10 Amazing Options for a 2-Day Disneyland Itinerary (Includes A California Adventure Itinerary)
Are you thinking about creating a 2-Day Disneyland itinerary? Feeling a little overwhelmed? No worries! I have a two days at Disneyland plan!
We have been to Disneyland more times than we can count. Planning a trip to Disneyland always gets me excited!
In this post, we will have lots of options for a Disney itinerary based on the stage of life you are in and your interest. These options will help you create 2 day Disneyland itineraries. They will include both Disneyland and options for creating a Disney California Adventure itinerary.
If you only have a day in Disneyland, you can easily create a 1 day Disneyland itinerary. If you have more than two days in Disneyland even better. You can spend more time in each area and create the best Disneyland itinerary EVER!
Before we jump into the Disney itinerary section, we will start with some basic and really important Disneyland information that will help you plan a trip to Disneyland. Hopefully, this will answer any questions you might have about your upcoming Disneyland trip.
Let’s create the best Disneyland itinerary!
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When is the Best Time for Touring Disneyland
As you plan your itinerary for Disneyland figuring out the best time to visit is key! California has really nice weather year-round, so that is a plus!
January – April typically has lower crowds. There will be some spikes for Spring Break attendance. (First week of April)
May-August have the typical summer vacation crowds. September is a great month to visit. It might be a little warm but manageable.
October is extremely busy!! Fall break in Utah, Arizona, and California attract many families to the area as well as the Disneyland Halloween Party. We have been in October many times. The Halloween Party is so awesome, so even if it is crowded, it is still worth going.
Avoid holidays!! If you hate crowds avoid holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of the busiest times at Disneyland. However, there is something to be said about all the magical decorations at Disneyland during Christmas time. You decide!
Hopefully, you can find a perfect time to plan your Disneyland itinerary!
How Long Should I Spend at Disneyland?
3 Day Disneyland Itinerary
Most people like to create a 3-day Disneyland itinerary. This Disneyland 3 day touring plan gives you time to go to both Disneyland and California Adventure for a full day and then have an additional day to do whatever you miss or want to do again. You also can save money by buying a 3-day Disneyland ticket.
2 Day Disneyland Itinerary
Personally, I like 2 days at Disneyland. I prefer to do one park per day. That’s why in this post we are going to focus on a 2-day Disneyland itinerary. It is my favorite amount of time for touring Disneyland.
1 Day Disneyland Itinerary
If you only have 1-day for Disneyland you can grab either of the main Disneyland itineraries and adapt it to the time that you have. One day in Disneyland is probably not enough time to do everything in both parks.
There are a few Disneyland Ticket options to choose from.
The one-park per-day ticket is perfect if you only have 2 days at Disneyland. You can evenly split your time between Disneyland and California Adventure.
The park hopper ticket is nice for both 1-day tickets and 3-day tickets. If you only have 1 day at Disneyland you can get a taste of both parks.
The 3-day park hopper is nice for the last day you visit when you want to do specific attractions you might not have done on day 1 and day 2. They may be in separate parks.
Getaway Today
Where should you get your tickets? Well, GetawayToday is one of the best Disneyland travel agencies out there. They know all things Disney and can really help you plan your trip to Disneyland.
They typically offer really great deals. (Ask me what promotions they are running in my Facebook Group)
If you want a Disneyland vacation package I have a coupon code: Planaway10 (This will get you $10 off)
Staying near Disneyland is really nice, especially, if you have little ones that need a break during the day. There are a ton of hotels near Disneyland! You can easily walk from your hotel.
Disneyland has 3 official hotels: Pixar Pier, Disneyland Hotel with the new Disneyland Hotel Villas, and Grand Californian. Personally, I think the Grand California is the best. You actually have your own separate entrance to California Adventure. It is really nice!
Early Morning Disneyland
If you stay at one of the Official Disneyland Resorts you will be able to get into the park 30 minutes before the park opens.
David’s Vacation Club
Want to save money? The Grand Californian is a Disney Vacation Club. (Basically a timeshare property) You do not have to be a DVC member to stay there.
David’s Vacation Club is an awesome way to save money. People who are members of DVC might not want to use their points. David’s Vacation Club will allow everyday people to buy those points and book discounted rooms.
I LOVE David’s Vacation Club. It has saved us so much money…..Almost $1000 for a 1-night stay at Disney’s Aulani! I recently looked up the price for Disney World and the same thing, half the cost!
If you do want to stay at the Grand Californian or the new Disneyland Hotel villas look into David’s Vacation Club and see if it could save you any money!
