You’ve waited so long and you’re finally heading back to the Disneyland Resort! Things have likely changed a bit since your last visit, but there are some simple steps that you can take to have the Best Day Ever!
You probably pack snacks and jackets, but these 4 items will make your experience even better.
Be sure to bring:
1. Stick sunscreen: These compact sunscreen sticks fit easily into a purse or pocket, plus you can easily reapply throughout the day without getting your hands sticky or spraying aerosol onto everyone downwind. Bonus: it’s the easiest way to apply sunscreen on the faces of wiggly little ones.
2. Battery Charger: Between mobile ordering food, checking ride times on the Disneyland app, and taking photos, your phone battery may run out quickly. Bring a charger that can be used multiple times throughout the day, and be sure to charge it before you leave home!
3. Bring a water bottle: Don’t buy overpriced water bottles! You can find water refill stations and drinking fountains throughout the parks, plus quick service restaurants will gladly give you cups of water for free.
4. Alcohol-based hand sanitizing wipes: We are all very conscious of keeping clean right now! I use these wipes to clean our hands before we eat, wipe off tables or chairs with mysterious sticky residue, and clean our faces after messy treats. They also work well to clean your phone or sunglasses.
Okay, so now that you’ve packed the essentials, here’s what you can do to try to make the most out of your day now that Fast Passes aren’t available and everyone in the entire Park wants to eat lunch at the same time.
1. Go on the most popular rides at the beginning or end of the day:
It sounds simple, but the first hour and last hour that the parks are open are the best times to hit up those lines that you know will stay long all day. I recommend deciding which big attractions your party can’t live without, and which ones you’re willing to wait in long lines. At Disneyland, we chose Snow White and Peter Pan first, because we knew that those lines would only get longer (and move slower) as the day went on. For our last hour, we hit up Splash Mountain (which only took about 15 minutes) and dashed into the Haunted Mansion queue 2 minutes before the park closed. Yes, as long as you are in line for an attraction before closing, you’ll be allowed to ride! At DCA, we rode Soarin’ first with only a 15 minute wait, then hit up Grizzly River Run before that line became unbearable in the heat.
Line times will fluctuate throughout the day, but you will notice that the most popular attractions will stay long consistently. Prioritize your favorites, because it’s nearly impossible to ride everything and have enough time to eat without the help of Fast Passes.
2. Plan your Mobile Orders early:
Speaking of food, be warned that most restaurants offer Mobile Ordering, and the prime time slots do fill up quickly. The day before you visit the parks, I suggest checking out all the menus on the Disneyland app. Look carefully, because your favorite menu items might not be available right now. Plan out your meals and snacks before you go, then put in your Mobile Orders once you’ve entered the Parks. I suggest planning for a morning and afternoon snack, as well as lunch and dinner. The great thing about Mobile Orders is that you can try to modify your order time if you change your mind, and if you don’t want your food at all, you won’t be charged if you don’t pick it up. Keep in mind that things change frequently, so be prepared to be flexible. For example, the Tropical Hideaway was only offering a standby line for orders but was full when we tried several times to get Dole Whips. They had also taken baos off the menu, much to my disappointment. Luckily, Mickey Ice Cream Bars were a delicious alternative.
Note: For Avenger’s Campus, you can only order an hour or two ahead of time and are required to be inside the land before placing a Mobile Order.
I hope these tips are helpful! Please remember to be kind to the hardworking Cast Members during this difficult time, when rules and regulations are changing constantly.
Have a magical trip!
Castles, Characters, and Crayons 