Hiya, Bergitta! We are so happy to have you here at planDisney! We just love helping our fellow Guests plan their magical days at the Happiest Place on Earth, and I can see that your visit is just a few months away! When I'm in my last few weeks before a trip, I like to fire up a countdown calendar, listen to the
planDisney Podcast for all the insider tips and tricks, and coordinate outfits to Minnie ears!
I have some great planning news for you!
Disneyland Resort tickets are not actually assigned until a Guest scans the ticket for the first time at the Main Entrance Gate! At that point, a Cast Member will take a photo of each of you which will pop up each time the ticket is scanned. No need to make any edits or changes ahead of time. If you have any issues upon arrival, head over to the Main Entrance Ticket Booth. The Cast Members there will be happy to help you sort everything out!
I do like to always put a friendly reminder out there to ensure you have
theme park reservations in addition to those tickets! It's very possible you already secured these if you purchased your tickets through the Disneyland Website. You can easily check by using the Disneyland app! Navigate to the three-bar menu in the bottom right-hand corner and select "Future Plans". Here, you will see any theme park reservations that have been made. If not, Hakuna Matata! Just click the "+" along the bottom navigation bar in the app and select "Make Park Reservations". Follow the prompts and hopefully you will be good to go! The theme park reservation system is new and helps Cast Members know how many Guests to expect each day. Reservations can be canceled and rescheduled, but are subject to availability. I would secure them as soon as you can!
OK, now that your tickets and reservations are all settled, let's talk dining! Your window to start making some of those coveted
dining reservations should be opening up to you this week! Reservations can be made 60 days in advance. I'm going to let you in on a little Disneyland planning secret. It's always better to make the reservations at the 60 day mark and decide later if they fit into your schedule. It's harder to find them closer to your trip, but you are welcome to cancel most 24-48 hours ahead of time. Just be sure to check the cancellation policy before confirming. Also, Guests are always changing their minds so if there's something you have your heart set on and it's already booked, keep checking, especially a day or two out from your park day! I've seen some really good dining opportunities pop up with a little diligent refreshing in the app! My top recommendations are
Lamplight Lounge if you have Pixar fans in your group and
Carnation Cafe nestled right on Main Street, U.S.A.! You can watch your fellow Guests make their way to Sleeping Beauty Castle while eating Walt's favorite chili! Where else can you do that?
Bergitta, there is so much magic ahead. If you have any more questions, you know where to find us! We are always here for you at
planDisney.
Never stop dreaming,
Tara