If you still want free parking you’ll have to go a few blocks further away from the park and get into the truly non-disney parts of Orange.

Full details aren’t listed yet but you will need to pre-register and pick a qualified organization to donate with. Of course there will be limits on tickets and given how many people took advantage of the free birthday ticket so far, expect them to fill up sooner rather than later. Still, it’s a great opportunity to hit the park for free AND to do something positive.

Learn more about the program by visiting Give a Day, Get a Free Disney Day!

Of course you don’t have to wait for the free ticket program to volunteer, the HandsOn Network who Disneyland is partnering with to run the program, has opportunities all across the country doing a whole host of projects. Check them out.

The museum is comprised of 7 galleries walking through Walt’s life with stops to discuss a lot of the company history along the way. It all starts with background on his family, childhood and upbringing before diving into the earliest Disney cartoons (not the ones you’re familiar with but rather what he started on long before Mickey), his time in world war I driving for the red cross and up through the advent of the Disney we know today, the inspiration for the park and finally his passing almost 50 years ago.

What you’ll find is pretty typical of a museum only with Disney content. There are tons of photos and displays of all sorts of art from sketches of early projects and events to video and audio interviews of Walt and his close associates talking about his entire life.

The museum is a tour of the adventure that is Disney from its earliest days up to what was left when Walt passed away. The famous characters and movies are all there along with a lot you may not know about. It’s truly interesting content but presented in a very modern, sophisticated and yet still fun environment.
And of course there’s the park from the earliest inspiration to first stage sketches, even a large model recreation of the park as it existed for Walt. You’ll find photos of the opening, VIP visits, information on the rides and all sorts of other interesting tidbits ending with press coverage on the park from the 50s. Pretty cool!

A few tips for museum goers…
1. The museum is just that, a museum. No photos, no video, no rides. There’s a lot to look at and do but an hour is more than enough time unless you plan to reach every word.

2. The museum is located in the back of the Presidio in a restored and now beautiful building. If you catch it on a good day, you’ll get a great view of the Golden Gate bridge and the SF Bay.

3. Parking is open, vast and free. Tickets are not. $20 per adult. $125 for a dual membership.

4. Even hardcore Disney fans probably won’t find themselves going back that often. It’s interesting but it’s not exactly something that changes on a daily basis.

5. Take your time when you visit. It’s not just about a little reading, there’s lots of video, lots of history and even a whole bunch of cartoon clips. Like we said it is only an hour but you should spend that hour… the exit door sneaks up very quickly.

6. And don’t forget to book your tickets in advance. We were lucky to go on a slow weekend (which was surprising since it was the first weekend it was open) but this is a queit museum and they only sell so many tickets per hour.

Our advice…
Go. It’s a great way to spend an hour (plus a few bucks in the museum gift shop) and it really does provide insights into Walt, the history of Disney and the movies that you probably don’t know and have definitely never seen like this.

Sorry, no photos. We’re not allowed to take them either.

Wondering when the park is open? What hours are best to go at. Well, your best bet for information on the hours is the official calendar but we’ve got a few tips on when to actual go…

If you’re looking for an all day experience start early as in 7 or 8 am when the park opens. In the early morning not many people are there without kids so you can do bigger rides. You can also pick up some fastpasses to use later in the day when it gets crowded.

Mid-day is a good time to avoid the park. Kids are tired, it’s hottest and it’s a great time to take a break. Step back to the hotel room and return at 2 or 3.

The early evening is generally the most packed time but people start eating, shows start up and while it can be very crowded it can also be strangely open.

Finally we have late night. This is the best time to enjoy the park during summer – it’s not empty but the lines are shorter and it’s a lot cooler. Every ride will let people stay on until the line is done so if you get in a 45 minute line at 11:59pm you’re still good.

And of course there’s always that bonus hour to go shopping because main street stays open late.

And in case you didn’t read the calendar, Disneyland is open from 8am – 12pm during peak periods. California Adventure opens at 9 or 10 on peak days and generalluy closes 2-3 hours before the main park. Off peak times vary but expect a 9 or 10pm close for the main park and 6-8 for California Adventure. Sometimes you’ll think it’s a busy time of year but there’s a night event or the calendar doesn’t reflect true crowds so be sure to look at the park hours before you, well, go.

Special things happy for the holidays

Snow in Disneyland? It happens. Seriously.

And that’s just one of the wonderful things you’ll see. Over the holidays Disneyland goes all out in a way you can online imagine. The streets change into a winter paradise, giant ornaments replace the signs and even the desert list is updated. There’s few better places to enjoy the holidays at than the park so prepare to be amazed.

Also prepare to see some changes to the rides, shops and shows. Aside from snow there’s also different music, more specials, more characters and on and on. Since a photo is worth a thousand words we’ve included a few.

Crowds & Ride Maximization

It will be busy. Very busy. This should go without saying but we’re saying it just in case. If you travel during the holidays you’ll see crowds unlike anything you’ve seen before. You’ll also see different crowds – less locals and more tourists meaning more general confusion and uncertainty. This is reality and the best you can do is work within what exists.

Come on the right days. If you head to the park a little earlier December you’ll find the park a whole lot emptier. In fact if you show up mid month you’ll find it almost empty. However going late has the opposite effect… people start showing up in mass a week or so before Christmas and the park stays packed through the first few weeks of January.

While you can’t stop the crowds from showing up you can plan smart. Collect fastpasses in the morning [See our guide to smart fastpassing], check the ride wait board and take the big rides when the waits go down, the small ones when they’re longer.

The colder weather helps too. You can easily spend the entire day in the park although if you do so take a good long lunch break and take it easy.

