Ages 9-12 Maximizing Your Disney Vacation by the age of your children

Maximizing Your Disney Vacation

by the age of your children

Part 4 - Ages 9-12

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.

Adentureland:

The Enchanted Tiki Room - The tween age group will like this audio-animatronics show that displays exotic birds, tikis and flowers that sing songs and teach you about the Pacific Islands.

Jungle Cruise - Hop on a boat and enjoy a relaxing ride that will take you into the depths of the wild to see animals, plants and settings native to South Asia, Africa and South America.

Indiana Jones Adventure - Will you survive the Temple of the Forbidden Eye? This thrilling ride will take you through unbelievable circumstances as you hunt for the famous Indiana Jones who has gone missing!

New Orleans Square:

Pirates of the Caribbean - This slow boat pirate adventure is a staple for all of us who went to Disneyland as a kid. 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.

Haunted Mansion - A frightening and fun ride through an old abandoned mansion will leave you at the edge of your seat. Venture through 15 rooms each with their own super natural occurrences for a mystifying experience.

Critter Country

Splash Mountain - Float along the bayou in a log and take in the colors and sounds of a variety of critters but this ride isn't boring by any means. You will plunge down a 5 story waterfall and get soaked along the way. Pick your seat wisely, those towards the front of the log will get the most wet.

Frontierland

Mark Twain Riverboat - This escapade is enjoyable for the big and small! Kids will love floating down the water in this half mile journey and 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 floats 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 offers a fun and educational experience for kids.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Board a high speeding train as it carries you through the remains of an old mining shaft. Be prepared for big turns, sudden drops and try to out run the unforeseen circumstances you will encounter at this eerie quarry.

Fantasyland

Mad Tea Party - 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 transport your kids to places they've never been. The bright and glowing colors throughout It's a Small World are as mesmerizing as the idea of the ride. Kids will be exposed to different cultures and customs as they float their way around the world.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Jump in a 2 person open-air vehicle and let the journey begin! This little buggy will take you on an untamed adventure through the English Countryside with suspense and thrill around every corner.

Peter Pan's Flight - This magical journey begins in quaint London and takes you to vibrant Never Land where you will experience scenes from the 1953 classic movie Peter Pan. The drama, excitement and moments of anticipation all leading up to a victorious celebration will captivate your kid's imagination.

Alice in Wonderland - The movie becomes the experience in this exhilarating ride. Full of lively colors and unique characters you become Alice as you follow the story line from the animated film.

Snow White's Scary Adventures - Hop in a mine cart and be carried away to the peaceful little cottage the 7 dwarves live in before heading into the deep hallows of the evil queen. Just when you think there's no hope you're little dwarf heroes will come to save the day.

Matterhorn Bobsleds - Race down a replica of one of the most famous mountains in the world, the Matterhorn. Hang onto your sled tightly as you speed through icy scenery and cross unsteady bridges all while trying to avoid the much feared Abominable Snowman.

Mickey's ToonTown

Gadget's Go Coaster - Have you ever ridden on an acorn train before? I didn't think so but there is a first time for everything! This specially design acorn was created by the lovely Gadget Hackwrench (of the Rescue Rangers) for you to enjoy a mouse sized adventure. Hop on and for a good time and to get some spectacular views of ToonTown.

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! Take your laser gun and aim at all the targets you possibly can in short bursts of time. With vibrant colors and engaging story lines you will feel transported into the Toy Story world. At the end of the ride everyone can check their Star Command Rank based on their total score.    

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage - This expedition takes you under water to enjoy and experience the story of Nemo. You will see underwater volcanoes, scuba divers and Nemo himself. Go on this exciting ride to participate in some of the most adored scenes from the movie Finding Nemo.

Astro Orbitor -  Take to the sky in your own personal rocket! Kids will command their own ship and tell it how high or how low to fly while spinning around a galaxy of planets on this out of this world adventure. 

Autopia - Every child dreams about the day they get to drive. Autopia lets the kids take the wheel and become a racecar driver. With a real working gas pedal and steering wheel this will be one of the highlights of Disneyland for any kid.

Space Mountain - One of the most beloved rides at Disneyland. Experience a rush of energy and excitement as you board a spaceship and blast off into space for an unforgettable adventure.

Star Tours - Star Wars comes to life in this exploration of the most outer depths of space. Encounter famous movie characters and alien worlds as you accomplish your mission.