Hello, Becky!
I'm glad that you sent your question to planDisney! Getting to the Disneyland Resort before the parks officially open is one of my favorite ways to make the most of a day. Those first few hours in the morning can be pure magic!
The good news is that you don’t need any kind of special ticket to rope drop! As long as you have a valid theme park ticket and a park reservation, you can often scan into the parks a bit before the posted opening time. Guests can typically explore
Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park or
Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park until the parks open for the day, in my experience.
I recommend arriving 45-60 minutes early so you’re near the front of the crowd when it’s time to head to your first attraction. In Disneyland Park, I often start with Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain, or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Over at Disney California Adventure, my go‑tos are Soarin’ Around the World, Toy Story Midway Mania!, or Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!. Most Guests make a beeline for Radiator Springs Racers, so I usually save that one for later.
Since you’re hoping to maximize your time, you might also want to look into purchasing
Lightning Lane Multi Pass once you’ve scanned into the park. It’s a great way to cut down on wait times, which means more time for treats, photos, and shopping!
Another option is using Single Rider lines when they’re available. They’re perfect for Guests who don’t mind splitting up for a bit and want to bypass the standby queue. Just make sure that all Single Riders meet the
age requirements for riding alone, and check out the
Single Rider page for a list of all attractions that offer the service.
Becky, I hope you have the best time during your visit to Disneyland! Please reach out to planDisney again if you have additional questions.
Magic Happens!
Jen