Tips to Make Ultimate Experience of Trip to Disneyland

When my daughter was 3 we took her...and she loves stories...she spent most of the morning at the TinkerBell shop in Fantasy Land listening to the princesses tell their stories and then afterwards you get to meet them...it was very good.

I will tell you there is a mom's place that can help you with all your little one's needs. They have little potties if she is toilet trained and diapers for purchase if she is not. It's a soothing place and not as intimidating as the large restrooms. This place is great if you have a baby - nursing room, changing room, etc. - but also great for older ones. It's right off of Main St. next to the camera store and behind the corn dog cart.

Be sure to look into the FastPass for all the popular rides. They get you to the front of the line at a specific time and save you from spending most of your day in line.

The parade is great, but don't line up on Main Street. Too crowded. Go over by It's a Small World and there is spot across the street from the entrance that has stairs and a fabulous viewing area because it's higher. And this is where the parade starts so you'll be done before the rest of the crowd and you can head our for more fun while most are still waiting for the parade to end.

One thing I will tell you with a little one... Be there before it opens and get your tickets before you get there. You can waste close to an hour just trying to get into the park. You can buy passes usually anywhere gift cards are sold. Albertsons, Vons, etc. Then go directly to the ride your daughter wants to go on the most.

Enjoy it! Disneyland is a fabulous experience. But it can be a nightmare if you're not prepared.

Aloha R.,
If it's a long ride to get there, be sure to pack her own bag of activities such as favorite books, coloring books with crayons, blank paper notebook (you can draw together!) and such. Things that are easy to pack and that she enjoys. At Dinseyland remember to stay well hydrated, hats & sunscreen. Pack some healthy snacks too! If it's a crowded day, check if the fast pass is worth it for the rides you want to go on (not all the rides do the fast pass). Bring a camera.......it's always fun to look at the pictures and talk about the fun things about the trip! Have a fun fun time!

L.

We just took my son for his 3rd birthday....great time!

Pack a backpack or two, one for Mom and one for Dad to distribute the items:

3 changes of clothes & plenty of unders
Jug for Water or 2-3 bottles of water (I have a camel back jug that keeps it cool and we share)
Wipes
Baggies for soiled clothes/unders
Snacks (non-perishable; goldfish, dried fruit, crackers)
Batteries for camera (if you need them)
hand towel for sweaty kiddos

Keep it simple and don't over do it with stuff in the bag. last year I went over board and had to rethink it this year. For stuff to do, I made sure to keep the snack and sleep schedule for my son and took breaks often for resting. I went on-line and printed map of park to get a game plan of rides that were open and appropriate. But, I did let him stay up late for fireworks show at the castle which he loved.

Oh and if you are planning to eat there, make sure you check the locations of food places and what they serve. My son eats most everything on certain days, but I made sure for lunch and dinner I picked places I KNEW would have something everyone could eat.

In the hotel room I kept water, extra snacks and toys/games that were my son's favorite, so after nap and during downtime he had stuff to play at the hotel. (totally forgot that hte first time).

I hope that helps! Have fun!

If you can afford to stay the night at one of those disneyland hotels, it would be nice to have bedroom handy for any meltdowns, naptimes, bathtime to cool you off during the day. You could go back to the park anytime you want!

I see you live in the hills, perfect. My family and I lived in South Pasadena for a year. We bought an annual pass for each of us, it was the girls' birthday presents. (My husband paid the extra for the parking TOTALLY WORTH IT) We went to Disneyland 37 times that year! It was perfect. We would have lunch at home, get into the car for nap time, drive to DL and the girls would be awake in time to play, refreshed and excited. We brought a snack and an umbrella stroller for each girl (they were 2 and 5 at the time). We would spend 3-4 hours there TOPS each trip. They had a snack in the park and then we would have a picnic dinner after we left the park. We always made a plan before we walked in the gates for each visit. The girls understood that we would be back again so there was never any outbursts or anything, it was like going to the playground.

R., you live close, you can get an SOCAL annual pass for very cheap, it is the BEST way to see DL and CA - truly it is. **We moved back to the area (Irvine) when the girls were 10 and 7. We did the same thing all over again! It was still perfect.

B.
Family Wellness Coach

We just went with our almost 3yo daughter and left the 1yo with grandma. If you go with no expectations, it will be great. Expect to only go on rides with short lines (Jungle cruise, tea cups, etcO. Try to get there right at opening time so the entrance ticket line is short. Head to Toon Town for lunch - good adult food and a kids box lunch with yogurt, cheese stick, apple slices, etc. Perfect for our daughter. If you want to see the princesses for photos, go at lunch or first thing in the am when the line is shorter. Waiting 90 minutes to have your daughter too hesitant for a photo is no fun (we waited 20-30 min at 12:00 and have photos of her clinging to me but she still says it was her favorite part!). We did not bring a stroller, but had stronger arms at the end of the day (brought a back pack and carried her for about 30% of the time). We also went on my birthday so paid for only one ticket and got another day free, though we did not go back within the month. Also, just because your child fits the height requirement may not mean she is ready for the ride - Matterhorn is pretty short at 35 inches, but a very fast ride. You can get switch passes for one adult to ride then switch for the other to go on without waiting if you have a child who cannot ride. Realize parking is a good 15-20 min walk plus tramride from the entrance so bring everything you want for the day with you.
Have fun!

