first trip to DisneyLand, advice???

Linnie The Pooh

Making Fun of Buzz is my Favorite Hobby!!
Joined
Sep 5, 2002
Messages
1,476
We're going to DisneyLand for the first time in Oct. We've been to WDW lots of times when our son was first born until about 16 mos. Any advice now that he's 3 and our daughter is 10 months? Is there really neat places to take a VERY active 3 year old?? Like a neat playground or play area for preschoolers? DD doesn't care as long as she's on Mom's hip but DS is very energetic these days. Also do they have the beer and turkey legs there like they do in WDW? Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
 
Welcome Linnie! :)

Disneyland Park, like the Magic Kingdom at the MK, is a "dry" park...no alcohol. They do serve alcohol at California Adventure and Downtown Disney, though, and both are just a short walk away.

There is PLENTY to keep the little guy active in the parks. Head to Toontown and he can bounce in Goofy's Bounce House, climb all over Donald's Boat and explore Chip 'n Dale's Treehouse. And that's just in Toontown! :)

At DCA he will enjoy the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail as well as the new Flik's Fun Fair area opening in early October.

Have a great trip! :)
 
Hi,
My 2.5 year old son LOVES the play area (Challenge Trail) in CA adventure. It is a great place to work of extra energy. Toontown is also great fun for them it is bigger than Mickeys Toontown Fair at WDW the bounce house is great fun for them.
Also the new Flicks Fun Fair in CA Adventure should be open and that could be neat to check out for your whole family.
There are turkey legs at the Rancho Del Zocalo in Frontierland when I have been there in the past and also from time to time there is a cart with them between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
In California Adventure you can drink at several spots not sure about Turkey Legs there.
Have Fun!!!!!!!
 
I was just there and agree with previous posters. I definitely saw turkey legs between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland because I was going to tease my kids about getting one for them to eat.

In California Adventure, there was also a boat play area in the Paradise Pier area, near Mulholland Madness that my 3 year old liked. The Bountiful Farm had some sprinklers that he liked as well. The only thing hard about Redwood Challenge is that there was a tire thing that he wasn't big enough for. Plus, crossing the rope bridges scared the heck out of me (not him).

Downtown Disney is very convenient to take a break in if you want to get a beer.
 

I would suggest if you are not staying on site to stay close by. There are many hotels on Harbor that are walking distance. We are also going in Oct. and taking a doublestroller for my two girls and the thought of breaking it down to get on a shuttle is not my idea of fun. ;)

I've never been to WDW (we are planning a trip for 2008, when my girls are older and my husband is out of school), but I'm sure you will have lots of fun at DL.

Sonya
 
As mentioned before, there's plenty in Toontown but I might suggest starting your day, right at opening, in Fantasyland. There is a large concentration of rides for this age group, many that are not at WDW. I've been able to hit 6 or 7 rides within the first hour with my 5.5 and almost 3 year old. It's a lot more compact than the Fantasyland at WDW which makes this possible. Dumbo and Peter Pan develope the longest lines quickly so I'd do one of those first. Storybook land's line can also get a bit long too.

As for running around, you might try Tom Sawyer's island. Although I haven't been on the one in Disneyland for a while, my son (the almost 3 year old) really love the on at WDW this past spring. We had a hard time keeping up with him. The one at DL has caves to wonder through and teeter totter rock and a fort to wonder through. The supension and barrell bridge can be lots of fun crossing, if it's open. My kids also enjoy Tarzan's Tree House primarily for the hands on activities at the end.
 
Your advice is so helpful and great. I feel like I can picture DisneyLand in my mind already. We leave in a month and I'm so excited!! I'll print all this wonderful advice off and bring it along in my bag. It sounds like it'll be right up my son's alley!!
 
Just an FYI, Linnie. . . .
According to many DL discussion boards, Tom Sawyer Island is mostly closed/roped off right now. Evidently there is not much to do over there except for one cave. Just didn't want your son to get his hopes up about this one and then have you discover that there's very little to do when you get there!
 
Yes that's true about Tom Sawyers - I didn't mention it because it is really pathetic right now. I just got back from WDW a few weeks ago and the DL's TSI is really sad right now when you compare the two.
Also there is not fastpass for Peter Pan at DL like at WDW so ride it early (Dumbo too) because the lines get long and they are slow movers!
 
My son was definitely disappointed that so much of Tom Sawyer Island was closed when we went because he was looking forward to going into the fort. But there was at least one barrel bridge open and the treehouse not to mention the cave. So if you're at least prepared it may not be too bad.

You son may get a kick out of the Columbia too especially if he likes the pirates. I saw a lot of little boys enjoying the trip on this ship.
 
I'm really disappointed to hear about the closure of a lot of Tom Sawyer's Island. I'll have to check that out with my son in the next week or two. The barrell and suspension brigde were closed the last time we went there but, as I mentioned, that was a while ago. I was hoping one or both would have reopened since then so I'm glad to hear that the barrell bridge is open. I'll have to check out what's still available.

As for the Columbia, this attraction is often not operating. Seems it sails only during the busy periods.
 
Don't know how many days you have - but I'd suggest concentrating on one park per day (two parks total), at least at first. The first day (DL) I'd shoot for Fantasyland at park opening, followed by Toontown once you've exhausted all the FL rides. The train ride around the park is always good for relaxing parental feet (if your son won't freak about the dinosaur panorama).

Don't forget Autopia in Tomorrowland - the only place in the world a kid can "drive" (with a parent along to push the pedal). That's one you can FastPass.

There is also a Buzz Lightyear show in Tomorrowland, and a Mickey's Detective School show in the Fantasyland Theater. When you enter the park grab a map for show times (or pick up a map at your hotel lobby, if they have them).

Early to mid-afternoon plan on the obligatory trek back to the hotel for naps (sometimes more for mom & dad than the kids). When you return to DL later you can rehit some of the favorite rides in FL and Towntoon, plan on a parade maybe, then trek back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

On your 2nd day (DCA) there's the Redwood Challenge area, there's the boat by the McDonalds restaurant (name of the boat escapes me at the moment), there's also the jellyfish parachute kind of ride, and Flik's Fun Fair opens to the public 10/07 and is geared to the little ones.

Any additional days you have can be easily spent hopping back & forth between parks hitting the highlights your son likes most (focusing on Fantasyland/Toontown at park opening, then hopping to DCA later if desired)
 
Heehee... Linnie the Pooh is my wife!

We leave in one week and are very excited. We ARE staying close to the park entrance at the Residence Inn by Marriott.

Thank you all for the suggestions.
 
Linnie the Pooh -

The Marriott that you are staying in, is it the one with the Placentia Address? If so, could you please post comments when you return. We are staying there in April.


Thanks!!!
 
Had an awesome trip and the ideas we'd gotten from this board were so helpful! Thank you! The Marriott was on Clementine Street I believe. I posted a report on the trip reports board, if you'd like to read it. I won't duplicate any info on here, but suffice it to say that I hated to come home and can't wait to go again!!
 








Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE






DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom