21 Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Good Things To Know That’ll Save Your Sanity At Disneyland With Young Kids

Hello, fellow Disney fans! I’m Crystal, and I love checking out new foods, rides, and attractions at Disneyland. I also became a new mom last year, so going to the parks looks ~a little different~ these days.

I recently had a chance to take my 1-year-old to Disneyland for the first time for a fun Disney Jr. Let’s Play! event. Here are all the tips and tricks I’d give to anyone traveling to the parks with a young child based on my recent experience:

1.First of all, in case you didn’t know, children under 3 get free admission to Disneyland — they don’t need a ticket at all.

Note: Once they turn 3, though, they’ll need their own ticket.

2.Parking — Taking the tram vs. walking to the park entrance with a stroller.

The parking tram is faster and less tiring than walking, but requires you to remove your child, fold the stroller, and manage crowds, which can be a hassle.

So, a hack is to simply walk from the Mickey & Friends (or Pixar Pals) Parking Structure to Disneyland, which is straightforward and stroller-friendly. You’ll exit the parking garage, continue via the covered Magic Way walkway, pass through Downtown Disney, and arrive at the entrance plaza in about 15–20 minutes.

Now, walking takes longer than the tram, but it lets your child stay comfortably in the stroller, avoids the long lines waiting for the tram, can have shorter lines at security, and often makes the start of the day smoother.

3.Rope drop (but don’t feel like you HAVE to).

If you have a young child who is an early riser (and, let’s be real, most of them are), rope-dropping at Disneyland can have its perks. Arriving early means cooler weather, lighter crowds, and shorter wait times, which makes it easier to enjoy rides and character experiences before your little one gets tired.

But as much as “everyone” will tell you to do it, you certainly don’t HAVE to. It’s absolutely okay not to rope drop with a young child because sometimes your priority is comfort and flexibility, not maximizing ride counts. Instead of stressing over an early wake-up and rushing to beat crowds (and joining the rope drop crowd), you can let your child (and yourself) sleep in to a normal time, enjoy a slower morning, and arrive when everyone is more rested.

4.Use the Baby Care Centers.

Disneyland’s Baby Care Centers are a total lifesaver for parents with little ones. They’ve got cozy nursing rooms, changing tables, toddler-sized toilets, high chairs, and even a kitchen area with a bottle warmer, sink, and microwave (which is ONLY for baby’s food). You can also grab essentials like diapers, formula, wipes, and even pacifiers from a vending machine if you forgot something. Best of all, it’s a quiet, air-conditioned spot to feed, change, or just take a break from the crowds — perfect when your kid (or you!) needs a reset.

Disneyland Park: You’ll find the Baby Care Center at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., right next to the First Aid station, just across from the Little Red Wagon corn dog cart.

Disney California Adventure: Head over to Pacific Wharf, and you’ll spot the Baby Care Center next to the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop.

5.Look out for companion restrooms (aka family restrooms).

Disneyland’s companion restrooms are private, single-stall bathrooms with extra space — perfect for families who need a little more room to help young kids, handle strollers, or assist someone. They’re also great if you’ve got kids who are nervous about noisy automatic flushers, since many have manual ones. You can find them all over both parks, and they’re marked in the Disneyland app, making them super handy for parents who just need a calmer, easier bathroom break with their kids.

6.Get a complimentary Disneyland “First Visit” button.

You can grab a free “First Visit” button at City Hall in Disneyland, the Chamber of Commerce in California Adventure, or even some shops and hotel front desks. It’s a fun little keepsake — and Cast Members often sprinkle in extra smiles and welcomings when they see it.

If you don’t spot them, just ask a Cast Member — they’ll either give you one on the spot or point you to the nearest location that has them.

We got our son’s button at the Plaza Point shop at the end of Main Street. No lines, no wait, super cute.

7.Be on the lookout for special events, like the Disney Jr. Let’s Play! event that we attended, which are specifically geared towards families with younger children.

The Disney Jr. Let’s Play! event was a special three-day celebration just for little kids, with dance parties, stage shows, crafts, character meet-and-greets, a special parade, and tons of playful activities. Basically, a big preschool-friendly party at California Adventure and Downtown Disney (where activities were free!).

In the meantime, a great ongoing show for preschool-age kids is Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! It debuted in May 2025 as a daily interactive stage show in Hollywood Land, and it was specifically crafted with little ones in mind.

8.Tackling nap time.

Getting a preschooler to nap at Disneyland takes a little strategy, but it’s very doable! A reclining stroller with a good sunshade is your best friend — just find a quieter path, like along the Rivers of America or Grizzly Pass Trail, and stroll them to sleep.

The Baby Care Centers (I can’t say enough how much I love them) are also great for a calm reset if they need downtime. Some kids will even nod off on gentle rides like “It’s a Small World” or the Disneyland Railroad. And if you’re over in Mickey’s Toontown, there’s a little cave-like area toward the back that has shade and plays quieter, classical-music-style versions of Disney songs. It’s a great spot for sitting to calm down or take a nap.

And if all else fails, heading back to the hotel, if you’re staying at one, for a proper nap can make the rest of your day much smoother.

9.Bring a large water bottle.

Staying hydrated at Disneyland is really important both for you and your little one!

Both parks have bottle-filling stations in handy spots like near Autopia, Galactic Grill, Red Rose Taverne, Rancho del Zócalo, and throughout Galaxy’s Edge, plus in Avengers Campus and San Fransokyo Square at California Adventure. And a few eateries like Alien Pizza Planet, Plaza Inn, and Pym’s Test Kitchen have self-serve soda fountains with water.

