Ages 5-8 Maximizing Your Disney Vacation by the age of your children

Maximizing Your Disney Vacation

by the age of your children

Part 3 - Ages 5-8

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 - Kids will take pleasure in 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.

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. 

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! This ride is filled with intense scenes that may scare some kids but overall most will enjoy the heart pounding fun that awaits.

New Orleans Square:

Pirates of the Caribbean - This slow boat ride has catchy songs and captivating displays for kids to take in. 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. This ride can be intense for some young riders as you venture through 15 rooms each with their own super natural occurrences. Although this ride is scary it is equally as fun and mystifying.

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!

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 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.

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

Pinocchio's Daring Journey - A classic film brought to life. As you embark on this voyage you will see vibrant and colorful displays that recreate scenes from the original movie. Kids will enjoy being part of the 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 - 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 .

Dumbo the Flying Elephant - Let your toddler become captain of his own elephant on this exciting ride. Based on the classic Disney movie Dumbo this ride will fill your little one with joy as they take flight to Circus themed music and direct Dumbo where to go.

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 - A must go for any little one who loves the magic of Peter Pan. 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 children's imaginations.

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.

Storybook Land Canal Boats - This slow boat ride is a great mash up of some of the most popular Disney movies. While floating down river you will see miniature hand-crafted scenes from Frozen, Peter Pan and more.  

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. This ride can be very scary for some young children in particular who are afraid of the dark. 

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

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 kids play in all the residences of their most beloved characters.

Goofy's Playhouse - Kids will love exploring 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 area. 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. Children 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 throughout and the chance to meet Minnie this is a must go attraction.

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.