Disneyland Vacation Planning – Part Three

If you can even believe it, it is time for Part Three and the grand finale of Disneyland vacation planning! After doing a little happy dance to celebrate your future visit to The Happiest Place on Earth, you may have since:

1. Picked travel dates
2. Selected accommodations
3. Decided how many days to visit the theme parks
4. Booked a vacation package (or resort stay and park tickets)
5. Made park reservations
6. Arranged travel plans
7. Chosen where to spend each vacation day

With all of that done, you are in the home stretch! Before you know it, you’ll be walking down Main Street, U.S.A., taking in the sweet scent of churros and popcorn, and finally catching your first glimpse of Sleeping Beauty Castle. But before that magical moment arrives, there are just a few more things to take care of to ensure your trip is as seamless and stress-free as possible. In this final stage of planning, here is what you’ll be focusing on:

• Are there dining experiences and magical extras that you would like to reserve?
• Will you use Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Single Pass, or Premier Pass services?
• What would you like to see and do when you’re in the parks?

And if you happen to have some extra time on your hands, you could also consider some bonus vacation prep tasks like:

• Channeling your building excitement into some fun countdown activities
• Putting together a packing list

BOOK DINING AND ENCHANTING EXTRAS

One of the best parts of a Disneyland vacation is the incredible food and unique dining experiences! If you’re anything like us, you love dreaming about all the delicious meals and snacks you’ll enjoy – whether it’s a longtime favorite or something new to try for the first time. With so many fantastic dining options at Disneyland Resort, some restaurants can be tough to get into without a reservation. But don’t worry! Dining reservations open 60 days in advance on a rolling, day-by-day basis, giving you plenty of time to secure a spot at your must-visit restaurants before your trip. If you have your heart set on popular spots like Blue Bayou, Lamplight Lounge, or character dining experiences, be ready to book as soon as your window opens for the best availability!

Aside from dining, Disneyland offers a variety of Enchanting Extras that can also be reserved 60 days in advance. You could enjoy an exclusive guided tour through Disneyland Park, design a lightsaber at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or treat your child to a magical makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. If any of these experiences are on your wish list, check availability and secure your reservations early!

PLAN FOR LIGHTNING LANES

At Disneyland, guests can minimize wait times and access shorter queues for select attractions using Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, or Lightning Lane Premier Pass services. Any guest with a valid theme park ticket and a Park Pass reservation can purchase and utilize these services.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass provides skip-the-line access to select attractions at Disneyland Park and California Adventure. Purchasing this service allows you to select the next available time to ride an eligible attraction and reduces your time waiting in line. You’ll make your first selection after entering a park, then make additional selections throughout the day. If you didn’t choose the Multi Pass add-on when booking your vacation package or purchasing your tickets, then at this point in your planning you’ll want to decide if you’d like to upgrade and include the service before you arrive. If you’re unsure, you can wait until you are on vacation and purchase the service via the app on the day you wish to use it after entering the parks (subject to availability).

Lightning Lane Single Pass entry is an “á la carte” purchase offered separately from Lightning Lane Multi Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland Park and Radiator Springs Racers at California Adventure. Single Passes can be purchased with or without the Multi Pass service, and selections can be made as soon as you enter a theme park (also subject to availability).

If you plan to use Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass during your vacation, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with how these services work and decide which selections you’ll try to make first. The services are only accessible via the Disneyland app, so be sure you have the most recent app update before departure for full access.

The Lightning Lane Premier Pass provides one-time access to all available Lightning Lane entrances in Disneyland Park and California Adventure without needing to select arrival windows. This service includes all attractions available with the Multi Pass service as well as the Single Pass offerings. Scan in at any Lightning Lane attraction whenever you wish, for the ultimate flexibility throughout your day. Premier Passes are available in limited quantities and can be purchased in the Disneyland app up to 7 days in advance of your park visit.

CREATE DAILY ITINERARIES

Now that you have your dining reservations, Enchanting Extras, and Lightning Lane plans in place, it’s time to build out your daily itineraries. This task may feel tedious while you’re in the midst of it, but I assure you it will pay off in spades once you are on vacation. Devising step-by-step touring plans for each day you plan to be in the theme parks will come in handy by helping you stay one step ahead of the crowds and minimizing the time you wait in line for attractions. You don’t need to create a rigid schedule right down to the minute, but having general plans for all the attractions and entertainment you’d like to experience will help you maximize your time on vacation. Some things to consider include:

• Park opening times and when you plan to arrive
• Priority attractions and must-dos
• Parades, shows, and evening entertainment
• Dining and Enchanting Extra reservations
• When you plan to eat and take breaks
• Plans for using Lightning Lane services

There are many ways to build an itinerary, and they will all be unique to the parameters outlined above. For example, a day that starts and ends at the Magic Kingdom with young children will likely be different than the same day planned with teenagers. An amazing source to help get you started with your touring plans is none other than the experts themselves, TouringPlans! Leading the way with up-to-the-minute information about all things Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line, Universal, and more, TouringPlans is a one-stop shop for everything you’ve ever needed to plan your perfect vacation. I have been a TouringPlans subscriber for years and can attest to the invaluable resources and tools they offer, INCLUDING customizable step-by-step itineraries for all of the theme parks. If creating your own plans seems too daunting, look no further than TouringPlans. You will indeed be in the best of hands!

