I would like to start off by saying I'm somewhat ill-qualified to be writing this blog because I have never done Disneyland in one day; I've always made it at least a two-day affair. That being said, I've been to Disneyland more than your Average Jane, so I want to attempt to help those of you who only have the time or money to spend one day at Disneyland. However, this may be helpful to anyone who is going for the first time or doesn't go often. It is also important to mention that while my last day in the park was June 1st, Cars Land and Buena Vista Street open at California Adventure tomorrow (June 15th), so there are a lot of changes going on in that park that I have not experienced.
The question I've been asked a lot lately is: What type of ticket should I get? If you are going to Disneyland for the first time and/or live faraway and don't know when you will be coming back to the park, I highly suggest getting a Park Hopper ticket. This will allow you to go to both Disneyland (DL) and Disney California Adventure (DCA). I do think it is worth the price difference. You're paying a lot either way, so you might as well make the most of it. If you cannot afford the price difference, your one park should definitely be Disneyland if that was ever a question. If you are going to VidCon, you can purchase a ticket here. If you happen to be reading this and going to Disneyland in a trip unrelated to VidCon, you can purchase tickets here, at the ticket booth in the park, or at any Disney Good Neighbor hotel. Those three options are probably all going to cost the same, but I recommend purchasing tickets through your hotel because that will have the shortest line. (If you print it out online you still have to go through the ticket booth to get a physical ticket to take into the park. You can have it mailed to you, but that will cost extra.)
In preparation it is a good idea to bring layers of clothing. A typical summer day at Disneyland day may be in the 80s (F) but can get down to the low 60s (F) at night. Sweatshirts are a lot to carry around, so I personally like to bring a light long-sleeve shirt that takes up very little space in my bag. You can rent a locker for anything you don't want to carry around in the park. I'm going to say that this is around $10, but I've never done this so I'm not sure. As someone with incredibly pale skin and a family history of skin cancer, I feel it is my duty to tell you to remember to use sunblock and reapply it several times during the day, especially if you go on water rides. You'll thank me later when you don't have to ask anyone to rub aloe all over your back. Make sure at least one person in your group has a camera, and make sure that they use it. You will be very disappointed if you realise you don't have pictures from your magical day. A great thing about Disney compared to other theme parks is that you can bring food into the park with you. Once you get into the park, food will be incredibly overpriced, so if you're trying to make this as inexpensive a trip as possible, consider packing a PB & J and some snacks. It's a good idea to bring in your own water as well. And bring chapstick. My friends always forget chapstick.
Disneyland has ever-changing hours, but for most of the summer Disneyland is open from 8 AM to 12 AM and upon the re-opening of California Adventure, it will be open from 8 AM to 11 PM. These are the hours of July 1st and the time surrounding VidCon, but if you are going at another time (especially if it's not summer) you may want to look up the hours for the day(s) you're going. If this is your only day at the park, I would recommend you wake up early and try to arrive at the park by at least 7:30. It takes at least 10 minutes to get to the park itself from any parking lot and there are going to be lines to get into the park. Arriving right when the park opens not only gives you the most time in the park, but it'll pretty much guarantee a short wait for your first ride and will give you a jump on grabbing a Fast Pass (which I will explain later if you don't know what that is). Don't forget to grab a schedule on your way into the park. This will tell you showtimes for the whole day for both parks. You will probably also want a map as well. These are both located right as you come into the park where the cast member scans your ticket. If this is your first time in the park, it's your birthday, or you're celebrating anything, you can go into City Hall (located on Main Street to the left as you enter the park) and get a button. You'll probably have to wait quite awhile for this in the morning because people like to do this first to show the button off all day, but if you go during the evening you most likely won't have to wait in line at all.
Keep in mind that if you are going to the park on July 1st, this is the official Disney Day for a convention of over six thousand people, is during peak season, and is two weeks after the Grand Re-Opending of DCA. There are going to be lines. You're going to have to wait in them. Once you're in said line, commit to it and be patient. Look at this as time you get to spend with your friends. I will try to give you as many tips as possible to avoid the worst lines, but you will still do plenty of waiting.
Things You Shouldn't Miss
Obviously this is going to be subjective, but here are the things I wouldn't want to miss if I only had one day at the Disneyland Resort. If you are a person who doesn't normally do roller coasters, remember that this is Disneyland. Kids go on them and they are not that fast.
In Disneyland
Space Mountain*
This is a roller coaster in a dark room that makes it look as if you are riding through space. It's not the fastest roller coaster ever, but it's a ton of fun. I recommend having dance parties while riding this.
Star Tours*
A 3D simulated ride through space with C-3P0, this is my favourite ride in the whole park since it re-opened June 3rd of last year. I've never ridden it as a person who doesn't like Star Wars, but I think it would be enjoyable even if for some crazy reason you've never seen the films.
Matterhorn
This bobsled ride up a mountain re-opens tomorrow (June 15th) with brand new, less awkward seating. It now fits three people to a sled with no lap-sitting. It's a fun coaster that features an abominable snowman and goes faster at night (unless that changes with the new cars).
