1.GO EARLY! Disneyland mornings are magic!
This is my number one piece of advice that no one wants to take, lol! But trust me, you will avoid crowds and get to do all of your favorite rides without any lines! Gates open at 7:30am for rope drop at 8!
2. Brings tons of snacks and tons of water
You can bring anything into the park except for glass and alcohol.
3. Bring your everyday stroller
Pack one bag with valuables (keep with you at all times)
Pack a second with less valuable items (extra clothes, diapers, snacks, water) & leave in the bottom of your stroller
Wagons are not allowed and strollers must be no bigger than 31″x52″ (most double strollers should fall within this measurement!)
4. Wear the babies (and toddlers for lines!)
You will have to park your stroller often so a carrier will be your best friend for lines. Even if you don’t normally wear your toddler, consider doing so for Disney! So much easier to get through lines. Babies can stay in the carrier for most rides, but there are a couple they may ask you to take them out (this has varied from my personal experience).
5. Eat during off times to avoid crowded restaurants
You can even consider taking a monorail to Downtown Disney to break up the day.
6. Noise canceling headphones for babies under 6 months
Some of the rides are LOUD. This always made me feel so much better about taking an infant. We loved these!
7. Ride the Railroad around the park to take breaks- nurse, give kids snacks, rest, etc.
This keeps the kids entertained but gives everyone a break off of their feet. You can park your stroller and ride it around the park for as long as you want, getting off at the same place and then retrieving your stroller. Or, fold up your stroller and take it on board to get from one area of the park to another. (Only do this if you have extra hands to help with the stroller!)
8. Take a break in the middle of the day (when it is crowded, hot, & sunny)
Ride the train, ride the monorail, go to Downtown Disney, have a long meal, find a shady spot for a stroller nap…We have even driven back to the South Bay and then back again at night! Anaheim can get HOT, and when that sun is blazing it can be brutal. I love utilizing the mornings before it is too hot and the evenings when the sun starts going down.
9. Stick to rides with a 20 minute wait or less!
Only way to do it, IMO!
10. Go in the middle of the week and during off-season months if you can
The best times to go are right after school breaks, before the next school break. So end of January through beginning of March, end of April (after spring breaks) through Memorial Day, September after labor day, between Halloween and Thanksgiving, between Thanksgiving and winter break. My favorite months are February and September.
Our Favorite Rides for ages 0-4:
Peter Pan
Astro Orbitor (we enjoy this one for age 2+)
Casey Train Jr.
Disneyland Railroad
Disneyland Monorail
Mad Tea Party (we enjoy this one for age 2+)
Dumbo (great for babies)
Winnie the Pooh (fun for babies but loud)
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad
Haunted Mansion (scared of the beginning part where you are in a room but I just hold her and she closes her eyes, then loves the rest of the ride)
Small World (fun for babies)
Jungle Cruise (fun for babies)
Alice in Wonderland (loved at age 2, scared by age 3)
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (loved at age 2, scared by age 3)
Pirates (fun for babies)
Carousel (fun for babies)
Snow White (loved at age 2, scared by age 3)
Storybook Land Canals (fun for babies)
