So you’re planning a trip to the OG Disney theme park.
Between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure (yes—there’s two parks!), there’s a lot to see, do, eat, ride, and (let’s be real) strategize. And if you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry. We’ve got you.
From figuring out where to stay (on-site vs. the great unknown of Harbor Boulevard motels), to picking the right airport, deciding how many days you’ll need, and wrapping your head around Lightning Lanes, this guide is designed to walk you through everything you need to know before setting foot on (the original!) Main Street, U.S.A., or strapping into Radiator Springs Racers.
We’ll keep it honest (spoiler: you don’t need to fly into LAX) and walk you through everything we wish we knew before our first visit. And by the time you’re done reading, you’ll feel confident about how to plan a smooth, fun, and snack-fueled Disneyland trip that actually works for your travel style.
Let’s dive in!
Pre-Trip Planning
Before you start mapping out rides and snacks, it’s worth spending a little time figuring out how many days you’re hitting the parks, where to stay in the Disneyland area, and how to get there.
Where to Stay at Disneyland: On-Property
There are three official on-property* Disneyland Resorts:
- Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa,
- Disneyland Hotel
- Pixar Place Hotel
*Technically, there are some off-property hotels right outside of the gates that are a closer walk to the parks, but the ones above are Disney official.
We love all three Disneyland Resorts, but this is Southern California we’re talkin’ about, so these options are all pricey (you’re typically looking at least $500/night and well over that in many cases).
If you’re splurging, we love the Grand Californian and the Disneyland Resort. The first connects to Downtown Disney and California Adventure, and the pool and lobby are both wonderful. The rooms are still a bit outdated for the price, but it’s still our favorite.
Disneyland Resort is a bit further of a walk, but the pool is excellent, and the rooms are much more modern and bright.
Where to Stay at Disneyland: Off-Property
For what it’s worth, unlike at Disney World, our team rarely stays on-property at Disneyland!
We like to think of staying off property in two areas: there’s Harbor Boulevard, the main strip right outside of the entrance, within walking distance of the parks. Then there’s everything closer to the Convention Center, which is a longer walk, but a bit nicer.
Harbor Boulevard is primarily comprised of motels (note: not resorts) with no frills, and they vary greatly in quality. They tend to be super expensive for what you’re getting due to the proximity and ease of walking to the parks, but they certainly aren’t anything special. Most have pools and offer free breakfast, but again, the accommodations are motel quality.
We’ve stayed at almost all of them, and find the Grand Legacy to be the best in terms of value and clean rooms. The Candy Cane Inn is cute and another big Disneyland fan favorite.
Then a bit further down at the next major intersection, you have the Anaheim Convention Center and lots more familiar “resort” style chains (Marriott, Hilton, Westin). These are going to be nicer, and sometimes cheaper—weird, yeah? They’re about a 1-mile walk or more to the main entrance of Disneyland, which isn’t a short distance. But you’ll have better pools, on-site restaurants and bars, and nicer rooms. Everything is just higher quality, although these resorts vary in frills.
If you want luxury, we love the Westin. When we stay here, we often take a day off from the parks and just enjoy the resort pool and restaurants. The convention hotel chains in the area are reliable (Hilton, Marriott) and have clean rooms as well. If we stay here, we will often jump in a taxi or Uber at least on the way to or home from the parks to save our feet. These hotels can be great for active adults, but we don’t recommend them as a first choice with young kids.
Which Airport to Fly Into
First off, we typically don’t recommend flying into Los Angeles (LAX) solely for a Disneyland visit unless you’re planning on renting a car, touring LA at some point during your trip, or it’s saving you at least $250+ on your tickets.
Although there are some options like affordable shared shuttle services, most transportation from here is going to be pricier and take much longer.
If the flight options are good, we like to fly into the John Wayne (SNA) or Long Beach (LGB) airports. They’re both small and easy to navigate. Plus, they’re only about a 15-minute drive to Disneyland. SNA is the bigger airport out of these two.
Deciding How Many Days to Go
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure might be smaller than some of their Orlando counterparts, but it’d be wrong to assume there is less to do.
Disneyland, for one, has a lot of attractions packed into a small space, and both parks have amazing nighttime entertainment, so you’ll want to give yourself enough time (combined with a good game plan!), to get the most out of your visit.
- One day at the both parks gives you time to hit a couple of headliners and a small handful of other attractions, but likely not much else. It’ll be next to impossible (not to mention exhausting) to try to do it all, even with splurging on Lightning Lanes. If you’re only doing one day, we recommend focusing on Disneyland.
- Two days is our recommended minimum to spend a full day at each park, hit the major headliners, and catch both nighttime performances.
- Three days between the two parks is ideal for getting to spend enough time at Disneyland (so many more attractions!), get at least a full day in at California Adventure, ride all of the headliners, re-ride favorites, and more.
- Four days is great if you want to take a leisurely pace with room for downtime, or enjoy your hotel, but it isn’t necessary.
