A trip to Disneyland is a dream for children young and old alike.
But it can be very expensive and quite frustrating if you don't plan your visit ahead of time.
Here are seven essential things you need to know to get the most out of your with Mickey, Minnie, and the entire Disneyland cast of characters.

1. Use Express Pickup for all your gifts and souvenirs.
   You want to arrive at the Disneyland park as early as possible.
   It'll likely take you a half hour or more to get through gates.
   Most people hang around the gifts shops near the gate and the last thing you want to do is lug all your Disney trinkets, toys, and stuffed Goofy's around.
   You can arrange for "express pickup" at the gift shops and they will keep your stuff at a concierge for you to pick up when you exit the park.
   
2. Use FASTPASS.
   The rides at Disneyland are famous.
   Between the movie theme rides like Indiana Jones and the classics like the Matterhorn, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain you could find yourself in an hour line per ride.
   The FASTPASS system gives you a ticket for a ride with a time.
   This literally lets you cut in front of the long lines at Thunder Mountain Railroad (and all the others) when it's your appointment.
   
3. Ride the popular rides.
   Lots of people use FASTPASS so you could still find yourself in a long line even if you do get a ride ticket.
   The simple solution to this is to get to the park as early as possible - when they open is best - and ride the most popular rides first.
   
4. Watch the parades without the crowd.
   Disneyland is known for the parade down Main Street and crowd one another trying to get a good view of the floats and Disney characters.
   You can avoid all the pushing and shoving and crowded lines by walking over to the King Triton statue in Tomorrowland.
   You'll have a great view of the parade and there are a ton less people.
   
5. Watch the parade and the shows after sundown.
   Fantasmic and the other Disneyland performances repeat throughout the day and early evening.
   The park is the least crowded first thing in the morning and just after sundown.
   So the best time to see the shows and even the parade down Main Street is after sundown.
   You don't have to worry about getting a "perfect" seat at the theaters.
   All the seats are great and have good viewing of the stage.
   
6. Save on meals by packing snacks.
   Let's face it, any trip to Disneyland is expensive.
   Food costs usually over run the price of admission to the parks.
   One way to manage this is to make sure everyone has a big breakfast and that you have a big lunch.
   Fill up at the main meals instead of "snacking" at all the little shops as you walk around the park.
   The other thing you can do is just pack small baggies with carrots, celery, apple slices, and maybe even a small sandwich or two.
   
7. It's not just about Disneyland! This last piece of advice is similar to what everyone in Orlando visiting Disneyworld know.
   There's a lot more than Disney in the area.
   While you don't have Nickelodeon and Universal Studios in Anaheim you do have California Adventures Theme Park and the Grizzly River Rapids.
   There's also a Muppets mini-park, the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
   So if the lines and crowds get to you just head on over to one of the other great attractions near Disneyland.
   

Follow these seven steps and you'll make the most out of your Disneyland vacation.
Remember to bring a backpack, sunscreen, water, and if it's in the Fall - a light jacket.