Great tips for Traveling to Disneyland or DisneyWorld With kids?

[traveldiva13]

Hi!

I was hoping someone had some great times for traveling to Disneyland or Disney world with young kids! I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. Are there enough rides we could ride?

I would really appreciate any help!

[CandMmommy]

Yes! My daughters were 2.5 and 5.5 last spring. They loved dumbo, small world, Snow White, Peter Pan, pirates, Alice tea cups. Actually all the fantasy land rides.
We did Minniws breakfast which was awesome.

Tips: bring a double stroller or rent one from travelbabees.com
We had ours delivered to our hotel. It was so nice to have!
We brought juice, water and snacks ( apples, bananas, goldfish, granola bars) daily. That really helped with waits and between meals.
We went to castle area daily around 1-2 and saw princesses there with little wait time.

[ColoradoGirl85]

On our first trip our son was 2 1/2, and there were some rides he wasn't tall enough for, but there are plenty of rides that he was able to go on. We filled our 5 days in the park no problem! My biggest piece of advice, don't over plan. Familiarize yourself with the park map, but let the kiddos dictate (to a certain degree) your plan and schedule.

[Goofy_Mom]

The Disney parks are made for families!! You should have no issue with lack of rides. Asside from FantasyLand, other things little ones can go on:

Adventureland there is the Enchanted Tiki Room (a show), the Jungle Cruise, and Tarzan's Treehouse.

New Orleans Square(NOS) you have Pirates of the Carribian(POTC) and the Haunted Mansion(HM). From the halloween season to the end of the christmas season Jack Skellington from Nighmare Before Christmas takes of the the HM.

The DL Railroad has stops at Main street, NOS, Toontown/Fantasyland, and Tommorrowland.

Critter Country has the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and the Explorer canoes.

Frontierland has the Mark Twain River Boat and the petting zoo

Toontown is another spot for little ones, tons of interactive things. Rodger Rabbits Cartoon Spin (RRCS) and Gadgets Go Coaster. The coaster does have a requirement, but it's your basic kiddie coaster themed after the cartoon Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers.

Tommorrowland: Buzzlightyears astro Blasters.

Then they're stuff to do: See the Hillibillies in Frontierland, ride the trolly down main street, see the princesses, play musical chairs with Alice and the Mad Hatter, fireworks and Fantasmic all included with price of admission.

In DCA for little ones:
Monsters Inc and Disney Junior live on stage in Hollywood.

The entire Bugs land area (four rides there plus a puddle park)

Carsland for little ones you have Matters Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi's flying tires. Radiator Springs Racers has a height requirement.

Paradise pier has The Little Mermaid adventure, jumping jellyfish and King Tritons carousel.

Condor Flats has Sorin' over California, it has a height requirement, but it's pretty tame.

The Redwood area has jungle gym area that also hosts a show where you can meet Russle from UP. Near the entrance to the play area Dug also makes apperances

DCA also has other stuff to see, parades, Mystro Goofy, characters come out to say hi and at night they host the Wonderful world of Color show.

You can search youtube for most (if not all) of the rides mentioned and "ride along" at home. You'll also be able to find video of the hillbillies, musical chairs, parades, fireworks, Fantasmic and World of Color.

[traveldiva13]

That is great advise!! Thank you so much everyone. I feel a lot more comfortable taking my kids and knowing they will truly enjoy it!

[SweetAlex]

Originally Posted by ColoradoGirl85

On our first trip our son was 2 1/2, and there were some rides he wasn't tall enough for, but there are plenty of rides that he was able to go on. We filled our 5 days in the park no problem! My biggest piece of advice, don't over plan. Familiarize yourself with the park map, but let the kiddos dictate (to a certain degree) your plan and schedule.

Totally agree with the not over-planning concept. Our youngest was almost 4 last time we went and my plans went out the window the first day there. You just have to go with the flow with little ones. I had reservations at the Rainforest Cafe our first night there (we arrived around 3). The kids were so tired but I dragged them there anyway and we ended up spending way too much money on food that no one ate! Just go with it. Familiarize yourself with the parks and the events and go from there.

[squirrel]

One of the best tips I heard about here on the Dis is to pack a complete change of clothes in ziplock bags. You can grab one for each kid and toss it in the stroller or backpack. Also makes getting dressed in the morning super easy. Mix up the bags when flying-have at least one outfit for each person in another bag in case a bag gets lost.

Keep some snacks in your backpack or stroller as kids get hungry often and who wants to stand in a long line for food when you have other plans.

I made a rule with my niece that when ever one person has to go to the bathroom we all go (it was just the two of us). Saves running to the bathroom too many times.

[tdhickey]

I have two kids 2.5 and 5.5....here is what I have learned.

1) Learn to use the Ride Swap for rides where the little one isn't tall enough. This allows one parent to take the older kid in the regular line and the second parent to take the older kid back on the same ride at a later time that day in the fast pass line.

2) DLR has lots of kids foods, the power packs make for nice snacks and kids meals are easy to share.

3) Are your kids "nap anywhere" kids or are they routine kids? For nap anywhere type kids, you can stay in the park all day and they will sleep in the stroller when they are tired. For routine nap kids, you better plan hotel breaks and stay close to the park.

4) Bring a big stroller that is nap friendly and has some storage for snacks and/or souvenirs

5) Plenty of rides for the little kids, about 60% of the park is available to the smallest ones and if you are 42" tall almost everything is open to the older one.

6) Prepare yourselves for the following things to happen:

- everyday around 1-2 pm there will be at least one meltdown from one or both kids (this is whiny hour in the park), also known as pre-nap time.
- on day two, prepare yourself for a massive temper tantrum and overall emotional overload from one / both kids
- your kids to get bored in long lines
- beyond all of that, some of the most incredible positive experiences you will ever have on a vacation, making you forget all the challenging things that happened.

7) DCA has beer and mixed alcoholic drinks at the restaurants and counter service locations. Helps take the edge off sometimes. There is also a Starbucks in DCA

[coaches24]

Originally Posted by traveldiva13

Hi!

I was hoping someone had some great times for traveling to Disneyland or Disney world with young kids! I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. Are there enough rides we could ride?

I would really appreciate any help!

Yes you can do most rides with both kids and most likely your 4 yo will be tall enough to go on everything except screamin and Indy ( maybe a couple other rides but those are the only ones my DD isn't tall enough at 4). Whether your 4yo wants to ride all those rides is another question.

Your 2 yo can go on all rides without a ht requirement ( which there are MANY) and both kids will love many of the attractions and shows there. And the rides your kids can't or don't want to ride you and your significant other can take turns riding while the other watches the kids.