TracisTips for Disney Days
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Disneyland can be so much fun and you can make amazing memories and have wonderful experiences, but (on paper) I think your money is best spent to bring a child 3-4 and over (even on a budget, a trip to Disney is NOT cheap). If you yourself are sentimental and want to experience the magic through your baby or toddler’s eyes, I’m not going to try to talk you out of it!
My husband went for Power School and thus had a hotel room at the Disneyland hotel, so Cohen and I tagged along and I booked a discounted 2 day park hopper for myself through my work’s benefits (CoCo was free). TIP: Ask your work if you have access to any discounted tickets!
We used to live off Harbor and had season passes for years. Here are a Local’s Tips for Disneyland.
The best times to visit are when it is cooler temperatures (fall and early spring), on SCHOOL DAYS (Usually Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday). The worst time to go to DL is when it’s HOT and crowded. Walking around the asphalt and waiting in lines in the heat is the WORST. When the schedule is blocked, those are actually the days you do NOT want to be there.
Download the Disneyland app. This has all kinds of resources including ride wait times, information on characters/parades. The best time to go on popular rides is FIRST thing in the morning and during the fireworks or parades.
Waiting in Lines for Rides: There are no longer Fast Passes, but they now charge $7-$20 per ride for “Lightening Lanes,” and you can purchase 2 of those per day. The better option is The Genie Plus, which is an extra $20 per ticket, but you can book ‘Lightening Lanes’ all day long, one at a time. There is a more exclusive service you can pay for, which is booking your own “Plaid” (aka VIP Tour Guide). Starting at $2,975 (plus tip), you and up to 9 other Guests can enjoy a customizable VIP Tour, with a minimum of 7 hours. The ‘Plaid’ brings your party to the front of any ride you want to go on and seats you in the front of any show you would like to see. If you each pay individually, it’s an extra $300 per person for the 7 hours.
The food is easily one of the best parts about DL, but packing plenty of snacks and drinks can be helpful while waiting in lines. You are exerting a lot of energy around the park, so extra calories are required! You can also place mobile orders on the app for popular food items. In addition to now being available via mobile order, the Tropical Hideaway is a second location Dole Whips are available!
This second location on the other side of the Tiki Room sells Dole Whips, but usually doesn’t have a line! You can also order through the mobile Disneyland app!
Visiting with kids:
LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS. (hah!). My mantra for our first trip was “Cohen is my #1 priority. As long as he is enjoying himself, it was a success.” What does it take to have a 1 year old enjoy themselves at Disneyland? Not a lot! Expectations add stress and you will NEVER experience everything DL has to offer in one trip (even if it is a week long!). Try to pick out 2-3 rides or places (or have each kid pick 1) that you want to visit each day and then everything else is gravy.
If they are into the characters, book a character meal towards the end of the trip. The characters come to visit each table and that is SO much more enjoyable than waiting in line to see a character in the heat and stalking the different characters around the park.
NAPS. NAPS. NAPS. Schedule to go back to the hotel to nap during the day (3:00-5:00 at the latest). For this reason it is especially helpful to stay at a DL hotel.
Stay in a Disney hotel. Location, Location, Location. Not only is it extra convenient to be able to walk back to the hotel if you forget something, it’s great to be so close for naps. I recommend doing the park on Monday and Wednesday and laying low on Tuesday. The middle day can be for sleeping in, hanging out at the pool and reflecting on what is most important for everyone to do the second day. Get familiar with the hotel amenities- you can call ahead so when you check in, you are ready to roll! IT’s not cheap, but consider reducing your trip by a day or going after saving some more $, because you can’t put a price tag on convenience. TIP FOR THE DISNEYLAND HOTEL: Be sure to flip BOTH light switches on the lamp next to the bed and the lights in the headboard will give you a little song and fireworks show (photo below)!
If you decide to visit when it is warm, don’t forget sunscreen! You need to reapply after you get sweaty (which is immediately) and every 2 hours. Disneyland is not fun when you are sunburnt and this is an easy way to reduce your risk of getting cancer (and the effects of aging!).
Be sure to schedule siesta times for the adults AND kids so you can enjoy your time and have more energy to stay at the park later.
Visiting Disneyland with babies:
Become familiar with the Baby Center on Main Street and in California Adventure. These both have rockers for nursing moms, changing tables, high chairs to feed little ones, and a vending machine with reasonably-priced EVERYTHING BABY (diapers, wipes, baby food, baby snacks, pacifiers, etc.). This is also the place they will bring lost kids if a child gets separated from their family.
If your baby is ancy to toddle/crawl around, Toon Town opens at 11:00 and has Goofy’s yard area for kiddos to crawl. They can also scoot around in the Abraham Lincoln Theater on Main Street. In California Adventure, the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail has an area in the back for toddlers to burn off some energy.
The Baby Care Center in Disneyland has great (custom made) beds for diaper and outfit changes, sinks, mini toilets, recliners to nurse or pump, and more!
The Disneyland Baby Care Center has a “vending machine” of EVERYTHING you could possibly need to care for a baby: snacks, baby food, pacifiers, diapers, wipes, Desitin (and more!) and all for reasonable prices!!