Disneyland Advice

HI,
My sugestion is just stay in two places since you have little kids 1) fantasy island or place 2) toontown and ride a smallworld ride its fun for kids they will sing it over and over, and bring a lots of good snack like cut up fruits crackers or cookies they will have fun.

I took my daughter last year when she was 2. I recommend going straigt to Mickeys Toon Town! It's set up especially for kids this age. It has Mickey's house, Minnies House, Donalds house, etc. and when you go in each house, you actually get to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Etc. and they let you take pics with them! We didn't find it until closing time and we only got to see Mickey, but I would definitely start there when we go to Disneyland again! Hope this helps.
Take care,
S.

Dear K.,

I know that you are going to think that I am mean, but honestly, I am just realistic. You need to wait until these babies are at least 5 years old. It will be a nightmare. They are wayyyyy too young, and they need sleep and rest and regular food and NOT DISNEYLAND right now. Take them to a very nice park and eat ice cream and see some animals. Take them to a small Zoo, but for heaven's sake, not Disneyland. Absolutely no waiting in line with twin 2 1/2 year olds! That is not fun.

Sorry, but this is all true. C. N.

Hi.

My husband and I have Dland passes and go quite often with our just about to turn 2 year old. It isn't as bad as you might imagine.

What to take:

Your own stroller but bring a bike lock. My sisters stroller was stolen while she was on a ride. Just put the key in your pocket and you'll never have to worry about it going missing.

Pack a locker bag and a take with you bag. We prefer a back pack so that when we lock up the stroller, we strap on the pack and our stuff is with us.

Pack light. You really only need day time clothes and some warm jackets and maybe light blankets for the little ones at night. I suggest bringing a spare change of clothes in the car. I've had my daughter spill something and soak herself and had nothing to change into...not even in the car. You will have to park in a parking structure in a land far, far away and travel by tram to the park but at least it will be there if you need it. Parking is $11 bucks.

Pack a lunch. You can put it in the lockers. They have some inside the park half way down on Main Street to the right behind a fruit stand and they have some out in front of the park before you go in to the left. Lunch can be WAY overpriced there and you may want to save a few bucks for churros which are $3 a pop. There are tables by the inside lockers but if you want to rest, I'd do the outside lockers.

Rides:

There are tons of rides they can go on. In Disneyland: Disneyland Railroad, Autopia, Monorail, Alice in Wonderland, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Dumbo the flying Elephant, It's a Small World, King Arthur Carrousel, Mad Tea Party (I think), Mr. toad's Wild Ride (although this does have a "going to Hell" scene from the story so I usually skip it), Peter Pan's Flight (really worth the wait for sure and my favorite), Pinocchio's Daring Journey (slightly scary scene from the story), Snow White's Scary Adventures (scary being the key word because of the witch), Storybook Land Canal Boats (goes into the mouth of the whale), Mark Twain Riverboat, Saling Ship Columbia, Tom Sawyer Island (by raft with caves but that could be a handful for you and I haven't done it yet), Tiki Room (featuring a singing bird show), Jungle Cruise, Tarzan's Treehouse, The Haunted Mansion (mostly not scary but a few parts like ghost ride with your in the ride and pop ups), Pirates of the Caribbean (dark drops but small and quick), Winnie the Pooh, In Toontown there are things to see but the rides are by height so you'll have to see when you get there for the 3 year old.

In California Adventure there is: A Bugs land. It's just like A Bugs Life and there are 4 rides...I think...in there that they can go on. There is a A Bug's Life 3d show...kind of scary but my daughter did okay. They have a cool parade that you must see with tons of disney characters. King Tritons Carousel and the Sun Wheel are cool. If you want a cool experience for your daughter, make reservations at Ariels Grotto ###-###-####)All 5 princess come out to you at your table and meet and take pictures with you. The cost is a set price per plate but I can't recall the amount. It's like a dinner theatre...you pick from a few choices and pay the same price...desert is included. Bring an autograph book too. They have old fashioned style carnival games to win stuffed animals too. It's beautiful there. Oh and they have a Redwood Creek Challenge Trail with bridges and mazes. Fun.

Don't make the whole day about rides though. For kids that age, it's more about what they see so pick a few musts and enjoy the time together. Most of the kids rides are very short so waiting isn't too difficult.

Here's Disneylands Website too just in case I didn't bore you enough with my novel. Really, I don't work for them. LOL

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/la...

We took our daughter last Easter. She was about 2-1/2 then. We took the train around the park when we arrived and stop at Toon Town. This area is perfect for the toddler age group. It is very toddler friendly. She loved it.

We were hoping for one of the live action shows to be playing, but that day there were none. Due to the holiday, the lines were really long for the ride, so we just walked around, which was perfect for my daughter who was in awe of the whole Disneyland park.