Note: DL is where most people say they could have spent more time, while DCA next door is more easily done within a day. So, plan accordingly!
Purchasing Park Tickets
You can choose to purchase your park tickets directly through Disneyland, use a Disney Travel Agent, or check authorized third-party sites like Undercover Tourist to see if there are any discounted tickets or special offers.
If using the latter, be sure to compare ticket prices between the official Disneyland site and any third-party seller. If the price difference is negligible, sometimes it’s just a little easier (as far as technicalities or customer service issues go) to buy directly from Disney.
Park Hopping
Given the proximity of the two parks and the ease of hopping, we vastly prefer the flexibility of using Park Hopper, but it’s ultimately up to your group’s style.
If you have at least two days, you can definitely save the extra money and dedicate one day to each park, while still likely visiting most attractions.
Note: If you’re a night owl or an all-day kind of park goer, it can be fun to have a park hopper so you can always return to Disneyland since it’s typically open later than DCA.
Using Lightning Lanes
Lightning Lane Multi Pass is Disneyland’s paid version of the old FastPass system. Lightning Lanes let you skip the regular standby lines at select attractions by reserving return times throughout the day.
If it’s in the budget, we always recommend splurging for Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
To make things a little complicated, there’s also Lightning Lane Single Pass, an “à la carte” paid pass to ride a single high-demand attraction that is not offered via Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Note: DL’s Single Pass attraction is Rise of the Resistance, while DCA’s Single Pass attraction is Radiator Springs Racers.
If you’re trying to save a little extra cash, one thing we recommend on a 2-day (or longer) trip is to just get LLMP for one day and try to knock out as much as possible. There are a lot of attractions that offer a standby queue only, so you can always do those on a separate day.
We personally don’t go without LLMP, though! We’ll get more into this below and in our itineraries.
Planning Your Park Days: Disneyland
Before you hit the ground running, take a little time to get familiar with what Disneyland has to offer. Spoiler: it’s more than just rides (although, yes, the rides are amazing).
We always recommend browsing the Disneyland app ahead of your visit to explore the park map, check out the list of attractions, entertainment, and character meet-and-greets, and start getting a feel for what your must-dos might be.
Disneyland is packed with options: iconic classics, thrill rides, family-friendly attractions, live shows, street performances, parades, fireworks, and, let’s be honest, SO many snacks.
It’s a lot, in the best way. That’s why we usually recommend giving yourself at least a day and a half to two full days in the park if possible. There’s something here for everyone, and it’s one of the easier parks to plan for when traveling with a group of various ages.
While many attractions offer Lightning Lane access through the Multi Pass, a good chunk of the park still runs on standby only. The good news? Some of the classics often have surprisingly short wait times (think 15 to 30 minutes on average). With a bit of planning and the right strategy, you can absolutely avoid the longest lines and still hit everything you care about.
A quick note on entertainment: Disneyland’s shows, characters, and parades tend to change often, and not everything is offered every day. That’s why we recommend checking the app a few days before your visit to get a real-time sense of what’s scheduled during your trip (plus, you can filter the map to focus on priorities like characters, entertainment, and more).
When it comes to food, we’re big fans of the eat-around-the-park approach. Disneyland is famous for its snacks and quick-service options, so try as many small bites as you can throughout the day.
If you’re more in the mood for a sit-down meal, you can’t beat the ambiance of Blue Bayou. That said, we’re partial to a table outside at Café Orleans for the views and the food.
Note: You’ll need to book most sit-down reservations at least 60 days in advance, which is when they open at 6:00 a.m. PST (blehh, we know, it’s a hassle).
Some of our favorite things to do at Disneyland:
- Take a full loop around the park on the Disneyland Railroad – classic and nostalgic!
- Ride Haunted Mansion during its holiday overlay (typically September through December).
- Hop on Pirates of the Caribbean and The Jungle Cruise at night when the crowds thin out.
- Enjoy Dole Whips at The Tropical Hideaway after dark.
- Climb through the Treehouse in Adventureland (typically little to no wait).
- Paddle your way around the river on Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes.
- Grab a jalapeño cheese pretzel from Refreshment Corner or a classic corn dog from Little Red Wagon and find a bench on Main Street, U.S.A. to people-watch.
- Ride as many of the classic and dark rides in Fantasyland as we can.
- See a show at Fantasyland Theater (also a perfect break from the sun and crowds).
- Sampling all the churros! Check different stands throughout the park for rotating seasonal flavors (or ask a Cast Member their current favorites!).
- Have dinner at Cafe Orleans (request and wait for an outdoor table!).
- Conquer all of the coasters and thrill rides, of course! Our favorite is the Matterhorn (Pro Tip: Ask to line up on the left side if you’re in the mood for a wilder ride).
- Take a ride on the Main Street vehicles and breathe in the popcorn smells on Main Street!
- Find and explore the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through.
