Thinking about a 1st trip to DisneyLand. Many questions!

[LAS2AMS]

I’m getting a completely different rate. It shows that room category sold out. Odd.

I’m guessing the quoted rate was for MK holders. Looks like the public discount is 20% at the moment but MK can get 25-30.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Something to think about, Disneyland is not that close to Hollywood/LA. That being said, I would skip the Hollywood Walk of Fame and do the Forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre instead. The Hollywood Walk of Fame isn't that interesting; it's names on a street, but the handprints, footprints, paw prints, and other kinds of prints have an actual connection to the people, animals, and what not that made them.

As for Disneyland, this book was incredibly helpful when I planned my first trip. https://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-G...cphy=9007538&hvtargid=pla-2281435177418&psc=1

I would do 4-5 days for a first trip, especially if you are from the other coast and won't be back soon. It gives you plenty of time in Disneyland to see and do almost everything you want without feeling rushed. You could take a break at the hotel in the afternoon if you wanted to. If a ride is down, it gives you more opportunities to ride it another day.

I would recommend Parkhoppers. The parks are incredibly close together. If wait times are shorter at the other park, you can easily switch. Also, if something is down, it gives you more opportunities to ride it other days.

 

[mikewdw]

The hotel decision will be important for us. Whether to stay onsite or if the cost will be too much off site. My wife really likes a nice clean hotel and is sort of picky. We have never stayed off site at WDW. Would like recommendation for any off site hotels with in walking distance that would compare to Disney hotels on cleanliness and safety. Amenities not as important. We would be at parks all day probably except maybe for afternoon rest/nap. I know we won't be able to predict exact rates for next summer but I am guessing 600-800 a night for Disney hotels so looking for something probably 250-400 a night. Trying to do a lot of research this summer while out of school. Thanks everyone for the info and help

 

[LAS2AMS]

There are plenty of excellent, clean, high end hotels surrounding DLR that are available at a reasonable price. The problem is that if you want Disney; they’re not Disney. Disneyland is an urban theme park; there’s around 15M people that live in Los Angeles/ Orange counties alone - millions within a short driving distance of DLR.

If the Disney bubble is a must, it’s not worth considering anything else. Avoid Pixar Place (will not feel Disney enough) and budget at least $750/night - $800 if you’re renting a car (Disneyland hotels charge parking).

 

[sam_gordon]

Is there a better time of year to go (lower crowds/lower prices)?
Is there a better day of the week to go (I assume weekdays would be less crowded than weekends)?

DW & I just returned from WDW and are just talking about maybe doing DL in 26 or 27.

 

[OlliePop27]

Is there a better time of year to go (lower crowds/lower prices)?
Is there a better day of the week to go (I assume weekdays would be less crowded than weekends)?

DW & I just returned from WDW and are just talking about maybe doing DL in 26 or 27.

Every season has something unique to offer at DL. Crowds are quite different than WDW and heavily influenced by local demographics.

Lowest crowds will be when Magic Key's (annual passes) are blocked, particularly the two lowest levels. Also, single day ticket prices are determinative - the higher the single day price, the lower the crowd level. This means that often holidays and weekends are less crowded than weekdays. To complicate things further, this is only true during certain times of the year and other times weekends are more busy. My best advice is to identify the dates with the cheapest single day ticket prices (currently $106) and unblocked MK's and avoid those like the plague (this is why you will see people post about how shocked they are to see Mondays insanely crowded while a weekend wasn't). Another factor - conferences and events like grad nights. @LKing keeps a running post for 2025 so you can get a sense of when things might be in 2026.

DL also only offers nightly entertainment during parts of the year - summer and winter holidays - and it's otherwise mostly weekends for things like fireworks and Fantasmic. If nighttime entertainment is important to you, then summer is a good bet. Even when offered, fireworks are routinely cancelled for wind at higher elevations, which you won't know about until it happens.

For weather, it's overall much better than Orlando. It is not humid compared to FL and temperatures are more moderate. It doesn't rain during the summer, only on occasion between December-March. Temperatures are warm during the summer, but actually hottest during the fall even though the day to day temperatures are more moderate than summer (extreme heat waves pushing temps over 100 most often occur in Sept and Oct).

 

[sam_gordon]

Every season has something unique to offer at DL. Crowds are quite different than WDW and heavily influenced by local demographics.

Lowest crowds will be when Magic Key's (annual passes) are blocked, particularly the two lowest levels. Also, single day ticket prices are determinative - the higher the single day price, the lower the crowd level. This means that often holidays and weekends are less crowded than weekdays. To complicate things further, this is only true during certain times of the year and other times weekends are more busy. My best advice is to identify the dates with the cheapest single day ticket prices (currently $106) and unblocked MK's and avoid those like the plague (this is why you will see people post about how shocked they are to see Mondays insanely crowded while a weekend wasn't). Another factor - conferences and events like grad nights. @LKing keeps a running post for 2025 so you can get a sense of when things might be in 2026.

DL also only offers nightly entertainment during parts of the year - summer and winter holidays - and it's otherwise mostly weekends for things like fireworks and Fantasmic. If nighttime entertainment is important to you, then summer is a good bet. Even when offered, fireworks are routinely cancelled for wind at higher elevations, which you won't know about until it happens.

