Halloween at Disneyland is coming soon! This season comes with rare characters, spooky parades, and free candy – but here at Disney Food Blog, we can’t forget about all of the food!

Haunted Heatwave Pizza

Disney just confirmed some of the Halloween menus are coming back for 2026, and we just got a sneak peek!

The Heatwave Pizza from Alien Pizza Planet is returning this year! This is a pizza with spiced blush sauce topped with mozzarella and pepper jack, Italian sausage, classic and crispy cupped pepperoni, smoked bratwurst, and sliced red Fresno chiles, garnished with basil and hot honey drizzle.

Haunted Heatwave Pizza

This is basically a meat-lover’s pizza with a bit of sweet heat from the hot honey, but it wasn’t as hot as we were expecting. Without paying attention, it’s kind of hard to make out what’s what, as everything just kinda tastes like a spicy sausage or pepperoni from the hot honey and chili flakes. We did enjoy it overall, but just know it won’t knock your socks off!

Haunted Heatwave Pizza

Also returning this year is the Oogie Boogie Lemonade from Smokejumpers Grill. This non-alcoholic drink is made with Green Apple Minute-Maid Lemonade, cherry-flavored popping spheres, and raspberry sauce.

©Disney

Plus, the Slow Burnin’ Mac & Cheese Cone is coming back to Disney California Adventure at the Cozy Cone Motel 3 – Chili Cone Queso. This is fresh-cooked pasta tossed with a spicy red pepper cheese sauce in a bread cone topped with crushed chile-cheese puffs!

Slow-Burning Mac and Cheese

We think this cauldron is pumpernickel bread, which explains the dark colored dough. But pumpernickel isn’t our jam, so this wasn’t a win for us. Inside this cauldron is macaroni in a spicy red pepper cheese sauce. It’s definitely got a fiery hue. It is, indeed, spicy, which is great if you love heat! The bright red topping is crushed red chile-cheese puffs (which are basically Flamin’ Hot Cheetos!). They add a little textural interest, but there’s just not much of it on there. Gimme more, please! Overall, the Slow Burnin’ Mac and Cheese Cone was just okay, which is a bummer because it had so much potential!

Slow-Burnin’ Mac and Cheese

And for dessert, the Caramel Apple Cheesecake is also coming back to the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. This is a caramel cheesecake with caramelized apple filling finished with caramel drip, orange and white chocolate mousse, chocolate flakes, and a chocolate bat.

©Disney

And, over at Paradise Garden Grill, you can grab the Chilaquiles Carnitas Torta with red chilaquiles, refried beans, avocado spread, queso fresco, pickled red onions, and a fried egg served with chips.

Chilaquiles Carnitas Torta from Paradise Garden Grill

We’re so excited to eat all of the treats we haven’t tried yet at Oogie Boogie Bash. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney food news!

Everything NEW Confirmed for Disney’s Oogie Boogie Bash This Year

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

Have you been to Oogie Boogie Bash before? Comment below!

Picking the right hotel for a Disneyland vacation is a deceptively tough task…

Disneyland Hotel

When you’re planning your very first Disneyland vacation, booking a hotel feels like one of the easiest decisions on the list. You see a Disney-owned hotel, you assume it’s the best option, you check out the theming and prices to decide between the hotels, and boom — reservation complete. But a LOT of Disneyland first-timers end up realizing way too late that they booked the wrong hotel for the kind of trip they actually wanted.

Unlike Disney World — where the hotel scene is a HUGE part of the experience — Disneyland’s setup is much more intimate. Featuring only three on-property resorts, the options are seemingly limited, and that can force first-time Disneyland visitors to make a regrettable decision.

Disneyland Hotel

One of the biggest misconceptions about Disneyland’s hotels is assuming that “Disney-owned” automatically means convenient. Yes, all three Disneyland Resort hotels are technically close to the parks. But the way you actually get to the parks is wildly different depending on where you stay.