- Enjoy a snack overlooking the water in Frontierland and watch the Riverboat go by.
Planning Your Park Days: Disney’s California Adventure
Compared to Disneyland, Disney California Adventure (DCA) has fewer attractions overall, which can be a very good thing when it comes to planning.
With the right game plan, you can comfortably do almost everything in a single day and still have time to soak in the atmosphere (and maybe go back for a second round of churros).
That said, many of DCA’s attractions are big-name headliners, and these rides tend to rack up long wait times early in the day. So, a solid game plan (and sometimes a little help from Lightning Lane Multi Pass) can make a huge difference in how much you’re able to do.
The vibe here is a bit more relaxed in the sense that there’s space to slow down, enjoy the live entertainment (we beg you to catch the short Spider-Man stunt show – it’s hilarious), and take breaks without feeling like you’re missing out. We especially love planning some downtime midday when wait times tend to peak.
Food is also a standout here. Lamplight Lounge is our go-to for a sit-down meal. A reservation can help, but they mostly operate on a walk-up list anyways (and then you can get outdoor seating!). Put yourself on there at least an hour in advance, then soak in the Pixar Pier views with your cocktails and lobster nachos.
If you’re celebrating something special or just looking for a fancier meal, Carthay Circle is a fine dining option with Old Hollywood vibes.
Our favorite option, though? Going for a nice sit-down lunch at GCH Craftsman Grill, located at the Grand Californian Hotel. It’s the perfect relaxing escape from the park crowds, and the menu is surprisingly solid with offerings for everyone from picky eaters to foodies (and the cocktail menu is to die for!).
If you’re park hopping or have multiple days, DCA is also a great place to start your day. Knock out a few key attractions before the crowds roll in, then hop over to Disneyland for nighttime entertainment and late-night rides, since it’s usually open later.
Some of our favorite things to do at Disney California Adventure:
- Watch World of Color for a breathtaking and perfect way to end the night.
- Ride the Pixar Pal-A-Round (aka the terrifying Ferris wheel) and opt for the swinging gondolas….if you dare.
- Speaking of terrifying, take a zippy ride on the unassuming Goofy’s Sky School.
- Grab a drink and soak in the incredible background music in Avengers Campus.
- Wander through Cars Land after dark when the neon signs flicker on. Talk about photo ops!
- Take a relaxing, air-conditioned break at Animation Academy and learn to draw a Disney character. It’s super cute and fun.
- Swing by The Bakery Tour in Pacific Wharf for a quick walk-through and a free sourdough sample.
- Jump in the Radiator Springs Racers line right before park close for a much shorter wait (and a beautiful ride at night).
- Let the little ones burn off some energy at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
- Grab a lemon soft-serve cone from Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats on the pier and watch guests scream their way through Incredicoaster.
- Late night snack (or, whenever!) your way through the Cozy Cone Motel booths.
- Enjoy a laid-back sit-down meal at Lamplight Lounge (request a table on the lower deck for the best Pixar Pier views).
- Catch a vacation vibe sipping adult beverages on the patio at Sonoma Terrace during happy hour.
- Grab a marg at Hollywood Lounge for some liquid courage before riding Guardians.
- Catch the live Five & Dime jazz band (one of our all-time favs).
Outside of the Parks: Downtown Disney
Ahh, the convenience of Disneyland. Not only do you have both parks just a few steps across from each other, but Downtown Disney is also connected to the same esplanade.
It’s the perfect spot for dining, shopping, or just soaking in the atmosphere. Especially on arrival or departure days when you’re not using a park ticket but still want to stay in that Disneyland bubble a little longer.
Some of our favorite things to do at Downtown Disney:
- Go bowling and grab dinner at Splitsville on arrival night for a fun way to kick off your trip.
- Grab fresh beignets first thing in the morning from Beignets Express.
- Indulge in the milkshakes at Black Tap (they’re big enough to share, but we won’t judge if you don’t).
- Enjoy dinner on the patio at Naples Ristorante – our go-to spot when we want that breezy, Southern California vacation vibe. Enjoy an authentic Margherita pizza for us!
- Try funky ice cream flavors at Salt & Straw.
- Browse World of Disney for all the merch, souvenirs, and last-minute gifts.
- Hit The Disney Home Store for cute, park-inspired kitchenware you didn’t know you needed.
- Catch live music in the evenings.
Have Fun!
There’s a lot to do at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and just as many ways to approach it. No matter what your style is, having a game plan in place for your park days can make a big difference in how smooth and fun your trip feels.
And if you’re used to the planning chaos of Walt Disney World in Orlando, know that tackling Disneyland is a heck of a lot easier.
Hopefully, this guide gave you a clearer picture of how to plan a trip that fits your pace, your budget, and your idea of fun. And if you’re still figuring out your perfect itinerary? We’ve got individual park guides, food round-ups, and Lightning Lane tips to help you dig in even deeper.
And don’t forget – we cover all things Disney World, too!