The Ultimate Guide to Disneyland with a Toddler

There’s no adventure quite like experiencing the magic of Disneyland with your little one!

Picture this: you’ve got your mini-me, all wide-eyed wonder and wobbly steps, ready to take on The Happiest Place on Earth. There are some strong opinions about the best age to take your kids to Disneyland, and some might argue that 18 months old is still pretty young.

But we had the best experience, and I am so glad we didn’t wait “until he was older”!

Even though we are SoCal locals, and I was a season pass holder through much of my youth, we opted to stay three nights at a Disneyland hotel and explore the park for two full days.

With a toddler who is NOT an on-the-go napper, being able to return to our hotel for naptime and cutting out the commute to and from the park was a game changer and allowed us to take things at a toddler pace without risking a total meltdown.

(More on napping, setting the pace, and managing expectations later in this post!)

So grab your Mickey Ears and sprinkle some pixie dust, and let’s dive into this super comprehensive guide for Disneyland with a toddler!

What is the Best Age for a Child’s First Trip to Disneyland?

Here’s my two cents: WHENEVER you get the opportunity to bring a child of any age to Disneyland, it will be a magical experience (with the right expectations).

The following points are important to consider before bringing a toddler to Disneyland!

• If your toddler is at the age where he or she needs to be held constantly, visiting Disneyland is a lot of work. It’s definitely doable, but having at least one other adult with you is more manageable. I’ll share some of my favorite toddler essentials later in this post!
• I experienced Disneyland with my son at 18 months old (1 midday nap), and a good nap was the biggest factor in having a positive experience, so we opted for multiple days. If your child can nap in a stroller, you might not worry as much about it. I also took my 2.5-year-old niece to Disneyland (no naps) a few years ago, and we did a full day at Disneyland from the park opening until the fireworks with no issues.
• Kids under three are free! Tickets aren’t cheap, so you might choose to go before your little one turns three to stay within a budget.
• Most importantly, understanding your child’s needs will determine if they’re ready for a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth and how best to plan it— whatever their age.

How Many Days Should You Spend at Disneyland with a Toddler?

This really depends. The most economical option is to do one full day at the park, but as I previously mentioned, it would’ve been a disaster for us because Oliver doesn’t nap on the go.

Bear in mind that the park has seasonal hours. It might be open from 8 a.m. to midnight in the summer, and fireworks aren’t until 9 p.m. (which is very late for many little ones).

Packing in a huge day and adding a drive to and from the park might be overstimulating/overwhelming for certain children, so again, I will always say, “You know your child best.”

I’ll discuss all the benefits of staying at a Disneyland hotel, but one of the biggest perks is Early Entry.

This is only offered to Disneyland hotel guests, and you can enter the park 30 minutes before the general public. I share more info on Early Entry below!

For us, the biggest perk of staying on property is the option to nap or rest at the hotel.

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Disneyland?

I have always recommended searching for Disneyland “crowd calendars” to see historical trends with crowded vs. less-crowded days. School breaks and weekends will be the busiest.

My Personal Experience: We went on November 28th and 29th, a normally “slower” time of year, but I still felt it was pretty crowded.

I will also caveat with this: “Crowds” are relative. If you are going to Disneyland as an adult, a 2-hour wait for Space Mountain is a buzzkill. However, the pains of a “busy” day might differ when considering a trip with a toddler.

If you want to experience the Christmas festivities, this is one of the most magical times of year to go! You’ll want to time your visit between Thanksgiving and Christmas school break.

Weather-wise, I LOVE May and Sept/October in Southern California. You’ll have great weather and can use a Crowd Calendar to avoid busy days during those months.

I believe they start decorating for Halloween as early as August now, so you can plan to visit once school is back in session for fewer crowds.

September and October have some of the best weather with added Spooky Season festivities!

Where to Stay When Visiting Disneyland

Disneyland Resort has three hotels: the Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland Hotel, and Pixar Place Hotel. If you stay at any of these three hotels, you get Early Entry to the parks.

We stayed at the Grand Californian Hotel, the most expensive of the three but the closest to the parks—a 5-10 minute walk to the Disneyland park entrance. It also has direct access to California Adventure if you plan to visit that park. It is also home to Storyteller’s Cafe, where we had our character lunch, so it was super convenient to return to the room for his nap afterward.

Remember, you’re paying for convenience and early entry.

Depending on the size of your group, the rooms sleep 5+. If you’re traveling as a family with multiple kids, it could actually be cheaper than 2 hotel rooms.

The rooms are very basic, but the service and staff were wonderful.

You can also pre-book a full-size crib, microwave, and other (no extra charge) essentials for your toddler when booking.

My Personal Experience: We stayed three nights and visited Disneyland Park for two days. We came the night before our first day at the park, so we had Early Entry on both days. We brought Oliver back to the room to nap every day from 12 to 2 p.m. so his schedule wasn’t disrupted, and we had a (mostly) happy camper!

