Disneyland & California Adventure in One Day: How We Did It (And You Can Too)
This is the story of my crazy, last-minute idea to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure in one day to celebrate my Halloween birthday. I’m sharing exactly how we made it happen as Disney first-timers, plus tips and tricks we learned along the way! Read on for my jam-packed one day Disneyland and California Adventure Itinerary!
As I mentioned earlier, visiting Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in one day was a random, last-minute idea by me. My birthday (Halloween) was creeping up fast and I couldn’t decide what to do. Disneyland was always on our list of places to visit, but we just never made the time.
A friend of mine, who happens to be a Disney novice, had always raved about how fun Halloween in Disneyland is (she even swears it’s better than Christmas time!). So, just 4 days before my birthday, I decided—we were finally going to Disneyland for the first time!
Whether you’re planning an epic, first time Disney visit to both parks or just want to do both Disneyland and California Adventure in 1 day, I’ve got you!
Can you do Disneyland and California Adventure in one day?
So after I made my crazy last-minute decision to visit Disneyland in one day, I had another decision to make, which Disneyland park to visit first for a one-day trip?
While planning my first visit to Disneyland, I had so many thoughts and questions. Obviously I wanted to visit both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, but can you do both in just one day? Since it’s just me and my husband, which Disneyland park is better for adults? Since my goal was Disneyland during Halloween, which park has more Halloween decor and treats?
While California Adventure Park is better for adults, Disneyland is best for Halloween time—but I had serious enough FOMO that I just had to do California Adventure Park too. So I mentioned my crazy idea of doing an epic, one day experience at both Disneyland and California Adventure to my husband, and he was game!
Side note: My husband and I are no strangers to packing our trips with as much things to do as possible (sometimes even at a fault haha). Even though it was also his first time in Disneyland too, luckily we both enjoy the same things and he wanted to give me free reign on my birthday—and honestly by the end of it, we both agreed it was one of our favorite days EVER aside from our wedding day!
I can proudly say that even as a first timer, it is possible to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure in 1 day. However, keep in mind that it is impossible to see and do it all, so it’s best to prioritize the top things you want to do in Disneyland.
Once we agreed to do one day in Disneyland and California Adventure. We had to figure out what day to visit. Disneyland during Halloween time means that on select nights, California Adventure Park closes early for their Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween Party. Tickets sell out almost as soon as they go on sale in June, and since our Disneyland trip was so last minute, there were no tickets available. So in order to get as much time at both parks as possible, we opted to visit on Halloween eve because it was a non-Oogie Boogie night (which also happened to be the cheapest night of the week too!).
How to visit both Disneyland parks in one day
In order to visit both disneyland and california adventure in one day you have to purchase a Park Hopper ticket. This allows you to enter the second park anytime after 11am, plus you can go back and forth between parks as you please.
Before you buy you have to choose which park will you’ll be starting with—I highly recommend going with Disneyland Park first since there’s far more rides, decor, and nostalgic photo ops.
Aside from a Park Hopper ticket, I highly recommend purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass in order to save time during your one day visit to both Disneyland Parks.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass ($32pp) can be purchased along with your Disneyland park ticket and allows you to skip the standby line so you can get on rides quickly without wasting time in long lines (a must if you want to make it to all of your chosen Disneyland rides in one day). You can easily book any Lightning Lane ride of your choice from the Disneyland app. After you’ve booked your spot in line through the Disneyland app and have up to 1 hour to redeem it before it expires. Once you’d redeemed your ride selection you can book your next Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction. If you want to make a change you can easily modify and change your ride of choice from the app anywhere in the park. Another cool Lightning Lane Multi Pass perk? You get unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos from your day!
Lightning Lane Single Pass (approx. $10-$25pp) can only be purchased after you’ve entered Disneyland and can only be used to skip the standby line for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance OR Radiator Springs Racers. Dan and I really wanted to ride both so we ended up purchasing 2 Lightning Lane Single Pass tickets each in order to save time and get on both rides (SPOILER: BOTH RIDES ARE AMAZING AND SO WORTH IT!).
Overall we spent a decent amount (almost $700 on all tickets combined) for our 1 day in Disneyland and California Adventure, but we saved so much time by skipping lines, we got on almost every single ride we wanted (minus one that sadly broke down) in just one day—and since it was my birthday gift, plus our first time in Disneyland, it was splurge-worthy for us! Needless to say, if you’re on a budget, I’d absolutely recommend giving yourself more than one day at both parks.
Where we stayed near Disneyland
Next up? Find the best hotels near Disneyland! I wanted to book an Anaheim hotel that is walking distance to Disneyland so we could get there early and maximize our time at both parks.
During my search for where to stay near Disneyland I discovered a few great hotels, but sadly most of them were already booked up, or too pricey—that’s when I found Grand Legacy at The Park—honestly, I think it’s one of the best hotels near Disneyland!
Not only does Grand Legacy at The Park offer on-site parking ($20 fee per night) and has great room rate discounts during Halloween time, but this Anaheim hotel is a short walking distance to Disneyland’s east gate entrance (approx. 8 mins), which is located on South Harbor Boulevard (Turn left once you get to the East Shuttle Area, you’ll see a blue Disneyland Resort archway, then continue down the pedestrian walking path—here’s my Google maps walking directions).