We stopped and watched a lot of the rides. The petting zoo in the Bear Country area of the park was nice break from the craziness of the park.

You can bring your own lunch and water. Do this as the food is very pricey in the park and not really that great. The breakfast with the characrters is popular and you need to sign up for it. My daughter was a bit scared of the big looming characters.

As for getting to the head of the line it is called a "FAST PASS" and is great to get on the rides without the long wait in line. We did this about 5 years before.

Besides www.disneyland.com, check out www.hiddenmickeys.org for interesting info about the park and maybe you can also find hidden mickeys while waiting in line or walking around the park. There are also great historical tidbits about Disneyland on the site.

Have fun, bring the camera with lots of film and batteries; and wear comfortable shoes; bring sunscreen; hats/visors for the whole famiy; baby wipes; and picnic lunch.

Remember not to expect too much from them. If they are afraid do not force them to do the rides, then yours and their experience will not be enjoyable or memorable.

A year later my daughter still talks about Disneyland.
I had fun reliving the Disneyland experience through her eyes.

"Irish Twins".... I had not heard of that before. My husband and his brother are 10 months apart and do look like twins. It's hard to tell them apart.

Hi Kristen,

I took my 3 year old in December for his birthday. He had fun, but I think he was a little too young to fully enjoy the experience. Most of the rides were a little scary for him, even in Fantasy Land. He loved the Dumbo ride, and the Carousel and the train ride, but really, the other rides that were intended for him were too dark and he was a bit scared. I would love to take him again, but will wait til he's a little older so that he can have a better memory of the experience. There is another theme park around Anaheim called Adventure City that is smaller and doesn't cost as much to get into that caters to smaller children. That might be a better alternative. Hope this helps.

I am a mother of 3. For the most part, your children can ride everything except for the bigger rides (log ride, indiana jones, star tours, thunder mountain, space mountain). They must be atleat 42", I believe to ride these). However, Disneyland does make it fair for the adult, -- you can do baby switch which allows one parent to wait with the children while the other rides and when he gets off the ride, you enter through the exit and get right onto the ride. There is so much to see and do, that I really don't think you're children will mind too much to stand in line. Besides, they also have FastPass, which if the line is too long, you get a ticket for a later time and come back. I have a 9 yr old, 3 and 2.... They never minded waiting.... Have a great time. .......Tammy

Hello Kristen, I too have Irish twins which are 11 months apart. When my two were that age we got the Southern CA pass and went mostly early sunday mornings when there were not as many crowds. My kids loved Dumbo, a small world, the fairytale boat ride etc and both parades. You should take them without fear as when they get tired they can always nap in the stroller while you shop or just take a break, I always used to pack their favourite snacks too. The Fastpass is a good idea where you get a designated time to come back to a ride and you get first preference to get on the ride, so avoid lines.The Disney california park also has a great section for small kids which includes the Hungry caterpillar ride. R.

Wow! You're going to have your hands full regardless. I hope you're bringing help along, like, babysitter or family. Make sure the 3 yr. olds go bathroom often unless they're wearing pull ups, mine pee'd on a 'its a small world' ride :( Also I had my 2 kids wear the same bright color t-shirts so I can pick them out of a crowd easily in case they wonder off. Have fun!!

I'm a mom with fraternal twin boys, soon-to-be 11 and the first time my husband and I took them to Disneyland was when they were your son's age. A stroller is definitely a must, particularly if you have the "umbrella" type strollers (they're the least expensive type that fold up easily, hence the name, and are not tandem). They're easier to work with in and around the park, and if ever you and your husband want to take a child each and venture off for a little while no one will be left without a stroller. I also agree with all the other moms, pack snacks and water (or juice boxes/pouches) as everything is very pricey in the park. I would recommend; however, treating yourselves to a fun dinner at Goofy's Kitchen inside the Disney Hotel. It is pricey, but it's a buffet and quite a few characters mingle and entertain throughout the evening. Unlike having to stand in line throughout your day in the park, just to have a picture taken with said characters, they come to your table. Also, a few times during your meal, music will start to play and some of the characters gather around the buffet area to dance with the kids. Obviously, you won't find ALL of the Disney characters present at Goofy's Kitchen, but you will see Goofy, his son Max, Pluto, Minnie (there is a special backdrop of an animated kitchen used specifically for picture taking with Minnie), Chip and Dale, Princess Jasmine, Prince Ali and maybe, a couple other princesses (you might be able to ask which characters will be present when/if you make reservations). Lastly, as for souvenairs, your kids don't know any better yet, there is a Walmart on the other side of the freeway that has a section of Disney items...towels, t-shirts, bags, pencils, wallets, mugs, cups, key chains, etc.

