Hey there, Carrie! Welcome to planDisney!
There’s something especially fun about being in that planning-in-progress phase, when the idea of your visit to The Happiest Place on Earth is clear but the calendar hasn’t quite caught up yet—and I’m happy to help you navigate this part.
You’re correct that when you buy the
California Resident 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket, you'll need to choose all three
theme park reservation dates at the time of purchase—even if you’re only confident about your first visit date. The reassuring part is that those additional two dates are simply placeholders to get you through checkout. If your plans shift, you can absolutely revisit and change those dates later, as long as reservations are available for the new days you’d like to visit. Just be sure all three visits happen by May 21, 2026, which is the final day these promotional tickets can be used. Since this is a popular offer, you’ll want to book your dates as early as possible—I imagine those dates will start filling up quickly as we approach April and May.
One of the nicest features of this ticket is that your three days don’t have to be used in a single stretch. You can spread them out in whatever way works best for your schedule—whether that means a quick two-day visit now and saving one for later, or planning separate trips altogether. Since availability can change as dates fill up, selecting a reasonable starting plan now helps you secure a spot while still keeping flexibility in your back pocket.
If and when you’re ready to adjust things, changes are very easy to make. You can manage everything through the website or mobile app. On the Disneyland website, just visit the
theme park reservations page and click the “Make or Modify Park Reservations” button. In the
Disneyland mobile app, simply tap the plus (+) sign at the bottom of the screen and select “Make a Park Reservation,” followed by “Make or Modify Park Reservations.” You’ll walk through the steps and update your park reservations faster than you can say, “The magic is calling!”
As your plans start to come together, Carrie, it’s also fun to begin thinking about
dining reservations—whether that means booking a special sit-down meal or simply building in time for classic treats along the way. Some Guest favorites include sharing comfort-food classics at
Plaza Inn, grabbing creative bites at
Pym Test Kitchen, or enjoying a peaceful riverside meal at
Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. And of course, no visit is complete without a few snack stops—like a churro on the go, a Mickey-shaped treat, or one of everything at my personal favorite,
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe! Those little food moments often become some of the sweetest memories of the day.
However your story at the parks takes shape, Carrie, I hope each day is layered with flavors you love, rides that make you smile, and those blink-and-you’ll-miss-them moments that end up meaning everything.
See ya real soon!
Cody