Must do rides/activities for toddler?

[AZpharmacist]

What are your must do activities and rides for a toddler? DH and I are taking our 16 month old the first week of December. We have 4 days wen will so park hoppers. What's not to be missed at DL and DCA?

 

[Kristina4109]

I can tell you the things my daughter loved at that age. Of course, every kid is different, and something that enchants one kid can freak out another of the same age. But here's what worked for my kid:

DISNEYLAND PARK:

it's a small world (again and again and again)
King Arthur's Caroussel
ALL of Mickey's Toontown except Gadget's Go Coaster.
Tom Sawyer Island
Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Storybookland Canal Boats
Casey Jr. Circus Trains
Dumbo (HUGE hit)
Alice in Wonderland
Disneyland Railroad
The Enchanted Tiki Room
watching/listening to the Dapper Dans on Main Street, U.S.A.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Thought she'd like Peter Pan's Flight but she FREAKED OUT. Also, Pixie Hollow wasn't open when she was that little but I bet she'd have loved it.

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE:

Disney Junior Live on Stage (it was called Playhouse Disney back then)
ALL of A Bug's Land except It's Tough to be A Bug (it freaked her out)
Mickey's Fun Wheel (in a STATIONARY car)
Any and all Meet & Greets
The stage show in Hollywoodland
The Boudin Bakery Tour (believe it or not)

It wasn't open when she was that age, but I'm sure she would have loved Ariel's Undersea Adventure and Monsters, Inc.

Hope this helps!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Make sure to check out Toontown! They have Mickey's house and Minnie's house, both of which have easy interactive things inside fun for the little kids (push this big button, watch the cake rise in Minnie's oven for instance).

 

[YukonMommy]

My youngest was 17 months old when we went as a family for the first time. He loved all the rides he was tall enough for including bugs life (he kept asking for the "buggies" after, so we probably saw it about 4 times on our first trip.)

He loved all the parades we saw.

He absolutely hated all characters. He was fine if they waved from a distance, but if they got close, talked to him or touched him he would freak out. I was shocked as he loved all things Disney Junior so knew who the characters were...oh well. When we went back when he was 3 he loved the character interactions!

So follow his lead as much as you can and just go with the flow!

Have a magical time.

 

[LalaCoop]

We too are going in early December. I've been prepping my daughter for some of the rides and even picked up some Disney Park CDs from the library (so at least that part will be familiar to her). Example, for POC, "Lala, wouldn't it be fun and silly and kind of spooky to go on a boat ride to see all the pirates singing and acting crazy? There's even a couple big dips, doesn't that sound like an exciting adventure?" All while the ride theme plays in the background, then we sing along, "yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me." I also have a tiny squeeze flashlight (that we know can't be use d during rides) f or queue areas that are too dark or spooky. She does not like characters in costume, so we've schedule Ariel's Grotto lunch for the first day so she can get used to meeting those with actual faces. Our other character meal, Surfs Up, is the last day, that way if they still freak her out we have time to cxl without being charged. We've been looking at pics online of others with the characters, so that she won't be as surprised when they're "life sized."

 

[AZpharmacist]

Thanks! I think I know what I want to do with her at DL but I've never been to DCA and am worried about that. She really doesn't know any disney songs bc I don't really let her watch tv much. Any suggestions on what she can listen to/watch to prepare?

 

[LalaCoop]

Yeah, we don't have cable, which is why I borrowed the music. You can get the Disney Jr app for free and have gear watch a couple episodes. My girl likes Sherrif Callie, Doc McStuffins, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. As far as movies, we've been doing Saturday night movies, a different one each week. I'd recommend A Bugs Life, Cars (two VERY strong themes at DCA), and The Little Mermaid. For DL, Peter Pan, maybe a Tinkerbell movie (on Netflix), Dumbo (also Netflix). Check out the DL sire to see what dark rides interest you, then you can get snippets of those movies on YouTube. If you avoid exposing her to the Frozen phenomenon you can avoid the meet and greet in park! Oh, and can't forget Toy Story!

 

[ClaraOswald]

Thanks! I think I know what I want to do with her at DL but I've never been to DCA and am worried about that. She really doesn't know any disney songs bc I don't really let her watch tv much. Any suggestions on what she can listen to/watch to prepare?

Our son will be almost 17 months old when we go in February. His first trip so this thread is a good one.

He also doesn't really watch t.v. or anything. But he does have a stuffed Winnie the Pooh that he loves so I put on the Winnie the Pooh movie and he seemed to enjoy it (briefly.) I've also put on the show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse a few times but it doesn't really interest him.

I think under 2 is still pretty young to "get" t.v. shows/movies/characters.

 

[AZpharmacist]

Our son will be almost 17 months old when we go in February. His first trip so this thread is a good one. He also doesn't really watch t.v. or anything. But he does have a stuffed Winnie the Pooh that he loves so I put on the Winnie the Pooh movie and he seemed to enjoy it (briefly.) I've also put on the show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse a few times but it doesn't really interest him. I think under 2 is still pretty young to "get" t.v. shows/movies/characters.

