Hello Abhi, and welcome to planDisney! I'm thrilled to help you plan a magical trip for your family. I have two kids around the same age, and we visit the Disneyland Resort often, so I have lots of ideas for making the most of your visit.
Abhi, let's start with a few general tips for spending time in the park with little ones:
- Have a list of things you want to do, but try to go with the flow if plans can change.
- Full tummies can curb grumpiness, so enjoy lots of snacks! A Mickey-shaped pretzel and Dole Whip always hit the spot.
- Consider bringing or renting a stroller – there are plenty of designated stroller parking areas. We mostly use one to get from one land to another.
- Mobile ordering food is a time-saver – place orders in advance of mealtimes.
I recommend browsing the
rides and entertainment on the Disneyland website ahead of your trip and making a list of the experiences you and your family are most excited about. You can even filter by height, thrill factor, and age to determine what would be best for your family. For example, my kids are both above 40 inches tall, so while they can ride more thrilling attractions, they generally prefer rides without big drops or high speeds.
Abhi, for a two-day trip, I recommend spending one day in Disneyland and one day in California Adventure. Start by identifying priority attractions and shows. I like to save experiences that provide an opportunity to rest for after lunch, when everyone could use a break. The Enchanted Tiki Room, the Disneyland Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mickey's PhilharMagic, and Animation Academy are all good for that.
Mickey's Toontown is one of the areas in Disneyland that my kids love most because it's interactive and fun to explore. They always ask to stop at Goofy's How-To-Play Yard, walk through Mickey's House and Minnie's House, and ride the kid-size roller coaster. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway is another top attraction for us – you'll feel like you've stepped inside a cartoon!
Any of the attractions inside
Fantasyland are fun for little ones, too. And don't miss Jungle Cruise, Autopia, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Leave time in the day to
meet Characters throughout the park – you can even bring autograph books for your kids to have each Disney friend sign.
California Adventure doesn't have quite as many attractions for little ones, but there is still so much to enjoy, like meeting superheroes at Avengers Campus, exploring Cars Land, joining the Disney Jr. Dance Party, and more. My kids ' favorite attractions in this park include Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, Toy Story Midway Mania, and WEB SLINGERS. Since you'll be visiting during the
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, you can also experience Soarin' Over California. Other festival entertainment popular with kids include Cookin' with the Jammin' Chefs and Confection Purrfection with the SuperKitties.
Abhi, I hope this information has sprinkled some pixie dust on your plans. Please let us know if you have any other questions before your trip. We at planDisney are always happy to help!
Your pal,
Kriss