The best kept Disneyland secret? Where the ATMs are! There are now four, one out and three inside, at the park:

• PARK ENTRANCE: Left of the Main Gate as you face it, between the bathrooms and the group sales windows.
• MAIN ST.: In the Main St. Bank / Annual Pass Center, between Mr. Lincoln and the train station.
• FRONTIERLAND: In the "fort" entrance look for a sign that says "Paymaster / Telephones."
• FANTASYLAND / TOONTOWN: Between the snack stand and the bathrooms to the left of the Fantasyland Theater [which looks like a giant Wonderbra] / ToonTown RR Station. [If the other machines are out of money on a busy day, this one always seems to be running fine.]

There used to be an ATM in Tomorrowland, but it was taken out, let's hope it comes back.

California Adventure by the way has ATMs all throughout the park:

• PARK ENTRANCE: Left of Main gate, near the lockers.
• BEFORE ENTERING UNDER THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE: On the right, across from the bathrooms.
• HOLLYWOOD PICTURES BACKLOT: On the right adjacent to the bathrooms, between the ABC Soap Opera Cafe and the Off the Page shop.
• PACIFIC WHARF AREA: Towards the back of the seating area between the Mexican and Chinese food stands - adjacent to the bathrooms
• PARADISE PIER AREA: Between the food stands and the carny booths, under the California Screamin' coaster - and - adjacent to the bathrooms next to McDonalds (also known as Burger Invasion).
• SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: At the bathrooms adjacent to the Golden Dreams movie theater

UNION BANK runs the machines now, they accept the following ATM card systems: Cirrus, Interlink, American Express, The Exchange, Discover / Novus Cash Network, Plus, and Visa / MasterCards. There is also an ATM at the Paradise Pier [Pacific] Hotel near the Ballroom entrance. After years of not charging you for ATM use within the parks, now there is a $1.50 fee to use one of their machines - and keep in mind there may be a fee from your own bank also.

The DISNEYLAND TODAY flyer indicates that there is an ATM in the Tomorrowland STARCADE. This location is actually just a card reader in the arcade change booth that let you punch in your amount wanted, swipe your card and enter your PIN number, upon which then the attendant cashier hands you your cash.

A check for $100 may also be cashed at same Arcade if necessary. Checks are accepted for amount of purchase in any of the shops. They ask for a Driver's License or Passport, and a credit card. If you have no credit card, they will call in your check for verification, which takes a few minutes.

SHOPPING:

Try to shop early in the day as it gets only gets crazier as the day goes on. Sometimes this can mean that items you want may run out, and due to crowds and time constraints, may not be restocked until the next day. As a rule, the shops on Main St. remain open anywhere from 30 to 60 min. past official closing time.

NOTE: The park sometimes cuts back on shop staff and operating hours for some of the smaller outlying locations throughout the park. If you see a favorite item anywhere in a small shop that you may come back for later, take a moment to ask what time the shop closes so that you don't miss out.

TIP: Don't lug all those goodies you bought all day long all around the park, use the complimentary package pick-up "Package Express" instead. At time of purchase you'll be given a claim stub, which after allowing a few hours for delivery, lets you pick up everything on the way out at the gift shop counter right outside the exit turnstiles to the park. Be sure to take into account that it may take a few hours to get your packages to this location. (And sometimes this pick-up location opens as late as 3 PM, you may want to ask about this if you need to leave the park before then.) Disney hotel guests may have purchases delivered directly to their rooms.

All purchases may also be shipped anywhere you wish, with shipping and handling fees added. (Nothing makes a gift more special than arriving in a box from Disneyland!) But try and do this in the early morning when the shops are less crowded. Most cast members are NOT very well trained in this procedure, (usually having to call a supervisor for assistance) and the glares you get from others waiting in line behind you when the shops are overwhelmed can ruin your day.

If you are looking for something a little different gift-wise, you may want to try the shops over at the Disney hotels. They all stock the regular park merchandise, plus have other items not carried in the park.

DISCOUNTED MERCHANDISE:

TIP: A location you might want to visit to save big bucks on Disney merchandise is the WAL-MART on Euclid Ave. in the ANAHEIM PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER, about a mile or so north of the park on I-5, just before the 91 Fwy. Right as you walk into the store is a giant Mickey & Co. section, with lots of merchandise and apparel at absolute rock-bottom prices. Check out the music and video section in the back of the store too, featuring a complete selection of Disney videos, many even available in Spanish versions. Many of the Disney toys you see in the park are also available in the toy department.

There is also a good-sized TOYS 'R' US about a mile or two south of DL right on Harbor Blvd. Again, many of the Disney toys, in particular the latest movie tie-ins that you see in the park are also available here.

Watch the UPDATE page for any announcements about the AMS Closeout Centers - they pop up for a month or so in out of the way locations in the L.A. area whenever Disneyland [or the Disney Stores] has to blow out any overstock or poor sellers. Lots of great discounts here, if you don't mind a more limited selection, or last year's colors / parade or show t-shirts.

ATMs

SHOPPING

DISCOUNTED MERCHANDISE