I totally agree with you. My daughter is into some Elmo but only bc there's lots of singing and honestly, I needed her to be into something so I can have 15 min to get dinner on the stove in the evening!

I tried putting on some Mickey Mouse clubhouse and she was into it for a couple of minutes. I tried showing her some scenes from Cars but she didn't get it. She does like hearing Hakuna Matata and Under the sea.

I think she will enjoy the rides and some of the shows with lots of singing. I hope she enjoys herself. I took her to Mexico and she had an amazing time even though she just sat around by the ocean or got in the pool. I think Disneyland is much more amazing so hopefully she will too.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I totally agree with you. My daughter is into some Elmo but only bc there's lots of singing and honestly, I needed her to be into something so I can have 15 min to get dinner on the stove in the evening!

I tried putting on some Mickey Mouse clubhouse and she was into it for a couple of minutes. I tried showing her some scenes from Cars but she didn't get it. She does like hearing Hakuna Matata and Under the sea.

I think she will enjoy the rides and some of the shows with lots of singing. I hope she enjoys herself. I took her to Mexico and she had an amazing time even though she just sat around by the ocean or got in the pool. I think Disneyland is much more amazing so hopefully she will too.

I went to Disneyland with my niece when she was around 16 months old and she was really in awe of everything.

 

[AZpharmacist]

I went to Disneyland with my niece when she was around 16 months old and she was really in awe of everything.

Good to hear! I'm so excited to take her. I grew up in LA and went all the time as a child (starting at a much younger age than her). I think I'm just worried bc she's hard to contain in a stroller now, but she's not walking yet. Can't exactly let her crawl around the park

 

[ClaraOswald]

Good to hear! I'm so excited to take her. I grew up in LA and went all the time as a child (starting at a much younger age than her). I think I'm just worried bc she's hard to contain in a stroller now, but she's not walking yet. Can't exactly let her crawl around the park

My son is almost 14 months now and our trip is just a couple months away...he is also not walking yet. I am really hoping he does soon though. The idea of him crawling around our hotel grosses me out. Ha! Thankfully, he does like his stroller. But I don't want to have to carry him the entire time we're in line for rides.

Please come back and update or write a trip report when you get back!

 

[MrsPinup]

My son is almost 14 months now and our trip is just a couple months away...he is also not walking yet. I am really hoping he does soon though. The idea of him crawling around our hotel grosses me out. Ha! Thankfully, he does like his stroller. But I don't want to have to carry him the entire time we're in line for rides.

Please come back and update or write a trip report when you get back!

Have you tried a carrier like an Ergo or Tula? We wouldn't get anything done most days or around most places without our Tula My 14-month-old loves to go "uppy" and watch all the action from my back.

 

[TheChapman6]

You've gotten some great responses my favorites at DCA are little mermaid and the red car trolley for that age. Also try the main street cinema you can walk in for a 30 seconds or an hour if you want. the main street vehicles would be fun also.

 

[MouseFiend]

My DD is two and she's loved the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail ever since she could walk. It's a great place for her to run free while not being able to escape us! There are some activities for little kids (some just for big kids) and her fav was a little stream to splash in. We spent at least an hour in there one time when she was about 18 months.

 

[AZpharmacist]

My son is almost 14 months now and our trip is just a couple months away...he is also not walking yet. I am really hoping he does soon though. The idea of him crawling around our hotel grosses me out. Ha! Thankfully, he does like his stroller. But I don't want to have to carry him the entire time we're in line for rides. Please come back and update or write a trip report when you get back!

My baby doesn't look like she's going to be walking before our trip since we are only 2 weeks out. I'm ok with her crawling in play areas though. I figure getting dirty is good for her immune system.

She loves being in her stroller but I'll also wear her in either the ergo or the lillebaby. That will be easier than carrying her when she's tired of the stroller.

I'll report back with what she enjoyed after the trip

 

[ClaraOswald]

Have you tried a carrier like an Ergo or Tula? We wouldn't get anything done most days or around most places without our Tula My 14-month-old loves to go "uppy" and watch all the action from my back.

My son stopped being a fan of the Ergo when he was pretty young. I packed it away. I don't really like the idea of strapping roughly 25 pounds (probably more by then) on my back. Haha!

 

[ClaraOswald]

My baby doesn't look like she's going to be walking before our trip since we are only 2 weeks out. I'm ok with her crawling in play areas though. I figure getting dirty is good for her immune system.

She loves being in her stroller but I'll also wear her in either the ergo or the lillebaby. That will be easier than carrying her when she's tired of the stroller.

I'll report back with what she enjoyed after the trip

Dirt and whatnot don't bother me. Bodily fluids do. Hotels are just so gross. I think I've seen way too many shoes like Dateline and 20/20. *shudder*