Are you going to Disneyland with toddlers and want some helpful tips and a realistic Disneyland itinerary? Keep scrolling to find out what it’s really like to do Disneyland with a 2-year-old or 3-year-old.
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So many people told me to wait until my son was at least five before taking him to Disneyland.
“He won’t remember it.”
“It’s too expensive for someone that young.”
“You’ll be miserable dealing with meltdowns.”
Yeah, well, I didn’t listen. We went when he was two and a half, and it was honestly one of the best trips we’ve taken as a family.
I’m a family travel blogger and I’ve been back to Disneyland multiple times with young kids. That first trip taught me everything about what actually works (and what’s a complete waste of time and money).
We went with friends who had a toddler the same age, which meant we could trade off and figure things out together.
Before you stress about whether this is the right time to go, consider this: kids under 3 are FREE.
Like, completely free entry to both parks. They eat free from kids menus.
And you’re not rushing around trying to hit 47 rides because your two-year-old is perfectly happy watching the same train go by three times in a row.
My son rode “It’s a Small World” and his little face just lit up.
That memory? Priceless. And I have the photos to prove it happened, even if he doesn’t remember every detail now.
Stay Walking Distance from the Parks or Prepare to Suffer
I’m going to be super blunt about this one because it matters SO much.
We stayed at what’s now called Pixar Place Hotel. It used to be Paradise Pier Hotel but they renamed it. Walking back to our room at 1 PM when my son needed a nap? That saved our entire vacation.
Some parents can make their kids nap in a stroller at the park. Mine absolutely could not. He needed his crib, his blanket, and actual quiet.
So we’d walk back, he’d sleep for two hours, I’d rest my feet and recharge, and we’d head back to the parks around 3 PM.
The families I saw trying to push through naptime at 2 PM? Their kids were DONE by 4 PM. Full meltdowns. Nobody having fun.
Yes, Disney hotels are expensive. But you can get better rates at Get Away Today than booking direct. Seriously, I always check their prices first.
The other bonus?
As of January 2026, Disneyland Resort hotel guests get one free Lightning Lane Multi Pass entry for your entire stay. I’ll explain Lightning Lanes in a minute, but basically it means you get to skip one long line during your trip.
Even if you can’t swing a Disney hotel, try to book a Good Neighbor hotel within walking distance. That 10-minute walk back to your room versus a 30-minute drive makes all the difference when you have a tired toddler.
Character Dining is Worth Every Penny
Okay so character meals are not cheap. I won’t pretend they are.
But standing in line for 45 minutes to meet Mickey Mouse with a toddler who needs to pee and keeps asking when it’s our turn? Also not great.
We did Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel our first evening at 5:30. The restaurant was practically empty that early.
We got through all the characters in maybe 15-20 minutes, my son high-fived Goofy about a thousand times, and we actually sat down and ate a decent meal.
The character dining spots as of 2026:
Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel does breakfast and dinner. You’ll see Goofy for sure, usually Minnie, sometimes Pluto and Chip & Dale. It’s buffet style so picky eaters can find something.
Plaza Inn inside Disneyland does breakfast with Minnie Mouse. You need park admission for this one since it’s inside the park.
Storytellers Café at the Grand Californian has Mickey and friends at breakfast.
Trillium Room at the Grand Californian does princess breakfast if your toddler is into that.
My tip? Do character meals on arrival or departure days when you’re not in the parks anyway. That way you’re not eating into park time.
The princesses at Trillium Room were absolutely lovely with the kids. They sat down at our table, asked questions, made everyone feel special. Even my husband was impressed.
Lightning Lane Explained (The Short Version)
Remember FASTPASS? Then MaxPass? Forget all of that. Everything changed in 2024.
Now there are two types:
Lightning Lane Multi Pass lets you book multiple rides throughout the day. You buy it when you get your tickets or once you’re in the park. It’s an add-on cost.
Lightning Lane Single Pass is for the really popular rides like Radiator Springs Racers or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. You buy these separately.
