The first time we ever went to Disneyland was on our honeymoon, and it was the first time I had ever been to a place I had dreamed of going for a long time. I remember having so much fun on that trip but also seeing parents struggling with children who tired, unhappy, and angry. I remember thinking, maybe Disneyland is just better for adults as kids don’t seem to have much fun. But now I am here to tell you why taking a toddler to Disneyland is the best.
1. They are just the right age
Toddlers are exactly the right age to get excited about Disneyland. We took Lucy about a month after she turned two and she was so excited to go. Babies are fun to take, but they don’t get excited because they don’t understand any of what is going on, and if they can they don’t have the means of expressing that excitement. This makes the planning and the lead up to Disneyland almost as fun as going, and it also means that they can reflect on the experience and talk about it afterwards. Lucy talks about Disneyland almost everyday and loves remembering what she did there.
2. They love riding rides with short lines
Because toddlers are too short to ride the really popular rides your wait times are much shorter than with older kids. Not as many people ride the kiddie rides and the tend to load faster because they are shorter. Lucy loved riding Jessie’s Carousel in California Adventure and we were almost always able to get right on. She also liked Winnie the Pooh which was also almost always a walk on.
3. They absorb the magic
Everyone loves the magic of Disneyland, but toddlers at exactly the right stage to just soak it in and be amazed. Toddlers really believe that Disneyland is where their favorite characters live. Meeting characters was never something I thought would be a big deal for us, and I didn’t understand why people made a big deal about it until we took Lucy. She loved meeting princesses and even though she was scared and shy around characters like Minnie and Mickey she still talks about those experiences everyday.
4. They are free!
Children under three don’t need a ticket to go to Disneyland. This makes taking toddlers to Disneyland the best bang for your buck. They are old enough to absolutely love going, they can do many of things that are there, but they don’t cost anything.
In this same vein toddlers don’t eat much, so you generally can just share food from your plate with them and don’t need to buy them a whole extra meal. You can also pack plenty of non-Disney snacks to keep them happy throughout the day.
A Few Tips
To have a happy time at Disneyland with toddlers it is just important to remember a few things, which are good to remember any time you travel with little ones.
Remember that toddlers get tired, if you can stay close to the park its a good idea to go back for naps or a rest mid afternoon. If you are not staying close then you can see if you can find a quiet spot for them to nap in their strollers.
If your toddler is still in diapers remember that all Disneyland restrooms have changing tables, but there are also baby care locations with everything you need for babies and toddlers, they are super nice and staffed with friendly cast members.
Food is very important in keeping up a toddlers (and parents) spirits. It is good to bring plenty of snacks, and even though Disneyland food is very expensive it is worth buying when you need it rather than pushing it until it is too late. You already spent a lot of money coming to Disneyland, so if you need to don’t shy away from buying a snack to help everyone stay happy. Mickey pretzels are our favorite.
Sum Up
Taking two year old Lucy to Disneyland is one of the most fun things we have ever done. And I say that even though it was pouring rain the day we went to Disneyland (weather was better in California Adventure the next day). Even though the weather was miserable Lucy was a trooper and enjoyed doing everything so much. I think the weather could have ruined my day, but it couldn’t ruin hers because she was in Disneyland.
As of this writing you cannot buy Disneyland tickets due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, but we anticipate ticket purchases will open up again in the next couple months. We highly recommend using our affiliate, Get Away Today, for the best prices on tickets. You can use this link and code YellowVan to save $10!
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