how long to visit disneyland california

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Additional menu

The Family Vacation Guide

How Many Days Do You Need For Disneyland California?

posted by Caitlin Lloyd on March 25, 2022 // last updated on March 28, 2022

Whether you’re planning a fun-filled trip for all the family or taking your Disney-loving partner to their favorite amusement park in a surprise proposal, it’s no secret that there are lots of activities to cover at Disneyland California.

From the different attractions to spectacular event programs, you’ll want to make sure you plan your trip smartly, allowing enough days to cover everything you want to do.

If trip length is one logistical nightmare you just can’t get your head around – you’re in luck. This article will tell you all you need to know about the best ways to spend your days at Disneyland California.

Do you need help planning your ultimate family trip to Disneyland California ? Our top tips will provide you with everything you need to know!

Read on to discover the magic! 

Planning Your Disneyland Trip

Young children , where you’re staying, your priority rides, visiting for one day, visiting for three days, visiting for five days, how to make the most of your time at disney california, common mistakes to avoid, final thoughts.

Planning your Disneyland trip is the surest way to make time to ride all of your favorite rides. Whether that’s checking out the new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge or riding classics like the Indiana Jones Adventure, a robust plan can help keep you on track. 

Disneyland California consists of three separate areas, the main resort itself, Downtown Disney, and the Disney California Adventure. As these aren’t all in the same location, you will want to decide beforehand if you wish to visit each one and for how long. 

With the current guidelines in place in California, you will also want to plan to get your Covid-19 vaccines if you haven’t already. Although you won’t need to show proof upon entry, you must follow the Covid guidelines that are in place. 

We’ve covered all you need to know about being vaccinated to go to Disneyland California , so be sure to read through our guide before your trip. 

How Long Will You Need?: Factors To Consider

Before you book your trip to Disneyland California, you will want to consider various factors. Specific aspects of your trip can truly impact the length of your stay, especially when it comes to younger children and what rides you are planning on trying. 

Here are a few of the most important factors to consider and how they will impact the length of your stay at Disneyland! 

If you have younger kids, you will generally want to spend more time at the Disneyland theme park. Young children will want to run around and see everything there is, as opposed to older kids who may have a smaller list of favorite rides and attractions. 

As Disneyland California also includes a separate Disney California Adventure area, you will need to consider where your younger kids will enjoy the most. If you plan to take your children to both, consider staying an extra day or two. 

You may also need to book a longer stay if you or your partner is pregnant. It can be extremely dangerous to rush around while pregnant, so a more extended stay will remove the need to do so. It will also give you or your partner more time to take regular breaks – which is highly sought after when pregnant! 

Got a little one joining you on your trip? We’ve written a brilliant guide to give you the rundown on which rides babies can ride at Disneyland .

When planning how long you want to stay at Disneyland California, you will want to consider where you’re staying. The closer you are to the theme park, the less time you will need to stay as travel won’t be an issue. This is why the Disneyland Hotel is so popular. 

However, if you are staying outside of the Walt Disney Company resort, you will need to take travel times into consideration. This will only add an extra day or two to your whole trip, but it will need to be considered before you book your stay. 

The length will also be impacted depending on whether a trip to the Disneyland Resort is the primary purpose of your travel. If you are on a more extensive Southern California vacation, then you may not have enough time to visit the entirety of Disneyland. 

Whether you’re planning to stay for a couple of days or you want to make it a week-long holiday, we have a guide to some of the best hotels near Disneyland, Anaheim to inspire you ahead of your trip! 

Or, if you’re looking at staying on-site to get the full Disney experience, we have a fantastic guide that will tell you everything you need to know about Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel !

As you might expect, some rides at the Californian Disneyland Resort are far more popular than others. This is especially true with the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge experience and the beloved Space Mountain facing some of the largest lines at Disney World. 

When deciding the length of your stay, keep in mind which rides are your top priority and how popular you expect them to be. The more popular the ride is, the longer the line times will be, which may mean you will need to book an extra day. 

You should also try to decide whether or not you wish to visit the nearby Disneyland California Adventure as this is separate from the resort. If you do, then walking distance will come into play which again may lead to you needing to book an extra night at your chosen hotel. 

Want to pick out your must-see rides before visiting? Our park breakdown of how many rides are in Disneyland and California Adventure will save you plenty of time!

Although you may be tempted to visit for more than one day, you may not need to. A one-day trip is a perfect option if you only want to visit a single Disneyland Park and you live near the Southern California resort. 

It is also perfect if you have been to Disneyland before and are just visiting to try some new rides or experiences. As long as you don’t have the potential need to rush and plan your trip well, then a one-day visit may be the best option for you. 

• It will generally be cheaper than a multiple-day visit to Disneyland
• Perfect if Disneyland is just an extra adventure when visiting California with kids
• Enough time to experience your favorite rides 
• You may not have enough time to visit all the rides and attractions you had planned
• It can cause you to feel rushed when trying to decide what rides to experience 
• Not enough time to visit both Disneyworld and the Disney California Adventure

Ticket Options

There are fewer options for one-day visits to Disneyland than other lengths of time. The main way to access Disneyland for a single day would be to purchase the Standard Park Ticket . This lets you choose the exact number of days you plan to visit Disneyland, with 5 days being the longest option. 

A three-day trip to Disneyland is the best option if you want to visit both parks with a park hopper ticket. It is slightly cheaper than 5 full days at Disneyland whilst still offering you enough time to experience thrill rides and Disney experiences. 

Three days at Disneyland California is also a great option if you are on vacation for 7 days, as you can still experience a range of Californian tourist hotspots. 

If you can’t decide whether you would like to spend a single day at Disneyland or the entire 5 days, this is the perfect middle ground! 

• It offers enough time to visit most of Disneyland attractions
• Three days is the perfect middle ground between a single day trip and a 5 day holiday
• It can be a great way to experience Disneyland without dedicating yourself to a full 5-day visit 
• It will be more expensive than only booking a one day Disneyland Vacation
• You still might not have enough time to experience everything Disneyland has to offer 

A few ticket options are available when planning a 3 day Disneyland vacation. 3 days is a long enough stay for you to make use of the Park Hopper Ticket. This allows you to visit any linked Disneyland attraction in South California. 

If you are a resident of South California then you can also purchase the South California Resident Weekday Ticket. This ticket offers Californian residents 3-day access to Disneyland with the only limit being you can only access one park per day. 

On top of this, you can also choose to purchase the Standard Park Ticket . This lets you select how many days you wish to spend at Disneyland, with 3 days being an option. Remember that the more days you choose, the lower the cost per day! 

Want to understand more about how much Disneyland California tickets cost ? Our guide will tell you everything you need to know ahead of purchasing your tickets. 

The longest stay possible at Disneyland California is five days. This will offer you enough time to enjoy every ride Disneyland has on offer as well as a range of nice extras such as Downtown Disney and their world-famous fireworks show. 

If you have young children who want to create a memory of a lifetime, then you would be hard-pressed to find a better alternative than five days at Disneyland. 

Just keep in mind that a five-day ticket is a lot more expensive than a single-day trip, so keep this in mind if you plan to visit Disneyland in the near future! 

• The perfect length of time to experience everything Disneyland Resort California has to offer
• The lowest cost per day ratio 
• Offers young children the experience of a lifetime 
• It can be expensive for larger families with younger children 
• It can be too long if you only want to check out a few new rides

There aren’t as many options for a five-day trip to Disneyland as there are for three days. The main ticket that people will opt for is the Standard Park Ticket which gives you the option to choose how many days you spend at Disneyland. The 5-day standard ticket offers the cheapest price per day option.

Children under the age of 3 don’t need a ticket, so keep this in mind when determining how much your Disneyland vacation will set you back.

The best way to make the most of your time at Disneyland California is to have fun. A plan is always recommended, but sometimes the best times are experienced without expectations. This is especially true if you have younger children. 

As long as you get to experience the top rides and are satisfied with your journey to Disneyland, you can’t ask for more. We recommend checking out both the resort and the Disney California Adventure, as they offer unique experiences that you are sure to remember! 

When booking your trip to visit Disneyland, you are almost guaranteed to make mistakes unless you plan efficiently. This can lead you to miss out on more rides than you would if you took your time and figured out a schedule that works for you. 

Here are a few of the most common mistakes people make when booking their park reservations! 

Over-Packing Your Schedule

Disneyland is packed to the brim with fantastic rides and experiences for children and adults of all ages. This can lead you to over-packing your schedule as you try to experience every attraction they offer. 

However, unless you plan to stay for 5 days, experiencing everything at Disneyland can be extremely difficult. The best way to avoid this issue is to select a few rides or attractions you are most interested in. This will help you manage your time and ensure you experience your favorite rides. 

If you are struggling to pack everything into your visit, consider spending a little more for an extra day ticket. The more time you have at Disneyland, the easier it will be to experience most of its rides and attractions. 

Not Factoring In Mealtimes

This will depend on what you choose to eat, but if you are the sort of family who likes to sit down when eating, you will definitely need to factor in mealtimes. 

Mealtime length also goes hand-in-hand with the next mistakes people often make (underestimating waiting in line). Disney food stalls and even indoor eating will generally have lines in Disneyland due to the site’s popularity as a whole. 

Meals are a large part of any vacation, so we wouldn’t recommend skipping out on your lunch just to get to a ride a little earlier. We highly recommend including mealtimes into any schedule you set up to ensure you have enough time to eat and appreciate all Disneyland has to offer. 

Underestimating Waiting In Line

One of the most common mistakes people make when booking a trip to Walt Disney World is underestimating the line times. This is especially a problem when it comes to the most popular rides available at the resort. 

Before you head off onto your next Disney adventure, take the time to determine which rides are your main priority. You may also want to look online to figure out which rides are currently popular and whether or not you can expect long lines. 

Also, keep in mind that the lines will generally be pretty long in Disneyland, so try to organize your schedule around this!

How many rides can you do in a day at Disneyland?

Although it is possible to hit every ride in Disneyland Resort California, it is challenging and may cause more stress than is necessary. Ideally, try to pick a few of your favorite rides that you must ride and spread it across a couple of days! 

What day of the week is best to go to Disneyland?

In general, weekdays are far quieter than weekends at Walt Disney World. Monday to Thursday is perhaps the least busy period during the week, so if possible, try to book your Disneyland tickets for one of these days if you want to avoid busy crowds. 

What is the cheapest month to go to Disneyland?

The cheapest time to visit Disneyland will be during school periods and between the period of Easter to May. Early February and early October are also some of the cheapest times to visit Disneyland as these are classes as off-peak seasons. 

When booking your visit to Disneyland, try to compare a few months in advance to ensure you can find the cheapest ticket prices. 

We hope this article has given you a little clarity on how many days at Disneyland you should spend. Whether you’re a Star Wars fanatic or you have a child who loves Frozen, what matters is being able to see all of your favorite sites and rides.

It doesn’t matter if you’re spending 1, 3, or 5 days – there’s no correct answer, you should simply aim to list the attractions you wish to visit and let that take center stage in your plans.

However long you choose to stay – you’ll definitely want to go back!

Are you visiting the Golden State and looking for more family days out? We’ve compiled a list of the best theme parks in California to help you plan your trip!

More about our TFVG Author

Caitlin Lloyd

Caitlin is one of The Family Vacation Guide's long standing contributors. She enjoys taking vacation to busy, vibrant cities and has stretched her traveling legs out towards Europe in recent months, enjoying new experiences in Barcelona in Spain, and Nice in France.

• Haunted Mansion at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: Everything You Need to Know
• 6 of the Best Hotels Near SeaWorld San Antonio
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: Everything You Need To Know
• Disney's Pop Century Resort: Everything You Need To Know

About Caitlin Lloyd

• Book with Get Away Today
• Planning Index

SoCal Daily

Practically Perfect Planning

Get Away Today

• Find info by topic
• Hotels and Transportation
• Port Orleans Resorts at Walt Disney World

A First Timer’s Guide to Disneyland

• Disneyland for Grown Ups
• First Timer's Guide

Park Strategies

Updated June 4, 2024

Today, I’m sharing the basics of Disneyland to get you started on planning.

If you haven’t visited in a while, this post will be helpful to you, too. If your last trip was before Covid, buckle up. It’s a whole new world.

MagicBand+, Disney Genie, Early Entry, Park Reservations, and so much more are new or different now.

There’s a lot to know.

Let’s get started.

Who to Book Your Trip With

I recommend booking with Get Away Today .

Park reservations, crowd calendars, dining reservations, MagicBand+, changes since Covid, Disney Genie, etc etc all require a decent amount of familiarity to get it right.

I can help you with many parts of planning, but I recommend booking your trip with an experienced agent who can handle some of these things for you and advise on all of them.

Click here to get started with the only agency I recommend! Consider them for Disneyland, WDW, Disney Cruise Line and more.

An Overview

Disneyland Resort is comprised of 2 theme parks, 3 Disney hotels and Downtown Disney . Disneyland is a fraction of the size of Disney World. Check out the layout of the resort  including details on parking, lockers and more.

Disneyland is the original park and it opened in 1955. In addition to Main Street, it includes 7 lands:

• Adventureland
• Critter Country
• Fantasyland
• Frontierland
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• New Orleans Square
• Tomorrowland

Recent photos of Disneyland can be found here .

Disney California Adventure or DCA  opened in 2001 and enjoyed a grand “re-opening” in 2012 with a major transformation, which has brought the once troubled park to life.  In addition to Buena Vista Street, it includes 6 lands:

• Grizzly Peak
• Hollywood Land
• San Fransokyo Square
• Avengers Campus

Recent photos of DCA can be found here .

Transportation to the Disneyland Resort is fairly easy if you know what you’re looking for. There are 6 large airports that are all realistic options within 1.5 hours of Disneyland. You can get to the parks via car, shuttle, train, or car service. I highly recommend Lanksy Enterprises for transportation from the airport to your hotel.

For Walt Disney World Fans

There’s a lot to know if you’re familiar with WDW, but not Disneyland. Let’s go over a few differences:

• We don’t have a dining plan. We often walk up to counter service restaurants, order food and eat it. Don’t be scared of us. It works. Dining at the Disneyland Resort is fun.
• If you’re looking for Value Resorts at Disneyland, consider staying off-site at a good neighbor hotel . We only have 3 Disney Hotels and 2 of them are 4 Star and all three are $300+ a night.
• We have Early Entry, which allows you into the park before other guests. Read about it here .
• Everything is in walking distance . No one hour trek from park to hotel and park again. You can leave one park and be at the next in 2 minutes because the two park entrances face each other. Most hotels are in walking distance. Downtown Disney is just outside the esplanade between the two parks. You can easily leave the park, run back to your hotel and be back in the park in a short amount of time. IT’S GLORIOUS.
• The weather here is lovely. We rarely see rain. Seriously. And, regardless of when you visit – even if it’s in the summer – you’ll likely need a sweater for early morning or late night. Know how to dress ahead of time. It’s quite different compared to WDW.
• To thoroughly appreciate the history and nostalgia that Disneyland offers, consider taking my one hour scavenger hunt along Main Street to see lots of key Walt-related stops. First time Disney World fans love to see where Walt left his mark on our beloved Disneyland.
• Our characters often roam the park and some do so without handlers. The character experience is so authentic and fun at Disneyland.

This post covers everything you need to know for how to tour each park, allowing you to see and do everything your heart desires during your visit. Follow my plans to ensure you won’t wait more than 20 minutes for any attraction.

I test my strategies monthly – and edit as needed – which provides you the very best plans for your visit.

Disney Genie

All new at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World!

Be sure you know how Genie works, as it’s different from FASTPASS, MaxPass, and FastPass+.

Here’s the scoop on Genie.

You have two options when choosing where to stay at Disneyland:

DLR Hotels – Disneyland hotels have many perks including always-good Disney service, Extra Magic Hours, on-site DLR Hotel dining, and package delivery from the parks to your hotel. One (The Grand Californian) is super close to the entrance of the parks and Paradise Pier and The Disneyland Hotel are a bit further.

Off-Site Hotels – Off-site options are typically much less expensive than DLR Hotels with many averaging around $120 a night.

Attractions

Each park has a different feel to it. I’d simplify it into this:

Disneyland is old school and sweet with lots of history and fairytale-esque rides. Main Street feels like a walk back in time and the entire park has a nostalgic element to it.

Disney California Adventure feels newer and more character focused. Buena Vista is lovely and provides the nod to Americana that Main Street at Disneyland does. You’ll find “bigger” rides that teens will enjoy more at DCA, however, there is still plenty to do for little ones.

Beware: Some attractions are very “dark” (figuratively and literally) and can scare young children. Research those before you visit.

The food at Disneyland is one of my favorite parts of my visit. There’s so much to enjoy! I have compiled every bit of Disneyland Resort dining into one post . This covers both parks, Downtown Disney, character meals, dining in the DLR Hotels, park snacks, off-the-menu options, cocktails, DLR recipes, my recommendations, and a mock budget so you can estimate your costs. Check that out for all things dining.

Disneyland Dining has several yummy options including Jolly Holiday Bakery , Hungry Bear Restaurant, The Plaza Inn, Blue Bayou and more. The park includes several table service options and many counter service ones, too. Character dining can be found at breakfast at The Plaza Inn.

California Adventure Dining feels a little more adventurous to me food-wise with options like Asian fare, high end Carthay Circle and delicious smoothies. California Adventure also serves a wide range of alcohol compared to Disneyland.

Character dining can be found at Disneyland and each of the Disneyland Resort Hotels. In addition to the expected Disney service at each of these experiences, you can also:

• Interact with characters up close for more time than at the parks.
• Take fun photos with the characters.
• Gather autographs.

I encourage you to enjoy one (or more) character dining experiences during your visit.

Halloween Time and Holidays at Disneyland are two big seasons that take over the parks from the beginning of September until the beginning of January.

A few quick notes on these seasons:

• Halloween Time is just as popular as Christmas is now at the Disneyland Resort.
• We have a Halloween Party called Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure. It’s the best after hours event I’ve ever attended at a Disney Park. Don’t miss it.
• Each September brings an overlay to the Haunted Mansion, transforming it into a Jack Skellington’s Nightmare Before Christmas theme, where “two holidays collide”. This overlay lasts through the end of Holidays at Disneyland in early January of the following year. The Haunted Mansion typically takes up to 3 weeks to change from one theme to the other, so account for that timing when scheduling your trip. Mid-August is typically when the attraction closes for the changeover.
• “it’s a small world” changes into “it’s a small world” Holiday during Holidays at Disneyland. That transformation takes 2-3 weeks, so account for it, too, during your planning. Look for it’s a small world to go down the second half of October in preparation for Holidays.
• Halloween Time typically starts the second week of September and lasts through Halloween night, October 31.
• Holidays at Disneyland typically starts the second week of November and lasts through the first week of January.

Visit these posts, which are updated each season, as soon as Disney releases information.

Halloween Time

Holidays at Disneyland

What does it do, do you need it, and why?

Lots to learn about MagicBand+ at Disneyland. Start here .

Additional Info

• Many people talk about Disneyland at “capacity”. The truth is that this rarely happens. A few days a year – usually around the holidays – Disneyland Park will close due to “capacity restraints”. This means there’s too many people in the park to allow more in. When it happens, it’s usually around 1:00pm and will last until around 5:00pm. When it does, you’re welcome to visit DCA if you have a park hopper. If you do not, you can wander Downtown Disney.
• Need info in Spanish? I recommend this site . Liz is super helpful.
• Venturing outside of Disneyland? There is SO MUCH to do in Southern California. Take a look at all of your options in this post .
• Know how to meet characters and how a character meal can add to your experience.
• Know all about World of Color and what your options are for seeing this unique show, only available at DCA.
• Know all about parades and fireworks , too. And, Fantasmic!
• The Disneyland Resort is very accommodating for guests with disabilities. Visit this post for so much information on this including mobility devices, how to work with each attraction, where to find alternate attractions, and so much more.
• Be prepared for crowds . You have many options when the parks become overwhelming.
• Toddlers and princess fans require extra planning.
• Bringing a baby to the parks? Are you expecting during your visit? Check out this post for lots to know including where the baby centers are, how to find a quiet place to nap, where to nurse, and more. Know where to rent a stroller off-site , too if you choose not to bring your own.
• Know what to expect with your visit to  Downtown Disney .

Relax and have fun. Disneyland is such a magical place! Let me know how I can help you plan.

What to do Outside of Disneyland

Disneyland Park Strategies for Days Without FASTPASSES and Genie+

Save money, experience more.

Disneyland Planning Guide 2024: Start Here to Plan Your Disneyland Trip

We cover everything from finding the best hotel near Disneyland to the most recent Disneyland updates to advice on saving money on Disneyland tickets. Our guide to planning a trip to Disneyland is laid out in the order of steps you would go in as begin planning to make it as simple as possible for first time guests and well-seasoned park goers!

You can read all about what Disneyland is like right now and the  Disneyland reservations system in our guides.

Common Questions:

• Where to find best discount Disneyland tickets?
• Where to find cheap Disney World tickets?
• How to find discount Universal Studios Hollywood tickets? 
• What should I bring to Disneyland? 
• Which are the best hotels near Disneyland?
• Which airport is closest to Disneyland?
• When is Disneyland least crowded?
• Should I go to Disneyland or Walt Disney World?
• How much does Disney FastPass cost in 2024?
• How do I navigate Disneyland with a wheelchair?

When to Visit Disneyland 2024

Your first step to planning a Disneyland vacation is to first decide on when you would like to visit the park! There are special events to consider throughout the year along with your own schedule to consider. In order to help you decide when is the best time to visit Disneyland consult our Disneyland crowd calendar which includes crowd predictions along with monthly events for the entire year. Plus, see our tips for the best times to visit Disneyland here .

