2 Day Trip to Disneyland - Tips, Tricks and Observations

Question

One final post to list my Top 10 Tips, Tricks and Observations that might help those that are in the planning phase of their trip. In no particular order:

1) Stay Onsite - There are only 3 Disney hotels at DL, compared to what, 30+ at WDW. That means early entry for those staying onsite is FAR MORE EXCLUSIVE than early entry at WDW. Take advantage of it and stay at 1 of the 3 DL resorts. Yes, plenty of "nicer" or "cheaper" hotels are also just a stone throw away from DL, but early entry is critical to minimizing wait times.

2) Rope Drop - If you're ontime for rope drop, you're late! To beat the crowds, you have to be at the front of the pack, meaning you're close to the gates when the park opens. To do that, you have to be at security before it opens, which means you have to be up EARLY. We were up at 5:45 for a 7:30 EA. If you show up at the gate at 7:30, it's going to take you 20+ minutes just to get through the gate! Be sure to make full use of the morning BEFORE the crowds arrive.

3) Lightning Lane Multi Pass - It's pricey because it's worth it. Simple as that. You can reminisce about the good ol' days when FastPass was free and Disney didn't seem to be a remorseless profit machine all you want, but those days are gone forever. ADAPT. I was amazed at how much shorter the LL lines were for DL compared to WDW. AT WDW, you could count on a 15-20 min wait IN THE LLs. At DL, the most we waited for a LL was 10 min and that was for Star Tours (on account of the pre-show, etc.)

4) Technology - Download the Disneyland App and learn how to use it to its full potential BEFORE you leave. Learn how to play the LL game. If you don't know what that means, google it. Because we know how to "play" the LL game, we waited for maybe 5-6 rides in 2 days. The rest of the 30+ rides we rode over 2 days were via LL. Our average wait time was probably less than 10 min. during a Spring Break week! Make sure your tickets are linked to your reservation, make sure your party is all connected. Learn how to use mobile order for dining. If you're just looking at wait times, you're not leveraging the app's capability. Yes, this does mean that you will have to be ON YOUR PHONE ALL DAY at the park.

5) Park Hopper - Disneyland and California Adventure are so close to each other, you'd be crazy not to get park hopper tickets. I don't always get park hopper tickets for WDW because park hopping at WDW can mean an hour out of your day to travel to another park. At DL, you just walk out of 1 park and walk across the plaza to the other! No more than 10 minutes! It's so easy.

6) Dining - Be on top of your 60 day ADR window if you want a prime reservation at Carthay Circle Lounge or Trader Sam's. If you plan to eat at QS restaurants, DINE EARLY. We waited less than 5 min to get our food at Tiana's Palace because we ate at 11am. We ate dinner around 5.

SHARE MEALS. Portions are huge at Disney! For our family of 5, we'd order 3-4 things for the table and share... It was always more than enough food.

7) Have a plan - It always mystifies me when I see a review or somebody complains that they spent all this money to go to Disney and it was "too crowded" or "lines were SO long" or "we ONLY got to ride like 4 rides all day". Clearly, these people showed up to the park late, didn't have LLMP and had no idea how to go about their day at the park. PLAN! Figure out what you want to do and google some touring plans online. They work! We rode all of the rides we wanted to - at both parks, some multiple times in just 2 days (not even full days).

8) Be ready to walk - For me, a full day at a theme park is a 30K+ step day. I can be on my feet walking all day. If that's not you, thats ok... You just need to plan and prepare accordingly. Work in breaks, do what's right for you. But make no mistake about it, theme parks are going to put your feet through the ringer. If you're going with Grandma/Grandpa make sure you take into account their fitness/ability to move. Parks are becoming filled with strollers and rascal scooters for this very reason.

9) Expect to spend BIG $$$s - Disney is expensive, the hotels are expensive, flights to CA were expensive. MAKE A BUDGET. Be realistic about your budget - look up food prices, hotel prices, ticket prices. Have an idea of how much you wanna spend on the kiddos when they ask for snacks, stuffies, pins, souvenirs, t-shirts, toys, mickey ears and the like. If you're not careful about the TRUE COST of a disney vacation, it's very easy to sink into the rabbit hole.

10) Rent DVC Points - We would never have ponied up for the rack rate at Grand California Hotel. We could afford it because we rented DVC points. Be prepared to book your resort 10-12 months in advance if you plan on renting points. There are lots of rental sites out there.

