My Typical 2-Day Disneyland Schedule

I thought it would be helpful to share my typical schedule for Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) to show how I go around the park. My goal is to ride most of the rides and my favorites more than once. I do this by going to the park on less busy days when the crowds are small or a reasonable size, and by using MaxPass to reserve FastPasses as I go. My schedule may vary depending on the FastPasses that are available and how long wait times are. I only like to wait 20 minutes or less. FastPass selections can be made once the FastPass time window has arrived for a previous FastPass Selection or after a certain time period given to you when you make the reservation (which ever comes first).

I have included the height requirements for each ride, and the typical wait times on a slow to moderately busy day.

Day 1: Disney’s California Adventure

• Get to the park gates at least 30 minutes before rope drop. This allows me to get my tickets scanned in my phone and reserve my first FastPass, reserve either the World of Color or Fantasmic show FastPass, as well as grab a coffee if I need it.
• Rope Drop: Rush to Cars Land to ride Radiator Springs Racers.

Cars Land:

• Radiator Springs Racers – Height 40in – Typical Wait: 60-90 minutes First thing in the morning, I typically only have to wait about 20 minutes without a FastPass.
• While Waiting for my first FastPass time to arrive, I ride the other rides in Cars Land:
• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters – Height 32in – Typical Wait: 5-10 minutes
• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree – Height 32in – Typical Wait: 5-10 minutes

Hollywood Land (area):

• Guardian’s of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout – Height 40in – Typical Wait: 30-60 minutes. I try to make this my first FastPass Selection of the day because I can typically ride it within the second hour of the park opening, which allows me to make another FastPass Selection after the first hour.
• Make new FastPass Selection, I see how fast Cars Racers are going, and if it’s not too bad I reserve FastPasses for other rides at sooner times (so that I can make more FastPass Selections). If Cars Racers are going fast, I make a reservation for that so I can ride it one more time.
• Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue – Any Height – Typical Wait: 5-10 minutes.

Pixar Pier (and surrounding area):

• Incredicoaster – Height 48in – Typical Wait: 15-45 minutes. I ride this when I have a FastPass or if the wait is not too long (15-20 minutes). Wait time is Typically low in the morning, so I generally get a later FastPass for this. Pro Tip: Single rider is available, and wait is typically around 5-15 minutes.
• Toy Story Midway Mania – Any Height – Typical Wait: 30-60 minutes. Ride if I have a FastPass or if the wait is around 20 minutes
• Pixar Pal-A-Round Swinging Gondolas – Any Height – Typical Wait: 30 minutes. There is no FastPass so this one I have to wait, and the wait is almost always 30 minutes when I get there.
• Silly Symphony Swings – Height 40in – Typical Wait: 5 Minutes
• Goofy’s Sky School – Height 42in – Typical Wait: 15-20 Minutes I only ride this if the wait is 20 minutes or less. There is a FastPass for this ride but I never reserve it since it’s not high up on my list of rides.
• The Little Mermaid Ariel’s Undersea Adventure – Any Height – Typical Wait: 5-15 minutes. I always ride this because the wait time is so low.

Lunch: Lamplight Lounge – Reservation Recommended I always share the Lobster Nachos, they are delicious! They have many other appetizing food options such as their burgers and their carne asada roll. Perk of Restaurants: Water is free and Unlimited Soda Refills! This restaurant has a large menu of Alcoholic drink options as well as a Secret Drink Menu.

At this point I may go back to rides I enjoy if I have FastPasses, the rides I always have to ride at least twice are Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Incredicoaster.

Grizzly Peak:

• Grizzly River Run – Height 42in – Typical Wait: 5-10 minutes (unless there in the hotter months). I always ride this once no matter how cold it is. I think the thrill is to not get wet.
• Soarin’ Around the World – Height 40in – Typical Wait: 30-45 minutes. This is a DCA must! I always get a FastPass just because I don’t want to wait 30 minutes or longer.

Now I can relax since I hit all the rides I wanted to. If I stay in DCA, I ride more rides and take more photos, watch the parade, and watch the World of Color. If I decide to go to Disneyland, I ride my favorite rides and do any extras like visit characters or watch the parade and fireworks or Fantasmic. I typically don’t have dinner plans and just choose a grab and go option.

Rides that I skipped: Golden Zephyr, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, Jessie’s Critter Carousel, and Jumping Jellyfish

Day 2: Disneyland

• Get to the park gates at least 30 minutes before rope drop. This allows me to get my tickets scanned in my phone and reserve my first FastPass, reserve any show FastPasses, as well as grab a coffee if I need it.
• Rope Drop: Rush to Peter Pan’s Flight

Fantasyland: Why is this first? Peter Pan is one of my favorite rides, is always busy and there is no FastPass for it. Plus a lot of the little kids aren’t in the park first thing in the morning, so wait times are very low. Also, Fantasyland closes at night during the firework display.

