1st time to Disneyland with 4 year old...help and tips!

[angiebaylor]

Hi! I am hoping that you can help me! We have been to WDW many times I am feel like I know that ins and out of that place so well and now we will be going to Disneyland for the first time in April. I am so excited but a little nervous too becuase it will be just me and my 4 year old daughter. My husband will be in Anaheim all week for work so we are going to be at DL the whole week while he is in classes. We will be there the 2nd week in April so I know that Easter will be passed but how will the crowds and weather be? Also my dd is very much into all of the characters and princesses. She loves all of the character meals and anything to do with characters at WDW. So if you could please give me tips and things that are not to miss and even things that we may want to skip. We will have a whole week which I know at DL is a long time so I am sure that we will be able to do everything. Anytips you might have with doing it alone with a child do would be very helpful....our WDW trips have always been both of us or even my parents too!

Thanks again for any tips and help you may have!!

 

[letthembelittle]

How exciting for the two of you!! You can check out my trip reports for ideas as to what we did with our little girl. Have fun planning!!

 

[Zane21]

I only have BOYS...so I can't help you with any GIRLIE stuff...baahaaa...

I can tell that one things we ALWAYS do is have lunch at the Blue Bayou and watch the boats go past at POTC.

When I make the reservations ( 2 months in advance), I always make them for 1130am and we have ALWAYS gotten a table right next to the water...an employee told me once they seat parties of 4 or under along the water first..so lunch at lunch at 1130am will most likely get you a good table.

If you have a week, you should be fine..no need to rush anything...

 

[DLR29]

If she's into princesses, the Princess Fantasy Faire in Fantasyland is a "must see". It's a small area designated to just meeting princesses. Although the line gets really long, so go in the morning. I believe it opens an hour after the park does though.

If she like the fairies, there's Pixie Hollow, which is similar to PFF, but with Tinkerbell and assorted fairies. Same thing though, the lines get very long, so early in the morning is the best time to visit.

There aren't as many character meet and greets at DL's Toontown, but you can still see Mickey at his house, along with his friends who wander around the town all day.

There's a character breakfast at DL with Mickey & Friends. There's also a princess character meal at DCA, but I've never done either. You can probably get some good reviews from these boards though.

 

[HydroGuy]

Here is some weather info: "Detailed Weather History for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

Usually DLR is crowded with Spring Breakers mid-March to mid-April. You can get a good idea about park hours, etc., based on previous years: "Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124. When DL has hours of 8AM-11PM or midnight then they are expecting large crowds.

FWIW, many folks use the phrase "Disneyland" interchangeably for the park and the resort while the short form "DL" more often means the DL park. See "Disneyland Resort Lingo for Newbies" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2214012

 

[angiebaylor]

Thanks for all of your tips and advice. Also thanks for the lingo link....I will try and do better with my lingo next time!!!!

I am excited about a first trip to Disneyland!!!

 

[azdisneylover]

I would say, hit Fantasyland first thing and ride those, then work your way over to It's a Small World and Toon Town.Once Disneyland starts to get a bit crowded, catch the train to the main station and wander on over to CA and take your time to see all the interesting things in there! If your little girl likes "It's a bug's life, she would like that area and rides in California Adventure. You can have a late breakfast with the pricesses in Ariels's Grotto.

 

[jenseib]

I would love to hear things too.
Which restuarants would be best for kids. Which have actual character meals.
Some must dos that are not at WDW.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

Here are a few suggestions for your trip. I have done both WDW and DL in 2009 with our three kids, two of which are girls.

1. I encourage you to stay within walking distance of the park. Staying on site is not the necessity it is in Florida, but you want to be within walking distance or to stay at a hotel with a DEDICATED shuttle. NOT the ART or Anaheim Resort Transit.

2.Be at the parks when they open! We usually hit the security table forty to fifty minutes before offiicial park opening for DL.

3. California Adventure almost always opens the turnstiles a half an hour before their official opening time, and Soarin is up and running. So you can hit this amazing ride and be in line to head to Toy Story Mania before the park opens.

4.Getting an ADR is not NEARLY as crazy as it is for Florida, so relax. You can make your "reservations" sixty days in advance.

5. USE YOUR EARLY ENTRY which comes with all three day or longer tickets, and is also available to all people staying on site. It will let you into Fantastyland for all their NON-Fastpass rides.

6. If you want to do the Nemo Subs, but don't know if your child will freak out in a small confined space, or the line is long, walk up to the Cast Member working the rope and ask for the alternative experience. This option, an intimate room decked out to feel like a submarine with a large "viewport" shows the same effects as would be seen in the sub, but you don't get in a ship. This alternative is good for those in wheelchairs, and those who just want the alternative experience.

When the line for this cute ride is longer than 20 minutes, I would recommed the room. You will bypass all the long line and head into your climate controlled viewing room.

7. Make sure you hit these rides, as they are unique or quite different than the WDW conterparts: Matterhorn, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies(get a great ice cream sundae to share during this show), Tiki Room, Tarzan's Tree House, Sailing Ship Coumbia (especially the hold with "real" ship quarters"), Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Mickey's Fun Wheel, Monsters Inc., Aladdin Show, and Fantasmic. Plan plenty of time looking at New Orleans Square.

8. Check out the menus at All Ears and see what suites your family.


Have a great time!

