How do I plan my day in advance, we are going to DL on Tues and already have 1 day pass and reservation.”

Hello, Amanda,

You’ve come to the right place for Disneyland Resort vacation planning advice. And it’s a special pleasure to help out a fellow Utahn as you plan your adventure to The Happiest Place on Earth!

Here are some steps to help you make the most of your Disneyland Resort vacation. You have already completed the first two steps. So you are already on your way to a most magical experience.

1. Reserve accommodations and purchase theme park tickets.
2. Book theme park reservations. This step is most often done at the same time as purchasing park tickets.
3. Download the Disneyland mobile app. Spend some time becoming familiar with the app and its features.
4. Optionally, upload your payment information to the Disneyland app. This helps streamline the process when placing mobile food and beverage orders and Merchandise Mobile Checkout.
5. From the ☰ feature menu of the Disneyland app, open My Genie Day to make your Disneyland Resort wishes known. Disney Genie is a complimentary service that provides recommendations during your visit. Tap the “Get Started Now” button to tell Genie your top interests for attractions, characters, dining, and more. At 7:00 a.m. on the day of your visit, Genie will generate a recommended itinerary tailored just for you.

Here are some more tips that may be helpful on the day of your visit.

1. I recommend arriving early, 30-50 minutes before park opening. Guests are often allowed to enter Main Street, U.S.A. even before park opening so you can get even closer to the magic as soon as it’s time to head to your favorite attractions.
2. Enhance your experience by purchasing the optional Disney Genie+ service. Genie+ allows you to book the next available Lightning Lane return time for shorter waits at select attractions. You may have already purchased Genie+ with your park tickets. If not, you can purchase it in the Disneyland app after you have had your tickets scanned at the park entrance. If you choose to purchase Genie+, you can start making Lightning Lane reservations as soon as you enter the park.
3. Look for Disney PhotoPass photographers to record your Disneyland Resort memories. Digital downloads of PhotoPass photos taken by photographers are included with Genie+, or you can purchase them separately. PhotoPass photos taken on select Disneyland Resort attractions may be downloaded for free whether you purchase Genie+ or not.
4. Refer to the My Genie Day section of the mobile app for suggested itinerary plans. If a recommendation isn’t to your liking, let Genie know and it will learn your preferences and offer more of what you want as you go along.
5. Use the Tip Board while you are at the park to book available Genie+ Lightning Lane return times. The tip board may also be used to purchase à la carte Lightning Lane experiences at select attractions not included with Genie+.

I hope that helps give you an idea of how to plan for a great time at the Disneyland Resort, Amanda. If you think of any other questions, just “give a little whistle” and we’ll be happy to lend a hand here at planDisney.

~Tony