Disneyland Advice - Citrus Heights,CA

I wouldn't bother taking a stroller, just use one of the disney ones. I think they're like 15 bucks a day, and very comfy for the kid to sleep in. Definately take granola bars and bannanas, things to even out blood sugar that aren't junk food.

When i went to disney world with my daughter when she was 4, i made an itenerary for her, with pics of the things we would do each day. I found tons of photos on Flickr. Ahe had a good time finding the scenes from the photos while she was there.

Fun! I went with my 4 year old in Sept. I can give you some advice on the trip. Some of this pertains to the type of child I have so some things may be different for you.

General:
- try to get there as close to opening as possible.
- We were there 2 days although I could see staying one more day.
- we were staying close to the park so we left at naptime and came back later. also my daughter was completely worn out by 630 - 7pm, even with a nap.
- it is safe to leave your stroller by the rides. I found that once inside the park I preferred to have my daughter out so I could hear her reactions and show her things.
- City Hall on Main Street will give you pins for your children (and you!) for their 1st visit and if it is a special occasion. The Mad Hatter in Fantasyland also has the same pins.

Travel:
- take the shuttle if your hotel has one. the walk from the shuttle stop to the park is a little far.
- if you want to drive to the park there is a drop off area on harbor blvd. This is an easier place to get out with kids because the regular parking was closed and the alternate lot is far. it took my boyfriend about 30 minutes to park and get back to meet us.

Food:
- bring your own snacks and lunch. This kept my daughter from overloading on ice cream and sweets. The food in the parks is expensive and can really add up after a while.
- there is a small food area right across from The Haunted Mansion that is pretty good. Also Pizza Port in Tomorrowland is ok.
- if you want to have a special meal there are restaurants that have characters come around to your table. you can reserve a table online.
- The Rain Forest Cafe on Disneywalk is ok. Also the ESPN Zone wasn't bad.

Rides:
- My daughter really liked the cars on Main Street Plaza. They have a horse drawn trolley and old fashioned trucks. They just ride down Main Street and back again. She also liked the barbershop quartet.
- The Disneyland Railroad goes all the way around the park. This can be a good way to get back to the Main Gate. Stroller space can be a little tight though.
- My daughter liked the Carousel in Fantasyland as well as the Dumbo ride and Small World. Toon Town is fun.
- She also really liked Sleeping Beauty's castle. You walk through it and there are windows that tell the story of Sleeping Beauty. Pixie Hollow is really cute. She also really enjoyed the parades and the shows at CA Adventure. Also the Pixar studios at CA Adventure. The Tiki Room was fun for her too. There is a part at the end that scared some kids but it is short.
- She did NOT like the Snow White ride or the Pinocchio ride. She was scared. She didn't cry, but she told me she didn't like that ride and didn't want to go on it again. If you are unsure of a ride I would recommend riding it yourself first. These rides were created in the 50's mostly and some can be kind of darkly themed. :)

My daughter is more of an observer so we had to do things 2 or 3 times before she was able to sit back and enjoy them. I decided to go slow and show her the park instead of racing from one ride to the next. There are a lot of little things that for me really make Disneyland charming and magical. Also, I never realized how much ice cream is for sale there! I had to set some ground rules first but even so heard "I want ice cream." about 20 times! It's a fun place, have a great trip!

Hi,

We went to Disneyland with our 3 yr and 6 yr old a few weeks ago and had a blast - aia'm so excited for you!

Definately take a stroller, get to the park when it opens and check online to see which rides your 4 yr old is tall enough to ride so you don't waste your time. My 3 yr old loved the Buzz Lightyear ride and my 6 year old loved California Screaming in the California Adventures park. We found that Disneyland got very busy once the other park closed.

