How to Survive Disneyland With Your Children

There’s so much to see and do at Disneyland.

A trip to Disneyland can be the ultimate thrill for your children but not necessarily for you. Acknowledging and being aware of this fact can set the tone for a memorable vacation for the entire family. There’s so much to see and do in Disneyland that a trip needs to be properly planned to avoid kids becoming exhausted and consequently messing up everyone’s peace of mind. Making sure your children are well fed, avoiding delays and allowing for changes in schedule will go a long way toward ensuring you don’t just survive, but you also have fun at Disneyland.

Instructions

1. Involve the children in planning your Disneyland trip. Visit the Disneyland website or call the park hotline [phone]) to find times when the park will be less crowded. Generally, Monday to Thursday will be less crowded than Friday to Sunday, except if there is a holiday on a weekday. Remember that quieter times can mean a few rides are not available. Tell your kids about this so that they are mentally prepared and don’t throw a tantrum when you arrive at Disneyland.

2. Decide how you will take in the various attractions of Disneyland. If you are a family with teenagers and younger kids, check the possibility of splitting up for a few activities. Consider the possibility of pairing a young child with your teenager and yourself by turns. This gives every kid an opportunity to enjoy the rides appropriate to his age.

3. Make use of the FASTPASS reservation system that is available for a few attractions at the theme park. This will help reduce the time you spend waiting in line and will prevent your children from growing restless and cranky.

4. Carry drinks and snacks to give your children while they are waiting in line or between rides. Children can get so caught up in all the excitement that they forget to eat, and low blood sugar levels can mean a sudden temper tantrum over something inconsequential. Keep track of time and make sure children have some fruit or juice to keep them going. Take small breaks in between rides to avoid fatigue at the end of the day.

5. Label your younger kids with a tag on their clothing that carries the child’s name, your name and cell phone number. Children may wander away out of curiosity, and on a crowded day this can be both unsafe and traumatic for a parent.

6. Allow for flexibility in your schedule. With kids wanting to try every single ride, it may not be possible to stick to your plan and delays will be inevitable. Keep sight of the objective of your trip -- giving your kids a great time and creating memories for the family. Be prepared for a few conflicts, too, because you cannot keep all your kids happy at the same time. Do your best to come up with solutions that ensure equal enjoyment for all your kids.

Tips & Warnings

• Rent a stroller for younger kids to ride in between rides or when they are resting. There is a lot of walking to be done in Disneyland, and a stroller ensures energy is used for activities and not wasted in getting from one place to another.

• Remember that Disneyland is a vacation mainly for your kids to enjoy and not for you to relax. So be prepared to take active charge of kids to let them make the most of the trip.

References

• Dr. Greene: Vacationing with Kids
• Reader’s Digest: The Less-Stress Family Vacation
• Walt Disney World: Little Ones at Disney Theme Parks
• DisneylandVacationTips: Disneyland Attendance Tips
• DisneylandVacationTips: Disneyland Tips for Toddlers and Their Parents
• DisneylandVacationTips: Before Your Vacation to Disneyland

Resources

• Disneyland Resort: Welcome to the Magic