Hey there, friend! Welcome to planDisney!
I absolutely love that you're wishing for a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth to be part of your holiday! It's a fantastic time to make that wish come true. A trip next month would land you right in the heart of the
Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration, and what a wonderful addition that would be to your adventure. The whole resort will be sparkling with special entertainment and festive treats!
I completely understand wanting to have all your plans lined up, and I'm happy to share some insight into how theme park tickets and reservations work. To answer your great question, you will need to purchase a theme park ticket before you can make a reservation. Once that ticket is linked to your account, it unlocks the ability to book your park days. The great news is that you have the flexibility to make your reservation right then and there, or you can always come back to do it later when you're ready. This also means you can modify your reservation if your plans shift a bit, as long as there's availability on the calendar.
While the tickets themselves are non-refundable according to the
Disney eTicket terms and conditions, it's best to think of them as your key to a magical day waiting for you! You have some wonderful flexibility. For instance, as of my writing this, a new one-day ticket is valid for any single day through December 30, 2026, while a multi-day ticket gives you even more time and is valid through January 12, 2027. Just keep in mind that once you enjoy your first day with a multi-day ticket, you'll need to redeem the rest of the days within 13 days of that initial visit.
And here is some reassuring news: should your ticket happen to expire before you're able to use it, the original amount paid for the wholly unused ticket can be applied toward the purchase of a new one, as long as the new ticket purchase price is equal to or greater than the amount paid for the original ticket.
Once you have those tickets purchased, it's time to make your reservations! Simply head over to the
theme park reservations page and choose the date(s) you’d like to visit. If you purchase a
Park Hopper ticket, you'll select a starting park for each of the days—either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park. Then, beginning at 11 AM, you’ll be able to “hop” on over to the other park.
Now, for my favorite must-do tip that will save you a ton of time: download the
Disneyland mobile app and get to know the
Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering feature before your visit. Popular dining spots can get pretty busy, especially during peak lunch and dinner times. Here's the magic trick: place your orders early in the morning for a later pickup time! For example, you can secure a 12:30 PM lunch spot while you're enjoying your morning coffee. When your time arrives, you'll simply tap a button in the app and bypass the ordering queue. It’s like having a Lightning Lane for your food and is the best way to make sure you get your favorite snacks with a minimal wait time!
I hope this helps you plan your incredible adventure, friend. Wishing you a journey filled with memories you'll cherish forever!
Cody