We’ve reached our final destination in our One-Day Guide Series. After touring through the four parks of Walt Disney World and back over to the original Disneyland Park, we are now rounding out the last issue of this series (for now) with a helpful guide for you to get the most you possibly can out of one day at Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort. If you aren’t familiar with the series, we know that not everyone has a week to spend leisurely alternating between pool and park time. Sometimes, when an opportunity presents itself, you just have to put your hand up and declare, Gosh darn it, I’m going to Disney! (even if it’s only for one day!) This guide will help you plan that specific day, covering as much as possible in the short window of time.
Stay in a Disneyland Resort Hotel
If you’ve read our One-Day Guide to Disneyland, it will already speak for itself. Staying in a Disneyland Resort gives you access to Early Entry, where you get a 30-minute head start on the crowds entering the park. That last time we did this, we managed to get in two rounds of Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, and before a Disney walk (that’s like an unnatural fast walk you would never do in real life) gets you to almost the front of the queue for Radiator Springs Racers when it opens with the rest of the park.
Don’t be Afraid to Traverse the Park
In most cases, it would make more sense to try and do all the rides in one area before moving on. In Disney California Adventure, the park has evolved, with expansion after expansion disrupting the flow. Sometimes, your best bet is to make a beeline for those more prominent attractions, even if it means skipping past others on your to-do list. For example, if you are using a Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, Web Slingers is pretty easy to get a decent return time, making it a good one to move past in the morning on your way through to Radiator Springs Racers. After that, I would skip the other two attractions in Cars Land (for now) and move to the Incredicoaster on Pixar Pier using the back walkway. If you want to ride this rollercoaster more than once, get in the standby line early and swing back around to use your Lightning Lane later in the day.
Grab a Dessert Package for World of Color
Maximizing your one day in Disney California Adventure can mean throwing a little extra cash at the problem and making things much smoother. Not only should you consider a Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, but a Dessert Party or Dining Package for World of Color will give you an incredible viewing spot and a delicious, exciting experience without needing to stake out your spot or line up hours in advance. For our guide on World of Color, click here. The money that you saved by not buying the Single Lightning Lane for Radiator Springs Racers (because you got there early and made use of the short standby queue) you can put towards the Dessert Party for a more beneficial payoff. World of Color is a remarkable experience that is unique to this Disney park, so one way or another, don’t miss it.
Use Mobile Ordering for Food
One challenge I find more prevalent in Disney California Adventure than all the other Disney Parks is the wait time for food. Perhaps it has slightly fewer food outlets, or maybe it is their concentration in specific areas; in any case, I always wait longer in food lines in this park than any other. Where possible, save that precious time for attractions by making the most of mobile ordering. Using your Disneyland App, pre-order your food and enjoy the park while you wait. I find the areas around Avengers Campus and San Fransokyo Square particularly time-consuming. Consider eating earlier to have a more streamlined experience with more available seating.
Prioritize Your Family’s Must-Do Rides
As usual, a plan is priceless when it comes to Disney planning. Though as important as it is to have one, it’s also vital to work through it using a go-with-the-flow attitude. Rides will experience temporary closures that can throw off the entire rhythm of your day, and circling back is frustrating. Thankfully, because the park has grown over time, it doesn’t have a clear path, which makes doubling back through the central areas much easier. With the exception of the Incredicoaster, younger guests will enjoy Pixar Pier, while more mature guests will likely love Avengers Campus and Cars Land; that’s for everyone. I might have spent more time on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree than any other ride. The line moves quickly, and it’s one of the few rides that I have never seen break down. Have a list of the top attractions you must tick off so you don’t miss anything along the way.
Don’t Forget Soarin’!
While most areas of the park are more built up within their specific theme, one don’t-miss attraction is tucked out of the way. Soarin’ Around the World (occasionally, and currently ‘Soarin’ Around California’) is located in Grizzly Peak, and if you aren’t headed to the park’s rapid ride, Grizzly River Run, the Grand Californian Hotel entrance or the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, it likely won’t be something you will pass on your organic walking path. The waits for this ride can be lengthy so it’s a good one to use your Lightening Lane Multi-Pass to skip a huge section of the queue.
Need a Sit-Down Break?
I love to multitask, especially when trying to accomplish a lot in a short time. If you need a moment to sit down, it’s time for The Little Mermaid—Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. Grab a snack for the family and enjoy that in the fast-moving queue while you wait, then hop aboard your own clamshell and journey under the sea. It’s a good chance to sit down in the cool air and dark lighting for a sensory reset before you move on.
Know Your Ride Closures During World of Color
Disney California Adventure is not as highly populated with shows and entertainment as some of the other parks, so you won’t need to forgo as many of those time-consuming activities to enjoy the rides and attractions. One thing to be aware of is which attractions will close around Pixar Pier during World of Color. If you are considering using the show time to enjoy some of the rides, like we often recommend in Disneyland Park, be sure to know what is open and what will close. You can find the list here.
We hope you have a wonderful day at Disney California Adventure Park!
