Planning a trip to Disneyland is no longer about choosing just one park. There are six Disney resorts around the world, each with unique rides, shows, hotels, and major expansions scheduled through 2026. Whether you are a first-timer, a family traveller, or a Disney fan aiming to experience new lands like Fantasy Springs, World of Frozen, or Zootopia, this guide explains everything you need before you plan a trip to Disneyland anywhere in the world.

For more travel planning help, read what Airport Officials actually checks before handing over the boarding pass

Introduction

If you want to plan a trip to Disneyland, the first step is understanding that Disneyland exists in multiple countries—not just the USA. Each location has different ticket systems, seasonal events, crowd patterns, and upcoming attractions. This guide breaks down all six resorts so you can choose the right one based on travel time, budget, and what your family actually enjoys. If it is your first time trying to plan a trip to Disneyland, start by deciding which of the six global Disney resorts aligns best with your travel style and budget.

Why This Is the Best Time to Plan a Trip to Disneyland

2024–2026 is a major expansion phase for Disney worldwide. If you plan a trip to Disneyland in the next two years, you can experience:

• Fantasy Springs (Tokyo DisneySea) – opened 2024
• World of Frozen (Hong Kong Disneyland) – opened 2023
• World of Frozen Paris – opening March 29, 2026
• Zootopia Land (Shanghai Disneyland) – opened 2023
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (USA) – 2024
• New entertainment upgrades in Hong Kong and Paris

This is the strongest global expansion since the 2010s, making 2025–2026 the best time to plan a trip to Disneyland.

Overview of All Disney Resorts Around the World

When you plan a trip to Disneyland, these are your choices:

Many travelers underestimate how early they should begin to plan a trip to Disneyland, especially during peak seasons when hotels and special events sell out months ahead.

1. Disneyland Resort – California, USA
2. Walt Disney World – Florida, USA
3. Tokyo Disney Resort – Japan
4. Disneyland Paris – France
5. Hong Kong Disneyland – Hong Kong SAR
6. Shanghai Disney Resort – China

Each resort has its own top-tier experiences and unique themed lands.

Disneyland Resort, California

Summary

The original Disneyland, opened in 1955. Best for shorter trips and classic Disney charm.

Parks

• Disneyland Park
• Disney California Adventure

Why visit

• Walkable layout
• Easy 2–3 day trip
• Close to Los Angeles

Must-see attractions

• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Avengers Campus
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (opened 2024)

Best time to visit

• January to March
• Late April to mid-May
• Mid-September to early November

Tickets

Buy in advance on the official site:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/

Where to stay

• On-site: Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian
• Off-site: Hotels on Harbor Blvd (affordable & walkable)

When you plan a trip to Disneyland, always allow extra time for park hopping, meal breaks, and unexpected ride closures so your day stays relaxed.

Walt Disney World, Florida

Summary

The largest Disney complex in the world—four parks, two water parks, golf courses, hundreds of restaurants.

Parks

• Magic Kingdom
• EPCOT
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom

Why visit

• Biggest variety of rides
• Week-long holidays
• Ideal for kids and large families

New in 2024

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom)

Best time to visit

• Late January–February
• Late April–May
• October (avoid Halloween weekends)

Tickets

Tokyo Disney Resort

Parks

• Tokyo Disneyland
• Tokyo DisneySea

Why visit

• Tokyo DisneySea is widely considered the best Disney park on the planet.
• Japan hospitality + Disney theming = elite experience.

Huge Update: Fantasy Springs (Opened 2024)

Includes entire themed areas:

• Frozen Kingdom
• Rapunzel’s Forest
• Peter Pan’s Never Land
• Luxury Fantasy Springs Hotel

Best time to visit

• Post-Golden Week in May
• October–November

Tickets

Disneyland Paris

Parks

• Disneyland Park (castle park)
• Walt Disney Studios → transforming into Disney Adventure World

Why visit

• Perfect combined with Paris sightseeing
• Strong Halloween & Christmas seasons

Major 2026 Opening: World of Frozen Paris

• Opening March 29, 2026
• Full Arendelle land
• Frozen Ever After boat ride
• Lakefront nighttime shows

Tickets

Hong Kong Disneyland

Why visit

• Compact park, great for kids
• Easier trip for many Asian travellers

New additions

• World of Frozen (opened 2023)
• Free-roaming Olaf animatronic (2026)

Best time to visit

• October–December
• February–March

Tickets

Shanghai Disney Resort

Why visit

Home to the most modern Disney ride tech.

