As long-time Disney frog-natics, Disney is practically our home, second to our humble lily pad. Disneyland trips are almost as routine as visiting the grocery store. We use our extensive experience to give tips and tricks so that you can get the most out of your Disneyland visit. We always plan to make the very most of our Disneyland day. And we want the same for you — you've taken a frogtastic step in planning a Disneyland trip! Knowing that the Happiest Place on Earth can also sometimes be one of the busiest places on Earth, it's important to have some strategies when going to the parks. Well, that's why we're here! Here's a list of Disneyland tips that will help you maximize your time.
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FAQs
- How can we avoid lines at Disneyland? There are so many hopful tips in this post, but pick the best time to visit, arrive early, use tools such as Lightning Lane, Rider Switch, Single Rider, Mobile Order and Undercover Tourist Park Plan itineraries to wait in line less.
- What is the best tip for watching shows at Disneyland? If there is a second show or parade, see the second one. It's always less crowded and has a shorter wait.
- What is your top tip for dining at Disneyland? Reserve table-service restaurants and dining packages up to 60 days in advance, plus bring your own snacks and beverages whenever you can to save money and time.
- How important is having a plan at Disneyland? While you want some spontaneous fun to occur, follow Undercover Tourist park plans, Crowd Calendars and Jump Start Guides to find the lowest crowds and learn the best time to ride a ride or see a show to maximize your time in the parks.
- Does staying at a Disneyland hotel help you save time? Yes. When you can quickly hop back to your room to drop off purchases, pick up a sweatshirt or take a nap in the afternoon, you'll save steps and time by staying on-site. Plus, you get one free Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction during your stay. Save on your Disneyland Resort hotel stays when you book through Undercover Tourist, now with a $200 refundable deposit!
40 Disneyland Tips to Maximize Your Time
Before we jump in, you should get up to speed on the optional paid services you can use to skip the lines:
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a paid service that helps you save valuable line time by reserving times to use the Lightning Lane for over 20 rides across the two parks. Lightning Lane Single Pass is available to purchase access to the Lightning Lane for a select ride, one at a time for up to two rides per day.
- A new service called Lightning Lane Premier Pass is now available as well! With this service, you can use the Lightning Lanes, both Multi Pass and Single Pass, without reserving a time.
- There is a perk that comes with staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel. Every registered and checked-in hotel guest gets one free Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction to use during the hotel stay. (Must have a park ticket and park reservation to use it.)
- Another new tool we offer — and this one is totally free! — is our Jump Start Planning Guide to Disneyland. If you are new to Disneyland, this guide has all the tricks and tips to get you off on the right foot for saving time and money.
OK, onto our best Disneyland tips!
1. Buy Tickets Online
We always advise purchasing tickets online, but know you'll need both a valid park ticket AND a park reservation before you arrive. Did you know you can purchase your discount Disneyland tickets through Undercover Tourist and save some money? We even sell tickets pre-loaded with Lightning Lane Multi Pass at the lowest prices and promo tickets such as the California Resident deal and Kids Ticket Offer for less! BTW, we toadally recommend purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass tickets in advance for two reasons:
- You can lock in the lowest price, and
- You'll be covered if Lightning Lane Multi Pass sells out that day. (And we have seen it sell out before park opening some days!)
As soon as you receive your ticket order, link your ticket and book your Disneyland Park reservations to secure your dates. You'll need to pick the park you want to visit when you make your reservations. If park hopping, you'll choose the park you want to visit when reserving, but you can enter either park at any time!
We don't recommend waiting to purchase tickets at the ticket booth because if there aren't any reservations left that day, you will not get in. Also, when you buy tickets in advance, you'll save a lot of time (in addition to money) by going straight to the entrance. You won't have to spend any time in ticket booth lines. For now, you'll want to purchase well in advance (up to 240 days). Buy them as soon as you can to lock in the lowest rate. If the prices go up after you purchase, you'll be glad you bought early.
If you need to make changes to your tickets (changing tier or ticket level or adding park hopping or adding Lightning Lane Multi Pass), you may be able to upgrade in the Disneyland app. It just depends on what you need to do and what ticket type you have. Some tickets are more limited.
