Maximizing Your Disneyland Vacation
by the age of your children
Ages 0-2
We all have certain family vacations from our childhood that
we still hold dear today. I bet for a lot of us one of the most magical
vacations we think about from our childhood is one from Disneyland.
The rides, the characters we loved so much, the junk food mom and dad made
exceptions for and the laughter. I think a Disney vacation will always be
something that is somewhat of an heirloom, being handed down generation to
generation. It's one that we save for, spend time planning out every last
detail and one we want our children to remember for the rest of their lives. In
this 5 part series, I'm going to help you not only maximize the magic and warm
memories to be made but also help you make the best use of your time by
planning your trip based on the age of your children. I've spent several hours
going through Disney maps, researching online what most people regretted about
their Disneyland vacation (which rides they missed, which ones they didn't know
about and which ones they simply ran out of time for) and spending a few days
in the park with my family to figure out the best use of your limited time
there without losing the magic of Disney in the planning. Disney was kind enough to provide my family and I tickets so I would be able to categorize
rides by different age groups, these are solely my opinions to help create a
guide for you. The rides are in no particular order but I have organized them
by which "themed land" they are located in. I hope you find this
guide helpful.
Maximizing Your Disneyland Vacation by Age (0-2):
We generally don't think of Disney as a place where babies
can enjoy some rides too but as a mother of a (at the time) 10 month old baby,
I found Disneyland very baby friendly. Here's
a list of what your little ones can enjoy with the family:
Adventureland:
The Enchanted Tiki
Room - Young ones will be engaged with both sight and sound with this
audio-animatronics show that displays exotic birds, tikis and flowers that sing
songs for you to enjoy as you learn about the Pacific Islands.
Jungle Cruise - This
slow boat ride will take you into the depths of the wild to see animals, plants
and settings native to South Asia, Africa and South
America.
Tarzan's Treehouse - The
treehouse that Tarzan's parents built from their shipwreck debris comes to life
at this playful display. Kids can climb the tree, explore the house and even
play music at the Base Camp located at the bottom of the tree.
New Orleans Square:
Pirates of the Caribbean - This slow boat ride has catchy songs and
captivating displays for the little ones. With a never ending show of visual
effects the Pirates of the Caribbean is the
perfect smooth ride for the entire family to relax and enjoy together.
Disney Railroad - Get on board for this grand train tour! The
train offers an 18 minute long ride and is an easy and fun way to get around
the park. It has 4 different stops (New
Orleans Square, Main Street U.S.A.,
Tomorrowland and Mickey's Toontown) for you to choose from and with the trains
departing every 5-10 minutes you'll never have to wait too long to hop on.
Critter Country
The Many Adventures
of Winnie the Pooh - Jump in an
oversized beehive and set off on an amazing adventure! With vibrant colors and
playful songs you will see your favorite characters and some of the most beloved
stories as you make your way to Hundred Acre Wood!
Frontierland
Mark Twain Riverboat
- This escapade is enjoyable for the big and small! The 0-2 age will love
floating down the water in this half mile journey and the bigger kids will have
a fun and educational experience as the riverboat takes you back in time to the
old American frontier. You will see old cabins, charming Native American
villages, wild animals and more! This 15 minute ride also offers up a great
break for everyone to relax and enjoy their tour of the spectacular sights as you
listen to Mark Twain tell you about a time long ago when new discoveries and
exploration made up the American Frontier.
Sailing Ship Columbia - A full-scale replica of the original Columbia Rediviva
(the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe in 1790) this
fully-rigged ship will take you along the Frontierland River
in the same manner as they Mark Twain Riverboat but offers a little something
special. You will still float past the old cabins and charming Native American
villages so you can enjoy some relaxation but underneath the deck is a
wonderful surprise! Go ahead a journey below to find displays of the living
conditions for 18th-century sailors. This museum will help kids explore some of
their wildest dreams of what it means to be a sailor at sea long ago.
