I grew up in Southern California, and my parents sometimes took their 6 kids to the Happiest Place on Earth. I’ve taken my son for years using annual passes, although now with twin newborns we’re taking a break from theme parks until they’re a bit easier to manage. What I’m getting at is that I have extensive experience with going to Disneyland.
That being said, here is my take on how you can make a trip like this work for your family.
Find a hotel that works for you and your needs:
Duh, right? What I mean is, if the Disneyland Resort hotel is too pricey, find another one close by that is more affordable. You will be walking during your visit, no matter where you stay. So get comfy shoes and treat it like an exercise day! The Disneyland Hotel is nice because you can use the Monorail to get in and out of the park, but you still have to walk all the way to the Monorail loading area. Most of the hotels in the area have shuttle services to get you to and from the park. I stayed in a hotel one time that didn’t have a shuttle service but was maybe 1/2 mile from Disneyland so we just walked rather than having to find parking and wait for the parking lot tram.
If you are going to stay for a few days, I highly recommend the Marriott Residence Inn. They have an enormous continental breakfast, kitchenettes, and frequent shuttle service. We went to Disneyland with a big group of family members about 8 years ago and we all stayed at this hotel. We got a large suite, cooked dinner in the hotel (saving a TON at the park), and the little guys could come back for naps during the day. It’s been a while since I was there, so double-check on the amenities before booking.
Take a stroller, but park it:
There are plenty of “Stroller Parking” areas throughout the park. Use the stroller to maneuver your troupe to the next area, but park it and have kiddos get out and walk or be carried through the crowded spaces around rides. Strollers are great for carrying all the extra stuff you need for a day at the park, but they are pretty crummy for maneuvering through crowds. I’m not going to guarantee that your stuff will be safe unattended, but I’ve seen a lot of people just leave their backpacks with the stroller and come back to find everything still there. Then again, I once had my sunscreen stolen from my stroller. You decide what you want to leave and what you want to carry.
Oh, and don’t rent a Disneyland stroller. I mean, you can if you have to but they are pricey and have lousy storage space.
Take advantage of some of the Disney fun stuff and family amenities:
Disneyland gives out free buttons for a bunch of occasions, and the available pins vary at different years. They pretty much always have a “Happy Birthday”, “Happy Anniversary”, “Family Reunion”, “Just Married”, and “First Visit” button that you can pick up in the City Hall just as you enter the park. These are fun because cast members will comment things like “Congratulations” or “Happy Birthday” as you pass them. Check here for how to score a button from City Hall as well as some other fun free stuff you can get around the park. When you go to City Hall for a birthday button, the concierge may direct you to a phone for a special birthday message from a Disney character.
Disneyland also has a Baby Center. Here you can nurse in a semi-private room which has large wicker chairs all facing one direction, one behind the other. Ask the cast members if you would like to use the pumping room, equipped with an electric outlet, small table, and comfy chair. The Baby Center also has a bottle warmer, necessities like formula and diapers for purchase, a high chair, and tiny tot potties for potty training at the park.
Bring Snacks:
I’m probably really not supposed to be saying this, but snacks are allowed at the park. They provide a picnic area outside the park for you to use if you want, but I always eat my sandwich and string cheese while waiting in line or walking around. When my son was little, rationing out Goldfish crackers or fruit snacks was a great way to keep him from running off while waiting in lines. And I highly recommend bringing water bottles or your own sodas. They are very expensive in the park.
Parents of little ones can go on big kid rides, too:
Although, unfortunately, not at the same time. Disney does this thing called Baby Swap or Child Swap. First, let the cast member at the start of the ride know that you want to use the Baby Swap. They will give you a pass to let two adults onto the ride through either the ride exit or the Fastpass line, depending on the ride. One parent gets on the ride (with any other adults or children), and the other adult waits out of line with children who are too small to ride. When the first group of riders are done with the ride, they can relieve the parent who is caring for small children. That parent can then get a speedy trip onto the ride using their Baby Swap pass. The pass is good for 2 riders, which means that someone who rode the first time can ride again.
I hope this information was helpful to you. If you have a tip for visiting Disneyland with your family please share in the comments.