You’re standing in a 90-minute line for Space Mountain. It's hot. The toddler behind you is currently using your calf as a teething ring. You look over and see someone breeze past the entire crowd, hop into a side gate, and board the ride in six minutes. That person isn't a VIP. They didn't pay $30 for a Lightning Pass. They just know how to use the list of single rider lines at Disneyland effectively. Honestly, it’s the best "hack" in the park that people still somehow ignore because they’re afraid of sitting next to a stranger for three minutes.
Disneyland is changing constantly. With the evolution of Genie+ into Lightning Lane Multi Pass, the free ways to save time are disappearing. Single Rider remains one of the few ways to game the system without opening your wallet. But it’s not available everywhere. If you go to the Pirates of the Caribbean expecting a single rider line, you’re going to be disappointed and stuck in a very long, very damp queue.
The logic is simple: ride vehicles have empty seats. If a family of three sits in a row of four, that fourth seat goes to a solo player. Disney hates "dead space" because it lowers their hourly capacity. You are the filler.
The Current List of Single Rider Lines at Disneyland (And How to Find Them)
Not every ride is built for this. Classic "omnimover" attractions like Haunted Mansion or Little Mermaid don't need it because the cars never stop moving and seats are communal. You need attractions with defined, individual seats.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
This is arguably the most efficient single rider line in Galaxy’s Edge. You enter through a door near the main standby entrance. Usually, the wait is about 10% of the posted standby time. However, there is a catch. Most single riders end up as "Engineers." That means you’re sitting in the back of the cockpit pressing buttons that glow orange. If you have your heart set on being the Pilot, don't use this line. Pilots are almost always pulled from the main standby or Lightning Lane groups.
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Located right on the edge of Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, this one is a bit chaotic. There are two different tracks (Tomorrowland side and Fantasyland side), and single rider availability can fluctuate depending on staffing. You typically enter near the exit or look for the cast member holding a "Single Rider" sign. It’s a bumpy ride. You’ll be sitting in your own seat, but very close to the person in front of you.
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Space Mountain
This one comes and goes. Sometimes they close the single rider entrance if the hallway gets too congested. To find it, you usually have to head toward the exit of the attraction, near the photo monitors. Ask a Cast Member first! There is nothing worse than hiking up that exit ramp only to find a closed gate. When it's open, it's a lifesaver. You bypass that winding, indoor "space" queue that feels like it lasts for an eternity.
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
Over in Disney California Adventure, this is a heavy hitter. The standby line for WEB SLINGERS stays massive all day. The single rider line is tucked away to the left of the main entrance. You’ll skip the pre-show with Tom Holland, which is a bummer for the first-timer but a blessing for the veteran. You’ll be tossed into a vehicle with a family of three. Your arms will still hurt from the virtual web-slinging, don't worry.
Radiator Springs Racers
This is the gold standard of the list of single rider lines at Disneyland resort. This ride is the crown jewel of Cars Land. Standby waits often hit 120 minutes. Single Rider? Usually 15 to 20 minutes. Because the cars have two rows of three seats, groups of two or four almost always leave a gap. You will spend your time in a separate outdoor queue, and while you won't get to see the "briefing" room with the other guests, the time saved is massive.
Grizzly River Run
Going on a hot day? Everyone else is too. The single rider line here is located at the very front—you usually need to grab a specific paper pass from the Cast Member at the entrance. It’s a circular raft. You don’t need to talk to the people you’re with. You just need to hope the person across from you is the one who gets soaked.
Soarin' Around the World
This one is tucked inside the Grizzly Peak airfield. The single rider line here is "hit or miss." Sometimes it’s barely faster than standby because the theater holds so many people at once. But during peak afternoon hours, it can save you 40 minutes.
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Why Single Rider Isn't Always the Fast Track
It’s tempting to think this is a magic wand. It isn't. There are specific scenarios where checking the list of single rider lines at Disneyland might actually waste your time.
