Planning the Perfect Disney Trip (with itinerary!)
By: Hannah Skinner ‘23
Looking to plan a fun Disney day this semester but don’t know where to start? With frequent price changes and complicated ticket policies, it’s hard to keep up, but as a Southern Californian, I go a couple of times each year and have created the perfect itinerary to tackle Disney if you only have one day in the parks.
How to purchase a ticket?
The first step on your magical adventure is to purchase a ticket and complete your park reservation online. Disneyland and California Adventure are not very big, especially in comparison to Disney World, so consider buying a park hopper to access both parks. It is easy to see most of both parks in a single day. When finalizing your reservation date, you have to select which park you’ll start the day in. I normally opt for Disneyland first. Which park you start in isn’t a huge deal, though, as you can hop to the next park as early as 11:00 a.m. and go between parks as often as you want.
I love to use this crowd forecaster that predicts which days of the year will be the most and least busy in the parks when I’m choosing my dates.
Unfortunately, USC no longer gives students a discount on Disneyland tickets. The cheapest way to go to Disneyland is a one-day ticket, no park hopper, and skip the Genie+ add-on. Even without all the bells and whistles, you will still have a blast! There is plenty to do in just one park.
The App
Nowadays the Disneyland app is an absolute necessity. It is the key to your trip and the tool for maximizing your day, so become familiar with it in advance. It serves as your ticket, a map, and a preview of all the wait times. You can also scan and link up all the tickets in your party onto one phone so you can reserve Lightning Lanes and scan tickets as a group. Additionally, mobile food ordering on the app is a great time-saver, and you can even schedule a pick-up window for your food.
How to get there from USC?
If you don’t have a car, AMTRAK Pacific Surfliner from Union Station in LA to ARTIC Station in Anaheim is your best bet. Once you arrive at ARTIC, you can transfer to Anaheim Regional Transportation bus number 14 or 15, which will take you to Disneyland resort. This bus ride should be free if you present your AMTRAK ticket. AMTRAK’s website has a great breakdown of getting to the park with pictures. Alternatively, you can always call an Uber or Lyft from the ARTIC instead of the bus.
What are Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane?
What you may remember as ‘FastPass’ has since been replaced by virtual ‘Lightning Lane’ reservations. Lightning Lanes are what they sound like: lines with shorter wait times. However, unlike FastPass, Lightning Lanes are no longer free.
The key terms to know are Genie and Genie+. Genie is the automatic and free feature in the Disney app that allows you to organize your day and gives itinerary recommendations. Genie+ is a paid feature in the app that gives you access to Lightning Lane reservations and is $25 per day per ticket. The price is unfortunate, but if you don’t like standing in hour-long lines, I’d argue it’s worth it!
Genie+ can be purchased as an add-on with the purchase of your ticket, or you can wait to purchase it once you enter the park. If you’re unsure whether you want it, you can always wait. With Genie+, you also get free access to unlimited photo downloads, including photos from rides and with characters. Most importantly, you can reserve a Lightning Lane for the select attractions that offer it. In making a Lightning Lane reservation, you don’t get to choose the return time for the ride. It will generate a time to return based on availability. You can make your next Lightning Lane selection when your return window for the first ride has started, or if your scheduled Lightning Lane return window is more than 2 hours away, you can make additional reservations for rides with earlier return times. It sounds complicated, but once you’re on the app trying to make reservations, the process will become clearer.
There are two Lightning Lane rides in the parks that do not come with Genie+ but instead must be purchased ‘a la carte.’ These are Rise of the Resistance (Disneyland) and Radiator Springs Racers (California Adventure). Pricing varies but will be around $20 per ticket per ride from my experience.
What Should I Bring?
Portable phone charger
Extra pair of socks and even a trash bag to repel water (in case you go on a water ride)
Light jacket (if you plan on staying after the sun goes down)
Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
Water bottle
Hand Sanitizer
Comfortable walking shoes
Snacks! They are allowed in the park.
Sample Itinerary (with my favorite food and rides!)
This schedule assumes you have bought the park hopper, will start in Disneyland, and bought Genie+. Since there is no way of knowing what return time you get for a Lightning Lane reservation, this schedule relies on estimated return times. There are also many unpredictable elements that you might face, like rides temporarily closing for technical errors or unexpected wait times. Going in with a flexible mindset is important so you can still have the best day possible.
