Hi, Ali! Thanks for bringing this great question to planDisney!
It sounds like you and I have a lot in common when it comes to our vacation styles. Like you, my Disney vacation experience began at
Walt Disney World Resort. However, over the past few years, I've branched out and have visited Mickey's west coast home,
Disneyland Resort as well. With a little guidance from your friends here at planDisney, I think you'll find that planning a trip to Disneyland Resort is as easy as bibbidi bobbidi boo!
As with any vacation, I think the best place to start with your planning is to decide when you want to go and where you'd like to stay. There are three
Disneyland Resort Hotels and several Good Neighbor Hotels that are all within walking distance of the theme parks and
Downtown Disney
District. My family's favorite place to stay at Disneyland Resort is the
Disneyland Hotel. Any Disney fan will be charmed by this hotel's nostalgic and whimsical touches, especially the magical headboards found in the Guest rooms.
Next, I would suggest you decide how many days you will want to spend in the theme parks. I would recommend
purchasing at least a three-day ticket for your first time exploring the Disneyland Resort theme parks. I also think it's a good idea to add the
Park Hopper option to your tickets.
Disneyland Park and
Disney's California Adventure Park are mere steps away from each other, so this makes Park Hopping a breeze! Once you purchase your tickets, be sure to make your
park reservations as well.
After those trip details are planned, I think your next step should be doing some research on the Disneyland Resort website. You can look over the
attractions and experiences to create your list of must-dos. You'll definitely want to check out the attractions that are not found at Walt Disney World Resort such as
Avengers Campus and
Cars Land but don't skip the attractions that can be found on both coasts. My family loves to find the ways that the two versions of an attraction differ and debate which one is our favorite. While you're exploring the website, don't forget to also check out Disneyland Resort's
dining options.
Ali, I hope that this helps you get started with planning your first Disneyland Resort vacation. Please visit us again if you have any other questions or need some additional advice. We're all ears!
See ya real soon!
Samantha