If you want to know how to get the most out of your time at Disneyland, keep reading for the top tips you need to know before you arrive.
After 14+ years as an annual passholder, I’ve learned the easiest ways to navigate the park, where to book reservations, and how to ride as many rides possible in a single day.
My family, friends, and neighbors have all messaged me when they plan a trip to Disneyland for tips on times, restaurants, and rides and I thought it would be fun to put together a post with all of the same information that I share with them.
This post is all about how to maximize your time at the Disneyland Resort.
1. Dining Reservations
Make your dining reservations ahead of time! You can begin to make your dining reservations 60 days prior to your visit.
This saves you from trying to book something last minute, rushing around and also allows you to plan your day accordingly.
Note that all dining reservations are made with a hold on your credit card, if you don’t show up or show up too late then your reservation will be canceled and your card will be charged $10 per person for that reservation.
2. Mobile Ordering
Just do it.
Disney has made it so you will need to order your food ahead of time. At first, this wasn’t necessary but now it really helps to plan your day and move about the park without wasting so much time in line for food.
You can order your quick-service meals in advance with mobile ordering on the Disneyland App. That way you can order on the way, not wait in line and jump right into your meal and relaxing before you head to your next ride/show.
3. Plan Ahead To Meet Characters
The character times and shows are listed in a daily directory at the front of each park along with the park maps.
Plan ahead for the characters you want to meet and check if you can meet them at a character breakfast or if you will need to meet them inside the parks.
It’s helpful to have the DisneyApp to view all shows/character times and then also schedule your meals and Fastpasses all in one place and you can view your daily schedule to help keep you organized and on time.
4. Go to a character breakfast
Character breakfasts are a great way to meet the top characters without long lines.
You get a meal and the character meetings out of the way at once and everyone is happy.
Disneyland doesn’t offer as many varieties of character breakfasts as Disney World but you can be sure you can meet the Fab 5 and princesses during your meal.
These character breakfasts are pricey! So be sure to double-check the menu before booking, just in case someone in the family doesn’t like what’s on the menu. We typically only do one character breakfast during a 3+ day trip at the parks.
Related Post: Character Dining at the Disneyland Resort
5. Single Rider and Buddy Pass
If you don’t mind riding in a different car or right behind your family or friends, Single Rider is the way to go.
You enter through the exit of the ride or stand in a separate line than usual. You fill in empty seats on the ride for groups that have odd numbers.
It saves so much time, especially if you have all been on the ride before and don’t mind sitting alone. You can cut the wait time in half if you ride alone.
Buddy Passes are not available at many rides, and honestly, I don’t see how it’s much different than single rider BUT it is so you can try that too on Monsters Inc and Toy Story.
6. Maxpass (Now Genie+ System – Updated Sep. 2021)
$20/person/ per day at Disneyland for Genie+
Disney has officially done away with the FREE fastpass, MaxPass and Fastpass+ systems. Disneyland visitors, myself included, are very frustrated with Disney for doing this.
Annual passholders (Magic keyholders) are no longer allowed to pay annually for access to ride reservations. Now, each person will have to purchase a single day pass the morning of their visit.
The Disneyland app has added the new Genie+ for an additional $20/day per person and it doesn’t include all rides – like the previous fastpass/maxpass system did.
Visitors will now also have to purchase an additional pass separately for top rides like Radiator Springs Racers.
This system hasn’t started yet but is set to begin this Fall. Once I visit the parks and test the new Genie plus system I will update with more details.
I’ve included the Genie+ breakdown from Disney as well. The Disney Food Blog also does an amazing job of breaking down the new system for both Disneyland and Disney World.
7. Fastpass(Cancelled -Updated Sep 2021)
***This is here for nostalgia reasons*** (RIP Disneyland Fastpass)
I know at other theme parks you have to pay to get “front of the line passes” but Disney includes them in the price of a general admission ticket.
Using your ticket you can gain “Fastpass” access to almost every ride at Disney.
