Hi there, Ashley, and welcome to planDisney!
Thanks so much for submitting your question and boy, do I have good news for you! It sounds like you're a Walt Disney World Resort veteran who'll be visiting Walt's original Park for the first time. We really love helping first time visitors to the Disneyland Resort and helping them to experience the magic of the West Coast Parks and the charm of being in a place where Walt had such a large hand in shaping.
At the Disneyland Resort, the
Downtown Disney District is literally steps away from the entrances to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, so you won't need bus transportation to take you there. Everything at the Disneyland Resort is within walking distance and the need for an intricate bus transportation system is purely a feature of Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, if you're staying at one of the
hotels of the Disneyland Resort, you can explore the Disneyland Resort entirely on foot!
Downtown Disney District will open about an hour before the Parks and Guests will be allowed through security at that time. The length of Downtown Disney is easily walkable and you'll find yourself at the Esplanade in no time. The Parks will begin allowing Guests into the Parks around the time of
Early Entry. Feel free to explore Main Street, U.S.A. or Buena Vista Street. You'll need to show your hotel reservation to be allowed further into the Parks for Early Entry benefits. I'd highly recommend getting there early because you can get so much done before the Parks get crowded later in the day.
Ashley, I hope that was helpful and I'm really excited for your upcoming visit! And with the
DisneylandForward vote having passed, we're looking forward to some incredible changes in the future! If you have more questions, we'd love to help you continue planning your trip, so feel free to contact us again! You're always welcome at planDisney and we'll see ya real soon!
Wishing You a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow!
-Al