Need Disneyland Advice and Tips

Watch as many as the Disney movies as you can that have to do with the rides! It is fun for them to recognize familiar scenes and characters. You can find a lot of older movies on VHS at Thrift stores for a dollar. Much cheaper than renting them!
It is best to do Fantasyland first - because it fills up with kids and there is no Fastpass!
Have a great time!

Have them wear matching shirts each day so it's easy to pick them out in the crowd. Go get bright colored t-shirts and have them decorate them or just buy matching shirts.

Bring water it is very expensive in the park. Do the fast pass. If you have time go to the Disney store and pick up a few things before you go such as autograph books. Go early stay late. Take a break in the middle of the day when it is crazzy there.

Have fun,

Christine

We were just there two weeks ago....our first visit with a 4 and 6 year old. The grandparents were there for two of three days in the park as well. For our first visit we wanted to stay at a resort hotel...so we did the Disneyland Hotel. We requested our rooms to be adjoining for convenience. It was so nice to be right there by Downtown Disney and the park entrances as well as the monorail.

Best prices are usually through Costco.com - they even added in a free Character Breakfast and a $20 Disney gift card and an adtl. $150 Disney gift card. So it pays to check around!

Highlights/tips:
- Look at the Disneyland/Ca Adventure schedules and plan accordingly. For example, when we went the Electric Parade was only on weekends.
- You can do CA Adv. in one day! Or break it into two half days to split things up.
- Go see the Aladdin Show at CA Adv., it is amazing just like you would expect to see on Broadway and the Gennie is hilarious!
- You can get preferred seating for the show if you stay at a Disneyland resort hotel. When we went this was only playing certain days/times so again check the calendar schedule on Disney's website.
- Make dinner reservations for the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney if you have never been to one...you need to call them directly, they will book a year in advance. www.rainforestcafe.com
- Do the Character Breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen attached to the Disneyland Hotel. We saw at least 8 Characters there as they come to you at your table. The food is REALLY good too. My parents were very impressed and they are pretty picky with buffet's. If your kids want autographs this is a great place to start. Make reservations through the Disney Dining number. Also, I recommend going early - we went at 8:30 AM and were well ahead of the crowd! When we left it was so crazy and crowded in the wait area.
- You can only buy official Disney autograph books at the resort or resort hotels or Downtown Disney store.
- The downtown Disney store is HUGE! Make sure you set expectations for your kids spending. They will be overwhelmed. Maybe even get them their own Disney gift card or Disney Dollars (yes, they have disney money you can only get at the resort or a Disney Retail store!) to spend.
- The fireworks show is a must! It gets crowded so get there in front of the castle early for a place to sit. My kids along with all the adults were in awe.
- If you want to do Finding Nemo make sure you go first thing in the morning preferably on a Mon or Tues when it's supposedly not as crowded. We did that and waited 45 min. as opposed to the usual 90 min. wait! There is no fast pass.
- Use the fast pass wisely! Go early to do them as they fill up fast and at times "sell" out. We missed the boat on some and the fast pass time to return was 9PM.
- Ca. Soaring in CA. Adv. is a must - we did it twice! You can fast pass this one too.
- Hit up all the major rides early and fast pass where you can while you wait to ride another - tag team it to make it work - then you can hop on another ride right after with the fast pass...
- Princesses? - go visit them at the Princess Fairytale area right by the Toon Town entrance and train station. Go early, but you will see at least 4-5 princess and you can take your picture/get autographs.
- Food area's weren't as crowded at CA Adventure versus Disneyland. And the food options seemed better there.
- If you stay at a resort hotel, you can enter/exit through the Grand Californian Hotel right into CA Adv. park. This was very convenient, especially when we closed down the park one night!

There are so many tips to take it. Most of all, just be relaxed and enjoy the time there! Wear comfy shoes and clothes and bring snacks/water/juice boxes so when you need a pick me up you are set. Be warned though to stand in a lot of lines - average wait 35-45 min. for most. You can avoid a lot of this by using the fast pass though. Good luck!

- Oh, if you want to celebrate their first visit they can get pins to wear at City Hall or at the Gift center at any resort hotel. Same goes for a birthday with a birthday pin...and everyone will acknowledge their birthday!

Happy planning!
- L.

Hello! Our family goes to Disneyland every year (since my hubby & I were dating - 10 years). Its never the same trip every year, its always fun & exciting, yet different. To save money, we stay at the Tropicana Inn & Suites on Harbor Blvd. It is located directly from the entrance to the park. I always request a room near to the front of the property. There's an outdoor pool, a deli (open to certain hours) and convenience store on the property. Its also close to IHOP, Denny's, Tony Roma's, McDonalds and other restaurants. Do Not go to Captain Kids next door, the food is disgusting. You can purchase your tickets at the hotel for a small discount. If you book through Walt Disney company, you get your hotel (good neighbor hotels are cheaper), a free lanyard for pins and tickets/fastpasses, a special commemorative coin, and a booklet of coupons to use in Southern California. You may not use all of them, but there are some you can use in the parks for meals and stores. We have some family down in L.A., so we get discounted tickets through their employer. You could also check Craigslist and buy off the remaining days of parkhopper tickets for the days you'd like to go into the parks. There a lot of people who buy the $200 5-day parkhopper tickets and sell the remaining days that they didnt use for cheaper. If someone gives you the remaining days of their 5 -day park hopper, you can turn the ticket in for a season pass, which is worth $100-$300. Some days on the park hoppers have early entry, in which you get into the park before everyone else, which is a plus if you want to ride on certain attractions.
In Disneyland, the best place to eat lunch is at Red Rockett's Pizza Port. The best place for a family dinner is at the Plaza Inn. At California Adventure, we love to eat at the boardwalk area. At the entrance, we love love love to eat at Burr-bank Ice Cream. We usually bring snacks, a case of bottled water and sandwich making supplies so we can munch before we enter the park or take it easy at the hotel. And if you drive down Harbor blvd, there's a Target or Walmart and you can get your stuff there. Or if you didn't pack well, those prices are better than Disney's for something quick. They check bags before you enter, but we have brought bottles of water and small snacks into the park, so we can save money. Get fastpasses for rides you really want to ride, but don't or can't wait in line for an hour. The kids can get free treasure/pirate maps first thing in the morning at the gate where you ride across the River to Tom Sawyer's island in New Orleans square. There's tons of hidden Mickey's on all the rides to look for. Downtown Disney is between the two parks, and that is convenient for shopping outside of the park. Rainforest Cafe and the ESPN Zone is one of our favorite places to eat and play arcade games. If someone has a birthday, go to City Hall and tell them. They'll give you a button with your name on it and all day through the park, most cast members will say "Happy Birthday, ____!" Its kind of a kick when you least expect it. Hope you have fun!

