Hello, Christine, and welcome to planDisney! Your trip to the Disneyland Resort is just around the corner. My nephew is around the same age as your little one, and I visit the parks with him often. You've got a friend in me to help with this!
Rider Switch is a great way to navigate certain rides when visiting with a mini Mouseketeer. This service allows adults to take turns enjoying an attraction when a child in the group doesn't meet the height requirement or doesn't want to ride, and is too young to wait outside the queue alone.
Typically, the second Rider Switch party waits outside the queue with the child who isn't riding. That said, you’re welcome to speak with the Cast Members at each attraction to ask about waiting together – they can let you know what’s possible. Since the Rider Switch process can vary slightly from one attraction to another, this is the best way to clarify. I confirmed this approach with a Cast Member, just to be sure.
Christine, did you know there are plenty of fun attractions you can experience together? Visit the
Disneyland website or use the
Disneyland mobile app to filter for attractions that do not have a height requirement. Here are some rides my nephew absolutely loves: Casey Jr. Circus Train, "it's a small world", Winnie the Pooh, and King Arthur Carrousel. The
Disneyland Monorail is also fun, especially if you ask a Cast Member if you can sit in the very front or back for a unique view. There are many other rides that the three of you can all enjoy, such as Jungle Cruise, the Disneyland Railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Make time to watch shows, too! It's a great opportunity to rest your legs while also having fun.
Storytelling at Royal Theatre features high-energy reenactments of popular fairytales, and the
Enchanted Tiki Room is a classic. Your little one may also enjoy exploring the interactive features of Mickey's Toontown.
My best advice, especially if you want to take advantage of Rider Switch on the larger rides, is to be inside the park right when it opens, also known as rope drop. The wait times are typically shorter for many attractions compared to other times of the day. Another way to experience certain attractions with a typically shorter wait time is to go as a
Single Rider. In this case, you would use a designated queue and wait to fill a seat that was not taken by Guests in the standby line. In Disneyland, Space Mountain and the Matterhorn Bobsleds offer this option. There are also attractions in California Adventure that offer this, my favorite being Radiator Springs Racers. Since you would be riding separately anyway, Single Rider could be another way to save time. Take it attraction-by-attraction to determine the best option.
Christine, I hope this has sprinkled a little pixie dust on your plans. If you have any other questions before your visit next month, please let us know. We're always happy to help here at planDisney!
Your pal,
Kriss