The Park — We all have our ways of doing things, but after 5 trips in two years to Disneyland let me offer my way. Please share your own! I’m sure mine will evolve as my children’s ages change (4—6), but this is good for me now. I go straight to Disneyland. At the time it first opens, it’s manageable. Once you want to eat lunch get OUT. By about 1 PM, it’s a mess. The lines are tremendous, you can’t move and your kids are impatient.
However, before all that, this is how I address the park. First thing: walk straight through. It’s open, nice, you can see everything. Main Street is great with the kids; they love the horse drawn carriage and the many stores. Once you get to the middle (in front of the castle), you can choose any number of directions. I’ll leave that to you. If you have a little Robinson Crusoe on your hands, off to Frontierland! If you have an astronaut or Buzz Lightyear lover, go to Tommorrowland. Or if you have a princess or Disney character lover screaming loudly, go straight on into Fantasyland.
Now, the hands-down BEST four things you must do at Disneyland:
1) Ride “It’s a Small World” The line looks long, but they really move it along. If you go in the summer, this will be your only air-conditioned-out-of-the-sun respite with kids…the haunted house just isn’t as relaxing when you have kid freaking out from fright.
2) Pirates of the Caribbean My daughter was a touch scared the first time, but now loves it. Point out that you’re on a boat and all the pirates, the dog, the crazy stuff (all the drinking is lost on them or maybe I just noticed it, “yo-ho-ho” is still there).
3) Tune Town or one of the shows Tune town can be fun. I avoid wherever there is a picture set up. This makes the line unbearably long for the kids and then the exhibit part is two minutes. However, the walk through boats and other non-photo treats are fun. The shows are major productions. The last one we saw was Snow White. It was great. You can video tape it for home or the hotel later too. The singers and actors are wonderful. You will enjoy it, too.
4) Lastly, the princesses read their story in StoryLand (back of store) every other hour or so. It’s the best way to get any extended time with a princess. The kids all sit on the floor, listen to the story (told with a comical flair as they are telling their own story) and then they line up for pictures. If you want to be near the front of the line, it starts on the left bookcase lining up to where the princess is sitting. Don’t run at her straight on. She always moves everyone to the side. If you are with your kid until the line sorts out, she/he won’t get pushed or upset. No tears right before the photo.
So now it’s lunch time. To get out of the park from anywhere but the entrance take the train. It’s a ride for the kids and expedites you right around the outside and to the front. The line is usually about 7 to 10 minutes and the ride’s the same depending on where you are in the park. So once you are out, now what? Well, remember the Park Hopper I had you purchase? Head over to California Adventure. If, by any chance, there is a line to get in, do not worry, keep going. No one in that line is going where you are and the line moves quickly.