The first time we took our kids, we got "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland", and it was so worth it! It gives lots of tips that saved us time and aggravation, especially about when to ride certain rides. Most people enter the park and do the rides from the front of the park to the back. The book recommended going straight for the Dumbo ride, for instance (my kids were younger than yours.) We got right on, and by the time we got off, the line was 45 minutes long. Lots of good hints like that. And don't skip over the Enchanted Tiki Room. It's low-tech and old-fashioned, but it's a great place to rest and cool off mid-afternoon. There's a reason why it hasn't been replaced after all these years! Also, for a splurge, my kids have had the best time eating dinner at the restaurant in the Pirates of the Caribbean Cove, called the Blue Bayou. The boats from the ride float by while you are eating, so get a table by the water if you can. We've celebrated birthdays there. You usually need reservations (Disney Dining at (714) 781-DINE, or ###-###-####) I also agree with another writer who recommended the character breakfasts. Little kids can drive you crazy looking for certain characters. And be warned -- Mickey doesn't roam the park. You need to find him at a scheduled place, if it's important to your kids. Have fun! It's my favorite place in the world!

Sign up for a free newsletter at mousesavers.com. Do it as soon as possible, and when you get the next issue, they will give you a code that will give you greater discounts. It's full of great tips and ways to save money. However--there is never a huge discount on tickets. Look for specials at Safeway or AAA as well.

If you have a daughter who is into princesses, you can reserve in advance to have them get their hair and makeup done up like a princess, and they can wear their princess outfits around Disneyland--but you need to reserve way inn advance.

Also, you'll see photographers roaming around Disneyland--you have them photograph you and they give you a card; when you see another photographer, you give them your card, and then you have all your photos on one card. Later, you can purchase your photos online, or make an album online with them. It's not cheap, but it's nice to have professional photos. My advice would be if you think you'll buy any photos, try to get as many as possible on the card, so you'll have choices to purchase later.

Have a great time!

Hi E.! Congrats on your plans for Disneyland, you guys will have an absolute blast! Planning is key..so pick up "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2008" at the bookstore. It has all kinds of $ saving tips and key ideas for the parks. There is also an online system called Ridemax that can plan your ride schedule to decrease any wait time in lines for rides. This totally worked for us.
Have fun!
K. N.

WE have taken our kids since my son was 1 1/2 years old and my daughter was 3 1/2yrs. My kids are now 8 years and 6 years old. Get fast passes. My husband has been there 30 times. Take advantage of the early entry days. All the good rides will be busy with a long wait. Early entry days make it easier to go on the busy rides. We did. both of our kids have special needs so we took advanage of the early entry days. No waiting for anything. Go to 7eleven stores and buy water and soda bottles and auto graph books. They are cheaper there. At Disneyland it's $2.75 for water and soda 20 ounces. At the 7eleven stors they are like $1.59 cents. Auto graph books at disneyland are around 8-20 dollars. At 7eleven stores they are 2-4 dollars. Or any convent stores are cheaper. Go across the street to buy souvineers. Shirts for 5 for 10 dollars for kids and 3 for 10 for adult shirts. They have build a bear stores. You will probably get a coupon when u check into your room. Sign up for their club membership before you go online. buildabear.com. Get art passes before you go if you are staying in 1 of the other hotels not in the disneyland resort. Lilo and Stitch breakfast (character) is really popular. If your kids are into sports you should get a coupon when you recieve your tickets go to the espn zone buy 1 adult meal get 1 kids meal free. That is what the coupon is for. Any other questions just ask us directly. Hope this helps. M. Petersen

We are also going to Disneyland. I recently got on e-bay and typed in disneyland and a lot of things like tickets came up. One thing however that has helped us greatly in our planning was something I saw on e-bay. A woman that works for disneyland has information that you can buy from her. I think I paid $5. Her name is Liz. Anyway, there are some really good money saving tips in there. Well worth it.

The other thing we are doing (the kids going with us are all 8 yrs. old) is that we are having the kids collect recycling from friends and relatives to earn their own spending money for the trip. They are also baking favorite family recipes and a couple of people we know that work in large offices are bringing the baked goods in and selling them for $1/slice.

The kids have been working at it for about 6 weeks and have close to $300. We plan on letting them take $100 each to spend as they wish.

V.

Hi E.!

I'm sooooooooo excited for your kids. It's truly a wonderful place to be. Are they just going to Disneyland or are they Park-hopping with California Adventure Park?

First of all, I would recommend bringing/borrowing/renting a double-stroller. It allows the kids to rest on such a fun day. The stroller IS transferable with Cal Adv Park.

