Trips to Disneyland were some of my favorite memories as a child and still my favorite memories as an adult. I knew when becoming a mom, I wanted to create the same kind of memories for my kids. My sons first time to Disneyland was on his 4th birthday and he loved it, I felt like it was the perfect age for him to go. Later my daughter was born, and we went as a family when she was 6 months, 2 years and most recently a couple months before turning 4. I can definitely say I learned a few tips and tricks after every stage to make the most out of our vacation.
I am a planning perfectionist. It happens to be both my strength and weakness. I love to have plans and stay organized and am usually over prepared when it comes to family trips. What at first seemed overwhelming has become more simplified when preparing for family vacations.
Finding ways to make each trip easier while spending more time enjoying and less time stressing has been the goal. Every trip has definitely taught me some new strategies to apply for each vacation moving forward, and I share my best ones with you here.
Read on for my simple hacks, if Disneyland is on your family’s travel list.
1. Preparing For Your Trip
By preparing I mean more visually preparing rather than packing.
The magic of Disney is seeing your favorite Disney movies coming to life. Walking through scenes from your favorite films or hugging your favorite Disney Character. But going in not knowing what is going on; you may not have as an exciting connection. At my daughters first visit when she was 6 months, I didn’t really expose her to much T.V. She knew nothing of Disney so there was nothing for her to connect to. Yes, her eyes were huge from everything she was seeing, I mean there’s a lot going on. But Small World was the only ride she really was in awe of (and honestly, who isn’t).
Before taking her again I wanted her to be able to connect with the actual experience. I would sit with her and watch a Disney movie here and there. Talk with her about my favorite princesses and movies. Show her videos and pictures of our last trip. Print free coloring pages of different characters and color them with her. The next time we visited the park she was much more excited. You could see the amazement in her eyes and the connections of what she remembered from home come to life.
Her most recent visit was the most fun for her yet. Before this last visit we watched the rides on YouTube. She remembered which rides she enjoyed and which ones not so much. Viewing the ride beforehand seemed to calm the scariness of it for her. She was actually excited for certain rides and would tell me which ones she wanted to go on and who she was going to sit next to on each one. She was well prepared for that trip, and it made it much easier for her knowing what to expect. For my daughter, knowing what to expect beforehand and preparing for the least surprises possible, helps keep her comfortable during trips like this.
2. Book A Hotel With Breakfast
On our most recent visit we booked a hotel that offered breakfast, and it was a game changer! The convenience of getting breakfast and heading back to your room to finish getting ready was such an added benefit that I wish we had done this on all the trips before. My kids were able to sleep in and avoid the grouchiness of having to wake them up real early otherwise. I would still wake up early to get ready, wake the kids, go get breakfast in their pjs and come back to the room with full bellies. Getting my toddler ready for the day with a full belly and after sleeping in went much smoother this way.
This also saves you from having to buy or bring breakfast for the days you plan on staying. Or having to rush everyone out the door to beat the early morning restaurant crowds.
Call different hotels in advance to see which ones offer breakfast. Some hotels also have kitchenettes for the ability to cook in the privacy of your room. Another option could be an Airbnb where you have the option to bring your own food and cook breakfast at the home if you’re not staying in a hotel. Find what works best for your family and situation.
3. What To Pack For The Day
I am an over packer and am not ashamed to say so. I will literally write a list of what I need to pack before even packing to make sure I have everything for everyone. And I will check off that list as I pack. Call it my OCD but whenever someone says they forgot something it’s no surprise to see that I actually packed it for them or have what they need in my bag.
