DISNEYLAND + CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE TIPS AND TRICKS - Part One

WELCOME TO DISNEY SCHOOL! 

We just got home from our Disneyland/California Adventure 2020 trip and boy it was an absolute DREAM. Every single time I go, I read up beforehand to learn about anything new so I can really make the most out of my time there. I study for Disney more than I ever did in college lol.

This trip, I found an Instagram/blog called Magical Kinda Mama & it is a total game changer.
This mama has a Southern California season pass and goes 2-3 times a week. She is invited to all the Disney openings, she does all the things, her life is my dream life LOL!

But it is not my life. And most people do not go 2-3 times a week...or even 2-3 times a year.
So I wanted to condense it down for all the people who maybe go once a year, or once a decade even!

These tips are for everyone. I will be doing a separate post for tips with traveling with babies and then a separate post for tips for traveling with toddlers. But this post is for everyone!
Easy fun tips to make your day at Disney EASIER and to help you get the MOST of it!

I always section things out so I dont bore you with things you don't care about or already know. Enjoy!

STARTING YOUR DAY 

If you are staying at the Disneyland Hotel, California Adventure Hotel or Paradise Pier, you get access to the park for "Early Morning" which you can use every day of your stay. If you have a 3 day pass or more, you get ONE Magic Morning. They are the same thing, it's an hour of park time (every other day it switches parks) extra in the morning. If the park opens at 8am, it's from 7am-8am.
If you have this option, DO IT DO IT DO IT. Do not skip it, it's too valuable.

A successful Disney day (if you only go once a year/ once a decade) is being one of the first ones there. That first hour or two is golden hour. You walk onto rides. Sometimes you even can ride them twice without getting off (this happen to us on Guardians this past early morning)! Get there early.

If it opens at 8am, get there at 7am. If you're doing Magic/Early morning, get there 30 minutes early.

Once you are in, immediately get on a ride that is going to get busy AND get a fast pass for another ride.
Example: Run to Peter Pan and get a fast pass for Space Mountain.
You are off to a great start!

THE DISNEY APP IS GOLD. Use it. 

The Disney app is a glorious thing. You can do so much on it.
It was save you TIME in your day.
It will save your legs so much walking and waiting.

1. The Disney app allows you to do Fast Passes right from your phone. 

Disney Max Pass is an added feature on the app $15/person/day. WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY.
Do not pinch pennies on this. Budget it in.

Before max pass you had to walk to each ride, get a fast pass for a return time, and then go about your day until that time slot and walk back to the ride when your time is up.

Now you can open up your phone, select a fast pass to a ride at EITHER PARK (if you have a park hopper) and then go when you're ready. Easy.
And you can get a another one as soon as your time allows you to (pay attention to the times).
You can add a fast pass by finding the ride and clicking on it, OR pressing the plus button in the bottom center. 

You CAN have more than one fast pass at once, depending on the times.

Pro Tip: ONE PERSON should link ALL tickets to their phone. That way you can get fast passes for everyone at once for the same time (or not). Obviously, anytime I go, I am running the fast pass show. It's what I do best lol.

ANOTHER PERK TO MAX PASS. I only took advantage of this for the first time this trip and it's wonderful. FREE PHOTOS.

Disney has people taking professional photos everywhere. With Max Pass you get these photos for free! They take the photos, scan your phone and they download to your phone immediately. What a load off.
PLUS you get all the photos that they take of you screaming your head off on a ride as well. So fun!!

2. Mobile Food Order  

I feel like a total stinker when I do this, but I also feel like a genius. Ha!
You can start a mobile food order by finding the restaurant and clicking on it, OR pressing the plus button in the bottom center.

Unless it is a sit down restaurant (half of which need a reservation) you can do a mobile food order!
Select a restaurant, selection pick up time (you can select now) and then place your order.
You card is linked and you pay for it right then on your phone. Select "I'm here" and within like two minutes they notify you your food is ready and you SKIP THE LINE!

Do not skip this feature. Feed yourself lol.

Pro Tip: Use this at the Dole whip station. The line you stand in, is in the front. For mobile orders, enter the tiki room section and pick up your order on the other side. Thank me later ;)

3. If you want to get on Star Wars Rise of the resistance with as little stress as possible, you need the app. 
I will get more into this later.


4. Information Galore. The app tells you: 

-How long the wait is on any ride & when a ride is down or closed
-Where the dining is & their menus
-Where the characters are
-What shows are playing and what times

Rides 

Unless a line is 15 minutes or less, waiting in a normal line shouldn't even be an option for you. 