2. Pick the Best Times to Visit
While it's always a good time to visit Disneyland, there are times during the year that are better than others. Holidays, school schedules and local visitors have a big impact on Disneyland's schedule. Use this guide to determine the best time to visit Disneyland. Our Disneyland events guide can also fill you in on fun festivals and entertainment so you can plan your trip to experience them.
Here are two additional links you may find hopful when planning your visit:
- Disneyland Park Availability Calendar — This calendar allows you to make sure the park you want to visit is available on the day you want to visit (before you buy or start to reserve).
- Disneyland 1-Day Ticket Tier Calendar — Disneyland 1-Day tickets vary in price by day (from $104 to $224)! There are seven price tiers. Popular days such as weekends and holiday periods are higher tiers and cost more than, say, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at a non-peak time. This calendar shows you the price per day. If you purchase multi-day tickets, you don't need to worry about this calendar. (Psst ... you can also see pricing by date on the Undercover Tourist Crowd Calendar by looking for the $, $$, or $$$ to signify low, medium or high periods!)
Another factor is crowds. Use our hopful Crowd Calendars to pick the least busy days. Our cheapest days to visit post can point you in the direction of budget-friendly days. But keep in mind, they may come with shorter hours or less entertainment. Sometimes, the cheapest days to visit end up being the busiest because everyone wants to hop on that deal.
3. Stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel
For the most immersive Disneyland experience, stay on the property. The three hotels of the Disneyland Resort — Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Disney's Pixar Place Hotel — are creatively themed with magical Disney touches (plus you can save money by booking your stay through Undercover Tourist!).
If you want to be one of the first people at the park gates, staying on-site is a nice perk. Resort guests at the Grand Californian can use the dedicated resort entrance to Disney California Adventure from Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which is a nice perk to staying there. (Here are even more benefits to staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel.) Disney's Pixar Place Hotel and Disneyland Hotel guests can also use the Grand Californian entrance with their room key.
There are so many great places to eat at the Disneyland Resort hotels and nearby Downtown Disney restaurants. You can eat at these locations no matter where you stay.
Disneyland Resort hotel guests who are checked in get one free Lightning Lane access to a Multi Pass attraction per person to use during their stay.
4. Can't Stay on Property? Stay Close by
Some of the off-site hotels near Disneyland are actually closer than the on-site hotels and less than a five-minute walk to the Esplanade that connects the entrances of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. If you stay close by, you won't have to pay to park at Disneyland, and you won't lose any time in the parking garage or waiting for transportation. There are other benefits of staying at hotels near Disneyland, too! Some hotels are a short walk to the free parking lot shuttles at the Toy Story Lot. People start to line up at Harbor Boulevard security before 7 a.m., but once the security line starts moving (about 45 minutes before the park opens), it goes quickly.
5. Ease Your Way Through the Security Line
The best way to get through the security line quickly is to be prepared. Only bring the items you will need for the day. Bring bags with the fewest zippers and compartments possible. Make sure all of your bags are out and open for the cast members to peek into. Have keys, cell phones, coins and any metal devices in your pockets in bags or ready to be placed on the table at the security scanners. Have something that you know will buzz, such as a belt? Take it off and shove it into a bag for a moment. Open sunglasses cases for the security screener, and avoid having bags within bags. They'll just slow you down. At times, some security entrances have an expedited screening for people with no bags. If you have no bags to check, you may save yourself a long line there!
Remove all banned items from your bags before you visit, such as selfie sticks, loose ice, glass perfume bottles, whistles, pocket knives, balls or pepper spray. It's a bummer to have to go all the way back to return an item you forgot was in your bag (or dispose of it). Make sure your stroller fits the guidelines so you don't get turned away. Read more in our post on using a stroller at Disneyland.
We generally enjoy shorter lines at the Toy Story Lot compared to the parking structures. That's a shorter line to pay to park and a shorter security line. Here's more to know about Disneyland parking.
6. Get to the Parks Before They Open
We say this a lot, and here it is again: The shortest waits of the day are in the first hours of a park's opening (and the last two hours before the park closes). When you arrive at the park before it opens, you will be one of the very first people inside.
The park gates generally open about 30 minutes earlier than posted. If you're early, you can usually enter up to the ropes, and when the park officially opens, you will hear an announcement and the cast members will pull back the ropes. This is called "rope drop." Once the rope drops, you can enter the rest of the park and go straight to the rides. For the most popular rides, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, you'll head through Frontierland.
