Disneyland Plans

Disneyland Plans

As many of you know, I am currently planning my first ever trip to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. It’s my first trip to California and I am so excited! My husband has a work trip every year that spouses are invited to and this year we happen to be only 40 miles from Anaheim!! As soon as we found out, we knew we were going to make it happen.

Our plan is to fly from CT on a Friday and hope we don’t get into CA too late. Once we arrive, we just want to get some rest so we can hopefully be at Disneyland for rope drop first thing Saturday morning. I know we’ll be back and forth between parks, but my mindset is mostly focused on Disneyland Saturday and Disney California Adventure Sunday. Gotta see the first Disney castle as soon as possible!

I spoke with the wonderful Meghan (the amazing travel agent we’re using to book our Disney World trip) and she advised a 3-Day Park Hopper pass. We only have 2 days to spend at Disneyland, and I initially figured that would be plenty since it’s only two parks and I hear it’s all so much smaller than Disney World. I once heard Disneyland’s property in its entirety could fit in the parking lot of Epcot. With 2 days and 2 parks, I sorta assumed we could save some money and skip the Park Hopper add-on, thinking 1 park 1 day and the other the next. She told me the parks are really close and if you check your app for shorter wait times for a ride in 1 park while you are in the other, you can quickly and easily hop back and forth.

So many rides in Disneyland can also be found in Disney World, but even though they may be the same ride, there are differences between most from park to park. My priority is to check out as many attractions that are unique to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, first, before branching out to the same-but-different ones. I am a huge fan of Tower of Terror and was initially very sad when I heard they were changing the one in Disneyland but am now really looking forward to riding Mission: Breakout when we’re there! I’ll have to ride solo because my husband is not a fan, but I know it’ll be worth it.

At Disney California Adventure, I am most excited for Paradise Pier! I can’t wait to ride the California Screamin’ roller coaster and the swinging side of Mickey’s Fun Wheel. Plus, World of Color looks like such a beautiful nighttime show. Knowing trips out to California will not happen as often as trips to Florida, we are planning to do a World of Color Dining Package at either Carthay Circle Restaurant or Wine Country Trattoria. I want to have the preferred viewing location since I have no idea when I’ll be back to see the show again. They may very well have changed it by the time we return so I want to get the most out of it.

We hear so much about the food in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure being so delicious and that there are so many unique options we don’t find in Disney World. Hubby is really looking forward to lobster nachos at the Cove Bar and I can’t wait for churros! Beignets in New Orleans Square are totally happening and I’m excited to taste the difference between the Grey Stuff in Disney World vs. Disneyland. Blue Bayou overlooking the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is a must on my list for dinner while we’re there.

Have any of you been to Disneyland before? I’d love to see some tips and advice in the comments! Any must-dos or things you think we should avoid? Strategies that worked well or didn’t go so great? I wanna hear from you! ❤

(all photos in this post courtesy of my fabulous friend Alex)