On the drive down to Disneyland, California, our world-travelin’ son asked, “Do they speak a different language in Disneyland?” That question says it all. We can plan one hell of a trip across the globe, but when it comes to Disneyland just six hours away, we’re clueless. But not anymore! Before taking our little ones to Disneyland for a quick 2-day trip, I wanted to make sure we did and ate the best of the best. So, why not ask the experts? Well, I did. Six of them, in fact. Here are the best tips for visiting Disneyland, according to experts.
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Table of Contents
- General Tips for Visiting Disneyland
- Tips for Visiting Disneyland with Toddlers
- Money-Saving Tips for Visiting Disneyland
- Must-Try Foods
- Meet the Disneyland Experts
General Tips for Visiting Disneyland
After interviewing six Disneyland experts, these were the top recommendations:
- “Rope drop,” which is Disney lingo for ‘get there early, before the park officially opens!‘ We arrived about 30-45 minutes before park opening, lined up right away, and had much quicker dibs on popular rides. The parks became much busier around 10:30am. There is no extra cost to do this.
- Get Genie+ if you want to make the most of your time and not wait in long lines (we actually did not get Genie+, keep reading to find out how it went)
- Don’t forget to make park reservations when you buy your tickets.
- Check to see which rides are not working.
- Check the schedule for special parades, events, and showtimes.
- Learn the ins and outs of the Disneyland app and Genie+.
- Use the mobile app to skip long food lines.
- To get the most out of a short stay: take advantage of ‘rope drop’, Genie+, and the less busy hours for rides which are during parades (if you don’t care about them), in the morning, and right before closing.
- Take breaks. Don’t wear yourself down.
Slow down and enjoy the magic. It’s easy to get caught up in the constant rush to the next attraction.”
~ Brittany @saydisney
Tips for Visiting Disneyland with Toddlers
- Measure your child before your trip and know which rides they can and cannot go on
If your child’s height is on the cusp of a big cut-off, measure them right before your trip in their shoes, not just barefooted.”
~ Jeff McFadden, the husband of The Flying Mum
We measured our daughter (shoeless) about 2 weeks before the trip, and either she had a huge growth spurt, or her shoes made one hell of a difference. Or both. We were blown away when she measured above 40″ to get on Radiator Springs and was able to do more rides with us than we’d planned.
- Plan ahead and keep your little ones safe:
Use a sharpie to write your phone # on inside of child’s arm, an ID bracelet or ID temporary tattoo. You can also have them wear an AirTag. You don’t plan on your child being separated from you but it happens to the best of us and so fast, it’s better to be prepared.”
~ Heidi @everydayismagic
Attach an Apple AirTag to the inside of their pants. Or they can wear it inside a cute Disney character watch or keychain, and you’ll be able to track them using your iPhone in the unlikely event that they get lost.
You can also attach a kids’ handle to your stroller, like this one from tagalong kids. Your LO can hold it, especially when in large crowds or when you don’t have a free hand.
- Utilize Baby Care Centers in both parks. They are…
…for toddlers too! It’s a nice spot to cool down in the quiet, air-conditioned space while watching a movie. There are potty training sized toilets, baby changes, and highchairs. You can also purchase baby products there.”
~ Heidi @everydayismagic
- Pack a day bag with healthy snacks and a change of clothes.
- Utilize Rider Switch. Notify the Cast Member at the line entrance:
(Rider Switch, aka Baby Swap)…is a free service that allows one parent/adult to sit out with a baby/small child while another adult rides with a bigger kid or by themselves. Then you swap!” (without waiting in line again).”
~ Chelsea and Kim @disneypointgals
- Take advantage of morning hours, which are much less crowded, when the kids aren’t as tired either.
- To avoid overstimulation, find a quiet area. Or if they do better running free, let them do just that.
…go to the quiet shaded area in Toon Town to relax for a bit.” If they need time to just run and play, head to “…the playground at ToonTown (Goofy’s How-to-Play Yard) or in California Adventure (Redwood Creek Challenge Trail).”
~ Katie @famtravelfolio
Our kids loved climbing, sliding, and mini zip-lining at Redwood Creed Challenge Trail. They also have some picnic tables for a quiet lunch spot to escape the crowds.
- Other ways to incorporate free play are running around Tom Sawyer Island and exploring Adventure Treehouse (our kids enjoyed that quick run to the top).
- But don’t run ’em to exhaustion.
With smaller kids, try to stay on a schedule that is similar to at home – take an afternoon break to prevent meltdowns.”
~ Melanee @the_magical_rn
- All the interviewees said to relax, slow down, have fun, and make memories.
The most unexpected things, like the shows, fireworks and character interactions are sometimes the best part of the trip. Don’t skip those!”
~ Amanda @mymainstreetadventures
Amanda was so right, too. I loved seeing our three-year-old light up with Mickey and Elsa. She’s not even a big fan and her face was priceless!
…Remember to hop in a few photos yourself! Moms are always behind the camera. Get in some photos with your kids so they can cherish those when they get older.”
~ Brittany @saydisney
- Bring a good stroller. Or unlike us, just bring a stroller. Two days before we left for the trip, I updated my blog post on the Best Travel Strollers. And then we completely forgot to bring ours! The irony…
It’s a good thing Disneyland has stroller rentals for when you forget to pack your own! A single stroller is $18/day and a double stroller is $36/day.”
