A memorable Disneyland visit should resemble a tactical operation, complete with a strategic course of action that’s adhered to with the precision of an army cadet. Failure to do so often results in meltdowns and blown budgets.

No longer—your time and travel dollars are far too precious to waste on a spoiled vacation.

Cut food costs with our Disneyland Dining Guide. But to keep time on your side, you can seize the day at Disneyland with these three simple steps.

Trust me, your kids and your wallet will thank you.

Stay Local

The premium you pay for the three official Disneyland hotels is worth it. After all, guests are allowed into the park an hour before the rest of the public, usually on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Even without this perk, early birds snag rides at Fantasyland and other select attractions without waiting too long.

And, in spite of what the guidebooks might tell you, the lines do not dissipate noticeably an hour before closing.

Go Off-Season

Here’s when to go to avoid the crowds:
   
• The first week of January to the middle of March

• The Tuesday after Labour Day until early October

• The Monday after U.S. Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November) until the week before Christmas Eve

• Try to avoid weekends if you can, and instead visit the park on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, in that order. Both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure get progressively busy later in the week, with crowds often tripling in size

Get a FASTPASS

No matter how excited your child is about a ride, patience dissipates if the wait to get on exceeds 20 minutes.

If confronted with a serpentine line, try that ride again first thing the next morning… or snag a FASTPASS (if applicable to your ride).

For the uninitiated, this little miracle was launched 12 years ago for some of the park’s more popular attractions.

The service allows visitors to both parks to receive a voucher for a computer-assigned boarding time window later in the day. This system not only controls the swelling lines, but helps better plan your day to enjoy other rides.

FASTPASS attractions at Disneyland:

• Autopia
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear
• Astro Blasters
• Haunted Mansion (only during Halloween and throughout the Christmas holiday season)
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain

FASTPASS attractions at Disney’s California Adventure:

• California Screamin’
• Grizzly River Run
• Soarin’ Over California
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror