Disneyland

Hi K., The last time I was in Disneyland, there was a height requirement on some rides. I think you should wait a little longer. There are some line waits, a lot of walking. I'm not sure a two year old can handle this. At 5 years my son got really tired and overwhelmed. Lots of luck S. Jennings, Oakland California

1 mom found this helpful

Hi K.,

I took my daughter to Disneyland when she was about to turn 3 and it was a little overwhelming for her. We went for two days and by the second day she was done. She still had a lot of fun but it is difficult to deal with the long lines and the crowds. We waited at least an hour and a half to see Mickey in his house. I would not expect to do too much but I'm sure she will still have fun taking in the sights. The upside is she is still free admission!

K.

I took my step-daughter when she was about your daughter's age. She had a great time -- but even though she loved all the the Disney characters, she was afraid of them in life size. I hope you go and have a great time!

Hi K.,

If you decide to go, be sure to book one of the hotels right across the street. We went in September with my daughter, five, and my son, 19 months. They both had a great time. We stayed at the Camelot Inn, right across the street. It's the only way to go. We were able to walk to and from DL and CA whenever we felt like it. It was perfect for those breaks you will need. There are other hotels across the street as well. Go on line and check out the hotel map. It is actually more convenient than the DL hotels.

Also, check out Get Away Today vacations on line. They had some really good deals.

That said, we took my daughter for the first time when she was two. She had fun because we were there with all her cousins, but she was still afraid of all the characters and didn't enjoy most of the rides. She LOVED small world and the dumbo ride, oh, and the carousel. But that was about it. And she liked Playhouse Disney and the small rides at CA. But she had a much better time this year, when she was a little older and could do a lot more. She really loved the characters and wasn't as scared on the rides. It was much better.

But only you know how courageous your little one is. We went on off season both times, so the lines weren't bad, but think about that too. Just know that if you go now it will be a much more laid back trip with less rides, etc. But I'm sure she will enjoy it still.

I would take her to the Disney Store and tell her it's Disneyland. She can pick out a Mickey Mouse toy to take home as a souvenir. Also, you can go to the "California Experience" at Disneyland without going to the main park. There's no admission and you can shop & have lunch there.

My son is 4 and we haven't done Disneyland yet because he thinks all parks are like a playground, where you can go on whatever ride you want, whenever you want. He is too impatient to wait in line, and once he gets on the ride, he doesn't want to get off until *he* is done (nevermind that the ride operator is using a crowbar to get you out for the next round of riders). Also, Disneyland is *very* expensive, particularly when you can't even get a full day's worth of fun because you have to work around the nap schedule. Also, there are not a lot of rides for toddlers.

A better alternative to Disneyland is "Camp Snoopy" at Knott's Berry Farm, which is near Disneyland. Camp Snoopy rides are designed specifically for toddlers, and its a LOT LESS CROWDED if you go on an off-season weekday, which means your daughter can ride 2-3 times if no one is waiting behind you.

All that said, I know a lot of parents who have taken their toddlers to Disneyland. All I can say is, they are a lot braver than I am!

- L. in Pacifica

We just got back from a fantastic trip to Disneyland with our 10yr old girl 8 yr old boy and 2 yr old girl. Heres what I found out. She loved seeing the princesses and characters but didn't want the ones in big costumes to come to close. The princesses were fine and she sat on their laps. She was scared on most of the rides. Not that they were scary just dark and loud. But she still went on them and never complained. She loved it's a small world the best,the tiki room, jungle cruise. If she felt scared she just put her hands over her eyes. California adventure didn't have much for her other than bugs land which only had 3 short rides and some water play. The fantasma lights show at night was amazing but again could be scary to some kids. It was worth it to us. It was so much fun to see her with Cinderella. In your situation I would base my decision on how you think your child might handle loudness and darkness and waiting in long lines. We would tag team it with one parent standing in line to a certain point while the other had her waiting to join in that way you don't have to expect her to stand in a 30 to 60 min line. They have something new to me called a baby pass. On rides that children don't meet the height requirement the parent waiting with the child gets a pass to get on the ride when the other parent returns. You get this from the ride attendent at the gate of the ride. Very helpful to us. Also using the fast pass system is great. Going during the week would be my next advice. Off season because it was much busier on the weekend. Hope all this info helps. I know that she most likely won't remember it but we sure will and it was lots of fun and magical. Disney land is the most amazing park. I could go on and on, R.

