California Adventure IncredicoasterThe Disney resort is practically in my backyard. My family and I love to spend a whole day or just a few hours at the Disney parks. Throughout the years we learned a lot about the parks and attractions that we like to share with you.

Disney California Adventure offers several services that help make your visit more enjoyable, like

Lightning Lane, Maxpass, Single riders, rider switch, and Photopass.

California Adventure Lightning Lane Attractions

Lightning Lane is a way to avoid long lines at some rides. For example, if you go to space mountain and find out that the wait time is too long, get a Lightning Lane. It will specify an appointment time for you to come back. When you come back you go through a different line which is usually very short. Be aware that you can only have one Lightning Lane at a time (per rider).

Rides that offer Lightning Lane:

  • Goofy’s Sky School
  • Grizzly River Run
  • Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
  • Incredicoaster
  • Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
  • Soarin’ Around the World
  • Toy Story Midway Mania.

(New) Paid Lightning Lane Ride

Those rides are not included in the price of Genie+. Lightning Lane access to these rides is sold separately.

  • Radiator Springs Racers
  • WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure.

California Adventure Single Rider Lines

Another way to beat the lines and Disney parks are the single rider lines. If you are traveling alone (or willing to split from your group when you reach the ride) you can go to the single rider line, which goes faster than the regular line.

On a recent visit, the wait time for my ride was 75 minutes. I was able to get in within 5 minutes through the single rider line.

Rides that offer single rider line:

  • Incredicoaster (California Screamin')
  • Goofy’s Sky School
  • Grizzly River Run
  • Radiator Springs Racers (distributed near It’s Tough to Be a Bug)
  • Soarin’ Over the World.

Rider Switch (Swap) Rides

Do you have small children, but you don't want to miss out on the thrilling rides? Line up with the whole group, and when you reach the attendants let them know you would like to swap.

One adult will stay with the young children, and the other adults can go on the ride. When the first ride is done, the adult that remained behind with the children can now enjoy the ride while the others wait.

Rides that offer rider swapping: 

  • California Screamin'
  • Goofy's Sky School 
  • Grizzly River Run
  • Radiator Springs Racers
  • Silly Symphony Swings - Single 
  • Silly Symphony Swings - Tandem 
  • Soarin' Over California
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 
  • Tuck and Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies.