’s been reimagined into Pixar Place Hotel, it has improved considerably, to the put that we consider it a good bang-for-buck option for guests wanting to stay on-site at Disneyland!

Beyond the parks changing, there are ways we have changed. People change, as do preferences; things that were once loathed are now loved, and vice-versa. As our family has grown, we’ve found ourselves trying new things–and revisiting old ones–with Baby Bricker. She has already changed our minds about certain things, and our preferences and priorities have changed thanks to traveling with a toddler as opposed to being a couple of Childless Disney Millennials.

Finally, if I’m being honest with myself and you all, there’s also the reality that I have the memory of a goldfish blue tang fish named Dory. Insane as it might be, I make the same mistakes again and again, either forgetting past mistakes or foolishly expecting a different outcome. “Live and learn” is my motto, minus the learn part.

Another thing to note is that this list only covers things that are within our control. Over the years, the company has made the “choice” for us, by eliminating a lot of things that we’d otherwise love to do again. We’d love to enter the grid of elecTRONica, see Country Bear Jamboree, or redeem a free FastPass, but it seems that Disney will deny us those opportunities. And I think I speak for every Disneyland fan who would like another ride on the PeopleMover or Superstar Limo. 😉

Those are things we will technically never do again at Disneyland, but are very much not in the spirit of this list, which is more like shouting “NEVER AGAIN!” than lamenting never again. 😢 With that in mind, here are the “top” 10 things that we’ll (try to) never do again at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure…

Goofy’s Sky School – While testing Lightning Lane strategy, we did Goofy’s Sky School for the first time in a long time. For whatever reason, I was actually looking forward to the attraction, fondly remembering the fun details and Easter eggs while, apparently, forgetting just how punishing the ride is…and with zero payoff.

On several occasions, I felt like I was going to fly off the corner of the ride (so in a way, it does deliver thrills!) or was in physical pain as the coaster abruptly started, stopped, and whipped around. There are plenty of rides that are overrated or underwhelming at Disneyland, but this is the only one that’s downright unpleasant and offers no upside to counterbalance that. I’ll probably forget this in another 5 years (hopefully it’s demolished by then), but for now, I have no intentions of ever doing Goofy’s Sky School again. Well, at least until I have to re-test Lightning Lane strategy.

BONUS: Matterhorn – This cannot legally be included on my list because it’s a “mistake” I make again and again on purpose. Every time I ride Matterhorn, it’s a painful experience due to the vibrating of the bobsleds on the track. The rickety ‘ole roller coaster makes me feel like a rickety ‘ole geezer after I get off…yet I keep getting back on to relive nostalgia for bygone days. And so goes my love-hate relationship with Matterhorn, which I will never stop riding, even though my body is pleading with me to give it up!

World of Color Dessert Party – I’m generally averse to upcharge offerings at Disneyland, especially given its more laid back nature than Walt Disney World. Nevertheless, there’s a pervasive sense of FOMO on social media and in certain online planning communities–even Disneyland-centric ones–that drives many people to spend on unnecessary add-ons. This is exacerbated by certain popular experiences booking up quickly, which only serves to perpetuate the cycle of hype. (In reality, it’s less a reflection of quality and demand than it is limited supply.)

The FOMO machine go into overdrive with the World of Color Dessert Parties. Yes, this can book up quickly and guarantees a seat for the popular (and excellent) nighttime spectacular. But the quality of the dessert spread and substance of the experience leaves so much to be desired. Beyond that, it simply is not necessary for watching World of Color.

There are other (relatively easy) ways to get great views. I can understand why certain guests with unique circumstances book it, but for 95% of people, it’s unnecessary overkill and a waste of money. (For more, see our World of Color Dessert Party Review.)

Main Street Before Fireworks or Parades – This used to include New Orleans Square around Fantasmic, but that honestly hasn’t as been as painful this year as it was in the past. A big part of that is probably that the show has been downgraded without the dragon, so there’s less demand for it. We anticipate this trend accelerating in 2025, as new and returning entertainment steals the spotlight.

Speaking of which, it’s going to be a nightmare navigating the front of the park before the fireworks or nighttime parade once Wondrous Journeys and Paint the Night return in Summer 2025. Both are exceptional, independently drawing huge crowds. I still remember the chaos and congestion last time Paint the Night ran down Main Street almost a decade ago, and that was a totally different (less busy) era at Disneyland.

