Disneyland 3-Day Itinerary: Day-by-Day Plan for Families (Ages 5-10)

Eat at hotel (if included) or pack bagels, fruit, yogurt. Don't spend 60 min at sit-down breakfast—you need to rope drop Radiator Springs by 8am.

Park opens at 8am (or 8:30am depending on season). Arriving 30-45 min early puts you near the front for rope drop. This early arrival is CRITICAL for Radiator Springs Racers—waits hit 90-120 min by 10am.

Cast members will direct rope drop crowds. Follow signs to Cars Land (back of park). Do NOT stop for photos yet—ride first, photos after. Radiator Springs Racers is the #1 priority.

First major ride of your trip and THE best ride at Disneyland! Wait will be 10-25 min vs 90-120 min by 10:30am. Take family photos in front of Cadillac Range while in line.

Walk to Hollywood Land (8-min walk from Cars Land). If you're using Single Rider, this cuts wait from 50-70 min to 15-25 min. If riding together, standby line should be 35-50 min at this hour. Ages 8+ (intense drop ride).

Avengers Campus is next to Guardians. 3D shooting game where you sling webs. All ages love it. If you booked Genie+ for this, use it now. Otherwise, wait should be 40-50 min midday.

Walk to Pixar Pier (5-min walk from Avengers Campus). 4D shooting game—you'll compete for high scores. Lines climbing (45-65 min) but worth it. All ages.

Fast looping coaster (0-55mph in 4 seconds). INTENSE. Single Rider cuts 60-min wait to 15-25 min. Skip if kids are under 10 or scared of intense coasters.

Hang-glider simulator. Relaxing, air-conditioned, great for post-lunch cooldown. Walk to near Grizzly Peak (5 min from Pixar Pier). Wait 40-55 min midday.

You WILL get very wet. Fun on hot afternoon. Use Single Rider (cuts wait from 40-55 min to 10-20 min). Bring change of clothes OR embrace soggy shoes (they'll dry in California sun).

Meet Spider-Man (does acrobatic stunts on roof—check show times), Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Black Panther. Explore Pym Test Kitchen (Instagram-worthy giant food props). Shop for Marvel gear. Let kids decompress from morning ride marathon.

Both in Hollywood Land. Great for younger kids (ages 3-8) or as relaxing dark rides after intense morning. Waits: 15-25 min each. Do both back-to-back.

Use Single Rider for second ride (cuts wait from 90+ min to 20-30 min). OR if you bought Genie+ and haven't used it yet, this is your chance. Kids will want to ride it again—it's THAT good.

Walk around Cars Land after dark—the neon lights are STUNNING and Instagram-perfect. Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters (5-min wait, fun for toddlers). Mater's Junkyard Jamboree (10-min wait). Take family photos with glowing neon.

Nighttime water/projection show on Paradise Bay. You reserved viewing spot at 7am via app—claim your section 30-45 min early for front-row views. Bring jackets (gets cool by water at night).

20-min spectacular show with fountains, projections, music. One of Disney's best nighttime shows. Kids will be mesmerized.

Walk back to hotel (10-15 min). Get to bed by 10:30pm—you have another rope drop tomorrow for Disneyland Park.

Same as Day 1—quick breakfast at hotel or packed items. You need energy for full day at Disneyland Park.

Park opens 8am (or 8:30am depending on season). Arriving 30-45 min early ensures you're near front for rope drop. Today's priority: Matterhorn Bobsleds.

Speed-walk to Fantasyland when gates open. Matterhorn is Disneyland's signature mountain—jerky roller coaster with Yeti animatronic. Wait will be 10-20 min vs 60-90 min by 10:30am. Ages 6+ (42" height requirement).

Walk to Adventureland (7-min walk from Matterhorn). Best dark ride at Disneyland—jeep ride through Temple with motion effects. If you booked Genie+ for this, use it now. Otherwise, standby should be 40-60 min early morning. Ages 7+ (46" height, too intense for younger kids).

Walk to Tomorrowland (5 min from Adventureland entrance). Dark roller coaster. Less intense than Matterhorn. Wait should be 35-50 min mid-morning.

Walk to Frontierland. Western-themed roller coaster—great "first coaster" for ages 6-8. Wait climbing (45-60 min) but worth it. One of Disneyland's best family coasters.

Both in New Orleans Square (next to Frontierland). Do Pirates first (15-min boat ride, 20-35 min wait), then Haunted Mansion next door (8-min ride, 25-40 min wait). Both are air-conditioned and relaxing—good cooldown after coaster marathon.

