First Family Trip to Disneyland

The biggest thing to remember is that YOU CANNOT DO EVERYTHING! We've spent 5 days at Disneyland and still left things undone. Have 1 or 2 "must do" items per day, and you'll have a lot more fun. Sometimes all my kids want to do is hang out in the pool. It seems kind of silly to most adults, but if the trip is about having fun, well, we can sit at the pool for an hour. Then the kids are happier about going back into the parks.

If you want to do a character meal, make reservations (Disney calls it "priority seating") as soon as you can. Lunchtime is usually much less crowded - in fact, you can often walk in without reservations at lunch - the food is cheaper, and the experience is just as great as the breakfast or dinner hours.

Standing in line all day takes its toll, so we make some time every day to go to Tom Sawyer's Island (Disneyland) or Redwood Creek Challenge Trail (California Adventure) so the kids can climb, play, slide, wade and have fun. The Bug's Life area (Cal. Adv.) also has a small water play area and a little playground that are great for small people.

The shows are great, even for toddlers. Disney knows how to keep it short and sweet. For parades, people stake out spots on the parade route pretty early, but are almost always willing to let small children up front so they can see. (You may have to stand back.) Once you've seen the parade, next time it runs go on the rides - the lines are shorter with everyone watching the parade.

Check your map (they hand it to you at the entrance) for times and places to find characters for photo ops. Mickey is always in his movie barn, behind his house (you go through the house 1st) in Toontown, but you may have to stand in line a bit to see him. Don't worry, they show cartoons while you're waiting. Princesses can be found near the castle at certain hours.

We also buy a few Disney "souvenirs" and Disney snacks (fruit snacks, candy) before we go. Giving a kid a new T-shirt to wear to the park, or pulling princess fruit snacks out of your purse when the kids get grumpy, makes them a lot more willing to leave some of the store merchandise unpurchased!

You might want to let a travel agent handle your trip booking - they can get great deals that include perks. When we're booking ourselves, we frequently use Get Away Today (www.getawaytoday.com). They have discounted packages with rooms and multi-day tickets. If you're at a Disney resort, you also get perks like package delivery and extra hours in the park.

We love to bring our own camera, but the Photopass is also great. The first time you have a Disney photographer take your photo - usually near the entrance or on Main Street - they'll hand you a card. Every time another photographer takes a photo, they scan the card. You can buy photos in the park, or wait until you get home and do it over the Internet. Either way, you can get special borders, character "autographs," and even build a custom book. You can also buy a CD of all the photos and print them yourselves.

The Fastpass system is great - you insert your ticket at a popular ride and get a pass to come back at a certain time and get into a shorter, more direct line.

Take it slow and have fun! It won't matter if you go on 3 rides per day or 20 rides per day. Let the kids ooh and aah over the atmosphere and concentrate on being together in a great place, not trying to cram every second full of activity. You'll have a wonderful time!

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If you're not going to buy a pass or the tickets at Costco, you can find all the other current deals at www.mousesavers.com. I'm not sure how long you're staying, but you usually can't find any deals on single day passes.

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My Mom and I took my son their for his 2nd Birthday...it was a great overall experience, but I agree you have to be ready for ANYTHING!

Here's what I did:

1. Reserved the EARLIEST time slot for Goofy's Breakfast at the Disneyland Hotel. My son was not a fan of the characters...except Alice, but warmed up over the day.
2. Got a park map prior to arrival and made a list of the rides that I thought my son would favor. And, noted ALL the first aid and baby friendly areas.
3. Packed a bag with ALL the necessary...backpack worked best for us. Rent a stroller at the park or bring your own. We left our rented stroller at the Monrail drop during naptime and it was fine for the three hours we were gone.
4. Made a plan for lunch and snacks. We did the place in Critter Country because it's outdoor and has a good variety of food for lunch.
5. Make sure you stick to your routine, naps, food...etc. My son passed out exactly at his naptime on the way back to the hotel.
6. Hydration for everyone! Keep bottled water close by for everyone...all the walking in the heat is exhausting.
7. Take lots of breaks!!
8. Just have a good time and don't sweat the small stuff.

