Disneyland strategies allow for stress-free fun
April 26, 2019
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT: Nighttime view of the Pixar Pal-A-Round and the Incredicoaster. The lights along the Pixar Pier shine bright before the start of the after hours event, World of Color, which is held in California Adventure.
With summer break soon approaching, many students will find themselves wanting to spend a day off at the happiest place on earth, the Disneyland Resort. For some, planning this adventure may be overwhelming. To ease that potential stress, here is guide to some of the best Disneyland Park rides, photo spots and food places.
Where to start
Make sure you plan on getting to the park when it opens as it tends to get very busy in the summer and on the weekends (approximately 30 minutes before the park opens)
- Have a plan of which rides you want to ride in both parks, you can find a list/map online
- Start at Disney because it opens first and already plan which rides you want to ride in
- Grab a FastPass for a rides that are most popular (i.e. Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain)
- Get in line for rides that get longer throughout the day (like Peter Pan)
Disneyland
Disneyland has different areas including Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, and Critter Country.
Best rides
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Peter Pan (Extra long line do last or first)
- Indiana Jones’ Adventures (Also has a long line; FastPass available)
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Space Mountain
- Star Tours
- Roger Rabbit
Photo spots
- On the Mad Tea Party ride (also called teacups)
- In front of Small World (where the trees are)
- Tarzan’s Treehouse
- Anywhere in Toontown
Food spots
- Pizza Planet (cafeteria-style food, near Space Mountain in Tomorrowland)
- Bengal BBQ (kabobs, quick food, in front of Indiana Jones in Frontierland)
- Red Rose Tavern
- Churros, popcorn, and pretzels (can be found throughout Disneyland and California Adventure)
- Mint Julep Bar (to-go line for beignets)
- Tiki Juice Bar (pineapple soft serve and a Disney must-have)
What to do when lines are too long
- Take the Monorail to Downtown Disney and back
- Take photos
- Take the train at the front of Disneyland
- Watch cartoons on Main Street
California Adventure
- This park opens an hour after Disneyland and may get more busy because it has more “big kid” rides
- I would recommend getting a FastPass for Radiator Springs Racers as they run out the fastest and the line is typically the longest (same goes for Guardians of the Galaxy and Incredicoaster)
Best rides
- Grizzly River Run
- Goofy Sky School
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT
- Incredicoaster
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Soarin’ Around the World
- The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
- Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
- Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
- Symphony Swings
Photo spots
- Wall of different photo backgrounds (in Hollywood Studios, next to the Coca-Cola truck)
- On the bridge of the pier
Food spots
- Flo’s V8 Cafe (fast dining)
- Award Wieners (hot dogs)
- Cozy Cone Motel (ice cream, chili, and a LOT more)
- Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill (on the wharf)
What to do when lines are too long
- Take photos
- Ride The Little Mermaid (the line never stops moving and is typically faster than normal)
- Go to Animation Academy and watch Turtle Talk with Crush or draw Disney characters
Other tips and fun facts
- You can only have one FastPass at a time but on the ticket they give you it tells you the time you can get your next FastPass
- You can bring your own food and water into the park to cut down on costs
- Download the Disneyland app for access to maps, finding places to eat, ride wait times, and to find characters if you’re keen on taking a photo with a few
- Go on rides if a parade is coming up, most people, especially other tourists stop at this point to watch the parade
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Sam • Jan 29, 2020 at 10:40 pm
I love going to Disneyland and DCA! Going right when it opens is especially fun because the lines are super short. I feel like it’s totally underrated but there’s a smoothie shop called Schmoozies, it’s right across from the Animation Academy. On a hot day I like to get a smoothie and sit in the Animation Academy to cool down and have a healthy snack.
Arianna Diaz • Jan 28, 2020 at 9:43 am
I think that Disneyland is a great place to release stress and just be happy. This last summer I was there almost every weekend with my best friends and it’s great place to just have fun, enjoy your time, and get the most out of your day. It’s definitely worth the waits and money. The vibe there is very vibrant.