For toddlers though? You probably don’t need Lightning Lane for most rides. “It’s a Small World” doesn’t usually have terrible waits. Casey Jr. Circus Train moves pretty fast. The Heimlich Chew Chew Train in California Adventure is basically a walk-on.
Save your Lightning Lane for mid-afternoon when crowds are worst, or for rides where the line actually gets long.
That free Lightning Lane entry you get as a hotel guest? Save it for something like Toy Story Midway Mania where the wait can hit 60 minutes.
Rider Switch Changed Our Entire Day
My husband wanted to ride Radiator Springs Racers but our son wasn’t tall enough.
One of us waited with our toddler while the other rode. Then we switched, and the waiting parent got to ride through the Lightning Lane entrance without waiting again.
This thing saved us. My husband did Space Mountain. I did Radiator Springs. We each got to experience stuff beyond the toddler rides.
You can even bring one other person with you when you switch. So if you have an older kid, they can ride twice.
Just ask a cast member at the ride entrance. They’ll set it up for you.
The Disneyland App Runs Your Life Now
Download it before you leave home.
You’ll use it constantly to check wait times, find bathrooms (crucial with potty training toddlers), see where characters are appearing, mobile order food, book Lightning Lanes, and view your photos.
Speaking of photos – the Disney photographers around the park will take pictures with YOUR phone for free. But they also take photos with their professional cameras that get uploaded to your PhotoPass account.
You can look at all the photos later and decide if you want to buy them. It’s around $40 per day, or you can share an account with your group and split it.
When I was pregnant on one of our trips and couldn’t ride most things, those PhotoPass photographers got amazing family shots of us. Way better than our selfies. Photos with the castle, in Cars Land at sunset, with characters. Totally worth it.
Your Phone Will Die Around 2 PM
You’re constantly on the app checking wait times, taking videos, texting your group, letting your toddler watch something while you wait in line.
Around 2 PM your phone hits 15% and you panic.
Get a portable phone charger and charge it every single night. When you’re desperately searching for an outlet in Tomorrowland, you’ll thank me.
Everything Revolves Around Naptime
The biggest mistake parents make is trying to push through naptime because “we paid so much for these tickets.”
An overtired toddler will destroy everyone’s afternoon. And the thing is, you’ll probably end up leaving anyway when they have a complete meltdown at 4 PM. Except now everyone is crying and stressed.
We’d do breakfast, then get to the park right when it opened. Hit 4-5 rides before crowds built up. Maybe meet a character. Early lunch around 11:30.
Walk back to the hotel by 12:30. Nap until 2:30 or 3. This included me because honestly, I needed it too.
Then we’d head back refreshed. Do more rides, have dinner, enjoy the evening. Leave around 7 PM before bedtime.
We never stayed for fireworks or parades. Way too late. And you know what? We had the absolute best time. No stress, no meltdowns, just a happy kid enjoying Disney.
Rides Your Toddler Will Actually Love
My son was obsessed with trains so Casey Jr. Circus Train was huge for him. He also loved “It’s a Small World” so much we rode it three times. Cars Land was basically heaven.
Disneyland:
- “It’s a Small World”
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Dumbo
- King Arthur Carrousel
- All the Fantasyland dark rides – Alice, Mr. Toad, Pinocchio, Snow White Winnie the Pooh Jungle Cruise
California Adventure:
- Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters (my son rode this FIVE times in a row)
- Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
- Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
- Little Mermaid
The only ride we regretted? Jumpin’ Jellyfish. My son said he didn’t want to do it. We pushed him anyway thinking it looked gentle. He hated every second and we felt terrible.
After that, when he said no to a ride, we listened. There are so many other options.
Cars Land Deserves Its Own Section
If your toddler loves Cars, this land is INCREDIBLE.
Life-size Radiator Springs. The music playing. Meeting Lightning McQueen and Mater in person. My son completely lost it in the best way.
