Disneyland Vacations: Where To Begin When Booking Your Next Trip to the Magic Kingdom

Are you looking to book a Disneyland trip? If you are uncertain of where to start your planning, you are not alone. Start by planning early to help ensure that when you arrive, you can focus on having fun. Follow this guide to help you plan the perfect Disneyland getaway. 

When To Go

When you start your Disneyland planning, begin by deciding when to go. There are a few factors you want to consider. These factors include the season, other guests, what’s open and even COVID regulations. Starting with the season, Southern California is hot in the summer, and waiting in lines can be more difficult in these temperatures. However, before you write off a summer trip, this may also be when fewer guests are there, giving you a better opportunity to try more rides. You also want to factor in what attractions will be open. Finally, review what the current COVID restrictions are. Check to see if you can get in the park or any extra steps you may need to take. 

How Much To Spend

Once you decide when to go, you need to set your budget. Your budget should include costs for how many Disneyland passes you will need, your hotel, meals, transportation and any incidentals. When you start planning, check online to find where you can get discounts to help offset some of your expenses. For your stay, think about vacation length and the daily transportation costs. Then, you can decide if it is more cost-efficient to stay at a Disneyland hotel or to book off-site. Next, set your budget for each meal to help avoid overspending. Finally, think about any souvenirs or other items you may want to purchase, so there are no unexpected final costs. 

Where To Stay

Now that you know what your budget is, you want to start deciding where to stay. Start by weighing the benefits of staying on or off-site. If you are only there for a few days, staying closer to Disneyland makes more sense to avoid losing time in transit. However, if you are visiting for longer, you may want to explore the surrounding area or spend some time eating non-park food. In this case, booking a hotel or Airbnb nearby may be a better fit for you. Additionally, you want to make sure that wherever you book is within the budget you set for yourself. Don't forget that planning ahead can help you get better rates. 

What to Eat

Eating at Disneyland can be expensive and time-consuming, so it is best to start researching early. There are plenty of dining options to pick from, and you want to do your research in advance to make sure that you know where to go. Keeping your budget in mind, you can start selecting restaurants on-site and nearby to help you enjoy every meal. As you go through your choices, think about where the restaurants are to help you avoid losing time between meals and your next ride. You also should consider if you want to book a table near a show, so that you can eat while enjoying some of the incredible entertainment offered at Disneyland. 

What To See

As you plan your trip, make sure to start thinking about what you want to do while there. There are shows, rides and events that go on throughout the day that you may want to see. Start your planning by looking at a Disneyland calendar to check what shows are happening when and where. Then you can start planning which attractions you want to ride around this schedule. Additionally, you should book fast passes when available for the rides you know you don’t want to miss. By taking these steps, you can ensure that you see everything you want to when visiting and give you a better idea of what to do while there. 

No matter when you go, start your planning early to help you enjoy your next Disneyland vacation.