I love theme parks and want my children to have the very best experience each and every time we go.  The hardest part of enduring any park is the waiting, especially when you visit during the holidays when crowds can be overwhelming and you dread your dream vacation turning into a nightmare.

Having visited California Adventure and Disneyland during the holiday season just a few weeks ago, I can tell you there was as much stress as there was fun, so here are a few of my own tips to reduce the stress.

1.  MouseWait App for iPhone and Android.  This was fabulous to have on our trip.  This app will let you know the approximate wait times on the rides or events you want to see.  If you’re in line, you can also update the app with real time wait information that may have you putting one ride on hold for another.  It also let’s you know where nearest restrooms and restaurants are, event times, and each park’s crowd index plus a whole lot more.

2. FASTPASS  Between the two parks there are 14 rides that have the FASTPASS option, a complimentary benefit to all park Guests that allows you to enjoy the rest of the Disneyland Resort while your place in line is saved at a specific time.  Do this for the busiest rides FIRST!  CarsLand’s Radiator Springs Racers read about a 90 minute wait on my app and looked longer in person the two days we were there. 

Head to the location for the FASTPASS first thing when you get to the park so that you can fast forward through the line at your alotted time, believe me you’ll save time and tears.  It’s easy just enter your park ticket into the machine and it will shoot our your FASTPASS, make sure you get you park ticket back!  Don’t forget you can only have one at a time, so until you use that one, you can’t get another one for another ride.

3.  More than 1-Day Park Hopper Passes  Two theme parks in one day is a LOT.  One theme park alone in one day is usually a lot more than one family can cover.  In the past years working in the media has gotten us one-day park hoppers that we are so appreciative for.  This year we had the opportunity to visit for two days and it was just so much nicer.  We could focus on one park per day and really time and plan out our days accordingly.  This is ideal, especially for us, we’re not close enough to the parks for season passes, so when we do get to go we really want to enjoy it.  Crowds and line stress lessen when you know you have more time, you gain a bit of patience  Plus, it’s really worth the money when you don’t have to rush and drag exhausted, cranky parents around (ha!).

4.  Stay Occupied While you Wait  The kids are finally allowed to pull out their electronics and tune out via parents orders!  I allow my kids to have their DS, iPod, smart phone, or handheld gadget with them while we wait in those busy lines, otherwise what will they be doing—whining, complaining, crying, etc!  As long as I collect them all in my purse or backpack when we get to the ride, I beg the kids to play a game, surf the web, do something!  Usually because I’m playing Words with Friends or partybingo.com and I need to focus on something other than the busyness around me!

5.  Be Flexible  Fall and Winter in Southern California can be 75 degrees or 50 with rain, plan accordingly and make sure you take everything with a grain of salt.  Often a little drizzle will keep the locals with passes away so play that to your benefit.  If your favorite ride is closed for maintenance, try a new ride.  If the line to see Merida is over an hour wait and the electronics need charging, find a sweet treat to enjoy while you wait.  Everyone at the park is there for the same reason, to make family memories.  If you aren’t flexible those memories may never bring you back for another visit.

To plan your next magical vacation, check out these special park offers, www.disneyland.com/offers.