From one Midwesterner to another, welcome to planDisney Alicia! I have plenty of recommendations for you and your family as you plan your trip to the Disneyland Resort.
There are
lockers to rent in both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park as well as in The Esplanade located in the Downtown Disney District just outside the Main Entrances of both theme parks.
The prices are listed on the Disneyland site and will vary based on the size of the locker. They do provide unlimited access throughout the day, but items cannot be stored overnight.
My daughter's first visit was when she was only 4 months old, and the
Baby Care Centers located in each theme park were so helpful during our trips! There is a quiet nursing room with chairs, and great changing tables when you need to change a diaper. There are also toddler-size toilets for your little Mouseketeers under 42" tall, and there are also highchairs if you need to feed your baby. The Cast Members are wonderful, and it's a great place to escape the crowds during the day and take a break.
There are not designated areas for little ones to take a nap, but we usually would head back to the hotel during the afternoon to give everyone a chance to rest. Whether you're staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel or a Good Neighbor Hotel within walking distance, it was always worth it to us to go back to our hotel room for a few hours. Luckily, our kids would also nap in the stroller, and we'd try to find quieter spaces where we could walk them around or sit down for a bit.
Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland Park was one of our favorite places to stroll through, there are fun activities and green spaces for the older kids to enjoy while the little one naps. Over in California Adventure, we love to visit
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, it's this serene area tucked back in Grizzly Peak. Our older son could ride the tire swing or explore the trails while our daughter took a nap, it was the perfect place for a break.
In terms of dining with younger kids, we usually stayed away from the more formal table service restaurants, and opted for character dining experiences or quick service restaurants.
Character Dining is such a great option since everyone can quickly grab food from the buffet, and also be entertained during the meal with meeting their favorite Disney pals! We love to dine at Goofy's Kitchen and Storytellers Cafe, I highly recommend exploring both options, and making a
dining reservation. Quick service restaurants are a great option to be able to get meals and snacks to hungry kids without too long of a wait. I also recommend utilizing
mobile food and beverage ordering in the Disneyland app to help save time during your trip.
I hope all of these tips and recommendations are helpful for you, Alicia! If I can help with any other questions as you plan your trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth"
please come back and ask!
Have a magical day!
Melissa