Disneyland with the Youngins

If it's her day it's all about a meal at Ariels Grotto. Food is not good but you are paying to see 5 princesses come to your table while you relax. It's really fun for a birthday. I've had many of my own there! Have fun.

Do the speed pass thing. You get the speed pass for the long wait ride, and then go on the short wait rides. Then get the next speed pass for a long wait ride and fill in the time with short wait rides. It worked really well for us when we went. We could usually do 1-2 short wait rides (10-25 minutes) till the long wait ride time was up. Pay attention to the times on the speed passes. You don't want to get one late in the day because you can only have 1 at a time. Try to get them lined up so that you're only waiting an hour or so till the speed pass ride happens.

Pack your own lunch and snacks, esp. water. The coldest water in the park is under Hungry Bear restaurant in Critter Country. For dinner, we always go out of the park to Denny's (across the street, walking distance). If you're there for opening, head for Fantasyland first, specifically Peter Pan and Dumbo because these fill fast and have lines all day. Also, do Alice because that has a line as well. I'd skip the fairy meet and greet thing (can't remember the name) because it's a long line and not much when you get there. Pooh is really nice for the little ones! Worth it and not much for a wait. Haunted Mansion is probably too scary (the elevator is what freaks most kids). Have fun!

Take a cooler with drinks and healthy snacks, use strollers for both children, you can rent one there. Do the things most important to your daughter early in the day. Disney Princess Fantasy Faire is closed until May 2013 :( so look for princesses throughout the park if that's her desire. Take cameras and sieze the moments of pictures with characters!
Go to:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/
to see the attractions in each "land" to pre-plan your day to minimize criss-crossing the park ;)

I found info online about a special birthday badge that gets your child perks, but don't know if it's current so advise you call (714) 781-INFO to ask about birthdays beforehand.
This info is on the Disneyland site so IS current:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/special-occasions/birthdays/

Enjoy!

I didn't read the other answers so I might be repeating.

1) Go on line to see which rides are good for each of your kids (and the adults). Make a plan based on which rides you want to go on. With 2 small kids you will spend most of the time in Toon Town and Fantasyland. Plus I recommend the Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise in Adventure land. And we really like Buzz Lightyear and Autopia in Tomorrowland.

2) Definitely go early to be there when the park opens (we got there early once and we were given necklaces with fast passes). Go during the week if you can since it will be less crowded. Avoid holiday weekends.

3) Bring a stroller for the 2 year old and maybe for the 5 year old too if she doesn't like to walk. You can rent a double stroller there. Bring lots of snacks too (it will cut down on money spent on food).

3) Use the Fast Pass as much as you can for more popular rides. It allows you to walk on the ride at a later time. If the 5 year old wants to do something that the 2 year old can't do, then split your group and meet up later. Bring cell phones or walkies to keep in touch.

4) Since you have 6 adults and 2 kids make sure that you know which adult has which kid. We misplaced our son (only for a few minutes) once because we both thought the other had him. Now we say, "You have Jason, I have to go use the bathroom" With 6 adults it is easy to assume someone has the kids but it's good to say it out loud so everyone knows.

5) We like to eat in Downtown Disney. If you want to stay in the park then go to the place closest to you that has what the kids want to eat. There is one restaurant that does birthday parties at about 2PM where you get a little cake and meet Mickey and Minnie. I can't remember the name but it is on the right side when you come in on Main Street and you are facing the castle. It's just about where Tomorrowland starts. You have to make reservations for the birthday party.

6) The Train around the park is fun for kids. At one point you go through the Grand Canyon and see dinosaurs.

7) The most crowded rides are Pirates, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion - big rides that mostly adults would go on. But some of the little kid rides have long lines like It's a Small World and Peter Pan (2 of my favorites). The Finding Nemo ride has a long line usually too. Last time I was there it didn't have a Fastpass option. I don't think the ride is worth waiting for. It was disappointing. But if you have to wait on a long line, leave one of the parents on line and keep the kids occupied with something else.

8) You might want to let the kids do a nap time or have some downtime then go back to the park later in the afternoon.

Hope this helps!

We have annual passes to take our 3 (almost 4) year old daughter. There is a free app for my phone called Mouse Waits. It tells how long the wait is at each ride. We don't do any waits longer than about 20-25 minutes, at 2-1/2 the longest she would wait (without a meltdown) was about 15 minutes. At 2-1/2 she didn't understand why if the ride was right there, she couldn't just go. That app is the one thing that has been the biggest help for us. We have iphones, but it might be available for other phones. Also, bring or rent umbrella strollers. Lockers are expensive. We (and everyone else) leaves their stuff in the stroller while we go on rides, and it's always safe (but I don't leave my wallet or camera). Good luck!

Be sure and try the pineapple frozen drinks at the Dole pineapple display at the Tiki Room. Your kids will probably have lots of fun watching the birds. My grandkids do and so did my kids when they were little.

Hope you have a wonderful time. Good luck to you and yours.

We just went there in April. My daughter was 4. She had a wonderful time. If your daughter is into princesses that is the first place I would head. We waited in line about 45 minutes to meet three princesses. The line gets longer as the day goes by. I would also take a double stroller. I was glad we brought one for our daughter. We brought a cooler in the park with our own food so I don't know anywhere to eat. I would definately take a cooler with snacks and drinks. Also take mole skin. Just in case anyone gets blisters. I was so happy I brought some with us. Have fun. This might help you too. Got it off of Disney website.

