Hello, Friend, and welcome to planDisney! You've come to the right place – we love helping Guests make the most of their Disney vacations here at planDisney, and are happy to share tips and tricks to help you plan!
October is a fun month to visit the Disneyland Resort, since
Halloween Time will be in full swing. You can start by checking out the
Disney Parks Blog to read about the seasonal entertainment, décor, and food that you can look forward to during your trip.
When I'm planning a trip, I usually break it down into the following sections: travel dates, theme park ticket options, hotel accommodations, and special experiences. Identify any top priorities in these areas and go from there. Here are some things to consider as you map that out:
- How long would you like to visit? Three days is a comfortable number – that would give you plenty of time to experience both parks and fit in some breaks.
- Do you prefer to stick to one park each day or move between Disneyland Park and California Adventure? Consider a Park Hopper ticket if you want the added flexibility.
- Are fireworks important to you? If so, I recommend planning to be at Disneyland Park on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, as they may not occur nightly at that time of year.
If you're looking for accommodations, consider a stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel or a Good Neighbor Hotel. You can even
book everything together as a vacation package, including your hotel room, theme park tickets, and any add-ons. The vacation packages also include a pin and lanyard (while supplies last), and a voucher for discounts at participating locations in the Downtown Disney District.
Lastly, to maximize the Halloween fun, consider getting a ticket to
Oogie Boogie Bash, a separately ticketed after-hours event scheduled for select nights through Halloween. There will be themed entertainment, treat trails, rare Character appearances, and more. If you're interested in attending, check out the event dates, purchase your ticket as soon as it goes on sale, and build the rest of your trip around that. It's a good idea to check the dates even if you don't plan to attend, as California Adventure will close early on those nights to Guests without an event ticket.
Once you secure your theme park tickets (and accommodations, if needed), start looking into
dining reservations. They can usually be made around 60 days out. Some of my favorites include Character Dining at Storytellers Cafe, breakfast at Carnation Café, lunch or dinner at Blue Bayou, and any meal at Lamplight Lounge.
Here's one last tip before we part ways: Download the
Disneyland mobile app now and become familiar with how it works. It's really helpful for navigating around the park. You can also use the complimentary Disney Genie Service in the app to build a personalized itinerary based on your interests and priorities.
I know this is a lot of information, my friend, but the good news is that you still have plenty of time to plan. As you make decisions about your dates, hotel, theme park tickets, and other experiences, come back and visit us again here at planDisney. We love to help!
Wishing you magic,
Kriss