I want to walk you through a day at Disneyland for me. I like to think that my numerous visits have taught me a thing or two about how to avoid crowds and best spend the limited amount of hours in a day. The day is all about what you put into it and I like to go in with a little bit of a plan and a lot of optimism.

I start off the day on time. I prefer to get there 5 or so minutes before the parks open. They open the park gates early and it helps you avoid a line to get in. Of course, you still end up waiting for the park to open before you can ride any rides. The first two hours of the morning have the shortest wait times. I head straight to the ride I think will have the longest line and that I care about riding the most. I try to avoid walking from one side of the park to the other when it’s unnecessary. I get a fastpass for the bigger rides as quickly as I can.

As the wait times increase and more bright-eyed families show up, I head to my first fastpass ride. Part of my goal when I go into the parks is to ride each available attraction. There are only a few rides I don’t mind skipping. I take frequent snack breaks, request free ice water from restaurants and tend to need several pit stops throughout the day. I also take a ton of photos whenever I see a good opportunity! I love pretty things. It’s girly and not something I used to advertise, but I love glitter and bright colors and princesses and pretty food.

My favorite part about the parks is the overall atmosphere. Disney is the best at keeping everything themed. The cast members are so kind and caring. Each building is perfectly painted and colorful. Bubbles follow children as they walk through the cobbled streets with their handheld machines of magic. The scent of churros and popcorn fills the air. Subtle upbeat music carries the mood. Street performers provide fun family entertainment at random times.

Time flies when you’re having fun.

In the afternoon, I usually start to feel a lull and need a pick me up. I head to Starbucks and get some caffeine pumping through my body. It usually ends up being a great time to catch a show as well. You can sit in the shade or A/C as you enjoy resting your feet and watching a well-done performance of some kind.

As the park gets dark, the lights turn on, and it’s the most magical time of the day. Twinkling lights add mystery to the trees and overhead string lights always keep with the theme. I typically choose to splurge on dinner. I’ll try to make a reservation or do a walk in for an early dinner. Once out of the restaurant, it’s completely dark and I can walk to the next ride blissfully. Contrary to popular belief, the lines stay pretty long at night. Kids might be going home, though parents are probably trying to squeeze every last penny out of the day, but teens and adults thrive at night. If you care more about the big rides than fireworks, be sure to head to your favorite attraction right before the show begins. I, however, absolutely adore fireworks and Disney does them the best. Expect to see an amazing show every night. The water shows are fun as well, but I only need to see them once. I could watch fireworks every night without getting bored.

It’s the perfect way to end an incredible day.