A trip to Disneyland is free of long and stressful lines. Planning and traveling at off-peak times when crowds are lower is essential. Another way to minimize crowds is to stay at a Disney resort. It provides perks such as Early Entry to the parks, dining reservations, character wake-up calls, and more.

Determine Your Budget

First and foremost, you will need to determine how much your trip will cost. It will help you plan your expenses and find ways to save money. Your accommodations, park tickets, and food will be the most significant costs. You will also need to consider transportation costs. It can quickly mount up based on the distance you’ll be traveling. Book your flight early to ensure you get the best deal on LAX to Disneyland car service.

Food is another significant expense when planning a Disneyland trip. It is possible to stay within budget by packing sack lunches or purchasing inexpensive snacks and drinks at your hotel. In addition, Disneyland allows guests to bring their food into the park, as long as it is in a soft-sided cooler no larger than a six-pack.

Book Your Tickets

To make park reservations, visit this page and follow the prompts. Check the park calendars, as some days sell out due to lowered capacities and pent-up demand. Theme park tickets can be purchased together with the rest of your vacation in a single step if you’re staying at a Disney Resort Hotel. It can help cut down on stress and confusion. If you’re not staying on the property, you can still make dining reservations by calling and letting the Cast Member know your plans. They can add magic to your trip by securing your hard-to-get spots. Be sure to call early! People constantly change and cancel reservations, so availability does open up. It’s true closer to your stay.

Book Your Hotel

From where to stay to park ticket options, a lot goes into creating the perfect Disneyland Vacation. Thankfully, there are many ways to save money on your trip! One of the best things you can do is read personal blogs from parents who have taken their kids to Disney. Join the Disneyland With Kids Facebook Group to get advice from other travelers! Book your hotel through a travel agency that specializes in Disneyland trips.

Book a FastPass

You can begin planning your Disney day-by-day itinerary once you’ve booked your tickets and hotel. Decide what attractions you want to make FastPass+ reservations for, and pick a park that offers these options for your visit. You have up to 60 days to reserve your FastPass+ if you’re staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel (guests staying at Disneyland hotels receive this advantage). The park calendar will show what rides are available for that date, and the system will tell you if they are sold out. To make planning your group’s rides easier, select one person to purchase all the Lighting Lanes and link everyone’s tickets to that account. You can also download the official Disneyland app with additional trip-planning tools like park maps and ride information.

Make Dining Reservations

With Disneyland resort restaurants requiring advance dining reservations and many having limited availability, it’s best to secure these as soon as possible. While several quick-service locations around the resort (including favorites like Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe and Cozy Cone Motel) don’t require reservations, table service and character dining require a reservation. These experiences book up quickly and carry their cancellation policies.

For this reason, we recommend signing up for our complimentary Disney Genie service, which can create your best Disney day based on your top interests. You’ll also receive new planning features, including a Disneyland planner that will continue to search for available experiences and restaurants throughout your trip.