This is a collaborative post with 3 sections. Myself and two of my good mommy friends are taking our kids on a BIG Disneyland trip in two weeks! We are beyond excited and have put in a lot of work preparing for this trip. Each of us have contributed our own tips and tricks below, and if you follow along on our Instagram all month long you can see our entire experience first hand!
As you may know from watching my stories, we are preparing for a trip to Disneyland in less than 2 weeks! This time is going to be extra fun, since we are going with two of our best friends and their kids together! We have been planning and preparing for this trip for MONTHS, and I cannot wait to take you all along with us!
Lydia, Erin, and I all have our own unique takes and experiences with Disneyland, so we each have tips and tricks to share when it comes to planning a Disney trip. For today, I am going to cover two things:
1. Hotel Accommodations
and
2. How to Plan an Itinerary
How to Find a Hotel
We have stayed in four different hotels close to Disneyland, but the HOJO Anaheim is by far our favorite! Here’s why:
1. 10 minute walk to Disneyland gates – the location is amazing, and it’s so easy to walk to Disneyland! No need for parking (or paying for parking) taking a shuttle, or missing rope drop! This is also great if you have young kids who need to take nap breaks, it’s super simple to just walk back to your hotel for a quick nap, then walk back to the park when everyone is awake.
2. Waterpark – HOJO Anaheim has this really cool pirate themed waterpark that is open year round! The slides and play area are all appropriate for younger children, and there’s a baby wading pool and hot tub as well! My kids always have so much fun here on our day off from the park.
3. Breakfast on the way – McDonalds is on the way from the walk from the hotel to Disneyland, so we usually stop for a quick breakfast on the go! It’s nice to not have to figure out where to eat every morning, or pay for food in the parks.
4. Free parking, affordable prices, Disneyland views – to quickly sum the rest up, HOJO Anaheim offers one free parking space per hotel room (hard to find around Disneyland!), very reasonable room rates, and some of the rooms overlook Disneyland and the firework shows at night!
Making an Itinerary
Arguably one of my favorite things to do for Disneyland is make and accomplish an itinerary (helllllooo type 3 enneagram)! I have written several blog posts about different itineraries based on what you are going to Disneyland for (rides, food, characters, or photos) but here is my most requested Ride Route Through Disneyland post!
I will say that having some sort of schedule or plan is crucial while attending Disneyland if you have certain things you want to see or do. Look at a map of the park and plan your day (with some flexibility) so you make sure to not miss out. It is easy to get distracted or side tracked and if there are things you don’t want to miss it is important to schedule them in!
Lydia’s Tips for Disneyland with 2 Under 2!
Disneyland is a magical experience for every age. I know my girls are young and may not (probably will not) remember this trip, but it will still be a part of their childhood and that will never change. One of the most important things to me as a mother to my girls, is to give them everything I can to make their dreams come true. There is so much that is magical in the young eyes and minds even at 8 months and 19 months old, and those moments are a part of how they will feel as children, as well as, remember feeling when they are adults!
Preparing for Disneyland is still somewhat new to me, and personally will only be my third trip! I mean… in comparison to @caseyeanderson and @desert.and.cotton, I am by far a newbie! However! I do have a few tips that may be helpful anyone else taking a Disney trip with their baby or toddler!
My biggest goal is to make sure I have everything I need for both of my girls, easy to grab, easy to carry, and carefully packed in a way that is efficient for standing in line, being on rides, or really anywhere when we are away from our stroller. Because my girls are younger they need more things….diapers and wipes (lots of wipes), bottles, sippy cups, snacks, loveys, pacis (extra pacis)…the list is long. On top of all of that I, the mother, need things as well. It is overwhelming to think that I can strap on my 8 month old, often carry my 19 month old, and still have to find a way to carry all these things when I am away from my stroller!
My tip then, is this! The right diaper bag, the right carrier, and highly planned out nap times!
- Starting with the baby carrier…I own an Ergo Baby Omni 360 and believe it or not I can actually fit a spare emergency diaper, small pack of wipes, emergency snack, emergency paci, an extra bottle, and extra sippy cup, my wallet, and my phone inside this carrier and still have my hands completely free! Can I just get a round of applause for this?
- The right diaper bag…MF Store has a diaper bag that is a total Fawn Design dupe, BUT it is by far one of my favorite diapers bag and I will not be sad if it gets ruined. This diaper bag has two insulated pockets that I love because it can keep two ready-to-go bottles cool. It has tonssss of room for a good stack of diapers and big pack of wipes, hold a soft cooler with lunch and snacks, and has pockets for a change of clothing, sunscreen, sippy cup, and a container full of baby formula to mix up new bottles for my little one on the go. It is also a backpack so when I am using the stroller and the kids are strapped in I can throw it on my back, and when I am not using the stroller the bag can hang on the stroller side easily.
- Planned out nap times. If you are like me, then you know when your kiddos will be needing a nap. I can tell when my 19 month old is ready in a second, and luckily my 8 month old is pretty good as just falling asleep in the stroller. With that said I will know better then to get in line for a ride when my toddler is ready to throw fits and collapse to the ground in exhaustion disguised as screaming… Knowing ahead of time what time of day should be planned for quiet “sneak offs” shaded stroller walks, and worst case scenario trips back to the hotel room, is high on my preparation list!
Erin’s Tips for Planning Outfits and a Non-Ride Based Itinerary!
There are times when I plan outfits for activities. Then there are times when I plan activities for outfits. Disneyland is this time. I collect outfits that are perfect for days in the park, and then when I have enough outfits (more like enough outfits for each day of the trip even if we all wet our pants twice each day), we make a Disney trip!
