Being Prepared for Your Park Day
Even though we often travel to the parks on adult trips, we also are seasoned "Disney Moms" who have been around the block a few times when it comes to taking kids to Disneyland. Between us, we have six kids ages 4-11. While they all love Disneyland, there are definitely a few things we have learned when it comes to traveling with a brood of little kiddos.
WEATHER EXPECTATIONS:
First of all, it’s important to note that from about July to October the parks can be very hot and sometimes quite humid (for California) as compared to the winter and spring months. Alternatively, in the winter (and primarily springtime months between late February and mid April) you can expect the possibility of some periods of heavy rain. Make sure you are watching the weather forecast so that you are appropriately prepared. For a complete rundown on the best time to visit the parks for YOU, check out our post about what to expect during each month in the parks HERE.
RAINY SEASON:
-Pack ponchos, shoe covers, portable umbrellas. Find all of our favorite versions of those items HERE. Plan for layers of clothing, and more changes of clothes than you would typically need—especially extra socks, an extra replacement pair of shoes if yours should get really wet, etc. Windbreakers or waterproof jackets over a sweatshirt will offer you the best comfort and help keep you dry during the rainy days. We usually try to start monitoring weather about two weeks before our trip and check it daily to see how it adjusts. You can usually get a pretty accurate idea of what your trip will be like once you hit the seven day forecast surrounding your dates.
THE HOT SUMMER/FALL MONTHS:
-Disneyland is awesome, but it can quickly feel like torture if you haven’t adequately prepared to battle the heat during the hottest parts of the day in the hottest months of the year. Make sure you are appropriately prepared with things like water bottles, sunscreen, hats, neck fans, cooling towels and more. If you have little ones in strollers, a stroller fan is essential during this time of the year. Find information on all our favorite picks for the park in our Amazon Store HERE.
Where to Take Breaks:
When the sun is at its hottest, or if you are trying to escape the rain, taking a break on attractions that protect you from the elements will really help keep morale up.
Shows to beat the elements:
Disneyland: The Tale of the Lion King, Storytelling at Royal Theater, Golden Horseshoe Piano Player, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Walt's Enchanted Tiki Room
DCA: Hyperion Theater Show (currently none available—stay tuned), Animation Academy, Turtle Talk with Crush, Disney Jr. Dance Party
Attractions with covered queues or air conditioning:
Some of these have partially outdoor queues, but also have a long stretch inside of a show building for the attraction:
Disneyland:
"it's a small world"
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
Star Tours
Indiana Jones
Pirates of the Caribbean
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Rise of the Resistance
DCA:
Soarin' Over California
Ariel's Undersea Adventure
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
Toy Story Midway Mania
Ways to Beat the Heat:
Wear Sunscreen
Protect your skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen with a high SPF and reapplying often. Sometimes in the Southern California sun, it's easy to forget how hot it is because there is an ocean breeze--but you WILL be in direct sun for good portions of your day, so come prepared! We really like THIS sunscreen when we visit the parks.
Pack a Cooling Towel and Portable Fan
Cooling towels are a great way to beat the heat! Simply soak the towel in water, wring it out and place it around your neck. The cooling effect will last for hours. We like THIS brand. With cooling fans, there are several options available on Amazon and elsewhere. We really like THIS style. Remember to also bring a stroller fan like THIS ONE if you are bringing or renting strollers.
Visit the Water Rides
Splash Mountain (closed at the end of May for a long-term reskin to Tiana's Bayou Adventure—expected reopening in late 2024) and Grizzly River Run are the two main "water rides," but you can also get a little refreshing splash on Pirates of the Caribbean or at World of Color. If you choose to do water rides, bring ponchos and flip flops to change into, because as nice as it feels to get wet when its hot out, it's far less fun to walk around in squishy wet shoes and chafing clothing all day!
Dress for the Heat
Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to help stay cool. Dresses are great for women, buy our favorite under-dress shorts HERE. Hats and sunglasses can also help protect you from the sun.
Book a Hotel with a Fun Pool
There are some hotels in the area that have really exceptional pool areas. Some of our favorite places to stay when we want to make swimming a part of the trip are The Howard Johnson Anaheim, the Courtyard Marriott Theme Park Entrance, The Cambria, the Grand Legacy at the Park. Of course, staying on site at the Grand Californian or the Disneyland Hotel or the new Pixar Place Hotel will give you great pool options as well.