I wouldn't waste my time lining up for the Roger Rabbit ride in Toontown, not worth it. The Nemo submaine ride was good but again, long lines so do it early if you can. Definately make use of the fast pass tickets to save on line waiting and if you all go up to one of the attendants at the entrance to most rides where there is a line waiting and tell them that both parents want to ride but have to take turns because of the baby, they will give you a rider pass so your 4 yr old can go straight on the ride again with the other parent.

We ate mostly at the IHOP directly across from Disneyland main entrance and they had a deal on where kids eat for free. Food is expensive in Disneyland. We took our own snacks, fruit and drinks into Disney and I'm glad we did.

If you need a rest, try hopping onto the Mark Twain Riverboat, we liked that and there's stuff to look at as you go round.

If you can, try and see the Fantasmic light show in the evening - not on every eve but it is worth seeing. The fireworks above the Castle were good but my 3 yr old was frightened by the "scary moon that talks".

Hope you have fun. We stayed for 4 days and did just about everything. We found that Calfornia Adventures park was not busy most days and they are building rides there near the Ferris wheel. Some Ferris wheel carriages slide as they move, we loved that.

If it looks like rain during your stay, pack fold up rain capes and take them with you. We bought ours outside of Disney which saved some money. I think they started at $6 in Disney - that's if you can find somewhere that sells them.

Have fun!

Have a great time! So jealous, I just went last year with my two boys and already I'm dying to go back. A few of my tips:

- Downtown Disney has some restaurant alternatives that have tastier food and maybe a little less expensive than in the park.

- Double stroller helped us a lot with our then 19-month old and 4-year old when we went a year ago. Both ended up taking quite a few naps in the stroller throughout the day. We have a little Jeep double umbrella stroller.

- I brought my own snacks (cracker snack packs, fruit snacks, granola bars), which really came in handy.

- There's a room especially for moms/babies to nurse/have quiet time/change, at the end of Main Street.

- If you bought a special tix pkg (i.e., from costco/AAA) take advantage of the early entry privileges, nice to get a head start and get in line for popular rides. Also if you have a Toon Town Madness pass - early entry to Toon Town, can get lots of character photos during this time.

- Birthday in your family when you go? You can go to City Hall on Main St. to get a birthday badge. This lets employees know it's your birthday and you get special attention. All for free.

- Oh! Just a little shopping tip. At the toy store in Disney California Adventure, you can get Disney-specific Mr. Potato Head pieces (like Mickey ears, Mickey shoes, Donald hats, Buzz Lightyear, etc. to put on the potato) Super-cute if your kids are into Mr. Potato Head. Just remember to buy the arms specific to hold the accessories.

- Last time we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, but a couple years back stayed at the Residence Inn Main Gate, which we liked because it was a small apt-like set up with living room and full kitchen (meaning, no need to eat out for dinner!). Very easy to get to/from the park on the Disney Shuttle.

- Here's a good guide in planning a trip to Disney (with/babies):
http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/dlguide/5_Primer/with_infa...

and in general:
http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/dlguide/

Again, have fun and g'luck!

T.,

I just drove to Disney Land in July with my daughters. My oldest was nearly three years old and the baby had just turned one. The baby slept for a large portion of the trip as did my three year old. I only stopped once for the bathroom and to change my baby's diaper. I placed a pull-up on my oldest just in case, but there were no accidents. I went without my husband, he had to work. Because of this, I brought our double stroller. It worked well driving there and was a great way to travel the park without loosing a child and I was able carry all their items. We arrived to the theme park around 2 or 3 pm and that was perfect. The girls were able to sleep on the ride there and given we got there after their traditional nap time, they were refreshed. Before actually entering the park, we went to eat at the Rainforest Cafe, located in the City Walk area. This permitted us to eat a real meal, sit down and get settled. After eating we strolled the City Walk area and entered the park just after 4 pm. Given the girls age, this worked well. They are too small to ride the bigger rides, so we spent the bulk of our time in the kiddy area, which was perfect. We caught a parade and my oldest joined in and loved it. We left the theme park at around 10 pm and at this time, with two tired little ones, the double stroller was a God-send. The girls fell asleep as we left the theme park and remained sleep on the ride back home to my aunt's house located about 30 minutes away. It was a real fun time and I wish you and your family to have the same good time.
- T.

