Going to Disneyland in May 2007, any suggestions?

Question

I am graduating college the first weekend in May 2007 and I am planning on taking my almost 3 year old to Disneyland the week of May 14-18th 2007. Does anyone have any suggestions to make it a good trip? Is it usually very busy since kids should still be in school?

I know almost 3 sounds young but she really enjoys the rides and I know she won't remember it but I will. My mom is going with us. We aren't going to force her to do more than she can handle. We plan on nap time every day. We are going to make the trip as stress-free as possible!

Answer 1

It's always busy at D-land. # might be a bit young to really enjoy the park and the day, IMO.
We did that with the little ones and at three they were terrified at so many of the costumes and rides. We had to return when he was 6 and that was a trip he remembered!

Answer 2

I took my 3-year-old three different times to Disneyland and we had a blast. We learned the first time that she didn't like any of the rides that went into the dark and things jumped out or made sounds (Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Mr. Toad, etc.).

However, she LOVED the characters, Mickey's house, It's A Small World, Dumbo, Teacups, etc. Rather than age, it's most important how tall your child is. The Disney site lists height requirements for all the rides, and I found it helpful to look at their "For Toddlers" suggestions as well. I even showed her the pictures of the rides before we went so she would know what to expect.

I highly recommend leaving the park during the day and taking a break. I also recommend going straight to the back of the park (Fantasyland and Toon Town) when you get there. Most people go to the left or the right and then they all end up at the back of the park at the same time. We always go straight to Dumbo, do the Fantasyland rides and then head over to Toon Town. Then we can do the rest of the park at our leisure.

And the parade is always a highlight, if you can stay until dark. We did take a lot of pictures, but the truth is that she talks about it all the time. It definitely made an impression and a memory for her.

Have a great time!

Answer 3

Go to the website www.disneygo.com about 3 months before. Get to the calendar, and put in your day. It will tell you the hours the parks are open. Another window will tell you how much one day one park costs, versus one day both parks (Park Hopper) or multi day tickets. Disney's California Adventure has one area your almost 3 year old can do and that is "Bug's Land" (or something close to that).

Truly, your almost 3 year old will probably be too small to go on many of the rides in Disneyland although he/she - I believe - will get in free, and may not remember the trip by the time he/she is 10. How is your toddler in the dark, with loud noises? There are shows, but how long is your toddler's attention span?

The kids will still be in school, and the crowds should be very good. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are rumored to be the lightest. I know my suggestion will sound callous, but to have the best trip, leave the child in the care of a good babysitter, and bring a friend and enjoy the park together. Or at least, bring a friend that your toddler will stay with happily, while you switch off on the rides.

Enjoy your celebration. You deserve it after finishing college.

Answer 4

You guys will have a great time! My parents took me when I was only a month old and we now have some very treasured photographs! That's the key... take TONS of photos so that she can look back and remember the experience through those - plus be sure to include mini stories in that scrapbook about anything funny or exciting that happened there.

Purchase film, bottled water and batteries prior to going. They sell these items in the parks but for an insane price. Wear comfy shoes (I highly recommend Crocs sandals) and wear a hat and put a bonnet or hat on her, along with little glasses if she'll keep them on. Don't worry about stopping for a nap. As long as she's in a stroller and you're pushing, she'll konk out when she needs to.

There will be lots of rides that you can take her on. If there are any rides that she can't go on, but rides that you or your mom would like to ride, ask a cast member at the front entrance of that ride for a swap pass. They should still offer these. One of you stays with your daughter, while the other one get's in line. The person with your daughter meets you at the exit of the ride, she takes the pass and get's right on, no wait. This way, everyone can enjoy everything Disney has to offer. These passes are typically available for fast, busy rides like Splash Mountain or Space Mountain. Just ask a Cast Member when you get there.

I also recommend eating at one of the resorts or at Downtown Disney as opposed to eating inside the park. Their food is just much better than what you'll find inside the parks. Visit both Disneyland and CA Adventure, if you can. There is a lot to see and do!

