One of the most common questions people ask me is, “What age should my child be before I take them to Disneyland for the first time?” I typically say their little one probably won’t enjoy it as much as they want them to until around 3, but what if you don’t want to wait that long? What happens when your child becomes children? Do you now make your oldest wait several years until their younger sibling is old enough to make another trip? Not only can bringing a baby or toddler to Disneyland be completely manageable, it can be a blast! Here are my top 10 tips to having an enjoyable Disneyland Resort vacation with a baby or toddler:

1. Baby Care Centers: This one is common to most people, so I will list it first. Disneyland offers two baby centers on the resort. One is in Disneyland at the end of Main Street next to the first aid station, and the other is in Disney California Adventure next to the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain in Pacific Wharf. These centers include a nursing room with chairs, changing room with tables, feeding area with highchairs, kitchen with microwave and sink, and a small shop where you can purchase formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes, etc. This is an especially nice area to bring your baby for a break in the summer since it’s always nicely air conditioned. In addition to the baby care centers, there is a baby changing station in every restroom in the park.

   

2. Keeping Them Safe: The early walking/toddler years can sometimes be the most worrisome time when taking your child to Disneyland because of their propensity to wander off. Take these precautions: A. Take a head to toe picture each morning before you head into the parks. If you get separated, this will aid cast members in quickly locating your child. B. Have your contact number attached somewhere on their body. Some ideas are disposable ID bracelets (sold on Amazon), write in Sharpie on their hand and cover it with New Skin so it won’t wash off, or write on a piece of duct tape and tape it somewhere on their clothes. C. If your toddler can understand, stop a cast member on your first day into the park and ask them to show your little one their badge. Tell your child to find someone wearing the same kind of badge if they get lost. Every single cast member wears one and it is a great way for them to know where/who to go to if they can’t find you.
3. Getting Around: If you and your baby can tolerate a baby carrier, bring one. Our youngest was an infant the first time we took her, and it is much easier to get around with a Moby Wrap or Baby Bjorn than a stroller. If you want a stroller, park it in a central “stroller lot” location and come back to it during the day if you need it. Speaking of Strollers, I hate renting strollers at the park. The chances of you park hopping are much greater at Disneyland Resort since the gates to the two parks are mere feet from one another. However, you can’t cross over between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in a rented stroller. You have to turn it back in before leaving and then rent a new one at the next park. Also, you can’t fold them up and take them on the train (see tip #4) or monorail. You have to get off at the same stop where you boarded to get your stroller back. And finally, everyone and their uncle has the same one. You will spend half of your day looking for it among the other hundred just like it in the stroller lots. My personal favorite stroller that we had for the park was a bright red Chicco Liteway Plus. It is a sturdy, but lightweight, compact, fold up stroller that lasted us over five years. If we have another baby, I will be buying a new one. We got more than our money’s worth out of this stroller at Disneyland alone. EDIT: I have been corrected about their rule regarding taking a stroller from one park to another, and I am happy to say I was misinformed! You can in fact take rented strollers between the two parks, but you will be stopped if you try to take them into Downtown Disney. Good to know! I was also told that you can take them on the train, but due to their strong, bulky build, I would still much prefer the stroller I suggested.
4. Great Nap Spots: Sometimes you can’t leave the park for a nap, and there is no better way to ruin the rest of your day than a sleep deprived baby or toddler. If you can’t manage to get back to your hotel, here are the go-to places we have used: Disneyland: Disneyland Railroad. This ride is perfect since you can ride it as long as you want. The motion of the train often helps get them to sleep as well. Disney California Adventure: The Disney Animation Building. This is the building in Hollywood Land where you will find Turtle Talk With Crush, Animation Academy, and Sorcerer’s Workshop. The Animation Courtyard you walk into when you first enter the building is large, dark, carpeted, and air conditioned. Grab a spot along one of the walls and get comfy.
5. Eating: Bring lots of snacks! Regardless of where you eat, table service or quick service, waiting for your food to be served or waiting in line, your little one will have to wait for their food. Parents often know this is a prime melt-down period. Be prepared to give them some instant gratification to ease the wait. If your baby is still on formula, bring your own bottles of water into the park. Formula is expensive enough without the added premium price of on-park bottled water. If you’re breastfeeding, keep yourself hydrated. Every restaurant offers free water and there are plenty of water fountains around. If you prefer bottled water… see previous comment about bringing in your own bottled water.
6. Character Meals: Speaking of eating, character meals are some of the most popular eating experiences on the resort. However, the costumed characters can cause a mixed reaction in both babies and toddlers. Leave it to the pros and Disneyland to be completely prepared for this. If you’re unsure about how your little one will react, ask your server which direction the characters will come from when they make their way to your table, and then make sure your baby/toddler faces that direction so they’re not surprised. You will notice the costumed characters will give your child a bit of a distance before approaching. They will gauge their and your reaction to see if it’s okay for them to come closer. If they sense they aren’t welcome, they will just wave. If you have older kids in your party, they will wave them over.
7. Rides: You will be pleasantly surprised when you realize how many rides your babies can go on. This is one of the reasons why Disneyland is my favorite place to take our kids. Babies can go on any ride where there’s no height restriction, and there are a lot of them. If everyone else still wants to ride the thrill rides, request a “Rider Switch” pass. If you have never heard of it, this is how it works: Your entire party goes to the cast member at the entrance of the ride and requests a Rider Switch. One adult stays with the younger passenger/s while the rest of the party gets in line and rides. When they come back, the adult who waited can take one other person and get into a shorter line (most often the Fastpass line) and get on the ride with a much shorter wait. The first party to ride can still use Fastpasses and take advantage of a Rider Switch. The Rider Switch is good for the whole day, so if your little one can’t wait for the second group in your party to ride, you can just come back later. In our family’s situation, we have two daughters, and one of them is still too short to ride the bigger rides. When we use the Rider Switch, our older daughter gets to ride back to back. There is typically a smaller ride nearby that your little one can ride back to back during this time as well.
8. Take Advantage of the Shows and Parades: Babies and toddlers often like visual stimulation more than the rides! Shows and parades also offer much needed breaks as well. Take advantage of them!
9. Lower Your Expectations and Be Flexible: Every kid has a different tolerance level, but no baby or toddler is going to last from the start of Magic Morning hours to closing. Even more so, they won’t be able to go all day, several days in a row. Don’t hesitate to make one of the days of your stay a pool day. Are they melting down after dinner? Perhaps skip Fantasmic or World of Color that night and go see it the next night. You will need to take lots of breaks each day, go at a slower pace, and be prepared to cut the day short if your little one has had enough. A good adage to remember, your party will only be as happy as your youngest member.
10. Have Fun and Take it Slow: Don’t be overly concerned with the fact they may be too young to remember this particular trip in the future. Take lots of pictures and make lots of memories that YOU will remember so you can share them with your child when they get older. As a parent, you know how quickly this time flies. Cherish and savor it!

What tips did I miss? Share your favorite tips for bringing your own kids!

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