We took the kids to Disneyland! Today, I’m sharing all about our family’s stay in Los Angeles and my best Disneyland tips!
Los Angeles has so much traffic! But even so, there is still so much fun to be had there with small kids. Some family-friendly attractions we visited were Universal Studios Hollywood (mostly for Harry Potter), the LA Zoo, the LA County Museum of Art, and of course Disneyland! So, make sure everyone uses the bathroom before you leave for your days of sightseeing, pack lots of car snacks just in case, and away we go!
Universal Studios Hollywood
Our main reason for going to Universal Studios Hollywood was to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There are many attractions here for families of all ages including the family-friendly roller coaster The Flight of the Hippogriff. If your family is more into Minions and the Despicable Me movies instead, there is the Super Silly Fun Land, the Silly Swirly Fun Ride, and Minion character sightings. These are the attractions geared more towards families with smaller kids.
Los Angeles Zoo
We spent a whole day exploring the LA Zoo. This zoo is home to over 270 animal species. There is also a beautiful carousel that the kids can ride for an additional charge. It is highly recommended that you purchase your tickets online before going.
LA County Museum of Art
This art gallery is home to some world-famous paintings including Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Can. Tickets must be purchased in advance. There was a lot for the kids to see that held their interest during our visit here!
Disneyland Tips
This was our first ever Disney trip! Not only had we never been to Disney as a family, but this was also my first ever time at Disneyland! Honestly, it was so incredible. We used the Disney Genie+ feature in the Disneyland app. With Genie+ you can enter the lightning lane at a specified time and bypass the standby lines. This additional $20 USD fee per person is worth it in my opinion. On the Disneyland app you can also see what the wait times are for each attraction.
Start with a Character Breakfast
One of my favourite Disneyland tips and a great way to start the day and meet more characters is to book a Character Meal. We did Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Buffet Breakfast at the Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort. This is more expensive than a regular sit-down meal but it is a great way to meet several characters, including Mickey, rather than taking your chances walking around the park and standing in line.
Disneyland Park
One of our favourite lands to explore in Disneyland was Adventureland. It really does feel like you are in a different world. The Jungle Cruise is a great boat ride for the whole family that takes you through the jungles of the world. The witty boat drivers make it even more fun.
Disneyland can be hot, overstimulating, and exhausting. A great place to relax indoors and cool down while in Adventureland is the Enchanted Tiki Room. Grab a Dole Whip and relax for this wonderful little show.
California Adventure
The Pixar Pier and Cars Land are great areas for kids of all ages. There are many attractions for small kids here including Jessie’s Critter Carousel, Toy Story Mania, and the Pixar Pal-A-Round ferris wheel. In Cars Land there is the Radiator Springs Racers which is a great attraction for people over 40 inches tall. If you have smaller people in your group the Rider Switch option is great for this ride.
Another great Disneyland tip, if you are travelling with a baby like we are, there are Baby Care Centers in California Adventure and Disneyland. These buildings offer a nursing room, toddler-sized toilets, a feeding area with high chairs, bottle warmers, and microwaves. There is also a vending machine with baby necessities in case you forgot something.
It was so amazing seeing Disney with my kids, especially Liyana, and I will cherish these moments forever. But why did no one warn me about the sheer exhaustion you feel post-Disney?
I hope these Disneyland tips help make your adventure more enjoyable. Read more about the other stops on our journey through California:
Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo
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