Wait!! My neices Father took her at about the same age, (about a year ago) and she doesn't remember it! Wait untill she is at least in kindergarden, that's when I went and I can remember it. Plus she will be able to ride more rides and do more.

We've been taking my 2 year old son to Disneyland since he was 6 months old. He absolutely loves it there. There are many rides and activities that caters to young kids...it is definitely not a waste of money! Hope this helps!

if your really trying . you should take no chances do it evey day.i know its hard with a little one in the house , no need to get the music out just get down to bussiness . good luck.

I'd wait. We took our kids (then 5 and 2) to Disneyland years ago. The 5 year old loved it--went on all the rides (except the Haunted House, and was a bit nervous over Pirates--dark), but he loved everything else. The two year old couldn't go on a lot of the stuff, he found what are the kids' rides scary (Peter Pan, Snow White, Mr. Toad), and so mom (me) spent most of my time with him either waiting for Dad and my older son outside the ride they went on, or riding Small World over and over again (he loved it), or sitting in the Tiki room. Also, the lines during the summer would not work with little ones. I don't know how parents do it. I say wait until they can really appreciate and remember it. You might want to check out what is available in "California" for the little ones, or check out the Disney facility because I think they have breakfast with Mickey and other characters. Good luck!

We went to Disneyland when our son was exactly two years old. He didn't really know the characters, so we prepped him a little before we went. He had the BEST time. Absolutely, she is not too young. There is plenty to do for kids that age. It's been two years since we went, and we are now planning to go back with our now almost 4 year old and his 2 year old brother! Have fun! :-)

Hi K.,

I think you two year old is a little too you for disneyland, although she simply adores mickey mouse, I don't the she will remember all the other action when she get's older, I say wait until she is about five years old and she will truly have a memorable moment. My son will be five in March and we plan on taking heim to disney land this spring. M. T

hi i just took my princess she is only 1 and i know she had a great time she can go on a lot of rides it's really nice and for the other rides you might want to go on they have these passes that make the line so short when you want to go on i think they will have a great time we did

I took my kids to Disneyland when they were little and although we had a good time, it was alot of stress and I don't think that they truely grasped how special the trip was. Also, they don't remember going at all.

I recently took them again at ages 9 and 12 and they had the BEST time! If I had to do it over again, I would have waited till they were old enough to really appreciate the magic and fun of Disneyland. Not only did the kids have a better time when they were older, but so did my husband and I. Good luck with whatever choice you make. Even if you decide to go now, you should still have fun.

Hi K.

I recently took my two girls (7 and 9) to Disneyland (last fall). I defnitely think 2 is too young, she can only go on a few rides in the kids section and she won't really remember anything! Some of the Disney characters can seem a little daunting when they see them as well. My girls were the perfect age and really enjoyed their day. I think 6 is the youngest that you can get the most for your money. Hope this helps.

Hi K.,

Your daughter is not too young. If she knows who Mickey Mouse is, then she's old enough to visit the Magic Kingdom. The last time we went we stayed at the California Adventure hotel and purchased the concierge package. For only a couple hundred dollars more we had free breakfasts, lunches, drinks all day long, storey time for the kids at night with milk and cookies or an adult beverage for the parents and instead of going to the park at night to see the fireworks show you can watch it from the concierge room (with the music piped in.) I loved the fact that when our boys were tired we could go back to our room for naps or just a break and then get right back in. There's no better way to do it.

Have a wonderful time. I hope this information helped.

S.

My friend brought their 2 year old at the time to D.L and said it was much too early for her to fully enjoy. I feel if you just stick to a small area, and not try to 'do it all', it will be fine. Especially with her relatives there.

I took my son when he was 2 1/2 and I felt he was too young. Disneyland is so outrageously expensive, I would save my money and go all out when your child is older. I have heard 4 or 5 is a good age.

Hi- I took my daughter when she was around 3 and it was tough...they tire easily, lines are hard for them and there is a lot they might want to do but cant. If you're just going to do the little rides, dont mind taking it slow with naps at the hotel then I think you'll be ok. Just dont go if YOURE planning on doing your stuff. I'd bring a stroller and snacks most definitely! And plan your day before you leave the hotel. Have fun!

