We all want fantastic tips for navigating the magical kingdom of Disneyland! Ondine Brooks Kuraoka has a few suggestions that we just love!
We whistled while we worked, packing for our sons’ first trip to Disneyland as they watched us with amusement. The boys, 4 and 6, caught our excitement and were soon whirling like teacups; but of course, they had no idea what Disneyland was. We decided not to try to explain the magical quality of the kingdom that awaited them, better to let them enjoy the heady rush in their own way.
After you’ve allowed yourself to twirl with childlike joy at the prospect of your visit, put on your grown-up cloak of practicality and plan well. I spoke with several local parents and gathered the following parent-proven tips.
Tiny Step in Its a Small World- Ages 5 and under
If your kids are under 5, your day may be excruciatingly slow unless you decide to slow down yourself. The first time Alyssa Fernandez and her husband Rob visited Disneyland with their kids, then 2 and 4, they went on a total of two rides the entire day—It’s a Small World and Peter Pan. Between tiny stomachs and bladders, long lines and a young child’s fascination with beautiful details, that was enough Magic Kingdom to last until next time. Consider the following for an easier visit:
- Take an elf’s-eye view and just go with the flow. You want them to remember the place fondly, not as a blur. Scout out bathroom locations in whatever “land” you’re in to spare yourself an emergency dash.
- Bring plenty of healthy, hearty snacks and drinks. Feed often to avoid energy crash tantrums. You’ll save a ton of money and avoid hungry frustration when waiting in snack lines.
- Use the early entry option at 7 a.m. (available with Park Hopper Bonus tickets). It’s possible to do most rides in Fantasyland in about an hour without the long lines.
- Decide where you want to eat lunch and dinner well ahead of time so you’re not looking while you’re hungry. Rent a stroller. They’re rugged, maneuver well and have plenty of storage, doubling as a locker. Stroller parking is no problem. You can take the stroller between Disneyland and California Adventure. If staying in a hotel, the closer the better. You’ll have the option of leaving the park midday to rest and return in the evening. (Be prepared, the kids may decide the hotel pool is just as fun as Disneyland.)
- Tie your youngest child’s sleeping buddy to the stroller to avoid losing it and make settling in for stroller naps easier. Many restaurants offer carrot sticks and applesauce with kids’ meals as an alter native to fries.
- California Adventure’s Bugland is geared for ages 2 to 4.
- Bring a light blanket in addition to sunscreen for additional sun blockage in the stroller. Sunscreen won’t protect well enough for an entire day outside.
- Bring your own sweet treats. When your child is struck by candy envy, he can satisfy his sweet tooth and move on—and you won’t have to buy expensive treats.
- Character dining offers a way to meet favorite pals. “Breakfast with Minnie” and “Goofy’s Kitchen” are two options (search “character dining” on the Disneyland website).
- Use priority seating for popular restaurants and character dining.
- Get souvenirs early in the day (stow them in the stroller or a locker), rather than saving it for the last thing you do. “At the end of the day, Ruby [1 at the time] was screaming, Ava [4] was having a hard time deciding and all the families were doing the same thing,” Casey Mortier says. “The lines in the stores were crazy."
Ages 6 and over
- Map out a plan the day before you visit. Have kids prioritize their favorite rides. Expect the plan to change, but you’ll feel less stress if you’ve selected the must-sees. Parades and events schedules are available on the Disneyland website (click “get schedule”).
- Visit the Disneyland website calendar to check if any favorite rides are closed for refurbishment to avoid disappointment upon arrival.
- Arrive at opening and cross the park to Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean; both have notoriously long lines later in the day.
- "People typically go to the first thing they see,” Ed Keim says. “Usually there’s no wait for the rides at the other end of the park. We do that every time we go, and I don’t remember the last time we had to wait in a long line for those rides."
For All Ages of
Kids (including Adult Kids)
- Use the Monorail to enter Disneyland from Downtown Disney and avoid the long lines at the entrance,” says Karin McCarty, a Disney travel agent who also offers many of the tips listed below.
- January, February and September are less crowded. If possible, avoid peak travel times—spring break, summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Christmas decorations are up for most of December.
- Sundays are better than Saturdays.
- If appropriate, get birthday buttons or first-time visitor buttons.
- Utilize the FASTPASS system to spend less time in lines. A limited number of Fastpasses are available at no charge for selected rides, permitting holders to be admitted closer to the front of the line during a specific time frame. You’ll find the dispensers near the ride; ask a park attendant to direct you. Get them early; distribution ends in the afternoon (search “FASTPASS” on the website).
- Bring a refillable water bottle. You’ll save money and drinking fountains are fairly easy to find.
For Large Groups
- Set an easy meeting place to reconvene or in case anyone gets lost.
- You might have more fun if you don’t do everything together. It’s easier to roam in small groups. Plan to meet for lunch or dinner. Younger families may need to do their own thing for dinner—kids might be too tired by then.
- If your vision of the perfect day allows flexibility for your child’s pace and temperament, you’ll all walk away at night’s end with stars in your eyes. Up and away you go, second star to the right and straight to the gates of the Magic Kingdom.
Family Dinning
- Eat lunch and dinner at non-standard times; you'll enjoy a break from the crowds.
- The Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland provides entertainment and is indoors, a haven from the sun or the breeze.
- Make reservations in the morning. A good option for large groups.
- Big Thunder Barbecue in Frontierland is quick, reasonably priced, has good shade and is next to a petting zoo.
- The Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country has a relaxing setting on the veranda above the Rivers of America.
- T he Village Haus in Fantasyland often has long lines.
Discounts
• Automobile Club of Southern California (www.aaa-calif.com) discounts apply at some restaurants and character meals.
• Find discounts through Costco, Vons and the Disneyland website, including the “Park Hopper” admission to both Disneyland and California Adventure.
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Ondine Brooks Kuraoka is a writer in San Carlos. She and her family look forward to their next trip to Disneyland.
Published: January 2009