We went during what used to be Magic Morning – that benefit ended January 2026 for hotel guests. But you can still get there right when the park opens for shorter lines.
Do it in this order: photo with Lightning McQueen, ride Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters, ride Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, photo with Mater.
If you want really gorgeous professional photos, book a Flytographer session in Cars Land at sunset and save $20 with my link. The lighting is amazing.
Radiator Springs Racers is the big ride but it requires 40″ height. If your toddler isn’t tall enough (most aren’t), use Rider Switch so both adults can ride.
Sit Down for Meals Sometimes
Quick service is fine but after a while, standing in line for food with a toddler while juggling trays and finding a table gets exhausting.
We did table service at Carnation Cafe on Main Street for lunch one day. Someone brought us food, we had air conditioning, we didn’t have to chase our son around a crowded restaurant. It was perfect.
For dinner we went to Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square. I had the beef crepes and they were INCREDIBLE. Genuinely one of my favorite meals. We split a Monte Cristo too. Both delicious.
The air conditioning alone made it worth it in summer heat.
You can book dining reservations 60 days out through the app. Do it early because good times fill up fast.
Toon Town is Weird But Toddlers LOVE It
Toon Town is this bizarre land with all these interactive things you can touch and play with.
My son spent 30 minutes sitting in all the different cartoon cars pretending to drive. Free entertainment while we sat on a bench and rested our feet.
We waited maybe 15 minutes to meet Minnie in her house. The character interactions in Toon Town are usually way shorter than in other parts of the park.
Goofy’s Playhouse has indoor and outdoor play areas with padded floors. Parents can sit down while kids run around and burn energy. Lifesaver on day two when my son just needed to MOVE.
Check What’s Closed Before You Book
Disney closes rides for refurbishment, especially during slower seasons.
Before our trip, I checked Touring Plans’ closure page and found out both the Disneyland Railroad and Monorail were closed. Since we’d planned to use those for transportation, we had to adjust our expectations.
For 2026: Monsters Inc. at California Adventure closes early in the year for the upcoming Avatar land. If your toddler is obsessed with Monsters Inc., go ASAP before it closes.
Need help planning? I created a FREE email course that walks you through everything: How to Plan a Trip to Disneyland Like a Pro. I’ll send you my exact system, packing lists, and money-saving tips.
What to Pack in Your Diaper Bag
- Sunscreen – reapply constantly, California sun is no joke
- Extra outfits – more than you think you need
- Snacks from home – Disney allows outside food
- Portable phone charger
- Small first aid kit
- Baby wipes for everything
- Lightweight stroller rain cover just in case
Full packing list is in my post What to Pack for Disneyland with Babies.
Strollers are totally allowed and necessary. You can rent them at the parks if you don’t want to bring your own.
Baby Care Centers Are Lifesavers
Both parks have Baby Care Centers with nursing rooms, high chairs, changing tables, and microwaves for bottles.
The one in California Adventure is behind Ghirardelli in San Fransokyo Square. At Disneyland it’s on Main Street.
My son was past nursing age but we still went in a few times when he just needed a quiet space to reset. Sometimes toddlers get overstimulated. Having a calm place to decompress for 10 minutes saved our whole afternoon more than once.
What a Real Day Looks Like
Day 1: Arrive mid-afternoon, check into hotel, early dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen (5:30 PM), maybe walk around Downtown Disney
Day 2 – Disneyland: Breakfast at hotel, get to park opening, Fantasyland (“It’s a Small World,” Casey Jr., a couple dark rides), Toon Town (play and meet Minnie), lunch at Carnation Cafe, back to hotel for naps (12:30-3:00), return to park, Jungle Cruise, Winnie the Pooh, dinner at Cafe Orleans, leave by 7 PM
Day 3 – California Adventure: Breakfast, arrive at opening, Cars Land (all the toddler rides and character photos), Pixar Pier (Toy Story if the line isn’t terrible), lunch, back for naps, return to park, let them play at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, dinner, leave before evening shows
Will you follow this exactly? Probably not. Your toddler might demand Luigi’s seven times. You might find a character appearance you didn’t know about. A parade might come through.
