DLR & DCA with 3 & 4 yr old-best recommendations?

[MinnieNMini]

We have 3 day park hopper passes and will be going to Disneyland/DCA on Monday-Wednesday. We will be there Monday afternoon (after 3pm) and planned on doing Disneyland Monday/Tuesday and then do Wednesday at DCA with the Princess Breakfast at Ariel's Grotto. Is this the best route to go with Early Magic Hours for the one day on Tuesday at DLR? What would be the best rides to hit or best utilization of Fast Passes for young kids? Could anyone share what they have done in the past that works for them? TIA!

 

[lcp9]

Boys/girls? and heights? ETA bc my kids were 40” by 3 and that significantly changed our touring style

 

[Jaina]

Are you planning to park hop at all, or just stay at those parks? You could save a lot of money NOT doing hoppers if so. I have taken my almost 3 year olds on the last two family trips, and there are trip reports in my signature. Yes, their heights and what kind of rides they might be interested in matters a lot! If you're going in to Disneyland in the afternoon first I would take a little time and let them explore and maybe meet a few characters that first time in. You could grab a fast pass for something like Star Tours or Haunted Mansion Holiday if they would like those, then maybe ride Buzz or Winnie the Pooh or a couple Fantasyland rides while waiting for your return time. Take a little time to explore in Toontown maybe. The teacups are fun and often don't have a long wait. Watch out for the parades and know which side of the park you want to be in when they end, (One starts at 3:30) because it's mass chaos for a bit and hard to move around.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Are the kids tall enough that you're trying to do the bigger rides?

In general, I'd start at DCA on Tuesday and start at DL on Wednesday. If you have hoppers and your Ariel breakfast is for 9:30 or later on Wednesday, I'd still start at DL because that's the only potentially uncrowded time you'd get there.

If it's not possible to start in those parks, make sure you're at rope drop for DL on Tuesday and veer left into Adventureland/Frontierland. Since those aren't open during Magic Morning, you still start with an "empty" park on that side.

If it's crazy crowded (which it looks like it will be next week, if that's the Monday-Wednesday you're talking about), I'd do stuff like Redwood Challenge area and Tom Sawyer's Island to avoid crowds. The Animation building is also fun. Maybe catch Mickey and the Magical Map on Monday (it doesn't run Tuesday/Wednesday, and it's a nice thing to do that feels very Disney but absorbs crowds), plus you can look at the lights on Small World after. (But don't try to ride it, lines are crazy when the lights are on - ride in the morning!)

 

[smartlabelprint]

I’d add more days.

 

[VandVsmama]

We have 3 day park hopper passes and will be going to Disneyland/DCA on Monday-Wednesday. We will be there Monday afternoon (after 3pm) and planned on doing Disneyland Monday/Tuesday and then do Wednesday at DCA with the Princess Breakfast at Ariel's Grotto. Is this the best route to go with Early Magic Hours for the one day on Tuesday at DLR? What would be the best rides to hit or best utilization of Fast Passes for young kids? Could anyone share what they have done in the past that works for them? TIA!

With a 3 & a 4 yr old, skip Animation Academy entirely.

Tuesday:
Use your EMH on Tuesday. Go straight to Fantasyland. Assuming that you're at the turn stiles at the main gate at the beginning of EMH, then go on the following in Fantasyland during EMH:

• Dumbo
• Alice in Wonderland
• Pinocchio
• Snow White's Scary Adventures - but be aware that this can sometimes be scary for young kids, so maybe show your kids the ride through video on Youtube ahead of time and then decide.
• King Arthur's Carousel
• Mad Tea Party
• If you see Peter Pan wandering around, go and take a picture with him. Peter Pan is really great with little kids.

When EMH is done:

• Assuming that 1 or both kids are into Star Wars and are tall enough, go get FP for Star Tours.
• Other parent/adult takes kids to bathroom. Quick snack time, too, if they're getting cranky.
• Take kids to either It's A Small World or Buzz Lightyear or Autopia.
• Then go on Buzz or Autopia (whichever you didn't go on first).
• Do another "do you have to go to the bathroom?" check and go if somebody needs to.

