Hey there Mike,
Welcome to planDisney and thanks so much for your question! I'm so glad to hear you're planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort later this year!
If you're planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth that is a year or less away, my suggestion would be to purchase
theme park tickets and make your
theme park reservations as soon as you're able!
Theme park reservations are subject to availability and have been known to run out - especially during busy months - so it's always good to secure yours as soon as you have a rough idea of the dates of your visit. Plus, if you decide to change the dates, those reservations are easy to modify in the
My Plans hub of the Disneyland Resort website! You can adjust those reservation dates as many times as needed, but again, they are subject to availability.
From what I've seen, the closer to a visit date you get, the less likely it becomes to be able to secure those park reservations. Therefore, since
theme park reservations for July are already available, my recommendation would be to start booking your trip now!
If you haven't decided on where to stay, I would also highly recommend one of the
hotels of the Disneyland Resort. You could try the newly reimagined Pixar Place Hotel (formerly Paradise Pier Hotel), the rustic and elegant Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, or - my personal favorite - the Disneyland Hotel. Not only are these close to the park entrances, but you also get access to
Early Entry as an added perk for staying in a Disneyland Resort hotel.
Thanks again for your question, Mike! I hope you have a fantastic visit.
Have a Magical Day,
Greg