Disneyland
The first time we decided to take our older two kids to Disneyland, I have to admit, I was skeptical. I thought they were too young, the crowds too much, the heat, the lines, blah blah blah. Suffice it to say, I was all wrong! Hear that honey, you were right. We had so much fun that we have been back three more times in just a few short years. We each love it as much as the other does. After 4 visits to the happiest place on earth, I’ve decided it was time to share some of our favorite tips & tricks to save time, money and most importantly, optimize the fun factor!
1. Where to stay – We have stayed at a Disneyland property and also off property. Even though it had been recommended to us to stay on property when the kids were little so that we could head back to the hotel for pool time, we never did. We never once took a break from one of the parks in four trips over the past 6 years. We enjoyed staying on property for proximity, but have decided that it is not necessary to have a blast! Don’t feel compelled to spend a ton of money at one of the resorts in order to have a memorable stay, it will happen regardless of where you spend the night.
2. Get to the park EARLY – A lot earlier than you think. Everything takes longer than you may expect and nothing beats having Disneyland or California Adventure practically to yourself that first hour or two. It is so worth it. And if you buy a package that included a “Magic Morning Entrance,” use it! You will be able to ride dozens of rides with little to no lines. Tip: California Adventure wakes up a bit later. If you have two days to spend at the parks, pick one to start early at one day and the other the next day. You can literally ride most of CA adventure in the first 1.5 hrs. it opens with hardly a person in line. On one trip we rode California Screamin’ 4 times in a row with no more than a 5-10 min. wait.
3. Let them eat the crap. It’s one day and few things make kids happier than when we say “yes” to ice cream or Mickey ears.
4. Find the characters that you don’t have to stand in line for an hour to snap a pic with them. CA adventure has many of them. The latest princess at Disneyland will still have a line, but there are a few spots you can find some if you look. The first spot is between Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and the Royal Theater. There are often characters milling around there that have shorter lines than the ones on the other side of the castle near the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Another spot is directly across from the line for It’s a small world in the back right corner (if facing it’s a small world front). For the original Mickey Mouse characters, you can find them in the front of the park at the start of main street. You can often find short lines for them in the corner, if you are standing under the flagpole looking up main street, the corner to your right. They come and go from there and are often found with only a few children around.
5. When you enter either park, go to your favorite ride with the longest wait time and get a fast pass. At CA adventure this is likely the Carsland ride. Toy Story always has a long wait because it doesn’t have fast passes, Soaring Over California is still a favorite, be sure to request the front row, wait a few minutes for it if you have to, it’s worth it. At Disneyland the longest line is for Indiana Jones usually. Space Mountain is still a huge draw as it has been since I was a kid and you saved your “E-tickets” just for that! If you can handle riding Splash Mountain in the morning before it’s warm, you won’t have to wait as long. We have become a family of junkies for roller coasters. None of us can get enough. California Screamin’ might be my all time favorite. I love watching my kids, even our youngest get a surge of adrenaline over the thrill of a ride. It is too much fun!
6. When you’ve spent the morning riding as many rides as your heart desires with the smaller crowds and wait times, you then have more time to enjoy the rest of what Disney has to offer. There are fantastic shows like Alladin and Fantasia, even smaller shows like It’s a Bug’s Life and the ones at the Royal Theater. Disneyland is as rich in history as much as it is in excitement. The middle of the day when crowds start to peak and temperatures start to rise, take advantage of the shows, exhibits, drawing classes and parades. You will feel like a kid again yourself.
Here are more posts about fun family trips to the Grand Canyon and Kauai. Or trips closer to home for a fun filled stay-cation!