Visiting Disneyland during the summer is often the most obvious choice for guests due to summer vacation for school aged kids. This is a great time to visit Disneyland as you will enjoy longer operating hours and newly introduced events or entertainment. Our guide to summer at Disneyland covers the pros and cons of a summer vacation at the resort. Spring at Disneyland can be another great time to visit, especially if you're looking for discounts for on-site Disney hotels and cheaper airfare.

Also consider the Disneyland Park hours and Disney California Adventure park hours when planning.

The holiday season is also another popular time to enjoy the parks as Disneyland goes all out for both Halloween and Christmas . You can enjoy seasonal ride overlays, an abundance of decorations, seasonal treats and themed entertainment. Picking what time of year to visit Disneyland will alter your resort experience in regards to the type of entertainment you may experience at the park, decorations, crowds, weather and even prices.

Prices will always be higher during holiday weeks like spring break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Labor Day, etc. Crowd levels also usually coordinate with these higher prices. Our guide to experiencing crowds at Disneyland help you prepare for surviving anything. Be sure to read our top Disneyland tips here .

You may also want to take into account the usual yearly refurbishments that may take place at Disneyland when picking your trip dates- these are just the yearly ride closures for usual maintenance or closures for seasonal overlays that happen each year.

You may also consider visiting for a birthday or anniversary which are great milestones to celebrate on Disney! In fact, Disney will help you celebrate those special birthdays and anniversaries .

Regardless of what time of year you pick, there is always a pro/con to each and every day of the year is just as magical as the rest!

Disneyland's New Reservation System 2024

Once you've picked your dates for your Disneyland vacation your next step is to purchase your tickets! You can save nearly $20 per ticket for travel when you book with our recommended travel partner  Get Away Today . They offer the best discounts while providing top notch customer service. They have worked with Disney for over 30 years selling millions of 2-5 day discount Disney tickets and give our Mickey Visit readers (who book through links on our website) an exclusive discount rate on tickets. I highly recommend going that route for your Disneyland theme park tickets. You can read more about the different ticket options, how many days you need and more in our discount Disneyland guide. 

If you're looking to do Disneyland on a budget, I've got you covered in our budget tips for Disneyland guide. Our list of budget tips will help you save money on park tickets, hotel, dining, and includes information on how to save 5% on Disney gift cards!

It's not enough to just have your theme park tickets to Disneyland, you also need to make a reservation for each day of your visit once you've purchased your tickets! This is extremely important because reservations can run out as your trip dates get closer and since this new reservation system has been implemented it hasn't been uncommon to see guests without a reservation be turned away at the gates… even if they have tickets.

Theme park reservations are available on a 90 day rolling basis for one day tickets and Magic Key Holders and a 120 day basis for multi-day ticket holders (available via our travel partner) in order for Disney to access guest availability and you should reserve your park days the instant you purchase your park tickets. You can easily change these later if you need to but better to book them once you've picked your dates. Our guide to the Disneyland theme park reservation system can walk you through how to make a reservation.

What Disneyland Hotel To Stay In

There are two types of hotels to choose from when visiting the Disneyland Resort. You can either stay at an on-property hotel that is owned by Disney or stay at a Disneyland Good Neighbor hotel, a third party hotel approved by Disney. There is a large price different between these two but the on-property Disney hotels all place you within the “Disney bubble” of being able to access Disneyland by walking through the popular Downtown Disney District which connects the entrance to the theme park and the hotels.

Downtown Disney contains plenty of shopping, restaurants and live entertainment. It's a great place to spend your arrival day to get your family in the Disney mood before their full day at the parks.

The are three Disney owned hotels with three different price tiers: Paradise Pier Hotel , the Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Each of our reviews for these hotels detail the perks each offer along with the theme, dining and Disney details the hotels offer. You can also set aside a day of relaxation at the newly imagined Tenaya Stone Spa inside the Grand Californian with a full body massage, foot treatment, facial, and more! Plus they even offer fitness classes , some inside the parks before they open.

You can also bundle your Disneyland tickets and hotel into one Disneyland all inclusive vacation package. You can find more information on exclusive discounts, the best places to find powerful discounts, and when to book your package in our Disneyland vacation packages guide.

For guests that are looking to save money or prefer the variety the off-site hotels offer at Disneyland, there is a plethora of options near Disneyland! This is actually one of the best perks Disneyland has over Walt Disney World. Due to its close proximity of being centrally located in the city of Anaheim it's a breeze to use a hotel nearby and walk to the theme park each day. In fact, some of the off-site hotels are actually fewer steps to the entrance gates than some of the Disney owned hotels.

Our comprehensive guide to hotels at Disneyland covers our favorite hotels near Disneyland plus includes a detailed list of our personal reviews of these hotels with tips on how to save money by booking through our trusted travel partner. If you're the type of family that plans to spend numerous hours in the park and little time at your hotel, you can save hundreds by staying off-site at a no frills (but clean!) hotel and spend that money saved inside Disneyland instead.

Traveling to Disneyland

The Disneyland Resort sits in the middle of numerous nearby airports giving you plenty of options to fly in to the resort. My personal two favorites are Long Beach Airport and John Wayne Airport due to their close proximity (less than 20-30 minutes away!) and their small size. It makes traveling a breeze and I always chose to pay a bit more to fly into Long Beach over Los Angelas Airport which is a much larger airport. LA is also much further away and you will have a longer car ride to Disneyland with plenty of traffic to hold you up.

You can read more about the airports and transportation options to and from the airports in our Disneyland transportation guide. 

Where to Eat on Your Disneyland Vacation

The Disneyland Resort provides a wide variety of different types of food. You will find classic amusement park food mixed in with upscale restaurants. The food quality is outstanding and whether you are eating a corn dog or pork shank, it will be the best you have ever had.

Disneyland classifies their dining options in two categories: table service and quick service. Table service is defined as restaurants where you are seated with a typical waiter/waitress and offer advance dining reservations you can reserve 60 days in advance. You can book a reservation on the  official Disneyland website or call the reservation hotline at (714) 781-3463. Most of the restaurants are Disneyland that are considered table service book up in advance so its highly recommended you book reservations for the ones you're interested in.

Quick service refers to walk up locations which typically also offer mobile ordering you can use with the Disneyland app or just a regular walk up line. This is a quick grab and go option and also tends to be more cost effective. Most of the quick service locations at Disneyland offers really great food!

One popular experience that you shouldn't overlook, especially if you have kids, is the character dining at Disneyland! You can find character dining inside the park and at the Disney owned hotels offering a variety of experiences from Princess dining to dinner with Goofy! You can read more about each experience offered in our full guide to character dining at Disneyland .

Another popular dining experience at Disneyland is the option of reserving dining experiences that come with reserved seating for popular nighttime entertainment! These experiences are called dining packages and are offered for the popular nighttime spectaculars at Disneyland. This is a great way to combine a great dining experience while also taking the hassle out of saving a spot for a popular show in advance.

Read through our full guide to dining at Disneyland to see a review of all the different restaurants at Disneyland, tips on saving money on food and how to get the best dining reservations.

Disneyland 2024 Packing List

Once you've made all your theme park reservations, dining reservations and have all those finer details made the next big question becomes…. what should I pack? You want to be prepared for your Disneyland vacation but you also don't want to be so overburdened in the parks you're tipping over backwards with a giant backpack! Our Disneyland packing list helps cover everything you should bring so you come prepared.

Disneyland will have you covered with essentials if you do find you forgot something crucial but you will pay a higher price. It's good in a pinch especially if you forgot something you need immediately in the moment like headache or stomach medicine. Yes, you can even find medicine at Disneyland!

If you want to avoid that giant backpack from tipping you over, you could always rent a locker ! Disneyland offers daily locker rentals which is a great solution if you find yourself wanting to store the extra snacks or lunch you brought, the jackets you no longer need or the extra souvenirs you bought.

Disneyland has a great selection of souvenirs which can easily run your wallet down before you have a chance to blink. But there's some souvenirs that are more timeless than others and help preserve the memory of your trip. Read through my top recommendations to the best Disneyland souvenirs to see what are the most unique souvenirs you can find at the parks that are longer lasting memories than the typical t-shirt.

A great idea for Disneyland souvenirs that doesn't break the budget and that kids love are to collect the pressed pennies around the Disneyland.

Another popular item to collect and trade at Disneyland are Disney pins which you can trade with other guests and inside the Disney shops. Our guide to Disney Pin Trading gives an overview of this time honored tradition.

And if you find yourself wanting to purchase something that's too large to pack into your suitcase, Disneyland also gives you the option to ship your souvenirs back home. This is especially helpful since purchasing lightsabers has become a popular option! You can also find shipping options from many of the local stores in Downtown Disney which is a good option if you find yourself splurging on the big Lego set!

Disneyland 2024 Park Ride Touring Plans

Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks: Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park . Disneyland is the original theme park which is home to all the classic rides such as Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mad Tea Party plus the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is also the theme park where you can find the popular Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge! California Adventure Park opened in 2001 and is now home to favorites such as Cars Land, Pixar Pier plus the new addition of Avengers Campus.

You can orient yourself with our map of Disney California Adventure and map of Disneyland Park .

The great thing about Disneyland and one of the biggest differences from Walt Disney World is how easy it is to park hop! Disneyland and California Adventure are located mere steps away from each other making it incredibly easy to walk between each other throughout the day if you wanted. So in the case of visiting Disneyland, I highly recommend you purchase a park hopper ticket .

One of the biggest questions we get from guests about to visit Disneyland is: how do we beat the crowds? There are two quick and easy methods to doing this that can work well for families of all dynamics. Arrive early or stay until park closing. Or you can hit the hotel in the afternoon for a nap and do both! Crowds will always be dramatically more manageable- even during peak travel times- in the morning and end of the night. Nighttime doesn't require much strategy, just stay until after the fireworks end and hang in there until the park closes. Most families will leave after the fireworks and the lines will decrease significantly- even on holidays! And don't forget about using single rider lines!

For more detailed touring plans, we've put together a step by step touring plan to managing Disneyland in the morning . This guide will give the best list of rides to go on first along with what time to arrive so you have a clear plan when you arrive. We have a similar touring plan for California Adventure in the morning giving you a specific game plan to follow so you don't miss out on any of the newly added attractions and popular rides.

Disney Genie+ is a paid program at Disneyland that replaced the previous FastPass/MaxPass program at the parks. This paid service includes access to quicker lines to 15 attractions in both parks plus the option to pay for access for certain individual attractions. Essentially for certain attractions there's two line options: a standby line and a Lightning Lane.

The Genie+ program gives you access to the Lightning Lane which is significantly shorter than the standby line. It costs $20 per person, per day and include your access to ride reservations plus all your photo downloads for the day. Disneyland has professional photographers stationed around the park to take your picture in front of iconic areas like the castle, the main entrance, Main Street, U.S.A., etc. You can also purchase these photos separately through their service called Disneyland PhotoPass .

You reserve a return time in advance via the Disneyland app to use the Lightning Lane and you can book a return time every two hours or after you have redeemed your last booked Lightning Lane reservation. There is also the option to purchase access to the Lightning Lane to select popular attractions individually but these attractions aren't included in the general per day purchase.

I highly recommend you read more about the Disneyland Genie+ program in our guide so you're prepared before your visit. Our guide features the basics of what this paid service can do, the free service that's included for all guests plus tips on how to best maximize its use and get your moneys worth!

Don't forget to spend some time in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge featuring two great themed rides such as the chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon and the infamous e-ticket ride Rise of the Resistance which is said to be one of the best rides Disney has ever done! Explore Star Wars themed shops, dining plus the chance to build your own droid and lightsaber .

Avengers Campus is the newly added Marvel themed land which opened in California Adventure in 2021 featuring a Spider-Man themed ride, opportunities to meet Marvel characters, an Ant-Man focused food eatery and brewery plus a built to scale Quinjet.

It's also a good idea to check the  Disneyland Height Requirements to get the full information on ride height requirements plus the ability to do rider switch – this allows parents with children that don't meet height requirements to only wait in line once so they both can ride!

First time visiting Disneyland or feeling overwhelmed? Don't worry, everyone feels that way their first trip to the Happiest Place on Earth because there's just so much to see and do! Have your family pick a few must see rides and make those priority knowing you won't be able to do it all. Our first timer guide for Disneyland can also help you with those essential tips to make sure you know the basics.

Fireworks and Nighttime Entertainment at Disneyland 2024

One of the aspects that makes Disneyland so special is the nighttime spectaculars with the most infamous being the Disneyland fireworks shows . Fireworks take place nightly during peak seasons (Spring break, summer, Halloween and Christmas) and on weekends. Each time of the year will feature a different fireworks show as some are changed out seasonly depending on what event is being celebrated at the parks. These fireworks are a must see Disney experience with state of the art projections, lighting effects and some featuring original musical scores.

Aside from fireworks, the biggest nighttime spectacular show in Disneyland is Fantasmic! which debuted in 1992 and has been a beloved part of Disneyland entertainment ever since. Fantasmic! includes fireworks, live performers, water effects, pyrotechnics, music, watercrafts, decorated rafts, animatronics, and projections on the Rivers of America in Frontierland. Our full  guide to Fantasmic! includes everything you need to know including tips on getting the best spot.

The big nighttime spectacular over at Disney's California Adventure is World of Color! This breathtaking show uses nearly 1,200 fountains capable of shooting water 200 feet up into the air equipped with LED rings to create vivid colors and beautiful water screens. Guests can watch the water dance along with perfectly timed pyrotechnics and momentous music as they enjoy memorable scenes from their favorite Disney and Pixar films. Our extensive guide to World of Color gives you an idea of what to expect and helps you figure out how to get the best spot!

You can also find plenty of unique daytime entertainment around Disneyland such as the Disneyland marching band, the Dapper Dans along with the The Tale of the Lion King, the adaptation of the Lion King, coming to the Fantasyland Theater in Disneyland this year.

Disneyland Parades 2024

Parades at Disneyland change seasonally with the popular A Christmas Fantasy parade running during the holidays with the Frightfully Fun Parade taking place during the ticketed Halloween event Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure. During the summer the current parade will often switch out with various options which we detail, along with our best tips for getting a good viewing spot, in our Disneyland parade guide . 

Disneyland Characters 2024

Characters at Disneyland are another great piece of Disney magic that you cannot miss on your trip! You can meet a variety of beloved Disney characters like the classic Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Pixar characters in California Adventure to Marvel heroes and Star Wars favorites. Character autographs are a big part of meeting characters and its one of the most exciting parts for kids to collect during their trip. This also makes for a great memory and souvenir!

If you want to meet a variety of characters at once, you can enjoy character dining in Disneyland and the Disney resort hotels. These meals offer a buffet selection that guests can enjoy while characters roam throughout the restaurant interacting. This is a great way to meet popular characters without waiting in lines or searching for them in the park.

Tips for Families at Disneyland

Families traveling to Disneyland can find plenty of options at Disneyland to make their visit more comfortable as Disney considers how to best serve their guests needs in the best way they can.

You can begin your planning by seeing which hotels we recommend for kids at Disneyland plus find the best dining options with the best kids meals !

If you're traveling to Disneyland with an infant I highly recommend reading through our guide to traveling with babies to Disneyland so you're prepared for everything you need to know. This guide covers information information on the Baby Care Centers plus tips on rides that you can bring babies on, how to survive hot days, and more. Baby Care Centers are two centers located in both theme parks that offer private nursing rooms with chairs, changing rooms, kid-sized toilets, feeding areas and a fridge to store breast milk. Parents with toddlers can also find plenty of toddler friendly activities and rides in the park- especially in Fantasyland!

There's also plenty do for all ages whether you take advice directly from an eight year old on how to enjoy Disneyland or cruise our list on the best things teens will love in Disneyland and California Adventure ! If you're looking for an adult only day, there's also a variety of activities adults will enjoy at Disneyland if you get a break away from the family.

Pregnant mothers can also find tips on which rides they can enjoy along with how to manage comfort in our guide to being pregnant at Disneyland.

Parents traveling alone with their kids to the park can also read my best tips on taking your kids to Disneyland by yourself based on my own trial and error of years of visiting the parks. On the flip side, if you're traveling with a large family or group you can read our guide on navigating Disneyland in a large group effectively. Or perhaps you're traveling to Disney alone and planning your solo Disneyland trip for the first time!

Most of all, be realistic on your trip to Disneyland with your kids and manage expectations with your family . Disney has something for everyone, even those in your group that be a bit less enthusiastic about a day in Disneyland .

We also cover tips on how to stay safe at Disneyland in our lost Children in Disneyland guide with full information on Disneyland's lost child protocol and tips to keep everyone together. If you're looking for tips on traveling safety, our guide to traveling safe with kids has you covered with our best tips on traveling safely and effectively with small children- especially if this is will be their first trip!

And don't forget to plan a creative way to announce your Disneyland trip to your kids!

Disabilities at Disneyland 2024

One of the best things about Disneyland is the strides towards inclusivity it has taken by ensuring that the theme park goes above and beyond for guests with disabilities. Disneyland strives to make their parks accessible for all guests and offers accommodations that may go overlooked for many guests that may benefit from them.

All of the attractions at Disneyland are wheelchair accessible with each attraction having varying degrees of accessibility from staying in the wheelchair on an accessible boat on “it’s a small world” or transferring directly to the ride vehicle. Disneyland offers a variety of assistive listening systems to handheld captioning devices for guests with hearing disabilities. There is also sign language interpretation available for select live experiences and character interactions on certain days of the week.

DAS (Disability Access Service) is a tool that Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have provided its guests for those who cannot wait in a normal line queue for a variety of medical reasons. DAS grants qualifying guests a return time (equal to the standby wait) for the attraction, one at a time, and then guests can access the Lightning Lane to ride. Guests that have a mobility disability can access rides without using DAS since all line queues are wheelchair accessible.

Disneyland also offers an extensive range of dietary accommodations at their restaurants for guests that may have allergies or certain dietary preferences like vegetarian/vegan diets . Disneyland is also a size inclusive park with many ride vehicles fitting larger sized guests, our guide offers some insight on what to expect with ride vehicle size at Disney.

Read more about disabilities at Disneyland in our comprehensive guide so you're prepared for any accommodations you or your group may need.

Universal Studios Hollywood 2024

If you're looking to add a day at another theme park to your Disneyland trip, many guests decide to add on a day at Universal Studios Hollywood which is a great addition to your Southern California vacation. You can also bundle your Disneyland tickets with a day at Universal Studios Hollywood making the process of adding a day to this park easier than ever.

The popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter along with the infamous studio tour to see real movie sets, the Jurassic World ride, the Simpsons focused area plus the new Pets ride. Universal Studios Hollywood is also known for its movie quality stage shows with the show Waterworld being a fan favorite at this park.

Beach Day at Disneyland 2024

Many families pair their Disneyland trip with a visit to a local beach to enjoy the beautiful Southern California weather. Disneyland is a close drive away or ride share away from some of the most beautiful beaches in California. Our full guide to planning a beach day for your Disneyland trip covers beach recommendations, transportation advice and tour reviews.

Top Disneyland Lists 2024

Looking for top must dos at Disneyland? Our top lists give you simple check lists to add to your Disneyland planning guide so you don't miss out on anything at the Happiest Place on Earth.

• Top 8 Must Do Rides at Disneyland
• Top 8 Must Do Rides at California Adventure
• Top 8 Disneyland Rides to Do at Night
• 10 Overlooked Details of Magic, History, and Tradition at the Disneyland Resort
• Top 9 Relaxing Places at Disneyland
• 10 Underrated Rides at Disneyland- Don’t Miss these Gems!
• 12 Movies To Watch Before Your Disneyland Vacation
• Top 5 Historic Disneyland Restaurants You Can't Miss
• Top 12 Disneyland Christmas Must Sees

Let Us  Help You Plan Your Disneyland Vacation!

That should be everything that you need to plan your Disneyland vacation. If you still have questions about planning, see our Ask Us page .

Keep reading our blog to keep you updated on everything you need to know to prepare for a Disney Parks vacation! We have a team of writers working hard to keep you updated weekly on events in the parks and tips for navigating the magic. Subscribe to our  free deals newsletter to receive helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere.

Related Posts

Disneyland Budget Hotel With Free Shuttle is Fine Option For Those Who Won’t Walk

Shopping at Disneyland- Full Guide to ALL the Disneyland Stores

Disney Youtuber Says This is Best Hotel Near Disneyland, Ranking It Higher Than Disney’s Grand Californian

Disney Parks Just Fixed a Super Annoying App Problem, But There’s Still One Change They Should Make

Disney is Planning Massive Expansion of Their Theme Parks, These 15 Movies Should Definitely Be Represented

NEW World of Color Water Short Debuting Celebrating New Pixar Inside Out 2 Movie

Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.

About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay is a college English instructor and has years of writing experience through various nonprofits, charities, newspapers, and online magazines. As the content director of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disney Parks trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose- you can also view her recently featured posts on Disney Parks travel on Visit Anaheim, Nerd Wallet and SFGate. Lindsay comes from a dedicated Disney family and enjoys taking her son to the Disney parks as often as possible.

Planning a Disney Vacation? Get Exclusive Discounts + Free Bonuses

In addition to exclusive discounts for Mickey Visit subscribers, get our free planning printable and guide to make your life SO much easier.