There is WAY TOO MUCH to see in 2 days, so you shouldn't expect them to see everything. If they are "real ride kids" then you have one list of rides (like Splash Mountain), but if they are NOT interested in tons of rides, then there is still lots to do, just another list of shows and rides (Jungle Cruise and Tarzan's Tree House). Either way, tell them to plan dinner around Fantazmic! It's in the middle of Disneyland and it's a HUGE watershow that makes me cry everytime because it's sooooo incredible. If they plan dinner close to the area, and get close to the water, then the kids won't miss it. If they get "trapped" inside a crowd, they will be too short and will not see everything. Too Sad, then.

Please let me know what type of fun your kids like to do, and I can help you prepare easier. I don't want to give you useless info. My kids (5 & 11) are just "medium" ride kids, they are just getting into the "ride thing", so I have experience planning BOTH kinds of trips for kids :o)

WOW! Responding to you has gotten me so excited about Disneyland, I need to start planning our trip!!!! We've gone 2 years in a row during Winter Break for New Year's. I LOVE IT!!!!!! But even though we've been several times, we STILL haven't seen everything at California Adv Park, :o)

Let me know how I can help you better E..

:o) N.

I have been without exaggeration at least 50 times, so hopefully, I can give you some helpful advice. First, make sure you are there early (usually the package includes a choice to go before park opens). Definitely will want to do that as the lines once it opens can be easily 1 hour plus wait on each. At least you'll get in 2-4 rides in before the mad dash. I'd go to the most popular rides during that time (i.e. Pirates of the Carribbean, Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bob Sleds, Indiana Jones). They are in different places in Disneyland, so get a map beforehand so you can make the best of your time. Summer time is crazy, so expect it to be crowded. Take pictures AFTER you've enjoyed the first hour of getting on the rides - because you'll have alot of time when you're waiting in lines after that first "before opening hour". As far as saving money, you might considering bringing snacks if money is tight. They have lockers also if you bring additional clothes for evening. Food is pretty pricey in the park, but the overall experience is wonderful/memorable! They will have a fantastic time. Speaking of fantastic, there is a show called "Fantasmic" and both the kids and grandparents will enjoy it. You'll need to find a place to sit at least 1 hour prior or it will be next to impossible to see it. Hope this helps. Alot to do and see. An excellent point of history, is seeing "President Lincoln". That is a show that would be good when it's really hot in the afternoon and a way to rest their feet.

Hello,

I have never been to DisneyLand, but we have been to Disney World. One thing to do to save Money is to buy disney themed shirts before hand (Disney store on sale, Target, Wallmart) for each day they are going to be there. The disney themed shirts are much cheaper bought locally than at the park and your child gets to be dressed for the fun.

M.

Wow! We all love Disney! So many great responses.

My husband and I used to call it the Evil Empire because we thought it was all about the dollars. After going for the first time two years ago, though, we are hooked! My mom took my sister and me and our kids (7, 9, 9 & 12) last month. What a great place for an intergenerational vacation! Remember to check in with all age groups frequently - your mom and dad might not remember what it's really like to travel with kids in a crowded place.

We each had favorite rides, etc, but here are the hands-down faves agreed on by everybody in our multi-gen group: Disneyland - parade, fireworks, Fantasmic, the Peter Pan ride (We all went on it twice!), Tom Sawyer Island, the Star Wars Show. California Adventures - Muppets 3D, Soarin' Over California, the Brother Bear play area.

Originally, we didn't want to separate to do different things. But since we were only in each park for a day each, we did split up. My sister and I took the two adventurous kids on the thrill rides, while my mom took the two more timid kids to other attractions. That worked out well for using fast passes, and all the kids (young and old) got to do their number one choice in each park.

We had a great meal at the Mexican restaurant in the Frontierland area of Disneyland - healthy food for everyone at reasonable prices. Other than that, we did what everyone has suggested - BYOSnacks and water.

We stayed at the Desert Palms, too. Nice suite, and with a full kitchen we can bring our own dinner (like pre-made spaghetti sauce or lasagne).

On thing I'd do differently: My kids haven't seen some of the older Disney movies. They know the stories, but not the Disney versions. Next time, we'll rent them in the months before we go, so the kids are caught up with some theme rides, like Splash Mountain, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, etc.

To skip: Finding Nemo (the wait isn't justified by the ride), Autopia (Again, the ride isn't all that fun unless you have a kid who is hopelessly in love with all things car. If so, make sure they have good upper body strength and can reach the pedals, or it'll be a bust. It's also smelly - think 300 lawn mower engines going full blast in the summer heat.)

One more note about traveling with varied generations - if anyone over stroller age has limited mobility (can't walk far), get to the park early and rent an electric scooter. Doing this made it possible for my mom to stay with us through both days, all day long. Disney also has a policy of helping families stay together, so they will do whatever it takes to get someone using a scooter or wheelchair on the rides with their group. The staffs' positive attitude and willingness to help made everything so easy.

Every time I think about that fun place I just feel all magical!

Stay at the Residence Inn Mariott. It is a long block away from the entrance. But it has a full kitchen in each suite and they have separated rooms and pull out couches for sleeping. The best part is they have the best hot breakfast for free. Eggs, waffles, cereal, biscuits and gravy, etc....it is really great. I would also totally recommend packing food in to Disneyland. It is so expensive and nothing is very good.You can prepare everything in th efull kitchen at the hotel. Plus, in the summer you will spend half your time waiting in food lines.Hope this helps.
A.