It is so worth it. I took my daughter for the 1st time whe she was 1 1/2 and she loved it. So much to see, hear, etc...all so stimulating. I had bought a video (it think it's called a Disney sing-a-long song, at it's the one taped at Disneyland. There are a few!) Anyways, most of the songs from the rides are on it, plus the characters and rides themsleves. When we got there she recognized so much from the video..It was really fun to see her relate.
Make sure to go to city hall and get her a "my first visit pin". The staff there really pays attention to those people wearing these pins and makes it even more personal.
Oh an the rides in fantasyland are a little scary and dark. Stay away from Snow Whites scary adventure...snow white isn't in it, but the witch is 3 times. At city hall they will help you navigate all the other things for her to do that are age approprte.. (story time with the princess at the castle, where different characters will be for photos/meet and greet, (etc) Plan on going back to your room for afternoon naps..that really helps everyone out, too!

We have a 7 year old and 4 year old twins, our opinion is to take them when they turn 5. Our 7 year old enjoyed it, but some of the stuff overwhelmed him even at 5. I have a few friends who took their kids at 2 and 3 and all of them have said it wasn't worth it, they had fun, but it was a lot of work and they won't remember it anyway. Something to consider, the reason we wait until 5 is that way, we don't have to worry about diapers, strollers or special foods. At 5 they can eat what we eat and when we eat and can use a public restroom. These are just thoughts and opinions to keep in mind. It's still your family's decision. If you decide to go, relax and don't expect anything. THat way whatever happens you can just enjoy yourselves. NOthing ruins a trip more than having high expectations and not having them fulfilled. Good luck!

We took my daughter last year when she just turned 2 (and my parents too me when I was 23 months). She LOVED it! It just depends on the child...if your child is not scared of a lot of things and already likes the Disney characters, she should really enjoy it. Suggestions: show her Disney movies before hand. Stay someplace close so you can return for naps. Beware of the dark rides, even for little kids as they can be scary for them.

We went to Disneyland when my girls were 8, 6, 3 1/2 and six months. We had a great time. I loved watching their faces light up as they watched the parades and met the princesses. My three year old was just tall enough to ride most of the rides. They all loved the Matterhorn and Pirates. Though, I will say after riding Space Mountain, just because a child can ride a ride, doesn't mean they should ride the ride. I don't know how they get away with such loose hieght requirements.

That said, its an expensive venture. If you can afford to go often then it would be just a fun get-away for a few days. If this is something you've had to save for put it off until she can enjoy and understand the whole park experience. When you go I totally recommend going in the winter. The park is breathtakingly beautiful during the holidays. And weekday the lines are short. We rode Pirates of the Carribean four times, Its a Small World a bunch of times and every other ride we wanted all in one day with no crowds. The only long lines were the Dumbo ride and Space Mountain which I wouldn't recommend for children under eight. Oh, and in early Dec. it was t-shirt weather (Feb. and March can be much colder). Be sure to let you daughter wait in line to visit her favorite characters, I was sceptical but it was great fun as the princesses take five minutes or so with each child and make them feel so special and you get a great kodak moment. There's not much at California Adventure but it is worth the park hopper pass to ride the ride that makes you feel like your flying over California. I'm so bad with names. One last recommendation, make reservations before you go at your favorite park restaurants. We like to eat at the Carnation Cafe and the Blue Bayou. The Cafe is not more than going to any restaurant and you have the bonus of garaunteed seating. The Blue Bayou is more but I remember eating there as a child and watching the Pirate's ride boats float through. Great Fun! We hope to go again when our 2 1/2 is a year older.

Hi K.,

I took my daughter to Disneyland at the age of 2. I had the same concerns you did but I went for it anyways. Granted she did not get to ride alot of rides but she did enjoy it and it was worth it because she was free anyways. She will be amazed by all the stuff going on around her and since she loves Mickey anyways she should be excited to see him in person. I think you should go for it. Hope that helps.