One of the best ways to maximize your time at Disneyland and get the most out of your day is to be one of the first people in the park. We have rope drop strategies for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. At Disney California Adventure, you can line up inside some of the lands, getting you closer to your first attraction of the day.
7. Pack the Essentials
Don't forget sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, cell phone cords, chargers, battery packs and band-aids. Using the Disneyland app on your phone can drain your battery. It doesn't rain very much in Southern California, but if you don't want to get wet on the water rides or plan on being in the front row at World of Color, you should bring your own poncho. You'll save time and money when you need them. We have a post on the Disneyland essentials to bring with you.
We also have a Disneyland weather post with what to bring when. It takes you month-by-month on what you need to pack to be prepared. For most days, layers are a good ida as the temperatures do fluctuate.
8. Snag a Locker
Lockers can be a lifesaver (and a back saver). It's smart to travel light in the parks, but you want to bring sweatshirts, jackets and cameras. Make renting a locker your first priority of the day. This eliminates the need to haul all of your gear around, yet isn't out of the way for a quick stop for more sunscreen, layers and such. Plus you can safely store your souvenirs there. You don't want to leave valuables or items with sentimental value in a stroller. If you can't take them with you on a ride, store them securely in a locker. Get one early in the day, especially if you want a large locker, as those sell out first.
9. Download the Disneyland Mobile App and Get Familiar With Its Features (including Lightning Lanes and virtual queues)
Life. Save. Er. Download the Disneyland mobile app before you arrive. It has wait times, show listings, character locations, park maps, restaurant menus and so much more. You can use it to scan your ticket barcode at the gate for admission when you first arrive at the park! Having the Disneyland mobile app is necessary for using Mobile Order for food. Order meals ahead of time so you don't get caught hungry, but be sure to cancel or modify if the pickup time doesn't work.
You can also use the app to access the virtual queue for World of Color. Since the attractions using virtual queues are subject to change, check the Disneyland app just before your visit — and again before 7 a.m. on the day of your visit — to see which experiences require a virtual queue. Newly opened attractions may have a virtual queue for a limited time.
Disney Genie is a free planning feature in the Disneyland app. It helps you plan and customize your day and itinerary based on your interests.
You can use the Disneyland app before you arrive. Set up your account ahead of time. You can link your park tickets so you will be ready to make your park reservations. You can link MagicBand+ ahead of time too.
Look ahead at restaurant menus to see what's available and book dining (60 days in advance, about 6 a.m.) and even make dining reservations through the app. If you miss getting dining reservations, you can use the app to join a walk-up waitlist in the park when available.
10. Follow These Tips for the Shortest Wait Times
Follow these tips to find the shortest lines:
- Arrive early before park opening.
- At Disneyland, focus on Indiana Jones Adventure or Haunted Mansion just after park opening or at the end of the night (or during Fantasmic!). Space Mountain or Matterhorn Bobsleds are other good morning choices. If you have smaller children, you can hit a lot of Fantasyland rides at park opening.
- Watch the Rise of the Resistance standby line wait times. Its line closes early, usually at 9 or 10 p.m., but it can vary. Parade time is a great time to ride when there is a daytime parade.
- At Disney California Adventure, focus on Guardians of the Galaxy, Toy Story Midway Mania!, Soarin' or rides without Lightning Lane Multi Pass at park opening.
- Follow a park plan.
- Check the Disneyland app for wait times.
- Focus on characters and shorter lines midday.
- Stay late to take advantage of shorter evening lines, and go on rides during parades or shows for shorter waits.
- Hop in a line before park closing.
- Keep in mind that wait times may be faster than posted times.
- Consider paying to use the Lightning Lane and skip the standby line.
- Use Single Rider lines when available (if your party can split up).
11. Use Lightning Lane Multi Pass to Access a Shorter Ride Queue and Use PhotoPass
Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a paid option that allows you to skip the standby line to use a quicker Lightning Lane to shorten your wait for select attractions. PhotoPass downloads are included in Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Hop over to our PhotoPass post for the deets.
As for Lightning Lane Multi Pass, the ultimate way to maximize your time at Disneyland comes with a price tag. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is an optional add-on service that starts at $34 per day, per person. The price can vary per day if you purchase in the park. You can only use the Lightning Lane one time per ride, per day.