~ Jen McFadden, a Disneyland rookie
If you want to bring your own stroller, here are a couple budget options under Disney’s size limits (but as far as I could tell, I don’t think anyone’s really checking size!).
For the best tips for visiting Disneyland with toddlers, check out Katie Restrepo’s blog that has 61 tips for visiting Disneyland with toddlers. Her endless blog posts would have been extremely helpful if I had put the same amount of time into researching Disneyland as I do Europe!
Check out my list of the best rides and attractions in Disneyland for little ones, according to us and ‘the experts’.
Money-Saving Tips for Visiting Disneyland
- You can save up to $300 (plus discounts at Disney restaurants, etc.) if you open a Disney Rewards Visa card (they give you a statement credit).
- Take advantage of deals like the Kids’ Special Ticket offer now through March 10 ($50 a day for ages 3-9).
- Ask a travel agent (like me!) to check for special discounts and find the best hotel deals.
- Forego the Genie+ (we didn’t buy it and we did more than enough in 2 days). Both kids also learned about patience. And they actually got much better at it as the trip went on. Try reading to your kids, “Waiting is Not Easy” to help.
Read my list of top attractions for little ones so you can prioritize. - Stay offsite in a highly rated but discounted hotel. We gave up on upscale for this trip, and went for convenience, space, budget, and a yummy breakfast instead. But I researched hotels high and low, so email me if you need help booking. Our hotel had two bedroom suites and was less than a 15-minute walk door to door.
- Be on the lookout for discounted Disney gift cards at Costco.
- Ask for Disney gift cards as presents for birthdays and holidays.
- If you’re splurging for Bippity Boppity, can you bring your own dress? It looks like it’s about $50 for the dress there. My mom found a cute one at a thrift store – score! Otherwise, my Amazon storefront has some for under $30, like this one (that our daughter also adores, from Grandma, too, of course):
- Pack snacks and/or lunch (healthy, to avoid sugar-loaded tantrums).
- Bring a refillable water bottle and utilize the refill stations all over the park. Our daughter was so excited when this arrived before our trip:
- Skip the Park Hopper and focus on one park a day.
- Go early in the week, off-season (is there an off season anymore?), and check the calendar as some days are cheaper than others.
- Don’t pay full price for tickets. Disneyland experts recommend Get Away Today and Undercover Tourist. They also have refundable options which Disney doesn’t offer.
Discount ticket sellers (the best one is Undercover Tourist), sell the exact same tickets as the gates for a big savings!”
~ Melanee @the_magical_rn
- Set a budget for snacks and souvenirs.
…and make sure you stay within it, or bring your own souvenirs to give to your kids when you’re there!”
~ Amanda @mymainstreetadventures
Order cheaper ‘souvenirs’ from Amazon before you go. Check out my idea list on my Amazon storefront. If you forget, you can still run to the Target on Harbor Blvd. near the park to grab a few things. I hear they have a great Disney section.
Must-Try Foods
General ‘foodie’ tips:
- Churros are on every corner, but the best IMO were at Señor Buzz Churros stand in California Adventure.
- Mobile order in the app for fast pick-up, skipping those insane lines.
- Make advance reservations for sit-down restaurants.
- Our favorite lunch spot was at the benches near Pixar Pier in California Adventure.
The experts’ favorite treats and quick service:
- Raspberry rose macaron at Jolly Holiday Cafe has a ‘cult following’.
- Churro toffee square can be found at Jolly Holiday Cafe on Main Street in Disneyland and Trolley Treats on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park.
- Cinna-Pym Toast at Pym Test Kitchen – I was so bummed that I missed the cut-off for breakfast by the time I went to order
- Pasta at Alien Pizza Planet in Tomorrowland
- The Tropical Hideaway, a jungle oasis in Adventureland
- Our favorite? The corn dogs from Little Red Wagon near Main Street…
The experts’ favorite sit-down restaurants:
- Lamplight Lounge was most recommended – a Pixar themed restaurant with views of Pixar Pier…Brittany @saydisney says “the lobster nachos are a must!”
- Cafe Orleans
- Rancho del Zocalo for Mexican in Frontierland
The only one I got to try was the Churro Toffee Square, and it was hands down incredible. I almost didn’t get it because I’m not a toffee fan and really wanted something chocolate. Glad I did though, and then savored it for 3 days at home!
They sell the Churro Toffee Square at Trolley Treats (Disney California Adventure Park), Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen (Disneyland Park).
Meet the Disneyland Experts
For more Disneyland hacks and recs, follow these Disneyland pros!
Without them, this blog post would not have been very magical. How do they know so much? Do they live there?
- Melanee @the_magical_rn is a Disneyland planning expert with nearly 80k followers
- Heidi @everydayismagic is another expert with over 70k followers, insider secrets, and her own Facebook group “Disneyland Vacation Planning”
- Brittany @saydisney is a Disneyland mom with over 43k followers at no surprise because she has all the Disney secrets
- Amanda @mymainstreetadventures has Disneyland tips, secrets, and a “30-day countdown” full of daily activities to excite your child and prep for your trip.
- Katie @famtravelfolio is a family travel blogger with Disneyland blog posts covering every question you could possibly think of as well as free printables, like her Disneyland and California Adventure Ride Checklist with Height Requirements
- Chelsea and Kim @disneypointgals are mom/daughter Disney fans who specialize in using DVC points and credit card points to travel.
Disneyland isn’t about getting on as many rides as possible, it’s about escaping to a world where you can believe in magic and stories.”
Katie @famtravelfolio