Previous Post: EPCOT Countries World Showcase Complete Guide 2024

Next Post: Disneyland Character Dining 2024: Meal Reviews, Tips, Rankings

Exclusive Discounts + BREAKING NEWS

Join our newsletter of 100,000+ readers for discounts, planning tips, and breaking news about Walt Disney World and Disneyland. "Essential for planning your trip!" -Helen from Portland, Oregon

How Many Days In Disneyland: Planning the Best Itinerary

Posted on Published: 12/23/2023

As an East Coaster, I’ve spent most of my Disney vacation time at the Walt Disney World resort in Florida. But I was excited to travel to Disneyland to see the original park. If you are most familiar with Disney World, you’re probably wondering how many days in Disneyland are appropriate for your family vacation.

With two theme parks Disney’s California Adventure and Disneyland Park rather than four (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios), and an easy walking distance between the parks, Disneyland can be a much more manageable trip.

Therefore, you may need less time. I generally recommend three days for your Disneyland vacation , so that you can enjoy the different rides and restaurants without too much stress.

Unlike Walt Disney World, you are easily able to walk between the two parks and Downtown Disney, as well as the Disneyland Resort Hotels (as well as many off-property hotels). This will save you lots of time because you won’t have to wait for buses/boats and can be at the theme parks after a short walk. In addition, you’ll only have to go through security once, saving time.

Disclosure: I’ve visited Disneyland several times as part of my participation in the AWESome Retreat. I’ve also stayed at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground at no cost, and have also paid all of my own expenses for a family trip to Disneyland. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.

Need Disneyland tickets? Save money on your Disneyland California park tickets and your Southern California vacation by booking through  Get Away Today . You can also save $10 on your  Southern California  vacation of 2 days or more with the code FTM10.

How Many Days in Disneyland Are Best

As mentioned above, three days is an ideal amount of time to visit Disneyland. We recommend that you plan to spend most of your time at one particular park for the first two days, and then utilize the third day to revisit your favorites and see things you’ve missed. To do this, however, you will need the park hopper option on your tickets.

How to Maximize Your Visit to Disneyland

You’ve flown or driven to Disneyland – now how do you maximize your visit?

Park hopping is a good plan at Disneyland because it’s so easy to do. However, it is more expensive, and you’ll need to have a plan. Unfortunately, the old system of walking back and forth between the parks all day is no longer allowed.

Now, you’ll need to purchase tickets in advance and make a park reservation for the first park you plan to enter. These reservations can be limited, so do it as soon as possible. You are only able to make one park reservation per person per day.

Once you enter that first park, you’ll be able to switch between parks after 11 am, based on availability. You still must have park hopper tickets. Keep in mind that if you have multi-day tickets, you’ll have to make one of those reservations for each day.

While you may have a dining reservation at a specific park, you still need the park reservation and a valid ticket. At this time, making those park reservations is essential.

Once you have the park reservations, you can start thinking about your daily plans and park itinerary. I generally recommend getting to the parks early, because they are typically less crowded early. If you are coming from the East Coast , or have young children, you are likely to be awake early anyway.

For the three-day itinerary to be enough time, you’ll probably want to do a full day on each day, rather than a half-day. Alternatively, you could choose to get a four or five-day ticket and spend less time per day. However, this is the more expensive option.

You’ll also want to have the Disneyland app downloaded to your smartphone. The app is a great resource for finding attraction wait times, placing mobile orders, and checking park activities.

If you are visiting a popular snack kiosk or quick service location, mobile ordering can be a quick way to order and pay for your food. Visit at an off-peak time to save even more time.

It’s also a good idea to look at all of the attractions and see what you are especially interested in. I’d recommend spending equal time in the two parks – about a day and a half for each one. You may leave some extra time on the third day to visit anything you missed.

If you are visiting with younger kids, look on the Disneyland website in advance to see the height requirements of each attraction. You won’t want to have disappointed kids if they aren’t yet tall enough to ride.

Do you have a specific table service restaurant that you want to visit? It’s best to make those reservations in advance and be sure you have a park reservation for that theme park.

I also recommend that you check out our list of things to bring to Disneyland so that you are fully prepared.

Using Genie+ For Your Disneyland Vacation

Many past Disney park visitors are familiar with how Fastpasses used to work. Although Disneyland has recently offered MaxMass in addition to FastPass, this system changed a few years ago. Genie and Genie+ are the two current systems

Genie is a new app that offers complimentary itinerary and activity suggestions. It is a great baseline option for new visitors to the theme parks, and those who are overwhelmed by the planning.

Genie+ and Lightning Lane are offered for an additional fee. It will allow you to use the app to choose a time to visit some of the most popular attractions. Genie+ can be purchased when you buy your tickets, or added on later.

You can only have one Genie+ reservation per attraction per day. In addition, you’ll have to wait until your reservation is over, or 120 minutes later to make another selection. These selections are made on the day at the parks.

There is also the option to choose individual attractions to pay a separate fee for. These will be for the most popular rides – currently, these are Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Radiator Springs Racers. While this does add to the cost of your vacation, it can be a great way to save time.

There is always the option to wait in the standby line for any of these attractions. If you are visiting during the school holidays, you may find that it’s worth skipping the long lines and purchasing the Genie+ for the number of days you are visiting.

Special Events and Shows to See at Disneyland

Disneyland does offer some special events and shows, so you’ll want to check the schedule before planning your three-day itinerary. For instance, in February, they are offering Sweetheart Nights. The park holding the special event will typically close earlier on those days, so it’s important to know, even if you don’t plan to attend.

Staying Near Disneyland

You’ll find lots of different hotel options in the Disneyland area. This includes the three official Disneyland Hotels:

• Disneyland Hotel
• Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel
• Disney’s Pixar Pier Hotel

You’ll be able to walk from any Disney hotel to the front gates and to Downtown Disney.

In addition, there are Good Neighbor hotels that are located within walking distance of Disneyland. These include family-friendly hotels with pools, suites, water parks, and more.

During my trips to Disneyland, I’ve had the opportunity to stay at a few nearby hotels. These include the:

• Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground
• Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance
• Westin Anaheim

Things to Do Beyond the Parks at Disneyland

Depending on where you are visiting from, you may want to stay in Southern California for more than three days. Luckily, there are plenty of other things to do in the area – whether you want to switch hotels or do day trips.

San Diego is located about an hour and forty-five minutes away and offers so much to do. I’d recommend driving there and staying in San Diego so you can experience the area, including the waterfront, the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND (which is located in Carlsbad). Three to four days is a good amount of time to spend there if combined with Disneyland.

The area has other theme parks, including Universal Hollywood and Knott’s Berry Farm . These are easy to visit within one day, so you can stay at the same hotel for your entire trip.

If you just want to stay within Disneyland, don’t miss Downtown Disney. It offers restaurants, entertainment, and more, and you won’t have to pay for admission. It’s similar but smaller than, Disney Springs in Florida.

Visiting Disneyland CA? Click to see all of our Disneyland posts with reviews, tips, overviews of the best rides, and more.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Disneyland is one of those rare places that offers fun and entertainment for everyone, from bright-eyed kids to well-traveled adults. A visit is on every kid's wishlist and planning a trip to The Happiest Place on Earth is a rite of passage for every parent.

From figuring out the type of tickets to buy, knowing where to stay and how to get around, and avoiding long lines, a lot goes into creating a seamless experience on your trip to Disneyland. Lucky for you, we've done all the research to help you make those decisions.

Here's everything you need to know about booking a trip to Disneyland.

How to start planning a Disneyland vacation

Although a Disneyland vacation won't require as much planning as Disney World , a little organization can create a more enjoyable experience.

If the planning process is still overwhelming, you can actually hire professionals to do it for you, free of charge. TPG's Summer Hull and Richard Kerr have both utilized Mouse Counselors to plan their Disney vacations and both of them swear by it.

The planning service is free because the planners make their money via commissions paid out by Disneyland. All you have to do is submit a request for a quote and they'll plan your entire vacation. They'll even look for discounts, so you get the best deal possible.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS .

Choosing the best hotel for your Disneyland vacation

There are many hotel options for your Disneyland vacation, depending on your budget and needs. You can pay a premium to stay on-site (which includes some added perks), or you can stay at a more budget-friendly off-site hotel within walking distance of the park that lets you book with, or earn, points.

Below is an overview of the best hotel options near Disneyland.

Disneyland hotels

Disneyland operates three on-site hotels. The main benefit of staying at a Disneyland resort is proximity to the parks, Early Entry (admission to the parks 30 minutes before it opens to the public), preferred dining reservation access, character wake-up calls and more.

Rates at Disneyland properties tend to be quite a bit higher than at off-site hotels. Disney does offer seasonal discounts and sales during lower-demand times of the year that can reduce the cost.

Operating since 1955, the Disneyland Hotel is the first and oldest property within the Disneyland Resort. The hotel had a minor renovation in 2021 and is next to the Downtown Disney shopping district.

Standard rooms typically go for around $500 to $650 per night.

If you want a slightly more upscale experience in a better location, look no further than Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa . The hotel is behind California Adventure Park and offers guests an exclusive entrance to the park.

While rates at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa start at around $700, they can creep up as high as $1,000 per night for a standard room during peak times.

Across from the Grand Californian, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel is the cheapest Disneyland hotel option. Rooms are usually priced in the $400 to $450 range and the resort also has a private entrance to Disney California Adventure Park. The hotel is currently undergoing construction and will reopen as Pixar Place Hotel in the coming months.

Disneyland Good Neighbor hotels you can book with points

There are currently 58 designated Good Neighbor hotels near Disneyland. These are hotels recommended by Disneyland for offering convenient locations and overall value. Many of these hotels can be booked with points; at some, you'll even find special deals and packages.

Related: Where to stay at Disneyland: On vs. off-property hotel comparison

Hyatt has three hotels near Disneyland and all of them are designated Good Neighbor properties. As of August 2023, all three properties are Category 4 hotels, with standard awards requiring 15,000 Hyatt points and off-peak awards available for 12,000 points. Alternatively, use an annual free night award from your World of Hyatt Credit Card.

The Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort Convention Center is the closest to the park entrance, just a block away. I stayed here three years ago and found the rooms spacious enough to accommodate three kids and two adults. Our room had a small living area separate from the bedroom and a pull-out couch for an extra person.

Everyone gets free breakfast regardless of Hyatt elite status , which is great for families. Overall, this is a solid choice for a Disneyland hotel.

The nearby Hyatt Place is a block farther, and it's a good option if you want a slightly cheaper limited-service hotel offering free breakfast. Room rates tend to be $20 to $50 cheaper than the Hyatt House when paying cash.

If you want a more upscale experience and don't need to be within walking distance of the park, the Hyatt Regency Orange County is the way to go. The hotel is in the Anaheim Resort area, about 2 miles from the hotel. For families needing more space, you can also opt for a Kids Suite starting at 21,000 points per night. The Kids Suite offers a king bed, bunk beds for the kids, and a microwave and fridge for those late-night snacks.

The Hyatt Regency Orange County operates a shuttle to Disneyland every half-hour. The cost is $6 per person per day and free for kids 3 and under. You can often find package deals that include shuttle service for four as well as parking and a Disney-centric welcome amenity.

Related: Here's how to quickly stock up on Hyatt points for your next vacation

IHG has five hotels near Disneyland, three of which have the Good Neighbor designation. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Anaheim Resort Area is a Good Neighbor property and is the closest of them all; it sits about a 10-minute walk from the park entrance. Award rates fluctuate wildly and can sometimes be as high as 50,000-65,000 points per night, so it's sometimes a better value to book this property with cash.

Marriott has 11 Good Neighbor hotels near Disneyland. The closest properties to the park entrance are the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Anaheim Resort and the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance . The Fairfield Inn charges anywhere from 34,000 to 59,000 points for an award night.

Depending on the date of your stay, you can redeem your up to 35,000-point certificate from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card or the annual up to 50,000-point award from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. This could be a great redemption, considering the hotel can go for more than $250 per night at peak times.

The Courtyard is a higher-end hotel with a water park requiring 68,000 to 98,000 points per night.

Hilton has a whopping 12 Good Neighbor Hotels in the Disneyland area, although quite a few are not within reasonable walking distance.

For the best location, you'll want to consider the Home2 Suites by Hilton Anaheim Resort or the Hilton Garden Inn Anaheim Resort. These two hotels occupy a single shared building, which is nearly right across from the park entrance.

The Home2 Suites tends to be the better value of the two even though it usually costs a bit more, as it includes free breakfast. Additionally, a standard two-queen studio room at this hotel sleeps up to six, offering two queen beds, a sofa bed and a full kitchen. Even though the award rate is steep at 60,000, it could be worth it since most families will need just one room. That being said, TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents each, so it's generally not a good idea to redeem points unless standard rates are at least $360 per night.

The SunCoast Hotel is the next closest option, less than a mile from the park entrance. It's a doable walk, or you can opt to take the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) bus that stops outside the property. The SunCoast is a Tapestry Collection property offering beautiful, light-filled rooms with bright pops of color to give you that Disney vibe.

Related: I spent 6.5 hours on hold to buy Disneyland tickets — was it worth it?

Types of Disneyland tickets

There are multiple types of Disneyland tickets available. The type of ticket you should get depends on factors like which park(s) you want to visit and for how long, how often you plan on visiting Disneyland and your budget.

Disneyland tickets fall into seven tiers (Tier 0 through 6). Tier 6 is unrestricted, and the remaining tiers are subject to increasing blackout dates . Before you purchase a ticket, be sure to check the theme park calendar for park reservation availability.

Let's take a look at each option.

Single-day tickets

Disneyland's single-day tickets range from $104 to $179 per day and provide admission to one park only (either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure). Disney classifies children as those aged 3 to 9 (and offers a slight discount on child rates); it classifies adults as those 10 and older. Children 2 and younger do not need a ticket.

Related: How to make a reservation at Disneyland

Ticket prices vary per day based on demand. You can search the ticket calendar to see prices on the day(s) you plan to visit.

Multiday tickets

Multiday tickets are a good option if you want to visit Disneyland parks for several days, with per-day prices being discounted the more days you add on. Two-day tickets cost $285 (an average cost of $142.50 per day), and five-day tickets cost $83 per day.

Multiday tickets get you into both Disneyland and California Adventure — but not on the same day. You'll need to stick to a single park per day.

Park Hopper

Park Hopper tickets allow you to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on the same day. You can add this option to any multiday ticket for $60 per ticket or single-day tickets for $65. These tickets are ideal if you want ultimate flexibility in the attractions you visit in a day. The 1-Day Park Hopper tickets are especially ideal if you want to experience both parks on a short timeline.

Note that Disneyland currently only allows guests to park hop at 11 a.m. or later.

Magic Key (annual pass)

Disneyland also offers Magic Keys, which are annual passes. Passes are limited in number, so not all pass types are always on sale. Prices range from $449 to $1,599.

Related: Everything you need to know about Disneyland tickets and pricing

Disneyland ticket discounts

While Disneyland tickets can be pricey, there are several ways you can save money. Some discounts are exclusive to members of specific groups and may be limited to certain times of year, while others are open to the public.

Here's a look at common Disneyland ticket discounts:

California residents: California residents living within qualifying zip codes can sometimes purchase special multiday discount tickets for as little as $83 per day. Disneyland tends to offer these tickets to Southern California residents in spring and to all California residents in summer and early fall, but these offers are not guaranteed. Proof of residence and a valid government ID are required for purchase.

Military discounts: Qualifying military personnel can purchase three-day Disneyland Park Hopper Tickets for $245 and 4-day Park Hopper tickets for $280.

There is a limit of six discounted tickets and blackout dates apply. These tickets are available to active or retired military members, including the National Guard, Reservists and the U.S. Coast Guard.

AAA: AAA members can save on multiday Disneyland tickets, including Park Hopper tickets. However, the savings are not as big as advertised because AAA tacks a fee onto the final purchase page. Membership fees vary, ranging from $56 to $119.

CityPASS: CityPASS offers Disneyland ticket discounts ranging from $5 to $26 , depending on your ticket type.

Undercover Tourist: Undercover Tourist is a tried and true way to save on Disneyland tickets. The site currently offers discounts ranging from $7 to $33 per ticket.

Get Away Today: Get Away Today is another travel agency that specializes in Disneyland travel and offers discount tickets as well. Get Away Today will always price-match the best deals you may find elsewhere.

Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets

Best time to visit Disneyland

The best time to visit Disneyland depends on a variety of factors.

For the best experience, you'll want to avoid school holidays, weekends and major ride openings. Late summer and early fall tend to be less crowded, but the weather in August and September can be excessively warm (although never as hot as Walt Disney World in Florida).

A great way to plan the best time to visit Disneyland is to check your desired travel dates against the IsItPacked crowd calendar . The calendar considers all of the previously mentioned factors to generate a crowd forecast.

Related: 9 things families should know before visiting Disneyland

How to reduce your time in line at Disneyland

Disneyland may be The Happiest Place on Earth, but it's not immune to long, stressful lines. That's especially true on weekends, holidays and when it comes to popular attractions.

Start at the back of the park and move your way up front

If you arrive just before the park opens, a good strategy to avoid crowds is to start at the back of the park and move your way forward. Many visitors (especially those with kids) will get caught up in the crowd-control mechanism near the entrance — character meetings, retail shops — before making their way to the rides closest to their path.

You can beat the crowds by moving in the opposite direction. The same goes with mealtimes: Plan to eat before or after the noon rush, and you won't encounter crazy long lines. You might also find shorter wait times at your favorite rides while most guests are preoccupied with lunch.

Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes

Disney Genie+ (along with a related service, Individual Lightning Lane) allows Disneyland guests to skip the standby line on many of the park's most popular attractions. The Disney Genie+ service starts at $25 per person per day and allows you to make Lightning Lane reservations throughout the day. You can make your first reservation after you enter the park and then subsequent reservations as you redeem each one or after two hours pass (whichever comes first).

Related: How I maxed out Disneyland's Genie+ and rode 26 attractions in a single day

You'll also get unlimited photo downloads from all attraction photos and those taken by PhotoPass photographers; and you'll receive features like audio tales and AR photo lenses to help you pass the time waiting in line.

There are a few attractions that do not participate in the Disney Genie+ service, but most of these attractions nevertheless have Lightning Lanes. You need to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane reservation (sold separately) to skip the line for these select attractions. Pricing ranges between $15 and $25 per person per attraction, and you can purchase up to two attractions per day. The current list of attractions participating in each program is available on Disneyland's website .

Related: 10 line-busting tips for less waiting and more playing

Early Entry

Guests staying at Disneyland resorts can enter either park 30 minutes before they open to the public. This is worth taking into consideration when making your hotel reservations since an extra 30 minutes before park opening means virtually no lines.

Use the Disney app

The Disneyland mobile app is key to a seamless Disneyland experience. Aside from storing your park tickets, the app helps users book restaurant reservations, make Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane reservations, order meals to-go on mobile and see wait times for rides.

The Disney app can be an invaluable tool in avoiding lines for rides and restaurants, allowing you to enjoy your limited time at the park.

Use the Ridemax app

If you want to avoid lines like a pro, consider downloading and subscribing to Ridemax . The app creates a custom itinerary for you based on the rides you choose and the amount of time you plan on spending at the park, to minimize wait times. A 90-day subscription costs $14.95, while an annual one costs $24.95.

There's also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if it is not as helpful as you'd hoped, you can get a full refund.

Related: The best restaurants at Disneyland

How to save money on your Disneyland trip

There are many ways to save money on your Disneyland trip, whether it's getting discounted park tickets or deals on your hotel bookings.

We'd be remiss to start the money-saving portion of this guide without mentioning points. Whether it's your airfare, hotel or park tickets, you can use points to offset a large chunk of your Disneyland vacation. Disneyland has lots of point hotels starting at just 12,000 points per night for off-peak awards at any of the area Hyatt hotels.

With the 75,000-point sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening), you could cover up to five nights at one of these hotels.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another great option for earning and redeeming miles towards a Disneyland trip. The card currently offers 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

All you have to do is charge your Disneyland hotel or vacation package to the card and then redeem miles toward the expense. And if you don't quite have enough miles now, you have up to 90 days after purchase to save and redeem miles toward a travel expense.

Check for package deals

You can save a lot on your Disneyland vacation by booking a package deal through a site like Get Away Today . For example, a four-night stay in September in a one-bedroom suite at the Element by Westin Anaheim Resort Convention Center with three-day park hopper tickets for a family of four will cost $3,297.88 when booked with Disney directly.

Through Get Away Today, the same package deal costs $2,682.53.

Costco is currently offering Disneyland travel packages that include savings on on-property Disneyland hotels and a Disney gift card:

• Stay two to four nights and receive a $185 Disney Gift Card
• Stay five nights and receive a $205 Disney Gift Card
• Stay six nights and receive a $225 Disney Gift Card
• Stay seven or more nights and receive a $245 Disney Gift Card

Buy Disney gift cards on sale

Buying Disney gift cards can save you about 5-10% on the cost of food and merchandise at Disneyland hotels. Sam's Club, Staples, Target and Safeway occasionally discount the price of Disney gift cards by about 5%. Add cash back bonuses and savings from a card that earns bonus points at grocery and office supply stores , and the savings will stack up.

I've personally had success using my Chase Ink Plus Business card (card no longer available) to buy Disney gift cards at Staples, stacking the savings with 5% cash back through Dosh (Note: I will earn a $10 referral if you sign up with my link and make your first qualifying purchase).

The information for the Chase Ink Plus Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bring your own swag

If you're taking your kids to Disneyland, buy all your swag ahead of time. Everything is incredibly overpriced at the park, and there's no reason to spend $30 on mouse ears when you can find equally cute ones on Etsy or Amazon for $5.99. The same goes for all trinkets and toys that end up in a forgotten pile somewhere.

