Hello, Patricia!
I am hoping that we are "Almost There." But it looks like we are still going to have to "Dig a Little Deeper," as it is still not quite time to book stays at the Disneyland Resort Hotels or purchase Disneyland Resort Vacation Packages for 2026 check-in dates.
"This gonna be good!" —Mama Odie
Even though the reservation window for next year hasn't opened yet, we can already begin to plan a visit to The Happiest Place on Earth. You may have heard that the Disneyland Resort is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. A few months ago, I was hosted to experience a preview of the 70th celebration. I enjoyed it so much, I have already taken my family back to the Disneyland Resort so we could experience it together. The celebration is so big, it won't even fit into the current year. So the Disneyland Resort is planning to continue the 70th celebration through Summer 2026. There's even more magic where that came from. So there will certainly be a lot for you to look forward to during your visit next year.
As we wait for 2026 hotel reservations and Vacation Package bookings to become available (which, by the way, I'm guessing might be any day now) I have a suggestion for starting to make payments in anticipation of your booking. When you make a reservation, your deposit may be paid for using a Disney Gift Card. Disney Gift Cards may also be used to pay the balance of your Vacation Package that is due 30 days before check-in or of a hotel-only stay that is due after checking in. I like to purchase gift cards every once in a while and combine their values (up to $1000 per card) on the Disney Gift Card website. When I have enough gift cards saved up, it's time to book my next Disney vacation!
The Walt Disney Travel Company used to have some tickets and offers that featured other vacation destinations in the Southern California area. Although those are not currently available, they do offer to book other third-party services, such as airport shuttles, car rentals, and the Anaheim Regional Transportation (ART) System. These can be helpful resources for getting you to other Southern California attractions, including many that are quite close to the Disneyland Resort. For example, there are plenty of options for dining, shopping, and culture such as the Garden Walk, the Anaheim Packing District, and the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center.
I hope you'll return to planDisney again and again to find out more about how you can prepare for your visit to The Happiest Place on Earth. It's our pleasure to offer insights and support for planning your vacation experience to The Happiest Place on Earth!
Have a magical time, Patricia!
~Tony