Hi Sonia, welcome to planDisney! It’s wonderful that you were gifted a little Disney magic during the holiday season. While one day at the Disneyland Resort is always an exciting adventure, I can see the appeal of extending your visit to make even more unforgettable memories.
Ready for some pixie-dusted news, Sonia? Per the
Disneyland website, the amount paid for a wholly unused ticket may be applied towards the purchase of a new ticket of greater or equal value, subject to certain restrictions. That means that, yes, you should be able to upgrade your standard, unused 1-Day ticket to the
Southern California Resident Ticket. As a note, to use that offer, you'd need to have a government-issued photo ID (like a California Driver's License or California ID) showing you live within ZIP codes (90000-93599).
To upgrade, you can start by calling the
Tickets phone line and speaking with a Cast Member about your request. Make sure you have a payment method and the original ticket handy. You'll be asked to pay the difference between the two tickets to finalize the adjustment.
If you prefer to do this in person, you can head to a ticket booth at the Esplanade (between the two theme park entrances). Just keep in mind that, when you upgrade your ticket, you will lose any reservations you had tied to the original ticket. If reservations for the day happen to be sold out, there's a chance you won't be able to enter the park. I recommend checking the
Theme Park Reservation Availability tool on the Disneyland website before heading to the resort to see if the chances of getting into a theme park after upgrading are good.
Sonia, have you heard that
Magic Key passes are currently on sale (while supplies last)? If you want to go big, you could also use your 1-Day ticket to
upgrade to a Magic Key pass. The
Imagine Key, which is exclusive to Southern California Residents, pays for itself in four visits. If you can see yourself visiting more than a few times this year, you might want to consider this option!
If you are a foodie, you should time your visit for the
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival (February 28 - April 21). This is one of my favorite annual events, not only for the food and drinks, but also for the special entertainment and encounters with Chef Goofy. You might also enjoy one-of-a-kind experiences in a galaxy far, far away during
Season of the Force at Disneyland Park (March 28 - May 11). Check out the
Disney Parks Blog to learn about other events and festivals – there's always something magical on the horizon.
Sonia, I hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any other questions, please let us know. We're happy to help.
Wishing you magic,
Kriss