In case you are an everyday reader right here, you understand that I’m a frequent traveler to Walt Disney World in Florida. I’ve been so many instances that it’s pretty simple for me to plan a Walt Disney World trip, as a result of I do know precisely what to do, and the place I’ll need to go once I’m there.
In recent times, I lastly had the prospect to plan a visit to Disneyland, and whereas there are some similarities, there are many stuff you’ll must know. Since my first journey to Disneyland a number of years in the past, I’ve returned a number of instances and have at all times beloved my visits.
Disneyland, with its two theme parks and central Anaheim location, may be very totally different from Walt Disney World. So, in case you are planning a visit to Disneyland, you’ll need to do your analysis and a few planning upfront so that you simply’ll be ready.
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I visited Disneyland as a part of the AWESome Retreat convention and Mastermind and acquired complimentary admission and a few media perks. I’ve additionally acquired a complimentary keep on the Howard Johnson Anaheim. I’ve additionally paid my very own means a number of instances.
Get monetary savings in your Disneyland California tickets and your Southern California trip by reserving via Get Away At the moment. You can too save $10 in your Southern California trip of two days or extra with the code FTM10.Â
Planning a Journey To Disneyland
Earlier than planning a visit to Disneyland, it’s a good suggestion to assessment the 2 parks – Disney’s California Journey Park and Disneyland Park. There are totally different exhibits, rides, eating places, and different sights in every park, and also you’ll need to have an thought of how a lot time you’ll need to spend in every park. Disneyland additionally affords Downtown Disney, and there are not any water parks.
Planning Your Disneyland TripÂ
Not like Walt Disney World, you most likely don’t must spend fairly as a lot time at Disneyland Resort. The 2 parks are adjoining to one another, and you’ll simply stroll from one to the opposite a number of instances per day. For our household, I’d most likely plan for a three-day journey, though you may even get fairly a bit finished in simply someday.
Earlier than you go, you’ll need to do a little analysis. What time does Disneyland open throughout your journey? If it’s open late, and you’ll keep up late, you may get much more finished. You’ll additionally need to have a look at dates and crowd ranges.
As you’d count on, weekends, holidays, and college holidays (together with summer time) will be extra crowded. Whereas I wouldn’t fully keep away from these dates (generally it’s unavoidable), it’s necessary to know so you’re ready for lengthy waits. You’ll be able to see the perfect instances to go to Disneyland right here.
Disneyland Low cost Tickets
When buying your Disneyland tickets, you’ll positively need to get a reduction if potential. Our buddies at Get Away At the moment supply discounted park tickets in addition to Southern California trip packages. Use this hyperlink to buy, and you may get $10 off a legitimate trip bundle with the code FTM10.
You’ll be capable of purchase a bundle that features nights at an official Disneyland lodge or an off-property lodge. Third or fourth evening free offers are provided at choose off-property resorts. Saving cash in your lodge and ticket means you’ll have extra for souvenirs and meals!
Even should you don’t ebook a trip bundle, it’s greatest to purchase your tickets upfront because you additionally will want a legitimate park reservation. Get your tickets early and go proper to the park entrance.
When buying your tickets, you’ll have a number of choices. You’ll be able to select the park hopper, which suggests it is possible for you to to go to both park in the course of the day. An ordinary ticket permits you admission to only one park.
I’d suggest getting the park hopper. As a result of the parks are so shut collectively, you may go between them simply.
You’ll additionally choose what number of days you need to embody in your tickets. For those who’d prefer to expertise many of the sights, I feel a three-day go could be the perfect for a household. When visiting with my son, we went for 3 days and had a good time.
Lodges in Anaheim Near Disneyland
There are many great family-friendly resorts positioned on and off property within the Anaheim space close to Disneyland. On property, you’ll discover the next resorts:
Like Walt Disney World, Disneyland additionally has Good Neighbor resorts. Many of those are positioned immediately throughout the road from the parks, so they’re extremely handy. Most are family-friendly chain resorts, so that you’ll have a good suggestion of what to anticipate. These resorts are positioned proper throughout from the parks:
Throughout my most up-to-date journey to Disneyland, I had the prospect to do a complimentary keep on the Howard Johnson Anaheim Lodge and Water Playground. This family-friendly lodge is about an eight-minute stroll from the entrance entrance of Disneyland. I might positively suggest staying there.
I’ve additionally stayed on the Westin Anaheim, and the Courtyard by Marriott – each have been glorious. It’s greatest to decide on the lodge that has the rooms and facilities (in addition to value vary) that greatest go well with your loved ones.
There are different Good Neighbor resorts which are positioned a bit additional away. Some could supply shuttles. For those who ebook a trip bundle via the Get Away At the moment hyperlink listed above, you could possibly get a 3rd or fourth evening free.
The lodge we stayed at throughout my first journey, the Knott’s Berry Farm Lodge, was positioned about 20 minutes away from the parks. They provided complimentary shuttle service all through the day, but it surely was on a set schedule and also you wanted to ebook it upfront.
In case your lodge affords a shuttle, examine to see what the schedule and course of is. Some could have a separate charge.
