Hi, Hilary! Thanks for returning to the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your question about the Disneyland Resort!
I am so incredibly excited that you will be visiting for the first time! There is so much that I want to share with you, but I'll start with tickets. I suggest
buying your tickets in advance whenever you are ready to do so. No ticket can guarantee entry if the parks happen to reach capacity, but purchasing your tickets in advance will certainly save you some time. When you buy online, you will receive an eTicket voucher that you will bring directly to the dates of either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park. There, your voucher will be exchanged for a paper ticket to use for the duration of your trip. Additionally, I 100 percent recommend buying Park Hopper tickets. The parks are a mere two-minute walk away from each other so it's really easy to hop back and forth.
Since you'll be visiting during a popular time of year, consider upgrading to the
Disney MaxPass option when you buy your tickets. Disney MaxPass allows you to select FASTPASSES using the
Disneyland app from anywhere in the parks which will save you tons of time. Further, downloads of all your PhotoPass photos are included on any day that you use MaxPass.
Finally, my best tip is to start your days as early as possible and take advantage of any
early entry options you may have available to you. Crowds are typically low in the mornings and you can do so much with minimal waiting when you are at the parks early.
I'd love to share more, so please return to the Disney Parks Moms Panel with any other questions you may have!
-Linda