Disneyland – Living to Tell the Tale

Most of us have the misfortune of getting to Disneyland on a weekend, or worse, a holiday, like we did. If the barrage of strollers, the over-enthusiastic parents and the pinkness of it all doesn’t overwhelm you, the prices certainly will. Here are my tips on making Disneyland a survivable experience, if not a pleasant one:

• Do not take your kids there at least they are at least 3 years old. Children under that age don’t relate to the characters, may even be afraid of them, and get completely agitated by the crowds and long lines.
• Download the Disneyland Wait Times IPhone app (free!) and look out for Fastpass opportunities.
• Get an early start – the park gets busier as the day goes on, so the earlier you can get in, the better (doors open at 8). A good strategy is to get the more popular rides over with first (eg. Space Mountain), and then head over to the other ones.
• If you are staying at the many hotels in the area, opt for the resort shuttle, which drops you off right at the entrance as opposed to parking in the lot as you will have to take a shuttle from there anyway. For the shuttle, buy your tickets as early as you can as the lines for the ticket machines get long and the shuttles run every 15-20 minutes. They also do not dispense change so make sure you have the exact amount ready ($4/adult, $1 per child over 2).

• Toddlers will most likely enjoy Main Street, Fantasyland, with its giant carousel, and Mickey’s Toon Town. “It’s a Small World” in Fantasyland may put you off with its long lines, but it is extremely well done and still highly entertaining. Note of caution: do not let your kids put their hands into the water – I saw a bratty teenager spit into it. If your bub’s into birds, he/she may also enjoy the Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland.
• Expect ridiculous queues to take pictures with the characters.
• Expect to be bombarded with infinite commercialization of your childhood memories and opportunities to spend your money.
• Food and water are expensive – carry empty bottles you can refill at the many water fountains and pack as many snacks as you can without weighing yourself down.
• Buy your tickets online to save time, and in some cases, money. If you are planning to check out the California Adventure park next door, buy the 2-park pass and save $$.
• Plan to leave the park a good hour before your kid (s) reach their ends, as you will need to figure in crowds and queues for the shuttles, etc.

Disneyland’s a lot more work than it used to be, but it’s worth it, just to see the wonder on their little faces!

Here’s a video of us on the famous “It’s a Small World After All” ride, this is one for the whole family: