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The "BIG" Game in Indianapolis (May 5)
New Orleans for Mardi Gras (April 17-22)

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You can buy your Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets at a discount right here?

Disneyland® Resort 2-day itinerary

ZipTrot's 2-day itinerary: Day 1

Get up early to head to the park whether driving, walking or planning on taking the monorail (read our pre-park arrival tips section for more details). If your first day includes a Park Hopper Magic Morning entry, adjust your day to be there 45 minutes prior to regular park opening – at least. We suggest beginning at Disneyland (DL) since it is invariably more crowded than Disney’s California Adventure (DCA).

Head straight for your favorite ride – Space Mountain is mine, but Star Wars, Splash Mountain & Indiana Jones are other favorites that have very long lines later in the day. If the line is already too long for your favorite ride, FASTPASS it and return later! We suggest doing one area of the park at a time so you’re not bouncing back and forth across the park, so if you notice that Tomorrowland is especially busy, go to another area that is less busy at that time.

Here is a list of rides at Disneyland that typically have shorter waits even during busy times: Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, King Arthur’s Carousel, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Storybook Land Canal Boats & Gadget’s Go Coaster. Use these as your “go to rides” when waiting for your FASTPASS return time or when your favorite rides have really long lines. (See our tips section located on the right of this page --> for what to do when it’s too crowded or lines are too long).

Hopefully you had a hearty breakfast and can eat outside of the “usual” busy times, regardless, we've compiled a few of our favorite quick spots to grab a bite within the Disneyland Park. In Critter Country – the Hungry Bear Restaurant – a great view overlooking the River in a rustic wilderness setting. Hungry Bear serves Cheeseburgers, Chicken Sandwiches, Salads and kids meals. Located directly across from the Haunted Mansion, is a little hideaway called Harbour Galley where you can grab a hearty snack including chili, clam chowder, soups and salads and eat out on the deck overlooking the river. The Tomorrowland Terrace serves the same menu of burgers, sandwiches and salads and if you time it right, you can eat during the Jedi Training Academy show featuring an appearance by Darth Vader! Pizza Port is another favorite, casual and quick, serving tasty pizza’s by the slice, pasta and salads.

After lunch its back to exploring the park, depending upon the crowds, you may want to hop-on-over to Disey California Adventure at this point since Disneyland hits a peak in the afternoon when even more people enter the park to play prior to dusk. The afternoon is a great time to take in one of the parades at either park. I’m not one of those who waits for a parade to start just to get a spot, and I’ve always gotten a spot at the last minute, but if you are, then you’d better get a seat on the curb for the Mickey’s Soundsational Parade (or Christmas Fantasy) parade.

Insider Tip: One of the best location’s I’ve ever had for watching the parade was just behind the Matterhorn where the parade route goes from Small World and Teacups down to Main Street – we parked ourselves right along the route near the restrooms and had a fabulous view of the parade, a nicely shaded spot and restrooms close by...you can’t beat that!

We like to take a break and go “off-site” or at least out of the park/s for dinner. Downtown Disney is convenient and can be a little pricey but you can’t beat the atmosphere of musicians & high energy from happy park goers. Some of our favorites for sit-down dining are: Catal Restaurant, House of Blues, Naples, ESPN Zone & the Rainforest Café. Advanced reservations are definitely recommended at all of these restaurants since they are all quite popular and during high season or on a Friday or Saturday night, you could wait up to an hour or more just to get a table without a reservation. A great place for Tapas and smaller portions (lunch too) is the Uva Bar when you’re not feeling like a really big meal.

After dinner it’s back to the park, and we’d suggest heading to Disney California Adventure to experience ElecTRONica in the Hollywood Backlot area. Imagine a nightclub that your kids can go to, in a safe and uber-fun environment! The energy, excitement, dancers, street performers and the amazing lazer light show shouldn’t be missed. We were amazed at how many local dancers showed up nightly just to partake in the “club atmosphere” and show off their moves. If you have tickets to World of Color, you can hang out in the ElecTRONica area until it’s time to go get your “spot” (no seats) for the show. Depending upon which “color coded” area you have been assigned, you’ll arrive to that area and its first-come-first serve standing. We arrived late for the show and were able to walk right up to our section, get a spot to watch the show and were even able to see! Disneyland cast members will advise you to get in the line about 45-minutes prior to show time, but if you dislike standing in lines as much as our family does, just know you won’t get the best view, but you will get “a view”, in that section, as long as you have a ticket. If you don’t want to have to worry about getting in line for the FASTPASS that will get you into World of Color when the park first opens, you could purchase a picnic meal which comes with “Reserved Viewing”, or you can book a preferred dining package at Ariel’s Grotto or the Wine Country Trattoria – advanced reservations are recommended for both and you’ll need to book it through Disney Dining at (714) 781-DINE.

It’s been an exhausting but fun day – now head back to your hotel for some much needed rest and get ready to do it all again…whatever you missed today you'll be able to do it tomorrow!

ZipTips
- Trip Overview & Initial Suggestions
  - When to go
  - Where to stay
- Ticket Suggestions
- Pre-Planning & Morning Entrance
- Cost Saving Tips
- Tips for traveling with little kids
- Disney's FASTPASS

ZipTrot's 2-Day itinerary
- Day 1
- Day 2

Suggestions during peak times

Lines too long at your favorite rides? Try these instead...

Sail on a raft over to the Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island and explore caves, hideouts, tree houses, pirate treasure and much more
Rest your weary feet & cool off in an air-conditioned theatre for Captain EO or Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
Take a boat ride on the sailing ship Columbia or Mark Twain’s Riverboat along the Rivers of America or enjoy a ride on the Disneyland Railroad, an old fashioned locomotive that circles the entire park and has 4 spots you can hop on or off.
Paddle your way down the river on Davy Crockett’s canoe ride! A little work, but worth it!
Climb in and around Tarzan’s Treehouse, Goofy’s Playhouse, Chip n’ Dale’s Treehouse and Donald’s boat
Walk through Sleeping Beauty Castle
Relax in the shaded area while kids pet the animals at Big Thunder Ranch
Explore the latest high-tech interactive exhibits at Innoventions
Play video games at Starcade or set your sights on targets at Frontierland’s Shootin’ Exposition.

Don't Miss Shows

World of Color at California Adventure – showing nightly year-round. Busy dates, 2 showings. If you have a Park Hopper ticket and want to see the World of Color (and you’d be crazy not to), get in line for California Adventure before the park opens, enter park and head straight for the Grizzly River Run area which is where you get your Fastpass for the evening showing. The earlier you get your Fastpass the better your viewing area and if there are 2 shows, you’ll be able to go to the earlier show. In the summer, the passes “sell out” by a little after park opening which is why you’ll want to make this a first stop.

World of Color Bonus for Disneyland® Resort hotel guests. Insider Tip: If you are staying at one of the 3 Disneyland Resort Hotels, you are allowed to enter the California Adventure Park 1-hour prior to regular opening in order to secure your World of Color Fastpass. Special entrance location is at the side entrance of the Grand Californian Hotel. The line starts to form about 30-minutes prior to this gate opening especially during busy summer months or holidays – so grab your cup of coffee and prepare to stand in your first line of the day!

Don't Miss Rides

Disneyland