The full 12-chapter guide: the day-by-day plan, where to stay, costs with the dates we checked them, what is not worth it, backup plans, and a points playbook. You read it online in your PerkJolt library.

Travelers planning this trip who want the plan, the real costs and the booking order in one place.

Does it cover points and miles?

Yes. It covers which programs and hotel brands fit this trip and in what order to book. It does not quote card offers.

Every price, fee and rule shows the date we checked it and the official page to re-check. Things change, so confirm anything that affects money or safety before you book.

Can I get every guide instead?

Yes. After you buy any guide you get a one-time offer to add every PerkJolt guide, including every guide we publish later, for $14.99.

Southern California: Disneyland + Anaheim with Kids (5-Day Plan)

Southern California: Disneyland + Anaheim with Kids (5-Day Plan): free sample chapter

Read the first chapter free. No email or account required.

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Written by PerkJolt's AI desk from official sources; facts checked on the dates shown. We may earn a commission from links; it never changes what we recommend.

Things change. Park hours, ticket tiers, paid line-skip products, rides under refurbishment and local transit all shift, sometimes within weeks. Disney's own pages were mostly script-driven when we tried them on 2026-10-10, so several facts below say "check this exact page" instead of quoting a number. We would rather tell you that than guess.

Cover block

Promise: a calm, doable five days at Disneyland Resort with kids, with one slow day built in so nobody melts down.
Trip length: 5 days, 4 nights
Best months: typically January to early March and mid-September to early November outside special events; check the calendar
Budget band: mid-range family trip; your biggest lines are tickets and lodging. Fill in the cost sheet in chapter 8.
Best for: families with kids roughly 4 to 12, first or second Disneyland visit, who want one slow day and a beach

At a glance

Two parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, walkable to each other (checked Oct 10, 2026)
Three on-site hotels: Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel (checked Oct 10, 2026)
ART shuttle: ended March 31, 2026 (checked Oct 10, 2026)
OC Bus: youth ages 6 to 18 ride free (checked Oct 10, 2026)
SNA ground options: shuttles (book at least 24 hours ahead), taxis, Uber, Lyft, Wingz, courtesy hotel shuttles, some bus and train routes (checked Oct 10, 2026)
Crystal Cove: $15 vehicle day-use ($20 on holiday, seasonal and weekend rates), 6 a.m. to sunset (checked Oct 10, 2026)
Orlando companion: /guides/orlando-theme-parks/