Hi E., I am excited for you and your children. It will be funnnnn! I do encourage yo to get a hotel that is fairly close to the hotel, hopefully walking distance. The reason being is because hopefully you will be able to walk to hotel around lunch time and eat out of Disneyland were the food is to expensive. I hope you have fun. I will tel you my experience or when we went to Disneyland. I was also given this advise and boy did it help and we were not tired at all.You didn't netioned for how many days you were going hopefully it is at least 3, believe me it is still not enough. First, get a hotel at walking distance, have fast breakfast at hotel for example cereal, danishes, anything fast I know it won't be very healthy but someting to get you guys going.And make sure you get to hotel as soon as they open to take advantage of tour time. Take a back pack with healthy snacks/water to hold you off till lunch (1:00pm). Leave Disneyland and eat elsewhere, pizza place, or any other place outside Disney that is on your way to Hotel, after you eat, walk back to Hotel> I Know you feel like you are going to waste time going back to hotel and take at least an hour nap TRUST ME YOU NEED IT or at least lay down and rest. I know the kids will srceam, yell and be upset that is ok because when they wake up they will be ready to go again. Return to Disneylaand about 4-5 pm and stay till they close. And next day, same thing. I did this and it was fun, by second day my daughter did not complain about nap time, she was ready to go and get some rest because she wanted to stay late in Disneyland. We didn't eat very healthy all the time , but I did carry healthy snacks and plenty of water in my backpack. So that made up for someting. Again HAVE FUN AND GET A LITTLE REST IN BETWEEN.
A.

Get the Fodor's guide, Disneyland with Kids. . . we planned our trip last year with it & it helped a great deal. It breaks down attractions by age & gives a lot of great advice on saving time & money at the parks.
Have a great time!

This question came up so often in our Mother's Club, that one smart mama consolidated all the responses and published it on our website.

http://www.castrovalleymothersclub.com/disney.cfm

Have fun!

hi E.,
we have bought annual passes for the last 4 years and try to go atleast once a month. mousesavers.com is the best source for "DEALS". A little known secret is if you do not want to stay the disneyland hotel.... stay at the Annabella INN. It is very nice and soooooo much cheaper and is directly across the street from the park. Bringing water is smart because it is very pricey inside the park......... also if you are staying at the disneyland hotel or any of the other two resort hotels, you can send anything you buy in the park over to your hotel... just drop it off at customer service or ask the person at the store and they will make sure it gets to your room..... it's great when you don't have to lug around a bunch of stuff. If you are going to be there for a few days.... it is best to buy a annual pass if you live in california. check out mouse savers they have tons of good tips.

My family and I stay at the Tropicana (diectly across the street) thru disney good neighbor. It is a good deal, however getawaytoday.com has the same deal for at least $100 cheaper. that's what we are using this year. Both sites can be paid by payments. for 5 of us with 3 days at the park and 5 nights at the hotel, it is a little more that $1500. We get the extra nights at the hotel to just relax and hang out at the pool, because the 3 days at the park are park only from opening to closing! I've also quoted for 4 park days and still is not bad. The more you buy, the cheaper it gets.

Another way to save money, the park allows your own snack and water. We also take our George Forman grill. There is a wal-mart 1 exit before Harbor blvd. On the grill we cooked hamburgers, hot dogs, veggies (which we don't get eating out too much, ESPN Restuarant offers them, however that is expensive), we also do boneless chicken and thin steaks both for sandwiches or something. you feel so much better saving money and eating better food. We do go out a couple of times. We took lunch meat, cereal and microwaveable stuff like popcorn, hotpockets, frozen pancakes. We don't often do breakfast out because we want to hurry to get to the park, so we opt for cereal with some fruit and water packed until lunch, we are back at the hotel. It is a bit of work for vacation, but it's not too bad and I think it is worth it.

If you don't have the grill or know someone that you can borrow from, at least do the sandwiches and cereal with microwavable things, it is very helpful. We did this the first year when we didn't have the grill.

All rooms at the Tropicana have microwaves and refrigderators. There is another hotel that is reasonable thru getaway, that has a full kitchen with separate bed rooms for the kids and a small living room. It is called Desert Palm. It is located at the corner of harbor and Ketalla. Not far from the entrance. I'd say maybe about 1/2 mile at the most.

One more thing I forgot to mention. If you are driving, there is a gas station about 1/2 way there or so called LOVES, can't miss it. It is least expensive. i'd suggest filling-up there. You'll pass chevron and shell and Mcdonalds. About 1/2 hour after that on the right hand side, you'll see Loves gas station along with Jack in the Box and many other gas stations.

Hi E.!
You are going to have so much fun! I LOVE Disneyland! I live about 5 hours from there, so we go at least once a year. We're planning a trip for my daughter's first birthday in Oct.
Have you picked a hotel yet? If not, the Annabel is right across the street, very nice accommodations, and only runs about $100 per night (might be more during the summer).
I suggest getting a 3-day park hopper, so you have time to see everything and not feel rushed. However, if you don't want to spend that much, get a 1 or 2 day park hopper, then spend a day in Downtown Disney, which is FREE! It's basically a strip-mall with lots of fun restaurants and shops - including a HUGE Build-a-Bear!
There are some wonderful restaurants inside the parks, but definitely pricy, so you might consider eating in Downtown Disney for meals, and just get snacks along Main St. USA, which is the main walkway inside the Disneyland park. You can get a hotdog and drink (kid's meal) for about $5. They don't allow outside food in the park, but they don't really search your bags, so I always through in a few granola bars! =) Definitely buy a souvenir cup - refills are cheaper than buying new drinks every few hours! My hubby and I get one large souvenir cup and share it, with cheap refills all day.
Good luck and have fun! =)

getawaytoday.com for hotel and tickets has proven (4 times so far) to be cheaper than AAA or through Disney itself. Also if you get a Disney Visa or have AAA, you can get 10% off of many restaurants and souvenir shops. Have fun!

Hello E.. My name is D. and I am a stay-at-home step-mom of 3 beautiful daughters ages 15, 14, and 10 and a mom of 1 awesome son, age 8. In the past, when we've gone to Disneyland, we've always got our passes and hotel from the Disneyland website:

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/home/hom...

