First time with kids

[Geemo]

Sorry, but what is RSR? And I presume DD, DH, DS, etc. =Dear Husband/Dad/Son or DisneylandDad/Husband/Son?

I'll check into the Anna and Elsa then, thanks!

Also, since we'll be there on a Thursday, but not staying at a DL hotel, can we still get a MM for that day? If so, how would we go about getting it?

Abbreviations for Disneyland can be a challenge. Check out this link for assistance.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/dlr-abbreviations-list.1520784/

Geemo

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

Sorry, but what is RSR? And I presume DD, DH, DS, etc. =Dear Husband/Dad/Son or DisneylandDad/Husband/Son?

I'll check into the Anna and Elsa then, thanks!

Also, since we'll be there on a Thursday, but not staying at a DL hotel, can we still get a MM for that day? If so, how would we go about getting it?

RSR = Radiator Springs Racers (in Cars Land at California Adventure). It's the busiest ride at either park, but it's a great ride. It's fast, and some intense dark parts at the beginning (not fast during those parts, just loud/startling in a couple of spots), but my 7 yo niece loved it.

If you have purchased 3+ day tickets you should be able to get MM into Disneyland Park on Thursday.

 

[J. Bowen]

Great suggestions VandVsmama! I printed those out as well as the other suggestions here and saved it electronically as well for future trips. I hadn't really thought about the fireworks shows or parades, thanks!

We are not really blister prone but I think I'll get some of that Body Glide just in case. I do get a little chaffing between my legs from walking all day and it can't hurt to have it!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I like to bring a small first aid kit with me--band aids, neosporin, advil, children's tylenol, benadryl, and an epi-pen (my son has food allergies). That way we're covered for any emergencies.

In the summer, bring something to keep cool with. We use cooling bandanas wrapped around our heads or necks (you dip them in water and they keep cool for a few hours).

It can't hurt to say it again--get there early. It gets very crowded by 11AM, so the first few hours are the best time to get rides in.

If you're looking for a quiet place at DCA to sit and relax without a crowd, consider going underneath the Silly Symphony Swings. There are never too many people down there when I go and it's a nice place to sit and watch the water while having a frozen lemonade, soda, or adult beverage.

As for rides that are too intense, it depends on the kid. My 5-year-old won't do any of the mountains or roller coasters. When I was a kid, I loved the mountains and roller coasters, but was scared of Pirates. Only way you'll know is to try.

Anyway, have a good time!

 

[Micahisgood54]

Hey Glad to hear your coming back! if your hotel is close take a nap in the middle of the day around 1-3 when you come back you will be refreshed and ready for the evening. When the other kids around the park are fading and grumpy you will be ready to hammer out some rides and enjoy your self! and also don't forget about the amount you walk, last time I was in the park my phone pedometer measured I went almost 15 miles over three days. if you can try and go on a few walks that are a couple of miles at least to prepare the legs!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you plan on seeing the fireworks, F! (which might be intense for your girls -- check a recent YouTube video to see if you think they would like it), or WOC, go early in your trip. That way if the show gets cancelled for some reason, you can still try again later in your trip. Or if the kids absolutely love it, you can see it again.

 

[VandVsmama]

I thought of a couple more!

1. Coke Refreshment Corner on Main Street has musical chairs every afternoon with Alice and the Mad Hatter. Ask a Cast Member (CM) at Coke Corner earlier in the day and they will tell you what time it occurs. We haven't done this yet, but it looks like a LOT of fun!
2. First thing in the morning, Peter Pan & Captain Hook can often be found wandering around Fantasyland. Not formal meet & greets...just walking around and engaging with guests. We saw the Mad Hatter early one morning, too, right next to the Mad Tea Party ride.
3. Toontown - Toontown opens an hour after regular park opening. If meeting Mickey or Minnie is a must do for your kids, then, go to the entrance to Toontown about 5 minutes before it opens and then make a bee line for Mickey's house and you can meet him with zero to little line. Later in the day, the Mickey meet & greet in Toontown can be 45 min to an hour.
4. In the queue for Snow White's Scary Adventures, if you touch the golden apple, you'll hear the evil queen cackle & laugh.
5. The Winnie the Pooh ride usually has very little wait...often only 15-20 min even in the busiest part of the day. Useful to know if you want to go on a ride and not have to wait very long.
6. Pirates of the Caribbean - the line on the right hand side is shorter distance wise than the line on the left.
7. Haunted Mansion - if your kids are scared of this, maybe tell them ahead of time that the ghosts aren't real and they're funny and do silly things. For example, at the end of the ride, when your Doom Buggy has a hitchhiking ghost riding with you, my daughter & I always pretend to pick his nose.
8. Autopia - at the Autopia exit, for $5, you can get your child their very first driver's license.
9. Pressed pennies - cheap & fun souvenirs for $0.51. There are websites devoted to where each of the pressed penny machines are located. My kids had fun collecting a few of these.
10. Buttons - if anybody is having a birthday or celebrating something special or if it's anyone's first visit, you can get a free button from City Hall (or Guest Relations in CA Adventure) or from the ticket booths in the esplanade.
11. Carsland should not be missed. Even if you don't care very much for the movie, just going through Carsland is an experience. It is literally like you are transplanted into the middle of the movie. The theming of this land is so wonderful & spectacular!

 

[VandVsmama]

Plus, in addition to the great information here on the DISboards and on the DIS blogs, another great site is http://dlrprepschool.com/.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

If the big kids you are going with are APs/go often, you can ask them to talk your kids through any rides you think may scare them. My kids like to help "talk down" kids who are freaking out in line -- they've been there too!

