Season's greetings, Heidi! Thank you so much for visiting planDisney with your question. I love that you're planning your day to the
Happiest Place on Earth. You arrive tomorrow, so let's get to it!
My family prioritizes rides at Disneyland more than almost everything else, so I love that you want to maximize your time with rides in mind. My first suggestion would be to add the Park Hopper option and
Lightning Lanes (Multi, Single, or Premier Pass) to your visit. A Park Hopper ticket allows you to visit both parks in a day after 11:00 AM. My family tends to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) when we visit, which allows you to book return times at select rides throughout the day, avoiding longer standby queues for rides like Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, and Guardians of the Galaxy. The LLMP is a great option since you can book return times in both parks! Lightning Lane Single Pass is offered for two of the most popular rides at the Disneyland Resort - Radiator Springs Racers and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance; these are not included with LLMP. Lastly, Premier Pass allows you to ride each of the available
Lightning Lane Rides (including Radiator Springs Racers and Rise of the Resistance) once without needing to schedule a return time. With LLMP and Premier Pass, you also get free
Disney PhotoPass downloads on the day of your visit!
Heidi, one important thing is that Lightning Lane Multi and Single Pass return times are booked same-day, and the most popular rides and times tend to book first thing in the morning. You will want to arrive as close to park opening as possible if you plan to purchase either of these add-ons. Also, I start by booking must-do rides first, so I don't accidentally miss out on them! You can purchase Lightning Lanes in the
Disneyland Mobile App after you've scanned your ticket for admission.
Heidi, in my experience, one of the best times to ride attractions like Soarin', Incredicoaster, and Matterhorn is during parades and other entertainment offerings. Wait times tend to be shorter during those times. Make sure to check wait times throughout your visit in the mobile app!
Another tip to maximize your time is to mobile order your food so you aren't waiting in lines when you don't need to. You can
mobile order from many locations throughout the resort in the Disneyland Mobile App. I generally book my mobile orders first thing in the morning for pickups later in the day, so I don't have to worry about them until it's time to eat! Since you are visiting during the Holidays, be sure to check out the
Holiday Foodie Guide at the Disney Parks Blog before your trip! You simply have to try the Mickey Gingerbread Cookies and seasonal macarons - they are a favorite of mine!
I hope this helps you plan a magical day, Heidi! Please
swing back by like Tarzan if you have any other questions!
See ya real soon,
Melissa