Goofing around

Our family loves the Disneyland Resort. It truly is the happiest place on earth, in our eyes.  I’ve been an annual pass holder for almost 15 years. My husband and his family have been pass holders since the annual passes first were available, for almost 29 years.

We love visiting whenever we have the opportunity. It’s been a little tough for us to make weekly visits since my husband and I have been in school for the past couple of years and we just recently moved away a couple of miles south and are now forty five minutes away, instead of fifteen. However, whenever we have the time we pack a bag and head there for hours of family adventure and memory making.

We love to make the best of our time at the Resort and always have a plan before we hit both parks. Here are my top picks for making the best out of your visit.

1. 1. Plan, plan, and plan. We make sure to have a plan before we hit the resort. We make sure to check out either Mobile Magic or Mouse Wait, two smart phone apps, that have great information on waiting times. If the park is busy and the rides have long wait lines, we usually either grab fast passes to our favorite attractions or we tend to head to the shows, parade, etc. and take advantage of not having to wait in line.
2. 2. Take advantage of Single Rider lines. I love the Single Rider lines.  If you are willing to split up your party a bit and ride alone, you can drastically cut your waiting times. It’s not ideal for families with younger children, but if you have older kiddos or teens, this might really work for you. Single Rider lines are available at Goofy’s Sky School, Grizzly River Run, Indiana Jones, Radiator Springs Racers, Soaring over California, Splash Mountain and California Screamin.
3. 3. Make sure to hit Cars Land as early as Possible! Cars Land is my family’s and I’m sure many other families’ new favorite land. It’s extremely popular and if you’re planning on making it a part of your visit (and I highly suggest it!), make sure to visit as early as you can in the day because it gets busy!
4. 4. Hit lunch/dinner during park peak hours and attractions with short lines. We like to plan our day and make sure to plan accordingly. Peak times are from 2-4pm at both parks. This is the best time to grab a bite to eat and not have to fight for a table. We also try to hit attractions with the least wait line, which usually means heading to Adventureland/New Orleans Square and riding, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, taking a ride on the Mark Twain and of course a ride on the Disneyland train.
5. 5. Rainy Days can be some of the best times to visit the Disneyland Resort. If you don’t mind getting wet, a visit to Disneyland Resort can be so much fun in the rain. The crowds are very minimal and that means the feel of having the park all to yourself! We bought ponchos a few years back and love putting them to good use. The kids’ love splashing in the rain and riding their favorite rides without having to wait. I can’t recommend it enough!