One Day at Disneyland with Four Year Old

[coopersmom]

My son visited DisneyWorld for first time last December when he was three. He has now turned four and his grandparents (who live in SoCal) want to take us to Disneyland for a one day trip next month. (On a Friday, if that matters.)

I planned and researched relentlessly for our family DisneyWorld jaunt, but this is a bit last minute and we are going to have only one day in one park and one night in one hotel.

Suggestions from the experts?

I've been to Disneyland once, when I was in fifth grade which was ... Let's just say, a really long time ago, so it's all pretty new to me. I've never been to California Adventure, but know a lot of it is closed right now. Is that accurate?

Which park would you choose for a four-year-old? (Keeping in mind we'll be back at DisneyWorld in September.)

What hotel? Should I splurge and go Disney, just for one night, or just do something nearby. Money is a factor (do have some kind of a budget), but with it being only a single night, comfort is actually more important. It will be just my son and I in hotel ... Grandparents will meet us at park in morning, while we will come in night before to avoid AM traffic (driving from Long Beach).

Wherever we stay, thought I'd try and take my son to Downtown Disney the afternoon/evening before, assuming it was comparable to DisneyWorld's version and thinking he's bound to have a blast.

Any dining suggestions for adult who likes good food and a squirmy four-year-old?

Don't want to get bogged down in a detailed plan, but some guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

PS: We are DisneyWorld annual passholders ... Any discount for us on Disneyland day tickets? Or are we better off just letting California resident grandparents buy the tickets?

 

[skiingfast]

Suggestions from the experts?

I've been to Disneyland once, when I was in fifth grade which was ... Let's just say, a really long time ago, so it's all pretty new to me. I've never been to California Adventure, but know a lot of it is closed right now. Is that accurate?

Which park would you choose for a four-year-old? (Keeping in mind we'll be back at DisneyWorld in September.)

What hotel? Should I splurge and go Disney, just for one night, or just do something nearby. Money is a factor (do have some kind of a budget), but with it being only a single night, comfort is actually more important. It will be just my son and I in hotel ... Grandparents will meet us at park in morning, while we will come in night before to avoid AM traffic (driving from Long Beach).

Wherever we stay, thought I'd try and take my son to Downtown Disney the afternoon/evening before, assuming it was comparable to DisneyWorld's version and thinking he's bound to have a blast.

Any dining suggestions for adult who likes good food and a squirmy four-year-old?

Don't want to get bogged down in a detailed plan, but some guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

PS: We are DisneyWorld annual passholders ... Any discount for us on Disneyland day tickets? Or are we better off just letting California resident grandparents buy the tickets?

I would go to DCA. No not much is closed there attraction wise, and currently less than in DL. Most of the construction is on a food court, stores and carsland which is a new land that is not replacing any rides, just building new in what was a parking lot. But you should consider the height of the child too, and what can and can't be ridden too.

Why DCA over DL. Because it's for the child and just betting that he is more familiar with Pixar that many DCA rides are based on than classic Disney films that inspired Fantasyland. I don't know if this is why but I took DS for his 4th birthday and he prefered DCA.

If you can afford it park hoppers to hop back and forth to both parks, and take a mid day nap if the kid needs it. Because the gates of each park are 1 minute walking apart.

Hotels offsite are much cheaper and many rooms offsite are closer too.

Dining is easy because just like in WDW every place caters to kids too.

DTD is really close to the gates, not the hassle traveling on buses that it takes in WDW. It's fairly close to WDW's DTD though a bit smaller.

You might want to reintroduce yourself to WDW with this thread. DLR guide for WDW vets.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I think budget wise, you'd be better off to stay at one of the motels on Harbor. The HoJo has wonderful beds & beautiful grounds. They also offer reduced room rates thru-out the year & have dates listed thru the end of the year in their discussion boards. Maybe your dates will be there!

Another very comfortable motel would be the Carousel Inn.

I would chose Disneyland over DCA, because of the amount of rides for kiddos. We love BugsLand at DCA, but that's about it for the smaller kids. A few rides scattered thru out the rest of the park.

I'd suggest getting to Disneyland at opening (smaller crowds) & head straight to Fantasyland. Here you'll find tons of the smaller kid rides. Fantasyland really needs to be done very early in the day, as this area gets busy & stays that way all day long.

DL also offers Autopia, Finding Nemo & Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland, Winnie the Pooh up in Critter Country, POTC & Haunted Mansion in the Rivers of America area plus you also have ToonTown that is set up for the younger set.

The characters are usually all over Main Street, up in Critter Country, you also have some meet-n-greet areas (if interested) for Tink & friends at Pixie Hollow, Tangled in Fantasyland & the princesses at the Princess Fantasy Faire.

We could easily spend all of our time at DL & skip DCA if we had to......I couldn't say that in reverse.

