What to do During Different Times of the Day at The Disneyland Resort
Disneyland is open from 8 AM to 12 AM and California Adventure(DCA) is open from 8 AM to 10 PM depending on the time of year. There is a lot to do in the parks throughout the whole day, it can be hard to know when is the best time to do them. Below are my tips for what I like to do during the different parts of the day.
Opening to 12PM
Tip 1: Start with Riding Attractions
Let’s start with park opening. Whether you begin your day at Disneyland or DCA, I recommend rope dropping and riding attractions. You will be surprised how many attractions you can ride at the start of the day. Before you get into the park have a plan and back up plan for what attraction you want to ride first. I suggest picking an attraction that has other ones near it so you can easily get to your next rides.
Tip 2: Fantasyland Attractions First
Fantasyland is a great place to start at least one day on your visit. The rides are close together and are shorter in length. It is easy to get multiple attractions in this land done in the first couple hours of being in the park. When rope dropping Fantasyland, I have ridden around 6 or 7 attractions in the first 2 hours of the park being open. Keep in mind, Fantasyland tends to get super busy around 11AM. I usually leave this land around then and come back to it later in the evening.
Tip 3: Characters Roaming Around Fantasyland
You can see and meet many characters around Fantasyland in the morning. Some of your favorite fairytale characters will be walking around the land to take pictures and sign autographs. If you see a character you want to meet, walk over towards them and there will either be a line right there for you to join or you can follow them to where they will be meeting people. You can always politely ask the Cast Member that is with the character if you are unsure if they are actively meeting people. Characters will be out usually throughout the day if you miss one. Check the Disneyland App to see what characters will be in the parks that day and the times they will be out.
Tip 4: Mobile Order Lunch
Lunch time at Disneyland and California Adventure can be super busy. I like to plan ahead and decide where to have lunch before I am ready to eat. Mobile Order makes it really easy to plan your meal ahead. For example, if I am wanting to eat around 12 or 12:30 I usually will order lunch at 11AM. Ordering your meal early gives you more pick up time options. The closer you are to peak meal times the further out your pick up time options will be. Mobile Ordering makes it so you don’t wait until everybody is super hungry to decide where to eat. When it is close to your pick up window time, head over to the restaurant and on the Disneyland App press “Prepare My Order”. While your order is being prepared this is a great time to find a table. Finding a table is easier when you are not carrying a tray full of food and drinks. To have plenty of seating options and pick up window times, plan to eat during off peak times. For example, eat around 11AM, 1PM, or 2PM.
The Afternoon
Tip 1: Head Back to the Hotel
During the hottest and busiest time of the day, I like to go back to the hotel to recharge. This is usually around 1PM. Then I head back to the parks around 4 or 5. I have found that when I stay in the parks during this time I feel myself dragging for the rest of the day. Resting at the hotel helps me be able to enjoy the evening and stay until park close. If you have started at the parks at rope drop, it is nice to have some relaxing time away from the heat and crowds. I always feel like I get more done when I go back to the hotel. Taking an hour or so break makes it so I have more energy to walk around the parks and ride attractions in the evening.
Tip 2: Stay Away From Fantasyland and Pixar Pier
If you stay in the parks during the afternoon, I recommend not riding attractions in Fantasyland or on Pixar Pier. Both of these lands are super busy during the afternoon. The rides have longer lines than in the mornings or later in the day. Also there isn’t much shade in either of them which makes them super hot. There are other lands that have cooler lines, indoor rides, and shade that are great to enjoy during the afternoon.
Tip 3: Meet Characters and Watch Shows
In the afternoon while the rides have long lines and some of them are in the sun, this is a great time to meet characters and watch the indoor shows. Characters will be all over both Disneyland and DCA. Some of the characters will be meeting guests outside, while others are inside. On Main Street, characters usually will be rotating in the morning and afternoon. Some of the indoor meeting options are:
Disneyland:
Mickey at his house in ToonTown.
