Photo of a large jack'o'latern decoration on Main Street
  • On May 2, 2023
    Angela from AZ Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Do I purchase my package first or make my reservation first?

    Hello there, Angela!

    Welcome to planDisney! I'm thrilled that you're considering a visit to the Disneyland Resort. There's lots to plan, but don't worry! As Edna Mode says, "Luck Favors the Prepared!" I'm happy to be your sidekick while you plan a "super" vacation.

    It's a good idea to check theme park reservation availability before planning your visit. But, if you're planning more than 120 days in advance then you can't make your theme park reservations quite yet. So, I recommend booking your vacation package now and then watching the theme park reservations calendar to make your theme park reservations as soon as they open! As an alternative, you can also book your hotel now and wait to purchase park tickets until the days of your visit open up on the reservations calendar. If you purchase your tickets separately from your hotel, directly on the website, then you'll have the option to make your park reservations at the same time.

    As far as vacation packages go, you've got two great options:

    A Disneyland Resort Hotel Vacation Package includes a room at one of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels. I have a soft spot for the Disneyland Hotel, it's been my favorite since I was a kid! There are some nice benefits to being a guest at the resort hotels, including early park entry each day and preferred access to dining reservations. My kids would tell you their favorite part is the pool, of course!

    You can also choose a Good Neighbor Hotel Vacation Package. These nearby hotels can be a great option, too! I like to use the "Explore Good Neighbor Hotels" page to filter the Good Neighbor Hotel list for the features most important to our family like walking distance and bunk beds for our kids. 

    When you purchase a vacation package that includes theme park tickets then you'll need to link those tickets to your Disney account and use them to make theme park reservations for the days you'll be visiting.

    Angela, it looks like you're thinking of visiting during a delightfully ghoulish time of year! I was excited to see the Disney Parks Blog update for "Halfway to Halloween" which gave us a peek at the spooky fun coming this fall. If you have more questions about Halloween at the Disneyland Resort, dining reservations, or anything else, I hope you'll send me a note so I can help!

    Keep moving forward!

    Amanda 
thumbnail image for Amanda

Meet the Panelist: Amanda, Utah

Hi! I'm Amanda—a pixie-sized wife, mom, engineer, content strategist, and Disneyland Resort specialist! I fell in love with science as a kid at Disneyland Park, learning about physics while I waited to ride Space Mountain. I love how Disney combines art, words, science, and music to create incredible experiences. Solving challenging problems is one of my favorite things, I'm so excited to help you design the perfect strategy for a magical day! Learn More About Amanda

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