Disneyland Park Lightning Lane Multi Pass Attractions
You can start making Lightning Lane reservations once you have entered the park for the day. Here are the attractions that are available on Lightning Lane Multi Pass:
- Autopia
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Haunted Mansion / Haunted Mansion Holiday
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- "it's a small world" / “it’s a small world” Holiday
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
- Space Mountain
- Star Tours — The Adventures Continue
- Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Disney California Adventure Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass Attractions
- Goofy's Sky School
- Grizzly River Run
- Guardians of the Galaxy — Misson: BREAKOUT! / Monsters After Dark
- Incredicoaster
- Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! (Closing in 2027)
- Soarin' Around the World
- The Little Mermaid
- Toy Story Midway Mania!
- WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
There are some limitations to Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Many of the rides in the park are not on it. Certain high-demand attractions are not included, but you can pay to skip the lines for those rides through Lightning Lane Single Pass selections. You may choose up to two of these attractions per day and may not book the same ride twice. Pricing varies per date, attraction and park. Hop over to our guide that outlines the ins and outs of Disney Lightning Lane service at Disneyland. Standby lines remain available for free.
The following popular attractions are available for Lightning Lane Single Pass selections:
- Radiator Springs Racers (standby line and Single Rider line remain open for no additional charge)
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (standby line remains open for no additional charge)
The price can vary per ride and day (generally between $18 and $35 per person, per ride for front-of-the-line access). You may only purchase each ride once and a maximum of two different Lightning Lane Single Pass selections per day. You may make these selections once you enter the park for the day.
And then there is a third option that combines one-time, reservation-free access to the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass rides in both parks. The Lightning Lane Premier Pass comes with convenience and a hefty price tag. While anyone at Disneyland can purchase this limited pass up to seven days in advance, it's not likely for everyone. But we include it here in case it's within your budget. It ranges from $300 to $449 per day. Read more about it in our Lightning Lane post. You'd need a park hopper ticket in order to utilize it for rides in both parks. The pass costs the same whether you use it in one park or two.
12. Take Advantage of Hotel Benefits for Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests
Disneyland Resort hotel guest benefits changed in early 2026. As of Jan. 5, 2026, Disneyland Resort hotel guests who are checked in get one Lightning Lane access to a Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction during their stay. Hotel guests also get better theme park reservation access, with a different pool of availability. So if you are visiting during a popular time, this is a huge perk!
13. Do Not Head to the Most Popular Rides First
If you're set on riding Radiator Springs Racers first thing, for example, you won't be alone. You can hit this ride first after rope drop if you want to. However, many other people have the same idea and the line can be long right after park opening unless you are near the front of the rope drop crew. Instead, head to Guardians of the Galaxy or WEB SLINGERS and then hit the other Cars Land rides with short waits before committing to Radiator Springs Racers. Use the Single Rider line in the morning to practically walk right on! The Pixar Pier area is the least crowded in the morning. You can also accomplish a lot by starting there before heading to Radiator Springs Racers.
14. Use Rider Switch If Needed
Rider Switch is available to families with small children or people not interested in riding but are unable to wait by themselves. If you have kids who aren't tall enough to ride (or don’t want to ride), go to the entrance of the ride with the entire party and get a digital Rider Switch return window added to the supervising parent’s park ticket (along with one other person). One parent can supervise the child(ren) while the rest of the party rides; then, once the riders return, the supervising parent can have a turn to ride while skipping the line. A member of the first party can also be part of the second party and ride with the first supervising parent when they take their turn, but they have to scan their tickets in advance before their first ride because they can’t change their mind later.
Hop over to our Disneyland height requirements post to see how your tadpoles measure up.
Some people who cannot wait in a standard line due to disabilities can also use Rider Switch. They can wait outside the queue while the rest of the party rides and then use their Rider Switch Pass to take a party member with them through a shorter queue.
15. Appoint One Lightning Lane Multi Pass Wizard
If you opt to pay for Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lightning Lane Single Pass, have one person make selections and keep track of everything that is happening in the park and set an itinerary. When the hard work of planning pays off, let the rest of the party think it all just magically worked out. It's easier to make ride selections for the whole party to ensure that you all get the same ride windows so you can ride together. You may find it easier to select rides for the entire party rather than individually.
