Hello, Marleny, and welcome to planDisney! I'm so excited to hear that you are planning your family's very first visit to Disneyland! Let me tell you, as a mom to two boys myself, you're in for such a magical time at the Happiest Place on Earth! Oh boy!
Thank you so much for trusting us with your question. At this early stage of your planning, a good place to start would be to learn more about the two parks at Disneyland Resort and get a sense for how much time you think you'd like for your visit.
There are two theme parks within Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park (often referred to as DCA) and each have their own unique vibe with a plethora of magical options. Every family is going to have vastly different interests, so I recommend you and your family take a look at the park maps together (if the trip isn't a surprise!) and identify your top priorities, including attractions and potential entertainment. (At the top of my 11-year-old son's priority list is always Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy's Edge! We also adore the magic of
Cars Land!) This will help narrow down how much time you'll want in each park and where you might want to stay depending on location. You can do this on the
Disneyland website or in the
Disneyland app. It will also get everyone excited about the trip!
What I recommend to most first-time visitors is to plan for three days in the parks at Disneyland Resort - two days in Disneyland and one day in California Adventure. Or consider upgrading your tickets to Park Hoppers, which allows you and your family to easily cross over into either park as much as you want, after 11am. In three park days, you'll likely be able to experience nearly everything Disneyland Resort has to offer, check off all of your top priorities (for you and your family), and have time for good-sized breaks during the day, which are necessary.
Tip: If you're in Disneyland more than a day or two, I highly recommend building in "off park days" to chill and relax. You'll enjoy the parks more if you're rested!
Marleny, if you're looking to maximize the magic (and aren't we all!), you'll definitely want to keep your eye on the
Special Offers, Deals & Discounts page on the Disneyland website for current special ticket offers, as well as hotel deals.
Once your dates get a little bit closer, you can begin to think about where you might like to have a couple
sit down dining experiences (advance reservations can be made up to 60 days out), as well as take a look at the
Daily Events Schedule on the Disneyland website to see what entertainment will be occurring during your visit. The Daily Events Schedule is usually updated around six weeks out, so you've got some time!
I hope I was able to help get you started in your planning, Marleny, but there's still so much more to discuss when it comes to your visit to Disneyland! Please don't hesitate to come back and
ask me another question. (Or two! Or three!) I'm always happy to share my tips and recommendations for a truly magical visit - especially with two sweet boys.
Warmest wishes,
McCayla