Hello, Daisha!
Welcome to planDisney, and thank you for sharing your good question with us. It's a common question, and I've heard it from many Guests. Hopefully, this answer will help you and many others!
The
Disneyland Resort has an integrated ticket and reservation system. This means that there's only one inventory, and what you can see on the online availability calendar is what the Cast Members will also see at the ticket booths.
I like this system because it allows Guests from the whole country to plan their trips and secure tickets and reservations in advance. Its downside, though, is that there is no extra reservation inventory for the Guests that show up in person without a ticket or reservation.
So the best strategy to plan a successful trip to the Disneyland Resort is to
find availability online and
purchase your tickets through the website. You will make your park reservations while you buy your tickets, which makes the process very simple!
I hope you have a great time at the Disneyland Resort soon, Daisha. Please let us know if you have more questions, and we'll be glad to help!
May the magic be with you,
Julie