So the biggest thing to take is a DVD player and lots of movies!!! Then other favorite toys, crayons and paper. Plan to make lots of stops for potty breaks. When we went a few years ago we had our 5th wheel and I made lunches and left them in our tow vehicle in an ice chest. This way was so much cheaper than eating in the park. You can go in and out of the park to eat. If you are staying a hotel then I suggest staying in one that is close! Another suggestion is maybe renting a motor home to go down and stay in. Motor homes just make the long teck down so much easier! You don't have to stop for pee breaks, you can eat and drive. You have a clean bath and potty. Plus if your kids get restless you can just let them out of their car seats to stretch without stopping. Disney Land now has an RV park. We rented out Motor Home to a family for a Disney Land trip and they stated this is the best way to go!

If you are interested check out our motorhome at www.recreationrentals.webs.com

As for strollers a compact one that has a good sized storage basket is a must. Be patient because there will be long lines and people that don't watch out for strollers and bump into you a lot.

The best advice I received was to go in early, as soon as they open the gates (which is usually before the listed opening time.) We spent the morning playing and riding, then went back to our hotel after lunch for a swim and a nap. Returned to the park late afternoon refreshed and tantrum-free, to spend a fun evening. It worked out great! You avoid the most crowded part of the day, and your child doesn't get overtired and cranky.

Hi T.,

We were just there last weekend with our 4-year-old daughter. We drove down also. Our daughter was fine on the trip. We bought a portable DVD player and let her pick out her own movies. We borrowed an umbrella stroller. There are stroller parking areas outside all the rides, which is cool because no one touches your stuff while you are in line. We also brought a backpack with a cooler in it and brought our own lunches, snacks and drinks. There is a really nice picnic area outside the park where you can eat your own food. We saved quite a bit of money that way. We stayed for two days, and that was plenty.

We would get to the park when it opened at 8am, then stay until lunchtime. We would eat lunch and go back to the hotel for a nap, grab a quick dinner and head back to the park until eight or so. The restaurants were pretty kid-friendly: Red Robin, IHOP, even Oggi's Pizza and Brewery.

As far as the rides/attractions, my daughter loved meeting Tinkerbell at the new Pixie Hollow, and she loved the Jungle ride, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and even Pirates and the Haunted Mansion, which they have all decked out with the Nightmare Before Christmas theme.

Have fun, and take lots of pictures!

C.

If you are a AAA member, call them and ask if they have an auto travel specialist that knows Disney. The Capitola office does and she is great with this sort of thing. We stayed right across the street (by the Ihop)for like $100 night. Super convnient for mid afternoon naps! With the AAA tickets we were able to enter the park early to get a jump on favorite rides as well as early seating at the big Aladin show in California Adventures. We skipped the crazy long lines to meet the characters (especially princesses) in the park and sprung for the character lunch at Goofy's Kitchen. The food was good and the characters come right to your table. Way worth the $$. Patti gave us all kinds of great tips like this, took care of all the planning and it didn't cost us anything since we are AAA members.

One of the best tips she had was 'double dipping' the older child's favorite rides. When you get to the front of the line, one parent waits with the baby while the other goes on the ride with the older one, then when they return the parents switch off so the older one gets to ride again without waiting in line again. My older daughter thought she was super special!

Have fun!

I went over Memorial weekend this year and had a blast! We stayed at the Paradise Pier for 3 nights and never saw our car the entire time. We simply walked across the street into the Grand Calif. and directly into Calirfornia Land. There is a lot of walking so I would recomend a stroller where you can get to places much faster. It seems that deals for DL are offered through Costco but we used AAA. The trip deals seem to be offered at a better price in Jan.