16. Park Hop
To hop or not to hop? It's much easier to hop at Disneyland than it is at Disney World. Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park are just a short hop, skip and jump away from each other. With the entrances maybe a one-minute walk apart, park hopping can be an effective way to maximize your time at Disneyland. As of June 9, 2026, the time restriction on park hopping went away, so guests can now park hop as soon as the gates open in the morning. You do not have to visit your reserved park first.
Double-check the schedule, but Disney California Adventure usually closes earlier than Disneyland. When Disney California Adventure Park closes, you can head to Disneyland for a final ride or two. We like to end our night with Gibson Girl ice cream (order ahead via Mobile Order). We recommend starting in Disney California Adventure and then hopping over to Disneyland. You can usually get through all the major rides in California Adventure before hop time, especially if you use Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Rider.
Allow at least 30 minutes from entering one park before entering the other park or you might get delayed at the gate for hopping too quickly. Here are more Disneyland tips on choosing the best ticket.
We do have some money-saving advice for park hopping:
- You'll pay $70-$90 to add park hopping to a 1-Day ticket (depending on the tier of ticket for the day you choose), $100 for a 2-Day ticket, $110 for a 3-Day ticket, $120 for a 4-Day ticket and $135 to add park hopping to a 5-Day ticket.
- So the more days on your ticket, the lower the price you'll be paying per day of park hopping.
- You'd be spending $27 per day to park hop with a 5-Day ticket. Fun!
- Psst ... you can save even more when you buy a park hopper through your favorite froggy friends at Undercover Tourist!
- All that being said, if you need to reduce the ticket budget, sticking with 1-park-per-day tickets is a great way to save hundreds of dollars. While park hopping is convenient, it's not a necessity.
There are some really affordable deals on Park Hopper tickets in 2026! California residents got a great deal on Park Hopper tickets Jan. 1 through May. 21, 2026. It saved hundreds of dollars! In summer 2026, there is a Kids' Ticket Offer with park hopper tickets as low as $48 per day (May 22 through Sept. 7), and when you purchase through Undercover Tourist, the park hopper upgrade is essentially FREE! In these cases, park hopping is toadally worth it!
17. Have a Plan and Prioritize Attractions
You want to visit the attractions with the longest waits when they have the shortest waits at park opening and closing. If you've got one day for each of the parks, follow our 1-Day Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure park itineraries.
We also create park plans for certain seasons — such as summer and the Oogie Boogie Bash in fall — and for celebrations such as the Disneyland 70th! If you have toddlers or small children, we have a perfect plan for families!
18. Use MagicBand+
MagicBands have made their way to Disneyland. While all the capabilities of this magical bracelet are still in development at Disneyland, you can use it to save some time and get your head out of your phone. You can link the MagicBand+ to your park ticket or Magic Key pass. Use it to enter the theme park, redeem a Lightning Lane, quickly capture images from a PhotoPass photographer and so much more. It streamlines your day.
Besides helping you save time (and your phone battery), it's also fun. MagicBand+ interacts with nighttime entertainment, shows in Avengers Campus and attractions, and can be used to bounty hunt in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Learn more in our MagicBand at Disneyland post. You can make some extra magic at Magic Key activations around the park during the Disneyland 70th! If you want to use a MagicBand at Disneyland, we recommend purchasing online in advance. There are limited options available at Disneyland these days.
19. Buy Your Souvenirs Ahead of Time
Yes, who doesn't want a Disneyland hat, spirit jersey, set of ears, plush, pin, framed artwork and all the other tempting Disney trinkets? We all want a little something special from the parks, but we prefer to buy souvenirs in advance online and at discount shops to give to Tad and Lily ahead of the trip. This saves us time spent in the shops and also money. Plus, if you arrive with your souvenir Disney clothes, you can wear them in the park! They look great in photos. You can either stash items you buy in the park in a locker, or you can have them held at select shops on the day of purchase with a receipt for free. Want to save money on souvenirs and food? Every Undercover Tourist Disney ticket comes with free Dining Dollars promo codes you can use to save 15% on Disney gift cards!
20. Wait Until the End of the Evening to Shop
If you must shop, wait until the park closes. The shops on Main Street, U.S.A. and Buena Vista Street are open an hour after the parks close. Also, World of Disney in Downtown Disney is open after Disneyland closes. On special event nights, such as Oogie Boogie Bash or Disneyland After Dark events, the shops close right when the event ends, so you do not have that extra hour to shop during those separately ticketed events. The one exception is if you want to get a personalized gift. Purchase personalized souvenirs early in the day because the wait to get them completed can be several hours.