Fantasyland
Pinocchio's Daring
Journey - A classic film brought to life. As you embark on this voyage your
little ones will see vibrant and colorful displays that recreate scenes from
the original movie. Kids will love this slow ride quest of Pinocchio's pursuit
to become a real boy.
King Arthur's
Carrousel - This handcrafted carousel was built in 1922 and has a little
bit of Mr. Walt Disney himself still alive in it. It's a classic ride almost
like any other but with a special touch. When the carousel was originally
purchased by Disney it had various animals on it from giraffes to deer but Walt
wanted to make sure that every little boy and girl had a galloping horse to
ride in Fantasyland and that's just what he did. Additional antique horses were
located and the ride was custom made into the amazing display that it is today.
Casey Jr. Circus
Train - Casey Jr. comes straight out of the animated feature Dumbo to take
you on a tour of numerous scenes from classic Disney movies. This mild ride is
packed with entertainment, adventure and childhood memories of your favorite
classics.
Mad Tea Party - My
10 month old daughter particularly loved this ride. She was giggling with each
spin of the tea cup. This fun attraction reflects the kookiness and vibrancy of
the famous Alice
in Wonderland. As you step onto the platform you are transported to a world of
color and eccentric decor. The great thing about this ride is you can control
the spinning with a wheel located in the center of each cup.
It's a Small World - A
15 minute slow boat ride will engage your child and fill them with joy as you
travel the world to see it's really not that big at all. The bright and glowing
colors throughout It's a Small World are
as mesmerizing as the idea of the ride. Children will hear music, see
traditional dress and culture from all 7 continents as you glide from one
exhibit to the next . I have this listed in the 0-2 bracket because it is a
slow ride with engaging visuals and music but it really is enlightening and fun
for all.
Mickey's ToonTown
Toontown is where all of our favorite characters live and
they've been nice enough to have open houses so we can come see, explore and
discover. There are plenty of areas for parents to sit and relax under the
shade while their little ones play in all the residences of their most beloved
characters.
Goofy's Playhouse - The
young ones will giggle as they explore the unconventional house that Goofy has
built. From bell peppers that really ring like bells to a piano that makes
Goofy's noises instead of notes kids will love this fun filled playhouse.
Donald's Boat - Climb
to the top of the boat for great views or go below deck to check out Donald's
living quarters. A fun and interactive boat that will inspire any young child's
imagination right in the middle of Toontown.
Chip 'N Dale
Treehouse - Peek inside this treehouse to see how these quirky little guys
live! The Chip 'N Dale Treehouse has plenty to look at but is really more of an
attraction than an interactive and playful house. The little one's will still
get a kick out of being in a huge treehouse and walking up the winding spiral
staircase but there is little to do to keep them busy enough to burn off some
of that endless energy they always seem to have.
Mickey's House - This
colorful, fun and playful house will
bring excitement to kids of all ages. Step into Mickey's home to find little
surprises in ever room (for a list of all the surprises click here https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/disneyland/mickeys-house/).
You will discover things about this legendary mouse you never knew before.
Minnie's House - Pink,
adorable and classic just like Minnie herself this house is not one for any
little girl to miss. With interactive features through out and the chance to
meet Minnie this is a must go attraction.
TomorrowLand
Disneyland Monorail - This monorail is a great
opportunity for everyone to rest and get some spectacular views of the entire
park. The ride lasts about 15 minutes and even goes all the way to Disneyland's
California Adventure Park
for even more to see.
Buzz Lightyear Astro
Blasters - Board a space cruiser and help save toys everywhere as you
defeat the evil Emperor Zurg! This slow ride is a little cart on a track that
comes with a laser gun for you to blast targets away. It was a slow enough ride
for me to hold my daughter in my lap and still participate in all the
excitement. There are vibrant colors and engaging things for the younger ones
to look at. At the end of the ride everyone can check their Star Command Rank
based on their total score.
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