The Downtown Disney has some good restuarants and we also ate at the DL hotel (a short walk from hotel) for the Goofy breakfast because we heard it was the best one. Paradise Pie also has one that looked good. This is a must for our next visit because we had so much fun there and our daughter meet a lot of characters. We also would just grab a slice of pizza or whatever in the park.

We left at 5:30 am Saurday morning and arrived around 11:30 (I live in Alameda). We stopped for breakfast at Harris Ranch which was a perfect stop to stretch your legs (the food was good and bathrooms are clean). We went into the park Sat, Sun, and Monday. We got on the road Tues. to come home around 9:30am and there was TONS of traffic. I would maybe leave a bit later (or much earlier). The traffic added about 2 hours to our trip home and we stopped at Harris Ranch for lunch.

We are planning another trip next srping and will do the same thing because it worked out so good.

a double stroller would be best, like a sit and stand stroller for the 4 year old, but if he gets tired and want to go to sleep this would be hard. If you rent the stroller at Disneyland you have to understand that if the kids are asleep you would have to carry them to the trolley that takes you to your car. It is best and cheaper to bring your own stroller, it is more convienient.

Since it is a long drive, I have found that if you have DVD player, that would work best for both kids if they like the same shows. If you leave at night when it is the boys bedtime, they will be asleep for the drive and then you won't have to worry about the DVD player unless you come back during the day.

We eat at the buffets because it is inexpensive for the young ones to eat because they eat free before a certain age. Bring plenty of snacks because it is cheaper to bring non-perishable snacks than to buy them in the park. If the boys are not afraid of the characters you can eat at anyone of the restaurants that have character dining but you need to reserve these in advance. We find the Mexican Cantina inexpensive to have a meal at and you really don't have to buy a kids meal. You can order a large plate and feed your kids from your plate, beans and rice.

The 9 month old can ride all the kiddie rides. We took my grandaughter when she was 6 months and she had a ball riding all the kiddie rides. She also loved the parades.

Take a backpack over a purse with you. That way your hands will be free and you don't have to worry about putting your purse down and forgetting it somewhere. We go to Disneyland every holiday and there has been times we went for as long as 2 weeks and as short as a weekend. We have been doing this for 3 years.

Good luck and have fun.

As far as strollers go, if you have two umbrella strollers bring those instead of the double stroller. I tried the umbrella strollers one year and last year did the double stroller. It was WAY easier to get around the park with two umbrella strollers versus trying to get that double stroller around the crowds and in the lines. If your daughter is into the princess's and she wants to meet them, go there first thing in the morning as that line takes at least an hour and a half. I would go there first, or you can go when it is time for the baby to nap. I would definatly go early as you can as the kids get really grumpy right about nap time. If you are going to go to DL more than one day, I would leave right about nap time. If you are staying someplace close, I would probably come back after nap time (I've never had this option as we go for one day and we stay at my grandma's house 30 mins away). If your children are good nappers, then I would try to get them to nap in the stroller and you and your husband can spen a little time walking around and checking things out, if you don't want to leave and come back. My 3 yo hates some of the kid rides. Several of them are very loud and herky jerky. The Dumbo ride is good, the submarine ride, car ride, small world, and rides like that are good. My daughter also loves the tea cups :). We never really go through toon town, so I can't say what that is like. As for food, I agree with what someone else said, bring your own. At least lunch because food is very expensive there. As for dinner, I'm still trying to find just the right place...haha! So far I think the best place is the open air hamburger place. You should also stay all night at least one night so that your daughter can see the parade and fire works.

Hope this helps and I hope you have fun!

