Hi there, Robert!
We are so happy you stopped by planDisney with your question. I just returned from my first stay at the
Grand Californian, and you are going to love it! From its cozy Craftsman-style charm to the convenient entrance to California Adventure, it's a wonderful place to call home during your visit.
Speaking of convenience, adding
MagicBand+ to your visit allows for hands-free access to the magic and is a great tool for a seamless park day. At the moment, the Disneyland Resort does not offer the ability to pre-order a MagicBand+ through your hotel reservation. Of course, you are welcome to purchase them in advance at the
Disney Store online, or oftentimes I prefer to wait until I am on property, which offers the largest selection. My favorite spots to shop for a new band are
World of Disney in Downtown Disney (just a few steps from the Grand Californian!) or even the shops within the resort hotels. Of course, you can also find them at most retail locations within the parks as well. World of Disney will definitely have the largest selection, so that may be a good starting point.
If you are used to traveling to Walt Disney World, there are some nuances in the MagicBand+ systems that are good to be aware of ahead of your visit. Of course, at Disneyland, you can link them to your theme park tickets and use the bands to scan into the parks and tap into Lightning Lanes if you have added Multi Pass. I also like the convenience they provide when we are capturing the moment with a Disney PhotoPass photographer—a quick tap and the photo is automatically loaded into my account and easily accessible on the app. If you're traveling to a galaxy far, far away, you can even become a bounty hunter at
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge to seek and find virtual bounties throughout Batuu. At the moment, MagicBand+ cannot be used to open Disneyland Resort hotel room doors or to charge back to the room. In lieu of those capabilities, the app provides a virtual key option, and you are still able to charge purchases and meals to your room account, just not with the quick tap of your band.
One very pixie-dusted perk, however, is that in honor of the
70th Anniversary, there is currently a fun scavenger hunt through the original lands of Disneyland Park with special MagicBand+ activations. I did this with a few planDisney friends a few months ago, and we had a blast looking for the 5 locations and seeing what surprises were in store. It adds an extra layer of fun while also honoring the earliest days of the Happiest Place on Earth!
Robert, I hope this helps you feel prepared as you light up the countdown until your magical getaway. If you have any more questions, we are always happy to help here at
planDisney.
Wishing you a stay filled with relaxation and plenty of magic.
See ya real soon!
Tara