Best Attractions at Disneyland
I think it is really important to know what the most popular rides are at Disneyland so that you can create a Disneyland itinerary that includes them.
- Peter Pan
- Space Mountain
- Rise of the Resistance
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Splash Mountain (hot days)
- Thunder Mountain Railroad
Best Attractions at California Adventure
The best attractions to add to your California Adventure itinerary are:
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Web Slingers
- Incredicoaster
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Soarin Over California
- Toy Story Mania
Get the Disneyland App
The Disneyland App is essential. You can do a lot of cool things with it.
- Upload Your Ticket and Scan at Gate
- Mobile Food Ordering
- Get Genie+
- Connect Hotel Reservations (Disney Hotels)
- Join Virtual Queues
- Access to Photos
You will probably be using your phone all day at Disneyland. You will want to make sure to bring a portable phone charger while in the park.
Disneyland Rope Drop
What is Disneyland rope drop? Rope drop is where your itinerary for Disneyland begins. (Unless you got into the park 30 minutes early.)
Disneyland Opening Time
At Disneyland every morning when the park opens, the whole Mickey gang greets you with a song, the rope then drops and you are allowed into the park.
At California Adventure it is a little different. You are allowed into the park to a certain point and then the rope drops and you can get in line at the most popular rides.
Rope drop is really important at Disneyland. If you want to ride the newest, most popular rides, getting in line right when the park opens is essential.
Disney Itinerary Using Genie
The Genie system is supposed to be a Disney itinerary planner on the app. You are supposed to be able to enter everything you want to do and it will populate a Disneyland itinerary.
I don’t think we used this correctly when we went last, I will give it a try next time. However, we did use Genie Plus.
Genie Plus
The Genie+ system is the new fast pass system. Genie allows you to skip the line on all major rides. Yes, it costs money! But it is 100% worth it!
I decided to test it out on our last trip. We went for 1 day to Disneyland without the Genie. The next day we went to California Adventure and decided to buy it. I wish we would have gotten it both days!!!
It was awesome to use the Lightening Lanes and walk right on. Having this pass will make planning your Disneyland California itinerary a breeze.
Basically, you will pick a time window to ride a specific ride. When your time window opens you can ride the ride. You will scan your app at the ride.
Disneyland Individual Lightening Lane and Single Rider Lane
What is a Lightening Lane? A lightning lane is a special line that allows you to hop right on the ride. You will only use the lightning lane if you purchase Genie +.
You will need your Disneyland App to scan the bar code to allow you to enter the lane.
Disneyland Single Rider
One more important Disneyland tip. If you don’t mind riding as a single rider, you can save a lot of time.
Single Rider Lines At Disneyland and California Adventure
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Splash Mountain
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Grizzly River Run
- Incredicoaster
- Goofy’s Sky School
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Web Slingers
1. Disneyland Itinerary for First Timers
Okay, if this is your first time to Disneyland, this is going to be awesome. Part of planning which areas of the park you visit first depends on crowd levels and ride times. Make sure to have your app open with the ride times.
The app is important to make your Disneyland plan!
If you make it in time for rope drop you can pretty much guarantee to just walk on at least 3-5 rides without having to wait very long. Most people take time to get to the park and do not arrive until 11:00 am. These first few hours are GOLDEN!
If you are entering Disneyland for the first time, you probably want to go straight to the Sleeping Beauty castle. If this is the case, take your time walk through and head to Fantasyland
Fantasyland Disney Itinerary
Head straight to PETER PAN. Peter Pan is one of the most popular rides at Disneyland. The line will be long the entire day.
If your party consists of older kids, teens, or adults after Peter Pan skip to the next section – Adventureland, Frontierland, and New Orleans Square. If you have little kids stay and ride. These rides:
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- Alice in Wonderland
- Mad Tea Party
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Mr. Toads Wild Adventure
- Casey’s Jr. Train
- Storybook Canal
Entertainment
- Story Telling at the Royal Theater (Different times throughout the day.)
- Tale of the Lion King
- Meet Princesses
Adventureland, Frontierland, and New Orleans Square Disney Itinerary
Ride the following rides in this order.
- Indiana Jones
- Jungle Cruise
- Pirates (if open)
- Haunted Mansion
- Big Thunder Railway
- Splash Mountain (Maybe if the weather is warm)
Do not do these rides and attractions in the morning :
- Tom Sawyers Island
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- Enchanted Tiki Room
- Tarzan’s Treehouse
- Sailing Ship Columbia
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
At this point, you will probably want to get a snack or eat.
