Amusement parks have long been a preferred venue for families in search of exciting entertainment. From favorite roller coasters, to high-speed thrillers, traditional family and children’s rides, live entertainment, shops and dining, these alphabetically listed parks have something for everyone in the family.

BUSCH GARDENS  WILLIAMSBURG – Williamsburg, Virginia

Verbolten is one of the many exciting rides at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

One of the most visited parks in the United States, Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia has an exciting array of European-themed rides, shows, tours, and animal exhibits committed to conservation including gray wolves, lorikeets, red foxes and bald eagles. The park itself is very beautiful and divided into 10 hamlets inspired by Europe. Guests can take behind-the-scenes tours, watch entertaining shows, indulge in mellow to thrill-seeking rides, and shop and dine in the many venues themed after European countries including Italy, France, Germany and Ireland. There are also plenty of attractions for kids, making it perfect for the whole family. For more information visit http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg

CEDAR POINT – Sandusky, Ohio 

This animatronic T-Rex is a roaring sight in Cedar Point’s Dinosaurs Alive! attraction

Dating back to 1870, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio is the second oldest amusement park in North America. This highly acclaimed theme park has drawn people to its pleasure grounds on the beautiful shores of Lake Erie time and again. Known as the roller coaster capital of the world, Cedar Point is a sprawling 364 acres with 15 roller coasters and everything from brain-scrambling thrill rides, to family rides, areas for children like Planet Snoopy and Camp Snoopy with their own exciting rides and attractions, to live entertainment, shops and great dining. It also features the prehistoric-themed attraction Dinosaurs Alive! (nominal fee required) with 50 life-size animatronic dinosaurs. For more information visit www.cedarpoint.com

DISNEY - Florida & California    

Cinderella’s Castle rising in the midst of Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Park

Disney has enchanted children for decades, and both Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, are wonderful places to spark their imaginations with their rides, attractions and entertainment. The parks are divided into themed lands (varies by park) including Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland, with favorite attractions like “it’s a small world,” the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the beautiful fairytale castles. Activities for all ages abound, from shopping, dining, games, rides galore, dazzling entertainment, a host of favorite Disney characters, and so much more. For more information on Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Florida visit Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Visit our Disney World and our Disneyland Articles for a more in-depth look into the theme parks complete with reviews and family tips.

DOLLYWOOD – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

The Dollywood Express affords gorgeous views of the Great Smokey Mountain foothills (Courtesy of Jeff Hunsaker)

With the Great Smokey Mountains rising majestically in the background, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee blends an invigorating country flavor into its gorgeous natural setting. This award-winning theme park has spectacular rides, attractions, live entertainment and craft shops that combine the southern tradition and history of Tennessee into an authentic and unforgettable experience. There are rides for all ages from white-knuckle thrillers like its newest wing coaster Wild Eagle, to kiddie rides, playgrounds for children, rides that make the most of the spectacular views and scenery of the mountain foothills like the Dollywood Express steam engine, plenty of shops, delicious dining, and more. For more information visit www.dollywood.com

HERSHEYPARK – Hershey, Pennsylvania

Hersheypark is like three parks in one with its dry rides, water park rides in The Boardwalk, and its 11-acre zoo called ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park

Hersheypark has been entertaining people since its original founding in 1907 by Milton S. Hershey as a place of enjoyment for his employees. With over 65 rides and attractions including 12 coasters and a whole slew of rides for children, exciting live entertainment, games, shops and food, this outstanding 110-acre theme park in Hershey, Pennsylvania has built a highly respected reputation in its industry. One admission price also includes access to the water park style rides and attractions of The Boardwalk, as well as to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park – an 11-acre zoo with over 200 animals from more than 60 species representative of North America, making it a world of delight for all ages. For more information visit www.hersheypark.com

HOLIDAY WORLD & SPLASHIN’ SAFARI – Santa Claus, Indiana

The flying carousel ride HallowSwings at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari offers panoramic views (Courtesy of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari)

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari thrills guests with its dynamic duo of an amusement park and water park. With free parking, free unlimited soft drinks, free sunscreen, free Wi-Fi, rides for all levels, exciting attractions, shows, shops and dining, this theme park makes for an outstanding time for the whole family. This Santa Claus, Indiana park is themed after traditional holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and 4th of July. It is also home to the world’s longest water coaster Mammoth, and has a wonderful play area for kids that includes the interactive climbing structure Holidog’s Treehouse, and Magic Waters with its geysers for splashing fun. Holiday World was previously featured in our 20 Best Small Amusement Parks for Families in the USA article, while Splashin’ Safari was included in our Top 10 Best Waterparks in the United States article. For more information visit www.holidayworld.com

KINGS ISLAND – Mason, Ohio

Kids can ride on The Great Pumpkin Coaster at Kings Island Planet Snoopy

The largest amusement park in the Midwest also features the water park Soak City with more than 50 splashing attractions, so guests can have twice the fun for one admission price. Over 80 rides, attractions and shows at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio await to entertain families with kids of all ages. There are family rides like bumper cars, coasters, and flying swings, to thrill rides like the coasters Diamondback and The Beast, to special kids’ attractions like Planet Snoopy with its own rides, shows and favorite Peanuts characters, to live entertainment, plenty of dining options and more. Visitors can also meander through the fascinating Dinosaurs Alive! attraction with 60 life-size dinosaurs in a lush Jurassic setting (requires an additional nominal fee). For more information visit www.visitkingsisland.com

LEGOLAND– Carlsbad, California

Legoland’s Pirate Reef ride is great for sailors and landlubbers alike!

