I posted this question on the other forums, but now I think I found the right one. Could please get advice on things to do with a 3.5 and 1.5 year old in Disneyland? For example can we take them on most of the non-thrill rides like Pirates or Haunted Mansion (well that might be too scary)? Are there certain things we need to book ahead of time?

I would appreciate any and all assistance, this will be our first time at Disneyland.

Thank you.

My then-4 (very shy 4) y/o loved Small world and Winnie the Pooh and meeting characters. Shows are great, even for the little ones. If you are going in warm weather times, the splash area at DCA is a lot of fun :)

Neither pirates or haunted mansion have a height limit. Jungle cruise would be fun for them too. Tiki room might be, as well.

We made our first DL trip when my kids were the same ages as yours.

They loved:
- all the rides in Fantasyland (except the dark rides-too scary for my oldest, youngest didn't know better)
- It's A Small World
- Autotopia
- railroad and monorail
- Princess Faire
- Toontown
- A Bug's Land in DCA (I think there is a height minimum for the bumper cars and the show was too scary and my daughter left in tears)
- the character meals were an event for them and when my daughter turned 4 she loved getting autographs
- Mater and McQueen in DCA
- Monster's Inc in DCA
- Pooh (we discovered it on our last trip and it's now my fave)
- Jungle Cruise
- Haunted Mansion (surprisingly, my daughter likes this ride as long as I hold onto her tightly)
- parade and fireworks
- Playhouse Disney show in DCA
- the firehouse

They will love it. Mine talk about our trips all the time.

Here's my 2 cents:

When you walk into the entrance, be sure to get a Disneyland Park map and a Times Guide.

Be sure to see DL's Parade of Dreams -Thursday, Sept. 27: 7 P.M.
(The Fireworks are not scheduled for Sept. 27.)

Dumbo (Fantasyland) - It's a popular ride -- the earlier the better.
Alice In Wonderland (Fantasyland) - Popular ride -- get there early.
King Arthur Carrousel (Fantasyland)
It's A Small World (Fantasyland) - I'd see that in the afternoon.
Mad Tea Party, a.k.a. Tea Cups (Fantasyland)

I haven't been to Mickey's Toontown, yet, but the following should be good for your 3.5 y/o:
Gadgets Go Coaster (Toontown) - Usually has a long line.
Goofy's Playhouse (Toontown)
Chip 'n Dale Treehouse (Toontown)

You didn't mention if your 3.5 y/o was a boy or girl:
If boy: Mickey's House and Meet Mickey (Toontown)
If girl: Minnie's House (Toontown)

Winnie the Pooh (Critter Country)
There's a place in the corner of Critter Country to meet Winnie the Pooh.
Pooh's Corner sells candy.

Mark Twain Riverboat (Frontierland) - A relaxing 15 minutes.
If you feel adventurous: Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes (They start at 11:00 A.M. -- the earlier the better)

Jungle Cruise (Adventureland)
Enchanted Tiki Room (Adventureland) - 15 minute show might be fun for your 3.5 y/o. I'd see that in the afternoon.

Pirates of the Caribbean (New Orleans) - May not be a 3.5 y/o's favorite, but worth a try.

Autopia (Tomorrowland) - You would sit together, and your 3.5 y/o doesn't actually have to steer. Worth a try. Autopia always has a line. You might want to try to get Fastpasses, but it will still have a line, even with the Fastpasses.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Tomorrowland) - No harm in trying this one. Even your 1.5 y/o could easily go along for the ride. Your photo will be taken, and you can send it to your e-mail account.

The Disneyland Railroad can be boarded at Main St., New Orleans Square, Toontown, and Tomorrowland stations. You might want to take it for the full 360. A round-trip is 15 or 20 minutes. Between the Tomorrowland Station and Main Street Station is the Grand Canyon Diorama and Primeval World (dinosaurs).

Your 3.5 y/o might like riding on a Horse-Drawn Streetcar down Main Street.

Main Street has the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor and the Main Street Cone Shop.

And be sure to leave some time in your schedule to do nothing and just enjoy being in Disneyland!

FWIW, it looks like Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes won't be available on Sept. 27.

Also, re Haunted Mansion, my 4.5 y/o daughter was okay while she was in the Doom Buggy, and afterward she joked that it was scary.