21. Save the Shows or Sit-Down Experiences for Later in the Day
The parks are the least busy during the first few hours of the day. You don't want to find yourself in a 30-minute show when Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Alice in Wonderland will see their lowest waits of the day! When lines peak in the afternoon, it’s showtime (and a good time to rest those legs). Storytelling at the Royal Theater in Disneyland is a great way to rest and catch a show in the park during the afternoon. Catch a silly musical retelling of "Tangled" or "Beauty and the Beast." As of March 22, 2026, head to the Fantasyland Theatre with your kiddos to get the wiggles out (or rest on a bench) with Bluey and Bingo!
Save certain sit-down experiences for the afternoon, such as Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room or the Disneyland Railroad at Disneyland Park, or Turtle Talk with Crush or Mickey's PhilharMagic at Disney California Adventure. They give your feet a little break. And in the case of the Disneyland Railroad, it also serves as transportation. Longer rides, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and "it's a small world", make for nice air-conditioned breaks.
22. Make Use of the Single Rider Line or Buddy Pass
Single Rider is a great way to maximize your time at Disneyland. Ride operators use single riders to fill empty seats.
If you don't mind splitting your group up on the actual ride, you can experience the following attractions at super low waits on select attractions (Single Rider availability may vary per ride per day at this time):
Disneyland Single Rider Attractions
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Space Mountain
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Disney California Adventure Single Rider Attractions
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Incredicoaster
- Goofy's Sky School
- Grizzly River Run
- WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
- Soarin'
Buddy Pass is a similar option to reduce the wait for small parties. Monsters Inc. may offer Buddy Passes to parties of one or two (as well as up to two adults and a small child) at certain times. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh offers a Roo Pass. Buddy Pass and Roo Pass holders enter a separate line (usually the exit) and fill in empty rows as they come up. Buddy Pass is subject to availability.
23. Know When and Where to Find Your Favorite Characters
While a handful of Disney characters have their own dedicated meet-and-greet stations, many of them roam freely at Disneyland. You can catch several characters at Town Square at Disneyland or near the Carthay Circle Fountain at California Adventure. You can talk to princesses in the Royal Hall at Fantasy Faire, or chat up Captain Jack Sparrow or Redd at New Orleans Square. Mickey's Toontown has characters outside their houses and wandering around the land the whole day. Avengers Campus, in California Adventure, also has many characters around to meet.
You'll also see characters playing in different locations. Look to the raised area across from "it's a small world." Pooh and friends are in Bayou Country. Anna and Elsa in the Animation Building at Disney California Adventure. Some characters wander freely in their lands.
The Disneyland mobile app offers some character locations. Keep your eyes open and look for them in unusual spots. Also, character-helping cast members — usually hanging out with the characters — will let you know if and when you can catch your favorite.
Character cavalcades travel through Disneyland Park in the afternoons. You can catch them on the parade route in Disneyland. Check the Disneyland app for cavalcade times.
Check out our tips on meeting your favorite Disneyland characters!
24. Have a Plan for a Lost Child
It's easy to get distracted in a theme park, for kids and adults as well. There are lots of people and lots to see. On more than one occasion, we stopped to book a Lightning Lane, looked up, and couldn't see the tadpoles among the sea of guests. Make sure you have a plan in place in case someone gets separated from your group. Here are tips to prevent a lost child at Disneyland.
25. Cozy Up to Your Favorite Characters at Breakfast
A character meal is a great way to see a bunch of your favorite characters all at once. To really maximize your time at Disneyland, schedule a breakfast before the park opens or stop for brunch after a morning in the park. It's so nice to have the characters come to you while you dine. Talk about maximizing time! Hop over to our character dining post to choose the best one for you!
26. Pack Your Own Snacks and Water (or Lunch)
This is always good advice. You'll save time, money and meltdowns by packing your own snacks and water (just no glass bottles). Fill stations and drinking fountains are free, plus you can usually ask for free ice water from a restaurant. Avoid the lines with instant snacks when the tadpoles start to crash.
