The Perfect Long Weekend Escape? DISNEYLAND
- paigelandrum
- Nov 25
- 4 min read
Contributed by Crystal Weiser
If you're craving a dose of Disney magic but don’t have a full week to spare, Disneyland, located in Anaheim, California, is a destination to consider. Unlike Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, which requires a week (if not more) to explore due to it's size and offering four theme parks and two water parks. Disneyland, on the other hand, offers a compact, yet enchantingly complete experience that’s ideal for quick getaways, even as short as a long weekend. This is one of the biggest benefits of a trip to Disneyland, California. Having the opportunity to experience the incredible magic of Disney, in much less time.
Two Parks, One Magical Weekend
Disneyland Resort is home to two iconic parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. And the best part? They’re just directly across from each other. That means you can hop between lands, characters, and attractions without spending precious time waiting on transportation.
In just two days, guests can explore:
Disneyland Park, this is where Walt Disney’s original dream came to life in July of 1955. This park features beloved lands like Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Frontierland, and Main Street, U.S.A. Plus, it includes unique areas not found in Magic Kingdom, such as:
New Orleans Square (only found in California!)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (this is located in Hollywood Studios in WDW)
Mickey’s Toontown (only found in California!)
These additions pack even more magic into your visit, especially in Mickey’s Toontown, where guests get to see Mickey and his gang come to life, and go inside Mickey and Minnie’s very own homes. Smaller guests can explore Donald’s Duck Pond and Goofy’s How to Play yard. Toontown also features the lovable characters of Chip and Dale, along with new exciting attractions like Chip ‘N’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster and Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin.
Disney California Adventure Park is a California-exclusive gem, offering lands and attractions you won’t find anywhere else. This park brings some of the newer parts of Disney to life with:
Cars Land (only found in California!) with attractions like: Radiator Springs Racers, or Luigi’s Dancing Roadsters
Pixar Pier (only found in California!) featuring the Incredicoaster, Toy Story Mania, and Inside Out.
Avengers Campus (only found in California!) home to Web Slingers, Guardians of the Galaxy-- Mission: Breakout! and awesome heroic encounters
California Adventure Park also hosts the breathtaking World of Color nighttime spectacular, which is a dazzling water and light show that’s truly unforgettable and filled with magic and wonder beyond your imagination. This park is also unique in that is pays homage to iconic places throughout California, such as the interactive Redwood Creek Challenge Trail for the Redwood Forest in Northern California. There is also Carthay Circle Lounge and Restaurant, a replica to the original location where Walt held the premier of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Stay Close, Play More
One of the biggest perks of Disneyland is its walkability. With the two parks nestled right next to each other, Disney offers three incredible resorts for guests to stay nearby —Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa — which are all within walking distance. You can even hop on the monorail from select locations for a scenic ride straight into the magic of the Disneyland Park right from your Resort.
Note that you have to have park tickets to ride the monorail in Disneyland. It is free for anyone to ride at Walt Disney World.
Affordability
Additionally, if you are trying to decide how to experience Disney on a budget, Disneyland offers a more affordable vacation for those looking to save. With just two parks to visit, guest can enjoy a fully immersive Disney adventure with reduced cost for lodging, food and park tickets. Additionally, Disneyland's proximity to two major airports means more options for your budget and flexible flight options. This potentially makes it a more economical choice.
Prefer a budget-friendly option to stay but also want to be close to the action? Disney’s Good Neighbor Hotels offer additional value and packages, including stay and tickets, with just a short stroll away. Your A Mouse and a Beach Travel Advisor can guide you on which one is right for your family.
Pro Tip: Need additional space for a larger family? There are excellent hotels off-site that are still very close to the magic and allow suite options. Let our crew design the right vacation for you!
The Ultimate Weekend Itinerary
Here’s how easy it is to make the most of a Long Disneyland weekend:
Friday evening: Fly in to either LAX, Santa Anna (John Wayne Airport - SNB), or Long Beach (LGB) and check into your select Disney Hotel. Experience Downtown Disney that evening. SNA and LGB will be the closest to Anaheim and it is very easy to grab an Uber or Lyft when you land. Allow more time if traveling from LAX.
Saturday: Spend the day exploring Disneyland Park if you have a base ticket. For convenience, we recommend a park hopper so you have true freedom and flexibility both days.
Sunday: Discover Disney's California Adventure Park or hop around to an area you haven't seen or want to experience again.
Monday morning: Check out and head home with a heart full of magical memories!
A longer stay would always be recommended to fully experience the magic of this intimate resort, however, it is very manageable for those who only have a long weekend. It is absolutely worth it!
Whether you're planning a romantic escape, a family adventure, or a friend's fun getaway... Disneyland will definitely deliver an incredible experience in a small window of time.
AMAAB Travel Agent
An A Mouse and a Beach Travel Advisor would love to help you get started by finding the right weekend getaway or Disney vacation for you. Get connected with an AMAAB travel advisor here.
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