There is so much to think about and consider when planning a Disney Vacation. If you're traveling for a weekend getaway, a family vacation, or even a solo-trip, Disney Destinations have a lot to offer. It's important to have a firm foundation as the starting point to the Disney Planning process. Below is a list of frequently asked questions related to Disneyland® Resort with detailed answers that we hope will instill confidence in booking with Minnie's Travel Boutique.

If you have a specific question not mentioned below, please reach out to your MTB Travel Professional or email hello@minniestravelboutique.com.

Where is Disneyland® Resort located?

Disneyland® Resort is located in Anaheim, California. The gates to Disneyland® Park opened on July 17, 1955. It is known as “The Happiest Place on Earth.”

Are there transportation options to-and-from Disneyland® Resort?

Yes. When you book a Disney Resort Hotel Package for Disneyland® Resort, there is an option to request shuttle transportation. The fee varies depending on travelers and can be included within the cost of your Disney Resort Hotel Package. Please inform your Minnie's Travel Boutique Travel Professional of your flight details and request a quote. Learn more about Disneyland® Resort transportation options.

How many Theme Parks does Disneyland® Resort have?

There are two Theme Parks at Disneyland® Resort for you to enjoy: Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park. There are no Water Theme Parks at Disneyland® Resort.

Is it better to stay on-property for a Disneyland® Resort vacation or stay in a nearby hotel?

All of us at Minnie’s Travel Boutique absolutely recommend staying on-property to truly experience and make the most out of your Disney Vacation. When you stay on-property, you have access to the magic Disneyland® Resort has to offer, specifically convenience and location. Each Disneyland® Resort Hotel is practically a walk away from Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park and Downtown Disney® District, an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. Additionally, staying on-property gives you early access to Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes, advanced Disney Dining reservations, and early entry into the Theme Parks.

How many Disneyland® Resort Hotels are there? Are they different from one another? Are there activities for Guests?

There are three Disneyland® Resort Hotels: Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa, Disneyland® Hotel, and the newly renovated, Pixar Place Hotel. Each Disneyland® Resort Hotel has its own unique design and storytelling theme, along with refreshing swimming pools and fun activities for every age. There are also Good Neighbor Hotels, which are Disney-approved quality hotels close to Disneyland® Resort. As a recommendation, mention your interests to your Minnie’s Travel Boutique Travel Professional during the pre-booking phase of your Disney Vacation Planning. This way, quotes may be provided that come close to or match your desired accommodation preferences.

What are the complimentary methods of transportation at Disneyland® Resort?

As a Guest of any Disneyland® Resort Hotel, you are very close to the Theme Parks, within walking distance. If you're interested, you can board the Disneyland® Monorail—the historic, high-speed zero-emission transportation system that rockets along a single rail through the Disneyland® Resort. You can enjoy incredible, one-of-a-kind views on this classic 2.5-mile, 13-minute round-trip journey. Fly over Fantasyland® and Tomorrowland®, past the majestic Matterhorn Bobsleds® attraction. Glide over Grizzly Peak, Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure® Park. Zoom through Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa and the Downtown Disney® District. There are two Disneyland® Monorail stations at the Disneyland® Resort. Catch a ride inside Disneyland® Park at the Tomorrowland® station right above Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage® attraction. Guests with valid Theme Park admission can skip the Main Entrance by boarding the Disneyland® Monorail at the Downtown Disney® District station—and travel straight to Tomorrowland®. Monorail trains run approximately every ten minutes.

How far in advance, or how soon, can a Disney Resort Hotel Package be booked?

At Minnie’s Travel Boutique, we recommend booking and confirming a Disney Resort Hotel Package at Disneyland® Resort at least 90 days out.

What is My Disney Experience?

My Disneyland is the official platform for your Disney username and account information. It connects your Disneyland® Resort Hotel information, your Theme Park tickets, Disney Dining reservations, Disney Genie, and so much more. The best part: you can access My Disneyland on a web browser (Google Chrome recommended) and through your mobile device (download the “Disneyland” app). We recommend learning the platform and becoming familiar with its features before your Disney Vacation begins.

What is Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lanes?

Disney Genie is a complimentary service built into the "Disneyland" app and serves as an itinerary based platform to design a magical visit for each day of your Disney Resort Hotel Package, or each day you visit a Disney Theme Park, in general. The service learns from your interests and changing activities throughout your time at a Disney Theme Park. When you first select Disney Genie at the start of your day, prior to entering a Disney Theme Park, you will be prompted to answer a few questions. Your answers build an itinerary to essentially guide you on how to maximize your time inside the park.

