Going to DISNEYLAND!!! Any Tips and Advice Is WELCOME!

Updated on January 02, 2011
M.P. asks from Orem, UT
8 answers

I'm finally going to Disneyland! I've never been and I'm so excited! So I have an almost 15 month, so then he'll be 16 months. We are going in Feb and we are driving down from Utah so that is a 10 hour trip. I am going with avade DL goers so I won't be all alone. They all have kids and so we are going together to help each other out.
Any driving tips? Things I have to see at DL? Restaurants? Things I can skip? I have a Peg Plinko P3 Stroller which is nice Medium size stroller. Should I get an umbrella stroller? Should I rent? Mine folds small so that isn't a huge problem.
Also this is a trip more for me than for my son since he is so young and wont remember it at all. I just have been wanting to go for years and I don't want to wait till he is older.

4 moms found this helpful

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B.H.

answers from Detroit on

A good baby sit would be helpful. I took my kids a few years ago I believe they were 3 and 1 year old at the time. My husband and I wanted to do things but could not because the lines were so long and the kids were crying and just was not interested. We were staying at a timeshare that had many activities going on including a lazy river and activities for kids. When looking back we would have been better off if we had not paid that huge price to get into the parks and just stayed on the property of the timeshare. Yes I would take the medium size stroller. Have Fun!!

More Answers

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

My brother in law actually found a website that will print out a schedule for you that guarantee's you will see every attraction and ride every ride with very little wait time. It worked but it's strict and you have to adhere to it. If you're into that sort of thing I would try to google it.
I'm not sure which way you are coming, the 15 maybe? If you are you can always stop in Vegas for a good buffet dinner (usually cheap), Victorville has some good outlets. Just understand from 3pm-7pm there is a lot traffic through Southern Cali. Anaheim is a high traffic area.
Happy traveling, be safe and have fun! =)

2 moms found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

Study the Disney map ahead of time, this way you know which direction you are going and aren't all fumbling at the entrance... this will cause you delays and the lines in the kiddie areas fill up quickly. those with younger children tend to be in line early because by late afternoon, most younger children are tired and need a nap.... Also , late afternoon can be a good time to catch rides because many parents are at the eateries..... Lastly, people start to line up for the parade in some cases an hour or more before the parade begins.. Therefore, KNOW AHEAD OF TIME... which end of the park is being roped off... by knowing this, you can also know which way to go in the park.. often you think for example you are going to make a straight line for a specific ride as per your map, but turns out.. NOT..it's roped off for the parade... and therefore you have to go around ...
during the parade is also a good time to catch otherwise busy rides.. especially the kiddie rides.. again, that is IF it's not roped off...
Have some snacks/water tucked away in your stroller (oh do bring a stroller) and a hat.............. u never know when that sun may pop out and it's so glaring for the child and you.. I find a collared shirt is best so that IF it is hot and you are in line with the sun beaming down on the back of your neck, you can then flip your collar up.... Above all, bring comfy shoes... you WILL need them.. don't make the mistake like some whom you will see later on sitting on a bench rubbing their poor aching feet..... those are the ones who thought you could wear HIGH heels to an amusement park..........
sounds like little details. (like the collared) shirt but believe me........ they all add up.. I've been to Disneyland about 10 times and each time.... and each time........... my tips come in hand...
have fun!