Anyway, hope I was able to offer you some helpful advice. But, as was previously mentioned, the most important thing to remember...just have fun. If you miss something this time around, you can catch it next time...Disney was, is and always will be one of those family favorites. I'll be 40 next year and can say that I'm usually one of the first in our family to get excited if anyone suggests a trip to Disneyland (we try and go every other year, if we can since we live in Northern California). We took our twins on a Disney cruise last year for their 10th bdays (one was born before midnight and the other after...so their bdays are 04/30 and 05/01, respectively). I was able to arrange a bday cake for the boys at dinner on our last night on board. This is another "Disney" trip I'd strongly recommend, when your kids are older (when they can truly appreciate it and remember the experience).

Hope you and your family have a fantastic time!

I think Melissa gave great advice on the rides. My only emphasis is get a hotel w/in walking distance. You can get a hotel for around $80-90/night across the street of Katella. That way, you avoid having to pay for parking and it's a hassle to have to wait for the tram to come pick you up. I would recommend taking strollers since you will be doing a lot of walking. Bring sunscreen.

The only other add is that I recommend you guys go during off-peak time and on the weekdays. Those were our best times. We hardly had to wait in line.

The last time we were there, we stayed at the Marriott Residence that was about a mile away from the entrance. It was totally easy to walk to Disneyland. It has a kitchen and so you can buy grocery and cook there. In the morning, we the hotel offers free hot breakfast--eggs, pancakes, cereals, fruits, waffles, bacon, juice, coffee...I can go on! It was around $130, but worth it since the breakfast could easily be $10/person at least!

Hi, The bugs life area is really fun for that age (California Adventure side). For the Disneyland side the it' a small world ride and I think it's called fun town (it's behind small world ride) are also great. There are benches to rest on and many restaurants to sit and eat. I would take waters and juice boxes and crackers though because it gets expensive. Have fun!

Definately see parades and watch some shows. for the fireworks, situate yourselves on main street in front of the castle.

for an attraction where you also get a "rest" visit the tiki room in adventureland and get a pineapple whip. don't miss that whatever you do. Your kids can also go on the jungle cruise which is just next to the tiki room.

ToonTown will probably be a lot of fun also but a caution on that - hit it earlier in the day because they usually close that section early for the evening for fireworks. ( i think they get launched around that area?)

The new NEMO ride is opening up and I bet they'd LOVE that... Try to get a fast passes for high profile rides if you can. Learn how to use the fast pass system for any rides that will most likely have long lines. (like NEMO.)

Lots of the child rides for kids in disneyland are in Fantasyland where you can ride dumbo, go on snow white's scary adventure. the one there with the longest line will be peter pan's flight. these types of rides don't have fast passes. A good favorite might be the storybook land canals which is a little boat ride and of course the famous Small World.

They would probably be able to handle Pirates too. We took my niece when she was age 3 and she did fine and we also took my son on that when he was two months old. as long as they don't scare easily in the dark (kids go in and out of phases so it's hard to tell.)

Depending on your budget... food is hit and miss. if you want character dining, expect to pay a lot. I like Goofy's kitchen at the disneyland hotel the best but your best bet is to make reservations way ahead of time (before you leave for the trip!)

more dining advice... the best place i like to eat (where i think it's worth the money) is RedRocket's Pizza Port in TomorrowLand. I like the pasta dishes and the salads look yummy too. we eat there every time we go to DL.

Also not in disneyland, but on downtown disney district, is the rain forest cafe. your kids will probably really like that too!
Ca Adventure has even more attractions for the little ones at Bug's Life area. and some more kid rides on the pier area.

If you're not going to be there for a long trip, chances are you won't hit everything you want to see... it's too big and there's too much to do in just one day.

for me though the must see would be the new NEMO attraction.

and about the baby's room at the end of main street.... there is also one in CA adventure next to the tortilla factory. And at age 2, if you are still nursing (because lots of moms are still nursing at this age!!!!!) there are comfy chairs/rockers and also a place to pump your milk in private. they have games for kids, high chairs, microwave for heating your baby food... it's a great little sanctuary that not too many people know about!!

Have lots of FUN!!! also check out the below link...

http://www.cafemom.com/group/disneyland

LOl I love the Irish twins comment, I never heard of that. My boys are 11 months apart. I gave up on explaining their age differeances and now i jus, say they are twins.

But getting to the point...we havn't made it to disneyland yet but when we do plan to go i was informed by other parents that their is a way to do things with little ones. Once you enter into the park there is a machine that you can punch your ticket and it will give you a stamp time and tells you what place you need to be. For ex. you want to go see crush but it only plays at 2 4 6, this machine will stamp your ticket and that's the time you neeed to show up, no lines, no upset babies.

