13 Tips for Taking Your Toddler to Disneyland
Like living life on the edge? Try getting all of Disneyland into a single day with a toddler. It’s no easy feat, and it certainly is not doing Disneyland on easy mode. However, there are there benefits of taking your toddler to Disneyland, and there are also benefits of a one day itinerary for Disneyland. Let’s dive into both benefits before getting to the good stuff – the 13 tips to a successful Disneyland trip with your toddler!
Why You Should Take Your Toddler to Disneyland
They are free. Kids enter the pearly gates of Disneyland for free until they are three years old. There really shouldn’t be a need for another reason for why you should take your pre-three -year-old to Disneyland yesterday!
It’s good for them. The most common complaint I hear from people who don’t want to take their toddler to Disneyland is that they “won’t remember anything.” Really? So nothing your kid experiences before the age of 3 has a lasting impact on them? I believe modern psychology would beg to differ with you on that.
The magic is real. Disneyland is magical no matter what age you are (that’s the point of it). But there’s a difference between having a magical experience, and experiencing real magic. Toddlers get the benefit of the latter.
It’s fun for you. One of the best things about visiting Disneyland with your toddler is that you get to see everything through their eyes for the first time. That experience is worth some of the challenges (there are plenty of challenges) of bringing your toddler to the Happiest Place on Earth.
Top Challenges in Bringing a Toddler to Disneyland
Okay, we’ve gotten the good stuff out of the way, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t their own fair share of challenges associated with bringing little ones to Disneyland. Some of the biggest challenges are:
You need to take it slow. It’s hard enough to get through all Disneyland has to offer normally. It’s much harder when you have a toddler. Toddlers can’t move at a breakneck pace like adults can. They need breaks, to naps and play/move around. They can’t spend all day in lines. Speaking of lines…
Those long lines are a lot worse. Very long lines with Toddlers can be painful. To be fair, they are painful enough for adults, too. Toddlers often lack the coping skills we have, though, and don’t know that the wait is worth it, making 50 minute lines almost a no-go.
They can’t do all the rides. While there is plenty to do for toddler’s in Disneyland, there’s also plenty they can’t do. This makes planning for Disneyland a challenge as there’s stuff you may want to do either by yourself or whomever else you are with.
You need to carry stuff with you. Taking your toddler means taking a lot of other stuff, too. Snacks, changing pads, toys, and a stroller, are all going to be backpacking their way through Disneyland with you.
13 Tips for Taking Your Toddler to Disneyland
Alright. So you’ve covered your basis. Your bags are packed. Your stroller is ready to go. Now what?
Well, you need a plan. And while it’s always good to have a plan when visiting Disneyland, it’s just about mandatory for a positive trip with a Toddler.
While there is no one-size-fits all approach to a Disneyland vacation, we’ve put together several tips that can help you make the most out of your time in the Magical Kingdom
Lean into it.
Your kids aren’t going to be toddler’s forever. Instead of trying to do a Disneyland vacation the way you did when you were younger (though not that young), just accept that there’s a whole other side to Disneyland from your toddler’s vantage point, and lean into it. Say no to the big thrill rides that you loved in your Youth in favor of character meetups and toddler friendly rides.
Spend plenty of time with characters.
On that note, one thing toddler’s love more than just about anything is characters. That’s right – even those funny guys and gals wearing suits in the park. These characters end up drawing long lines to them, just like any attraction in Disneyland. Planning ample time around visiting with them will help your day run smoother.
Stay within walking distance.
It’s hard to find availability in hotels immediately nearby the park, but it’s worth it. With Toddler’s, depending on their age, you’re going to be doing at least one trip back a day to the hotel. While it’s always nice to stay near the park, it’s pretty much a necessity when you have a toddler in tow.
Load up your stroller, not you.
You need to bring a lot of stuff into the park with you when you go into Disneyland with a toddler. Let your stroller do the work, not you. Now is not the time for those nice little travel strollers that fit easily on a plane. Instead, you’re going to want to bring a hefty stroller that can carry extra weight. You want as little as possible on your person so that you can enjoy the day, and as much as possible in your stroller.
Take advantage of stroller parking.
Speaking of which, there’s actually a ton of stroller parking in Disneyland. Don’t feel like you need to have your stroller with you at all times. When you enter a land, leave your stroller. When you leave the land, go back and get the stroller and take it with you. This will make your life a lot easier.
Watch out for dark rides.
It may seem like those little, easy dark rides are perfect for toddlers. But you may not remember how scary some of those rides are when viewed from the eyes of a person who has barely learned to talk. Avoid the rides with darker themes and try warming your toddler up with happier dark rides like Winnie the Pooh or Peter Pan and see how they like it before deciding to take a ride on the more intense ones.
Take a big afternoon break.
Days in Disneyland are long, and toddler’s need breaks. Depending on the age of the kid, you may need one or more breaks. I suggest a long afternoon break/nap. It’s when the park is at its busiest and your kid at their sleepiest. Don’t worry about losing hours in the afternoon – the longer your toddler sleeps now, the later you can be up when the park is more amenable!
Make it to rope drop.
Toddlers are up early anyways, so might as well take advantage of it and make it to Disneyland before the rope drops. Most park goers are still asleep at the early hour of 8am, meaning you have about an hour or two to get a lot of attractions in before the park starts getting really crowded.
Schedule free play.
Just like how your toddler needs a nap or two, he/she also needs plenty of time to play without a schedule. Luckily, there are a lot of places to get that play need met within Disneyland. Your best bet might just be the recently renovated Toon Town. Another option is Tom Sawyer’s Island.
Switch off.
Wether it be taking advantage of rider switch to visit thrill rides, or simply taking turns doing more toddler friendly things while your S/O rides Haunted Mansion, it’s helpful at times to take a break and lean on your partner a bit. If traveling to Disneyland on your own with your toddler, this won’t be an option. And that’s totally fine. But if you happen to be going with someone, it can be a big help.
Rope Drop is a Must
Getting to the park right when it opens is a huge advantage, as there are far, far fewer people in the park at this hour than there will be at any other time of the day (except for maybe around closing, depending on the day). The earlier you get to the park, the better spot you will have in line. But you really don’t need to overdue it. Assuming you are going during the off season (something which is worth it to do under the best of circumstances but especially important when taking a toddler), you don’t need to get to the park until about fifteen minutes before opening. That should be plenty early to get lined up for your one-day at Disney plan of attack.
Start with Fantasyland
You may not yet know how your toddler reacts to dark rides, and that’s okay. The last thing you want to do, however, is dive head first into a scary dark ride that your child isn’t going to enjoy. Instead, work them up to some of the more challenging dark rides and see their reaction. Fantasay Land is great for this, as well as giving your toddler a chance to try some of the super fun, super kid friendly rides like Dumbo. If you rope drop to Fantasy Land, you should be able to get the majority of the rides done within an hour to an hour and a half.
Make Special Time to Sit and Eat
If your toddler loves to sit and eat and take in the experience, Disneyland is a great place for that! While it can be tempting for us adults to rush from thing to thing, and take our food to go while we’re visiting, toddler’s often love the peace and quiet and break from routine that a really good dinner provides.
Life with a toddler isn’t always easy. But while the days may be long, the years are short. You won’t regret making time to prioritize making special memories with your little ones. Not now, not ever!
