A Family Trip · 2026

Where Dreams
Come True

June 21 June 27 Anaheim, California
Our favorites
Lightning Lane
Food & treats
Day One

Arrival & Disneyland Park

Getting There

  • Transport to the hotel
  • Earl of Sandwich or SplitsvilleSnack / lunchFood

Disneyland Park

Afternoon & evening
  • Book at rope drop
    On arrival, book Indiana Jones Adventure
    Our first Multi Pass of the trip, setting up the evening chain through Adventureland, New Orleans Square, and Frontierland.
  • Book at rope drop
    Single Pass: Rise of the Resistance (for the evening)
    Late-day summer availability can be tight — we ride Rise again on Days 3 and 5, so no pressure if it doesn't land.

Adventureland

  • Indiana Jones AdventureFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    After tapping into Indiana Jones: book Haunted Mansion

New Orleans Square

  • Haunted MansionFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    After tapping into Haunted Mansion: book Big Thunder

Frontierland

  • Big Thunder Mountain RailroadFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    After tapping into Big Thunder: book Haunted Mansion for later
  • Rancho del ZocaloDinnerFood

New Orleans Square

After dinner
  • Haunted MansionFavoriteLightning Lane

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

  • Build a droid & shopping
  • Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's RunFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Rise of the ResistanceFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Blue MilkSnackFood
Day Two

California Adventure

California Adventure

Rope drop · 8:00 AM
  • Book at rope drop
    Single Pass: Radiator Springs Racers — start checking first thing
    Begin watching this at rope drop even though we'd prefer a later (~10:30) window when we reach Cars Land. At Disneyland you get the next available window and can't pick the time, so checking early lets us see what's on offer and grab a good one — refresh if the first time's off.
  • Book at rope drop
    First Multi Pass: Mission Breakout — just for Nathan
    Multi Pass is one-at-a-time — you hold a single booking, then unlock the next only after you tap into it. The route below follows that chain, which means a bit of doubling back.

Pixar Pier

Right at rope drop
  • Incredicoaster — just Nathan
    A solo thrill — the others wait nearby, then we all head to Avengers Campus.
  • Meet up at Pym Test Kitchen

Avengers Campus

  • Mission Breakout — just NathanLightning Lane
    Nathan's solo ride; tapping in here opens the next booking.
  • Lightning Lane
    Once tapped in: book Web Slingers
  • Web Slingers (full group)Lightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    Once tapped in: book Monsters Inc.
  • Pym Test KitchenBreakfastFood

Hollywood Land

  • Monsters Inc.Lightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    Once tapped in: book Toy Story Mania

Cars Land

  • Mater's Junkyard Jamboree
  • Radiator Springs RacersFavoriteLightning Lane

Pixar Pier

Back for Toy Story Mania
  • Toy Story Midway ManiaLightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    Once tapped in: book Soarin' Over California
  • It's LEMON!SnackFood

Grizzly Peak

  • Soarin' Over CaliforniaLightning Lane

Cars Land

One more pass
  • Mater's Junkyard Jamboree (one more spin)
  • Flo's V8 CafeLunchFood
  • Shopping, then back to the hotel for the afternoon

Disneyland Hotel

Afternoon break
  • Rest and regroup before the evening

Disneyland Park

Dinner return
  • Stroll Main Street, U.S.A.
  • Jolly Holiday Bakery CafeDinnerFood

Tomorrowland

After dark
  • Lightning Lane
    On tapping back in: start a Multi Pass chain — Star Tours, then Buzz, then Space
    We may end up stacking here — booking the next as we tap each one, working toward Space Mountain by the end of the evening.
  • Star ToursLightning Lane
  • Buzz Lightyear Astro BlastersLightning Lane
  • Space Mountain — just Nathan & Vicki, if the mood strikesFavoriteLightning Lane
    An open opportunity, not a fixed plan — if there's a good evening window, the two of us grab it. Otherwise it stays on the Day 3 morning list.
  • Galactic Grill (the Terrace)SnackFood
    Good for a snack and the stage — not a dinner spot. (And no, Alien Pizza Planet is not the move.)

