Today I am sharing 16 of my best tips for visiting Disneyland with toddlers to help you get the most out of your trip!
I have grown up going to Disneyland and California Adventure since I was a baby. We went about once a year growing up and since having my own kids, we have gone multiple times a year. It’s such a nostalgic vacation for me and one that I love taking my kids on.
The things we focus on and do at the parks really varies as our kids ages change. Disneyland with toddlers is such a fun vacation and there is just so much to do: Rides, meet characters, eat good food, shop, explore, and more.
Over the years of visiting, I have discovered tips and tricks to make our trips go more smoothly and I want to share those with you! So if you are visiting Disneyland with toddlers or babies, or older kids, or just as adults, these tips are for you!
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Tips for Visiting Disneyland with Toddlers (or Anyone!)
1. Get to the parks Early
While the parks state that they open at 8:00am (this can vary so check when you are going), they actually open the gates 30 minutes prior to this. You can go in and they have ropes blocking off the park where the rides are. If you go in early you are that much closer to the rides and are able to get on them quicker. This is what people call “rope drop” and definitely worth getting to the parks early for! I have found that when we go to Disneyland with toddlers, they are much happier in the morning and taper out by the evening to we definitely love going early.
2. Skip the Tram and Walk Through Downtown Disney
When getting on the tram that takes your from the Disney Parking Garages to the parks, if you have a stroller, you have to fold it up before getting on. This is a big hassle especially if you have a lot of things in your stroller and kids that you don’t want to get in and out. There is also always a long line to go through security before getting on the tram.
I prefer to walk across the sky bridge, over to the Downtown Disney entrance. There is never a line through security and it’s only about a 10 minute walk if you walk quickly. To get there, go to level 2 of the the Pixar Pals Parking Garage, walk across the sky bridge, and follow the sidewalk signs to the Downtown Disney entrance. Then just walk all the way to the Disneyland and California Adventure park entrances. You won’t be the only ones walking there!
3. Use the Disneyland App to Check Wait Times
The Disneyland App is super useful while you are at the park and definitely something you will want to have downloaded. One of my most used features is the option to check the ride wait times. You can see all of the rides on the map or in list form. You can also filter by height requirements, parks, or things like that. This is just a great way to see what rides have short waits to help plan out your day at Disneyland.
Other features on the Disney app include buying tickets and making reservations, booking your mobile food orders, show times, character locations and more.
4. Place MoBile Food Orders
If you have the Disneyland app, you should definitely be placing mobile food orders. We always do this while waiting in a ride line about 15-30 minutes before we are ready to eat. It will alert you when your order is almost ready. Then when you are at the restaurant, you select that you are there and they will prepare your order. You will get a notification that you can pick up your order at the window and they will have it all ready to go.
Regular food lines are always super long around lunch time (or any time of day really). There are never lines at the Mobile Order pick up windows and it saves you so much time and gets you your food much quicker. This is essential when visiting Disneyland with toddlers who do not want to have to wait in any more lines.
I also do this for treats like the Mickey Macaron from the Jolly Cafe because there are always long lines at the popular treat locations!
5. Eat at the Hungry Bear Restaurant
One of our favorite places to eat is the Hungry Bear Restaurant. It’s not necessarily for the food, which is just your typical American burgers, but because there is always plenty of seating in the shade, and we like to sit back behind where you get your food because the train passes by. You’re also right on the water which is fun for the kids to watch the boats go by as well as the ducks. It’s a great little spot to relax and eat some food.
6. Utilize Rider Swap (Free Fast Pass!)
If you are traveling to Disneyland or California Adventure with small kids, make sure you utilize rider swap.
Here is how it works: For the rides that have height requirements, the person who waits back with the kid(s) who are too short, they get to go on the ride later through the fast pass lane. What you do, is bring your group up to the line entrance and let the line attendant know you would like to use the Rider Swap. Then whoever is able to ride the ride goes through the main line and the line attendants will scan the ticket of the person(s) waiting behind. You can scan up to 3 tickets so if you have a large group, 3 people can go through together or if you have a child that was tall enough to ride with their parent, they can go again with the other parent.
(Space Mountain’s Rider Swap is actually at the ride’s exit. They will give the people waiting a special card to get to the front of the line)
7. Hop in the Single Rider Lines
Single rider lines are great if you want to get on a ride quickly. Not all rides have a single rider line so be sure to check that before making a detour specifically for that. Single rider lines are just what they sound like, lines for people who are going to ride by themselves. They have them to fill in empty spots on the ride and get as many people on as possible. You can go in the single rider line as a group, just know you likely will sit by a stranger.
8. Learn To Draw Disney Characters At the Animation Academy
In California Adventure, they have the Animation Academy where they have multiple activities. You can just sit in the large main room where they have giant screens showing pre animated Disney films. They play popular Disney songs and my kids love dancing around. This is a great spot to sit if it’s particularly hot.