Let’s start with the gold standard: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. This hotel has the biggest advantage on property because it offers a direct entrance into Disney California Adventure. You can practically roll out of bed and end up inside Grizzly Peak within minutes. For guests planning heavy California Adventure days, that convenience is impossible to beat. But be ready to pay premium prices for a room here…

Grand California Hotel

Meanwhile, Pixar Place Hotel USED to have its own dedicated entrance into Disney California Adventure, but that entrance is gone. That means guests now have a longer walk than many first-timers expect. It’s still near the parks and esplanade, but it’s no longer the secret shortcut hotel it used to be.

Pixar Place Hotel

Then there’s the Disneyland Hotel. Back in the day, this hotel had direct monorail access, but now guests have to walk through Downtown Disney to reach the park entrances, and that walk can feel surprisingly long after a full day in the parks. Yes, you CAN hop on the Monorail into Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park, but that only helps if the line isn’t backed up and if Tomorrowland is actually where you want to end up. This isn’t a terrible option, however, since the Monorail station isn’t all too far from the security checkpoint that connects the hotel to Downtown Disney.

Disneyland Monorail

And then we have the Good Neighbor Hotels. These nearby partner hotels vary in proximity. Some visitors assume every off-site hotel is a short walk away, but that’s not always true. Some are walkable, while others require transportation like buses, shuttles, or rideshares. A hotel may look close on a map, but still take significantly longer to reach than expected once crowds, crosswalks, and traffic enter the equation. And even if they are walkable, sometimes walking to your hotel room in a non-Disney bubble at midnight after a long day isn’t the most enticing prospect…

At the same time, the entire resort area is so condensed that some off-site hotels are honestly MORE convenient than certain Disney-owned hotels. There are Good Neighbor Hotels directly across the street from the Harbor entrance that can get you to security faster than guests staying at the Disneyland Hotel on busy mornings.

At Disneyland, proximity is EVERYTHING. It’s a priority for a lot of people to circle when deciding to visit Disneyland versus Disney World. If you care about saving time on your commute, hotel proximity to your preferred destinations is the first piece of homework you’ll want to do.

Parkestry Rooftop Bar at the JW Marriott

Another mistake Disneyland first-timers tend to make is that they assume that staying at a Disney-owned hotel is simply the norm. This ain’t Disney World, folks. Sure, the theming is great, the hotels are beautiful, there are perks, and the amenities rock. But wow, the prices can get intense.

The Grand Californian can easily cost well over $600 through $900 or more PER NIGHT for a standard room, and the Disneyland Hotel and Pixar Place aren’t cheap either, often landing in the same luxury-tier pricing category as Disney World’s deluxe resorts.

Grand Californian Hotel room

For some families, that splurge absolutely feels worth it. But for others? They realize afterward that they barely spent any time in the hotel at all, which really makes you start to wonder if it’s worth it. You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by staying at a nearby Good Neighbor Hotel instead.

Yes, you do lose some Disney perks — most notably the complimentary Lightning Lane perk offered to Disneyland Resort hotel guests. But here’s the thing: In many cases, guests can save enough money by staying off-site to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass themselves and still have plenty left over for dining, souvenirs, or extra park days. The savings become even bigger if you cash in on hotel rewards points — something you won’t get at a Disney-owned hotel.

Lightning Lane at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

That math surprises a LOT of first-time visitors. Staying off-site may not feel quite as immersive, but if your priority is maximizing park time while minimizing hotel costs, it can easily be the smarter financial decision. If you’re only looking for a place to shower and sleep, check out the Good Neighbor spots. If you want your hotel to be just as immersive at the parks, the Disney-owned trio of hotels each offers something special and worthwhile.

Views

The good news? Even if you don’t select the ideal Disneyland Resort area hotel perfectly on your first go-around, there’s no reason you still won’t have an amazing vacation. Everything you need is so close to wherever you are, and there are always workarounds and shortcuts you’ll find to enhance your vacation. So don’t sweat it too much — there’s a reason it’s called “The Happiest Place on Earth”!

You can constantly find us at Disneyland discovering the latest and greatest tricks and tips to help you have the best vacation yet, so make sure you keep it posted right here at the Disney Food Blog to stay in the know!

I Made the Mistake of Asking My Coworkers for Disneyland Tips

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

Share your best Disneyland Resort hotel tips in the comments below!