"It's a Small World"
I know this ride is infamous for it's catchy and repetitive song, but I honestly think it's part of the Disneyland experience. This is one of those rides that will often have a line that looks intimidatingly long, but they're constantly loading people onto boats, so the line is constantly moving and goes quite fast.
At Least One Dark Ride in Fantasyland
I'm pretty sure "Dark Ride" is a technical term. What I mean by that is the storybook rides that are basically a re-hashing of a Disney movie in ride form. A lot of people write these off as little kid rides. You know what? You're at Disneyland. If you can't be a kid at Disneyland, where can you be? My favourite is Peter Pan's Flight, but Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Alice in Wonderland are also fun. So you know for planning, part of Fantasyland closes before the fireworks (I believe around 8 or so) and opens up again around 10 PM. Avoid Fantasyland in the afternoon as much as possible since that is when the most young children are in the park.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad*
This is another of the mountain coasters. It generally has the shortest line of any of the mountains. For the fastest ride, sit towards the back of the train. This is a ride where you slide around a lot and the person on the left may get squished, so take size into account when you board. Also, 3 small-average adults can fit in one seat. If you're not going to see any of the nighttime shows (or you're going multiple days), this is the best ride to be on during the fireworks.
Indiana Jones*
A bouncy jeep ride through one of 3 slightly different temple rooms with Indiana Jones. If you are like Indy and have a phobia of snakes, you probably shouldn't ride this. Otherwise, it's a must-do adventure.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Hang out on a boat with some animatronic pirates (they're not actually ON the boat, you are.) Starts out nice and calm, then you'll go down a couple drops (which occasionally get you wet) and you'll find yourself in the middle of combat. Not the most thrilling of rides, but it's a lot of fun. Plus, there are wenches.
Haunted Mansion
This is where some of the most fun cast members are; some of them get really into the spooky atmosphere. The ride itself may contain ghosts, but it's not very scary if you're above the age of seven. A bonus of this ride is that it's usually cold in there so it's great for hot days.
Splash Mountain
A log ride where you get to chill with Brer Rabbit. People who have never been on this often think that it's just your average log rid where you go up and down a big drop. Come on, this is Disney. There's got to be some story line. My favourite drop on the ride is not the main drop. Note that water levels are adjusted to the weather, so if you are riding this during the summer, you will likely get VERY wet. I had one small dry spot on my body after riding the front of this a few weeks ago. However, it's still a really fun nighttime ride as well.
Soundsational Parade
Parades are a good time to sit down and take a break for a little bit, maybe grab some food and eat it while waiting. You can view this show from Fantasyland or Main Street. Cast members will rope off the route and you can sit anywhere along it. The parade features Mary Poppins, all the princesses, Aladdin, Simba, and other fun things from your childhood. And, unlike Celebrate: A Street Party, it features no Hannah Montana music, which is always nice. Parade times are 4 and 6:30. (They probably won't change, but you have your handy schedule to double-check that.)
Other Attractions
Jungle Cruise (if you love puns, you'll love this), Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin* are some rides you should check out if you've got extra time. The canoes can be really fun if you have a big group and not too many children on your boat. Try to watch the ride and see if multiple canoes are in use because it's most fun when you can race. Don't waste your valuable time on Autopia.
In California Adventure
Soarin' Over California*
This is a virtual hang-gliding ride that will take you on a trip over some of California's most famous sites, including the Golden Gate Bridge (which is always weird for me 'cause I'm suddenly at home again), Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite. You may not be able to see the real thing while you're in California, but at least you can pretend.
Ariel's Undersea Adventure
This is much like the storybook rides of Fantasyland. A clam shell ride takes you through the songs of my personal favourite Disney movie, The Little Mermaid. I rode this on opening day and the queue extended into the World of Color viewing area (you probably don't know where that is, but trust me that it was a big line) and yet I waited less than an hour. This is the fastest moving line in the entire resort because it is constantly loading. I would be surprised if you had to wait more than 10 minutes to go on this ride.
Toy Storia Mania
This is a 4D shooter game that takes place in the land of toys. You (virtually) shoot things like pins at balloons and rings around aliens.
California Screamin'*
You know when you go on a roller coaster that's really fun but way too short? This is not that coaster. I'm really into roller coasters and I love this one, but it's also a good one for people who are a bit wary of thrill rides.
Radiator Springs Racers*
Like I said before, Cars Land opens tomorrow. This means I have never been on this ride. I have heard really great things about it, though, and heard it's a bit like Test Track over at EPCOT which is a lot of fun. This is probably worth checking out.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror*
Yes, this is a ride where you fall straight down in an elevator. I personally think it's worth forcing yourself to go on, which is what I did to my Padawan and now she enjoys it (I think). However, this ride is not for everyone. Try it anyway.
Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular
A stage version of Disney's Aladdin with ever-changing pop culture references and an some additional music. This show will probably only be running through the end of the year or so, meaning you need to see it now. Times are on the schedule you already have. Get there at least 20 minutes before it starts.
Animation Building
This is a thing people pass over easily. I'm not going to tell you what awaits you, you can see for yourself. After you've soaked up the glory of the main building for a bit, definitely head over to the Sorcerer's Workshop for karaoke and other fun stuff. Turtle Talk with Crush is also pretty fun if you want to take the time to see it, though I wouldn't call it a must. I've never actually done Animation Academy, so I can't tell you much about that.
Other Attractions
Muppet Vision and It's Tough to Be A Bug are two fun 3D short films. If you love the Muppets, Muppet Vision is a must. I don't like bugs, but I enjoy It's Tough to Be a Bug, though I know others who can't stand it for that reason. Mickey's Fun Wheel is a good ride if the line isn't too long, but you should go on the moving gondolas otherwise it's just your average ferris wheel. Grizzly River Run is pretty fun if you want to get really soaked, but it's not that different from rapids rides at other theme parks. Only worth the wait if you really want to get wet.
*denotes Fast Pass
A Fast Pass is a ticket that allows you to go on rides with a shorter time during a certain window of time. Fast Pass distribution is located next to each ride that has a Fast Pass line. You will receive a ticket that will have a window of time on it. What a lot of people don't know is that you can go on that ride any time after the first time has passed. The bottom of your ticket will tell you the time at which you can get your next Fast Pass, however, if you get a Fast Pass at DL you can immediately get another one at DCA and vice versa. These are FREE.
In Both Parks
Meet at Least One Character
Taking a picture with your friends and a character is a great free souvenir. Mickey and friends (and occasionally other characters) are pretty much always on Main Street. You can meet Aladdin and Jasmine in Adventureland, Rapunzel and Flynn (they usually have a long wait) as well as Merida in Fantasyland currently, and if you love princesses you can head over to the Princess Fantasy Faire and wait upwards of an hour to meet 2-3 princesses. You can also head over to Toontown to meet Mickey and Minnie in their houses. DCA is the place to go if you want to meet Pixar characters. Jessie and Woody often hang out in front of Toy Story Mania, Dug and Russell can be found in by Redwood Creek trail, and I've found Sully and The Incredibles wandering around. Nautical Mickey and Aviator Minnie can also be found in DCA. However, this may all change with the re-opening. (I have seen pictures of adorable 20s and 30s period outfits on Mickey and friends for Buena Vista Street.) You'll have to wait to meet any character unless you have impeccable timing. There will always be a cast member with each character. She/he will have a camera and will take your picture with that and put it on a Photo Pass that can be used throughout the day. However, getting prints of these is incredibly over-priced. Don't hesitate to hand your own camera to the cast member as well. Most meet and greet times are on your schedule.
World of Color and Fantasmic!
I'm putting these together because I think you should see both and I will try to help you do that. These are both water projection shows. Fantasmic! includes live elements as well. They are two of my favourite experiences in the park and well worth seeing. Seating for Fantasmic is first come first serve, so you often need to get there about an hour before the show starts. If you can help it, catch the 9:00 Fantasmic! and head over to the 10:15 World of Color. However, you need a pass to get into World of Color. These are located next to Grizzy River Run. They are distributed for a specific time. Wait a few hours before you go over there if you want to see the second show. The time of the show will be listed in the distribution area. Like Fast Passes, these are free and just meant to control crowds. You can also get special World of Color reserved seating when you eat at Carthay Circle and other restaurants you dine at. Getting from Fantasmic! to World of Color is not going to be easy, but if you leave when the Mark Twain (the big white boat) pulls into the river, you will leave before the crowd disperses and should be able to get to DCA in time. There will still be plenty of traffic because of the fireworks, though. These are special fireworks for Independence Day on the first. It is possible to see them and then go to the 10:30 Fantasmic!, but I don't think it's very possible to see all 3 things without a TARDIS or at least a hoverboard.
I don't know how bad crowds will be, but I do think it's possible to see all the attractions that I have specifically bolded.
Dining
I've been asked about the best options for eating on the go. If you want something that you can grab and eat while you wait for a parade or in line for a ride, your best options are the carts located throughout the parks. Your options there are pretty limited (corn on the cob, chimichangas, turkey legs). There is also a corndog cart on Main St. that would be good for on the go. (The ones at Corndog Castle in DCA are better, but there's usually a long line there.) Pretty much anywhere else you go (apart from fine dining) is going to get you your food fairly quickly, but won't be very conducive to walking around with. If you are like me and don't need to eat all that much at one time, kids meals are a good option to save you a few bucks. They list them for a certain age group but anyone can order them. Ordering a cup of water with your meal is another good money-saving tactic. You can check out all of your dining options here and if you're really into food, you can find reviews and such here.
I'd be happy to attempt to answer any questions you have that I may have missed in this ginormous post. I hope there was something in here that you'll find useful!
