I remember my first trip to the Disneyland Resort as a parent like it was yesterday. We planned, prepared and packed for days. My excitement and anticipation was through the roof. And even though I spent more than five years working as a tour guide and writer for the Resort, that first trip as a mommy will go down as one of the most memorable days of my life.
Since that first trip, we have had two more sons and hundreds of visits to the Parks, and the key to more fun and less stress is to travel smarter so you don’t have to work harder. In the more than eight years traveling (often sans other adults) with my three children (with their first visits starting at just 6 weeks old), I have discovered a lot of ways to make our trips more enjoyable. I know I have posted a lot of these over the years, but thought it might be a good time for a reminder of some of my favorites.
1. Overnight Diapers: In the excitement and rush of a day at the Disneyland Resort, it’s easy for time to get away from you and forget about all-important diaper changes. Using overnight diapers alleviates the stress of having to keep to a strict diaper changing schedule and let’s families have fun “by the seat of their pants.”
2. The Baby Care Centers: The Baby Care Centers are a family’s home away from home and
offers moms a quiet, secluded place to nurse. The Baby Care Centers also offer special tiny potties for kiddos who are potty training, spacious changing tables, an area for pumping, high chairs for feeding baby, a sink for washing food items (baby bottles, sippy cups, eating utensils, water bottles, etc.), another sink for washing soiled clothing and cloth diapers (Disneyland only) and a microwave for heating up baby and toddler foods. The Disney California Adventure Baby Care Center also features a family restroom. Learn more about the Baby Care Enters by clicking here.
offers moms a quiet, secluded place to nurse. The Baby Care Centers also offer special tiny potties for kiddos who are potty training, spacious changing tables, an area for pumping, high chairs for feeding baby, a sink for washing food items (baby bottles, sippy cups, eating utensils, water bottles, etc.), another sink for washing soiled clothing and cloth diapers (Disneyland only) and a microwave for heating up baby and toddler foods. The Disney California Adventure Baby Care Center also features a family restroom. Learn more about the Baby Care Enters by clicking here.
3. Pressed Pennies: A day at the Disneyland Resort is pretty expensive and pressed pennies, located throughout the resort in a large portion of the stores, ring in as the cheapest souvenirs at just 51 cents each.
4. Rider Switch Passes: Just because you are going to Disneyland with a baby or toddler, you don’t have to cross those high-speed thrill attractions off your list. If you are traveling with another adult, you can utilize the resort’s rider switch pass. Although the specific procedure for using the pass can vary a bit from attraction to attraction, the basics of the pass remain the same. The pass allows you and your family to wait in line together (typically only to a certain point). One adult then waits by the exit of the attraction with the child or children who won’t be riding while the other adult waits in line with any remaining guests in the party and rides the attraction. Then, after they’ve enjoyed the attraction, the other adult who has been waiting will get to ride the attraction. Typically the attraction’s Cast Member will allow one of the guests who has already been on the attraction to go again with the waiting adult so that they don’t have to ride alone. Click here to learn more about Rider Switch Passes.
5. Ride up front in the Monorail: Want to score big points with your kids? Ask one of the Cast Members at the Monorail if your family can ride up front in the nose cone with the driver. On most trips, up to four guests can experience the thrill of cruising up front with the driver. Learn more by clicking here.
6. Take a trip around Disneyland’s Rivers of America from ordinary to extraordinary: This one can be tough to get, but guests can request to ride up in the wheelhouse of the Mark Twain Riverboat in Frontierland with the ship’s pilot. Space is tight so this request is typically limited to parties of four or less but once up in the wheelhouse, guests can “steer” the boat, blow the whistle, ring the bell and get a certificate! Learn more about this incredible experience by clicking here.
7. Simple guide for gauging crowds: The number one question I get asked is about crowds. I have devised a pretty simple way of knowing whether or not it will be crowded and this has become my fans’ favorite Disneyland hack. While the general rule of thumb is that if you have the day off from work and/or school everyone else does too and it will, therefore, be crowded, there is a little more to it. Click here for more details.
8. Skip the kids’ meals: Most families automatically look at the price of kids’ meals and think it is the best option for their children but in my experience that is not always the case. At some restaurants there are kid versions of adult meals, and while those meals may come with a drink, the adult meals are a far better value and large enough for children to share. My family’s favorite meal to share is the fried chicken dinner (available for lunch and dinner) at Disneyland’s Plaza Inn on Main Street U.S.A. It is large enough for all three of my children to share. Learn more by clicking here.
9. Breaking down restaurant menus: The Disneyland Resort makes it easy for families by providing “meals” as opposed to å la carte menus at most quick serve and sit down restaurants. What most guests don’t realize is that those meals can be broken apart and guests can pay for food items å la carte. Don’t want the chips that come with the corndog? You can ask for a substitute or for it to be priced sans side item. Splitting that infamous fried chicken dinner at the Plaza Inn but everyone wants their own buttermilk biscuit? Not a problem! Guests can just purchase extra biscuits with the meal.
10. Save money on sodas: Sodas can be pricey at the Disneyland Resort, but those “in the know” realize that three restaurants inside Disneyland give free refills and a to-go cup for after the meal is over: Plaza Inn, Rancho del Zocalo and Pizza Port. All table services restaurants also provide refills on soft drinks. Learn more here.
11. Keep baby close: Traveling with a baby to the Disneyland Resort is much easier than parents would think it to be and the best way to travel with baby is using a baby carrier. The right carrier allows moms and dads to have their hands free while getting in and out of attractions and minimizes the amount of times baby is taken in and out of the stroller. Some attractions require that the child be able to face forward, so be certain that the carrier allows the forward-facing option. Also note that backpack carriers are an absolute “don’t,” as children cannot stay in them on attractions. Learn more tips for surviving Disneyland with a baby by clicking here.
12. Stay hydrated on the cheap: Families can go through a lot of water while spending the day at the Disneyland Resort, but there is no reason to have to take out a second mortgage to afford all of those bottles of water. Filtered water spigots are available in the Baby Care Centers at both parks (and may be used by anyone, regardless of whether or not they have a baby in tow), as well as Rancho del Zocalo, the French Market and Tomorrowland Terrace restaurants in Disneyland. Plus, cups of ice and water are available for free at any food service location with a soda fountain! Learn more by clicking here.
13. Stay connected: Information on attraction wait times, FASTPASS availability, where to find characters and even restaurant availability are only a tweet away! Guests can send their questions while in the parks to @DisneylandToday and @DCAToday and get quick responses to many of their in-park queries. Learn more by clicking here.
14. Stay charged: Phones, tablets and other electronics have become a regular part of visiting the Disneyland Resort and if you don’t own a hand-held charger and don’t want to have to find an outlet (which can be very difficult to find) and stay glued to it while your device charges, Disneyland (not Disney California Adventure) offers secure electronics charging stations at the Main Street locker facility for $2 per hour. Learn more by clicking here.
Want even more great tips? We’ve got more than we can count! Check out attraction (ride) tips here, shopping tips here and even more amazing tips here.Lisa Robertson is the publisher of Babes In Disneyland and well-known Disneyland expert. You can follow Lisa on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook for the latest tips, news and information about the Disneyland Resort.
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