Rider Switch

Are you traveling with a little one who either can't or wishes not to go on an attraction? If you have 2 or more adults in your party, you can take advantage of the rider switch program that enables you to experience the attraction while one adult waits with the child. You then "swap" to enable the other adult to enjoy the attraction as well.

The 5 year old will be totally fine in line. The 2.5 year old will probably do better than you expect, especially if the two of them have each other to keep them entertained. When my son was 2, we had season passes and went about once a month. He did really well in line most of the time and we stuck to lines that were 20 minutes or less most of the time. Get there as early as possible, since it will be a lot less crowded in the morning. Take a break in the afternoon - find a place for a nap if you can, otherwise, go see a show or a parade or something so you aren't standing in lines during the most crowded time of day. Riding the train or the monorail around the park can also be a nice break.

My son's favorites are Dumbo, Small World, and the Teacups. He also LOVES Autopia, which has a height limit so your 2.5 year old may or may not make it. Some kids are afraid of the rides in Fantasyland where you go inside (Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, etc) but my son never was.

Have fun!

Everyone has given you great advice. The MouseWait app is a lifesaver. If you have the ability to stay overnight, consider a park-hopper pass. The Bug's Land in CA Adventure is fun for little ones, and the Little Mermaid ride is great! Thanks to the Cars Land, the rest of both parks aren't usually too crowded. Be there right when the park opens. Go to Peter Pan first, then Dumbo, as those two fill up fast. If your 2.5 year old is potty trained, there are junior kid-size toilets in the Baby Centers in both parks (one on Main St near First Aid, and in CA Adventure near Little Mermaid). I bring lots of little snacks (boxes of raisins, small ziplocs with Goldfish or apple slices) for waiting in line. Kids invent little games and you can sing and talk about the rides. It's not bad, especially with so many adults. We actually pack sandwiches and everything, and only buy dinner if we stay that late at the park. There are hot dogs and chicken nuggets at the Stage Door Cafe in New Orleans Square (plus yummy soups around the corner), pizza in Tomorrowland, and chicken nuggets in Tomorrowland as well as mediocre burgers. Food in Downtown Disney is delicious (kids love Rainforest Cafe) but make reservations. Also fun if you're there early but want a mid-morning break is to get Mickey Mouse waffles at the Carnation Cafe. Again, make reservations for everything by calling Disney Dining. Be sure to get a birthday button on Main St for your daughter so she'll be wished a Happy Birthday by all of the cast members. We went the first time when my son was 2.5 and stayed at the Anaheim Hyatt Regency (great suites for kids!). We converted our 2-day passes to annual passes and have gone back usually once a month since! Have fun! (PS It's best to try not to do too much...better to come back again another time. We've gone almost once a month for the past two years and STILL haven't "done" everything.)

Fast passes for sure. Get on those Fantasy Land rides early. Peter Pan ride is always a long line, but one of the cutest. Best meals in the park are at the Plaza Inn at the end of Main Street. Largest portions, too; kids can split a plate.

As far as rides go, best strategy is to start at one end and work your way all around the park. For years we crisscrossed over the park and you waste a ton of time doing that. Last time we started on one side and worked our way around. We were able to go on more rides.

Due to the ages of your kids, I feel that the Adventure park is a waste of time/money. Have fun!

I just got back from Disneyland with my 20 month old daughter who loved it!! We did Disney Adventureland and Disneyland. daughter prefered the open rides vs the rides that take you through scenes (Peter Pan's Flight) the volume of the noise was startling. Ariels Grotto is in Adventureland vs Disneyland. We had a blast in Adventureland! Bugs life is fun, and the Pixar parade it is a visual delight. (Better than even Disneyworld parades) Depending on when you go, the lines should be quick, my daughter handled the lines : ) Plus Adventureland has an amazing water light show. Lots of fun shows (but your 2.5 year old might not sit through the shows) The park is small and easy to navigate.But of course Disneyland has the castle and princesses. Not nearly the amout of walking as Disneyworld. Good luck, have lots of fun. P.S. if you go to Adventureland and ride the ferris wheel - choose a cart that does not swing!!!!!!!!!!!!! They swing a lot more than it looks from the ground.

COMPLETELY DO IT!

We have annual passes and go almost weekly. 2 adults with 4 kids - ages: 10, 6, 4 and 17 months. They all stand in line fine. My husband will take the two adventurous kids (10 & 4) and go to the Matterhorn. I will take the less adventurous ones (17 months and 6 yo) and go to It's A Small World and then meet right after. You have plenty of adults, but I will stand in line with 3 of the kids for Big Thunder Mountain and then get a Switch Rider Pass, which allows my husband, who is watching the baby, to practically not stand in line....since I already did.

Go during the week, if possible. WAY less people....and some of the lines were literally 4 minutes....like Pirate of the Caribbean. We came back on a Friday and the line was 20 minutes!!! LOL

All of our kids get something out of it. There are so many things to do there...we still haven't hit every ride.

We eat in FrontierLand. Next to the Bazaar, there is a food place where you can get veggies and meat on a stick. It's cheap, full of protein and fills us up. We take water and snacks, so we don't have to buy a $4 apple. Really, the food anywhere is good. You can take the monorail and it drops you into downtown Disney from near Autopia. You can also eat there. We like Naples in Downtown Disney.