Fireworks & Shows

As you can guess the crowds for shows will be nothing short of… nuts. Your best bet is to get your spots early and guard them with your life (or your blanket). We always prefer the second fantasmic show although it’s still just as full. Dash around after the fireworks and grab a seat but be sure your group joins before the start – once things get too packed the stop letting people into the front areas.

For those really set on a good viewing area just plan to setup shop a few hours early. You can bring a blanket, sit down and chat with everyone else doing the same thing.

Hotels & Accommodations

With so many people in the park you can bet there’s a high demand for hotels too. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune or be completely surrounded by screaming children.

All of the Disney properties book well in advance of the holidays (like 6-12 months in advance) so well, you’re pretty much not going there.

Other properties aren’t quite so bad but they do fill early and you need to book well in advance. This means you have to actually plan in advance. Seriously.

Our suggestion is as always the Hyatt although we also like the Hilton, Embassy Suites and the Crown Plaza isn’t bad either. Prices do go up for the holidays as you can imagine but if you book in advance you can get a good deal. If you have a few months lead time sign up for a emails from the hotels you prefer and check their websites for specials. Longer stays tend to better deals and calling a hotel never hurts.

Getting to the park

Airplanes, roads, it’s all more crowded this time of year but the fundamentals don’t change. Check LAX and Long Beach airports in addition to Orange County and rent a car, take a shuttle or a bus as suits your needs. You can find all sorts of tips about getting from airports, to the place, and so forth on this site.

If you’re driving from Northern California or through the LA Grapevine be sure to check road conditions often. Snow can close the pass and bad traffic accidents often cause hours of backup. As a plan B you can take 101 down the coast – it’s a longer drive but if you have a 10 hour delay, well, enough said.

Anahiem / Disney Gardenwalk is a fairly new mini-mall with some great options that locals and tourists are all sure to enjoy. And because Garden walk is located just across S-Harbor Blvd from the main park it doesn’t require a car or even a lot of energy to get to. So whether you want a good meal, a good drink or an escape here’s what you’ve got.

PF Changs - It’s not authentic chinese but boy it sure is good. Really good. PF Changs makes a perfect lunch or dinner spot and can be shared family style with a group. They also have a large and fully stocked bar. Prices start at about $15 per plate. Expect another $6-10 per drink.

CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) - The name says it all, except not really. CPK is a California favorite that does a mean BBQ Pizza (yum), pasta, and a number of other dishes. Drinks at the bar too. Prices start at $15.

The Cheesecake Factory – Like CPK the name is misleading. They do have cheesecake and it is killer but they also have a book (yes it seriously is a book) of other options. From complex pasta dishes to burgers to chinese food (there’s some) they make it. Not every dish is worth returning for but there’s many good ones. Meals start at about $10 per plate and about $15 for anything above the basics.

McCormick & Schmicks Grill - If you missed that Blue Beyua reservation you’re still in luck. McCormick’s is known for their steak and seafood and while it’s pricier than most of the other options it’s a great vibe, has a full bar and wonderful service. There are some deals on the menu but don’t plan to escape for less than $25 a person and more like $40

Roy’s – A Hawaiian classic Roy’s is all about Fusion and does it well. They have a more limited menu and are on the high end of the Garden Walk priceline but it’s one of those places you should definitely try, especially if Hawaii isn’t in the cards this year. Expect to pay $25 and up per plate.

Bubba Gumps – Now found all over the place Bubba Gump’s does a lot of shrip and seafood along with burgers and sandwiches. It’s lots of fun, very casual and makes a great mixed drink. Prices start at $10 for a burger.

Johnny Rockets- Not as upscale as some of the other options this is the suburban version of the classic 50s diner and has the same great burgers, fries and shakes they must have had when the park first opened. Prices start at about $10 per plate.

Besides the names we mentioned here you’ll find a couple of grab and go places including a Sbarro Pizza, La Salsa Mexican food, Hawaiin, Japanese and more. There’s also several options for a tasty snack or pick me up coffee.

You can find all the options at http://www.anaheimgardenwalk.com/dining/

The new show (video below) first showed in early June and it’s something worth seeing. While the old show was truly about heart pounding music and big explosions, the new one has a variety of music themes and looks to be really fun. But don’t let us tell you about it…. watch this amatuer video posted to YouTube.

We still like buying our passes up front but it’s an option to know about.

What rides are closed?
Disneyland is messing around with a lot of rides and your best bet is to check the official website for updated ride information. As of Memorial Day most everything was up and running except for Peter Pan (fun at times but really a kids ride), Astro Orbitor (the one that goes round and round in circles at the entrance to tomorrow land) and that was about it.

Will the park be ugly and mess up my trip?
That depends on where you go. In the main park there is construction in a few places that may get in the way of your walking and your photos around tomorrow land and fantasy land however for the most part the only issue will be getting around the park. California Adventure is however a much different story with lots of big walls, movement and a very empty pool. In fact California Adventure’s entire lake is currently drained as they expand stage areas and add a new water show (think Fantastic but in color). If you were planning photos with the big wheel (now updated to include a big Mickey Mouse) you’re out of luck for a few more months.

What’s been changed?
Changes can be found all over Disneyland from new faces on the buildings on Main Street to some newly upgraded restaurants, improved rides, and plenty of small tasks like cleaner streets and bathroom stalls. The goal of the improvements are twofold from what we understand – make the park better for guests by fixing the basics while doing some big upgrades to make California Adventure, well, more liked. This is of course good stuff for you as a guest as the park could use a few fix ups and while California Adventure is fun it’s never been our favorite place to stick around for anything more than rides – hopefully the changes will make it a bit more… Disney.

Should I still visit?
Absolutely. The changes are about making the park better and with something like a billion dollars going into the place we’re excited to see where things end up. Today there’s a few extra places to wander around and some photos won’t work out… you may even miss a much loved ride but it’s still Disneyland.