Disneyland for Beginners – Inside the Park

If the park is really empty, you can do any ride in pretty much any order and hit them all in a day.  However, if you are traveling when everyone else is coming, it’s probably best to have a plan of attack to make the most of your day.  So, the advice below is really to help you maximize your time in the park assuming it’s crowded.

We like to start in Tomorrowland and work our way counter clockwise around the park.

As you walk in you may be tempted to stop and look at the stores and such on Main Street – I would recommend heading straight for the rides and exploring Main Street at the end of your day or on a third day in the area.

FastPass Order:

Not all rides have FastPass, so work these into your schedule as their times come up.  Go to your FastPass rides as soon as you can so that you can go ahead and get another FastPass.  If you have the MaxPass, you can do that as soon as you check in for your ride (or when it says on your app).  YOU MUST USE YOUR PASS DURING THE WINDOW GIVEN.  It used to be that you could use them anytime after as well, but they have changed that rule.

• Space Mountain
• Star Tours
• Buzz Lightyear (this line typically moves really quickly – if it’s short just ride it while in Tomorrowland and get the next FastPass)
• Autotopia
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• Big Thunder Mountain
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Haunted Mansion
• Splash Mountain
• Indiana Jones
• Fantasmic (this is a show put on in the evening and definitely worth a watch – I’d probably try to go to the 10:30 showing after fireworks) – Doesn’t work with MaxPass (at least as of this writing)

Starting in Tomorrowland:

• Finding Nemo – Nemo doesn’t have a FastPass, and the line seems to move very slowly.
• Astro Orbitor – If you have more than one day in the parks, I like to ride this one during fireworks.  It has a slow line, but not many folks are riding once the fireworks are going.  It’s not ideal for firework viewing, so don’t try if you only have one night of the firework display.
• Star Wars: Path of the Jedi – this is an area to explore over by Autotopia.  It’s really cool in there (literally and figuratively), but we usually do it once we are done with rides or on the 3rd day
• As an interesting side note – all the plants in Tomorrowland are edible.  Walt wanted this area to truly be a vision of the future including how to maximize beauty and utility.

Fantasyland:

In the past, they have closed Fantasyland around 8 or 8:30 to get ready for fireworks.  You’ll want to check to see how late you can revisit this area if you are saving anything for later in your evening.

Most of these rides are for the smallest Mouseketeers.  If you are bringing older kids, you’ll want to play it by ear, but I’ve marked the rides that are most likely to be worth it for them.  The rides that are inside are like riding through a fairy tale.  They are not exciting roller coasters, but are fun experiences.  If you like one, you should try them all (Alice, Pinocchio, Snow White, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad), and if you only try one, make it Peter Pan.

• Alice in Wonderland
• Mad Tea Party – great for all ages and a Disney classic!  Don’t do it right after you eat, though
• Storybook Land Canal Boats – this one is also cute after dark if you come in the winter (If you are going to skip one – this is the one to skip.  It’s riding a boat to look at miniature set ups of fairy tale houses)
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• King Arthur’s Carrousel – Keep an eye out for Merlin taking a stroll.  He has a show where he finds a youngster to pull out the sword in the stone.  You can give it a try any time though.
• Casey Jr. Circus Train (another one to skip unless your kiddo is just really into trains)
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures -be sure to look up at the windows to see if you can spot the wicked witch spying on you!
• Peter Pan’s Flight – if you only ride one ride in Fantasyland, I recommend this one.  It is quintessential Disney and not to be missed.  The line can be long and slow, but this was one of Walt’s favorites so worth the wait.
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride – don’t let the name fool you, it isn’t particularly wild.  This is the story on the B-side of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.  Most folks have never even seen it, so the story doesn’t resonate as much today.
• It’s a Small World – A must ride!! It’s technically in Fantasyland, but you will feel like you are in a whole new land when you get there

ToonTown:

This area is also mostly for the littler folks.  If you want to guarantee that you meet Mickey and Minnie, you’ll find them in their houses in this part of the park.  They close ToonTown early to prepare for Fireworks, so don’t plan to come back to this area after 8:30 or so.