If the standby wait for Millennium Falcon is only 20 minutes, just wait in standby. Why? Because the Single Rider line for the Falcon often bottlenecks at the very end. If a string of "perfect" groups (groups of 2, 4, or 6) comes through, the single rider line doesn't move at all. I’ve seen people stand in the single rider line for 15 minutes while the standby line moved faster because of the math of the groups ahead.
Then there’s the social aspect. You will be separated from your party. If you are traveling with a child under seven, they cannot use the single rider line alone; they must be able to maneuver the queue and sit by themselves. Disney rules state that children under seven must be accompanied by someone 14 or older on the actual ride. If you try to "single rider" a 6-year-old, the Cast Member will stop you at the boarding gate.
The Psychological Toll of the "Filler" Seat
Let's get real for a second. Being a single rider is a specific vibe. You are the "plus one" to a stranger’s vacation memory. On Radiator Springs Racers, you might be in the back seat of a car with a couple on their honeymoon. You will be in their ride photo. You will be the person screaming in the background of their "First Visit" picture.
On WEB SLINGERS, you might outperform the kid sitting next to you, and their parents might give you a side-eye. It’s a little awkward. But if you can handle 180 seconds of silence with a family from Ohio, you save hours of your life. Honestly, I've had some of the best conversations with strangers in these lines. You meet other park pros.
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Hidden Rules and Cast Member Discretion
The list of single rider lines at Disneyland is not a guaranteed contract. Cast Members can close these lines at any time.
- Capacity Issues: If the single rider queue physically spills out into the walkway, they will shut it down.
- Staffing: It takes an extra Cast Member to manage the single rider "grouper" position. If they are short-staffed, Single Rider is the first thing to go.
- The "Secret" Entrances: Some lines, like at Indiana Jones Adventure (which occasionally tests single rider), require you to enter through the exit. Always look for the signs, but don't be afraid to ask. A quick "Is single rider open?" to the person at the front can save you a 300-yard walk.
The Strategy: When to Use the List
Don't just run to these lines the moment you enter the park at 8:00 AM. In the first hour of "Rope Drop," the standby lines are short enough that you should ride together as a group. Save the single rider lines for the "Golden Hours" of 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This is when the sun is brutal and the lines for Radiator Springs Racers are hitting triple digits.
Also, check the app. While Disneyland’s official app doesn't always show the "wait time" for single rider, it will often note if the service is offered for that specific attraction.
Quick Reference Breakdown
- Radiator Springs Racers: Essential. The biggest time saver.
- Millennium Falcon: Great, but you’ll be an Engineer.
- Matterhorn: Good, but the queue is cramped.
- Space Mountain: Rare, check the exit.
- WEB SLINGERS: Very fast, bypasses the intro.
- Grizzly River Run: Vital in the summer heat.
- Soarin’: Moderate benefit, depends on the crowd.
Moving Beyond the Lines
If you’ve exhausted the list of single rider lines at Disneyland, there are other "unofficial" ways to move faster. Buddy Passes occasionally appear at Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! in California Adventure. These are for groups of one or two (and maybe a small child) to fill in gaps. It’s not a permanent fixture, but it’s worth asking the Cast Member at the entrance if they are "handing out Buddy Passes."
The reality of Disneyland in 2026 is that it’s a game of logistics. You can’t just wing it anymore. Understanding the geometry of a ride vehicle—knowing that a 3-seat row is a single rider's best friend—changes how you navigate the park.
Don't feel guilty for splitting up. You can meet at the exit. You can compare scores. You can talk about the ride while you're walking to the next one. The two hours you save by not standing in a hot line can be used for a sit-down lunch or a nap back at the hotel. That’s a fair trade.
Actionable Next Steps
To make the most of your next trip, start by downloading the Disneyland app and marking these specific rides as your "Favorites." When you’re in the park, don't just look at the standby times. Physically walk up to the attraction entrance and look for the Single Rider signage. If you don't see it, ask the Cast Member at the Lightning Lane scanner. They have the most up-to-date info on whether the single rider line is currently "active" or "at capacity." For the best experience, hit Radiator Springs Racers as a single rider right around 2:00 PM when the standby line is at its peak—you’ll feel like you’ve cheated the system in the best way possible.