Edited: You may want to skip Indiana Jones with a four year old. It is quite intense. It is the same ride structure as Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom, but has huge skulls, skeletons, rats, spiders, bubbling lava pit, and SNAKES. Our older daughter would have loved it as soon as she was large enough to ride, but our youngest is a much more typical "girly girl and would NOT enjoy the show." That warning also extends to Its Tough to be a Bug. It can be very intense, and if you are in doubt, seat yourself near the exit so you can leave if your daughter is overwhelmed. There is NO getting off of Indiana Jones, so I would do Bugs Life and Haunted Mansion before taking her on Indy.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I second the "stay close" idea... we have always gone back to the room for an early afternoon nap, after being up and in line at least a 1/2 hour before opening!

Stroller!!!

And, I prefer the princess lunch/dinner over the PFF experience. The line for PFF can take forever, and the lunch/dinner is relaxing, and the princesses come to you!

~Lisa

 

[jenseib]

whats PFF?

 

[kimara]

i have 1 daughter and 3 sons. for our trip in feb 2010 my daughter decided she is no longer into the princess thing i will forever cherish the memories and pictures of her with the princesses at ariel's meal. the princesses are so perfect and my daughter was able to enjoy speaking with them without feeling rushed.
if the money is an issue, just try the Princess Fantasy Faire (PFF). it is good and fun, but the meal is a better character experience.

 

[jenseib]

Whats the best Princess meal there then

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

You can do breakfast, lunch or dinner at Ariel's Grotto for the princess meal. 5 princesses come around (sometimes they substitute Princess Minnie or the fairy Godmother) but we've always gotten the main ones. We usually do ~6 pm dinner, and love it... done it 3 times now!

 

[bumbershoot]

ONe thing that came to mind while reading replies is the strategy for Fantasyland and Magic Morning.

You get MM once if you have a normal 3+ day ticket. You get MM each day it's offered during your stay, if you're staying on site, no matter your ticket, as long as you have a ticket for that day. So if you have a one day ticket but you stay on site when there's a MM, you can get in with that one day ticket. Hope that explained that. (if you check in very very early in the morning and there's a MM that day, you can take part...if there's a MM on checkout day, you can take part in that...and in between, during a longer stay, of course)

MM gets you into Fantasyland an hour before the park opens, on the T and S days.

So if you do NOT have access to Magic Morning, on those days, do NOT go into Fantasyland first. If you do, you'll just be stuck in lines behind people who have been there for an hour.

If you have access to MM, take part in it! Be at the gates well before MM starts, and get into FL quickly, so you can have shorter lines.

If you have no access to MM, go to Fantasyland right at park opening on a *normal* day.

Whew, that took a long time to explain!


Basically, do NOT go into FL at park opening on a MM day, and don't get to the park later in the day on a normal day then go to FL...both just ask for longer lines than you need to deal with.

I would say, hit Fantasyland first thing and ride those, then work your way over to It's a Small World and Toon Town.Once Disneyland starts to get a bit crowded, catch the train to the main station and wander on over to CA and take your time to see all the interesting things in there! If your little girl likes "It's a bug's life, she would like that area and rides in California Adventure. You can have a late breakfast with the pricesses in Ariels's Grotto.

Sounds great! Though maybe not breakfast...maybe lunch.



As has been mentioned, DCA's gates open at 9:30 even opening time is 10. If DD is 40" she can ride Soarin'. If you get there before 9:30 and are one of the first into the park, you can walk right to Soarin', ride it, and grab a FP on the way towards Grizzly, which will be UP the hill that you'll see. Then the rope will drop up there at 10, and you can make your way to Toy Story Midway Mania, which is great. And then the other stuff.

We enjoy DCA more than we enjoy DL, for the most part. Though right now I could go for either!!!!

 

[HydroGuy]

whats PFF?

Princess Fantasy Faire. See "DLR Abbreviations List" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520784

 

[PoohBearFriends]

As has been mentioned, DCA's gates open at 9:30 even opening time is 10. If DD is 40" she can ride Soarin'. If you get there before 9:30 and are one of the first into the park, you can walk right to Soarin', ride it, and grab a FP on the way towards Grizzly, which will be UP the hill that you'll see. Then the rope will drop up there at 10, and you can make your way to Toy Story Midway Mania, which is great. And then the other stuff.


Do you really get to pick up fast passes when the park isn't open yet?

 

[jacs1234]

Play house Disney was a HUGE hit for my 3 and 5 year olds. It was also great for a bit of downtime as they got to sit down for a while. I did the bibbidy bobbidy boutique with my 3 year old and she LOVED it. She did the whole package and loved it all, especially the attention she got afterwards while walking around the park. She got a lot of attention from the characters in the parade too.

We found Plaza in to be the best character breakfast for our kids. Heaps of characters too and it's so handy that it's inside the park. Of course every single ride in fantasy land was a favourite.

The one on one time is going to be so fun for you two.

 

[Anapauliana]

Here are a few suggestions for your trip. I have done both WDW and DL in 2009 with our three kids, two of which are girls.

1. I encourage you to stay within walking distance of the park. Staying on site is not the necessity it is in Florida, but you want to be within walking distance or to stay at a hotel with a DEDICATED shuttle. NOT the ART or Anaheim Resort Transit


Is there something wrong with ART? I was planning on using it...

 

[Anapauliana]

Here are a few suggestions for your trip. I have done both WDW and DL in 2009 with our three kids, two of which are girls.

1. I encourage you to stay within walking distance of the park. Staying on site is not the necessity it is in Florida, but you want to be within walking distance or to stay at a hotel with a DEDICATED shuttle. NOT the ART or Anaheim Resort Transit.

iana Jones, so I would do Bugs Life and Haunted Mansion before taking her on Indy.

Is there something wrong wih ART? I was planning on using it...