I haven't been to disneyland in NINE years and i don't really know where things are logistically. Anyone have a good map for me? link? I looked at the interactive map and think i have a clue. But probably NOT lol

any help will be appreciated in having a plan :)

I know dh will want to fast pass Potc and haunted mansion right away. So i thought i'd take the little ones right into fantasyland to start while he's setting that up. We can do fantasy land til fast pass is ready and
then head over to New Orleans Square for pirates and haunted mansion so dh will be happy ??

then i figured we could come back over to the jungle cruise and indiana jones and set up fast passes for those and splash mountain ? could we take the little ones to toontown while we wait for those fast passes? would that make sense?

they (teen and dh) also want to do space mountain (me and the little ones will not be riding) so i thought they could set that up for the second day in the park. And we could do toontown the next day while dad sets up fast passes to thunder mountain , space mountain and the other big people rides?

what would you do? how would you set it up to see the most over two days with two little ones? and still keep dad and teenage girl happy too?

I haven't been to disneyland in NINE years and i don't really know where things are logistically. Anyone have a good map for me? link? I looked at the interactive map and think i have a clue. But probably NOT lol

any help will be appreciated in having a plan :)

I know dh will want to fast pass Potc and haunted mansion right away. So i thought i'd take the little ones right into fantasyland to start while he's setting that up. We can do fantasy land til fast pass is ready and
then head over to New Orleans Square for pirates and haunted mansion so dh will be happy ??

then i figured we could come back over to the jungle cruise and indiana jones and set up fast passes for those and splash mountain ? could we take the little ones to toontown while we wait for those fast passes? would that make sense?

they (teen and dh) also want to do space mountain (me and the little ones will not be riding) so i thought they could set that up for the second day in the park. And we could do toontown the next day while dad sets up fast passes to thunder mountain , space mountain and the other big people rides?

what would you do? how would you set it up to see the most over two days with two little ones? and still keep dad and teenage girl happy too?OK, POTC and Haunted Mansion don't have fast passes. Neither does the Jungle Cruise. Do you have Enhanced Fastpasses? If not, you can only get 1 (two if you get Roger Rabbit at the same time) fast pass at a time/2 hour period.

I would recommend getting FPs for Splash and Space Mountain as early as possible. As far as doing ToonTown, expect it to take some time. Roger Rabbits line is usually pretty long, as is the line to meet Mickey. I would probably try to get the FastPasses for Splash, go on POTC, Haunted Mansion, if 2 hours have elapsed, get a FP to Indy, go on Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, etc... I don't bounce from land to land a lot. Fantasyland will take some time also, as most of the rides have decent lines.

First off, I hope you plan some "down time". How long will you being going for? Our first year we had a 1.5 year old, 5 year old, and a 7 year old. We only had a 2 day pass. (no DCA at that time).. it was HARD. So much to do, so little time, and the kids get VERY TIRED.

The second year, kids all a year older, we did a 3 day. Still wasn't enough. So we started staying all week, and going 5 - 6 full days.

Also, a good thing to do is get "hand off passes". Because you have the little ones, you have to stay out. Get the passes, so when your husband comes out with your teen, then you get right back on the ride with your teen and ride again. Your teen gets to go twice and have twice the fun! Oh, I miss those hand off passes. This year our kids are 6.5, 10 & 12. We are going for 11 days, and plan to spend 7-8 days in the park.

didn't pirates and mansion have fastpasses before?

Alright, I'm not a dad, but I do get to live vicariously thru my buddy made me his daughter's godfather. So there's my two cents.

The lines in Fantasyland get long and grow longer as the day progresses. If you can do FL in the morning.

The Haunted Mansion and Pirates usually don't have long waits. So much so that they may have taken out FP for them; I've never checked.

You only mention rides. I hope your family is will to sit still for the Tiki Room, which is a good excuse for an air conditioned rest stop, Dole pineapple whip in hand. The Disneyland film in the Opera House is great too, but with a 2yo, it's up to you to decide if your child can sit still in a theatre for the 10-15 minute show. But it's another air conditioned venue.

