Help! Noob with tiny 3 year old...

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

My husband isn't gungho to go to DL, but our daughter is all princesses all the time, and I think she would just adore it! (We just saw Beauty and the Beast--the 3 hour musical--she sat through the whole thing mesmerized, and got to meet Belle and the Prince and hasn't stopped talking about it!)

My dd is tiny, I am going to measure her tonight, she may be just about 35 inches tall... I looked online and see there are a couple big rides she might be able to get onto... but what about the rest? Are there no height requirements for things like Pirates, teacups, dumbo etc? I seem to remember Mr. Toads wild ride from my childhood... not sure if it is still there... but it would be on my list too...

Looks like everyone recommends staying off-resort. I am a bit of a hotel snob, but with a little one I want to be close. Is Candycane Inn as nice as it sounds?

What about the food package? We like the luxury of not worrying about budgeting for food, is it a good deal or not worth the $$? Done AIs in Mexico and loved it... but this is California... hmmm.

I want to go at the end of October, does anyone know where I can find out if they are still doing fireworks and parades at that time? And what about park hours??

Is there any kind of water feature (water play area) at DL or just the pools at the hotels... that might help me decide between on/off resort... we like pool time.

Any help would be great... I'll continue searching these boards... seems to be way more about WDW than DL though...

Thank you all in advance!

--Lisa

 

[Twinprincesses]

We have been taking our girls to DL and WDW since before they were 2. They can ride pretty much anything unless it specifies a height restriction. We just go with the flow, one year they will be scared of Haunted Mansion the next they love it.

We stayed at the Best Western Park Place last year and this year are tring the HO JO. It is nice being close but paying the discount so we can use the money for other things.

We went at the end of october last year and I think the only day for fireworks was fri and sat. We are coming from Indiana so there is a 3 hr difference anyways. We did the halloween party and had a blast though. I would say with a little princess definalty do the Ariels lunch. We also did the Minnie b-fast.

WE loved October so much we are going back again this year. The only bummer is small world is not open.

 

[MirandaPen]

There are alot of rides a 3 year old can go on, however if she gets scared she won't ride on anything else thereafter. I donot reccomend Mr. Toads Wild ride, Pinnochio, Snow White or Rodger Rabbit cartoon spin for small children. I know there are some kids who love these rides, I reccomend waiting till she is older. The Matterhorn is iffy, My son who is 6 still is a bit scared after going on when he was 4. There is plenty that she can ride, start off with very calm rides to build her ride trust. Story book land canal boats, It's a Small world, Peter Pan, Tea cups, Finding Nemo, Dumbo are all good starters before moving on. Buzz lightyear astro blasters(loud), Pirates (starts off a bit scary so prepare her for that), Might be able to do splash mountain and Haunted mansion (theming is of course scary) all she can ride but wait till she is used to the rides.

If you are a resort snob, go to the Grand Californian they have the fourth night free deal going on then. If you want to stay off property and are a resort snob maybe the Shareton, I really liked the beds. They have their own shuttle and very good rates.

I think the food package is not needed. Eating at Goofys kitchen(@ dl hotel) and Ariels grotto(@ DCA) would be good choiceS for your little girl.

At DCA there are a couple of water play areas in the Fliks fun fair area.
The HOJO has a great pool area for small children. There is the standard pool with another 1 foot deep childrens pool to the side of it then a play spray fountain area to the side of that. Out of all the hotels we have stayed at, HOJO's pool is the one my children utilized the most. Disneyland Pool looks the coolest but is so so crowded.

Disneyland.com has a calander with hours, refurb scheduals and entertainment times listed.

 

[bumbershoot]

The food package at Disneyland is NOT an all inclusive plan. Think of it as pre-paying just about exactly what you'd be paying for food anyway, and that will get you closer to the actuality of it. If you look at what you actually get...depending on the number of days you get it, you get a certain number of character meals, and then vouchers for 5, 10, and 15 (maybe a 20?) dollars for each person, depending on their age. BUT you don't get change from the vouchers, so if you want ONE treat and you pay with a 5 dollar voucher, you lose the change from that. Or you order more than $5 worth of treats, and pay out of pocket for the extra.

It's nowhere near what disneyworld's meal plan is like, and it's not like an AI resort.

I haven't stayed yet, but we booked the Carousel Inn, which is almost as across the street from the entrance plaza as you can get. As far as I can tell, even though CCI sounds really nice and is officially across the street, it's not across the street from the entrance/exit, requiring a walk or shuttle ride. But it looks really nice and people say good things about it often!

Pirates, definitely she can go on. I haven't been on the teacups since I was a kid, but I don't *think* there's a height limit. I'm not sure I'd take my 3 year old on it, b/c I see how dizzy he gets just turning in circles, LOL...but I bet I was on it as young as possible and I know that my half-sibs were on it at whatever young age they were at DL. Mr Toads does still exist but it's been closed the two times I've been to DL as an adult but I don't *think* there's a height restriction.

I think at 35 inches she'll have access to the Matterhorn...

OK, gotta go, but I hope I've been of some help!

 

[biolabetty]

For height requirements try the disneyland.com website, you can find all of them there. I agree with everyone else about taking some of the rides slowly, my 6 year old daughter still refuses to go on Pinocchio because of the whale, and on Snow White, I have to close her eyes when we pass the alligator. The strange thing is she loves Mr. Toad, and I think that one is scarier.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Thank you all for your posts... after spending the better part of the day reading this website and trip advisor, I think I want to stay at the Pier on the resort... I am excited that my little one can go on lots of the rides... and I don't think she'll get scared. Although I guess I don't know... thanks for the suggestions to do the easy ones 1st!! She's not really a get scared type, as long as I am there with her... loves noisy fireworks you know?

I especially appreciate the low down on the food... looks like we'll skip the "prepay", might actually do the concierge level at the hotel, just in bottled water and soda it may be worth the $$!

Will be measuring dd tonight, and working on my dh some more... he didn't go to DL until a teen and it was on a school trip, so he isn't as excited. And there is no flyfishing involved!!

Thanks again, and I'll keep reading... and let you all know when I finally book!

--Lisa

 

[teacups]

You'll have to sneak off to the disney store and buy some adorable princess outfit (foofy dress) to surprise your little one with when you get there! She will FEEL like THE princess as she walks along!!!! (Photo's you will cherish forever... and tell dad to stop being a party pooper! She'll be a snarly teenager one day and he'll be wishing he could take her to DL for a princess breakfast then!!!!)

Mom's know best.

 

[5 Disney Fans]

We are planning a trip for next year with our soon-to-be three year old. I found this link from Deb's site regarding ride restrictions to be soooo helpful...

http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/tp/dlr_rr.htm

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Still working on the hubby, the link with all the ride stuff is PERFECT! Thank you! Measured my dd last night, and in no shoes she is 36" tall! Yeah!!!

Floofy dress is a must, I may buy one from the local disney store before we go, so she can wear it there! I am excited, now how to get my hubby excited?? hmmm....

Thanks again!

--Lisa