Related: 7 Reasons why Disneyland is better than Disney World

You might feel sentimental about bringing back a $40 snow globe, but trust me: The memories you make are more important (and lasting) than the overpriced merchandise you buy at the park.

Related: How much does a Disneyland vacation cost?

How to get around Disneyland

Unlike the sprawling Disney World resort, Disneyland is easy to get around on foot. But if you get tired after a day of park hopping, you can take various modes of transportation around the park. The Disneyland Railroad offers an 18-minute ride with stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown and Tomorrowland.

The high-flying Monorail is great if you want a faster way to get around the park. The Monorail makes the 2.5-mile journey through the area in just 13 minutes, stopping in Tomorrowland and the far end of Downtown Disney.

For a slow, fun ride, you can hop aboard one of Disney's Main Street Vehicles near City Hall and Central Plaza. They include the Jitney, a horse-drawn streetcar, the classic fire engine and omnibus.

Over at California Adventure, the Red Car Trolley makes four convenient stops throughout the already walkable park.

Related: The essential guide to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland

The best credit cards to use at Disneyland

You may be surprised to find that the Disney Visa Card isn't among the best cards to use at Disneyland, though it can be a good option if you're looking to finance a Disney vacation. The best cards for booking Disneyland packages will be ones that earn bonus points on travel , like the Chase Sapphire Reserve . You'll earn 3 points per dollar and use your $300 annual travel credit to offset part of the expense.

When it comes to spending at Disneyland theme parks, you'll want to use a card that earns bonus points on dining . The Citi Prestige® Card (card no longer available) is a great option, as it earns 5 points per dollar spent in this category. The American Express® Gold Card is also a great choice, earning 4 points per dollar at restaurants.

The information for the Citi Prestige card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

While it's not as large as its Florida counterpart, Disneyland does require some planning. This guide should make the process of planning your Disneyland adventure a little easier.

Additional reporting by Leslie Harvey.

Disneyland Daily Plan (how many days to spend in the parks)

Once you’ve figured out your trip dates and hotel , it’s time to start planning the daily itinerary for your trip. 

You need to determine how many days to spend in the parks, which parks to visit on which days, and if you plan to do anything else in the southern California area.

Let’s walk through how to put together your plan…

UPDATE: The information below may be impacted by current reopening procedures. Please visit our Disneyland reopening guide for the most up-to-date information.

In this article

How many days should you spend in Disneyland parks?

Though there are just 2 parks at Disneyland Resort, there are still plenty of attractions and things to do.

Ideally, you should plan on spending a total of 3-4 days in the parks to cover most everything, including rides , characters, shows, and fireworks.

Disneyland park hours

If you are familiar with Disney World trip planning , then you’ll know that park hours come out 6 months in advance, allowing you time to pick the parks to visit each day of your trip.

That is not at all how it works at Disneyland, with park hours coming out just 6 weeks ahead of time.

However, the exact park hours schedule is less of a factor with Extra Magic Hours and Magic Morning being held on set days of the week. 

Let’s take a look at how that works. 

Extra Magic Hours schedule for onsite Disneyland guests

Unlike Disney World where we recommend avoiding Extra Magic Hours , we suggest taking advantage of them for Disneyland onsite guests.

That’s because there’s only 3 onsite resorts, so there are far fewer people eligible to attend.

At Disneyland, there’s an Extra Magic Hour scheduled every morning, but no evening Extra Magic Hours.

Here’s the Disneyland Extra Magic Hours schedule:

• Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – Disneyland Park opens one hour early for EMH
• Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays – California Adventure opens one hour early for EMH

So even if the actual park hours aren’t out yet for your travel dates, you can use this as a guide to help you plan which park to visit each day.

FYI: the Disneyland EMH schedule is the same as Magic Mornings for offsite guests (more on that in the next section) so you will have more people joining you for that than you will at California Adventure which only provides early access to onsite guests.

Note: not all attractions are open for Extra Magic Hours, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Click to view chart larger.

Magic Morning schedule for offsite Disneyland guests

If you’re staying offsite at Disneyland, you still get a type of Extra Magic Hour that’s called Magic Morning. 

This is a perk for people who buy at least 3 days of Disneyland tickets . This perk can be used once during your trip.

Magic Morning allows early entry to Disneyland on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

So if you’re staying offsite and will have 3+ days of tickets, consider visiting on one of those days to get in early. 

Note: not all attractions are open during Magic Morning, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Planning around nighttime show schedules

One of the most surprising things at Disneyland (especially if you’re used to Disney World) is how often fireworks are canceled.

In fact, they are canceled around 20% of the time in the summer due to wind and fire dangers that are posed by fireworks.

For this reason, you may want to plan on seeing fireworks every night of your trip. That way if the first night is canceled, you’ll have another chance.

Planning to do non-Disneyland things 

One of the perks of visiting Disneyland is how easy it is to combine Disney parks time with other nearby attractions. 

Those options include going to the beach, visiting Hollywood, heading down to San Diego, and so many more.

If you want to combine Disneyland with non-Disney things (and will be staying in the same hotel your whole trip), consider alternating between a day in the parks and a day out of the parks. 

Planning your schedule like that allows you to stay up late in the parks without necessarily needing to get up super early for rope drop the next day (and if you’re driving , you’ll want wait until after rush hour anyway).

Choosing park tickets

Once you’ve decided where you’ll be each day, you should know how many days of park tickets you’ll need and which type to get. Consider getting those now.

The Best Time to Visit Disneyland

Disneyland Weather

The Best Disneyland Hotels

How to Get to Disneyland

Getting Around Disneyland & Anaheim

Opening & Closing Times

The Best Souvenirs to Buy at Disney

Disneyland Ticket Options

FastPass & MaxPass

Disneyland Magic Morning

Fireworks at Disneyland

Birthdays at Disneyland

Things to Do at Disneyland on Halloween

Mickey's Halloween Party

Disneyland at Christmas

The Best Things to Do at Disneyland

How to Meet the Characters

Disneyland Shows & Entertainment

The Best Rides at Disneyland

Rollercoasters at Disneyland

Disney's Best Rides for Kids

What to Do at Night at Disney

Making Restaurant Reservations

Character Dining at Disney

Disney's Best Table Service Restaurants

Disney's Best Quick Service Restaurants

Disney's Best Snacks & Desserts

Disney's Best Ice Cream

Things You Can't Bring to Disney

How to Reduce Your Wait Times

The Best Disneyland Apps

Things to Do for Free at Disney

13 Terms to Know for Your Trip

Planning Your Trip to Disneyland: A Guide

Disneyland Guide: Planning Your Trip

Created by Walt Disney himself and opened in 1955, Disneyland is known the world over. It inspired the term, “theme park,” forever changed the amusement and attractions industry, and is the second most popular park on the planet   (surpassed only by the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida ) with millions of visitors flocking to its gates each year. In addition to the original Disneyland Park, the resort now includes a second theme park, Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney dining, shopping, and entertainment district, and three Disney-owned hotels. Visitors adore the parks for its timeless, charming rides as well as some of the most sophisticated and groundbreaking attractions ever developed.

If you’ve never been to Disneyland Resort or it’s been a long time since your last visit, it can be overwhelming. Let’s review the basics, including how to get there, ticket and admissions info, can’t-miss rides, dining tips, and more.

Planning Your Trip

• Best Time to Visit : To avoid huge crowds and get the most value, don’t visit during major holidays or early summer. Instead, consider January through early March, mid-April through late May, or just after Labor Day through early October. The weather is generally pleasant during these times as well.
• Language:  English, although you might want to familiarize yourself with Disney-centric terms .
• Currency:  U.S. dollar. Currency exchange services are available at at City Hall in Disneyland Park, the Chamber of Commerce in Disney California Adventure Park, and the front desks at the resort’s hotels.
• Getting Around: Once you arrive, the Disneyland Resort is relatively compact and quite walkable. (Although it is very cool to take the monorail between Downtown Disney and Disneyland Park.)
• Travel Tip:  By staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel or a nearby hotel that participates in Disneyland’s Good Neighbor program , guests can take advantage of the parks’ Extra Magic Hour and Magic Morning early admission benefits.

Things to Do

The two theme parks, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, are loaded with incredible rides, attractions, and shows that appeal to visitors of all ages and thrill tolerance levels. Be sure to allow enough time (at least two full days) to explore the themed lands, experience the best attractions , and see the nighttime shows. If you have young children, you’ll especially want to meet Mickey Mouse and other beloved Disney characters.

• You can’t miss Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge .
• Cars Land, featuring Radiator Springs Racers , should also be near the top of your list.
• No visit to Disneyland is complete without rides aboard classic attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion .

Explore more ways to experience the Disneyland Resort with our in-depth articles about the most scream-worthy rides at the parks , the best Disneyland rides for younger children , and Disneyland for wimps.

What to Eat and Drink

The Disneyland Resort has a surprisingly robust and diverse array of places to dine and imbibe. Sure, you can find typical park food such as burgers, pizza, and (especially) churros. But there are some wonderful fine dining options both in the parks and at the hotels as well as plenty of places to find family-friendly fare. (Your kids would likely love to eat with Mickey and the gang at restaurants that offer character dining .) One of the most unique restaurants is the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park where you can enjoy Cajun specialties while watching boatloads of passengers sail past as they embark on a Pirates of the Caribbean adventure

When Walt Disney built Disneyland, he banned alcohol at the park  . But now you can get your buzz on alongside Buzz Lightyear and belly up to a number of bars throughout the resort. Among the more noteworthy watering holes are Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar in the Disneyland Hotel‘s courtyard, the Napa Rose Lounge at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, and the Carthay Circle Lounge (where the cocktails are sublime) in Disney California Adventure. For an, ahem, out-of-this-world experience, head to Oga's Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

Check out our articles on Disneyland’s best table-service restaurants , its top quick-service eateries , and the resort’s best snacks and desserts .

Where to Stay

The three on-property hotels, the elegant Disney’s Grand Californian, the nostalgic Disneyland Hotel  , and the more pedestrian Paradise Pier, are the most convenient places to crash after a day at the parks, and they keep you immersed in the Disney bubble. They are, however, a bit pricey and tend to fill up quickly. There are gazillions of hotels, at a variety of price points, surrounding Disneyland, many of which are within walking distance. You could also consider staying in nearby Buena Park or closer to Los Angeles, but you’d need to factor in the hassle and time it would take to travel to and from the resort.

You can read more about the Disneyland Resort hotels as well as top picks for Anaheim-area hotels .

Getting There

There are a number of ways to get to the Disneyland Resort from nearby airports, including shuttles , limousines, taxis, rideshare services, a rental car, and public transportation .

• The closest airport is John Wayne Airport (SNA) , which is about 15 miles away. Not all airlines service the relatively small airport.
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about 40 miles away, but much bigger. Considering Southern California’s notorious traffic, travel between LAX and Disneyland can be challenging.
• Other nearby airports include Long Beach Airport , Hollywood Burbank Airport , Ontario International Airport , and San Diego International Airport .

Money Saving Tips

• There are virtually no discounts available for one-day park tickets, which can be purchased at Disneyland’s official site . One-day, one-park tickets are cheaper than “Park Hopper” tickets, which allow users to go back and forth between the two parks on a given day. Although it is possible to find discounted multi-day tickets, it would still cost less to purchase two one-day, one-park tickets (to visit Disneyland Park one day and Disney California Adventure the other day) than discounted multi-day tickets from a third-party vendor. Visit when the parks are less crowded so your wait times will be shorter, and do advance planning to map out your visits so that you can maximize your two days at the parks.
• Disneyland often offers limited-time special deals on items such as multi-day tickets or packages that bundle a hotel stay with park tickets. Check the Disneyland site for the current deals.
• Resources for discounted multi-day Disneyland tickets (and tickets to other SoCal parks) include CityPass and Get Away Today .
• If you are a member of the U.S. military (thank you for your service!) The resort offers discounted park tickets and hotel rates, which you can find on the Disneyland site .
• To save on food and beverages, consider choosing a hotel that includes complimentary breakfast in its rates. You could also bring your own food to the resort. While you are not supposed to bring food into the parks, there is a complimentary picnic area near the main entrance to Disneyland Park with lockers that could be used to stow your items. Bring your own water bottle and ask for complimentary refills at any of the parks’ restaurants or at filtered water stations. Restaurants will also offer complimentary cups of water.
• Visiting the resort during lower-attendance times of year will not only mean shorter wait times and more rides. You could also save lots of money. Hotel rates are often much lower, airfares tend to be less, and discounts and special deals on packages tend to proliferate.
• Disney offers a popular timeshare program it calls the Disney Vacation Club . One way you could save some money on hotel rates is by renting Disney Vacation Club Points and using them to book a stay at the Grand Californian. Two resources for renting points are  DVC Rental Store  and  David’s Vacation Club Rentals .
• Forget about the rental car. It’s easy to get from the airports to the Disneyland Resort, and once you are there, you don’t need a car. Plus the Disneyland hotels (as well as most nearby, off-property hotels) charge for parking. Beyond the cost savings, navigating SoCal’s freeways can drive anybody bonkers. If you’ll be continuing your vacation after your Disneyland visit and you’ll require a car, there are some rental car companies near the resort.
• Forego souvenirs. It is all but impossible to keep impulse buying in check at the Disney parks. But if you can control yourself (or at least limit yourself), you could save a lot of your hard-earned vacation dollars. Instead, you could pick up heavily discounted Disney swag online, at department stores, or even at dollar stores.

Of course, you have to pay to get into the parks. But once you are in, there are some free things you can score if you know how . Before or after your Disneyland visit, you can take advantage of free things to do in Los Angeles.

TEA/AECOM. “ 2019 Theme Index and Museum Index .” 2020, page 12

Orlando Sentinel. “ Walt Disney banned alcohol, but now theme parks say 'drink up' .” 9/12/2018

Designing Disney. “ Design & History of the Disneyland Hotel California: 1955 - 1965 .”

Disney California Adventure: The Complete Guide

Walt Disney World Guide: Planning Your Trip

Disneyland vs. Disney World: Which Is Better?

Disney World on a Dime

Best Disneyland Hotels

Universal Orlando Tickets: Prices, Discounts, and Where to Buy

Disney Vacation Club: Is It Worth It?

Your Trip to Universal Orlando: The Complete Guide

The Complete Guide to Disney's Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Top 11 Best Table Service Restaurants in Disneyland

Best Southern California Family Vacations

How to Decide Where to Stay at Walt Disney World

Your Guide to Visiting Walt Disney World During the Pandemic

What Kind of Ticket Would I Need to Ride the Hogwarts Express?

Islands of Adventure: The Complete Guide

10 Best Reasons to Stay at a Universal Orlando Hotel

How Many Days to See Disneyland: 3 Exclusive Tips to Choose your Ideal Disneyland Vacation

Posted on Last updated: May 4, 2024

Home » Destinations » How Many Days to See Disneyland: 3 Exclusive Tips to Choose your Ideal Disneyland Vacation

Sharing is caring!

Are you planning a vacation to Disneyland Resort in California ? Find out how many days to see Disneyland for the best vacation!

This post about how many days to see disneyland was written by family travel expert marcie cheung and may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, i will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. all opinions remain my own..

Since my family goes to Disneyland as often as we can, one of the top questions readers ask is about how many days to see Disneyland.

While I think this answer varies from family to family, I wrote this post to help you decide the right length for your family.

Don’t have time to read a bunch of Disneyland blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Disneyland with kids.

Where to Stay at Disneyland

• Disney Grand Californian Hotel & Spa (it’s expensive but has a private entrance to Disney California Adventure)
• Howard Johnson Hotel & Water Playground (the water park is pretty fabulous)
• Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance (amazing water park and has bunk beds)
• Fairfield by Marriott Anaheim Resort (it’s so close to the park, and the rooms are awesome)
• Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn (this is my favorite Disneyland budget hotel)

Want to SAVE MONEY on Your Disneyland Vacation?

Get Away Today offers the best prices for Disneyland packages, hotel rooms, and even discount Disneyland tickets! Check rates and availability !

So, How Many Days to See Disneyland?

I feel like no matter who you ask, the answer to this question can be anywhere from “totally doable in one day” to “you should just move there.”

Before we get into my recommendations, there are a few questions I’d like to ask:

IS THIS YOUR FIRST TRIP TO DISNEYLAND?

If you are visiting Disneyland for the first time , you’ll probably want a little more time than you might expect.

That’s because the theme parks can feel overwhelming until you get the hang of how to navigate the Parks, use the Disneyland app, and do mobile ordering.

ARE YOU DOING MORE THAN DISNEYLAND ON YOUR VACATION?

If you are heading to Southern California for your vacation and Disneyland is just one of your stops, that will definitely affect how many days you should spend at Disneyland.

You’ll need to factor in driving time to your other stops. If you are staying an hour away or more from Disneyland, you might not want to make that trek for more than one day.

We recently did LEGOLAND California for 2 full days and then Disneyland for 2 full days and we stayed at hotels close to each location.

Book a Family Photo Shoot

Whenever we travel, we almost always book a family photo shoot with Flytographer. They are super easy, affordable, AND guarantee that I’ll be in some photos. You can get $25 off if you book through this link or use the code HAWAIITRAVEL.

ARE YOU PREGNANT?

I only ask because this might affect your pace and it also limits some of the rides you can go on.

When I went to Disneyland while 5 months pregnant, I found that I needed lots of bathroom breaks, pit stops for snacks, rides with air conditioning, and I wanted to eat at sit down restaurants to get off my feet for a while.

I also set aside some time to do pregnancy announcement photos.

Read my Disneyland while pregnant post.

ARE YOU BRINGING A BABY?

If so, you might want to plan on a few stops at their awesome Baby Care Centers at both Parks.

It’s a nice, quiet, air-conditioned place for your to nurse/feed your baby, plus there are lots of changing tables.

Read my Disneyland with a baby post.

ARE YOU BRINGING A TODDLER?

Toddlers under the age of 3 years old are FREE.

If your toddler usually naps, you’ll need to decide if you want to head back to your hotel mid-day or power through in hopes they will nap in the stroller or carrier. And this might also affect how late you stay in the Parks.

If your toddler is potty training, you’ll want to build in time for all the bathroom breaks.

And you might want to add time to ride their favorite attractions over and over (and over and over!)

Read my Disneyland with toddlers post.

ARE YOU LOCAL?

If you live in Southern California, you can take advantage of the SoCal Disneyland ticket which will save you a lot of money!

If you don’t have to worry about a hotel room, you can easily do a few one day trips to Disneyland.

ARE YOU DOING DISNEYLAND ON A BUDGET?

Disneyland tickets can add up quickly. This is especially true for families!

So if you are trying to save money at Disneyland , the easiest way is to limit the number of days in the Parks. You can always supplement with pool time at your hotel or exploring Downtown Disney.

ARE YOU GOING FOR A SPECIAL EVENT?

If you are going during Halloween Time, the Oogie Boogie Bash , the Holidays , or the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, there are additional activities and events that you’ll want to consider.

You might want to add a day to participate in the events or avoid a Park altogether.

Be prepared for extra crowds during events, which means longer wait times for all the characters and attractions.

WILL YOU BE GOING FOR STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE?

If you would like to experience Disneyland’s Star Wars land, you will definitely want to add extra time to your trip.

While the lines aren’t nearly as long as as when it first opened, it can still be a long wait for Rise of the Resistance if you don’t have Genie Plus.

If you aren’t a Star Wars fan, you might want to focus your time at Disney California Adventure with just one day at Disneyland.

Is One Day Enough For Disneyland?

I was just at Disneyland recently for the AWEsome Retreat (a theme park blogging conference) and I spent one day at Disneyland.

It’s the first time I’ve gone for only one day. I upgraded to a Park Hopper ticket so I’d be able to experience the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival .

Now, I didn’t have any kids with me and I walked all over the parks for 14 hours with very few breaks. I also didn’t spend much time waiting in ride lines that were too long.

Most of my time was spent taking photos and videos throughout the Parks and doing blog-related tasks.

So, can you see Disneyland in a day? Yes, depending on what you plan to do. If you want to do a few rides, enjoy some Disney treats, and meet some characters, you can definitely do that in one day.

And if you are planning on coming back to Disneyland in the near future, you’d be able to prioritize what you want to do this trip.

However, if this is your first Disneyland trip or you are hoping to do/see “everything” then one day would be unrealistic.

So, let’s talk about my favorite ticket packages.

Want an epic Disneyland digital guide? This is my favorite Disneyland tool and guide!

3 Days vs. 4 Days vs. 5 Days at Disneyland

My favorite ticket options are the 3 day pass and the 5 day pass. For most families, one of these options will work best.

So, let’s break it down:

3 DAYS AT DISNEYLAND

For my family, we typically do 3 full days between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. It usually ends up being 2 days at Disneyland and one day at Disney California Adventure.

Or, we’ll get Park Hopper tickets and do one full day at Disneyland and then split our time between the two Parks for the other two days.

The 3 day ticket works well for our family because we always know this won’t be our last trip. We try to go at least once a year. It worked really well when we had younger kids who don’t do most of the “big” rides.

So, everyone has time to do the things on their list.

We also like to do a character dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen the evening we arrive (non-Park day) and we do a character breakfast the morning we depart. So while we usually stay 4 nights, we only spend 3 of the days in the Parks.

We tried doing just 2 Park days a few years ago and I actually got a little teary-eyed because we didn’t get to do a lot of the things we wanted.

4 DAYS AT DISNEYLAND

What I like about the 4 day ticket is that you can evenly split your days between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

You won’t feel rushed and you’ll have plenty of time for sit down meals. Plus, you won’t be racing back and forth between the Parks trying to catch all the entertainment (unless that’s how you roll!)