Hello K.
We went to Disneyland about a year ago. Our son was 2 and our daughter 4. There are some activities for the little ones but not too many rides. My son loves Mickey Mouse but every time we could meet Mickey and Co. he was scared. They all are adult size and can be scarry for the little kids. And everything (Tickets, Food, Hotel) is really expensive of course. For me I would have waited at least another year, but my daughter and husband really wanted to go. You see a lot of small children, babies and even newborns there, will they remember? My advice wait until your daughter is almost three (like this she gets in for free), it doesn't make any sense to go sooner. And if you deside to go try to go on a week-day. Good Luck

You would be going for your own enjoyment, but your daughter probably won't remember it. Anticipation is half the fun, and at this young age she really can't even anticipate it with any realistic reference. Older would be more worth it.

We took our daughter 2 weeks after her 2nd birthday & I do not regret one moment of it. I felt like she was the perfect age to understand it & enjoy the magic of Disneyland. We got there early in the morning, left at nap time, then came back just before dinner time & stayed until the fireworks. Worth it. She was 36 inches tall at that time & we found that she could ride everything age appropriate. She adored meeting the princesses at the Princess Faire in Fantasyland (WELL worth the wait in line), the Parade of Dreams, and the Tiki Room the best. My friends who have gone also say that the Breakfast with Minnie & Friends is well worth the time & money spent as you get a lot of face time with characters. I found that meeting the characters was so much more exciting for her than rides though she did well on rides too. The only thing too scary was Mr. Toad, though I have heard others say their kids didnt' so much care for Snow White's ride either.

If you go in the summer expect long lines & a lot of people. Disneyland now offers something called a "switch pass" that will allow part of your party to wait in line, get a pass at the head of the line, ride the ride, then give the rest of the party the passes to go to the head of the line when they are off. This would allow, say, you & your daughter to do something else while your husband and another are in line for the ride, then you would switch when he got off the ride so you could ride it without waiting. Makes for a nicer time! And fast passes.... talk to crew members about it all.

Drop me a line if you want more info-- my daughter is 2 years 3 months now & she asks so go back on almost a daily basis. We are expecting #2 any day now and hope to go back when this DD is 2 years old too! :) HAVE FUN!!!

I'm actually taking my son to Disneyland in April. Granted he's almost 3, but I think 2 is the right age to start off at. Does your daughter watch Playhouse Disney at all? My son watches that in the morning as I get ready for work. He loves all those characters and California Adventures, the park right next to Disneyland, has a show featuring some of them. I hope this helps and don't hesitate to ask any other questions.

I have taken both my kids to Disneyland since their first birthdays( one is 6 and one is 2). The great thing about a Disney vacation is that its great for ANY age!Plan to stay close (we like the Carousel Inn and Suites-5min walk) so you can go back to the hotel for naps and lunch. Also I highly advice doing fantasyland during an Early Entry morning so you have shorter waits in line. Check out the trip advice on mouseplanet.com.

Do it... There are lots of smaller rides for children. If she dosnt like rides ...shows and parades are fun with the
the little ones too. If she not afraid of the characters there lots of picture opps with them also. If she like to wonder around there is Tom Sawyer's Island and the tree house to climb around. California Adventure on the is really great for the young ones too. There is a water play area and a whole tree house/climbing area too. The small rides in the Bugs Life area are really good for the little ones. Both parks have parades and they are short enough to keep the smaller ones attention. We took our son at 2years and at 3 years and he had a better time at 2. He wasnt as affraid of the rides as he was at 3. Have fun....

My daughter was about 2.5 when we took her last, its was fun and great. She was able to ride so many rides, but did get scared on the snow white one and she loves the Tiki Room, Jasmine & Princess Shows. She watches a disneyland sing along tape and sees the cinderella castle on tv. We are taking her again when she turns 3 and I think she will enjoy it more.
Try to take little snacks for your child to have and may want to get out of the stroller after a while.
Have fun!
T.

Hello! Who doesn't love Disneyland? Our kids have been going since both were about 2yrs old. I'm sure you know that Disneyland can be overwhelming with all the chaos/overcrowding at times but when our son was 2 we were so glad to know that there's a "babystation" in every bathroom and for emergencies, on Main St, there's a place for moms to nurse, buy diapers, milk, etc...(forgot the exact name of it). We go every year and the kids have a blast! I'm a mom of a 4yr old and 11yr old. Oh yeah, if he's into Playhouse Disney, there's a show @ Cal Adventure with lots of characters! A piece of advice, plan your day carefully, esp around nap time! Good luck and have fun!

