You’ve got the flights booked, the hotel’s locked in, and now you’re ready to experience the magic of Disneyland! But wait—there’s one more step standing between you and those castle gates: park reservations. Don’t worry, though. Our guide breaks down the entire process so you can get your spots secured fast without any headaches!

Here’s the deal: Disneyland still requires theme park reservations in 2025, and yes, even if you’ve already purchased tickets! Unlike Walt Disney World in Florida, which dropped its reservation requirement for regular ticket holders in 2024, Disneyland in California keeps them in place to manage crowds and plan staffing. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon, so let’s make sure you know exactly what you’re doing!

Why Disneyland Still Requires Park Reservations

When the parks reopened back in 2021 after pandemic closures, the reservation system was introduced to control capacity. Funny thing is, even after all the restrictions ended, Disneyland kept the system around. Why? It actually helps them plan better—for entertainment, staffing, and overall guest experience.

So think of it this way: reservations aren’t just about limiting crowds anymore. They’re Disney’s way of making sure your day runs smoother! Plus, it means no more surprise “sorry, we’re at capacity” moments when you show up at the gates!

What You Need Before Making a Reservation

Before you even touch the reservation system, you’ll need a few things lined up. First off, you must have valid theme park tickets to make reservations. You can’t just browse and book—the system requires linked admission.

Here’s your quick checklist:

• A MyDisney account (create one at Disneyland.com if you don’t have one)

• Valid theme park tickets linked to your account

• The ticket numbers for everyone in your party

• Access to either the Disneyland website or app

If you bought tickets from a third-party seller like Get Away Today, you’ll get ticket numbers via email. You’ll need to manually link these to your Disney account before making reservations.

How Far in Advance Can You Book?

This is where things get a little different depending on your situation:

Regular ticket holders can book park reservations up to 180 days in advance on a rolling basis. That’s about six months of planning runway. Each day, a new date opens up, so if you’re planning a trip exactly 180 days from now, you can snag that reservation today.

Magic Key annual passholders have a shorter window—only 90 days in advance. They’re also limited in how many reservations they can hold at once, depending on their pass tier.

Disneyland Resort hotel guests get access to a separate reservation calendar that typically has better availability, even during sold-out dates. If you’re staying at the Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel, or Pixar Place Hotel, make sure to link your hotel reservation to unlock this perk!

Step-By-Step: Making Your Disneyland Park Reservation Quickly

Alright, let’s walk through this together! The process is actually pretty straightforward once you know where to go.

Step 1: Check Availability First

Before doing anything else, head to the Disneyland Park Reservation Availability Calendar. This shows you which parks have open spots on which dates.

Here’s the thing—there are two separate calendars:

• One for 1-Park-Per-Day tickets

• One for Park Hopper tickets

Make sure you’re looking at the right one for your ticket type. They can have different availability.

On the calendar:

• The pink castle icon represents Disneyland Park

• The blue Mickey wheel represents Disney California Adventure

• A slash mark means no reservations are available

• Gray dates mean reservations haven’t opened yet for that day

Step 2: Buy Your Tickets (If You Haven’t Already)

If you’re purchasing tickets directly from Disney, the reservation process is now built right into the checkout. You’ll pick your dates and parks as you buy, which makes things super easy!

But here’s a pro tip: multi-day tickets are cheaper per day when purchased from authorized resellers like Get Away Today! The catch? You’ll need to make reservations separately after linking those tickets to your account.

Step 3: Link Your Tickets to Your MyDisney Account

Already have tickets from a third party? No problem. Here’s what to do:

1. Go to Disneyland.com and sign into your MyDisney account

2. Navigate to “My Theme Park Reservations”

3. Click “Book Theme Park Reservation”

4. Select “Link a Ticket” and enter your ticket ID numbers

5. Assign a name to each ticket (this can’t be changed later, so double-check)

You can link up to 5 tickets at a time, with a maximum of 10 total in your account.

Step 4: Create Your Party

Once your tickets are linked, you’ll create your reservation party. This is where you select which people from your Family & Friends list will be visiting together.

Make sure everyone you’re including has their own ticket linked to their profile. If someone’s missing, you’ll need to add them first before proceeding.

Step 5: Pick Your Date and Park

Now comes the fun part—choosing when and where you’ll experience the magic.

The calendar will show available dates based on your ticket type. Select your date, then pick which park you want to visit that day:

• Disneyland Park – Walt’s original park with classic rides, Fantasyland, and Galaxy’s Edge

• Disney California Adventure – home to Cars Land, Avengers Campus, and the Incredicoaster

If you have a Park Hopper ticket, just pick the park you want to enter first. You don’t need to make a second reservation—after 11 AM, you can hop between both parks freely.

Step 6: Review and Confirm

Double-check everything—names, dates, and park selections. Then hit confirm.

You’ll get a confirmation screen with a confirmation number. Screenshot this or save the email. Your reservation will also show up in the Disneyland app under your plans.

Step 7: Repeat for Multi-Day Visits

Got a 3-day ticket? You’ll need to repeat this process for each day you plan to visit. The good news is you can do them all in one sitting if all your dates are within the 180-day window.

Understanding Disneyland’s Tiered Ticket System

One-day tickets at Disneyland use a tiered pricing system (Tier 0 through Tier 6), where prices vary based on demand. Here’s the important part: lower-tier tickets are blocked out on higher-demand days.

So if you bought a Tier 2 ticket thinking you’d save money, you can only use it on Tier 2 days or lower. That might mean no weekend access or holiday availability.