That’s the magic of following your toddler’s lead instead of trying to conquer a checklist.
Listen When They Say No
You’ve been dreaming about this trip forever. You want the perfect Mickey photo. You want to ride every classic attraction.
But if your toddler is scared, they’re scared.
We learned this with Jumpin’ Jellyfish. My son said no, we pushed him anyway, and he was miserable. We felt awful.
The next ride he was nervous about, we skipped it. He felt heard. We avoided a meltdown. Everyone was happier.
Kids this age won’t remember every ride. But they’ll remember if you listened to them and kept things fun instead of stressful.
You Won’t Do Everything
You’re not going to see both parks in two days with a toddler. You’re probably not going to do every ride even in one park.
Make peace with that now.
We made a short list: Cars Land, meet Mickey, “It’s a Small World,” Toon Town. Everything else was bonus. This kept us from stressing when lines were long or when our son wanted to stop and watch ducks for 15 minutes.
We also didn’t compare our trip to other people’s. Yeah, that couple without kids did 23 rides before lunch. Good for them. We did five and had a perfect morning.
Different goals. Different trips. Both magical.
The Bottom Line
Taking a toddler to Disneyland is about experiences, not checklists.
Stay close so you can nap. Do character dining. Give yourself permission to leave early. Listen when your kid says they’re done.
Your toddler won’t remember every detail. But you’ll have photos of their face when they met Mickey. You’ll remember how excited they got about the trains. You’ll get to see Disney through their eyes.
That’s actually priceless.
Ready to book? Get the best rates at Get Away Today.
Have the best time. Take way too many pictures. Remember that a happy toddler beats a perfect itinerary every single time.
I was searching for “disneyland for preschoolers” and your website came up. I can’t believe no one has commented yet on how this is a tremendously useful post! Many thanks for sharing your experience!
Hi Paolo,
Wow! Thanks for your comment! It really made my day! I’m glad you found it useful! Enjoy your trip and let me know if you find any other useful tips!
Hey i loved your post. My wife and i have been to Disneyland together about a half dozen times in the last 8 years but we are taking our two year old next month for his birthday. How old were the kids you took?
Hi Kevin,
Our son was 2 years and 5 months and our friend’s son was 2 years and 2 months. They were a great age to do many of the rides and festivities. Have fun!!!
So we will only be able to do one Character dining. We bought the premium dining experience. In your opinion which place has the best food and which one had better interactions with characters? Ariels Grotto or Goofys Kitchen?
If you are hoping to see Disney princesses and don’t want to wait in line, I’d do Ariel’s Grotto. However, if the princesses aren’t on your must-do list, I’d definitely do Goofy’s Kitchen. The great thing about Goofy’s Kitchen is that you’ll see a lot of the classic Disney characters and since it’s at the hotel, you don’t need a park pass to do it. So, you could do it for dinner the night your arrive. Plus the food is surprisingly tasty and the environment is really fun!
Oh and we would either be doing the lunch or dinner! Thanks
This is really helpful! I remember going to Disney World when I was a toddler and it was a lot of fun! Though I don’t think I wanted to have a naptime while I was there 🙂
It will be interesting to see if my 3.5-year-old will nap when we visit this summer!
Omg, this is so helpful!
We’re taking a trip to disney world next year! They’ll be 9, 3 and 2 by that time. I cant wait!
I was also told to wait till they’re like school-aged, but i feel like all the excitement is different by the time they’re a bit older!
I saved this post, so i can make a list of your suggestions to remember!
Thanks for sharing!
I think it depends on if you plan to do multiple Disney vacations with your kids. If you were just going to do one, I can understand waiting until they are a bit older. But, if you think you’ll go a few times, it’s so fun when they are little!
Thank you so much for the FANTASTIC tips! I love that they are so specific and not generic. We have never attempted anything big like Disney with our crew, but I am definitely bookmarking this for when I do.
