Hi there, Nadia! Welcome to planDisney! You are just a few short weeks away from a magical trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. It's time to jump-start that countdown calendar, pack up those Minnie ears, and start humming your favorite Disney tunes!
I have great news for you! As a Guest of a Disneyland Resort Hotel, you are able to dive into those pixie-dusted perks not only during your stay but on the day of your arrival and the day of your departure. The magic starts from the moment you arrive to the very moment you wave goodbye and say "See Ya Real Soon!". There are a few things you will want to ensure are in place to guarantee a smooth arrival:
- Theme Park Tickets + Theme Park Reservations: You'll want to be sure theme park tickets and reservations are confirmed for each member of your party and linked to your Disney account. If you recently purchased your tickets online, reservations were made as part of this process. If not, Hakuna Matata! You can head into the Disneyland App, tap the "+" along the bottom navigation bar, and select "Make Park Reservations". Reservations are subject to availability and can be made up to 120 days in advance. It's highly recommended that you make these selections early, especially when visiting on a holiday weekend. With just a few taps of your magic wand, you should be good to go!
- Online Check-In: Within 5 days of arrival, you will be able to complete online check-in with your Disneyland Resort Hotel. Taking advantage of this Direct-to-Room Service not only allows for a straight-to-the-magic experience but is an important step so that you can take advantage of Early Entry on your arrival day. Make sure that your hotel reservation is linked to your account ahead of time by selecting "My Hotel Reservations" from the hamburger menu in the bottom right-hand corner. If it's already linked, your information will pull up immediately. If not, just enter your confirmation number, last name, and arrival date. Once you hit the 5-day mark, you will see the"Start Check-in" button! After following the prompts, return to this screen to double-check that check-in is complete!
During online check-in, you will have the option to provide contact information to receive messages during your visit. I love this feature, especially where you can select to receive a text when your room is ready! When you're ready to head to your hotel, you can even head back into the app to use your digital key to unlock your door or head to the front desk for a physical key, if that's your preference.
You should now be able to head straight to those Main Entrance Gates to enjoy 30 magical minutes in the parks ahead of opening! Keep in mind that you will be able to enter the park that you have a reservation for that day. If you have Park Hoppers, you will be able to enjoy Early Entry into the park that you chose to start your day in! While many attractions and experiences will be open during Early Entry, if you have your heart set on where you are headed first, I would suggest asking a Cast Member as you enter to be sure that the attraction is open.
Nadia, I sure hope this was helpful in your planning! Be sure to take some time to soak it all in, and come back to see us with any more questions!
Never stop dreaming!
Tara