Disneyland California is the original Disney theme park resort, opened by Walt Disney in 1955 in Anaheim, Orange County, around 25 miles south-east of Los Angeles. The Disneyland Resort has two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, whose entrances face each other across a central plaza, plus the Downtown Disney shopping and dining district and three Disney hotels.
Charter Travel's Disneyland California holidays combine direct flights from the UK, hotels close to the parks and Park Hopper tickets, with the option to add Los Angeles, the beaches, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, and anything else you may want. Every Charter Travel Disneyland California holiday is tailor-made. Our California specialists will help you choose the right hotel, park tickets and length of stay, and add Los Angeles, the beach, Universal Studios, or anywhere else you want to visit. We've been arranging holidays for UK families since 1988, and you'll speak to the same specialist from your first enquiry until you're home.
Packages from £1,795 per person.
Disneyland Park is the only Disney park Walt Disney saw completed, and it still feels like the original. You enter along Main Street, U.S.A. towards Sleeping Beauty Castle, with the park's lands arranged around a central hub. It's smaller and more intimate than the Magic Kingdom in Florida, with classic rides that are unique to Disneyland.
| Land | What you'll find |
|---|---|
| Main Street, U.S.A. | Turn-of-the-century shops, the Disneyland Railroad and the best view of Sleeping Beauty Castle |
| Adventureland | Indiana Jones Adventure, Jungle Cruise and the Enchanted Tiki Room |
| New Orleans Square | Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and, nearby, Tiana's Bayou Adventure |
| Frontierland | Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Mark Twain riverboat and the Rivers of America |
| Fantasyland | Peter Pan's Flight, “it's a small world”, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Sleeping Beauty Castle |
| Mickey's Toontown | Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, Mickey's and Minnie's houses, and play areas for younger children |
| Tomorrowland | Space Mountain, Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain at certain times, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters |
| Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge | Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run |
For younger children, Bluey's Best Day Ever plays at the Fantasyland Theatre.
Book the table-service restaurants in advance through the Disneyland app. Check the Bluey show and Hyperspace Mountain against the current entertainment schedule, as both can be seasonal or limited-time.
Disney California Adventure celebrates California and the stories of Pixar and Marvel, and it's home to many of the resort's biggest thrill rides. You enter along Buena Vista Street, inspired by 1920s Los Angeles, with the Carthay Circle Theatre at its end.
| Land | What you'll find |
|---|---|
| Buena Vista Street | The park entrance, the Red Car Trolley and the Carthay Circle Restaurant |
| Hollywood Land | Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! (closing in early 2027) and live shows |
| Avengers Campus | WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! |
| Cars Land | Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree |
| Pixar Pier | Incredicoaster, Toy Story Midway Mania!, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and the Pixar Pal-A-Round wheel |
| Paradise Gardens Park | The Little Mermaid ride, Silly Symphony Swings and Goofy's Sky School |
| Grizzly Peak | Grizzly River Run rapids and Soarin' |
| San Fransokyo Square | The Big Hero 6 themed area, with places to eat and a chance to meet Baymax |
Disney hasn't announced any major new ride opening in 2027. The big Marvel additions are officially due in 2028. This section sells what's fresh for 2027 visitors without promising anything that isn't confirmed.
The original World of Color show comes back to Disney California Adventure with enhancements, and the Remember... Dreams Come True fireworks return to Disneyland Park, with projections every night and fireworks at weekends.
Staying close to the parks is one of the best things about a Disneyland California holiday. You don't need a car to reach the gates, and it's easy to go back to your hotel for a break in the afternoon. These are five of our favourite hotels, ranked from closest to furthest.