In the Animation Academy, they also have Turtle Talk with Crush and the line to meet Princess Anna and Queen Elsa. This line is long so get there early! My favorite thing to do in the Animation Academy though is learning to draw different Disney Characters. A Disney animator takes about 20 minutes to draw a character and they honestly end up looking really good! They have the schedule right outside the drawing entrance so you can come back for a specific character if that’s what you want.
9. Take Pictures on the side of the Castle
While hundreds of people are walking under Sleeping Beauty’s castle all day, it can be a bit tricky and crowded to get a picture right in front of the castle. I have found that if you just go to the side by the water, it’s actually a really pretty spot to snap a few pictures of your family. There are also little pathways on either side of the castle that will pop you right into Fantasy Land without having to walk with the large crowd. On the right is where Snow White’s wishing well is!
10. Trade Disney Pins for Free
A very popular souvenir to get at Disneyland are pins. People collect them like crazy and it can get really pricey. A fun way to get new pins without spending any money is to trade your pins. At many of the shop counters, they have a board of pins that you can trade with. You just give them one of your Disney pins and can take one that you like. Many cast members also have them on lanyards around their necks that you can also ask to trade with. You just need to start out with at least one pin to start trading with.
11. Bring a Carrier as Well a Stroller
If you are traveling to Disneyland with toddlers or a baby, I highly recommend bringing your soft carrier if you have one. I love having a stroller but sometimes your baby just wants to be held so the carrier comes in extremely handy. This is my favorite soft carrier! It’s breathable and works for newborns up to toddlers.
12. Check Out the Baby Care Centers
The Baby Care Centers at the Disney parks are a parent’s safe haven. They are quiet places to take your baby or small child if you need a place to feed or change them. Men and women with children are welcome in the Baby Care Centers. And they are not only for babies, but also if you are visiting Disneyland with toddlers.
Available Services
- Private Nursing Rooms: Quiet, private spaces for breastfeeding or pumping.
- Changing Tables: Clean and spacious changing tables that are padded.
- Toilets: Little potties for toddlers and small children
- Feeding Areas: High chairs and areas to sit and feed your child.
- Microwaves and Sinks: For warming bottles and cleaning up.
- Baby Supplies for Purchase: A limited selection of baby essentials such as diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, and sunscreen.
At Disneyland the Baby Care Center is located at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., next to First Aid. At California Adventure the Baby Care Center is located on Pacific Wharf, next to Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop.
13. Sail over to Tom Sawyer’s Island
If your kids are getting tired of waiting in lines, head over to Tom Sawyer’s Island in Frontierland! Hop on the raft ferry to cross the Rivers of America and let your kids explore the island’s caves, bridges, and trails. It’s the perfect place for them to run around, burn off some energy, and take a break from the more structured activities in the park. This is one of our favorite spots to visit when we are visiting Disneyland with toddlers.
14. Make Time for the Parades
I have never really loved the Disney parades until I was visiting Disneyland with toddlers. When you see their faces light up and get so excited when they see their favorite characters, you start to see how fun they are. I love going to a parade every time we are at Disneyland. The times can change depending on the time of year so just ask any cast member when the parade(s) are and they will let you know!
Often times, if you want a good spot in the shade, they can get get taken quickly. So if you don’t wait ahead of time to save a spot, head down to the flagpole near the entrance where there is almost always room available.
15. Grab Yourself a Free Snack
If you’re looking for a quick (and free!) snack in California Adventure, head over to the Boudin Bakery Tour on Pacific Wharf. It’s right across from the Mater’s Tractor Tipping ride. Here, you can get complimentary samples of freshly baked sourdough bread. You can just grab the bread and leave but they do also have a tour. The tour is short and shows you how their famous San Francisco-style sourdough is made, from the starter to the oven. I personally just like to look through the windows of the dozens and dozens of sourdough bowls being made. We usually stop here multiple times when we’re at Disneyland with toddlers.
16. Meet the Disney Princesses
If you are visiting Disneyland with toddlers and have little ones who dream of meeting Disney Princesses, head to the Royal Hall in Fantasy Faire at Disneyland. This is the best spot to meet some of your favorite princesses up close. The Royal Hall features multiple princesses at a time, and you can meet them one on one in a beautiful indoor setting.
To avoid long lines, try to go early in the day or during parade times when the crowds are a bit lighter. We waited about 45 minutes in a completely shaded line. This was my 2.5 year old daughter’s favorite part (and mine too honestly!) and she still asks to watch the videos from it. She got to meet Ariel, Anna, and Elsa.
17. Take Advantage of Military Member Discounted Tickets
If you or a family member are in the military, you can save money with special discounted Disneyland tickets. These offers are available for active and retired U.S. military personnel, including the National Guard, Reservists, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The discounted tickets are currently 3-day or 4-day Park Hopper tickets, which allow you to visit both Disneyland and California Adventure on the same day.
To purchase these discounted tickets, visit your local military base ticket office, or call ahead to confirm availability. Keep in mind that you will need to show a valid military ID when purchasing the tickets and also the first time you visit the park.
Here is the current website to check the prices for the Military Discounted Disneyland Passes
We are so grateful for the Military discounted passes and it’s why we are able to go as much as we do!
