Are you planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort in California soon? I’m hoping since you find yourself here, you are at least contemplating it 😉

Now I know it can be a little overwhelming when you first start looking into it. Trust me I know, and I’ve been 4 times and still learn better ways to navigate it every time!!

But I am here to make it as easy as possible for you!! In this post, I’ll guide you through the best process for booking Disneyland in 2023, from choosing the right time to go, to finding the best deals on tickets and accommodation and planning the perfect day!

Choosing the Right Time to Visit

The first step in planning your trip to Disneyland is to determine when you want to go. Keep in mind that some times of the year are more crowded than others, so it’s important to choose a time that suits your schedule and preferences. Consider factors like the weather, school breaks, and major holidays when deciding on the best time to visit. EG. October is Halloween and a huge time in the park, also one of the busiest.

Especially those of us travelling all the way from the east coast of Australia, you want to make sure you make the most of your time!!

I suggest looking up a crowd predictor. There are tonnes of these around on Pinterest and a simple Google will find you the info you need. I have linked a handy one below!!

Booking Your Tickets

Once you’ve decided on the best time to visit Disneyland, it’s time to book your tickets. You can purchase tickets directly from the Disneyland website, or through a travel agent.

Keep in mind that ticket prices may vary depending on the time of year and the type of ticket you purchase. You may also be able to find offers and discounts through third-party websites, so be sure to do your research before you buy. And also make sure it’s a reputable partnered website!!

My personal experience with Klook has been amazing! And this would be my suggested place to book. Their app is super easy to navigate and makes it really clear what you are booking, as it can be quite confusing.

Understanding the Different Types of Tickets

Speaking of confusion, let’s chat tickets – and what is going to be best for you!!

When planning your visit to Disneyland, it’s important to understand the different types of tickets that are available. Here are the main options:

• One Park per Day Tickets: These tickets are valid for one day only and grant you full-day access to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park.
• Multi-Day Tickets: These tickets allow you to visit both parks on multiple days. The more days you purchase, the lower the cost per day.
• Park Hopper Tickets: These tickets allow you to visit both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day (after 11 am to the second park).
• Magic Key Passes: These annual passes grant you access to the parks for a certain number of days per year, depending on the level of pass you purchase. These passes come with additional perks like merchandise discounts and exclusive event access.

The type of ticket you choose will depend on your schedule and budget. If you’re only visiting for one day, a Park Hopper Ticket may be the best choice. If you have more time and want to see both parks, a Multi-Day Ticket may be the way to go. If you’re a frequent visitor, a Magic Key Pass may be a better investment in the long run.

Consider your options carefully and choose the ticket that’s right for you, the length of time you’re going and what your main priorities are in the park!!

It’s also important to know that Disneyland Resort in California has a park reservations system in place. To enter a theme park, each guest (aged 3 and older) is required to have both a park reservation and a valid ticket for the same date and same park, for each day of their visit. Guests must use the same admission for the park entry that was used to make the associated theme park reservation. I have popped details of the Park Reservation here which can be viewed online. Availability is limited.

Choosing Your Accommodation

When it comes to accommodation, Anaheim (where Disneyland Resort in California is located – it’s about an hour from LAX) offers a variety of options to suit any budget and preference. From budget-friendly motels to luxury hotels, there’s something for everyone.

If you’re looking for convenience, especially if you have young kids, consider staying at one of the hotels located on the Disneyland Resort property. In the past, I have stayed at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and it was great for nipping back for a nap for the girls when they were young.

This will also allow you to take advantage of early entry to the park, and easier access to other perks like character breakfasts and exclusive merchandise.

There are also great partner hotels surrounding the parking within a 1-2km radius. On this trip, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Orange County. This hotel was huge and even had its own Starbucks. There was also a half-hourly shuttle directly to the park. 

For you Aussies, there are also some great deals available through Qantas Holidays, with flight, hotel and ticket packages available. I have linked these below. This is great if you are a Qantas Frequent Flyer or just looking to make life easy with everything packaged and ready to go!

Check out Qantas packages here.

Planning Your Day

There’s so much to see and do at Disneyland that it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. To make the most of your time, consider creating a rough itinerary that outlines the attractions and shows you want to see first.

I made a huge mistake of wasting our Magic hour on rides that actually didn’t have long lines most of the day on our 2018 trip, and still regret it to this day haha

I would suggest downloading the Disneyland app well before your trip and studying the wait times of rides. Work out the ones you want to do the most and create a plan. I’ll pop some more info below on this!

