While the attractions at Disney California Adventure have improved significantly over the last 25 years, there are still far fewer here than at its older, but still beautiful, sister across the esplanade.
So when the holidays or summer hit, you may feel those long lines even more here. To help alleviate some of those long waits, here are suggestions for things you can do in the heart of the day when wait times are at their worst.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
You can typically experience this immersive 12-minute 3D movie by just waiting for the next performance, which makes it a great option when all the other lines are long. Despite the name, Donald Duck is the star here. In addition to Donald, the show features many of your favorite characters.
If it’s been a few years since you’ve visited, you may have missed the Coco sequence that was added back in 2021.
The Bakery Tour
While it’s not as in-depth as it used to be, there’s never a wait for this look inside how sourdough bread is made. As a bonus, you typically get a free slice or two of fresh Boudin bread to sample during your tour.
Animation Building
There’s a lot to do here when the park is busy. The interactive Turtle Talk with Crush is so much fun and is a different show every time, the artists at the Animation Academy will teach you to draw some of your favorite Disney-Pixar characters, and the Sorcerer’s Workshop has some hands-on displays that help you discover how animators bring characters to life.
The lobby itself, which features classic Disney music and images, is a great way to decompress on a busy day.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
For families with young children, this a great spot to let them explore and burn off some energy without a line. The wilderness adventure includes slides, rock climbing, rope swings, and more.
Park Hop!
My final suggestions might seem like the easy way out, but when California Adventure is the busiest, it might not be a bad idea to cross the esplanade to Disneyland Park where there are more attractions and more space for crowds to spread out.
What do you do when the lines are long at Disney California Adventure? Do you have a favorite attraction that you head to when the parks are busy?
At Disneyland my favorite way to burn some time is to grab a churro and find a bench on Main Street, USA, but at California Adventure you’ll find me on the benches near Redwood Creek Challenge Trail enjoying the shade of the faux forest. Come to think of it…there is a churro stand nearby. Perfect!
