Hey Everyone, it’s Kimberly with Get Away Today. I LOVE talking about Disneyland. One of the topics that I like to discuss is what to do at Disneyland for kids 3 and under. One of the questions our agents get at the office is how young is too young to go to Disneyland. As a mom of three kids ages four and under, I don’t think there is such a thing as too young for Disneyland.

Of course I’ve heard the arguments… There’s nothing they can ride. They won’t enjoy it. It’s too much work. They’re not going to remember.

First of all, there is SO much that kids of any age can ride. Second, I assure you, your kids, even babies, will enjoy it. Third, I’ll admit, it is a lot of work to take babies and toddlers to Disneyland. But, it’s hard to take them anywhere! And nobody makes it easier for families with small kids than Disney. Finally, your kids may be too young to remember, but YOU will remember. Some of my favorite Disneyland memories are when my kids were super little and enjoying everything for the first time. And truth be told, even my four-year-old loves to go back and see pictures of himself as a baby at Disneyland. Not to mention, kids ages two and under get into Disneyland for free, so why not take them?

Today I’ve broken down some of my favorite things to do at Disneyland with kids 3 and under. I’ve put everything into one of three categories; rides, shows and dining. There are so many options between Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney, and even the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. I hope it inspires you to take your kids to Disneyland, no matter how young they may be.

Disneyland Rides For Kids 3 and Under

First thing first, there are a lot of rides with no height requirements. As a bonus, many of these smaller attractions are next to larger attractions. This is especially helpful if you are traveling with older kids who want to ride the “big kid rides.” All 12 rides in Fantasyland have no height requirement, minus the Matterhorn, so it’s a great first stop for families with small kids. Other great rides for all ages in Disneyland include the Disneyland Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters. Disney California Adventure Park also has a few of my favorite rides for all ages. The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Monsters Inc., Mike and Sully to the Rescue are awesome. “a bug’s land” is amazing for little kids, especially with rides like Flik’s Flyers and Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train. UPDATE: On March 22, 2018, it was announced that ‘a bug’s land’ will close “late summer 2018” to make way for a Marvel Land scheduled to open in 2020. It looks like Flik’s Flyers will be heading to Pixar Pier, so I expect that more kids’ rides will be available.

Entertainment at Disneyland for Kids 3 and Under

The Disneyland Resort is full of entertainment at every turn. So much of the entertainment is fun for the whole family. I love Mickey and the Magical Map, which is a 20 minute show in Disneyland. Frozen Live at the Hyperion in California Adventure is another favorite. This show is nearly an hour long, but it is a fast paced retelling of the film. If your toddlers love the music from Frozen, they’ll love it. As a bonus, it’s in an air conditioned building and has super comfy chairs.

Of course Disneyland is also known for fantastic parades, so if there is a daytime parade while you’re visiting, be sure to grab a spot for it. One of the best shows that was created just for littles is the Disney Junior Dance Party. This is a completely interactive show inside Disney California Adventure. Also in DCA, you’ll find Turtle Talk with Crush, an interactive show inside the animation building. If your kids are like mine, you may have a hard time keeping them up for the night show. But, if you happen to be visiting during Paint the Night Parade, make it a point to see it. If you don’t want to wait for a spot, get a dining package with preferred viewing. Also, take a nap break during the day so your little kids are able to stay awake during the show.

Dining for Kids 3 and Under at Disneyland

There really isn’t a “bad” place to dine with little kids at Disneyland. All restaurants have kid, and even toddler menu items. With that said, there are some places that will really wow your babes. First, with little kids, I recommend booking a Character Dining experience. There are four to choose from, and each offers an all-you-care-to-eat buffet with oodles of kid friendly options. And as a bonus, if your kids are two or under, they eat free too! Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel is the only character dining option that has a dinner. If you’re getting in a little later in the day on your first day, this would be a really fun way to kick off your vacation. Downtown Disney has some fun restaurants for kids too, but the Rainforest Café is probably to most exciting for the littlest kids.

Bonus tips for Taking Kids 3 and Under to Disneyland

So there you have it, some of my favorite things to do with my babies at Disneyland. And just for fun, I thought I would pass on a few extra tips for taking babies and toddlers to Disneyland.

• Use the baby centers! If your kids (or you) need a break, these are quiet, private spaces where you can nurse, change diapers, heat bottles and more. There are even toddler sized toilets for potty training. There is one baby center located in each park.

• Stay as close to Disneyland as possible. With babies and toddlers, you never know when you are going to need to head back for a nap, change of clothes, or just a little break. If you can, try to stay on property or at a hotel within walking distance.

• Bring snacks. Disneyland allows you to bring food and drinks into the parks, so grab a few of your kids’ favorites. Snacks can be lifesavers when waiting in line and those in between meal times.

I hope this inspired you to take even your smallest kids to Disneyland. I don’t think you’ll ever regret taking them. And you’ll have the memories of their cute little faces forever! When you’re ready to book your Disneyland vacation, give our agents at Get Away Today a call at 855-GET-AWAY. Or, you can book all of our specials at getawaytoday.com. Either way, use promo code: CraftingChicks and save and extra $10 on any 2-night or longer Disneyland vacation package.