Disneyland Tips
There she goes...our first born...off to the castle that makes us all feel like a child again as soon as we see it! This magical place where everyone is happy and wonder twinkles in their eyes. This place that is delightful, marvelous and sensational for all! OMG!!! I really do love Disneyland!!! I have ever since I was a kid. Every year, when I was between the ages of 10-13, my mom, and a lucky friend of mine, would load up in the car and head off to this extraordinary theme park. We would run around from one "Land" to the next without a care in the world. I loved Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, Tea Cups, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc... but my favorite was Thunder Mountain. The sound of the roller coaster as it clicked along, climbing it's way to the top of the first drop. The misters lightly dampening my face and arms as I looked around at the stalactites and stalagmites that were the setting for this part of the ride. Feeling excitement for that first drop the coaster train would make. A drop I experienced many times over the years, but every time was just as exciting as the first. My friends and I had so much fun and loved every minute of being at Disneyland. Back then Disneyland was $40 per person and was never too crowded! Oh how times have changed!
I'm a Disneyland lover and naturally, I couldn't wait to take my first born to this special place! The first time we went she was 21 months old and the whole place was decorated for Christmas! Talk about magical! It did not disappoint. It was absolutely beautiful and It's a Small World was so incredible. They decorated the entire ride with holiday themes true to each country. It was truly magnificent!
Being that we live in the so-cal area, we figured it would be best for me and my hubby to get a year long membership. Especially since the first three years of a child's life are free. We figured we will go a bunch this year (we've been 3 times since December and plan to go at least 3 more - gotta get our monies worth) and then not go again until the girls are old enough to remember it and big enough to go on all the rides. It's not cheap, but since I have a little love affair going on with the place, and I had a hunch our little loves would love it too, we decided to go for it. I was right, our first born loved it and I know her sisters will too when we go next month for their first birth day.
The twins were only 3 months old when we left them with their nanny and ventured off to this enchanting theme park. I was unsure about what I was going to do about pumping, storage of the pump and where I was going to keep the milk. I also wondered how my oldest would do at Disneyland and whether or not she was too young to make it through the day. Along with these concerns I wondered if the diaper bag/stroller would be safe while we went on rides, how long would the wait times be in the lines, how much food would we need to pack and could my toddler handle waiting in the lines...
So here are my tips for taking on Disney:
Best times of year to go: The second week of January (before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr holiday). The beginning of March (before spring break begins). The week after Labor Day (when the kids are all back in school). The first or second week of October. The week after Thanksgiving. Disneyland is decorated for the holidays at this time and is not too crowded. If you can, go Tues-Thurs to avoid crowds. I had always heard that a good time to go would be Super Bowl Sunday - it's not! The game doesn't start until the afternoon so people go to Disneyland in the morning.
Baby Care Center: There's a baby care center just off of Main St. by the hot dog stand. It is awesome. You can use their high chairs, heat up snacks for your kiddos, breast feed/pump (semi-privately), use a changing table and they even have potties for kiddos that are being potty trained. You can also bring your own water bottles and fill them up for free.
First-Aid Station: If you have any medical supplies with you you can store them at the First-Aid station next door to the baby care center. I was able to pump at the baby care station and then store my pump at the first-aid station for free! It was great!The only thing is that you've got to tote your milk around the park with you. They won't store "food" at the first-aid station. So, if you decide to pump you need to bring a cooler and ice packs with you. No big deal. I just stashed it in the bottom of my daughters stroller. Or you could always get a locker by the front gates.
Snacks: Bring lots and lots and LOTS of snacks for your kiddos and yourselves. It is amazing just how much of an appetite you can get from walking around that place..and there is no doubt that your little love is gonna need snacks to get through the day. Our personal favorites are pb&j's (last time we brought 6 and ate them all), Earth's Best packets, carrot sticks, apples, string cheese, crackers, cereal bars, dried fruit and nuts. Don't forget an ice pack.
Stroller/Diaper Bag: Bring your own stroller and diaper bag but also bring some sort of small purse/fanny pack (I know fanny packs are super duper lame, but you know what I mean about size when I write fanny pack!) to keep your money, phone and important things with you so you don’t have to worry about them potentially being stolen. I used a small purse I got in Peru. This way I could leave the diaper bag with the stroller and not carry it on the rides. It is completely safe to leave your stroller at Disneyland, unattended, for hours on end. There are cameras EVERYWHERE and staff watching out for you. Plus, do you really think someone wants your soggy pb&j sandwiches, diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer and whatever other things you're lugging around?? Probably not!
Disneyland Ride App: Definitely download a free Disneyland app so that you know how long the wait time is for popular rides. This way you can better plan your day. We used Disneyland Wait Times. It also tells you the wait times for the most popular rides at California Adventure.
Best Rides for Toddlers and Babies: Lots of the rides at Disneyland are scary for babies and toddlers, even in Fantasyland. Here's a short list of our favorites...
It's a Small World
Peter Pan's Flight
Winnie the Pooh
Mad Tea Party
Jungle Cruise
Dumbo
Parade: All of the main characters in the parades are up high so that you can see them, no matter where you are sitting/standing. So don't worry if you're not up front and center.
After Sunset: Bring Dollar Store Glow stick bracelets, necklaces, wands, etc... Also, bring a favorite stuffed animal, pajamas/nighttime diaper for you kiddo(s) and a cozy blanket. Most days are warm at Disneyland, but it cools off at night. Having these security objects and changing your kiddo(s) into pj's will help them fall asleep on the ride home (if you're not staying at a near by hotel) and make for a smooth transition to bed.
Yes, you can go with a baby! Yes, you can go with toddlers! Disneyland is designed for children of all ages. Everyone will have fun!
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