There are two sides to every trip to Disneyland with kids: the magic of the moment, and the (much less magical) reality of parenting.
While we’re totally aware that there will be overpriced churros, tired feet, and probably a meltdown or two, we’re not about to let any of that pull the sparkle from anyone’s eyes.
Are you with me?!
Well, not to brag, but we’re pretty sure we’ve found the ultimate secret to a really happy Disney trip.
For every single one of us.
(And there are 6 of us… so that’s kind of a big deal!)
Disneyland (with Kids) Isn’t What We Thought it Was
The hubs and I were psyched the first time we planned a trip to Disneyland with our kids. We’d both grown up visiting the parks, and had wonderful memories of going as kids.
But we had no idea what to expect when we took our own littles to the parks!
Missing the Point
Day one of our trip was fun, but, if I’m honest, it wasn’t what we’d dreamed of.
My husband Steve loves the fast rides–he was totally in it to hit the roller coasters with his kids, to introduce them to the big drop of Splash Mountain and the blackout thrill of Space Mountain.
I was geared up to introduce them to my favorite childhood rides, eat yummy foods, and enjoy strolling through the magical atmosphere.
But the kids didn’t seem to be living the dream the way we thought they would.
How were we not feeling the magic at the Happiest Place on Earth?
My #1 Tip for Disneyland with Kids
On the second day, Steve struck gold–and figured out the secret to doing Disneyland with kids.
This is the #1 thing I tell friends when they ask for Disney tips–a simple mindset that changes everything.
That day, Steve looked at me as we walked through the Disneyland with our four-pack of kids, and told me he thought we’d been doing it wrong.
“We’ve been trying to get them to love our Disneyland,” he said, “but we need to figure out what their Disneyland is.”
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Finding Our Kids’ Disneyland
This probably seems like a no-brainer at first–but it actually takes some observation and flexibility to pull it off.
And when you do?
MAGIC.
When we plan Disney as parents, we tend to fixate on a few specific experiences:
- Going on the rides,
- Meeting the characters, and
- Having a special “experience” (a parade, a character breakfast, a visit to the Bibidi-Bobidi-Boutique, etc.)
While it is totally possible that our kids could like any and all of these things, keeping our eyes on those particular prizes can mean missing out on the the unique things each child falls in love with.
The things we thought would be our kids’ dream come true weren’t what they loved the most.
And honestly, some of the things that made the trip magical for them kind of came out of left field.
If we hadn’t been watching for them, we would have missed it.
Or worse–dismissed their magic moments as something “we could do anywhere.”
Disneyland with Kids–Through Their Eyes
On one of our early trips to Disneyland, I made a list of what our kids’ favorite things about the trip were–their personal brand of Disney magic.
These are (mostly) not the things I would have planned, but they made the trip for our kids.
Our 18-month-old loved:
- Playing with bushes and foliage,
- Her (impulse buy) Mickey Mouse bubble wand,
- Walking up and down stairs over and over with her daddy, and
- Refusing to eat anything that resembled healthy food.
Our 4-year-old loved:
- Playing with the giant ball in Tomorrowland,
- Wearing pink Minnie mouse ears,
- Riding in a PINK teacup (must be pink, please),
- Dancing in bubbles from her baby sister’s wand,
- Meeting characters,
- Hugging us a lot, and
- Eating snacks from her own personal fanny pack.
Our 7-year-old loved:
- Reading the Disneyland map and directing us where to go,
- Eating snacks from his fanny pack,
- Popping bubbles with a toy lightsaber,
- Trading pins, and
- Going on Astro Blasters three times.
Our 9-year-old loved:
- Going on fast rides with one parent,
- Shopping for the perfect souvenir,
- Hunting for trading pins for her collection, and
- Getting some one-on-one time with her dad or me.
You Make it “the Happiest Place on Earth”
There are plenty of amazing things about Disney–gorgeous ambiance, friendly cast members, clean streets and bathrooms, and a myriad fantastic experiences.
But the only thing that can really make it “the Happiest Place on Earth” for your family is if you decide to make that happen.
You can rush through the park trying to get every dollar’s worth of ride time, no matter the cost.
Or you can sit down while your 2-year-old runs 100 consecutive circles around the Toon Town fountain, and soak up that huge joyful grin on her face.
You know which one I’d recommend. ๐
Happy Disney-ing, friends!
xo,
Jamie
p.s. Here are the must-haves to pack in your Disney bag, and 10 more Disneyland tips for parents!
