A couple of times or more each month I load myself up like a pack mule and trek to Disneyland from our home in the San Fernando Valley. As an annual passholder and former Disneyland tour guide, I pride myself on always being prepared. Beyond the obvious backpack items like sunscreen, snacks, juice boxes, bottles, wipes, and diapers, here are my top six (because I just couldn’t settle on a nice round number like five and didn’t want to bore you with ten) Disneyland must-haves from home.
· Costumes – They’re just not for Halloween! I dress my boys in costumes all the time—Mickey, Buzz, etc. The cast members and characters love it and fuss over the kids every time. They are only young once, so enjoy it. I highly recommend a change of clothes. Costumes can be itchy and hot and they may want it them sooner rather than later.
· Baby carrier – An absolute MUST for anyone taking an infant to Disneyland. Baby carriers make it much easier to get in and out of the attractions with your little one. If you have more than one child, you’ll appreciate the fact that you can maneuver in and out of attractions while keeping your hands baby free and on your other kids. I am a fan of the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Original. I honestly couldn’t do Disneyland with a baby without it. It also makes boarding the parking trams a breeze.
· Blankets – The multipurpose item in your bag. I always carry several receiving blankets and baby blankets. You can use them to keep baby warm, shade baby (or an older child) while in the stroller
, sit on them while waiting for the parade, or use them to pad baby during diaper changes.
· Bright ribbon, scarf, or other easy identifier for your stroller. When you exit “it’s a small world,” and see an ocean of strollers, you’ll be so happy to have a bright colored piece of fabric stand out in the crowd. Also, an easily identifiable stroller will be much less attractive to those who are looking to take a stroller for a “permanent joy ride,” as no thief wants to get caught.
· Antibacterial wipes – I like the wipes like Wet Ones because you can wipe hands as well as food surfaces, changing tables, etc.
· Toys for children who get bored waiting for entertainment, food, rides, etc. Bring small toys in your stroller you can use to entertain your children. Make sure they are toys that you can replace (unlike the luvie your child sleeps with at night) and make sure to write your child’s first and last name and phone number on the item so that if it is found Lost and Found can get it back to you. If the toy is large enough, return address labels on anything you bring helps to ensure you get your lost possessions back.
For more extensive lists, check out the packing page of the Babes in Disneyland site by clicking here. Leave me a comment below about your Disneyland backpack must haves.
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All great tips! I love the idea of packing toys to entertain the kids. I need to pack some next time for my two year old. He is so impatient and hates waiting in line (I mean really who does anyway?).
I am so thankful that I tag my stroller. It’ a must when you are heading to Disneyland or any theme park 🙂
I have to agree with all of these. I used my baby bjorn on almost every ride my 11 month old could ride and it worked great. I didn’t have to worry about her going over the edge of the boat on Small World! The ribbon on the stroller idea is great too; We found our stroller right away everytime.
Great tips! Love the blog!
Thanks for your tips! We just went to Disneyland and plan to go again next month. And the next…
Costumes: You are right! They are a MUST! My daughter received extra attention in her princess dress and she felt extra special. The Halloween costumes are cheap and lighter than the full costumes that are sold out of season and at DL. Example: Princess dresses are $65 at Disneyland and I got my daughter’s for $12 last year the day after halloween.
Baby carrier: I brought two wondering which would be the most comfy. I didn’t use either one. I should have used one to board the tram, but by the end of the day, I forgot I had it along. I’ll bring it again next time. It was just too hot the day we went.
Blankets: I brought one and it was a lifesaver! I used it as a shade, something to stand on (it was hot!), wiped a face with it, and by the end of the day it looked ready for retirement.
Ribbon for my stroller: Forgot. Sure wish I would have done this! I saw a lot of strollers that all looked just like mine!
Wipes: I just used baby wipes. And I didn’t need them to wipe down the changing table because I used the very clean baby center! Thanks for that tip!
Toys: Awesome! Before we left I packed a few lost and abandoned Disney toys from the bottom of the toyboxes, long forgotten. They came out one at a time at various intervals throughout the day and everyone loved it!
I also brought a cooler of juice boxes and water bottles. A few snacks like crackers and oatmeal to go, and a couple of apples.
Parking tip: I snapped my first photo of the day in the parking lot, took a picture of the nearest parking marker. Sure enough, I forgot by the end of the day if I parked on Donald or Daisy and what row. A lot of people who rent a car forget what they drove, make, model and color, let alone where they parked it. Make that your first photo.
I’m sure it was on this blog that I learned about the Baby Care Center. That was the best tip ever! I had a hard time finding it even though I knew it was there. The Baby Care Center was very nice and clean, pleasantly staffed and accommodating to a mom alone with a toddler and a baby. They didn’t have a mommy sized chair in the front room though, but otherwise the baby care center was just what we needed for potty, diaper, and nursing. Also, it was nice and cool inside! Ahhhh!
Gosh, this turned into a full blog post. Sorry! But I had to respond to your tips and let you know that your blog made our day better! Thanks!
Mary, thanks for all of the feedback!!! You rock! I love hearing that readers have used the tips! Please be sure to check out my site before your next trip. It has way more information that the blog. http://www.babesindisneyland.com
Would you recommend a baby carrier for an 18 month old? I have a few I can bring, just not sure if it’s worth lugging into the park!
I suppose it depends on how heavy your baby is. Baby Bjorn has a new(ish) carrier that is great for kids up to age three. We will have a review up for it soon!