Have fun! We're going back again in July!

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Hi S J,

I can't believe no one's mentioned Tom Sawyer's Island yet! It's a great place to let the kids move and play, and there usually isn't much in the way of lines on the island since there aren't any real rides.

One of the fastest moving lines in the park is for the Haunted Mansion. One of the slowest is Pirates of the Carribean (it seems to break down a lot). The Nemo line is always 2 hours long and you can't keep the stroller in any line, so consider bringing a sling or backpack for the baby. The only time that we found the Nemo line to be "short" (i.e., about an hour) was as the park was closing. It turns out that DL's policy is not to kick anyone out of line when the park closes. If you're in the line before closing -- even if only by 5 minutes -- you get to go on the ride. Another trick is to have one person hold a place in line while the other person takes the kids on a shorter ride.

Our strategy for DL has always been to head to the back of the park first, since most people tend to start at the front and work backward. Unless you know that your 3 year old is a dare devil, however, I would stay away from any of the roller coaster rides like Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, The Matterhorn, Big Thunder Railway, etc. You might even want to think twice about Gadget's Go Coaster. Even though it's a kiddie coaster it can pack a pretty good whiplash.

One thing I would definitely recommend to you is to use a harness with "leash" for both of your kids, and get one that zips up the back so the kiddies can't slip out of it. Forget about any dirty looks or nasty comments you might get -- the harness will give your little ones a little bit of mobility and you won't have to worry about them wandering off. Holding a little hand all day can get pretty tiring for everyone. They used to sell really cute one's at DL that double as backpacks, but I haven't been there for a while so I don't know if they still do.

If you're staying for several days, consider going back to the hotel for some rest in the middle of the day, and maybe a swim if it's hot. If you really want pictures with the characters, go to one of the character breakfasts. BTW, Mother's Day is usually amazingly empty.

As for discount's, you can get $20 off per person through greatperks.com if your employer subscribes to them. I think you can also still get a 10% discount through AAA at the DL ticket office.

Have a wonderful time!

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Great idea to stay on property for convenient naps! Another benefit of staying on property is that you will get "early entry" priviledges on select mornings. Make sure you take advantage of that. You should definitley get a Park Hopper ticket so you can go back and forth between both theme parks. If you buy your tickets in advance at disneyland.com you can print them at home (save waiting in line at the ticket booth) and you get a pre arrival savings over buying at the box office for many multi-day tickets.

If you want some great Character time in a more relaxed setting you can try character dining they have a great princess themed one at Ariel's grotto at California Adventure. You can make reservations 60 days in advance at 714-781-DINE.

With my 20 month old, we always take the train first thing to Mickey's Toon town. That way we don't have to walk all the way through the park and we get close to all the age appropriate things for him like it's a small world, and Toon Town.

At California Adventure, don't miss Turtle Talk with Crush and the Toy Story Zeotrope in the Animation Building in Hollywood and a bugs land - great for little ones.

For you and your husband, be sure to do the "rider switch pass" for Soarin Over California. You won't be sorry - it's a great attraction for the adults...your kids are a little too little still.

You can also go to disneyland.com and oreder a vacation planning DVD. It has lots of great tips and information about the property.

Have fun at the Happiest Place on Earth!

A.

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Hi,

I have season passes and go frequently, the one thing i see with families with little kids is they get overwhelmed easily, so i agree stay at a hotel close by... I like the clarion property about 2 blocks away you can get a room with a kitchenette for cheap and they have a trolly that can take you too and from and it is close enough yet far enough away to relax ...

