Planning your first Disneyland trip can make you feel like you need to study for it. Learn the app. Learn Lightning Lane. Figure out which park to start in, where to stay, what to book, what to eat and which rides you absolutely cannot miss.
Some of that really is worth figuring out ahead of time. But after going to Disneyland as a kid, a teenager, with my own kids at different ages and even without kids, I don’t think the goal is to become really good at Disneyland before you get there.
You just need to know enough that all the planning doesn’t get in the way of the fun part.
How many days should I book?
For a first Disneyland trip, I recommend three park days if your time and budget allows that. That gives you enough time for both Disneyland and California Adventure without trying to cram everything into two days.
If you only have two days, that’s completely doable. Spend one full day at Disneyland and one at California Adventure. You can add Park Hopper tickets if you want the flexibility to move between the parks, but if I had to choose between spending extra on Park Hopper or Lightning Lane, I would choose Lightning Lane.
What should I figure out before the trip?
Buy your tickets and make your park reservations before your trip. Disneyland isn’t really a “show up at the gate and buy a ticket” kind of vacation anymore. You need both a valid ticket and a park reservation for the same day, and reservations can fill up. So you definitely need to figure this out ahead of time.
Download the Disneyland app and spend some time figuring it out before you go. Disneyland uses it for a lot, including Lightning Lane. If you’re traveling together, make sure everyone’s tickets are linked so you can manage your plans together.
It’s also worth understanding how Lightning Lane works before you’re standing inside Disneyland trying to figure it out.
Because there is nothing more disappointing than finally walking through the gates and having everyone immediately pull out their phones. You should be able to ooh and ahh for a minute over the Mickey flower bed and seeing Main Street for the first time.
Do I really need to pay extra for Lightning Lane?
Yes, it costs more. Yes, Disneyland is already expensive.
I still think Lightning Lane Multi Pass is 100% worth it.
Disney changes the names of these things often enough that my family still asks, “Did you get a FastPass?” even though it hasn’t been called FastPass in years. Whatever it’s called, it’s still worth it in my opinion.
For my family we’re already paying a lot of money to be at Disneyland. I would rather spend a little more and spend less of that vacation standing in lines.
There is one big caveat: look at the list of rides included before you pay for it. If you have little kids who aren’t tall enough for many of the included rides, or your family isn’t interested in them, it may not be worth the extra money for you.
One perk that’s easy to overlook is that Lightning Lane Multi Pass also includes Disney PhotoPass downloads from the day. And this doesn’t just include ride photos. If you see a Disney photographer in front of the castle, by the Mickey flowerbeds, or at the entrance to Radiator Springs (just to name a few), get the picture. You never know – you could have your next family Christmas card photo.
And a word of advice: if you see a great photo spot with a photographer there, do it then. Even if everyone says, “We can do that later.” In my experience, it never happens later. People get tired, the photographer might not be there, and suddenly everyone is done with pictures. So I always make my family take at least a few photos before we get too far into the rides.
How much should we try to fit in?
Before you go, have everyone choose a few things that really matter to them. Not 25 things. A few.
And don’t get so focused on fitting in as many rides as possible that you skip the things someone in your family really wants to do. Sometimes those end up being the things you remember most.
When my son was about 6, he wanted to wait in line to meet Darth Vader. It took about an hour. Afterwards he decided he wanted to meet Chewbacca. It was a completely different line, which also took an hour. We sighed and said okay. (Those are still some of my favorite photos).
If your kids are little and want to stand in line to meet every character they see, do it. The next time you go, they might be more interested in roller coasters.
What if we need a break?
Take one.
You can go back to the hotel, especially if you’re staying close. But you don’t necessarily have to leave the park.
My family goes to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln when we need a rest. Chad genuinely enjoys it. I have fallen asleep. (Not because it isn’t interesting, but sometimes you are just Disney tired). It’s inside, there are seats and there’s air conditioning. Sometimes that’s exactly what I need before I’m ready to go do more things.
Another favorite way to take a break is to take the train around the park. It’s relaxing, educational (hello dinosaurs), and has some really great views.
Where should I stay?
There are so many hotels around Disneyland that choosing one can be overwhelming. You can stay at one of the Disney hotels, but there are also Good Neighbor hotels with different price points.
For our family, location is one of the biggest things I look at. After a long day at Disneyland, being able to walk back to the hotel easily is really nice, especially if you want to take a break during the day.
I also look for things like free breakfast, enough room for everyone and, depending on the length of the trip, a kitchenette. What matters most to you may be different, but I would think about how you’ll actually use the hotel rather than choosing based on price alone.
We’ve stayed at quite a few hotels around Disneyland over the years, so I’ll put together a separate post with more details on what to look for in a hotel.
Ready to Plan your Disneyland Trip?
If you’re ready to start planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth, I recommend checking out Get Away Today. I have used them personally for Disneyland and other Southern California trips and have always had a good experience.
They sell Disneyland tickets and hotel packages, and I especially like that there’s an actual person you can talk to if you have questions. Depending on what you book, they also offer refundable ticket options, and you can add their Peace of Mind Plan for additional flexibility if your plans change.
They are also just really nice to work with, which I appreciate when I’m spending money on a vacation.
You can check current Disneyland tickets and hotel packages through Get Away Today here. You can save an additional $10 off a package with promo code: PSF10.
I am an affiliate with Get Away Today, which means I may earn a commission if you book through my link, at no additional cost to you.
