The Park Savers 2026 Disneyland Resort Planning Guide covers everything you want to know about planning a vacation to this fun-filled destination: crowds, dining, best hotels, saving money on tickets and other tips & tricks. We also cover how to get on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance so you don’t leave disappointed. (updated January 27, 2026)
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort has undergone a massive transformation, and as we move through 2026, the “new normal” for the parks is officially here. If you haven’t visited since before 2020, or even just in the last year, you’ll find that the way you navigate your day has been completely reimagined to celebrate Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary.
Here is what is happening at the resort right now and how the new systems work.
Celebrating 70 Years of Magic
The 70th Anniversary “Celebrate Happy” festivities are in full swing through August 9, 2026. This isn’t just a small party; it’s a resort-wide takeover featuring:
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The Return of “Paint the Night”: The fan-favorite nighttime parade has finally returned to Disneyland Park, lighting up Main Street, U.S.A., with its brilliant LED floats.
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Walt Disney – A Magical Life: Located in the Main Street Opera House, this groundbreaking show features the first-ever Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney himself. It currently plays in rotation with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
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New “it’s a small world” Additions: Keep an eye out for Miguel and Dante from Coco, who have officially joined the classic attraction.
Goodbye Genie, Hello Lightning Lane
The biggest change for 2026 is the total rebranding of Disney’s digital queue services. The “Genie” name has been retired to simplify the guest experience.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Replacing Genie+, the Lightning Lane Multi Pass is your primary tool for skipping lines.
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How it works: You can purchase this as a ticket add-on or on the day of your visit via the Disneyland app.
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The Perk: Once you enter the park, you can book your first arrival window for over 20 attractions across both parks (including Space Mountain and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!).
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PhotoPass: Your purchase still includes unlimited digital downloads of your Disney PhotoPass photos for the day.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
For the most in-demand attractions that aren’t included in the Multi Pass, you’ll use the Single Pass. This is an a-la-carte purchase for individual rides. Currently, this typically applies to the heaviest hitters like Radiator Springs Racers. You do not need to have the Multi Pass to buy a Single Pass.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass
New for the 70th Anniversary era, the Premier Pass is the ultimate luxury option. It allows you one-time entry to every available Lightning Lane attraction in both parks—at your leisure—without needing to book a specific return time in the app. These are available in very limited quantities and can be booked up to 7 days in advance.
And of course we can’t forget that Theme Park Reservations are mandatory in order to go to the parks. This is outside of your purchased ticket.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DISNEYLAND
Disneyland is Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom, opening in 1955 with just one park. Over the years, it has grown immensely (to a certain degree), adding an additional park, California Adventure, in the early 2000s. Disneyland Park’s abundant charm flows through each of the theme park’s lands: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Mickey’s Toontown, Fantasyland and Galaxy’s Edge.
Most guests find this park to be the most “magical” of Disney’s two California theme parks, with many original attractions like Peter Pan, Snow White, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain, just to name a few.
Directly across from Disneyland is Disney’s California Adventure Park. Initially, the park was built to represent the state of California. After that pretty much failed, it was revamped to make it more “Disney” in 2012 and has since grown in popularity with the help of new lands and attractions.
Some of our reasons for visiting Disneyland over Walt Disney World include:
- Cars Land
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!
- Pixar Pier
- New Orleans Square
- The original World’s Fair version of “it’s a small world”
- The Blue Bayou Restaurant (yes, this makes our list)
- Avengers Campus
- World of Color
NEW TO DISNEYLAND
The newest add-on to Disneyland is Avengers Campus in California Adventure Park. This new land took the place of A Bug’s Land and will soon connect Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! to the rest of Marvel. They are also in the works of adding two new attractions to Avengers Campus which are expected to open in 2027 sometime.
The land features one new attraction, a dining location, shopping and character meets. There is also an impressive “stuntronics” Spider-Man swinging from rooftop to rooftop, which is truly amazing.
Also coming soon to California Aventure Park will be a brand new Coco-themed attraction. This will go in the southwest corner of Pixar Pier with an opening of sometime in 2028.
Downtown Disney has also seen a lot of new additions and changes including Din Tai Fung and Portos Bakery (opening in 2027). There’s a lot of construction going on there right now so just be aware.
FIRST-TIME VISITORS
It’s exciting to plan a vacation to Disneyland for the first time, but it can also seem overwhelming. Trust us, we get it: You want to see and do it all. It’s a worthy cause and very much achievable for anyone who plans correctly. If you want a detailed guide on how to spend your day(s), you can see our Disneyland Itinerary Guides for more information.
For your initial planning, however, here are the most important things to know about:
- When to visit
- Picking the right hotel
- Saving on your theme park tickets
- Transportation and airfare
- Lightning Lane
- Entertainment including parades, fireworks, World of Color and Fantasmic!
