Hey there, Charli! Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your questions. I am happy to help you plan for your upcoming visit!
First things first, let’s make sure you have your theme park reservations secured. Log in to your
Disneyland account, go to the My Disneyland tab, select “Ticket and Reservation Details” and click “View My Park Reservations.” You should see your park reservations on this page.
As for reserving
Lightning Lanes (faster queues) for attractions, you can opt to purchase
Disney Genie+ once you arrive. You must be inside the parks to add the service. Once you go through the turnstile, open the app, go to My Genie Day, and you should see a link to add Genie+ service. If for any reason you can’t find it, ask any Cast Member around and they can help you. I strongly recommend getting Genie+ service as it will save you hours waiting in lines. My daughters and I were there last week and were able to get on several attractions in both parks in one day by using Genie+. There is no way we could have experienced that many attractions in a single day without Genie+. I shared
tips about Genie+ with another Guest recently which might help you too.
Coupled with Genie+, you can use the Rider Switch feature, which enables adult Guests to take turns waiting with young Guests unable to ride, without having to wait in line twice. Simply ask the Cast Member at the front of the attraction if Rider Switch is available. There is more information about how to use this service
here.
As for dining reservations, since you can make them up to 60 days in advance, you might feel like the reservations have filled up. You may find reservations pop up as available within 24 hours of your visit, as Guests must cancel their dining reservations within that window to avoid a cancellation fee. However, even if you don’t have a reservation, you can always inquire about the walk-up list at the host stand at the restaurant.
Mobile Ordering through the Disneyland mobile app makes getting food easier. You can select a pick-up window at most quick service restaurants to avoid waiting in line. Open the app, click on “Mobile Food Orders” and create a new order. You’ll be shown a list of participating restaurants along with pick-up window times. I like to ask my kids about their order at least an hour before I know they will be starving!
Can I share one more gem that saved me with my babies –
Baby Care Centers. Each of the parks has one, and they offer complimentary access to nursing rooms, changing rooms, bottle warmers, microwaves and more. This was such a welcome stop for me to nurse, change diapers, take a breath and regroup!
I know it can feel overwhelming to plan a trip with an infant and older children, as you want everyone to have a great time. I see lots of families traveling with kids of multiple ages - it just takes a little faith, trust and pixie dust, along with some planning. I think you’ll find Genie+ will save lots of time and energy and enable your older ones to enjoy many attractions during your visit.
I hope this is helpful, Charli. Please stop by again if you have more questions. I hope you make lots of magical memories with your sweet family.
Kamini