Hiya, Tiffany! Season’s greetings from all of us here at planDisney! What a joyful surprise you’re planning for your family this Christmas! Gifting a future Disneyland adventure is such a thoughtful idea, and I love that you’re keeping it a surprise.
You’ll be happy to know that while you will need to select
theme park reservation dates for all three days at the time of purchase for the
California Resident 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket special offer, those first choices aren’t locked into the story forever. As long as theme park reservations are available, you can modify those dates later if your plans shift. Just keep in mind that these special promotional tickets must be used by May 21, 2026.
Another great perk is that your three park days don’t have to be used back-to-back. This gives your family extra flexibility to spread out the fun—whether that means planning a long weekend getaway or splitting the days across two or three visits within the valid timeframe. Since this is a popular offer, I always recommend choosing the dates that feel like the best fit for your plans right now when you purchase, simply so you’re holding spots on the calendar. You can always fine-tune those later if your plans change.
Once your tickets are purchased, updating your reservations is quick and easy. On the Disneyland Resort website, you’ll head to the
theme park reservations page and click the “Make or Modify Park Reservations” button. If you prefer using the
Disneyland mobile app, simply tap the plus (+) sign at the bottom of the screen, select “Make a Park Reservation,” then choose “Make or Modify Park Reservations.” From there, you’ll select the tickets you’d like to change and follow a few quick prompts to adjust your dates—it truly only takes a quick moment. And here’s a pro tip, Tiffany: I’d recommend booking your dates as early as possible. As the May 21, 2026 expiration date draws closer, I'd imagine those May dates will fill up pretty quickly!
And when it does come time to choose your dates, you’ll have some wonderful options to look forward to. The first half of 2026 will be filled with exciting seasonal celebrations, including the
Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration, along with
special events, festivals and limited-time entertainment offerings that make every visit feel extra magical. No matter when you choose to go, there will be plenty of enchantment waiting for your family.
There’s nothing quite like the joy of planning a Disney surprise behind the scenes, Tiffany, and I hope every step of this journey is just as fun as the reveal itself! May your family’s visit be filled with warm laughs, favorite snacks, and those little spontaneous moments that end up meaning the most.
See ya real soon!
Cody