You want to go to both parks trust me.  One way you can do so is called the Park Hopper.  What exactly is Park Hopper?

Let me break it down for you and also address whether your family needs it.  

When you buy your park ticket you have the option to buy a regular park ticket or a park hopper ticket.  As you can see below, it makes a difference in what you will pay for a ticket.

The park hopper allows you to be able to go into BOTH parks in the same day.  That means if you want to hit up California Adventure in the morning and then run over to Disneyland Park in the evening to catch the fireworks show you can leave California Adventure and enter Disneyland on the same ticket.  

As you can see it is more expensive, so you want to think about whether this feature is something you wish to add to your ticket.  

1.  The park gets super busy.  If the park gets really busy you can check on the map and sometimes (not always) the other park has lower wait times.  It is nice to be able to switch gears and head across the way to the other park to escape large crowds.

2. You want to eat in the other park.  I  am super picky about food, so this one definitely applies to me.  I want to eat at the places I like, and if one is full in one park, I will try to head over to the other and see if I can get in to another one.  Its not necessary.  There are plenty of dining options in both parks, but since I have food restrictions, I like to have my options open. 

3.  You are only there one day.  If you are visiting Disneyland for ONLY one day (first off, what are you even doing with your life..lol), then I would recommend the park hopper 100%.  You will want to see it all and in order to do so you need to be able to enter both parks.

4.  California Adventure closes early.  Every night.  Yep, each night California Adventure closes at minimum an hour before Disneyland.  Many people like to run over to Disneyland to finish out their day there.  

1.  It is your first trip.  If this is your first time going to Disneyland, I think the park hopper is overkill.  It will be enough for you to get the lay of the land, figure out fast passes, and navigate entertainment options.  There is no need to complicate things.  Just do one park per day and you should be fine.

2.  You have very small children.  If you have super little ones, the likelihood of you desiring spending a ton of time traveling back and forth between parks with strollers and gear is low.  Also, if you have tiny ones, you won't likely be in the parks super late either.  Just stick to one park, you'll be fine.

3.  You want to save money.  This is a super valid reason to not get park hopper.  It is still an amazing experience spending your time in one park each day.  In fact, some would argue that you will get more out of the experience as you will have time to explore and enjoy the nooks and crannies of each park rather than rushing back and forth chasing ride times.

4.  You have 3-4 days in the park.  If you have time to enjoy each of the parks to its fullest, then a park hopper is really a luxury rather than a helpful necessity.  

I hope this is helpful in understanding the park hopper ticket.  It is a great option but absolutely not required to have a magical time!

Hope this helped you discern whether or not Park Hopper is necessary for your family!

XOXO, LEAH