I went on line personally, and orderd a "vacation planning" at Disneyland.com. It's free and it tells you where you can go and what rides you can go on with little ones. It was very helpful. we plan to go at Christmas time. I hope this helps.

Definately go on the "It's a small world" & "pirate of the carribean" rides. They're long and entertaining rides well worth the long wait in line.

The most important part is- TO HAVE FUN! Seeing that you live in Riverside, don't spend the extra money on a hotel unless you're actually planning to stay the night in O.C. That’s $80-100 you could other wise spend on souvenirs and food. (Or mommy’s night out, or mini spa, after you finish this adventure! :o) )
If you have a double stroller, and I’m sure you do considering you have Irish Twins, bring it with you. If not, rent one at D-Land. DO pack snacks and a lunch.
Buying lunch there will run you about $10- $15 each. Save that for the dinner time food.
I haven’t been to D-Land in about 4 or 5 years (maybe longer) but there used to be a place called Carnations on Main street that sold pretty good burgers. If you want to do something kind of fancy for dinner, make reservations first thing that morning at the restaurant in Pirates of the Caribbean. I think it’s called “The Bayou”. It’s a bit pricey and you have to make a reservation, but it’s kind of fun. You can see a small part of the ride while you eat.
Bring PLENTY of water. (Arrowhead GIVES- FOR FREE- all the water D-Land sells in exchange for free advertising, and yet D-Land still charges something like $3 for each bottle! I know this because my dad’s friend works in the marketing dept.)
Put Sunscreen on before you get there and reapply through out the day.
TAKE- YOUR- CAMERA! You’ll only ever have one “First Family Trip to D-Land” and you don’t want those memories to fade before your little ones even start school.
As for the break, if you want to get out of the sun for a bit, (if they still have it) there is a place called “Inonventions” (I think) near Auto-Topia. It is an indoor exhibit that is part Inovation, part Invention (hence the name). They have a lot of hands on activities that are educational and fun. I know 3rd and 4th grade are a long time from now for you, but when I went with a groupof them from YMCA, they said that it was their favorite part of the day. I know, it’s shocking that science beat out all those rides, but I think they had “been there, done that” so it was more impressionable to them.
What ever you do, remember that to fun is the most important part of your plans. Also remember that no matter how perfectly you plan, and no matter how good your kids are at home, there is a LOT of stimulation there, and they are JUST toddlers. Although financially us adult are inclined to “get or money’s worth” the kids may be D-O-N-E, done, far before the park closes. If you plan to stay till the end, remember there ages and pack accordingly.
Also, if hubby's going too, some of the bigger rides have "stroller passes". Basically one of you go through the line, and after they've done the ride they ask for a stroller pass to bring the other, which lets that person come in the exit, right to the front of the line.
One last note: if you’re planning to drive back home after your adventure in D-Land, have p.j.s and any night time comforts (bottle, blanky, teddy bear) in the car waiting for them. If they get milk to go to bed and you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a couple of small cartons inside D-land, find a Walgreens on your way home and pick up a gallon of Alta Dena for about $3. It will last in the car for the hour to get back home and if the lunch sack you used earlier is big enough, you can put it there to keep it extra cool.

I hope you have a great trip, filled with wonderful memories and fairytale endings. -J

I think that they have a pass that you can purchase for a additional cost that will allow you wait in an express line. I know a couple who purchased them a few years ago, and they said that the passes were great.

Hi K., my name is P.. I just went to dland during spring break. My boys are older than yours but some quick advice. Stay at a hotel nearby, and trust me there are lots. Go early. Pack some snacks. You can get plastic bottles of soda/water, cari suns, sandwiches ann other things. No glass. The price of food is pricey. Expect to pay about $12 and up. Depending on where you go. There are nice restaurants that start at $25 a plate. Or you can get the usual burger and fries. There is downtown disney. There are some shops and places to eat. We ate at the espn grill. Same prices but a little more variety. And less crowded. We took the tram from the middle of disneyland to downtown. Which on the tram only takes about 3 min. When walking would take about 15. Its quick and easy all you need to do to get back is get back on where you got off and have your hand stamped and your ticket. If i were you i would go 2 days cause there is just so much to see and so little time and so many people. Toontown and fantasyland open and close early for the evening fireworks parade. If you got to the fireworks watch out and don't sit in front of the trees. And take your camera with a new/empty memory card cause you will probably get picture happy i know i did.
I had a blast. We went durning a very busy week and i was still able to see lots. We went on the 1st sunday and monday of spring break. I got to see more on the sunday than i did on the monday. I went right when the gates opened @ 8 am. Actually we left for dland at about 730 to get parking and get on the shuttle to get us to the gates to be there by 8. We stayed late until about 10.
I know you probably won't be able to do so much with younger kids. But i remember when i was 4 we used to go all day, from open to close. Just to see everything but then again they didn't have 2 day passes back then.
Well lots of luck and fun to you.
And bring cash. If you use the old credit card you'll forget what you spent and where you spent it. I was able to go very thrifty and spent less than $200 for 2 days inside of disneyland. Not including we ate after we left dland. And ate before we got there.

