Hi Joseph!
Today is the day you make your family proud! While planning a trip to The Happiest Place on Earth can feel a little daunting, there are plenty of resources to help make your trip "a gift just as special as you are!"
Before directing you to all the magical helpers, I'd like to cover some basics. I like to break the planning process down into three main pieces- hotel, tickets, and extras.
With many hotel options, all Guests are bound to find the right fit for them. The
Disneyland Resort Hotels are my favorite. While they don't have actual magic like Casa Madrigal, they're as close as it gets! Some Guests opt for a
Good Neighbor Hotel, nearby accommodations with easy resort access but fewer Disney touches.
I'm sure the theme parks are your main priority, so you'll want to be sure to secure your theme park tickets and theme park reservations before you arrive. You will have the option to make your Disneyland Resort Hotel reservation a
Vacation Package (room and tickets) or purchase tickets separately. The main decisions will be the number of days you'd like to visit and the type of ticket (One Park Per Day or Park Hopper).
Extras! You can go over the top when it comes to adding special touches to your trip. From choosing your
advance dining reservations to adding memorable experiences from the
Enchanting Extras Collection, this is where you'll find yourself saying "What else can I do?" As you do your research on the right dining options and Enchanting Extras for you, mark your calendar for 60 days before each day of your visit. At 60 days out, you can book dining reservations as well as Enchanting Extras (if any).
Ok, Joseph, you have many resources available when it comes to planning your trip. First, you can utilize the help of Disneyland Resort Cast Members. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and well-versed in each area of the vacation planning process.
This directory will direct you to Cast Members for each part of the planning process. If you're interested in a more traditional travel agent to handle the in-depth planning for you, simply search for "Authorized Disney Vacation Planner" in the search engine of your choice to find available options.
Last, but certainly not least, you can utilize planDisney at any time during the planning process. While we don't talk about Bruno, we do talk about how to make the most of your Disney Vacation! We're here to help with any questions that arise before, during, and after your stay. As with the Family Madrigal, we all have unique gifts that we bring to the planning process. Like Luisa, I'm the strong one. Strong in planning, that is! I love going over the smallest of details to make sure you're ready to embark on the vacation of a lifetime.
My fellow panelist, Tara- she's more like Isabella- graceful, and elegant, and every trip she touches blooms into something beautiful! Then there's
Michelle- optimistic, quirky (a Star Wars expert!), and the backbone of the planDisney family. My point? We all have different specialties and would love to use them to help make your trip magical! You can reach out to any of us individually or to planDisney as a whole with more questions!
The magic is strong,
Ashley