It’s also nice to have a 4 day ticket if you are going when the weather might be rainy. Disneyland doesn’t do their fireworks show, parades get canceled, and some of the attractions shut down in the rain.

So, having an extra day is nice.

And if you love Disney food, you’ll want at least 4 days so you can eat at some of the popular table service restaurants in both Parks. And you need to save room for all the yummy Disney treats!

My travel partner Get Away Today often features hotels that offer your 4th night free !

5 DAYS AT DISNEYLAND

If you are looking to get the most bang for your buck, the 5 day ticket offers the biggest price break. Now, I’m not saying it’s cheap, but your cost per day is cheaper than the 3 day ticket.

This is great for families who don’t get to Disneyland very often and want the flexibility to “do it all.” It’s perfect if you are going for a full week and plan on having a rest day.

And it’s just a little bit more than the 4 day ticket. This works out well if you have an early arrival flight or later departure time. Might as well squeeze out every ounce of Disney fun!

Five days is helpful for families who want to make sure everyone in their family has a good time. So, parents and teens can do the thrill rides part of the time and little kids have plenty of time to play and meet characters. No one will feel rushed.

What’s cool about the 5 day ticket is that it gives you the freedom to see all the parades, shows, fireworks shows, World of Color, etc without trying to pack them all into a couple of days.

So, you can plan to stay up late a couple of nights for the fireworks show, but head back early the other nights to catch up on sleep (and avoid meltdowns.)

And you can do the Plaza Inn character breakfast inside the Park without worrying about it “wasting” valuable Park time.

With the 5 day ticket, you won’t need to upgrade to a Park Hopper ticket because you’ll have plenty of time to explore Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

If you are planning one big trip to Disneyland (and aren’t on a tight budget) the 5 day ticket is probably your best bet.

3 Exclusive Tips to Choose Your Ideal Disneyland Vacation

1. best splurges.

If you are heading to Disneyland with a larger budget, I have lots of ways you can spend it!

Disney Character Dining

I’m a HUGE fan of Disney character meals. And there are several Disneyland character dining experiences to choose from.

The newest one is the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa. It’s the priciest option ($125 per person, including kids) but it’s the only one to see the princesses at a character meal.

Get Our FREE Disneyland Travel Planner

And if you want a VIP experience, I’ve been hearing great things about the Disneyland Resort VIP Tour and the Grand Circle Tour . Basically, you pay extra to have a cast member take you to the front of the long lines for your favorite rides.

Photography

One of my favorite splurges is doing a Disneyland photo shoot with a professional photographer. I really like using Flytographer.

They specialize in engagement, maternity, and family photos at Disneyland. Use my referral link to save $25 on your first photo shoot !

If you are going during the busy holiday season or anytime school is out and you want to make the most out of your time in the Parks, Genie Plus is a good investment.

We’ve used it on our last few trips and it’s amazing how many rides we can do each day. In fact, sometimes we do all the rides on our list for on our first day!

I also love Genie Plus because it gets me the PhotoPass. So, we can do all the photo spots with the PhotoPass photographer.

There are also a couple of fun hotel options. For staying on property, we recommend the gorgeous Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa .

They have an amazing pool area plus you can treat yourself to fabulous spa treatments on your day off from the Parks! Read my full hotel review .

Another great option is the Disneyland Hotel , which is just steps from Downtown Disney. They have a cool Monorail pool and it’s the best place to get Dole Whip outside of the Parks.

For a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel, we recommend the popular Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance . They are located across the street from the Park entrances and they have an extensive water park at their pool.

2. MIX OF SPLURGES + SAVINGS

If you have a moderate budget, let me show you where to splurge and where to save.

Disney Clothing

Yes, I’m one of those moms who insists everyone wears something Disney-related every day in the Park.

I keep my eyes out for the big sales at ShopDisney and also look at Target for matching shirts for my boys. Target also sells a lot of holiday-related Mickey shirts.

Bubble Wand

Now, normally I would never pay $25 for a bubble wand. I had major sticker shock when I first saw that.

However, it’s a total investment and it will keep your keeps entertained and occupied when they are waiting for a ride, hanging out before a parade, or chilling in their stroller.

Character Breakfast

Breakfast is the cheapest character meal you can do. I’d recommend Goofy’s Kitchen because their food is actually really good and they have extensive options for both adults and kids.

I’d do this on a non-park day so you don’t feel rushed and can take some time to walk around the Disneyland Hotel.

And if you are looking for Disneyland hotel with an awesome pool, try the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Park .

3. BUDGET-FRIENDLY TIPS

If you are heading to Disneyland on a budget, here are some ways to cut costs without sacrificing fun!

It’s easy to spend an arm and a leg buying souvenirs at Disneyland. We’ve been shocked at how quickly items add up!

But, if you know your kids are going to want souvenirs, you can purchase cute Disney items ahead of time at Target, Walmart, Dollar Tree, or Amazon and then surprise them in the Parks.

This is also a fun way to bring a bit of magic to your hotel. Just say it’s a treat from Mickey!

The easiest way to save money on food at Disneyland is to bring in your own snacks. Target sells Mickey-shaped goldfish crackers that are always a hit with my kids.

And I’ve picked up Disney-themed candy and treats at my local grocery store and brought them on our trip.

But, I do recommend eating in the Parks at least a few times. We’ve found the food portions at Disneyland to be pretty big so you can definitely share with your family.

We like sharing a Dole Whip before it melts! And grabbing some yummy treats from Bing Bong’s Sweet Shop!

Skip Genie Plus

If you are looking to save money at Disneyland, you can easily skip Genie Plus. It’s definitely more of a luxury that saves you time.

However, if you are planning a 3-5 day trip, you might consider lowering the number of park days and doing Genie Plus to do the same amount of rides as you would with an extra day.

Go for Rope Drop

This is especially important if you have limited days in the Parks and want to maximize every day.

To save money at Disneyland, we like to stay off-site. We like the Park Vue Inn because it’s right across the street from the Park entrances.

SAVE ON DISNEYLAND PACKAGES OF 2 DAYS OR MORE

Ok, if you now know how many days to spend at Disneyland for your family, I recommend buying your tickets through Get Away Today . They offer discount Disneyland tickets and packages. And with Disney, every dollar counts!

Plus, if you book your Disneyland vacation package through them for at least 2 nights, you can use the code MM10 for an extra $10 off your vacation!

And a lot of their hotels offer a 4th night free !

Disneyland Theme Parks FAQs

Is 2 days enough for disneyland.

It can be, if you have a plan and know how to navigate the two theme parks efficiently.

How many days do you need at Disneyland for adults?

Motivated adults can do all the highlights of both parks with a one day ticket. But, you can easily extend your trip to Disneyland for another day or two to relax and soak in all the magic.

Is 5 days too many at Disneyland?

Disneyland is a lot smaller than Walt Disney World. If you have 5-day tickets, you can do a few pool afternoons to refresh yourselves before heading back into the park.

How far away are Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park?

These two theme parks are within easy walking distance of each other. It will take you about 5 minutes to stroll over there.

Do I need a day at Downtown Disney?

Downtown Disney is primarily a shopping and dining area. It’s a lot smaller than Disney Springs at Walt Disney World. It’s great to stroll around on your arrival or departure day.

Is the Disneyland park hopper pass worth it?

If you have one-day or two-day tickets, a park hopper pass can be a great investment. That way you can check the wait times in both parks and easily walk between the two. If you are staying longer than two days, you might stick with one park tickets.

Does Disneyland still do Extra Magic Hours?

Unfortunately there are no longer Extra Magic Hours or Magic Mornings. Instead, Disneyland hotel guests can enjoy Early Entry, which gets them into the theme parks 30 minutes before the gates open.

How many days do you need to do Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park?

Personally, I think 3-4 days is the perfect amount of time to thoroughly enjoy each park.

What are some amazing rides I should add to my Disneyland list?

A few popular rides at Disneyland include Peter Pan’s Flight, Haunted Mansion, Radiator Springs Racers, Big Thunder Mountain, the Incredicoaster, Splash Mountain, and more.

How long do I need for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?

If you are a Star Wars fan, you’ll probably want to spend at least half of a day in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. You’ll be able to do both rides (Rise of the Resistance and Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run), interact with characters, go bounty hunting, and wander around this immersive land.

How Many Days Do You Need at Disneyland Parks Wrap Up

I hope this helps you figure out how many days to spend at Disneyland for your next epic Disney vacation !

No matter how many days you are visiting Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park, you’ll have a blast on your next family vacation!

Looking for more Disneyland posts? Find out the best things to do in Downtown Disney , how to save money at Disneyland , best Disneyland breakfasts , best Disneyland hotels within walking distance , 10 Good-Value Hotels Near Disneyland with Free Breakfast , and top Disneyland facts you didn’t know !

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Whitney Russell

Thursday 18th of July 2019

This is such a good read, i like the way you broke everything down for us! I travel with two teens and my boyfriend and i have to say we get through the parks much quicker without the kids! With kids, 3-4 days without 2 days... We have decided that 5 days are too much for our families feet!

marciecheung

Haha! Yes, I was shocked how much I did at Disneyland when I didn't bring my kids :) We usually go 3 days, but we're doing 4 days for our next trip so we have plenty of time in Galaxy's Edge!

Tuesday 16th of April 2019

I love Disney, these are really great tips if you have kids! I can get around the whole park in half a day!!! so crazy

Wednesday 17th of April 2019

It's SO much faster without kids! Pretty mindblowing :)

Monday 15th of April 2019

I love that you did your pregnancy announcement photos while there! And I had NO IDEA that toddlers were free. Maybe I should rethink waiting until my girls are older to take them... :)

Seriously! They even eat free at the sit down restaurants!

Leigh Suznovich

I actually enjoy Disneyland more than WDW because it is much less overwhelming and easier to see everything. This is a great breakdown on how to see it all!!

Yes, I was completely overwhelmed at WDW because there's such a learning curve. I love how easy Disneyland is to navigate!

Harmony, Momma To Go

We did one day at DL last year and it was great. A packed day (although it wasnt too crowded, not a peak day) and we got to do pretty much everything we wanted to do in terms of rides. We did not wait in line for characters or do any shows though

The character meet and greets can definitely add some time, especially the princesses! But, our kids love meeting characters!

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

North America Chevron

United States Chevron

California Chevron

Los Angeles Chevron

The Ultimate Guide for Planning a Trip to Disneyland

By Valerie Marino

No trip to Southern California is complete without a visit to Disneyland Park. The only Disney park both designed and completed by Walt Disney himself, it changed the game for modern theme park design and remains near the top of the list of most popular parks globally, just after Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando . Not bad for a former Anaheim orange grove. 

With just two parks and an array of hotels, most within walking distance, Disneyland is arguably easier to visit than its Florida counterpart and can be an ideal add-on to your Southern California vacation—or a destination unto itself. Whether you’re just popping in for the day or are planning an extended visit, here’s all the must-have info you need to plan your trip.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

All about the parks

Disneyland Resort is made up of two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.

If you only have one day to visit, spend it at Disneyland Park. This is where you’ll find classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (yes, the one about the drunk-driving toad who winds up in hell).

A huge draw to this park is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , a 14-acre expansion dedicated to the franchise in a galaxy far, far away. Live out your Star Wars fantasies here by stepping into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, sipping on blue milk (a non-dairy blend of rice and coconut milk with pineapple, dragon fruit, and watermelon that can be an acquired taste), or bellying up to the bar at Oga’s Cantina while DJ R-3X spins some intergalactic tunes. Don’t miss Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance , Disney’s most innovative attraction yet, but you’ll have to plan ahead. The ride doesn’t have a typical standby line, and spots in the virtual queue go quickly on busy days.

Across the way, Disney California Adventure is designed in a Mission and Art Deco style to reflect Southern California as it was when Disney, the man, moved there in the 1920s. This park features some true gems like Cars Land , which recreates the town from the 2006 animated film. Take a high-speed ride through the painted desert on Radiator Springs Racers or climb aboard a tractor on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, a simple spinner attraction featuring a soundtrack sung by Larry the Cable Guy that has no logical reason for being as fun as it is. You won’t find this in the Disneyland times guide, but each night around sunset, the neon lights of Radiator Springs flicker on to the tune of “Shh-boom,” just like in the movie.

The newest addition to the park is Avengers Campus , a land dedicated to Marvel superheroes. It features one of California Adventure’s must-do attractions, Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout, which is a new take on an old favorite. Disneyland re-themed the former Tower of Terror to the Marvel film, giving it a fantastic soundtrack (you never know what you'll hear, but options include Pat Benatar, Elvis Presley, Parliament, and The Jackson 5) and pushing the ride’s mechanics to their limit, so you feel like you’re a yo-yo on a string in the best way possible.

If that sounds a little intense, leave the action to the pros and check out the Spider-Man stunt show, one of many “heroic encounters” outside the Avengers Headquarters . It’s here that you can see Disney’s first-ever “stuntronic,” a cutting-edge stunt animatronic, fly through the air with no wires—or webs—attached.

Because Disneyland’s attendance base is largely Southern California locals, crowds are often lower when annual passholders are blocked from entry, which includes many weekends and large portions of the summer months. Compare your travel dates to Disneyland’s calendar for the Imagine Key and Enchant Key pass options before booking.

Disneyland’s two parks are connected by an esplanade that also links with Downtown Disney, a shopping and dining complex that includes the kind of diversions you don’t expect to see at a theme park. Highlights here include Ballast Point, Disneyland’s first on-site brewery, and Salt & Straw, for their unique seasonal flavors of small-batch ice cream like buttermilk pancakes or mushroom muddy buddies. From Downtown Disney, hop aboard the Disneyland Monorail (a valid park ticket is required) for a different sort of park tour and easy access to Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, where you'll find Space Mountain.

What to know about ticketing

Prices for single-day tickets vary depending on the time of year and day of the week you visit, and range from $104 to $154 for adults and $98 to $146 for children ages three to nine. The lowest prices are found on weekdays in January, February, May, and September; the spring break in mid-April, as well as fall and winter holidays, are the priciest. Multi-day tickets are cheaper the longer you stay, down to $72 per day on a five-day visit, which can be used over 13 days. In addition to a park ticket, you’ll need a park reservation for the same date. Reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance, and you can check availability before purchasing tickets.

By CNT Editors

By Lindsey Tramuta

By Lauren Burvill

By Meaghan Kenny

If this is your first visit and you only have one day, stick to Disneyland Park for the classic experience. The park has roughly double the number of attractions compared to Disney California Adventure, so there’s plenty to fill your day. For multi-day trips, opt for park hopper tickets, which costs $55 per day. Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are so close together—it’s just about 100 steps from gate to gate—that it’s easy to cover a lot of ground. If you move quick, you can often catch both parks’ nighttime spectaculars in one evening.

Splurge $20 per day to add Disneyland’s Genie+ service, launching in fall 2021, which offers digital booking of many of the most popular rides and attractions. A replacement for the free FastPass system, Genie+ also includes PhotoPass downloads from in-park photographers and onboard ride photos—the kind you usually have to shell out extra to get. Tip: When you see your photo displayed at an attraction’s exit, snap a quick photo with your smartphone to capture the 8-character code on top of the image. You'll need to enter it in the Disneyland app to link the photo to your account.

Where to stay

Disneyland has three on-site resort hotels, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa , Disneyland Hotel , and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel , all of which offer guests entry to the theme parks an hour before the public each day. The Grand Californian even has its own entrance to Disney California Adventure that allows guests to bypass potentially long lines at the security checkpoint and turnstiles. (Use this back door to the park to fulfill your late-night Dole Whip cravings and be back in bed, treat in hand, in 20 minutes flat.)

All three on-site hotels are located within a few minutes’ walk to the park gates, making it easy to pop back over for nap time or to grab a sweatshirt for chilly SoCal evenings. You pay for that convenience—rates start around $360 per night at Paradise Pier and $600 per night at the Grand Californian—so keep an eye on this page for seasonal specials.

There’s also a wide range of hotels just across the street, many within easy walking distance of the park gate or along the Anaheim Resort Transportation bus line. If the benefit of early entry is important for you to maximize your park time or you’re planning a Disneyland trip for a special occasion, on-site is the way to go. But with many offsite hotels often at least $100 less per night than Disneyland’s most affordable room, you’ll find significant savings by broadening your search. Two new upscale options have come on the market recently: the Westin Anaheim and the JW Marriott Anaheim , both a short walk from the theme parks.

Where to eat

There’s no shortage of choices when it comes to dining, whether you’re looking for a high-end meal or a snack to eat while dashing to your next ride.

Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian features an impressive wine program with a 17,000-bottle cellar and more than 1,000 labels. The menu changes seasonally and offers entrees like braised lamb or smoked pork chops with a cherry orange sauce, with expertly selected wine pairings.

Lamplight Lounge at Disney California Adventure wins points not just for its waterfront location, fan-favorite lobster nachos, or sugar-dusted miniature donuts that come with a pair of raspberry and chocolate dipping sauces. The theming and decor is on point and gives a glimpse into the animation process for a number of Pixar’s films.

If you’re more in the mood for fried pickles and ranch (no disrespect), head to Carnation Cafe on Main Street, USA in Disneyland Park, where the menu also features Walt’s favorite chili and meatloaf.

When it’s snack time, you can’t go wrong with a Dole Whip—our current favorites are the pineapple-raspberry swirl at The Tropical Hideaway or the Pixar Pier Frosty Parfait at Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats , which layers lemon soft serve with blue raspberry slush. Disneyland is constantly rolling out a parade of new churro flavors. Try the Caliente Churro from Senor Buzz Churros on Pixar Pier for a zippier take on cinnamon sugar.

Take advantage of the mobile ordering feature in the Disneyland app to pre-order your meals and avoid standing in line. Select your arrival window in advance for popular locations like Ronto Roasters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , where we recommend trying the Ronto Wrap, a grilled sausage with sliced roasted pork, slaw, and a creamy peppercorn sauce.

Alcohol is not served at Disneyland Park, with the exception of Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge and Club 33 , a members-only restaurant and lounge. Those wanting to enjoy an adult beverage more freely in the parks will have to cross the esplanade to Disney California Adventure.

Special events to consider

Disneyland has a number of annual events year-round. The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival runs for about two months each spring and features cooking demos, wine tastings, and more than a dozen booths featuring appetizer-sized portions of California-inspired cuisine, as well as cocktails, beer, and wine.

Lunar New Year brings a big celebration to Disney California Adventure with a special parade and treats like mandarin orange green tea tarts (Mickey-shaped, of course) and a winter plum blossom gin mule. But our favorite feature is the wishing wall that invites visitors to leave a message of hope, health, and happiness for the coming year.

During Halloween, Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party is a special ticketed event at Disney California Adventure (meaning the park will close early to other guests) on select nights in September and October.

The holiday season brings a number of special events and attractions to both parks. Our favorite is Haunted Mansion Holiday , which brings a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay to the Haunted Mansion that completely transforms the classic attraction. It’s a Small World also gets a special treatment with a medley of holiday tunes. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Christmas Fantasy Parade, with its classic toy soldiers marching down Main Street, USA. Unlike at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the holiday parade and fireworks are included in regular park admission. Now that’s really magical.

Recommended

The Georgian

Los Angeles Travel Guide

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Best & Worst Days of the Week to Do Disneyland & Disney California Adventure

Wondering which days of the week to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for the lowest crowds? This guide covers which dates have the lowest and highest wait times, plus commentary about weekdays vs. weekends, Halloween & Christmas seasons, how SoCal ticket deals impact daily attendance, and more.

When it comes to choosing the best and worst times to visit Disneyland, there’s a lot to consider. If you’re planning a  trip  that will encompass multiple days–including weekdays and weekends, we recommend consulting our Disneyland Crowd Calendars to choose travel dates instead of this. That gets updated fairly regularly, with each individual month receiving a refresh right before it begins for optimal accuracy.

If you’re more concerned with the quality of the overall experience, we also have something more holistic and practical, see our  Best & Worst Months to Visit Disneyland . Again, though, that’s for choosing vacation dates. If you’re a Californian or are “only” doing a few days at Disneyland and want to pick the optimal ones, this covers which days of the week to do each park…

For much of the last three years, conventional day of the week wisdom for Disneyland has been irrelevant or flat out wrong. Capacity constraints and the introduction of park reservations were big factors. Even though park reservations are longer needed to limit attendance for regular ticket holders most of the time, they’re still being used to redistribute crowds and normalize numbers.

This is most significant with Magic Key Passholders. Prior to 2019 when the Flex Pass debuted, Annual Passes did not require reservations–they just had blockout dates. For the last few years or so, all  Magic Key APs have had both blockout dates and reservations. (With that said, it’s possible that ‘good to go’ days will be added to Magic Keys in 2024, further complicating the calculus.)

Even if you know absolutely nothing about Disneyland and have never visited in your life, you could probably guess which days local Annual Passholders would naturally gravitate to the parks. If not, the answer is Saturdays and Sundays. Those are the days people have off work and school, so those are the days they were proportionately more likely to do Disneyland, all else being equal. A few years ago, Saturdays and Sundays (plus Friday nights) were the busiest days of the week. You might find resources that indicate that’s still the case, but those are outdated. At least, for much of the year.

Even before, Annual Passes had more blockout dates that increasingly attempted to push locals away  from weekends. That worked to an extent, and organic demand was manipulated and crowds were spread out throughout the week.  Emphasis on ‘to an extent.’ There was no perfect way to manage attendance with surgical precision, and weekends still were busier. That’s the natural end result with theme parks that are more reliant on locals than tourists most of the year. Visiting patterns could only be shifted so much via blockouts.

