Deciding on the Right Amount of Days at Disneyland
It’s the first big question every planner asks: “How many days do I need to visit Disneyland?” The Happiest Place on Earth is packed with magic across both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, offering so much immersive fun, delicious dining, and unforgettable entertainment that you’ll want to make sure you allow enough time to see it all.
Related – How to Do Disneyland with Young Kids
Different theme park ticket options are available to meet a range of budgets, lengths of stay and how often you plan to visit. Read on for helpful information about admission choices and tips on maximizing your visit, depending on how much time you have.
What to Know About Disneyland Tickets
To enter a theme park, all guests ages 3 and older must have both a ticket and theme park reservation for the same park on the same date. Theme park tickets and reservations can be researched on the Disneyland website.
Standard theme park tickets are available in one- to five-day options, with different price points for kids (ages 3-9) and guests ages 10 and older. Children younger than age 3 don’t need a ticket.
The lowest priced 1-Day, 1-Park ticket (for guests 10 years of age and older) is $104 on select dates. Available dates and prices can be viewed on the ticket calendar and park reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance.
Park Hopper Ticket
For those wanting to enjoy both parks on the same day, a Park Hopper ticket is an especially good value with pricing varying based on your ticket type. A reservation is required for the first park, then after 11:00 a.m., you can enter the other park and go back and forth (subject to availability).
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
The purchase of Lightning Lane Multi Pass can also be added to tickets. Save time waiting in line by booking arrival windows to use the Lightning Lane entrance at select attractions (subject to limited availability; limit one Lightning Lane selection per experience each day).
Unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads from the day and access to Disney PhotoPass Lenses are also included with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Multi-Day Disneyland Vacations (Two Days or More)
A multi-day Disneyland vacation of two days or more provides time to explore the resort at a relaxed pace. You can get on many iconic rides, enjoy table-service dining, watch different nighttime spectaculars, search for Hidden Mickeys, and more!
The ideal number of days to visit Disneyland is three days or longer. This gives plenty of time to accomplish a lot and take breaks in between.
Unless otherwise stated, multi-day tickets must be used within 13 days after first use or by the stated expiration date, whichever occurs first.
Disneyland Resort Vacation Packages
Vacations packages are available for multi-day visits. They include theme park tickets and a stay at either a Disneyland Resort Hotel or Good Neighbor Hotel. Packages at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort come with special benefits that only come with an on-property stay.
With over 50 Disney-approved Good Neighbor Hotels to choose from, there is a package option to fit a variety of travel styles, party sizes and budgets while staying right in the neighborhood of the Disneyland Resort.
Tip: Explore the Magic Beyond the Parks
For the full Disneyland experience, make time for the magic beyond the theme parks. Consider spending a day checking out the dining, shopping, and entertainment at the Downtown Disney District.
If you’re staying at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort, take advantage of the amenities, recreation, and activities for overnight guests. Make a splash at the pool, go on a hotel tour, work out at the fitness center, and more.
The on-property hotels also have must-try restaurants, character encounters and, at select times of year, seasonal entertainment that all can enjoy — including those just visiting for the day. Anyone up for a character dining dinner at Storytellers Cafe in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa (or Goofy’s Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel!), followed by a few games of shuffleboard at the Pixar Shorts Court and fireworks viewing (on select nights) from Pixar Place Hotel?
One Day at Disneyland Resort
You’re in for a full day of fun and lifelong memories! Just one day at a Disneyland Resort theme park can provide 12 or more hours of entertainment.
Deciding between a 1-Day, 1-Park ticket or Park Hopper ticket depends on the attractions and entertainment you want to prioritize, as well as the pace at which you prefer to navigate the parks.
1-Day tickets also have the most choice and flexibility in what you pay, as prices vary by date.
1-Day Park Hopper Ticket
A Park Hopper ticket presents the opportunity to experience the greatest hits at both Disneyland and California Adventure. The entrances to both parks are right across from each other, so bouncing between them is a breeze! Between both parks, there are more than 50 attractions and experiences to choose from. Start the day training with legendary Super Heroes at Avengers Campus and racing around Cars Land at California Adventure, before heading over to Disneyland for classic attractions and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
1-Day, 1-Park Ticket
1-Day, 1-Park tickets are suitable for a day enjoying more of what one park has to offer, from must-do attractions to atmosphere entertainment.
Purchasing Lightning Lane access can be an especially valuable time-saver when you are here for one day and want to prioritize going on rides. Different passes are available for a separate fee to fit more fun in a day: Lightning Lane Single Pass, Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and Lightning Lane Premier Pass.
More Tips for Maximizing Your Visit
- Reduce wait times at select attractions by joining the complimentary Single Rider line. Your party will be separated to fill remaining seats that aren’t occupied by guests utilizing standby lines.
- Plan ahead by mobile ordering food and beverages from select quick-service restaurants and candy kitchens on the Disneyland app. Place orders early in the day so your meal is ready at your preferred dining time.
Visiting Disneyland Multiple Times in a Year
Magic Key Annual Pass
Magic Key could be a great value if you plan on visiting again and again within a year. It includes reservation-based Park Hopper admission, discounts on select shopping and dining, and special perks.
There are four different pass types with varying benefits, such as food and merchandise discounts, theme park parking, Disney PhotoPass digital downloads, and more. Learn about the different pass types, extras and blockout dates on the Disneyland website.
Magic Key passes are limited in availability and go on sale periodically. A monthly payment option is available for California residents.
What if you already purchased a theme park ticket and are interested in upgrading to a Magic Key pass? When passes are on sale, eligible ticket types can be upgraded via the Disneyland app.
Select Multi-Day Ticket Offers
Select promotional multi-day tickets may have the option to visit on nonconsecutive days within a given window of dates. Each special offer’s terms and conditions will specify how and when the tickets can be used.
How many days do you like to spend at Disneyland?
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