We loooove mobile ordering at Disneyland. You can order your food on the go, skip the line, and have hot and ready food in just a few minutes!

Haunted Heatwave Pizza

But the Disneyland app just underwent a major change — mobile ordering looks totally different for one of our favorite Disneyland restaurants!

When we went to mobile order our favorite Disneyland pizza from Alien Pizza Planet, we found that the restaurant no longer offered the traditional Mobile Ordering! After some investigating, it turns out that mobile ordering is still offered at Alien Pizza Planet, but it’s now on a separate page in the app.

Alien Pizza Planet

To mobile order at Alien Pizza Planet now, search for “Alien Pizza Planet Express” in the app. However, this doesn’t offer the full menu. Alien Pizza Planet Express only offers 16-inch pizzas and family-style meals! Currently, mobile ordering only includes six items:

• Whole Cheese Pizza
• Whole Pepperoni Pizza
• Whole Cheese Pizza Family Combo
• Whole Pepperoni Pizza Family Combo
• Artisanal Style Cheese Pizza with Magic Key Thermal Tumbler (Magic Key Holder Exclusive)
• Artisanal Style Pepperoni Pizza with Magic Key Thermal Tumbler  (Magic Key Holder Exclusive)

Alien Pizza Planet

Mobile ordering is no longer available for the full menu. This includes everything – entrees like pizza slices and pasta, sides like salad and breadsticks, kids’ meals, and desserts. If it’s not a family-style meal, it’s not available for mobile ordering! Luckily, the full Alien Pizza Planet menu is still available with regular, in-person ordering.

Haunted Heatwave Pizza from Alien Pizza Planet

It also includes their seasonal offerings of souvenir cups, sippers, straws, and popcorn buckets. Since the Magic Key Holder-exclusive meals are available for mobile ordering, we wouldn’t be surprised if more Magic Key Holder-exclusive merch is available for mobile ordering in the future, but Disney hasn’t confirmed it. These are still available for mobile ordering at other locations in the park, but if you’re hoping to get them all in one place, you’ll have to wait in line.

King Arthur Carrousel Popcorn Bucket

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on any more changes to mobile ordering. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disneyland news!

This NEW Disneyland Scavenger Hunt Is Gonna Be POPULAR

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

Do you like mobile ordering? Comment below! 

The DFB team loves ALL Disney Parks, and we’ve had the opportunity to visit Disney’s parks around the world. Of course, our “home” Disney resort is Disney World, which is why we’re talking about it all the time.

Disneyland

However, believe it or not, we’ve got some huge Disneyland fans on our team, too. When one of our own decided to ask for recommendations for what to do in Disneyland, our passionate Disneyland-loving team members went ALL out to talk about their favorite things to see, do, and eat in Disneyland. Now, we’re going to share those tips with you. Warning: we LOVE almost everything about Disneyland, so this list could get long…

The questions posed to our team involved the one ride one must do in Disneyland, the one snack that must be eaten, and the one parade or evening spectacular that is a must-see. One…give us a moment to stop laughing. JUST ONE? IMPOSSIBLE. When you love Disneyland as much as we do, we’re going to have to list out EVERYTHING we love about Walt’s OG park.

Rides

Disney California Adventure

In Disney California Adventure, one of our must-dos is Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. Sure, this used to be Tower of Terror, but it feels NOTHING like that now, and is one of those high-energy rides that leaves your adrenaline pumping, while you’re singing along to a great soundtrack. It’s funny how we had so many reservations about when the Tower of Terror closed to make this ride, but now we can’t imagine it any other way.

Mission Breakout!

But wait…someone else on our team prefers Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land. Now, this is a FUN ride with a lot of fantastic theming and some roller coaster thrills for pretty much folks of all ages, so we get why it’s so popular. Pro tip: rope drop it, and you’ll end up with a shorter line. Otherwise, consider getting in the single rider line.

