There’s a reason why Disneyland is called the Happiest Place on Earth. But guess what? The Happiest Place on Earth is also one of the most visited, which means long wait times for rides, activities, and restaurants.
So how to reduce wait times at Disneyland? Well, there are a few hacks!
The best strategy to reduce your wait time at Disneyland is to plan ahead, select the right season, and utilize the different express passes the resort offers.
- Go early to the park to find parking quickly and avoid long queues at entry.
- Stay at a hotel at the resort to enjoy a half-hour Early Entry and use it to get into popular attractions.
- Use the Disney Genie+ service or buy Individual Lightning Lane Pass to avoid long lines for popular rides.
- Genie+ in the Disney Genie app can reduce wait times to just 15 minutes instead of an hour or more.
- Single Rider Line also offers less wait time where available.
Visit popular attractions either early or late to avoid long queues. Have a plan and use the Genie service in the app to avoid wandering about and enjoy one ride after another without wasting time.
You can make the most of your Disneyland trip with shorter or no wait times for different experiences. This guide will help you prepare better and wait for less when at Disneyland!
Ways To Reduce Disneyland Wait Time
If you want to wait less in lines and spend more time having fun, here are some ways to help you immensely. You’re welcome!
Plan Ahead
First off, you should start planning your trip way ahead of time. That would allow you to prepare better, pack well, and plan which parks or rides you want to experience.
Start planning six months in advance. Even if you only have a month to plan your trip, it’s still plenty of time.
Visit in Off Season or Time
One of the easiest ways to avoid crowds at Disneyland and reduce your wait times is to simply travel during the off-season or on relatively less busy days.
For Disneyland, the off-season typically runs from January to March except for any holidays and spring break. September and mid-November may be less busy as well.
Similarly, weekdays are relatively less crowded than weekends, so you’d have to wait less time if you went on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane
To assist you in reducing your wait time, several Disneyland theme parks provide cut-the-line or virtual queuing services.
Disney introduced the Disney Genie+ service for its Disney Genie app, a paid add-on that lets visitors reserve times for select attractions. This paid service can cost $25 per ticket per day or higher.
With Disney Genie+, you can purchase a Lightning Lane pass for select attractions (subject to availability). Again, you can only purchase one Lightning Lane pass at a time.
Individual Lightning Lane Passes are available for purchase for some of the most popular rides, like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Note: Disney Genie service replaced the FastPass service in August 2021, which was a complimentary virtual queueing system.
Single Rider Line
Several of the popular rides also have a Single Rider Line. If you’re alone or with a group that doesn’t mind splitting up to try different rides, you can get in quickly in a Single Rider Line.
The wait time is significantly shorter since cast members fill the random vacant seats with single riders.
Stay at a Disney Resort for Early Entry
You can get in 30 minutes early at the park and enjoy early entry if you stay at one of the hotels in the Disneyland Resort. Guests staying at one of the hotels inside the entertainment resort get early entry to select attractions, restaurants, and stores.
Even if you don’t have an Early Entry advantage, go to the park 30 minutes before official entry time for the general public to avoid long queues at the Rope Drop.
Conclusion
While Disneyland is a dream vacation, crowds and long wait times can sometimes mar the experience. Nobody wants to wait in line for hours for a single ride, especially if you’re visiting the park for just a day.
You can reduce your wait time significantly if you visit off-season, stay at a resort, or take advantage of Lightning Lane passes.
Reducing wait times can allow you to enjoy more rides and experience the park fully!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Least Busy Days at Disneyland?
The perfect days to avoid the crowds at Disneyland Park are Mondays through Thursdays if you can schedule your vacation around those days.
What Are the Busiest Months To Visit Disneyland?
June, July, and August are typically the busiest months of the year to visit Disneyland. During these months, there are huge crowds, and the weather is hot. That said, there’s a lot of great entertainment at this time as it’s the prime season.
