2. Don’t forget the sun block!
The Southern California sun is intense. Remember to slather on another layer mid-day. Don’t park the stroller in the sun.
3. Keep on real time.
Noon to 1 p.m. is lunchtime: the kids are hungry and tired. 3 to 4 p.m. may be a good break time: the kids are hungry and tired. Stop for dinner 5 to 6 p.m.: the kids are hungry and tired. If you’re planning to stay at the park through the 9:20 p.m. fireworks show, take a longer mid-day break: the kids are hungry and tired. There’s an obvious theme here. The kids convey it all over the park.
4. Rent a stroller or two.
The park demands a tremendous amount of walking, which can tax little legs. We see our three kids visibly relax while taking turns reclining in the two strollers we rent each day. Our pace through the park avoids the “come on, come on” drag commonly seen with young kids.
5. Be mindful of your child’s limitations.
You may be in Fantasyland but a three-year-old is still going to raise a fuss if tempted by sweets or a plethora of toys during naptime. Fears about the dark or sudden jolts are still quite real at Disneyland. From a child’s perspective, that cute character may resemble a hulking furry huge-eyed monster, so don’t force an intimate hug.
6. Take a moment to enjoy and capture memories.
Rather than racing through the crowd to reach a Disney character or get to another ride, notice your child and try to see Disneyland through their eyes. The look on our two-year-old’s face when she saw Cinderella’s castle (“my pink palace!”) for the first time was priceless. That’s the magic that Walt Disney wants us all to share as a family. And these are the memories our children should be allowed to bring back home from the Happiest Place on Earth.