Radiator Springs Racers

But wait, we’ve got another contender for the one must-do ride in California Adventure. That’s Incredicoaster, which is themed to The Incredibles. It’s a fun roller coaster that’s a lot like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in Disney World, but it’s all outdoors, so you actually know when you’re going through the loop. It’s exciting! This one also has a single rider line that you might want to take advantage of.

Incredicoaster

Funny…no one mentioned the Pixar Pal-A-Round swinging gondolas, formerly known as the Mickey Wheel of Death. There’s a reason we choose to stay FAR away from that ride, and if you ever visit Disneyland and hear the screams coming from those gondolas, you’ll know why…

Disneyland

Obviously, Disneyland Park is pretty much the favorite, so we have a lot of opinions about the must-do rides. However, the focus is mostly on rides that are different from those in Disney World, and that includes Pirates of the Caribbean, which is longer, more interesting, and just way better in Disneyland. 

Pirates of the Caribbean

Space Mountain also got a few mentions because it’s completely different in Disneyland. The ride vehicles are different (and way more comfortable), the track is different, and more. Now, a warning: when I first visited Disneyland, I did not know Space Mountain was different and rode it and discovered it sort of goes in a corkscrew, which is something that generally does not sit well with people who suffer from motion sickness. Lesson learned.

Disneyland’s Space Mountain

Indiana Jones Adventure is another ride that got a mention because Disney World doesn’t have anything like it…yet. Yes, it’s the same ride track as Dinosaur had, and it will probably be the same ride track that the new Disney World Indiana Jones ride will have, but for now, the Disneyland ride is still unique. Plus, Disney promised the ride in Disney World will have a different story.

Indiana Jones Adventure

Finally, someone else mentioned the Alice in Wonderland ride in Disneyland. Disney World has NOTHING like it, so it’s a must. Don’t worry…the line often looks long, but it moves fairly quickly.

Food

You want some passionate discussion? You ask any DFB team member about food. Obviously, it’s why we’re here! When it comes to Disneyland food, we LOVE a lot of it, starting with churros. Forget any churro you may have had from a Disney World cart…those aren’t good churros. The churros in Disneyland are next level to the point you may be having churros for breakfast every morning of your Disneyland trip (yep, I’m guilty). They also come in a variety of flavors with a variety of dips.

Disney100 Churro

The cookies at Harbour Galley are also popular enough for us to mention them (and truth be told, we LOVE THEM). Then there’s that Cheddar Cheese Stick at Corn Dog Castle (it’s fried cheese on a stick — how can we not love it?). We’re also obsessed with the Cheesy Garlic Pretzel Bread at Edelweiss Snacks. Mickey beignets are also a must, along with corn dogs from Little Red Wagon.

Hnad-dipped corn dog

Basically, we’re obsessed with almost ALL the food in Disneyland. When it comes to food, we think Disneyland may beat out Disney World for tne best snacks.

Entertainment

Well, it seems we just love ALL of Disney’s parades and nighttime shows, starting with the Paint The Night parade, which should stick around at least through the rest of Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Celebration. After that, we’re hoping that the Magic Happens parade returns (which is the best Disney parade ANYWHERE), but we’re not holding our breaths.

Paint the Night Parade

World of Color — One over in California Adventure also got some mentions, with one of our team members referring to it as “life-changing.” It is a fantastic nighttime spectacular, so if you have time to catch it, you SHOULD.

Although we spend a lot of time in Disney World, we’re also very passionate about Disneyland, but honestly, anything you do there is sure to make you happy. It is, after all, “The Happiest Place on Earth.”‘

We’ll keep sharing our best Disney Parks tips with you, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

4 New Rules Disneyland Is Enforcing in 2026

DON'T DO IT ALONE!

---

Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise.

Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!)

So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you

GET MORE INFO

What’s your absolute favorite ride, food, and entertainment option in Disneyland? Share with us in the comments!

Disneyland is always evolving, and if you’ve been visiting for years, you already know that what worked on your last trip might not fly anymore.

Disneyland

From updated park policies to new tech, 2026 is bringing a handful of changes that could seriously impact how you plan your day. We’re breaking down some of those changes and what you’ll want to know before you book your next vacation to the Southern California theme park resort.