This last trip we took was 3 days at the park and the longest one we’ve taken yet. Being organized brings me peace and just makes for a smoother trip. Labels for me happens to be a life saver. While my son and husband were both in charge of packing their own clothes, I was in charge of not only mine but my daughters as well. I started by picking an outfit for each day, wrapping it in a plastic bag and labeled it. You can use the vacuumed sealed bags, Ziplock, reusable or even wrap around with a shoestring to keep each outfit together. After I had all the outfits, I labeled them with a marker. Sticky notes or a piece of paper will work just as well. Every morning, I just pulled out a whole outfit for the day without having to rummage through the suitcase looking for pieces of clothing. This made mornings simpler and saved me time. I always kept an extra pair of clothes for her on hand. If by chance you forget a clothing item or a mess happens, there’s always stores nearby to pick up something quick. I happened to always pack a little extra so it’s hardly ever an issue for us, but life does happen, and we’ve had to take this route once or twice.
If your little one is still in diapers, my motto is the more the merrier. I pack as many as I can fit and even then, I pack more. The last thing you want is to run out of diapers while you’re out traveling anywhere. I had a terrible experience at another amusement park once where my son’s stroller was stolen (diaper bag and all) while we were on a ride. After sobbing and asking another mom for a diaper and wipes in the bathroom guess who had to go buy more diapers at the store just to make it through the rest of vacation. An unfortunate lesson learned. Which brings me to also note, don’t leave anything in your stroller you wouldn’t be able to quickly replace at a nearby store. I will say I did take my own stroller to Disneyland twice and both times they weren’t tampered with. But just in case, I kept extra diapers in my backpack that was carried on the ride with me to avoid any mishaps like last time.
Another thing I love about Disneyland is that they let you bring in snacks and food into the park. Bringing in your own snacks is a lifesaver for parents of little ones. Especially if your little one isn’t much of a breakfast eater. By keeping healthy snacks on hand and loads of water were able to satisfy her hunger until lunchtime and throughout our long days out. For us, having a variety of snacks on hand helped curb the temptation of wanting something from the carts in the park, saving us money in the long run.
Mostly all attractions at Disneyland allow you to bring your bag onto the ride which is convenient for those with small ones. We always try to pack as light as possible and share the load within 2 backpacks between hubby and I. One carries our phones, charger (Disneyland does have chargers to rent if you forget yours), wallets, keys, snacks and water. My backpack usually consists of more water and snacks, an extra outfit for my little one just in case, glow sticks (more on this below), wipes and pull-ups or diapers depending on the age. A cheap and small fidget toy or two (preferably one’s you don’t mind losing) to entertain my toddler while waiting in line are added in as well. You really don’t have to pack a whole ton of things for your day. Remember you will be walking all day carrying those backpacks. What helped us was to divide everything into a couple bags and myself, husband and son would rotate carrying the bags to give each one a rest for their shoulders if needed. Keeping everything that’s needed for your toddler together in one bag is recommended in case of a potty break during a rider switch situation (I’ll go over this later).
4. Purchase Items Outside Of Disneyland
Disneyland has a ton of stores, booths and boutiques within the park with tempting items to purchase. One of the most iconic (in my opinion) accessories are the ears! It’s a Disney staple and there are so many variations it makes it impossible to choose from. When my original ears I had from our very first trip broke (thank you toddlers), I started looking for a replacement. I ended up finding a pair, one for myself and one for my daughter on Poshmark for a really good price. My point here is you don’t have to purchase directly to get Disney merch. There are plenty of other routes like amazon, Ebay and Target even. I purchased some Disney princess shirts for my daughter for half the price or less on other stores. Saving me lots if I had otherwise waited to purchase in the actual park.
Another money saving decision we made was getting glow sticks at the dollar store. Let me tell you those things came in handy once the sun set. We had enough for each night at the park for a fraction of the cost and my little one was none the wiser because it brought the same amount of excitement. Plenty of stores carry bubble wands, glow sticks, and plenty of cheap small toys to keep a little one entertained while saving your wallet. We decided to go to the Target nearby one day only to see that a lot of the items, like toys and clothes were being sold there and for a cheaper price than in the park. For example, my daughter fell in love with a purple and white Rapunzel bow and arrow set she had seen in a boutique in the park. Of course, daddy bought it for her. Only to see it later at Target for almost half the price. Of course, we weren’t going to immediately leave the park to go check Target because that isn’t practical either. But had we walked through the Disney section in Target beforehand we probably could have saved a couple bucks, and she would have still gotten the same toy. Simple switches like these can help save money in the long run while essentially still getting what you were wanting in the first place.
