First time in Disneyland

[Susiebunt]

Family if 4 from Australia coming to Disneyland for the first time (kids ages 7 and 5) there for 3 days from 23rd April. What itinerary would you recommend? We basically want to try and do everything in both parks apart from haunted mansion. Only older daughter and husband will go on some of scarier rides. Should I head to fantasyland rides first? Then where?? Also how should I tackle CAlifornia adventure park?

Also as we are there for new paint the night would you recommend getting a dining package? Is it worth it to get a fantasmia package also?

 

[tnzzz]

Highly recommend you check out Casey at Disneylanddaily.com she has touring plans for each park and pretty detailed information on current dining packages, maxpass, etc.

 

[chickapin parterre]

define "scarier rides". Most of the dark rides in Fantasyland are scary for a 5 year old if I understand the not entering the Haunted Mansion because of it being scary. You will find both sides of visiting with a fearful 5 year-old advice here, that if Haunted Mansion is scary, then any ride in a dark environment, including POC will be scary.

 

[Geemo]

Check out rides on youtube to determine if they'll be ok for you

 

[disneylover102]

With little kids, Fantasyland is a great choice to do first. Waiting in long lines for Peter Pan with little kids in the hot sun isn’t fun. So do that first (arrive about an hour before park opening if possible!). After that, it would be best for those interested to do scary rides. (By scary rides I guessed you meant more thrilling rides like Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, etc. Did you mean something else?) The scarier rides are the ones that will have the longest lines. Rides that little kids could go on that could have long lines are: Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Roger Rabbit, Buzz Lightyear. (There’s plenty of other kid rides but a lot of them you can visit just about anytime with a decent wait)

Remember that California Adventure is more for thrill seekers and Disneyland has more for kids. Toy Story Mania wouldn’t be bad to do first thing of the day. Radiator Springs Racers and Guardians of the Galaxy will have long lines especially in the middle of the day and Fastpasses will go quickly so keep that in mind for those thrill seekers in your group. But Toy Story Mania is friendly for all ages and is very popular so that’s a good one to rope drop and get Fastpasses for.

 

[Leslie0915]

And keep in mind that some 5 year olds may want to do the scary dark rides. My DD shocked us at 3 1/2 and again at 5 by wanting to do all those rides with Haunted Mansion being her favorite