Bonus 11) Differences between WDW and DL - We're WDW pros. We've been there 6 times over the past 11-12 years. This was our first trip to Disneyland. If that's you, here are some key differences I noticed:

1) WDW is MUCH bigger. 4 parks+2 water parks at WDW compared to DL/CA.

2) DL has far FEWER hotels. Pixar Place - budget, Disneyland Hotel - moderate, GCH - deluxe

3) Rides unique to Disneyland: The standouts were - Matterhorn, Nemo Submarines, The 4

FantasyLand dark rides

4) Rides that are better than their WDW counterparts: Haunted Mansion, PotC, Indiana Jones

Adventure

5) Rides unique to CA: WebSlingers, Incredicoaster and Monsters Inc.

6) Rides at CA that are better than their WDW counterparts: Radiator Springs Racers and

Guardians of the Galaxy

7) Downtown Disney is much smaller (and less fun to hang out in) than Disney Springs at WDW

8) LL Lines are MUCH shorter at DL than WDW. The max we waited in a LL was 10 min -

absolutely blew me away!!

Happy Planning!!

Answer

Here is a detailed summary of the top tips, tricks, and observations from a 2-day Disneyland/California Adventure trip that can help with planning your own visit:

1) Stay Onsite: Disneyland has only 3 official resorts. Staying onsite gives you far more exclusive early entry compared to WDW. Take full advantage of early entry by staying at one of these resorts. Hotels nearby may be cheaper or “nicer,” but early entry can save hours in line.

2) Rope Drop: Arrive early for security—well before the official park opening. Being at the gates early allows you to beat the majority of the crowds. For a 7:30am Early Entry, getting to the park at 7:30am is too late; aim to be at security by 6:30am or earlier.

3) Lightning Lane Multi-Pass (LLMP): It is worth the cost. DL Lightning Lane waits are generally shorter than WDW, sometimes only 5–10 minutes. This is key for maximizing the number of rides in a short visit.

4) Technology: Learn the Disneyland app inside out. Use it for LL management, mobile ordering, and tracking wait times. Know the “LL game” before arriving. Keep tickets linked and all party members connected. Being adept with the app can reduce waits dramatically.

5) Park Hopper: Disneyland and California Adventure are very close—walking between parks takes about 10 minutes. Park hopper tickets are highly recommended for maximizing attractions in both parks.

6) Dining: Secure ADRs early (60 days in advance) for popular table service restaurants like Carthay Circle Lounge or Trader Sam’s. For quick service, eat early to avoid lines. Share meals, as portions are generous—ordering 3–4 dishes for a family of 5 is usually sufficient.

7) Have a Plan: Know the rides you want to prioritize and consult online touring plans. Arriving late or without LLMP can result in very long waits, so planning is essential to make the most of your visit.

8) Be Ready to Walk: A full day at Disneyland can easily reach 30,000+ steps. Plan breaks and consider mobility for all guests. Strollers or scooters may be necessary for younger children or older adults.

9) Expect to Spend Big: Budget realistically for hotels, food, tickets, and souvenirs. Know the true cost of a Disneyland vacation to avoid surprises.

10) Rent DVC Points: If staying at the Grand California Hotel, renting Disney Vacation Club points can make the resort stay more affordable. Book 10–12 months in advance.

Bonus: Differences between WDW and DL:

WDW is much bigger with 4 parks + 2 water parks; DL has 2 parks.
DL has far fewer hotels: Pixar Place (budget), Disneyland Hotel (moderate), Grand Californian Hotel (deluxe).
Unique rides at DL: Matterhorn, Nemo Submarines, 4 Fantasyland dark rides.
Rides better than WDW: Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure.
Unique California Adventure rides: Web Slingers, Incredicoaster, Monsters Inc.
Rides at California Adventure better than WDW counterparts: Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy.
Downtown Disney is smaller and less engaging than Disney Springs.
LL lines are significantly shorter at DL than WDW; maximum wait experienced was 10 minutes.

Following these tips—staying onsite, leveraging rope drop and LLMP, mastering the Disneyland app, and having a solid plan—can drastically improve your Disneyland experience and reduce wait times.

2 Day Trip to Disneyland - Tips, Tricks and Observations

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