We took our 4 yr old and 12 mo old to Disneyland this summer. They had a great time. The key to the success was driving at NIGHT. They slept the entire trip down to LA and we missed the traffic. On the way back we left during the day and it was horrible. It took us nearly 11 hours to drive to Sacramento area and we had to make about 5 stops. The girls got antsy, bored, etc... Definitely bring a stroller, some snacks and plenty of water for the trip. Take books, crayons, movies etc...Just in case they wake up and want some thing to do. Your 4 year old would love eating breakfast, lunch or dinner with the characters. There's a character breakfast inside of Disneyland, it is a bit pricey but it's fun and worth it. Ariel's Groto, and Goofey's Kitchen too. Definitely take ques from them. If they are tired turn back and head to the hotel, you can always go back later in the day or the evening. Disneyland is big with long lines, but if you plan out the day in advance with shows, parades etc... you will have a great time.

It may be frustrating for your 4 yr old if he/she is not tall enough for the rides. Its best to go when they open and stay until mid day then all go for a nap coming back at dinner time when many others are leaving for dinner. It can get expensive eating in the park but you can eat there or outside the park. It is best to try to see the shows and parades which you have to find seats along the path way before it starts but the kids will love it. On most rides you can get a parent pass so 1 of you can go on then the other can go right after so someone stays with the kids. An easy strioller is best. Lightweight and taking snack and drinks in with you to save money. Have fun.

T.: Don't over think this great experiance. Take in the car what ever you generally use for a long drive for entertainment. We kept lots of childrens music esp. the themes to the Disney movies which you can get at any Walmart or I's think Target.
If you are staying at the Disneyland Hotel most of your things should be in the package. If your just going on your own-- expect to py a fortune for everything. My husband sais to close our eyes and just do it and stop worrying about it. There are several places just outside the park to eat at that are very good. As for the stroller-- If I ever do it with a little one again believe me I want to rent one of theirs. If it goes missing an employee will get you another and its not a trial to worry about.
You can buy just about anthing Disney, at Walmart so if you don't want to spend the money for outfits, sweatshirts etc then get it before you leave and give it to your little one. We made sure that we had pictures taken with Tigger and bought everyone!! We made the drive in about 7 hours so its not all that bad. Lots of stops and breaks along the way. My husband thought he's rather drive at night next time and we tried that too. So it took less time, and the kids all slept but I was tired the 1st day there. we never go for less than 3 days, its just to much for all in one 2 days-- although you will spend most of your time in the children's part and that is alot of fun-I think its called Toon Town. They have a wonderful new play this month & that will be fun.
My goal is to go with the Grandchildren at Christmas times.
Have a ball, Nana Glenda

The Disneyland Hotel has a dinner buffet (Goofy's Kitchen, I think) and about 15 characters are present. The characters make the rounds, going from table to table and will take pictures, sign autographs etc... I don't remember how much it costs but it was worth it (another plus was that the food was good,too). Very family friendly.

Our last trip to Disnelyland was in April with a 4 week old, 19 month old, 3 year old, 6 year old and 7 year old. We took the in-laws too and never would have dreamed of taking so many little ones 4 weeks after a c-section without them. As far as the drive (we live in the North Bay) leave early enough to get through the bay area before rush hour or at morning nap time. We left at 4:30 a.m. and then stopped along I-5 for breakfast at about 7:30 and got to DL at about 3 (iwht lots of stops to nurse baby). This last time we stayed in the DL Paradise Pier hotel. My big kids lvoed the waterslide and the littles liked the baby pool. We also went to the DL Hotel pool (which is allowed). We've stayed at Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites before too right across the street from the main gate. We took our MacLaren side by side stroller so both littles could fully recline for a nap. When My in-laws take my kids minus the baby of course they take a double sit n stand and use the sit n stand seat for a soft sided cooler. At DL there is a baby care center at the end of main street and to the right (if you jsut walked up mainstreet). It has changing tables that are cleaned between each child, private rocking charis to nurse in, rockers to bottle feed in, a pumping station, high chairs to feed baby in and child size potties for the potty training set. All of this is cleaned between each use. Our favorite meal was the Aloha Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch at Paradise Pier. It is the only character breakfast that you don't have to do a buffet, you have choices. If you have any special dietary concersn stop by city hall and ask them to help you choose which restaurants are good. They are really helpful. Stop there anyhow and get the kids first visit buttons. Take full advantage of baby trades. Make sure you ask the first DL cast member you see as you enter the line for a baby trade ticket then each of you will get to ride with the older child while the other waits with the baby but only have to wait in line once. Look at the parade schedule for the whole time you'll be there and pick out any must dos. My preschoolers favorite part was the Playhouse Disney show in CA Adventure. The Tiki room is a good place to slow down. My kids think the show is fun (it's actually my 6 yo dd's favorite part of DL) and you get to sit for awhile btu not too long. If the Haunted Mansion is already "Nightmare Before Christmas" my kids found that too scary but enjoyed the regular one. Most of all have fun.

