Disneyland Strategy Test – February 2024

Welcome everybody!

Disney Parks are not easy to navigate right now. Don’t worry. I can help. 

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

• This was a Saturday in early February.
• Disneyland hosted Early Entry on this day, but I did not have those privileges.
• Genie+ was $30.
• Space Mountain was down at park opening.
• I mention “mobile ordering snacks” in the line up. Here’s how to do it.

Strategy Results

Here are alllllllll the details:

5:33am – depart Oceanside

6:37am – stop at McDonalds on Harbor Blvd

6:53am – in car line at the parking structure

7:00am – cars are let in

7:07am – paid for parking

7:16am – parked and walking to security

7:23am – through security and on the tram

7:31am – in line at the Disneyland gate

7:32am – let into the park

7:33am – buy Genie+

7:34am – grab a Genie+ for Matterhorn

7:35am – mobile order popular snacks

7:36am – line up at Tomorrowland Rope Drop

8:00am – rope drop!

8:09am – ride Star Tours

8:21am – ride Buzz Lightyear

8:37am – ride Matterhorn with Genie+

8:38am – grab a Genie+ for Indiana Jones

9:15am – ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

9:40am – ride Pirates of the Caribbean

10:26am – ride Jungle Cruise

10:51am – ride Indiana Jones with Genie+

10:52am – grab a Genie+ for Mickey & Minnie’s Runway Railway

Break for an early lunch to avoid crowds

1:04pm – grab a Genie+ for “it’s a small world”

1:15pm – ride “it’s a small world” with Genie+

1:16pm – grab a Genie+ for Autopia

1:37pm – ride Autopia with Genie+

1:38pm – grab a Genie+ for Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin

2:20pm – ride Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster & explore Toontown

2:50pm – ride Roger Rabbit with Genie+

2:51pm – grab a Genie+ for Space Mountain

3:21pm – ride Mickey & Minnie’s Railway

(See characters, snack, enjoy entertainment, explore smaller parts of the park while lines are at their peek.)

5:20pm – ride Space Mountain with Genie+

5:21pm – grab a Genie+ for Millennium Falcon

6:05pm – ride Rise of the Resistance (40 minute wait at 5:25pm)

6:20pm – ride Millennium Falcon with Genie+

6:21pm – grab a Genie+ for Pirates for a second ride

How to Finish the Day

Have dinner, continue on with rides or enjoy park entertainment. Remember, the Fantasyland rides include low wait times during the last couple of hours of the day.