If you get there early, your dh and teen can ride Space Mountain after they pick up their FPs, if the line is short. That way, they can ride it twice in one day.

I don't think there are FPs for Jungle Cruise, or at least I've never looked. Again, I go on rides with relatively short lines.

That's all that comes to mind. Other than enjoy exploring Disneyland anew.

didn't pirates and mansion have fastpasses before?They did. Pirates are gone, and HM is covered up. My understanding is the Holiday version of HM will have FP back.

Another thing is that splash mountain has a single rider line. My husband and sister were able to do it twice while I took my 2 & 4 year old on Winnie the Pooh ride.

I agree that Fantasyland rides fill up quickly. If you get there first thing, we rode Dumbo at least 2-3 times within the first 20 minutes. Another ride is Small World. That is the only ride I could count on my 2 year old sitting still for longer than 2 minutes. Plus it is air conditioned. We did not try the Tiki room this year though.

DCA if you are planning to go there, they have single rider lines for Soaring and if opened Screamin over California. They have a Bug's life land that my two children LOVED! They have huge sprinkler water areas that the kids can run through and 4 rides that are not all that long. Over by Screamin they have a carosel that if not too busy you can ride over and over.

Last time we went, either my husband or myself would take the boys back to the hotel to take a nap, and the other would go with my sister who came and we hit all of the older people rides. We were able to get in all of the major roller coasters plus main street stores in 3 hours. (We went at the end of April this year).

Another thing is you can take you 5 year olds ticket and yours and get fast passes for other rides. So you could get them for two rides even if it was only your teen and DH that were going to ride them.

Good luck, and have a great time!

Enjoy Fantasyland as early in the day as possible. Have DH get Splash FPs first thing and then after the two hours have lapsed, have him get FPs for Space.

Plan on a little naptime if your kids are nappers. Mine never were on vacation but on this last trip we went back middays to swim and it was a nice break.

ToonTown turns into a madhouse as well so try to enjoy it early one morning.

Definitely hit Fantasyland first thing in the morning, ride Peter Pan's Flight first, then Dumbo - these lines get long and are slow moving.

Take advantage of "Rider Switch Passes" as much as you can. Your dh and teen can go on Space Mountain (and most of the big rides) and request a Switch Pass (even if they are using FastPass), when they finish their ride, one of them can stay with the little ones while another one goes again with you.

The kids will probably enjoy the parades and shows, but may not appreciate waiting for them, I personally think it's fine to show up without staking out a spot and not be in the most prime viewing spot when you've got little ones to keep happy - either that or have one or two family members camp out at your spot while the others run around for a while (you can switch off).

Riding the Disneyland Railroad is not only good transportation to other lands, but a nice relaxing trip around the park (you might want to take more than a round trip before getting off just to rest your legs for a while).

Before getting into any line, ask your kids if they need to go to the bathroom!!! If you know it's been a while, just go to the bathroom and tell them they must go before you move on to your next plan - it really sucks to be almost at the front of a long line and all of a sudden they have to go right now!!!

Take advantage of rides in all of the lands - if the kids are too little for one ride, you can take them on another ride in that land while the other family members ride the big ride (don't let them forget your switch pass so you can ride later). For instance, while the big people go on Space Mountain, the smaller ones can ride Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters and Autopia. Big kids on Splash Mountain... little kids on Winnie The Pooh.

My little one is very sensitive to loud sudden noises, and many of the rides are loud (and dark - they can be scary). You really won't know until you're on the ride and they start crying... d'oh! I take ear plugs for Max and it helps immensly! Also, if the ride is scary once you're on it, just have them bury their face into you and hug them tight until it's over...

Have a great time!!!

Everyone has posted what I would've said... except, I want to "second" the idea of taking them over to DCA to play in the water areas in BugLand... my kids can't get enough of the spraying water! Bring swimsuits for them, and water shoes... they don't allow barefeet. :fez:

There are 2 water play areas... the one in front of the bugland bathrooms are much more fun than the other area at the entrance to bugland.

