Nana traveling with 5 year old twins. What can I expect?

[Linaki]

Hi everyone! My first trip to DLR was in 1960 with my grandma at the age of 5 (born in '55 so same age as DLR). Now I am taking my twin grandsons who are 5. I'm doing this alone Are there rides we won't be able to go on. I know with the height restrictions (I think they are 40inches) there may be some things we can't do. I am struggling with a solid strategy. We will be there June 6-9, so half a day Wed, all day Thu-Fri.
Any ideas to get a plan together would be apprecitated. Oh, and we will be at Hojo's..

 

[coaches24]

Hi everyone! My first trip to DLR was in 1960 with my grandma at the age of 5 (born in '55 so same age as DLR). Now I am taking my twin grandsons who are 5. I'm doing this alone Are there rides we won't be able to go on. I know with the height restrictions (I think they are 40inches) there may be some things we can't do. I am struggling with a solid strategy. We will be there June 6-9, so half a day Wed, all day Thu-Fri.
Any ideas to get a plan together would be apprecitated. Oh, and we will be at Hojo's..

My DD is also 40 inches right now and we are planning for a May trip. Most rides you will be able to do (some you may or may not want to deopending how advaenturous you and your grandsons are).

Rides that I know you cant do because of height are

GRR in DCA. It has a ht restriction of 42 in.

Indiana Jones has a height restriction of I think 46 in.

California Screamin (48 in)

Goofys sky school (42 in)

Then there are a few rides with ht restrictions of 40 in that I am assuming my DD will be ok to ride if we choose to ride them but I have read that the DL measurements may not be the same as what you measure at home so there is a chance that if you measure your grandsons at exactly 40 in they could be found to be just under that for DL purposes and not allowed to ride. Only a couple of the 40 in rides would bum me out if my DD cant ride though (ST and Soarin are the only must hits for me with a 40 in ht)

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Almost all rides (ex. Fantasyland rides, Big Thunder Mountain) the 3 of you can ride together as they are built to accommodate 2 adults and a child. The 40" rides you might have trouble with would be Space Mountain (2 seats per row). I'm not sure if they'll let the 2 kids ride together with you in the row behind them or not (they need to be 7 to ride alone), but you can ask the CM before you get in line. Also Gadgets Go Coaster may be a tight fit for the 3 of you in one row. Buzz and Toy Story only has 2 guns, but you can sit between them and just let them shoot.

On the day you arrive mid day I'd either start in Adventureland/NO Square area or head to DCA.

Learn about and use Fast Passes. They will definitely be your friend. If they kids aren't used to coasters, you may want to start with the one in Toontown (Gadgets) as its very mild mini coaster. Than maybe Big Thunder and/or Splash. Space would be last as its in the dark which may freak kids out.

With boys check out Star Tours and the Jedi Training Academy. Woody from Toys Story is often near Big Thunder Ranch. Toy Story characters can also be found in DCA by the Toy Story ride.

Down time: The Animation building is great from some quiet down time. Turtle Talk with Crush is a favorite. I think my kids like it because one of them always gets picked to talk to Crush which means so does mom.
If they need a place to run and expel some energy, Tom Sawyer Island in DL is a great place to let them run around and explore. There are caves and rocks they can safely climb.

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

I'm not sure if they'll let the 2 kids ride together with you in the row behind them or not (they need to be 7 to ride alone)

Yes, they do.

 

[Cagirl767]

I have a dd5, and ds7, both have been going to DLR since 5 months old. If this is your grandsons first time, I'd get there at park opening your second day and start with the mild rides first such as It's a Small World, or Storybook Land Canal Boats, (we usually head to Alice first though), Dumbo, then Nemo and Autopia before it gets too crowded. Pick up a Fast Pass before you get on Autopia, use those later in the afternoon when it's crowded if the boys like the ride. Then Buzz then the rockets.

In the mornings we go go go and get in all the rides we can until a late lunch and visit the happiest potty on earth, then at lunch we reevaluate the crowd level. Eat either an early or late lunch to avoid standing in line which my kids have never been excited about.

Afternoon rides I'd save for when it's getting warmer and crowded, we go at a more leisurely pace since we've gotten our favorite rides out of the way in the early morning:
Monorail
Large train
Jungle Cruise
Winnie the Pooh
Pirates of Caribbean, I warn my kids about the dips and loud cannons
Main Street cars
Mark Twain riverboat and Sailing Ship Columbia
ice cream parlor and candy store
buy souvenirs
Tom Sawyer's Island - I'd save this for close to last since they may not want to leave and maybe save for the second day so that they're not so exhausted the first full day there.
Remember to save pool time at Hojo's, they'll love the pirate pool.

Rides to look up on Youtube to see if they're too scary:
Mr. Toad's
Snow White
Pirates
Gadgets Go Coaster

 

[nana50]

What you can expect as a nana and two 5 years olds, is to be REALLY tired at the end of the day.

 

[Linaki]

What you can expect as a nana and two 5 years olds, is to be REALLY tired at the end of the day.

No kidding I feel like I should be in boot camp right now preparing for this!! DD and DSIL think I'm crazy, but it's all going to be fine!

I REALLY appreciate the great advice from you all. I really felt lost without a strategy so now feel like I have some direction!!

Thank you SO much!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

My kids and I took several just the 3 of us trips to DLR in 2009, all of our visits that year except our Dec. visit *gramma was with us then and she came with us to WDW* we had a fantastic time *my kids were 9 & 6 then* We made good use of our APs that year! I prefer squeezing the 3 of us on Big Thunder, I don't get thrown around as much.

 

[Susie63]

I found the Unofficial guide to Disneyland to be really helpful when deciding which rides/attractions would be suitable for DD(and me)It has really good details on each one. It will also have touring plans in the back that will target what your day might look like when touring with liittle ones. It will also have all the dining options as well.I really liked it and it was under $20

 

[Tabologist]

I also have twins and find that my kids tend to wander off more then others so when we go on a vacation to a busy place (ie: Disney world) I have them wear necklaces with my cell phone number on them. I have friends who do bracelets but with the necklace they can't get them off alone.

I found cute dog tags online (I know... I know... it sounds terrible) I got my daughter a princess crown and my son a football. On the back I had both my cell and my husband's cell numbers. Thankfully the only time they were used is when we left one in the bin at the airport lol. But it gives me peace of mind. I also have them wear them on field trips when I can't go.