Where else can you see famous sites like the Las Vegas Strip, New York’s Central Park, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, New Orleans’ French Quarter, Washington D.C.’s monuments, and more reproduced on a miniature scale of 1:20 entirely from Lego bricks?  Legoland of course! This fabulous park is an absolute delight for families with children and features rides, shows, hand-on free play areas for young children to explore, attractions, shops, dining, and an exciting water park and aquarium (requires upgrade fee). The park is divided into themed areas including Dino Island, Pirate Shores and Castle Hill that captivate visitor’s imaginations and are strewn with life-sized models of characters made from Lego bricks. For more information visit Legoland, Carlsbad California or visit their official website at: http://california.legoland.com/en. Carlsbad’s Legoland was also featured in our 20 Best Small Amusement Parks for Families in the USA.

SEAWORLD – California, Texas & Florida

See exciting dolphin shows and more at SeaWorld (Courtesy of SeaWorld San Diego)

SeaWorld combines the thrills of an amusement park, with the wonder of the animal world. With three exciting locations to choose from (San Diego, CA, San Antonio, TX, and Orlando, FL), guests can learn all about the intriguing animals at these parks while having a roaring good time on the rides, attractions, shows, shops and dining. There are exciting rides for all levels of thrill seekers, like the flume coaster Journey to Atlantis, Sky Tower with its spectacular views, splashing raft rides, and gentler rides for younger children. The exhibits feature fascinating animals like penguins, playful otters, tropical fish aquariums, sleek sharks, and lots more.  All three parks have fantastic shows including dolphins, killer whales, sea lions and acrobatic stunts. There are lots of touch/feed pools, behind-the-scenes tours, and animal encounters for viewers to learn more about the amazing animals up close. For more information about their Southern California location please visit Sea World San Diego California Family Review, or you can also visit their official site at  http://seaworldparks.com

SESAME PLACE – Langhorne, Pennsylvania 

See Elmo and other lovable furry characters at Sesame Place (Photo contributed by Sesame Place)

This fantastic amusement park is the only one of its kind in the country, and perfect for families with younger children. See the Sesame Street Neighborhood come to life complete with its beloved furry characters like Elmo, Big Bird, the Cookie Monster, as well as the Furry Arms Hotel, Oscar’s trash can, Mr. Hooper’s store, Bert and Ernie’s house, and more. This Langhorne, Pennsylvania park offers games and plenty of wet and dry attractions for kids to ride, play, climb and explore including Big Bird’s Court, the Cookie Mountain, an interactive water play castle, slides, wave pool and more. Exciting shows and the popular Neighborhood Street Party Parade with all the favorite furry friends makes a visit to this outstanding theme park a memorable experience. For more information visit www.sesameplace.com

SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA – Gurnee, Illinois

The dazzling Columbia Carousel stands 10 stories with two decks for a nostalgic ride (Courtesy of Six Flags Great America)

Located in Gurnee, Illinois, Six Flags Great America is also home to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor where guests can get their fill of dry and wet thrills, and best of all, the water park is free with park admission. There are countless rides including the thrilling coasters Raging Bull and Viper, Jester’s Wild Ride rocking tugboat ride, Big Easy Balloons, Little Dipper family coaster, the resplendent Columbia Carousel, lots of shops, dining options, and shows with live entertainment including the Glow in the Park Parade. Three areas dedicated just for kids ensure that even the youngest guests are thoroughly entertained and include Skull Island, Kidzopolis, and Camp Cartoon with rides, attractions and play areas. The water park boasts slides, raft rides, a wave pool, a relaxing lazy river, and more. For more information visit www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/index.aspx

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS – Orlando, Florida 

The iconic globe of Universal Studios Orlando

The world of film and television has a marvelous element of fantasy that is lots of fun to explore at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.  From behind-the-scenes shows, to real working movie sets, and exciting rides and attractions, a visit to this park is unforgettable. There are 3-D and 4-D interactive experiences like Shrek 4-D and Terminator 2 3-D, play areas for kids like Curious George Goes to Town and Fievel’s Playground, shows like A Day in the Park with Barney, Fear Factor Live with lots of audience participation, the Horror Make-up Show, a variety of shops, and a delicious array of dining including cafes and restaurants. For more information visit Universal Orlando: Not Just for Thrill-Seeking Teens.

Part of our family 'herd' loading up at Disneyland, CA.

On our recent family trip to Disneyland, our three-year old son had a blast going on all the kid-friendly rides and attractions, (see the article “Disneyland, California: Rides and Attractions for Young Children”).  Now that he’s a bit older, we also found that he enjoyed a number of the parades, activities, and shows that the Magic Kingdom has to offer as well.  Since we were also traveling with two new babies and six adults, we had the opportunity to discover what worked well for large family groups and small children and what didn’t!  Some of our son’s favorite activities—and the tips and hints we picked up along the way—are included below! 

1.  Character Pictures and Autographs – Our son had a lot of fun spotting his favorite Disney characters as we walked through the park.  We stopped several times over our three-day adventure so he could have his picture taken with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Mickey, Pluto, Sully (Monsters, Inc.), Woody and Jesse (Toy Story), and Jack and Sally (The Nightmare Before Christmas).  While the characters can be seen walking around Disneyland at almost any time during the day, many of them have special hours where they can be found at a certain place in the park to sign autographs and take pictures.  A schedule of characters with their ‘visiting hours’ and spots can be found at the end of Main Street just before the entrance to Frontierland.  

