Hi Elizabeth! Thanks so much for coming to see us at planDisney. I see that you are looking to ring in the New Year at the Happiest Place on Earth! You will love celebrating the holidays with Mickey and Minnie - it's one of the merriest times of the year to visit!
I have great news for you! You can absolutely use your
Disney Gift Cards towards your trip. In fact, you can use them for tickets and annual passes, hotel accommodation, and merchandise and dining at most locations at the
Disneyland Resort! It's one of my favorite things to gift (... and receive!) because they are just so versatile and make your vacation even more magical. It sounds like you are specifically asking about when you book and hotel and ticket package through the Disneyland Resort website. Once you make all of your selections and reach the checkout, scroll past where you would enter a credit card. You will see the option to "Pay with a Disney Gift Card". Just click in there and you are good to go! You'll note that you can only enter one gift card for the transaction. If you have a few, you'll just need to combine them onto one card which is easily done on the Disney Gift Card website under "My Cards" in the top navigation bar.
Hopefully, your planning can now officially begin! Have you thought about which hotel you'd like to stay in? I just adore staying on property where you can truly live and breathe the magic for the entirety of your visit. There are
three distinct hotels at the Disneyland Resort, each offering incredible theming and experiences. My personal favorite is the classic
Disneyland Hotel which is modern in design, but oh-so-classic in feel with those extra special Disney touches. Each of the towers is themed to one of the original lands from opening day - Adventure, Fantasy, and Frontier - and the teacup chairs in the lobby are the perfect photo op! Grab a drink from Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar for an experience you will never forget and then take a dip in the pool where you can slide through a Monorail!
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is truly a sight to take in with its breathtaking lobby and Craftsman-style architecture. I will usually find myself wandering through that lobby even on a day trip to the parks because it's just too beautiful, and you'll definitely want to add it to your must-dos over the holidays as there is usually a spectacular gingerbread house! Dine at the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant or take a break from the park hustle and bustle at Tenaya Stone Spa. And nothing beats the location of Disney's Grand Californian with its own access to Disney California Adventure Park and direct views of some favorite attractions.
If you're into beaches and boardwalks,
Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel is the place for you! Its retro seaside theming will transport you straight back to the 1920s. I'm staying here for the first time next month and am most excited about the rooftop pool! Can you imagine the views from up there?!
Well, Elizabeth, I definitely got a little overexcited in helping you jump-start your planning. If you can't tell, I'm a Disney hotel enthusiast! You are in for a holly jolly time and if you have any more questions, please stop by and see us again real soon at
planDisney!
Magic awaits!
Tara