Vida! Welcome to planDisney! You have no idea how thrilling it is for me to hear about this special visit to the Happiest Place on Earth you have coming up! And I'm so honored to be a part of helping you plan a day maximizing the magic!
When Walt Disney created Disneyland, he believed that it should be a place where caregivers and children could have fun together, and I believe he accomplished just that. Disneyland can be a magical place for everyone.
It's so smart that you're thinking ahead about what rides and attractions those in your group will be able to experience, Vida, and also the rides and attractions they won't! This helps in managing expectations and sets everyone up for a positive experience at Disneyland! Well done.
There's a super helpful tool in the
Disneyland app that will answer your question, Vida, and anyone taking a child to Disneyland should know about it too! From the map screen, select the "Filters" icon in the top lefthand corner. You will then be able to filter attractions by Thrill Factor, Age, Height Requirements and more. It's amazing! This feature on the Disneyland app, or the
Attractions and Rides Map on the Disneyland website, will set your group up for a positive experience at the Happiest Place on Earth, because you'll be aware of what attractions might be upsetting or scary to those in your group, as well as the attractions that are "no-goes" because of height requirements.
Even though some attractions do have a
height requirement at Disneyland, there are dozens (and DOZENS) of attractions that are able to be enjoyed by all, no matter age or height. And although every family should make decisions based on their own preferences and priorities, I'd love to share with you my top choices for attractions families and groups can enjoy together, grandparents to little babes. In Disneyland Park, my number one pick is the Disneyland Railroad, for sure, followed by "it's a small world," King Arthur Carrousel, and Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.
I always tell families who don't know where to start in their Disneyland planning to take a look at the
park maps together (if the trip isn't a surprise!) and identify their own 3-4 highest priorities, including attractions and entertainment. (At the top of my 10-year-old's priority list is always Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy's Edge!) You can do this on the Disneyland website or in the Disneyland app. It will also get everyone excited about the trip!
Then make your plan based on these priorities. For your magical day, arrive to the main gates 30-45 minutes before the stated park opening time and make sure you've made a park reservation! Use these first couple of hours the park is open to ride your highest priority attractions, as stand by wait times will be at their lowest.
I hope this information has been helpful in your planning, Vida, but oh my goodness, there's just so much more I could share! Please stop by again with another question! I didn't even get to tell you about quintessential Disneyland treats to try or what to ask Tigger when you meet him.
I'm so very excited for you. Enjoy.
Warmest wishes,
McCayla