5.Lightning Lane (Genie Plus) & Rider Switch
If it’s within your budget and you are able to, I highly recommend purchasing the Lightning Lane (formerly Genie +). This was something we definitely knew we wanted and are always happy we purchased. It just makes planning for us so much smoother. Wait times are significantly shorter and when you’re a parent of a little one, you know long lines can be a struggle. As soon as we stepped into the park, I would immediately book a ride, and the first ride would typically be one my youngest was most excited to go on. I found this helped get the day off to a nice start. If it wasn’t ready yet, we would wait in a line nearby with less wait time for a smooth transition. I will add, it does help getting there early before the larger crowds get there.
The last three trips we went on, we booked them through Costco Travel. If you’re able to and they still have the option available, I would highly recommend this route. When we booked, part of the package included a gift card of around $160. They also offered a certain percentage discount on dining and shopping which comes in handy as well. We would use the gift card strictly on dining and what we would have used on food went towards the lightning lane purchase. With our hotel offering breakfast and a gift card covering lunch we were able to allocate our money where we would like it to be spent more. Hence, the Lightning Lane passes. I want to remind you that we are a family of 4 and the prices will most definitely range from family to family. My husband and I typically fast in the evenings so lunch is usually our last meal. Meaning our kids were the only ones eating a dinner so this also should be taken into consideration regarding expenses. With all that being said, I still think that if it makes sense within your budget, I highly recommend purchasing the Lightning Lane for your visit.
Now let’s go over Rider Switch. Disneyland has some pretty fun, big rides that not all little ones would be able to enjoy. Whether it be height restrictions, noninterest or a general fear, your little one isn’t going to be able to ride every attraction at the Disney Parks. This is where Rider Switch comes in handy. I’ll use the Incredicoaster for example, there was absolutely no way my 3-year-old was going to be able to ride this. How we did it was, after booking the ride on the lightning lane and once the time came to ride everyone including my little one got in line. Once we reached the attendant to scan our reservation, we simply asked to use the rider switch. The attendant then assists you into scanning your tickets (which will be on your phone) and the first two (my husband and son) would continue in the line. My daughter and I would walk out of the line and wait for them at the exit or somewhere nearby while they rode the coaster.
The area right outside the coaster has many activities, seating, games and attractions that it’s easy to keep her occupied while waiting. One of the days the Mr. and Mrs. Incredible characters happened to be right outside the ride area. If your little one has some separation anxiety there are many ways to keep them distracted in the meantime. This is when I would take advantage of feeding, diaper changes or potty breaks. Make sure to keep the backpack containing all your toddlers’ things with you to do this. This definitely helped the day run smoother and I totally recommend this if possible. Once Dad and brother finished the ride, it was my turn to ride with brother and daddy’s turn to stay with our little one. As soon as the first group ride the attraction you get a notification on your phone alerting you that the Rider Switch pass is available to use. My son and I would then get back in the Lightning Lane queue and scan our passes once more and off we go to ride the coaster. It’s definitely a nice option to have when you come across rides that your little on is unable to go on. This way both parents get to enjoy the ride without having to choose which one misses out. And the child riding with the adult is having the greatest time riding attractions twice in a row. Let me tell you, my son was having an absolute blast!
6. Taking Plenty of Breaks
Your trip will consist of many breaks, snacks, bathroom, feedings and even naps. If you don’t want a tantrum filled trip, there’s no avoiding needing to take breaks. You’re going to have to take a lot of breaks while at the parks. It’s just the reality of having a little one and the sooner you already have this within your plans the better. Having an overtired child is not fun for anyone. Theres plenty of seating around the park to relax if your little one needs an area to nap or eat their snacks. Disneyland also has their baby care centers for diaper changing, feeding and nursing, if you prefer privacy while breastfeeding. If little legs are tired there’s the beautiful parades or exciting shows to sit and watch. Theres also the shuttle, trolley and train that gives you and your family a great view while resting your legs. Pausing for mini rest breaks is not just good for the little ones but it’s nice for the parents as well.