K.,

If you take your little one to Disneyland, just remember that she will get tired and cranky. Make sure you take her back to the hotel to have naps and down time. So many parents DRAG their kids through the park and the kids are tired and throughing fits due to the heat, exhustion, hunger.... and then the parent ends up screaming at the child (as if it is their fault). So my advise is to get a hotel either with the park or right next door so that when your little one needs down time or a nap you can easily do so. This will make your trip better for you and for those around you.

hi, K.

I have the same quetstion. We will have a trip to Disneyland next month. But my son is only two years old.
I think he is too small to play, but maybe he can watch
some shows. Don't worry! Have a nice trip to you!

We took our daughter for the first time when she was 2 1/2. I thought this would be a one time trip, then we could put off our next trip for another 5 years or so. NO CHANCE! She talked about Disneyland every day for about 6 months! She had a blast! Loved the rides! She was a little leary about the characters but had a great time. We got park hopper passes and stayed for 2 days. We spent most of the first day at California Adventure and then the rest of the 1st day and all of the 2nd day at Disneyland. We've been every October since.

One thing to look into though. Check your daughter's height and see if she will be able to go on enough rides to make it worth your trip (on the Disneyland website they have the height requirements for each ride). My daughter is tall so at 2 1/2 she was able to go on the Matterhorn and at 3 1/2 she went on Space Mountain. It's a lot more fun if they're able to go on a lot of the rides. Have fun!

Hi K.,

I took my son for the first time when he was 18 months old. I went to San Diego to visit my brother and his family and he surprised all of us and took us. I was a little worried about taking him becuase of his nap schedule and and everything, but he did great. He loved taking pictures with all the characters and enjoyed the rides. Before we went we printed up a paper that listed all the rides that were suitable for little ones. They have it on their website and it made everything so much easier. I think your daughter will love it. Just be sure to take a stroller for when she decides that she needs to nap. Both my son and my nephew who was 12 months at the time napped for an hour while we enjoyed a nice afternoon dinner at one of the resturaunts. Just make sure that you are aware of the time and that you take some downtime right about the time she will be ready to nap. That way everyone stays happy. Good luck and have fun!

C.

Our youngest was 2 on his first trip to Disneyland and his brother was 5. He had a marvelous time. Just remember that you may not be able to do everything and take it at their pace. It could be a very overwhelming place for some children depending on personality. I love Disneyland and think that of all theme parks you can succeed with a young child here best. If your child tends to wander off and is very independent. I would seriously consider some form of harness. To most this may seem harsh but when my youngest was 3 we lost him at Walt Disney World and we found him all fine after about a 1/2 hour but it was very stressful. I talked to other Mom's there and we all agreed that it was all about safety and not about control. It only takes a second for them to wander off. This is especially true when there is a larger group as things can get confusing very quickly. Have a great trip - bring snacks into the park as it can get expensive for food. The three best places in Disneyland are Main Street, Fantasyland and Mickey's Toon Town. There are some but not many areas in California Adventure for young children.

I am a past employee of Disneyland. I do believe 2 is too young for Disneyland. Though I've taken my children there since they were infants. Mixed message I know. Having worked there I saw so many worn out parents becasue they were dealing with young children who were over whelmed with everything they saw and did at Disneyland. By evening I saw parents yelling and children crying. Pushing a stroller around a crowded park is not very fun for anyone. Then you have diaper changing issues as well. Yes, I took my kids there as infants because I got in free and still get in free. If it was too much then it was no big deal to leave. But I really didn't see true enjoyment and understanding of it all until they were over 4. By then they were able to spend long hours without a stroller. There were no diapers,etc. The experience is much better for children as they get older. Plus most young children are frightened by the characters. They scream and cry when they see them. I have a 9 year old son and an 11 year old daughter. They love Disneyland and go several times a year.