I would plan your trip in 3-4 hr time frames.. and do the park hopper so you can go between the two parks. Also, go on the disneyresort website and join as a disne insider for great inside scoop stuff... (if you cant find it email me off group and I will send you the link).

lastly, food is expensive in the park so plan your snacks and get a backpack to carry them for a family of 4 you can drop $100 plus in food alone!

hope that helps
B.

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The only discount I know of is.....everyone gets in free for their birthday this year. So if you can wait until someone has a birthday in your family you can get one ticket for free. The tickets are WAY TOO EXPENSIVE $79.00 each

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Feel free to write to me if you'd like. We go 2 times a week (have annual passes) with my 19 month old. I can tell you lots of breaks you may want to hear about. As for staying in a hotel, GREAT idea, and check the calendar out on Disneyland.com because some days guests of the hotel get to enter into the park an hour before it opens (and hit up Peter Pan and Dumbo as your first rides...they are the longest lines). You'll want to check out what those dates are if you are planning it now!

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Kiddie Kangaroo soft pockets for strollers will provide storage pockets for bottles, sippy cups, snacks, and toys for each child in their stroller seat. They can store and access their own items instead of Mom having to hand things to them and then retrieve and store. Visit www.kiddiekangaroo.com for order info! No more lost or dropped items and no more crying babies!

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The first time I took my daughter (now 12) to Disneyland she was 2 12/ years old. Her father worked for Disney so getting in wasn't a problem. There is a 2 for 1 offer right now if you live in California. You pay for one day at one park and then get the second day at the other park for free. You might want to try that. I do warn you that the little ones can be very reticent about the characters. It was a few years before my daughter would go near them. She would cross the street to not have to pass my them. We started her out with the princesses, etc. Then one year she loved them all. TAke a backpack with drinks and snacks and even lunch. You can go outside to eat your lunch. You will need the drinks and snacks because it is VERY expensive to eat there. I would plan one meal in the park and try to eat everything else outside. TAke advantage of the monorail and take breaks at the hotel. WE lived 1 1/2 hours away so we never stayed at the park and it would have been nice to take a break at some point. Most of all, don't sweat it, roll with the punches and be a kid again yourself. Have fun!

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If you belong to Costco they have access to discount tickets but they are still expensive. Look for packages on Disney.com. As for the rides, remember even in Fantasy land the rides tend to be a little dark and "scary" so for at least the first day stick to the outdoor rides. Disney California Adventure has a great kids area based on a Bug's Life. Have fun!!!!

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We have annual passes, so we go there a lot in short bursts (3-5 hours) and head home when our now 21 mo gets tired. I don't have advice on an all day trip, but here are some of my son's favorite lesser known (and lineless) things to do.

If your kids ever watch the Disney channel shows (mickey mouse club house, handy manny, tigger & pooh, little einsteins) there is a show right near the entrance of California adventure that my son LOVES. He (along with all the other kids) dances throughout the entire show. He also loves the Tiki Room in disneyland.

There is a playground in Toon town and my son will go on the slide there all day if we let him. He was a little scared of the roger rabbit ride and too small for the toon town roller coaster. The playground is a nice place to rest with the 1 yo while the 3 yo goes on those rides.

Also, the train that circles the park is a nice way to get from one side of the park to another and there is never a line. We also enjoy going below the Hungry Bear restaurant and feeding the ducks. Its a peaceful place to eat and watch the boats go by on the river.

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Since you'll have the room to go back to you may or may not need to know this, but if you're still nursing or want a quiet place to feed your younger one there is a "mother's" area located at the end of Main Street next to the photo place and the corn dog stand. You can nurse in private, use their high chairs to feed little ones. They have little potties if you're potty training and changing tables for the ones still in diapers. They sell jars of baby food and diapers should you need them. I love that they have this area and your husband can take one of them on a ride while you do your thing with the other one or they can wait for you. The other "must" are the fast passes. Be sure to use them they will save you tons of time. Since you're staying at one of the hotels, you should look into a character breakfast too. Always fun for kids who love the characters - not fun at all for those kids that don't. Have a great time.

