Springtime at Disneyland: 10 Tips on How To Beat the Crowds and Have the Best Time Ever

Spring at the Disneyland Resort welcomes an abundance of amazing things, but also comes with challenges. Many call this time of year the prettiest, with so many flowers in bloom, beautiful weather, and a chance to see Disneyland in its pure form away from major holidays.

Of course, with these months before summer also comes massive crowds, especially during Spring Break. Schools are out, so many families take advantage of the time off to visit. This year, Disneyland is also offering a special 3-day Park Hopper ticket for California residents that’s more than 50% cheaper than the normal price.

Disneyland may be called the Happiest Place on Earth, but it takes a little effort and planning to make your vacation a great one.

If you’re planning a trip this Spring, it’s best to come prepared with all the best tips, goals, and expectations to make it as magical as possible. Luckily for readers, we’ve got a helpful guide on how to beat those Spring Break crowds and have the best time ever.

When the Disneyland Resort experiences high crowds, arriving early is key. Getting to the park for “Rope Drop” gives you the best start: the gates at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure open 30 minutes before the official opening, and crowds gather at ropes leading to different park sections.

Guests who arrive at “Rope Drop” will experience the lowest wait times of the day for those first two hours. Even on the busiest days, you can get a lot accomplished. In Disneyland, this includes numerous Fantasyland attractions, thrill rides such as Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, or staples like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. At DCA, popular “Rope Drop” attractions include Radiator Springs Racers, Soarin’, Incredicoaster, and Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: BREAKOUT!

It may be difficult for some to arrive early, so get there as soon as you can. The earliest hours are golden. However, these busy days bring challenges: admission and parking lines will be long, especially if you’re not within walking distance from your hotel. On my most recent trip, it took nearly two hours from leaving our hotel at 8:30 am to entering the park.

Springtime visitors have one of two options to beat the crowds, manage expectations, and get everything you want accomplished. You should either make a humble list of attractions on your “must do” list, or spring for the Lightning Lanes Multi-Pass and Individual ones.

Make no mistake, most lines will be long throughout the entirety of the day. While some will be relatively short at under 20 minutes, the most popular attractions will not. During the most crowded Spring days, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Indiana Jones Adventure, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Big Thunder Mountain, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will consistently be 60 to 90 minute waits. At DCA, Soarin’ and Radiator Springs Racers rarely dip below 110 minutes.

Guests can either choose a select few to ride and wait in line or go ahead and splurge on the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, which saves guests significant time in lines. Price varies by day but can run up to $40 per person, while the individual ones for Radiator Springs Racers and Rise of the Resistance cost $29-$35 per person. Just note that Lighting Lanes tend to sell out, and attractions get booked early.

So, if getting a lot done remains important for your party, I recommend purchasing Lightning Lanes at the same time as your tickets. Stacking them also comes in handy, and ParkHopInsider on Instagram has a helpful guide to doing so.

Whether you purchase Lightning Lane Multi-pass or not, guests should head for the attractions not included with this perk two times a day: morning and evening. The reason is simple. The heart of the day represents the peak in crowds, so standby lines will be traditionally longer.

If you do purchase Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, you do not have to totally avoid those rides during these windows. Choose one or two and save the rest of the time for the others.

Personally, Fantasyland has a special kind of magic in both the early morning and nighttime hours. You can experience rides like Mad Tea Party, Alice in Wonderland, King Arthur Carousel, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, Casey Jr. Circus Train, It’s a Small World, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant all within these hours with shorter wait times.

As stated, with Spring Break comes larger crowds. It can be overwhelming and overstimulating for some, particularly those with anxiety. When this happens, it’s best to find the indoor spaces that allow visitors to relax, decompress, and enjoy air conditioning.

In Disneyland, guests can check out one of two rotating shows at the Main Street Opera House: Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln or Walt Disney- A Magical Life. Both offer a calm atmosphere and fascinating history on these legendary figures. Also on Main Street, head into the Main Street Cinema for a Special short film celebrating the songwriters Robert and Richard Sherman.

Although slightly more stimulating, another relaxing option is Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland. The wait is never long, and guests can even enjoy a delicious Dole Whip soft serve while taking in the show.

At Fantasy Faire, many will enjoy Storytelling at the Royal Theatre, which currently features a Tangled show. Though not completely inside, the area is shaded and out of the way from the hustle and bustle of the park. Inside the Royal Hall, you can meet multiple princesses such as Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, and Snow White.

Over at DCA, the Animation Building proves to be an excellent option to get away from the crowds and decompress. Guests can watch beautiful animated montages in the lobby, learn to draw a character at the Animation Academy, laugh with Turtle Talk with Crush, or meet Anna and Elsa.

Everyone has different ideas about the ideal Disneyland day. For many, this includes watching the parade and the fireworks show. This Spring at Disneyland, guests can watch the spectacular Paint the Night Parade at 8:30 and 10:30 pm, and the Wondrous Journeys Fireworks at 9:30.