You never know what will set kids off -- my niece freaked on Snow White but had no problem on ToT! It's best not to scare them into not riding. If you feel the need to explain a ride, don't -- ask the Cast Member manning the line to explain the ride. He'll explain it objectively, without injecting parental worries into his description.

 

[J. Bowen]

Thanks everybody, some more great suggestions!

We spent an hour watching some of the rides last night. As predicted the Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, and other "scary" rides were too much for my DD6 (even SOC rollercoaster).. DD10 was ok with all of them except maybe Matterhorn was too dark, she's still sensitive at times. Likely DD6 will go with both DW and our friends mom while I do with the other Dad and the 3 older kids to most of the other rides. They did both totally go bonkers over the Star Tours ride so that's a must!

I love the pressed pennies, that is one souvenir I always get and have a small collection. After years of travel I always get those (small, inexpensive, and easy to keep in a book for display and remembering). I've finally resolved to getting only pictures and a fridge magnet for the most part as well since every day I can look at the fridge and remember our trips. Plus I need magnets anyway to hold pictures on the fridge so that works perfect. Also not very expensive. I have too many ball-caps but a Mickey cap might be required, especially with the 60th going on. We'll see if there is other swag I can't live without. I do like the suggestion of waiting until the end of the day to buy stuff and will do our best to enforce that for the kids.

 

[John93]

I've been to Disneyland several times and always notice a few things that kids always love - and that give parents a break. I'll just give you my best.

1) As mentioned above - Tom Sawyer Island. There is so much to do and see here (small caves to walk through, bridges to climb across, interactive props, etc.). Best thing about it for parents? Its an Island - you can let the kids run loose and not worry about losing them. It isn't very big either - they would be able to hear your voice if you called for them.

2) There is a small "shooting range" (very interactive and cheap) right in Frontier Land next to the Pin Shop - $1 for about 3 minutes of shooting. Kids will be very occupied and you can relax while they have some fun or join in for some competition.

3) Pirates is a great break from the action of the parks. It is an 8-10 minute long ride that loads very quickly (45 minute waits are usually about 20). Expect full blast air conditioning, water, and the dark to give you some rest while the kids are blown away by the ride, which is one of my favorites at any Disney park.

4) As mentioned above - Rider Switch passes be great for your family if you have children that don't meet height requirements. Most CM's at the fastpass entrances and ride exits will have them readily available - but this is what I always see people doing and its genius: Get a FP for a popular ride - ride it, and on the way out get your switch pass. This way you won't have to wait in line in the first place! Not against the rules either - just a smarter way to do things.

5) There is a really cool art gallery and shop right outside of the Hall of Presidents. It houses a lot of original memorabilia from Disney Lands early days like miniature models. The kids will love it.

6) Save California Adventures for a day where you have a lot of energy. In comparison to DL, it has far less places to relax and take a break. River ride breaks down often in the summer and there aren't many places for shade.

7) I'm sure you know this but incase you done - all the shops are interconnected down Main Street - if its crowded, just walk through all the shops for a quick route to the hub.

Fun things I always do to mess with my nieces/nephews: Pull the rope in the line for Indiana Jones even though it says not to, look for the queen peaking through the curtains in Fantasy Land about every minute or so, and tell them you were actually the one that put the sword into the rock in front of the carousel in Fantasy Land. Their reactions are always hilarious. There is also something like this on Indiana Jones in a long room with skulls on spikes, spikes coming out of the ceiling, and bamboo poles holding up the ceiling. One of the bamboo poles is bendy and bent a bit. If you grab it and yank on it there's a big rumbling noise and the ceiling starts dropping for a few inches. It'll be the pole with the sign that says do not touch. Its hysterical when you manage to catch someone off guard with it.

If any of the kids like Autopia - they can get a "license" made for them by the exit. It costs a few dollars but its worth it. I still have mine from when I was a kid.

The "I regret this decision list" for me: The rowing boats around TSI and riding either of the large boats in the river. Its exhausting.

 

[::danielle::]

I thought I would add that Pirates is generally not a scary ride. There is one part at the very beginning where you float towards a screen with an image of a ship sailing through a strong a storm. When lightning flashes and the thunderclaps the boat turns into a skeleton ship. I would recommend just covering your kids eyes (or have them do it) for this part. The rest of the ride is entertaining but not scary.

 

[John93]

She's right! About 2/3 of the ride aren't bad at all. There is a medium drop (probably 30-40 feet in the beginning and that's about it. I loved this ride as a kid - and I was a cry baby when it came to most rides.

 

[luulu1999]

One more thing that helped us ALOT at any CS place that has fountain drinks you can just walk up and get cups of ice water for free it kept us(me) from caring around bottles of water all day and we went in July so we got hot some...and with the souvenirs my kids 5&6 at the time saved their money and got gift cards for Christmas and Birthdays and that was their spending money if they wanted something I reminded them how much money they would have left and did they really want it and continually reinforced that once their money was gone they would not get anything else...surprisingly they didn't throw fits about wanting stuff after spending their money and we will be using that same technique next year

 

[JenB1104]

Great suggestions VandVsmama! I printed those out as well as the other suggestions here and saved it electronically as well for future trips. I hadn't really thought about the fireworks shows or parades, thanks!

We are not really blister prone but I think I'll get some of that Body Glide just in case. I do get a little chaffing between my legs from walking all day and it can't hurt to have it!

I have to ditto the bodyglide. I got it for blisters on our WDW trip this June and ended up using it for my legs and it was amazing. I wore a skort one day and it saved me.

 

[J. Bowen]

After returning I have to report the Bodyglide was awesome! I never once had any issues and used it every day. Worked really well and I'll keep it around for other exercise like hiking or long walks with the kids. I highly recommend it if you have any rubbing areas.