Hello Gillian!
Disneyland Resort is fun for all ages, so I know you and your children will have such a magical time when you visit! Kids and meltdowns almost always go hand in hand but I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I use while visiting the parks.
If your kids are early risers like my youngest, then I suggest getting to either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park when they open. This way by early afternoon you can head back to your hotel for a power nap for the kids (and maybe yourself too!) and then head back to the fun in the evening well rested and ready for
Fireworks at Disneyland Park over Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
I also have my 10 year old be our CFO “Chief Fun Officer” and he gets to be in charge of my youngest’s day of fun. By letting him pick out the attractions and characters he thinks his brother would enjoy, he ends up having so much fun making sure his brother is having fun that he doesn’t care if we have to skip some of the rides for older kids.
You can see a
full list of attractions and sort them by age on Disneyland’s website as well. This can be a useful tool ahead of time to plan out your days as well.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions as you plan your trip!
Have a magical day!
-Emily