My kids have even enjoyed the water areas when it was cloudy, and not really all that warm... go figure! :eek:

Unfortunatly, the benches for parents are really uncomfortable, but the squeels of joy from the kids seems to make the pain less intense! :crying:

Have fun!

This is a great thread, as I will be going to DLR next March for the first time since 1999 and will have a 2yr old and 5 yr old in tow too. I appreciate everyone's comments.

Any suggestions for good rides to ease the little ones into dark rides or fast rides? Both of my kids are pretty brave and I have a hunch that they will do well on most rides but I would hate to put them on something right off then bat that would really scare them. I would love to take them on the Matterhorn, but what would be a good prelude to this? Same thing for Haunted Mansion or PotC.
Thanks.

We went last year with our DD who had just turned 2 and the weather was unseasonably hot. What saved us though was we got to the park early and headed straight to Fantasyland. We were able to ride Dumbo several times along with Mr Toad's, and the carousel. It was like we had Fantasyland to ourselves. Then we went to the story time and when we got out it was really packed. Fortunately we had talked to my parents into getting a hotel room close by and when my DD was tired and cranky we went back and took naps. Then we went back to DL in the evening.

This year we are spending a week just at DL. This will be our first long term trip there. So we will spend more time just taking in the atmosphere and relaxing.

With the little ones I would do Fantasyland first thing in the morning. Afternoons are crazy in Fantasyland.

This is a great thread, as I will be going to DLR next March for the first time since 1999 and will have a 2yr old and 5 yr old in tow too. I appreciate everyone's comments.

Any suggestions for good rides to ease the little ones into dark rides or fast rides? Both of my kids are pretty brave and I have a hunch that they will do well on most rides but I would hate to put them on something right off then bat that would really scare them. I would love to take them on the Matterhorn, but what would be a good prelude to this? Same thing for Haunted Mansion or PotC.
Thanks.

My (now 13yr old dd) was 2 when we took her for the first time and she hated everything. (It was also hot and crowded)... When she was 3, we went back and started with the Tiki Room. Then the treehouse (it wasn't Tarzan then-may be a little to scary now w/the Jaguar)... I'd start maybe with the Train,Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise, then move on to Pirates. We explained to my daughter (now daughters) that if they get scared, they can close their eyes, plug their ears and bury their faces in our sides, but once they realized that we were singing and they were safe, their curiousity won.

I agree with the other posters, that Fantasyland gets absolutely crazy in the afternoon... that's why we just gave her a few easy attractions and then jumped in w/both feet on the rest. She did just fine and is now an avid Disneyland fanatic.

Have fun!

any help will be appreciated in having a plan :)


The suggestions posted above are really good. You might also want to check out using ridemax. If you only have two days, it will help you plan out exactly how to squeeze the most out of your time.

They did. Pirates are gone, and HM is covered up. My understanding is the Holiday version of HM will have FP back.

I have seen FP lines for HM longer than the regular lines....I have never been to HM I don't like spooky things that have to do with ghost...

You might also want to check out using ridemax. If you only have two days, it will help you plan out exactly how to squeeze the most out of your time.
Whats ridemax?

thank you EVERYONE for great info and information

I have a 5 year old, 3 year old twins and an 8 month old. We take them to DL all the time. Besides Fantasyland and Toontown make sure you take them over to the Pooh ride.

Over in Toontown there is a circular sitting section off to the left (as you enter) and I park my stroller at the opening of the circle and let the kids run a bit there. They usually need a little running crazy time.

The Snow White show and parades are great when they get a little tired.

Make sure you take them to the Block Party Parade at DCA and to Playhouse Disney. During the hot part of the day walk through the animation building and see Turtle Talk.

Pack the swimsuits and water shoes in a platic bag so you can then put their wet suits back in once they are done. The water section is our favorite. We also love the Redwood Forest running area. Great for getting ants out of the pants. The 5 year old can do the fun rope sliding thing too. Have a wonderful time!