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On any child under five in a crowded place like Disneyland, put the child on a harness. This will really make you feel better when they are out of the stroller and you don't have to worry if they let go of your hand. Also, they have GPS for kids now. You might look into that also. I did the harness with a six foot leash for each of my kids as soon as they were mobil and we went outside. It kept one kid from jumping to a park lake running after the ducks. It kept another from running into the street. It made me feel so much better shopping and in crowds. It lets the child wander a bit but you still have control. And don't worry what other people think, it is your peace or mind and your child's safety that is most important. And have a good time! I think you can get discount tickets if you are a member of the autoclub or some other groups. You might have to call Disneyland to ask. Don't do the teacups with small children. They will barf. If you can squeeze in Knott's Berry Farm, they have Camp Snoopy which is for small children and might be even better for your kids. In fact, now that I think about it, Knott's might be better and take the kids to Disneyland when the youngest is about three. Either way, have a good time.

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We have been going to Disneyland with our kids since our oldest was 3 (he's now 11). Not sure if you are interested in signing up for a credit card, but with Chase Visa, you can get discounts at Disney. One of the best, is you can get up to 2 free stroller rentals/day (normally $13). You can also have a Meet n' Greet at California Adventure and get a free 5x7 photo with the character you meet (usually Goofy). You can also get a 10-15% discount at certain eating places within Disneyland/CA Adventure. The link is: http://disneyrewards.disney.go.com/newsandoffers.html We've had the credit card for several years and I just recently began to take advantage of the discounts. If you belong to a credit union, check to see if there are any discounts. I know last year around this time , Vons had a 3 day park hopper for $99, not sure if they are going to do it again, just keep looking. Enjoy your day!

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I found this website that helps you enjoy Disneyland a bit more. It helped me out with
my 14 month old.

www.babesindisneyland.googlepages.com/home

My tip would be to bring their fave snacks.

Have fun and take lots of pics!

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Hi S.J.
I believe Costco sells discount tickets.
As for your time in the park, some perfect rides for the whole family include: The Peter Pan Ride, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Casey Jr. Train Ride, It's a Small World, The Carousel, The Winnie the Pooh Ride (in Frontierland), Pirates of the Carribean (the pirates might be a little scary for your three year old), The Jungle Cruise, The Enchanted Tiki Room, Honey I shrunk the Audience, The Submarine Ride, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, The Fairy Tale Boat Ride (can't recall it's name), and there are also lots of fun rides in Toon Town that are great for a three year old. Disneyland does have height restrictions on some of its rides, so most of the rides I've mentioned will cater to little ones. There is also an Indiana J. show in Adventureland that's free and it is definitely geared to younger ones. Hope you find this helpful!
Former Disney Employee,
C.

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I just read the first page of responses so if this is a repeat I apologize but I didn't see anyone mention fast pass!!!! It is the greatest thing. You put your ticket in a little digital machine and it tells you what time to come back and you get to skip ahead of all the lines!! Its free and a great way to hit up all the rides in an area at once! And of course the best part is feeling like you are VIP!

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You received a lot of good advice already so I won’t repeat it. The one thing people often don’t think about is how their young children are going to react to the happiest place on earth. The characters in costume that look just like the movies they come from, turn out to be very scary to young children. Keep your distance until you see how your child reacts. Also the rides (even the kiddy ones) are too much for some children. Sometimes children’s reactions can be rather disappointing for the grownups who have expectations of the experience being sublimely wonderful. Luckily there is much to look at for the first time visitor. Staying at the park will give you a chance to go out as adults and hit a few of the rides that you don’t want to miss.