Crowds should just be starting to pick back up again.... because in some states, kids are out at the end of April and they travel to Disneyland. However, you can lessen your chances of getting high crowds by avoiding a weekend like the plague. Go on a Monday or Tuesday... those are typically slower days.

If you would like any help researching or planning your trip, or if you would like to read up on some fun tips and ideas, visit my Disney Vacation Services Website, I'm All Ears at:

http://im-all-ears-disney-vacation-services.blogspot.com/

Have fun!

Answer 5

Disneyland will be crowded whenever you go, so don't count on short lines. I'm sure you will have fun, just take advantage of the fast pass when you do go. I think the Finding Nemo submarine ride will be open then, that may be something she will like, I liked it before they decided to include Nemo on the ride.

FYI - I think that California Adventure is more for teens and adults, so don't waste your time there unless you really want to go. There will be absolutely nothing for a 3 year old there. I took my seven year old brother and he wasn't too thrilled. Stick to Disneyland.

As far as the Disneyland hotel is concerned, I wouln't stay there because it is too expensive. I am from around here and I know that you can stay at a hotel with comparable quality for a lot cheaper. If you really do wanna go all out, one of the perks to staying at the hotel is that you get admission to the park an hour before it opens.

*******SINCE YOUR DAUGHTER WILL BE 3, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRAIN RIDE AND THE MONORAIL WHEN YOU GUYS GET TIRED. IT TAKES YOU AROUND THE WHOLE PARK. THAT IS A WELL KNOW SECRET AMONGST US WHO GO OFTEN. NOT ONLY THAT, THE TRAIN HAS SEVERAL STOPS SO YOU CAN GET OFF WHENEVER YOU FEEL.**********
Knotts Berry Farm is fun too but maybe for a bit older kid.

Answer 6

Wow, congratulations on your graduation! And what a fun way to celebrate! You are smart to plan ahead and talk to people to get some ideas of how to make the trip a pleasant one.

In May the park will not be crowded. Most schools are still in session, Spring Break is over, the weather is nice and it is a great time to visit. And since you will be there over several days you will be able to pace yourselves.

If you can afford it I would recommend staying in one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels. You are close to the park, don't have to hassle with parking, and you get in early one morning. It can be more expensive than other local hotels, but totally worth it if the price is in your budget.

If the DLR hotels are out of your budget, check out the group of hotels just south of DLR at Harbor and Chapman in Garden Grove. There is an Embassy Suites, Marriott Suites, Homewood Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, and others, as well as restaurants and shopping. Since they are a little distance the prices are generally cheaper than ones right on the perimeter. You will have to drive to the park, but in my opinion and experience, after a long day at the park it isn't any worse to go to the parking structure than to walk a few blocks to your "close" hotel. Check with any hotel you stay at for package deals.

There are tons of suggestions for making your day great at the park at www.mouseplanet.com; at Disneyland go straight to Peter Pan's Flight as that has the longest line in the world no matter what time of year it is! And be sure to take your stroller or rent one there. My daughter is 6 and we still get our free stroller through the Disney Visa card. She barely fits but it's nice to have a place for her to sit, as well as a place to stash my bag!

My best advice is to get there before the park opens. You will be able to do more between opening and noon than if you go in the afternoon. The hours are generally 9-8 around that time of year, but you can check that as it gets closer.

Have a wonderful trip!

Answer 7

My husband and I have annual passes to Disneyland and our little guys are nearly 3 and 1 now.

First, I'm not certain what part of the country you're from, but if you think you may re-visit Disneyland within the year, you may want to check into annual passes. Sometimes the cost of the annual pass is the same price you'd pay for three full days at both parks. You can find out more on the Disneyland.com website.

If you're visiting the park for more than one day, I'd recommend taking it slow. Our little guys get worn out after about 3-4 hours. It's great that you've already got a plan for ensuring your little one has a nap.

A great time to see some of the kiddie rides outside of Fantasyland is during the parade/fireworks/Fantasmic. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is a great interactive ride that our son absolutely loves! We usually visit that ride while everyone is waiting for the evening parade to go by.