Dear K.,

I recommend eating before you go. It is worth the extra effort if you are not staying in the park in one of their hotels. The food is so-so at these places so bring snacks for your children if your health conscience. - Fruit cups, grapes, apples and banana and chewy granola bars. Some of this could fit nicely in your baby bottle carry bags with ice packs. Don't forget plastic spoon and forks. Bring your own "good working" stroller with lots of storage space for your stuff. Take your time and enjoy yourself and play with your kids. Even standing in a long line can be fun if you make it. Bring spray on sun screen and a hat or bonets for small children and babies. Make sure you buy a novelty toy for each child. Bring a blanket and a change of clothes for the "messy prone" ones. Most importantly, have fun!

Hi K.,
In regards to going to Disneyland. Definitely look on the website 1st, and plan what attractions you think they would enjoy ahead of time. Also, Disney has something called Fastrack, where you take a ticket from the line, then you can go do something else and come back in an hour or two and go to the beginning of the line...No Waiting. It's awesome with little ones. I myself am a single mom with 4 (14,9,4,3)and I took my kids last year when the 2 youngest were 3&2. Also, I'd recommend bringing a stroller, because they will get tired from all the walking. Last recommendation (if money is at all an issue)pack lunches and bring juiceboxes. Disneyland is very expensive to purchase food and drinks. Bring a change of clothes along with a sweatshirt...it gets cold at night. Hope this helps a little.
~D.~

Don't listen to anyone who tells you they are too young...Disneyland is a great place for kids all ages!!! I took my four year old and one year old in Feb. and we had a great time! The lines can get pretty crazy so definately look into the fastpass it's really easy. Also, they are at the perfect age to truely appreciate the parade you wont want them to miss it. As far as what they are able to ride...the majority of rides are going to be fine with the exception of the virtual and coasters. Pirates of the Caribean might be a little scary although I took both of mine on and just reminded them it was pretend and they loved it. If it gets hot and you get tired of walking around head over to the CA Adventures side they have kiddy shows like Mupets 3D and Interacting with the turtle from finding nemo...you don't have to wait long to get in to either one of those they are indoors and AC, relaxing time for you plus the kids love it! Have a great time :)

There is a baby care center at the end of Main Street, next to First Aid. They had a hand out that was specific to younger visitors. I am sure the website has a PDF of the brochure.

My best suggestion is to go early and bring snacks that you can carry on your person. You will have to leave your stroller before you get in line and it is helpful to have a little backpack you can always have on you with drinks and snacks.

Also, when your children are older, learn about the parent pass. It is terrific when one parent has to wait with one child who cannot ride the bigger rides.

I have taken my 3 and 1 year old to Disneyland twice. Some things to remember are stay at a hotel very close to the park and get to the park early, then leave for lunch and naps, return to the park for a few hours, leave again for dinner maybe a swimming break and then go back to the park and enjoy some rides while most people are watching the shows in the evening. Some of the great rides for kids are anything in Fantasy Land- go early in the morning to avoid long lines as it becomes StrollerLand by noon. Mickey's Toon Town is great, but also crowded, Finding Nemo, the Jungle Boat Cruise, the Tiki Room, and our favorite is It's A Small World. We take snacks galore and drinks in with us- to avoid lines and exorbinant prices and eat our meals outside the park as well. I like to take my side by side stroller so the kids can interact while we are walking around. Try to get a spot for any of the parades, they are great. Finally, if lines are really long on some rides, one parent might wait and get a Stroller Pass (Different from a Fast Pass, no charges)- which allows the other parent to move to the front of the line instead of wait :) A very cool thing, just ask one of the so friendly Disneyland employees, they are always helpful.

We took our 2 year old son to Disneyland last September and he loved it. It was the perfect time, since school was back in session and it was not overly crowded. There were longer wait times in some lines for the children's rides (such as Peter Pan) but it was still worth the wait. California Adventure Park has rides, shows and a "Block Party" parade that were a lot of fun for children. One show that was a little scary for my son was the 3-D "It's Tough to be a Bug". It got very dark and then grasshoppers appeared and large spiders came down from above with noises and bursts of air blown at the audience and he just didn't like it, so we walked out. As we exited we noticed there was a warning sign (that we somehow missed) that stated "may be scary for little ones" or something to that effect.

