Disneyland the most magical place on earth can quickly become the most stressful place on earth. Here are some Disneyland tips with kids that we have learned over the years.
Food
Disneyland allows outside food and drink. We usually bring a backpack full of snacks and food. Things that have worked really well for us are uncrustables, apple sauce, fruit snacks, goldfish, apples, nuts, etc. The food in Disneyland is expensive. We usually pick one meal or treat a day that we want to buy. One of our favorite snacks in Disneyland is the Dole Whip. So yummy on a hot day. We have eaten at a few places in the park but I don’t think it is worth the money, especially with kids. We usually go back to the hotel for naps (more on that later) and we will fill up on a large lunch/linner before heading back.
Naps
A well slept child= a happy child. We have done Disneyland both ways, powering through and going back for naps. Going back for naps is always better in the long run. It is not very fun standing in line with a crying over tired child. Plus the night shows like fireworks and world of color are worth staying up late for, missing a few hours in the middle of the day is worth it. It works best when we stay at a hotel that is close walking distance. The easiest one is the Grand California but it is pricey. Second best option is the Marriott Courtyard. It is literally right in front of the gate. I timed it once and it took less than 10 min to walk back.
Parks
One park per day is the best choice. It takes up so much time going between parks. There is plenty to do in one park it is not necessary to hop back and forth. We usually dedicate one day to Disneyland and one day to California adventure. If you are going for more than 2 days then you can pick which to spend more than one day at. It is also cheaper to have a one park a day pass rather than a hopper pass.
Shows
There are so many fantastics shows, don’t skip them. It is a nice time to rest your legs from all the walking. It also gives the kids a chance to see the characters. The shows are so well done (as everything Disney is). It took me years of going to disneyland to figure this out. Some of my favorite shows;
Disneyland: Mickey and the Magical Map (fantasyland, near It’s a small world), Storytelling at the Royal Theatre (fantasyland) , Jedi Training (tomorrowland), Fantasmic (Frontierland, night time only)
California Adventure: Disney Jr Dance Part (Hollywood land), Frozen (Hollywood land), World of Color
Tip: have one adult stand in line at least 30 min before show time. Take the kids on short line rides then meet up right before its time to go in.
Characters
Do not waste time waiting in line to see the characters. Kids can see them in the parades and shows. One time we waiting in a 2 hour line to see Elsa and Anna and then to meet Tinkerbell. It took up half of our day. During the Storytime, the kids get to interact with the characters and it is so much better than waiting in the huge lines. We never wait in line to see the characters anymore, unless we walk by and there is no line.
Parades
The Disneyland parade is by far my favorite. Get a good seat an hour before the parade starts. Eat lunch or a snack while waiting. Also one person can hold the spot while everyone else rides a few rides.
Tip: Best place to watch the parade is right by the bathrooms next to Alice in Wonderland. There are built in benches. This is in the shade and you have a place to sit. But you need to get a spot early.
Rider Switch
If you have kids that don’t meet the height requirement you can get a rider switch card. This allows each parent and bigger kids to ride the ride and then switch and not have to wait in line.
Tip: older kids can ride twice in a row. Each rider switch is good for one adult and 2 other guests.
Fast Passes
Take advantage. Do not wait in lines over an hour long. Kids will get very grumpy. It is not worth it for the kid, there are plenty of rides that kids will love with out having to wait so long. There are multiple ways to make the best use of these. Have one person be the runner, go get fast passes for everyone. There is a good app called Mouse wait. It allows you to see how long lines are and when fast passes are available for each ride.
MaxPasses: A new paid program through Disneylands mobile app. Allows guests to book Fastpass reservations on the app. It is $10 per ticket. We have not been to Disneyland since this invention but I personally would spend the extra $50 for our family. You have already spent a ton of money to go to Disneyland, $10 more per ticket will allow you to ride many more rides with out having to run around getting fast passes. Maximizing your time better.
Rides
Take advantage of the rides or attractions that don’t have lines. Disneyland:arzans tree house, Tom Sawyer island, Disneyland Railroad. California: Redwood creek Trail
A number of rides have a single rider option. This cuts the time of waiting in line by a lot. If you have one or 2 people who want to ride one of the bigger rides if you don’t mind sitting by a stranger you can get on very quickly.