You’ll also find regular drinking fountains by most restrooms, and a hidden gem of super-cold filtered water inside the Baby Care Center on Main Street. And if you’re in a pinch, any quick-service restaurant will happily give you a free cup of ice water — no purchase needed.

10.Buy a clip-on fan and/or a misting fan, and a handheld fan for warmer days.

I can’t emphasize enough how important having a fan (or several) is on hot Disneyland days, and we get plenty of those in SoCal. Your child can certainly survive without them, but it’ll make them 100x more comfortable. The clip-on fan was easy to attach to various parts of the stroller, even the top, where there’s a vent to provide more airflow, and the misting fan really works to cool down your child. And the handheld fan is useful when you have to wait in line for rides and attractions.

These are the fans I bought for our visit, and they all worked perfectly and never ran out of battery in our 9-hour day:

Portable Clip-on Fan, $9.99

Misting Stroller Fan, $19.99

Handheld Fan, $15.99

11.Buy a balloon and attach it to your stroller to make it easier to find.

This is a semi-controversial tip, but it worked for us. The park was very busy that day (and they were filming), so our stroller got moved — something that happens a lot in Fantasyland. Luckily, we had a balloon tied to our stroller, so it was SUPER easy to find. Also, if something happens to the balloon, like it pops, Disney will replace it (same day) with a receipt. So hold onto that receipt!

Now, the reason I say this is semi-controversial is because the balloon has a tendency to bop you in the face while on the move, LOL. I just held it lower with my hand to avoid this, and it really was not a big deal. But for some people, that’s a dealbreaker. 🤷🏻‍♀️

12.Use the app to see which rides are age-appropriate.

In the Disneyland app, open the map view and tap Filter to narrow attractions by Age Interest → Preschoolers and Height Requirements → Any Height. This highlights suitable rides on the map. Tap any attraction pin to see details like ride type, height limits, and wait times. You can also filter for Entertainment (shows, parades, character meet-and-greets) and save favorites with the heart icon for quick access later.

13.Curb your expectations, especially with rides…

As someone who went to Disneyland several times as an adult without kids, getting on as many rides as possible for the day was almost always the goal.

But with a preschooler, it’s best to keep expectations low on how many rides you’ll do. Little ones get tired, need breaks, and can get overwhelmed by long lines and big crowds. Focusing on just a few fun rides and character moments makes the day way more enjoyable for everyone.

14.…and re-ride anything your child loves (especially if the wait is short).

Going on the same ride again with little kids can be the best part of the trip. They notice new things each time, feel more relaxed because they know what to expect, and just love reliving their favorites.

15.Toontown is great for letting kids stretch out and run around.

It’s designed with open play areas, colorful buildings, and interactive spots where little ones can climb, explore, burn off energy, and take a break from long lines or crowded rides.

16.Bringing food pouches is a game-changer.

Our son eats pretty clean, and there aren’t a ton of “healthy” food options for young children at Disneyland outside of fruit. We found using a few food pouches, ones that had a lot of veggies and some protein, to be the easiest (and healthiest) option for our 1-year-old. We even froze a yogurt one (we used this one by Once Upon a Farm) overnight, and let it thaw in a cooler bag all morning, and it was a perfect midday snack.

But absolutely no judgment if you just wanna let your little one eat more fun treats in the parks!

17.Oh, and speaking of food, bring loooots of snacks.

Bringing snacks is a lifesaver. Kids get hungry fast, and having their favorite snacks handy can save you from meltdowns in line or between meals. Plus, it also saves time and money since you’re not always hunting for food in the park, and it keeps little ones comfortable with something they already know and like.

18.In case you’re wondering, YES, there are high chairs at Disneyland.

High chairs are available at most quick-service and sit-down restaurants. If you don’t see them right away, just ask a Cast Member and they’ll bring one over. They also have high chairs in the Baby Care Centers (as I mentioned previously), which are handy spots for feeding in a calmer environment.

19.Find a shady spot (or cool place) to have lunch or a snack.

At Disneyland, try Rancho del Zócalo or Hungry Bear for lots of shade and outdoor seating, or head inside at Alien Pizza Planet or Docking Bay 7 to cool off in the AC. The French Market and Plaza Inn both have nice covered patios, while Red Rose Tavern has plenty of shaded tables in Fantasyland. Even Bengal Barbecue has a nearby shaded seating area that’s perfect for a quick break.

At California Adventure, good shady spots include Flo’s V8 Café, Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Paradise Garden Grill, Smokejumpers Grill, Pym Test Kitchen, and the Pacific Wharf area with Cocina Cucamonga and Lucky Fortune Cookery.

20.Use Rider Switch.

Rider Switch, which is offered at most of the big rides with height requirements, is awesome if you’ve got a little one who can’t (or doesn’t want to) go on a ride. One parent hangs out with the kid while the other rides, then you swap, and the second parent gets to go without waiting in line again. It’s a super easy way to make sure both of you still get to enjoy the big rides.

Also, if you have an older/taller child who DOES want to go on the ride, they can actually go twice — once with the first parent, and again with the second. It’s a fun little bonus for older siblings while the younger one hangs back.

21.Finally, I highly recommend using a PhotoPass photographer whenever you get the chance.

One of the best things to do with little kids at Disneyland is get PhotoPass pictures. You don’t have to stress about taking them yourself, everyone gets in the shot, and the photographers know all the best spots. Plus, you don’t have to buy the photos right away — you can look through them later and just pick your favorites.

If you’re a parent of a young child who loves Disneyland (or Walt Disney World!), what are some tips and tricks you’d add to this list? Tell us in the comments or via the totally anonymous form below! Maybe we’ll even do a part two 🙂