I am 59 years old and had not been to Disneyland, specifically the Haunted Mansion which I saw every Sunday on t.v. opening the Disney show. I had a great time at Disneyland and here are my tips. In case you don't know, you need both a reservation and a ticket to get in on your chosen day. BOTH! The Disney app is critical to have and works very well. Arriving before Disneyland opens is a great idea. Less crowded in the am. Way Less. Make your dinner or lunch sit-down reservations way in advance. In fact, do it as soon as you know you are going. You can always cancel them. Mobil ordering in the park is easy and works well. Even if you miss your pick up window, go to your food place and give your order number anyway. They will probably help you. The Tiki Bar bathrooms are very new and nice and many but restrooms in other parts of the park are always clean. Star Wars Virtual Cue is well explained in the app. Get ready a few minutes before the time to make your Star Wars reservations and then keep hitting the refresh button exactly at the appointed time, right now that is 7am and 12pm. Very simple. Also, there is place in the app so you can see wait times at different rides! Critical. it is accessed by the menu bar at the bottom of the app. Bring a backpack to hold a few snacks, water, extra clothes and other personal management items. Rain ponchos are critical for the water rides. Buy them at any drugstore or Amazon. Mouse ears are $10 at Walgreens but $30 in the Disney stores. Up to you. Currently fireworks only on F, Sat, Sun. We watched them from a convenient parking garage. All Disney workers were really nice and helpful. Ask them all your questions. Dole Whip is really good but perhaps overhyped (by Dole money no doubt)? Lots of vendors for Coke, water, snacks. If you are buying a ton of goodies, I have heard you can send them to the front of the park to pick up on the way out but we just used our backpack. We attended on a Monday that started off rainy/cloudy so crowds were low in the morning and we loved it. By 2pm, the sun and the peeps/strollers were out in force. For us, 6 hours was enough. I think it's super important to know how you will get to D if you are walking from your hotel. There are a couple entrances. Look at your phone map and maybe walk there a day ahead if you can. We went to Downtown Disney (no ticket necessary, open to the public and liquor is sold) the day before and found our best route was WAY shorter than the one we took. Disneyland sells no alcohol in the park just so you know and I am so GLAD because the family atmosphere is really wonderful. Try the Mickey Mouse Beignets! Better than NOLA! Fresh, hot, not too sweet.
Specifically about the Haunted Mansion, amazing decor but the ride goes through so fast that you don't have adequate time to see and enjoy everything. Also, it's 2021. The effects could be so much better and so much more. I think they need to build another Mansion that is fresh and exciting and spooky in the same way that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is super awesome. I would go through 3 or 4 times in a row if the waiting time was low.