Looking forward to a big Disney vacation but not sure about what the littlest Cast Members will be able to do? I am here to talk to you about the Disney experience for your kiddos.
Attractions!
You know that's the first thing we think about when we think about the kids at Disneyland. But what can the small ones do?? Well they can actually do quite a bit! Mickey's Toontown is designed to appeal to our younger Cast Members. This is where Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy and Chip and Dale all live. You can meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse in their respective houses, check times for availability. Mickey's House, Minnie's House, Goofy's Playhouse, Donald's Boat and Chip n Dale's Treehouse are all interactive play areas for your kids to run around.
There is also Disney Princess meet and greet options in the small area across from the entrance to Sleeping Beauty's Castle. It's called the Fantasy Faire and you will meet four of the beloved princesses. There is also a Star Wars meet and greet in Tomorrowland called the Star Wars Launch Bay. It is located in the space between the submarine ride and the Pizza Planet restaurant.
Some of the easier rides for the newbies would be Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Mad Tea Party, as well as Casey Jr. Circus Train and Storybook Land Canal Boats.You will find all of these attractions in Fantasyland, which is right behind the castle. Your kids will LOVE walking through Sleeping Beauty's Castle into the world of fantasy and wonder.
In the same category as Dumbo and the Canal Boats, you have Jungle Cruise in Adventureland and Astro Orbiters in Tomorrowland. These rides are mellow and Jungle Cruise will provide us as parents with some hilarious, if not cheesy, monologue. Astro Orbiters is located at the entrance to Tomorrowland from the Hub. Jungle Cruise is the first attraction on your lefthand side after the path widens after coming into the entrance of Adventureland.
A step up from the smaller kid's rides but still recommended(by DISNEY!) for preschoolers are the indoor dark rides. Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan's Flight, Pinocchio's Daring Journey and "it's a small world" are all options that are Fantasyland indoor rides but they could potentially scare smaller children. In my personal opinion, I think the level of scare potential will range from most scary to least scary like so: Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan's Flight and then "it's a small world". From the perspective of an adult, Peter Pan's Flight is whimsical as you fly out the bedroom window, over London and into Neverland. "it's a small world" can be annoying to listen to but the dolls representing children and animals from around the world can be exciting to see. And if they get nervous, tell them to look for the Easter Eggs. "it's a small world" is located behind of Fantasyland proper, on the way to Mickey's Toontown.
On the same note, you have The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin in Mickey's Toontown that are dark rides but feature fun characters the kids might enjoy. A little darker is Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square. This dark boat ride will transport you back to the Golden Age of Piracy. This is one of my 11-year-old's favorite rides.
Even more than that, you have the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough at Sleeping Beauty's Castle for your princesses and Tarzan's Treehouse in Adventureland for your adventurers. I would recommend these for older kids because they require you to be ambulatory and there are a great deal of stairs involved. I often skip these attractions to save my feet and legs for walking but your kiddos will love the interactive storytelling. Tarzan's Treehouse is located in the middle of the path between Adventureland and New Orleans Square. For those of us wheelchair-bound, you can: (1)watch a virtual version of the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough and (2)access the interactive play area at the end of Tarzan's Treehouse, just ask a Cast Member.
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland is a favorite among the parents because you can sit down with a Dole Whip or a cold bottle of water in an air-conditioned room and enjoy the music and lights. The kids may be nervous by the animatronics, which are in every corner of the room. Personally, I don't care for the Tikis but that's a personal issue. My 11-year-old was a little creeped out with the dark, music, and thunderstorm, so we ended up leaving early.(And you totally have that option any time during the show!)
I hope that helps to get your day at Disneyland planned out. I will talk about food options for the kiddos as well as Disney's California Adventure rides in other articles.
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