It seems like half of the park becomes one-way, and you literally might need to do a 10-minute loop to access something that started in your general vicinity, but was on the other side of the one-way walkway. All of this is compounded by the reality that Disneyland PAC Cast Members are “battle hardened.”

To put it politely, they have seen some things, experiencing chaos, congestion, and the aforementioned fights. As a result, they (understandably) run a tight ship and make sure walkways are kept clear and people continue moving. The downside to this is a lot of yelling (don’t you dare stop for a photo of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle!) to keep people in check.

Let this serve as a warning for all of you heading out to Disneyland on New Year’s Eve, when all of this is exponentially worse. Trust us, we’ve been down this road, and you’re better off with watching World of Color–Disney California Adventure largely empties out because people want to see the NYE fireworks at Disneyland–or seeing the New Year’s Eve Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks Spectacular from somewhere in the park other than Main Street. You can see the fireworks from anywhere–as the name says, they’re in the sky!

Eat in Tomorrowland – Did you hear that Galactic Grill has a new menu item that looks fantastic in the stock photo? Did you know that Alien Pizza Planet is actually good if you order X and modify your order to Y? Have you tried this new seasonal dish that has the makings of something special?

If something sounds too good to be true with Tomorrowland dining at Disneyland, it is. All of the “questions” above are variations of things I’ve heard over the years, most many times. I’ve eaten in Tomorrowland at least two-dozen times over the last decade, and I can count the number of satisfactory meals on one hand. Suffice to say, there’s a reason why none of these restaurants make our List of the 24 Best Restaurants at Disneyland.

By contrast, I’ve lost track of how many nearly-inedible “foods” I’ve consumed in Tomorrowland. If you hear something surprisingly positive about food in Tomorrowland, remember the wise words of Admiral Ackbar: it’s a trap! 

Camp Out for Opening Day Stuff – Here’s a “do as we say, not as we do” entry. Few people know this, but Disney bloggers have a code of conduct that’s more stringent than the American Board of Neurological Surgery Code of Ethics. Okay, not really. The blogger code is more what you call guidelines than actual rules.

One of those is that we attend the opening day of everything, no matter how insignificant. And since there are a lot of bloggers, vloggers, and social media influencers residing in Southern California, this means surprisingly big crowds for seemingly inconsequential things. (I still vividly recall waiting in line several hours for Super Heroes HQ, an overlay to Innoventions that would never have any wait.)

I am incredibly excited for Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary. I cannot wait to see Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys again, and World of Color: Happiness. I’m also dreading the day one crowds that are sure to descend upon the parks. Disneyland, in particular, is going to be absolutely nuts. Sure, I could just go the following week, but the code demands otherwise. Let us serve as a cautionary tale, and don’t make the same “mistake” as us if you are not required to by some so-called code!

(And honestly, Disneyland is probably going to be chaotic all summer, the rest of 2025, and into 2026. Paint the Night crowds never let up last time. This entry really applies more to small scale opening day stuff. Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys are fan-favorites that are going to have serious drawing power for the next ~18 months.)

Fly into LAX – Another “do as we say, not as we do” entry. We fly into and out of Los Angeles International Airport constantly. Although both John Wayne and Long Beach are much closer to us, neither have non-stop flights to the places we regularly travel (namely, Orlando). For family trips, we favor fewer flights. For solo research trips, I have a “favorite” Delta itinerary out of LAX. This has meant a lot more LAX flights than LGB or SNA this year.

Although LAX isn’t my favorite airport in the world, but I also don’t agree with all of the hate LAX gets. Once you learn the ins and outs (speaking of which, be sure to make a pit stop on the In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda before flying out!), it feels a bit like taming a beast. You know the tricks for avoiding the traffic jams into and out of the airport, where the best lounges are located, and how to get through security in minutes.

However, you will have exactly none of this knowledge on your first trip to California. For the uninitiated, LAX is absolutely overwhelming, bordering on nightmarish. This is especially true if you’re from a small/suburban town or your home airport is regional, you will likely experience significant culture shock. LAX is like trial by fire, and the chaos and crowds can start your trip off on the wrong foot. (That’s especially true if you or someone traveling with you already has negative, preconceived notions about California.)

Meanwhile, John Wayne Airport (SNA) is laid back, quiet, and seldom crowded. Despite being in a highly populated area and only a short drive from Disneyland, it feels very much like a quaint, regional airport. If there were a list ranking the best airports for napping, SNA would be near the top and LAX would be near the bottom.