Kiosks are located by the ride or across from the ride.
Fastpasses are also available for top shows for better viewing areas – but hurry, these passes go fast!
The Fastpass will give you a return time and at that time you can start to line up for the ride. You can also make another Fastpass selection at this time for a new ride.
8. Magic Hour/Magic Morning/ Early Entry
Magic Hour gives you access to the park up to 1-hour before the park opens to the public.
You must be staying at a Disneyland Hotel or staying at a Good Neighbor Hotel 3+ Nights with daily tickets
I recommend staying at a Good Neighbor Hotel if you can. They are a lot cheaper and depending on the type of room you get, you can have a full kitchen or even a mini-fridge and microwave (very helpful).
I have a full review of the Anaheim Hotel, Hyatt Regency, and Marriott Residence Inn if you are interested in staying at any of these hotels.
*Warning! There is a separate entrance line into the parks for people that have Magic Hour. Use this line if you have it and AVOID this line if you do not. The lines can get very long so check with other guests or cast members to make sure you are in the correct ticket line.
* Please note that during Covid-19 regulations Disneyland may adjust or cancel access to Magic Hour/Magic Morning
***2023 UPDATE: Disney is no longer offering Magic Hour or Magic Morning. The only way to officially have early access to the parks is by staying on property at a Disney Resort hotel. And guests can only enter 30 minutes early, instead of 1 hour early. This is now called Early Entry and still has a separate line at the main entrance gate.
9. Disney App
It’s Free! And it’s in the app store!
The Disney Mobile App works for iOS and Android phones. The app allows you to place mobile food orders, make Now Genie + Reservations and Lightning Lane, play in-app games, and make your restaurant reservations. You can also check wait times for rides and character meet and greets.
The app is also how you will scan into the Parks and you can also create a group for the day to easily secure reservations for all guests at once.
10. Prioritize/ Rope Drop
Once you’ve done your research and you know what parks you’re going to and what rides you want to go on – prioritize what NEEDS to get done first.
Look up the longest wait times, get to those rides early. Book dining reservations in advance and secure your MaxPass (Genie +) reservations as soon as you enter the park. You can do it from your phone so no need to rush anywhere if you want to walk around first and grab a coffee or breakfast.
I highly suggest being at the parks for rope drop. That means you’re in the park 30 minutes prior to it opening. You are allowed to enter Main Street but no other lands. Then when the park officially opens, you are in the prime position to speed walk to the biggest ride. It helps immensely!
11. Research
This is THE most important part of this entire list. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
If you’re planning your first-ever trip and you’re worried about how to see everything then please spend some time to know exactly what it is you want to do.
The biggest tip for this is YouTube. Look for hotel reviews/tours, restaurant reviews, check out Disney Food Blog and Theme Park Obsession on Youtube for tons of information.
There are LOADS of Disney vacation planning websites that will go into an absurd amount of detail – visit those sites!
And check the calendar days for when you are visiting, be sure there are no specially ticketed events happening that would cause early park closures.
And be sure you are booking for the correct parks – Disneyland is in California and Disney World is in Florida – cast members say people purchase for the wrong park all the time because they don’t know there is a difference – so be sure to book through the correct website when making your plans.
12. Buy Your Tickets Online
Buy your ticket online – don’t wait in line at the parks. Check parking costs and try to carpool with friends or family.
There is a tram and a walking path to get to Downtown Disney. If you take the tram then you go through security first, if you take the walking path then you go through security when you get to Downtown Disney.
Double-check you aren’t purchasing your ticket on a special event day and the park closes early.
This post was all about how to maximize your time at the Disneyland Resort.
I hope you enjoyed these tips and they help you plan your next Disney vacation. If you have any other great ways of saving time and money – please let me know!
See you at the Parks!
Julia
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About the Author: Hey there! I’m Julia, a travel writer, over-packer, list maker, and self-proclaimed Vacation Prepper. I share the tips and little details I learn along the way to help you feel prepared before your next adventure.