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Most things I would have suggested are already there. But helpful things for when we have stayed. There IS a fridge in most rooms, bring small cartons of milk, fruit, etc. and breakfasty snacks so you can eat breakfast in the room. You will save a LOT of money that way. Bring a small soft cooler, freeze your ice packs each night, and bring the cooler into the park with fruit and stuff.
Try eating lunch or early dinner at Whitewater Cafe inside the Grand Californian, right near CA Adventure and the pool at the Grand. This place has pretty good food, and it's big portions, better priced than in the park, and nice and mellow in there.
Another decently priced place is Tortilla Joes outdoor take out window in Downtown Disney, you can get two really big tacos and it's not too pricey.
Try to avoid eating at the character restaurants in the hotel, and most of the sit down restaurants in downtown Disney...too expensive and the food isn't that good!
Also, I second the motion for the Turtle Talk with Crush in CA Adventure, your 3 year old will love it.

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You've gotten lots of great responses, but one I didn't see is the baby center on the circle near the entrance to Tomorrow Land (stand looking at the castle and it's to your back right side). It's on the right side just before the bathrooms. It's been a few years since I've been there, so they might have changed/moved it. Even with your 3 yr. old you may need some quiet time while in the park to keep the sensory overload to a minimum. It's my favorite stop since it's so quiet in there. I mean really quiet! You can nurse and change diapers, etc. I liked going there just for a minute or two of down time for me!

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Bring your kids bathing suits. In California Adventure Bug's Land has a wonderful water play area with water squirting up from the ground and fountains.

The kids love it and it is so much fun to just relax for a while and let them play in the water.

C.

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Don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet but if you go online and register with Disneyland you can go free on your birthday! I signed up myself and my two daughters and we plan to go on our 4 year old's birthday. That should help to cut costs!

My suggestion is to pack a lunch and bring it in! There are lots of places you can sit and eat lunch together.

We did that last year with a 4,3 and 1 yr old. We stayed at the hotel directly across the street. Cheaper, but still very accessable for naps. You can get discount tickets at Costco and some online if you'll be there for more than a couple days. Definetely do the fast pass! The princess meet and greet is great and you should also lok into meals with the characters. I remember when I was about 11 my cousin took 2 of us to Disneyland and we stayed at the hotel and took the monarail and ate at Goofy's cafe. So much fun! (and that was 16 yrs ago!)The kids like just riding the free monarail that goes around all the park.

Unless you really want to go for yourselves the kids will never remember the trip. But that said, make a plan and then be real flexible. Take food that they will eat so you don't have to stand in line with a hungry 3 year old. When my twins were 3 Mom in law insisted on a Disney trip. They slept a lot and cried a lot. Good luck, I would suggest you investigate getting a sitter at the hotel so you and hubby can enjoy a date while you are there. That part you will remember.

Hi, we've been pass holders for several years and our son, who is now 4, has been going since he was 10 mo's old. He loves it! If you go during the week is better otherwise the crowds are huge. You can take the 1 yr old on pretty much all the rides in Fantasyland and Toon Town and also on Pirates and Haunted Mansion. The three year old, most likely can ride the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the age requirement is 35".
Also, at the end of Main Street, next to First Aid and where you can pick up pictures is the Baby Center. If you nurse, they have a private area, they have a nice changing area and small toilets. Also have a small kitchen and microwave and if you by chance need extra diapers, pacifier, bottle, diaper, even formula, they sell it to you there. It's great!
The water fountain in there dispenses really cold water. Great for hot days and you want to refill your bottles.
All the restaurants have kid menu's and offer healthy options for sides.
Lines for Dumbo and Peter Pan are always long and take long to get through. Deceiving lines are Tea Cups and Pirates. If they are long or seem long, they go down really fast.
If anyone tells you they don't remember, don't listen to them. Yes, they do. At least the 3 yr old. They get so excited and you experience that with them. Their joy during that time is worth it.
Have a great time and enjoy!