In the last few years, park reservations have offered much more surgical precision than in the past. These work in tandem with Magic Key Annual Passholder blockouts to further limit the days that many locals can visit. Typically, park reservations for weekends fill up first for Magic Keyholders. And again, this is on top of blockout dates, during which they’re unable to visit entirely.

These blockouts have gotten more aggressive, with half of the tiers of Magic Keys being blocked out most (or all) weekends and another tier having weekend blockouts during the Halloween and Christmas seasons. Only the top tier doesn’t have weekend-specific blockouts, but it is blocked the entire two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

These Magic Key blockouts and reservation limitations have actually been  too effective  and  too aggressive . The end result is that, on average, the busiest days of the week have now flip-flopped. Saturdays and Sundays are now less busy on average, whereas Mondays and Tuesdays have become the two busiest days of the week.

So if you’re planning a multi-day Disneyland vacation and want the short and sweet answer about when to visit that will be true more often than not, the answer is to visit Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Thursdays through Sundays and avoid Mondays through Wednesdays.

Based upon average wait times over the course of the entire year, Fridays and Sundays are objectively the best days to do Disneyland and DCA, followed closely by Thursdays and Saturdays. Mondays through Wednesdays are pretty much equally bad. If you want the relatively quick answer without reading all of the confusing caveats, there you have it.

With that said, there’s more nuance to the recommendations than that, and these generalizations don’t always hold true. That’s because you’re visiting on actual  days and not an  average  of all days. These exceptions become particularly important during

The next biggest predictor of whether the above is true is blockouts. In a nutshell, the more blockouts, the more likely it is that the above will hold true. When Saturdays and Sundays are aggressively blocked out to Annual Passholders, the weekends become even more attractive to everyone else. When they are not blocked out, the weekends become less attractive.

We’re not going to run through the entire calendar to tell you when this is or isn’t the case. That would probably end up being more confusing and ultimately counterproductive. Instead, refer to Disneyland’s Magic Key Blockout Calendar . In particular, you should look for the blockouts on the Believe, Enchant, and Imagine tiers.

When the Believe is blocked out on weekends, those will be good days for you to visit; when the Imagine tier is blocked out on Thursday or Fridays, those will be good days. Conversely, the Mondays through Wednesday will be even worse during those same timeframes.

It’s not just Magic Key APs, though. The other really big factor is discount tickets for Californians. These are typically offered twice per year, one in the winter and spring for Southern California residents and another in the summer and fall for all Californians. These are almost always blocked out on weekends–either Saturday and Sunday or Friday through Sunday.

Those discount Californian tickets in tandem with the Magic Key blockouts further exaggerate the difference between weekdays and weekends. During these deals, Fridays can become much more attractive if they’re blocked out.

The other major wrinkle here is that crowds noticeably increase during the last couple weeks that these tickets are valid. Californians scramble to use these tickets before they expire, resulting in a surge of crowds in the last couple of weeks (usually late May and late September, as that’s when the ticket deals wrap up).

You might  think  that this wouldn’t happen because Disneyland still uses reservations to control park attendance and prevent overcrowding. But you’d be wrong. While your logic would be sound, what we’ve actually observed in practice is that Disneyland “magically” finds more capacity and refills the reservations during these timeframes.

Other contributing factors are whether school is in session and if it’s California’s tourist season. In order for Mondays through Wednesdays to truly be bad, there needs to be an ample pool of people to visit the parks during those times. If school is back in session for Southern California districts and out of state tourists are less likely to visit, there might not be much of a difference between weekends and weekdays.

A good illustrative example is late January through mid-February, after MLK Weekend but before Presidents’ Day. School is in session during the week for Los Angeles and Orange County  and  it’s the least popular time of the year for tourists to visit Southern California. During this stretch, there’s far less demand for weekdays  and  there are fewer weekend blockouts. Consequently, there’s minimal difference between weekdays and weekends. In fact, weekends might be busier.

Conversely, if many schools throughout California, the West, or the entire country are out of session, there are more than enough tourists to create a meaningful difference between weekdays and weekends. These are also the times of the year when Mondays through Wednesday are the absolute worst days to visit–tourists often arrive over the weekend and make their park days Mondays through Wednesdays.

Yet another variable to consider is Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party during September and October. On dates when this event occurs, Disney California Adventure closes early. As a result, DCA offers less value to tourists and they tend to flock to Disneyland on Halloween Party days.

The converse is also true: on non-party days, tourists disproportionately do DCA, and Disneyland is less busy. We usually recommend Park Hopper tickets at Disneyland Resort because Park Hopping is so easy, but that’s doubly true during Oogie Boogie Bash season. The optimal approach is going against the grain–doing DCA on party days until about 4 pm, and then Park Hopping over to Disneyland for the rest of the evening. Then start at Disneyland on non-party days.

Speaking of Halloween, the heart of both that and the holiday season can be a big exception. These times of year are tremendously popular with locals who will flock to the park on weekends. Conversely, outside of the holiday weeks and school breaks (which includes fall breaks in October–don’t forget that one), it’s not tourist season in California. The end result is another inversion of the new-normal, and busier weekends than weekdays during the off-peak weeks.

Confused yet?! An illustrative example of times when weekends are likely to be worse would be mid-November or early December–windows when there are no adjacent holidays or school breaks. By contrast, the Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week will almost certainly be busier than the Sunday immediately before that Monday, or the Sunday after it. (Does that make a bit more sense?)

Finally, there is one more caveat we have to add. Disneyland often only has nighttime spectaculars with pyro on Friday through Sunday nights. This means a couple of things, with the obvious being that you should do one of these days if you want to see the nighttime spectacular ‘with fireworks’ instead of ‘with projections.’

The other is that there’s a ton more congestion around Main Street USA on these nights, as far more people want to see the ‘with fireworks’ version. So even though weekends are typically less busy, you will encounter the worst ‘feels like’ crowds of the entire week on and around Main Street around the fireworks. (Conversely, rides have lower wait times shortly before, during, and after the fireworks on those nights because a large number of guests are congregating in a few areas for fireworks.)

We recognize that this is a lot to digest. That’s because there are a ton of different variables that impact day of week recommendations, and no hard and fast rule throughout the entire year despite what can be gleaned from averages. So we figured we’d run through the factors with some ‘teach you to fish’ guidelines rather than doing the fishing for you.

With that said, there are a couple more things we’re going to discuss…

How Much Does Day of the Week Matter?

Over the course of the entire year, the average wait time difference between the worst day (Monday) and best day (Friday) is 5 minutes. That may not seem like much, but a 5 minute difference on every attraction adds up. Over the course of the day, it can amount to an extra few rides–at least, in theory.

However, it’s not usually a 5 minute difference. As noted above, there are some weeks of the year when the differences are virtually nonexistent, and others when the gap is much more pronounced. It largely depends upon the degree of blockouts and whether weekdays have school breaks.

Beyond that, there are also  time of day differences. For example, the average Friday isn’t going to see consistent crowd levels throughout the day. It’s going to start slow (especially if school is in session!) and get progressively busier as locals get off work and head to the parks. So you might encounter incredibly low crowd levels to start the day, but moderate to high ones by the end of the night.

There’s also typically much more of a difference in crowds between weeks rather than within them. Accordingly, choosing a good time to visit Disneyland is significantly more important than how you allocate your days within the week.

Even more important is arriving early, which is the simplest way to beat crowds at Disneyland. Due to guest demographics, wait times increase over the course of the day–Disneyland crowds tend to be much more late-arriving than Walt Disney World crowds. And as mentioned above, that’s even more pronounced when school is in session and it isn’t California’s tourist season.

Just as crucial is having savvy strategy. Picking a great day or week to visit can make touring the parks significantly easier, but so too can having a good itinerary that zigs when others zag. Then there’s the option of buying your way out of crowds with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes , which is another good fail safe option. (Unlike Walt Disney World, Genie+ works pretty flawlessly at Disneyland.)

Choosing the best days of the week–and avoiding the worst ones–at Disneyland is pretty low priority in the grand scheme of planning and comes after all of those things. Honestly, if I were doing a Southern California vacation that included, for example, days at the best beaches near Disneyland or Universal Studios Hollywood , I might prioritize traffic (generally lower on weekends) or crowds at those destinations (generally higher on weekends) over Disneyland day-of-week crowd trends. In other words, there are a lot of moving parts to consider!

With all of that said, these best & worst Disneyland day of week recommendations can be useful for those boxed into less than ideal travel dates due to school or work schedules. Same goes for anyone who realistically won’t have the option to arrive early or stay late. There’s a reason those times are most advantageous–because it’s simply not feasible for many families with small children.

Ditto anyone who doesn’t want to pay extra for Genie+ on principle, or because it’s not in their vacation budget. For anyone this describes, carefully choosing days of the week for each park can relieve some pressure and result in shorter wait times. The bottom line is that choosing the best days of the week and avoiding the worst ones can matter, but usually not  that much.

Moreover, day of the week recommendations are pretty easy to disrupt. We already covered some of the reasons for this above. Other factors that cannot be planned around include bad weather (Southern Californians are terrified of rain) or inordinate attraction downtime. Either of those things can be enough to turn a “bad” day into a “good” one in terms of wait times, or vice-versa.

We realize that a lot of this is conditional to the point that it almost might be useless. (Sorry!) With that in mind, I’ll let you in on a few of our favorite “secret” times to visit Disneyland. (They are not really secrets, but that sounds cooler, right?!)

The first is rope dropping the parks on Friday. As mentioned above, this is typically the slowest day of the week and it is disproportionately less crowded early in the day. Do as many high-priority rides as possible first thing, and then switch gears as the crowds start to materialize. Do less popular attractions, a table service dinner, or perhaps an evening outside the parks.

Second, do Sunday nights. In a way, this is the “opposite” of the Friday advice. Instead of locals arriving late to start their weekend, they are leaving early to wrap up their weekend and prepare for the upcoming school or workweek. This really only “works” if you’re able to stay until the bitter end, but those final few hours between around 9 pm and midnight are pure bliss!

Finally, our absolute favorite days to visit Disneyland are when it’s rainy. If there’s any amount of precipitation in the forecast, disregard all other day of week advice, drop everything you’re doing and head to Disneyland. That line about Californians being terrified of rain might read as a joke, but it very much is not.

We try to make a point of visiting when it’s raining–this is one big way that Disneyland is very different from Walt Disney World. Floridians and tourists are totally nonplussed by any weather short of a hurricane. They remain undeterred, and continue visiting in full force. Meanwhile, Californians will stay home if there’s even a slight drizzle. Obviously, you can’t really plan for this–and it’s very infrequent–but if it’s even sprinkling a bit, you should get to the parks!

Honestly, these last few random time of day tips are probably better and more reliably good advice than the entirety of the day of the week recommendations. But we’ve had a lot of people ask about this, and the problem is that it’s not as straightforward as the averages imply (or even as is the case at Walt Disney World) due to those pesky locals!

Ultimately, simply by virtue of researching and reading a post about the best and worst days of the week to visit Disneyland, you’ve done more to prepare and plan than 95% of guests–no thanks to this post itself, but because you’re almost certainly not reading just this strategy. While the advice here is theoretically useful, it’s pretty far from make or break.

You’re much better off using the other resources on this blog to choose good months or weeks to visit. If that’s not an option (or even if it is), remember to arrive early or stay late. Failing that, use our itineraries to prioritize attractions in the best order. Don’t want to do that for some odd reason, spend the money on Genie+ and buy your way out of lines. If you’d rather not spend money and go with the flow during a midday-only visit…I guess this is the best advice for you!

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets . Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings . For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews . For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney . For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide . Finally, for guides  beyond Disney , check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and many other SoCal cities!

Your Thoughts

Which days are your favorites for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure? If you’re a local, have you noticed a shift from weekends being busier to weekdays being busier in the era of Magic Key (and other ticket) reservations? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Hi – I’ve been studying your advice religiously and was pleased to read weekends are generally quieter as had planned to be in the parks on May 5th as it’s my birthday but then you mentioned “Bats Day” (whatever that is). How bad will ”Bats Day’ be? We are travelling from the UK and have 4 day park hoppers (window 1st – 6th May) and I was excited to be in the park for my birthday but now I’m worried – should I ask for Genie+ as a birthday present lol – will that save the day?

I always tell people that ask , the best time to go is when it’s raining. That’s hard to plan for of course in SoCal, especially since you need reservations. But it’s definitely worth trading a bit of discomfort, for an empty park.

Since they are returning to 1 park per day for early entry, what is the strategy if you do not have hoppers? (we will have 4 1-park per day tix) Avoid the early entry park because more people will be heading to that park? Or the reverse? (we are WDW regulars and used to rope drop early entry days and then hop to a non-early entry park – back when it was 1 park rather than all.)

Disneyland currently only lets guests at Disney resorts and villas access to Early Entry, as opposed to before when a lot more guests had access via multi-day tickets and non-Disney hotel packages. While I’d personally try and go to the same park if you’re using Early Entry and the other park if you aren’t, Tom’s right that there’s currently so few guests with access that it probably won’t matter at all, and definitely not as much as everything in this post.

UPDATE: Genie is $35 for Wednesday 10/11. Is this what we are in store for thru the end of the year? The parks are INSANE.

Genie is $35 for Wednesday 10/11. Is this what we are in store for thru the end of the year? The parks are INSANE.

This aligns pretty well to our recent trip. We were there Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in early December. Sunday had the lightest crowds of the three days by far, and Monday was easily the most packed. Weekends are certainly not what they used to be.

Tom, I have followed much of your advice through the years at WDW and it has been very helpful. We are finally making a trip out to DL in June 2024 the 1st to the 8th for a full week, mainly because since I am coming from the east coast and this trip is a one shot deal and I want fireworks every night and that is only possible after Memorial Day weekend I learned from doing research. With that being said I will try to take this daily advice but I planned for a week long at DL and DCA so I could do it all and not have to worry about crowd levels and missing a ride due to wait times. We are WDW pros thanks to you so I feel confident we will get it all done in CA at DL and DCA but any additional advice you have will be appreciated.

I am not Tom, but I am going to chime in and say with a trip of that length you probably don’t have to strategize at all. The last time I was at Disneyland we did 3 full days with Park Hopper (no Genie+) and did everything we wanted, including many of the big rides multiple times. Granted, this was during the mid-May shoulder season and your trip is more squarely in “summer vacation” territory, but you also have over twice the amount of park time we did. The only way you are not getting on every ride during that time is if something is closed for refurbishment or you decide just not to do it.

One thing you didn’t mention is that the vibe/clientele of the park is very different on days when the lowest 2 tiers of magic keys are vs. aren’t blacked out. When only full-price tickets and the most expensive passes are allowed, certain types of people and groups just don’t end up showing up nearly as much, but you do get more families and people with tickets there on vacation. Even if the AMOUNT of people is the same between weekdays and weekends, the type of people and feel of the park is nicer on weekends for sure. It’s like how EPCOT becomes a drinking festival on Friday nights sometimes, but at a smaller scale.

I’m going to start my visit this weekend and am struggling to finalize my last day. I have a four day hopper with Genie, and for the first three days, I’m visiting Saturday-Monday, October 14-16. That’s a sure thing. I’m currently reserved for my last day to be Saturday, October 21, but part of me wants to switch to Tuesday the 17th (currently scheduled to be a rest day). Wed-Fri will be spent doing Horror Nights or Knott’s Scary Farm. I can see that two of the three tiers of Keyholders you said to look at are blocked on Saturdays, and that all tiers appear to have availability on Tuesday.

In favor of Saturday, I like the idea of having a rest day on Tuesday, because otherwise I’m doing theme parks & Halloween events for seven straight days in a row, and then resting the last day before flying home. But realistically going from Scary Farm on Friday to DL the day after would be a lot too, and I’m almost certainly not going to be able to stay til SF close AND ALSO do DL at opening.

If Tuesday is going to be much less crowded, then it might be nice to switch over to that. But that would also mean I would have to start two days at DCA instead of one, and I’m a bit low on DCA at the moment. There’s also the aforementioned seven parks/Halloween events in a row drawback.

I did not get tickets to OBB.

I’m skeptical that I’ll be at my most energetic for either final Disneyland day just based on where either day is timewise in my schedule, so this is me trying to find the best option under the circumstances.

I don’t feel like there’s a perfect option, but based on the above, do you think it would be better for me to make my final DLR day Tuesday the 17 or Saturday the 21?

If it were me, I’d do Tuesday.

This is one of those times when the crowd calendar overrides the day of the week calendar, and this coming weekend is going to be fall break for many school districts in California. It hopefully won’t be as bad as this weekend, but it should still be pretty bad.

There’s a good chance it’ll still be very busy on Tuesday, so you might end up cursing this recommendation…but I think it’ll be even worse Saturday. Neither are particularly great options, though, so you could also just do whichever you’d prefer and not worry about the crowd ramifications. It’s going to be some degree of packed either way.

I don’t know what truly is going on but genie + is progressively being priced at $30 and has sold out these last 2 days. When it hasn’t, by noon selections are pushed out to 11 pm. The standby lines are levels not previously seen as they look like Disney World wait times at the height of vacation times. I have the top pass and only buy genie when visiting with a guest so most of the times I am only getting on a big ride by waiting over an hour. With the daytime parade ending this week and no Fantasmic in the near future there is little to pull crowds away for entertainment purposes except for fireworks/projections. Visiting has been a pretty miserable experience for awhile now and seems to be getting worse. For some reason genie + has ruined the experience for those not wanting to pay significantly more for their visit. I don’t see how they fix it but I wish they could.

Ouch! It’s the worst weekend of fall break, so I’m not surprised, but it certainly doesn’t help that the entertainment slate is depleted and about to get worse. I know it comes down to staffing (partially), but I’m still surprised (and disappointed) they don’t have more entertainment to help absorb the crowds.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I change or modify my reservation?

How Many Days Should You Spend at Disneyland 2024?

This article is your complete guide to know  how many days do you need at Disneyland in 2024! Although Disneyland Resort is smaller than Disney World, we still recommend 4 days for those visiting the park to get the full experience. Disneyland Park has so many attractions, show and food to try and there is nothing worse than rushing.

So, if you want to learn why we think 4 days is the perfect amount for Disneyland, keep reading.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disneyland, be sure to check out our Disneyland Crowd Calendar!

 Disneyland Crowd Calendar

How Many Days Do You Need In Disneyland 2024?

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend 4 full days when trying to figure out  how many days Disneyland . Because of Disneyland’s size, a lot of guests tend to think the answer to how many days you need at Disneyland is 1 day. One of the biggest advantages to Days at Disneyland is the long days. Disneyland Park is typically open from 8 a.m. until midnight. Disney California Adventure, or DCA as the locals call it, operates from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Personally, The Park Prodigy team has done a variety of Disneyland trips , from  shorter weekend trips, to even longer with a 4-day Disneyland itinerary packed with adventure and plenty of delicious treats . So, if you’re wondering how many days to spend at Disneyland to do it all, look no further.

How Many Days for Disneyland and California Adventure?

• Spending 4 full days at Disneyland Resort is the sweet spot. It is possible to have a great time in both parks in only 2 days. But there are so many magical things to see and experience in both parks.

You will most likely need two full two days at each Disneyland and DCA. As you’ll see below, there are a few different variations on days to spend in the park when deciding on how many days in Disneyland . One thing to consider is if booking a   Disneyland vacation package   is right for you! Nothing makes your Disneyland experience enchanted like taking advantage of the proximity of the hotels!

Related Post : Traveling From Disneyland to Universal Hollywood 

How Many Days to See Disneyland Park 2024?

Two full days at Disneyland is enough to authentically experience the park. If your goal is to ride as many attractions as you can, you’ll see that the 58 rides would take you 14 hours each day! That is however based on an average 30 min wait time. And those who know Disney know that wait times can sometimes be over 2 hours!

Another reason we strongly suggest two full days when figuring out how many days to plan at Disneyland is the entertainment and fireworks. Disneyland has one of the most popular parades in all of the Disney theme parks! Not to mention the brand new fireworks show Wondrous, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. So we always make sure to allow enough time to see the in-park entertainment as much as possible.

Related Post : The Cheapest Time to Visit Disneyland

How Many Days For Disneyland California Adventure?

Now that Disneyland has been dedicated a full two days, how many days for Disneyland California Adventure? And while DCA has its positives, on average we suggest only one full day at this park. Overall, most families will usually go with two full days so that they don’t feel rushed. But you have to keep an eye out for special event s at DCA!

If you haven’t been recently, there are incredible additions like Avenger’s Campus, which is an immersive land for Superhero lovers. As adults, we love the food and drink options in DCA and spend a lot of our time snacking. Cars Land is a shockingly great spot for those foodies visiting Disneyland!

The Lunar New Year Festival in late January/early February, DCA’s Food & Wine Festival in early March – late April, and the Festival of Holidays in early November through early January. There is also the Oogie Boogie Bash for Halloween at DCA as well! This takes place in early September through Halloween night .

Related Post : The Best Time to Visit Disneyland 

How Many Days Do You Need at Disneyland Including Downtown Disney?

The Downtown Disney District is currently undergoing a large reimagining. So when you’re planning out  how many days Disneyland has, keep in mind there isn’t as much to do as there used to, be or will be in the future. While there are still plenty of shops and restaurants to explore, it can comfortably fit into a two to three-hour timespan.

It’s the perfect escape from the park crowds to grab some free AC or a quick meal.  How many days in Disneyland depends on if you want to plan a rest day. We can’t recommend one more, but it’s up to you! Downtown Disney is the perfect rest day activity to still feel like you’re part of the magic. 

