100 - Disneyland Tips For Reggie

[captain_slinky]

SPECIALIZED DISNEYLAND TIPS FOR MY NEPHEW, REGGIE!

• At the main entrance, be sure to grab at least four maps (they are free) - One for you to keep in your pocket, one for each kid, and one back-up one for when one of the kids loses his map and the other kid refuses to share. Trust me :) It's easy to get lost and/or overwhelmed in Disneyland, and the map is super-important for a first timer. Plus, it's a FREE SOUVENIR and we love Free Stuff :)
• The best place for "Down Time" when/if one of the kids starts getting grumpy or tired is The Disneyland Railroad. It's about 20 minutes for the round trip, gives you a chance to just sit and enjoy the show, and IF a kid is having a meltdown their screams will be drowned out by the sound of the train (unlike taking a break at one of the indoor shows where a tantrum would disrupt the enjoyment for the other guests). As you will see on the map, you can get on the train at several different stops through the park so it's easy to just pick up and say "OH MY LOOK it's time to go ride the train!"
• Don't be too proud to bring a stroller for the littlest kid. There's stroller parking EVERYWHERE, and as long as your stroller is foldable you can bring it on the train with you. A Stroller is a wonderful thing - not only is it good for keeping "The Baby" from getting too grumpy, but it's an excellent place to put all your STUFF.
• FIRST THING YOU DO, you go to City Hall on Main Street and trade in some cash for Disney Dollars. Disneyland prints their own money(!) which makes any change you bring home in to an instant souvenir that is worth exactly what you paid for it!
• And while you're at City Hall, be sure to tell them about anything special going on - First visit, birthday, engagement, wedding, family reunion - they'll give you free buttons to wear that will help everyone know what's special about this trip and everyone - cast members and guests alike - will go out of their way to help you enjoy your visit :)
• Here is a link to the various height requirements for the rides at Disneyland (and California Adventure) - https://disneyland.disney.go.com/ca/plan/guest-services/height-requirements/ Any ride you want to go on but the kids are to short for, don't worry, they have a "Kid Swap" policy - one parent goes on the ride while the other parent waits with the kid, then the other parent gets to ride right away after that. There are also "Single Rider Lines" for many of the bigger attractions that move faster than the regular lines, so you might say "Hey you stay here with the kids eating lunch, I'm going to go ride the Indiana Jones ride real quick".
• If you are a Coffee Person (I know there's still some Seattle in your blood), don't bother with buying Starbucks. There is a little coffee cart next to the Castle that serves the nicest Drip Coffee in the entire park - buy it in a "Souvenir Sipper" so you can have a lovely travel mug to take home with you!
• Make sure the kids are SUPER INVOLVED in every choice you make - If you're on your way to Space Mountain and they point at something going "OOH OOH LOOK!", just follow them. Disneyland isn't about the rides, it's about the *experience*. If you're there just for rides, you over-paid and should have just gone to Six Flags.

That's all I've got for now, but I'm happy to answer any other question you may have :)

Comments

[aurora77]

Yes! We got buttons at Disney World for our anniversary. It was great! The cast members spent extra time interacting with us, it seemed like. Mostly just little things but it made a difference. :)

[aurora77]

Yes! We got buttons at Disney World for our anniversary. It was great! The cast members spent extra time interacting with us, it seemed like. Mostly just little things but it made a difference. :)

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Buttons can make all the difference in the world :)