I love finding small shops that cater to Disney lovers like myself. And there are so many to choose from! I usually pick a theme for each day (e.g. Mickey and Minnie, the Princesses, Toy Story, etc.) and begin my search for items on Etsy or Instagram. For this trip, we chose to have the kids portray characters from the main Disney Princess movies while us mamas will portray their evil counterparts. (Because let’s face it, we all identify as the villain in these movies when we age. Helloooo, who wouldn’t get mad about not getting an invite to a christening? Rude.) We were able to find small shops that made villain ears, villain clips, and villain tanks, as well as shops that made princess themed tanks, princess themed dresses, and princess themed ears and wands.
There are also small shops that create amazing outfits from unique Disney themed prints, as well as small shops that create one of a kind amazing works of art in the form of necklaces, earrings, purses, shoes, ears, and hair clips.
For those folks that think I am absolutely insane for spending any more on Disney than I already do (cough cough my husband cough cough, more coughing who ALSO refuses to wear matching shirts with us cooooouuugggghhhhh), I love to shop preloved clothes on apps such as Kidizen and Mercari, and search Facebook BST (Buy Sell Trade) pages devoted to Disney themed clothing. The absolute genius part of this whole thing is that I sell the clothes that we wear on the trip when we return home!
(The part that I fail to mention to people that I will mention to you because I know you will tell no one is that the money I earn goes straight back to buy more Disney clothes to prepare for our next trip. Aaaaaand now we’re full circle and in a constant state of Disney prep. So that will just be our little secret.)
The most important thing to remember: you will have the most amazing time at Disneyland regardless of what you wear. (The second most important thing to remember: you will walk MILES so wear sensible shoes. Don’t be cute. You wear those orthotics and you WORK IT. )
Small Shop Contributors
There are so many amazing blog posts devoted to itinerary ideas in Disneyland. Most are ride centered and can get you on pretty much all the attractions you want to go on in one day. For those of you that cannot handle walking (RUNNING) 15 miles per day with a kid flying behind you, have I got an itinerary for YOU! (Beware: there are a lot of food stops. So If you are on a diet, you’re gonna want to get off that train real quick.)
Rope Drop
Like all the other itinerary posts, you need to get there for rope drop. Get in line at least 30 minutes before the park opens. (Yes, you must wait in line to wait in line.) While you are waiting in all these lines, DOWNLOAD THE APP. The app tells all. Showtimes, wait times, character meet and greets… you can even order food without having to stand in line. And not standing in line at Disneyland doesn’t ever happen. So get that app.
Main Street and Castle Photo Ops
Walk up Main Street (or leisurely stroll, it’s the happiest street in the world pretty much so why rush?) and head toward the castle where everyone is queued up by the ropes. When they drop the rope and everyone starts running to their chosen first ride, YOU head to the right of the castle and take a photo. It is always quiet there and you can get the perfect castle photo with the moat included!
Royal Hall
If you have a princess loving daughter, head to the Royal Hall next. You can meet three princesses right off the bat, so it won’t even matter if you run into no other princesses there. You met THREE already! (But with that Disney app, you always know where the characters will be and when. My 1994 self is so jealous of my child. Remember when you just had to wander around and HOPE you found someone? Do they even know how lucky they are??)
City Hall
Next up, head back down Main Street and into City Hall. They have buttons for everyone: birthday buttons, first trip buttons, etc. And stock up on maps! I get a map to bring home every trip; I love looking back on older maps to see how the park has changed.
Silhouette Studio
After, find the Silhouette Studio! They will literally cut a portrait of your child in 60 seconds and you can grab a frame there too. The best souvenir ever.
Candy Palace and Emporium
Across the street is the Candy Palace. If you’re anything like me, you will be jonesing for a snack as it’s probably 10 am right now. And if you aren’t at least three churros in, you are doing Disney wrong. Here you can find Mickey shaped treats of all kinds. And don’t forget to take a photo for the ‘gram, cause did you even eat it if you didn’t post a photo of it? The Emporium is also the best place to wander and find the perfect souvenir for your trip. Did you know you needed Mickey and Minnie shaped salt and pepper shakers? I didn’t. And now I’ve got them staring back at me every morning over eggs.
Railroad
Take your treat, and walk back to the entrance toward the Main Street Train Station. You can hop on a train (don’t worry, always a short wait), and enjoy your treat while you take in all the sights of Disneyland! Also a great way to get across the park without walking one bit. Hop off when you get to New Orleans square. (Or stay on for one more loop because you probably got several treats.) You are now steps away from Mickey Beignets and Mint Juleps. That train ride wore you out I’m sure, and you are probably parched so go grab those refreshments.
Storytelling at Royal Theatre
When you’re finished, head back to Fantasyland. There is a small theater (The Royal Theatre) where performers reenact Rapunzel and Beauty and the Beast. Check your app for showtimes! Perfect for an afternoon rest in the shade. (And stick around after the show: you may even be able to meet some of the characters! Ugh, I can’t even believe I am telling you all my secrets.)
Disney PhotoPass
If you opted into MaxPass, you can run around and just ask Disney paparazzi to take picures of you. All day. They give you a card with info on it, you download the photo.. bam. No more father lugging around his camcorder all day following you. You now have a photography team at your beck and call. (I seriously have a family photo us going down Splash Mountain with my dad holding one of those giant camcorders from the 90s. How was that even allowed? It’s not like you can sneak it on the ride in your pocket. UM SIR IS THAT A GIANT RECORDING DEVICE? Uhhh no, it is my portable refrigerator, nothing to see here.) TIP: Ask for some pixie dust when you get your photo taken!
Disneyland rides are always a good time. But Disneyland has so much more to offer! So hang up the itinerary and wander. Disneyland is filled with magical opportunities that just can’t be planned. Have fun discovering them! (Then come back here and tell us exactly what you did so we can plan for next time.)