In Disneyland, I would try to get to Mickey's Toon Town as soon as possible because that gets very crowded and I believe it opens one hour later than the rest of the park, unless you have a pass to enter early. We were able to enter early and were able to take pictures with the characters before the lines got so long. There are enough rides throughout the park that little ones can enjoy.

If you go to Disneyland.com and look up "Adventures for families with toddlers or small children" it will give you a list of shows and rides geared towards this age group.

It was a wonderful experience for us and watching our son's face light up with excitement at just about every turn was so worth it.

go to the disney resort web site the will give you a list of age appropriate rides also let them know ahead of time about the people in costume it helped my little one to not be afraid

I don't want to rain on anything but I would say wait to make your big trip. I took my daughter when she was three, and yes she had a good time but I think I should have waited. I don't know how many lines we stood in only for her to change her mind almost to the front and get out of line, or get close to the front and she needs a potty break. Although she loves disney movies she was very shy and would not even stand by any of the characters.

I took her a year ago when she was 5 and I could not believe the difference, very excited, did not mind the lines and we just had an awesome trip (the whole family). She lasted all day with no complaints.

Its just so costly to vist both parks and with young children its hard to make a "day" of it.

Hope I haven't been a black cloud, just wish someone would have told me before I spent $200.00, the first trip we got there at 11:00am and she wanted to go home around 2:30.

Hey K.,
Well... Disneyland will be great for them. My husband went back on Feb. 1st when our daughter was about 6 1/2 months old. She was able to go on all the rides expect the big rollercoasters. So your kids will be able to go on lots of rides. I suggest going on a day when school is still in - no spring breaks and on a T, W, or Thurs. Just make sure you bring a blanket for each of them and a sweatshirt for nighttime, their favorite snacks.

Something very cool that they have is a mom's room towards the front of the park off Main Street. It is great for changing diapers, nursing (obviously your stil not doing that though) and they have a little tv in there so probably if they get too tired they could watch a movie. And if you have any cups you need to wash they have a little kitchen for that. Any of the food I think is good to eat... although I have heard that they cafe next to Pirates of the Carribean is not that good. I have been to Disneyland many times before and have not ate there, but anything else you try should be great!

Have fun. LEt me know if you have any more questions and I will do my best to answer them

B.

The best time to hit alot of rides quickly is during the parade. Everyone is watching it and then alot of people leave after for a break and then come back later. Not sure how long your going for but you could do the parade one day and then hit the rides the other. I have to admit the Buzz light year ride was my personal favorite, you get to be part of the video game as you go through zapping the stuff and earn points. Most of the younger rides are on a continous track so there is always moving while in line. They also have a fast pass for some of the bigger rides like the car driving ride, where you get a pass and they tell you when to come back and you go to the front of the line.
As for eating, bring as much as you can the food is really pricy, and just outside there is a mcDonalds with in walking distance.
If you have the passses to hop parks check out California Adventure. The have rides for small kids like from the movie Bugs life. I took my 22 month old and they let kids go on most every ride, except the large roller coaster type rides.
Dont forgot your camera sun screen and im sure you will have so muchfun. It really will be better than you think.

Definantely use the "Fast Pass" system for rides. You will see how it works once you get there. If you have time make reservations to eat either breakfast/lunch or dinner at one of the resorts. They do what is called "Character Breakfast etc" That is the best way for your kids to be able to see any of the characters. I think the best one is "Goofy's Kitchen". There seems to be a lot of different characters there. Have Fun!!!
PS- if you forget anything while in the park (bottle, formula, diaper, etc.) They have EVERYTHING you could think of in the park. The spots are "Baby Centers"

i have heard something about front of the line passes. of course there is an extra fee per person, but i believe that you can go to the front of each line. i suggest you check into it. all of the rides in the castle are age appropiate for your little ones. dont forget to go to mickey's toon town. alot of people forget about it, but it is really fun, so try to check it out.

Ok....we took our 4 and 2 year old. Sept. is the best time to go....very little lines.

The kids can go on almost anything if they are 40' or more inches. If not, they just can't go on space mountain, indiana jones, etc. You'll want to go to Fantasyland first to avoid the crowd, and spend a lot of time there. Buzz lightyear (my son's fav) is in tomorrowland.

We can so relate!! It was the best of times...it was the worst of times!! hehee!We had a great trip, but it was hard. Best advice is to go back to the hotel midday to rest, nap, regroup and relax.

Definitely use strollers (strap the kids in theirs..they are kind of flimsy and our child leaned on the top and had an accident)...If you have a disney visa, you can rent them for free!! We had one nasty burn-out day when we tried to stay all day and see the parade. Our kids lost it!!

Remember its a lot of stimuli for them! Take it in increments.