Myself, my son and daughter, and my sister and her daughter with Winnie the Pooh.

Something to keep in mind when it comes to picture times: the lines to visit with the various Disney characters can sometimes be almost as long as those for the rides.  The characters are usually at their ‘picture places’ for a set amount of time and their handlers will give five minute warnings to those still in line as the time limit draws closer.  If the time limit is reached and you still haven’t had a chance to meet the character, the handler will let everyone know when and where they can be found again.  On our most recent trip, we were the very next group in line when Pooh Bear had to leave but after a very short break (and no doubt a quick costume switch to another Cast Member), he was back again before anyone could feel too disappointed!  

My son with Woody.

Also, pictures with the Disney Princesses are among the most popular and people often beginning lining up for them quite a bit in advance.  Photos with Mickey can also get very crowded but he can always be found at his house in Toontown and his regular hours for pictures are posted outside his door. 

2.  Character Dining – Our son—and truthfully, our whole family—really enjoyed our Character Dining experience while at Disneyland.  Since we were staying at the Grand Californian, we scheduled ours for the Storyteller’s Café where we got to meet Chip ‘n Dale and some of their friends.  Inside Disneyland Park, the Plaza Inn Restaurant, (located just off of Main Street right before the entrance to Tomorrowland), hosts Minnie and Friends Breakfast in the Park.  Character Dining experiences are great ways to meet a number of the Disney characters without having to wait in long lines or follow their appearance schedules.  While you’re eating, the characters rotate through the restaurant and stop at each table to take pictures, visit, and sign autographs.  They’re usually able to take a bit more time with your children during the dining experiences than they are if you meet them somewhere else in the park.  

My husband, our son, and daughter with Chip at the Storyteller's Cafe Character breakfast.

Reservations aren’t required for Character Dining, however, Disney does strongly encourage them; especially if you’re traveling with a large group like we were.  After seeing how crowded the Character Dining gets though, I have to admit that I’d make reservations for a small group as well; that way no one will be disappointed if you can’t get a table!  

3. Parades - Disneyland does a spectacular job with their parades and coming from me, that means a lot; I don’t usually enjoy them.  We watched a couple on our recent trip and they were both excellent!  The music was fun, upbeat, and easily recognizable since most of it was from popular Disney movies.  In addition, the performers were all top quality and did a great job getting the audience involved.  Our son really had fun watching all the dancers and singing with the songs he knew.  He also enjoyed pointing out all his favorite Disney characters as they came by.  

The parades and their schedules change throughout the year ,the most recent information on their times and themes can be found on the Disney website.  This information can also be found on the Disneyland maps that are available at the Park’s entrances.  If you’re planning on taking in one of the parades, you should be prepared to grab a seat along the route as early as an hour before it’s due to start.  The sidewalks and pathways along the parade route are carefully roped off and there is no sitting or standing allowed outside the designated areas.  The view is best on the curbs right along the street and be warned that even if you’re lucky enough to snag one of the benches on the sidewalk, you probably won’t be able to see anything once the parade starts; everyone packs in and stands up once it gets going! 

Disneyland "Celebrate" parade. Photo courtesy of micechat.com.

4.  Shows and Fireworks - Our son loves music so we made sure to take in a couple shows during our trip.  The Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland has a number of short musicals during the day and there’s also the Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland.  This last show opened in 1963 and was the very first to use Audio Animatronics Technology.  It feels a bit outdated when compared to the modern rides and attractions in the rest of the park but it’s a unique experience that’s worth the 15 minutes!  Our son liked seeing all the birds, flowers, and Tiki statues singing together in the darkened room.  He also thought the simulated thunder shower was pretty cool!  

Then of course, there’s always Fantasmic.  This takes place outside New Orleans Square on the Rivers of America and combines most of the popular Disney characters, music, fireworks, and some impressive giant puppetry to make a really spectacular show.  Even though it first opened nearly 20 years ago, it’s still one of Disney’s most popular shows and draws a huge crowd.  Premium seating near the French Market is available but there are a limited number of seats and tickets must be purchased.  Everyone else who wishes to see the show should be prepared to get there at least an hour in advance and depending on the time of year, even earlier to get good seats.  It’s worth the wait, though!  Disney’s ‘standard’ fireworks show also runs most of the year though the times and themes change depending on the season.  Fireworks set to music are set off behind Sleeping Beauty’s Castle for a truly beautiful display that our son really enjoyed! 

On a quick side-note: our family party included one person in a handicapped vehicle and for the most part we found Disney to be very accommodating to their special needs guests.  The parades and shows usually have special handicap seating areas for both the person in the vehicle and everyone else in their party.  If your trip will included anyone with handicap needs, be sure to check with a Cast Member a couple hours before show time to find out any special instructions.

Myself, my husband, and our two children, my parents, my sister, her husband, and their daughter at Disneyland, CA.

Growing up in Southern California my family and I had many opportunities to visit Disneyland.  I spent most of my teenage and early married years with annual passes to the Magic Kingdom so needless to say I thought I knew it inside and out.  However, on our recent family trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth”, (a trip with six adults, one preschooler, and two babies), I learned that Disneyland as a single person and Disneyland as a parent are two very different places.  Our vacation took us to parts of the Magic Kingdom that I’d rarely visited before but that quickly became favorite spots for our three-year old son.  Below I’ve highlighted some of the kid-friendly rides and attractions that we enjoyed the most during our vacation with The Mouse. 