Multi-day tickets (2-5 days)? They work like the highest tier with zero blockout restrictions. That’s why they’re often the smarter buy for vacationers—more flexibility, less stress.

Park Hopper vs. One Park Per Day: What’s the Difference?

This choice affects your reservation options more than you might think.

One Park Per Day tickets lock you into whichever park you reserve. If you pick Disneyland, that’s where you’ll spend your whole day. Simple and usually cheaper.

Park Hopper tickets cost extra ($65-$105 depending on ticket length) but give you access to both parks in a single day. You’ll make a reservation for your first park only. After 11 AM, you can bounce between parks as much as you want—no extra reservation needed.

Here’s a sneaky tip: Park Hopper tickets often have better reservation availability than 1-Park-Per-Day tickets. If a date looks sold out for one ticket type, check the other calendar.

What If Disneyland Reservations Are Sold Out?

Don’t panic. Sold-out days happen, especially around holidays and weekends. But there are ways to work around it.

Keep refreshing the reservation page. People cancel plans all the time. Cast Members say evening hours tend to see the most cancellations. Check again 24-48 hours before your planned visit—that’s when last-minute changes really spike.

Consider upgrading to a Park Hopper. If Disneyland Park is booked but California Adventure has spots, you can reserve DCA and hop over to Disneyland after 11 AM.

Book a Disneyland Resort hotel. Hotel guests access a separate reservation bucket with better availability. It’s pricey, but if you absolutely need to get in on a specific date, it’s an option.

Check both calendars. The 1-Park-Per-Day calendar fills up before the Park Hopper calendar in most cases. Even if one looks sold out, the other might have room.

Modifying or Canceling Your Reservation

Plans change—we get it. The good news is modifying your reservation is easier than ever now.

Go to “My Theme Park Reservations” on the Disneyland website, select “Modify Reservation,” and pick a new date or park. Just make sure your new choice has availability before canceling your existing reservation.

A heads-up: don’t cancel before checking availability for your new dates. If you drop your reservation and nothing’s available where you want to switch, you’ll be out of luck.

Important Rules to Remember

Let’s cover some key details that catch people off guard:

Multi-day tickets expire 13 days after first use. If you use your first day on June 1, all remaining days must be used by June 13. Plan accordingly.

Children under 3 don’t need tickets or reservations. Only guests ages 3 and up require admission and a corresponding reservation.

Your reservation is tied to your ticket. Once you enter the park, your ticket barcode becomes your proof. You can leave and re-enter all day.

Making changes through third-party sellers can void refunds. If you bought tickets from Get Away Today or another reseller, make modifications through them—not directly in the Disneyland app.

On-Property Hotel Guest Perks

Staying at one of Disneyland’s three on-site hotels? You’ve got some nice advantages:

• Access to a separate reservation calendar with better availability

• 30-minute early entry to select parks before general admission (through January 5, 2026)

• Special park entrances and activities

To access these perks, link your hotel reservation in your Disney account before making park reservations.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes the reservation system throws a curveball. Here’s how to handle the most common problems:

Reservations not showing up? Try logging in on a different browser or device. The Disney system can be finicky. Also, make sure your tickets are actually linked—check under “Tickets and Passes” in your account.

Getting error messages? Clear your browser cache, try incognito mode, or switch from mobile to desktop (or vice versa).

Can’t see availability for your dates? Those dates might not have opened yet in the 180-day window, or they could be genuinely sold out. Check the availability calendar to confirm.

Still stuck? Use the chat feature on Disneyland’s Help Center or call their tech support line at (714) 781-4636.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reservation if I already have tickets?

Yes, absolutely! Every guest ages 3 and up needs both valid admission AND a park reservation for the same day and park. Tickets alone won’t get you through the gates.

Can I make reservations through the Disneyland app?

Making new park reservations is primarily done through the Disneyland website, though the Disneyland app links you there as well. However, you can view and manage existing reservations in the app.

What time do reservations open each day?

New dates become available at midnight Pacific Time on a rolling 180-day basis. If you’re planning a popular holiday visit, set a reminder for exactly 180 days out.

Can I visit both parks in one day with a regular ticket?

Only if you have a Park Hopper ticket or upgrade. A 1-Park-Per-Day ticket limits you to the single park you reserved.

Do reservations ever open up after being sold out?

Yes! Guests cancel, and Disney sometimes releases additional reservations. Keep checking, especially in the 24-48 hours before your desired date.

What happens if I don’t show up for my reservation?

Unused reservations expire at the end of the day and are forfeited—they won’t be replaced. However, your ticket remains valid for future use within its expiration window.

Is the reservation system here to stay?

All signs point to yes. Disneyland hasn’t announced any plans to discontinue it, and it appears to be a permanent feature.

How many reservations can I hold at once?

Regular ticket holders can reserve up to the number of days on their ticket. Magic Key passholders have limits based on their pass tier—from 2 to 6 reservations at a time.

Final Thoughts

Look, the Disneyland reservation system might feel like an extra hoop to jump through, but once you get the hang of it, it’s honestly pretty painless! The key is planning ahead—check availability before buying tickets, link everything to your account, and book those reservations as soon as they open for your dates!

The best part? Once your reservations are locked in, you can relax knowing your spot is secured. No more worrying about being turned away at the gates or dealing with surprise capacity issues. Just show up, scan your ticket, and let the magic happen!

Now go make those reservations and start counting down to your Disneyland adventure! The happiest place on earth is waiting for you!