Watching one or both can end your day on a high note and create an everlasting memory. However, crowds require waiting a while before showtime if you want a decent view.

For Paint the Night, I recommend waiting one to two hours before showtime. For the first show, head to It’s a Small World. On a recent trip, a friendly Cast Member guided me towards a wonderful viewing area right across from the attraction. For the second show, anywhere on Main Street will suffice, but Town Square offers a particularly unique perspective.

For Wondrous Journeys, you will want to stick to Main Street for the best view of the pyro and projections. Prime viewing spots in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle will require waiting one to two hours beforehand. These may seem like wasted hours to some, but if seeing these shows is important to your party, it makes the wait worth it. Plus, this gives everyone in your group a chance to rest their feet and recharge their phones or minds.

Speaking of resting one’s feet, the Disneyland Resort requires a lot of walking even on non-crowded days. On average, guests will likely walk anywhere from 9,000 to 12,000 steps, sometimes more. Busy Spring days will require a lot because you will often have to walk out of your way to avoid large crowds of traffic, or you will be redirected by Cast Members for myriad reasons.

A good way to save your inevitably aching feet (besides wearing comfortable shoes) is to utilize transportation. On Main Street, there is the Omnibus, Firetruck, and Horse-drawn Streetcar.  These vehicles may not take guests far, but they can make a difference. Moreover, these attractions offer really fun experiences and views of the land, each unique with a flair for nostalgia.

The Disneyland Railroad also features a very fun experience that serves as a lifesaver to many. The train takes guests “back in time” to the land of the dinosaurs and on a journey to the Grand Canyon, in addition to transporting you from one area of the park to the next. The Disneyland Railroad stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland.

Even more so than planning out what attractions your group wants to ride, you’ll be planning what and where you’d like to eat. On slower days, it’s easy to go with the flow with your meals. During Spring break, you’ll want to make more definite plans.

A good rule of thumb is to have at least one sit-down meal each day of your trip. This alleviates stress and guarantees a relaxing place to sit and enjoy a good meal. Reservations can be made on the Disneyland app up to 90 days in advance, with certain restaurants always going quickly, such as Blue Bayou, Carnation Cafe, and Lamplight Lounge.

For other meals, I recommend mobile ordering as soon as possible. Many may not know, but guests can mobile order as soon as the park opens and choose between multiple arrival times. So, theoretically, park goers can already order their lunch or dinner in the morning. Sure, this takes away spontaneity, but it also eliminates the guaranteed stress that crowds create. Mobile ordering at restaurants like Jolly Holiday can sometimes fill up fast, so it’s best to plan ahead.

Many things can make or break a Disneyland trip. One thing visitors should never do is forget to take photos. When the parks are exceedingly crowded, such as in Spring, remembering to take pictures can be challenging. After all, we often are too busy trying to maneuver through crowds from one attraction to the next.

For a Springtime vacation, having a list of places to take photos is an excellent idea. Some of the best photo spots at Disneyland include the Main Street Train Station entrance, the Partners Statue, and Sleeping Beauty Castle. At DCA, head to Cars Land behind Flo’s V8 Cafe, and Paradise Gardens Lagoon for some iconic photo locations.

In addition to having a list, the important thing to do is to be mindful. Always have your phone or camera ready for an impromptu or unexpected photo opportunity because sometimes they turn out the best. At the end of the day, no one will ever regret taking too many photos, but they may regret not taking enough.

Being mindful of what one eats and trying to stay healthy will always be the best decision. However, vacations are meant to be fun. Everyone should do themselves a favor and indulge in sweet treats, desserts, or savory snacks at the Disneyland Resort.

Both parks have an abundance of choices from churros and popcorn to ice cream and pretzels. Whatever your favorite may be, forget counting calories and treat yourself. Plus, with all that walking, you’ll most likely burn most of them off.

Likewise, a sweet treat or snack can also help ease the disappointment of missing a favorite ride or character, especially for kids.
My favorites include ice cream at the Gibson Girl or soft serve at the Cozy Cone, churros, Dole Whip, Popcorn, and Mickey Rice Krispie treats.

Speaking of treating oneself or a family member, the term “Retail Therapy” never seems as apropos as at Disneyland. Like indulging in a delicious treat, picking up one or several souvenirs can help ease any disappointments that may arise throughout the day. At the same time, who doesn’t love to shop on vacation?

However, many make the mistake of waiting until the end of the day or trip to check out stores. This is a big mistake. One reason is that stores are typically the most crowded at day’s end. Another is that you may miss something you’d really love.

Perusing shops throughout the day ensures a more low-key experience, and the chances of finding something you love increase. Just remember not to wait to purchase something when you see it. While some merchandise can be found at multiple stores, other merchandise cannot.

If it’s a larger item, backpacks and lockers become your best friends. Overall, shopping at Disneyland can be fun when you take your time in between your favorite rides.