How To Do Disneyland and California Adventure in One Day

Do you want to make the most of that day off with your family and friends? If yes, the best way to do so is to go on a one-day trip to California Adventure and Disneyland.

But how to do Disneyland and California Adventure in one day? Is that even possible?

Now that you know the simple version, let’s get into the details so you know exactly what you need to do!

5 Tips To Do Disneyland and California Adventure in One Day

Here are five tips so you can make the most of the one day at Disneyland and California Adventure:

1. Research & Planning

This has got to be the most obvious one. After all, you’re going for just one day and need to cover two massive theme parks. So researching, planning, and organizing are key.

A few things you need to note down are as follows:

• Which rides and attractions are available at each theme park?
• The locations and time will take to reach each attraction and ride.
• Route planning to avoid long queues and busy walkways at different times of the day.
• Planning your meals during all the fun.
• How to buy the tickets beforehand.

2. Go to Disneyland First

This is where many people have different opinions regarding the pros and cons of where to go first. But we think it’s better to head to Disneyland first, and here’s why:

• Easier to go about the rides with less waiting, so start early.
• Get a head start at the busier and bigger park first.
• Reach the most popular attractions and rides first.

If you opted for the ‘Park Hopper Ticket’, you must stay here till 1 pm. However, this gives you ample time to enjoy Disneyland as it has more rides and attractions.

Also, Disneyland gets full and crowded with cranky kids and families as time goes on, especially in the afternoon.

This is not the case with California Adventure, as it caters to grown-ups, and the environment is more relaxed.

3. Choosing the Rides

This is what it’s all about, the rides! However, it’s important to know that you can’t experience every ride in one day.

You’ll have to skip some attractions to enjoy the two theme parks as much as possible.

You’ll need to go back to your planning and researching phase and list the spots you’d like to prioritize. Here’s what we recommend:

Disneyland

In Disneyland, you can get started early at 10 am with the following rides up till 2:30 pm:

• Space Mountain is the most thrilling ride the theme park has to offer.
• Thunder Mountain is a wild west theme ride that/s fast, fun, and has open views of the theme park.
• Finally, the haunted Mansion; can be a scary treat if it’s Halloween season.

It will be around 12:30 pm now so. Next, you can go for adventure rides at:

• Pirates of the Caribbean have a gentle but long boat ride across the seas filled with pirates.
• Indiana Jones Adventure, face the dangers on this ride as you step into the shoes of the legendary hero.
• The Enchanted Tiki Room is a great place to relax while the animatronic birds do their dancing.

If you like to end your rides with a splash, Splash Mountain is a great way. It starts slowly, playing classic Disney songs with numerous animatronic animals passing you.

At the end of the ride, you’re dropped down a waterfall and into a giant splash of water.

California Adventure

Once done with the last ride at Disneyland, you can head to California Adventure and start by 3:30 pm on your first ride.

You could go for the Grizzly River Run if you got wet during the Splash Mountain ride. However, it is also a water ride, so only take it if you don’t mind getting more water splashing.

The rest of the rides are as follows:

• Incredicoaster for the thrills and excitement. This is by far the best ride of them all. It offers upside-down loops, twists, turns, and plunges at high speeds, a classic high-speed roller coaster.
• Radiator Spring Racers is an outdoor ride with car races featuring characters from the movie Cars.
• Guardian of the Galaxy Mission Breakout is another fun and thrilling elevator ride that takes you on an adventure with Rocket and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Soarin’ Around the World offers a hand-gliding experience inside an IMAX dome. It is a relaxing experience as you look at historic landmarks in different locations worldwide.

After Dark Adventures at Disneyland

If you still have the will and the energy for it, you can head back to Disneyland for two rides that are perfectly suited for after-dark adventures:

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Millenium Falcon

For adults: finish off with a nice cocktail at the Disneyland Hotel!

4. Visit Mid-Week During the Off-Season

The best time to enjoy one day at the two theme parks is to ensure you visit when you aren’t facing hordes of tourists and holidayers.

Fewer crowds mean shorter waiting times at the rides and attractions, allowing you to navigate the parks faster.

Also, mid-week tickets from Tuesday to Thursday are cheaper, so you’re saving money too!

5. Take Advantage of Genie+

Genie+ is a part of the Disneyland App and allows you to book reservations and go through long waiting lines.

You have to make a one-time payment for the day and avail of all the benefits, saving waiting hours at certain attractions.

You also get unlimited PhotoPass downloads, which makes it a great deal!

Conclusion

Even though the one-day trip might seem rushed, if you can pull it off with the five tips provided, it will be an adventure to remember:

• Research and plan first.
• Go to Disneyland first.
• Choosing the rides.
• Visit mid-week during the off-season.
• Take advantage of Genie+ & Lightning Lanes.

Believe it or not, if someday you have the time and money, it’s worth spending 2 to 3 days at Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks.

If not, you can make the most of it in one day!