At times the park itself can be a little bit too much stimuli for some. What helped us was riding the shuttle out of the park into downtown Disney. Walking around and looking at the shops in a smaller crowd environment was a nice quick break from the park. Once we wound down a little, we just walked right over back to the park to finish the day. This is helpful if you don’t want to head all the way back to your hotel room but need to step out of the park for a little refresher. Thats not to say you shouldn’t head back to your hotel if needed. By all means if you need to head back because your children only nap comfortably in a bed, dark room or absolutely need quiet to relax or wind down then do that. They will be much happier for it and in turn so will you. The rest of your day will be a little calmer and more peaceful after, opposed to having an overtired and cranky toddler. Making sure they take enough breaks keeps everyone in an optimal mood for a fun filled day.
Let Go of Expectations
If you’re someone like me who thrives on organization and planning this might be a hard one to swallow. I thought by having a game plan, itinerary, this all or nothing mentality, would help us get the most out of our day but boy was I wrong. Nothing is perfect in life as it is and to believe that a Disneyland trip with a toddler would be any different was a literal fantasy. We had a 3-day 2-Park vacation, and I thought if I planned out accordingly like I had seen other moms on YouTube do it we could take advantage of all the rides, shows and parades. Then reality smacked me in the face! In what world did I believe this would work out for anyone’s benefit? Rushing from ride to ride, hitting specific attractions first and making sure to map out where we were needing to be next was exhausting and frustrating to say the least. Maybe those types of videos actually work for some people and kudos to them, but it was definitely not working for us, and I shouldn’t have put that type of expectation on my family. I wanted the trip to be perfect and that same expectation of perfection was what lead to a stressful and not so enjoyable day. I soon realized I was being motivated more to get the most out of the money we spent than actually enjoying our vacation. I learned that this type of mindset will ruin a trip quick for you. I was literally stressed at the happiest place on earth. Everyone’s feet were hurting, we were all tired, cranky, tantrums took place, and no one was having much fun. The next day at the other park it was a bit better but not by much.
It wasn’t until the third day my mentality was screw it; we’re going in there without a plan. Whatever rides we get on, we get on and what we don’t oh well. If we see a show great and if not oh well. We’ll go on what the kids want to go on and if a ride or two presents itself for us to do a rider switch great and if not that’s ok too. As much as I love Disneyland, this trip was for the kids, and I needed to understand that their version of fun and our version of fun as adults are entirely different. What a drastic change day three was. It was the most fun we had out of all the days. We showed up later than usual, took many breaks, left the park (maybe had 1 tantrum) and we still somehow managed to ride just as much if not more than the other days. All because I let go of all my expectations of perfection for that day. Not only was it stress free, but the energy was so much better because we just went where the day took us. Kids can feel our energy we are giving off and if you’re stressed or tense, they’re going to pick up on that. I know I wasn’t alone in this because I see many parents at Disney frustrated, exhausted and just over the day with their crying kids in tow. And I empathize with those parents because I’ve been there. Had I known this trick from the very beginning, who knows, we probably would have had the most amazing three days. And now that I saw how well it works it’s a nice reminder to have at not only Disneyland but wherever you go on vacation.
We sometimes believe that because we spend so much money on a vacation it has to be a certain way because if not it wasn’t worth it or no one’s going to remember it the way you want. The reality is, if you let go of expectations, that’s when the fun actually presents itself. Sometimes no plan can really be the best plan of all.
I hope some of these tips and tricks may help you on your next trip to Disneyland like they’ve helped me. In all honesty, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to vacationing with kids. As parents, we need to realize they are going to experience joy and create memories in their own way. Creating a less stressful vacation by not only releasing expectations but actually enjoying and being in the moment with your kids, creates core memories they will look back on forever.