Taking a Toddler to Disneyland

Updated January 2025

See my previous posts about what I pack for Disneyland, going to Disneyland with a baby, going to Disneyhland at Christmas, and going with an 11-month-old to Disneyland.

One of the things I am most looking forward to as my daughter becomes a toddler is taking her to Disneyland. I already have a list of things to do with her as she is able to do and participate more at Disneyland:

• I cannot wait to take her to see characters. I want to watch her be excited, thinking they’re real and take pictures with them and hug them. Now that she watches shows she will also be able to recognize more of the characters. Some of the characters wander Fantasyland, Pixar characters can be found at Pixar Pier in California Adventures, princesses are at the Royal Hall next to the Sleeping Beauty castle, and Mickey and his friends can be found in Toontown and Main St.

• I am excited for her to experience different rides and to have favorite rides. She currently seems to enjoy the boat rides but also just tolerates when I take her on new rides. I think she will enjoy the teacups and King Arthur’s Carousel. She’ll also be able to shoot in Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters and Toy Story Mania, and start driving an Autopia car. I have sorted the rides by land and height requirement here.

• Now that she can run around, she can play in the Redwood Creek Trail, the playground at Toontown, and Tom Sawyer’s Island. There are also fountains she can play with in Toontown, Tomorrowland, and Pixar Pier.

• I’m excited to take her to Turtle Talk with Crush in California Adventure, especially because she currently loves marine animals. I have to wait until she’s a little bit older, because she’s too excited to be quiet and listen and wait for her turn (if she gets chosen); she just kept yelling out at Crush (cute, but disruptive).

• Excited to watch princess shows at the Royal Theatre. Kids get to sit in the front of this interactive storytelling of a princess story. These happen a few times throughout each day next to the castle (showtimes can found on the Disneyland app).

A few more tips for taking Toddlers to Disneyland:

-There is a baby care center located in each park and besides having things you need for a baby, they also have toddler-sized potties you can use.

-You can get a free “First Visit” or “I’m Celebrating” button at guest services, city hall, or certain stores.

-I would highly recommend taking a stroller (wagons are not allowed), a change of clothes, and lots of snacks. There are designated stroller parking lots next to all of the rides and is a good place to leave your extra stuff while in line and on rides (don’t leave your valuables though, take those with you on the rides).

-Balloons can be a very fun souvenir to play with throughout the day (though rather pricey). I have more thoughts on the balloons here.

-If you are dreading waiting in lines with your toddler, there is a “Lightning Lane” add-on that you can purchase that allows you to skip certain lines. Note that this does not include all rides, and many of the no-height-requirement rides do not offer this. I do not find this option worth it if we are only riding np-height-requirement rides with my toddler.

-If your child is still napping, I have a list of quiet places at Disneyland where they could take a nap in the stroller. If you are staying at a hotel within walking distance, many people prefer to go back to the hotel for a nap and then return to Disneyland in the evening. If there are people in your party who want to ride on rides that the toddler cannot go on, I like to do those during naptime (and sometimes it’s a good time to shop or eat as well!)

-If you want to plan ahead, the Disneyland app has the menu of every food offering in the parks so you can find what your toddler will eat. You are also allowed to bring in food, so I just bring a bag full of snacks and food (like chicken nuggets) that my kids will eat.

-If your kids will want souvenirs, I know some people like to buy cheaper options ahead of time and bring them with you so your kids have new things to enjoy (even Disney things) but it doesn’t hurt your wallet as badly.

If you need help planning your Disneyland trip, I can help! I have created a free spreadsheet in Google Sheets to help my email subscribers maximize their magical trip to Disneyland. Once you become an email subscriber (use the handy box on the right), you will receive an email with a link to my resource library with various Disneyland resources, including my PDF of tips, downloadable Google planning sheets, Disneyland scavenger hunts, and more! For a sneak peek and more info on my planning sheets, click here. You may also be interested in my posts on taking a toddler to Disneyland, packing a diaper bag for Disneyland, or my other Disneyland posts.