Hello, Marlena, and welcome to planDisney! How exciting that you have your family's very first visit to Disneyland coming up so soon! Oh boy! You're in for such a magical time at the Happiest Place on Earth!
I can understand how you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed right now - it's such a big, special trip! You've come to the right place, however, for a warm hug and a planDisney pal to gently tell you, "Pull up a chair with some tea and let me take some of the pressure off!"
Let's begin with how to spend your time. The two parks within Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park (often referred to as DCA), each have their own unique vibe with a plethora of magical options. Every family is going to be vastly different with what interests them. I recommend you and your family spend some time looking over the
park maps and the
Daily Events Schedule together and identify your top priorities, including attractions and entertainment. Each family member should have maybe 3-4 priorities each! (At the top of my 10-year-old's priority list is always
Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy's Edge! We also adore the magic of
Cars Land!) This exercise will also get everyone excited about the trip!
Once everyone has an idea of their priorities, you can begin to slot these into your days - which will then pretty quickly reveal how much time you'll want in each park. And only picking a couple attractions or shows each will leave lots of additional time for those magical, spontaneous moments that make Disneyland so special. I have to tell you, Marlena, four days at Disneyland Resort is quite luxurious, as you'll likely have plenty of time to see everything you want and more, without feeling rushed. You also should have margin to take good-sized breaks, which will allow you to enjoy the parks more, because you're rested!
As for dining packages, again, this will be influenced heavily by what nighttime entertainment your family is most excited about. For my family, it's Fantasmic!, no question. I just returned from a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth and had the opportunity to experience the Rancho del Zocalo
Fantasmic! Dining Package for the first time and I was really impressed! My son and I both really enjoyed our meals - and the portions were huge! Rancho del Zocalo is, in my opinion, your best value out there to see Fantasmic! from a designated viewing area, and honestly maybe the best value for a dining package at Disneyland Resort, period. But that's just my opinion! Your family may be excited about something else entirely!
I hope I was able to help alleviate a bit of your worry, Marlena, by providing a little guidance on where to start. But there's still so much more to discuss! Please don't hesitate to come back and
ask another question. (Or two! Or three!) We're always happy to share our tips and recommendations for a truly magical visit.
Above all, remember, no matter how you and your family decide to spend your Disneyland days, it's the time spent together that's the real magic. I'm so very excited for you all. Enjoy.
Warmest wishes,
McCayla