We are going in November. We booked a hotel and tickets through Costco, no clue what else we need to do. I’m hoping it isn’t as complicated as World, but really no clue. Any tips would be great!
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I grew up in socal and did Disneyland on the regular. I've been to world too and that was for sure WAY more confusing.
Where are you staying? That will make a difference in my suggestions. And how old and how many littles?
Eta are you only doing Disneyland or ca adventure as well?
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Ack! You could have booked a hotel on points (that's what we're doing
). You can make dining reservations 60 days in advance. We loved Plaza Inn with Minnie & Friends. It's definitely not as complicated as World. Making dining reservations is basically all we did. This is new but you can also add MaxPass to your Disney ticket for $10/day and it includes all your photo pass pictures from that day!
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@travellingbee: We went just for one day last May and it's definitely not as complicated as Disney World. The only planning I did was make dining reservations and decide what rides we wanted to do.
We were there with our then 1-year-old so we didn't take advantage of the FP system (she wasn't able to go on bigger rides).
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@MamaBear87: Definitely want to do California adventure as well. We are going for three days and have one park per day passes. Not the park hopper. We have two boys ages five and two. I believe we are staying at the stay bridge suites resort area and have bought the transportation passes for the family. We chose that hotel because we could get a two bedroom suite.
@lawbee11: My in-laws are paying for the hotel so no need to waste points! Ha ha! Our reservation includes one dinner with characters so we were thinking about doing the goofy one. What does the Maxpass do?@skinnycow: I do not understand the fast pass system at all!
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@lawbee11: You know we are flying on points though Ha!
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@travellingbee: So we did the Plaza Inn for breakfast. The park opened at 9 that day so we made our reservation for the last available slot (I believe it was 10:30?). We had breakfast at the hotel then got there early for rope drop, rode rides for a little over an hour, then took a break and did the Plaza Inn. It was really great and nice to get some of the more popular rides out of the way before the park got crazy busy.
Here's more info about MaxPass: https://disneylanddaily.com/a-fastpass-guide-for-disneyland-and-california-adventure/
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@travellingbee: We went this time last year and my kids had a blast (they are similar ages to your kids).
Download the Disneyland app - it shows wait times and location of characters, which is really helpful. If you have early access with your tickets, take advantage of it.
I actually liked California Adventure more than DisneyLand - it wasn't as crowded and the rides were more age appropriate for younger kids. Check out Bugsland and Carsland.
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@travellingbee: I'd do Disneyland first day, CA adventure second and then your favorite again the third.
Fantasy land at Disney gets packed so you want to hear straight there when they open.
Plan for extra time to get in first thing in the morning because they do bag checks and it takes forever.
For sure bring a stroller that will let the 5 year old ride if he gets tired. And hopefully the 2yr old will stroller nap.
Depending on how busy it is you can sometimes talk them into rider swap with your 5yr old so you and hubby can go
I love jungle cruise and everyone can do that.
We went when my little was 13 month and pirates terrified her, but any age can ride.Ca adventure has changed a ton so I'm not as versed.
Cars land is awesome
Bugs land has a caterpillar ride my little loved!
The bugs show can be scary for littles.
I love soarin' favorite ride at either part. So figure out doing that one even if you just do single rider and switch off watching the kids
Totally worth eating at one of the ca adventure restaurants to get tickets to the light show over the lagoon, mom brain is killing me. The service at the wine trattoria takes forever though so pick another restaurant.Have an idea of what you would like to do but be flexible! Some of my favorite memories aren't the big rides but random things. The accapella quartet, watching the parade etc.
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Several months ago Disneyland started the Maxpass which allows you to book fast passes on your phone. However it is $10 per person (and I think per day). The max pass also includes any photos you take. The do have the option for buying the maxpass for one person, which would give you the pictures, but not the ability to schedule fast passes for you entire family. Although I wouldn't be surprised if there are changes to the program before you go in November.
