Hi ya, Ami!
Welcome to planDisney, we're so happy to have you here with us! 5 is such a great age for kids at the parks, for both mom and daughter! You are really smart to consider the walking distance to the parks, it's great to save every step that you can. I'd be happy to give you some ideas!
With
Disneyland Resort Hotels, you can save a lot of steps by using the
Disneyland Monorail in and out of Disneyland Park! The walk to the Monorail station in Downtown Disney is especially short from the
Disneyland Hotel and
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. To get to Disney's California Adventure Park, there are special entrances only for hotel guests from Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa and
Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. These entrances definitely provide the shortest walk possible! All three hotels are also a short walk from the parks through Downtown Disney, so you can easily head back for a nap or a swim with your little one.
You may also find great options among the
Good Neighbor Hotels! To find the shortest walk you'll want to filter the list for "Across the Street" or maybe "Less Than Half a Mile" so you don't get too far away. When you find a particular hotel you're interested in I recommend searching for it on an online maps site and getting walking directions to see just how close it is.
My pick for your situation would be the Disneyland Hotel, not just for Monorail access but also for magic! I know your daughter would love the theming of the rooms (the headboards light up with fireworks!) and the
pools at the hotel are a huge favorite of my own kids that are near your daughter's age.
There are some incredible things happening at the resort right now for kiddos!
Mickey's Toontown just reopened, and it looks incredible!
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is a wonderful family attraction that I know your daughter would fall in love with. And that's just the start! You can also ride
Chip 'N' Dale's GADGETCoaster, a great starting coaster for kids, and greet so many of our favorite friends like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald! You'll even get to explore their houses, full of interactive fun features that are shiny and new, just waiting for friends to come and play!
Ami, I think some mom-and-daughter time at the Disneyland Resort would be completely wonderful and a dream come true for you and your little one. There's so much to plan, from strollers (you can rent one if your princess gets tired!) to discovering
Disney Genie+ for shorter waits, to finding a complimentary dose of real pixie dust from a Fairy Godmother's Apprentice! I would be honored to help you plan your visit with your tiny princess. If you have more questions about what to do at the parks
just send me a note here and I'll be there before you can say "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!"Keep moving forward!
Amanda