If you’re at Disneyland Resort today, our thoughts are with you—because today is looking busy.
Long lines have taken over the Happiest Place on Earth, stretching through security and making even the simplest park entry a challenge.
Disneyland crowds are nothing new, but in recent years, they’ve become increasingly unpredictable. Once upon a time, you could avoid peak attendance by steering clear of holidays, weekends, and major events. Now? Every day feels like peak season.
Security Lines at Disneyland Are Out of Control
A typical Disneyland visit starts long before you hit Main Street, U.S.A.—and today, even getting through security is a battle.
According to MouseInfo, security lines at the Toy Story Parking Area are so long that they’re snaking through the entrance, fully switching back, and extending all the way to the white barricades.
Once through security, guests have another hurdle: waiting for the shuttle bus to take them from the parking lot to Disneyland Resort. While reports indicate that bus wait times were relatively short today, MouseInfo reports that it took 45 minutes after joining the security line to make it onto the bus.
Unfortunately, days like this are becoming more common. Just last month, Disneyland saw similarly chaotic security lines, with guests packed shoulder to shoulder well before they reached the park gates. That surge was linked to cheer competitions in Anaheim, which tend to bring in a flood of visitors.
Back in December, holiday crowds led to security lines overflowing into the Uber lot. No special event this time—just another weekend rush proving that at Disneyland, there are no slow days anymore.
Skipping the Lines With Lightning Lane
If you’re planning a Disneyland trip anytime soon, expect crowds and plan accordingly. Your best bet? Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which lets you bypass some of the longest waits at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. This paid service covers attractions like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, and more.
For guests who don’t want to commit to a full Lightning Lane package, Lightning Lane Single Passes are available for Radiator Springs Racers and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance—two of the resort’s most notoriously packed attractions, which aren’t included in the Multi Pass.
And if you really want to skip the hassle? Consider Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which gives you a one-time entry to every Lightning Lane attraction across both parks on your own schedule. (For a price, of course).
At this point, Disneyland’s crowd surges aren’t going anywhere, so a little strategy goes a long way. If today’s security lines are any indication, guests can expect longer waits, more packed pathways, and an even greater demand for Lightning Lane passes.
Have you noticed Disneyland’s crowds getting worse?