The website can also give you lots of ideas per the ages of your children and you can also buy the "Park Hopper" passes there too. Definately do both parks!! There's great things to do in both!

At the Disneyland Hotel there's Goofy's Kitchen. You need to make a reservation and you can get that number on the website also. You get to eat with the characters in a buffet setting. The characters come to each table while you're eating and sign autographs and pose for pictures etc. They also do dances with the kids and fun stuff like that. My kids all love it and frankly, so do I!!! It's expensive, (the 6 of us cost about $150.00) but worth it! Also, the breakfast is the best.....don't do lunch or dinner there, it's more expensive anyway.

Another place that's fun to eat at is in Downtown Disney, it's called the "Rain Forest Cafe." Again, it's not cheap, but you eat in a rain forest setting and the animals move around, etc. The kids like it alot! And there's a HUGE tropical fish tank in there that's worth checking out. Need a reservation there too.

At the Disneyland Park, check out "Fantasmic." It's at night, but worth the wait. Also the California Adventure Park has the old "Main Street Electrical Light Parade."

In Disneyland, go to Toontown and go to Mickey's house. You walk through it and then at the end you get to meet Mickey himself and take a personal photo with him that you can pick up at the souvenier shop on your way out of the park. Most of the Main Disney characters hang out in Toontown.

Most days Disneyland is really crowded, so what we learned is to take the kids to Disneyland first thing in the morning and ride the rides that are usually long waits and then go over to the California Adventure Park, less crowded in the afternoons.

I hope this helps. I hope your kids have a GREAT time and live Happily Ever After!!!

~D. :)

The only thing I would add to all the great advice is to stay close enough to walk to the park if you can (more expensive, but definitely worth it) and to be sure to "Meet Crush" the turtle from Finding Nemo. He is in the California Adventure Park in a theater in the "Hollywood" area (not far from Aladdin). You can have a real conversation with him that is totally awesome, dude.
Have fun!

The first Disneyland trip is always exciting, for everyone involved! First off, having your kids put together a list of must-sees is a definite must-do. It will help to figure out how much time will be needed since Disneyland isn't exactly what it use to be, though it's still GREAT fun! Get a map ahead of time, if you can, too.

I highly recommend Goofy's Kitchen (at the Disneyland Hotel) for dinner. It's buffet-style, but the price is worth it since LOTS of the Disney characters are there, roaming the restaurant and saying hi to all the kids. They even stop and give autographs (for those who want them). Highly entertaining, and a good place to rest those tired bodies after a long day of running around.

No matter what, have FUN in the Happiest Place on Earth!

WE too are Disney fanatics!!! I grew up thinking everyone went to Disneyland 3 out of 4 weekends, cause my older sisters went to Wilson High in Long Beach and they used to march in the parades way back in 1970's!! LOL! We no longer live down there but have famiy there and frequent it as often as we're able. I'l try not to repeat, but when we went in Feb. 08 a few things had changed, they are fine with snacks and water, very diligent on searching for "weapons"ie fingernail clippers,pocket knives, etc. We always get a locker and take lunch makings so then we have a central meeting place everyone knows to be back there at a certain time, and a down time too for the younger or older generations. DO NOT LEAVE ANY THING BEHIND THE BUSHES TO AVOID PAYING FOR THE LOCKERS. Every time we're there someone does, tehy bring in the dogs to sniff for bombs or drugs and then take it away. Our kids paid for their own tickets this time with mainly saving the recycling. They made about $450, so they had spending money too. DH & I are both firefighters so we got in free this year and kids were only $56 each. Summer is the toughest time to go the crowds are a lot so be really prepared. Ditto to staying on Harbor, book asap and midweek is the best deals. DH and I went to the Good Will one night and searched for anything Disney and $40 later all 6 kids had at least one shirt except dd4 who had like 3 shirts a pair of pants, and a snowwhite dress! Sun block, great memories, oh and we started a tradition with my dd now 24 & 25 that on the first trip to Disney we get a shadow portrait for $7 at the Siloette store on main Street. We now have funmemories to look back on. I also get my kids an ornament each year of something we did that year. The years we go to Disney I get them that ornament according to the child's favorite character at that age/stage of life. Disney is bringing back many of the older one, Mary Poppins, Fox & Hound, so rent the movies. The parades are wonderfun. Take a ton of pictures!! make great memories. hugs~~K.
ps I want a full report when you return :) as does everyone else I'm sure

Hi,
Sorry for the late response. When my kids and I went with my friend and her kids, there was a book that she had that was quite useful. I think it's called the "Unoffical guide to Disneyland". It rated the rides(ie. which ones got you wet, which ones were the ones that made one nausus, etc.), the best place to watch the nighttime shows. Our kids had their own daybacks to carry their money, water bottles, snacks and souvenirs (try not to purchase at the beginning of the day) and tennis shoes....lots of walking. Also, there was some deal with AAA at the time that allowed one to get the "Fast Pass" to access tix for forego the long lines. Divide and conquer; someone can run ahead to get the passes while the others are waiting in line. Hope that helps and everyone has a great time!

Hi E.,

Ooh, your kids are going to looove Disneyland! Don't worry about there being a lack of things to do for them at their age. In fact, there's going to be too much to do! There are shows and plenty of age-appropriate rides. If your in-laws have the money, it's well worth buying the park-hopper tickets, as there are lots of cool shows (Bug's Life, Muppets, Aladdin theater, Breakfast with Disney Characters, etc.) at Disney's California Adventure. Plus, the lights parade takes place Disney's California Adventure and not at Disneyland.

I think your only problem will be a place for your kids to nap when they're exhausted for over-exerting themselves by running around and having fun.