1 hour after regular park opening:

• Be at the entrance to Toon town about 5 min before it opens.
• Walk straight to Mickey's house and take pics with Mickey Mouse.
• Then go on Roger Rabbit if you want to.
• Or if the kids aren't into that, have them explroe the other characters' houses in Toon Town. And meet another character or 2 because Goofy, Minnie, and Pluto will all be doing meet & greets on the "street" there.

All that could take you up to an hour in Toon Town.

By this point, your 3 and 4 yr old might be in theme park overload mode and it's time for a break. Eat an early lunch or stop for a longer snack. Don't forget to go on Star Tours during your FP return window.

Other goals before 1:30 pm on Tuesday:

• Pirates
• Haunted Mansion - this might have FP available. Use FP. If your kids are scared, tell them that they will get to pick the silly ghosts noses at the end of the ride (you know, during the "hitchhiking ghosts" part).

If you're NOT taking a break on Tuesday at your hotel in the afternoon:

• expect your kids to burn out and have a melt down
• use the afternoon busy time of day to see shows - like the Jedi Training Academy one in Tomorrowland. If your kids want to participate in it, sign them up for an afternoon performance, but sign them up in the morning. Your kids have to be present, I think, when you sign them up. I'm not sure what the minimum age is. See the show in Fantasyland. Visit the princesses in Princess Fantasy Faire.
• Go to Tom Sawyer's Island. Or park hop over to DCA and go on Luigi's & Mater's.
• Best afternoon parade watching spot in DL in my opinion - right in front of and next to the Alice in Wonderland bathrooms in Fantasyland. There's a short-ish row of concrete benches that wrap around to the left of the "mountain." At this part of the "street," there's no parade viewing on the other side. And if your 3 and 4 yr olds, who have small bladders, suddenly have to go potty 5 min before the parade, the bathroom is literally RIGHT THERE! Save your spot there about 30 min or so before the parade. If you have 1 adult save your spot while other adult takes the kids on a ride, 1 person has to stay there with your stuff to save your place.

 

[VandVsmama]

Also, in the afternoon at Coke Corner on Main Street, Alice and the Mad Hatter play musical chairs with kids. Ask about what time at Coke Corner. When we were there in May, it was done at 3:30, but the time could vary, so definitely ask them in person.

 

[maltdizzy]

Boys/girls? and heights? ETA bc my kids were 40” by 3 and that significantly changed our touring style

Yep. Late age 3 was when mine first rode Space Mountian (Ghost Galaxy) and the "mountains" of Disneyland became *the* most do attractions on every trip. At that point, he didn't care about tracking his age, he measured time in inches grown so he could ride bigger and faster coasters.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is this their first time?

With littles without ride experience, start at dca in bug’s land. But NOT “it’s tough to be a bug”.

You want them to see the whole line and the ride experience and the fun kids are having. That can easily be done inside of bug’s land.

If you hit fantasyland first, they don’t see most of the line, they don’t see the ride, most of the rides are dark noisy indoors and fairly scary. Dumbo, Casey, and tea cups are exceptions of course.

I think doing the *rides* in bug’s land first is a solid first day of first trip plan.

And go prepared so they can get soaked. There are water okay features that are great fun. But bring either swimsuits and water shoes to change into for itOR a full new outfit all the way to socks and shoes. And a towel.

 

[lcp9]

Boys/girls? and heights?

Yep. Late age 3 was when mine first rode Space Mountian (Ghost Galaxy) and the "mountains" of Disneyland became *the* most do attractions on every trip. At that point, he didn't care about tracking his age, he measured time in inches grown so he could ride bigger and faster coasters.

Yep. My 6 yo is 49" inches now and rode california screamin' like 5 times. My just turned 4 yo is 45" and is dying to go. I use that as leverage to make him eat dinner. haha.