In the back of grand californian hotel, there is a river cafe to get cereal, breakfast, etc. for less $ than on the downtown strip. Buy boxed juices/waters at target in anaheim!! We would bring takeout into our room from the downtown strip. The kids liked going to the rainforest cafe there. Consider eating early dinners, lunches to avoid crowds. The character dining is well worth it, Goofy's kitchen etc. Check the disney website.

Ask me any specific questions directly! I would love to help more if I can!!! And...if one parent is in line, get a "parent" pass so your spouse can get the pass from you when you are done, and jump right on at the front!! Magic!!

Good luck!!

they have the fast passes just grab them then let hubby go then u

Hi K.!
We took my 3-year old son around the holidays, and I found that using the Disneyland.com website was really helpful. I think there is a section called 'Choose An Experience' and you can select 'Families with Kids' and they recommend good rides/attractions for toddlers. We had 2-day park hopper tickets, and I actually felt like my son had more fun in California Adventure (which was less crowded!). They have a Disney stage show (with Bear in the Big Blue House, JoJo, Pooh Bear, etc) and everyone sits on the floor and sings/dances along. I think Cal. Adv. also has the 'Bug's Life' area and the new 'Monsters Inc.' ride, which are more familiar with kids than the traditional Disney characters. Try to take advantage of rides with 'FastPass', although this is usually the grown-up rides? Definitely focus on the characters your kids like and try to visit at least one attraction of their choosing. The parades are great - try to watch one of those, which also gives you a chance to rest (there is a calendar of events on the website). My son couldn't stay awake long enough for the fireworks, but you can see them from a lot of the hotels too. I think it's easy for moms & dads to get frustrated with the crowds & lines, but as long as you don't try to plan too much, you'll have a great time! Good luck!!

Dear K., I am a grandmother now and have taken my children to Disneyland many times. Your children are pretty young to really enjoy the magical kingdom. Most of the rides are too big for them. If you can go and just enjoy all there is to look at you probably will have a good time - your kids will. Of course the parades are always something to see!

We just got back from Disney yesterday, we go every year sometimes twice a year. Advice eat in Downtown Disney, there are lot's of shops and lots of good restaurants. Don't eat in Disney the food is terrible.With little ones the best time to go if you can is during the week and NOT in the summer.If you can't go during the week, fine but Don't go in the Summer. Yesterday was great, we took my 3 year old, he was tall enough to go on everything except the Indian Jones ride the longest line we were in was maybe 5 minutes. Best of Luck and more question just write me back.

Dear K. B
Hi! Himlick choo choo train is a good ride at Disneyland CAlifornia adventure. Ticki room is another. You can talk to Crush from Finding Nemo is a good place. It all depends on what they like. If you can imagine it they have it. My advice is take time and give them a nap between afternoon from 12pm to 2 pm. Otherwise you are going to go crazy with 2 exhausted kids on your hands.
You might have it easier than I do going there. I have to worry about medical supplies and making sure I have enough meds with us when we go in June for my daughter's graduation present. If you can afford it take them to a Lilo and Stitch & friends or Princess breakfast, There's 1 more but I cannot remember. They get to hang out with Daisy duck, Donald Duck Lilo and Stitch Minnie Mouse and Sometimes depending on the day you go Mickey may be there too. Have a great time at Disneyland ....
Any Questions E-mail me at ____@____.com....

I personally wouldn't take my children to Disneyland at such a young age. I don't plan on taking my children until they're 5 years old. I have a nephew who went when he was 3 and he was so scared to death from the "It's a small world" ride. I would rather wait until my children are old enough to enjoy and at the same time cooperate with the parents. Just a suggestion! If you want to take your children for fun rides, I just take my daughter to Funderland and she loves it. :-)

I think the best advice to give you is...if you can afford to get a motel/hotel room close by do so. We went a couple of weeks ago and got a room at the Annabella. We could leave the park and go take naps and then go back. Or get food at a restraunt and then go back to the park. I dont' think there is really a way to get out of standing in line. The fastpasses are mainly for the older kid rides. Good luck and Have a great trip!!!

P.S. The Annabella is within walking distance. There are ALOT of hotel/motel chains on the same street. It's on Katella, right across the street from California Adventure.

We love Disneyland and take our kids often. There is a great little resturant called The Hungry Bear that my boys love. There food is good and it is right by the water so you can watch the big boats and feed the ducks. A good place for a rest is the Tiki Room. When our boys were young like yours instead of strollers we took backpacks to carry them in. It is much easier to manuver around the park and they seemed to enjoy it because they could see everything. Also pack lots of snacks and juice for those lines. Also Davy Crocketts Island is a great place to let them just run around. Hope this helps.

A Little about me:
I am a mother of two boys 5 and 7. I have been married for 7 years.

