I was totally inspired by Christianne’s recent trip to Disney, so last week my husband and I took our four year old to California Adventure. Since we only a booked a few days in advance there were no tickets to Disneyland but it actually worked well for us because we did Disney pre-pandemic (you can read all about it here) and we knew we wanted to try California Adventure next. We also really wanted to get a trip in before capacity goes up (it’s at 35% until June 15 and rumor is it will increase to 75% after that) and before it gets too hot because I seriously wilt in the sun. So I thought I’d tell you everything we did (in order) while we were there with a few general tips to help you plan for your future trips.

We left our house around 7:30 and arrived at the Mickey parking lot by 8:30ish. There are a lot of tips out there about alternative parking options but I pre-bought a parking pass not knowing there were other options and honestly it was totally fine. Yes it was crowded but it didn’t feel any different to me than going to Universal or Hollywood Bowl or any major event space. We were parked and did the walk in by 9:15. Make sure to bring a stroller because currently the tram is closed and it’s quite a hike to the gate. I honestly can’t imagine a worse way to start the day than making your little kid walk and then be forced to carry them the rest of the day.

Once we were in the park we set out for the rides! Here’s our itinerary once we were in the park. And for reference my daughter is 4 years old, 43 inches and loves rides.

1. Soarin’ Around the World - This ride was totally awesome!! You feel like you’re flying over the world and seeing all the different sights like whales jumping out of the ocean, Savannah’s, the Eiffel Tower, etc. The line was very long (I’d say we waited around 50 minutes) but it was totally worth it.

2. The Little Mermaid - This is one of the classic Disney rides. You go through The Little Mermaid world while animatronic characters sing and dance. Perfect for really little kids.

3. Inside Out Emotional Whirldwind - We made our way over to Pixar Pier to hit up all of these rides. I’d seen pictures of this ride and it was the one I was most excited for and sadly it didn’t live up to my expectations. It’s very slow and short and you just go in slow circles in a balloon. I thought it would be similar to the dumbo ride but I didn’t think it was as good. However it is another great one for little kids.

4. Silly Symphony Swings - This ride was totally rad!! I had so much fun on this one and My daughter loved it too. Bonus points because it basically had no line.

5. Jumping Jellyfish - This is like a baby version of the tower of terror. It slowly lifts you up and drops you and for some reason this was the only ride that made me feel slightly motion sick. But still a cute one and the line was suuuuper fast.

6. Goofy’s Flight School - By far our favorite ride of the day! It’s a small rollercoaster that is fast and jolty and my daughter laughed and laughed and said she loved how it made her belly “feel funny”. There was a very long line but totally worth it.

Snack Break! We hit up Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats for a dole whip. Christianne told me to order the Pixar Pier Frosty Parfait and it did not disappoint!

Next we had out lunch break at Flo’s V8 Cafe. It wasn’t the best meal of my life but it was a totally decent impossible burger.

7. Radiator Springs Racers - Cars land is definitely the main attraction at California Adventure and I have to admit it was really, really cool. The desert scape they built is amazing and it feels like you’re really there. Having said that, prepare for a crazy line. When we got in line the time estimate was 70 minutes and it probably took around 90 minutes because the ride shut down temporarily. Once we finally got on the ride it was super cool and I’m glad we stuck it out.

8. Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree - Another cute Cars-themed ride which thankfully has a way shorter ride than Radiator Springs.

9. Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters - This ride was fine but nothing to write home about. You spin/move around to the beat of the song playing.

10. Monster’s Inc - Mike and Sully to the Rescue - Similar to The Little Mermaid Ride, you sit in your car and go through a giant set with all the characters.

11. Pixar Pal-a-round Swinging - There’s a swinging and non-swinging option and the swinging one was surprisingly scary! It really gets some major height when it’s swinging but the view is amazing and it’s one you shouldn’t miss.

12. Toy Story Midway Mania - For some reason I wasn’t expecting to like this one but it was awesome!

13. Jesse’s Critter Carousel - A classic carousel ride. It was a nice way to wrap up our day of rides.

We decided to have a quick bite to eat after this so we wouldn’t get too hungry in the car. We had a pretzel and meatball sandwich and started walking to the car around 6:45 and arrived back home around 8.

Ok, now here are a few general tips.

1. The app wait times are not always accurate. The Soarin’ line moved at least 10 minutes faster than estimated, the Cars ride took at least 20 minutes more than estimated. Whenever it said there was a 5 minute wait it was usually more like 10 and so on. So while it’s a good general estimate don’t plan everything around it.

2. But having said that, you have to use the app because it’s the only way to order most food. You pre-buy your food on the app and schedule pickup times. What is nice is once you’ve placed your order it’s super easy to push your pickup time if you’re running late. Also be aware that just because your order says it’s ready you still have to wait in another line to actually get it, so don’t expect to just stroll to the window, grab your food and go.

3. Bring sunscreen, water and a hat. It’s hot and sunny right now and since most lines have been redone so you don’t have to wait inside you basically never have shade.

Have a great time at Disney!

- Callie