Palm Trees and Grapevines

By Sara Hayden

I am a self-proclaimed carnival and amusement park enthusiast. It started early: Growing up in Wyoming, I donned my little red cowgirl hat every summer and my parents toted me to the “Grand Daddy of ’em All,” the world famous Cheyenne Frontier Days. Most people go for the rodeo or country music scene. I went for the carnival rides.

My taste in fare hasn’t evolved too much since. I’m still in it for the thrills. At least, that’s what I thought—until my most recent trip with my almost-two-year-old toddler. With a convergence of special occasions, I decided now was the time to take a family trip to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Here’s how to make the most of your own trip.

How a toddler changes the experience

Disclaimer: I am not a “Disney adult.” But I do have focused objectives when I visit a Disney amusement park. In the past, this has involved arriving in time for the gates to open, maximizing the number of adrenaline-inducing rides I go on, devouring a churro at some point, and staying until the park closes.

During my most recent Disneyland trip, I discovered that none of these was comfortably feasible with a tot—except for eating a churro.

Instead of getting to the park at the crack of dawn, we had a slow morning with toddler cuddles and a hearty breakfast. We arrived somewhere between 9 am and 10ish, built in a midday nap, and promptly left the park at the first sign of a meltdown, which coincided with the conclusion of the 9 pm fireworks display.

Even with the condensed schedule, I found we had plenty of time for a full day of fun, and the slower pace showed me what family vacation is truly about: time together.

What to do

Incorporate a mix of live entertainment, rides, and indoor and outdoor attractions depending on your mood and the time of day. For up-to-date details on availability as you plan your visit, be sure to check the daily events schedule.

In past visits in pursuit of thrill rides, I completely overlooked live shows and performances. It turns out they’re phenomenal entertainment. My tot jammed out and clapped and danced along as Mary Poppins, Bert, and the Pearly Band marched through the streets and performed on the King Arthur Carrousel. We also stopped to wave at the characters who passed through on parade, and tapped along to the marching band. We ended the day with holiday-themed fireworks. When my tot woke up the next day, I asked her if she had any dreams. “Yes,” she said, “Lights! Orange!” So I think she found those memorable.

There’s plenty of imaginative narrative-driven rides, but I decided some of the themes and storylines might be better suited to my kid when she’s older. For example, I totally forgot about the sinister human trafficking undertones of Pinocchio until we were strapped into Pinocchio’s Daring Adventure—daring indeed! Not in a good way.

Take advantage of nice weather, and enjoy these outdoor experiences:

• Meet the characters: My kiddo took it in stride that you could see larger-than-life mice, ducks, and tigers cheerfully strolling the streets. Of course you should run up and say hello to them! But be sure to time your hellos. Unfortunately we kept just missing them. Characters have timed slots to meet and greet guests around the park. If you see a character you want to meet, hop in line right away and have your autograph book and camera at the ready.
• Goofy’s How-to-Play Yard: Immerse yourself in a playground experience that provides plenty of opportunities to run around, play with sounds and music, bounce on see-saws, and explore Goofy’s goofy home.
• King Arthur Carrousel: Visit a classic original attraction that dates back to 1955. This carousel was my tot’s favorite ride. “Horses!” she cried, “Neigggghhh, neiggghhhh!” She was particularly delighted that some of the hand-painted horses were decorated with her favorite colors, including yellow and purple. (For real-life horses as opposed to the carousel variety, keep an eye out on Main Street, where they draw vintage street cars.)
• Casey Jr. Circus Train: Trains are a tot crowd-pleaser, and this one delivers. We took it at night, and got romantic views of the park as the evening lights kicked on over Storybook Land. Aboard, our daughter had a leap in independence. From the “Wild Animals” car, she sat in her own seat and marveled at the landscape as we cruised on. “Choo, choo!” she called out while waving at guests below.

Keep comfortable

Disneyland allows guests to pack in outside food and non-alcoholic drinks. That meant we could bring milk and snacks to keep our tot (and ourselves!) fed and watered throughout the day. There’s plenty of stations to refill water bottles, as well as family restrooms that make diaper changes easier.

What to eat

I read positive reviews about Bengal Barbecue online, but have to say I wasn’t a fan.

By the time we got around to thinking about lunch, the mobile order wait was upwards of two hours. Standing in line took us about half that time, which became an exercise for both toddler and me about queuing up, waiting turns, and patience at large.

When we finally got our food, there weren’t any trays. This made for a tricky transition as we tried to find a high chair and table.

The four bites of salty charred meat that came on my skewer left me disappointed at the quality and cost. The food gave my hubby an upset stomach, which resulted in a frantic bathroom search. (“I should’ve warned you never to order the beef!” he later lamented.)

Tiana’s Palace, on the other hand—wow! Expedient lines, tasty food, trays aplenty, and beautiful seating.

Skip the sad salty meat at Bengal. Head to Tiana’s and eat delicious gumbo.

Is Disneyland worth it?

The House of Mouse is an investment in money, time, mental energy, and emotional labor. To be honest, I’m pretty sure my toddler has just as much fun at home with a free playground and interacting with the life-size plastic mascot outside our local boba shop as she did at Disney.

I don’t think we’re alone in this: I once overheard a dad talking with his young son about the Disney cruise they took. “What was your favorite part, son?” the dad asked. The kid’s answer? “The scrambled eggs.”

So kids find pleasure and joy in simple things.

That said, my kiddo really did have a wonderful time. After every ride and show, she gave the highest rave review she knows how to give: “More! More!”

What made Disneyland worth it to me was indulging in nostalgia from my own childhood, and sharing something I find totally magical and inspiring with my kid.

The whole experience reminds me to try to enjoy magic in the every day with my tot, whether it’s spending time with a favorite character in a storybook, listening to a local band jam by the side of the road, or staying on the lookout for exceptionally colorful flowers or interesting rocks next to the sidewalk.