Disneyland, One Day With a 5 Year Old

[keirasdada]

Hi All,
First time visitor here, so I'll apologize in advance for dumb questions

I have a business meeting in Anahiem next Wednesday. I would like to take our 5 year son down Tuesday afternoon and have a babysitter watch him on Wednesday. (Mom is staying in Seattle with our 4 month old)

We will spend Wednesday evening and all day Thursday together. We are staying at the Grand Californian. I would like to take him to Disneyland for the day on Thursday. He is a little nuts about trains, so I know we will be riding the monorail and the Disneyland Railroad. Wish we could stay longer, but not in the cards this time.

I am hoping for suggestions from you all rides/activities you might suggest in that time frame with a 5 year old. He is not crazy about the big, fast rides (yet). He likes Cars and Toy Story (natch) but doesn't have to meet any characters.

Just curious to learn any suggestions. I haven't been to the California Adventure Park yet and don't want to spread our day too thin trying to do to much. But maybe I don't know what I'm missing?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Metro West]

 

[BensDaddy]

Good morning! We went to Disneyland with our 5 year old (then 4) last year and found the park to be well sized for to get around easily. We had a great time!

We were there when the gates opened and went straight back to Buzz Lightyear (which he wanted to ride 3 times). He loved the Finding Nemo Submarine. Once I talked him into riding the Matterhorn Bobsleds he loved those too (and we rode them several times as well)

Dumbo and "It's a Small World" are both must-sees.... once. While waiting in line to meet Mickey we rode the Chip and Dale roller coaster. We did Pirates of the Caribbean but his absolute favorite (it was around Christmas Time) was the re-themed Haunted Mansion which featured Jack Skelington from the Nightmare Before Christmas. He still talks about it every day. Crazy huh?

The train shouldn't be missed -- look for the dinosaurs! And don't forget to stop in Adventure Land for a Dole Whip!!

Have a great time! We can't wait to go back again!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Moving to the Disneyland board.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

If he is crazy about trains don't forget to to ride Casey Junior Circus Train. He also loves Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. My son loves them both just for the simple fact that they are trains.

 

[3monkeys4me]

I would do Goofy's Kitchen for Dinner on Wednesday to kick off the trip! You could get some fun pictures and a little character interaction without taking away park time.

My ds was 4 1/2 his first trip and he loved Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours (the old version, though I think we would love the new one too!) and the Buzz space rangers ride.