Can you really experience both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure in just one day? My family did—and thanks to Premier Pass, we never felt rushed. Here’s exactly how we planned our perfect Disney day.
Last updated July 2026
Why Visit Disneyland Resort?
Disneyland Resort may be much smaller than Walt Disney World, but it’s packed with iconic attractions, immersive lands, and a charm that’s completely different from its Florida counterpart.
If you’re visiting from out of state or don’t know when you’ll make it back, I highly recommend planning your day wisely to maximize your time.
Getting There
We flew into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) before making the drive to Anaheim.
Anaheim is an easy drive from LAX and puts you just minutes away from Disneyland Resort.
Where We Stayed
The Westin Anaheim Resort
For our stay, we chose the Westin Anaheim Resort and booked a Two Queen Theme Park View Room.
Average Spring Break Room Rate
- Approximately $480 per night
One of the best parts of staying here is being able to walk directly to Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resort entrance.
The theme park views are incredible and made for one of our favorite hotel experiences during our California trip.
Disney Hotels vs Orlando
One thing that surprised us was just how different Disneyland Resort hotels are compared to Walt Disney World.
Disneyland only offers:
- Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
- Disneyland Hotel
- Pixar Place Hotel
Unlike Walt Disney World, there aren’t value, moderate, or deluxe resort categories with dozens of options.
Disney-owned hotels are also very expensive and book quickly.
After seeing Disney’s Grand Californian in person, I don’t think it compares to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando—not even close.
If luxury is more important to you than theming, I would strongly consider off-property hotels.
Should You Buy Premier Pass?
YES.
If you’re traveling from out of state or don’t know when you’ll return to Disneyland, I highly recommend purchasing Premier Pass.
For us, it completely changed the experience.
Because we had Premier Pass for both parks, we didn’t feel pressured to arrive at rope drop or rush from attraction to attraction throughout the day.
Ticket Prices
One Day Park Hopper Ticket
- Approximately $199 per person
Premier Pass
- Approximately $400 per person
It’s certainly an investment, but if you’re only visiting Disneyland once every several years, the convenience is absolutely worth considering.
Our Disney Day
Disney California Adventure
Instead of arriving at opening, we took advantage of Premier Pass and entered Disney California Adventure around 10:30 AM.
The park officially opened at 8:00 AM, but we never felt we should have started the day earlier.
Must-Do Attractions: California Adventure
- Radiator Springs Racers
- Incredicoaster
- Pixar Pal-A-Round
- Pixar Pier
One of our favorite experiences was walking through Cars Land.
Disney did an incredible job creating the illusion that you’ve stepped directly into the world of Cars. It’s easily one of the most immersive lands Disney has ever created.
Disneyland Park
Around 2:30 PM, we made our way into Disneyland Park.
Thanks to Premier Pass, we were able to experience every attraction we planned on riding without feeling rushed.
Must-Do Attractions: Disneyland Park
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
- Autopia
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Autopia was surprisingly one of our favorite attractions and, in my opinion, is better than Tomorrowland Speedway at Walt Disney World.
Indiana Jones is also a must-do and one of Disneyland’s best attractions.
Where We Ate
We ate at Great Maple in the Pixar Place Hotel around closing time (closes at 9:00 P.M) after we had a long day at Disneyland. I recommend the maple bacon donuts which they are known for. The best thing on the menu hands down.
Weather During Our Visit
We visited during Spring Break and experienced:
- 52°F temperatures
- Felt like 46°F at times
- Overnight rain
- Dry weather throughout our Disney day
If you’re visiting Southern California during the spring, don’t assume warm weather simply because you’re visiting California—especially if you’re coming from Florida.
Hotel Recommendations
Luxury Option
- JW Marriott Anaheim Resort
- The Westin Anaheim Resort
If park views aren’t important to you, the JW Marriott Anaheim is one of the nicest luxury hotels in the area.
Family-Friendly Options (but not cheap)
- Castle Inn & Suites
- La Quinta Anaheim
- DoubleTree by Hilton
- Hyatt Place
- Best Western Plus
There are plenty of off-property hotels within walking distance of Disneyland Resort.
What We Loved
- Walking from the Westin to Disneyland.
- Incredible theme park views from our room.
- Cars Land.
- Premier Pass.
- Indiana Jones Adventure.
- Pixar Pier.
- Disneyland’s unique attractions.
- Experiencing both parks without feeling rushed.
What Could Be Better
- Disneyland Resort hotels are expensive and limited.
- Premier Pass significantly increases the cost of your day.
- Southern California can be surprisingly cold during the spring.
Is One Day Enough?
Yes—if you plan correctly.
If you’re willing to purchase Premier Pass and take advantage of Park Hopper tickets, one day is absolutely enough to experience both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure without feeling rushed.
We never had to sprint across the parks or sacrifice attractions, which made for a much more enjoyable Disney experience.
Tips Before You Visit
- Purchase Premier Pass if it’s within your budget.
- Stay within walking distance of Disneyland Resort.
- Don’t stress about rope dropping if you have Premier Pass.
- Consider luxury off-property hotels over Disney-owned hotels.
- Bring a light jacket during spring visits.
- Prioritize Cars Land and Indiana Jones.
Final Verdict
Disneyland Resort may be smaller than Walt Disney World, but it offers an incredible Disney experience that’s absolutely worth visiting.
From Cars Land and Pixar Pier to iconic Disneyland attractions and beautiful off-property luxury hotels, it’s possible to experience both parks comfortably in one day—as long as you have the right game plan.
Overall Ratings
Hotel Experience:★★★★☆
Premier Pass Value: ★★★★★
Attractions: ★★★★★
Walkability: ★★★★★
Overall Value: ★★★★☆
Overall Experience: ★★★★★
Would my family do both parks in one day again? For sure. With Premier Pass and the right hotel, it was one of the easiest and most enjoyable Disney park days we’ve ever had.
Leave a Reply