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13 Tips for Taking a Baby to Disneyland

13 Tips for Taking a Baby to Disneyland
 

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Guest Blogger

Planning a trip to Disneyland with a newborn or baby isn’t as hard or stressful as you might think. Disney has made it easier for parents to take their newborns and babies and still enjoy the happiest place on earth.

With these tips for going to Disneyland with your infant, you are sure to have a fun and happy experience.

One of the best reasons you’ll want to take your baby to Disneyland is because they are free before age 3.

This will save you hundreds alone on a ticket. So, you can bring your 2-month-old, 4-month-old, or even 2-year-old child for no cost!

I’ve taken my baby to Disneyland since he was as little as one month, and then again over 9 times before the age of two. In that time, I learned what really works for taking a baby to Disney.

 

Disneyland With Baby

 

Baby Wearing Is Essential

As of March 2019, Disneyland’s stroller policy stated that they will “Start to ban strollers that are larger than 31” inches in width and 52” inches in length and all wagon strollers.”

For this reason, you should plan to bring your favorite baby carrier and use it throughout the day.

Make sure you and your partner are taking turns wearing baby, so both of you can enjoy the park equally.
 


 

Pack Your Diaper Bag Accordingly

Taking a diaper backpack will make things much easier for you. Bring two main bags:

1. Your big diaper backpack with all the essentials listed below

2. A smaller bag where you can have your valuables (wallets, phones, chargers) to carry on every ride.

 

Here are some of the essential items to take each time you go to Disneyland with your baby

  • Sunscreen – the California sun is always hot
  • Diapers
  • Extra socks (for parents and baby/newborn)
  • Formula
  • Pumped Breast Milk
  • Hand Breast Pump (if you are exclusively pumping)
  • Swaddle – used as a shade cover
  • Small Blanket
  • Wipes
  • Bottles
  • Baby Food
  • Water Bottles

 

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Bringing a Stroller to Disneyland vs. Renting One at The Park

If your regular stroller doesn’t meet the new guidelines, try renting a park stroller. Disney no longer rents out the green, hard plastic strollers in Disneyland and Disneyland California Adventure.

They have upgraded them to a blue, slightly leaner stroller. The strollers are better looking and more comfortable for baby, especially if your little one can sit up on their own.

The new strollers are easier for baby to nap in now and have a little better coverage from the sun than the previous ones. It is an extra $15 per day to rent, so make some room in your budget if you plan to go this route.

Ultimately $15 a day may be worth the cost of traveling without a stroller to the park.

If you do plan to rent a stroller you can go straight to the stroller rental on the Disneyland side before entering the gates and showing your ticket. It is on the right-hand side of the entrances to Disneyland.

 

Disneyland Baby Care Center

Not a lot of people know that Disney and Disney California Adventure have Baby Care Centers. Think of them like luxury nursing rooms. These places are amazing, especially if you’re still breastfeeding a newborn baby. They even have air conditioning!

The Baby Care Center in Disneyland is located at the end of Main Street USA near the best corn dog stand. The one in Disney California Adventure is located by the Ghirardelli Soda & Chocolate Shop.

Inside the Baby Care Center you’ll find things like formula, diapers, wipes, rooms where you can breastfeed or pump, and restrooms and changing tables for families.

Because a lot of moms don’t know about this place, it usually isn’t crowded. This means you can take a few minutes and refresh yourself with the air conditioning and get some quiet time to help baby relax from all the excitement outside.
 
How to conquer Disney with an infant baby
 

Rent a Hotel Nearby Disneyland Resort

If you’re not a Southern California resident or live further than you’d like, the best thing you can do is get a hotel room that is close to the parks.

If your little one starts to get fussy, your feet become tired, or your baby spits up all over you (it’s happened), you can easily go back to your hotel room. Just think about how easy it would make it to relax, change, take a nap, or freshen up.

 

Disneyland Rides for Infants

Any ride that has the pregnancy warning and height requirements are obvious rides you want to avoid taking baby on. But there are plenty you can still go on with your baby.

 

Here is a complete list of rides that are safe for infants and toddlers.

  • Pirates of the Caribbean – you can keep baby in sling / baby carrier
  • The Jungle Cruise
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • “It’s A Small World” – long ride, fresh air conditioning, you can do a full nursing session here
  • Dumbo The Flying Elephant
  • Storybook Land Canal’s
  • Peter Pan’s Flight – lines are always long here so try going here first
  • Visit the Characters Homes in Mickey’s Toontown
  • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • Disney’s Monorail – you can’t take a stroller on this one and no air conditioning
  • Disney Railroad
  • Casey Jr’s Circus Train
  • Nemo’s Submarine Voyage – you can keep baby in sling, but space is very tight in the sub
  • Haunted Mansion – no dips or high speeds

 

Also, make it a mission to find characters and take pictures with your baby or toddler.

Remember if you’re not sure if your baby can go on a certain ride, always ask a cast member at Disneyland. They take safety very seriously and can give you lots of reasonable ride options to go on.

Pro Tip: Try going to a lot of the shows. This gives you some time to sit and relax in between waiting in line for rides. If you do go to a show, bring a snack since you’ll be sitting.

 

Disney California Adventure Approved Rides for Babies and Toddlers

Most families avoid going to Disney California Adventure because they see it as a grown-up version of Disneyland (less kid rides, and more booze).

Turns out they actually have a few fun things to do with your baby while you grab that margarita!
 
