Hi there, Patrice! Welcome to planDisney!
When it comes to planning a Disneyland Resort vacation, I know there is so much magic to sift through it may be hard to know where to start. While the Disneyland Resort website offers a user-friendly
booking tool for vacation packages, I'd love to help here as well! I like to break the process down into stages starting with the "when, where, and how":
"When" would you like to go? Congratulations, you can already check this one off the list! April is such a beautiful time to visit the parks!
"Where" would you like to stay? The theming, and service at the hotels on property extend the magic of your visit from morning until night and every moment in between. If you're nostalgic for classic Disneyland and love modern design, the
Disneyland Hotel is made for you. If stepping into the days of retro beach vacations and boardwalks is more your style, check out Disney's
Paradise Pier Hotel. If you are looking to celebrate all things California with park views and stunning Craftsman-style architecture, then
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the perfect choice. There are also several Good Neighbor Hotels in the area with options for every budget!
"How" many days would you like to be in the parks? Let's talk
tickets! First, you'll need to know how many park days you'd like and if you are looking to do One Park Per Day tickets or Park Hoppers. I personally love a hopper as the parks are so close that walking between the two is a breeze and you have a bit more freedom with your planning. When purchasing tickets, you'll note that you are also asked to make a
theme park reservation where you choose which park you will be attending each day. For the Park Hopper, you would select the park where you are starting your day with hopping available after 1 p.m.
Now that the logistics are in place, it's time to fill your visit with pixie-dusted experiences! If you are looking to make
dining reservations, those will open up to you 60 days ahead of your arrival. Reservations can always be canceled but can be a challenge to come by if you wait to book them. A few suggestions would be
Napa Rose for fine dining,
Carnation Cafe for something more casual, and
Goofy's Kitchen to mix and mingle with some characters!
When it comes to planning out your actual park days, have I got a friend for you! With the new
Disney Genie Service, you can select your favorite attractions or even more general interests like princesses or fun things to do with little ones, and the Genie will create an itinerary just for you! Just spend a little time in the Disneyland Mobile App filling out your preferences ahead of time and Genie will send an itinerary at 7 a.m. each day of your visit AND make live updates as you move through the parks!
Patrice, so much magic awaits! Good luck with your planning and come back to see us if you have any more questions!
Tara