Caitlin
http://www.rogerspartyof5.com
I couldn’t believe how amazing the customer service was everywhere! It really made traveling with kids fun!
Thank you for these helpful tips! I especially love the idea of traveling with another family, it makes for double the memories with friends and your children.
YES! We hadn’t done much traveling with families before, but we have since done it frequently! Our boys had a blast entertaining each other and it was nice to be able to split up a bit more!
While this post isn’t extremely relevant to me personally (I’m a 22-year-old solo traveler without children), I know it is an extremely useful resource for your intended audience. They’d definitely appreciate your tips and information. 🙂 And, actually, it did give me a different perspective for Disneyland. I’ve been there several times, when I was a little kid, and as an adult, and this post made me realize how different the experience is for everyone. Even though you’re on the same rides and seeing the same awesome sights and characters (and fireworks!), it’s vastly different experiencing it for yourself and when you’re there mainly for your child to experience the magic of Disney. Thanks for sharing!
Exactly! I’ve only been as a parent and so I wondered what it would be like without kiddos. I love how magical everything felt when I saw my son experiencing the rides and characters. It helped me stay in the moment with him!
That’s amazing that you guys got to your for free. If we ever go, I definitely want to have lunch with a character. That sounds like so much fun!!
Yes! We are so lucky to have a friend who got us in. We’re heading on our own this summer and the ticket prices really add up!
Oh wow this looks like such a blast! I have yet to take my 4 kids to Disneyland. I have only been once myself and it was so much fun. I don’t know when we will finally decide to take them but I definitely need to keep this handy. These are some really great tips! I think listening to your kids is a big key. They are pretty efficient at conveying what they need without actually saying it! Thank you for sharing all this great info!
Yes, it’s a fine line between doing everything you want to do (getting the most bang for your buck) and sitting back to enjoy the experience. We’re heading back in June and I actually just added an extra day to our trip to make sure I don’t rush everybody.
Wow, what a great list! I had no idea about the photo pass, I haven’t been down to Disney in a few years so I missed that update. That’s a nice new feature that they have.
The Photo Pass was awesome! It’s great if you can designate one day as “picture day” so you just buy that one day’s worth of photos.
I’m dying to take my one year old next year and everyone says wait! I think we will go anyway!
They are free until they are 3, so take advantage! It’s a great way to explore the park before they have strong opinions on which rides they’d like to do!
We like to go to Disney World quite often since we live so close here in Florida. I am also glad we didn’t wait for our daughter to be older. She has so much fun starting at 2 years old.
We’re hoping to hit up Disney World next year. I’ve heard we’d need a full week to really explore!
As someone who doesn’t have kids, I have to say I never would have thought traveling with an under 5 would be stress-free but you convinced me and as someone who LOVES pictures I had never heard of the photo pass. Which if and when I head to Disneyland again, I will deff be using that!!
So much about travel is about attitude. If you think you’ll have a miserable time traveling with kids, you will. Otherwise, if you take it as it’s own adventure, you may be surprised how smoothly it may go. Plus, Disney customer service is excellent and really helps with the stress!
Great advice for parents and grandparents.
I’m bringing my Mom for her first trip this summer and I’m excited to see her experience as a Grandparent!
We are past the toddler age. But we are looking forward to someday taking both of our boys to Disney.
Each age/stage is so different! We’re heading back with our son who will be 3.5-years-old and I already can tell he will want to do some things differently.
I loved that the trip was centered on the child and not on Disneyland. I think most crying episodes happen because the parent want the toddler to adjust to Disney instead of vice versa. most helpful blog I have read about Disney. I especially love the rider switch option
We saw a lot of parents snapping at their kids because they kids were tired and the parents wanted to do more rides, watch parades, etc. It was kind of heartbreaking. I know the cost of Disneyland is a lot and it makes sense to want to get the most bang for your buck, but pushing kids beyond their limit makes for a very stressful experience.
