Many parents eagerly prepare their children’s first trips to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Today, Parenting Panelist Mary Kraemer (an avid Disney fan and travel consultant with CruisingCo/MouseEarVacations who loves to travel with her husband and children to Disney destinations as often as possible) shares fabulous tips for planning that first trip. In between Mary's words of wisdom, the Parenting Panelists shares their Top 3 must-dos for your child’s first trip to Disneyland:
Taking your child to Disneyland for the first time is an exciting (yes, MAGICAL) experience… for both of you. You’ll have a day you’ll treasure by keeping things as simple as possible.
Pack the necessities you’ll need for the day (and a sweatshirt for the evening), sunscreen, comfortable shoes (for you and your child), and a camera that has a fully charged battery (because you aren’t going to want to miss a moment of this!)
Adrienne Krock's Top 3 Musts
- Fantasmic! – Even if you saw it already at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Park's is better.
- Pirates of the Caribbean – Again, even if you already rode it at the Magic Kingdom, Disneyland's is way better.
- Grand Circle Tour of the Disneyland Railroad – Board and disembark in the same place – and make sure you ride between the Tomorrowland station and the Main Street station.
Adrienne is a mom of three boys: 9, 12 and 15
But let’s get into the right mindset for your day. This is your child’s first day to experience Disney magic, so it’s important for you to consider things from your child’s perspective. Please don’t focus on “getting your money’s worth” by trying to see and do everything possible, because that attitude is just setting yourself up for stress. You certainly don’t want your child’s memory of Disneyland to be rushing around everywhere in a blur, with their parents stressing about getting it all done. So don’t.
Start your day bright and early; get to the park at opening (or, if you’re staying at one of the Disney hotels, for the Extra Magic Hour in the morning). Let’s face it; from a kid’s perspective (when you’re only about 3 feet tall), you get a much better view at the castle at the end of Main Street without wall-to-wall people in front of you! It’s so much better to enjoy Fantasyland, for example, when there aren’t huge lines for the rides, which is a plus for both of you. For the first hour or two in the morning, you have the fewest people in the park, and it’s such a pleasant way to start the day.
Elizabeth B's Top 3 Must
- Eat a Disneyland Corn Dog – They make quite a tasty lunch.
- Watch a Parade. – Sit on the curb and enjoy a break while Disney characters dance and sing on by.
- Ride the Jungle Cruise – For us, it is always our last ride. Float down rivers of the world, where you get to see exotic animals, and hear corny jokes.
Elizabeth is a mom of two young girls.
Take things slow and relax. Enjoy what you are able to see and do in a day. Let your child be your guide throughout the day. Tune in to your child’s perspective. For example, you might really want to have a photo of your child with Mickey from their first day at Disneyland, but your child might take one look at that gigantic dressed up mouse and dive under a chair in fear. Don’t push it and force your kid to pose with Mickey—do you really want the child’s first photo with the Big Cheese to show them teary-eyed and screaming in fear? It is probably safer to be a little distance away from a “rubberhead” (characters where you can’t see an actual person’s face) and get a feel for your child’s reaction. You might get your wish for that photo if, the instant your child sees Mickey Mouse, they can’t wait to give him a hug.
I think there’s nothing finer than strolling down Main Street toward the castle and going across the moat into Fantasyland. You’ll have several “visible” options such as King Arthur Carousel, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the Mad Tea Party, the Storybookland Canal Boats, and the Casey Jr. Circus Train (these are all rides that are outside and visible, unlike Peter Pan's Flight, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Snow White's Scary Adventures, and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, which have entrances to a ride that’s on the interior of a building).
Sonya Malott's Top 3 Musts
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Space Mountain – Check the height requirement
- World of Color at Disney California Adventure
Sonya is a mom with a 3-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.
