Everyone knows that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth ;) But do you know how to make the most of it? For someone who hasn't gone in years, going to the parks can be super overwhelming, especially when you add bringing your kids along to the equation. Stick around to see the best ways to make it a magical trip for you and your family!
#1 - Get to the parks early & stay late
You've probably heard of "rope drop" at Disney parks. Each morning guests are able to enter through the main gates of the park and walk down Main Street U.S.A. (Disneyland) or Buena Vista street (DCA) where they are stopped by cast members holding a rope, signifying that is as far as they can go. At park opening time, they literally "drop" the rope and allow you to enter! The first hour or two of the park being open will 100% be the most productive time of your day. You can ride attractions with no lines, get photos with no people in the background, and honestly feel like you are a V.I.P.
If the parks are scheduled to open at 8:00 AM, you should be to the main gates by at least 7... maybe a little earlier (6:50). Typically they let you through the main gates 30 minutes before "rope drop". You need to know which attraction you plan to rush to, because there are multiple entrances with ropes up once you're inside the gate and you'll have to pick a direction once inside.
My top recommendations for starting points are
California Adventure
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Webslingers
Disneyland
- Rise of the Resistance
- Space Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Indiana Jones
If you or your kids are exhausted by midday, I would suggest heading back to your hotel and resting. This is the hottest part of the day and also the busiest.
If you can stay until closing time, you will again be greeted with short lines and have a chance to fit in some of those attractions you missed earlier in the day when everything was too crowded.
Shops on the main streets of the parks are open ONE HOUR after all the attractions close. This is a fabulous time to shop because you aren't wasting any time that you could have been eating or riding something!
#2 - Pay extra for Genie +
Genie + is an optional add on when purchasing your park tickets. Depending on what day you are going, it will be an additional $15 or $20 per person, per day. Though this seems like a lot and adds up quickly, the time and experience you will have using it is well worth the cost.
During each day, each guest (with Genie +) can get ONE LIGHTNING LANE for EACH ATTRACTION that has a LL line. This line skips the main bulk of the people waiting to ride and gets you on significantly faster. It depends on the attraction obviously but I would say a wait time posted for 60 minutes would be able to get you through in 15-20 with a lightning lane.
You can select a time for one attraction at a time on your My Disney Experience app. There are TWO ways you can get a new pass...
1 - Once you've redeemed that pass, you can get a new one. I'd recommend after scanning into the ride, picking your next lane while in line to ride the attraction you just redeemed.
2 - If two hours have passed since you selected a lane and you haven't been able to redeem it yet, you can get a new one. Then you will have two to redeem and that's just fine! Just make sure to select a time you can get to without missing your first one.
It's smart to pick one person who will be in charge of getting LL passes for the entire group and also to be in charge of setting alarms for when you can get new ones. When there are multiple people attempting to do this job, things get a little confusing.
Along with skipping lines, PHOTO PASS is also included in the cost of your Genie + ticket! Be sure to get your ride photos added to your app and downloaded to your phone because you paid for them!!! You can also stop at any Photo Pass cast member and have them take a photo on their professional camera and get those downloaded as well!
# 3 - Use Mobile Food Ordering
There are enough lines to wait in at Disneyland... food shouldn't be one of them! You can place a mobile order and select a pick up time on the My Disney Experience app. Once you arrive, you simply click "I'm Here" and they will alert you that your order is done! It's that simple.
I like to try and think ahead while in line for a ride. Once we are probably 30-45 minutes away from wanting to eat a meal or a snack. I'll order while standing in line for an attraction. That way I can ride the ride, head to the restaurant, grab my food, and continue on with my day!
#4 - Utilize the Rider Swap System
If you are traveling with kids who do not meet the height requirements for some of the attractions, you need to be using rider swap! Whether you pay for Genie + or not, this is available to anyone.
Take your child up to the Lightning Lane employee. Let them know you'd like to use a parent swap and they will ask you to scan tickets. You can scan your ticket + three additional tickets and you can ride with your older kids after they get done! Your kids will love it because that means they are riding attractions back to back.
#5 - Bring a recognizable stroller with good storage!
One of the worst things about going to Disney when you don't have little kids is that you have no excuse to bring a stroller ;). Having a stroller at Disneyland is great because (1) you have somewhere to dump all of your things, (2) you have a perfect place for your kid to nap, and (3) you don't have to carry your kid with tired legs!
Disneyland has stroller parking near every attraction. You won't believe it but everyone leaves everything on their stroller, parks it, and comes back later. There is a golden rule at Disneyland to not steal off of people's strollers and I think people are pretty good about it. Sometimes you may leave your stroller in one place and come back to find it gone. There are cast members who have the job of organizing the stroller parking and/or maintaining it to be in the best location possible. Look around for your stroller - I promise it's there!
If you have a lot of kids or people traveling with you, I promise you that everyone will slowly start adding their crap to the stroller. It's important to have as much space as possible so that you can help carry everyones burdens hahaha.
If you don't have little kids or choose not to bring a stroller, renting a locker is a great idea for storing things you don't need to have on hand all day (like jackets, rain ponchos for water rides, treats for later in the day, outfit changes, etc).
Best of luck on your Disneyland trip! I hope you have a magical time. Fill out the contact form on this website or email me tayler@marvelousmousetravels.com for help with booking and planning your trip! I can't wait to help you!
Xx
Tayler
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