Hi there, Hadeel! Welcome to planDisney!
I'm so glad you found this dedicated group of Disney-loving panelists! We're happy to answer any questions you have about visiting The Happiest Place on Earth! Though exciting, planning a first-time trip to the Disneyland Resort can be a little overwhelming, so feel free to come back to us here at planDisney if you have any additional questions during the process!
Currently, the Disneyland Resort does require
theme park reservations. You will want to make these as far ahead of time as possible, just to be sure you don't have any issues once you arrive! The easiest way to do this is by
purchasing your tickets via the
Disneyland Resort Website. You'll start by choosing your ticket type, which for you will likely be the "Standard Theme Park Ticket," as you seem to be coming from out of state. Then, select the number of days you plan to spend in the parks. Next, use the "+" and "-" buttons to input the number of tickets you'll need for both adults (ages 10+) and kids (ages 3-9). Once you make these selections, you can choose either a One Park Per Day Ticket, which allows you to choose one of the two theme parks to spend each day in or a Park Hopper Ticket, which allows you to visit both parks on the same day. Click "Choose Your Dates" and scroll through the calendar to choose the best dates for you. Underneath the calendar, once dates are selected, you'll be required to choose a starting park for each day. This will also serve as your theme park reservation once you finalize the checkout process. As you click "Next," you'll be given the option to purchase add-ons to your tickets, such as parking vouchers or
Disney Genie+. Add any desired add-ons to your cart, then follow the prompts to finalize your purchase.
It is highly recommended that you purchase tickets and secure theme park reservations before you arrive at the parks. If you wait and there are no reservations available on the day you visit, you will not be able to enter the parks.
Hadeel, if this all still seems a little overwhelming, you may consider reaching out to a
Cast Member at Ticket Services to purchase your tickets that way. It can be nice to have a friendly voice on the other end of the phone helping you through the process. They can even provide further guidance and recommendations for your trip.
As you will be visiting during a special occasion, don't forget to stop and pick up a Celebration Button! You can find these at City Hall on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland Park or at Guest Services at Disney California Adventure Park. And magically enough, you'll get to double up on buttons as it is both your birthday AND your first visit to the Disneyland Resort! Ka-Chow!
I hope your birthday trip is a dream come true, Hadeel!
Hakuna Matata,
Ashley