Hi, Brian!
Thanks for sending your question to planDisney. It's nice that you are trying to gather ideas for your friends!
I will focus on the Disneyland Resort in California, although there is plenty to do at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida! For starters, I recommend that your friends decide when they want to visit. From Mid-August through October,
Halloween Time typically features spooktacular experiences, decorations, and tasty snacks. Guests visiting in Mid-November to early January can usually enjoy
the Holidays at Disneyland (my most favorite time of year!). The
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival often takes place in the spring, and the summer months typically offer longer park hours.
After that, I suggest choosing the number of days they want to visit and where they want to stay. Disneyland has two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. I recommend getting a three-day ticket, as that gives Guests one full day in each park and then another day to experience their favorite attractions again.
As far as hotels go, there are
three different hotels at Disneyland. My favorite is Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, although Disneyland Hotel is a close second. Pixar Place Hotel is a fun option for Pixar fans! Many Good Neighbor Hotels are also within walking distance if your friends would rather stay offsite.
Once their trip is planned, I suggest they download the
Disneyland app to review the list of attractions, which can be filtered by height requirements, thrill factor, and more. My must-do attractions in Disneyland Park include Space Mountain, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Over in California Adventure Park, my favorites include Soarin' Across America, Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!, the Incredicoaster, and Toy Story Midway Mania!
I also love all of the nighttime spectaculars! Fantasmic! in Disneyland Park is my absolute favorite, although I also love the fireworks displays and World of Color. For prime viewing, I recommend purchasing a
Fantasmic! Dining Package, which is available up to 60 days in advance on the Disneyland website. The
World of Color Dessert Party is another fun splurge that includes chairs, treats, and an amazing view of the show.
Eating is also an important (and fun!) part of visiting Disneyland! I recommend eating all of the churros and any of the tasty desserts at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. Popular restaurants include Blue Bayou Restaurant and Cafe Orleans in Disneyland Park, as well as Lamplight Lounge and Wine Country Trattoria in California Adventure Park.
Reservations are available up to 60 days in advance and book up quickly!
Brian, I could talk about all of the fun things to do at Disneyland for days and days, but I hope this is a good starting point. Feel free to reach out to planDisney again if you have more questions about visiting Disneyland or if you want to gather information about Walt Disney World.
Magic Happens!
Jen