What Restaurants are Coming to Downtown Disney?

• Din Tai Fung
• Porto’s Bakery

When considering Disneyland and how many days are optimal, the convenience of Downtown Disney plays a big role. While we’re eagerly awaiting the new Porto’s Bakery in Downtown Disney, there’s so much more on the horizon that has us excited. Downtown Disney (DTD) is not just about new eateries; it’s undergoing a significant transformation. The old AMC theater has been replaced with a sleek mid-century modern green space. This fresh vibe is already taking shape at the Jazz Kitchen, which is in the midst of renovations.

One of the standout features of Disneyland is its proximity to Downtown Disney. This closeness prompts many to wonder how long to spend at Disneyland . There are so many shops and restaurants to consider in the district. We could go to Salt and Straw every single day of our Disneyland trip !

You do have so much flexibility when it comes to planning a great vacation around   how many days are needed for Disneyland . 

Related Post : The Best Time to Visit Universal Hollywood 

Can You Do Disneyland and California Adventure in 1 Day?

For those planning a day trip, you may be wondering if you  can do Disneyland and California Adventure in 1 day . And while it is simply impossible to see and do everything at both parks in one day, you can vacation the best way it fits your schedule! Just know you won’t be able to do most things. Plan ahead and set your expectations low in what you want to achieve. Just based on the rides alone you will be running around from one to the next to get in the major rides.

Should I Take A Day Trip to Disneyland?

• While you can vacation the way you’d like to, we recommend at least spending two days at the resort.

While everyone has their vacation style, our suggestion leans towards dedicating more than just a day. Ideally, consider how many days Disneyland truly deserves for a fulfilling experience.

At the very least, allocate one day for each theme park. As highlighted earlier, this might not grant you access to every attraction DLR boasts. However, it ensures you immerse in the quintessential Disney experiences that you cherish the most. With that being said, there are one-day park hopper options for guests looking to do only one day in Disneyland and DCA.

Related Post : Complete Guide to Disneyland Christmas Decorations 

How Many Days Do You Need at Disneyland FAQ

Q: Is 2 Days Enough for Disneyland?

A: The short answer is yes, and the long answer is no. While two days is a great amount of time to see most things the parks have to offer, it will not allow you to fully experience to parks. Disney is full of live entertainment, characters, attractions, and delicious food. We recommend a 4-5 day trip to enjoy everything the parks have to offer.

Q: How Many Days Do You Need at Disneyland for Adults?

A: We suggest a minimum of two days, spending one day in each theme park.  

Q: How Long is an Average Trip to Disneyland?

A: On average, we typically need 3-4 nights at Disneyland Resort. While other sources will give you a shorter estimate, we want our readers to realistically experience the magic of the park. Not much can happen in two days other than rides and some meals. The park’s magic is hidden in the little moments that happen in between.  

Q: When will Downtown Disney be finished?

A: While the current reimagining of the Downtown Disney District has no official deadline. Based on previous construction and updates at Disney Parks, we assume construction will be completed in late 2024 or by Spring 2025.  

When is The Best Time to Visit Disneyland 2024?

Our   Disneyland Crowd Calendar  is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down   the best time to visit Disneyland   based on specific times of the year and special events.

Now’s the time to book it! And be sure to go checkout our friends over at Themeparktoday.com for even more vacation planning tips and tricks!

Who We Recommend

Ticket Subtotal: $325.45

Ticket Price Including Tax:

* Your magic rewards program points are automatically calculated into all theme park ticket prices!

Kurt Gillman

Kurt Gillman is the Multi-Media Manager and one of the main content creators and editors for The Park Prodigy. Kurt has been a life long Disney and Universal fan. But after meeting his partner in 2016, the Orlando theme parks became a their go-to vacation spot. Often visiting multiple times a year! After moving to Los Angeles from New York City in 2019, Kurt quickly transitioned from a frequent Disney World guest to a Disneyland one! And now as a former Disneyland Cast Member, It’s safe to say he knows the ins and outs of the Disneyland Resort. If he isn’t found trying the newest treats in Disneyland, Kurt enjoys relaxing at home with his dog Sam and playing video games with friends in his free time.

RELATED PRODUCTS

Walt Disney World Tickets

Save time and money on your next Walt Disney World vacation with The Park Prodigy. With our discounted Walt Disney World theme park tickets guests can choose from the following parks!

• Magic Kingdom Park
• Disney’s Holywood Studios
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Universal Orlando Tickets

Save up to three hours at Universal Orlando with free vacation planning tools and added benefits. With our Universal tickets guests can choose from the following parks!

• Universal Studios
• Islands of Adventure

Disneyland Tickets

Save time and money with our your next vacation with The Park Prodigy. With our discounted Disneyland tickets guests can choose from the following parks!

• Disney’s California Adventure Park

Disneyland Crowd Calendar

Our Disneyland Crowd Calendar will help you avoid the crowds and long lines at Disneyland. Theme park attendance fluctuates significantly throughout the year, so choose the optimal dates for your next magical vacation by avoiding crowds during peak season.

With this Disneyland crowd tracker, you will be able to compare crowds at different times of the year to determine the best period to visit Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme parks in 2024 and 2025. It is updated once a month with data for the following 12 months.

We hope our Disneyland Crowd Calendar will help you optimize your next magical Disneyland vacation!

Want free help deciding when to travel? Get personalized advice from The Vacationeer !

• Disneyland » [3]
• California Adventure » [2]
• Disneyland » [4]
• California Adventure » [4]

Calendar updated through May 2025

ALL Guests are required to have a park reservation and a valid ticket for the same park on the same date. Some parks, restaurants, experiences, hotels, and other features may be modified, unavailable, or be subject to limited availability, capacity, or closure.

Our 2024/2025 Disneyland Crowd Calendar uses a 1-5 rating system for Disneyland’s two theme parks – Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure

(1) Green – Light Crowds Expected

(2) Blue – Below Average Crowds Expected

(3) Yellow – Average Crowds Expected

(4) Orange – Above Average Crowds Expected

(5) Red – Heavy Crowds Expected

About Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort is usually referred to as simply “Disneyland.” The park opened in 1955 under the direct supervision of Walt Disney,  16 years prior to the opening of Disney World. The resort was the first Disney theme park location and the only one that was open while Walt Disney was still alive.

Disneyland Resort is located in  Anaheim, California , and is owned and operated by  The Walt Disney Company .

It’s home to two theme parks ( Disneyland Park  and  Disney California Adventure ), three Disneyland hotels , and Downtown Disney , the entertainment, dining, and shopping area of the park.

Speak with a Disneyland expert to plan your trip!

What are Crowd Calendars?

Crowd calendars  predict how many people will be at a theme park on any given day throughout the year. Since most people would rather avoid the crowds and long wait times for attractions (obviously), a crowd calendar can help you narrow down your vacation periods to the times of the year when the park is less crowded and more manageable.

In order to formulate this crowd calendar, we compile attendance data from recent years to help us determine which days will have the shortest lines and longest lines at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. 

When is Disneyland LEAST Crowded ?

Disneyland is the second most visited theme park in the world (18 million visitors per year compared to roughly 58 million at Disney World). Therefore, don’t expect that you will have the park to yourself at any given time of the year. But i f long lines are a major concern, then there are some less busy time periods you should aim for.

Disneyland’s less crowded times are:

• Early January through the mid-February
• The day after President’s Day (February) until Spring Break (mid-March)
• The middle of April until Memorial Day Weekend (late May)
• After Labor Day through the beginning of October
• The second week of November (after Halloween and before Thanksgiving Week)
• Weekdays are less crowded than weekends, especially Monday-Thursdays.
• On weekends, Sundays are usually less crowded than Saturdays. Regular weekends tend to be less crowded than holiday weekends.

When is Disneyland  MOST Crowded ?

Disneyland is typically most crowded around holidays, weekends, or really just about any time schools are out of session. Here are some of the time periods to avoid, if possible:

• Any school holiday weeks (February Vacation, Spring Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year’s).
• Weekends, especially around holiday weeks and three-day holiday weekends (MLK Day (3rd Monday of January), Presidents Day (3rd Monday of February), Memorial Day (last Monday of May), July 4th, Labor Day (1st Monday of September), and Columbus Day (2nd Monday of October).
• The park is busy right after the Disneyland Annual Passholder blackout dates come to an end. Check Disneyland’s website for blackout dates .

Questions? Do you want a free Disneyland quote? Contact the Disney travel agents at The Vacationeer !

When is the Best Time to Visit Disneyland?

There isn’t really a right or wrong time to visit. The best time to go to Disneyland will really depend on your own set of interests.

If you wish to visit when crowds are expected to be lower, then plan your trip mid-week if possible. Lines tend to be shorter Tuesdays through Thursdays during off-peak periods.

Which months are less crowded at Disneyland?

Lines will be shorter:

• mid-January through mid-March
• mid-April through mid-May
• mid-September through mid-November

The disadvantages of going to Disneyland during the off-season are:

• Some of the nighttime entertainment may be scheduled for weekends (and not during the mid-week)
• Certain rides may be shut down for maintenance
• The park hours are usually shorter during off-peak times and longer during the summer and other peak times, and 4. there are fewer events, fireworks, shows, and parades during the slow season.

With that said, the most crowded periods aren’t always the “worst” times to visit Disneyland Resort.

Disneyland’s two theme parks do tend to be more crowded during the summer months (June, July, August), and that can mean longer rides for rides, food, and even to speak with Guest Relations .  However, the parks extend their hours every day from late May until early September. You can also expect the theme park to operate with longer hours during holiday periods and school breaks, as well as host more shows, parades, and fireworks.  So there are plenty of trade-offs to consider when deciding when you should visit Disneyland; it just depends on your priorities. 

Check the Park Hours section for a list of the hours, events, entertainment, and refurbishments. 

Do you need some help with planning and booking your next Disneyland vacation? We trust the travel agents at The Vacationeer for all of our trip-planning needs.  Contact them for a free, no-obligation price quote for your next Disneyland vacation.

Disneyland Weather

Disneyland benefits from Anaheim, California’s warm and relatively dry climate. The city averages just 14 inches of rain per year compared to the US average is 39 inches. Here is a chart of what you can expect for weather at Disneyland .

                                                Month                    High / Low  (°F)                Rain

Disneyland Dining Reservations

Disneyland has a number of restaurants in the Downtown Disney District .

Depending on which Disneyland restaurant you choose – and the date/time of your visit – it may be wise to make dining reservations in advance to guarantee you will be seated. Dining reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance for most Disneyland restaurants.

You can book dining reservations online , call (714) 781-DINE, or let the  Disney Travel Agents at The Vacationeer make the dining reservations for you.  Click  HERE to request a free, no-obligation price quote .

Skip the Crowded Lines with Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane Passes

Disneyland has retired its FastPass and MaxPass systems and replaced them with Disney Genie+ and individual Lightning Lane passes. These paid add-ons allow the user to bypass the normal standby lines and instead use the much quick Lightning Lane entrance.

• Disney Genie+ : For the price of $25 or more per day, per ticket, Disneyland guests can reserve the next available time on a variety of attractions and experiences via the Lightning Lane entrance. You’ll be able to make one selection at a time, and make your next selection once the previous selection is used. Disney Genie+ also provides you with Disney parks-themed audio experiences and unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads.
• Individual Lightning Lane Selections: Guests can also purchase Lightning Lane access passes on up to 2 highly demanded attractions. For example, Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park is not available with Genie+ but it is available on a pay-per-ride basis with a Lightning Lane pass. Pricing varies by date, attraction, and park.

Note: Your Lightning Lane selections are made on the same day of your visit.

If you need help planning and booking your magical Disneyland vacation, please contact the Disney Travel Agents at  The Vacationeer .

Their services are always helpful and totally free of charge . Call  833-4MY-TRIP   (833-469-8747) for a free, no-obligation Disney vacation quote!

The MagicGuides Disneyland Crowd Calendar keeps you updated on the crowd expectations. Check back often so you won’t miss out!

If you enjoyed our Disneyland Crowd Calendar page, be sure to check out our other articles. Our Disneyland Map , Disneyland History , Disneyland Daily Income Estimates , Disneyland vs Disney World , Best Age for Disneyland , Disney Dining Plan Calculator , Disneyland VIP Experience , and Disney World Planning Timeline  may be helpful.

Thank you for reading our page, and we hope you have a magical Disneyland vacation!

Related Posts:

Guide To The 9 Disneyland Lands

W hen you think of visiting Disneyland Resort in Southern California, you are probably thinking of the two theme parks – Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure. But, within the parks, there are distinct themed lands. While you don’t specifically need to understand each of the themes before your visit, it is helpful to have a basic understanding.

This post includes information about the nine lands at Disneyland, including the most popular rides, restaurants, and other things to know.

Disclosure: We’ve received complimentary admission in the past but have also paid our own way. This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

Save money on your Disneyland tickets and your Southern California vacation by booking through Get Away Today . You can also save $10 on your Southern California vacation of 2 days or more with the code FTM10. We booked our most recent three trips to Disneyland through Get Away Today.

Main Street USA

As you enter the park through the main entrance, you’ll be in Main Street USA. This area of the park is reminiscent of a turn of the century street. Since Disneyland park is the only Disney theme park that Walt directly supervised, this land has a special meaning to Disney fans.

If you are interested in learning more about the history of Main Street USA and how Walt viewed it, there’s a great tour you can take, called Walt’s Main Street tour. When I took this tour several years ago, we spend some time learning about Main Street, and then visited Walt’s Main Street apartment.

At Main Street USA, you’ll find the following:

• Disneyland Railroad
• Main Street Vehicles
• The Emporium
• The Plaza Inn
• Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
• Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe

I typically walk past most of the shops in Main Street USA in the morning, and visit later in the day. The Emporium is one of my favorite shops at Disneyland, so I always stop in.

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland is one of my favorite lands in all of Disneyland. This land is focused on our visit of tomorrow from the past. While some of it feels very modern, it’s also very nostalgic.

Here are the top things to do in Tomorrowland:

• Star Wars – The Adventures Continue
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
• Space Mountain
• Alien Pizza Planet
• Galactic Grill
• Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace

During my visits to Tomorrowland, I typically focus on the rides and attractions. I don’t generally eat there (unless I need some water or a quick snack). My favorite ride is Tomorrowland is Space Mountain – I even prefer it to the version at Walt Disney World.

Fantasyland

Fantasyland is the most magical of the Disneyland lands. If you are visiting Disneyland with small kids (or are a huge Disney fan), this is where you’ll spend a lot of time.

Attractions and restaurants in Disneyland include:

• Royal Hall (where you can meet the princesses)
• The Royal Theatre
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
• it’s a small world
• Mad Tea Party
• Alice in Wonderland
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• Casey Jr. Circus Train

Many of these rides don’t use Genie+, so I like to ride them early. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and it’s a small world are my nostalgic favorites – I typically ride these during each of my Disneyland vacations.

Although I don’t have young kids, I love visiting Toontown at Disneyland. I still miss its (much smaller) counterpart at Walt Disney World – Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

Toontown offers a few rides and some fun areas for younger kids to explore:

• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Chip ‘N’ Dale’s GADGETCoaster
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• CenTOONial Park
• Mickey’s House
• Minnie’s House
• Donald’s Duck Pond
• Goofy’s How to Play Yard

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

The newest land at Disneyland, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, is a must-visit, even if you aren’t a Star Wars fan. It’s an immersive land featuring character interactions, rides, shops, and restaurants.

Attractions, shops, and restaurants include:

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
• Oga’s Cantina
• Savi’s Workshop
• Droid Depot
• Ronto Roasters
• Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities
• Black Spire Outpost

Currently, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance does not participate in Genie+ . You’ll want to either wait in the (long) standby line or purchase the Individual Lightning Lane.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge offers some of the best souvenirs at Disneyland. You can, and should, make reservations at Savi’s Workshop and Droid Depot if you want to build a lightsaber and/or a droid.

Critter Country

Note that this land, which is unique at Disneyland and doesn’t exist at Walt Disney World, is currently closed for renovation. When it is open, however, attractions will include:

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – (opening later this year)
• Ray’s Berets – (opening with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure)
• Louis’ Critter Club / Pooh
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Corner
• Davey Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
• Critter Country Fruit Cart

Adventureland

This Disneyland land is similar to the same-named version at Walt Disney World. This is the most exotic of the lands and the most exciting.

Rides and attractions in Adventureland include:

• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
• The Jungle Cruise
• Adventureland Treehouse
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Tiki Juice Bar (this is where you can get one of the best treats at Disneyland – the Dole Whip)
• The Tropical Hideaway (also offering Dole Whip)
• Bengal Barbeque

Frontierland

Frontierland is another Disneyland land with a counterpart at Disney World. Like the WDW version, this Frontierland is reminiscent of the old pioneer days.

You’ll find the following attractions and restaurants in Frontierland:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Mark Twain Riverboat
• Tom Sawyer Island
• Columbia Sailing Ship
• The Stage Door Cafe
• The Golden Horseshoe
• Rancho del Zocalo
• River Belle Terrace
• Pioneer Merchantile
• Westward Ho Trading Company

Unlike Walt Disney World, the flume ride (Tiana’s Bayou Adventure) is not in Frontierland. When the ride opens at Disneyland, it will be in Critter Country, where Splash Mountain was.

New Orleans Square

New Orleans Square is another unique land to Disneyland. Like Critter Country, some enhancements are coming to New Orleans Square, requiring some sections to be temporarily closed.

When it’s fully operational, here are the attractions, restaurants, and shops in New Orleans Square.

• Pirates of the Caribbean (I love this version so much more than the one at Walt Disney World)
• The Haunted Mansion (currently closed for renovation)
• Blue Bayou – my favorite table service restaurant at Disneyland
• Mint Julep Bar – this is where you can get the Mickey-shaped beignets
• Tiana’s Palace quick service restaurant

What is your favorite land at Disneyland?

The post Guide To The 9 Disneyland Lands appeared first on Family Travel Magazine .

• Acts of Kindness
• Viral Stories
• New Food Flavors
• Cleaning & Organization
• Kitchen Gadgets
• DIY & Improvement
• Fashion & Style

Disneyland vs. Disney World: How to choose which resort is right for you

Are you a Marvel fan? Star Wars buff? Just need a weekend getaway? Here's how to pick the right destination for your family.

• Brooke McDonald
• January 22, 2022

A Disney vacation finds its way onto most travel bucket lists at some point, and if you’re ready to start planning yours, you’ll probably be faced with one big decision upfront: Disneyland vs. Disney World.

Unless you live very close to either the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, or Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, you’ll want to check out all that’s unique about both destinations before choosing where to head for your Disney trip.

MORE:  15 free spring break activities to do with your kids

Depending on your interests — Do you love Star Wars, Marvel or Pixar? Is a great pool or immersive hotel your top priority? — one of America’s two Disney destinations may clearly be a better choice for you. Here’s how to decide which House of Mouse is best for your big trip.

Disneyland vs. Disney World: Visit Disneyland if …

You’re short on time.

With two theme parks — Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure — just a stone’s throw apart and the Downtown Disney District and Disneyland Resort’s three hotels all within walking distance, you can get a lot more done in a hurry at Disneyland without wasting time on transportation.

MORE: 18 items you need for a Disney vacation

To really maximize your time, get Park Hopper Tickets (which allow you to move freely between the two parks each day) and purchase Disney Genie+ . The latter feature is Disney’s replacement for the old FastPass+ and MaxPass services, and gives you Lightning Lane access and the opportunity to bypass the standby lines on many of Disneyland’s most popular rides.

You’re a Disney History Buff

A cultural icon since it opened on July 17, 1955, Disneyland isn’t just a vacation destination, it’s a piece of modern American history .

Take a nostalgic stroll past Walt Disney’s apartment, which sits above the fire station where a lamp still shines in the window for the park’s beloved founder, then meander back in time down turn-of-the-century Main Street, U.S.A. Ride iconic opening-day attractions like Jungle Cruise, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Peter Pan’s Flight, classic boat rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and It’s a Small World, and the park’s most famous thrill rides, like Matterhorn Bobsleds, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain.

You Love Seeing Characters

Once the hallmark of a Disney vacation , character meet-and-greets have been some of the slowest offerings to return to normal operations at Disney’s theme parks during the COVID-19 era. Although you still can’t get as close to your favorite characters as you used to, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure both take the cake over Walt Disney World when it comes to the plethora of character appearances that happen all day long throughout both parks.

While you can’t get those hugs or autographs you might remember, you can still interact with characters — including many unique and rare favorites — and they’ll pose for plenty of photos with you (only slightly distanced).

You’re a Marvel Fan

If the Marvel Cinematic Universe is your jam, Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure is the place to assemble. Opened in June 2021, this new land buzzes with energy (and that iconic Avengers soundtrack) and teems with characters and entertainment. Aspiring superheroes can get training tips from the Dora Milaje warriors from “Black Panther,” watch Spidey soar through the air in a spectacular stunt show, visit Dr. Strange’s mysterious Ancient Sanctum and spot countless other MCU characters .

Rides include the new all-ages Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure and the fan-favorite Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout. You can also grab a bite at Pym Test Kitchen (warning, parts of your meal may be super-sized or super-small, depending on how Hank Pym’s experiments are going!).

You Love Pixar Movies — Especially ‘Cars’

Disney California Adventure Park is home to one of Disney’s most impressive and immersive lands at any Disney theme park in the world. Cars Land so perfectly recreates Radiator Springs, the setting for the first of Pixar’s “Cars” films, you’ll swear you’ve stepped into the film. You can meet Lightning McQueen and Mater, chow down on Chicken “Fenders” at Flo’s V8 Cafe and ride Radiator Springs Racers, one of the most impressive rides Disney has ever imagineered.