• Make a FastPass reservation for Space Mountain.
• Peter Pan’s Flight– Any Height – Typical Wait: 30-45 minutes I typically wait around 20 minutes if I get here first thing in the morning.
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures – Any Height – Typical Wait: 5-15 minutes, but 5 or less in the morning
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey– Any Height – Typical Wait: 5-15 minutes, but 5 or less in the morning
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride – Any Height – Typical Wait: 5-25 minutes, but 5 or less in the morning
• Alice in Wonderland – Any Height – Typical Wait: 15-35 minutes, but around 5-10 minutes in the morning.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds – Height 42in – Typical Wait: 30-45 minutes, but around 10-15 minutes in the morning without a FastPass. I ride this on my way to Tomorrowland.
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant (sometimes) – Any Height – Typical Wait: 30 minutes, or about 15 minutes in the morning
• Storybook Land Boats (sometimes) – Any Height – Typical Wait: 15-30 minutes, but around 5 minutes in the morning.
• Rides I typically skip, but can ride in 5 minutes or less: Casey Jr. Circus Train and King Arthur Carousel. I also wait to ride the Tea Cups at night for a better atmosphere.

I can typically knock out Fanstasyland in the first hour to hour and a half!

Tomorrowland:

• Make FastPass reservation for Buzz Lightyear, then Star Tours. They typically will be available within the same hour, if the park is not too busy.
• Hyperspace Mountain – Height 40in – Typical Wait: 45-60 minutes This is my favorite ride! I always get a FastPass for this. Pro Tip: Single Rider is available for a much shorter wait and located inside just past the Star Trader Store, near the Bathrooms.
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – Any Height – Typical Wait: 15-45 minutes. I only ride if the wait is 10 minutes or less or with a FastPass.
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue – Height 40in – Typical Wait: 30-60 minutes. I only ride if I have a FastPass.
• Autotopia (sometimes) – Height 32in – Typical Wait: 15-35 minutes I ride when the wait is 20 minutes or less.
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – Any Height – Typical Wait: 10-40 minutes. I only ride when the wait is 15 minutes or less.
• Ride I skip: Astro Orbiter

Adventureland/Frontierland:

• Where I go next is based on my next FastPass Selection or wait times. I normally make my 4th FastPass selection for Indiana Jones.
• Walt Dinsey’s Enchanted Tikki Room (sometimes) and Dole Whip (always!) – Any Height – Wait Time: 10 minutes. Sometimes I’ll go in here to get to sit down, get out of the heat, and enjoy the show while eating my Dole Whip.
• Indiana Jones Adventure – Height 46in – Typical Wait: 30-60 minutes I have to have a FastPass for this ride, I have only ridden this ride once without a FastPass when I only had to wait 20 minutes.
• Jungle Cruise – Any Height – Typical Wait: 10-30 minutes I ride when wait time is 15 minutes or less.
• Pirates of the Caribbean – Any Height – Typical Wait: 15-30 minutes There is no FastPass for this, but always worth it especially at only 10-15 minute wait. I’ve been able to walk right on many times as well.
• Mark Twain Riverboat (sometimes) – Any Height – Typical Wait: 10 minutes
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Height 40in – Typical Wait: 20-45 minutes. Ride with FastPass or when the wait is 20 minutes or less.

Lunch: Fast Service Counters whatever I’m feeling like.

Other Must Rides: Depending on wait times and FastPasses:

• Haunted Mansion– Any Height – Typical Wait: 30-90 minutes (October-December) Wait times for this are insane during the Holiday Nightmare Before Christmas Edition, so a FastPass is a must.
• Splash Mountain – Height 40in – Typical Wait: 5-40 minutes (and even higher waits in the summer) Use a FastPass or ride when the wait is 15 minutes or less
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (sometimes) – Any Height – Typical Wait: 5-20 minutes. I only ride when the wait is 10 minutes or less
• Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run – Height 38in – Typical Wait: 20-60 minutes. I rode this for the first time in December 2019, and I waited 20 minutes, no FastPasses were available. It was a lot of fun, but more fun if you have 6 people to have the Millennium Falcon to yourself!
• Star Wars Rise of the Resistance: Launching January 17, 2020
• “It’s a Small World” – Any Height – Typical Wait: 10-30 minutes FastPasses available, but I have always been able to walk right on or wait 5-10 minutes.
• Disneyland Railroad – Any Height – Typical Wait: 15-30 minutes One full loop is must if you only have to wait 15 minutes.

From here I may go to Toon Town and ride Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin (FastPass recommended, wait times get long), or visit characters, and ride rides again.

Dinner: Cafe Orleans – Reservations Recommended. I always share the Pommes Frites and the Monte Cristo, plus unlimited Coke a Cola!

Optional Drinks: Oga’s Cantina – Reservations Required This is the only place in Disneyland (other than Club 33) where you can have alcoholic drinks. Oga’s Cantina requires reservations, standing room only, has a time limit of 45 minutes, and a limit of two drinks. They also offer non-alcoholic drinks and a few snack items. I booked for the experience and the atmosphere was pretty cool. I wouldn’t go here every time but it was a check off of my Disney bucket list!

Rides I Ride more than Once:

• Hyperspace Mountain
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Big Thunder Mountain
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Pirates of the Caribbean

Rides I Skip Most of the Time: Casey Jr. Circus Train, King Arthur Carousel, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Storybook Land Boats, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Autotopia, Astro Orbiter, and Mark Twain Riverboat.

I hope this helps you plan your day in Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure!

Let me know if you want more posts about Disneyland (food, tips, Instagram photo spots, where to stay, etc.)!