Disneyland isn’t just for kids…
I’ve always been a fan of Disneyland - such a fan that my bachelorette party centered around the magic kingdom and well before we had a child I made my not-yet husband take us on a couples vacation. While I know, deep down, he truly enjoyed our time in this perfectly curated and wonderfully joyful setting, I think he felt a lot better returning to one of my favorite places on earth with a little person by our side.
Disneyland instantly brings you back to your childhood and you can’t help but smile when you’re walking the grounds. And, getting to see the excitement of your child brings even greater joy and wonder to the whole experience. It is magical!
I haven’t quite convinced David that Disney needs to be an annual experience for our family, but I’m working on it daily and am likely to win the day. Does he really have a choice? #happywifehappylife
If you’re venturing to Disney with children under the age of 5, it’s a bit harder to plan out your day. Most of them are still napping and you never know what their exact mood will be. Combining a little “go with the flow” coupled with some moderate planning can make your experience a lot easier.
For convenience (and cost saving), we purchased our tickets ahead of time and decided to do one day at Disneyland and one day at California Adventure. No matter the park you are going to, I suggest getting there as soon as they open. Yes, it will appear as though there are a crazy amount of people a the entranceway, but when you actually get into the parks and folks start spreading out across the attractions, you’ll see just how much calmer it is first thing in the morning. And, with those more manageable crowds, go straight to all your “must do” rides. The lines and crowds only swell further throughout the day.
(Mamma’s Pointer: There’s no reason not to enjoy adult-focused rides when living it up at Disney. And, if one parent waits in a line to ride, they allow you to “tag” your significant other when you come off the ride (they can jump immediately to the front without “re-waiting.” It’s called Rider Swap and it’s brilliant! Have a little fun and while one of you is chasing your toddler around the grounds, the other can be living it up with Indiana Jones or a whole slew of storm troopers.)
My absolute favorite ride is Pirates of the Caribbean, which surprisingly doesn’t have a height requirement so this was the first ride we went on with our little Samuel. While I still wonder if cackling pirates, loud thunderous noises, and total darkness traumatized my 1 year old for life, it was a really fun introduction into the world of amusement parks. (Note: we did end up purchasing the Disney Genie to be able to skip to the front of lines).
Going on a holiday weekend seemed like a good idea so we’d have more days away, but with it being a long weekend at the end of the summer so many other people had the same thought. If you don’t want more then your typical Disney crowd I would suggest going in an off season and even a weekday if possible.
The weekend we were there, while busy, also happened to be the very beginning of Mickey’s Halloween Party. Being the Halloween fan I am (you know my affinity for holidays!) it was also very fun to see Disneyland all ready and dressed up for the Halloween season. Mickey’s Halloween Party usually starts around Labor Day and lasts until the first weekend of November. The park is completely themed-out for the holiday with decor, special Halloween souvenirs, costumes and parades.
Our second day we decided to do California Adventure. I hadn’t been in quite a few years and I wasn’t sure how toddler friendly it would be in comparison to Disneyland. I am so thankful we decided to go and may have had even more than our time at Disney (no knock on my boy Mickey). California Adventure has a little something for everyone from exploring areas of California, to Pixar Pier, adventuring through the Avengers campus and racing through Cars Land. If your little (and family) is interested in Toy Story, Cars, Coco, Encanto, Ratatouille, and Spiderman, just to name a few, then they will love it and so will you.
One big difference between the two parks is that California Adventure serves alcohol. (Mamma Pointer: When walking through the heat and managing all of the joy and stress that comes from husbands and children, an ice-cold margarita is always a good idea.) While there were some long lines at spots like Bayside Brews, I quickly discovered that ordering from the app meant that cold, refreshing beverages can hit your lips a little quicker (avoid the lines, use the apps and enjoy!).
Standing in line around thousands of people each day is definitely exhausting and having your little out of the stroller to walk around isn’t always the best with so many people around (am I the only one who lives in constant fear of their child getting lost in a crowd?). We found a spot at California Adventure that was absolutely perfect for toddler freedom and mamma sanity.
Redwood Creek is an awesome place to run around, have some fun and enjoy some shade. Located just outside the Disney Grand Californian Hotel, it’s basically an outdoor jungle gym for kids of any age and height (There are a few areas with restrictions but not too many). They do have water running through that is very very shallow so make sure you have extra clothes here in case they decide to sit or splash in the “river”. You know our Samuel is never one to pass up a good puddle, stream, river, pond, or any other “body of water.”
Disneyland/California Adventure Mamma Tips
We went Labor Day weekend - not only was it busy but still very hot! While we were there for an unusual heat spell I would suggest going in the fall, winter and spring not on a holiday weekend.
One thing about Disneyland is there are hundreds of strollers. Having something to help differentiate yours is very helpful. I found the cutest personalized signs on Etsy and loved having it for our stroller- Stroller Spotter Stroller Tag
Backpack- You will want to bring everything you need for the day and lots of snacks, food prices at Disneyland are pretty high. They will let you bring in food and water as long as its in your bottle or unopened. When it comes to the backpack I suggest a bright color that you can also leave on your stroller as extra help to find it.
I loved having my fanny pack- stylish and convenient for taking the important stuff with you on the rides.
Pack multiple outfits and swim diapers. You really never know when you will need them.
It was just my husband and I traveling with our little guy and we both wanted to ride the bigger rides but couldn’t at the same time because we needed someone to stay with Samuel. This is when I was introduced to the Rider Swap. One person waits in line, goes on the ride, when they get off they get a rider swap pass which enables the other party to go into the Fast pass line. I would have loved to ride them with my husband but this was also a fun way to both be able to experience this.
While having matching family shirts isn’t necessary I wanted to make sure Samuel had a cute outfit for his first Disney experience. Once again my trusted friend, Etsy, came through for me with Samuel's Mouseketeer shirt.
If you are there at a busy time then buy the Genie pass. Yes, it’s not cheap, but the time it will save you waiting in line is definitely worth it.
If you look at the rides on the Disneyland website, you can sort them by height restrictions which was really helpful for us in planning our day and which Lands to head to first before the lines grew.
Huntington Beach
No trip to California is complete without a stop at the beach. We decided to spend one afternoon/evening at Huntington Beach, which is about a 30 minute drive from Anaheim. We had dinner at an amazing restaurant just a few blocks from the beach called Pacific Hideaway. The restaurant is located in the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel and is very dog and child friendly. It’s a small spot with a beautiful patio and the food is top notch. I would recommend making a reservation here and definitely stopping in on your next pass through Huntington Beach.