I don't think those ages are too young for DL. Our first year our son was 18 months & our daughter was almost 5. Friends thought our son was too young & what would he do & remember? We have tons of pictures to remind him & the video of him watching the parade for the 1st time & waving at everyone still makes me get teary. We watch our videos very often. Plus I enjoyed not paying for him!
There was plenty for him to ride & see as mentioned above already. Our daughter didn't like HM mostly because of the strangers screaming-not the ride itself. Neither really enjoyed Pirates the 1st time but now they are pirate crazed.
Our son loved the Buzz ride but he had an unusual amount of practice with weapons/light sabers at that young age!
The one thing I really enjoyed finding out about before we went was the baby swap pass. I'm sure there's a thread about it somewhere & how to use it. My husband & daughter would go on a ride that our son was too short for while I waited with him. We asked for a child/baby swap pass so I could go on the ride after my husband got off without waiting in the longer standby line. Then my husband waited for me to go on the ride.The bonus was our daughter got to go on it twice! We leave in two days for our 4th trip so sadly we won't be getting to use this pass very often-maybe on Indy.
Have fun!

You will have a lot of fun with kids that age!

We took our 3 yo and 1 1/2 year old to WDW last year. This year, we are taking them to DL.

My advice for a first trip is to start slow and not expect too much. If they have never been on rides anywhere, you should start with the rides in fantasyland. It was interesting the things my kids liked and did not like, for whatever reason. Loved the carrousel and Casey Jr., but hated IASW - not because his uncles told him to, but because it was too loud for him. Also hated jungle cruise for the same reason (although he liked it when he was older).

LOVED pirates. Was fine with everything as long as I held on to him and whispered in his ear when it got kind of scary. I just reminded him that it was just like seeing a show on t.v., only we got to ride through it - that nothing was real and he would not get hurt at DL.

Skip Its Tough to be a Bug. Its too loud and scary for little ones, imo.

There is a great play area in Cal Adventure - Redwood Creek Challenge. That is fun for the 3 yo (and maybe 18 mos if they are walking well). It is basically a big playground - however, once you go in, I understand, there is only one way out - to slide down a large slide. My son loved it at just over 1.

Have fun!!!

My 3 1/2 year old girl LOVES the Pooh ride, the Carousel, POTC, Teacups, Dumbo, and the Rockets (can't remember the exact name - operates like Dumbo except people sit one behind the other as opposed to next to one another). She got a few thousand points on Buzz (I was impressed) and seemed to like that a lot.

She liked both Minnie's house and Mickey's house when we took her last year (just over 2 1/2 at the time).

She was a little iffy getting on HM this last time even though she's done it before with no issues. When we got off though, she proclaimed that it was "awesome."

Something I had never noticed with her is that she's very much not ok with stepping onto/off of escalators & moving sidewalks. She's totally fine standing on them as long as she doesn't have to walk on or off. I don't know if this is a common toddler fear or not, but maybe it's something to watch out for.

DD#1's first trip to DL, she was 18 months. She loved POTC and Haunted Mansion. With her, it's only a big deal if you make it one. So we walked onto the rides and watched her, took her lead. Our biggest problem now (she's 2yrs) is that she can't ride all the rides that her big brother can due to height and we have to be careful about that. He only gets to ride the Astro Blasters (aforementioned Tomorrowland Dumbo like ride), Star Tours, and other height restrictive rides when she is napping.

Small World, Jungle Cruise, and the Tiki Room are our favorite rides/attractions to take a break on.

If you're planning on riding the Storybook Land Canal Boats, plan to have some way of entertaining the kids while in line. It doesn't look long, but we always find it to be slow moving and a bit claustrophobic. My two older kids are always hard to contain in this line.

BTW, my kids are now 4.5y, 2y, and 3.5m. If you have any more questions, please feel free to PM me! I'll be glad to help any way I can!

My children are almost 3 and 15 months. They are Disneyland Experts now! We live in So. Cal and they have been going since the oldest was 8 months old. There is a ton of things for little ones to do and as they grow older more options open up so the experience is always new.
I think they pretty much covered the DisneyLand side of the parks. My kids love all the ones already mentioned as well as Tiki Room, Big Thunder Ranch (petting zoo), Toon Town, Casey Jr.s Train. My kids favorites are: Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear, Winnie the Pooh, Alice and Wonderland, Peter Pan, Tiki Room and of course the Parade. They loved meeting the characters and Goofy's kitchen is spendy but alot of fun. My son loves Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney but you need reservations ahead of time.
On the California Adventure side you MUST do the Playhouse Diney Live show!!! Hands down my kids favorite! Monsters Inc is great too. Lots of places to let the kids run around to get a break from strollers since this park isn't that crowded. The Babycenter is by the Mission Tortilla Factory and great for heating things in a microwave, small potty's for toddlers, breastfeeding, diaper changes or even quiet time. (The Babycenter in Disneyland is on Mainstreet.) If the weather is nice, bring a change of clothes for the kids because there are great water play areas in Bug's Land. It is a must for my kids so I bring an extra bag with swim clothes and towels (shoes must be worn so bring water shoes if you don't want to get there other shoes wet.)
You have to meet Lightning McQueen and Mater too. It is right outside Taste Pilots Grill (the only place that sells mini hamburgers) We get one meal and the kids share since it comes with 2 burgers. My kids are not a fan of the Disney toddler meals (mac and cheese that looks more like toxic goop like movie theatre cheese or arroz con pollo which is an odd choice for a toddler.) Lots of healthy options all around the parks if you want to order a meal and let your kids share with you. Burger Invasion is a McDonalds if your kids like that. We prefer to eat on the California side because it is quieter and more peaceful.
Hope the info helps! Have a wondeful trip! My kids are proof that there is no such thing as too young for Disneyland!

