Growing up in Southern California, I've been to Disneyland many times, but I hadn't visited in some time, mostly due to the high price of admission. When the park announced a great deal for Anaheim residents, I jumped on it and got tickets for myself and a couple family members. Unfortunately, Disney failed to mention that Anaheim residents could not purchase discounted tickets for nonresident guests. Thankfully, I found out ahead of time, but it turned out to be a much more expensive outing than I had planned. Suffice it to say, Disneyland isn't in the business of saving you money, and if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Despite the poor communication of their promotions and expensive admission (and parking!), once you're in, Disneyland is still a lovely place to spend a day. The relatively new Galaxy's Edge land is immersive and terrifically themed. Rise of the Resistance is a wonderful attraction, and Smuggler's Run, while a bit confusing, is a fun experience. Of course, there are all the great classic rides like Star Tours, Indiana Jones, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Matterhorn, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean. While some attractions like Autopia have probably outlived their relevance, even the Fantasyland dark rides still have some charm.
Unfortunately, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and the railroad were closed for renovations, along with the venerable Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Beyond the rides, Disneyland still shines in its theming, cheery employees, and dining. Any of the full-service restaurants basically require reservations, and we were able to book a last-minute table for brunch at River Belle Terrace. The meal was very good and surprisingly reasonable. We visited on a Sunday, and while it was crowded, it wasn't horrible. The app is fairly accurate with wait times, and we were able to ride over a dozen attractions without ever waiting more than 45 minutes in line.