Recently, my husband had a conference in San Diego, so I decided to tag along. I used to live in San Diego, and I swear the city still has my heart — sunshine, ocean breeze, and that perfect 80-degree weather with zero Midwest humidity. Pure bliss!
And naturally, as a Disney fan, the moment I realized I was only two hours from Disneyland… well, you probably already know what happened. Yep, I hopped on a train and headed for Walt’s original park – Disneyland.
Getting There: Why Did I Never Do This Before?
I genuinely don’t know why we never took the train to Disneyland when we lived in San Diego. It was ridiculously easy. I pre-purchased my Amtrak ticket on their app and boarded the 6:01 a.m. train at the Santa Fe Station downtown.
Just over two hours later, I stepped off at the Anaheim station, walked outside, and ordered an Uber. (The ART bus is free with an Amtrak ticket, but it comes every 15–20 minutes and takes about 35 minutes to reach Disneyland.) I chose an Uber as I booked a tour for 9:30 a.m. and didn’t want to chance it.
Ten minutes and $14 later, I was at my hotel — the Grand Legacy at the Park — directly across the street from the Disneyland Resort.
Because the last train back to San Diego leaves at 10:50 p.m., and I wasn’t about to rush out of the Paint the Night parade, I booked a hotel for the night and planned to head back the next morning.
I dropped my bag, walked across the street, and about fifteen minutes later I was stepping through the tunnel into Town Square. There is nothing like that first moment inside Disneyland.
A Quick Note About Security & Entry
Security at Disneyland works a little differently than Walt Disney World — every single bag gets hand-checked. No zipping through just holding your charger and water bottle out in front of you.
Then at the ticket entrance, instead of syncing with a fingerprint like at WDW, they take your photo.
Once you are through the entrance you can book your first Lightening Lane, unlike at Walt Disney World where you can pre-book up to 7 days prior to your day at the park.
I purchased the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass with my 1-day ticket and grabbed Haunted Mansion as my first selection. At Disneyland, you can only book one Lightning Lane at a time, and you can book a Lightening Lane every two hours. For me, the timing lined up beautifully with my tour.
For what it’s worth, after using Lightning Lane at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, I personally prefer Disneyland’s system. It feels a bit more balanced, and the standby lines move much more like they did in the pre-Fast Pass days.
A Magical Pause Before My Tour
I still had about 30 minutes before tour check-in, so I walked into the Opera House to see A Magical Life: Walt Disney.
This 17-minute film gives you a quick, heartfelt overview of Walt’s story and how Disneyland came to be. The lobby is full of incredible photos and early Disneyland artifacts — you can even see José from Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and grab a close-up photo with a pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Tour Time
Next, I checked in for the A Story of Celebration: 70th Anniversary Guided Tour. It was such a treat — two hours of history, storytelling, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and skipping a few lines with VIP access. The day you take the tour, you get reserved Paint the Night parade viewing and a special treat.
An Afternoon of Pure Disney Joy
The rest of the day was everything I love about being in a Disney park — wandering, listening to the background music, soaking up every little detail, and imagining Walt walking down Main Street USA.
I rode everything on my list with no more than a 20-minute wait. Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, and Tiana’s Bayou all had at least an hour wait the entire day.
The only heartbreak? It’s a Small World was closed, to begin its holiday overlay. That just means I clearly need another trip soon — I’m determined to hear the brand-new third verse in person.
Of course, I indulged in Disneyland food classics: a Churro, a Dole Whip, and a corn dog from the Red Wagon Cart. If you know, you know.
As the sun went down, I settled into the reserved seating for Paint the Night. If you’ve seen the Main Street Electrical Parade, you’ll feel the nostalgia — Paint the Night feels like a modern update to the Main Street Electrical Parade. I absolutely loved it!
Saying Goodnight to Disneyland
When the parade ended, I joined the flow down Main Street, taking in every last bit of that magic. The park was open until 11 p.m., but I had been up since 4 a.m. to catch the train, so by 10 p.m. I was happily exhausted and ready to collapse in my hotel room.
The next morning, I walked to Panera two blocks away, enjoyed breakfast, and then headed back to pack up and grab my Uber to the train station.
Would I Do This One-Day Disneyland Adventure Again?
Absolutely — in a heartbeat!
The only change I’d make (besides adding more days, of course)? I’d take a slightly later train back the next day so I could stroll through Downtown Disney before heading home.
I highly recommend taking the train from San Diego to Disneyland. It’s convenient, relaxing, no traffic, no parking fees, and no stress. Just you, the rails, and a whole day of Disney magic waiting on the other end.
If my whirlwind 24-hours in Walt’s original park sparked some Disney daydreaming of your own, let’s make it happen! Whether you want a quick escape or a week of magic, I’m here to help with planning, booking, and all those inside tips that make a trip feel extra special.
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