Hi, Kelly!
I’m glad to hear you’re planning a visit to The Happiest Place on Earth during your trip to California. Your family will love exploring the magic of Disney’s original theme park. After all, it’s not every day you get to walk in the footsteps of Walt himself!
If you’re able to purchase Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets, I do recommend exploring both parks. You may not be able to see everything at each, but it would be a shame to visit the resort and not get a sampling of the best of both worlds. It’s fast and convenient to walk back and forth between the two parks, which are directly across from each other.
At Disneyland Park, it’s all about the mountains for me—I love Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain. “Mickey and the Magical Map” is a live stage show and one of my must-dos! It combines innovative technology with favorite Disney characters and songs.
You’ll definitely want to explore Cars Land and ride Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park! If your son is into thrill rides, you also can’t miss California Screamin’ or, my personal favorite, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Be sure to see Cars Land during the day and also at night when the neon lights are aglow. During World of Color, Disney California Adventure Park’s nighttime spectacular, Disney characters come to life as more than 1,000 jets of water dance to the music and form a colorful medley of fantasy and imagination. A Disney FASTPASS ticket for access to the standing-room-only viewing area is required for all showings, unless you have special tickets for reserved viewing areas that are part of the World of Color dining packages.
I hope this helps, Kelly. Please ask me more questions as you continue to plan!
Wishing you magic,
Courtney