1. Fantasyland-  The majority of the attractions in Fantasyland tell the stories of many of Disney’s most popular animated movies and include rides such as Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and the King Arthur Carrousel to name a few.  Since there are no height requirements for any of them they’re ideal for families with small children.  On our most recent trip to the park, we not only took our three-year old son on all of them but I also wore our then three-month old daughter on most of them as well.  

My sister, her husband, and their daughter on the King Arthur Carrousel in Fantasyland.

Our son enjoyed seeing some of his favorite Disney cartoons up close as we went through the rides and loved walking across the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty’s famous castle.  I have no doubt that when our daughter gets a bit older we won’t be able to drag her away from all the Princess themed stores and attractions!  

I do have a word of warning about Fantasyland though: our son did fine on all of the rides this year but many of them are in semi-darkness with characters that pop out as you ride by and on our last visit a year ago, some of the attractions scared him.  The witch in Snow White and some of the images in Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride particularly bothered him at that time.  We’ve found that most of our friends with children between the ages of about 1-2 1/2 years have similar issues so if you have a child that age or one who is a bit sensitive to that type of environment you might want to go on a test run without them first to make sure it’s okay!  

The only other thing to be aware of in Fantasyland are the long lines.  Since the rides are so kid-friendly, they’re on almost every family’s list when they come to the park.  The summer months, and the weeks surrounding the major holiday’s and school breaks are of course, the most crowded throughout Disneyland so make sure to keep that in mind when planning your trip! 

2.  Mickey’s Toontown- This section of the park, (added in 1993) is one of our son’s favorite places to visit since he can actually go into the houses of most of his favorite Disney characters.  Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Chip ‘n Dale all have interactive homes to walk through.  Our son particularly enjoyed Minnie’s house with the refrigerator loaded with food, the oven complete with baking cake, and the dishwasher full of bubbling water. He also enjoyed the tour of Mickey’s house where he got to meet Mickey at the end and have his picture taken!  Donald’s boat and Goofy’s Playhouse both have a playground feel to them with all the toys that can be played in, on, and around.  

My son and I in line for Autopia in Tomorrowland.

For older children, Toontown also has a small roller coaster called Gadget’s Go Coaster (from the Disney cartoon series “Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers”) but it does have a height requirement of at least 35”.  Though Toontown is at the very back of the park, the Disneyland Railroad makes a stop here providing a more restful way to get to your next destination.   

3.  Kid-friendly rides outside of Fantasyland- Though Fantasyland may be the most well-known spot for family attractions, there are a number of other rides throughout the park that also work well for young children.  In Adventureland there’s the Jungle Cruise; Critter Country has The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh; Frontierland has The Mark Twain Riverboat; New Orleans Square has Pirates of the Caribbean, and Tomorrowland has the Astro Orbitor, Finding Nemo Submarine, Voyage, Autopia, and Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, (a favorite with our son)!  

My husband and son on the Astro Orbitors in Tomorrowland.

All of the rides listed above have no height requirements which make them great for the whole family.  The fire engines, double-decker busses, or horse-drawn carriages on Main Street are also a lot of fun for little ones!  Then of course, there’s always the Disneyland Railroad which stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland and The Disneyland Monorail which circles the Resort and has stops at Tomorrowland and Downtown Disney.  These last two attractions are great ways to sit back and relax for a few minutes while still enjoying the Disney scenery.  If you’ve got strollers though, beware!  You either have to leave them behind at the monorail or the train station where you boarded.  The other option is to collapse the stroller and bring it along.  

 4.  Attractions other than rides- Rides are certainly one of the best parts about being at Disneyland, but there are a number of other attractions and activities for families to enjoy as well.  Tarzan’s Treehouse, located in Adventureland, is a fun place for kids to explore as is Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland, (accessed by taking a raft across the Rivers of America).  Parents of young children will want to stay close by on both of these attractions though, as little ones can get pushed aside by older kids or separated in the winding lay-outs.  Tomorrowland has Innoventions which houses a number of fun, interactive exhibits and also the Starcade, an arcade full of video games that can be played by kids of all ages.  

My son with Jesse (Toy Story) at Big Thunder Ranch.

On our last trip, our son especially enjoyed petting all the farm animals at Big Thunder Ranch located in Frontierland and the original Disney cartoons playing at the Main Street Cinema. 

Disneyland has so many fun rides, shows, and attractions that even after spending three days at the resort we still weren’t able to fit everything in.  We certainly had fun trying though! 

For more information on Disneyland, California including a complete list of rides, attractions, and height requirements, please visit their website the Disneyland Website where you can find a wealth of valuable information for your vacation.

Disneyland, California

On my family’s recent vacation to Disneyland—a trip that included six adults, one pre-schooler, and two babies—we learned a lot about making the Disney experience fun and relaxing while traveling with such a large group.  Here are a few more tips (see Disneyland Tips for Families with Children: Part I), that came in handy on our adventure to “The Happiest Place on Earth!” 

Pack extra everything to take into the parks with you 

This is so important if you’re traveling with young children.  You don’t want to have to make the long tram ride back to the parking structure for extra items, be forced into buying forgotten items in the park (which can get expensive), or even to make the relatively short walk back to one of the Disney hotels if you’re staying on-site.  We found it was always better to just come prepared for as much as possible.  Every morning my husband and I would emerge from our room with our stroller packed so tight it didn’t look like there was any room for a child to ride in it and a diaper bag so stuffed it looked like the zipper would snap.  My parents were in awe the first day of our trip as they couldn’t imagine why we could possibly need so much stuff.  Maybe it’s just my little family but we ended up using nearly everything we’d crammed in at one point or another.  

