1-Day Disneyland Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide

Sometimes you don’t have as much time to spend at Disneyland as you would like. When you only have 1-day, what do you see? Is it even possible to do Disneyland in 1-day? It totally is and here is a Disneyland itinerary to hopefully help make the most of the time you have.

Yes, it is totally possible to do Disneyland in one day. In fact, you even have a couple of different options to make it a great trip.

If you only have a day, one of the first things that you need to ask yourself is if you are going to upgrade your ticket to a park hopper.

Disneyland Itinerary For 1-Day In The Park

If there is only one day to spare at the magical Disneyland parks, here is what I recommend. If you have been reading my posts for a while, then you know that I always recommend spending a minimum of 2 days between the two parks.

But I understand that there are sometimes situations when you can’t spend 2 days, and all you have is one day. If this is the boat that you are in, hopefully, this itinerary helps make the most out of the day.

Below you will find my recommendations on things to do prior to arriving at Disneyland, as well as different itineraries for if you got the park hopper ticket or not. Having a park hopper ticket definitely can change things, as far as an itinerary would go.

Hopefully one of these itineraries can help you on your next trip to Disneyland when you only have one day to spend.

Prior To Arrival At Disneyland

These are things that you should do prior to leaving your hotel! Better yet, it would be best if these things were done prior to leaving for vacation. They may seem really silly, but they will save valuable time later down the road.

If you haven’t linked your tickets to the Disneyland App, then that is the first thing you should do. I go over step by step how to do that here in my blog post Everything You Need To Know About The Disneyland App.

Another thing that I recommend deciding prior to going to arriving is deciding whether or not you are going to utilize the free services of Disney Genie, or purchase Disney Genie+ or any Lightning Lane access. If you need details on what those are you can check out my blog post What You Need To Know About Disney’s Genie+.

If you are taking your children, then I recommend checking the heights of the rides prior to leaving. This can help get kids excited for certain rides, or break the news that they might not be tall enough for certain rides. For a breakdown of all the height requirements for both parks, check out my blog post Disneyland Height Requirements.

Genie Plus Options

If you do decide to purchase Genie+ or Lightning Lane, then I recommend a few choices first.

If you aren’t sure about purchasing Genie+, then you can read more about Genie, Genie+, and Lighting Lanes in my post here; What You Need To Know About Disney’s Genie+.

If you are going to Disneyland for the day, it would be good to start reservations with a popular ride, such as Space Mountain, or Big Thunder Railroad. These are rides that are most likely going to have longer wait times during the day.

Pro Tip: Double-check which rides will be closed due to refurbishment. This is important to do prior to planning any trip, but really important when it comes to reserving for Genie+. This could almost make Genie+, not worth it, depending on which rides will be down.

If you are going to Disney California Adventure then making a reservation for Toy Story Midway Mania, or Incredicoaster would be great choices. Because, again, those are going to be rides that have pretty long wait times throughout the day. So anything to help out on that wait time will be well worth it.

There is a lot of discussion around whether or not spending the extra money on purchasing Genie+ is worth it. Honestly, if you only have one day to spend at the parks, then it would be a really good investment as your time is going to be limited and there is a lot to see and do.

Helpful Genie+ Tips

If you are staying on-resort at Disneyland, then you are able to make your first Lightning Lane reservation at 7 am before you enter the parks. It is really important if you want to make the most out of the trip to make that first reservation first thing when you are able to.

You can only have one reservation at a time. And will not be able to book another Genie+ reservation until you either use up the first one you made, cancel that reservation, or it has been 2 hours since you made the reservation.

The only exception to this rule is if you pay for a separate a la carte Lightning Lane Reservation. The only ride within Disneyland that utilizes this is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. I would highly recommend spending the money for the ride. Disney California Adventure has Lightning Lane options for WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Ride and Radiator Springs Racers.

Also, you can only use Genie+ once per ride. In other words, you can only use it once for Space Mountain, and once for Splash Mountain. You can’t just use Genie+ to ride the same attraction all day long. A similar rule applies to purchasing the a la carte Lighting Lane options too.

Going Without Park Hopper Itinerary

Again, if you have been following this blog for a minute, then you know that I don’t think that the park hopper option is worth it. If you are in the same boat, don’t know whether you should spend the money, or don’t want to deal with the stress of park hopping.

This itinerary is for you. But keep in mind that then you are only going to be able to go to either Disneyland OR Disney California Adventure.

I will only create a one-day itinerary for Disneyland because chances are if you only have one day to enjoy the parks you are going to want to spend time in Disneyland.

