For most Disneyland Resort guests, even planning the vacation adds to the magic! For others, planning is an overwhelming chore. Good news! This article is for planners and anti-planners alike with 3 important considerations before you book your Disneyland trip.

1. When to Visit Disneyland

This is often the first question people ask when planning a trip to Disneyland. The answer depends on what’s best for your family or group.

Low Season

If your schedule allows you to plan a Disney vacation during low season, consider visiting the Disneyland Resort toward the end of January and early February. By this time the holiday crowds have died down and RunDisney races have completed. Another low season time is early fall when most kids have just gone back at school.

Bonus Tip: Enjoy a good night’s rest at Grand Legacy At The Park since low season visits typically mean later park openings and earlier closings.

High Season

Summer break is high season at the Disneyland Resort, but don’t let that scare you away! Kids are out of school and you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy your visits to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Extended hours, more entertainment and less ride closures give you more time to explore and make lasting memories.

Bonus Tip: Afternoons are often the most crowded time in the parks. This is a great excuse to cool off in Grand Legacy At The Park’s pool and splash zone before heading back to Disneyland for nighttime events.

Holiday Season

Disneyland Resort has two wonderful times to celebrate—”Halloween Time” (mid September through October) and “Holidays at the Disneyland Resort” (mid November through early January). For smaller crowds, book your Disneyland vacation during the beginning of either celebration. Expect extended hours, festive decor and exciting holiday overlays on select attractions.

Bonus Tip: Haunted Mansion Holiday, featuring Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, runs mid September through early January. Children who are hesitant to ride the regular version of Haunted Mansion may enjoy this overlay if they’re already familiar with the Halloween Town residents.

2. Where to Stay Near Disneyland

Now that you have decided when to visit the Disneyland Resort, it’s time to navigate the seemingly endless hotel possibilities. When considering any Disneyland area hotel, my main requirements are:

• close to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure entrance
• clean, modern rooms big enough to fit my family of five
• affordable rates with perks like free breakfast and Wi-Fi
• fridge to store cold drinks and simple snacks
• relaxing poolside area and warm water for kids to play in

If there’s one thing I’ve learned when booking hotels near Disneyland, it’s “walking distance” can be deceiving. There are tons of hotels within walking distance to Disneyland, but at the end of a long day, within walking distance just won’t do.

What I really want is a hotel that is steps away from the maingate, no more than a five-minute walk. You’ll find Grand Legacy At The Park right across the street from the Resort with just a few minutes to the park entrances.

Besides being super close to the Disneyland Resort, why else would I choose Grand Legacy At The Park? Grand Legacy At The Park has undergone extensive renovations, offering up-to-date and comfortable deluxe and superior rooms in addition to 2 and 3 room suites that fit within our budget.

Grand Legacy At The Park also provides free morning breakfast before we hit our favorite rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. When we’re ready to take a mid-day break, we can grab drinks and snacks from our in-room fridge, then relax by the heated pool before going back to Disneyland for the new “Paint the Night” parade.

Bonus Tip: When the sun sets and your little ones are fast asleep in their strollers, it’s just a short walk to sweet dreams and your relaxing room at Grand Legacy At The Park.

3. Best Disneyland Ticket Options

The question you’re likely asking yourself now is, “how long can I stay?” If it were up to me, I just might have permanent residence at Grand Legacy At The Park with a Disneyland Annual Passport in my pocket. The second best option is to pick up your Disneyland Resort tickets from the front desk as you check in to Grand Legacy At The Park.

For a full Disney vacation experience, I recommend choosing a 3-day or 5-day ticket. With this option you can spend 2 or more days at Disneyland park with 1 or 2 days to explore Disney California Adventure. By taking your time inside the parks, you’ll experience attractions and entertainment without strict time constraints. Plus, your daily admission price decreases with each day you add to your vacation.

Bonus Tip: Before your first day in the parks be sure to download the official Disneyland mobile app to access wait times, see character locations and more.

Now that you know our 3 important considerations before you book your Disneyland vacation, it’s time to start planning your stay at the Grand Legacy At The Park, don’t you think?

Written by: Jessica at The Happiest Blog on Earth. Read about how she conquers Disneyland during the busy summer days with her Disney-dessert-loving husband and her thrill seeking kids. Follow her on Facebook and Pinterest, too.