Hi T.~

My husband, myself and our four year old daughter went in September. I would recommend going in the middle of the week as it was so nice being there without the crowds! We stayed at "Candy Cane Inn" across the street from Disneyland. They were reasonable and had a shuttle! : )

If you have a girl, I would definitely recommend eating at "Ariel's Grotto" located in California Adventure Park. You have to make reservations and it's pricey but all of the princesses come to your table. ~Take an autograph book and camera!!

Another "must do" if you have a girl is an appointment at the "Bibbity, Bobbity, Boutique". It's in Disneyland near the castle. We brought our daughter's Cinderella dress from home, but they do their hair and nails and add a bunch of sparkles!! Again, it is pricey but sooo worth it! : ) If you order the photo package, they take her to the back studio and take pics in a coach!! ADORABLE.

Well, I hope this helps. ; ) Have a magical time!

~M.

You're so lucky!

If this is your first trip, then get your camera's ready!!! Your daughter's face will light up at everything! The first time you go with children I would just GO WITH THE FLOW.....plan a few things, but really go where your daughter leads you :O)

Target the things she loves.......the time will fly and as long as she is happy her experience will be great.

Winnie-the-Pooh town is fun because you can go on rides with your 9mo old.....The train is nice to ride and rests your tired feet.....I liked toon-town also when the kids were little.....Other than that, we hit the shows mostly...
Across the way at California Adventure they have a Nick Jr Show that was REALLY fun for my boys.....we have yet to discover more there :O)

Only a few recommendations: Bring your own double stroller.....it will be much eaiser on you. There are plenty of hotel/motels across the street, which is easiest with children. Shuttles are nice, but you have to unload your stroller to get ON the shuttle, so walking distance has been a better choice for us :O)

Pack snacks....juice box's, fruit snacks, peanut butter crackers or whatever.......this will keep the kids happy until you and your hubby can figure out what and where to eat. Yes, the Park says, "no food", but they never say anything about it even when looking in your bags at the security check......I even brought a small blanket and used it on the pavement in the shade when your family is just so tired :O) It's like a picnic!

Hope that helps! Have so much fun!

~N. :O)

I have never driven with kids, so good luck on that! We went in January (8 of us!) and stayed at the Staybridge Suites and it was perfect. It had a delicious continental breakfast, snacks at night, the restaurant was decent and it had the Disney Shuttle. It was also the cheapest option for what we needed :)

Stroller wise I would bring a double if your 4 yr old will sit in it at all. My daughter fell asleep on the walk back to the shuttle twice, so it was a life saver. I have a big, bulky bumbleride, so folding it up could take a few minutes, but worth every minute (plus I LOVE my stroller.) As far as eating goes, your cheapest option is Denny's across the street and McDonalds down the street. Yuck, but like 1/4 of the Disney food prices. Eat at Blue Bayou while you are there, mmmmmm, and the kids like it because it is in the middle of pirates of the carribean. Get there at 10 or 11 (I can't remember which), and that is your only chance for reservations. The shows are always fun, Fantasmic was a little bit scary for my 3 year old, so maybe just have one of you catch it the first time to see if your child will be able to handle it.