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I like Disneyland more than Disneyworld personally; but I think some of that is vintage/nostalgic love. It's definitely not as complex a planning endeavor as WDW is. It's also a lot smaller physically, so can get more packed than WDW.
I like to have lunch at the Blue Bayou because the food is decent and there are nicer options for adults and also it's located inside of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride which is just cool and fun.
Note that even on rides which are replicated in both DL and WDW, the rides themselves are different so think about going on rides you may have already been on at WDW. For instance, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is pretty different from DL to WDW; so are other rides.
The DL ride wait time app is, I think, pretty accurate so worth the download.
If you want to go on the Peter Pan ride, I would suggest doing that early in the morning. There always seems to be a huge line otherwise.
When we go to DL the only thing we do is book dining in advance. Otherwise, we know what ride we want the most and just time them out via the app as the day goes by. Have fun!
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We just got back from our first trip! We did just 1 day at Disneyland and went all day from opening to after the show.
Here are some tips I posted on my blog: https://magnetsfromeverywhere.com/lessons-learned-first-trip-disneyland/ -
I wouldn’t do the goofy character breakfast. My friend did and the food was lackluster. We just did the plaza inn and it was great! Lots of characters and the food was good too. And then you’re already in the park.
ETA: you can PM me your email and I'll email my compiled list of DL tips for littles. also check out magic kingdom mamas blog and their IG for fun tips!
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So many tips but so little time but PLEASE promise me you will get the MAX pass. It is AWESOME!!! I will never go without it. You can arrange for your whole family.
-Been to Disneyland 4 times from ages 2-6 years old... Also Cal Adv Park has always been my fave.....I have some strategies. Ask away.
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@lawbee11: I think we are going to try to do a dinner rather than a breakfast but I'll look into that.
@808love: Haha, OK I will look at the MAX pass info.
@birdofafeather: Ah OK, a friend recommended dinner with goofy, but I'll look at the other then. Thanks for the blog rec. Looks like good info.
@JCCovi: Thanks! Perfect!
@yoursilverlining: Thank you! I will note the Blue Bayou restaurant! -
@travellingbee: ah ok! we haven't done character dinners. my only worry is if i did it the same day as a park, it would be a lot all at once or hard to leave the park for it. it's not far, but goofy's kitchen isn't in the parks.
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I live in LA and have a annual passaport. I would say max pass is worth it. And spend the time waiting in line or hunting down the photographers and getting as many of their pics as possible. You get the pics for free with max pass, and the photos they take are really nice IMO. I reccomend the corn dogs at either CA of DL, the lines are less so in CA and they dogs are huge and tasty! (There is also a place that serves beer in CA right next to it - if you are so inclined). For sure download the app to your phone. It gives you real time wait times, and a great map of both parks.
If they are boys, Jedi training is a must - at least to watch. When we first went when my oldest was 2 we went straight gor the old school fairy tale rides (peter pan & pinoccio). He js almost 4 and still traumatized. Most kids can handle - but proceed with caution on those.
There are “nursing/family” areas in both parks - both equiped with little kid toilets & nicer changing tables.
Next to the family room in DL is the nurses station - recenly I was there and my oldest broke a super high fever, and I swear the ladies there opened the door with thermometer in hand, took his temp, then immediatley asked if i prefer tylenol or ibprophen.
Usually I think parades are lame - but the disney parades are somthing else and totally worth watching.
Thats all I can think of. Have fun!
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I just went yesterday - 2 more things
The star wars experience museum is great and you can meet Darth Vader!
Tom Sawers island is fantastic. We probably spent 2 hours there - my son (4 tomorrow) at first was so scared to go in the caves, but once he worked up the courage it was all he wanted to do!
). You can make dining reservations 60 days in advance. We loved Plaza Inn with Minnie & Friends. It's definitely not as complicated as World. Making dining reservations is basically all we did. This is new but you can also add MaxPass to your Disney ticket for $10/day and it includes all your photo pass pictures from that day!
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