Thank you very much for all the information!

There is a great play area in Cal Adventure - Redwood Creek Challenge. That is fun for the 3 yo (and maybe 18 mos if they are walking well). It is basically a big playground - however, once you go in, I understand, there is only one way out - to slide down a large slide. My son loved it at just over 1.

Have fun!!!

This is exactly why it is so great. My son is fast on his feet and having only one way out means that if daddy can't keep up with him we know that ds can only get out one way. We were recently at another theme park where the play area had multiple exits and areas that could not be accessed by the parents so the kid could climb through and essentially be "lost" to the parent. Since there were multiple exits, it would be easy for a small child to wander off. The play areas at Disneyland/DCA that only have one exit are great.

If you have a chance to spend 3 or more days in a park, the rides get less scary by the 3rd day. One day one, my 4 and 2 year old girls hated the Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and the Fantasyland dark rides. By day two, they actually asked to go on a couple of dark rides (although they were still wary of HM and POTC). By day three, they could have ridden HM and POTC over and over again.

Late Saturday (our 6th overall day, and 4th in Disneyland) I asked my two year old, who was up way too late, what she wanted for her last ride. Fantasmic had just ended, her sister was asleep in the stroller, and she was still ready to go. Shockingly, she announced that she wanted to go on the Haunted Mansion, in the middle of the night.

I had never seen a HM cast member break character before, but its probably hard to stay in character when a happy 2-year old says hello to you at the end of your shift.

I'm taking my 2 and 4 year olds in November and am a little worried about POC and HM for them. I would LOVE it if they went on them without being scared but I don't know if it's going to happen. My 2 year old probably would be fine (she's still taking her cues from me) but my 4 year old gets freaked out on the weirdest rides. So, my question is if my daughter gets scared what are your suggestions what can I do? Once you're on the ride there's no going back right? I just don't want to be one of those parents whose kid is crying and they make them get on anyway.

This is exactly why it is so great. My son is fast on his feet and having only one way out means that if daddy can't keep up with him we know that ds can only get out one way. We were recently at another theme park where the play area had multiple exits and areas that could not be accessed by the parents so the kid could climb through and essentially be "lost" to the parent. Since there were multiple exits, it would be easy for a small child to wander off. The play areas at Disneyland/DCA that only have one exit are great.

I thought that was great, too. At the time my son went, I did not go - I was 6 1/2 mos pregnant with DD (now 2) and could not climb the stairs. Luckily, my son was a trooper about sliding down the tall slide by himself - - however, my DD would not be. She is scared of big slides (hoping she'll get over that as she loves the small ones so!). So, I think it is good to know before you go in that, from my understanding of what hubby told me, they will have to go down a big slide. :)

But, yes, the play areas with only one - staffed - exit, are fab!

I'm taking my 2 and 4 year olds in November and am a little worried about POC and HM for them. I would LOVE it if they went on them without being scared but I don't know if it's going to happen. My 2 year old probably would be fine (she's still taking her cues from me) but my 4 year old gets freaked out on the weirdest rides. So, my question is if my daughter gets scared what are your suggestions what can I do? Once you're on the ride there's no going back right? I just don't want to be one of those parents whose kid is crying and they make them get on anyway.

If you are not yet on the ride, you can always take a "chicken" exit (as my brothers so nicely called them when I was little!). If you are up at the queue, just explain it to the CM. Believe me, they would much rather have you exit at the last minute.

If you are already on the ride, there is not much you can do but what you would do anyhow - comfort your kid. I found whispering in his ear and reassuring him worked well. I also found body contact - holding them close - was good.

After the ride, you can ask (if its an older child) what bugged them about the ride, so you can figure out what rides to avoid and/or how to get them prepared for other rides. If your child is understanding a lot, I even try to tell them what we are going to see and what scary things might happen and how they are not real - before we get on the ride. I think they have comfort in knowing, "oh, Mommy said this is supposed to happen!"

My 3 1/2 year old girl LOVES the Pooh ride, the Carousel, POTC, Teacups, Dumbo, and the Rockets (can't remember the exact name - operates like Dumbo except people sit one behind the other as opposed to next to one another). She got a few thousand points on Buzz (I was impressed) and seemed to like that a lot.

