Have toddlers, will travel to Disney!

Just some tips to help you through your trip to a Disney Theme Park:

Using an outside Stroller Rental Company  A Disneyland Stroller Rental costs $15 per day or two for $25. There are NO Disneyland double strollers. There is one central location for renting strollers, outside the right entrance of Disneyland, opposite side of the plaza from Downtown Disney. Disney Stroller Rentals can be used throughout Disneyland & Disney California Adventure but cannot be taken off property or kept overnight. Disneyland Strollers can and do run out at the parks, especially during peak times. Arrive early if you want to be guaranteed a stroller. If you plan on leaving the park for a break, you may run the risk of no strollers available when you return. Some companies charge a delivery fee - these can be steep so do your research.

REST! - Every day head back to your room to rest, freshen up, or even do a load of laundry.  Having a break during the hottest and busiest time of the day we were able to let our daughter rest , take showers, catch up on the news or sports ;), change our clothes/shoes for the evening weather and dinner… That A/C can be really cool in the restaurants

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Baby Care Centers – Each park has a Baby Care Center. Free to use, have private nursing areas, diaper changing stations, little commodes/toilets, highchairs. They have hot/cold water dispensers and a microwave for formula and meals. Available for purchase are a few supplies – On one of our trips, Alexis dropped her bottle and it exploded while in line for POTC. $2.00 for a Gerber bottle and we were back in action. While the WDW Baby Care Centers have DVD’s playing – Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure do not. They are small in comparison to WDW. This really shocked me at DCA – it’s a newer park with ability to have better amenities – I only say that because these centers can probably see 700 to 1000 kids during the busy seasons. My goodness the Disneyland Baby Center still has a cloth diaper toilet/disposal in the middle of the changing station. It was a little gross to see.

Taking advantage of the Early Magic Hours – Not only is it cooler and less crowded (not that many locals either), I think that the Cast Members are happier and tend to give you tips for the remaining day, like where to eat lunch that usually has the shortest wait time, or whisper a secret to another Cast Member and that may let you ride on the Lilly Belle or get you to steer the Mark Twain. Inside tips here and there can make your day. Just getting to walk the parks is enjoyment enough for me – hearing the different theme music, smelling the Turkey Legs, Churros and Popcorn makes me happy and hungry…

Don’t stay out to late – Planning on staying for World of Color or the Fireworks? I opted to see the shows towards the end of our week long trips at WDW, but here at Disneyland we go to the parks @ 7PM, this helps keep our little one on a schedule. Most of the families coming to DLR average about 3 to 4 days before heading out – my suggestion is to see the shows on the last night of your trip and ask for a late checkout if your travel transportation and hotel/resort allows it.

Bring Snacks - Carry small, easy items, including fruit snacks, granola bars, crackers, bottled water and juice (no glass). Disneyland and California Adventure both have many places to eat and many options for snacks. Gerber meals, baby food squeezable pouches, formula, snacks and drinks are fine to take into the parks in a small collapsible cooler bag, but anything else - the Cast Member may have to throw it out. A Picnic Area is right outside the Disneyland Entrance gates - make sure you get your hand stamped before leaving so you can re-enter when you’re done.

FREEBIES! - Head to Guest Services and get BUTTONS! Tell them a special story and they may make your little one an Honorary Citizen of Disneyland for the day!.  I started a tradition for my little girl by collecting the buttons and adding them to a felt banner that we got in Walt Disney World.  So from Happy Birthday to Happy Anniversary to Honeymooners! I got them all – Hey they are free and I have yet to be declined for a button! 

I have done Disney alone with our daughter and with my husband – Both options has it’s advantages and disadvantages… Such as shopping, restroom breaks, Quick Service food windows, struggling with a stroller on and off the monorail and trams, and riding the rides alone with your little one. My mommy and me time on The Little Mermaid ride did not end up well…What she ate at The Luck Fortune Cookery ended up on me – Ursala really scared her. It was a long hike back by myself – getting the stroller out of stroller parking while trying not to let anything fall out of my shirt and on to another stroller. Putting a completely freaked out 2 year old in the stroller and trying to get back in the hot sun to the Baby Care center (meanwhile trying to cover up my shirt so not to disgust any other family) I had to wash my shirt and bra in the sink – clean the sink… you get the idea. But I was not going to let that ruin our time – Of course I had a clothes for her but not me – so we continued to Bug’s Land and let her run around in the Princess Dot Puddle Park at DCA. I dried out and she stayed wet and extremely happy.

When Dad comes along, it’s easier to have a wonderful helping husband but also my plan of attack seems scattered. Although we have Premium Passports and have access 365 days – we never know what we are going to do once we are there.. It may be the crowds that make our decision for us, knowing we can come back another day or the need to parent swap while one rides an attraction and the other has to wait - The fastpass we have not tried still.

But one thing is for sure – A lighted toy, a balloon and food is always purchased before we leave the parks.

So when you are out in the parks, you never know where Agent P is going to be!


See you soon!