1 mom found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

We've had annual passes since June 2005. My boys were 4 1/2 & 1 1/2 that first trip. We have since added my daughter to the family that took her first trip when she was 17 days old. We just brought in the New Year with the kids standing on Main Street! Theyre now nearing 10, just turned 7 & about to turn 19 months in a week.
I would bring the medium stroller you have. You will want the storage space for your diaper bag, jackets(it gets chilly at night, especially on outdoor rides) and of course it gives you somewhere to put your shopping ;) I use ours as a high chair when eating because they aren't always available at every place to eat, especially the outdoor ones.Your kid can nap in it if need be too. I see people with those umbrellas and they seem like such a huge pain. They've got sleeping children and have to push it tilted up on the back wheels so the kids don't fall out. They have all this stuff handing off the back to it falls over and such. The rentals often run out early in the day and they're so so strollers from what I've seen. I've heard they're not very comfortable.
Bring easy snacks like cheerios, goldfish etc to take with you in line. It makes waiting in line easier on the little ones if they have a snack to occupy them with.
I would get a carrier if you don't have one. I love my ring sling! It makes holding them while waiting in line much less painful on your arms and shoulders. I also use it as a second seatbelt on rides when they get squirmy or when the bars aren't the best at holding little ones still (like Pirates of the Caribbean where there are none and they slide if you're not holding them on the 2 waterfalls) It gives them a since of security on the rides as well.
Use those fastpasses well! One thing people do not know. The passes have a block of time listed on them as the "good during" time. The beginning time is the only one that matters. It has to be at least the beginning time to be able to use them, but they are good any time after until closing. You can have more than one fastpass at a time for rides. There are some time limits in how close you can get them though.
Do you have an iPhone? If you do I highly recommend the application called "Mousewait". It is a free app that has wait times for rides submitted by people also using the app who are actually in the parks. It tells you things like if a ride is down as well. It also has many resources you can find very useful. It's got a GPS map so you can look up where the nearest bathrooms or food is from you. I love it and use it all the time even as a seasoned Disney visitor.
Some rides have rider swaps so you can leave the kids with someone while others in your party ride and when they return you swap who rides and watches. We've used it a few times. Typically you ask the cast member at the beginning of the line and they'll tell you what to tell the cast member at the end of the cue so you can do it.
My biggest bit of advice it to not steamroll your child through the park. Give him time now and again to stop and look at things at his pace. I know you want to see it all and do it all but it will do a world of wonder if he gets his occasional time to take things in at his pace, it really does help save the tantrums. An over stimulated, bored, frustrated, tantruming child is a bigger time killer than taking time to look at the ducks or dance to the music for a couple minutes. Trust me on this ;)
If you can eat meals at slightly from off peak times you save the time waiting in line for food and the lines for rides are often shorter. You can sometimes walk right on to some things. Same goes for shows. There are often more than one show time for parades, Fantasmic and the like. If you skip the first show the lines are super short for rides and then you catch the second show, which will also often have less crowds.
I know I'm forgetting things but I can't think of them right now.
My kids have a ball! My husband and I have a blast too!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Stockton on

If you want pictures with characters I suggest eating at Goofy's kitchen in Downtown Disney(just outside the park). The characters come to your table and visit and the food is very kid friendly!

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

Gotta get the name engraved 'Mickey Ears'...and the pics with the characters...our family loves, loves, loves the 'It's a small world' ride...(although it is VERY dated now, you'll see)...

Make sure you utilize the Disney Train that goes around the park...the lil' guys love it...and it takes you everywhere!

Have fun!

S.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I don't know what avade DL is.

I haven't been there for a while but, for a first-time visitor,
I'd recommend taking the tram all the way around the park
to get a little orientation, both content and distances.

If there are a lot of young children in your group,
their parents will probably want to go straight to the area for little kids.

IF you like scary stuff, leave little ones with trusted friends
and try the Haunted Mansion.

Be aware that there are opportunities to buy souvenirs EVERYWHERE.
Be cautious. After you have bought stuff, you may wish you had waited.
There are a lot of theme restaurants in the park.
Long lines.

I think I'll stop here.
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E.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would avoid the tram, which means not parking in the large parking structure. Instead we park in the lot a bit further away and ride the blue bus over. Soooooooooo much easier with a stroller! Reason being they have added annoying doors to the tram. I think the person who said to ride the tram. All around meant the train that circles the park. Wish I knew the name of the lot that is farther away, but it is off Harbor, behind the employee lot on Katella, and I do remember parking in the Woody section. Have fun!

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