Princesses at the Royal Hall in the Fantasy Faire Courtyard.
California Adventure:
Anna and Elsa in the Animation Building.
For more on meeting characters, click here for my tips and tricks.
Another fun thing to do in the afternoon is watch the shows that are offered at the parks. Some of the shows are outside and people stand around to watch them. The best shows to watch during the heat of the day are the indoor ones. My favorites are:
Disneyland:
Walt Disney – A Magical Life and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at the Opera House.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
California Adventure:
Turtle Talk with Crush
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
To know which characters will be out for the day and what time all the shows are happening, check out the Disneyland App.
In The Evening
Tip 1: Enjoy the Ambiance and Rides
Disneyland and DCA have a different feel in the evening. The lights are lit and everything feels like it is going at a slower/relaxed pace. Enjoy your surroundings. A lot still happens in the parks in the evening but people aren’t rushing as much as they were earlier in the day. The rides have a whole knew feel as well. Rides like Big Thunder Mountain feel faster. A ride on Autopia looks completely different in the dark with the track lit than it did in the sun light. I recommend if a ride is outside to ride it twice, once during the day and once at night. They are 2 different experiences.
Tip 2: Nighttime Shows
Both of the parks have spectacular nighttime shows. I look forward to watching them when I am at the parks. At Disneyland there is a projection/fireworks show and Fantasmic!. DCA has a water show called World of Color. All three of these shows are a fun way to wind down the night. For more about these shows click here.
Tip 3: Be in Cars Land When the Lights Turn On
If you are in DCA in the evening, be in Cars Land on Route 66 a few minutes before sunset. At sunset all the lights in the land turn on while the song “Sh-boom (Life Could Be a Dream)” plays. It feels just like a scene from the movie.
During Fireworks at Disneyland and After the Fireworks to Park Close
Tip 1: Ride Bigger Attractions
During and after the fireworks is a great time to ride the bigger attractions. The wait times significantly drop from earlier in the day. A lot of people watch the fireworks and then leave the park even though it is still open for a while. So this is a great time to ride a bunch of attractions with a shorter wait. Another plus is you won’t have the sun beating down on you while you wait for the attractions. If a ride has a long wait earlier in the day, wait until the fireworks are going or after they end to ride. Even if there is still a wait, you won’t be in the heat.
Tip 2: End the Night in Fantasyland or Near a Train Station
Part of Fantasyland closes during the fireworks but reopens a little while after they end. This is a great time to catch the Fantasyland rides. There are usually shorter waits than in the middle of the day. Riding Dumbo and the Tea Cups are my favorite at night with the fun lighting. As long as you are in line for an attraction before closing, you will get to ride it even if the park is technically closed. The exception to this is if the ride breaks down. Another perk for ending the night in Fantasyland is it isn’t a terrible walk out of the park. At the end of the night when you and your feet are tired, it is nice to not be terribly deep into the park when it closes. If you are deeper in the park, try to end near a train station and be in line for it before the park closes. Then you are able to ride the train all the way to the front of the park. Which saves your feet and you get to ride another attraction.
Closing Out California Adventure
Tip 1: End The Night Riding Attractions
Similar to Disneyland, some of the attractions at DCA have lower wait times closer to park closing. I have many times walked on to Little Mermaid. Popular attractions like Radiator Springs Racers also can have a lower wait. But even if it is a long line still, I recommend getting in the line. In the middle of the day this line is in the sun which makes it extremely hot. So in the evening and near closing the line is easier to wait in even if it is a long line.
Be sure to use these tips on your next Disneyland Trip.
Booking a Trip With Get Away Today
If you are looking to book your next Disney vacation I recommend booking with my travel partner Get Away Today. They always have the best deals on hotels and theme park tickets. I book all of my Disney vacations with them. The whole team is knowledgeable and can answer any of your questions. To book with them click this link or call 855-GET-AWAY. If you call be sure to tell them Magical Trip Tips and Tricks sent you to unlock the best prices.