Good luck in your planning & have a *+*+*Magical*+*+* time!!

Forgot about the dining question........PCH Grill or Storyteller's offers a wonderful dinner for the whole family & if they kids like pizza, they get to make their own pizza!! My kids LOVED doing this!!!

 

[coopersmom]

Thanks for the all the advice so far. I was looking online at that great guide linked to in the first response (super!) and my son was sold on Disneyland based solely on Casey's train alone. He's also got a things for subs (Nemo) and I remember Mr. Toad's Wild Ride ... So that all sounds good. Now, if Cars-land was open it would be a very different story. As he's all about the Cars. (Big time.)

Looking at Disneyland Hotel or Grand Floridian, they are double the price of, say, Hilton Anaheim, which says it has a theme park view. Is it worth that extra cost? (Asked as someone who wasn't that impressed with the Polynesian at WDW but fondly remembers staying at Disneyland hotel as kid.)

Or maybe we get park hoppers and stay cheap ... Though I think doing both parks may be way too much.

BTW, no nap for us (I wish!) my son gave those up at about 16 months. Much to mommy's chagrin. He did all day Disney back in December without them, though he was done pretty early too (by 6 or 7, even with a long lunch break). Any Disney hotel you can see World of Color from? ... That sounds like a pretty impressive show but 10 PM is probably a pipe dream for my little guy. (We only went back to park once for fireworks at WDW and that was against his wishes.)

Now I'm wondering if I should drive in from Long Beach on morning of park day and then stay night AFTER and do Downtown Disney on Saturday A.M. before heading back? Not sure which is easier, but won't want to be away two nights from daddy. (Or pay double hotel costs for two nights, as we're also staying in hotel in Long Beach, where daddy is on business.)

Dinner either night before or after day at park ... Any suggestions for high end adult fare (nice wine list) that will also accommodate little one? Does not have to be on property as we will all have cars. I looked at Napa Rose but that doesn't seem kid-friendly (is it like Victoria and Albert's and kids can't even come?). He is usually pretty good as long as we don't try to linger TOO long (i.e. no three hour meals).

 

[DizNee Luver]

Thanks for the all the advice so far. I was looking online at that great guide linked to in the first response (super!) and my son was sold on Disneyland based solely on Casey's train alone. He's also got a things for subs (Nemo) and I remember Mr. Toad's Wild Ride ... So that all sounds good. Now, if Cars-land was open it would be a very different story. As he's all about the Cars. (Big time.)

Looking at Disneyland Hotel or Grand Floridian, they are double the price of, say, Hilton Anaheim, which says it has a theme park view. Is it worth that extra cost? (Asked as someone who wasn't that impressed with the Polynesian at WDW but fondly remembers staying at Disneyland hotel as kid.)

Or maybe we get park hoppers and stay cheap ... Though I think doing both parks may be way too much.

BTW, no nap for us (I wish!) my son gave those up at about 16 months. Much to mommy's chagrin. He did all day Disney back in December without them, though he was done pretty early too (by 6 or 7, even with a long lunch break). Any Disney hotel you can see World of Color from? ... That sounds like a pretty impressive show but 10 PM is probably a pipe dream for my little guy. (We only went back to park once for fireworks at WDW and that was against his wishes.)

Now I'm wondering if I should drive in from Long Beach on morning of park day and then stay night AFTER and do Downtown Disney on Saturday A.M. before heading back? Not sure which is easier, but won't want to be away two nights from daddy. (Or pay double hotel costs for two nights, as we're also staying in hotel in Long Beach, where daddy is on business.)

Dinner either night before or after day at park ... Any suggestions for high end adult fare (nice wine list) that will also accommodate little one? Does not have to be on property as we will all have cars. I looked at Napa Rose but that doesn't seem kid-friendly (is it like Victoria and Albert's and kids can't even come?). He is usually pretty good as long as we don't try to linger TOO long (i.e. no three hour meals).

We went with the Park View Room at the Paradise Pier Hotel in early March & we're able to see the World of Color from our room, with the music simulcast on the tv. The only thing with doing it this way, is you won't be able to see any of the projections on the water screens & they really neat & add to the show. But you were saying you'd be heading back early to the motel/hotel.....so seeing it from this view is better than not seeing it at all!!

Napa Rose does have an extensive wine list & kids are welcome there. It would be considered a lengthy meal & very expensive. I imagine the Storyteller's would also have wine available with good food & family friendly. Both of these are located in the Grand Californian. We've also had very good meals at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen & House of Blues in DTD.

I think driving up early the day you want to go to the park would be the way to go, especially if you want to see the WoC from your room. Again I will stress that you want to be there prior to opening to get a lot done in Fantasyland before the lines get super long. Friday is not a Magic Morning, so that is good news for you!!!