In terms of saving money, I'd suggest bringing in the food -- no cans or glass bottles -- because it's expensive at the park. Or, simply leave the park and go to an inexpensive fast-food place or restaurant, and then go back into the park after eating.

Check out the Disneyland website for things to do as well.

L.
Working mom in San Jose

Don't go on the weekends or holidays or you will be lucky if you get on 4 rides in one day!

E.,
when my sisters went, they got sunburnt and dehydrated the first day, then spent a ton of money on bottled water the second day. If my little girl ever goes, she's going with an over-the-shoulder bottle carrier and a refillable bottle. If we drive, we'll take a few gallons of clean water, too (tap water is not very good there)
L.

you can get a good discount through AAA if you have membership. Also, I saw the tickets for sale at Costco. Really enjoy as well, the Renaissance restaurant down there with the jousting and horses and battles while you eat. Very close to Disneyland.

The Key is to stay joyful and know when to take a time out for everyone. It can be overstimulating and then everyone does not realize how tired they are, then negative moods and behavior happens. My family goes every year and we always look at the map the night before and decide our A, B, and C priorities for each child. Then we plan our day to see all the A priority rides, fit in the B and C's if we can. This eliminates emotionally charged negotiation on the fly while in the park itself, everyone knows ahead what the other people in the family really want to experience and why. We don't stick to it in a regimented way to either, we go with the flow plenty of times. But the A=have to see it or I will die B=would love to do that C=doesn't matter, (oh and and off the chart is nobody cares about going to that one.)

A couple of tips buy tickets before getting there at a credit union or AAA. Put your kids on a budget before entering. You each have $30 to spend. Let them look at all the shops before deciding what to purchase. Pack snacks and bottled water. It is amazing how much they can be in a theme park. Map out what you are going to do first. What land etc... so you are not wasting time running back and forth across the park getting tired. Take advantage of the fast pass cards. Any amount of time you save on standing in line with kids is awesome. I hope they enjoy it :)

We just went to Disneyland in March. My two girls are 3 and 6. We also purchased "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland" which I would highly recommend. This was very helpful and we followed their suggested ride lists -- and were through all the rides we wanted to ride by 1:00 p.m. We would go back to our hotel and take naps. After naps and/or dinner we would go back to the parks to see the parades, the princesses, the fireworks, or ride the rides we liked the best again. No matter what, your kids will love every minute of it!!

We love Disneyland in our family and we are annual pass holders, sol et m etell you what I know.
1. Stay at a hotel on Harbor Blvd, but make sure it is one close to the main entrance. They book up fast!
2. You are allowed to bring in bottled water and can bring them in a little insulated cooler (like a lunch box size). We bring an entire case of water with us. Bring the powder drink mixes to add to bottle water, that way it is tasty an dthe kids don't miss the soda.
3. Bring snacks - but not anything that will melt. Bring extra an dbuy most all before you go.
4. Eat breakfast at the hotel. Get a room with a fridge. You can have milk, cereal, yogurt, muffins, donuts etc. It will save you a ton of money. Also pack some sodas and coffee if you have people who love that.
5. Lunch can be almost cheap if you order wisely. Stick with hotdogs (Ca Adv Land), corn dogs (main street), bread bowls with jumbalaya or clam chowder (New Orleans square), a slice of pizza, or order a double cheeseburger with an extra bun then make 2 cheeseburgers out of it. You can also bring some PB & J's in with you, just hide them under your sweaters or supplies.
6. For dinner you can eat in Downtown Disney. The restaurants there are better. If you order from one of the many walk-up windows that the restaurants have, it will be cheaper than going inside. I also prefer the restaurants inside Cal Andv Land to the ones in Disneyland.
7. Bring hats and sunscreen!
My kids are 2 and 6, but we usually go with cousins that are 7 and 9. Here is a list of our favorite rides:
Space Mountain
Buzz Lightyear
Mattahorn
Dumbo
Peter Pan
Mr Toads Wild Ride
Thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
jungle boat cruise

In Cal Andv Land
Tower of Terror!!!!!! So fun!
Soarin over California - terrific!
Califonria Screamin - the big roller coaster!
The water rapid ride (on a hot day go in first thing and get a fastpass)
The Brother Bear Playground (near the water rapid ride) my kids willplay there for hours!

When using fastpass remember you cannot go eralier than the time window they give you, but you can go later. If your fastpass says to come bewteen 10am-12pm, you can go at 5pm and they will let you on. But they will not let you go 1 minute early. They key to having fun is to master the fastpass. Once you get one for 1 ride, you cannot get another one until (a)2 hours (b)your fastpass window has come already for the ride you already have a fastpass for. So you need to plan. Often we will giv eall of our tickets to one person and they will get us all fatspasses while we wait in line for another ride.

Good Luck!

Team jammies.

We took our kids in December. I went to our local Disney store and bought matching jammies for all four of us. It was a surprise for the hotel.

Now, ever time we wear the jammies, the kids talk about and remember the trip. It was a cheesy way to celebrate, but fun.

The only other thing I recommend, which I do often in big places, is to dress the kids in the same color. That way I can scan the crowd for "red" kids or "purple" kids.

E.,

You have gotten a lot of good advice....but I'd like to add a little something. My husband and I both grew up going to Disney and we made a promise that we would never take a stroller...it's our personal choice, some would get mad at me for saying this...but we see too many upset babies and parent's with little little children....we didn't want to deal with that. It was the best choice for our family.

My husband and I started taking our 5 daughters in May of 2000 (they were 6,8,8,10 &12)...we go anywhere from once a year to three times a year still to this day...we have spent 1 to 5 days in the parks. I would say you need a good 3 days to see and enjoy both parks, 4 days is ideal for anyone's first visit.

