Hello Wendy, and welcome to planDisney! As if visiting Disneyland for the first time isn’t magical enough, adding that you’ll be watching your daughter perform in the Happiest Place on Earth truly makes it the trip of a lifetime. What an amazing moment for your family!
My family and I also visit
Disneyland from out of town, so finding a hotel within walking distance of the Disneyland Resort is a priority for us as well. Thankfully, there are several Good Neighbor Hotels available to choose from. A
Good Neighbor Hotel is a hotel that is Mickey-approved and close to the theme parks. While I recommend selecting a hotel that best fits your family’s needs overall, one thing to keep in mind is that hotels along Harbor Boulevard are generally the closest to the eastern entrance of the Disneyland Resort. Most of these hotels are within a 10-15 minute walk to the Esplanade, which is located between the entrances of Disneyland and
Disney California Adventure.If this will be your first visit to the Disneyland Resort, Wendy, I do have a Q-Tip for you. I recommend checking out the
Lightning Lane Multi Pass. This option allows you to save time by using the Lightning Lane entrance to access shorter lines for select attractions. Simply purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for everyone in your group, either in advance of your visit or on the day of, and as soon as you enter the park, use the
Disneyland App to begin making return time reservations. It’s that easy! Lightning Lane passes start at $32 per person per day (prices subject to change). I am a frequent user of Lightning Lanes, and the Multi Pass has helped my family and me experience our favorite attractions, like the
Haunted Mansion and
Space Mountain, while still having time for a leisurely dinner at
Carnation Café on Main Street.
Also, I notice your visit will be taking place during
Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration. This will be an incredible time to visit the parks! With the return of beloved favorites like Wondrous Journeys and Paint the Night, plus new entertainment like World of Color – Happy, there will be no shortage of magical moments waiting for you and your family. You might even want to stop by Sleeping Beauty Castle for a commemorative photo op or visit Fantasyland to soak up the nostalgia of classic attractions like Peter Pan’s Flight and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog so you can stay in the loop on all the magic coming your way!
I hope this information helps, Wendy. If you have any other questions as you prepare for your trip, please don’t hesitate to visit us here at planDisney again. Have a great trip, and congratulations again to your daughter!
Have the most magical time!
David