Parking at the Structures – This is a new entry, as one of our New Year’s Resolutions for 2025 is to not park at Mickey & Friends or Pixar Pals. These have been our go-tos for years, but a couple things have changed.

The first is that the structures have become much more hit or miss. There have been times when it has taken over one full hour from the time we exited the 5 until we were in the park via the structures. There have been backups at the parking attendant booths, no Cast Members parking cars (resulting in traffic backups), and then long lines at security on this side.

Worse yet, this is totally unpredictable. We’ve had this happen at seemingly random times when the parking process used to be smooth and seamless. This would be frustrating with just the two of us, but it’s downright excruciating with a baby. There have been a couple of times when, by the time we got parked, we were stressed out and almost ready to just throw in the towel and leave. Not a great way to start the day at Disneyland!

After one particularly awful experience, we’ve switched to the Toy Story Lot and never looked back. This has been a revelation, to the point that I’m honestly a little embarrassed we weren’t doing it all along. Frankly, I don’t even know what turned us off from the Toy Story Lot years ago…or if anything even did? Maybe it just became routine to park at Mickey & Friends and we got stuck in our ways? I don’t remember. Regardless, it’s Toy Story Lot for us in 2025!

Underestimate Southern California Weather – The first time we visited Disneyland, it was the heart of summer. In typical Southern California fashion, the weather was perfect. Plenty of sunshine, minimal humidity, not a cloud in the sky, and warm enough that it was not chilly even at night. We even missed the infamous June gloom. That ideal weather was part of the reason we fell in love with the state–a far cry from what we had experienced in Florida during the same timeframe.

The next time we visited Disneyland, it was late November into early December. It rained almost every day (something I did not know was possible in Southern California!) and both early mornings and evenings were freezing. I was utterly unprepared, having looked only at the average daily high temperatures (which were not that far off from our summer trip) when packing.

I learned a lot that trip about California weather, and have never made the same mistake again. To the contrary, we now use it to our advantage–targeting rainy days or times when there’s a sharp drop in daytime versus nighttime temperatures. I’ll happily wear a parka to the park if it means low crowds and wait times!

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Night – Over the course of the last decade, I can only recall riding Disneyland’s Splash Mountain at night twice. By contrast, I did Magic Kingdom’s Splash Mountain at night way more times than I can count. There’s a reason for that. Actually, two reasons. One of which is discussed above–the dramatic difference in weather between Florida and California.

The other difference is that you get absolutely soaked on this log flume ride. This was something that, I guess, I forgot when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened. It was as if avoidance of the attraction became instinctive after a really negative experience sometime ages ago, and lost once the new Princess and the Frog incarnation opened.

Suffice to say, I will not be making that mistake again. It was a long trudge back to the parking lot with a soaked shirt and pants that looked like I’d had an accident (the least of my concerns at the time) in the winter weather, and even blasting the heat in our car wasn’t enough to warm me up. I’m getting cold just thinking about this experience! Anyway, let my mistake serve as a cautionary tale if you’re visiting on a chilly California day. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is better in the morning or midday, when you have time to air dry in the sun!

Overplan – You don’t need to devote nearly as much time to planning a Disneyland trip as you would a Walt Disney World vacation. Honestly, it’s better to be “underprepared” for Disneyland than overprepared. Planning everything down to the minute or even hour leaves no room for spontaneity, and Disneyland is all about the spontaneous experiences.

Characters appear out of nowhere, there’s atmospheric entertainment you never knew about, and a wealth of “little things” you’ll want to stop to experience. These spontaneous little moments can be the highlight of a Disneyland vacation, and planning everything down to the smallest detail might “force” you to skip these things when you see them.

A detailed itinerary also sets unrealistic expectations. If you plan a trip checklist style with 15 things that you “must accomplish” in a given day, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. The practical realities of navigating crowds, weather, longer-than-expected lines, attraction downtime, or other unplanned variables mean you might not be able to get everything done.

It’s better to go into a Disneyland trip with a rough plan of attack with plenty of downtime–and be prepared to bail on even what you do have on your schedule. Sometimes we have the most fun when we toss aside our plans. The bottom line is that arriving early, staying late, or buying Genie+ at Disneyland will give you a lot of latitude to enjoy an easy-going pace, roll with the punches, and enjoy the spontaneity of the more-relaxed Disney parks in the United States.

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What things at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure would you never do again? Is any restaurant, resort, or ride beyond redemption for you? Any day of the week, holiday, or time of year you’d never visit? Do you agree or disagree with our list? Would you do any of these things again? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!