Snack Options
- Dole Whip
- Bengal Barbeque
- Funnel Cake (Hungry Bear)
Head to Star Wars Land.
Star Wars Land
- Rise of the Resistance
- Smugglers Run
Tomorrow Land
- Star Tours
- Space Mountain
- Buzz Light Year
Go Back and do the fun things you may have missed in each land. Check the time for the parade, Fantasmic, and the firework show! These are all amazing and you will want to see them!
This Disney itinerary can be completed if you only have a day at Disneyland.
Tip for this Disneyland Itinerary
If you purchase the Genie + you should be able to ride all major rides. If you do not purchase Genie+, you will be able to do 2/3 of the park in one day, depending on crowd levels.
If it is my first time to Disneyland I highly recommend buying an Official guidebook to read before your trip. There are lots of tips and tricks that will be helpful on your trip.
2. Disneyland Itinerary for Star Wars Lovers
For a Disneyland 2 day itinerary for a Star Wars lover, head straight to Galaxy’s Edge. Get in line and ride Rise of the Resistance. Ride Smugglers run.
Star Wars Rides
- Rise of the Resistance
- Smugglers Run
Entertainment
- Build a Droid (Droid Depot)
- Build a Lightsaber (Savi’s Workshop)
- Shop at Batuu Shops
Meet Characters
- Bobo Fett
- Fennec Shand
- Chewbacca
- First Order Storm Troopers
- Kylo Ren
- R2-D2
- Rey
- Vi Moradi
Star Wars Snacks
- Blue Milk
- Green Milk
- Try Ronto Roasters
Head to Tomorrowland for more Star Wars
Tomorrowland
- Space Mountain
- Star Tours
There are 54 ride combinations of Star Tours. This makes each time you go on it different. So go on it at least 3 times. You can also meet Darth Vader in Tomorrowland.
Downtown Disney
After your day at Disneyland be sure to check out Downtown Disney. There is a really cool Star Wars store you are sure to love!
3. Disneyland Itinerary for Thrill Seekers
Disneyland is not an intense amusement park. It is a theme park. There are a few rides that will give you a thrill but if you are comparing these rides to Busch Gardens or Six Flags they won’t compare.
Best Rides to Add to your Thrill Seeking Disney Itinerary
- Space Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Indiana Jones
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
Disneyland Plan Attractions
If you want to hit the major roller coasters Genie+ is the way to go. Otherwise, you will be waiting in long lines and wasting precious time! You want to create the best Disneyland touring plan!
4. Disneyland Itinerary for Toddlers
Disneyland in 2 days is possible with toddlers! Fantasyland is the best area of the park if you have young children. There are lots of rides they can go on.
Fantasyland
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- King Arthur Carousel
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Alice in Wonderland
- Mad Tea Party
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Mr. Toads Wild Adventure
- Casey’s Jr. Train
- Small World
Entertainment
- Story Telling at the Royal Theater (different times throughout the day)
- Tale of the Lion King
- Meet Princesses
After you explore Fantasyland head to Tomorrowland.
Tomorrowland
There are some fun rides to take your little ones on in this area if they are tall enough.
- Astro Orbitor
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Autopia
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
- Star Tours
I think at this point a good nap is in order! I like to take my littles back to the hotel for a rest. When returning from a nap you can explore the other side of the park.
Adventureland, Frontierland, and New Orleans Square
- Jungle Cruise
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Tarzan’s Treehouse
- Mark Twain River Boat
- Sailing Ship Colombia
- Tom Sawyer Island
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Enchanted Tiki Room
Main Street
- Disneyland Railroad
5. Disneyland Itinerary for Foodies
Forget the rides let’s focus on a food tour. The beauty of this 2 day Disneyland itinerary you seriously do not have to wait in line with the Disney Mobile ordering.
I want to be clear if this is your first time to Disneyland the food at California Adventure blows Disneyland out of the water. However, there are a few things you will want to try.
You can go in any order you please.
Must-Have Snacks
- Dole Whip (Tiki Juice Bar)
- Funnel Cake (Hungry Bear)
- Mickey Popcorn
- Mickey Pretzel
- Macaroon (Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe)
- Beignets (French Market)
- Ice Cream
- Curro Cupcake (out of this world good)
My Favorite Counter Service
- Casey’s Corner (Hot Dogs)
- Rancho del Zocalo (Favorite Mexican)
- Red Rose Tavern (Grey Stuff is Here)
- Bengal Barbeque
- Stage Door Café (American)
- The Golden Horseshoe (American)
- Harbour Gallery (Seafood)
Table Service
- Blue Bayou (You can watch the Pirates of the Caribbean ride as you eat)
- Plaza Inn (Character Dining During Breakfast)
6. Disneyland Itinerary for Those Who Hate Roller Coasters
If roller coasters are not your thing don’t worry you will still love Disneyland. There are so many rides and attractions that are not intense.
