Welcome, Felice! We are so happy to have you here and you've come to the right place because there's nothing we love more than sharing our heartfelt advice with fellow Guests as they plan their Disney vacations. I'm so excited to hear that you are planning your first-ever trip to Disneyland Resort! I have a daughter around the same age and she helped me with this answer to make sure we covered it all for you!
The first thing I like to recommend to Guests of the Disneyland Resort is that they consider what type of
theme park ticket they'd like to use. Currently, you may choose a 1 Park Per Day ticket which allows you to go in-depth at one of the theme parks of your choice on each day of your visit. The other option is the
Park Hopper ticket, which allows Guests to cross between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park during the eligible hours. This is a nice option if you think you'd like the chance to visit both parks on the same date. So, if you didn't get to everything on your list on a given day, no worries! You'd have the option to transfer between theme parks each day of your visit, so long as there is capacity. When you are ready to purchase your tickets, Felice, make sure you proceed through all the steps to make your
theme park reservations for your visit dates. This sounds like a complicated process, but it's seamlessly built into the same ticketing system so you'll receive one confirmation with all your ticket and reservation details.
Now that you have your tickets, you might also consider the types of attractions, live entertainment, parades, character interactions, or other experiences that are important to you and your child. I love to use the
search and filter feature on either the Disneyland mobile app or the Disneyland Resort website. You can easily filter by type of thrill, height limit, suggested age, or interests. You may also wish to use the
complimentary Genie Service to input your preferences and priorities for your visit in the Disneyland mobile app. Almost instantly, the Genie Service will deliver a full day's worth of recommendations on what to do, how to get there, and at what time (to avoid high crowds)! It's a super helpful tool, especially for first-time Guests.
You might notice that I've mentioned the
Disneyland mobile app a few times now. That's because it has become my go-to resource for my own Disneyland Resort visits. You can access location-based maps, scan your admission tickets, view attraction wait times or entertainment schedules, make dining reservations, or mobile order food and beverage items - all from your phone! I highly recommend becoming familiar with the mobile app before your visit so that you feel ready to use it while you're on-site.
Finally, I want to stress that spending one-on-one time with a special kiddo in your life is the real gift, here. Even if things don't go according to plan, or you leave it up to spontaneity, your child will feel the wonder of exploring the magic with you. If ever you'd like to reach me directly, please feel welcome to
send me any follow-up questions as you continue planning your trip. I'm also going to link a recent planDisney podcast episode with all our best tips for a first visit to Disneyland Resort. It couldn't be a more fitting episode for your upcoming trip, so I hope it is helpful to you!
Wishing you Wondrous Journeys,
Tishra