The hotel’s lobby is absolutely incredible. It even has toddler-sized rocking chairs. During the holidays, Santa visits every evening for bedtime stories.

Recently, the Disneyland Hotel unveiled the Villas at Disneyland Hotel, and they are quite luxurious!

If you are looking for a more decadent Disney experience with themed bedrooms and access to park perks like Early Entry and amenity access, you can book your stay at The Villas here.

Best Snacks for Toddlers at Disneyland

Guests are allowed to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverages into Disneyland.

Bringing food and snacks you know your child will enjoy is always a good idea.

It saves money and guarantees that you have something that your toddler will eat. While there are some tasty treats at the park, they are pricey, and you often have to wait in long lines for the popular ones.

You’ll also want to bring water bottles to refill throughout the day.

I also think that having your toddler’s favorite snacks can prevent them from “overindulging” in everything Disneyland has to offer. Check out my post on my Favorite Toddler-Approved Snacks for Travel (also great for a day at Disney!).

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Tips for (Healthy) Disneyland Dining for Toddlers

As mentioned, I highly recommend using Mobile Order through the Disneyland app to avoid wait times and hangry toddlers.

Not all restaurants and food stalls offer Mobile Ordering. Still, many do so spend a little time before your trip exploring your options OR plan to check the Mobile Ordering options once you’re in the park (I recommend looking about an hour before you want to sit down for a meal, as the timeslots can be over an hour in advance during busy hours).

An amazing mama did the WERK and outlined tons of healthy food options inside Disneyland, which I’ve shared here!

Tips for Disneyland with a Toddler

Disneyland with a toddler doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Below are my tried and true tips when it comes to enjoying Disneyland with your mini!

Arrive Early

Whether you drive to Disneyland for the day or stay at a local hotel, it’s best to aim to arrive when the park opens.

If you’re parking in a Disneyland Lot, parking opens 60 minutes before the park opens. I highly recommend arriving that early. You’ll have to park, catch a tram, and then walk to the park entrance. And with a toddler and, likely, a stroller or some extra gear, you don’t want to feel rushed.

If you’re celebrating something like “My First Trip to Disneyland,” quickly stop at City Hall (to the left just after you enter the park) for a souvenir button.

If you’re staying at a Disneyland hotel, ask for one at reception. City Hall sometimes has a long line!

Early Entry

Disneyland offers Early Entry for Disneyland Resort hotel guests. You can enter Disneyland or California Adventure 30 minutes before it opens to the general public. While that doesn’t sound like much time, many of the Early Entry rides at Disneyland are in Fantasyland, so the perk is greater with small kids.

We got early entry by staying at the Grand Californian the nights before going to the park on both days. Each morning, we could ride 3+ rides in Fantasyland BEFORE the park even opened. That’s a major perk with a toddler, as Fantasyland rides tend to have some of the longest waits later in the day.

Plus, we got an IMPOSSIBLE photo together with nobody else on the castle bridge — one of my favorite photos of me and Oliver ever!

Don’t Overwhelm Your Schedule

Don’t focus entirely on rides and characters if you can help it.

One benefit of going with toddlers is that they might not have those adorable (but tantrum-inducing) obsessions with a character or specific experience.

My Personal Experience: Oliver was so little that he hadn’t even seen a Disney cartoon or movie yet, making the entire experience very “go with the flow.”

It’s fair to add that, with a toddler, you’re most likely doing it for them and not to ride a bunch of adult rides.

As I mentioned, kids’ rides (especially in Fantasyland) sometimes have the longest lines, so breaking that up, watching the parade, and doing non-queue activities (like running around Toon Town) are great options.

Overstimulation/meltdowns are likely inevitable. Pack lots of patience!

Reserve a Character Dining Experience

This is honestly one of the best hacks for visiting Disneyland with a toddler!

I would actually recommend Storyteller’s Cafe! It’s at the Grand Californian Hotel, so it was more convenient and easier to book than the Plaza Inn (the restaurant inside Disneyland), though that’s a great option, too, if you can snag a res.

Both are fun buffet-style restaurants where your favorite Disney characters say hello as you dine. It’s perfect for all ages. And the Mickey Mouse waffles are so cute!

Storyteller’s Cafe starts serving breakfast at 7 a.m. — Kids under 3 are free, and adults are $$$ ($59.99), but from my experience, it is totally worth it.

You can skip the character encounters and don’t need to wait in line to meet them inside the park.

Trust me, this is a huge time and tear saver!

My Personal Experience: Since we stayed at California Adventure, we spent the morning inside Disneyland and booked a 10:45 am brunch back at the hotel at Storytellers Cafe, then went straight to the room afterward for Oliver’s 12 pm nap. It worked out perfectly. 