Hotel | Type | Distance to the parks | Getting to the parks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa | Disney hotel, deluxe | Inside the resort, with its own entrance into Disney California Adventure | Walk. About 5 minutes to Disneyland Park |
| 2 | Disneyland Hotel | Disney hotel, deluxe | Next to Downtown Disney | Walk. A few minutes to the Downtown Disney monorail station, about 10 minutes to the main entrances |
| 3 | The Westin Anaheim Resort | Good Neighbor hotel, deluxe | Beside Downtown Disney | Walk. About 10 minutes to the monorail station, about 20 minutes to the main entrances |
| 4 | Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim | Good Neighbor hotel, value | Across Harbor Boulevard from the main entrance | Walk. About 10 minutes |
| 5 | Hilton Anaheim | Good Neighbor hotel, upper mid-range | Next to the Anaheim Convention Center, just over a mile away | Walk (about 20 minutes) or take the Anaheim Resort Campus Shuttle (about $6 per person per day) |
The closest hotel to the parks, built in the style of the California Arts and Crafts movement, with its own entrance straight into Disney California Adventure. As at all Disney hotels, guests get one Lightning Lane entry for a Multi Pass attraction during their stay. It's the most expensive option.
The original Disney hotel, with themed pools, character dining at Goofy's Kitchen and Trader Sam's tiki bar. It's a short walk through Downtown Disney to the parks, and guests get the same Lightning Lane perk.
A modern luxury hotel beside Downtown Disney, with a rooftop pool and views over the resort. The monorail station in Downtown Disney takes guests with a valid park ticket straight into Tomorrowland.
A good-value, family-friendly hotel just across the road from the main entrance, with a pool and a relaxed retro feel. It's one of the most popular choices for families who want to walk to the parks without paying Disney prices.
A large, full-service hotel with a rooftop pool and kids' water slide, several restaurants and a Starbucks in the lobby. It's just over a mile from the parks: about a 20-minute walk, or a short ride on the paid Anaheim Resort Campus Shuttle. Higher-floor rooms on some sides of the hotel look towards the Disneyland fireworks.
Most families spend four or five nights near the parks, then add a few nights in Los Angeles or by the sea. Southern California's highlights are spread out, so we'll include car hire and plan realistic drives between each stay.
| Add-on | Distance from Disneyland | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Knott's Berry Farm | About 6½ miles, around 15 minutes' drive | A day trip from Anaheim |
| Universal Studios Hollywood | About 35 miles, 45 minutes to 1½ hours' drive | 2–3 nights in Universal City or Hollywood |
| Santa Monica and Venice Beach | About 45 miles, 1–1½ hours' drive | 3–4 nights by the beach |
Spend a few nights in Los Angeles to see the Hollywood sign from Griffith Observatory, walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame and shop on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Staying in Hollywood or Universal City makes it easy to combine sightseeing with a day at Universal Studios. See our Los Angeles holidays.
Universal Studios Hollywood is both a theme park and a working film studio. Highlights include Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World – The Ride and the famous Studio Tour through real film sets. Allow a full day, and consider an Express pass in busy periods.
End your holiday on the beach. Santa Monica has its famous pier, with Pacific Park's big wheel and roller coaster, plus miles of sand and the shops of Third Street Promenade. Walk or cycle along the beach path to Venice Beach for the boardwalk, Muscle Beach and the Venice canals. See our Santa Monica holidays.
Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, around 15 minutes from Disneyland, is California's original theme park. Thrill-seekers can ride Ghost Rider, a giant wooden roller coaster, and Silver Bullet. Younger children love Camp Snoopy, and in summer the Knott's Soak City water park opens next door. Don't leave without trying the fried chicken and boysenberry pie at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant.
The quietest times to visit Disneyland California are usually weekdays in January (avoiding New Year), late February, early March, May, and from early November to mid-December, avoiding US holiday weekends and Thanksgiving week. The weather is most comfortable from late October to June. Midweek days, Tuesday to Thursday, are generally quieter than weekends.
| Time of year | Crowds | Weather | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| January to early March | Low to moderate, busy around US holiday weekends | Mild, 15–20°C, with occasional rain | Lunar New Year celebrations in Disney California Adventure |
| Mid-March to April | Busy over US spring break and Easter | Pleasant and warm | Food & Wine Festival in Disney California Adventure |
| May to early June | Moderate on weekdays | Warm, often cloudy in the mornings | Good value before the summer holidays, though some nights host Grad Nite parties |
| Late June to August | Busy, but locals' passes are often blocked out | Hot and dry, often 30°C or more | Long opening hours and the most entertainment, ideal for UK summer holidays |
| Late August to October | Moderate early on, busier towards Halloween | Hot in September, cooling in October | Halloween Time, including during UK October half term |
| November to early January | Moderate in early November and early December, very busy over Christmas and New Year | Mild, with cool evenings | Holidays at the Disneyland Resort |
Travelling in the UK school holidays? Summer is a great time to go, with long days and the most entertainment, and Halloween Time covers October half term. Easter is popular but often coincides with US spring break, so book early. Our specialists can suggest the quietest dates within your school holidays.
