Hey there, Matt! Welcome back to planDisney! I love that you keep coming back with fun questions. It means a lot that you trust us to be part of your Disney planning!
First, there isn’t a wrong way to visit Disneyland Resort! However you choose to do it, your days are going to be filled with magic from start to finish. I’m so glad you’re planning two days! One day is fun, but two just gives you extra breathing room to enjoy things without feeling rushed, especially if you want to experience the nighttime shows at both parks.
Let’s talk Park Hopper. You can absolutely do a two-day, one park per day ticket and have an amazing trip. That works really well for a lot of people. But I will say, I’m a big fan of the Park Hopper option because of how flexible it is. It lets you bounce back and forth between the parks whenever you want, kind of like Tigger bouncing over to Pooh’s house.
Here’s why I like it. You might find that you get through your must-do list at California Adventure earlier than you expected. Before World of Color that evening, you can wander over to Disneyland Park for a bit. Take a ride on the Disneyland Railroad, stroll down Main Street, U.S.A., grab a churro, and snap a Sleeping Beauty Castle photo. Then you can head back to California Adventure for your nighttime plans. It helps my day feel easy and flexible instead of locked into one place. If you have kiddos headed to the parks with you, take advance of the
$50 per day ticket, which happens to be a Park Hopper, if that helps with your decision about which tickets would best fit your travel party!
As for where to start, I usually recommend Disneyland Park first for someone’s first visit because of the history and that feeling of stepping into Walt’s original dream. Since you sound like you’ve done a Disney trip or two, I love the idea of you starting at California Adventure. Mornings there often feel a little less crowded, which is a nice way to ease into your trip.
Now let’s talk about nighttime shows and add-ons. You’ll be able to see World of Color Happiness! at California Adventure, and over at Disneyland Park you’ve got Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys as part of the 70th Anniversary Celebration. Those shows alone are worth getting excited about, and a Dining Package is something I like to recommend if it fits your plans.
The
World of Color Dessert Party is one of my favorites. You get a great selection of treats, both sweet and savory, and having a reserved seat after being on your feet all day is a treat.
At Disneyland Park, the
Paint the Night Dining Package is another great option. You’ll have a lunch or early dinner meal at Plaza Inn and then come back later for a reserved viewing area for the parade. If you’ve ever seen the Main Street Electrical Parade, listen closely, you might catch a familiar tune woven into the music, which made me cry!
Matt, I had the opportunity to experience the newly updated Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu this past week, and it's a must-do! Here’s some fun insider information too: The scenes and footage on the attraction uses footage from the new movie that just came out too!
Matt, I hope this helps you get started as you plan your visit to the Happiest Place on Earth! If anything else comes up while you’re planning, you know where to find us. We’re always happy to help!
Cheers,
Kimberly