If you only have 2 days, I wouldn't suggest leaving the park at all...if you need to rest in the afternoon, go to the shows...ALL the shows are worth seeing. My husband (41) and I (38) even go alone (we live 8 hours away, but do have annual passes), there is just something about being there that our family really likes. Our kids don't have passes, only he and I do...we make it our weekend get-away, plus there are special pass holder adult events.

Eating INSIDE the park can be expensive, you can walk to Downtown Disney and find many good places to eat for a little less. I suggest the pizza place in Downtown Disney right across from The World of Disney store. Good price, good food, good size, and fast. There are some less expensive places to eat in Disney that I would say are worth their money...especially if you don't have a lot of time. You can grab a corn dog or a slice of pizza..to chicken strips or a burger. If you want something a bit more in price and upgraded, there are many sit down places to enjoy. My kids (14, 16, 16, 18 and 20) still love going to Goofy's Kitchen....we have taken many of their friend's and it's an all time favorite.

Someone suggested water bottles....if you can buy water bottle straps before you go, they will come in handy!

I hope that no matter what...even if money is an issue and you can't go often...don't let this be your kid's last trip...make this your first. The first is always special, but I can bet you that once you've been there and you figure out how to use the Fast Passes and how to go here and there, how much money it will cost your family, ect....you'll want to go back...and you'll enjoy your second visit even more. In 2002, our kids wanted to spend Christmas in Disneyland...so they opted for no gifts in order for us to stay for 5 days in the Grand Californian. They of course got a few little gifts, but they were Disney shirts and hats and some spending money to buy something special. We take munchies and beverages with us....bread, PB&J, cold cereal, milk, cookies, granola bars. Each of my kids packs a few munchie items in their bags and we are set to go. We require our kids to carry their own backpack or water bottle with a strap, my husband and I both carry one also....they keep their snacks, beverages and sweatshirt in it. It's about easy access and not having to run to a locker or hotel room 7 different times.

I do hope you go and have a very magical time, relax and enjoy the trip.

Hi E.,

We actually just got back from Disneyland with our son which is four years old. Some things we did was eat the continetal breakfast at the hotel which was just fine since it had cereal, waffles, coffee and pasteries that way you do not have to spend money on that meal. For lunch we would noramlly went over to Toon Town in Disneyland since they have pizza, hot dogs and sandwiches which we were not able to find in the rest of Disneyland and the prices were not to bad there as well. For dinner we would normally go out of the park to eat since on Harbor Blvd where all the hotels are there are many food places with good prices we actually went to one that was called Kids cafe and they have all kinds of food for really good prices and it is right across the street from Disneyland. We did not do any of the Fast passes since we were lucky with rides and wait times. Oh a thing my son got a kick out of was when you first get into Disneyland they have the old cars that will drive you down Main street to the castle and the driver honks the horn the whole time and every moves out of your way and my son was waving it is a kick for the kids to pass by everyone. Mickey Mouse is always in his house in Toon Town during the day so that is great for the kids to meet Mickey one on one and get a picture taken. Hope some of this helps.

M.

I have only been to Disneyland once in my life. My kids were 11 and 1 at the time. I don't know what packages there are, but we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel which was so great because we had full use of everything. And, when we purchased things, all we had to do was give our room number and they delivered in the evening. You can imagine, with a diaper bag and all that goes along with a baby, I didn't want to worry about dragging other stuff around too. So, just check around to see which hotels have shuttles, etc. Food is expensive so you might want to have drinks and snacks with you unless you are planning your meals at the park. Also, I have to say, one thing that I noticed that really impressed me, was that people left their stollers and bags (I wouldn't advise your wallet) but no one ever bothered a single thing. I had a small fanny pack with sun screen, a couple of baby wipes and cash, but otherwise, when we were on rides as a family, no one bothered a single thing. And everyone was so respectful to one another. That was my favorite part about the entire thing. Really. In that regard, it WAS the magic kingdom.

Hi E.~

As a Disneyland enthusiast (I've been there more times than I can count) and a person that took my kids for the first time last year, I can offer some advice. First, make sure you get a multiple day, park hopper pass. This is important because there is too much to see and do for just one day. Second, buy tickets online through Disney because they offer discounted tickets. Also, try to stay somewhere close to the park so that you don't have to drive and pay for parking, or find a hotel that has a free shuttle. Third, pick a hotel that has a free breakfast (one less meal to pay for!), and leave the park to eat lunch and dinner somewhere else, or bring in snacks for the kids. Fourth, stop by "City Hall" at Disneyland. They will give the kids free "My First Visit" buttons. Make sure you guys go on "Soaring Over California" at California Adventures. It is spectacular. Also, "Tower of Terror" is great fun. Make sure you also take advantage of the fast passes. It will help to limit how many lines you have to stand in and they are free. Have fun! We are taking our kids back again this summer. Call if you have any more questions. :) ###-###-####

Fun!
Good advice...to avoid the sugar meltdown at the parade time, it is worth it to get a near by hotel and half way through the day (before dinner) go back and have the kids nap or just relax for about an hour, then eat dinner outside of the grounds. Then get back about an hour before the parade and grab a seat. That way you can all enjoy the park at night, which is so much fun - and your kids can "close down" the park!
Yes- bring water and snacks, you'll save a little. But if you're like us we love the popcorn and churros, so there is not sub for those!!!
OOh! the lockers will seem very expensive ($5 or $10) for the day, but they are worth it because you can put purchases, jackets, waters etc in them and lighten your load while in line. They are also a great meeting place if you split up or get separated.
Have fun!

