Hello there Toby! Welcome to planDisney, we're so glad you're here with your great question.
Typically, you'll see
theme park tickets on the weekends increase in price usually due to the demand to get into the parks. Whether you're a local California resident or traveling from afar, the weekends are usually free and what better way to spend your weekend than at the Disneyland Resort!
Even though you'll usually see higher crowds during the weekends, there are several tips I'd love to share with you to help navigate those crowded days. The first is to arrive early! We like to get to the gates at least 30 minutes before the park will open for the day. You'll be some of the first Guests into the parks, and we usually can knock out several of our favorite attractions early in the day. Arriving early is my biggest tip by far, and we love to bring our breakfast and coffee to enjoy while we wait.
If riding attractions are a priority for your family like they are for mine, then I'd definitely consider purchasing
Disney Genie+ Service. Disney Genie+ Service gives you access to
Lightning Lane entrances and shorter wait times. Everything is managed right from the
Disneyland app, and it truly does save time throughout the day! It's a must for our family each visit, you can either add it on when you purchase your theme park tickets, or you can purchase as soon as you scan into the parks for the day.
My final tip is to take an afternoon break when the crowds are the highest, usually around 2:00 or 3:00 PM. It's a great time to grab a snack and just enjoy the sights and sounds of the parks, or do some souvenir shopping! Sometimes we even head back to our hotel to rest for a bit, get off of our feet, and charge our phones. Even that short break usually re-energizes us enough to head back to enjoy the evening!
I hope this information is helpful for you Toby, and that you're able to visit the "Happiest Place on Earth" soon! If you think of any other questions,
please come back to planDisney and ask!
Have a magical day,
Melissa