We just went over Xmas break for the first time with 2, 2 year olds and a 9 month old. The hotel was the best idea. We stayed at the Grand Californian. They have pack n plays in every room and when my 2 year old refused the pack n play, they brought rails for the bed. DO NOT use the hotel reservation service that they recommend. Both times we used it, we got down to the restaurants only to find they had no record of our reservation. The second night we waited 45 minutes and only seated us after I complained to the manager who informed me it was just priority seating, not a reservation. The problem was, by that time, we would have had to wait 2 hours to get in any where else. We would have been better off either going off property or having someone go down and put our name on the list and coming down closer to the reservation time. Try AAA for discount tickets. Also, pack snacks or lunches as the wait for food inside the park was horendous. The hotel rooms have refrigerators in them that you can store food in.

I love Disneyland and have been a passholder for about 15 yrs.

My tips-fantasy land 1st. EARLY. the gates to the park open a 1/2 hr before the rides. you get stopped at the end of main street. but, you can go to gthe bathroom and get ba cup of coffee. and peter pan always has the longest line, get there early.

your kids wont know what they are missing-so, if the line for something is real long-skip it.

tikiroom. no line, airconditioned. you sit. the kids LOVE it.

rider switch. you can still enjoy the big rides.

go on an off day-tuesday...

Disneyland is letting everyone in free on their birthday this year. so-that would be a good day to go. I think tix are now 60 bucks.

Disneyland has a really good website for planning trip that are age appropriate.

have fun

Disneyland is so fun! i wish my hubby would fork out the cash for Disneyland! especially since we live 20 minutes away!!! it frustrates me so much...

anyways, i know Costco has discount tickets, or they usually do. if not in the store check online.

i will tell you this, it wasn't very nice of the last woman to be so judgmental about taking your little ones to Disneyland. i took my son at ages 1 2 and 3, given three was the best age to be there for us (he was big so he could go on all the rides at age 3) but they still have fun when they are little! my son still talks about some of the things we did at Disneyland when he was two.

don't forget the sunblock and dress in thin layers, include a sweater! it gets hot and cold easily from afternoon to evening.

have fun!

When you arrive head over to the Guest Services, and let them know that its is your children's first ____@____.com will receive a 1st Visit button to wear all day.

Try to go on a Wednesday, a lot less crowded.

As far as discount tickets, if you are a So. Cal member, they are having a discount now on pay for 1 park and get the other park for free.

Also, for diaper changes and breastfeeding if you do that, there are Baby stantions located at Dland and Ca. Adventure. They are shown on the map.

Have fun,
M.

Do Fantasyland first thing and do Peter Pan and Dumbo right off because those lines get long fast. Skip Mr. Toad's and Snow White (could be scary for young kids). Eat lunch in line for Nemo. Skip Innoventions. Definitely go on the Pooh ride. It's really cute and you can meet the characters after. Have fun! Bring your own lunch and water in a backpack.

Since you are staying nearby, maybe you can coordinate the nap with eating and eat away from the park. it is sooo expensive to eat in the park and the food is not always that great. Take snacks into the park with you. Right now I believe its 2-for time.; which means Southern California residents get into one park one day and then you go back another day to the other park and its all one price. Check into that on their website. Also check Costco and your local grocery stores for discounts.

