Easing DD into DL? DL or DCA on 1st day??

[sway_559]

We're taking DD (3 yrs old) to DL for her first amusement park experience in June (4 days-Tues-Fri). I kind of wanted to ease her into it and let her start to get the concept and feel of it, before hitting up a bunch of rides and lines. Would you guys recommend maybe doing DCA the first day w/ the Disney Playhouse LIVE and Bugsland etc. or starting out slow at DL? Is DCA usually a slower pace? Also besides specific rides what do toddlers LOVE for DCA and DL?

 

[lilsprstr]

DCA is definitely slower paced and WAY less crowded then DL, so if you think that your dd needs to be eased in then that's probably your best route.

Personally, I'd rather take my kids to DL first. It's much more "magical" than DCA. What we've done in the past is go on the first day around 4 pm (we drive from Phx). We do a few little rides like the Carousel, Dumbo, etc., then check out the parade. The next day we go back to DL and do the full day. We usually follow the itineraries from "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland" (great book by the way). The next day we go to DCA. Then if we have another day we'll go back to DL again and do anything we missed. HTH. We followed this routine when our kids were 4 and 2 and they did great. BUT, kids vary greatly and you know your child better than anyone, so with that said, Enjoy!

 

[DLR29]

Personally, for young kids I think that first image of the castle is essential for their first trip. Maybe you could start at DL, walk down Main Street, check out the castle and the hub, see if any characters are out, do a couple rides maybe, and then hop to DCA.

However, unless you are doing Magic Morning on your first day, I wouldn't go to Fantasyland first. Since people will be in the park an hour early on Tuesday, there will most certainly be lines for the FL rides in the morning. Try Toontown or Adventureland for short lines mid-morning. If you are doing MM, then by all means start off with Fantasyland. It would be a great start.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I had a similar question before our first trip with DS and I was all set to take him to DCA first but when we got there DL was calling to us and we had to go there first. We made sure to go on outdoor rides first (dumbo, casey jr, jungle cruise, carousel, etc) and then ease our way into the dark rides. IASW is probably the "safest" indoor ride - meaning the least scary to little ones.

 

[sway_559]

Blythe, Your right about the magic! I really want to take her to DL first for that "magical" first impression. But I was just wondering if maybe logically DCA would be a better way to ease in. We are actually coming in late afternoon on Mon. so heading to the park for just a couple hours might not be a bad idea DCA might be a good wind down instead! Although isn't WoC at DCA? Maybe that would be magical enough the first night?? LOL The ideas of grandeur vs. planning are soooo confusing! LOL. Maybe that's just me over thinking everything!

DLR, What about doing FL first thing on Wednesdays? Is it still super busy? We wouldn't have to fight MM crowds on that day right?

 

[sway_559]

Lavenderpeach, I can't wait to take her on IASW! I think that's great advice, outdoor rides first! Although she'll hate Dumbo, I can't even get the kid to ride on swings at the park! LOL. She's a weird one . Teacups might be good (without fast spinning) for first thing Tues.? Is that in FL?

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Personally, for young kids I think that first image of the castle is essential for their first trip. Maybe you could start at DL, walk down Main Street, check out the castle and the hub, see if any characters are out, do a couple rides maybe, and then hop to DCA.

However, unless you are doing Magic Morning on your first day, I wouldn't go to Fantasyland first. Since people will be in the park an hour early on Tuesday, there will most certainly be lines for the FL rides in the morning. Try Toontown or Adventureland for short lines mid-morning. If you are doing MM, then by all means start off with Fantasyland. It would be a great start.

I 100% agree...walk in DL....take pics at the very start...walk down Main Street to the castle....walk around take it all in! For lines...maybe go to DCA first...

 

[DLR29]

Blythe, Your right about the magic! I really want to take her to DL first for that "magical" first impression. But I was just wondering if maybe logically DCA would be a better way to ease in. We are actually coming in late afternoon on Mon. so heading to the park for just a couple hours might not be a bad idea DCA might be a good wind down instead! Although isn't WoC at DCA? Maybe that would be magical enough the first night?? LOL The ideas of grandeur vs. planning are soooo confusing! LOL. Maybe that's just me over thinking everything!

DLR, What about doing FL first thing on Wednesdays? Is it still super busy? We wouldn't have to fight MM crowds on that day right?

FL on Wednesday at 8AM will definitely be less crowded than FL at 8AM on Tuesday. WoC will be at DCA, and by the looks of it it will be very magical. However, the rumor is that there will be a "showpass" (think FastPass for the show) and that they will be running out quickly. You might have to get over to DCA relatively early in order to guarantee your spot at WoC, especially during the opening season. However, keep checking these boards closer to WoC's opening date to see what the policies will be.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'd go to bug's land (not tough to be a bug, though) in DCA! I wish we'd done that for DS's first experiences.

It's adorable, cute, all outside, a caterpillar burps at you after you're sprinkled with watermelon water and you smell animal crackers...there's a teacup-type ride based on the ladybug in the movie...there's a go high and spin around ride where you sit in chinese takeout boxes and various other types of food boxes...it's just lovely in there.

We adore DCA.