Disney California I personally think is lame. It has one good ride, the roller coaster, that you and your husband are going to have to take turns riding, but worth it. The Bugs Life has a few rides for kids, and there are better shows in the theater there. Other then that the best parts are still in main Disney. So, see if you can just get a one day park hopper pass. You really don't need more then one day at CA though. Ooohhh, I almost forgot. Soarin over California is a must! Again, you and your husband will have to take turns and go alone, but it is awesome.

I am a die hard, and stay until the park closes. But, I do make my daughter go back to the hotel to take a nap in the middle of the day. When I was little my grandparents lived 20 minutes away, and now my aunt and uncle still live near it, so I can honestly say that I don't remember a year I haven't gone at least once. I think I had taken my daughter 3 or 4 times by her second birthday.

We drove a few times when we were really young (my parents had 3 girls in 4 years), and they would either leave right at bedtime the night before (so Wed.) and drive part way, then get up early and drive the rest in the morning, or, leave at an ungodly hour (3 am-ish) and just drive straight through. They said it was the best way.

Good luck and have fun:)

Hi T.,

One advice is for your hotel. It would be best to get one that had plenty of its own parking. We stayed at a nice newer (marriott?) which had a 2 room suite with bunkbeds and kitchen, and they also had a breakfast every morning downstairs. It was dissapointing in two ways- one- they didnt have enough parking for their own clientel- so anyone who comes back to the hotel in the evening had to go to overflow parking- in the lot of the big hotel next door! We came in at 11pm, and there was no parking for us in our own lot.We had to go in and get a tag for our dash, and then leave our hotel and park next door. We had to carry sleeping kids and our other junk across the really large lot. When we got to the gate between the two hotels, it was locked!!! So then we had to carry the kids all the way to the street front and then back to the hotel lobby. Man, was my husband hoppin' mad!
The second disappointment was the cleaning. They only made our beds, they didnt wipe the table off, or vaccum or anything.

We purchased tix for two days in November. The first day was for Disneyland and the second was suppose to be for CA adventure. CA adventure was SOOOO spread out, that it took forever to get from one ride to the next. We spent so much time walking from one ride to the next, we found it dissapointing. Plus, alot of the attractions there are for older kids. So we skipped out and went back to disneyland for a second day. Had a blast in the main park- the lines wer low or nonexistant so we got on every ride they had. Your best bets for low lines is weekdays, Tues -Thursdays.
I wont ever attempt DL on a weekend. The young kids just dont have the patience to wait that long.

One other thing- the food there is way expensive but it is usually big portions. For our family of 5 on the first day we purchased hamburgers for 5- and we ended up throwing three quarters of it away. Personally, I think the open air hamburger place has cruddy food. The second day we got pizza for two- and shared it.It was much better than the burgers, and no food got thrown out. Look at the portion size that the people ahead of you come out with before you buy, and buy accordingly.

Don't forget you water, and Advil!

Have fun!!!!!!!!!

If you don't plan to spend every waking moment at Disneyland, I would get a hotel that is 1/2 hour south in San Clemente. It's a beautiful beach town with a pier that has a restaurant on it. Anaheim, where Disneyland is located, is a dump. If you do stay in Anaheim, I would personally spend the extra $ to stay at the Disneyland hotel if you can.

The original Disneyland is better than the California Adventure part of the park.

Hi T.,

My first advice is don't go until the kids are much older. Since the 4 yr. old is probably looking forward to it....bring the biggest stroller you can manage so both children can ride in it and you can load it with bottled water and healthy foods/snacks. If your child(ren) gets sick inside the park, plan on you getting them out on your own. DL will not help you. Try to keep to the children's nap/sleep/meal schedules as much as possible and keep them fed.
Best wishes to you.
J.