1-Day Itinerary: Disneyland

Arrive Early for Rope Drop – Disneyland allows guests to enter the park about 30 minutes prior to the park actually opening. All the lands are roped off, and the ‘rope drop’ doesn’t happen until the park officially opens.

Meaning if the parks open at 8 am, the cast members start letting guests in at 7:30, so the lines start forming to get into the front gates at around 7 am – 7:15 am!

Getting in the parks ready for rope drop can give you a great advantage over others. But in order to do that, you need to get to security early. If you aren’t staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel then I recommend getting to the security line at least an hour early! Lines form fast, and it can take a lot of time to get through security and bag check.

Fantasyland Rope Drop – If you have young children, or wish to maximize rides, then being at the rope drop for Fantasyland can be a great way to do that. There are a lot of rides in Fantasyland, and if timed correctly, you can see all to most of them within the first 2 hours of the park opening!

But know that Peter Pan’s Flight is usually the place that everyone goes to first. If you can beat the crowd, and get in line early then it is a good one to knock out first. Otherwise, expect the wait time to be around 45 minutes or longer.

If done correctly, you should be able to knock out Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Peter Pan’s Flight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and Matterhorn Bobsleds first thing in the morning.

Tomorrowland – Then I recommend going to Tomorrowland to hit up Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. These are other rides that typically get longer wait times during the afternoon, so knocking them out first things in the morning helps.

Snacks – There is a churro cart and a popcorn cart towards the middle of Tomorrowland that is always a great pit stop for a snack. Additionally, there is quite a bit of seating in Tomorrowland to sit down and enjoy the snacks.

Adventureland – Now this can be done either after Tomorrowland or instead of Tomorrowland. The decision is up to you. But heading over to Adventureland towards the afternoon I recommend, as most of the queues are inside, plus it is by some great options for lunch if you want to stop and grab a bite.

In Adventureland, I recommend hitting up Indiana Jones Adventure, Jungle Cruise, and then going to check out Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room is a great option if you have little ones, or if it is hot out. The 5 minutes show is inside, air-conditioned, and you get to sit down for a bit. It is quite enjoyable.

Snacks – If you don’t want to see Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, then head over to Tropical Hideaway for a snack. They have some Dole Whip, which is always an enjoyable treat regardless of what the temperature is outside.

And in case you aren’t a Dole Whip fan, then they do offer other tasty snacks as well that I highly recommend. They are perfect portions for snacks too, to not get too full before a meal.

New Orleans Square – Haunted Mansion is the big one to knock out! The line tends to minimize a bit during the usual lunchtime, as most people are trying to grab a bite.

Pro Tip: If you can have meals (lunch and dinner) not during the typical times then you can capitalize on some rides while others eat.

If you are feeling daring, then you can also head over to Critter County and go on Splash Mountain. Otherwise, I recommend going over to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge – This is one of my favorite spots in Disneyland, and I seriously could spend a whole morning here alone.

Hitting up Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance first is best, if the wait time is really long, then I recommend purchasing the Lighting Lane access for the attraction. Even though it seems a bit pricey to spend an additional $20 per person. But it definitely beats the 75+ minute wait, and the ride is really cool and should be experienced at least once.

Lunch – Now is a good time to have some lunch. It should be after a majority of people have lunch. Since you are already in Batuu, I recommend having lunch at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. They have some great options for food that isn’t too heavy to slow you down for the rest of the day.

Or you could always grab a light snack at Oga’s Cantina along with some really cool drinks.

Mickey’s Toontown – If there are young ones in the group, then heading over to Toontown is always a good idea. Or if you are interested in meeting and getting photos with characters. You will find all of the classic characters at Toontown in their respective houses.

UPDATE: Mickey’s Toontown will be closing on March 9, 2022, and won’t reopen until sometime in 2023!

Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is a great ride for all ages that doesn’t have a height requirement. The ride is similar to the classic rides in Fantasyland. For a miniature coaster, there is Gadget’s Go Coaster, but there is a height requirement.

By this time, you have hit pretty much all of the main attractions within Disneyland. This leaves times for if you wish to hit any ride again, or go and see any ride that wasn’t mentioned earlier. Such as Winnie the Pooh in Critter County, or Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Fantasyland.

Dinner – When it comes to eating dinner there are a few different options. One of my favorite places to eat Dinner in Disneyland is at Red Rose Taverne in Fantasyland. The meals are pretty basic, burgers and such, but they do also offer some season desserts and fun treats.

Another great recommendation for dinner is River Belle Terrace. It is more of a sit-down-style restaurant with some good selections for everyone.