Facial Recognition Technology Is Expanding

The Disney Parks have fully embraced the digital age — and the Disneyland Resort is no exception. In fact, Disneyland is leaning further into biometric technology in 2026, with expanded use of facial recognition systems at entry points.

New facial recognition sign

These lanes are optional for the time being, and you can find signage posted all over the resort right now that includes some in-depth information on the new tech. Ultimately, Disney is trying to use facial recognition to speed up lines and reduce ticket misuse — but it also means the days of casually sharing tickets or skirting the system are pretty much over.

Disneyland entrance scanners

While Disney has stated this is about efficiency and security, some guests are still getting used to the idea of more advanced tech being part of the park experience. For now, opting in is up to you, but we’ll see how long that remains the case.

Security Rules Are Getting Stricter

If it feels like security is taking a little longer lately, you’re not imagining things. As the world continues to change, so does Disneyland’s enforcement of bag checks and prohibited items in 2026. The resort is consistently updating its policies to prohibit newer items (like vapes) that it doesn’t want inside its parks, shopping districts, and hotels.

Security Lines

The resort is also taking a closer look at oversized bags, loose ice, and certain types of containers. They’re also being more consistent about enforcing stroller size limits and mobility device guidelines. Unlike Disney World, Disneyland still uses old-school metal detectors and bag checkers, and that process doesn’t seem to be changing in 2026. Make sure you check the Disneyland website for a list of approved and banned items before your visit.

No Cell Phones Allowed Out on Certain Rides

If you’re used to filming your entire ride-through, this one’s a big shift. Disneyland is cracking down on having phones and loose items out on select attractions — especially faster rides or those with more intense movements like Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

No Cell Phones

Cast Members have been stopping guests before boarding and reminding them to secure their phones, bottles, glasses, Mickey/Minnie ears, and other loose items completely. This is a total safety issue, and this rule change makes all the sense in the world.

Park Hopping Changes

As of this writing, park hopping between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure can only begin at 11 AM…but that’s about to change.

The Disneyland esplanade — from here, you are feet away from everything Disneyland has to offer!

Later this year, Disneyland will eliminate the 11 AM rule — and you’ll be able to move between the two parks without worrying about the time. We still don’t know when this change will go into effect, but we’ll let you know as soon as it’s announced.

DCA Entrance

If there’s a constant about the Disney Parks, it’s that they never stay the same for too long. We’re always keeping up with all the latest changes, so stay tuned right here at the Disney Food Blog for every update!

4 Curfews Disneyland Is Enforcing in 2026

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

If you could implement certain Disneyland rules in 2026, what would they be? Let us know in the comments!

Bluey has arrived at Disneyland with a new stage show that’s already drawing big crowds at the Fantasyland Theatre. But does “Bluey’s Best Day Ever!” live up to the hype—and is it worth carving out time in an already packed park day? We checked it out during a preview and have everything you need to […]

The post Bluey’s Big Disneyland Debut Draws Crowds… Tips & Review appeared first on MiceChat.

If you’ve ever planned a trip to Disney World, chances are you’ve at least looked into the Disney Dining Plan — Disney’s divisive meal credit offering. But if you’ve ever tried to find the same option for a trip at Disneyland in California, you’ve probably noticed something pretty quickly: It doesn’t exist.

Flo’s V-8 Cafe

Disney World’s Dining Plan has a couple of different options that allow you to prepay for meal and snack credits that can simply be allocated at an array of restaurants and food stands all over the resort. It is a useful vacation package add-on that many guests take advantage of during a vacation — so why exactly doesn’t Disneyland offer a Disney Dining Plan like Disney World does? The answer comes down to a few key differences between the two resorts — and once you understand them, it actually makes a lot of sense.

One of the biggest reasons comes down to size. Saying the Walt Disney World Resort is SIGNIFICANTLY larger than the Disneyland Resort might be an understatement. Disney World has four massive theme parks that dwarf Disneyland’s two, and the Florida resort also features two water parks, a huge shopping/dining/entertainment district, dozens of hotels, and an enormous number of restaurants. As such, Disney World has a thing called the “Disney bubble” — and most guests opt to lodge in it for around a week or so. Disney can build dining plans around multi-day vacations where people are eating most of their meals on property.