Here’s where it means a lot to tune into your child, and know your child’s temperment. I would start with visible rides, so they’re excited about being at Disneyland and going on rides. For the first “inside” ride, I would go to Peter Pan's Flight and you’ll get a good sense of how your child will do with that type of ride. (It is probably the least scary of the inside rides, and its line tends to get long quickly, so if you can get it done earlier in the day, you won’t have a long line). If Peter Pan's Flight makes your child anxious or upset, I’d advise skipping the other inside rides of Fantasyland, and you might have to consider skipping other rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion later on.
There’s plenty for a young child to enjoy at Disneyland; riding the Main Street vehicles (such as the Omnibus,Fire Truck, and Horse-Drawn Trolley) is always fun. If you need a nice break in the afternoon, ride the train around the park, go on the Mark Twain Rverboat or the Columbia Sailing Ship. Go see Mickey and the Magical Map in the Fantasyland Theater, where you can sit and be entertained. Savor the coolness of the Enchanted Tiki Room while the birds sing and the flowers croon. Go for it; take the happiest cruise that ever sailed…in “it’s a small world”…and enjoy 15 minutes off your feet while your child is enchanted.
If your child loves to run and play, head over to Tom Sawyer's Island for some outdoor fun and explorations in the caves!
Laura Troescher's Top 3 Musts
- Disneyland Railroad – Or as we affectionately call it, “The Train.” Walt's pride and joy. I can't ride it without picturing him sitting on the mini-train he built in his backyard, or his famous quote of his plan for Disneyland “…and it should be surrounded by a train.” I feel like this is overlooked by newcomers. Please, please ride the train around the entire park once. Think about the way the park no longer fits neatly inside the berm. Think about the great, sometimes unequaled views you get of the park. Think about the shade and the cool breeze and the smell. Wave to the park guests on “it's a small world” and riding Splash Mountain. Enjoy the Grand Canyon and Primeval World. But, most of all, think about Walt. It was his park and his train and you are most fortunate to be in such a magical place.
- Turtle Talk With Crush – Best-kept secret! We've seen it with kids and without kids, and it never fails to make us laugh and be a true delight. My 5-year-old was a little shy to sit on the carpet but laughed his head off and came out reciting every joke word for word. The best part? Crush is hilarious for the adults, too. And it's particularly enjoyable on a very hot and sunny day. Find time to see Turtle Talk.
- Eat at a restaurant inside Disneyland or DCA, at least once – We consider food part of the experience so we eat every meal in the park (I know—you're thinking $$$, but we budget it in as part of our vacation). It's OK if you are venturing back to your hotel for more budget-friendly meals, but please eat at least one meal inside the park. Make a reservation at Cafe Orleans or Blue Bayou or Carnation Cafe—or just pop by the Royal Street Veranda window for a bowl of gumbo. The ambience is unmatched and the food itself is pretty darn good, too. An experience worth paying for.
Laura is a mom of two little ones.
If you are staying until the fireworks show, here’s another time when you need to know your children’s preferences. Do loud noises bother them? Then being close to the castle on Main Street is possibly not your best choice, but if you are farther away, closer to the train station, the sound is not so bad. Or you can use earplugs to help with the sound.
Tempting as it might be to dress your child in a Mickey Mouse T-shirt, I advise not doing that because as soon as you get into the park, and your little one gets away from you, and it’s hard to spot them in a crowd. It is also good to have a plan if you get separated from your child; show them how to go to the nearest ride, restaurant, or store, and tell a cast member that they are lost, and that you will be back together in just a few minutes.
Being at Disneyland is really exciting for a young child, and it’s up to you, as the parent, to make sure you take frequent breaks for the bathroom (or visit the lovely Baby Care Center, which has changing tables and adorable pint-sized potties), as well as eating regularly during the day (and there’s certainly no lack of options!).
Mary Kraemer's Top 3 Musts
- Indiana Jones: Temple of the Forbidden Eye
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Peter Pan's Flight
It's your turn—keep the discussion flowing!
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