Disneyland is one of the most magical places on Earth. But to have a magical experience, there are some crucial tips you should know. So I created the ultimate Disneyland survival guide!

Disneyland California for Adults

Please note this guide is for Disneyland in California, not Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Here’s the ultimate Disneyland survival guide!

Plan Ahead With Genie Pass. Disney Genie is a complimentary service in the Disneyland app included with your theme park ticket. Genie lets you “tell” it the rides, shows, parades, attractions, characters, and restaurants you want to visit, then Genie gives you a personalized park itinerary.

The Ultimate Disneyland Genie Pass Guide

You don’t have to use your Genie itinerary, and you can always change your preferences for Genie to give you new options throughout the day. I found the itinerary feature helpful in planning out my day to keep me from backtracking.

Genie also gives you estimated wait times for rides for the entire day so you can know when lines will be shorter.

Arrive Early and Stay Late. Crowds at Disneyland are at their lowest first thing in the morning and at night. This is because many families with children arrive later in the morning and leave earlier in the evening. You can usually walk on some rides right when the park opens without standing in line or using a Lightning Lane.

Stay Near The Park. I highly recommend booking a hotel as close to Disneyland as possible. Or, book a hotel with a direct shuttle to Disneyland. This will save you time getting to and from the park and keep you from having to walk a lot before you even get to Disneyland. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel are on the park property. So if these are in your budget, you’ll be able to walk out your door right into the park.

Use Lightning Lanes. Genie+ is a paid add-on to your park ticket that lets you Lightning Lane (formerly FastPass) some rides, which means you get to skip the line. Genie+ costs $20 a day per person, and you can add it to specific days of your trip or every day.

Everything You Need To Know About Genie+

Genie+ gives you access to Lightning Lanes at these rides: 

Disneyland Park: Autopia, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones Adventure, “It’s a Small World,” Matterhorn Bobsleds, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

California Adventure: Goofy’s Sky School, Grizzly River Run, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Incredicoaster, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, Soarin’ Around the World, and Toy Story Midway Mania!

Buy a Lightning Lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in the Disneyland app. It costs $20 per person to Lightning Lane Rise of the Resistance. In my opinion, a Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance is well worth the cost because this ride’s wait time rarely drops below two hours, and it’s prone to breaking down.

If you don’t buy a Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance, arrive as early as possible (the park opens at 7 am and the ride opens at 8 am) to beat the crowd into line. Make sure you go to Rise of the Resistance via Star Wars Land (and not around by Splash Mountain) because you’ll get to the end of the line faster.

Use Single Rider Lines. If you’re by yourself, or if your group is okay being split up on rides (you’ll still get to stand together in line), then opt for the single rider line if there is one. This will let you stand in a much shorter line. For example, on my last trip to Disneyland, the wait time at Radiator Springs Racers was 90 minutes, and I waited 10 minutes in the single rider line.

You can only Lightning Lane a ride once per day. So if you’ve already used your Lightning Lane for a ride, the single rider line can let you ride it again without having to wait in the regular line.

These rides have single rider lines: Matterhorn Bobsleds, Splash Mountain, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Grizzly River Run, Incredicoaster, Goofy’s Sky School, and Radiator Springs Racer.

Eat Early or Late. Eat lunch before 11:30 am or after 2 pm and dinner before 4:30 pm or after 7:00 pm. This gives you two advantages. First, you’ll beat the crowds to where you want to eat. Second, you’ll be able to ride rides when most other people are eating (aka when wait times are naturally lower).

Make Mobile Food Orders or Advance Dining Reservations. Many quick-service restaurants allow mobile orders, which you can easily do in the Disneyland app. This will keep you from waiting in line for your food. If you want to eat at a sit-down restaurant, I highly recommend making a reservation as early as possible in the day to ensure you get in and don’t have to wait to be seated.

Come Prepared. You’ll want these items with you in Disneyland: a portable charger for your phone, first aid kit, water bottle, snacks, sun protection, layers (the wind can be COLD here, even in the summer), a rain jacket, and a change of clothes, socks, and shoes for after the water rides (Splash Mountain and Grizzly River Run).

Bring a Backpack That Can Fit at Your Feet on Rides. Once you get in line for a ride, you have to bring everything with you on the ride. Most rides have sealed, secured bags for your sunglasses, Micky ears, hats, and phones. But your backpack will need to be able to go at your feet.

Some people recommend a locker as an alternative to bringing a bag on a ride. But I don’t like renting a locker because it adds A LOT of walking to your day, and you won’t always have what you need on hand. Even on Incredicoaster (which has an upside portion), I put my leg through a strap and held my bag between my feet, and I never felt like it was going to fall out.

Minimize Walking. The most exhausting part of Disneyland is the amount of walking and standing you’ll have to do. It’ll be double or triple the walking that you’re used to. So systematically work your way around the parks. Do everything you want to do in one part of the park before moving on. This will keep you from doubling back. And pace yourself. Sit down for meals and prop your feet up. When you take a water break or are figuring out your next Lightning Lane reservation, sit down on a bench.

Be Able To Entertain Yourself and Your Group. Even with Lightning Lanes, you’ll still wait in some lines. This is a relatively easy obstacle to overcome for adults because we can be on our phones, talk, and catch up. But if you have children or teenagers in your group, be prepared with snacks, drinks, and pass-the-time games to keep them from driving you (and others) crazy in line.

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This Disneyland survival guide is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this Disneyland survival guide are entirely my own. Some of the links in this Disneyland survival guide are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from this Disneyland survival guide.