Anyone who has been to Disneyland or has looked at planning a trip to Disneyland knows that there are lines and wait times for the rides that can last upwards of an hour or two. This can be pretty frustrating for someone who is only in the park for a couple days and wants to maximize their time. Below are three options to help ensure you can ride as many rides as possible each day.
Single Rider
Let's start with the Single Rider option. This is the easiest and most straight forward ride option. If you aren't worried about sitting with someone in your group, this is an excellent option for those rides that are notoriously long, even with a FastPass. It is also the least common ride option. As of January 2020, there are only 4 rides in Disneyland and 4 rides in Disney California Adventure that offer this feature. Here are the basics:
This feature allows single riders (ie. no other person is riding with you) to bypass the main queue line for a ride and enter a special single rider line. The best thing to do is find a cast member near the entrance to the queue for the ride and ask about the single rider option. I used this on Indiana Jones Adventure, and they said to walk up the exit queue and about halfway up there would be a cast member. I let that cast member know that I wanted the single rider line and they pull me aside to a staging area to wait. They then sent small groups of us ahead to the exit platform where we waited a couple minutes to enter the ride. You still have to wait, but it is much faster.
The reason this option exists, is that they don't want any empty seats on these popular rides. Instead of breaking up a group of people, they allow guests to ride as a single rider. The wait time in the single rider line is based on when empty seats appear that can't be filled by any groups toward the front of the line. If you go with someone from your group, there is a chance you could end up riding at the same time, but it is not guaranteed. Below is the list of rides that offer the Single Rider option.
Disneyland
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Splash Mountain
Disney California Adventure
- Goofy's Sky School
- Grizzly River Run
- Incredicoaster
- Radiator Springs Racers
Rider Switch
This next option is Rider Switch. This option is used when you have a member of your group that is too small to ride a ride or is unable to ride a ride for another reason (ie. too scared or handicapped). This option is used most often in regards to children, but could be used if an adult is unable to ride. Similar to the Single Rider option, you just need to speak with a cast member near the entrance to the queue. They will ask which adult is staying out with the individual not riding, and how many will be riding with them. When I went in May 2017, each ride allowed 2-4 individuals to ride with the adult staying behind. This might have changed a little bit, but they should allow you to take a couple people with you.
Once you have the Rider Switch badge (it is usually a brightly colored badge on a lanyard), the part of the group riding gets in line and the individuals staying behind wait for them to finish riding. Each ride handles the use of the Rider Switch badge differently. For Space Mountain, you get to enter through the exit. Usually, you get on right away. For Star Tours, they trade the badge for FastPasses that must be used right at that moment you turn in the Rider Switch badge. No matter how the ride handles the Rider Switch, the group utilizing the Rider Switch badge is almost guaranteed to get on the ride a lot faster than waiting in the normal queue line. Please note that the group riding first will have to wait in the line like normal (either normal queue or FastPass queue). Below is the list of rides that offer the Rider Switch option.
Disneyland
- Autopia
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Gadget's Go Coaster
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Star Tours- The Adventures Continue
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Disney California Adventure
- Goofy's Sky School
- Grizzly River Run
- Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: Breakout!
- Incredicoaster
- Jumpin' Jellyfish
- Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters
- Mater's Junkyard Jamboree
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Silly Symphony Swings
- Soarin' Around the World
If you don't want to write this list down, just remember this: if the ride has a height restriction, it most likely offers Rider Switch.
FastPass
Now for the most well-known option, the FastPass. Since I last went to Disneyland in May 2017, I have heard that changes were made to the way FastPasses work. You are still able to go up to a kiosk outside the ride to request a FastPass using your ticket. However, the system connects the FastPass directly to your ticket. The paper that is printed when using the kiosk is a reminder ticket and not the actual FastPass. When you go to enter the FastPass line, you will just need your park ticket to enter the line.
Keep in mind that FastPasses are on a first-come first-served basis. The time to return is usually displayed near the kiosk so you know when you are getting a FastPass for. It is usually an hour time frame to return to use your FastPass. The system will not let you get another FastPass until after your current FastPass has been used. I believe this applies to any ride, but I am not 100% sure. Here is what this means. If you get a FastPass for Space Mountain, and it says a return time of 10am, then you will not be able to get another FastPass for Space Mountain, or any other ride, until after 10am.
The biggest change to the FastPass system is the ability to reserve FastPasses via the Disneyland App (more about the app on another post). In order to use the app, you must create an account and connect your ticket to your account. The app also allows you to use a MaxPass, which helps you manage your FastPasses and any photos you get taken by a cast member. However, the MaxPass does have a fee, so be aware as you use the app to obtain FastPasses. Below are the rides that have FastPass lines.
Disneyland
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Star Tours- The Adventures Continue
Disney California Adventure
- Goofy's Sky School
- Grizzly River Run
- Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: Breakout!
- Incredicoaster
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Soarin' Around the World
- Toy Story Midway Mania!
Each of the parks at the Disneyland Resort have other rides that also have FastPass options that are only seasonal, so make sure to pay attention when visiting during the holidays to take advantage of these additional FastPass options.
In conclusion, use these three options to make your trip to Disneyland run more smoothly and spend less time waiting in lines during your trip.