We are Disneyland Pro's. Our son's first trip was when he was 6 mos old and he's been every year since. My one tip here it to stay at one of the park properties or right across the street if possible. This will allow you to follow your child's own cycle. We would take our son into the park in the early morning when he was the most active and then at about 1 to 2pm we would head back to the hotel where he could nap. At about 5pm we would head back to the park and play till right after fireworks when we would call it a night. Because you are seeing the park in shifts you may consider a 4 day trip rather than a 2 or 3 day trip. This takes the pressure off of needing to see the park faster so you don't miss anything. The best time to go to Disneyland is early to mid November when the park is more empty and yet the Christmas decorations are already up for the season. Most of the crowds were either there for Halloween or are waiting for the Thanksgiving weekend to go or waiting for Christmas to visit the park. Going early allows you to see the decorations and feel the Disney Christmas Magic without the crowds. Obviously midweek would be better than the weekend so go if you can but, as with most of us, a long weekend is usually the best most can do. One thing you may not know about is "ride sharing". This is where one parent gets to go on the ride while the other waits a the top of the line. When the first parent is done with the ride then the first parent waits with the child while the second parent gets to ride! This means you can ride Pirates or Indy and not miss out on the "grownup" rides at all. There is PLENTY for a toddler to do in Disneyland so have a wonderful time!

C.

Hello K.,
my husband and I did the whole bahama disney wonder cruise in which we stayed in orlando 4 days & did all the disney world attractions (well not all there are so many!)then we went on the disney cruise to the bahamas for 3 nights. My daughter was 3 yrs. old and she does not remember anything. We've watched the videos several times and still she does not remember. Alot of money spent and no memory, but don't get me wrong while we were there she was very excited and loved everything! So she'll enjoy every magical moment she just might not remember it. We took our daughter to Disneyland @ age 5 and she still doesn't remember it not untill she danced in the main street parade last year @ age 7 did she remember disneyland. So you have to decide do you want her to remember or do you want her to enjoy the moment (which is priceless when you look @ their excited faces). There isn't much for them to do , basically see the characters is all and california adventure has a few things. It's a good idea If you stay @ the hotels across the street so you can rest and go back again.just thought I'd give my experience. Good Luck

i took my 5 year old last summer, and left my 3 year old at home. it turned out that my 5yo daughter isn't that into rides -- but she LOVED the swimming pool. once i accepted that we were not going to "do" the park the way i had imagined it, and relaxed with lots of shopping and swim breaks, it was fun. but park admission is lots of money, so you could argue that it was a waste. but it was good bonding time for us, so i think it was good.

Hi K.,
I would wait until they can really enjoy and remember this event in there lives. My husband and I are biting at the bit too to take our daughter but we relize it would only be for us. We have to wait until she's 3 and then look out micky~! It would be very difficult for most of the rides to take a really young child. They have to know they have to stay sitting and you might not want to have to be the meany police on the rides all day long. If you do choose to go, try to get the flex pass thats good for a few days and that way you can go back to your hotel or home and get rest. Hope this helps. Blessings~

You know, you will find many mothers that will rave about how much of an amazing time their family has had at disneyland with small children and infants - but in reality, it doesn't matter how much of an organized planner you are or how well behaved your child is. Anything can, and will, happen. Realize that vacationing with a toddler away from home makes YOUR job a thousand times more difficult - you will always not have everything you need, your daughter may be homesick and not sleep well (many toddlers do not sleep well away from their own homes) - so many things come up.
Also, unless she is unusually tall, there are very few rides your two year old will be able to go on - even the kid rides such as pinocchio, peter pan, alice in wonderland etc. have height requirements, as short as they may be. It is far far more difficult for a child to just be able to look at the rides knowing they cannot ride them - and as far as you and your husband, since your child will not be able to go on many of the rides, neither will you. Parents with toddlers in disneyland do not get to ride much of anything, you are just basically there to stand around and entertain your child while you wait for the other members of your party - going in the summer with a toddler is even more difficult as you have all the heat and masses of people to contend with - a hot sweaty day with little to no rides does not make for a happy toddler.
Many other parents will swear they had a wonderful time, but as the mother of a 2 year old who IS very tall, there is still so little she can enjoy at such a young age that we have decided to wait until she can REALLY enjoy herself and ride a great majority of the rides if she wants to (we're planning a trip shortly after she turns 3). She is also not the sort of child that likes to ride in a stroller, so we are also waiting until she can walk for longer distances if she insists on it. I am no glutton for punishment: we have taken her many places with us (las vegas several times, sacramento, and other long drives and out of the home stays) and it is just SO SO much work for me, I have no time to rest or enjoy wherever we may be. Save the big trips for when she is old enough to appreciate them.