Our son and daughter all bundled up at Disneyland, California.

For a baby, of course all the essentials—diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, pacifiers, changes of clothes, blankets, sweaters—ended up being needed.  Our three-year old didn’t require as much but we still made sure to bring extra jackets, hats, and a full change of clothes each day.  While it’s probably obvious why our four-month old daughter needed a change of clothes, our three-year old son required them for different reasons.  Not only were there the occasional spills that soaked a shirt or pair of pants but some of the rides and attractions at the two Disney parks include water and can wet you through enough to make you uncomfortable if you’re stuck in them for very long.  If you have a recent potty-trainer, you’re likely to need a clean set of clothes as well!  

The weather in California can also be a factor as the temperature tends to vary, sometimes widely throughout the day.  The mornings were often a bit chilly so our kids would start off wearing sweaters.  Then as they day went on it would warm up and we would strip them down again (we found it was best to dress them in layers), then finally when night really set in it got downright cold and we would pile on the jackets, hats, gloves, and blankets.  We were visiting in early November, but the weather during the summer can be just as uncertain; it may stay hot for most of the day but when the sun sets, a light jacket is often a required essential.  Both parks do have lockers, so if you find you’ve just got too much to carry, you can always rent a locker for the day and come back to it as needed.  

Now for a quick word of warning… for the past several years Disneyland has had security checkpoints that everyone must pass through (even those staying in their hotels), before you can enter the parks.  The list of prohibited items are fairly common sense—weapons, alcohol, fireworks, etc—but an employee will have you open all bags and purses that you are carrying for inspection before they will clear you.  Although I have never once been told I was carrying a prohibited item, having to undo all my carefully packed bags before entering the parks is always a hassle.  Be prepared for it before you go! 

Bring Snacks 

Bringing along snacks are another important tip for families traveling with little children.  Disneyland and California Adventure both have so many places to eat and so many options for snacks that you can’t walk more than ten feet without running into one.  Unfortunately, they’re usually pretty expensive, not to mention they’re not accessible when stranded in line for a ride.  We carried small, easy snacks and drinks with us including fruit snacks, granola bars, crackers, bottled water and juice—and kept them in a bag where we could get to them quickly even in line.  This helped cut down significantly on our son’s cranky episodes if he was hungry between meals.  It also cut down on our expenses since we were able to save so much money on food!  It’s important to know however, that while snacks and drinks are okay to take into the parks, full meals are not allowed beyond the entrances.  Picnic areas are available right outside the Disneyland gates just beyond the ticket booths.  There are also lockers here where all your food can be stowed until you’re ready to eat.  You will have to leave the parks to access your food again so make sure you get your hand stamped before leaving so you can re-enter when you’re done! 

Our son with his stroller at Disneyland, California.

Strollers 

When I was a teenager with an Annual Pass to the Disney parks, I thought strollers were an abomination; I couldn’t take two steps without being smacked in the shins, whacked in the ankles, or nearly run over by one of them.  Of course I vehemently swore I would never enter Disneyland pushing one of the accursed things, no matter what.  Yes well, fast forward ten or so years and I’ve changed my mind a bit.  I still have the same painful run-ins with other people’s strollers, but I’m afraid they are a necessity when visiting the parks with young children.  

For those who don’t want to haul their own strollers through their entire vacation or don’t want to drag them on and off the tram twice a day, Disneyland does offer stroller rentals—$15/day for one stroller and $25/day for two.  We considered this option for our family trip, but we ultimately chose to bring our own.  If we’d been staying at a hotel off the Disney property we might have rented instead, but staying on site makes it much more convenient.  We did end up with a flat tire one day, but we took our stroller up to the rental area outside the main gates and they were gracious enough to inflate the tire for us at no cost!  

We chose to bring our standard stroller instead of our jogging stroller because of the width.  We find it much easier to squeeze into the stroller parking areas with the more narrow frame.  We also found that many of the restaurants don’t allow them to be brought inside, not to mention the inability to bring them along on the rides.  Some of the shows and attractions—such as Playhouse Disney—also prohibits the use of strollers inside, so be prepared. There is a designated stroller parking area available just outside each of these attractions, and although we never experienced any problems with theft, we always make sure to take our valuables with us.  

The type of stroller you take, or the decision on whether or not to rent will of course depend on what works best for your family.  The number of children in tow, nap requirements, or children that need long breaks from walking are all factors to consider.  I chose to carry our then four-month old daughter in a sling for most of the trip so that our three-year old son could ride when he wanted; we knew he was probably still too young for all the walking.  Extending the seat back allowed him to sleep comfortably as we pressed on with our day’s plans.  For more information on Disney stroller rentals please visit their website at www.Disneyland.disney.go.com.  

Hopefully these Disneyland tips will help your family enjoy your Disney vacation as much as they helped my family enjoy ours!

Disneyland, Anaheim California

My family and I have enjoyed visiting Disneyland many times throughout my life, our recent trip to the Magic Kingdom was the first with two babies and one preschooler in tow.  Traveling with six adults and three young children made our Disney experience a bit different from others we’ve had but we enjoyed every minute of our family adventure and learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t when visiting the “Happiest Place on Earth” with children!  Below are a few of the tips we found to be most beneficial when visiting Disneyland with a large family group 

Plan ahead  

There’s nothing worse than taking a huge family vacation only to be met with unwelcome surprises upon arrival.  Discovering that your son’s favorite ride is closed or that the special show you were planning on seeing won’t be playing during your stay can put a damper on your trip from the start.  Fortunately, Disney is great at helping you make the most of your family vacation.  They provide practically every tool required to plan your trip on their website (www.disneyland.disney.go.com), and any questions you may still have left can be easily answered with a quick phone call to one of their knowledgeable Cast Members, (the fancy name Disney gives its employees).  