And (if time permits), last but not least…

BUILD SOME EXCITEMENT

In our household, we are big fans of having little things planned in the months ahead of our vacations, as a way of counting down and leaning into the building excitement. I think this can be every bit as enjoyable as the vacation itself! So while this next step is totally optional, if time permits I would highly recommend sprinkling in a few activities here and there to embrace this growing excitement as you await your trip to the magic. Some fun ideas to consider could be:

1. Countdown Calendar:
   • Just like the many Advent calendars used to count down to the holidays, you could create your own Disney-fied version to count down to your departure date. It could be something as simple as writing the number of days left until your big trip on a chalkboard or whiteboard, and erasing and replacing with the newest number each morning. Or you could tap into your imagination and get your creative juices flowing to craft something a bit more elaborate. Whichever approach you take is sure to get everybody looking forward to vacation with eager anticipation!
2. Themed Movie Night:
   • Watching Disney movies is one of the most surefire ways I know to get myself and my family into the Disney mood. There are so many incredible films to choose from, and the weeks leading up to a trip to the parks are a perfect time to revisit old favorites or press play on any you’ve not yet seen. And planning an evening with food and snacks inspired by these movies is like the cherry on top of the whole experience. Dirt pudding with plenty of gummy worms thrown in for good measure would be the perfect complement to a Lion King movie night, for example. Or, perhaps a batch of Tiana’s “man-catching” beignets to go alongside The Princess and the Frog, or Jolly Roger pizza boats and fruit swords while watching Peter Pan, or a hearty spaghetti and meatballs dinner to accompany the 1955 animated classic, Lady and the Tramp… And the list goes on and on! The sky is the limit on what you can do, and the weeks before heading to Disneyland are a terrific time to channel your inner chef and get a jump start on making vacation memories.
3. Make a Disney Playlist:
   • Listening to your favorite Disney songs is an easy way to get pumped for Disneyland, and music streaming services are a fantastic source for finding just about every tune you can think of. You could create a playlist of your favorite songs from the various Disney movies, attractions, parks, and even resorts, and play it in the background around the house or driving in the car.
4. Listen to a Disney Podcast or Check out a Disney YouTube Channel:
   • Listening to Disney podcasts is a guilty pleasure I enjoy year-round at home. They are fun and informative and I love their ability to transport me to my happy place so that I can vicariously soak in some pixie dust from afar. Listening to planning advice and anecdotes from time spent at the parks and resorts can also be another really neat way to generate excitement and get into a solid vacation frame of mind. But if podcasts aren’t your thing, watching YouTube videos of the Disney parks would certainly do the trick as well. Videos of dining reviews, on-ride attraction POVs (Point of View), and general walk-throughs in the parks are invaluable sources of knowledge, entertainment, and excitement, just like their audio-only counterparts.
5. Go Shopping:
   • There’s no need to wait until you’re on vacation to start souvenir shopping. You could treat yourself now to a few new goodies to use in the parks! Perhaps a t-shirt or sweatshirt featuring your favorite characters or attractions, or maybe a themed Mickey ear headband, or possibly one of the ever-popular spirit jerseys, or one-of-a-kind Loungefly mini backpacks? There is no time like the present to indulge a bit and do some online Disney Store shopping before vacation. A little retail therapy now will surely leave you energized and ready to go, all while looking and feeling your Disney best!

START PACKING

Once you’ve worked through all of the logistics of planning, there is just one thing left to do – grab those suitcases and get packing! Depending on the time of year, the weather in Anaheim can vary, so be sure to check the forecast before your trip. Aside from the clothing for the duration of your stay, other key items to include in your luggage are:

1.  A good bag or backpack to carry with you in the parks
2.  Reusable water bottles
3.  Camera
4.  Device battery packs
5.  Ponchos (Disneyland’s are expensive!  You can purchase much cheaper ponchos from places like Target, Dollar Tree, etc.)
6.  Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats
7.  Comfortable walking shoes
8.  Autograph books
9.  Pennies and quarters for the pressed penny machines

And, of course, don’t forget to leave extra room in your suitcase for mementos and souvenirs from your time away!

RELAX AND ENJOY!

And there you go – you did it! You’ve made it through all of the prep and planning, and you are ready for your vacation! I know that planning a Disneyland trip can often feel overwhelming, but as my husband loves to say, the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. By breaking everything down into manageable steps – just like we’ve done in Parts One, Two, and Three – you’ve set yourself up for an incredible trip.

Now, all that’s left to do is to enjoy every magical moment once your vacation begins. Whether everything goes exactly as planned or you find yourself embracing a few surprises along the way, just know that you are fully prepared and ready to have the most amazing time. I hope you enjoy every minute of soaking in the magic and making unforgettable memories with your loved ones at The Happiest Place on Earth!