Here is a complete list of rides that are safe for infants and toddlers:

  • The Little Mermaids – Under Sea Adventure
  • Toy Story Midway Mania – super fun – baby can go on your lap, mind the lap bar
  • Pixar Pal-A-Round – always go for a non-swinging gondola if your baby is a newborn
  • Frozen – Live at the Hyperion
  • Disney Juniors – Live on Stage
  • King Tritons Carousel

 

Use the Disneyland App

Using the app is a great way to see where the nearest restrooms are, what food is on the menu of a near by food stop, and best of all — real life wait times for every attraction!

You can also scan your park pass. When you go take a picture with a character – hand your park pass to the camera man and you’ll be able to view it on the app!

It will have a water mark on it, but if you’d like you can purchase the images straight from your phone!

 

Related Articles:
The Best Developmental Toys for 1-3 Year Olds
How to Get the Most Out of 3 Day Potty Boot Camp
5 Ways to Increase Social Development in Toddlers

 

How to Keep Your Baby Busy While in Line

The one thing you will do more than anything else at Disneyland is wait in lines. It can’t be avoided.
 
Here is a break down on how and things to do when your little one gets fussy while in line:

  • Offer snacks to help calm baby – think light foods that will hold them over and keep them busy for a few minutes
  • Play family games – I spy, seek colors, hidden Mickey search
  • Use your phone – we try to limit YouTube, but when you have a fussy baby in a crowded line where you still have 30 minutes to go – using your phone to play relaxing music and lullaby’s really help
  • Sit on the ground with them

 

And no, grandma cannot go and walk around with baby while you wait in line and then come back when you are in the front.

Most of the time the lines are long, so for grandma to go back and find you – it can be a hassle.

And a lot of people will get really irritated if multiple family members cut through the line while they did their dues and waited.

 

Rides for a Baby at Disneyland

 

Using the Rider Switch Service

Did you really want to go on Space Mountain, but you can’t because baby doesn’t meet the height requirements?

If you want to go on the big rides, I have an easy solution for you. You can use the Rider Switch Service. What this means is one parent will ride on the ride, then you will “switch” and the other parent can ride on the ride without waiting in the entire long line.
 
Here are easy steps to use the rider switch on attractions. This is also perfect if you go with older kids who don’t want to miss out on the bigger rides.

  • Go to the ride attendant in the very front of the line (before going in line)
  • Ask them if the ride has the rider switch service
  • Your family then goes on the ride while you wait with baby (outside of the ride) – this can be anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour depending on which ride your family went on
  • When they get out of the ride – you and (3 more guest) can then go on the ride
  • You will then leave baby with the family that just rode the attraction
  • Then you’ll go into the Fast Pass lane or ride exit (depending which ride you’ll be going on), don’t worry the ride attendant will let you know when you get the rider switch pass

Now you will go through the line queue at a faster pace. The rider switch service basically acts as a Fast Pass for the second group of guests who use it.

 

Related Posts:
What to Do With a One Month Old Baby All Day Long
Top Outdoor Games for Toddlers
How to Get Your Toddler to Stop Hitting

 

Take Advantage of Family Restrooms

If you need to change baby’s diaper, I highly suggest you wait in the family restroom line.

It may take longer, but you can also use the restroom, change baby, and not feel rushed that someone else needs the changing table.

 

Don’t Worry About Baby’s Nap Schedule

I know you love that your baby takes a full 2-hour nap mid-afternoon. Don’t freak out if they don’t take that nap or if they take more naps throughout the day at the park.

I’m not sure if it is all the stimulation, but my son will nap multiple times when we go to the park instead of his regular one large nap in the day.

A few days of a different nap schedule should not effect your baby’s typical schedule.

 

Be Aware of Anaheim, California Traffic Times

Disneyland is located near traffic backups near rush hour. If you decide you want to leave the park early, try to leave before 2 p.m. Don’t make it out by that time? The second-best time to leave is 7 p.m. when the work traffic has died down.

If you’re not familiar with the local traffic in Anaheim, you might find yourself crying in your car as you wait 30+ minutes to go 3 miles. And no, that is not an exaggeration.

You would be better off staying at the park an extra 2 hours than waiting in the car all that time.

 

These are the best tips for taking infants to Disneyland to actually the park. Remember to baby wear, pack your bag accordingly, rent a stroller, and use the Baby Care Center locations.

Don’t forget to use the app and best of all have fun and take a ton of pictures – soon you’ll want to go back!

Remember to bookmark or pin this page for when you get to Disney for an easy access list to all the rides you can ride with your baby!

 

About Guest Blogger RosauraGuest BloggerRosaura is the mom behind the blog Crafty Motherfather. Her focus is to help new pregnant and postpartum moms thrive in motherhood. If you’d like to learn more about baby hacks, postpartum care and really create the motherhood you’ve envisioned join her mom community here!

 

Interested in becoming a guest poster on Journey to SAHM? Read all the details here and send a message over!

 

 


 

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Cynthia

Friday 7th of June 2019

I can’t wait to take our kids to Disney. The baby care center sounds like it’s needed everywhere!

Nicole Kauffman

Monday 3rd of June 2019

Great tips! I can't imagine, it must be tough! But these look so helpful!

Erin Misenar

Friday 31st of May 2019

I have only been to Disneyworld - but agreed front carrier and lots of wipes.

Kristin B Cook

Friday 31st of May 2019

I love that you gave a list of rides where toddlers and babies can be on the rides too. That is a handy thing to know! I didn't realize that Disney rents out strollers, either!