I have been to Disneyland several times with and without children. On every occation I noticed so many families with young children crying, throwing temper tantrums, and/or sleeping. Obviously, during those times neither the parents or children were enjoying Disneyland. Also, remember that your daughter loves the 2 inch animated Mickey Mouse...so many children are traumatized by the size of the Disney characters in the park. I first took my daughter when she was 5 years old, she was only frightened by "Beast"; she was ok with the rest of the characters. She was old enough that she actually remembers the trip and she was big (tall) enough to ride MOST of the rides. She was also better able to understand and handle waiting in lines. Hope that helps.

I've taken my daughter who is 4 three times and my son who is 20 months once already, and they really had a great time. Our first trip was when she was 1 1/2, and she had an absolute blast. I highly encourage taking your child before you have another one, so she can experience it with your full attention. I prepared her by buying the Disney Sing Along Songs video that is all live characters and filmed at Disneyland. She wasn't afraid of them at all when we got there, and the characters spent extra time with her because they usually don't get young kids who aren't crying. I have so many great pictures and memories from that trip that we are going again in Feb, so my son can enjoy it and run around more this tiime. He was only six months old his first time, but there were still many rides he could go on. I would recommend staying at a Disney property if you can. We found out the hard way that they are the only hotels with a doctor on staff, my daughter contracted the flu while there last year! Good luck!

Hi K.,

I have two little girls, they are 2.5 & 1.5. My husband & I took them both to Disneyland last month (December). They both had a wonderful time. Regardless the age, it was all about living for the moment. Seeing our girls faces light up was the best feeling. Before I went on our trip, some folks were telling me my kids were too young. My response to those folks was..."That's why you take a video camera & take lots of photos!" And I haven't heard anything again! Take your daughter she's not too young. If she knows who Mickey & Minnie are, then she's ready to go to Disneyland. As a matter of fact we are taking our girls again in June.
Have fun & take lots of photos!

Hi, K.. From our experience, we took our son to Disneyworld when he was 2 yrs. old (he's six now). Unless you plan on staying at a hotel in Disneyland, I guess it should be okay. I know for one at that age they get tired easily and need to be able to take their nap so if you're hotel is close by you can just walk to the hotel, have your baby take a nap, then just go back to Disneyland. Another option which my sister has done previously, I guess they have a rest area in Disneyland now for mothers and babies. Good luck and have fun.

I took my daughter when she was 28 months, she had a blast and we have great pictures of her bright happy smile. The only hard part was leaving the park and watching her heart break as she waved goodbye to everyone and the park. Our first day there we arrived around 3pm and stayed till 1am when they closed. We drove there from Santa Cruz and she had been awake for over 15 hours with pure excitement to be there. Sad but true now when we talk about it she doesn't remember it at all. But she loves her pictures. I would do it again just to see there faces.

Hi K.,

I,too, felt that 2 was too young to take a child to Disneyland until I experienced it. My son was just five and my youngest girl had just turned 2 when we decided to go. We all had a blast. We stayed at a little motel right across the street from Disneyland, so when the kids needed a nap or a break we just went back to our room. We made sure to have plenty of beverages and snacks with us. While she was not quite big enough to ride all of the rides, nor necessarily the desire to ride, those that she was able to she enjoyed.

I would just make sure that you are close enough to be able to leave and come back during the day.

Also, as far a souvenirs, we told them they could get two things and that they didn't have to get them on the first day that they would have time to think about it. That eliminated a lot of the "can I haves".

Good luck and have a lot of fun.

I took my son to Disneyland when he was 15 months to Disneyland and when he was 29 months to Disney World. We didn't have any problems with him at either times. The only thing to remember is they do need some down time throughout the day and lots of snacks.

I think it is totally up to you. We have a one year old that we are planning on taking to Disneyland here in a couple months. I know she won't be able to do many rides, but it will be fun for her to look at things and just to go on a family trip together. So even if you think she won't be able to be interested in everything, do you think its a trip worth it for you as a family right now? We just figure, it will be nice to go somewhere that our little one will have some fun. My sister in law took her 1 1/2 year old to disneyland and he had a lot of fun! So I think at 2 years old your little one will have fun too.