I always walk past the people in the normal lines and cry for them everytime. How do they do it?!?!?!

1. Fast Passes 

USE YOUR FAST PASSES. Fast pass everything. Single rider. 

Here is my guestimate ORDER of fast pass popularity and how soon they sell out (some rides are so popular you need to get a fast pass asap). 

Disneyland 

Space Mountain 

Indiana Jones 

Matterhorn 

Big thunder Mountain Railroad 

Splash Mountain 

Star Tours 

Rodger Rabbit 

Haunted Mansion **

Buzz Light Year **

It's A Small World  **

California Adventure 

Cars (all fast passes gone in less than an hour)
Toy Story Mania
Guardians of the Galaxy (new Tower of Terror ride)
Incredicoaster
Soarin Around the World
Grizzly River Run

Pro Tip: ***These rides time slots are never too far out. For example, let's say it's noon. On a decent Disney day, Buzz Lightyear will have a fast pass ready for you at 12:20pm. That means you get a fast-pass, grab a churro and then go in the fast pass line and you're on!!!
AND once your fast pass time slot comes up, 12:20pm in this example, (or two hours pass) you can get a new one!

So you just got to ride a ride AND you can get ANOTHER FAST PASS. We have done Buzz like 5 times in a row with fast passes before while we were waiting for another fast pass time slot.


What to do when you are waiting for your fast pass time slot: 
-Get some food! Half the joy of Disney is the food. Check out my chef Justin approved favorites (coming soon).
-Getting more fast passes- don't let time pass! The second you can get a new one, do it!
-Go on a ride with a short wait.
-Go see a show, they are incredible. Mickeys Magical Map is my FAVORITE, it's located to the left of Toon Town.
-Go meet characters

2. Single Rider 
Do not underestimate single rider. A lot of times you'll end up in the same group as your person!

Cars- 6 person cars. My mom and I got in the same car!
Indiana Jones- 8 person cars (ask for a single rider pass)
Star Wars (not the new ride)- ONLY SINGLE RIDER THIS. They will put your group together. Best tip I got.
Goofy Sky School (ask for a single rider pass)

Random Advice 

Stay flexible. Can you believe a control freak like me is saying that? Lol! But you have to go with the flow of the park. Everything I said works on busy days and works on less busy days, but you never know what the crowd will bring. 

I don't plan out exactly where I go from place to place because who know what ride will have what wait?! But I do have a game plan for my first few rides and I go from there. 

Sometimes it's fun to slow down and enjoy a meal and a show.

Where to get buttons. Buttons are SO fun! They have anniversary ones,  first time at Disney, birthday, ect. GET THEM! I got my mom the first timer one and Stoic the birthday one.
If youre staying at a DL hotel, you can get them at the front desk.
If not, in Disneyland in the front left (if your walking in) is City Hall. You can wait in line and get one OR they a wooden box out front where you can get your own and write on it yourself (wayyyy better!).

Check the crowd calendar. These are NOT foolproof. They cannot predict down to a single day how busy something it will be. BUT certain times are busier than others, always. Halloween. Christmas. Summers. Holidays. You may miss the magic of these times, but you also miss the crowds. 

Check the weather. February is generally a long sleeve month but we got two random days of 80 degrees. thank goodness I checked or we'd all be in sweatshirts sweating. Lol Know your weather and pack a jacket because night are chilly always. It's not Vegas Ha!

BRING A CORDLESS PHONE CHARGER. SO much is done on the app. You will lose your battery FAST if you're messing around on your phone. So stick to only the app during Disney day, turn off wifi, turn ON low battery mode and bring a portable phone charger for when you get low. An bring the wall attachment for the few random outlets they have around the park. 

Dress up. COME ON DO IT. Go to Target, buy a Mickey shirt and have fun. 

Here is where I leave you. Comment with any questions, I'd love to help!!! xo Kelsie  

Don't miss Part Two of Disney School: How to get on the new Star Wars ride at Disneyland! 

Then check out Part Three of Disney School : Chef Approved Favorites from Disneyland and California Adventure!

Plus Part Four of Disney School: Disneyland with Babies and Toddlers! 

Follow along for more about Disney, motherhood, relationships, friendships and giveaways at @kelsieishappy!

Coming soon...  

Babies at Disneyland / California Adventure 

Toddlers at Disneyland / California Adventure

What to wear to Disneyland / California Adventure 

Staying at the California Adventure Hotel 

Discounts at Disneyland / California Adventure