How to Best Use a Late Start Day at Disneyland

Updated January 31, 2024

I often get asked what to do with a late start at Disneyland. You can make good use of this time and cross a few things off your list with a little guidance.

Let’s say you have 4 days in the park and arrive on a Sunday, but won’t be in the parks until about noon due to your flight arrival, transportation to the hotel, etc.

If you’re considering this a park day, I recommend the following protocol to get the most for your money.

Overall Strategy

Essentially, during this half day or so that you have at the Disneyland Resort, I recommend focusing on big attractions with lower wait times, getting to know the parks, and checking off some entertainment options from your list.

Before purchasing Genie+, take a look at the attractions still available that day to ensure you’ll be able to use it enough to get your money’s worth. If you choose not to purchase it, watch wait times on the Disneyland app to know where to go.

Check Genie+ As Soon As You Arrive

There’s really no reason to ever be without a Genie+ if you’re in the parks. Even on a casual day, you can work in some key attractions.

Since the launch of Genie+, return windows are lasting later into the afternoon for even the more popular attractions. As soon as you arrive, if you’re using Genie+, pull a Genie+ for whichever park you’re in. You should always be working toward riding an attraction that offers a Genie+. In between those attractions, enjoy nearby attractions with low standby wait times.

If you can score any of the following, you’ll be in great shape for your subsequent days:

Space Mountain at Disneyland

Millennium Falcon at Disneyland

Soarin’

Guardians of the Galaxy at California Adventure (DCA)

These Genie+ options run out first, so check on them as soon as possible. Because you didn’t start at park opening, your time is best used crossing some key attractions and shows off your list. Begin with attractions upon arrival and see what you can get done. Don’t worry about a touring plan or strategy. Just work on attractions.

I share a list of Genie+ attractions in each park, details on how to use Disney Genie, and so much more in this post

Also in that post? Single Rider information. If you don’t have little ones, take advantage of some Single Rider lines. This can be done at almost any time of the day, whether FASTPASSES are available or not.

Become Familiar with the Layout of the Parks

While you’re wandering the park, get to know the lay of the land. A late start day is the perfect opportunity become familiar with where each land is located. Even just a rough understanding from this day will help with the ones that follow.

Know that you’ll walk down Main Street and find Tomorrowland on your right and Adventureland on your left. Or, if you’re at DCA, you’ll walk down Buena Vista Street to find Grizzly Peak on your right with Hollywood Land on your left. Try to get a basic understanding of how to navigate the parks.

This map on the Disneyland website will help you study from home before you arrive.

And, this post will cover details on the layout and design of the park with information on parking, lockers, strollers, ECV and wheelchair rentals, first aid and more.

Have a Plan for Dinner 

Whether you’re booking Carthay Circle or grabbing a corn dog at the Stage Door Cafe, have a plan for where you’ll dine that evening.

Dining reservations can be made 60 days out. Know what your options are and make a reservation as soon as you can if you’re interested. 

Mobile Ordering is highly recommended when ordering food at the parks. Definitely know how it works before you arrive. This post details everything.

See a Parade or Show

Check out the following links for how to set up for entertainment.

Parades

Fireworks

Fantasmic!

World of Color

Regardless of which show you choose, do your best to see fireworks the first night you arrive. Not only is it always magical to see them on your first night, the show gets cancelled all too often due to high winds in Anaheim. Don’t save fireworks for your last night. Try every night until you see the show.

If you don’t have a park hopper ticket and committed to DCA for the day, no problem. Walk out into the esplanade between the two parks. Disneyland plays the accompanying music to the show, so you can watch from there. A big crowd will gather for it on nights with fireworks. Use this link to find out if fireworks are scheduled for your visit. Again, adjust the calendar to your timing.

Notes

  • On any other park day, I recommend arriving an hour prior to park opening and having a strategy in place. This will make all the difference in your visit. While others sleep in, work to get stuff done and then break after lunch and leave the parks when the heaviest crowds are there.
  • Check out this post for how to start your day at Disneyland. And, this one for DCA.
  • If you don’t have park tickets for your late start day, spend lots of time in Downtown Disney. There’s so much to see and do.
  • Check out what’s happening at your hotel. Disneyland Resort Hotels often have nighttime entertainment that is a perfect fit for late start days. Take advantage of your hotel pool, too.

