A First-Timers trip to Disneyland: We Brought the Entire Family!
If your family knows Walt Disney World like the back of your hand, visiting Disneyland for the first time might seem like an easy transition. However, it brings a whole new set of questions that you need to answer. How different are the parks? Is it really that easy to walk between them? Which attractions are worth prioritizing when you only have a few days?
For our AMAAB travel advisor Courtney, and her Disney-loving family of four, the chance to visit Disneyland came when close friends planned a trip to Los Angeles. With plenty of Walt Disney World vacations already under their belts, they were excited to experience the original Disney park, tackle favorite attractions like Cars Land and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!, and see how the West Coast version compared to their usual Florida trips.
Courtney and her family spent two and a half days exploring Disneyland Resort and even squeezed in a memorable night at a Los Angeles Dodgers game. We asked Courtney about her first Disneyland experience, what surprised her most, and what she would do differently next time. Here's what she had to say!
Tell us about your family! Who did you travel with, and what made you decide it was time for your first Disneyland trip?
My husband and I have two kids: a daughter (11) and a son (7). While my husband didn't experience Disney until he was 27, our family has grown to love Disney World—our daughter has visited five times and our son four. For our last two trips to WDW, we traveled alongside some of our best friends who also have two children per family, which made the experience even more special since the kids had friends to ride attractions with. When those same friends headed to Los Angeles for an annual franchise convention and added a Disneyland trip to their itinerary, we jumped at the chance to join them!
What were you most excited about going into the trip?
Having heard how easy it is to navigate with the parks being so close together, we were excited to skip the buses, Skyliner, ferries, and other transportation you have to take from park to park in Disney World. Even though we stayed off-property, our hotel was just a short walk to the park entrances. After watching plenty of YouTube videos, we were especially looking forward to Cars Land and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT! We couldn't wait to compare our experience to WDW.
What were you most nervous or unsure about?
We were initially hesitant about staying off-property, as we always stay at Disney World resorts like Pop Century or Caribbean Beach. We weren't sure what the walk would be like or if we'd miss that immersive "Disney Bubble" feeling. However, our stay at a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel turned out to be a great experience and exceeded our expectations!
Where did you stay, and how did you decide?
We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance, which we chose for its close proximity to the parks and its fantastic waterpark. The kids had a blast hanging out at the waterpark for an afternoon, and bundling the hotel with our Disneyland tickets landed us a great deal. The rooms were surprisingly spacious compared to our usual Disney World stays, each had two double beds and a set of twin bunk beds. We also appreciated the convenient on-site amenities, including a lobby restaurant and bar open late for a late night snack when we returned from the park. Additionally, there were nearby breakfast options like Panera Bread and McDonald's right on our morning walk to the entrance.
How many days did you plan for Disneyland, and did you feel like that was the right amount of time for your family?
We planned for 2 and a half park days, which was the perfect amount of time. On our first half-day, we explored Disney California Adventure in the morning before heading back to the hotel for an afternoon at the waterpark and an evening baseball game with our group.
We spent our first full day entirely at DCA. The following day, we started at Disneyland Park before park-hopping back to DCA in the evening to re-ride our favorite attractions.
What was your strategy for tackling the parks with your group?
With young children who love to get up early, we always rope drop the parks at WDW so our strategy was the same at Disneyland. We always get a lot done in the mornings before the parks get busy.
What attractions were the biggest hits with your kids? Were there any that surprised you?
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT! and the Incredicoaster were huge hits. We were especially surprised by how much the kids loved the Incredicoaster! At first, they were hesitant because of the upside-down loop, but it quickly became a favorite—we ended up riding it at least 10 times over the two days.
Were there any attractions, experiences, or areas that you would skip?
No! We loved it all.
What was your family’s favorite character experience, show, or entertainment?
With six kids ages 11 and under in our group of 12, we rarely stop for shows or character meets—our group is all about the rides! We did manage to catch about five minutes of World of Color at DCA, but only because the Incredicoaster was temporarily paused for the show, giving us a fun, mandatory pause to enjoy it!
What stood out the most at Disneyland that felt different from Walt Disney World?
Three main differences stood out to us: the weather, navigating the parks, and the food. First, the weather was perfect—visiting in July with mild temperatures and very low humidity made a huge difference compared to Disney World. Second, navigating the parks was so easy since you can simply walk back and forth between the entrances. Finally, we thought the food was better than Disney World! Our favorite treats were the churros and the giant “Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums” warm chocolate chip cookies near the Incredicoaster.
What is the one thing you would do differently on your next Disneyland trip?
Next time, we would love to combine our trip with a longer California vacation. Since we traveled all that way to the West Coast, we wished we had extra time to explore the beaches or visit nearby cities or even some National Parks!
What was your favorite family moment from the trip?
While we loved every second at Disneyland, our favorite family memory was a side trip on our first night. We took a 45-minute Uber into Los Angeles to Dodger Stadium and got to watch Shohei Ohtani pitch! With six baseball- and softball-loving kids in our group, it was an unforgettable memory!
Final Thoughts: Is Disneyland Worth the Trip?
For Courtney and her family, Disneyland delivered everything they hoped for and a few surprises along the way. From walking between the parks with ease to enjoying the milder July weather and discovering new favorite rides, their first visit offered a fun change of pace from their usual Walt Disney World vacations.
Her biggest takeaway? Two and a half park days was plenty of time to experience both parks, but next time, they'd love to turn the trip into a longer California vacation. Between Disneyland, nearby beaches, Los Angeles attractions, and other destinations throughout the state, there's plenty of reason to extend your stay.
AMAAB Travel Advisor
If you're planning your own first Disneyland trip, this experience is a great reminder that you don't have to spend a full week at the resort to make incredible memories. Prioritize the attractions your family is most excited about, take advantage of the parks' walkability, and leave a little room for adventures beyond the Disney gates.
Are you ready to start planning a Disneyland vacation? Our team of AMAAB Travel Advisors are ready to help! Start here.
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