 

[SeansMom]

I eased my son in by taking him to all the county fairs I could find as he grew (as I'm sure he didn't remember the trips at age 0, 13 months, and 26 months). We went on rides, mingled in crowds, and otherwise exposed him to the type (although not quality) of DL and it's environs. It also made it easier to judge what he'd be able to do and LIKE to do when he was 3 (almost 4). Since he did the little kid roller coaster at the fair, it was a no brainer that he'd be up for Gadget's Go Coaster at DL. Just another idea/opinion that might help .

 

[LavenderPeach]

Lavenderpeach, I can't wait to take her on IASW! I think that's great advice, outdoor rides first! Although she'll hate Dumbo, I can't even get the kid to ride on swings at the park! LOL. She's a weird one . Teacups might be good (without fast spinning) for first thing Tues.? Is that in FL?

I didn't think DS would like Dumbo either but we decided to take him on it and see what happened. He LOVED it! It's his favorite ride. He tends to be nervous about new things so we weren't sure what he would think of it. And actually, he also used to refuse to go on swings at the park until recently. He's 4 now and just within the last few months decided it was okay to go on the swings. So, depending on how brave you are, you might want to consider taking her on Dumbo at some point to see what she thinks.

And yes, teacups are also in FL.

 

[letthembelittle]

Personally, I'd rather take my kids to DL first. It's much more "magical" than DCA. What we've done in the past is go on the first day around 4 pm (we drive from Phx). We do a few little rides like the Carousel, Dumbo, etc., then check out the parade. The next day we go back to DL and do the full day. We usually follow the itineraries from "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland" (great book by the way). The next day we go to DCA. Then if we have another day we'll go back to DL again and do anything we missed. HTH. We followed this routine when our kids were 4 and 2 and they did great. BUT, kids vary greatly and you know your child better than anyone, so with that said, Enjoy!

I totally agree, do some walking around, ride Dumbo, watch a parade, maybe take the train all the way around the park, see some characters. Have a great trip!! We have loved bringing our little ones.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I also recommend watching ride throughs on you-tube. We did that before dd's first trip at 3 years old, watched almost every ride there was a video for, plus we watched most of the disney movies too... really prepared her and enhanced the experience for her!

 

[LavenderPeach]

I also recommend watching ride throughs on you-tube. We did that before dd's first trip at 3 years old, watched almost every ride there was a video for, plus we watched most of the disney movies too... really prepared her and enhanced the experience for her!

Yes, start now on her Disney education. DS is much more into books than movies so I made him a book with pictures/stickers of the different characters and also of some of the rides so he would recognize them. It made it more fun for him to see things that were familiar to him.

 

[sway_559]

All great advice! Thanks so much for all the input! I think we'll def. hit up DL first just for the "magic" of it all. I have to remind myself that we'll be there 4 days. I've always taken day trips (even to WDW) and we always just pushed through it. So with 4 days we can take our time.....I think/hope *fingers crossed*.
That's great thinking on the Disney education. I've been trying to work on the Disney movies, but she's just not a movie kid. The books are a GREAT idea though. I just want her to really get the "hugeness" of it all and to just be so super excited. I'm just hoping I'm not disappointed if she doesn't ooooh and ahhhh the way I imagine it LOL. No expectations, no expectations...I'll just keep telling myself that.

 

[clairabell29]

When I took my DS for his 3rd birthday he was overwhelmed as soon as we stepped thru the archway. He wanted to sit in the stroller and "just look" at everything. We stood by the fire station for a good 30 min, until Goofy and the band started a show. Then he wanted to watch that. Goofy patted him on the head and accidently poked his eye, he still talks about that 1.5 years later. We finally made it down mmain st in about an hour. The next day he couldn't wait and yelled at us to go faster thru main st. So just be prepared for kid speed and they'll ease into it on thier own.

Just a note, DL is LOUD. To this day my DS wears ear protectors for the rides and parade, makes a much more pleasent experience for them if they aren't used to loud noises.

 

[Amommy21]

The first time we took the little one he was 2 years old. We got there about 9 or 10ish.. walked down mainstreet through the castle to Fantasyland. He knew he was going to meeting Mickey and was so excited to carry a map.

We had prepared a small backpack with some snacks and things for him and because he knew it was his he wanted to wear it much of the day. He LOVED it and there was really no easing into anything other than going at his pace. He walked the whole day. We did pick him up and put him on shoulders a couple times or in lines so he could see.

We skipped the big rides like Indy and Space Mtn and such. We didn't even worry about babyswapping or anything because we wanted his first trip to be about him.

Besides meeting Mickey a highlight was Pooh and friends of course and that's a picture we treasure. We also ate at Blue Bayou (our tradition) and he loved getting a pirate hat and all that. They did server him some jello shaped like mickey with whipped cream and it made him gag (he had food issues) and we thought that was hilarious! But mostly he ate small snacks while waiting in lines or such throughout the day and we were glad we brought those with us.

There was no whining or crying and like I said he mostly walked... Then just before the parade was to start we were going to look for a place to watch he asked to be picked up and fell asleep on my husbands shoulder.

We found someone turning in the stroller and paid them off the couple $ and put him in that and shopped and had dinner while he slept. It was a perfect day. We had such a great time that we took him to Disneyworld when he was 2 1/2.

For that trip my husband did a little more character intro and preparation that way. Our biggest advice is to:

let them walk, walk at their pace - skip the stroller, it's a hassle

take lots of breaks, sit and enjoy

eat small snacks throughout the day (best to bring these into the park yourself)

Good luck!