When you are visiting Disneyland there is a lot to see. So you will want to make the most of your time. Here are some great ways to save time and use your time wisely…
Lightning Lane
This is a must have system to get the most out of your time at Disneyland. Yes it costs but it’s worth every penny. It essentially saves your place in line so you can explore other attractions at the park. Watch the video below to learn all about Lightning Lane Passes.
Magic Morning
With Magic Morning you can get into the Disneyland Park an hour before the regular park opening time. Select rides will be open, it is generally Fantasyland and Tomorrow land.
There are two ways you can enjoy a Magic Morning at Disneyland. 1) When you buy Disneyland Tickets that include a Magic Morning. 2) When you stay at any of the Disneyland Resort Hotels you get early park admission every day of your stay.
Entering the park an hour early can be very beneficial if you are looking to beat the crowds and have shorter wait times. So don’t waste your hour by arriving at the park late. I recommend arriving at the park admission gates at least 15 minutes before your early admission hour begins.
Don’t run right to Peter Pan! This is what everyone lined up for early entry does. The line ends up being longer than it is during normal park hours (up to 45 minutes). This will waste your whole early morning time. Use your time to walk on the other Fantasyland attractions and to visit the attractions in Tommorow land that are open with very short wait times. Peter Pan is one of those rides that will always have a wait. I suggest late night as that is the time it will be at it’s lowest. But plan on waiting around 20 minutes even then. It’s a low capacity and slow loading ride so this is just the way it is.
For California Adventures the same thing applies to Radiator Springs Racers. Everyone heads there and the wait becomes long very fast. If your not at the front of the crowd heading there it won’t be worth it. Use this time to walk on Monsters Inc., Toy Story Mania, Incredicoaster, and Guardians of the Galaxy (we were able to walk on these more than once).
Closing Time
Something you might not know is that you can get in any ride line right up until closing time. So if the park closes at 10 pm and you get in line for Space Mountain which has a wait time of 30 minutes at 9:59 PM they will let you continue to wait in the line until you ride.
Single Rider Lines
Select attractions have Single Rider Lines. So if everyone in your party is able to sit alone and you don’t mind riding separately this is a great option. Or if you have little ones and you can switch off with another adult. The rides that have single rider lines are: California Screamin’, Goofy’s Sky School, Grizzly River Run, Indiana Jones, Radiator Springs Racers, Soarin’ Over California, and Splash Mountain.
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Rider Switch Passes
If you are traveling with little ones make sure you use this! On an attraction that your child is too short to ride (or too scared to ride) you can go up to a cast member at the entrance and ask for a rider switch pass. Then the people in your party will wait in line like normal, but once they are finished you will be able to go on the ride without waiting in the long line. Just show the pass to a cast member and they will help you avoid the line. And a bonus, this pass is good for two people. So you can have a waiting buddy or let one of your older kids ride again with you.
Use Show Time as Ride Time
If you won’t be watching the Fireworks or Fantasmic (or you have already seen them) that is a great time to ride rides since a lot of people will be at those shows.
Fantasyland at Night
If your kids can stay up late or if you have older kids Fantasyland is great at night. Since most parents take their kids back to go to bed, Fantasyland at 11 pm is pretty empty. You can walk on everything. I recommend taking the littles back for a long nap mid day so you can stay up late. This also helps with them being able to stay up for Fireworks and Fantasmic (which they won’t want to miss).
Second Fantasmic Show
I am all about getting that awesome seat right in the front for Fantasmic (it is the best place to sit). But not at the expense of waiting for 2-3 hours. Some people will stake out their seats that early before the first show time and camp out. I prefer to head over to the Haunted Mansion during the first Fantasmic showing as it nears the end (when Mickey is fighting the dragon that is almost the end) and stand over by the Haunted Mansion. The Disneyland workers won’t let you stand and wait anywhere else. Then as soon as the show ends I quickly navigate my way through the crowd to get that front row spot. Then I only have to wait about 30-45 minutes. I have the family come meet me 10 minutes before show time.
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