 

[Mama Who]

Which park would you choose for a four-year-old? (Keeping in mind we'll be back at DisneyWorld in September.)

What hotel? Should I splurge and go Disney, just for one night, or just do something nearby. Money is a factor (do have some kind of a budget), but with it being only a single night, comfort is actually more important. It will be just my son and I in hotel ... Grandparents will meet us at park in morning, while we will come in night before to avoid AM traffic (driving from Long Beach).

Wherever we stay, thought I'd try and take my son to Downtown Disney the afternoon/evening before, assuming it was comparable to DisneyWorld's version and thinking he's bound to have a blast.

Any dining suggestions for adult who likes good food and a squirmy four-year-old?

Don't want to get bogged down in a detailed plan, but some guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

PS: We are DisneyWorld annual passholders ... Any discount for us on Disneyland day tickets? Or are we better off just letting California resident grandparents buy the tickets?

I would say DL hands down at that age. While DCA has A Bugs Land, most of that park really feels geared to the older set and the environment is less little kiddy.

There are nice clean hotels near the gate. In fact, some are the same distance from the park gate as the Disneyland Hotel or PP. I would love to stay at the GC someday but have never been able to justify the outrageous mark up when we're really the sort who only sleep and watch tv at the hotel. Unless you are big " hang out in the room" types I just don't see the point to paying a premium for one, especially on a short trip. I'd go Park Vue or Del Sol. We're staying at the Carousel for our upcoming trip, it seems to be close enough.

Pretty much the only places we've eaten that I would NOT take a four year old to are Club 33 and Wine Country Trattoria. WCT is a lovely upscale LONG dining event and it will probably annoy the 4 year old, you and everyone around you. My understading is that Napa Rose might also not be small kid friendly but I've never been. Everything else is really going to have a lot of kids around anyway. We've enjoyed Storytellers in the GC and... the place at the DH... Hook's Pointe? I think. Someone else will correct me if the name is wrong. Nice seafood.

 

[skiingfast]

Looking at Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian, they are double the price of, say, Hilton Anaheim, which says it has a theme park view. Is it worth that extra cost? (Asked as someone who wasn't that impressed with the Polynesian at WDW but fondly remembers staying at Disneyland hotel as kid.)

Or maybe we get park hoppers and stay cheap ... Though I think doing both parks may be way too much.

Any Disney hotel you can see World of Color from? ... That sounds like a pretty impressive show but 10 PM is probably a pipe dream for my little guy. (We only went back to park once for fireworks at WDW and that was against his wishes.)

Now I'm wondering if I should drive in from Long Beach on morning of park day and then stay night AFTER and do Downtown Disney on Saturday A.M. before heading back?

Dinner either night before or after day at park ... Any suggestions for high end adult fare (nice wine list) that will also accommodate little one? Does not have to be on property as we will all have cars. I looked at Napa Rose but that doesn't seem kid-friendly (is it like Victoria and Albert's and kids can't even come?). He is usually pretty good as long as we don't try to linger TOO long (i.e. no three hour meals).

Napa Rose is like V&A in that they are the best of each resort, but NR allows kids. Also in DCA they have alchohol, unlike DL and the MK, so don't be afraid to dine in DCA if you need some wine, Ariels Grotto or Wine Country Trattoria. Do you really want to spend time out of the parks for a nice dinner. You might want to look at something in DTD or Garden Walk too.

I understand your reason on attraction that DL has that WDW doesn't that make it attractive. But DCA has 10 attactions that WDW doesn't have. Plus World of Color which if you see you will wish it was in WDW.

Don't consider watching WoC from a Hotel Window, it not the same as seeing it up close. Plus with the time change and a good rest the night before 10pn night be esier.

Drive down from Long Beach the morning of your visit. It's a good idea, but leave early because traffic makes it a long drive. Stay offsite and get a PH really good idea because it's so easy to see the best of DL and DCA in the same day. They are so close.

Hotel, I'm still going to say across the street. Maybe you will like the Park Vue Inn, it has a welcome basket with a bottle of Chardonay in it. And when you walk out it's entrance you are going to be as close to the gates, as you are getting of Disney Transport at the Animal Kingdom. If you stay at the Hilton, you will be taking a bus down Harbor Dr. or Parking for $15 and spening even more time taking a tram or shuttle into the park.

Almost all of the Harbor Hotels are older 1960 era motels and a few have modern rooms, but most have been kept up. Just think of them as old building with new carpeting. Also like a Value Resort with no themeing and little pools. But for 1 night I think you could trade comfort for convinience.

 

[pixarmom]

Hi OP!

We're also WDW vets and had APs last year (mine was a Premier, so we could get the DL discounts in addition to all our great WDW discounts, but we spent three days at DL so that upgrade probably wouldn't work for you.)