When my family and I were in the planning stages of our adventure we visited the website frequently to check on park schedules, parade and show times, ride closures, and special events taking place in the park during our stay.  We also searched the Disney hotels to find one that would work for us.  We learned a lot about the extras and perks that were extended to guests staying at one of the park’s hotels—things such as early entrance hours, special breakfasts, and show tickets.  We were able to research one of their newer shows (The Wonderful World of Color) and learn what time it would be playing and where we would get our FASTPASSES; this helped us decide what night of our trip we would set aside to see it as a family.  We discovered that when traveling with a large family group and/or small children, it really was best to plan as much of the trip ahead as possible; it helped make our vacation relaxing and enjoyable rather than anxious and frustrating. 

Photo courtesy of dlp.info.

Take advantage of the Disney FASTPASSES  

This is something Disney added to their parks a little over a decade ago and we found it to be extremely helpful when traveling with our children.  FASTPASSES are essentially place-holders in line.  Some of the more popular attractions at Disneyland can have a Stand-By wait time of well over two hours and trying to keep young children occupied during that length of time can be rather daunting.  By obtaining a Disney FASTPASS, you’ll be able to leave and enjoy other attractions in the park then return to go on the ride later that day without having to stand in the long line.  For example: If you arrive at the Stand-By line for Space Mountain at 10:00 AM and find the wait is two hours, you can step over to the FASTPASS distribution booth and obtain a FASTPASS, (you will need to insert your park ticket into the machine first to be scanned).  Once you’ve been given your FASTPASS, you’ll see it has been stamped with a return time and will say something like “return between 12:30-1:30 PM.”  That means that anytime between the hour specified on your FASTPASS you can return, go through the FASTPASS entrance, have a Cast Member verify you are there during the correct time, and go on the ride without having to wait for two hours.  

Even though the FASTPASS line often still has a wait associated with it, it’s always significantly less than going through Stand-By; in all the years I’ve been going to Disneyland, I’ve never waited more than twenty minutes in a FASTPASS line.  It was especially useful this time as our three-year old was far more anxious to get out of a long line than he was to go on the ride at the end of it.  Some of the more kid-friendly rides with FASTPASS distribution include Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Autopia, and Splash Mountain.  For a complete list of rides and attractions that include FASTPASS distribution, check the Disney website at www.disneyland.disney.go.com. 

Know the rides’ height requirements and restrictions 

Our three-year old was nearing the age and height that would allow him to go on a lot more of Disney’s attractions on our recent trip.  Before we left, I checked the height requirements and any restrictions on each of the rides I thought he’d most like to go on.  While there aren’t many limitations on the Fantasy Land rides, many of the other rides in the park have minimum height requirements.  Some rides allow a child under the height requirement to ride as long as they are accompanied by an adult while others don’t permit children under the requirement to ride at all.  By knowing the list of rides our son could go on before we got to the two Disney parks, we were able to save him and ourselves disappointment and frustration.  

In addition to minimum height regulations, there are also other restrictions that should be noted for those with special needs or conditions.  Many of the roller coaster-type rides carry their own warnings though they usually apply to expectant mothers and people who suffer from severe heart problems.  Still, if you have any doubts make sure to check out the rides before you go.  Since one member of our party used a handicap vehicle on this trip, it was also nice to know how each ride dealt with their handicap entrances.  Some rides allow for wheelchairs and scooters to go through the line like everyone else while others ask you to take your entire party and go through the ride’s exit for assistance.  Of course you can always ask once you get to the ride, (the Cast Members were always more than helpful) but it was nice to have a general idea before we left! 

Storytellers Cafe at California Adventure Hotel. Photo courtesy of Disneyfoodblog.com

Make Reservations where possible 

This is especially important when traveling in a large group or when you’re with young children.  Making reservations for dining and shows ensures you won’t be adding another thing to wait for during your day.  It also means you won’t arrive at the restaurant or attraction you’ve been planning on only to find you can’t participate without a reservation.  There are several restaurants in both Disneyland and California Adventure that will seat you only if you’ve made a reservation.  Also, some of the shows—such as The Wonderful World of Color—can only be experienced if you have a reservation or FASTPASS.  You don’t need to wait until you’re actually in the parks to be able to make your reservations; Disney Dining can set up your meal plans before you ever leave your house.  Our group decided to wait until we checked into our hotel before making our dining plans but once we arrived, we quickly set up reservations for one of our dinners and our Character Dining experience.  Knowing that we could show up as a party of nine (with three little kids), and have no waiting or problems made our experience that much better! 

Next Article:  Disneyland Tips for Families with Children: Part II

My sister and her daughter, my Dad, my son and daughter, and myself at Disney's Grand Californian.

We stayed at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa and found it to be a truly beautiful hotel with all the amenities of a resort.  Though my sister did have to make a quick run for more baby formula (the Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks do sell formula in their baby centers but only carry one brand), we were able to obtain everything else we needed without ever having to leave the Disney property.  The hotel contains two different shops where a variety of toiletries, over-the-counter medications, clothing items, and food can be purchased.  Each guest room also has a small refrigerator which was perfect since we were able to buy milk and a number of other refrigerated items to keep on hand for our 3-year old’s meals and snacks.  

Guest Laundry room at the Grand Californian.