My hot tips to try to get done early or with a lightening lane per park are:

• Disneyland Park: Star Wars: Rise of Resistance, Hyperspace Mountain & Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Disney California Adventure Park: Radiator Springs Racers, Incredicoaster & Soarin’ Around the World

You can also be strategic and go to certain rides when parades or shows are on that might draw a crowd away. Just make sure you are on the right side of the park as it’s impossible to get up and around Main St during a parade!

I also suggest making a list of rides that have smaller wait times and heading to these rides during busy times in the park. All the old-school rides around Adventureland are great for this.

And I would highly suggest, if your budget allows, getting Genie+ and using lightning lanes to avoid long wait times. More on this below.

Using the Disneyland App

Planning your trip will be made 100 times easier if you use the Disneyland app. Even in the last three years since I last came to the park I have found the app has improved and has so much more to offer and help plan your trip!!

Here are some of the ways the app can help you plan your perfect day:

• Tickets: Load your tickets and link them so you don’t risk losing them. Use your phone to get into the park and scan for rides with Lightning Lane.
• Ride wait times: Check wait times for attractions in real-time, check if standby lines are currently closed, and if the ride is temporarily closed or close for renovations. Also shows you current Lightning Lane booking times.
• Mobile ordering: GAME CHANGER!!! No more long lines for food. Order food and beverages from select restaurants and skip the line when you arrive. You can even order ahead and pick a time!
• Park maps and directions: See your own location in the park and access park maps and get directions to attractions, dining, and entertainment offerings. You can toggle from attractions to restaurant locations (which have menus), restrooms and even stores.
• Lightning Lane: Some attractions offer virtual queues, which allow you to join a waitlist without physically waiting in line.
• Disney Genie+: Book access to select attractions throughout the day and skip the standby line.
• PhotoPass: View and download photos taken throughout the day by Disney PhotoPass photographers. Great way to capture your day and also means mum never misses a photo!!!

The Disneyland app is free to download and is an absolute MUST. I would say it would be almost impossible without it. And yes, the park has wifi!! Be sure to download it before your visit and familiarize yourself with its features and start planning!!

Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes

Disneyland recently introduced a new system called Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes to help visitors streamline their experience. This replaces the old Fast Pass system. And personally, I found it MUCH better, more streamlined and easier to use!

Genie+ is a paid service that allows you to book access to select attractions throughout the day, similar to FastPass. Individual Lightning Lane, on the other hand, is a separate paid service that allows you to skip the standby line and get immediate access to select attractions. Both of these services can be booked through the Disneyland app and can help you save time and avoid long lines.

Here’s a bit of info on both, to help you pick what might suit you best.

Genie+

• Booking access to select attractions: You can book Lightning Lane access to select attractions throughout the day using the Disneyland app. This allows you to skip the standby line and avoid long wait times. (See the website for a list of rides included to help you plan)
• It’s Unlimited: Once you purchase Genie+, you can use it as many times as you like throughout the day. You can make selections, one at a time, all day up to regular park closing, subject to availability and limited to one Lightning Lane selection per attraction per day.
• Flexibility: You can book your next Lightning Lane attraction reservation as soon as you use your current one, allowing you to be more flexible with your plans. I was booking the next ride as soon as I scanned in for the first one.
• PhotoPass: Genie+ includes unlimited downloads of PhotoPass photos taken throughout the day. I loved this and stopped for all the photos!!

Individual Lightning Lane

• Access to select attractions: Purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes grants you access to purchase and select the next available arrival window for select attractions throughout the parks, including some of the most popular rides.
• Limited usage: Unlike Genie+, which allows for unlimited usage throughout the day, purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane only allows for one-time access per select attraction per day.
• Real-time availability: Lightning Lane availability is subject to change in real-time, and popular attractions may sell out quickly.

I will mention, Lightning Lane is not included in the price of your tickets, and the cost varies depending on the attraction and the day. 

While it can be a great way to save time and experience some of the most popular rides without waiting in long lines, it can also add up quickly if you plan to use it frequently throughout the day. Hence why planning your day is SO important!!

However, the 5 times I paid to skip the line on Radiator Springs Racers was 100% worth it and would do it another 600 times time LOL I absolutely HATE lines.

