First Time to Disneyland? I am excited to share with you How to Plan an Amazing Trip! I have lots of tips for first-time Disneyland goers, so listen up!
If you’re planning your very first Disneyland vacation—congratulations! You’re in for an unforgettable adventure. While Disneyland is smaller and simpler to plan than Disney World, it still helps to have a solid game plan. I’m here to guide you through all the essential tips and tricks for first-time Disneyland visitors!
From when to go, how many days to spend, what kind of tickets to buy, and where to stay—I’ve got you covered. Let’s get into all the details that will help you make your first Disneyland trip magical and stress-free.
P.S. Don’t forget to save this post to Pinterest so you can refer back as you plan!
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Best Time to Visit Disneyland
Planning your trip dates is one of the first and most important steps. Disneyland tends to be busier during major holidays, school breaks, and the summer months. If you’re aiming for lighter crowds, try planning for off-peak seasons like late January, early May, or mid-September.
We usually go during school breaks, and it has worked out just fine. The one time it was absolutely crazy was fall break. It was very crowded, but we still had an amazing time. If you plan a little you will be just fine.
Pro Tip
If you go to Disneyland in the fall, buy a separate ticket to the Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween Party. It is awesome!
How Many Days Should I Spend at Disneyland?
If you’ve never been before, I recommend a minimum of 2 full days—one day at each park. A 3-day ticket is even better, giving you flexibility to revisit favorites or catch anything you missed.
How Many Disney Parks are There at Disneyland?
- Disneyland Park – Classic Disney magic, more attractions, and shows
- California Adventure Park – Thrilling rides, Pixar and Marvel themes, and great food
Pro Tip
California Adventure is easy to do in a day. Disneyland has more to see and might need more time if you don’t want to rush.
Getting to Disneyland
Whether you’re driving or flying depends on your location and schedule. Many West Coast travelers drive in, but flying is ideal if you’re short on time.
Closest Airports to Disneyland:
- John Wayne (SNA): Closest (15 min away), super convenient
- LAX: Largest with the most flight options, often cheapest
- Others: Long Beach (LGB), Ontario (ONT), San Diego (SAN), etc.
Pro Tip: LA has horrible traffic! Avoid booking a flight that arrives during rush hour. If driving, it’s best to stay in Anaheim the night before your park visit to skip traffic headaches.
We love flying into SNA. It is so close to Disneyland! We have flown into LA before. It was fine, but traffic is unpredictable so keep that in mind. It takes about 40 minutes to over an hour, depending on traffic.
Should I Rent a Car?
If you’re flying into SNA, consider using Uber or Lyft—it’s close enough to be cost-effective. From LAX, rental cars are usually better due to higher ride-share pricing.
Pro Tip: Book car rentals early, and skip the toll pass—there are no toll roads from LAX to Disneyland. Also, most hotels near Disneyland charge for parking, so factor that into your decision.
Disneyland Ticket Options
Buying Disneyland tickets can be overwhelming at first, but here are the basics:
- Buy from Disneyland directly, or check out Get Away Today and Sam’s Club for deals (I’ve personally saved over $70 per person with Sam’s Club!).
GetAwayToday is a Disney travel agency. They are awesome and specialize in Disney Vacations. One thing that makes them fantastic to book through is that they will track if anything goes on sale or Disney announces special promotions. They will automatically update your package and save you money. (You can use my code: Planaway10 for $10 off packages.)
Lets go over the different types of tickets you can buy.
Single Day Tickets
A single-day ticket allows you entry to one park per day. You can use this at either Disneyland or California Adventure.
Multi-Day Ticket
The longer you play, the lower each day becomes. 3-day tickets are the most popular option.
Park Hopper Ticket
Park Hopper Option lets you visit both parks in one day—note: you can only switch parks after 11 AM. These tickets are a little more expensive.
Should I Get a Park Hopper Ticket?
If this is your first time to Disneyland, you will need to consider if a park hopper ticket is worth it for your trip.
If you are short on time, a park hopper is a great option. If you have 2 days, I would just do one park per day.
Benefits of Park Hopping
Park hopping at Disneyland is incredibly convenient—both parks are just steps away from each other.
If you’re short on time and want to experience highlights from both parks in one day, a park hopper ticket is a great option. It’s also helpful during peak seasons, allowing you to switch parks if one feels too crowded.
Pro Tip:
Personally, I prefer a single day, one park per day—it’s more relaxed, and there’s plenty to do at both parks. We usually only do 2 days at Disneyland.
Where to Stay Near Disneyland
Unlike Disney World, many off-site hotels are just across the street from Disneyland—no need for transportation!
Disneyland Resort Hotels:
- Grand Californian Hotel (best location—direct entrance to California Adventure!)
- Disneyland Hotel
- Paradise Pier Hotel
If you stay at any of the Disney-owned properties, you will have early entry to the parks.
For a budget-friendly Disney Resort stay, check out David’s Vacation Rentals to book unused Disney Vacation Club points—huge savings and a smooth process!
This company offers Disney Vacation Club members to sell the points they are not going to use. The company will book a room for you for much cheaper than you will find on the Disney website. I have used this service and it was exceptional!
Off-Site Hotels:
We love Courtyard Marriott (has a waterpark!) and SpringHill Suites (great for families, sleeps 6 with bunk beds). Both are walkable and super convenient.
Pro Tip: Staying within walking distance is a huge plus and can save you a lot of money compared to staying at a Disney-owned resort.
Parking at Disneyland
The Toy Story Parking Lot is currently your best option—it includes a shuttle to the parks. Parking at Mickey & Friends lot is also a great option.
Dining at Disneyland
Table Service:
Make dining reservations via the Disneyland App. A few fun options:
- Plaza Inn (Minnie & Friends)
- Goofy’s Kitchen
- Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure
Mobile Ordering:
Order quick-service meals in the app—it’s super convenient. Tap “I’m Here” when you arrive, and your food will be ready in minutes.
Pro Tip: California Adventure has some of the best food and snacks—try to plan at least one meal there!
Bringing Your Own Food:
You can bring snacks and meals, just no coolers or loose ice. Let security know if you’re bringing outside food.
Rides at Disneyland
When you arrive to Disneyland or California Adventure, you are going to want to hit the most popular rides first. Be there at rope drop! (Rope Drop is when you are first allowed into the park.) Mickey and Minnie will be waiting for you to welcome you into the park.
Disneyland Rides
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad
- Space Mountain
Popular iconic rides like Small World, Pirates of he Carribean, and Haunted Mansion, typicallly have shorter lines.
California Adventure
- Radiator Spring Racers
- Incredicoaster
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
- Toy Story Mania
Lightening Lane
Lightening Lane entry is available for purchase. If it is a busy day you may want to consider this option. This allows you to book a ride ahead of time, so you do not have to wait in line. You do this on the Disneyland App. It will tell you what time to ride each ride.
Single Rider Lines
Some rides have single rider lanes. This is awesome if you want to save some time and do not mind riding alone. The Millennium Falcon single rider lane allows 2 people at a time!
First Time to Disneyland
Your first Disneyland trip can be magical and stress-free with just a little prep. I hope this guide helps you feel more confident about planning everything from tickets and transportation to hotels and dining.
Have questions? I’m always happy to help!
Join our Families Who Love Disney Facebook Group for extra tips, up-to-date info, and to chat with other Disney fans. Whether you’re wondering about the best rides, where to eat, or what souvenirs to grab—this is the place to ask.
Happy planning, and enjoy your magical Disneyland adventure!
