Photo Credit: Siena Lopez ’24

When I see the castle on Friday, I might actually drop to my knees in awe.

Okay, I’ll admit it: I am a full-blown Disney adult. But not in the crazy, Disney-bounding, Mickey-ear-collecting way you see on TikTok. I am a classy Disney adult.

I thoroughly enjoy going to the parks, riding rides, and indulging in the food. So naturally, I am thrilled for the senior Disney day on May 17. My friends and I have devised a plan to perfectly curate our day to have the most fun before graduation. Here are some ideas I am using to max out my fun-o-meter while at the happiest place on Earth.

1. Rope drop!

If you aren’t familiar with the idea of rope dropping, essentially it is the official opening of Disneyland at 8 a.m. when cast members drop the rope and let guests into the parks. You can also rope drop your favorite rides, especially the ones that normally have long wait times. While this will be the first time I am rope dropping, some of my friends are absolute pros at it. Marci Rau ‘24 shares: “My mom and I got the three-day Socal Resident pass, and we rope dropped for all three days. It’s so worth it to rope drop because it’s always so empty in the morning, and honestly, I don’t have to wake up much earlier than I do on school mornings. Just make sure you and your group decide on what part of the park you want to rope drop!”

      2. Try new things, including food and rides!

This will probably be the last time I go to Disneyland for a while, so why not make the most of it by trying as many new and different things as possible? Almost every day, I scroll through pages and pages of TikToks discussing the latest food trends at Disneyland and DCA, and I plan on trying all of them. For example, at DCA’s Pixarfest, tons of food stalls and carts are selling specialty items. There are tons of options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, and I cannot wait to treat myself to three different types of churros.

      3. Collaborate with your group!

You don’t want to be at Disneyland sad that you aren’t able to do all that you wanted to; after all, you are at the happiest place on Earth. So, make sure to plan with your friends so your day is planned to a T. Senior Siena Lopez, an avid planner, shares her advice: “As someone who loves to plan and have a set itinerary for my life, I am so grateful that my friends and I have planned out our Disney day. For example, my sister and I always make a point to end off our trips by going to the bakeries on Main Street. We always love going home with a little sweet treat. I think it’s a good idea to plan out your day because it allows you to know your next move and make the most out of your time. I can’t wait to skip into Disneyland bright and early with the stress-free knowledge that we are going to have the best day ever!”

      4. Embrace your inner child!

When I was a child, I was deathly afraid of the characters at Disneyland. My parents would always try to get me to take a photo with Mickey or Goofy, and I would run away screaming bloody murder. I never got those formative childhood photos with Disneyland characters, so now I’m making up for lost time by trying to get as many photos with the characters as possible, and you can too! Push those five-year-olds aside, and get in line to meet Pluto; you deserve it!

     5. Don’t anticipate, participate!

Okay, I know I just told you to plan out your whole day to the minute, but come on. It’s Disneyland, something will go wrong. And if it does, don’t stress! As the Kairos quote states, “Don’t anticipate, participate!” Don’t expect a flawless day. Let the good times roll and just have fun. Believe me, you can still have an awesome day even if you run into a snag or if something goes wrong. All you have to do is enjoy the day, no matter what is thrown at you.

Remember, stay present, and soak up the last moments of senior year. Have fun, seniors!