Buy Souvenirs Early

The stores at Disneyland are absolutely packed right before the park closes. Shopping earlier in the day makes it easier to browse; plus, your little one can pick up something to play with and enjoy for the whole day.

Two of my favorites for toddlers are the bubble wand (they can play with these ALL day) and lots of stalls inside the park selling refill bubble solution (I think for only $2).

I also feel like a pair of Mickey Ears is a must—at first, Oliver did NOT love them, but once he saw himself in a mirror, he didn’t want to take them off. We got so many cute photos with them and now they’re a keepsake displayed in his room.

You can get the custom embroidery done at The Mad Hatter. There are two locations within Disneyland Park. The first is near Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln on Main Street (right when you walk inside the park), and the second is back in Fantasyland near the Mad Tea Party attraction.

Avoid Lines and Wait Times

The official Disneyland app is essential for any visit. Download before your visit so you are ready to go as soon as you get inside. This app is awesome because it shows you how long the wait is for each ride at any given time.

Especially for toddlers, it’s usually better to pick a ride with a short wait time that they can ride over and over again rather than wander around or stand in line.

Best Places For Toddlers to Nap/Sleep in Disneyland

Naps are essential, and your little one has a few good options for getting some shut-eye.

The Disneyland Railroad is also made for naps. It travels on a continuous loop all day, and you can usually catch a nice breeze. Likewise, the Mark Twain Riverboat offers a relaxing twenty-minute trip that’ll cool you down and get you off your feet.

Another cool, dark spot is the Main Street Cinema. It’s small and rarely crowded, perfect for a quiet rest.

I have also found that the walking path to Fantasyland (walking towards the Matterhorn) gets quiet between parades.

My Personal Experience: We had dinner in the park and dressed Oliver for bed. He usually has a 7 p.m. bedtime, but the fireworks don’t start until 9:30 p.m. We didn’t push things on night one and returned to the hotel for his usual bedtime, but we gave it a go on our second night. 

After strolling around, he passed out in his stroller around 8 p.m., so we walked Main Street until showtime.

I will say that watching the fireworks was special for ME to experience with Oliver, but I think we could’ve easily left earlier for his normal bedtime and not felt like we missed out.

Best Places for Diaper Changes and Nursing

The Baby Care Center is fantastic for nursing. It’s on Main Street, USA, near first aid. There are nursing rooms, changing rooms, toddler toilets, and even a kitchen with bottle warmers for prepping formula.

There’s also a vending machine with essential items to purchase, like formula, sunscreen, and pacifiers.

In addition to Baby Care Centers, baby changing stations can be found in most Disneyland Resort restrooms.

The Best Rides and Experiences at Disneyland for Toddlers

Since more than fifty attractions are scattered around the park, it’s easy to find something for almost any age and thrill level.

The Disneyland website and app are your best pre-planning/day-of resources for rides. The first thing I’d research is rides based on height. There are quite a few rides with no height limit (filter by unchecking the height requirement filter).

This is a big time saver when researching in advance!

If you have a little one who’s easily frightened, remember that many of the rides in Fantasyland (just like the animated films) have some dark/scarier moments. You can filter rides by age-appropriateness by selecting “preschoolers” and then by “dark,” “loud,” “scary,” etc., to know which to avoid.

Just because there’s no height requirement doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for all ages. You know your kiddo best!

Genie+ for Disneyland with a Toddler

​​Genie+ is a per-ticket add-on that varies in price ($25-$40+ per person, depending on the day).

We opted to skip Genie+, but my best advice is to review which rides are included and if they’re on your list of rides to experience.

This could be a huge timesaver if you plan to ride adult rides and swap staying behind with the toddler.

Personally, I’m not sure there’s much value in it if you’re only using it to ride the “kids” rides with a toddler.

It does include unlimited Disney PhotoPass Downloads, so if you want your photos taken by the park photographers, it might be worth it!

Toddler Essentials to Pack for Disneyland

Check out my complete Toddler Packing Guide for Disneyland (with FREE downloadable checklist)!

Check out my complete packing guide here!

Hire a Theme Park Nanny

Consider hiring an extra set of hands for the day! Companies like Once Upon a Nanny have trained nannies who can help care for your little one. Their rates start at just $30/hr, and they hold season passes, so you don’t need to buy an extra ticket.

What I think is a HUGE value-add is that they can be your family’s “tour guide” and photographer!

These nannies know all the park’s secrets and the best tips for bringing a child to Disneyland.

Think of it as a 3-in-1: a built-in concierge, photographer, and an extra set of hands.

If you happen to be staying at a Disneyland hotel, you can contact the front desk for information about third-party contracting services they use for in-room babysitting and companies they recommend.

Readers also recommended the babysitting companies Destination Sitters and Nanny Land!

Enjoy the Magic!

Check Out These Instagram Accounts for More Disneyland Tips and Inspo for Families