If you really want to save time and money, bring your own lunch. Think picnic items such as sandwiches, raw veggies and fresh fruits. You may even bring a full picnic and store it in a locker outside of the park near the Picnic Area. No glass containers, loose ice or dry ice are allowed through security.
27. Make Dining Reservations or Check the Walk-up Availability
Knowing when and where you're going to eat can be a timesaver. By eliminating the time it takes to consider your options, hopping right to your restaurant really speeds up your day. Visit the Disneyland website or the Disneyland mobile app to see your options and reserve. Our three favorite spots are the Blue Bayou Restaurant (especially the Fantasmic! dining package) or Café Orleans in New Orleans Square, and Lamplight Lounge at Pixar Pier. Café Orleans has the famous Monte Cristo and Pommes Frites). Disneyland dining reservations open 60 days in advance at 6 a.m. PT, but keep checking back if you don't see any dining times that work for you. If you don't get reservations, you can check the Disneyland app. When you're near the restaurant, open the restaurant page and tap Join Walk-Up List. You might get lucky and score a table.
28. Eat During Off-peak Hours or Dine on the Move
If you can't secure a reservation or would rather dine at a quick-service location, you'll save time waiting in line and finding a place to sit if you dine during the off-peak hours. This is from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Here are some of our Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure quick-service favorites. Enjoy outdoor tables set up in new places around the park so you can enjoy the beautiful views.
You can save some time by dining on Disneyland eats that can be enjoyed on the move. Turkey legs, chimichangas, corn dogs, meat skewers, cheesy garlic pretzel bread (with or without a bratwurst in it) and chili cone queso (in Cars Land) are all compact enough to be munched on while you're moving. Hop over for help in finding the best on-the-go Disneyland foods for when you need a light meal.
29. Use the Mobile Order Service
The days of long food and Dole Whip lines are gone! With Disneyland's Mobile Order service, you can order food from anywhere. Make a food order while you're in line for a ride, at the back of the long restaurant line or even in your hotel room. Just stop by the Mobile Order window and pick up your food. Many restaurants inside Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and hotels currently offer Mobile Order.
Even the mobile waits are bound to get long, especially for popular spots at mealtimes or near the parade route (such as Jolly Holiday Cafe). If you know where you want to eat and approximately when, order early. You can choose an order window that is several hours away. You can always cancel or change it to later if you can't make it until you tap "I'm here, Prepare my order." But it's smart to plan ahead. We know you're supposed to wait until you arrive to say you're there, but it takes time to prepare the food, so we always tap ahead of time while we walk over. Order ahead for popular spots. 
Avoid the long lines for popcorn buckets when they get released. Look for the novelty releases on mobile order instead. Sometimes they are on a restaurant menu and sometimes they are listed separately under a novelty release for the first day(s) of a new release.
Our new time-saving move at breakfast is to mobile order breakfast at Galactic Grill while we ride the monorail into the park. When we arrive in Tomorrowland, breakfast is served!
30. Plan Meals Around Parade Times, Showtimes or Restaurant Hours
Choosing a great spot for parades, Fantasmic!, World of Color or the fireworks is a rite of passage in our family. We make the most of this time waiting for the show to start by making it "dinner time," or "snack time," as well. We find our ideal viewing location, and then one family member sets out for burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, fried chicken from Plaza Inn or other grab-and-go type foods for the rest of the family. While we wait for the show or parade to start, we eat sitting down!
Check restaurant operating hours and plan ahead so you don't go hungry. Mobile Order in advance so you don't miss out!
31. Consider a Show Dining Package or a Tour
You can save time and score a great viewing area for the parade, Fantasmic! and World of Color with dining packages. After all, you need to eat, so this solves two problems — where to eat and where to watch the show. Plus, people camp out for over two hours for some shows, so you'll save some time there. If you cannot get a dining reservation, try to join the Walk-Up List in the Disneyland app for table-service dining locations and ask to upgrade to the dining package. But the best plan is to reserve 60 days in advance.
Another option is to book a Disneyland tour. You may gain Lightning Lane access to a ride (or two or three) and may gain access to viewing area for the parade or even fireworks, depending on the tour. Plus, you can learn more about the parks from a knowledgeable guide.