Welcome to Disney World!

But over at the Disneyland Resort, things are very different. The entire resort is compact, and guests can walk between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure in just a matter of minutes. Downtown Disney is also pretty small and is within walking distance to each theme park and all three Disneyland Resort hotels. I also have to mention that one of the biggest appeals of a Disneyland vacation is that it isn’t limited to a Disney bubble. The surrounding city of Anaheim is packed with restaurants right outside the gates, and Orange County and Los Angeles are right at your fingertips. That means Disney doesn’t have the same level of control over where guests eat. Because of that, a dining plan simply isn’t as necessary.

The Disneyland Esplanade area connects the two theme parks with Downtown Disney — all of which are only separated by a minute’s walk

Another big factor is how long people typically visit. We’ll tell you time and time again that it’s impossible to do and see everything at Disney World in one visit — which will always be true. A prepaid dining plan is appealing to guests who know they’ll be eating most of their meals inside the resort because they just don’t have time to leave the resort and knock out most of their itinerary.

But Disneyland trips are often much shorter, and many visitors spend one to three days at the parks. When trips are that short, a complicated dining plan with credits and reservations doesn’t make as much sense. With Disney World, it’s often necessary to carve out a ton of time that focuses on meals. As a Disneyland expert of over 30 years, I can comfortably say I’ve never seen that be the case out in California. You may pick a few restaurants you want to hit up, but you’ll be far more preoccupied with ride itineraries. The demand just isn’t the same on the West Coast.

Din Tai Fung

Dining plans are also heavily tied to Disney hotels — and while Disney World has a bunch, Disneyland only has three. The Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Pixar Place Hotel are each home to some wonderful dining experiences, but these restaurants aren’t as in-demand as the ones inside the parks or in Downtown Disney, since they’re all away from most of the Resort’s action.

Napa Rose lounge

In fact, most visitors actually stay in the many Good Neighbor off-site hotels, so they never even go into the Disney-owned hotels! Since a large percentage of guests aren’t staying in Disney hotels, a dining plan tied to Resort stays wouldn’t reach nearly as many people — whereas the dining plan is part of a vacation package for Disney World. Disneyland simply can’t offer any comparable vacation package since the Disney-owned hotels don’t play nearly as much of a factor.

Disneyland Hotel

Since most guests are staying off-site, the surrounding area is PACKED with restaurants. You’ll find everything from quick fast food to sit-down restaurants — and there are also plenty of places inside Downtown Disney that aren’t owned by Disney. At Disney World, leaving property for food can require a car or rideshare. At Disneyland, you can grab a burger across the street in five minutes. That flexibility makes a prepaid dining plan less useful for many visitors.

And that’s the thing — right? Flexibility. A Disneyland vacation is so alluring to Disney fans because it’s much more lax in the planning department than Disney World. It’s really easy to just feel out your day and not worry about what you’re eating or where you’re eating. Sure, dining reservations are still a must for those in-demand restaurants, but it’s also okay to show up to the parks, feel things out in real time, and decide you’d rather get food at some place not owned by Disney or away from the Resort. And since a huge chunk of Disneyland guests are local, that’s a common occurrence.

River Belle Terrace

With all of these reasons in mind, never say never. Disney LOVES testing new ways for guests to spend money, and a dining plan could very well come to the California resort in the future. But right now, the structure of the Disneyland Resort simply doesn’t make a dining plan as practical as it is in Florida. Instead, Disneyland focuses way more on mobile ordering, Magic Key discounts, and seasonal food festivals. And for a lot of us Disneylanders, the freedom to snack your way around the parks without worrying about using credits might actually be part of the appeal.

2025 Festival of Holidays Booth

If Disney ever decides to experiment with a dining plan on the West Coast, you better believe we’ll keep you posted — along with all the latest Disneyland updates and reviews!

Review: This Disneyland Snack Is Good, But We Have ONE BIG COMPLAINT

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

---

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

Would you like to see the Disney Dining Plan come to Disneyland? Share your thoughts in the comments below!