I will list below each ride in the different lands that are perfect for you if you do not like roller coasters. You can create a 2 day Disneyland itinerary based on these recommendations.
Fantasyland
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- King Arthur Carousel
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Alice in Wonderland
- Mad Tea Party
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Mr. Toads Wild Adventure
- Casey’s Jr. Train
- Small World
Fantasyland has character meet-and-greets and shows
Tomorrowland
- Buzz
- Star Tours
- Finding Nemo
- Autopia
- Astro Orbitor
Frontierland
- Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes
- Tom Sawyers Island
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- Sailing Ship Colombia
Fantasmic is in Frontierland (night time show)
Adventureland, Critter Country, and New Orleans Square
- Jungle Cruise
- Pirates
- Enchanted Tiki Room
- Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Haunted Mansion
- Tarzans Treehouse
Star Wars Land
- Smugglers Run
- Rise of the Resistance (not really a roller coaster)
Main Street
- Great Moments with Lincoln
- Main Street Vehicles
- Disneyland Railroad (4 stops around the park)
Making a Disneyland plan from this list is easy! My Disneyland route if I have little kids with me I always do Fantasyland followed by Tomorrowland. If I have older kids I start with Adventureland and on to Star Wars Land.
One thing that is great you will want to do while in the park is shop for all the awesome Disneyland souvenirs. Make time to shop around!
Day 2 - Disneyland California Adventure Itinerary
Hopefully, you were able to pick the right Disney itinerary for your first day. If California Adventure is set for day two I have a few ideas for you.
I love California Adventure! It is my favorite (probably because of the food) but yes I love spending my time at DCA.
7. Disneyland California Adventure Itinerary for the First Timer
Okay I am going to list every ride and attraction in each land. At rope drop you should head to Radiator Springs Racers or Web Slingers. (These rides are not included in the Genie +. However, both have single-rider lines… which is awesome!
California Adventure gets busier at night however the lines for rides do not. Lots of people come to DCA to eat and drink. You should have plenty of time to ride every ride in the park in one day.
Incredicoaster and Soarin are also the other rides that are very popular in the park. We typically ride Soarin as the very last ride of the day.
Cars Land
- Radiator Spring Racers
Do not ride these rides in the morning:
- Lugi’s Rocklickin Roadsters
- Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Avengers Campus
- Web Slingers
- Guardians of the Galaxy
Entertainment
- Spiderman show
- Character meet and greets
- Doctor Strange Mystic Arts
- Wakanda Black Panther Show
These shows are awesome, if you are close by, take the time to watch them. The Spiderman show is incredible!
Pixar Pier
- Toy Story Mania
- Incredicoaster
- Inside out Emotional Whirlwind
- Pixar Pal-A-Round Ferris wheel
- Silly Symphony Swings
- Goofy’s Sky School
- Jessies Critter Carousel
Grizzly Peak
- Soarin around the World
- Grizzly River Run (wear a poncho!)
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Hollywood Land
- Disney Junior Dance Party
- Monsters Inc Mike and Sully to the Rescue
- Sorcerers Workshop
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- Mickey’s Philharmagic
- Animation Academy
8. California Adventure Itinerary for the Marvel Lover
Avenger Campus is awesome. It is so detailed!
Avenger Campus is not that big you could probably spend 2 hours in this area.
Avenger Campus Disney Itinerary
- Ride Web Slingers
- Eat Breakfast at Pym’s Kitchen
- Watch Spiderman Show
- Enjoy a Character Meet N Greet
- Ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
- Watch a Show
- Eat at Shawarma Palace or Pyms Kitchen
Everything about the Avenger Campus is awesome! There are random shows all day. If you hang around this area long enough you will get to see your favorite Marvel characters. Most of the time they are doing crazy stunts.
Pym’s Kitchen is unbelievable! It is so delicious and so well-themed. The chicken sandwiches are huge with a tiny bun, just like Ant-Man.
The rides are really fun!
9. California Adventure Itinerary for the Pixar Fan
If you love Pixar, Disney’s California Adventure is perfect. Throughout the park, there are Pixar-themed areas.
I would head straight to Toy Story Mania and Incredicoaster. You can ride the smaller rides and grab a cookie from Jack Jacks. You could also get a Churro from Senor Buzz.
