Planning a trip to Disneyland, California? If it’s your first time visiting Anaheim, you will want to make the most of your time in the Disney Parks. But not everyone has the vacation days or the money to explore every inch of Disneyland!
So, how many days are needed for a Disneyland vacation? We recommend at least three days but stay for more than five if you really want to do it all. With that said, you can see a lot of Disneyland in just two days!
In this guide, we’ve looked at how many days you need to spend in Disneyland, California, and how to spend your vacation time wisely!
If you are taking a family vacation to Disneyland, you’ll want to read these articles about When Is The Best Time To Visit Disneyland and Where To Stay at Disneyland California.
How many days are needed for Disneyland?
Are you wondering how many days for Disneyland Anaheim? When planning your family vacation to Disneyland, California, up to a week is a reasonable length of time for your visit, but it can be done in less time. Let’s take a look at how to use that time.
How much time do you need for each Disney park in California?
Ideally, when visiting Disneyland, you should plan on spending a total of 3-4 days in the Disney theme parks. This allows time to cover rides, shows, characters, parades, and fireworks.
How many days for Disneyland Park?
When visiting the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, plan to spend two full days at Disneyland Park. There is plenty to do in this park, and you’ll need plenty of time to cover all the attractions.
There are nine areas – or “lands” – in Disneyland Park, which include the nostalgic Fantasyland, Main Street USA, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Guests will have the opportunity to ride popular attractions such as Indiana Jones Adventure, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Space Mountain.
How about the traditional Mad Tea Party or Dumbo the Flying Elephant, or relax on the Disneyland Railroad, which stops throughout the park. There are currently a limited number of characters at Disneyland Park; this includes Tinkerbell and the Disney princesses. More Disney characters are scheduled to return to this park in the fall of 2023.
Don’t miss the spectacular evening firework show at Disneyland Park.
How many days for Disney California Adventure?
Disney California Adventure is really a day to a day and a half kind of park. You could spend two days here if you want to ride the attractions multiple times, or you have a Disneyland Park Hopper ticket that allows you to visit both theme parks in one day!
Disney California Adventure has some of the best rides in Disneyland, California (and the long lines to go with them). Check out these Printable Disney Games to help entertain your children while waiting in line at Disney.
Factor in Rest Days at Disneyland
When building your Disneyland itinerary, it’s essential to add in some non-park days or rest days. I don’t know about your family, but my kids struggle to go non-stop day after day. Visiting Disneyland can be exhausting, with lots of walking and late nights. You will likely walk around 20,000 steps during a day at a Disney park, which is about 8-10 miles. Plus, time while standing in line waiting for attractions.
Our children were ages 5 and 10 years during our recent Disney trip. Our family can manage about three full days at the Disney parks, and then we need a rest day to sleep in, relax and chill out by the pool at our resort.
Factoring in rest days allows you to extend your Anaheim vacation without the additional cost of paying for more park admission tickets. For example, you may spend six days in Anaheim but only pay for park admission on four days and use the other two days as non-park days.
Plan to visit Downtown Disney and non-park destinations
On your rest day at Disneyland, you can ride the historic, high-speed Disneyland Monorail through the Disneyland Resort.
Head to the Downtown Disney District, which is located outside the entrance to the Disneyland theme parks. Try these 10 Best Things to do at Downtown Disney, including shopping, live entertainment, and the best Downtown Disney places to eat with kids.
Also, plan to do a Character Dining experience such as Mikey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast Buffet at Disney’s Grand California Hotel & Spa or a dinner buffet at Goofy’s Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel.
Or watch the evening fireworks at Disneyland Park from the rooftop pool deck at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel while the music and dialogue from the show are broadcast to the deck.
What’s the difference between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure?
Disneyland Park is slightly bigger at 85 acres compared to the 72 acres of California Adventure Park. Disneyland Park is the original Disney theme park that opened in 1955. In comparison, Disney California Adventure is newer and didn’t open until 2001.
Which is better, Disneyland Park or California Adventure?
Do you have limited time at Disneyland, and you’re trying to decide between Disneyland Park vs. Disney California Adventure?
You will find the beautiful Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park, where you can take a magical Disney family photo. Disneyland Park encompasses the magic of Disney. Since it is bigger, it has more attractions and a better selection of rides for younger children, all with the nostalgia of Walt Disney.
Disney California Adventure is geared more towards older children and adults with more thrill rides like Soarin’, Incredicoasterm, and Guardians of the Galaxy. This is the place to visit for Marvel and Pixar experiences. There are more Disney Characters currently available to see at California Adventure; however, Disneyland Park plans for more characters to return in the fall of 2023.
Disneyland Pro Tips
Every family like to vacation in their own way, so no set amount of time is just right for Disneyland. However, there are some Disneyland tips and tricks to remember when planning your family vacation.
- Research where you want to go and what you want to do before choosing dates. This will help you decide how long you need at the Disneyland Resort.
- If you have limited time, consider investing in Genie+ and Lightning Lane passes. These replaced the FastPass and can be purchased to help you speed through long lines at certain attractions.
- Disneyland is huge! Remember, you can’t do it all! No matter how long you stay, there will be some things you can’t fit in.
- Have fun! Don’t get so stressed out trying to coordinate all the details that you forget to enjoy your vacation.
- Get out Disneyland Planning Guide with Printable Worksheets to help your family plan a fun, easy, stress-free, and magical vacation to Disneyland.
Summary
There is much to do at Disneyland, from the rides to the character meet and greets to the spectacular shows, delicious food, and specialty shops; we could keep on going!
If you want to do it all, prepare for an extended stay. But you can have a great time at Disneyland in just a few days, as long as you plan!
Watch this video about how many days to spend at Disneyland
For more about family travel, check out these posts:
Top 10 Best Things to do at Downtown Disney
When Is The Best Time To Visit Disneyland?
Disneyland Planning Guide with Printable Worksheets
Games To Play In Line At Disney
Disney Genie Plus Review
Which Is Better, Disney World Or Disneyland?
Can You Bring Food Into Disneyland?
Where To Stay at Disneyland California?
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Ruth Hutchins grew up in England and now lives in North Carolina with her husband, Doug, and their two young daughters. They always loved to travel, but once having children everything changed because family travel is more complicated. Traveling with a baby may feel overwhelming to new parents. Travel with a toddler can really test your patience, and traveling with kids can lead to utter chaos. However, travel with your little ones doesn’t have to be that stressful or exhausting. On the BE Family Travel blog Ruth shares her parenting wins, and even epic failures about traveling with kids. She provides resources to help you feel empowered to plan a family vacation and travel with your children.