• Goofy’s Playhouse – Under renovation as I write this.  This is a fun play area.  I usually came back to these if my kiddo still had energy to burn at the end of the day.  Personally, my goal is always as many rides as we can do, but every kiddo is different.
• Donald’s Boat – Another play area
• Gadget’s Go Coaster
• Chip ‘ Dale Treehouse – Another play area

Walk all the way back through FantasyLand and through the Castle heading to Fronteirland – you’ll want to walk through the castle at some point.  OR walk by Casey’s Train over to the back of Frontierland.  OR grab the Train and head over to New Orleans Square.

Fronteirland:

• Mark Twain Riverboat – I’m not a big fan of this ride or the Sailing Ship or Canoes, they are slow moving for me.  However, I have friends whose kids are excited every single time they get on them.
• Sailing Ship Columbia – same route at Mark Twain, I’d probably pick just one.
• The Golden Horseshoe show is fun and provides a great time to slow down and rest your feet while you grab a bite to eat.
• Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition – I’m not sure the guns sights are well set, but my kiddo always likes to give it a shot – Ha!
• Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island – It’s a play area.  If your kids are into pirates, it’s worth exploring.
• Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes – you actually paddle these canoes.  If you ride the Riverboat or Columbia you see the same stuff.  You might get a little wet on this one depending on who is paddling with you.

Next head on over towards New Orleans Square.  We’ll finish up the day going out through Adventureland.

New Orleans Square:

• These rides are pretty much all on FastPass.  If you are in Critter Country, they are easy enough to go back and catch.
• Club 33 is an exclusive members only club tucked back in the shops behind the French Market Restaurant.  It can be fun to go look for the entrance, but don’t be frustrated if you can’t find it.

Critter Country:

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – it’s a corny little ride, but I always like to ride it.  Next door is an amazing fudge shop with all kinds of sweet treats!

Adventureland:

• Tarzan’s Treehouse – This is a walk through play area.  It is fun to walk through if you still have the energy
• Jungle Cruise – This is a must!  Each boat captain has his own corny jokes and it is a classic!
• Enchanted Tiki Room – This is also a classic and a particularly nice stop at the end of a hot day.

The Train is a ride all of it’s own and NOT just a way around the park, though it is that as well.  Whenever you are near one of the 4 depots and need a break, jump on!  Ride it all the way around at least once.  But don’t try to catch it at ToonTown – no one seems to ever get off there, so if it’s crowded you won’t be able to get on.  You can always ride it longer than a full loop if you want to save some steps getting to another area of the park.

As for the Monorail.  If you have that 3rd day, I might advise catching the Monorail in Downtown Disney and riding it into the Park – or ride it to and from for lunch.  It is kind of cool, but it is really a means of transportation vs an attraction.

In and amongst all of the rides, keep an eye out for street performers and characters!  They can pop up anywhere and are part of what makes the day so magical, and makes every visit different.  There are also live shows with scheduled times.  We usually hit these if they are convenient as we are going by, or on that magical 3rd day.  You’ll get a map and schedule for the day as you enter the park.  And every street cleaner has some they can give you as well.

Live Shows (Our Favorites):

• Jedi Training is our all time favorite if your kiddo likes Star Wars.  Tell them to be up front and really be excited to be picked to train as a Padawan.  Then have your video ready!! (Tomorrowland)
• Mickey and the Magical Map – this has live music and dancing and is generally a good time to take a load off those tired feet (Right outside ToonTown)
• Fantasy Faire – Must see if you have a child into Princesses – they get to meet 2 or 3 of them!  (Right outside ToonTown)
• The Parade – whatever theme it is, you will need to camp out early to get a spot towards the front where your little will be noticed.  Again a good one for that magical 3rd day if you are really trying to get through the rides.
• Fireworks – some of the best you will ever see.  If you can watch them from Main Street that is ideal so everything is symmetrical and the music is perfectly in sync.

Finally, while you are waiting in line or just sitting and people watching, keep an eye out for “Hidden Mickeys” – there are hundreds of them around the park.  The Disney Imagineers built them in all over the park, they might be 3 rocks in the shape of Mickey’s head, or they could be in the picture in a restaurant.  There are whole books dedicated to the search for these little gems, and it can add a little spice while you are waiting in some of those long lines.

I haven’t used this site, but for $8 it’s probably worth a shot . . . https://touringplans.com.  If you do use this site, please let me know your thoughts!!