I have to admit, my husband and I are theme Park mad. We have visited Disneyland many times before returning recently with our children for their first experience of this magical place. It is definitely a different experience with children, but we still had just as much fun. It was, of course, different, when you have littlies you can’t just do what you want when you want. ‘You are the best parent in the world’ may not come from their lips after experiencing that thrilling high roller ride you were hoping they would adore. In fact, they may not even love some of the more docile rides (like the Haunted Mansion). Preparing and a willingness to change your planned ‘Disneyland itinerary’ will help avoid disappointment from both you and your child. Yes, Disneyland is the ‘happiest place on earth’, but the happiness becomes forced if you do not allow for a little adjustment. My first rule is to never expect to do it all. If you are spending five to seven days at Disney you need not worry about getting through everything on the first day, as you can take your time, returning to your hotel for breaks as often as you need to. If you are only visiting for a couple of days, don’t worry, venture to the rides you most want to experience as soon as you arrive. If you leave the best rides until the end of the day you may not get a chance to experience them without waiting in line for 90 minutes, and you may even end up leaving flustered rather than giddy with joy. Sometimes the right decision is to leave it for another time, another day, another year.
Here are a few more gold nuggets to help make your journey to Disneyland a joyful affair.

Time Your Visit
Choosing the right time to go is crucial. Going during Summer or Spring break is not going to serve you any favours, especially if you are visiting with non-school age children who have no restraints on when they vacation. Disney has lengthy lines most of the year, but school breaks bring thousands more, it just ain’t pretty. A wonderful time to go is November and December, except for the week before and after Christmas. The decorations are up, which are, as always completely over the top, crowds are low, and the weather is mild. Summer can bring some crazy hot days, bringing the happiness factor down a bit if you are standing in line with uncomfortably hot children. January and February are also good times to go, as is August and September.

Fast Pass
These are free and are usually located at or near the entrance to the specified ride. All of the bigger, more popular rides have Fastpass, and I would utilize them any chance you get. Gaining a FastPass ticket means you can come back and get on the ride much quicker, rather than waiting in an incredibly long line. Just place your Disney ticket into the machine, and it serves you a ticket with an allotted time to return. You can also take the entire families tickets and place them in the machine, while the others wait in line for another ride. Don’t lose your Disney ticket!

Rider Switch
One of the best discoveries you will ever have during your trip to Disneyland has got to be this next tip. Rider switch, or also known as the stroller pass. If you have a little one in a stroller who cannot ride because they are too small, do not worry about missing out. Before you’re much taller loved ones skip off to a thrilling ride, leaving you to entertain your little one alone, ask the friendly attendees at the gate for a rider switch pass. This pass enables you, and up to two others to enjoy the ride as soon as your family return from the ride, without having to stand in line again. This saves so much time! For us, it meant my very excited three-year old was able to go on multiple rides, once with Dadda, and then immediately again with Mumma.

Parking
Parking at Disney can be expensive, and you still have to wait for the transfer train/bus once you have parked your car. The parking lots, as you can imagine, are huge, and not that close to the Parks either. Factor this in when organizing how much time you will need in the morning, and the amount of time it will take to leave. Staying at a nearby hotel for the days you are visiting Disney would be my preference, or better yet, a Disney hotel. Often nearby hotels have a free or cheap transfer, and others are walking distance away.

Take Your Own Food and Snacks
Yes, you can take food and water into the parks with you, though you do have to lug it around with you all day (unless you have a handy stroller) so pack accordingly. Although we still ate lunch in the restaurants, having snacks and back up food is a must if you are there for a few days. Constant walking and standing in the heat does set off hunger pains, and no one wants grumpy, hungry, tired children – although this is hard to avoid while at Disney. Water is available, and free from most fast food restaurants, which is fantastic on a hot day! Having something healthy to munch on, especially when boredom hits while standing in a long line can be a lifesaver.

Mary Poppins In Front Of The Iconic Disney Castle

Download the Disneyland app
Yay for Apps. The Disney app is great as it tells you how long the wait time for each ride currently is. If one of the most popular rides has an hour wait time, yet another ride has only 30 minutes, this app will inform you. This can save you loads of time, walking a long distance to a ride to find the line twice as long as another you passed on the way is no fun. The App also has other great tips and info.

Stock Up at the dollar store or your local department store ahead of time
If you don’t want to spend loads of money on souvenirs and keepsakes take your own.
Disney has gift stores at the end of each ride and on every corner. You could spend an awful lot if you say yes to everything your child decides they want, no needs! One way to get around this is to buy some of it beforehand, and take it with you. Disney isn’t the cheapest place on earth, maybe the happiest, but definitely not the cheapest. Mickey soft toys can be bought at large department stores, as can many other things such as candy, ponchos (for those unfortunate rainy days or wet rides), and Disney or Mickey clothing. If you are savvy, you can pull your pre-bought treasures out while at Disney and your kids will love them, and hopefully not know any different.

Take an Autograph Book. And a Pen
This would have sounded silly to me if someone had suggested it to me before I went, but kids (including my own) go crazy about meeting their favourite characters. I stood in line for 30 minutes to meet Pooh, Eeyore and Tigger, which I thought was a complete waste of a ride on something else, until I saw their faces when their turn finally came. One way to reserve this memory is by asking the character to sign their name in your specially prepared autograph book. You can buy these at Disney -thank goodness, otherwise some children standing in line may have lost the plot, but of course, like everything else they are cheaper, anywhere outside of Disneyland.

Rabbit’s Garden at Disney

Lastly..
Just because it is Disney does not mean it will be tear and tantrum free. Even you’re children may even have a meltdown or two.
Plan ahead, study the Disney map before you go so you have a fair idea of how to get to your favourite rides quickly when you arrive, and start as early as possible, as soon as the gates open.
There are many other tips and tricks, but the most important, have fun!