The 11 classiest things you can do at Disneyland

Want to experience Disneyland, sans crowds? For a few thousand dollars (yes, seriously), you and yours can book a “personal concierge” who’ll lead you through secret entrances around the park and give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your favorite attractions, helping you bypass lines for rides, general wait times and, of course, the throngs of visitors. The VIP package also gets you reserved, special seating for live shows and parades—plus reservations for restaurants, character meet-and-greets and an unlimited photo pass. Good luck ever visiting Disneyland normally again after you’ve received the star treatment.

Pip, pip! Pretend you’re British royalty with not one but three options for afternoon tea, complete with scones, teacakes, finger sandwiches and herbal sips in Steakhouse 55’s luxurious setting from Friday to Sunday. There’s a standard option, which includes all of the above; a premium option, which includes sparkling wine, chocolate truffles, salads and other snacks; and a children’s option, complete with hot chocolate and other kid-friendly fare. There are even gluten-free and vegan options, by request, as well as ports, aperitifs and wines by the glass—just remember to drink them pinky-up.

What’s the perk of visiting a California-themed park located in Southern California? You get to experience our in-state neighbors to the north. California Adventure and the Grand Californian Hotel feature a handful of Napa- and other Northern California-inspired concepts, and you know what that means: Napa and Central Coast wine. Wine Country Trattoria in Pacific Wharf offers two wine-flight options—one for Napa wines, and another for Italian—while the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, Napa Rose, and its corresponding lounge host an extensive menu of sparkling, white and red wines. Absolutely a few of the classiest restaurants in the Disney parks, these are also prime spots for sipping at any time of day.

If you’re looking to get away from the madness and the lines, duck into New Orleans Square and head to Disney’s Big Easy-inspired restaurant, Blue Bayou. Not only does this charming and fine-dining-leaning restaurant take reservations up to 60 days in advance (goodbye, waiting)—it’s also home to one of the best ambiances in the park. Situated right next to the boat launch of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, Blue Bayou’s indoor patio is always lantern-lit and romantic, as though you’re spending a night in New Orleans, no matter the time of day. The water calmly laps within earshot—as does the chirping of crickets—as you dine on lobster, herb-crusted rack of lamb, crab hush puppies, bone-in rib eye, and roast chicken with vermouth jus. View the full menu here.

Look for the old-timey movie marquee on Buena Vista Street and you've most likely found one of Disney's chicest restaurants. You enter Carthay Circle as though you're walking into the lobby of a movie house, but instead, you're in a dark, refined fine-dining–inspired restaurant that's a nod to Hollywood's Golden Age. Early Disney animation hangs on the walls, as do black-and-white photos of a young Walt. It also houses one of the park's only cocktails bar, with classics in mind—hello, martinis and Manhattans—as well as the secret, adults-only Terrace Lounge bar, which overlooks the park. 

Disneyland’s equivalent of a lobby bar just so happens to be an elegant, woodsy, Craftsman-style setting where you can enjoy cocktail or four. In Hearthstone Lounge, within the Grand Californian, slide into a seat at the gorgeous wooden bar or near the fireplace and get cozy with some of the California Adventure-areas’s more refined beverages. Bourbon flights, sangria, boozy cold brew, whiskey-forward cocktails, and wines available by the glass and bottle—not to mention seasonal specials such as hot cider with rum—make Hearthstone a comforting, classy destination.

Maybe you need a break from your kids or maybe you just pulled a muscle trying to contort yourself into the best position for a good view of the parade—either way, Disney offers an under-the-radar way to treat yourself: a range of facials, full-body massages and even sound therapy. The Mandara Spa within the Grand Californian Hotel has more than 20 massage packages, which range from 25 to 100 minutes and include everything from accupressure to full-body seaweed wraps. Want more? There are even add-ons such as oil-soaked bamboo presses, hot-stone therapy and tightening toners.

Looking to relax somewhere with a perfect view? Pixar Pier’s Lamplight Lounge should do the trick. California Adventure’s premier boardwalk restaurant is perched over the water and features a sizeable patio at the center of the action, sporting panoramic views of Paradise Bay and its illuminated attractions. If you don’t want to take things outside, the interior is still a stylish affair, with wooden ceilings, exposed brick walls and Pixar-themed cocktails, California cuisine and colorful décor throughout.

Anyone who’s tried to access the Rivers of America after sundown knows how treacherous the journey can be. The reason? Disney’s magical, pyrotechnics-laden live show, Fantasmic!, which brings special effects and favorite Disney characters to life right on the water nearly every night of the week. The thoroughfare becomes chaotic and packed with guests clamoring for a seat, but you don’t have to: Simply book a three-course, prix-fixe meal—available at either Blue Bayou or River Belle Terrace restaurants—and you’ll not only enjoy a special lunch or dinner; you’ll also receive a reserved seat in a VIP section for the show later that night. Talk about magical.

Disneyland’s only tiki bar might feel a little more kitsch than class, but Trader Sam’s easily one of the resort’s most fun and boozy attractions, especially for the cocktail connoisseur. Inspired by both California’s midcentury tiki craze and Adventureland’s Tiki Room, the “enchanted” bar next to the Disneyland Hotel is packed with palms, digital erupting-volcano landscapes and other colorful bric-a-brac associated with beachy, Pacific Island-informed bars. Sip blends of orgeat, cinnamon, coconut, Navy-strength rum and fresh-squeezed citrus from custom mugs in a colorful, hidden-away setting or perch on the stylish, lantern-lit patio.

It’s the stuff of legend: Disneyland’s elite club has an alleged decade-long wait list and membership fees rumored to be as hefty as $50,000. Tucked into New Orleans Square, it’s a hidden paradise and it’s accessible to an extremely limited and privileged few—but those who do make it through the door experience the ultimate Disney bucket-list visit. You begin with the open-air plaza, the Court of Angels, until you’re escorted up a winding staircase to either Le Grand Salon—a white-tablecloth fine-dining experience—or Club 33’s bar, complete with its own unique cocktails. So, how do you get in? Unfortunately, you’ve got to be connected. In a city as vast and as showy as L.A., you may already have a friend of a friend who’s a member—and if that’s the case, they could be able to reserve a meal for you. Also, if that’s the case, give us the hookup.