Disneyland for children under 2

[b2bailey]

We are planning our first trip to Disneyland with two small children.
As the Grandma, I'm of the group who says: "Too young, they won't remember."
(I'm not the deciding vote -- we're going.)

I've consulted Disney website regarding "min age/height requirements" and there are many rides for the 3 year old.

I'm trying to imagine what the 15 month old can do. I'm thinking... It's a Small World -- can they ride on lap of adult?

Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[rickandcindy23]

A 15-month-old can ride all of the Fantasyland rides. Even the Nemo. The train, the boat, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad, the carousel, Snow White, Peter Pan. Pooh is fun, too. Pirates is great for little ones, but hold tight when you go down below on the waterfall, Jungle Cruise is great for littles. Haunted Mansion is a little scary. The "elevator" with Jack gets loud.

Roller coasters are out, but so much to do at Disneyland. I watch little ones all day long at Disney, and I love it.

 

[jwalk03]

The kids may not remember- but the parents will. I have very fond memories (and lots of great pictures) of taking my daughter to Disney World when she was little. She's 13 now and doesn't remember her first trip- but it was definitely still worth it.

 

[b2bailey]

A 15-month-old can ride all of the Fantasyland rides. Even the Nemo. The train, the boat, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad, the carousel, Snow White, Peter Pan. Pooh is fun, too. Pirates is great for little ones, but hold tight when you go down below on the waterfall, Jungle Cruise is great for littles. Haunted Mansion is a little scary. The "elevator" with Jack gets loud.

Roller coasters are out, but so much to do at Disneyland. I watch little ones all day long at Disney, and I love it.

Thanks Cindy. I was hoping you would respond.

 

[bizaro86]

We took our kids to Disneyland when they were that age and had a blast. Plenty of my co-workers said the kids wouldn't remember it and it was a waste. But my wife and I were the ones who paid for it and we remember it, and our kids had a great time when we were there and like looking at the pictures. I wouldn't have done it if we could only afford to go once during their childhood, but that wasn't the case for us.

I think "which rides can they do" is probably not the best way to look at it. Little kids will enjoy rides with lots to look at and listen to (so Small World is a great one) but there are some things they find scary (my 3 yo didn't like the dark part of the Pooh ride, for example, and didn't want to ride it again). My kids really liked Toy Story Mania when they were little - they couldn't really play the game but liked seeing all the characters on the screen, and Mater's and Luigi's are another slow/fun one with good music for littles, but probably only the 3 yo will be able to do those.

But my kids favorite stuff at those ages was the "other" stuff. The 3 yo will probably like the Redwood challenge trail, and the Disney Jr Dance party is great fun for kids. My kids LOVED meeting the characters. My 1 yo had a Eeyore stuffy that was his favorite, and his eyes lit up when he met the big Eeyore. My older son loved meeting Buzz Lightyear, and both of them really enjoyed seeing Lightning McQueen from Cars. The storytellers are fun for kids, and they often like doing things like seeing the band or parades. The night parade might be a tough one now though, I'd probably try for the daytime cavalcades.

That brings me to my #1 tip for Disney with little ones, which is try and keep their regular sleep schedules. Whenever they nap at home go back to the room and nap then. Disneyland is hugely stimulating, and if they're exhausted they won't have fun, then they'll be upset, and then nobody has fun. I always see people taking miserable kids out, and I think its better to leave and rest before they get to that point. I get its expensive so people want to maximize the fun, but having everyone rested means the fun can come back when you go back to the park later.

 

[Luanne]

I took our older daughter when she was 4. Felt the 2 year old was too young. I don't think my daughter remembers much, if anything. I do remember as we went with my sister and her son. We had a blast. My daughter ended up being scared of Mickey Mouse as he was so big. Just remember to go at the kid's pace or you will be dealing with some very unhappy youngsters. I will say on this trip my sister and I wore out before the kids, but the kids did sleep all the way home.

We went as I was visiting my mom after my dad had passed away. My mom urged my sister and I to go to Disneyland rather than sit around all day with her. Would I have made a special trip just to take my daughter? No.

 

[Janann]

I took my daughter to Disneyland when she was one and three. The character pictures were priceless. However, some kids are scared of the characters.

We did lots of lap rides, and there is plenty to see in Toon Town.

There is a Baby Care Center for diaper changes, and it also has space for pre-schoolers to hang out while waiting for their parents to take care of the baby.

 

[joestein]

You can do what you choose, but to me taking a 2 or 3 year old to Disney is a waste of money. You might be thrilled, but the kid will barely know what is going on.

Disney land is very expensive, I am sure you can find a better use for the money. But if you are independently wealthy - hey go for it.