32. Plan Your Visit to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Disneyland Park's newest land takes a little planning if certain experiences are important to you. You can make advance reservations to build a lightsaber at Savi's Workshop. Building a droid at Droid Depot is walk-up only. Learn more about how to make the most of your time in Batuu from our galactic guide to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. You can maximize your time in the park by saving your visit to the land for later in the day when the lines may be shorter and the land will be less sunny or hot. If Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a priority for you, hop over to our post for tips for riding Rise of Resistance. Oga's Cantina no longer accepts reservations. Join the walk-up list if you want to step into this other worldly watering hole.
33. Plan an Extra Day for Holidays or Festivals
If you are visiting for Lunar New Year, Food and Wine Festival, Halloween Time or Holiday Time, add an extra day to your visit. (Also add an extra day if you visit at a peak time so you can get more done, despite crowds.) Disneyland has so much extra must-see entertainment during festivals and celebrations that you do not want to feel stressed to do and see it all. The daily projection shows usually only have fireworks added Friday through Sunday, except in summer and Holiday Time, when fireworks are nightly. You'll want to be sure to reserve a weekend night to see the full show.
Parades and nighttime shows take some time to get in place and watch, so allow time in your schedule to catch this amazing entertainment. People get in place for the first Paint the Night parade two hours before the parade starts and about 45 minutes before the second parade start.
And did we mention the food? All the festivals and celebrations offer many new foods and beverages to try.
34. Know When the Different Park Areas Close
Mickey's Toontown — where you'll find Mickey, Minnie, other characters and more family rides — closes earlier than the rest of the park on nights with fireworks but reopens later on. The land will typically close 8-10 p.m. for fireworks shows.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance usually closes early (by 9 or 10 p.m.), so check the hours. We like to hop in line right before it closes for a short wait.
At Disney California Adventure, Pixar Pal-A-Round and some food and merchandise locations close before World of Color performances. Keep in mind that Toy Story Midway Mania! and Incredicoaster remain open during World of Color and may the shortest line of the night at that time! The park often closes just before or after the last World of Color show.
35. See the Second Show or Parade
During the busiest times of the year, there are often two showings of the parades, World of Color and Fantasmic! The later you stay, the less time you need to stake out a viewing location for these shows. When there is a later World of Color show, the crowds tend to be much thinner for the second show, especially since it may take place after the park is officially closed. Even the virtual queue viewing areas are much less crowded, as people leave before the second show. For Fantasmic! jump in place after the fireworks or the first show ends.
36. Know When to Use Virtual Queues
World of Color uses a virtual queue for the main viewing areas. Although it's free, spaces can go quickly at busy times. You can join the virtual queue at noon each day. Follow our World of Color post for tips on viewing this amazing show with colorful fountains, projection, music and special effects. There are dining packages and a dessert party that also provide a reserved area to stand. Wear your MagicBand+ and watch it light up with the show!
37. Save Attractions with Long Waits Until the End of the Night
Wait times drop off in the last couple of hours of park operation, which makes this a perfect time to hop in line at Indiana Jones Adventure, Peter Pan's Flight or Space Mountain. If you're already in line when the parks close, you can stay in line and ride. We enjoy riding Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance right before that ride closes. Check the ride's hours in the app since it closes early.
38. Ride During Showtimes
The wait times drop significantly for rides in New Orleans Square, Adventureland and Bayou Country during Fantasmic!, making showtime the best time to ride Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. You may also find shorter lines in Disneyland during fireworks and at available rides at Disney California Adventure during World of Color if the park is still open. Nobody seems to know that Toy Story Midway Mania! is open during the 9 p.m. World of Color showtime. You can often walk right on!
39. Make Sure You're in a Ride Line when the Park Closes
Once you're in a line, you will get to ride, even if it's already past the park's closing time. Just hop in line before the park closes. Keep in mind that some rides close early, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The only risk is if that ride breaks down, you'll be out of luck.
40. Catch the Flag Retreat
In Town Square, the patriotic flag retreat is still hoppening each day. It's slightly modified, but it occurs at 4:30 p.m. daily. Grab a bench and enjoy!
We hope you've pocked a few new Disneyland tips to maximize your time. Do you already follow any of these tips? Have a tip we haven't listed? Share in the comments below! If you're looking for Disneyland tickets, you can save on multi-day tickets through Undercover Tourist.
Related: Best Time to Visit Disneyland
Related: The Ins and Outs of Disneyland Dining Reservations
Keep hopping!