Exclusive to Shanghai

• Zootopia Land (opened 2023)
• TRON Lightcycle Power Run
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure

Tickets

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How to Choose the Best Disneyland for Your Trip

When you plan a trip to Disneyland, choose based on:

1. Age group

• Kids: Hong Kong, Tokyo, California
• Teens: Orlando, Tokyo
• Adults: Tokyo DisneySea, Disneyland Paris

2. Budget

Cheapest options: Hong Kong, Shanghai
Most expensive: Orlando

3. Visa & flight availability

From Asia, Tokyo/Hong Kong are easiest.
From Europe, Paris.

4. New attractions

If your goal is the latest experiences:

• Fantasy Springs → Tokyo
• Frozen 2026 → Paris
• Zootopia → Shanghai
• Tiana’s → USA

Best Time to Visit Any Disney Park

Across all Disney resorts, the best times are:

• Late January to March
• Late April to May
• September to early November
• Avoid Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year, and long weekends

Disney Tickets, Lightning Lane & Premier Access

When you plan a trip to Disneyland, understand the queue systems:

Lightning Lane (US parks)

Paid access for major rides.

Premier Access (Tokyo/HK/Shanghai/Paris)

Paid express entry by ride.

Virtual Queues (select rides)

You must join through the app early morning.

Where to Stay: On-site vs Off-site

On-site advantages

• Early entry
• Disney transportation
• Better park immersion

Off-site advantages

• Much cheaper
• More food options
• Close to parks (California, Tokyo, Paris)

Budget Required When You Plan a Trip to Disneyland

Average per person budget for 3–5 days:

Varies by hotel choice, tickets, food, and add-ons.

Latest Disney Updates for 2024–2026

New lands opened

• Fantasy Springs – Tokyo (2024)
• Zootopia – Shanghai (2023)
• World of Frozen – Hong Kong (2023)

New lands opening

• World of Frozen – Paris (March 29, 2026)

New rides

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – USA (2024)

New experiences

• Free roaming Olaf – Hong Kong & Paris (2026)

Essential Planning Tips

1. Download the official app

You need it for wait times, food ordering, and virtual queues.

2. Start early

The first 2 hours have the shortest waits.

3. Book restaurants early

Especially Omakase, character dining, and themed cafés.

4. Take midday breaks

Avoid standing 12 hours in the sun.

5. Buy tickets in advance

Gate prices are higher everywhere.

Internal Links

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• How to Find Trending Travel Topics

Official Disneyland Websites

Use these as dofollow external links:

• Official Disney Parks:
  • https://disneyland.disney.go.com/
  • https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
  • https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/
  • https://www.disneylandparis.com/
  • https://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/
  • https://www.shanghaidisneyresort.com/

Final Thoughts

If you want to plan a trip to Disneyland, the best approach is to choose the resort that matches your budget, travel time, and the type of Disney magic you want most—classic lands in California, massive experiences in Orlando, theming at Tokyo DisneySea, European charm in Paris, or the newest expansions in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

This is the strongest period of Disney growth in years. If you plan your trip well—tickets, hotels, rides, apps, express passes, and timing—you can experience the newest rides and lands with far lower stress and much better value.

Planning a trip to Disneyland is ultimately about choosing the experience that matches your budget, travel style, and the kind of magic you want to enjoy.

Whether you prefer the classic charm of California, the massive scale of Walt Disney World, the cinematic beauty of Tokyo DisneySea, or the modern lands in Hong Kong and Shanghai, each resort offers something different. When you plan a trip to Disneyland in 2026, focus on picking the right time of year, booking your hotels early, and using the official app to manage rides and shows smoothly.

With the newest expansions like Fantasy Springs, Zootopia, World of Frozen, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, this is one of the best years ever to visit any Disney park around the world. A well-planned trip ensures shorter queues, better value, and a more memorable vacation for your family.

✅ Pro Tip

Pro Tip: When you plan a trip to Disneyland, always build a flexible schedule instead of planning every minute of the day. Disney parks constantly adjust showtimes, ride reopenings, and virtual queue availability, so a rigid itinerary often creates more stress than value.

Start your day with two or three priority rides, take a midday break when waits peak, and keep your evenings open for unexpected shows, parades, or repeat attractions. Use mobile food ordering during busy lunch hours, track wait times live on the app, and join virtual queues the moment they open.

Small decisions like these reduce overall queue times by hours and make your Disneyland trip far smoother. Smart planning beats overplanning—every time.**

The easiest way to successfully plan a trip to Disneyland is by combining early ticket purchases, smart use of the official app, and choosing the right park days based on crowd calendars.