Hi E.,

Your family is going to have an awesome time. My husband and I along with our 3 kids ages 17, 6, and 4 have been twice since the youngest was 2. My advice to you is encourage them to ride anything they show an interest in, but don't force them to ride anything that they show fear in. My son, at ages four discovered the his favorite ride was Big Thunder. He's in the 95% for his height and has been since he was a baby so he passed the requirements with no problem. He had a blast. While in line we had him watch what it did, he was giddy with excitement and nervousness but he rode no the less and couldn't stop talking about it. When we went last year he wanted to ride California Screeming. Again, he watched and rode it. After the first time he said he thought he was going to die, but immediately he asked to ride it again, so we did.

My 17 yo was afraid and would only go on those rides that we could all do together.

The 4 yo loved the Bug's Life. The rides catered to her world.

We stayed in a motel right across the street from the park. When we sensed that they were getting tired and before they got cranky we would go back to the room and let them take naps and then they were refreshed to go back in the evening.

Because it's so expensive to eat in the park. We pack a little rolling ice chest. We packed sandwiches, snacks, water and 1 soda/juice for each person. They have lockers so we rented one for the day and put the ice chest in it. We carried in a backpack the water and snacks. You need to stay hydrated, especially in the summer. We allowed them to have one special treat a day(whether it was the popcorn tub - app $10 or an ice cream appx $7.

As for souveniers, we told them they would be allowed to pick out 2 things. They didn't have to choose on the first day(we had a 3 day hopper), they could look around and decide. But they had a limit of $40 each total.

Some may say having those limits took the fun out of Disneyland, but if you look at our scrapbooks, you would never think that. They still talk about their trips.

Usually we left the park before they left because they wanted an hour in the pool at the motel. My kids went to bed exhausted, but happy and looking forward to the next day.

Disneyland is a land of dreams, but it is also filled with millions of people. Make sure you know where they are at all times. It's hard to see children who have gotten lost and it's a big place.

I know this is long, but I hope it helps.

I'm not quite sure if you are going, but if this is therer first time, try and go. You will get a big kick out of watching them. You'll know what they'll be talking about instead of feeling "you had to be there" to get it.

Have an awesome time.

You all ready have a ton of great advice and some I'll take not of too. :)

If you do splurge and stay at one of the Disney hotels (and there are some great advantages to doing so) then you may wish to consider Pinocchios Workshop at the Grand California Hotel. This is a kids center for 5-12 year olds that is open from 5pm to midnight. My son (now 8) has tried it several times and actually requested it a couple of times. It has the great advantage that they take the kids to a special balcony where the music is piped in and they can see the fireworks as an almost private showing. If you collect them at just the right time you can even join them. It also means the adults can have a night off for a little time for themselves - either a quiet dinner or chase some of the rides your kids aren't interested in or can't ride because of height restrictions.

Don't expect to do it all unless you are there for several days. Do take breaks when you need them, we have had our son read quietly while we nap if he doesn't want to.

Expect summer to be crowded and be prepared for heat and sun.

Mostly, relax and enjoy.
K.

Everyone has great advice, and I say follow it! One piece that I can give you is if you want to stay in the park for dinner or lunch, call the Disneyland Restaurant Reservation line early and make a reservation for the Carnation Cafe. It's not a character meal, which I'm sure you will probably do, but when you are tired of standing in line and don't want to wait in yet another line to eat, the carnation cafe is a welcome oasis. It's right on main street and they have soup, salad, sandwiches, pot pies. Although it's not mandatory that you make a reservation, having one means you don't have to wait. You just show up at your time, and you get the next available table. The reservation line is ###-###-####. Here's another tip: program it into your cell phone. You never know when you might want it. Also, make all your Disneyland Park, California Adventure and Disneyland Resort dining reservations through this phone number before going.

I'm sure you'll get lots of tips but so they don't get lost, dress them in colors that stand out so they can be seen and also tell the kids that if they get lost, do not walk around, stay where you are and when the grandparents notice that they are missing, they will back-track and look for them.

E., it helps to know if your kids are boys are girls or one of each.

If they are girls you have to take them to Disney Princess area. There they can take a picture with the Disney Princess, they rotate them so it all depends who you will end up with by the time you get to the front of the line. They also have an area where you can get the girls hair fixed up like a Princess and you can even get a hair piece if the hair is short, they have the clothes too, but I think the age limit is 9. So if your 7 year old is a girl and she wants a Disney Princess dress the cost is between $65-$85 not including the shoe, wand, purse and the gloves. Then they will be ready for the Princess Coronation. They will learn how to dance, wave and curtsey like a Princess.

Depending on how long you are staying, you should do a character breakfast. I would not recommend Ariels Grotto at California Disney only because it is $30 for the adults and $18 for the kids and the menu is Hamburger and Fries, Fish and Chips, Chicken Pot Pie and some other stuff. The food is not worth $30 but the Princesses does visit your table and you can take pictures and get their autographs.

To get your moneys worth for the Character meals go to an all you can eat, you are still paying $30 for an adult meal but like I mentioned it is all you can eat. For breakfast you get omletts made to order, pancakes, hash browns, bacon sausage. Goofys kitchen has salmon. Make sure you make your reservations at all the character dining. They book up fast.

Everytime I go, California Disney is not as crowded as Disneyland. If you are planning to see the Electric Light Parade that is at California Disney and the Fantasmic Water Show is at Disneyland and they are back to back.

If you take pictures with the Disney photographers, tell them you want the CD and they will take at least 10 pictures each time. This is helpful when you are taking pictures with the Princesses, because they will start shooting from the time the kids walk up to them till they leave. You will get a card that the camera folks will slide through their camera and the pictures are loaded onto that card. As long as you have a printer at home that prints on photo paper this is a cheaper way to go instead of buying the pictures separate each time. I think they went up in price but you can ask about to get more information. The first time we did it we had 250 pictures on the CD and the CD holds 300 pictures.

You will have a fantastic time.