We%26#39;ll be in Disneyland from (F)May 19 - (W) 24 staying in Candy Cane Inn (hopefully connecting premium rooms). We%26#39;d love some suggestions for an itinerary. We%26#39;ve booked Ariel%26#39;s grotto already and plan on seeing Aladdin on Sat. or Sun. - other than that, please suggest some hints and must sees!
4 adults, 2 two year olds (girl and boy), 2 four year olds...
They%26#39;ll have the best fun whatever you do! My suggestion is more of a pacing one - ie pace the little ones so as not to overdo it. If you%26#39;re taking a few days, there is really no rush to see everything, and taking some down time during the day to rest and re-group is essential for the happiness of all! Also take lots of snacks and drinks to keep them physically going! (I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and even though my 4 year old doesn%26#39;t normally take naps any more, while we were at Disneyland when we went back to the hotel, she did!)
I%26#39;d suggest that when DL park opens, you might head straight for Fantasyland, which is where lots of the attractions for little ones take place - my 4 yr old%26#39;s favorites are Peter Pan, Spinning Teacups, Caterpillar ride (Alice in Wonderland), Carousel and Dumbo ride. My 2 yr old liked the Casey Jones train too. Move onto It%26#39;s a Small World and then into Toon Town. My kids both loved to run round Donald%26#39;s Boat, and the 4 yr old loved Goofy%26#39;s Bounce House (2 yr old was too short to qualify, though he%26#39;d have had a blast!).
We don%26#39;t bother with the trains/trams/monorail, as it means folding down the stroller and trying to carry kids and stoller and diaper bag etc. Same for shuttle buses, so we just walk everywhere and it%26#39;s very easy.
Pooh bear ride is a big hit, though a bit out of the way of the other kiddie attractions, but you can line up outside the ride to see Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore, and this is always fun for my two.
Tomorrow land rocket ride was fun too, and you have to do Autopia! My daughter steers (very bumpy ride as we bounce from side to side) and I do the pedals (she can%26#39;t reach yet) and it%26#39;s a laugh. 2 yr old just comes along for the ride and is quite happy.
I%26#39;m guessing meeting princesses should be covered by your Ariel%26#39;s Grotto visit, but this is a big hit for my girl. She%26#39;s princess crazy! They have princess storytelling in the princess shop in Fantasyland (just as you go thru the castle), but my 2 yr old won%26#39;t sit for this so well.
In Disney%26#39;s CA, to me there is much less for the little ones. We did the Aladdin show, which they enjoyed, but even more so they just loved the Playhouse Disney show. To me it was a little disappointing as the characters were so small (except bear in the blue house) but both kids lapped it all up and it was one of our highlights. I dont%26#39; know this park as well, so will let someone else answer for the rest of CA Adventrue.
Make use of FastPasses (e.g. for Autopia in particular) to save time standing in lines.
On Main Stree, there%26#39;s the Carnation Cafe and they offer a peanut butter and jelly build your own sandwich that was a hit with my kids, and is served with fresh fruit, which was a relief as junk food is much easier to come by.
Kids both loved the parades, but get a good seat early on. On Main street, they rope a part of the sidwalk off and the kids can stay in the strollers, so if it%26#39;s late and they%26#39;re tired, they get to sit and watch teh action from teh comfort of the stroller. Ask a crew member for recommendations on a good place.
Pirates of Caribbean is fun too. Includes one tiny dip down in the dark that my 2 yr old wasn%26#39;t overly impressed with, and some not too noisy explosions.
Aladdin Stortytelling was more fun than I%26#39;d expected, and you get to have a photo with Aladdin and Jasmine afterwards. I thought it would be just a story told by Aladdin (more like the princess storytelling), but it was acted out and had audience (kid) participation, which made it much more fun.
But teh best thing would be to look at a map and have a general plan in mind of what you might like to do (though not so rigid that you can%26#39;t deviate! You have to be flexible) that basically takes you from place A to place B etc. to minimize backtracking (and therefore to minimize getting overtired). And give the little ones some time to rest. It can be a real sensory overload, especially if you%26#39;re doing days back to back.
Hope you have a fun trip.
4 adults, 2 two year olds (girl and boy), 2 four year olds...
I just came back from a four day trip from disneyland yesterday . The candy cane is an excellent choice , close enough to walk and also has a shuttle ! My hints would be to bring in snacks and bottle water for the kids and to pace yourself being that you have 5 days that shouldnt be a problem . For example on your first day you can check out the parade and the fireworks get in a good spot early and watch it all . now the next four days during those times go the the rides that are usually the busiest , chances are the lines will bhe smaller due to people wanting to go to the parade and fireworks .
also the previous post gave some excellent tips I would just add that in california adventue a bugs land as alot of 5 and under types of rides and things to do have fun on your trip !!!
Thanks Jaq and Seattle!
Your suggestions are very helpful. Did you use a double stroller for your kiddies?
I always use a double stroller and for us it works well (except that we have a side by side BOB and it doesn%26#39;t fit in the bathrooms! Not a huge problem, as I just park it outside and take the kids in with me). I like the option to strap little ones in when I need them contained as well as when they are snacking or tired - especially if plans include staying in the park for the fireworks (which is highly recommended if you can do it, as it%26#39;s a great show). They rent strollers at Disneyland too, in case you didn%26#39;t know, though I don%26#39;t know how much it costs as I%26#39;ve not done it.
forgot to say that the kids love the Tiki Room too, and you are allowed to take food in there, so it%26#39;s a good option for a place to snack while still doing something!
