Jacqueline! Hello, and a warm welcome to planDisney! I am thrilled to hear of your upcoming visit to the Happiest Place on Earth coming up very soon! I'm honored to be a part of helping you plan a day maximizing the magic.
No matter what time of year Guests visit the Disneyland Resort, it's always a good idea to get an early start to the day! Those first open park hours are ideal for lower crowds, cooler weather, lower waits for attractions and just sets everyone up for a great day immersed in the magic. I recommend arriving to the main gates at least 45 minutes, if not more, before official park opening time, which will likely be 8am but double check the
Hours & Events Calendar beforehand.
Depending on which direction you’re coming from, signs will direct you to the closest Disneyland parking lot, of which there are three: Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, Pixar Pals Parking Structure, and Toy Story Parking Area, although Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures are essentially in the same area. Parking lots open one hour before the first park is scheduled to open so plan to arrive then.
Allow time to go through security, as well, which occurs before you get to the main gate. Security, that early, can take anywhere from 5-20 minutes. The earlier you arrive, the less wait you'll have at security! To set yourself up for a smooth process, have all your bags unzipped and open - as they will need to take a look inside.
Cast Members then let Guests through the turnstiles (where you scan your tickets) and into the park usually around 30 minutes before official park opening. You'll be led down to the area in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park or the end of Buena Vista Street in California Adventure to wait behind ropes that are blocking the entrance to each land.
At the official park opening time, Cast Members "drop the rope" and bibbidi bobbidi boo - you're ready to basically walk on any attraction you want. This would be a perfect time to hit your party's highest priority attractions like Space Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, Haunted Mansion, or Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! that may see longer wait times later in the day. But remember, it's your day so follow your heart!
The key to this strategy, however, is to make park reservations for the opposite days of Early Entry since you're not staying at a
Disneyland Resort Hotel. Disneyland Resort Hotel Guests are allowed into one of the two parks each day 30 minutes prior to official park opening, so if you begin your day at the park that does not have Early Entry, Jacqueline, you will avoid these crowds and get on those high priority attractions quicker. In short, you should start your day in Disneyland Park on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and California Adventure Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Again, the schedule is subject to change, so always double check the
Hours & Events Calendar before your visit. It will indicate which park has Early Entry on any given day. (Are you beginning to see how important that Hours & Events Calendar is?)
I hope this information has been helpful in your planning, Jacqueline, and remember, it's the time spent together that's the real magic.
Warmest wishes,
McCayla