Other Ways to Be Prepared:
1. Plan ahead and prioritize: Disneyland can be overwhelming, especially with kids in tow. Before you go, research the park (using sites like this one, and Facebook planning groups like ours FIND IT HERE). Make a plan of what you want to see and do. Prioritize the rides and attractions your kids are most excited about so you can make sure to fit them all in.
2. Get there early, plan to stay late: Disneyland can get very crowded, especially during peak season like summer, around Halloweentime, during Christmas break, and over Spring Break. To beat the crowds, try to arrive at the park as early as possible. Read about our tips on Rope Drop here. This will give you time to ride some of the more popular attractions before lines get too long. The nighttime shows at Disneyland, like Fantasmic! and the seasonal nightly firework spectacular, are often cooler and more enjoyable than daytime shows. In DCA you can enjoy World of Color, which is offered nightly at two showtimes.
Fantasmic (on hiatus until Spring 2024): This nighttime spectacular takes place on the Rivers of America in Frontierland. The show features classic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, along with special effects, music, and pyrotechnics. The story follows Mickey as he battles various Disney villains, including Ursula, Jafar, and Maleficent. There are also live performances, water projections, and a firework finale. The show runs for approximately 25 minutes, and it's recommended to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot. You can read about the Fantasmic Dining Packages offered HERE and HERE and we highly recommend seeing if one of the options can fit into your budget because it will really enhance your experience. If you do choose a dining package, consider purchasing these foam pads to sit on HERE. They make a huge impact while sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the show to start.
Nighttime Firework Spectacular: As of August 2023, Disneyland closed the show “Wondrous Journeys” and replaced it with the “Halloween Screams” firework show. After the Halloween season, we can expect the Christmas show “Believe in Holiday Magic.” As of this article being published, there is no announcement on what to expect for the return of Wondrous Journeys or any other specific firework show after the holiday season ends in January. There will for sure be SOMETHING, it’s just unclear at this time what that will be. We will do our best to update here as we learn more!
World of Color--One: This is an evening water and light show that takes place at Paradise Bay in Disney California Adventure Park. This show uses a combination of water fountains, lasers, lights, and projections to showcase iconic Disney moments and characters. The show is divided into different segments, each highlighting a specific theme or story. The show includes original music as well as classic Disney songs. This show is a fan favorite at the park and runs approximately 22 minutes. It's a good idea to secure a Virtual Queue at noon on the day you'd like to watch the show. You can find the virtual queue in the app--set an alarm for around 11:55 AM so you have time to stop and get your spot in the queue right as they become available at noon. There are also some dining packages available that provide reserved standing areas for the show. The World of Color Dessert Party is the only option for remaining seated during the show. You can read more about it HERE.
3. Bring snacks and water: While there are plenty of dining options within Disneyland, food and drinks can be expensive. To save money and keep your kids happy and hydrated, pack your own snacks and water bottles. You can also bring a refillable water bottle and fill it up at water fountains and water bottle fill stations throughout the park. Restaurants where you can fill your own soda also allow you to fill your waterbottles with ice and water, and you can ask for cold cups of ice water at any quick service location as well.
4. Take breaks: We have gone over this a bit in the above section in regards to the heat and weather elements, but even a perfect Disneyland day can be exhausting, especially for young children. To prevent meltdowns and keep everyone in good spirits, take breaks throughout the day. We like to arrive at the park early, stay until after lunchtime, and then head back to the hotel for an afternoon rest/nap, change into sweatshirts for the evening, and head back in to enjoy nighttime entertainment like Fantasmic, World of Color and the fireworks. Wait times also go down as the evening goes on, so if you can stay late enough and take advantage of that, you'll be glad you did! If leaving the park to go back to your hotel is not an option, find a quiet spot to sit and rest, or take advantage of one of the many indoor shows or attractions to give everyone a break from the sun and crowds.
5. Meet characters: Meeting Disney characters can be a highlight of the trip for many kids. Check the park map for character meet-and-greets and plan to visit your child's favorites. Lines for character photos can be long, so bring something to keep your child entertained while you wait. Little kids enjoy small snacks like Smarties in the line, and our older kids enjoy games on the phone like "Heads Up: Disney Edition" while waiting.
You can also play games like "I Spy," "20 Questions," etc, to make the wait in line more bearable for everyone. Make sure you check out our Amazon List filled with ideas for visiting the parks with kids!