For weather, it's overall much better than Orlando. It is not humid compared to FL and temperatures are more moderate. It doesn't rain during the summer, only on occasion between December-March. Temperatures are warm during the summer, but actually hottest during the fall even though the day to day temperatures are more moderate than summer (extreme heat waves pushing temps over 100 most often occur in Sept and Oct).

Love the detailed answer.
Hate that it's not an easy answer. lol

We're thinking maybe doing DL for 3-4 days and then a cruise for 3-4 days. While we don't want to "cheap out", we don't need to worry about kids and was hoping to cherry pick a good time of year.

 

[OlliePop27]

Love the detailed answer.
Hate that it's not an easy answer. lol

We're thinking maybe doing DL for 3-4 days and then a cruise for 3-4 days. While we don't want to "cheap out", we don't need to worry about kids and was hoping to cherry pick a good time of year.

I personally recommend going during July. It's a consistently good month for crowds and weather. There's long hours and nightly entertainment. There's also full pass blockouts all months and not many special events that impact crowds.

 

[LKing]

Love the detailed answer.
Hate that it's not an easy answer. lol

We're thinking maybe doing DL for 3-4 days and then a cruise for 3-4 days. While we don't want to "cheap out", we don't need to worry about kids and was hoping to cherry pick a good time of year.

Hey Sam, for the most personalized answers, it might be easier if you started a new thread with your planning questions.

Here is the 2025 Disneyland Resort Calendar that @OlliePop27 was referring to. I've tried to list both official as well as unofficial events that might impact crowds. If 2026 dates have been announced, they are in parentheses next to the 2025 listings. Disney Parks Blog should share 2026's calendar the first week in December.

 

[OlliePop27]

Hey Sam, for the most personalized answers, it might be easier if you started a new thread with your planning questions.

Here is the 2025 Disneyland Resort Calendar that @OlliePop27 was referring to. I've tried to list both official as well as unofficial events that might impact crowds. If 2026 dates have been announced, they are in parentheses next to the 2025 listings. Disney Parks Blog should share 2026's calendar the first week in December.

Sam - One thing we already know for 2026 is that the 70th offerings will continue until early August. This means Wondrous Journeys fireworks, Paint the Night parade and World of Color Happiness.

Seeing Paint the Night is a treat, so another reason to go during summer 2026 if it works with your schedule. Halloween will likely start somewhere in mid-August like this year. The 70th will have wrapped up by then (2026, not 2025).

 

[Gocanes0506]

As a fellow east coaster and yearly WDW attendee, here is what I can say about my first visit to DL in January (work travel) and now a soon to be family trip in a week.

If you follow all the wonderful advice given here and go in July, just know if you get a hot week (yay thats me), there isnt near as much getting out of the sun and into A/C as there is WDW. Many of the rides are outside and the queues are outside. A lot of the queues are like Peter Pan or out in the open.

In January, I stayed on property. It was just my Wife and I. It was significantly cheaper than what it would have been this time. So we are staying off site. Honestly the perks arent worth the extra price as others have mentioned.

Mentally prepare for things to cost more than the disney price that you are used to.

Since your kids are adults, Carthay Circle is a good restaurant to try. I really enjoyed it and it was better than most in WDW.

I flew into LAX and it didnt bother me. But I live in ATL and am used to crazy airports.

I dont know if characters are important, if so they wonder around more than sit in a specific spot like WDW.

The world of color dessert party is something your group would probably like. I didn't think the Fantasmic dining package was worth it as Fantasmic is fairly close to the one in WDW.

let me know if you need to know anything else.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I didn't think the Fantasmic dining package was worth it as Fantasmic is fairly close to the one in WDW

If you skipped the show entirely, check it out on your return. Saying it’s “close” to WDW would be like saying your wife doesn’t need a designed purse because the one you got from Target is “close.”

It doesn’t get uncomfortably hot here too often and most days it does, you need a jacket by evening. Heck, many nights Splash Mountain and Grizzly River Run will be walking after dusk since most will think it’s too cold.

We don’t get that nasty WDW summer weather where it’s raining hard every day and by the time you get back to your room you’re drenched in sweat. Heck, you won’t see any rain at all.

Plenty of places to stay cool. At DCA, the Animation Building is an awesome place - but it will get crowded when it gets hot. Nobody goes to Philharmagic, so you can stake out there all day. Tons of gift shops at DL and of course the ole Carrousel of Progress.

Some idiots like to take a dip in the fountain in ToonTown. And I hear many like to take an afternoon nap at the Grand Californian lobby.

 

[Gocanes0506]

If you skipped the show entirely, check it out on your return. Saying it’s “close” to WDW would be like saying your wife doesn’t need a designed purse because the one you got from Target is “close.”.

That is a great way to put it. And why i felt it unnecessary to pay for. A purse is a purse. A brand name one doesn’t hold your wallet and makeup 400 dollars better than a target one.

To the OP:

The shows are close enough that you don’t need to pay for the better seating. You’ll already know the gist of the show. Be able to see it (if that’s your thing) and you are good.

Go for world of color when deciding to pay for better seating (unless you don’t like sweet things).