Help! Avoiding the lines at Disneyland
 

We're taking our 4 kids to see the mouse and his mates in April. Any advice on how to avoid the long lines. We were there in 99 with 2 kids and found lines of between 1 - 2 hours for some rides. They tell me there is now a front of line pass? is there any other advice eg: a better day to go than another? Is there any public holiday between March 31 - April 5. Would love some advice.

That's prime time, and it will be crowded no matter what day of the week you go. Many rides do have "fastpass" which lets you get a ticket for a specific 1 hour period (ie., between 1 and 2), and when you go back during that time, you go on a special line for fastpass holders--it really is much quicker. Not all rides have it, but many do, and the guide maps will tell you which ones have it.

The fast pass is definitely the way to go.
On rides that don't offer it, we've sometimes had luck just going back later when lines were incredibly long.

One thing we read in a guide book that really seemed to work for us is to take the left hand line when you have a choice between right and left. We did and always moved much faster than the other group.

read the guidebooks and go to the disney websites. i used mousesavers.com when planning our last trip and it was very helpful.

It is necessary to be at the gates when they open and first in line at the popular rides. use the fastpass once the lines get long.

Along with the advice above, generally we head to the back of the park at opening and work our way forward which is usually opposite of what everyone else does. Definately the fastpass is the way to go.

Skip Disneyland, and go to DISNEYWORLD.
(just kidding). Fastpass is great, especially during peak times. Get to the parks early if you are staying out of the park so you don't waste too much time in the parking lots. Have a nice time....

Those days should be fine and are most definitely NOT primetime. Easter is April 11th this year.

I usually visit on S, M, and T. Sundays are usually crowded early but ease off as the weekenders go home. The longest we ever wait is 30 minutes.

Study FastPass instructions and/or just ask a cast member. It's not hard, but there are some nuances (sp?).

Don't know your kids ages, but if they are young go to Fantasy Land very early and/or during the parades. Peter Pan is always the longest line (and shortest ride).

Get a Park Hopper and visit Cal Adventure, too.

That week is prime time during Disney peak season.

The best way to avoid the lines are to avoid Disney when schools are out.

Some hotels offer early morning entries with their packages which allow you into the park one hour earlier than the general public. When our children were young, we used to head to Toontown first before the lines got long. The fastpass is very helpful once you get the jist of it. I believe you can only hold one fastpass at a time so you obtain one, go do other rides of interest with short lines in the area and then return. Next, head quickly for your next prioritized fastpass ride and repeat the process.
Many students will be off the week before Easter so try to go during the first part of the dates you mentioned.
Hope this helps. Have fun and say hi to Mickey!

Fastpass WORKS. Its wonderful. We have used it since its introduction in Disney WORLD during many Easter weeks, allowing us to do everything we wanted to do, including some attractions several times in one day(Rockin Roller Coaster).

We've also used it on our last two visits in DisneyLAND and California Adventure (July '02 and '03) with similar success. For example, we were able to ride California Screamin four times in one day. You'll have to do some planning but it works and is definitely worth it. Have fun!

Be there when the park opens and you'll have a couple of hours of low crowds.Get you fast passes for use later in the day.

nolists, I don't where you are, but here in SoCal that week is spring break for many of the schools, and spring break is always prime time for the mouse.

All good advice (especially get there at opening, bear left as most humans tend to bear right, use FastPass and be flexible). I also saw but have never used an online application called RideMax. It costs $11.99 for a 90 day subscription and is supposed to plan your Disneyland visit to minimize waits. Would love to hear if anyone has used it? I have no affiliation with them!

http://www.ridemax.com/

also, if one of your children is too small to ride and you need to trade with another adult the babysitting, you only need to wait once in line. For example, Dad rides with the first set of eligible kids, then upon exiting the ride, Mom (who was waiting to the side with the stroller) is let on with any other eligible kids. You have to let the employees know you need this when you get to the front of the line and they are really, really nice about helping you out.