How to Plan a Disneyland Vacation

For great outdoor family fun in California; nothing beats the adventure and excitement of Disneyland. Complete with 90 attractions, 52 restaurant areas and resort hotels on the property, Disneyland can easily make for days of entertainment and exploration. However, you'll need to take time to plan a Disneyland vacation to be ready to navigate this small city of an amusement park.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Disneyland travel guide
Disneyland travel guide

Step 1

Choose a time to go to Disneyland which is at the very least six months into the future, and consider that peak times are usually when children are out from school. Make your reservations either through Disneyland or a trusted travel agent as soon as you know the dates you wish to go.

Step 2

Plan your transportation for driving or flying to Disneyland. If flying, book your flight far in advance, which typically gives you the best deal. Depending on your drive, make plans for overnight stops if necessary.

Step 3

Book your hotel in a nearby, off-property site, or select from the three hotels available on-property. Choose from the Grand Californian, Paradise Pier or the Disneyland hotel. Although the price may be cheaper off site, you will need to figure transportation to Disney into your planning.

Step 4

Buy park tickets for each member of your group based on the number of days you'll want to visit the parks and whether or not you want to see anything on the day you arrive and/or leave. A park hopper pass can let you visit both the California Adventure park and the Disneyland park on the same day.

Step 5

Select a dining plan based on the number of days your trip will last to pay with vouchers during your vacation, or simply pay as you go. Read the dining plans carefully, as some restrict you to a certain number of sit-down meals and may not include taxes or tips.

Step 6

Plan which sit-down restaurants you and your family want to go to, and find out if you need to make reservations for them. Call (714) 781-DINE as soon as possible to guarantee your seating; even calling six months out doesn't guarantee availability of the date and times you want.

Tips & Warnings

Make a small investment in a Disneyland travel guide or check one out from the library to give yourself the full picture of what your vacation will be like, as well as learn some tips and advice for making a good trip. Guided tours and behind-the-scenes looks at Disneyland are available for an additional price. This can often give you a unique look at Disneyland and how it works. Call (714) 781-4400 to make reservations at least a month in advance.

Guided tours and behind-the-scenes looks at Disneyland are available for an additional price. This can often give you a unique look at Disneyland and how it works. Call (714) 781-4400 to make reservations at least a month in advance.

Be sure to pack for an active, outdoor trip by including a comfortable pair of shoes, sunscreen, a hat and water.

Resources

Disneyland official site

Article Written By Margaret Telsch-Williams

Writing from Virginia, Margaret Telsch-Williams specializes in personal finance, money management, gardening, crafts and sewing, cooking, DIY projects and travel. When not writing instructional articles online, she works for the website Widescreen Warrior as a contributor and podcast co-host discussing all things film and entertainment. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and a master's degree in writing.

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