I'm fresh off my second visit to the Disneyland Resort in California, and thought what better way to pass the drive back than by sharing some new park touring tips I picked up this week. Like most of my tips, some of these will likely contradict the majority of advice you'll find on the web, but I promise, there is a method to my madness.
1. Go left. Most people tend to naturally favor the right side of anything. Like when Magic Kingdom finally lets the rope drop for the morning crowd, most folks head to either Tomorrowland (for Space Mountain) or Fantasyland (for Peter Pan or the Seven Dwarfs). Very few go left toward Adventureland and Frontierland, which means those areas are virtually empty. No people=no lines. Going left is also a smart move specifically on the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction where there are two separate question. The left que is shorter than the right.
2. Hit the less popular attractions first. I know, I know. Everything you've ever read tells you to head immediately to the major attractions (that you don't already have a FastPass for) to avoid a wait. On this trip we tried a different approach. While everyone else was running to Peter Pan's Flight or Space Mountain, we enjoyed several other less popular rides in the same amount of time it would have taken for the one popular attraction. See, you still have to wait in line even when you rush straight to those major attractions (unless you are literally the very first person past the rope drop). Save those major attractions for parade or lunch times when the lines are shorter. Since you've already experienced all the smaller attractions, you're not losing any time. In fact, you've probably got enough for one more Dole Whip run ;)
3. Go solo. Single rider is hands down the most time saving thing you can do. Unfortunately only a limited number of attractions offer it (more do at Disneyland than Walt Disney World), but it should definitely be utilized whenever possible. Single rider means that your party will not be riding side-by-side, but you'll all be able to ride in a fraction of the posted wait time. For example, there was a 60 minute wait for Radiator Speings Racers. My husband and I hopped in the single rider line and we're on the ride in 6 minutes (and we both still ended up in the same car). Walt Disney World rides that offer single rider: Expedition Everest, Test Track, and Rock n Rollercoaster.
4. Catch the late show. If there are two showings of the fireworks or parades during your visit (this happens during peak season mostly), then always go to the latest one. Most folks, especially those with little ones, do the first showing and then leave the park for the night. Take advantage of this by hitting the major attractions that should now have a much shorter wait. Then you can mosey on over for a good show spot without the long camp out.
5. Go off the beaten path. When it comes to parades and fireworks, the so called "best" spots are always insanely crowded and fill up hours before showtime. Personally, I'm to that point where being able to watch in peace is more important than that specific view that everyone else wants. Now, we like to enjoy the shows from a different (and less crowded) perspective. For Illuminations at Epcot, try watching from one of the countries on World Showcase like Italy, America, or Japan (my personal favorite). The crowd over there is viturally non-existent, and you can grab some nearly empty park photographs on the way out. For Wishes, try viewing from Frontierland or Tomorrowland. You likely won't be able to see Tinkerbell, but the fireworks will still be plenty visible. It's even kind of fun to watch from Fantasyland (behind the castle). If you still want the straight on view of the castle, then I recommend the second level of the Main St. train station. There is even seating if you get there early enough.
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