:-) Your husband doesn't seem like he wants to go very much! I've been taking my daughter to Disneyland since she was 8 weeks old. Sure, there are lots of lines. but my daughter learned early on that lines happen, and whining fidgeting and bothering other guests results in leaving the park immediately. As a toddler, my daughter enjoyed Fantasyland and Toontown very much, as well as the Autopia. We enjoy a breakfast of french toast sticks at the Grand Californian's White Water Snacks. Lunch at Blue Bayou has a fun ambiance. The menu used to be better, but if you want to go, call ahead at least a day. We also like Rancho del Zocalo in Frontierland.

We have been annual passholders for years, and that really helps when the kids get cranky or stubborn. We just go home. We also love staying overnight, because it means we don't have to rush.

To avoid crowds, go in the middle of the week during the off season. We never go after Memorial Day or before Labor Day. Usually, our first trip of the school year is after my daughter's 9/18 bday.

Have a blast! We just love it.

My family and I went to D-land two weeks ago. We love disneyland but our kids loves California Adventure better. Ther was not that many lines to wait in and if there is a line it's not very long. Plus they have so many open area's to play. They have a boat to play on, there is the play area on the redwoods (Redwood Creek), there's "a bugs land" which has kid rides, the Muppet Vision Show, Playhouse disney Show, they have the pier area. It was really fun. Disneyland is fun too. A lot of the ladies have great ideas for you.

Enjoy

Hey K.,

I am a disneyland freak. My hubby and I took our daughter to disney world for a few days back in November, at that time she was 18 months. As long as you have a hotel nearby so you can take them back for a mid day rest you should be fine. Fantasyland and Toontown will nodoubt be favorites of your little ones. Make sure to pack suntan lotion and aloe in case. Bring a diaper bag or two and store it in your stroller. I had no problem getting water, juice and gatorade through the gates. Most lines had an area to park your stroller so you end up holding your little one in line. Shouldnt be a problem for a short amount of time. Let them run around in your sight or keep them focused on the line moving or even the ride it self. If able to ask them if they would even like to ride the ride. Something may make them uneasy about it then you can cross that one O. your list. Maybe you and your hubby could split for a little bit if one of your children wants to ride a particular ride and one doesn't. Just take lots of snacks and water with you. Food is and can get expensive. Souviners are also very high in price. disney california also has a place the kids can run around (something about bug life) and at the hottest part of the day take a nap or take them to a show. Try to catch parades early mornig or early evening as to avoid the sun. Pack for warm and cold weather. It gets really hot during the day and at night the brezze kicks in. Hope this helps.
Kimberly

well my husband work's for disneyland so were there all the time.... i have a 17 month old and a very soon to be 3 year old.. on the california side they have bug's land the kid's love it... oh and the parades that's a must... uuummmm inside disney of course all the kid rides.... are you just going for the day????

First of all, your kids are NOT too young for Disneyland. We took my daughter for the first time when she was 15mo. We then bought passes so we took my son when he was 2mo old. Now is the best time to take them because they are FREE! Neither of my kids have a hard time waiting in line. DO take plenty of snacks and water. The food is much too expensive. We only eat one meal there. The food reminds me of cafeteria food! It might look good but looks are deciving! It is ok for the kids to nap in their stroller while you shop or take a break yourself. I wouldn't reccommend a hotel unless you have the money to splurge. Plan your day according to your kids' interests. For us, we go straight to CA Adventure to see the Disney Playhouse show. It features Bear and the big blue house, Stanley, JoJo's circus and Pooh and the gang. It is an interactive show with dancing, music and bubbles. There are plenty of rides for the kids in Bugsland but skip the 3D show because it might scare the kids. At Disneyland we spend our time at Toontown and the area behind the Castle, don't know what it is called. A fun ride the kids look forward to and never a wait is the Pooh ride in Frontier Land. Oh, take jackets and pants because it gets cold around 4pm without fail. Just have fun and don't stress, and the kids will follow your lead.

I know it's a little late, but I had never heard the term "Irish Twins" before. I looked it up and was surprised to find that many find it to be "deragatory" or "offensive". I wasn't sure if you were aware, so I just thought I'd point it out. "....it is a somewhat derogatory term, it is generally not used in print or in polite society. As is the case with many terms with derogatory origins, some people use it without thinking about the implications of the deeper meaning. Learning about the roots of these terms and the meaning behind them can help people to decide whether or not they are appropriate for common use." (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-irish-twins.htm). Wikipedia even says that it is "...sometimes considered derogatory..." I used to tease my son that he was being a little bugger when he acted up as a toddler. On a trip to England I got some strange looks, and later discovered it was a "mild expletive" in England. I was slightly embarrassed. But once I knew, I didn't say it anymore there! LOL ;) Anyways, not trying to be mean or critical in any way, just thought I'd share. I'm actually part Irish, but I'm not really offended, more amused than anything!