Disney at Night – When the sun goes down, that is when the parks really come to life. And can also be some of the best times to experience some of those outdoor rides.

Attractions like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Matterhorn Bobsleds can be a lot of fun to experience at night. In fact, it can be a great time to experience these attractions, with little wait times if there is a nighttime fireworks show, parade, or spectacular happening at the same time.

It would even be my best recommendation to skip any fireworks show, or spectacular to hit some of the bigger attractions that you might want to enjoy again, or didn’t enjoy earlier due to long wait times.

UPDATE: Fireworks shows aren’t scheduled for every night at Disneyland. Be sure to check the date that you are in the park to see if there is going to be a fireworks show for the day that you are there. Additionally, spectaculars like World of Color and Fantasmic are currently unavailable and are expected to return sometime in 2022.

Disneyland Itinerary With Park Hopper

If you decided to spend the extra money (about $60/ticket) and do the park hopper option, then this is the Disneyland itinerary for you.

There are going to be some similarities between this itinerary and the one without the park hopper options, but there are also differences to accommodate park hopping.

With the new park reservation system, Disney doesn’t allow guests to park hop until after 1 pm and they have checked into their first park for the day. When you make your park reservations, you will need to decide which park you are starting the day at.

For the park hopper option, I would recommend starting out in Disney’s California adventure, then making your way over to Disneyland when it comes time to park hop. This is because Disney’s California Adventure is smaller than Disneyland, meaning that it can be easier to get through all of the must-do things.

However, I will give a park hopper 1-day itinerary for starting at each park. That way you can have options regardless of which park you start in.

Park Hopper Itinerary: Disney California Adventure

Rope Drop Avengers Campus – Getting to the parks early really does pay off! Since Avengers Campus is the newest land to open up at the Disneyland Resort, it does get busy really quickly.

Getting to Avengers Campus first thing in the morning means that you can ride the popular ride, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Ride before the line gets long (or before it breaks down).

Breakfast – Even if you don’t want to do WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Ride, then I recommend having breakfast at Pym Test Kitchen! They have the best tater-tots I think that I have ever had! With a beer mimosa! Perfect breakfast for a day at the parks!

Radiator Springs – Next to Avengers Campus, Radiator Springs is still a popular place. Everyone loves Radiator Springs Racers! After rope dropping Avengers Campus, I recommend heading over to Radiator Springs to enjoy things before the lines get long.

Radiator Springs Racers is available for an individual Lightning Lane purchase if you wish to help bypass the potentially long wait time. This would be a good investment if the ride is a must-see, as wait times can get to about 90 minutes or more.

Pixar Pier – Hitting up Pixar Pier right before lunchtime is a great way to see some shorter wait times, as most others are going to be thinking and going to lunch.

This can mean shorter lines for Toy Story Midway Mania, Incredicoaster, Jessie’s Critter Carousel, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, and Pixar Pal-A-Round. Which are all great rides to enjoy, for kids and adults.

Lunch – There are a few good options for Lunch on Pixar Pier. There are other good options in Pacific Wharf, or you can enjoy lunch in Downtown Disney before you park hop over to Disneyland.

Personally, I would recommend mobile ordering for lunch, as it helps bypass waiting in line. Lucky Fortune Cookery and Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill are two great options for mobile ordering in the Pacific Wharf area.

Park Hop: Disneyland – After lunch, head over to Disneyland to enjoy the second half of the day. Just make sure that it is after 1 pm, otherwise, you won’t be allowed to enter the park. Additionally, if the park is already at capacity then you won’t be able to enter the park as well.

Fantasyland – Heading to Fantasyland just after lunch is a good time to capitalize on some slower wait times. This usually is a great time to get the little circle of rides (Snow White, Peter Pan, etc) that is right on the other side of the castle.

Let’s be honest, those guests who go to the parks that have younger children might need to take a break from the parks for nap time.

New Orleans Square – After enjoying Fantasyland, hitting up New Orleans Square is always a great choice. Going on Haunted Mansion is almost a staple ride that everyone needs to go on during a trip. A trip to Disneyland isn’t complete without it.

Galaxy’s Edge: Batuu – A trip to Disneyland wouldn’t be complete without checking out the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Batuu! I personally love grabbing a snack at Ronto Roasters!

Stopping at Ronto Roasters is quick and easy with mobile ordering! And having a Tatooine Sunset or a Meiloorun Juice is perfect in the afternoon. It is oh so refreshing, especially with that Batuu heat!

If you have a group of about 4 – 6 people, then I would recommend doing Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Now, yes you could absolutely do this with fewer people, however, the max seating is 6 people. They will stick single riders or smaller groups if you don’t have enough people.