Disneyland California celebrates something almost all year round. These are the main seasonal events. Most are included in your park ticket, and a few evening parties need a separate ticket.
| Event | When (based on 2026) | Where | What's on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunar New Year | Late January to late February | Disney California Adventure | Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession, character meet-and-greets, crafts and Asian-inspired food |
| Food & Wine Festival | Early March to late April | Disney California Adventure | Food and wine marketplaces, tastings, cooking demonstrations and bookable seminars |
| Kids' summer celebration | Late May to early September | Both parks | Family-focused food, activities and entertainment through the summer holidays |
| Fourth of July | 3–5 July | Both parks | Independence Day fireworks and patriotic entertainment |
| Halloween Time | Late August to 31 October | Both parks | The Main Street pumpkin festival, villains, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Cars Land's Halloween overlay and Halloween fireworks on select nights |
| Oogie Boogie Bash | Select nights, mid-August to 31 October | Disney California Adventure | An evening Halloween party with trick-or-treat trails and a villains parade. Separate ticket required. |
| Plaza de la Familia | Late August to early November | Disney California Adventure | A Coco-inspired celebration of Día de los Muertos, with mariachi music and Mexican food |
| Holidays at the Disneyland Resort | Mid-November to early January | Both parks | Sleeping Beauty Castle decorated for winter, snow on Main Street, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, festive fireworks, holiday versions of Haunted Mansion and “it's a small world”, Festival of Holidays and Santa |
| New Year's Eve | 31 December | Both parks | Extended opening hours, dance parties and two fireworks shows |
Disneyland also runs ticketed After Dark evening parties on selected dates during the year, such as Sweethearts' Nite in February and Star Wars Nite in spring. Ask us which events fall during your dates.
There are two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Their entrances face each other across a central plaza, so with a Park Hopper ticket you can easily visit both on the same day.
Three to four park days is ideal for a first visit, enough to see both parks and enjoy the evening shows without rushing. Most families stay four or five nights in Anaheim, then add Los Angeles, the beach or Knott's Berry Farm.
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and the Disneyland Hotel are both a short walk from the parks, and so are several Good Neighbor hotels, including the Westin Anaheim Resort and Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim. The Hilton Anaheim is about a 20-minute walk, or a short ride on the Anaheim Resort Campus Shuttle.
New for recent visitors are a Mandalorian mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, the Bluey's Best Day Ever show and Soarin' Across America. Two major Avengers Campus attractions, Stark Flight Lab and Avengers Infinity Defense, are officially due to open in 2028.
Yes. Knott's Berry Farm is in Buena Park, about 6½ miles from Disneyland, around a 15-minute drive. It's an easy day trip, particularly for families with older children who want bigger roller coasters.
Universal Studios Hollywood is about 35 miles from Disneyland, usually 45 minutes to 1½ hours by car, depending on traffic. We recommend staying a few nights in Universal City or Hollywood rather than visiting as a day trip from Anaheim.
Not while you're staying near the parks. A car is useful for Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Knott's Berry Farm, so we usually include car hire from the day you leave Anaheim.
Our Disneyland California holidays start from £1,795 per person, for 10 nights with direct flights, hotels, 4-day Park Hopper tickets and car hire, based on two adults and two children travelling in May 2027. Prices vary with dates, hotels and length of stay.
For smaller crowds, visit midweek in January, late February, early March, May, or from early November to mid-December, avoiding US holidays. For atmosphere, Halloween Time runs from late August to 31 October and the Holidays season from mid-November to early January. Summer is busy and hot, but it has the longest opening hours.
Your Holiday
Expert knowledge
Trusted
Fully Protected
