Dizneyland: how to keep your head from spinning
The last time I was in Disneyland before this trip I was seventeen and it was ALL about the rides. They were thrilling, imaginative, and like nothing I had seen before. This trip the rides were hardly “thrilling”. But the parades and shows - those were thrilling, imaginative, and like nothing I have ever seen before. I may be stating the obvious here but for me it was an aha moment of hindsight: young kids don’t want thrills. I don’t know what age you start loving a good fright, but I’m certain its not before five. Absorbing the magic of Disneyland quickly turned from focusing on as many cool rides as we could find within the kids’ height range, to seeing the shows and parades, and using the rides as nice time-fillers. I think that is the biggest difference in enjoying Disneyland with young kids.
Shows and parades:
First of all, props to the performers. The first parade we saw was “Celebrate! A Street Party”. I know these performers do the same routine time and time again each day. From the way they interact with the kids waiting on the sides of the parade and with each other, these performers were as into it as anyone there. The floats are extravagent and amazing, but the characters who ride in and alongside them really bring everything to life.
From my earlier research, it seemed that California Adventure was getting poor reviews. Our day there was one of the best days on several levels. There are multiple shows there. This means shorter lines (since you can get more people into a theatre) and longer entertainment (much more than a two and a half minute ride). Besides the shows, there were fewer crowds and more characters. Though my kids wouldn’t go near anyone/thing in a costume, it was still a thrill to see them walking around the streets. The eletrical light parade is also held there, which is something our kids will remember for a long time!
Though people begin lining up to see the biggie shows waaayyy ahead of time, make sure to see Fantasmic (around 8pm) and the fireworks show at 9:30. Apparently if you get some kind of package deal through AAA, you can get into this reserved seating section for at least some of the big shows. After trying to entertain the kids for over an hour of waiting for a show, I think I would pay good bucks for that kind of ticket. Worth looking into.
What to know about the rides:
A FASTPASS is free and available at many of the popular rides. At the entrance to the ride are some Fast Pass machines where you put in your Disneyland ticket and out pops a FASTPASS ticket that says you get to go to a much shorter line if you come back at a designated time. The FASTPASS time often has a one or two hour window, but coming after that window is no big deal. Once you’ve punched in for a FASTPASS you can’t get a FASTPASS to another ride until after the window time to your original FASTPASS ticket has begun. There are ways to beat the system, but frankly it looks like more work than it’s worth.
Here’s a tip I wish I had known: Adults with kids don’t have to stand in line if the ride is for adults only. I tried twice to get onto Space Mountain trying to coordinate the FASTPASS window periods with times that we would be in the park. After each attempt, by the time I got there the ride had shut down for some reason. Apparently if you show the guy who runs the ride that you are there with your family, you get to wait in the shorter line. Also, if both parents want to go on a ride without kids, one parent can ride while the other watches the kids, then the second parent gets to ride right after the first.
Most people start with Tomorrowland and go counter-clockwise. If you start at Adventureland and go clockwise, you get shorter lines. This tip came from a very helpful website that I wish I had found before my trip.
Places worth focusing on with young kids:
- Bug’s Life at California Adventure. I’d say this offered the most for the under kindergarten crowd
- Fantasyland – some of the rides they will remember the most are here: Its a Small World, Dumbo, Pinochio, Alice in Wonderland, etc.
- Adventureland: Jungle Cruise, Tom Sawyers Island, and you can ride both a huge Pirate Ship and the Mark Twain Paddle wheel. There are also canoes that I would have liked to paddle, but at that point we were ready to go.
- Tomorrowland: my oldest LOVED Autopia where he got to “drive” a car (on rails) and the huge rocketship ride. There is also a cool “Jedi Training Camp” show at the Terrace Stage that is pretty cool for any star wars fan.
There is a Toon town that seemed cool in concept but didn’t seem to hold enough interest to warrant staying long.
Other Random Tips: Bring your own stroller (s). There is a lot of ground to cover and for any kid younger who can fit into a stroller, it’s a good idea to have one handy. A stroller costs $12 per day to rent. Double strollers are not available. If you have a Disneyland Visa Card, you can get up to two stroller rentals per day for free.
For more travel photos visit Delicious Baby and check out Photo Friday. For more Disneyland tips see Family Adventure Guidebooks.
[...] Family Adventure Guidebooks participates in Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday including a different perspect on Disney parades and other Disney tips from Tripping With Kids. [...]
Great minds think alike
. That Space Mountain tip is invaluable. Thanks.
We liked the Nemo submarine ride last time we were at Disney. They did a good job of upgrading it and incorporating the Finding Nemo characters in it. The coolest thing (to us anyway) at California Adventure was the interactive animated show with the turtle from Finding Nemo–that was amazing! You have to look for it, but it’s well worth the trip.
We walked into that one, but the show didn’t start for another 45 minutes. By that time we were on to something else. Guess that leaves something new to go back to. Thanks for the insight.
We definitely have to check out Tomorrowland for Jedi Training Camp. Is this in Disneyland or California Adventure?
Tomorrowland is part of Disneyland. Pictured on this post is a rocket ride which is HUGE and marks the entrance into Tomorrowland. You can’t miss it. The Jedi Shows are pretty frequent, but you can also check the times on the Disneyland website.
Excellent tips, Lora. Wasn’t familiar with the FASTPASS – I’m guessing that didn’t exist 20 years ago.
I haven’t been to dizzy land in over 20 years, and with each picture realize I would have to do like 1 week to enjoy it all!
[...] have learned to be skeptical of theme parks, based on our last trip to Disneyland. My oldest was petrified of the walking characters and my youngest one didn’t want to go [...]