Since Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is still fairly new, and still a popular attraction, they are trying to maximize capacity in each cockpit. Which helps get guests through the ride with less of a wait.

But this does also mean that you could be trying to fly with a bunch of strangers who might not share your enthusiasm.

Tomorrowland – Is one of my favorite lands primarily because it has Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, which let’s face, is one of the best attractions in all of Disneyland. Also the home to Space Mountain, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, which are other fan favorites.

This is also a really good place to get regular and season churros, as well as Mickey-shaped pretzels. And yes, the Mickey shape does make it taste better!

Frontierland – I would recommend hitting up Frontierland closer to nighttime. Simply because riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at night is something that is truly incredible, and a unique experience.

The wait time for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is usually slowest during a fireworks show, or during a parade. If you are okay with skipping those during your trip, then it can be a great time to hit up the more popular rides.

Park Hopper Itinerary: Disneyland

Rope Drop Adventureland – If you are planning on park hopping then I recommend getting all of the big popular rides out of the way first thing in the morning. By starting in Adventureland, you can knock out Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion, easily.

Or if you wanna pass Haunted Mansion, then you can go through Frontierland and hit up Big Thunder Mountain. Either way, after you knock out those 3 or 4 big rides then you can head over to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Batuu and do Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

Before you spend the time heading over to Batuu, check the app to ensure that both of the rides are open. Rise of the Resistance has a bad habit of breaking down quite often, which means that

Can’t-Miss Disneyland Attractions

Obviously, there are some things that Disneyland has to offer that are can’t-miss activities. These are things that I would put at the top of your priority list, regardless of how many times you have gone to the parks. They are timeless classics!

• It’s A Small World
  • I know what you might be thinking “Red, the song will be stuck in my head for days!” I know, I know, but it really is a great ride. It gives you an opportunity to get off your feet for a few minutes and enjoy the air conditioning. Which is ESSENTIAL during a summertime visit. What more do you need?
• Jungle Cruise
  • Because everyone needs to see the 8th wonder of the world! The backside of water!
• Space Mountain
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Another timeless classic that is just enjoyable regardless of age.
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Haunted Mansion
  • Especially if you go during the holidays, and experience the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay that they do. It is a really cool way to get into the festive spirit for the holidays (available Sept-Dec).

Can’t Miss Disney California Adventure Attractions

These are some of the best rides at Disney California Adventure. Rides that definitely shouldn’t be missed, and everyone should experience them. Some may disagree, but these are essential rides that I have to go on at least once during every trip!

• Toy Story Midway Mania
  • This ride is just so much fun! It brings out the competition
• Soarin’ Around the World
  • An enjoyable (air-conditioned) ride.
• Radiator Springs Racers
  • A fun ride that everyone in the family can enjoy! (Pro-tip: Try to get in a red car!)
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
  • This is a thrill ride! But personally one of my favorites and a must-do on every trip. During Halloween time, they have a special experience Monsters After Dark.
• The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
  • This is one of those rides similar to “It’s A Small World”. It is a cute little ride, and it is air-conditioned. Which can be really nice during those hot California days.

Things To Do In Disneyland In One Day For Adults

It is often said that Disneyland is only for children and families. But in recent years the term ‘Disney Adult’ has risen in popularity. It is almost normal now for adults to go to Disneyland and enjoy the parks, whether they have children or not.

And there are plenty of different things for those Disney Adults to do within the parks. Whether it is enjoying the nostalgia of rides they enjoyed as a kid or enjoying one of the many more adult geared things throughout the park.

Most people don’t know how many “adult” areas there are around the parks. So here are my best recommendations for adult fun throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

Full disclosure, most of these recommendations involve places that have a good bar. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy them if you don’t drink alcohol. They will also have plenty of fun non-alcoholic drink options too.

But I do plan on writing a more in-depth post on doing Disney as an adult.

Oga’s Cantina – One of the top recommendations is to go to Oga’s Cantina. Get a reservation and go! They have amazing drinks and tasty snacks and just add to the whole experience of being in Batuu at Galaxy’s Edge.

Additionally, it is the only place currently in Disneyland that sells alcohol within the park. And don’t worry, if you don’t drink alcohol, they still have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks available. Many of them are still fun-looking drinks!

Lamplight Lounge – Open for Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner, this is a great place to enjoy a meal right on the water in Disney California Adventure. Located right at the entrance of Pixar Pier, Lamplight Lounge has incredible food and an amazing drink menu.

Pym’s Test Kitchen – Probably hands down my favorite location in Disney California Adventure. Not only is their food incredible; but next to the Kitchen they have Pym’s Test Lab, which has a variety of different drink options.