I would say that 7 would be the minimum age to take them.

 

[Luanne]

I started going to Disneyland when I was about 5, that was the year it opened. We went at least once a year. Do I have memories of those early visits? No. But maybe because we went so often. Back then we lived about an hour away, and my aunt and uncle lived in Anaheim so we could go there if we wanted a break. Also the cost was such that a family could afford to go. The ticket book was $2.50 for an adult. Disneyland stopped using ticket books and switched to an all-inclusive pass system in June 1981 which cost $9.50. We thought that was wonderful. But for some reason I thought the passes started much earlier as I remember as a kid back in the 1960's being able to go on as many rides as we wanted.

 

[Janann]

You can do what you choose, but to me taking a 2 or 3 year old to Disney is a waste of money. You might be thrilled, but the kid will barely know what is going on.

Disney land is very expensive, I am sure you can find a better use for the money. But if you are independently wealthy - hey go for it.

I would 7 would be the minimum age to take them.

Admission is free for children two and under. And literally millions of people live close enough to just drive there for the day or to spend one night.

 

[Luanne]

Admission is free for children two and under. And literally millions of people live close enough to just drive there for the day or to spend one night.

@b2bailey is from Santa Cruz, so not actually a close drive for a day. Don't know where the rest of her family is coming from.

As I said earlier, when I lived in the San Francisco Bay area I took my 4 year old, but didn't make a special trip to do it. Living close to the park and taking a very young child is different than planning a whole trip to go there.

 

[b2bailey]

Admission is free for children two and under. And literally millions of people live close enough to just drive there for the day or to spend one night.

I believe it's free for under 3.

 

[b2bailey]

@b2bailey is from Santa Cruz, so not actually a close drive for a day. Don't know where the rest of her family is coming from.

As I said earlier, when I lived in the San Francisco Bay area I took my 4 year old, but didn't make a special trip to do it. Living close to the park and taking a very young child is different than planning a whole trip to go there.

We're actually taking a quick, relatively inexpensive SW flight. Staying at Dolphin Cove for 3 nights.
Planning to go to parks 2 days x 3 adult ticketsK. (Yes, that part will be painful.)

 

[mentalbreak]

We're actually taking a quick, relatively inexpensive SW flight. Staying at Dolphin Cove for 3 nights.
Planning to go to parks 2 days x 3 adult ticketsK. (Yes, that part will be painful.)

FYI on tickets, I just priced out two specific days that I plan to be there, and purchasing 2 sets of one-day tickets was actually less than the 2-day ticket. Not what I expected but glad that I checked.

 

[easyrider]

We had 14 family members in our group, 6 adults and 8 kids, when we went to Disney. The youngest was almost 2. He doesn't remember that trip but the rest of us remember him on that trip, especially my wife and I. He really enjoyed eating is what I remember the most. He liked Mickey and wore his mouse hat when he met Mickey. It would be true to say we brought him more for us and the family than himself.

Bill

 

[joestein]

We're actually taking a quick, relatively inexpensive SW flight. Staying at Dolphin Cove for 3 nights.
Planning to go to parks 2 days x 3 adult ticketsK. (Yes, that part will be painful.)

Stayed at dolphin cove 17 or 18 years ago. Not a fan. I remember that there is only one window AC in the unit and they would give you fans, but it was always hot in the bedroom.

Maybe it was upgraded since.

 

[bizaro86]

Admission is free for children two and under. And literally millions of people live close enough to just drive there for the day or to spend one night.

I believe it's free for under 3.

You're both correct, because "2 and under" is exactly the same as "under 3". The rule is an infant, 1 yo, or 2 yo do not require a ticket while a 3 year old does need a ticket.

 

[RX8]

As others have pointed out, your grand kids will get in for free so for me that would be a no brainer. It wouldn’t matter to me that they won’t remember the trip when they are 30 years old. They will remember, and likely talk about it often, for the next few years and YOU will remember from this trip their innocence, excitement, wonder, and awe for the rest of your life. Isn’t that worth the price of admission for you?

Take lots of pictures that you can share with them when they get older.

 

[jwalk03]

Disney doesn't have to cost a fortune. I mean its never a cheap trip for sure- but there are certainly ways to make it more affordable. Particularly by utilizing timeshares instead of Disney hotels!

 

[bizaro86]

I would add that I definitely would not get Lightning Lanes for a group of that age - most of the "big" rides won't be the ones you want to do anyway, which helps keep the cost more manageable as well.

 

[b2bailey]

FYI on tickets, I just priced out two specific days that I plan to be there, and purchasing 2 sets of one-day tickets was actually less than the 2-day ticket. Not what I expected but glad that I checked.

That is a surprise. I'll give it a try.