Questioning should you want a automobile throughout your Disneyland trip? In case you are simply visiting the theme parks and are staying inside strolling distance, you received’t want a automobile. Throughout my four-night go to with my son, we didn’t have a automobile and simply walked to the parks and Downtown Disney.
Planning Disneyland Eating
Disneyland, like Walt Disney World, affords all kinds of eating choices. Whereas quick-service eating places don’t take or require reservations, the desk service eating places do settle for reservations. It’s a good suggestion to make reservations properly upfront to make sure availability.
Reservations will be made 60 days upfront by calling (714) 781-DINE or by reserving on-line. It is a a lot shorter window than Walt Disney World, making it simpler to make extra last-minute trip plans.
There are many totally different eating venues, together with character eating, lodge eating places, themed eating, and Downtown Disney eating places. There are additionally a number of eating packages that provide you with precedence entry to a few of the exhibits.
Cell ordering on the Disneyland app is obtainable at lots of the fast service venues. Order on the app, and choose an arrival window. When you’re prepared to select up, point out that on the app after which go to the particular cellular order window and supply your order quantity.
Throughout my go to, I made positive to get two iconic Disneyland snacks – the Mickey Formed Beignets and a Dole Whip. Each have been scrumptious!
In case you are most conversant in Walt Disney World, I’ve discovered that Disneyland eating is a bit totally different. There are fewer must-try desk service eating places, with numerous good quick-service choices. Subsequently, you might not must make as many desk service reservations.
My must-try eating places at Disneyland are the Lamplight Lounge at Disney’s California Journey (make a brunch reservation on the weekend), and Blue Bayou at Disneyland Park.
Airports Close to Disneyland
When it’s time to ebook your airfare, you might be questioning which airports are close to Disneyland. Fortunately, you’ll have some selections. Whereas Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) is the biggest and hottest, there are different small airports that could be simpler.
Lengthy Seashore Airport (LBG) is a small airport that is really easy to fly out and in of. I flew via there on Jetblue and located it to be so handy.
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is an alternative choice that’s comparatively small and handy. Different choices within the space are Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and Ontario Worldwide Airport (ONT). In case you are visiting San Diego, you can even fly via that airport.
Up to now, friends flying into LAX or SNA might take the Disneyland Resort Specific, which was provided for a further charge. Sadly, that service has been discontinued. See extra particulars right here.
Genie+ and Particular person Lightning Lane
To maximise your time within the parks, you might need to make the most of Genie+ and the person lightning lanes.
Not like the previous Fastpass system, Genie+ is just not free. It’s closest to the previous Maxpass program. You’ll be able to add this to your tickets, and it’s fully choices.
Upon getting Genie+ in your ticket, you need to use it to ebook return instances via the Lightning Lanes. Whereas you should still have to attend in a brief line, it’s positively going to be a shorter wait.
Particular person lightning lanes are a separate buy out there for the most well-liked sights. Once more, these are elective however will prevent time. The present sights with a person lightning lane are Radiator Springs Racers and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Study extra about Genie+ and particular person lightning lane right here.
Sights at Disneyland
I really like the rides at any theme park, so I used to be most excited to expertise the sights. There are such a lot of totally different choices – from kiddie rides to thrill rides.
You’ll need to analysis these upfront so you understand what your must-dos are. In case you are a Walt Disney World fan, you’ll positively need to do these sights which are totally different. Listed below are my prime rides at Disneyland.
Disneyland affords 9 themed lands: Tomorrowland, New Orleans Sq., Fantasyland, ToonTown, Adventureland, Essential Road USA, Frontierland, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Critter Nation.
In Disney California Journey, you’ll discover Buena Vista Road, Hollywood Land, Automobiles Land, Grizzly Peak, Avenger’s Campus, Paradise Backyard Park, and Pixar Pier. I completely beloved the theming of Automobiles Land – it seems precisely as I’d count on Radiator Springs to look!
Occasions at Disneyland Resort
Disneyland is residence to a number of occasions in the course of the 12 months. These embody the Disney California Journey Meals and Wine Competition, which was happening throughout a number of of my visits. Throughout this competition, you may go to varied kiosks to buy drinks and meals samples.
We ended up consuming each lunch and dinner on the California Journey Meals and Wine Competition. I had some scrumptious meals, just like the Salt and Vinegar Parmesan Rooster Wings, the Shrimp Boil Tacos, and the Verlasso Sustainable Salmon Peruvian Poke with Cucumber-Lime Salad and Aji Verde Salsa. The choices for the California Journey Meals and Wine Competition change every year.
Downtown Disney
Along with the 2 parks, there’s additionally Downtown Disney. It affords eating, procuring, and leisure, together with Splitsville Lanes. Tickets aren’t required to go to Downtown Disney, so it’s an excellent place to go to in your first day should you don’t need to purchase tickets to the theme parks. There are additionally some incredible eating places for lunch or dinner.
Fast Ideas for Planning a Disneyland Trip
- Guide your trip bundle (buy via Get Away At the moment with the low cost code FTM10) and resolve whether or not you need to keep on or off property.
- Plan your flights taking a look at the entire close by airports to get the perfect costs.
- Guide your eating reservations 60 days out.
- Obtain the Disneyland app and create an account.
- Develop a Genie+ plan in case you are pondering of buying it.
- Get pleasure from your trip!
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