Plus let’s be honest, enjoying a drink while in the middle of Avengers Campus when you can turn around and see your favorite Marvel characters is just really cool.

Trader Sam’s – Located at the Disneyland Hotel, this is a fun jungle/adventure-themed restaurant. Because Trader Sam’s isn’t actually in a Disney park, you don’t need to purchase admission tickets to enjoy and get that Disney Magic feel.

Hearthstone Lounge – Located in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, this is a great place for anyone looking for a more relaxing setting. There are seats next to a fireplace in the lobby where you can grab a drink and enjoy the fire and live performances.

Best Time-Saving Tips For 1-Day In Disneyland

The best time-saving tip for only spending one day in Disneyland… shoot it is a great time-saving tip regardless of how many days you go to the Disney parks. Plan ahead!

1. Have a Game Plan!
2. Rope Drop the Park! Dining Reservations! (reserve at off times)
3. Dining Reservations (especially during off times)
4. Utilize Mobile Ordering
5. Save shopping for the end of the day

Alright, now let’s break it down a bit further.

Don’t get me wrong, it is always fun to be a little spontaneous. You can still be spontaneous when you get to Disneyland, but if you don’t have at least a slight game plan it could seriously cost you some valuable time

Getting to the parks early for rope drop can help knock out a bunch of rides early with minimal wait times!

At a minimum, I recommend having dining reservations for dinner. This allows a guarantee that you are going to have a table. Sometimes, especially during a dinner rush things can get busy. Save yourself some time and make a dining reservation.

Dining reservations can be made up to 60 days before your trip. Take advantage of that window and book the reservation. I also highly recommend that you book for off times, so just before or just after the usual lunch or dinner times.

Additionally, if you need snacks throughout the day, utilize mobile ordering through the Disneyland App. It is a great way to save time waiting in line! You can even schedule your mobile order reservations early in the morning!

Saving the shopping for the end of the day means that you don’t have to carry everything around with you for the day! This makes it easier to get on and off rides, and just gives you one less thing to stress about during the day.

Disneyland Itinerary FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding a Disneyland Itinerary for a day. If there are any other questions that you might have about a specific trip, please feel free to reach out.

Is 1-Day Enough For Disneyland?

It is enough for Disneyland, but it also isn’t enough for Disneyland. The only people who I think are ever content with only going for 1-day are those that go multiple times a month.

Personally, I would never recommend staying for one day, I would definitely encourage seeing what you can do to stay for at least 2-days. But that’s another post.

Is It Possible To Ride Every Ride In Disneyland In 1 Day?

Disneyland itself has a total of 30 rides, not including the train ride around the park, or that style of ride.

With the average wait time being over 30 minutes for each ride. It is almost impossible to ride every ride in Disneyland within their opening hours.

Additionally, there are always a few rides that are getting refurbished, or that are getting changed to fit a holiday season.

However, with the right Disneyland itinerary it is possible to get on most of the rides. All you need is a bit of planning.

Ordinary Adventures recently shared a video on their youtube channel about doing 11 rides in 2 hours at Disneyland. This is pretty impressive, you can see how they do that below.

They really do share some great ways to capitalize on seeing a lot of rides in a short amount of time.

How Much Does 1-Day In Disneyland Cost?

The average 1-day admission ticket costs anywhere between $104 to $125. That is just the cost to get into the parks. That doesn’t include any meals, snacks, and merchandise that you will most likely buy.

Additionally, if you purchase tickets with the park hopper option, that is going to cost an additional $60. This can raise the ticket cost to anywhere between $164-$224, depending on the month, and day of the week.

It also doesn’t include the cost of Disney’s Genie+. Which is an additional $20 for the day, plus if you purchase any of the Lightning Lane for the bigger rides, it can add up.

The Wrap Up: 1-Day Disneyland Itinerary

Visiting Disneyland in a day is totally doable, but needs a little bit more planning. It is definitely not something that I would recommend doing on a whim, or without a game plan. That is of course unless you are an avid park-goer.

Especially with all of the current requirements and needing a park reservation in addition to having tickets, it definitely not easy to do on a whim.

The best tip for doing Disneyland in one day is to have a plan and a Disneyland Itinerary. This is exactly why I created one for you so that you don’t get overwhelmed by all the things that there are to do within the parks.

Hopefully, these ideas you can either follow directly for a good time or they can help give you ideas for how you wish to tackle the parks. If you would like a custom itinerary for a trip, send me an email, or dm on Instagram. I’d be happy to help!