Looking for suggestions

[DietCoke]

My wife, daughter and I are headed to Disneyland for 5 days - March 29th through the 2nd. We've got the 5-day Park-hoppers, and I'm doing the research with stuff like RideMax, etc. We were last here in April 2009, when my daughter was 3 - now she's 5 and we thought a nice longer trip for her birthday would be fun!

So - I'm looking for suggestions on things that folks think a 5-year-old would love to do that may not necessarily be listed in the regular guides... and also things that we *shouldn't* take a 5-year-old on. We've got common sense, but sometimes it is hard to see through the eyes of a 5-year-old.

Any tips are appreciated! Thank you.

 

[DahliaRW]

At 5, I would show her youtube videos of the rides that might be more "scary" and see how she reacts. IMO, if she is tall enough and wants to go on it, explain the scary stuff and how it's not real and then take her. My 6yo has gone on everything he's tall enough for, except GRR because it was closed (he's 46") and loved all of them. My 3 1/2 yo was barely 40", and didn't want to go on ToT or Splash and that was fine.

My 6yo and 3 1/2 yo LOVED Toontown. There are lots of fun things there, like boxes you open that make noise and a dynamite type thing where you pull up and push down and it will make and exploding sound with smoke coming out of a window above you, etc. Just fun to run around and explore. My 6yo also LOVED eating at Blue Bayou. Both of them loved the challenge train in DCA as well.

I would think a 5yo girl would also really love Bibbidy Boppity Botique. You can schedule and appointment for her to get a princess makeover.

 

[skiingfast]

Electronica has some fun activities for kids.

I took a young child and then when DS was five it was very different. At 5 he would ride anything.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

Everything except tower of terror my kid does not like it she will ride it but not willing.

She's 5 and her favorites are
Big thunder mtn rail road
Space mtn
Indiana jones
Soarin
Pirates
Haunted mansion

 

[Disneyland 1951]

Musical Chairs: Not on any listing.....

Usually everyday at 2:30 the Mad Hatter, Alice, and often others show up unannounced at the Piano in the Coke Corner at the end of Main Street.

They organize a game of Musical Chairs.
There are no lines, no waiting, just 1/2 hour of great fun with the Wonderland crew.

You can see it in this YouTube video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFxp2y5OXWM

 

[azdisneylover]

I suggest planning on getting in DL when it first opens, ride all the rides in Fantasyland, those lines always seem to be long. Your daughter may like riding the Nemo subs. Plan for a time to relax/swim/take a nap during the day, so you are raring to go in the afternoon!
Like others have said, watch a few of the youtube videos of the rides to see if your daughter would like to try it. Bugs land in California Adventure is geared towards younger children.
I say, no matter what, as long as you relax, and not commando style visit the parks, you will have a wonderful time.