She liked both Minnie's house and Mickey's house when we took her last year (just over 2 1/2 at the time).

She was a little iffy getting on HM this last time even though she's done it before with no issues. When we got off though, she proclaimed that it was "awesome."

Something I had never noticed with her is that she's very much not ok with stepping onto/off of escalators & moving sidewalks. She's totally fine standing on them as long as she doesn't have to walk on or off. I don't know if this is a common toddler fear or not, but maybe it's something to watch out for.

I had a fear of escalators, when i was younger and i never got over it till i was in grade 6 on a school field trip just don't push the issue and when she is ready then she will let you know . I was afraid of falling under although it wouldn't happen . I seemed okay once i was on them also but the getting on i screamed . I started out on the flat ones with no stairs and then i went to the one witht the stairs . I still am not crazed about them but i do go on them . My older two have been on them and are fine my daughter was on them when she was only 2 and she is now 5 and i don't know about know and then my baby has never been on them .

I won't force her to step onto the escalators/moving sidewalks. She's perfectly happy to get on them whilst being held, so we'll just do it like that until she's over the fear. Probably safer that way anyhow.

It's funny how kids can be totally fine with things you think they'll find scary, and scared out of their minds at things you wouldn't think they'd find problematic. It's almost as if they have their own little brains with their own little thoughts. ;) :D

Just a thought about HM -- kids just MIGHT find it a little less scary with the holiday overlay, especially if they like Nightmare Before Christmas. DD's first time on the ride was last October with the overlay (after having seen the movie once or twice) -- she just kept asking where Jack & Sally were. She was fine with it when we went in February when it was back to normal. It was just this last time that she got a little hinky -- I'm sure it helped that she was safely tucked between Mommy & Daddy.

Thanks for all your advice!

I am totallly confused about the "big slide" as the only way out. ?? There's a big slide in the RWCC, but it (a) has a height minimum (about 32", i think?) and (b) there are other ways down from the area it's in and (c) isn't at the exit of the whole area.

I agree that the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail area is great for little (and bigger) kids.

I am totallly confused about the "big slide" as the only way out. ?? There's a big slide in the RWCC, but it (a) has a height minimum (about 32", i think?) and (b) there are other ways down from the area it's in and (c) isn't at the exit of the whole area.

I agree that the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail area is great for little (and bigger) kids.

This is what I was told by my hubby - I did not get to go in it because I was pregnant and couldn't take any real physical challenge. It would be totally like him to *assume* there was only the slide way out.... LOL

Thanks for correcting me! I always thought that was weird!

I like Goofy's playground better than Redwood mostly because Redwood is really big and if they get away ffrom you it takes a while to find them. Goofy's playground also hasonly one exit but it alot smaller. My now 7 year old got lost in Redwood when he was around 5 and it scared him to death.

Guest Services at both parks as well as all 3 Resort Hotels should carry a map that says Magical Beginnings on the front of it. This particular map is very useful for parents and for children, as it lists all the rides in both parks that do not have a height requirement, and is a bit more "animated" in it's illustrations.

We just returned 2 weeks ago from Disneyland with my 3 yr old and my 14 month old. I can't tell you how many people told me that they were too young to be going BUT they both had an amazing time. My 3 yr old loved the Buzz Lightyear ride and Pirates and my 14 month old loved all the rides as well in fact she would wave to all the characters in the rides.

One great tip that I read somewhere was to take storybooks instead of autograph books for the characters to sign. I did that and my 3 yr old loves it when I read the Princess or Mickey stories and then the pages have the characters signature on it. Then he talks about when he saw that character and they signed his book etc. It is a nice way to reflect on our trip and meeting all the special characters. I thought it was a great idea:)

Have a great time! The kids will love it!

We took our then 10 month & 3 year olds in Feb 2006.

They both had a blast! The little one could ride almost everything that the older one could.

Autopia has an age requirement one year old to ride.

Neither one of them got scared on any of the rides & we rode the Columbia for the first time ever that trip. Just don't stand next to the cannon on Columbia if your ears are sensitive.

We purchased autograph books last time & they only hold about 18 signatures if I remember correctly.

This time we printed out a graphic of the Mickey Pumpkin, from the Disney park site, on orange cardstock & are using it to decorate the front cover of a $6 scrapbook from Wal-mart. That will serve as our autograph book & double as our scrapbook for this trip.

We did something last time that I wasn't sure about as well. We got sillouhettes done of our kids. They had me sit in a chair & hold the 10 month old & then had the 3 year old sit in the chair. We got both of their profiles in one sillouhette. It was beautiful & the artist did it at lightening speed. It is one of my favorite keepsakes from our trip.

Both of my kids LOVED the Buzz lightyear ride as well. I was amazed at how many people just passed by the screens that you can e-mail the photos of yourself on the rides for free.