Updated April 2025. Disneyland and every Disney park is becoming increasingly more expensive. What used to be easily affordable is now becoming a luxury item – even for a day trip. With the cheapest ticket price being $174 for just ONE park, it’s a little insane. If you want to maximize your time at Disneyland, you will need these tips. Not only will it help you get the most out of your expensive ticket, but it will help save you money.

1) Download the Disneyland App to maximize your time

Downloading the Disneyland app will help keep your tickets handy at all times. You can load your entire party’s tickets onto one device for ease of entry. One person handles everyone getting scanned in so you can move through the line quicker.

It will also help you to check wait times and plan your attack on the park. Not to mention, you will need the app to use Genie or get Lightning Lane passes.

2) Bring flip flops for water rides

Nothing kills the fun of a day faster than soggy feet. Pack flip flops into your bag or Loungefly for your Disney day! Change in to them before getting on any water ride. You won’t be the one that has to suffer through the consequences or run back to the room to change.

And if you plan on going to Disney on a rainy day, be sure to check out this list of essentials.

READ MORE >> Must Have Items for a Day at Disney

3) Purchase a park hopper ticket

The great thing about Disneyland and California Adventure is that you can do both parks in a day. So why not just get that park hopper?

More so, with the additional Disneyland tips in this blog, if you only do one park, you’ll be finished with your Disney day so quickly, you will have wished you got the the park hopper.

4) Book an off-property hotel within walking distance

The best way to get in to the park as early as possible and stay as late as possible is having a hotel room nearby. This will ensure that you can be up early to get in to the park.

But it will also help you to have a place to crash without having to drive while tired. Not to mention many hotels near Disneyland are the same if not less walking distance than some of the Disney hotels. Check out this list of budget-friendly hotels that are within a mile walking distance of the park entrance. Some, like the Grand Legacy Hotel, are literally across the street.

LEARN MORE >> How to Budget for a Disney Vacation without Using Savings

5) Be there at rope drop to maximize your time at Disneyland

“Rope drop” is just a fancy way of saying “when the park opens”. But this Disneyland tip goes hand in hand with the off-property hotel tip. If you have a close hotel, doing rope drop should be easy! Even if you aren’t in the front of the line, you will still be ahead of so many other people who didn’t want to wake up that early.

6) Have a “left” mentality

The best game plan for starting your day at Disney is to go left. On the left are some of the most iconic rides that will inevitably be some of the longest lines in the day. Or are prone to break down. That includes Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion. All of which can easily have a wait time over an hour long by midday. Go left and save Space Mountain for later.

7) Use Genie Services

Genie Services, not to be confused with Lightning Lane, is a free service within the Disneyland app.

Based on your interests, this service creates a personal itinerary for you within the app. It recommends Mobile Order locations and Attractions to do next. It also updates throughout the day so you are never left without a suggestion.

8) Buy Lightning Lane

You may not need Lightning Lane (LL) if you plan your trip for the middle of a weekday in the offseason. But why risk it? Lightning Lane is Disney’s newer version of fastpasses. Except now it starts at $32 per ticket. The price and availability will vary depending on whether or not it’s a peak day.

You will be able to book your times for rides directly through the Disneyland app. And you can even browse the rides you want to get a LL for before booking. But you will have a wait 2 hours between booking your next ride time slot.

However one thing to note is that the more popular rides will have an additional fee. For example, Rise of the Resistance is not a part of the normal LL list of rides. But you can purchase a LL pass for just that ride. Price and availability will vary. That fee WILL NOT automatically give you access to LL for the rest of the day for other rides. That is the fee just for that one ride.

Lightning Lane is one of the most necessary Disneyland tips to make sure you can get as much done as possible.

9) Do the big rides during shows or parades

Rise of the Resistance, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, and Radiator Spring Racers are probably the longest lines you will experience. If you can’t get to the park early enough or if you don’t purchase Lightning Lane, your next best option is to just wait until a show starts. While everyone is distracted watching the parade or fireworks, you can make your way to one of these rides!

It’s not guaranteed that the lines will be empty, but you should generally see that they are shorter.

10) Mobile order your food and drinks

The only lines you are waiting in today are the lines for rides. You do not have time to wait for another 15 minute line to get your food and then wait for it to be made.

Mobile order your food using the Disneyland app. Not only can you select your items easily, but you can choose when you pick it up. That means you can be in line for a ride and then set up a mobile order for when you get off the ride.

11) Bring snacks and refillable water bottles

Disneyland lets you bring in your own food and drinks. No need to sneak it in. So why wouldn’t you?

Although Disney food is delicious, it’s expensive. Save the food money for your meals and bring in your own snacks. This will help you cut costs and the time waiting for food. Plus Disneyland has plenty of water fountains to refill your water bottles.

I recommend getting a water bottle from Corkcicle. They have so many cool Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars water bottles and tumblers to choose from.

I also recommend bringing some Liquid IV packets along for your Disney day. With all the walking you will do in the day, you will need to stay hydrated. And your electrolytes will need some extra help. You can save 20% off your purchase on Liquid IV with the code DONNAGAILBLOG.

12) Try Single Rider lines to maximize your time at Disneyland

Single Rider lines are not always available at every ride. But when they are, they can be extremely helpful in maximizing your time at Disneyland.

If you can handle riding a ride without your group, use Single Rider. You will get the entire time waiting in line together and you’ll only be separated right before getting on the ride.

If you’re lucky, in some cases they will take multiple people from the Single Ride line. Which could mean that you and your friend could ride together. But this is never guaranteed. Do not use the Single Rider line to try to worm your way to the front and ride with your friends.

I recommend using Single Rider for rides that you have either already done. Or on rides that you don’t mind not sharing with your friend. Either way, Single Rider is a great way to maximize your time at Disneyland if used properly.

13) Book your hotel and tickets with Get Away Today

Only the pros know to book with Get Away Today. It’s not very well known and that’s fine because the deals are insane. And if everyone knew, they may not be able to run them!

Get Away Today gets you the best prices. Not just for hotels but for entry tickets as well! Give them a look for your Disney or non-Disney trips.

Try out all of these Disneyland tips the next time you visit! You would be surprised with how much you can get done.