My son was one month shy of being two when we took him to Disneyland. He had a blast!! The look on his face was priceless when he saw Mickey Mouse for the first time. We stayed from Mon-Fri. He needs his naps so we would go to Disneyland for a few hours each day have him take a nap and then we would swim at the hotel or go back to Disneyland for a few hours. We had a blast and it was worth it!! We also would eat outside of Disneyland a few times to save a few bucks.

Just my opinion, but your 2 year old won't remember going to Disneyland at that age. (Later in life) You will also spend the whole trip with a small child in a stroller waiting in long lines and dealing with the heat, diapers, snacks, etc. We waited until our children were four or five years old to take them, mostly because of the expense to get there and stay, etc. And I wanted them to remember it and have FUN. Our oldest is now 17 and has been three times and remembers each and every visit with fondness. I think Disneyland can also be a little overwheling for little ones. They are often afraid of the characters until they are a bit older.

Disneyland will always be there and you and your child will enjoy the trip far more a little later.

I took my daughter who is 3 years old, and she only went to see the Princesses. She didn't really enjoy the rides. My older son who (7 years old) enjoyed it. I don't think there is a lot of rides for 2 year olds. If you don't have older children who will want to ride the rides, so you can meet all the Disney characters with you daughter, then it should be okay. Both my children enjoyed the parade, so if you're main purpose is to meet the characters and watch the parade, then you'll have fun.

We took our 3 year old and she had a great day but was not interested in rides, was scared of most of them. She did have lunch at Ariel's Grotto and if your daughter is into princesses this is a must! She loved the parade. I think I will wait to take my younger daughter until she is older, its quite pricey for everything I think my daughter had just as much fun at the disney store than in the park. Except for the lunch with the princesses.

Hi K.... I think a trip to Disneyland for a 2 year old would be kind of overwhelming, and very tiring. It would probably be better to wait a year or 2, and she would also retain a better memory of what fun she had afterwards and be able to converse with her friends about it, too! Sincerely, CJ

Like everything there are pluses and minuses. On the down side she will need a stroller and navigating the park with one is a major pain (especially on a busy day). On the up side entry into the park is free for children under 3 and with any luck a nice relaxing trip may be just what you and your husband need when you start trying for #2.

Hi K.
I would wait. Disneyland is big and overwhelming for children. You daughter won't have memory from a trip at her age. I would wait until 5 or 6 years at the earliest. However, if you really, really want to take her, just keep in mind that you need to pace yourself to your toddler. Go to the areas for younger children, you might be doing one ride or experience 10 times in a row. Just follow her lead. And give lots of fluids and provide down time when you can. Better yet, wait until she is older!

About me:
I am an early childhood professional, with 23 years of experience. I teach human development at the college level and taught preschool for 20 years. I have a son who is 4 1/2 years old.

~K. B. in Ca

We took my son a couple of weeks before he turned one. Even at that age he loved it. It helped that we stayed in a hotel near the park so that he could take naps.

Hi K. -

I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and have been going to Disneyland with both since they were born. At 2 they both loved the place!! The only problem I find is that at 2 they don't want to stay in the stroller long and waiting for a 2 year old to walk with you is brutal! But we rented the "cool" strollers at Disneyland and they both liked those because they were new and different and I liked them because they ride wonderfully!

Have a blast!

C.

Hi there. I'm a mom of three, 6,4,1. My husband just took our 6 and 4 year old sons to Disneyland for the first time this past fall. We knew that going before they were these ages would have been a hard trip on all of us and they probably wouldn't remember anything anyway.

Personally I think 2 years old is to young to appreciate and even remember the visit. I waited until my son was 6 and we stayed at the Paradise Pier Hotel. I was really glad I waited and we had a fantastic time. I would reccomend staying at one of the Disneyland Hotels when you do go and visit one of the theme restaurants like Goofy's Kitchen for on meal. This turned out to be one of the highlights of our vacation. She will not be able to go on very many rides and may be overwhelmed when she goes up to the characters. I would wait until she is at least 4. Good Luck