Disneyland for Toddlers

Apparently I have a Disney shaped heart... 

We also renovated our house and installed same floor tiles found in the Disneyland Hotel's newly remodeled bathrooms... (Yes, they're awesome... and seem to have a little bit of pixie dust mixed into the finish)So, upon encouragement of a friend to blog on this topic, here we go... 

I'll include where to eat and rides particularly for toddlers. I wont have my feelings hurt if you don’t do everything on this list or stray away from my teachings...

When you get to the Park:

First of all, there are Disneyland photographers all over in great spots that will take your photo for you with your own camera AND with theirs. They’ll give you a card that they'll scan and you can use that card with you everywhere. Get lots of pics on it and then you can buy them all on a CD at the end of your visit (a day, week, etc). Check out more info here: Disney Photopass

Also go to Town Hall on Main Street and get a "my first visit" pin for your toddler.  It’s free! You can also ask them any questions you might have... they're very helpful. If you're visiting for a birthday, you can also get a Birthday pin here! They'll write the birthday boy/girl's name on it and usually integrate Mickey-ears somewhere into the letters. The Disney Cast-members (Disneyland's term for staff-members) are happily encouraged/obligated to say "happy birthday" to you if they see your pin. Makes a birthday awesome. You'll get the most happy birthday wishes of any of your other birthdays (-- or perhaps it will be a close second to a Facebook birthday -- Facebook birthdays are also awesome... but you don't get to ride the Matterhorn in Facebook-land).

Main restaurants:

I would go to Goofy's kitchen in Disneyland hotel for lunch (a buffet) where obscure Disney characters visit the tables... they also breaks for little dance sessions with Goofy (- call for reservations) 

Napa Rose in the Grand Californian is good for foodies. (get reservations for here too)

In Disneyland itself near Big Thunder Railroad (Frontierland) Mexican food El Zocalo's (- cafeteria style) is great. New Orleans square - across from the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean, Cafe Orleans (- restaurant style) is okay too.

For something special, and if you're a die hard Disney fan, make reservations early for a lunch or early dinner at the Blue Bayou. This restaurant operates inside Pirates of the Caribbean (right before you start to delve into the scary parts of the ride). It's pretty special, hard to get into, and hard to get a prime seat next to the fireflies. However its pretty much the same food you find at Cafe Orleans... And if it's your birthday, you'll get an awesome dessert with an edible treasure chest (like super hard royal icing) filled with chocolate gold doubloons.

I need to add here: if you can get me into Club 33, I would be forever grateful... It's on my bucket list. My parents got to go in the early 70's because their friend invited them and whenever I talk about it, my Dad says "Oh, you've never been?" as if it's just something normal... salt in the wound...

Main Street: 

Biggest, saltiest, although yummy corndogs are found near the mothers' room on Main Street (to the right as you go in just before Tomorrowland). If there's a short line, get in it.

I also heard they started selling root beer floats again at the cone shop. Those were awesome when I last had them 15 years ago. I always end up craving them when I go to Disneyland, then I find them at the pier in California Adventure only to discover they're made of soft-serve. Oh the humanity, it's just wrong. But I get one anyway... but as I suck down the somewhat refreshing mush, I can't help but think "Why did they close the awesome root beer float place at Disneyland that came with a souvenir mug?! Why???" Then I get up off my knees and look away from up above and walk over to Toy Story Midway Mania and/or California Screamin' (PS: get a single rider pass for that ride as opposed to the parent swap. It's tons faster).

Main Street is the best place to get a cup of coffee (near the clothes/photo center) and also has good danish for breakfast (the bakery cafe).

Get on the Disneyland railroad here. It's cute and fun and a great way to get off your feet - so actually get on wherever you want. You will have to fold up your stroller if you want to take it with you. Or you can park it at the station and make a full circle (duh).

Tomorrowland:
Has pizza that's ok (near the back - near the rocket ship and space mountain) and Tomorrowland Terrace has pretty good breakfast. Quiet at this time of day too.

They also sell bags of freeze dried apples in the kiosks here with Mickey Mouse on the packaging - comes with 5 or 6 little individual packs in a bag - I think its worth it and my son loves them.

Rides - Buzz Lightyear Astro-Blasters, Finding Nemo (usually a long line and in the hot sun during Summer), Autopia (My 2 year old couldn't stop laughing-- he was tall enough to "drive" -- so fun!!)

Fantasyland:
Food isn't that good. Don’t eat here.

Rides - Go inside Sleeping Beauty's Castle and read the story and see the animated dioramas - Any kid who loves stories will love that! Your toddler will also love ALL rides in Fantasyland (except the Matterhorn - although the height requirement is 36", chances are even your daredevil toddler will still find this ride freaky-scary-like. This height requirement is actually in place for little people who are mature enough to handle the scary turns and abominable snowman that growls and seems to pounce on you).  Peter Pan is the best of the 4 oldies (that's what I call them)-- Snow White and Mr. Toads Wild Ride are scarier than Pirates of the Caribbean if you ask me...  actually so is Pinocchio... hmmm. These rides tell a story. You'll find that as you're waiting in line you are in the happy introduction, as soon as you go through those swinging doors you're practically thrown into the dark climax of the story, and then suddenly in the last 15 seconds of the ride you get to see the happy resolution, well maybe... In Mr Toads Wild Ride you end up in Hell and then as you are exiting the interior, a tiny little bit of happy music plays. Riiiight. That was.... funnn???? Don't steal cars and drive cray-cray, kids. Or, you'll go to Hell. Got it. Similar sentiment goes for Pinocchio and Snow White. I do appreciate the original/early Disneyland rides actually attempting to teach the youngin's some lessons other than just cheap thrills.

