Top 13 tips to avoid long lines in Disneyland

Disneyland is definitely called the happiest place on earth for a reason. But sometimes the long lines at these theme parks can be a bit defeating. However, there are some tips and tricks out there to avoid long lines in Disneyland and have the best time. Here’s my top thirteen tips. Check it out!

Disney vacations are one of a kind. We recently took our five kids to Disneyland for the first time. We learned a lot about waiting in line for rides during our three-day excursion to the happiest place on earth. I’ve figured out the top 13 ways to avoid long lines and enjoy shorter wait times in Disneyland. Here you go.

#13: Apply for Disability Access Service (DAS) program

This tip is last on the list because, well, it’s not available to everyone. According to Disney’s website, the DAS program is designed to accommodate guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability (including non-apparent disabilities). My friend’s husband had a blood clot and qualified for a DAS and their entire family enjoyed hopping to the front of the line all day long. If you have a legitimate disability that will prevent you from standing in long lines, it’s worth looking into.

#12: Watch wait times on the app

The Disneyland app is pretty useful. Aside from housing your park tickets and your park reservation, it lists the average wait time for every single attraction. So, if a ride breaks down, you can watch the app to see when it opens back up again while the wait times are low. Or sometimes, there’s a lull during the day and your can find the shortest lines during all hours of the day. In other words, let your fingers do the walking.

#11: Visit the slow time of the year

January and February are the months that have the least amount of crowds at Disneyland. September through November have lower crowds as well as kids are heading back to school. You can try to visit during those times of the year, but if you can’t make that work, then don’t stress. However, I would highly recommend not visiting Disneyland during June, July and August. These are the most popular times of the year and it’s seriously so busy.

#10: Avoid the weekends and holidays

Generally speaking, Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually much less busy than the other days of the week. I personally would never visit Disneyland on a Saturday. However, our first day at the park was a Monday in early March and it was packed. That’s because there was a promotion going on and lots of people decided to take advantage of it. So, do your best to find a good day of the week to go and hope for the best.

#9: Watch the weather

If you are booking your tickets within 10 days of arrival, check the weather. Less people show up if the forecast shows rain. Our last day at Disneyland had a 50% chance of rain. It was overcast until 2 p.m. and then it started raining. There were less crowds that day and we were able to enjoy most of the day without any rain. If it does rain, bring an umbrella or a rain poncho and enjoy the shorter lines.

#8: Buy tickets for an after-dark event

Disneyland After Dark are special events at Disneyland Park that take place after the park closes. Specific attractions stay open for the event, giving you a chance to ride rides with little or no wait. Some of the events include Sweetheart’s Nite, Star Wars Nite and the Oogie Boogie Bash.

#7: Skip the Main Street Parade

The Main Street Parade at Disneyland is pretty amazing. But, if you’ve already seen it, take advantage of the loads of people gathering for the parade and hop on some rides. The wait times can be slower for that hour during the parade.

#6: Stick around until closing time

My husband took a couple of our kids after dinner back to the park around 8 p.m. They were able to hop on Mickey’s Runaway Railway three times in a row without any wait. Especially around 9:30 p.m., head over to your favorite ride and you might not have to wait at all.

#5: Purchase Disney Genie Plus Pass

With the purchase of a $30 Genie+ Pass, you get one Lightning Lane entry onto the ride of your choice. The only trick is you have to buy a $30 pass for every single person in your group if you want each person to get a Lightning Lane entry. Personally, I think this is a bit expensive. But, if you’re dying to ride Rise of the Resistance and you don’t want to wait, then maybe it’s worth it to you.

#4: Stay at a Disneyland resort hotel

All guests who are staying at a Disney resort hotel such as the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, will have the option to enter the park 30 minutes before everyone else. Check the theme park calendar to see which days are early entry at Disney California Adventure Park and which days are early entry at Disneyland Park. Although pricier, staying at these on-site hotels has its perks.

#3: Use the Single Rider lines

This is a super awesome way to cut your wait time in half. My boys and I wanted to ride Radiator Springs Racer in California Adventure, but the wait was 120 minutes! So we hopped on the single rider lane and only waited 35 minutes. Plus, we were all still able to wait in line together. We just weren’t able to ride in the same car. But I don’t think that’s a big deal. Here are the single rider lines that are available at both parks:

• Goofy’s Sky School
• Incredicoaster
• Radiator Springs Racers
• Grizzly River Run
• Web Slingers: A Spider-man Adventure
• Soarin’ Over California
• Millennium Falcom
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Space Mountain

#2: Bring a stroller and get a Rider Switch

If you have a child in a stroller that’s not old enough to ride on the bigger rides, then you can ask a cast member at the beginning of the line for a Rider Switch. You tell them that you family is already in line and then they will scan your ticket on your phone. You can come back at a later time and ride the ride with one other person through the individual Lightning Lane. It’s basically no wait. Sometimes they would allow more than just one other person to get on the ride with us as well. They are also not strict about you coming back at the specific time on the app, just come back before the ride closes for the day. It was so awesome. This is a must if you have a stroller and small kids with you.

#1: Wake up early for Rope Drop

The best way to get first in line and have absolutely no wait for the most popular rides is to show up when they open the park. That means, you need to be an early riser and arrive at the entrance gates at 6:50-7 a.m. They will start letting people in through the gate at 7:30 a.m. and then you have to wait at the entrance of the land you want to enter until 8 a.m. We did this twice and we were able to ride the most popular attractions (Guardians of the Galaxy) without a wait on one day and then Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run without a wait. Totally worth it.

I hope these tips to avoid long waits in Disneyland will help you on your next visit. Honestly, you can’t avoid all the long lines, but at least you can use these tips to make it so you’re not standing in line the entire day. Let me know if you have any other helpful Disneyland tips in the comments below.

More from My Silly Squirts: 20 cheap or free places to visit in Costa Rica with kids