Our Disneyland Game Plan
How to Plan a Disneyland Trip Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Wallet)
Planning a Disneyland trip isn’t just about picking dates and buying tickets — it’s about flights, hotels, meals, rides, snacks, and a strategy that lets you enjoy the magic without burning out (or going broke). We just celebrated our middle daughter’s 9th birthday at Disneyland during its 70th anniversary, and here’s exactly how we pulled it off — plus the tips I wish I knew before.
Flights: Why Promotions Matter
We flew Southwest Airlines because we scored their Companion Pass promotion — meaning one of us flew completely free. This used to be just for Southwest Chase cardholders, but now it’s available to anyone flying Southwest when they run promotions. There was a time we ONLY flew Southwest when it came to domestic flights because we lived by the companion pass.
Check here for more about Southwest’s Companion Pass
On the way back, we had to fly Frontier to make it home by Sunday night so that our girls would not miss an additional day of school. Lesson learned: no inflight entertainment on a 4+ hour flight — not the best move with kids. Download movies or favorite shows on devices, lots of snacks (because Frontier will make you pay for EVERYTHING), and your own entertainment if you end up flying them. I’m sure many of you already know this but I wasn’t prepared and it bite me. Thankfully I sat next to the child who complains the least about being bored.
Hotels: Partner vs. Points
In Anaheim, we stayed at a Hyatt Hotel, a Disneyland partner hotel. They offer a shuttle to the park — but at $7 per person (we had six people!), it actually made more sense to just pay for Disney’s own parking ($35/day). But we could not beat how close we were to the actual park. So much so, that we actually took a break in the middle of park day 2 which is kind of unheard of for us. When we are visiting a new Disney park, we usually do rope drop (open) to close.
The upside of not relying on the shuttle? We drove to McDonald’s for breakfast first, a trick we often use when we are visiting our own Disney park in Orlando. The downside? McDonald’s in Anaheim or California in general? is way pricier than at home. (Consider this your warning: budget for it, or pack some grab-and-go breakfast foods.) To give you an idea, 5 hash browns cost us $16.95!
When we stayed a night in Los Angeles, we switched things up and stayed at the Wayfarer Hotel. We are normally Hyatt/Hilton/Marriott people, and this was a fun option because it was very unique for a Hilton property. While there, we showed the kids our old stomping grounds. Our old apartments were renovated and look NOTHING like they do now but I’m sure they still have the most amazing views!
Park Days: The Real Planning
We only had two days — one day at Disneyland and one day at California Adventure. That meant serious planning was necessary to maximize rides and food.
We relied heavily on SoCalDisneyDad’s YouTube channel for strategy:
Which rides to hit first before lines explode
Which mobile orders to place early so we weren’t hangry
Where to squeeze in downtime without missing the fun
If you don’t have the bandwidth to do deep research, I highly recommend checking out his videos before your trip.
Food: Don’t Wing It
Food at Disney isn’t just about eating — it’s part of the experience. We planned our meals ahead based on reviews and recommendations so we didn’t waste money on food we wouldn’t enjoy. Mobile ordering was a lifesaver (and it kept us from waiting in yet another line). And if you are going around a holiday, make sure you know the special offers and the food, snacks and beverages get a makeover during this time. We also brought lots of our own snacks and water into the park because there was no way I was going to be caught with 3 kids asking for snacks in a ride line and be unprepared.
Bonus Day in L.A
After the parks, we took a day in Los Angeles to explore with our girls and my mother-in-law. This was more personal — revisiting the neighborhoods we once hung out in and showing them our history — but it was also a great way to round out the trip with something non-Disney. Tj and I very briefly lived in LA during the time that we traveled for my job as a travel nurse.
The Sip-and-Save Version:
Look for flight promos (Southwest Companion Pass can be a game-changer).
Weigh shuttle vs. parking costs — especially if traveling with a bigger group.
Budget for meals outside the park (even McDonald’s isn’t always the budget hack you expect).
Research rides and food before you go — YouTube is your best friend here.
Bring backup entertainment if flying budget airlines.
Disney trips are magical — but with the right prep, they can be less stressful, more affordable, and a whole lot more fun.