Don't forget about It's A Small World, the carousel, storybook land, dumbo, teacups!, Alice in wonderland.

And also, don’t forget about the parades, and the FIREWORKS are the a.maz.ing. (Best place to see these are in front of the castle at the end of Main Street, but I've had an okay view when I was stuck in front of Dumbo. The whole park augments to accommodate the fireworks and they'll herd people like cattle so plan accordingly and don't freak out. Obey the Cast-members. They're still nice. You're just tired).

If you want your kids’ name written in Disneylandish, there’s long painting things you see in most tourist places on the way to It's A Small World. My Mother-in-Law got one for my son and we opted for the custom matting only... only to later discover we would also need custom framing and spent $100 on getting it framed. So opt for the frame if you want that... probably worth it.

Also, most places will reserve all your stuff you buy for you till the end of the day and you pick it up at the entrance so you don’t have to carry it all day-- I've only heard of that but never done it.

Toon Town:

The food here is "eh". Not bad. Not special. Not memorable.

Rides - Roger rabbits spin ride thing - "eh" (Monster's Inc at California Adventure is similar but more fun... but if you're here and there's a short line, why not!). Its cute in Toontown and you can explore and snoop inside the very homes of Mickey, Minnie, Chip n' Dale, Donald, Goofy (complete with toddler-friendly squishy-ground-covered playground) but if it’s busy just leave and go somewhere else. Some people wait in line for hours to get a pic with Mickey. I've never done it and probably never will. Well, we did stay in line for 20mins with my brother and his son but I didn't have kids at the time and got bored and left. There was probably another 30mins wait to go from where we were. I don't get it... you can pass by Mickey a few times while at Disneyland and wait in a much smaller line to get a photo with him then. But if your kid is REALLY cute, Mickey will seek them out and you won't have to wait in line. Ask me. I know this to be true... and yet I've never exploited my kids to the arms of Hollywood... who's selfish now? That's right…

However, if you have a girl, you may be in trouble with waiting in line to see all those girly favorites at Pixie Hollow and the Disney Princess thingy just outside of Toontown. Oh my goodness. Waiting in line for hours to meet the princesses... I’d do it when I have a girl and want her to be sure of my undying love for her... but not until then.

Frontierland:

There's expensive BBQ family style near big thunder railroad. Never been there, seems like a rip-off.El Zocalo's is the best. Eat here. Don't sit in my seat. Just kidding... scoot. We'll sit WITH you.There's the golden horseshoe or something. Its okay. There are also funnel cakes at the stage door cafe if you need them. And sometimes we all need a funnel cake.
Rides - Toddlers can't go on Big Thunder Railroad but you CAN go on the paddle steamer riverboat, the sailing ship Columbia, and there's a little raft that can take you to Tom Sawyer's Island and that's fun to run around - if your toddler needs run around time instead of being in a stroller or standing in line. I call it "off leash time" -- maybe that's just something I need to do for my son...  Remember there's also a place to do that at Goofy's house in Toontown, and also an opportunity for this is at "Redwood Creek Challenge Trail" in California Adventure)

Adventureland:

The tiki juice bar has awesome pineapple floats. Sooo goood! (There's two lines - go to the line inside where you wait to go to the tiki room - you can eat when you're inside the ride too).

Rides - Jungle cruise!!! TIKI ROOM!!! Tarzans' treehouse.

Critter Country:

Food here is "eh".

Ride - Your toddler would most probably like the Winnie the Pooh ride. If they're wearing white it has a black-light to make things extra fun. Also a good opportunity to see how much lint you have on your other garments...

New Orleans Square:

The French Market (- cafeteria style) is ok. Great beignets near there at the Royal St Veranda. If you want something a little special then you can go to the Blue Bayou restaurant but you need reservations and the food is the same at Cafe Orleans. Most people like the Monte cristo's but they’re so rich! A fun pirate shop is near the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean if your kid likes pirates or if your pre-teen is moving to emo country... You probably wont be able to find some of the stuff they sell here anywhere else in the park.

Rides - If your toddler is not too scared, they can go on pirates and haunted mansion. But they might freak out. My son had no problem when he was younger but last time we went to Disneyland he was 2-and-a-half and started to get more aware, so we skipped Haunted Mansion (if it was Nightmare before Christmas I might have taken him on it) although he specifically requested to go on pirates twice. I thought he'd freak out. But he loved it. I find that if you explain what will happen on the ride before you go on and prepare them, they wont freak out so much. Pirates has two fun dips in the dark as soon as you pass under the talking skull-and-crossbones. We'll see how he goes when we go again this Summer...

Fun stuff to buy -
The bubble guns are fun and sold from outdoor kiosks all around. $10. If you have to get a balloon, get one that lights up - they have them at night and they sell them for $12. But the normal ones are $10 I think. 

The best clothes for toddlers and babies are on Main Street near where they do the silhouette portraits. Get one of those too- its pretty cool to see them cut. Mickey-ears are on Main Street (near moments with Mr. Lincoln) and in Fantasyland near the teacups (and probably other places in the park). I'm not sure if they sew/embroider names there or not, but they definitely do at the one on Main Street.

That's it FOR NOW, I will add on more as I have more time. Feel free to add comments or ask questions!!! :)