Definitely keeping this for reference! We would love to go soon, but the thought of taking four young ones is a little intimidating. Thanks for all the tips that will make planning it so much easier when we go!
Yes, taking four little ones would be difficult! If you’re able to bring along extra adults, that would make it much more manageable!
great tips here, thank you for sharing!
Thanks! Hoping this helps other families!
I cannot wait to go with my little one to Disneyland! We just went to Universal this year with her and I told my husband that Disney was next! These tips will be perfect for us, too
I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed the experience! It really is magical to see Disneyland with kids!
This has so much useful info!! I didn’t know most of these things. We have a four year old and a 16 month old and the idea of traveling with them to Disney is pretty terrifying to be honest! I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned setting expectations and remembering the trip is for the kids and if they aren’t enjoying themselves, no one will! I can’t wait to take our boys to Disney! Thanks for all of the great insights.
Glad I could help! I’m heading back this summer with my 3.5-year-old and 6-month-old, so it will be interesting to see how it is with 2 littles.
This is a fantastic post! I can’t wait until my little one is old enough to finally do disney (he is still under a year). I remember all the times I went as a kid and can’t wait for him to have that experience. You posted some INCREDIBLE information here. I can’t wait to refer back to it once we are ready to take the Disney adventure!
Glad to help! Two and a half was a great age because he was tall enough to do a lot of the rides and his meals were free!
I don’t know if I will ever brave Disneyland with my toddlers! Haha. I know one day I will have to, though so thanks for this guideline <3
It’s totally your call! If doing Disney with toddlers will stress you out, wait until you feel more comfortable! It’s so important that everyone enjoys themselves!
Thanks so much for the detailed info! By far the most helpful review I’ve read. Planning to take our 2.5 yo there this fall:)
Perfect! It’s such a fun age for Disneyland!
Wow, I never knew so much planning could (or should) go into a Disneyland visit! I’ve only ever been to Disneyland once when I was a teenager. We certainly didn’t have a plan! If I ever take my kids to Disneyland, I’ll remember to plan properly!
It’s usually best to have a plan when traveling with kids. And then know that plan is just a plan and can be altered at any point 🙂
Thanks for the tips. I am planning a family trip in a few weeks. I’ll be sure to buy a portable phone charger… and a DuckTales t-shirt (love it!)
Yes, the phone charger is a MUST! My husband loves DuckTales so he was stoked to find that shirt at Kohl’s!
What an amazingly detailed post! I have never been to Disneyland and my youngest is 18yo but I might have to steal my 7yo nephew and go to Disneyland and tackle your list!
Yes! Do it! Or go on your own!
I think the close proximity of a hotel for napping is more important for me than for my children! LOL! I need my naps!
Haha! That’s so true! I just need to lay down and put my feet up for a bit!
We loved Disneyland with out toddler, too! And it just keeps getting more fun as she gets older. Sending magical wishes for all your future Disney adventures!
Yay! We’re heading back for a quick trip in October with a 4.5yo and 2yo! Can’t wait!
We’re considering going to disney next year (with three kids under the age of 6) and this is super helpful. I pinned it for later.
Oh yay! Glad to help! They will be in HEAVEN!
You have the best Disneyland tips!! I am so excited to put them in to practice someday with my kiddos. My family loves to travel in the off season, so the heads up about the ride refurbishment is very helpful!
Yes, it makes sense that they close some rides during the off-season. It’s really nice that they say which ones are unavailable ahead of time!
Love your pictures! Such great Disney tips – it’s such a fun time but so many things to remember!
Hah! Yes, lots of details!
Thank you so much for the helpful tips. Im going to disneyland next month and worried about what i can and cannot do with a 2 year old toddler and pregnant me. Your plan seems realistic and easy to follow. When I come back im going to post my experience so other parents can have an idea about what to expect when traveling with a toddler.
Yay! I’m so glad my posts are helping you plan! It’s totally doable and it’s all about managing expectations. Have a magical trip and can’t wait to hear about it!