Planning a Disneyland Vacation with Kids in 2021/2022

Thousands of families flock to Disneyland Park in Orange County, California every year for a few days of magic and thrills. But without the proper planning, your relaxing getaway can be a stressful encounter.

That’s why we’ve done all the hard work about Disney vacation planning for you and laid out the steps to achieve your perfect Disneyland vacation right in this post!

1. Download the My Disney Experience App

The first step to your perfect vacation is downloading the My Disney Experience app. This is an epic multi-tasking tool, which allows you to do everything from purchasing tickets to ordering food and even checking into your Disney Resort hotel!

And while you’re at it: Get the kids and the whole family excited by starting the timer for your Disney countdown. Download the Vacation Countdown App today! Available at the App Store or Google Play Store.

2. Buy your Disneyland Tickets and Make Reservations

Due to COVID-19 safety measures, Disneyland and California Adventure still have advanced booking procedures and limited capacity, which may make it difficult to plan your vacation at the last minute. To make sure that you can actually visit the parks on the days you want, you will need both a Disneyland park ticket and a reservation for the same day.

Before you do anything else, purchase your Disney Park tickets in advance and book your reservations ASAP to secure your park access.

If you plan on visiting both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure on the same day, consider purchasing a park hopper ticket. You can easily switch back and forth between the two parks whenever you like when you use the park hopper ticket for exploring all the popular attractions. It’s definitely the cheapest option.

3. Figure Out Where You’re Going To Stay

Unlike Disney World, your on-site hotel options are somewhat limited at Disneyland, and all three resorts are rather pricey. However, if your kids want the extra “magic” of Disney-themed décor and characters at mealtimes, the resorts are worth every penny.

If you decide to stay at the Disneyland Hotel during your Disneyland vacation, make sure to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hour. This perk is available to guests of the Disneyland Resort Hotels (Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa) and gives you an extra hour in the parks each day.

There is no doubt that all the Disneyland Resort hotels have fantastic dining options. If you are looking for the highest-rated character dining experience check out the Chip’N’Dale Critter Breakfast at Storyteller Cafe — a great character meal located inside the Grand Californian Resort Hotel & Spa.

For budget-minded travelers, there are plenty of off-site options within walking distance of the parks, particularly along Harbor Boulevard. To find the lowest price make sure to book a vacation package or reserve your rooms days in advance.

4. Know How to Maximize Your Time

Ah, the memories of Disneyland trips past – the long lines, the hot weather, and the seemingly never-ending crowds. But this year is going to be different! You’ll maximize your time, see your favorite attractions and have a blast by following these tips:

• Arrive one hour before park opening to avoid the lines at the park entrance and get a jump on the day.
• Use the FASTPASS ticket option to skip the boring waits and hit more rides.
• Order your meals ahead of time on the Disneyland app, and leave in the afternoon to rest and avoid the heat.
• Take advantage of the late hours (10 pm to 12 am depending on the park) and enjoy the cool, less-crowded evenings.

With these tips, you’ll be able to make the most of your time at Disneyland and create lasting memories with your family! And who knows – maybe you’ll even get to meet Mickey and Minnie!

5. Make a Plan For Each Day

Whether you bought a 1-Day Park Hopper pass, multi-day tickets, or single park tickets, it’s wise to make a plan before you ever enter the parks. If you know precisely what rides you want to visit and which ones don’t interest you, you’ll save a lot of time figuring out where to go.

Here’s our recommended itinerary for a 5-day visit to Disneyland and California Adventure in 2021:

Day 1: Arrive at your hotel and get settled in.

Then, head to Downtown Disney for some shopping, dining, and entertainment in this free-to-enter district!

Be sure to take a whirl on the Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire virtual reality experience and find a souvenir or two. And for fans of the new Jungle Cruise movie that just came out, you’ll want to have a meal at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar!

Downtown Disney is open until 12 am, but we recommend heading back to your hotel at a reasonable hour to rest up for your first day at the park.

Day 2: Wake up early and grab breakfast at your hotel or in Downtown Disney.

Then, head straight to the park gates and do your best to arrive between 7 and 7:30 am.

For the first day, we recommend focusing on Fantasyland, Toontown, and Tomorrowland. If your kids are too old for Toontown, work ahead on your must-dos for Frontierland. Don’t forget to take advantage of your FASTPASSes to cut down on wait times for the most popular rides.

Around lunchtime, wrap things up and find some food. Order ahead via the app while you’re in your last line, or leave the park and grab a bite somewhere else. Then, spend a few hours resting in your room or pool before heading back to the park around 4:30 pm. Finish up your list of must-dos, do some shopping on Main Street USA, and enjoy the fireworks!

Day 3: Like yesterday, wake up early and grab breakfast outside the park before arriving by 7:30.

Today, focus on the remaining zones in Disneyland, including Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Star War’s Galaxy, and Adventureland. Be sure to use FASTPASSES whenever possible to avoid the long lines!

Again, you’ll want to leave around lunchtime and return to your hotel to chill out until the evening. You and your kids will appreciate the break today! Return in the late afternoon and plan to stay until the park closes at 11 pm to pack in all your favorite rides!

Day 4: Get up with the sun one last time for your day at California Adventure.

Grab breakfast to go and eat it outside the gates while you wait for the park to open.

Head straight to Cars Land and prioritize rides like the Rope Drop Racers and Luigi’s Rollicking’ Roadsters. Then, book it over to Pacific Wharf, Pixar Pier, and Paradise Gardens Park to finish out your morning. As always, be sure to take advantage of those FASTPASSes at every opportunity.

After your afternoon break, come back a little earlier than usual to finish out the park zones. We recommend working your way clockwise through Grizzly Peak, Hollywood Land, and Avengers Campus. Finish your night with repeating your favorite rides and a stroll down Buena Vista Street!

Day 5: Today is the day to sleep in and be lazy!

After you pack up, grab some brunch in Downtown Disney and enjoy your remaining time with some more shopping and entertainment in this fun district before you head home!

Disneyland vacation planning doesn’t have to be daunting. Just follow these simple tips above and you’ll be on your way to a magical Walt Disney’s family vacation to see your favorite characters!

What is JUST as exciting as going on that incredible family vacation you’ve had planned for? The days leading up to it! Get the kids excited by starting the countdown clock for your Disney Countdown with Vacation Countdown App!

Download the Vacation Countdown App today!

Available at the App Store or Google Play Store.