We did the same thing for my daughter's 3rd birthday and she's still talking about it four years later. Because it was a special occasion, we bit the bullet and went for two nights in a hotel on the grounds. My husband thought I was nuts. He was okay with one night, but thought the second night was over the top. The problem with one night, though, is that you're worried about checking out in the middle of the day you should be enjoying. We also had the room available all day for pit stops. We only bought park entrance tickets for one day. Our trip was extremely relaxed, and my husband ended up thinking I was brilliant for the idea. =-)

We are relatively local like you, so we also invited family members to join us at Ariel's Grotto for lunch. We paid for lunch, but they all paid their own park entrance. It was awesome to share this magical day with some of our closest friends and family. One word of warning, my daughter was terrified of the princesses up close. We got one picture and she looked miserable. It was hard for me, but I had to back off the whole up close princess experience, especially since I knew she LOVED princesses. Sigh. At least I now have the gift of her still looking back fondly on the whole experience.

Don't set your expectations too high for seeing too much of the park. Your kids will be over the top happy even if you never leave Tomorrow Land. I see so many families intent on seeing every attraction and riding every ride to "get their money's worth," and their kids are miserable.

No matter how you set up the trip, relax and enjoy! Doing less will end up being more.

Hello R.,
Happy Birthday to your little one! She will love disneyland, especially if she loves the princesses.I agree with all the moms advice, but I didnt see that anyone mentioned the "princess faire".Great area to see at least 5 of the princesses where you can get great pictures also they have arts and crafts and a coronation ceremony where they do a little show and come down and dance with the kids. GREAT AREA just across from It's a small world.Also dont forget to mention that its her birthday and her 1st visit,I think they get a button or something special.One last thing, not all the rides in fantasyland are appropriate,even if they sound like they are..some are a little scary for little ones(like the snow white ride its very dark and portrays the scariest part of the movie).Have fun!

Hit Fantasyland first thing in the morning, it's less crowded and you get on more. Go to Peter Pan and Dumbo first because they are the ones to have a line most of the day. Definitely take your own water and snacks and pack a lunch. There is a Denny's across the street on Harbor (within walking distance) that you could go to for dinner. Gets you a break from the park and it's not too expensive. Go on Pooh Bear in Critter Country; even the 1 year old would like this one. Depending on what time of year you go, wear layers. You can tie a sweatshirt around your waist and then wear it in the evening when it's cooler.

Bring lots and lots of wipes, water and small snacks. I give out the small snacks to my children as a distraction during the long lines. I also suggest you use the Childcare facilities on Mainstreet. They have everything you need (diapers, wipes, changing tables, first aid supplies, etc.) and it's super clean inside. Try to schedule an indoor attraction for every two rides. Such as, the Tiki Room, Western Saloon show, Aladdin Show, Princess Castle show, etc. These shows allow you to rest your tired feet and cool off. Hope this helps a little. Have fun and don't forget the cameras!!

Hi, my sister and I have been annual passholder's for years and have been taking the grandkids since they were babies. Keep in mind that the kids get tired and still need their naps. We see so many parents with cranky crying kids becasue the parents don't want to stop and miss anything. Remember you cannot do it all in one day, and you will enjoy it more if you don't try.

The shows are great places to sit and relax and still have fun. The shows and the times are listed on one of the info papers at the front gate. Grab them when you enter. The Aladin show in Adventure Land was one of their favotites.

There are many places to stop and sit and relax. We let the kids sleep in their stroller or sometimees on a bench. One loved to fall asleep as we rode the train around. If you have a hotel room close by and can take a break in the middle of the day, great. Go rest, clean up and go back totally refreshed. We never went back to the cars, too much work, too hot and we were always able to find a place to stop for a while.

Of course Toon Town in DL and Bug's Land in CA are geared towards the little kids with rides that are their speed.

Be aware that sometimes the little ones are afraid when they get up close to the characters and sometimes they love it. You have to see what works for yours.

Oh, if your daughter is anything like ours were, they will have to go to the bathroom after being in line for a bit. If you have more than one adult going, one can take her while the other stays in line. That way you don't lose your place and we never had anyone mind when they rejoined us in line. Trying to jump ahead is a big deal, rejoining the members of your party is not. Parties get separated all the time.

Go with the flow, relax and have a great time.

I just took my boys to Disneyland. The best to do is get a park hopper. They have the pixar parade at California Adventures and it was really cool. Things to bring... change of clothes, little snacks, sunscreen, camera, extra pens for autographs, and of course plenty of water. Some of the things that my 5 year old likes to do are the Tarzan tree house and going to Toon Town. Hope you have fun.

