Yesterday, my family and I went to Disneyland. This included myself, my mother, husband and our 6 month old baby. Some may think it a waste of time to take a baby to Disneyland, but he recognizes Mickey Mouse and loves people watching. And we as adults had not experienced this California theme park in years, so we wanted to go to the Happiest Place on Earth for our own personal enjoyment! At the end of the day we all had a blast and would do a lot of things the same, but there are a few things we would do differently to make our next trip even more enjoyable than this one.
Disneyland Baby Care Center
One of the things that I would keep the same on the next trip is utilizing the baby care center provided by the park. Here, mothers can privately nurse their babies and families can take advantage of clean changing tables and mini potties for children 42″ and shorter. They also provide families with small children a kitchen to make baby food, warm bottles, and clean any dishes out, as well as high chairs to feed babies and small children. This wonderful amenity is located near the first aid station at the end of Main St. in Disneyland.
Disneyland Rides for Babies
The other thing we all enjoyed is the fact that there are actually a lot of rides for babies to go on at Disney. We took our son on It’s a Small World, the Casey Jr. Train, the Carousel, to the Petting Zoo (which he loved!) and to meet Mickey Mouse. We planned out which rides he could go on before we went, and as it turns out there are over 20 rides for babies to enjoy. The reason we didn’t get to each one though was timing, which brings me to my next point.
The Best Time to go to Disneyland
The best time to go to Disneyland was not the time we chose. Unfortunately, we only had the one day to choose from, so we had to go on a Saturday during spring break. Never again will I go on a Saturday or during a holiday. It was absolutely packed as the website isitpacked.com indicated it would be. The next time we will go will be during an off-season time and on a weekday. This way we can ensure ourselves enough time to ride more rides and have an easier time walking through the crowds.
Disney Fastpass
Lastly, the other thing I would change about our trip is taking full advantage of the free Disney Fastpass service option. We thought it was something guests had to pay for until we spoke with a crew member who explained what it was. How it works is guests take their ticket to fastpass distribution line at participating rides and get an additional ticket that has a time to return. At the indicated time, guests immediately get to go on the ride without having to wait in line. The reason we didn’t use this is because the return time is always a couple hours later and we didn’t find out about it until halfway through the day, not giving us enough time to plan around the baby.
All in all, we had a fabulous time and are looking forward to the next trip. I am sure our son had a great time too, even though he is only a small baby. I would definitely recommend taking an infant 6 months or older if you are considering it. Just make sure to map out your day and pack in advance to ensure a smooth, fun filled day!