Disney Genie+ adds to the experience of Disney Genie for an additional cost, the price changes daily. Essentially, Disney Genie+ allows you to gain access to Lightning Lanes, one attraction or character experience at a time. Lightning Lanes are the official replacement of the previous FastPass system where you are able to reduce your wait for attractions and experiences. To choose a Lightning Lane, you simply select an attraction or experience, one at a time that is available to do so and that would best fit your time at a Disney Theme Park. You can only have one Lightning Lane active at a time, you are able to select another Lightning Lane after the previous one has been used.

Individual Lightning Lanes are available without the use of Disney Genie+ but selected through the Disney Genie service. On visits to Disney Theme Parks, there are attractions and experiences that are in high demand and of great interest to Guests. Individual Lightning Lanes allow you to select a popular attraction or experience by purchasing a Lightning Lane to avoid the standby que and reduce your wait time. The pricing for Individual Lightning Lanes change daily and you are limited to only two Individual Lightning Lane purchases per park visit each day.

Learn more through this YouTube video provided by Disney Parks highlighting Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lanes. 

What is a Disney MagicBand, and do I need it?

A Disney MagicBand is a wearable collectible wristband that provides you access to your Disneyland® Resort Hotel room acting as a key to your door, connects to your Disney Theme Park ticket(s), connects to Disney PhotoPass, and so much more, all through your My Disneyland account. It can even serve as a digital wallet that connects to a debit/credit card you have on file through your My Disneyland account making it easier to purchase food and memorabilia.

A Disney MagicBand+ takes your Disneyland® Resort experience to an even more interactive level with customizable light-up themes and haptic vibrations. A Disney MagicBand+ has the same capability as a Disney MagicBand but with a few more features.

A Disney MagicBand or a Disney MagicBand+ is not required for any Disney Theme Park visit; however, we do encourage them to help make your experience even more magical.

What is the Disability Access Service (DAS)?

The Disability Access Service (DAS) is designed to assist and help Guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability. If this service would help you experience the most magical Disney Vacation, you can pre-register as soon as 30 days prior to your Disneyland® Resort Hotel arrival using live video chat with a Disney Cast Member. Important: you cannot register for the service virtually less than two days before arrival. During the registration chat, you will be able to work with a Disney Cast Member to book up to two one-hour return windows for select Disney Theme Park experiences using the DAS Advance planning option. You may also make additional DAS selections on the day of your visit.

• IMPORTANT: the Disability Access Service doesn’t provide immediate access to experiences, but rather allows Guests to request a return time for a specific experience that is comparable to the current standby wait. Essentially, DAS helps a Guest using DAS to enjoy other experiences in a Disney Theme Park instead of physically waiting in the standby line.

What about VIP Tours?

Great news: you can book incredible, magical, and memorable Disneyland® Resort VIP Tours through Minnie’s Travel Boutique. If your goal is to experience and see more than other Guests when you visit a Disney Theme Park, the VIP Tour option is highly recommended. VIP Tours connect you with a Disney Cast Member with customizable benefits and unparalleled hospitality.

• IMPORTANT: a valid Disney Theme Park admission ticket is required, and VIP Tours are an additional cost not included with the ticket.

• Learn more about VIP Tours.

I already booked a Disney Resort Hotel Package for Disneyland® Resort. Is it possible to work with Minnie’s Travel Boutique and receive guidance and travel assistance?

Good news. If you booked a Disney Resort Hotel Package within 30 days and it is not yet paid for, Minnie’s Travel Boutique is able to request a reservation transfer to the agency on your behalf. If approved, you will then become a client of Minnie’s Travel Boutique and one of our travel professionals can serve you. If your Disney Resort Hotel Package for Disneyland® Resort was booked more than 30 days ago, we can recommend other options.

Does Minnie’s Travel Boutique help with securing Disney Dining Reservations?

Yes, absolutely. It’s part of the complimentary service Minnie’s Travel Boutique offers. It’s all part of the Disney Vacation planning process that we’re excited to help you with. IMPORTANT: we strive to make every dining reservation you request; however, reservations are never guaranteed.

If a Disneyland® Resort discount or promotion is released after my Disney Resort Hotel Package is booked, can Minnie’s Travel Boutique help?

Minnie’s Travel Boutique travel professionals monitor Disney discounts and promotions consistently. Much like securing your Disney Dining reservations, our goal is to help you save on your vacation investment. If an offered discount or promotion is applicable to your already booked Disney Resort Hotel Package for Walt Disneyland® Resort, we will work on your behalf at no additional cost to apply the savings (pending availability of the discount or promotion inventory).

• IMPORTANT: your Disney Resort Hotel Package must be booked and under Minnie’s Travel Boutique before we can assist with applying a discount or promotion.