I had been going to DL as a child since age two, but then we switched over to WDW when I was in elementary school. First, we all LOVED DL. Yes, it was different from WDW, but we really loved it.

Here are my thoughts: We always stay on-site at WDW (except when I was in college and couldn't afford it!) and I'm so glad we stayed on-site at DL. Id' call it one of the best decisions of the trip - it was worth every penny. We drove in, parked the car and didn't leave Disney property for three days. The approach to DL in the car is so different from the experience of entering WDW on Magical Express, so I was really glad we made the choice to stay at the Grand Californian. We got a great deal at GCH, but if we hadn't, we would have stayed at the Disneyland Hotel.

As for the parks, we loved California Adventure just as much (maybe more than) Disneyland. If we were to return for a single day, I would probably get the park hopper and start at DL and then end at DCA. We were there in August 2010 just as the AP block was lifting. I expected heavy crowds, but didn't think it was too crowded at all. And there was almost nobody around for the first couple of hours after rope drop. We arrived at security 1/2 hour before MM (the equivalent of WDW's EMH) opening and we were first in line. Very different from WDW where you have a LOT of people with you 1/2 hour before rope drop, even if it's EMH.

Restaurants - we took our three boys to Wine Country Trattoria and loved it. We do lots of signatures at WDW with our boys and find them all very child-friendly. We're in and out in one hour (same with WCT) because we don't order multiple courses or linger.

As for WOC - wow! Our pre-teens don't usually like shows, but they loved this. I'll admit, neither my husband nor our pre-schooler made it long enough for WOC and they headed back to the room together.

Tough call regarding the overnight before or after your park day. We'd opt for before, but that's because we were at the gates ready to go at 6:30am for a 7am MM opening! I don't think we could have done that as easily driving in from Newport Beach as we did just walking over from the GCH!

Good luck and happy planning!

 

[Dobie]

I would vote for Disneyland...there is just so much more there for a four year old to be interested in. I would go to Fantasyland first thing in the morning, then visit Pirates (which is way funner than the one at WDW), Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country, Buzz in tomorrowland, and go see Mickey in Toontown. Tom Sawyer Island is a fun afternoon diversion where your son can run around and wind down. Small World in Fantasyland has an outdoor queue and is very fun. Once you have done these things and seen the parade, it will be dinnertime and your son will probably be ready to go back to the hotel and enjoy a swim and dinner!!!!

You might want to consider Goofy's Kitchen in the DLH for dinner the night before...they have a cool character meal. I wouldn't bother with a sit down restaurant in the park...the Dobies like the food at Riverbelle Terrace and from the hot dog place on Main Street. I would avoid character breakfasts,as they eat up the best morning Fantasyland time.

 

[DlandAmanda]

We just did a 3 day trip (4/6-4/8) with a 3 1/2 year old (will be 4 in Aug). We got to Disneyland at about 2:30 PM did Pirates (which she hated and thought was scary and didn't look up the entire ride), so we knew HM was out and went to Winnie the Pooh. We didn't want to even look at Fantasyland as we knew it would be crazy busy, so we did the Tiki Room and then went to DCAP. We did Muppets 3-D, Monsters Inc, then did BugsLand. We ended the day at Disneyland watching fireworks.

I think that if you only have one FULL day to do something along these lines. Of course you know your child and how they will react to the dark "scary" rides. We seemed to do more at DCAP because of POTC and HM being too scary (she hated Jungle Cruise as well ). If you can get to Fantasyland first thing in the morning then start there, riding Dumbo or Peter Pan first thing. Nemo gets pretty busy throughout the day as well. It seems that Snow White, Mr. Toads, the Carousel, and Pinocchio stay mild throughout the day. Our daughter wasn't tall enough to ride Thunder, or Space, but she loved Gadget's Go Coaster in Toontown. She also loved meeting Mickey Mouse while we were there.

DCAP is great but I definitely think you need to do park hoppers. My daughter also loved Turtle Talk, Disney Junior, and Aladdin which are all at DCAP. Oh and let's not forget Toy Story Mania. I was shocked that she stayed up to watch World of Color, then we went and did Toy Story Mania after that at about 10:00 PM!

We ate at Ariel's Grotto for the WOC dining, and the atmosphere was awesome for a child. My husband and I both got Black Pearl wine (which I thought they only had at Napa Rose, was happily surprised). Napa Rose is amazing, but it is a long dining experience, so I guess you can gauge your child and how they do sitting at a table for nearly 2 hours in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. We had great food, a great server, amazing wine, in a very kid friendly place at Ariel's.

It was VERY crowed while we were there, so we just took it easy and tried to not make our daughter wait in any really long lines. When the lines got long, we went to shows, which usually only have about a 15 minute wait depending on when you get there.