There’s never a bad time to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Southern California, but a perfect Disneyland trip requires planning. I grew up in Orange County, so I have been visiting Disneyland Resort since I was a toddler. So, I’ve put together all of the Disneyland tips and tricks to help make your time at Disneyland the ultimate Disney vacation.
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1. Disney100 Celebrates 100 Years of Disney Animation
2023 is a special year for Disney as it marks 100 years of Disney animation, and they have a ton up their sleeve, so we start our Disneyland tips with this. It’s now expected to last at least into January 2024.
GO! Their Disney100 celebration continues all year long with the new ride Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, “World of Color – ONE” show at Disney California Adventure, a new nighttime “Wondrous Journeys” show at Disneyland, the reopening of Mickey’s Toon Town and the return of the “Magic Happens” parade.
Additionally, there are limited-time Disney100 treats and merchandise (ears, of course!) if you’re looking for more ways to celebrate. The same celebration is also happening at Walt Disney World if you find yourself in Orlando.
2. Buy Disneyland & Disney California Adventure Tickets and Make Reservations in Advance
You will still receive a paper ticket. Guests ages 3 and above need valid park tickets and a reservation for the day they intend to visit Disneyland Resort.
You can also buy discount Disneyland tickets to save money on admission for two days or longer. I sell Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure park tickets through this site.
Buy your tickets and then separately make a reservation for the dates you’d like to go to the Disney parks. You can check available dates before you purchase tickets.
I recommend a Park Hopper ticket because the two theme parks are so close to each other that it’s super easy to go from Disneyland to Disney California Adventure. Either way, be sure that you have a reservation and that you are arriving on the date of that reservation. (I’ve seen people at the gates try to enter on the wrong dates.)
3. You Must Bring a Mobile Device with the Disneyland App Installed
You can’t enjoy Disneyland Resort to its fullest unless you download the Disneyland mobile app on a mobile device.
From storing your ticket to checking wait times on rides to ordering food to using Genie+ and/or Lightning Lane (more later!), you will need to access the mobile app regularly during your Disney trip.
If you have older kids in your party who will split off from you during your visit, this applies to them, too. My daughter signed up for her own Disneyland account so that she and her friends could access mobile ordering.
I was recently in line behind a lady who did not have a mobile phone, and she was having a difficult time ordering food.
The park has free WiFi, so you don’t need to tap into cellular service to use the app on your Disney trip.
4. Arrive at Least an Hour Early
Distanced lines in front of Disney California Adventure Park entrance Right now, park hours begin at 8 a.m. Plan to arrive around 7 a.m. to navigate the parking lots (if driving) and the security and entrance queues.
Once past security, you’ll get in line for the park you are entering first. These lines move slowly because guests fumble with their apps, reservations, and tickets.
We walked over from JW Marriott Anaheim and entered through the Harbor Blvd entrance. If walking, I still would aim to arrive between 7:15-7:30 a.m.
5. Get There Even Earlier to Be Inside the Parks at “Rope Drop”
Guests are allowed through the turnstiles and up to the end of Main Street U.S.A. or Buena Vista Street.
The end is roped off so that guests can not pass through. Every morning, they will “drop” the ropes there right at opening time so guests near the rope can rush to their favorite rides.
These guests have an advantage because they are already in the park. The strategy is to head to the most popular Disney rides first, as the wait times are shorter earlier in the day.
WHICH RIDES TO TRY FIRST
If you’re into thrill rides, make it Space Mountain, Matterhorn, or the Indiana Jones Adventure ride. Hordes of people will be headed for Stars Wars: Ride of the Resistance, so plan your strategy around that tidbit.
Families with small kids should head to Fantasyland rides that normally have long lines, like Dumbo or Alice in Wonderland. Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean are also good choices.
If you’re at Disney California Adventure, head straight to Cars Land for Radiator Springs Racers or Guardians of the Galaxy.
If you are this deep into the parks before most other people, you can clock in a few rides early that you would otherwise wait in long lines for.
ARRIVAL TIME & OTHER ROPE DROP BENEFITS
To arrive in time for rope drop, plan to be at the park gates to go through security 30-45 minutes before the park opens.
As they say, the early bird gets the worm (or rides the rides), which makes this one of our most important Disneyland tips and tricks. You can also start selecting Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane attractions at 7 a.m.
6. Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane = The New FastPass
A classic Disney ride. Lightning Lane has officially replaced FastPass and can be used through two different options. The first option is to purchase Genie+, which allows you to select the next arrival window via the Disneyland app for the Lightning Lane entrance at select attractions all day long. At the time of this writing, Genie+ starts at $30 per ticket per day.
The second option is to purchase individual Lightning Lane entrance access for some of the most highly demanded attractions. This way, guests can choose the next available arrival window through the mobile Disneyland app for the Lightning Lane entrance of up to two attractions. The cost of this option varies by date, so be sure to check the app for the latest prices for the dates of your visit.
Both options can be purchased and used at the same time because a different set of attractions is offered with each option.
7. Enjoy Reduced Wait Times Without Disney Genie
Don’t want to cough up the money for Genie+ and Lightning Lane but still want to enjoy reduced wait times? Consider the Single Rider queue. As long as your party doesn’t mind splitting up to fill in available seats with other parties, you can still enjoy shorter lines at select attractions through the single rider line.
Another tip is to jump into line when the popular parades and fireworks are going on for reduced wait times. Sometimes we also jump into a line right before the end of park hours (looking at you, Space Mountain and Radiator Springs Racers).
As long as you’re in line before the park closes, you will be allowed on the ride. What is more fun than a late-night visit to the Haunted Mansion??
Whether you’re at rope drop or not, lines are shorter earlier in the day. So, plan to hit the popular Disneyland rides with short lines first.