We also found a number of other amenities that made staying at the hotel as comfortable (if not more so), than being at home!  At the end of our hall we discovered a guest laundry room complete with washers and dryers (for those who would rather not use the hotel’s laundry service), a small room with large guest trash cans (perfect for all those diapers!), and a room containing ice and vending machines.  Nearby we also found a set of doors leading to a beautiful courtyard with two barbeques and umbrella-covered tables.  One of the little restaurant/stores—White Water Snacks—sold a variety of items that would be perfect for an evening barbeque.  It also had a selection of food that could be cooked either in one of their guest-use microwaves or in the kitchen of one of the larger guest Villas.  

Photo courtesy of disneyfoodblog.com.

When we weren’t interested in eating in our rooms, the hotel had two different restaurants to choose from.  The one that we ate at most often was the Storytellers Café; it was more casual and definitely more “kid-friendly” than the upper scale Napa Rose restaurant.  Though I have to admit that most of the dining options on the Disneyland property are pretty expensive, the food was quite good.  The Storytellers Café will run you between $15-20 a plate but unfortunately that’s pretty common at the Magic Kingdom.  The great thing about that particular restaurant however, was that the pricing for the a la carte items was not much less than the pricing for their all-you-can-eat buffet which was extremely good.  Our son was young enough that he was allowed to share food with us without having to order his own plate so the buffet worked out well.  Though Storytellers does take walk-ins it’s best to call Disney Dining (either before your trip or direct from your room) to make a reservation, especially if you’re traveling with a larger group like we were.  The night we checked in I called and made reservations for that same evening and our table was ready for us when we arrived.  

My husband, son, and daughter with Chip at the Character Breakfast in the Storyteller's Cafe.

We also ate at the Café before checking out on our last morning there.  Since it’s one of the Disney restaurants that offers Character Dining, we figured our son would enjoy one more Disney experience before going home.  That particular morning there were seven different characters present, all making the rounds while everyone ate.  They stopped at each table, taking time for pictures and hugs and our 3-year old loved watching to see which one would come over next.  He especially loved seeing Chip and Dale!  About half way through our breakfast (we’d opted for the buffet again), a Disney Cast Member acting as a nature guide had all the kids line up for a parade around the restaurant.  Joined by several of the Characters, the kids skipped, jumped, and danced through all the tables.  Our son thoroughly enjoyed being part of the show!  At the end, they handed out buttons to everyone who had participated.  There was no extra cost to participate in the Character Dining option and the experience was definitely worth it!  I have to admit the adults in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying it every bit as much as the kids; I know that’s how it was in our group anyway! 

My sister and her daughter, my mom with my daughter, and my son with Kenai (Brother Bear) at the Storyteller's Cafe.

In addition to all the great food at the Grand Californian, the hotel also offers a variety of entertainment options.  There’s a tour of the hotel highlighting the Arts and Crafts style workmanship, a scavenger hunt which takes place inside the hotel every day at 4:00pm, (though we were never able to attend one I was told they were great for families), a full arcade, and a licensed babysitting facility called Pinocchio’s Workshop for parents who’d like a night out.  This service is available every evening for children ages 5-12 and provides them with art projects, Disney movies, games, and food.  On certain evenings, there are sing-alongs or camp stories around the beautiful indoor fireplace.  

Babysitting service at the Grand Californian

Our son enjoyed stopping one night to listen to the performer singing while playing his guitar.  At one point, he even invited all the children in the group to come up and sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” with him.  Then there’s the large flat screen television just outside the check-in area that plays a constant stream of original Disney cartoons.  A group of kid’s sized chairs and rockers sit around the television and together they offer the perfect distraction for the children of tired parents who just want to sit and enjoy the beauty of the magnificent lobby. During the day, a pianist sits at the Grand Piano near the fireplace and plays all the favorite Disney songs for those taking a break on one of the comfortable couches or chairs, or for those just passing through. 

Arcade at the Grand Californian.

The Grand Californian also has three large pools to choose from—including one with a water slide—and two Jacuzzis.  The pool facilities offer complimentary float vests for children who aren’t quite swimmers yet, as long as they’re accompanied by an adult.  I tried one of the Jacuzzis the second night we were there and found they kept them at about bath temperature which meant younger children could enjoy them too.  I had our son come out to join me and we had a great time splashing around with all the bubbles while watching the light from the World of Color show going on at the California Adventure theme park next door! 

My son enjoying the cartoons in the lobby of the Grand Californian.

Finally, for adults who would like a break, the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa does indeed have a spa.  The Mandara Spa offers a variety of services, therapies, and massages to relax muscles worn out from dashing to rides all day.  And if being dragged across two different theme parks isn’t enough exercise, the hotel also offers fully equipped exercise facilities as well. 

From start to finish our stay at the Grand Californian was absolutely wonderful.  Their customer service was exceptional and lived up to the standards one would expect from Disney.  It was probably the most kid-friendly resort I’ve ever stayed at and certainly made the whole Disney experience much more relaxing.  At the end of a long day, we were able to simply walk across the park and straight into our rooms for a comfortable night’s sleep before doing it all over again the next day.  It is an experience we definitely hope to repeat soon! 

Photo courtesy of disneyland.disney.go.com.

For more information on Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, please visit their website at Disneyland.disney.go.com, then select the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa from the “Places to Stay” tab.

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Photo courtesy of flickr.com.