Arrival
7:00 a.m.: You got there early so get a Starbucks drink and mini-breakfast in Downtown Disney! Getting to the park before it opens makes a major difference, so it’s worth the early wake-up.
7:30 a.m.: Get in line to scan your tickets and be in the park for Rope Drop!
Disney lets guests into the park’s Main Street before dropping the ropes and letting guests head towards all the rides and other areas of the park.
Disneyland
8:00 a.m.: Go directly to Space Mountain. It’s one of the most popular rides in the park, so by going right away, you speed through the line.
*Also reserve your first Lightning Lane on the app. Now is a good time to buy the ‘a la carte’ pass for for Rise of the Resistance*
8:40 a.m.: Big Thunder Mountain. It’s another popular ride that you will breeze through in the early morning hours.
9:00 a.m.: Indiana Jones. The line may be long but it’s not as bad as later in the day.
10:00 a.m.: Astro Blasters: a fun and interactive ride.
*You can reserve your next lightening lane now, Haunted Mansion is a great pick*
11:00 a.m.: Estimated return time for Rise of the Resistance. Time to make your way to Star Wars Land!
12:00 p.m.: Lunch: Docking Bay 7 or Ronto Roasters.
At Docking Bay 7, order the Fried Endorian Tip Yip (Fried Chicken) and Cold Brew Black Caf.
If you go to Ronto Roasters, try the Ronto-less Garden Wrap.
To try both, place your orders and then head over to the tables at Docking Bay 7.
For dessert, try Blue Milk from the Milk Stand, or find a churro from anywhere in the park!
*Reserve a Lightning Lane for Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout in California Adventure. It’s a popular ride, so the return time might be at night already*
1:00 p.m.: Estimated return time for Haunted Mansion.
2:30 p.m.: Snack Break: Mint Julep Bar.
My two favorite things to eat in the park are the beignets and the New Orleans Mint Julep (a minty lemonade drink).
*Reserve a Lightning Lane for another ride. Choose the Incredicoaster if you like roller coasters or Soarin’ Over California if you don’t*
California Adventure
3:30 p.m.: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure: It’s a kid’s ride with a small line, but a great way to cool off and relax in AC and comfortable seats.
4:15 p.m.: Silly Symphony Swings: a fun, carnival-like ride with a shorter line on average.
5:00 p.m.: Estimated return for Incredicoaster/Soarin’ Over California
*Pro-tip: If you don’t manage to get a Lightning Lane pass for Incredicoaster, you can always wait in their single-rider line to save time*
6:00 p.m.: Dinner: Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill or Pym’s Test Kitchen
At Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, get the QuesaBirria
If you go to Pym Test Kitchen, get the Not so Little Chicken Sandwich.
7:30 p.m.: Estimated return time for Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout.
This is my favorite ride out of both parks!
8:30 p.m.: Dessert: the Boardwalk by the Incredicoaster or the Cozy Cone Motel
Head towards the Incredicoaster to get a Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num (chocolate chip cookie) or going to Cozy Cone Motel for soft-serve or bacon mac’ and cheese.
9:00 p.m.: Stay for California Adventure’s World of Color Show: a night time fountain show at Paradise Pier, or leave if you are tired :)
Other Favorite Rides and Food
Food
Dole Whip: A pineapple soft-serve ice cream that is a Disneyland essential.
Carnation Cafe: A sit-down breakfast with great views of Main Street and Mickey-shaped Waffles
Bengal Barbeque: for a jungle-themed meat or vegetable skewers
Corn Dogs: Find them at Corn Dog Castle in California Adventure or Little Red Wagon in Disneyland
The Bakery Tour: Walk through The Bakery Tour for a free bread sample and see how sourdough bread is made
Naples Ristorante e Bar: At the end of the day try their amazing pizza in Downtown Disney for dinner
Rides
Pirates of the Caribbean (Disneyland)
Peter Pan’s Flight (Disneyland)
“it’s a small world” (Disneyland)
Radiator Springs Racers (California Adventure)
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure (California Adventure)
More Information
Ticket Reservation and Purchase
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