To all who come to planDisney, welcome. Hey there, Prince! It's always fun to have a trip to the Disneyland Resort to look forward to, but throw in
Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite?! Ahhhh! It's going to be an amazing trip.
There are so many things to think about when going to one of these fabulous after-hours events, but let's talk about how you can maximize your day in Walt's park leading up to the event. I'd say there's a really good chance that crowds will be lighter, given both Pride Nites are on weekdays and many Guests with One Park Per Day tickets will opt to visit the park that isn't closing early due to the event.
That said, mornings are typically the best time to cross off a lot of the attractions that you have on your must-ride list. With the gift of time zone math, I'd try to make it to the park in time for rope drop and head directly to Indiana Jones Adventure for my first ride of the day. From here, you're just a hop, skip and a jump away from Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. You can accomplish a lot in the morning and then take things a little easier as more guests filter into the park.
If you're not a super early morning person (raises hand), there's also
Lightning Lane Multi Pass that can be purchased once you've scanned into the park. I recommend getting to the park fairly early in the morning to make the most of this and prioritizing Indiana Jones, as selection windows for this attraction are a hot commodity.
When it comes to food to fuel up throughout the day, there are so many delicious options. If I'm planning to stay at the park for the entire day, I'll usually try to make a dining reservation for a table service restaurant to take some time to relax, rest and really enjoy my meal. The fried pickles from Carnation Café always draw me in. But if you're looking to save some time,
mobile ordering from a quick service location is the way to go. My favorite place to mobile order from is Bengal Barbecue.
There are plenty of attractions that offer rest opportunities that you can strategically sprinkle into your day to feel energized for your evening event. Head to the Opera House to experience Walt Disney – A Magical Life to hear about the man behind all of this magic and how his dream became a reality. Check the
Disneyland app for showtimes and plan for this in the afternoon, as Mr. Lincoln is usually taking the stage in the mornings. A visit to Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is a must for me and I also love riding the Disneyland Railroad for a nice break. A lap or two around the park is a great way to take in some scenery and rest my legs to feel refreshed.
Since you're planning to be at Disneyland all day, there's usually an event check-in located inside the park so attendees who are already there don't have to exit and re-enter. The location has changed from previous years and from event to event, so I recommend checking with a Cast Member for where this will be for Pride Nite. Once the event starts, I like to focus on exclusive event offerings like character meet and greets and photo ops.
Prince, I could go on and on about this topic, but alas, I'm running out of room. I hope that the slice of information that I've shared is helpful as you piece things together for an adventure filled day at the Happiest Place on Earth. Come back to see us with any other questions that we can help with. Here's to finding that rainbow connection...the lovers, the dreamers and me.
Michelle