We love Disneyland and have been annual members for years. Utilize the Childcare Room on Main Street (near the first aid station). Sorry can't write all my tips now, but I suggest going into the Mamasource archives (check Requests and Responses for Disneyland) and read what tips have been given over the past few months. Lots of great ideas and available resources. Have a great time.

I had always assumed that the Disney Hotels were the closest to the park until the last time I went. We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriot which is across from the main entrance (there are several others across from the main entrance that look decent). It was MUCH quicker to walk across the street to the main entrance than all the way across Downtown Disney to Paradise Pier and the (old) Disneyland Hotel. The Grand Californian is the closest but it's really expensive. As fun as it is to stay in the Disneyland Hotels, you really don't get your money's worth since you are over in the the park most of the time. A long walk (or tram ride) back after a long day is also miserable after an exhausting day at the park, which is why the hotels/motels closest to the main entrance are the most convenient.
My other recommendation if you are staying in a hotel is to bring along some simple food to eat when you are sick of restaurant food or just don't feel like going out again. Last time we brought bread and a package of turkey meat which were perfect for breakfast while walking to Disneyland or a quick bite after the pool. Ready made soup cups (like campbells chicken noodle) are good when you get back late and are hungry but don't want a big meal or a vending machine candy bar...a bag of apples...and if you are driving, a case of bottled water to takes a few as you need them...
Oh, and spare pants & panties for the "almost 3 year old" even if she is potty trained. We had a major flood on the Pirates of the Carribean once that had nothing to do with the ride...

My Disneyland trip list:

1. Stroller with storage and cup holders (The ones at Disneyland are okay, but I like mine better.)
2. Snacks -- granola bars, juice boxes, water (of course), raisins/nuts or trail mix, and home made cookies. (We save the homemade cookies for a really long line!)
3. Clothing -- hat, sunglasses, the usual 'diaper bag' stuff like outfits, etc.
4. Sunscreen -- lather up first thing before leaving your house/hotel room. It's much easier that way.
5. Camera (fully charged and with room on the 'card')

A family I know made their own scavenger list up before they went of things other than what Disney characters they wanted to see. They checked out Disney websites and asked friends what they might see or do and then checked them off (or put a sticker by the item)... i.e. "a bird eating popcorn" or "a train whistle", etc.
I may do this for my next trip since it sounded like so much fun. Have fun!

Hi R.,

Disneyland is great! My little girl has been going since she was 6 weeks old. I take her there for a treat and change of pace. Take sunscreen and a hat, the sun can be horrible. Take snacks along that she likes: fruit, crackers, juice, cheese. Lots of water! A change of clothes just in case. We rent a stroller so that when she gets tired she can lay down and nap.
Both parks have fun parades to watch. Go a bit early to get a good spot in the shade. Fantasyland has the most rides for her age/size. Go early for the more popular rides like Dumbo, the Teacups, and Small World. Toon Town has some cute rides for kids. My angel loves to ride the train that goes around the park.
If you want to get away from the crowds for a bit go to the end of Downtown Disney to the waterfalls. It's pretty and the mist from the water is cooling. There is a big Koi pond right by the waterfalls and they feed the fish a couple of times a day.
Disney characters and princesses are all over the park throughout the day. Ask a cast member for info on where to find specific characters if your daughter has a favorite.

For you: wear comfy clothes and shoes. Take lots of drinks. Send souvenirs to the entrance (or your hotel if you are staying at the park)so you don't have to carry them all through the parks. Just ask a cast member about it.

Have fun.

You didn't mention when you are planning your trip or for how long. Are you local??

If possible, I would wait until after school starts up again and the crowds leave. Get the 2 day pass and go to Disneyland on a Thursday and California Adventure on Friday.

Make reservations for lunch at Ariel's Grotto for Friday so your daughter can meet the princesses up close and personal. I took my granddaughter when she just turned 3 and she's still talking about it.

Both parks have sections that are little one friendly.

Yes, take a change of clothes just in case of an "accident". I would also take snacks as the food in the parks is pricy. There are restaurants within walking distance of the park as well.

Fireworks are nightly right now (9:30-9:40). After Labor Day, they will probably go back to weekends only.

I only live 3 miles from there so let me know if you have any other specific questions I might help with.

Since it will be hot, bring lots of drinks. Disney does allow you to bring in your own. Lots of sunblock. A hat. Definitely bring a stroller as the little ones get tired of walking very quickly (and can get lost in an instant in a big crowd). Definitely extra clothes. Baby wipes are nice for being able to wipe down little hands and faces. Also, Disney's website has a list of rides appropriate for little ones and the height restriction and info on what is best for kids under 5. This will help save time and also the stress of a little one thinking they may be able to go on a ride and them being dissapointed when getting to the front of the line. (I found that list the most helpful thing of all). Most of all try to relax and enjoy yourself. If they don't seem interested in a particular ride just avoid it.