We live near Disneyland and my daughter who is now 12 basically grew up in the park. First, use a stroller. Way too much walking for a little person. Go early and pace yourself. Only do one park on any given day. California Adventure may be just across from Disneyland but it is too stressful to try to do both in one day. ALL of California Adventure can be seen in 1 day. Plan which rides you want to go on and map it out. Not all the rides in Fantasyland are appropriate for a 3 year old. Snow White, Pinocchio and Mr. Toad scare some kids. Get fast passes for any ride you want to do, especially if it is a ride that only the grownups can go on. One thing about fast passes is they are good all day from the time that they say to come back. So if you get a fast pass that says come back between 12:20 and 1:20 you can use it anytime that day after 12:20. Get buttons at City Hall. There is a "my first visit" button, a birthday button, anniversary, etc.
We use to go all day and my daughter would take a nap in her stroller. That allowed me to wander through the shops and even just sit and relax in the park.
Bring your own water, some snacks and even food. If you have a stroller you can use a small soft insulated bag and get away with it. Food in the park is expensive. We always bring white bread or Cherrios to feed the ducks even now. A good place to sit, relax, and eat lunch is downstairs by the water at the Hungry Bear in Critter Country. We like to sit there and feed the ducks. Discount tickets are available for locals at some of the grocery stores.
The fireworks are great in front of the castle but everyone is standing which makes it hard for little people to see. You can see all of the high ones from over by the Rivers of America, you just miss some of the things done on the castle.
Weekdays are less crowded but there are some shows that only are on weekends. We tend to go on Saturdays because we love watching Fantasmic. Bring sweaters. It may be warm during the day but it can cool down at night. Last but not least HAVE FUN.

Not sure if anyone said this already.
But I took both my 1 and 2 year old last Halloween.
They had a blast.
But breaks and a Hotel near by are very helpful.
bring snacks and lunch.
I say eat dinner there that is fun.
But food can get very expensive there.
One way to get discount tickets is on Craigslist for the Anaheim area.
Sometimes people sell the unsused days on park hopper tickets.
Just make sure the person is willing to go meet you at the park and wait till you get through the gates to pay for them.
Just be cautious really.
check out the disneyland site before you go so you know what rides are open for your little one.
Well have a great time!

I am sorry to say this, but I think your children are too young for Disneyland. We took our girls at 9 and that is the perfect age. They are young enough to be into all of the Disney characters, etc., and old enough to handle the excitement, lines, hours awake, etc. When we were there we saw many many families with younger children and each family consisted of crying kids and very frustrated parents. If you wait, you'll have an amazing trip with your kids. Also, if you take them at this age, they will not remember anything when they are older.

Take your own snacks and water bottles (refill at the drinking fountains). Also plans your meals for nap time, etc away from the park. This is where your money will quickly dwindle away.
Have fun!

We had a blast with our then 19 month old. Just stay away from the Snnow White ride, a bit dark and dreary for the little ones.

Try to bring your own food. You are allowed to bring in a small ice chest. We brought food for us and snacks for her. We brought her milk. Bring a good size blanket for them in case they fall asleep before their naptime.

Have fun!! We had a great time seeing her explore and see the characters for the first time. She had a great time and her favorite ride was the "merry go round." Figures!

Hello S J

We live in LA so we've been to Disneyland many times not with our little one yet (he just turned 8mo), but I would let you in on the fact that there are about 20 hotels across the street from the park, honest a bunch right across the street and will cost you half (at the most) of what you will spend getting a room in the park also a few have resturants next door like Dennys and IHOP (if you want to catch a good bite before going into the park and spending a small fortune on food LOL). It will be just as easy to go back and forth for naps and save you a bundle. Look at hotels.com in Anahiem and bring up the maps they will show you how close they are. If I can be of further help shoot me a note, good luck and have fun!!!!

K.

PS, Do Not spin too much on the teacups, this will ruin your whole day! :)

You should try to buy season passes. The Cheapest is $135. It is not good on Sat&Sunday. But Monday through friday you can walk through a lot of ride. With kid this is great, and the Hotel is cheap those days. You can take food in the park. So bring lots of snacks. I also usually take a blanket. About an hour before the parade I lay it out, feed the kids dinner, and enjoy front row seating. That is with out people breathing down your back. Have fun! Jennifer

Sorry for the late response, I was out of town not checking email. Hope you still get this! The person below who said sign up for the Disney credit card - ABSOLUTELY!! That is the best advice. We went last year and with that credit card we got 2 free stroller rentals each day, up to 20% discount on many shops, food purchases, etc (By the way we have never even charged anything on the card itself! We only got it to use for the discounts.) You can cut it up after your Disney visit if you want to! Have fun.