In my personal opinion, travelling all that way from Australia, Genie+ is well worth it to maximise the experience and a few Lightning Lanes are well worth the time saved!

MagicBand+ at Disneyland

Magicband+ (known internationally as ‘Disney Band’) has just been introduced to Disneyland!! I first used these at Walt Disney World in Florida, and they serve as a super hand tool for scanning into the park, rides and other cool experiences, but I believe they are a little different here at Disneyland. So here is what you need to know about Magicband+

• All-in-one: Magicband+ serves as your park ticket, and Lightning Lane redemption tool all in one convenient spot on your wrist.
• Lightning Lane: With a MagicBand+, you can use these to scan in, instead of your phone.
• PhotoPass: You can link and access photos taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers throughout the parks. They just tap your band – so easy!
• Customisation: There were dozens of different bands available for sale at World of Disney and throughout the park. So find your favourite character and make it your own!!
• Enhanced Experiences: MagicBand+ glows with colour and pulses with haptic vibrations during World of Color – ONE, Fantasmic! and other select nighttime spectaculars. I actually showed this in my Instagram stories and will pop up a video soon showing this on my socials! It was SO COOL
• Ride Experiences: The MagicBand+ also interacted with particular rides and lands throughout the park.
• Disney100: There are also tonnes of coins around the park and you can actually use your magic band to interact with them!

I have actually linked here so you can see everything Magicband+ can do!

Celebrating Disney100 in Disneyland

This year is also 100 years of Disney, and the Disneyland Resort in California is celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company with special offerings throughout the park.

Here are some of the experiences and events you can expect:

• Special merchandise: There is a crazy amount of Disney 100th anniversary merch, including apparel, accessories, and collectibles. And I think I bought most of them LOL!!
• Food and beverages: There were tonnes of special food and beverage offerings available only during the Disney 100th anniversary celebration. You can find a lot of these on the Disneyland app.
• Character experiences: Meet and greet with classic and beloved Disney characters from throughout the company’s history, including some rarely seen characters.
• Entertainment offerings: There are some new parades, shows, and nighttime spectaculars which are super nostalgic – there were many tears!!

Honestly, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event that Disney fans won’t want to miss! If you have been planning a trip, making it this year will be very much worth it!!

I have heaps of videos on my Instagram and Tik Tok that showcase the food and other special offerings!!

Extra Tips & Tricks

Some extra little tips that might also help you plan your perfect trip

• Dress comfortably: Wear comfortable shoes, this is KEY!! And dress for the weather. Southern California can get hot super during the summer months, so be sure to bring sunscreen and stay hydrated. However, in saying that it wasn’t too hot in May when I went and I needed jumpers at night!!
• Lockers: Both parks have lockers close to the entrance and this is great if you are staying outside the park and need to store jumpers, or anything you buy, so you’re not carrying stuff around all day!
• Pram rentals: If you have young kids, you don’t want to bring your own pram, strollers are available for rent at the park entrance and in both parks. Single and double strollers are available for daily rental. Personally, while they’re great when you have young kids, they’re super annoying to get around the park with – but a necessary evil sometimes.
• Free badges: Don’t forget to grab your free badge. There is a “First Time” “Happily Ever After” “Celebrating” and “Birthday” badge you can get!
• Single Rider: Single rider lines are a great option for guests who are willing to split up from their group or are by themselves and want to skip the regular line in order to experience an attraction faster. Note you will end up next to randoms. I also don’t care LOL
• Sanitary products: didn’t think I’d ever need to mention this, but I got caught off guard and it was great to know. But there are free pads and tampons in the restrooms.!

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I know it might seem a little bit daunting booking for Disneyland in 2023, but with a little bit of planning, you can create an unforgettable experience – especially during this Disney100 period!!

Remember to do your research and book the best time to visit, book your tickets and accommodations well in advance so you don’t miss out, plan your activities, and maximize your experience while you’re there with some of the things I’ve mentioned above.

I highly suggest jumping on Pinterest or checking out people’s Tik Tok hashtags for some really good niche tips too!!

Doing all this, you will be well on your way to creating the most amazing memories that will last a lifetime.

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As a disclosure, I would like to mention that I was invited and hosted by Disneyland Resort in California for this trip, which included my hotel, some experiences, and food vouchers. However, I assure you that all thoughts, feelings, emotions, opinions, and reviews presented in this blog post are solely my own, and I will always provide an honest and unbiased review of my experience.