Where to base yourself
On-site Disney hotels. The three Disney-run hotels are the closest and most immersive option, with perks such as early park entry for guests — and the highest prices.
Harbor Boulevard. Independent and chain hotels directly across the street from the pedestrian entrance: the best balance of price and convenience.
Convention Center and Katella Avenue. Larger hotels a 15- to 25-minute walk or a short shuttle ride from the parks; busy and pricier during big conventions.
Garden Grove and Buena Park. Cheaper rooms a short drive or shuttle away; Buena Park is right for Knott’s Berry Farm.
Food & drink
Both parks have everything from snack carts to table-service restaurants; popular places take reservations weeks ahead through the Disney app, and mobile ordering saves time at counters. Churros, the pineapple soft-serve of Adventureland and Knott’s fried chicken and boysenberry pie are the local traditions. Outside the gates, Harbor Boulevard is lined with family restaurants, and nearby Little Saigon in Westminster and Garden Grove has some of the best Vietnamese food in the country.
Money-saving and safety tips
- Disney ticket prices are tiered by date. Midweek days outside school holidays are cheapest; multi-day tickets cost less per day.
- A one-park-per-day ticket is cheaper than a park-hopper and is enough for most first visits.
- The paid queue-skipping service varies in price by day; use the free app to check waits and to join virtual queues where offered.
- Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before opening, ride the most popular attractions first and return to your hotel for a rest in the afternoon.
- Bring a refillable water bottle and sun protection; free water is available at any counter-service restaurant.
Sample plans
One day
- Disneyland Park from opening
- Fantasyland and Adventureland in the morning
- Afternoon break, then the newer lands
- Evening parade or fireworks, when scheduled
Two days
- Day one at Disneyland Park
- Day two at Disney California Adventure
- Dinner in Downtown Disney
Four days
- Two or three days in the Disney parks
- A day at Knott’s Berry Farm
- A day on the coast at Huntington or Laguna Beach, or a Los Angeles tour
Where to stay in Anaheim & Disneyland
The closer you stay to the gates, the easier the day: a hotel within walking distance lets you return for a midday rest. Disney’s own hotels are the most convenient; those on Harbor Boulevard are the best value.
