Make The Most of Your Disneyland Resort Vacation
Our family has been to Disneyland Resort several times and enjoying Walt’s original park is truly magical for any life-long Disney fan like myself. Disney’s California Adventure Park adds even more excitement with immersive adventures and Disney storytelling of our favorite Pixar, Marvel, and Disney films.
Because it is very walkable, it is easy to make the most of your Disneyland vacation, whether you visit for a few days or longer. It is indeed the Happiest Place On Earth, but with a few of these tips, you can maximize the magic to its fullest on your next Disneyland Resort vacation.
Tip 1: Stay at One of the Disneyland Hotels.
I am always a huge fan of staying at a Disney Resort hotel. Not only are you immersed in the magic, but at Disneyland, it makes it easy to walk to the parks, stop back at your Resort for a mid-day break and even return to the parks for more pixie-dusted fun in the evening. You are also within walking distance of the Downtown Disney District for additional shopping & dining options.
As Disney Vacation Club Members, we have loved using our Vacation Points for the home away from home feeling at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, with direct access to Disney’s California Adventure Park. Now, with the opening of The Villas at Disneyland, Disney Vacation Club Members can choose to immerse themselves in one of the beloved Disney stories and feel like a character in a storybook to add extra magic to your Disneyland Resort Vacation.
Staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel also gives you added perks like Early Entry, which helps you enjoy more magic in your day. Other unique benefits of staying on property are having any in-park purchases delivered to your room on the next day, preferred access to Advance Dining Reservations, and easy access to your room using your Disneyland app or MagicBand+.
But whether you stay at one of the Disney Vacation Club Resorts or use your Vacation Points to stay at one of the Disneyland Resorts, the proximity to pixie dust and immersive storytelling of the Resorts is one of my favorite ways to make the most of a Disneyland Resort Vacation.
Tip 2: Download The Disneyland App
To make the most of your Disneyland Resort vacation, be sure and download the Disneyland app to your smartphone. This will be a whole new world for you, making it easy to access your Disney Resort Hotel room, navigate your way around the parks, Mobile Order for quick service meals and snacks, make Advance Dining Reservations, and more! One of our favorite features of the Disneyland App is Merchandise Mobile Checkout, which saves time souvenir shopping so we can get back to enjoying the parks as soon as possible.
It’s also how you can purchase and make Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Reservations, which is another of my favorite ways to maximize the magic of our Disneyland Resort vacation. With accelerated access to participating attractions, it sure helps make the most of our vacation.
The Disneyland app is like your very own magic wand to make all of your Disneyland vacation wishes come true!
Tip 3: Be Sure To Visit Both Parks and Downtown Disney
Regardless of whether you are a younger Mouseketeer or are still a kid at heart like me, I highly recommend visiting both Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park during your Disneyland vacation. Our family prefers to do one park per day so that we can really immerse ourselves in the experience. But with their close proximity to one another, Park Hopper Tickets are another way to add value to your park visits.
In Disneyland Park, I am a huge fan of some of the original attractions like “it’s a small world,” Space Mountain, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. If you have been to Walt Disney World Resort, it’s well worth visiting the same rides at Disneyland, as they are a bit different and fun to see.
In Disney’s California Adventure Park, our family loves Cars Land, especially since we have seen the Cars films many, many times. It is one of the most immersive experiences of any Disney park and one that can’t be missed. Plus, a ride on the Radiator Springs Racers is something that makes all Lightning McQueen fans shout “Kachow!”
For coaster fans, the Incredicoaster is so much fun that even this Disney mom couldn’t wait to ride a second time. Afterward, stop by Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums as a reward.
Speaking of snacks, Disneyland’s dining options and snacks are plentiful and well worth trying as much as you can! The Jolly Holiday Bakery café is a fan favorite as are the several Character Dining options. But, I recommend Advance Dining Reservations for table service meals and taking advantage of Mobile Ordering for quick service and snacks to make the most out of your visit.
Downtown Disney is also full of Disney magic outside the parks. There are so many delicious options for dining and confections, shopping, and entertainment! We love to spend a non-park day enjoying family time at Splitsville Luxury Lanes, checking out some of the special merchandise events, or listening to music at the Downtown Disney LIVE Stage.
Disneyland Resort is packed full of magic and there is so much to see, do, and taste. With these tips, you can make the most of your experience and ensure you enjoy the Happiest Vacation On Earth for your family.
Meet the Panelist: Keri B, Massachusetts
Hi there, I'm Keri from Massachusetts, a wife and mom to preteen twins and a teen. Since my first magical visit to Walt Disney World at age three, I've loved all things Disney. My husband found his passion for pixie dust on our honeymoon and his first visit to a Disney park. Soon after, we joined Disney Vacation Club, which has afforded us unforgettable family vacations for the last 20 years. Disney Vacation Club has helped us create our most magical vacation memories. I can't wait to help you plan yours.
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