Hey luvbeingmum
Jokelady from Edmonton Alberta here. I was at Disneyland last May 2thru 6th and we were there for the big 50th anniversary kickoff party with Kesley Grammer and Julie Andrews. It was an amazing time let me tell you.
If you have the cash I would not bother dragging your own strollers and rent theirs. If you buy for several days at a time you actually save $2.00 a day. It is $18.00 a day to rent a double stroller and to some that might seem high. Please know that you can take your stroller out of Disneyland and cross over to California adventure without having to pay again. You can also leave the park for the day and keep your ticket stub and just show it when you return later that day and pick up your stroller again. You don%26#39;t have to keep paying (thank goodness).
I would strongly suggest goiong for early openings when you can and also take a midday break with the kids. We found going back to the hotel for a swim was a must.
Taking drinks from the hotel vending machines will be cheaper then buying at the park. Also, bring snacks from Canada such as fruit cups, granola bars etc. I missed fresh fruit when I was there. There are no grocery stores very close to Disneyland so unless your renting a car, you will have to just make do with whatever you can buy at all the little souvenir shops. They do sell single banana%26#39;s and stuff but they are pricey and not very nice looking. If the hotel serves continental breakfast with the hotel price you pay per night, grab some fruit at breakfast tiem to eat during the day. Heck you paid for it.... why not!
Bugs land at California adventure is awesome! Don%26#39;t forget to go see ';It%26#39;s tough to be a bug'; 3D show in California adventure. Your kids will love it! Take your bathing suits because there is a water park for the kids at California adventure. It is really neat. I have pictures of it if you want to see them online.
Make sure to see the fireworks shows and also the afternoon show called Block Party at California Aadventure. It is a new show with all the Monsters Inc. characters and Woody etc. They dance and drag kids in to participate in the show. It happens in the afternoon right by the giant sun inside the gates of California Adventure... you can%26#39;t miss it!
California Soaring is a MUST! You will need to see that first thing in the mornign or get a fast pass. It is a cool ride but you may not be able to take all your kids due to their height. Hubby and you may need to take turns watching the kdis while you go on the ride. Trust me... WELL WORTH IT!
My favorite ride is Peter Pan flight. Make sure to take the kids on that. All of them can go on it and it is an amazing ride.
I sure hope you have a lot of fun. Don%26#39;t forget your golden Mickey Mouse ears as they will be collectors items one day.
I look forward to you posting on here when you get back. I want to hear all about your trip. If you need any other advice or want to see pictures of any of the attractions (hubby took 20 rolls of film when we were there and they are all on CD) email me at cybersell@compusmart.ab.ca and I will answer your questions or share pictures.
Jokelady back in Edmonton home of the worlds largest shopping mall and indoor waterpark!
I would talk to the kids about the characters first. Some are quite tall and scare 2 year olds.
My suggestions for pacing:
Get to the park before it opens and wait at the gates. As soon as they open, charge down Main St. without stopping. Go through the castle and straight to Dumbo. Ride Dumbo, It%26#39;s A Small World, Peter Pan, then the carousel. The kids will probably want to ride It%26#39;s A Small World more than once. Then the Pooh ride.
Get early lunch before the crowd wants lunch, and take it easy at a table. Leave the park by noon and go back for naps. One of you can nap with the kids and the other one can hit the pool (if you are the athletic types).
After a long nap - 3 or 4 hours of quiet time, get the kids ready for early dinner in the parks.
It is very important to leave the park before closing or you will be caught in the exiting crowd, which is not pleasant. Note the theme here is to stay ahead of the crowd as much as possible.
If you can%26#39;t get out of the park for naps, find a shady spot and let the kids sleep in their strollers (they will all be tired).
For easy parade viewing go to the candy store on main st. - sit on the curb with your back against the light pole (you will be pretty tired by this time). You must get to your spot on the curb about 45 minutes or 1 hour prior to the parade. A good treat here is a caramel apple.
Second day - let the kids play in the hotel pool and have a relaxing morning. Then take naps. Then go into the park for evening fun including dinner and fire works.
Overall - this is Disneyland - no crying kids allowed. Indulge them, even if you are disciplined at home, because this is their vacation too. So, that way, instead of dealing with discipline, the whole family stays happy. If they want to do something like stand in line for 40 minutes to meet Cinderella - let them. They will remember this trip for their whole lives (the 4 year olds). The 2 year olds will remember a lot - you will be surprised at how much.
I would NOT take kids this age to It%26#39;s Tough to be a Bug.
I took my 4 year old girl to Tough to be a bug and she loved it! I even took her on Haunted Mansion and she was in awe of everything. She wasn%26#39;t scared as wel explained to her it is all make believe. Some kids handle these rides better then others. I bet all 4 kids would like it.
Jokelady
t 4 my daughter didn%26#39;t even make it halfway down the tunnel to ITTBAB. She wasn%26#39;t ready for Haunted Mansion until age six and still doesn%26#39;t want to try ITTBAB and she%26#39;ll be 7 next week. It%26#39;s true that all kids are different but every time I%26#39;ve gone in there I%26#39;ve heard kids crying and seen people having to take them out.
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