DISNEYLAND TICKETS
Currently, you can purchase tickets that range from one to five days. Depending on how long you want to play, it’s always best to buy as many days as possible, as the price per day drops the more you add. For instance, the 2-day ticket costs about $128 per day, but the 4-day ticket costs about $90 per day. So, the more you play, the less you pay!
Guests can choose from either 1 Park Per Day or Park Hopper tickets. 1 Park Per Day tickets give you access to one of the two parks each day of your visit. You CANNOT visit both parks on the same day. Park Hopper tickets give you access to both parks as much as you want for the length of your ticket.
We always recommend this ticket as it gives you a lot of flexibility to switch parks when the other is busy. For a great Disney deal, be sure to purchase your Disneyland tickets at a discount with our trusted partner online.
Remember that tickets are only valid for 13 days after first use unless you have an annual pass. Also, tickets cannot be used by different people; the same person must use them on each day of use. Disney takes this very seriously and will revoke your ticket if you’re caught doing this. Only buy your tickets from vendors who are authorized.
For more information on discount Disneyland tickets, be sure to read our comprehensive guide so you can save the most money. We talk about many different places, including Sam’s Club, AAA and Costco.
MAGIC KEYS
Keep the magic going all year-round with an annual pass, or Disneyland’s Magic Key Passes. These give you one year of access to the parks, some with restrictions and blackout dates. All offer discounts on food and merchandise, tours, and special events.
Please visit here for information on the Magic Key Program, including the four levels of annual passholder membership: Inspire Key, Believe Key, Explore Key and Imagine Key.
DISNEYLAND HOTELS
It seems like there are a million and one options for hotels at and near the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. The city itself is basically made up of hotels with a few houses and apartment buildings sprinkled in between, so your options are immense. Having said that, there are ones you’ll want to avoid.
Disneyland has three hotels on property, including the Paradise Pier Hotel, Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. While these hotels tend to run a bit pricier then most hotels near the resort, they also offer a lot of extras for guests like short walks to the parks, package delivery from the parks, and Extra Magic Hour each morning.
Most hotels surrounding the resort (but not owned by Disney) will most likely fall into the Good Neighbor Hotel category. You can read about these and the Disney Hotels in our complete Disneyland Hotel Reviews guide. There are some great ones out there like Desert Palms Hotel and Suites, Residence Inn Marriott and the new Westin Resort by Marriott.
AIRPORTS
Three airports service Disneyland within a 45-minute drive or less:
- Orange County – John Wayne SNA
- Long Beach Airport LGB
- Los Angeles Airport LAX
SNA is the closest airport to Disney and typically takes about 15 minutes to drive from there to Disneyland with clear traffic. While the airport is a smaller one, it’s really nice and offers lots of places to eat, shop and, of course, catch your flight. It’s also part of the Disneyland Resort Express motorcoach program, which you can read about below. Airlines include Southwest, Delta, United, American, and Alaska.
LGB is the second closest airport to the resort and typically takes about a 20-25 minute drive with clear traffic. It’s also a smaller airport, but was recently re-done and has some great eating places. Airlines that service Long Beach include Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, and American Eagle.
LAX is the furthest airport from Disneyland and can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to drive. This is a major airport with many airlines servicing it. We won’t list them all, but most likely, your airline will fly into it. It’s great for international flights. LAX is part of the Karmel Shuttle motorcoach program, which you can read more about below.
The best way to score some serious discounts on airfare is to use Google’s Flight Search, which compares most major airlines and allows you to track prices, all for free.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting to and from the airports can be pricey, depending on which type of transportation you take. Rental cars can be picked up at all three of the airports around Disneyland. If you choose to rent a vehicle, keep in mind that your hotel may charge a parking fee.
Disneyland also charges a parking fee if you’re thinking about parking at the resort. It’s approximately $20 per day for cars and motorcycles. However, driving your own vehicle or renting one can be a great idea if you plan to leave the resort a lot and head to the beach or other Southern California attractions.
Alternatively, the Karmel Shuttle Service is a great way to go from SNA, LGB and LAX to the three Disney hotels and surrounding ones like the Good Neighbor hotels.
Taxis, Uber and LYFT are great options if you don’t want to pay parking and rental fees. We highly recommend Uber and LYFT for getting to and from the airport. They are readily available and cheaper than taking a taxi. Use our coupon codes to get your first ride free with both companies!
If you don’t have these apps on your phone, we suggest taking a taxi. Many of them offer a flat rate to Disneyland and back – just be sure to ask them. Likewise, if you’re staying at a Disneyland property hotel, ask the bell desk for a flat rate coupon upon departure.
