10 ways to legitimately skip the lines at Disneyland

Visiting Disneyland can be magical, but long lines can sometimes dampen the experience. Here are 10 proven strategies to help you skip the lines at Disneyland and maximize your time in the theme parks!  Who needs long wait times? Not you! You’re on vacation; get ready for shorter lines and good times! This list is tried and true. I use these strategies to legitimately skip the lines at Disneyland on my park visits. 

How To Skip The Lines At Disneyland

Rope Drop

Rope dropping is one of the best strategies to avoid long lines. This involves arriving at the park before it officially opens and being one of the first people into the parks.  Disneyland Resort is perfect for this! Plan on arriving 45-60 minutes before the park opens so you can really take advantage of the lower wait times the first couple hours of the day. I like to hit the bigger rides when I rope drop. Attractions like Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones, and Matterhorn are great options because they’ll have minimal wait times first thing in the morning. Check out my complete guide to rope-dropping at Disneyland for more info. 

Stay Late

Staying late at the park can be just as effective as rope-dropping. The last two hours before the park closes, especially if it closes at midnight, often have significantly lower crowds. This strategy allows you to enjoy rides with shorter wait times, similar to the benefits of rope dropping. Another plus to staying late is the weather. If you’re visiting Disneyland during a hot time of year, staying late is a great way to enjoy the Disney parks without dealing with the heat!  

Use Single Rider Lines

Single-rider lines are a fantastic way to reduce wait times if you are okay with being separated from your group. Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park have several attractions with single-rider lines, including Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Soarin’ Over California, Goofy’s Sky School, Incredicoaster, and Grizzly River Run. Using the single-rider line can save you a substantial amount of time. You must be at least 7 years old to use the single rider line. 

Utilize Rider Switch

Rider switch(or rider swap) is beneficial if you have small children who cannot go on specific rides. One adult waits with the child while the rest of the group enjoys the attraction, and then the adults switch without waiting in the regular line again. This option is available for many rides and can save time for families. Check out my guide to rider switch at Disneyland for more info.

Monitor Ride Closures

It’s not uncommon for rides to go down occasionally throughout the day. Keep an eye on the Disneyland app for rides that are temporarily closed. When they reopen, the lines are usually much shorter initially. If you can jump in line shortly after the attraction reopens, you can skip the long lines! For example, if you see that Indiana Jones Adventure is down while you’re in the area, keep an eye on that attraction. If it opens up when you’re nearby, be ready to jump in line and skip the lines at Disneyland.

Take Advantage of Early Entry

If you’re staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel, take advantage of the Early Entry perk. With Early Entry, on-property hotel guests can enter the park 30 minutes before it opens to the general public. This is a great bonus when staying on the property! Early entry guests get a head start on the crowds and this is a great way to skip the lines at Disneyland! Check out my complete guide to Early Entry at Disneyland for more information. 

Use Lightning Lane Multi Pass

Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass can be a game changer if you know how to use it properly. Lightning Lane Multi Pass allows you to reserve a return time to the most popular rides in the parks. When it’s your turn, you can enter through the lightning land and skip the standby line altogether! This can help you skip the lines at Disneyland and save a lot of time. Make sure to educate yourself on how to use Lightning Lane Multi Pass effectively. You’ll be wasting your money if you don’t know how to use it. Please read my complete guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland for more information. 

Follow a Touring Plan

Using a well-thought-out touring plan can help you navigate the parks efficiently. A touring plan can help you skip the lines at Disneyland by sending you to attractions like Small World, Haunted Mansion, and Web Slingers at the best time of the day. I have touring plans designed to help you skip the lines at Disneyland! These plans provide a step-by-step guide for your day, optimizing your time and minimizing waits. I have touring plans with and without Lightning Lane Multi Pass. They are designed to help you make the most of your Disney vacations. 

Purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass

For the ultimate in line-skipping convenience, consider buying individual Lightning Lane passes for popular attractions like Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers. These passes allow you to bypass the regular line altogether and are separate from the Genie service. They are pricey, but they might be worth it if you want to skip the lines at Disneyland for those popular attractions. 

VIP Tours

A private VIP tour is a premium option that offers front-of-the-line access to many attractions. A VIP tour guide will take you around the Disney park and make sure you have a great time! While expensive, a VIP tour can make your day incredibly efficient and enjoyable, allowing you to experience the best of Disneyland with minimal wait times. This may be my favorite way to skip the lines at Disneyland! There are a lot of perks that come with private VIP tours.  Check out this video, where I share my VIP tour experience and Disneyland to help you decide if this exclusive tour might be right for you. 

Bonus Tip: Buddy Passes

For certain rides, like Monsters Inc. and Winnie the Pooh, you can use a Buddy Pass. A Buddy Pass is similar to the single-rider line but allows two (or sometimes three) people to ride together. Ask a cast member at the front of the line if the Buddy Pass is available. Buddy Pass is a great option, and I highly recommend using it for those two attractions! 

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Wrap Up

Combining these strategies allows you to make the most of your Disneyland visit, experiencing more rides and attractions with less time spent in line. Whether you’re a rope drop enthusiast or prefer to stay late, these tips will help you navigate the parks like a pro. Skipping the lines at Disneyland is possible! I know you’ll have such a good time on your Disneyland vacation!  Eat lots of dole whip treats for me and enjoy the short lines on those top attractions with these helpful tips! 

Enjoy your magical day at Disneyland!

Make sure to check out my podcast for lots of Disney planning information! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Just search for “Mix In Some Magic.” Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for lots of Disney tips and fun, and make sure you join my Disney planning Facebook group! It’s a great place to ask all your Disneyland planning questions and get expert help.