Winnie the Pooh is another favorite of his, which we tend to visit while everyone is waiting for Fantasmic. That's at the farthest end of the park near Splash Mountain.

He loves the Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise in Adventureland. He's not a fan of Pirates, though.

Pretty much any ride in Fantasyland is a good one, but you may want to beware of Snow White and Pinocchio. Those two are a bit more scary than the others. Also, the final portion of Mr. Toad is one that can scare kids as you ride through Hell (yep, Hell!).

Be sure you note the time Toontown closes. They tend to close Toontown early on nights that they shoot off fireworks. Also, they may close off portions of Fantasyland, as well, depending on the fireworks show they have going on. That could include the Carousel, Peter Pan, Snow White, and Pinocchio.

The Plaza Inn has a great Minnie and Friends Character Breakfast (buffet, all you can eat style) that is about $20 for adults and maybe $12-$14 for kids. A small investment if your child is into Disney characters. In about two hours, a wide variety of characters come by your table as you're dining. They'll sign autographs and take photos. It sure beats standing in huge lines to meet the characters.

If your child is into Princesses, they have a great restaurant in California Adventure called Ariel's Grotto that has the princess character dining experience. It may be a bit more money than the Plaza Inn on Main Street, though.

There isn't a lot that my kids like to do in California Adventure. There is A Bug's Land that has some fun little rides. You may want to avoid the "It's Tough To Be A Bug" movie unless you have a chance to preview it first. It's a 3-D film that is very dark, loud, has spiders drop down, fog fill the air, etc. I don't think my boys could handle it right now.

Hollywood Backlot has Plahouse Disney, which is a family favorite. They have a show with Jo Jo, Pooh, Stanley, etc. It's a very fun little show.

There's also Muppet Vision 3-D and Monsters Inc. ride. Aladdin is a 45 minute Broadway style musical that is superb! You may want to check that out.

There's a carousel and a few kiddie rides in the Pier area of the park.

A great place to let your little one get some energy out is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure. There are slides, ropes to climb, bridges to cross, etc. Oh, and over in Disneyland, there's Tom Sawyer's Island which is a great place for kids to run around.

Be aware that for the faster rides that you may enjoy, you can ask for a stroller switch pass from a cast member prior to getting in line for the ride. It gives the person who waits outside with the children a chance to walk on the ride after the others in your party have gone on the ride. It's good for two people to walk on.

Fast Passes are also good to get for the rides with long wait times. You basically take your pass and insert it into a Fast Pass machine. You get a little ticket that tells you the time you need to return to get on the ride (i.e. Return between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm). Please be aware that the second time (i.e. 8:00 pm) time doesn't matter. You can use the pass anytime after the first time posted (i.e. 7:00 pm) They likely won't tell you that, but that's how it is. We never pay attention to the second time posted. We always show up far later than it says and they always accept the Fast Pass.

A few more things... There's a Baby Care Center located at the end of Main Street in Disneyland and over by the Tortilla Factory in California Adventure. It's a great place to go if you need to change a diaper or have your child use a toddler size potty.

A great place to watch fireworks up close is in the Small World area right near the entrance to Toontown. The best view is likely going to be from the front of the castle. The end of Main Street on the train platform is also good. Oh, and if you're in the parking structure, you have a spectacular view of Toontown where they launch the fireworks. It's sometimes fun to watch them there, though you don't get the music portion there.

A great resource we've found is mouseplanet.com. You can browse there to find Disneyland updates, etc.

Answer 8

Stay in a hotel on Disneyland property or within in close walking distance. This will allow you to go back to your room when ever needed, either for naps or a forgotten sweater, quickly.

Answer 9

I grew up going to Disneyland all the time. It is possible to remember and Iv'e never seen a kid that hates it (unless you go to the scarier rides) there is plenty to do in and around the area. Do it!

Answer 10

plan on some of the stuff your going to do in disneyland like the rides shows etc