Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Tackling Disneyland in One Day

Tackling Disneyland in One Day

My typical Disneyland trips are between 2 and 4 days each...usually 2.5 or 3 days. This is a great chunk of time because you are able to get to every ride (in both parks), see plenty of shows, and sample lots of tasty treats. (Mmmm...Dole Whips...)

But sometimes you find yourself with only one Disney day. Maybe you're in the LA area for business, or a wedding, and you find a day for some well-deserved Disney fun. How do you make the most of your day? What is your plan? Here's how I handle one Disney day, both the tips I follow and my actual schedule (or "plan of attack," if you will):

  • Plan, plan, plan! 
    • Make a list of your "must dos," your "would like to dos," and your "only if I have extra time." (If you don't consider yourself a Disney pro, use the Disneyland website or app to get lists of rides, shows, park hours, closed attractions, etc.)
    • As often as possible, try to do one land at a time or choose attractions in a path that flows. 
    • Hoping to dine at a special restaurant? Call ahead and make preferred seating reservations!
  • Arriving at the Park:
    • Arrive at the turnstiles at least 30 minutes before park opening with tickets already in hand. Account for any travel and parking time. You can purchase tickets online from Disneyland's website. In fact, it's often a little cheaper to do so.
    • Try to avoid your one day visit on a Magic Morning. One day passes don't offer Magic Mornings. Pick a day when you can enter the park right with everyone else. This will shorten the morning ride lines.
  • Avoid Park Hopping
    • This one kind of stinks, I know. You really can't see everything in both parks in one day. If you really have your heart set on both parks, prioritize your top choices in both parks, and understand that you might only get on those few special rides at each park. For the purpose of this blog, though, I'm just going to focus on Disneyland Park.

My Plan of Attack (to tackle as many rides/shows/etc. in one day as possible):

(First thing: Decide if Peter Pan's Flight is high on your priority list. If so, start at #1. If not, skip to #2.)

(Second thing: You'll notice that I am much more structured with my plan in the morning, and less so in the afternoon and evening. This is because mornings at Disneyland often have very little crowds, as everyone heads to Car's Land first thing. So, I always find that you should get your "must do" rides done in the morning!)

  1. Right at park opening, head to Peter Pan's Flight. The line will be 15 minutes or less, as opposed to 45 or more (which is the line length most of the day).
  2. Were you planning on seeing Fantasmic tonight? Don't forget to get your FastPass...It will NOT count as a ride FastPass, you can still get another. TIP: One member of your party can do this for your whole group, provided that everyone has already entered the park.
  3. Get a FastPass for an in-demand ride. I'd recommend Space Mountain. Fastpasses seem to go quickest for this ride.
  4. While in Tomorrowland picking up your FastPass, visit some rides, such as Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear, and/or Autopia. 
  5. Your FastPass for Space Mountain should be ready. Enjoy!
  6. This is probably a great time for a breakfast break. 
  7. Grab a FastPass for Indiana Jones.
  8. Go on Splash Mountain (lines tend to be short in the morning!).
  9. Is Winnie the Pooh on your list? If it is, bounce on over because you're right in that area!
  10. Visit Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.
  11. Your FastPass for Indiana Jones is probably ready. Have fun!
  12. If you appreciate corny, classic jokes like me, this is a good time to sail on the Jungle Cruise!
  13. You might not believe me, but on an averagely-crowded day, you can get all this in before lunch...probably even one or two more! Or possibly some shopping! (I like to take photos of items I'm interested in, and actually buy at night. That way, there are no bags to lug around and I can really think through what I want and what I don't!)
  14. Grab some lunch!
  15. The afternoon is the time of the day when the weather is hottest and the lines are longest. So, plan a course of action! You can probably get a few of these options done before dinner:
    1. Is it a hot day? Need to escape the afternoon heat? It's a Small World, Tiki Room, seeing Mickey and the Magic Map, riding the Mark Twain, and taking a trip on the Disneyland Railroad are all good ways to cool down.
    2. Character hunting? Visit Toon Town! Remember, Toon Town closes early because of fireworks, so if it's a priority, don't put it off!
    3. If you love the charm of Fantasyland, mid- to late-afternoon is a great time to visit! Lines can get a little shorter when many families head back to hotels for swimming or naps!
    4. Have a sugary snack and need to burn off some energy? Try Tarzan's Treehouse, explore Tom Sawyer's Island, or row in Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes!
    5. Take time during your busy afternoon to get some FastPasses! The beauty of getting them in the afternoon, is that they will be ready later on in the evening or nighttime when the crowds begin to get super long again. REMEMBER: Even if your FastPass time is hours away, you can still get a FastPass every hour. Try to get a few for your Disney night!
  16. How about some dinner?
  17. Schedules for the evening revolve around if you want to see a parade, show, or the fireworks. Also, as thousands gather for all of the above, crowd control comes out and directs traffic. It's often tricky to get around the park at night. So be patient! Now, what to do:
    1. Thunder Mountain is a fabulous treat at sunset or in the dark. It absolutely adds another element of fun! Bonus: The line is usually pretty manageable!
    2. Keep a close eye on those evening FastPasses you picked up earlier! Return times are strictly enforced!
    3. Is there a ride you are dying to go on a second time before you leave? Pick your top choices and enjoy the magic one last time during your Disney day.
    4. When it comes time for shows/parades/fireworks, get a spot early. You're going to have to hang out there for a while, but you can't plan on showing up 15 minutes before hand. It just doesn't work like that anymore.
    5. Shop! Shop! Shop!
    6. Use the train to help you get around the park. This will help you navigate through the crazy nighttime crowds!
How do you handle one Disney day? Let us know in the comments below!


  1. Sounds like a challenge. I may try this on my September trip.