Welcome!
Disney Parks are no joke right now. Having a good strategy will absolutely give you your best shot at a successful day.
My strategies are built for families and do not include single rider lines or other options that are not available to all guests. I have plans for guests who want to use Genie+ and for those who don’t.
I’ve got what you need!
Let’s go.
Basic Scoop
I create and test strategies that aim to keep your wait time to 20 minutes or less for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks. It’s entirely possible to do this for almost every attraction.
I test my strategies in the park monthly and occasionally share the results.
Why is a strategy important? To give you an edge over other park guests, to avoid standing around checking the app for wait times and discussing what’s next, and to ensure you see and do all you want during your visit.
Take a look at how my visit played out so you can see how to adjust yours as the day develops.
Resources
- I used this plan on this day.
- All of my strategies can be found linked in this one complete index. This includes plans for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
- Need help with Genie? This post explains everything.
- New to planning and overwhelmed? This post will guide you through what you need to know.
Quick Notes About This Day
- Haunted Mansion was closed as it was transforming to Haunted Mansion Holiday.
- The time listed next to the attraction is the time I boarded the ride vehicle.
- Notice I select a Genie+ immediately after each one I use. Here’s how this works.
August 2023
Remember, the following is what happened during my visit. It does not include all attractions, as each park day almost always has a ride or two down.
This is the full strategy you should follow.
7:10am – arrive at the Disneyland Hotel
7:15am – through security
7:32am – enter the park and line up at Tomorrowland rope drop
7:33am – buy Genie+
7:34am – mobile order treats for the day
7:35am – grab a Genie+ for Star Tours
8:00am – park officially opens
8:09am – ride Space Mountain
8:25am – ride Matterhorn
8:42am – ride Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
8:58am – ride Star Tours with Genie+
8:59am – grab a Genie+ for Indiana Jones
9:16am – ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
9:32am – ride Pirates of the Caribbean
<water and bathroom break>
10:13am – ride Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
10:56am – ride Millennium Falcon
11:15am – ride Jungle Cruise
11:50am – ride Indiana Jones with Genie+
11:51am – grab a Genie+ for Autopia
Lunch!
How to Continue
Work through that strategy for the rest of the day, either in the park or by selecting Genie+ options from your hotel or lunch if you decide to take a break.
See characters and enjoy entertainment in the afternoon.
Return to ride Rise of the Resistance between 6:00pm and 7:00pm with an average wait time of 60 minutes. If you want to avoid that wait, purchase the Lightning Lane for it in the Disneyland app.
Remember, we arrived early to take advantage of low wait times for premier attractions that usually require Genie+. Use Genie+ in the early evenings to avoid long waits.
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