On our recent trip to Disneyland—a trip that included my husband, myself, our two children, my parents, my sister, her husband, and their baby—we had the opportunity to stay at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa (thanks Dad)!  Having spent the majority of our lives living in California and of course going to Disneyland, we were quite familiar with the beautiful hotel though it was not someplace we’d ever stayed.  After a trip to Disneyland last year where we’d all stayed at hotels not on Disney property, we decided that next time the best way to have a stress-free visit would be to stay at one of the Disneyland hotels.  Since my parents have somewhat limited mobility and since we also now had two new babies in tow, we felt the Grand Californian was the best option.  It sits between Disney’s California Adventure on one side and Downtown Disney on the other with entrances and exits on both ends.  With such easy and convenient access, it ended up being the perfect choice; we didn’t have to worry about hauling strollers in and out of cars, the additional fees and hassle of the parking structure or trams, or all the extra walking for my parents! 

My Dad, my husband, son, daughter, and myself at the Grand Californian.

Our trip started with the planning process which Disney makes easy with a quick click of the mouse.  The Disneyland website allowed me to check park hours, see which attractions would be closed, and find out the entertainment schedule for parades and shows.  It also allowed me to check pricing on tickets and dining plans.  Though we decided not to add a dining plan on this trip, being able to add the tickets into one, overall price was great!  While the entire process from planning to booking can be done online, I called the reservations number found on their website to complete our reservations.  The Cast Member who helped me solidify our plans was extremely helpful and even compared prices for me for a variety of dates.  We booked standard rooms and were given the option of either two queens or one king.  Since we were traveling as a large family we also had the option of requesting near-by or adjoining rooms.  Once our reservations were made, I received an e-mail with my confirmation number as well as information on the hotel and its policies.  The more I learned about it, the more perfect it seemed for the needs of my family! 

Lobby of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Photo courtesy of hubpages.com

Loading up two cars with six adults, one preschooler, two babies, three car seats, two strollers, and a mountain of luggage took a bit of work, but once we pulled up to the Grand Californian, we didn’t have to worry about it again.  They offer valet parking complete with bellhop services and attendants came to our cars immediately to unload everything onto big carts and whisk our cars away.  We stepped through the beautiful stained-glass doors and into the towering lobby of the Arts and Crafts style hotel.  It was magnificent both inside and out with a number of large, stone fireplaces and beautifully kept grounds.  It was surprisingly warm and inviting for such a large structure and somehow made us feel like we’d entered some kind of cozy retreat.  My son immediately spotted the television playing original Disney cartoons and sat down in one of the miniature chairs to watch them while we got checked-in.  As part of the process, we were given all the park tickets for our stay so we never needed to stand in line at the ticket booth! Once we’d received our keys, we headed straight to our rooms where we then called the bellhop service for our luggage; it was delivered within a matter of minutes.  

Our room at the Grand Californian.

While we waited for our bags to arrive we looked over our rooms.  We were all next door to each other and the rooms my parents and sister’s family were given were adjoining.  We’d been placed in a quiet wing on the ground floor and our sliding glass doors all opened onto small patios which looked onto the backside of the California Adventure theme park.  Since a small sidewalk was accessible from our patios it was as easy to simply knock on each other’s back doors as it was to go through the hallway!  I’d requested a room with two queen beds for my little family and it was beautiful!  An armoire with a refrigerator, large flat screen television, DVD player, and camera/video game hook-ups sat next to a table with two chairs.  The table was the perfect spot for my husband (who was taking a working vacation), to set up his lap top since the hotel-provided internet access was conveniently located there.  A nightstand complete with alarm clock sat between the two beds which were lit with sconces on either end of the bed posts.  Separate switches allowed for different lighting control for the two beds which was perfect for bedtime with our kids!  

Our room at the Grand Californian.

The bathroom/dressing area was large with a beautiful vanity providing two sinks, a large framed mirror, toiletries, hair dryer, and under the counter storage.  Connected to the dressing area was the actual bathroom with a large shower/tub combination.  The closet contained an iron and ironing board, a luggage rack, safe, and two super comfy bathrobes; it even had a pack-n-play since our reservations included babies!  With all the attention to detail, even the standard rooms made us feel like we were living in luxury!  In fact they were so comfortable that even heading back to them for kids’ naps or a quick break made us feel like we were still enjoying the Disney experience rather than missing out on the fun of the parks.   

The Grand Californian offers 24-hour room service which can be ordered from an extensive menu.  A breakfast card with a variety of food options is also found in each room and can be filled out and left on the door the night before.  The next morning your breakfast will be delivered to you during the times that you’ve specified on the card.  This was one of the amenities my parents took advantage of and really enjoyed!  My sister and her husband also found it to be perfect after a long night with a cranky baby!  

Our goodnight treats at the Grand Californian.

In the evenings when we’d return from a full day at the parks, we’d find our beds turned down, the lights adjusted, and chocolate coins on the table for a last, goodnight treat.  And despite their proximity to the theme park, our rooms were extremely quiet; with the patio doors closed we never heard a sound from the roller coasters or park visitors that were so close by. 

When it finally came time for us to head back home, the bellhop services were there to take our luggage again and help us get it all loaded back into the cars which the valet brought around.  In all the commotion of packing everyone back inside for the trip home, our son left one of his toys sitting outside in the valet parking area.  Fortunately we realized we’d left it before we’d gone more than a couple of miles and a quick phone call to the hotel ensured that it was waiting safely for us when we returned.  One of the workers was kind enough to run out and grab it after our call to make sure that it wouldn’t be taken! 

Truly, our stay at the Grand Californian made the entire Disney experience one of our most memorable family vacations!