Plan your Disneyland day smarter

Smart Disneyland Planning Tips

A handful of quick ideas to keep your day smooth, flexible, and fun.

• Start strong at rope drop. “Rope drop” means being at the park right when it opens — it’s the best time to ride the most popular attractions with minimal waits.
• Front-load your day. With a solid plan, you can knock out five or more attractions in the first two hours of park opening.
• Or back-load your night. If you're more of a night owl, the last two hours the parks are open are also an excellent time to get a lot done.
• Better yet... do both! Plan some time to relax at your hotel or in Downtown Disney during the afternoon so you can conquer the quiet morning AND late night on the same day.
• Have a food strategy. Stick to a loose meal schedule and pack snacks. Nothing ruins a Disneyland day more than being hangry.
• Use Mobile Order. Skip food lines by using Mobile Order in the official Disneyland app whenever possible. Watch our tutorial if you need help.
• Don’t pay for bottled water. Most quick-service locations will give you a free cup of ice water — just ask.
• Watch your battery. Bring a portable phone charger — you’ll use your phone constantly for photos, food, Lightning Lanes, and of course, Park Professor.
• Use the Lightning Lane modify trick. Even if a return time is hours away, grab it. You can tap “Modify Plan” a few times to hunt for an earlier slot. We have a tutorial for this too.
• Build in breathing room. Plan a few moments to soak in the music, details, and atmosphere. You’re at Disneyland — it’s okay to slow down.

Want more planning help? The Park Professor app shows live ride grades, has smart alerts for rides and shows, tips & tricks, and a Daily Snapshot of today’s park conditions.

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Quick Disneyland Tutorial Videos

Short walkthroughs to save time on your next Disneyland day.

FAQ — Ride Grades & Wait Times

• Why a grade system? +

  Not all wait times are created equal. A 30-minute wait on a premium ride like Rise of the Resistance is a very good use of your time, while waiting that same amount of time for Mad Tea Party would be, well, madness. Our grade system helps normalize the experience so you can instantly see which rides currently offer the best “value for your time.”

• Where does the wait-time data come from? +

  Ride wait times are provided by Queue-Times.com, which reads the same data that powers the official Disneyland mobile app. We process and refresh that data automatically.

• How accurate are the wait times? +

  Our research has shown that official Disneyland wait times are often within 5–10 minutes of real-world conditions. That said, due to a variety of unpredictable variables, the difference between posted time and actual wait can occasionally be substantial. If a line looks longer than expected, trust your gut and don't be afraid to come back later.

• What are some signs a wait may be longer than reported? +

  Observe the demeanor of the guests. If the line is bunched up, if people are leaning on rails or sitting on the ground, or if there's an air of frustration — even crankiness — these are all signs to check back in on that attraction another time.

Still curious? Feel free to contact us.

Disneyland Park and DCA Ride Refurbishments

Closed rides can change your whole plan — stay in the loop here.