Around the corner from Cars Land, Pixar Pier is another spot at Disney California Adventure for lovers of the beloved studio. Ride the thrilling Incredicoaster, play 3D carnival games on Toy Story Midway Mania or take an aerial spin on the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and enjoy a meal at Lamplight Lounge. The Pixar-themed restaurant serves great food and Pixar-themed cocktails and is packed with Easter eggs from the movies at every turn.

Disneyland vs. Disney World: Visit Walt Disney World if…

You’re a planner.

With four theme parks, two water parks, more than 25 Disney resort hotels and countless restaurants and experiences to choose from, planning a trip to Walt Disney World means making a lot more decisions. But, if you’re a planner at heart, that’s part of the fun! In fact, research has shown that the process of planning a vacation can actually boost your mental health .

Disney World’s Disney Park Pass reservation system requires guests to book a reservation for the first park they plan to visit each day, and dining reservations open up 60 days in advance, so you’ll have lots of decisions and plans to make long before your plane touches down in Orlando. Note: Disneyland also requires theme park reservations and dining reservations are also highly recommended, but with fewer hotels, restaurants and theme parks to manage, there are far fewer factors to consider there.

You Want to Stay Immersed All Trip Long

At roughly 40 square miles — nearly the size of San Francisco! — Walt Disney World is one massive, magical playground. From the moment you pass under the resort’s iconic gates, you’re “on property” and very firmly on vacation. In stark contrast to Disneyland — where moments after leaving the park gates you can find yourself staring down chain restaurants, liquor stores and urban hubbub — you could travel for miles after leaving Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park and remain in the Disney World bubble.

And with so many hotels, restaurants and entertainment options on Walt Disney World’s property, you truly don’t need to leave until it’s time to go home. Palm trees, beautiful grounds and resorts, consistent signage and diligent theming all help to solidify the feeling that you’re in a special place, far removed from the stifling atmosphere of the everyday.

You Want to Stay at a Themed Disney Hotel

This is a big one for travelers on a budget. While Disneyland Resort does have three official Disney hotels, each with its own immersive theming, even the lowest-tier Disneyland option, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, is liable to break the bank at most times of year. On the flip side, Walt Disney World boasts more than eight times as many hotels, with options for every budget.

Choose from Value-, Moderate- or Deluxe-tier resorts, all with their own elaborate theming and plenty of Disney touches, from the Pop Century Resort and Art of Animation Resort at the Value level, to the Port Orleans Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort at the Moderate level, to the Polynesian Village Resort, Riviera Resort and Wilderness Lodge at the Deluxe tier. Every Disney World resort features themed pools and dining options and includes transportation to and from the parks.

You Love Star Wars

If you’ve always dreamed of traveling to a galaxy far, far away, this is the vacation destination you’re looking for. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World are home to the epically immersive new land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , and Disney’s most ambitious attraction ever created, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. But diehard fans will want to take their experience truly out of this world by adding a two-night experience aboard Disney World’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser .

Way more than a simple hotel , Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser gives guests the illusion that they’re on a “space cruise” on the Halcyon starcruiser. Guests blast off on their adventure to a galaxy far, far away via a “launch pod” and will spend two days and two nights channeling their inner Light or Dark Side as they rub shoulders with members of the Resistance and First Order. The immersive itinerary includes live entertainment, lightsaber training, role playing, elaborate themed dining and a special excursion to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park.

You Want to Visit Truly Unique Parks

While Disney parks around the globe feature their own versions of the Magic Kingdom, with its castle centerpiece and iconic themed lands, two of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks, EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom , offer experiences you won’t find at any other Disney resort.

EPCOT’s World Showcase takes guests on a trip around the world, with immersive pavilions representing different countries and cultures through architecture, food and drinks, entertainment and even rides like the brand new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT’s France pavilion.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom, meanwhile, is one of Disney’s most beautiful theme parks, with breathtaking areas representing Asia, Africa, the mythical Pandora from “Avatar” and more. Animal lovers can’t miss Kilimanjaro Safaris, an open-air excursion on an African savanna packed with real animals. This is the closest you’ll get to an African safari without needing a passport.

You Want to Do More Than Just Visit Theme Parks

Walt Disney World has so much to offer beyond the resort’s four theme parks that you could easily fill a vacation with activities without ever setting foot in a theme park. Walt Disney World is home to four stunning golf courses , including one, Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, that backs right up to two of Disney World’s Deluxe resorts, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney’s Old Key West Resort, so hardcore golfers may want to consider a stay at one of those. You can also practice your putts at Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf and Winter Summerland Miniature Golf .

To beat the Florida heat while logging theme park-level thrills, guests can visit one of Disney World’s two elaborately themed water parks, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park . Guests can ride a chairlift up the “mountain” before plunging down Summit Plummit at Blizzard Beach or hone their surfing skills in North America’s largest wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon. The all-ages water parks feature numerous family-friendly water slides and other attractions to keep everyone cool and happy.

You’re Into Long-Distance Running

Whether you’re a hardcore runner or just want something to train for, runDisney offers four action-packed race weekends at Walt Disney World. Featuring events ranging from a 5K to a full marathon, there’s a distance for every athlete. Themed races feature music, entertainment and character stops along the way and participants get bragworthy race shirts and finisher medals.

You could easily plan a trip to the resort around one of the races, giving you a great, built-in way to celebrate your achievement in a meaningful way.

Which is your favorite in the age-old debate of Disneyland vs. Disney World?

Brooke Geiger McDonald is a theme park journalist covering all things Disney and Universal. When she’s not  screaming on the newest roller coaster  or critiquing the cheese served with her  Mickey pretzel , she’s busy breaking the latest theme park news on  Twitter  and  Instagram .

Related posts

Walt Disney World restaurant earns first-ever Michelin star

Meet the new Star Wars droids roaming around Disneyland

Disney's first Star Wars ride is getting a big update and new star power

Watch this baby elephant take her first steps on the savanna at Disney's Animal Kingdom

About the author.

From our partners

Mickey Mouse’s Sobriety Squad: Disneyland Cracks Down on Drunken Guests

in Disneyland Resort

On Tuesday, Disneyland Resort security cast members kicked two drunken guests out of the Southern California Disney Resort. A clip of the couple’s overblown response went viral on social media.

Drinking is among the most popular adult activities at Disneyland Park, Downtown Disney, and Disney California Adventure Park. Though the overwhelming cost naturally limits most guests, some ignore the exorbitant price tag or sneak in alcohol to get drunk at Disneyland Resort. The same issue has long plagued Walt Disney World Resort , particularly at EPCOT, where guests can “Drink Around the World Showcase.”

Related: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Canceled: Disney Releases Urgent Notice

Disney Parks fans have long complained about a so-called “ Disney drinking culture ,” which causes some adult guests to behave obnoxiously or inappropriately around children. To some guests’ dismay, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort have only increased alcohol availability at the Disney parks.

Though Disneyland Resort isn’t likely to ban alcohol anytime soon, cast members are cracking down on inebriated guests. On Tuesday, Lindsey (@lindseyonthedaily on TikTok) shared this video of security escorting a drunk couple out of the Southern California Disney parks:

@lindseyonthedaily Theres kids around, lets keep it a safe palce for them ♬ original sound – Lindsey

“No, no,” the drunk man yelled. “They’re saying she’s f**ked up, and it’s cool, but we’re walking up, and you want to escort us out like we’re some f**king problem, bro?”

Lindsey was disgusted that the guests were so intoxicated at 3:00 p.m., especially with thousands of children around: “There’s kids around, let’s keep it a safe [place] for them.”

The couple’s behavior infuriated Disney Parks fans.

“I could never imagine acting like this or getting this drunk at Disney of all places!!!” @lyssatdisney commented.

“People need to be more respectful and responsible.. seriously,” said @stellar_iam.

Many called on Disneyland Resort to ban adult beverages.

“Disneyland shouldn’t of ever sold alcohol.. thats the result of it..,” @rvrvavdvjv wrote. “Disneyland is for families, children not for people act out especially because of alcohol.”

“ Why do they even serve alcohol at Disneyland!” @dacosta_505 agreed. “It’s because idiots like that can’t handle their liquor! And this is all in front of kids! I saw [a] fight in front of the castle on my last visit.”

Some commenters shared their experiences getting kicked out of Disneyland Resort for acting up while drunk.

“I got my pass banned for 3 months when I was 20 for drinking at Mad Hatter party,” @pkmnmaster14 recalled. “This brought back memories.”

“3 months ?! I got my pass revoked and had to pay it the rest of the year,” @ambeer7.4 replied. “Hahaha funny thing is that my 21st bday was in 1 month.”

“This [happened] to me,” said @lollol1111x. “I had to write an apology letter asking them if I can come back.”

Related: Disneyland Paris Guests Held Hostage at Disneyland Hotel, Rescue Initiated

Report inappropriate behavior to Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort cast members . It’s best to allow security to handle tense situations instead of confronting another Disney Park guest.

Should Disneyland Park, Downtown Disney, and Disney California Adventure Park limit drinking? Share your opinion with Inside the Magic in the comments.

Should you repeat your vacation? Let's settle this once and for all.

• Travelers are divided on whether to repeat a vacation or try something new.
• There are good reasons to go back to the same place, including comfort, friends and family and special memories.
• But there are also good reasons to get out there and travel: it changes your perspective and makes your life more exciting.

Want to start an argument? Just ask a random family member where to take your next vacation. Specifically, should you play it safe by returning to the same place – or try something new? 

But it's an argument worth having now. Here's why: The top destinations for the summer of 2024 are ridiculously familiar. Orlando, London and Cancun, according to the latest Allianz Partners survey . All those far-flung revenge travel destinations from after the pandemic are history. People want something safe and familiar.

But is that a good thing?

Check out   Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

Why everyone is arguing about vacation repetition

Experts say there's a reason that this is such a heated debate. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

"Typically, when people return to the same spot over and over again, they want predictability," said Thomas Plante, a psychology professor at Santa Clara University . "They know exactly what they are getting and how it works for them. This differs from those who want the unexpected by going to a new place each time they vacation."

Let me acknowledge my bias upfront: I'm part of the second group. I don't have a permanent residence and, as a travel writer, I get restless after being in one place for more than a week. So I had to ask an expert to explain our fondness for sameness.

As rewards credit cards face regulation, what are the alternatives?

"When a traveler finds a place that they like, there's a risk to going anywhere else," said Jeff Galak, who teaches marketing at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business ."We've all experienced bad vacations, so when we find one that just works, it's hard to leave it behind."

I'm going to hand the microphone to both sides of this argument in a minute. But first, let me tell you who is right: Yes, you can go back to the same place – but not in the way you think.

Here's why repeat vacations are great

Travelers have their reasons for coming back to the same place again and again. Shirleigh Brannon, a retired librarian from Marin County in Northern California, travels to Anaheim, California, twice a year to visit Disneyland.

Her love of Disney vacations goes back three decades when she brought her son to the Magic Kingdom for the first time. Experiencing the Jungle Cruise or Alice in Wonderland through the eyes of a four-year-old was special. 

"Lots of fond memories," she said.

Even though she knows every inch of the park by now, it's those special memories that keep her coming back again and again.

Another reason to repeat is because your friends and family will be there. Janet Ruth Heller returns to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, every summer with her extended family.

Will new airline consumer protection rules help you when you fly this summer?

Tipping is 'not an entitlement': Should travelers stop tipping for everything?

"We have good memories," said Heller, a retired college professor. "Elkhart Lake has many activities for families, and it is conveniently located for our relatives."

There's also a comfort level. Bernard Nash, a medical school professor from New York, likes to explore the world. But he also has a timeshare in Aruba that he goes back to every year. He loves hanging out by the pool, taking long walks along the white-sand beaches, and dining in his favorite restaurants. And from time to time, he runs into people he knows, who are also there on vacation.

 "It's the perfect place to go and just chill out," he said.

So, comfort, friends, family and special memories – those are all great reasons to repeat your vacation. 

But I have to warn you: You're missing out.

Why you should get out there and experience something new

Other travelers would never repeat a trip. Marcy Schackne is one of them. 

"When it comes to travel," she said, "It's one and done."

Schackne, a marketing executive for a healthcare company in South Florida, has been to all seven continents and is part of the exclusive century club, having visited more than 120 countries. 

"There's too much world to see to go back and repeat a Groundhog Day experience," said Schackne, who is off to Greenland in July.

"Going to the same place every year would be boring," said Kathleen Panek, who owns a bed and breakfast in Shinnston, West Virginia. "There are so many things to see and do."

Panek's parents taught her how to read a road map as soon as she could recognize numbers. And she's been traveling ever since – mostly road trips in the U.S. and occasional adventures in Europe. Her only regret is that she hasn't traveled more.

There's one more reason to get out there and travel: it changes your perspective. And in a highly polarizing election year, getting outside your comfort zone can make a real difference. Research suggests that travel can alter your point of view , although there's no evidence that it will make you more liberal or conservative – just that it will change how you see the world.

So, to sum up, trying a new destination broadens your horizons and makes your life more exciting – and maybe even more interesting. 

But saying you should take each vacation in a new place would be wrong.

How to find a new place to visit this summer

Here are a few ways to find a new destination to try this summer.

• Ask a friend. A word-of-mouth recommendation is always the best way to find a new place to visit because it comes from someone who knows you. Ask a friend or family member for a new place to visit. The answer might surprise you.
• Try the random trips button . Almost every online travel site has a function that lets you choose a random place to visit. For example, Google Flights has a "suggested trips" function that will recommend inexpensive places to visit.
• Consult an expert. A qualified travel advisor can help you find a new place to visit. If you don't have a travel agent, you can find one through the American Society of Travel Advisors .

Where should you go this summer?

So should you go to the same place this summer or try something new?

Laurel Barton has the correct answer. She lives in Forest Grove, Oregon, but loves the Jungfrau region of Switzerland. Barton and her husband spend at least a week there every year. 

"We know how to get around, where to go, what to do, options for inclement weather, where to shop," she said. "No maps required."

But Barton also loves to explore. This summer, she's headed to Iceland and Rome to make new memories.

Kristiana Capati-Choquet, a luxury travel advisor at Embark Beyond , sees that duality in her clients, too.

"Seeing the same people in the same destinations contributes to the basic human need of wanting to belong," she said. "On the other side of the spectrum, there are those who can't stand to repeat vacations and have a true adventurer side."

It's OK to visit a favorite place this summer. I have many. I love Paris in July and Seattle in August. Utah is my go-to spot in September – maybe one of Mighty Five national parks. 

But try something new, for goodness' sake. You have no idea what you're missing. 

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

Theme Park Tickets & Reservations

To visit a park, you’ll need both a park reservation and valid ticket or magic key pass for the same park on the same date for each day you plan to visit., plan ahead for your next park visit.

Theme park reservations for select dates and parks may be made in advance for a period of time, on a rolling basis, as determined by Disney and as set forth on the applicable park reservation availability calendars. The advance reservation windows for the Magic Key passes and theme park tickets may differ in length. Daily park reservations are allocated among theme park tickets, Magic Key passes and other admission media at Disney’s discretion. Theme park reservations are limited in number; are subject to the availability of applicable park reservation allocations, applicable blockout dates, and theme park capacity; and are not guaranteed for any specific dates or park, no matter the ticket or pass type. Availability can change until the park reservation is finalized. Check for updated availability. Admission or access to any offering or experience, including theme park entry, is not guaranteed.

View important information to know before your visit .

Get Your Ticket. Make Your Theme Park Reservation. Enjoy the Magic!

• Step 1: Check Park Reservation Availability  and keep date preferences in mind when selecting a ticket.
• Step 2: Buy Ticket and Get Park Reservation online or through the Disneyland app.

Guests currently holding valid theme park tickets: Sign in to your MyDisney account at Disneyland.com or via the Disneyland app and link your valid tickets. Make theme park reservations for up to the number of admission days on your ticket, subject to the availability of applicable park reservation allocations. You can link other valid tickets to your account to make a group reservation.

How to Make Theme Park Reservations with a Valid Ticket or Magic Key Pass

Access our theme park reservation system.

After you have signed in, you can start the theme park reservation process.

Have a Walt Disney Travel Company vacation package or a Disneyland Resort hotel reservation with separately purchased park tickets? You’ll need to retrieve your resort hotel reservation via My Hotel Reservations and link it to your MyDisney account before making your theme park reservation.

Please note that park reservations are limited in number and subject to the availability of applicable park reservation allocations and blockout dates, and theme park capacity, and are not guaranteed for any specific dates or park, no matter the ticket or pass type. Availability can change until the park reservation is finalized. Admission or access to any offering or experience, including theme park entry, is not guaranteed.

Go to Step 2

Create Your Party

You may need to enter the name of each ticket and Magic Key holder.

Select the ticket or Magic Key pass you want to make a new theme park reservation for.

Go to Step 3

Select the Day and Theme Park You’d Like to Visit

Guests with park admission that includes the Park Hopper benefit may choose, pending availability, which theme park to start their day at—and may cross over and switch between parks on the same day beginning at 11:00 AM (subject to availability). Please check the Park Hours calendar and the Disneyland app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours, as they could change, depending on the day and park. The ability to visit the other park will be subject to that park’s capacity limitations, operational hours, closures and other restrictions, and is not guaranteed.

If you have a multi-day ticket or Magic Key pass, repeat the process to make reservations for each day of your ticket.

Go to Step 4

Review and Confirm Your Visit

Provide an email address to receive your reservation confirmation, and you’re all set.

(Some ticket types may require a QR code for proof of park reservations. For these ticket types, your park reservation will be emailed to you with a QR code, which you must present with the valid ticket used to make the reservation.)

Check your email account to ensure you’ve received your confirmation or confirmation and QR code.

Please be prepared to present your valid ticket and associated QR code (if applicable) when you arrive at the designated park on the day of your visit.

See ya real soon!

Important Details

• Theme park reservations are limited in number and subject to the availability of applicable park reservation allocations, applicable blockout dates, and theme park capacity; and are not guaranteed for any specific dates or park, no matter the ticket or pass type. Availability can change until a reservation is finalized.
• A park reservation must be made for each day of entry. If you have a multi-day ticket or Magic Key pass, you will be required to make a park reservation for each date of your visit.
• Park reservations for select dates and parks may be made in advance for a period of time, on a rolling basis, as determined by Disney and as set forth on the applicable park reservation availability calendars. The advance reservation windows for theme park tickets and Magic Key passes may differ in length.
• Theme park reservations can be modified or cancelled by visiting My Theme Park Reservations . If you’d like to cancel an existing reservation and book a new one, please first check on the availability of reservations for your new desired date and/or park.
• Theme park reservations are void if transferred or sold and have no cash value. Unused theme park reservations expire at the end of the day, are forfeited and will not be replaced.
• A theme park reservation does not guarantee park admission or access to any experience, attraction or offering. In the event that duplicate theme park reservation QR codes are presented, Disney may refuse entry. Disney reserves the right to reschedule or cancel theme park reservations, admission media or purchases at any time and for any reason without liability, and to provide applicable refunds.
• Certain attractions, experiences, services and offerings may be modified or unavailable, may be limited in availability or capacity, and are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Offerings are not guaranteed.
• Guests who purchase or have a Park Hopper ticket or Magic Key pass and an appropriate park reservation may cross over and switch between parks on the same day beginning at 11:00 AM (subject to availability). Please check the Park Hours calendar and the Disneyland app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours, as they could change, depending on the day and park. Learn more about Park Hopper tickets and Magic Key passes with a reservation to both parks .

View important details about visiting the Disneyland Resort .

Disneyland | Disneyland uses speedboat to fix…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Food & Drink

Amusement Parks

• Theater & Arts

Things To Do

Disneyland | disneyland uses speedboat to fix ‘fantasmic’ and save the show, disneyland maintenance and dive crews rushed to remove debris from an underwater track used by the sailing ship columbia and mark twain riverboat..

Disneyland visitors waiting to watch “ Fantasmic ” were treated to an unanticipated stunt show when the Anaheim theme park’s maintenance crew raced a flat-bottomed skiff boat along the Rivers of America – the man-made waterway usually used for leisurely cruises on riverboats and pirate ships.

ALSO SEE: Old school ‘Fantasmic’ returns to Disneyland with massive crowds

The wake from the 20-foot-long skiff boat with a powerful outboard motor was unable to loosen the debris from the underwater track that guides the Sailing Ship Columbia and Mark Twain Riverboat – key components in “Fantasmic.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Walker Chronicles (@theewalkerchronicles)

The surprising spectacle was captured on video and posted to social media before the scheduled “Fantasmic” shows on Monday, June 3.

A Disneyland diver was eventually able to unclog the underwater track and save one of the two shows for the thousands of anxious viewers lining the Rivers of America.

The 9 p.m. show on Monday night was canceled due to technical difficulties, but the second show at 10:30 p.m. was performed as planned – thanks to the work of the Disneyland maintenance and dive teams.

The skiff boats are frequently used by Disneyland maintenance and dive crews to repair “World of Color” fountains on Paradise Bay, rescue inoperable tramp steamers on the Jungle Cruise and work on “Fantasmic” mist screens in the Rivers of America.

• Newsroom Guidelines
• Report an Error

More in Disneyland

Disneyland | Disneyland pauses Magic Key sales again on all annual passes

Disneyland | Disneyland closing Doctor Strange show in Avengers Campus

Disneyland | First look at Frozen ride pitched for Disneyland expansion

Disneyland | Disneyland closes Club Pixar stage show two months early