Heigh-ho Kelly, it's off to Disneyland Resort you go! You and your boys must be so excited that your California adventure is just around the corner. Let's talk details!
Living on the East Coast, Walt Disney World is my "home" resort area, but I love to visit Walt's original theme park as often as I can get to the Golden State. For Disney fans, walking down the same Main Street U.S.A. that Walt did is so special, and I'm thrilled you and your family will have that experience. There have been some super additions to the West Coast theme parks recently, and in addition to enjoying the classics like
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and the
Matterhorn Bobsleds, you'll get to drop in on Black Panther, Spider-Man, and more at the all-new
Avengers Campus.
If you are generally comfortable using rideshare services, then something like Uber or Lyft would be an efficient way to get from Los Angeles International Airport to the Disneyland Resort area. I have used both services in Southern California, but understand that not everyone feels safe riding in someone else's personal vehicle. If you prefer, shuttle services and limo companies abound, and you can arrange these rides in advance. The
Disneyland Resort website mentions Karmel Shuttle, a service that operates a varied fleet of vehicles and provides transportation to the resort area.
My cousin, a California resident and fellow Disney fanatic, is also a Type 1 diabetic. He has been visiting the Disney Parks since he was a young Mouseketeer and in the years following his diagnosis, we always used the
Disability Access Service when visiting both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. Now that he has better control of his disease, we no longer need it, but if your son will have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to his Diabetes, then he qualifies to use this service. At this time, you'll still need to visit Guest Relations upon arrival to add this to your Disneyland account, but stay tuned for further updates on the new Genie feature and how it will allow Guests to add the Disability Access Service in advance.
After many trips with my cousin, I do have a few quick tips for enjoying the theme parks with a Type 1 diabetic. Help your son stay hydrated by bringing a water bottle from home and stopping for snacks and water breaks frequently. All quick-service locations offer complimentary ice water that can be used for refills or sips on the go. My cousin always brings a few low and high-carb snacks in his theme park bag. He likes to have juice boxes, cheese sticks, and fruit snacks on hand just in case. Finally, we always place
Mobile Food & Beverage Orders well in advance of when we will actually need food, especially on crowded days. The last thing you want is to get to your lunch spot and find out you can’t eat for a while. Place mobile orders ahead of time so you can keep sugars stable.
I hope this has all been helpful, Kelly. Best wishes for making magical memories with your boys, and we can't wait to see ya real soon in the Happiest Place on Earth!
Betsy