Hello there Jennifer,
Welcome back to planDisney! I'm happy to hear that you're planning a quick trip with your family later this month!
Personally, when I have planned 1-day trips to the Disneyland Resort, I have opted to add on as many extras as I can to make my visit more convenient. I did a one-day trip with my family on the way back home from another trip and we added both
Disney Genie+ Service and the
Park Hopper option to our
tickets so that we could see and experience as much as possible while we were there.
If it fits into your budget, I think Disney Genie+ Service is a great option! It will often allow you to experience shorter queues at some of the most popular attractions with
Lightning Lane selections, and you get the additional perk of unlimited digital downloads of your
Disney PhotoPass photos.
For me, it's all about maximizing my time during my visit. I want to spend the least amount of time waiting in line as possible, which is why I prioritize Disney Genie+ Service so much. If you and your family are similar, then I would definitely recommend it for your trip - even with getting to the parks around mid-day. If instead, you're more planning on taking in all the Disney Magic and just casually enjoying the parks, then it might be worth skipping it for this trip!
If you would like to add Disney Genie+ Service, keep in mind that this can be done at the time of your ticket purchase or after you scan your tickets into the park, but not during the time between those two periods.
Also, starting July 24, 2024, the Disney Genie+ Service is getting a name change to
Lightning Lane Multi Pass! It looks like you're visiting a few days before that change though so you shouldn't need to plan for that.
Finally, since you'll have a little one with you, I would also highly recommend utilizing the
Baby Care Centers! My wife and I visited these frequently when our kids were a bit younger because they offered a nice, quiet, indoor spot for a quick break for a snack or diaper change. They also have vending machines that offer just about anything you might need (or maybe forgot).
Thanks again for your question, Jennifer! I hope you have a wonderful visit to the Disneyland Resort in a few weeks.
Have a Magical Day,
Greg