A family vacation to Disneyland in California is an adventure, but it can also feel like a stressful monster of a project for parents, if you don't plan your trip. Some insider tricks on how to cut attraction wait times and beat heavy crowds at parade time can make the vacation run smoothly and ensure your and your family spend more time enjoying the vacation and less time feeling overwhelmed.
Fast Pass is a program throughout the Disneyland park in which guests obtain a ticket for a ride with a designated return time to come back and enjoy the ride without having to wait in a long line. The program is free with a valid admission ticket, and you can get more leeway with your return time. Though guests are not permitted on the ride until the 1-hour return-time window on the ticket begins, you can still use the ticket after the 1-hour window has passed. Knowing this tip can help you relax if you're on the other side of the park and the designated time arrives; you don't have to rush back. Fast Pass isn't offered at all attractions, but you can use it on major rides such as Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain.
The Disneyland park is one contained theme park, and guests won't need ground transportation after arriving on the Disney site. However, if you're flying into Los Angeles and need transportation to your hotel, Disney has a solution. If you're staying at a Disney hotel, you can sign up for a free shuttle service to and from the airport. Disney hotels are adjacent to the theme park, so you need only walk to the attractions when you're ready. This service is available only for travel to and from LAX, Los Angeles International Airport, but will get you to the Disneyland Hotel, the Grand Californian and Paradise Pier Hotel.
Disneyland typically runs a daytime and nighttime parade, and they can become very crowded. Secure a seat along the route about an hour before the parade is scheduled to start during peak times like summer, Christmas and spring break. During off-peak times like October or early May, you can usually arrive a half-hour before time to ensure you get good seats. On some nights, the evening parade runs twice, and the second parade is traditionally less crowded. You can check the park map for parade times and locations. The parades typically run from New Orleans Square to Main Street, and a place along this path will give you an excellent view.
