Hello, Michelle!
Welcome, and thanks for bringing a question to us at
planDisney. I’m so glad to hear you’re planning a stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the
Disneyland Resort! The hotel’s California Craftsman-inspired architecture and décor are breathtaking. Plus, with valid theme park admission, you can enter
Disney California Adventure Park using a private entrance located right inside the hotel!
Disney Genie+ service is a great tool, especially for a first-time visitor who wants to see and do as much as possible! It allows Guests to select arrival windows for Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane entrances at select attractions in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park so they can spend less time waiting in line and more time exploring the parks! If you already have your ticket and didn’t purchase Disney Genie+ at that time, you may be able to buy it separately through the
Disneyland mobile app on the day of your visit (pending availability) after entering a theme park.
If you would like to
dine at any table-service restaurants, it would be best to make reservations. Guests can generally begin booking dining reservations online up to 60 days in advance at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time. When your booking day arrives, plan to sign into your MyDisney account on disneyland.com or in the Disneyland mobile app a few minutes early so you’ll be ready to search for the restaurant of your choice. If you have multiple reservations to make, search for the most popular dining locations first, such as Blue Bayou Restaurant (my favorite table-service restaurant in
Disneyland Park).
If you’re not able to book a restaurant on your must-do list on the first try, don’t give up! Availability can fluctuate, so keep checking periodically as your trip approaches. There's also the possibility of joining the
Mobile Dine Walk-up Availability list on the day you arrive. This is a convenient feature in the Disneyland mobile app that’s available at select dining locations. Additionally, there are so many amazing options for quick-service food at the resort! My family never has trouble finding options for delicious meals and snacks, and
mobile ordering makes it so convenient to enjoy our favorites while exploring the parks.
I hope this information helps you plan, Michelle, and that your visit to the Happiest Place on Earth is a dream come true! Please
write back if you have more questions before your vacation begins.
Wishing you magic,
Courtney