Mickey's Toontown

A short walk away
  • Mickey & Minnie's Runaway RailwayFavoriteLightning Lane
    Toontown's just next to Tomorrowland — a good chance to fold this in while we're on this side of the park.
  • Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Day Three

Fantasyland, Tomorrowland & Galaxy's Edge

Updated route

Disneyland Park

Rope drop · 8:00 AM
  • Book at rope drop
    Book Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • Book at rope drop
    Single Pass: Rise of the Resistance — start checking early, aim for an evening ride
    We'll watch availability from the morning on, but the goal is an evening Rise — so book the latest good window we can get rather than a daytime one.

Fantasyland

  • Peter Pan's Flight
    Our rope-drop ride — head straight here first. No running, but keep the walk brisk.
  • Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
  • Pinocchio's Daring Journey
  • Matterhorn BobsledsLightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    After tapping in: book Space Mountain, Small World, or Runaway Railway
    Tapping into Matterhorn opens the next Multi Pass — pick based on what we feel like and what return times look like.
  • Storybook Land Canal Boats

Tomorrowland

  • Space Mountain — just Nathan & Vicki, as an optionFavoriteLightning Lane
    Held in mind as an open opportunity for the two of us — either this morning or the Day 2 evening, whichever lands. Everyone else wanders Fantasyland or grabs a treat.

Main Street, U.S.A.

  • Carnation Cafe · 9:40 AMBreakfastFood

Mickey's Toontown

  • Mickey & Minnie's Runaway RailwayLightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    Book Small World

Fantasyland

  • It's a Small WorldLightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    After tapping into Small World: book Haunted Mansion

New Orleans Square

  • Haunted MansionFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    After tapping into Haunted Mansion: book Tiana's Bayou Adventure
    This keeps the one-at-a-time chain moving toward our later Tiana's ride.

Adventureland

  • Bengal BarbecueLunchFood

New Orleans Square

  • Tiana's Bayou AdventureLightning Lane
    Popular ride — its Lightning Lane window may push later in the day.
  • Hotel for the afternoon; mobile-order Hungry Bear ahead of time

Disneyland Hotel

Afternoon break
  • Rest and regroup before the evening

Critter Country

Evening
  • Hungry Bear Barbecue JamboreeDinnerFood

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

  • Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's RunFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Rise of the ResistanceFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Marketplace shopping & Oga's Cantina
  • Fireworks!
  • Green MilkSnackFood
Day Four

A Day to Rest & Wander

The Resort

  • Sleep in and relax

Downtown Disney

  • SplitsvilleLunchFood
  • Resort time, maybe a movie, shopping around the district
  • Céntrico · 5:00 PMDinnerFood

Disneyland Hotel

  • Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki BarNightcapFood
Day Five

Adventureland, Galaxy's Edge & California Adventure

Updated route

Disneyland Park

Rope drop · 8:00 AM
  • Book at rope drop
    Single Pass: Rise of the Resistance
    For later in the morning, once we've made our way up to Galaxy's Edge.
  • Book at rope drop
    First Multi Pass: Indiana Jones Adventure

Adventureland

Rope drop or early
  • Jungle CruiseFavorite
    A good rope-drop or get-there-early target before the line builds.
  • Indiana Jones AdventureFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Lightning Lane
    After tapping in: book Millennium Falcon

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

Make our way up
  • Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's RunFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Rise of the ResistanceFavoriteLightning Lane
  • Marketplace & shopping
  • Back to the hotel for the afternoon

Disneyland Hotel

Afternoon break
  • Rest and regroup before the evening

California Adventure

Dinner return
  • Lightning Lane
    Single Pass: Radiator Springs Racers — book once its window opens
    You can hold a second Single Pass in the other park the same day. For a cross-park booking it only becomes selectable once its return time is 11 AM or later — no problem for an evening visit, so grab it when we head over.
  • San Fransokyo SquareDinnerFood
  • Radiator Springs RacersFavoriteLightning Lane

Paradise Gardens Park

  • Ariel's Undersea AdventureLightning Lane

Pixar Pier

  • Pixar Pal-A-Round (Ferris wheel) at night & shopping
  • Lamplight Lounge, Boardwalk Dining · 7:10 PMSnackFood
Day Six

An Open Day of Magic

Disneyland Park

Our pick
  • Arrive at opening and do whatever we feel like

New Orleans Square

  • Cafe Orleans · 6:00 PMDinnerFood
  • Back to the hotel to pack

Disneyland Hotel

Wind down
  • Pack and rest up for the trip home
Day Seven

Until Next Time

Heading Home

  • Fly home, hearts full