A few good apps can be a big help at Disneyland, but it’s hard to evaluate them when you aren’t in the park yet. That’s where this guide by iBestTravel comes in. You can use it to find out which ones are best and easiest to use, so you’re ready to go when you arrive.

The first thing you need to know: Some Disneyland apps are travel guides intended for trip planning. If you’re planning and reading general information about Disneyland, it’s much easier to do that using a traditional web browser than in an app. For that reason, this list does not include the Disneyland travel guide type of apps.

Other apps are for use at the park. The most common types of apps are wait time or daily schedule apps; however, you can also get apps that take you on a treasure hunt or keep you entertained while waiting in line.

Signal Strength Issues

Before you think about using your mobile device at Disneyland, you should know about signals and reception. Cell phone signal strength and data availability have improved inside Disneyland over the past few years. Nonetheless, it is still possible that your Disneyland app or mobile browser may not be available when you need it most. To help prevent that scenario, take screenshots that you can refer to.

Disneyland now offers free WiFi in the parks, and you can find the hotspots on a park map or use the Disneyland app. The network is called “Disney-Guest.”

Best Itinerary App: RideMax

Far too many Disneyland guests make the colossal mistake of not using the best tool available for reducing the time spent in line and organizing their day. In fact, RideMax should be an essential part of any busy visitor’s day.

RideMax Mobile creates a customized daily schedule for you that keeps you away from long lines, enabling you to have fun instead. It’s not technically an app, but rather a web-based product that can run on any smartphone.

Best Disneyland Wait Time Apps

Mouse Wait: This app not only provides extensive Disneyland information but also functions as a social media platform integrated with Twitter and Facebook, boasting the self-proclaimed “largest real-time Disneyland discussion in the world.”

• Price: Free
• Pros: Numerous users lead to up-to-date wait time data, fun features like a Hidden Mickey Checklist, dining options, live webcams, and more. It also includes WHAT NEXT Advisor, which suggests rides to pursue next based on wait times. MouseWait excels at helping users find rides with shorter lines. However, during less busy days, they may often use average waits in place of real-time data.
• Cons: Navigation can be slightly confusing. This free app is supported by advertisements, which, while preventing in-app purchases, can be annoying as they occupy a section of the screen. Furthermore, if you choose not to engage with their community, you may feel a little like an outsider.
• Don’t overlook the (Resources) link at the bottom of the screen. It links to a Disneyland Character Finder, a list of coin presses, rides categorized by height, music, a phone list, tips to enhance your Toy Story Mania score, and a decoder for the hieroglyphics in the Indiana Jones queue.

Disneyland App: This app’s main strength lies in its connection to Disney’s wait time database.

• Price: Free
• Pros: It is directly from Disney and employs the same graphics as seen online or in the parks. Wait times are visibly presented over the park map or can be viewed in list form. The app also helps locate characters and their greeting schedules, displays current return times for FASTPASSES, allows ticket ordering through the app, and offers GPS navigation that assists in finding nearby amenities. On quieter days when MouseWait may not have sufficient park-goers to report accurate wait times, the wait times you find on the Disneyland app may be more precise. Additionally, this app is best for locating the nearest restrooms.
• Cons: You cannot view all information on the same map or list, making it challenging to balance lunch wait times with ride wait times if you’re using this app.

Best Disneyland Convenience Apps

Shop Disney Parks: If you spot a Disney souvenir you adore, there’s no need to roam every store in the park searching for it. Avoid carrying it around all day as well. Simply utilize the Shop Parks app to check its availability and order delivery to your home. Alternatively, if you need it right away, this app can guide you to its location within the Disneyland Resort.

Starbucks App: Starbucks serves as the coffee provider at the Disneyland Resort. Although you cannot utilize their app’s line-bypassing pre-ordering feature inside the parks, it can still be beneficial on your way to the two Starbucks in Downtown Disney. The Starbucks in Downtown Disney is nearest to the security gates, while the East location is adjacent to the Disneyland Hotel.

In-Park Entertainment Apps for Disneyland

These apps are designed purely for entertainment purposes.

Even with the best wait time apps and strategies, you may still be found waiting in a line or reserving your spot to watch the evening parade and fireworks well before they commence.

Heads Up! Created by talk show host Ellen Degeneres, this charades-style game features a Disney Parks-themed deck. After purchasing the app, guests visiting Disneyland Resort can unlock the Disney Parks themed deck at no extra cost. It’s a fantastic way to keep entertained while in line.

Hidden Mickeys can keep you endlessly engaged as you seek out all the hidden sets of mouse ears throughout the park. However, this app can become quite costly, especially with additional purchases available within the app. A more affordable alternative would be to consider purchasing a digital version.

Spot Hero: Parking

You might not typically think of an app as a cost-saving tool; however, using Spot Hero allows you to reserve a parking space at a local hotel for a lower price than what you’d pay at the official Disney parking lots.

Additionally, some of these locations are conveniently close enough to walk to the gate, eliminating the long bus ride you’d otherwise have to take.

More Apps You May Need

Find Your Car with AR: If you’re walking to Disneyland from your hotel, you might not require this app. However, if you unintentionally park in the Toy Story Lot, which is vast, it’s easy to lose track of where your vehicle is, especially since the scenery can shift from morning to night.

To manage this issue, simply activate the app before departing from your vehicle, click, and it will mark your parking spot. When it’s time to return, the app will guide you back using a user-friendly arrow indicating your path.

Yelp: This app can also assist you in locating nearby services not listed on the Disneyland map, such as grocery stores, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shops, or pharmacies. Yelp acts comprehensively, providing local search functions beyond mere ratings.