Have another idea? Leave me a comment! Would love to know your suggestions.

Take a look at how Get Away Today can help with your vacation

15 thoughts on “How to Best Use a Late Start Day at Disneyland

  1. hey casey!
    Need help around an evening at the park.

    We are flying in and arriving around 1 pm on a sunday in 3rd week of april.

    We have 1 of 5 park days on arrival day, but will get sorted at the good neighbour hotel with stroller, maybe a swim, before heading over to the park around 5 pm.

    Is this a good idea? we have hopper and our first start ought to have been DL. I’m wondering last weekend of april will DL be at capacity around 5-6 pm? Would love to get in, wander, take time, take it in, maybe see a parade if its on to prepare for your rope drop itinerary with little kids the next day. Not fussed about rides first day- we might only last till 8 pm latest.

    Also wanted to squish in goofys dinner, but that might be ambitious?

    We will have a 5 year old, 2 year old and 2 adults.

    hopign for your thoughts!
    thanks,
    anna

    1. I like all your ideas! Exactly what you should I on a late arrival day.

      The parks should not be at capacity. Maybe schedule Goofy’s for another night if you want a decent amount of park time to get your bearings.

      This would be a good time to wander and look for characters, jump on a ride or two if the wait isn’t too long.

      Your trip sounds fantastic! Let me know how else I can help.

      1. thank you for the suggestion to move goofys! i’m seriously thinking of that now.

        i saw goofys opens at 5 pm during weekdays, 4 pm on the sunday.
        are the earlier resos better for character engagement? how long would you give yourself there?

        one thing i’m thinking is catching an early parade during the week-i’m thinking the 330- is there a 330 parade in both dca and dl each day, or do they alternate?

        and do parades run on starwars nights in dl?
        we have 2 starwars nights during our trip (april 23/25)

        thank you so much for your earlier response, looking forward to any insight you can provide!

        1. Hi Anna.

          If you’re looking for character engagement, I highly recommend changing your meal to Minnie’s in the Park. Reserve it for 10:00am. It has twice the amount of characters as Goofy’s and the overall experience is far superior. It’s been my favorite for years. More on all your options here:

          https://disneylanddaily.com/a-complete-guide-to-character-meals-at-disneyland-resort/

          Check out this post for lots of parade info:

          https://disneylanddaily.com/all-about-parades-at-disneyland/

          Parades will run on days with events that evening. But you’re wise to ask. Always check the calendar to confirm, as times do change occasionally.

          Here’s more about how to work around after hours events:

          https://disneylanddaily.com/disneyland-after-dark-events/

          Let me know what else I can do for you. Happy to help.

          1. you are the best, thank you!
            minnies is also a must for us, i was hoping to do both minnies and goofys thruout the stay. but great to know 10am is a good time for minnie!

            thank you!
            i’m going to look thru more of your writing and i’ll post back if i have any questions. thank you again so very much!

  2. hey ! thanks so much for all the info ! we are flying tomorrow to go on the 6th and 7th oct. We are a party of 3 , and one of us is disabled, so what i understand is that the first day we´ll go to get the DAS. My brother is not really interested in roallercoasters, hes afraid of them so mostly greet the princeses and little kids stuff, do you still recomend on getting geani plus? hes mostly interested on getting on boat rides, or slow train rides, hopefully in DIsneyland theres a train station like in orlando !

  3. Can you update this with Genie+? Job
    security…by the time you test this infrequent strategy, they’ll roll out something else. 😉 Love your site and posts. Keep it going.

  4. When I arrive later in the day—unless I have a plan or a reservation—I like to grab a FP (as you suggest) and then have a snack at Jolly Holiday while I gage the crowd level and plan for the rest of the day. I also find if lines for rides are a bit long for my taste, it can be a great time to enjoy the train or Rivers of America attractions. Mid-day crowds may be a bit intimidating on busy days, but that can also lend a great buzz in the park atmosphere. And there’s always something to do or see!

    1. What are your thoughts on watching the fireworks from galaxy’s edge? We arriving later in the day and plan on visiting galaxy’s edge because we have never been.

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