How to get around Disneyland? is a question with many answers, all of which are part of the fun. Though the entire park is walkable, there are several welcome options that don’t require anything more than sitting back and watching the all the excitement pass by. From fifties futuristic to riding the rails to horse-drawn carriages, here’s a rundown on how to get around.
Board the iconic Disneyland Monorail. Futuristic when it debuted in 1959, the ride still feels surprisingly modern. Offering great views from an elevated rail, the Monorail covers a 2.5-mile/4-km loop in 13 minutes, and is accessible by anyone with valid admission. But it’s not the only way to get around Disneyland Resort.
For a very different train experience, the steam-powered Disneyland Railroad circles the park in 18 minutes, with stops at such destinations as Tomorrowland and Mickey’s Toontown. One of the five vintage narrow-gauge trains is named for Ward Kimball, a legendary studio animator and fellow train buff of Walt Disney.
In the Magic Kingdom, you can also ride down Main Street, U.S.A. between Sleeping Beauty Castle and Town Square on old-fashioned streetcars, jitneys, and fire engines, pulled by handsome draft horses. At Disney California Adventure Park, all-electric Red Car Trolleys, like the ones that used to operate in Southern California, travel to four stops along Buena Vista Street.
Of course, first you have to get there. If you’re arriving by car, park in the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure (so this is the only place to park, basically the name of the main lot?) and a complimentary Disneyland Resort tram will whisk you to Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park. If taking public transportation or a ride-share service directly from one of the six area airports, the park’s transportation page has detailed information on how to do so.