DISNEY LIGHTNING LANE SERVICE
The secret to having a successful trip to Disneyland is going in with a plan. Luckily, the latest iteration of Disney’s technological innovations, called “Lightning Lane,” helps visitors make the most out of their day at Disneyland, whether they have spent months preparing for the trip or are simply stepping foot in Disneyland for the first time. Fully immersed within the Disneyland app, Lightning Lane services have replaced Disney’s “Genie” branding to offer a more streamlined experience for visitors.
Using your individual preferences, such as your favorite Disney characters or rides you must get on, along with your estimated waiting periods, you can create your own personalized digital plan within the app. By taking advantage of shorter waiting periods and skipping over rides you have no interest in, you can be sure to make the most out of your day at Disneyland.
LIGHTNING LANE MULTI PASS & SINGLE PASS ATTRACTIONS
The days of FastPass and MaxPass are officially over. Now, visitors can fast-track their Disneyland experience with Lightning Lane. By choosing Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass attractions, you can skip waiting in lines for your favorite rides at Disneyland.
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass: Genie+ is now replaced by the Lightning Lane Multi Pass as the primary means of time savings. The cost is initially set, usually around $32 per person, per day, although the cost varies depending on the day you plan to visit the park. The cost is applicable to popular rides and attractions, such as the Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The added advantage is the unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital downloads, as was the case with Genie+.
- Lightning Lane Single Pass: The most popular rides and attractions, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers, are available on an a la carte basis. Unlike the Multi Pass, you are required to purchase the Single Pass for each ride you wish to visit. The cost varies between $15 and $25 per person, depending on the day and the popularity of the rides and attractions.
This two-pass system provides the flexibility to customize your day as you wish, visiting as many rides as you can with the Multi Pass, or splurging on the Single Pass for that “must-do” E-ticket ride. Be sure to check the Disneyland app as soon as you enter the park to reserve your first windows.
WORLD OF COLOR
World of Color – One is the premier nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure Park, performing nightly on the waters of Paradise Bay. Originally debuted for the Disney 100 celebration and now a cornerstone of the resort’s entertainment lineup, this version of the show is the first to feature characters and music from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Star Wars, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe all in one production.
The Experience
The show utilizes a massive “stage” consisting of nearly 1,200 fountains that can shoot water up to 200 feet in the air. These fountains act as giant high-definition projection screens, creating a shimmering canvas for iconic movie moments.
The storyline of “World of Color – One” centers on the idea that a single action—like a drop of water—can create a ripple that grows into a wave of change. You’ll see powerful sequences featuring:
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Moana finding her way across the ocean.
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Coco’s Miguel celebrating the power of family.
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Soul’s Joe Gardner discovering the spark of life.
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Epic, large-scale battle moments from The Avengers and Star Wars.
The show is capped off with a stirring original song, “Start a Wave,” and a finale that utilizes the entire lagoon’s lighting and fire effects.
FANTASMIC!
Fantasmic! is a nighttime spectacular that takes place around the Rivers of America in Frontierland and New Orleans Square. You won’t want to miss this one-of-kind show starring Mickey Mouse and some nasty villains.
The show includes some of your favorite characters and the Mark Twain Riverboat, singing, dancing, and even fireworks, making it an absolute must-see.
The show made its return in 2022 after being on hiatus for over 2 years.
PARADES AND FIREWORKS
These change seasonally and yearly, so it’s essential to stay updated on what’s currently being presented at each park.
If you’re looking for fireworks, Disneyland Park is the place to go, as there aren’t any offered at California Adventure Park. Fireworks are typically done later in the evening and are most likely occur on the weekends, though they tend to run more during the summertime and major holidays. Always pick up an entertainment times guide when entering the parks (or check the Disneyland app) so you know when these are.
Parades change often, and each park can have its own. Pain the Night Parade will make its way down Main Street, USA once more beginning February 2026.
Be aware that these types of entertainment are subject to change, mostly due to weather. For example, high winds will cancel a fireworks show, while rain will cancel a fireworks show and a parade.
BEST TIME TO VISIT DISNEYLAND
There’s a lot to be said about visiting Disneyland. Of course, we all want to travel when there are smaller crowds and shorter wait times. But, we also want to go when it’s easy for families to travel and everything is open. Finding a balance between the two can be challenging, but it’s possible.
Over the last several years, we’ve studied the crowds and have broken down what you can expect each month and when the best weeks are to visit.
In a nutshell, these are the best times to go to Disneyland:
- January & February (minus holiday weekends)
- May (first half of the month)
- September (after Labour Day)
- Early October
- Early November
- Early December
Avoid major holiday weeks like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Summers are crazy because kids are out of school. March and April are full of spring breakers, and late May is full of graduation nights. In other words, any time that’s not convenient for a family to go is the best time to go!
Be sure to read our Best Time to Visit Disneyland Guide to see what may work for you. You can also check out our free Disneyland Crowd Calendars to see which days will be the busiest and which ones will be slow. Be sure to check out our favorite travel agency to help you book your 2026 trips for FREE!
