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Taking a toddler to Disneyland? Sounds like fun. They’re sure to enjoy all of the sights, the rides, and the fun foods. But you’ll want to try to plan your time, since little ones don’t have the endurance of bigger kids. So where should you go first? How do you schedule your time? And what kinds of rides are appropriate for little ones?
There are a lot of fun rides for toddlers at Disneyland. If you only have one day, you might want to plan on spending most of it in Fantasyland and Toontown. This is where most of the “little kid” rides are, and where many of the favorite characters hang out. Here are some suggestions for rides that your little one will probably enjoy, and a few to avoid (in general). We’ve also included a few tips for making the most of your time, as well!
General Tips:
• Check out the height restrictions before you go. You can look at the restrictions for each ride online at the Disneyland website before you arrive, so you can avoid the disappointment of standing in line only to find out your child isn’t eligible for a ride. Pregnant women are restricted from certain rides as well, so include this in your planning if needed!
• Plan to arrive as early as possible, to avoid the crowds. Peak crowds are on Thursday – Sunday, with Friday and Saturday being the busiest during the summer and Saturday and Sunday the busiest during the schoolyear. The park is always crowded on major holidays as well.
• Don’t try to do everything – pick a few fun rides and enjoy your time. If you work one section of the park at a time, your child won’t see those other rides and you won’t spend as much time traversing back and forth across the park!
Some favorite rides for toddlers include:
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant – in Fantasyland. Flying elephants whirl you and your child around and up and down, it’s a very gentle ride and a lot of fun for toddlers. Expect a big line if you’re there during peak hours, it’s far less crowded early in the morning or in the early evening.
• The Mad Hatter’s Teacups – in Fantasyland – Spinning teacups whirl around to music. It’s lots of fun and you can control the spinning. Try to do this one before you eat … just in case!
• The Carousel – in Fantasyland - is always fun and rarely has a long line.
• Peter Pan – in Fantasyland – a “flying” boat takes you on a tour of Peter Pan’s neighborhood. This is a very fast moving line and rarely is very crowded.
• Casey’s Circus Train – in Fantasyland. This is a cute train that lets you actually pile into monkey cages and seats; kids always love this train. Often a long wait, especially during peak hours, so plan accordingly.
• It’s a Small World – in Fantasyland – the classic boat tour through the singing lands, with dolls from each country singing that familiar song. The line moves quickly and this is a great ride to stay cool on (it’s indoors) during the hot mid-day sun. This is right on the entrance to Toontown and a great way to move from one area to the next.
• Goofy’s Bounce House – in Toontown – a large inflated house where kids can literally bounce all over the furniture. Kids must be at least 3 years old and no more than 52” tall.
• Donald’s Boat – in Toontown – a boat with ropes to climb and spiral staircases. You might want to go in with little ones if there are bigger kids in there at the same time.
• Mickey’s House – in Toontown. This is Mickey’s house, where he lives, and is the only way to see Mickey Mouse outside of the parade. There is generally a long (slow-moving) line for this so plan your time accordingly. Your child can get Mickey’s autograph at the end and his picture taken one-on-one with Mickey Mouse for a wonderful memory when you go home.
• Roger Rabbits’ Go Coaster – in Toontown. A fast moving ride through Roger Rabbit’s wild world, with flashing lights and trick doors. Fun for bigger toddlers but little ones may be scared by it, and the cars jerk around a lot. There is often a good line for this but you can get a Fast-Pass ticket for it and come back with no wait.
• The Jungle Cruise – in Adventureland – a fun boat tour past all sorts of jungle animals. The kids will love all of the animals and the witty narration by the guides could befit a professional comic, so listen closely and enjoy. Expect a long wait for this one on peak days.
• Pirates of the Caribbean – in New Orleans Square. Always a hit with bigger toddlers, this cool indoor boat ride is great for getting out of the hot sun. Pirates shoot at each other and there are lots of skeletons; it’s not too scary but gauge your toddler’s maturity first.
• Country Bear Jamboree – in Critter Country. An indoor singing presentation of bears, cute and amusing and a nice break from walking; however little ones may get impatient.
• Autotopia – in Tomorrowland. Little ones can “drive” cars along a track and feel like big people. Almost all kids enjoy this and the newly revamped cars are very sporty. This often has quite a line so get a Fast-Pass ticket and come back with no waiting.
• Disneyland Railroad – a large railroad with open sides that tours you around the park. Stops on Main Street, New Orleans Square, and Toon Town. A nice way to get from one side of the park to another, or from the back of the park to the front without passing all of those tempting rides!
• The Parade – Main Street – check the Disneyland website for specific parade times. This is great fun for kids of all ages, plan to plop down and wait at least 15-30 minutes before the parade starts if you want a curbside seat. During the summer and on weekends the nighttime parade has fireworks as well.
The most important thing to remember when you go to Disneyland is that it is “The Happiest Place on Earth”. SO relax and enjoy your day, and don’t hesitate to ask any of the park employees for help or directions if you need it. You don’t have to do everything and see everything to have an enjoyable day… your toddler will just enjoy a few rides and the excitement of visiting. Have a great time!
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