It is happening! Disneyland in California is finally reopening! The Disneyland Resort is officially opening its gates again to the public on April 30, 2021. If you are going in May 2021, you will be attending Disneyland’s first month back! Until June, the park will only be open to California residents. If you happen to be one of them, then these tips are for you!

No Annual Passholders

If you haven’t heard yet, Disney has eliminated their annual passholder program for the Disneyland Resort. That means nobody inside the state of California is guaranteed to get to walk through those gates anytime soon. If you were not previously a Disneyland pass holder, this is a perk for you. However, if you were a pass holder then this is going to feel like a disadvantage.

Getting Your Tickets

With all of that said, you are going to want to get your tickets as soon as possible. This is especially important if you have a specific day you would like to go. Tickets are available to purchase right now on the Disneyland website.

Park Passes

It is not enough to have valid park admission tickets. You must make a park reservation for your dates as well. Do not be that guest who arrives at the gate only to realize you can’t get in because you did not make your reservations.

To make a reservation, you will need to go on the Disneyland app or log onto your account on the Disneyland Website. I would imagine that you will be prompted to do this and guided on how to do so, after completing your purchase.

Things To Know Before You Go

Rise of the Resistance: As far as we know, Rise of the Resistance will still function as it did before. You will need a boarding pass to ride the new Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park.

Attraction Closures

Disneyland Park:

  • Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters
  • Chip ’N Dale Treehouse
  • Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
  • Disneyland Monorail
  • Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
  • Donald’s Boat
  • Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
  • Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition
  • Goofy’s Playhouse
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Main Street Cinema
  • Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • Mickey’s House/Meet Mickey
  • Minnie’s House
  • Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
  • Sailing Ship Columbia
  • Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
  • Star Wars Launch Bay
  • Storybook Land Canal Boats

Disney’s California Adventure Park:

  • Animation Academy
  • Boudin Bakery Tour
  • Golden Zephyr
  • Grizzly River Run
  • Red Car Trolley
  • Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
  • Sorcerer’s Workshop

Overall Tips:

  1. Best Times to Go This Month: If you can get a reservation during any day of the month of May 2021, you will not have to deal with crowds since capacity will already be so limited. However, that does not automatically mean shorter wait times. Cleaning procedures and other factors may still make for a long wait.
  2. Dress for the weather: It is really starting to get warmer in Anaheim this month. The lowest temperatures are predicted to be around 52 degrees, with the highs hitting around 92 degrees There may be some rain, but we did not see any in our weather report investigations for this month. We recommend packing a light jacket in your park bag but overall you should dress for warmer weather. Keep in mind that wearing face masks may make it feel warmer.
  3. Morning & Night: The afternoons/evenings are the busiest times at the parks. If you want to maximize your trip, make sure to prioritize opening and/or closing times. Maybe schedule a nap during busy times.
  4. Eat at off-times: Eat your meals from 10 am-11:30 am, 3-4 pm, and 8-10 pm to avoid crowds. Make sure the restaurant you have in mind is open during these times as well. You can do this by using the Disneyland App.