I recently visited Disneyland with two of my best girlfriends and we were SO excited… until we realized we had only 4 hours to see as much of the park as possible. How did we do it? Here’s a cheatsheet to visiting Disneyland in only a few hours.
- Make a Game Plan: You won’t be able to do everything, so you’re going to have to decide upfront what rides or attractions you’re really after. If you figure that each line is going to be about an hour long, the first thing you should do is grab a park map, sit down and plan a route. For us, our must-dos included Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Space Mountain and Thunder Canyon.
- Get a Fast Pass: To fly by the lines of the park, utilize a fast pass whenever possible. Fast passes are issued at different rides, and at different times, so the best way to obtain them is to circle on a map which rides have fast passes. They’re usually issued at least an hour before the ride time, so, visit a fast pass station for the ride you plan on taking next, and by the time you’re done with your first ride you’ll be able to use your fast pass to breeze past the lines.
- Don’t Overdo It: If you’re beat out by the long lines, adjust your schedule and enjoy the rest of what the park has to offer. There are fun markets, small, less busy lines, food and a ton of other attractions to keep you entertained.
- The Big Secret: We probably shouldn’t tell you this, but here is a great secret to Disneyland–If the park closes at midnight, so long as you are in line by 11:59 p.m. (even if there’s a 45 minute wait), they have to let you on the ride. So be sure to get in line, even if it’s at the last minute!