Walk to Fantasyland (behind Sleeping Beauty Castle). Do the classics:

• Peter Pan's Flight: Use Genie+ if you booked it (60-75 min standby wait). Great for ages 3-10.
• It's a Small World: Classic boat ride (15-25 min wait). Love it or hate it, kids need to experience it once.
• Alice in Wonderland: Dark ride through Alice story (20-30 min wait). Unique to Disneyland (not at Disney World).

Walk back to hotel (10-15 min). Let kids swim, nap, or rest in AC. If staying: Do Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (15-min ride, air-conditioned, 20-25 min wait) OR watch Mickey's PhilharMagic (3D show, walk-on, 15 min, good rest).

Afternoon heat makes getting wet fun. Expect 50-70 min wait OR use Single Rider (cuts to 20-30 min). Bring poncho OR embrace getting soaked (you'll dry fast in California sun).

Adventureland. Funny skipper narration. Better than Disney World version (original, longer). Wait drops during dinner hour (30-40 min). Great for all ages.

Lines drop after 7pm. Good time for:

• Re-riding Matterhorn or Space Mountain with shorter waits (30-45 min)
• Catching shows: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Enchanted Tiki Room
• Character meets: Princess Fantasy Faire (meet Ariel, Belle, others), Mickey & Minnie's house in Toontown

"Wondrous Journeys" fireworks (or seasonal like Halloween/Christmas). Stake spot on Main Street USA 30 min early or near "it's a small world" for less crowding but still good views.

15-20 min spectacular with projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle, music, pyrotechnics. Emotional ending to Day 2.

Shops on Main Street USA stay open 30-60 min after park closes. Browse for souvenirs OR head straight back to hotel to beat crowds. Save shopping for Day 3 if tired.

Eat at hotel restaurant OR cook in room if you have kitchenette. No rush today—parks are open 8am-10pm (or midnight depending on season). You've already hit all major rides.

Start at California Adventure for morning re-rides. Mid-morning arrival means you skip rope drop stress.

Focus on family favorites from Day 1:

• Radiator Springs Racers (third time!): Use Single Rider (20-30 min) OR Genie+ if you bought it
• WEB SLINGERS: Try to beat your Day 1 score
• Toy Story Midway Mania: Beat family high scores

Meet heroes you missed Day 1 (Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Black Panther). Watch Spider-Man stunt show (check times via app). Shop for Marvel gear ($25-80 depending on item).

Walk through Downtown Disney (5 min) to Disneyland Park. Afternoon plans focus on areas you missed or want to revisit.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway (new ride opened 2023, 8-min dark ride, 40-60 min wait). Meet Mickey & Minnie at their houses. Chip & Dale Gadget Coaster (kid coaster, 15-min wait). Let kids explore interactive playground elements.

Options based on family preferences:

• Thrill-seekers: Re-ride Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones with Single Rider
• Young kids: Fantasyland rides (Dumbo, Mad Tea Party, Storybook Land Canal Boats, King Arthur Carrousel)
• Relaxing option: Mark Twain Riverboat (15-min cruise, walk-on, sit and relax), Disneyland Railroad (18-min train around park, walk-on, see all lands)

Main Street USA shops (Emporium is largest—2 stories of Disney merchandise). Budget $100-200 for final souvenirs. Popular items: Mickey ears ($30-40), lightsabers ($25 basic, $250 custom-built), plush characters ($20-30), pins ($10-15 each).

Let kids pick their #1 favorite ride to do one last time. Common choices: Radiator Springs Racers (hop back to California Adventure via Single Rider), Matterhorn (Disneyland Park), or Pirates (sentimental favorite).

This is the magic of Disneyland's compact layout: You can see BOTH nighttime shows in one evening. Position near "it's a small world" in Disneyland Park—you can see fireworks from here, then walk to California Adventure for World of Color.

Watch "Wondrous Journeys" (or seasonal fireworks) from "it's a small world" area. Not as crowded as Main Street, good views of castle projections and pyrotechnics.

Immediately after fireworks end, walk through Downtown Disney (5 min) to California Adventure. World of Color starts 9:30pm. Arrive just as show begins—you won't have front-row spot but you'll still see everything.

Last experience of your trip. Watch the water/projection show one more time. Take family photos with Paradise Bay backdrop.

Take your time walking out. Soak in the atmosphere, take final photos, browse last-minute shops (open 30-60 min post-closing). Say goodbye to Disneyland. Walk back to hotel, pack tonight if checking out tomorrow morning.