This Anaheim hotel’s rooftop restaurant has a Disneyland view, too!!!
At the top of Grand Legacy at The Park sits The FIFTH Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, which offers a direct view of Disneyland Park—perfect for watching Disneyland fireworks shows during dinner! They also have delicious food and fun seasonal Disney-themed drinks, like the Boogie Man Punch, Cruella, and Pull The Lever, Kronk. I got the Boogie Man Punch and it came in the cutest glowing cauldron complete with dry ice fog.
Disneyland & California Adventure One Day Itinerary for Adults
Wondering how to visit both Disneyland parks in the same day? Spend first half of the day in one park and the second half in the other!
I’ll admit, when we visited I didn’t have anything pre-planned so my itinerary was all over the place. However, I decided to recreate and fully optimize my one day Disneyland park Hopper itinerary so you can easily explore Disneyland and California adventure in 1 day!
This one-day itinerary for both Disneyland Parks is perfect for adults and foodies who don’t mind skipping most experiences, character meets, and shopping in order to get on as many rides as possible, while grabbing some good eats along the way (due to time restrictions & our ride preferences this itinerary does not include Toon Town). Feel free to move things around based on your own preferences!
Credit: @stevenlozano via Unsplash
Disneyland Half Day Itinerary
(See my simple Google Maps walking directions)
7AM: Arrive at Disneyland Main Gate Entrance
7:30AM: Enter Disneyland Park (tip: take photos while the crowds are low)
8AM - 3PM: Spend half day in Disneyland Park
Adventureland
Jungle Cruise
Indiana Jones Adventure
Adventureland Treehouse
New Orlean's Square (Eat/drink)
Mint Julep Bar (Get the beignets and mint juleps!)
Haunted Mansion (entry depends on your queue time)
Bayou Country
Tiana's Bayou Adventure
The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Try the blue milk from the Milk Stand!
Frontier Land
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Head to to the Walt & Mickey statue then up through the castle entrance
Fantasyland
Peter Pan's Flight
Alice in Wonderland
Mad Tea Party
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Eat at the Red Rose Tavern (we loved the Little Town Harvest Bowl & Butternut Squash Flatbread)
Between Fantasyland & Tomorrowland
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Tomorrowland
Space Mountain
Astro Orbitor
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Grab a treat from the Galactic Grill (we loved the Chile Pepper Burger & Darth by Chocolate)
Head to Main Street
Watch the Dapper Dan show (possibly 2:10PM)
Explore Main Street
Grab a treat: Dole Whip from the Disneyland Dole Whip Stand and/or a Mickey macron from Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
3PM: Exit Disneyland Park
Disneyland California Adventure Half Day Itinerary
(See my simple Google Maps walking directions)
3:15PM - close: Spend half day in Disney California Adventure Park
Hollywoodland
Monsters Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue!
Grab a Mickey pretzel from Studio Catering Co.
Avengers Campus
Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!
Grab a drink at Pym Tasting Lab
WEB SLINGERS: Spider-Man Adventure
Cars Land
Mater's Junkyard Jamboree
Radiator Springs Racers
Grab dinner at Aunt Cass Café (I'd personally choose the Turkey Pesto Club to leave room for treats later on) in San Fransokyo Square OR at Lamplight Lounge (split the Herb-roasted Chicken with a friend) in Pixar Pier
Pixar Pier
Incredicoaster
Pixar-Pal-A-Round
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
Grab a churro from Señor Buzz Churros
Paradise Gardens Park
Silly Symphony Swings
Goofy's Sky School
Golden Zephyr
The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure
Grab a sweet treat from Ghirardelli® Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop OR Clarabelle's Hand-Scooped Ice Cream
Grizzly Peak
Soarin' Around the World
I hope you enjoyed my Disneyland and California adventure 1 day itinerary!
Tips for how to spend one day at Disneyland and California Adventure
Looking for quick tricks and tips on how to spend one day both Disneyland parks?
Purchase a Park Hopper ticket starting with Disneyland Park
Purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass to save time and get on rides quicker
Download the Disneyland app
Make a list of must-do rides, experiences, and food at both parks
Use the Disney app’s “Plan My Day” feature to helps plan your day and navigate the parks
Make dining reservations early (some dining experiences sell out quick)
Arrive at Disneyland’s park entrance by 7am (this gives you the best chance at early entry)
Join the queue for Haunted Mansion as soon as you arrive on-site (as long as you’re physically at the entrance can join the queue even if you haven’t gone through the entrance terminals yet)
Take photos as soon as you enter the park! Less people = better photos!
Purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (at Diensyland Park) and/or Radiator Springs Racers (at California Adventure Park)—honestly, they’re BOTH worth it!
Order food and drinks via the Disney app mobile order and pickup whenever you want so you can save time and grab a bite quickly without waiting on line.
Share your food and snacks with friends so you don’t fill up (my fave hack for trying multiple things throughout the day haha)