Then head over to Cars Land and go on Radiator Springs Racers. You can do the smaller rides and be sure to eat at Flo’s 8 Diner or grab a snack at one of the Cozy Cones.
You can head to Hollywood Land and go on the Mike and Sully’s ride.
Cars Land
- Radiator Spring Racers
Lugi’s Rocklickin Roadsters - Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Pixar Pier Rides
- Incredicoaster
- Inside out Emotional Whirlwind
- Toy Story Mania
- Jessie Critter Carousel
- Pixar Pal-A-Round
Hollywood Land
- Mike and Sully’s
You might see sightings of the green toy soldiers from Toy Story but it is not guaranteed. This Disneyland itinerary is perfect if you love Pixar and only have a day at Disneyland!
10. Disneyland Itinerary California Adventure Food Tour
If you are a foodie like me, California Adventure has the best food! Make a reservation for Lamplight Lounge!
Eat breakfast at Pym’s Test Kitchen. It is so good! Take your time and snack your way around the park. Eat Lunch at Lamp Light Lounge.
You could snack your way till dinner and I recommend eating at a counter-service restaurant. Pym’s has amazing chicken sandwiches or you could head over to Smoke Jumpers, Pacific Wharf, or Cocina Cucamonga.
Best Snacks
- Mac and Cheese Cozy Cone (Cars Land)
- Adorable Snowman Frosted Treat (Pixar Pier)
- Churro Toffee (Buena Vista Street)
- Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num’s (Pixar Pier)
- Ghirardelli Ice Cream (Pacific Wharf)
- Huge Pretzel (Pyms Test Kitchen)
- Churro (Pixar Pier)
Favorite Counter Service
- Smoke Jumpers
- Flo’s 8 Café
- Pym’s Test Kitchen
- Cocina Cucamonga Mexican
- Pacific Wharf Café
What I love about the food at California Adventure is that they really try to bring the best of California into the park.
Ghirardelli and the Pacific Wharf are a taste of San Francisco. There are specialty restaurants that have a taste of the California wineries. I love how you get to experience California cuisine within the park.
If you love food this 2-day itinerary Disneyland and California Adventure plan is perfect!
Best Disneyland Itinerary 2 Days
Hopefully, this post helps you come up with a Disneyland plan. I know you will be able to create the best 2-day Disneyland itinerary. Southern California is awesome!
I hope I made it easy for you to adapt it if you only have a day in Disneyland or extend it to create a 3 day Disneyland itinerary! This should also work if you want to plan a Disneyland 2-day park hopper itinerary. I know you will come up with the perfect Disneyland itinerary!
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I love how well organized this 2 day travel itinerary for Disneyland is! I’m definitely bookmarking this for our next Magic Kingdom trip because I always feel like our time there is a little chaotic and having an itinerary to refer to will make things much more pleasant (and hopefully keep the kids from arguing about what order to do things in haha). Thank you for sharing!
I like when I have a list pre-planned…and we go!
We have not been to Disney because the thought of it overwhelms me! but I know eventually that day will come, and this 2 day disneyland itinerary will really come in handy!
It is a fun family vacation!
I haven’t been to Disneyland, but it looks similar and yet different from Disney World. Great 2 day Itinierary for Disneyland – I look forward to visiting.
Disneyland has some fun unique things and is much smaller than Disney World. Love both!
I appreciate your advice on planning a two day Disney Itinerary! Looks like a great opportunity for family fun time!
Such a great family vacation!
I’ve done a few trips to Disneyland and I think three days is perfect! When I’ve gone for longer, it’s just been too repetitive.
Three days is nice!
The Disney Apps sure do enhance your trip to any of the Disney parks. We used it in Disneyland Paris and loved the convenience of it. I think you should visit Disneyland or any of the other parks at least once!
I agree 100%
I have not yet been to either one of the Disney parks. This is a very thorough guide! I have been to Universal Parks and I can attest to the fact that the single rider lines are where it’s at! You get more time on the rides and less in the lines!
Yes, it is so worth going on the single rider lanes!
I love the attention to detail to everything in Disneyland, it makes the whole experience extra magical. Would love to use these suggestions if I ever go to the US
I like a good guide when I visit Disney!
This was very well organized! I love tomorrowland, can’t want to go!
Space Mountain is my favorite!
Such a great guide! I’ve been to one in Paris and loved it. I’m more excited about the Universal Studios in the USA tho.
I am a totally amusement park fan. They are all great!
Such an incredibly detailed way to spend two days in Disneyland! The attention to detail was excellent.
Thanks, You would think we lived in California for as much as we have been!