Have you visited Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL and love Disney but want to visit somewhere different? You need to consider a visit to Disneyland in California! Don’t get me wrong – I love Disney World (Hello, I live in Orlando!) However, something is to be said about the simplicity and ease of visiting Disneyland in California, which is so much better than visiting Disney World in Orlando.

I’m here to break down my top reasons that you should consider visiting Disneyland in California for your next Disney vacation!

1. Disney’s 70th Anniversary Celebration Begins in 2025

Disneyland is preparing to celebrate its 70th Anniversary in 2025. This is the perfect time to visit because you’ll get to see new nighttime entertainment, a new daytime parade, new character costumes, resort entertainment, festive decor, special merchandise, and food, and so much more. This is the perfect time to come visit because not only will you get to experience the magic of Disneyland, but also celebrate this special anniversary.

2. Disneyland Attractions You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

There are specific rides, experiences, and lands that you will only find at Disneyland. This is nice because it’s different than all of the other Disney parks around the world, making it unique and something different to see and do when visiting.

Disneyland offers Matterhorn, Indiana Jones Adventure, and Mickey’s Toontown

Disney California Adventure offers Cars Land, Pixar Pier, Avenger’s Campus

3. Cultural Celebrations

Disneyland celebrates the Lunar New Year, Celebrate Soulfully, and Vivia Navidad – all different cultures celebrated in special ways throughout the different holiday seasons. You will get to immerse yourself in the traditions with entertainment, food, and merchandise. Disney welcomes all guests from every background and wants everyone to feel celebrated and included.

4. So Much to Experience

I LOVE Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. It is so easy to move between the parks with how close in proximity they are to one another. You can easily visit both parks in one day so you can take park in early entry (when staying at a Disneyland resort) and move between the parks to see and do your favorite activities in each park each day. You can experience Avengers Campus and Cars Land at Disney California Adventure and then move to Tiana’s Palace and ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is new to Disneyland Park. End your day walking through Downtown Disney for food and shopping!

5. Year-round celebrations and Special Events

Disneyland is constantly adding new experiences for new and returning visitors. There are always fun events taking place either at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure. Halloween and the holiday season are my favorite time to be in the parks but if you plan to visit during other parts of the year, you’ll find fun celebrations as well. These dates are subject to change, but they give you an idea of what to expect when visiting throughout the year:

2025: Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary

January / February: Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend

January – February: Lunar New Year

February: Valentine’s Day Celebrations

January –  February: Disneyland After Dark

February: Black History Month

March – April: Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

April – May: Star Wars Nites

April – June: Season of the Force

April – August: Pixar Fest

August – October: Halloween Time

November – January: Holidays at Disneyland

6. Great Prices at Disney Resorts

Disney announced the return of the $50 Kids Special Ticket Offer. This special offer allows children ages 3-9 to visit for as low as $50 per day this Spring, making it more affordable for families. The Kids Special Ticket offer can be stacked with a Resort Hotel offer for the same booking and travel window.

7. Disneyland Resorts

Disneyland resorts have great benefits when staying on-site.  Not only is the proximity and dedicated park entrances great, but you also get an additional 30 minutes of early entry into the parks before they open to the general public. This is great to get in the parks, ride some of your favorite rides, and get photos before everyone comes in the park. It doesn’t sound like a lot of time, but you can easily ride a few rides during this time! Read all about the benefits of early entry at Disneyland on this blog post.

For even more value, you can book a nearby, budget-friendly Walt Disney Travel Company Good Neighbor Hotel package that can still help you make the most of their vacation. A lot of Good Neighbor hotels are walkable or with 15 minutes of the parks.

8. The Perfect Southern California Vacation

Disneyland is located in the heart of Southern California. You can easily get to great beaches, mountains, and Hollywood all within driving distance of the parks. In fact, on this last Disneyland visit, we did the WB Tour, ate in Hollywood, and then visited Laguna Beach for the day. You have great weather (hello, no humidity!) which makes it the perfect destination to visit and be in the parks for a few days.

9. The Perfect Destination For Families & Disney Adults

Disneyland is perfectly suited for families, especially if you have young children. There are over 30 attractions with no height restrictions. There are 3 resorts easily walkable with strollers to/from Disneyland parks so it is very easy to navigate. Not only can families enjoy their time here together, but Disney adults can enjoy so much too! There are great rides, food + drinks, and entertainment to enjoy, just for adults!

10. The Happiest Place on Earth

Disneyland is super chill compared to Disney World. There is no other way to say it. I will always love Disney World, but I really love Disneyland! Disneyland is the original park that Walt Disney created himself. You will create memories and have an unforgettable vacation no matter what time of year you visit!

Ready to book your Disneyland vacation and don’t know where to start? That’s where I come in! Having visited Disneyland multiple times and stayed at many resorts, I can help you navigate choosing the right resort for your friends and family, and help you with park reservations (yes, they are still required at Disneyland!), park itinerary planning, dining reservations, and so much more!

Contact me and let’s start planning your next Disney vacation!

Love and Travel Dust,

Molly