Toddlers and Tiaras: Taking Little Tikes to Disneyland

Let's be honest with ourselves here folks, taking your toddler out on a day trip can be quite the UN MAGICAL adventure. Especially if they still need naps! But this blog post is about to make nap time, and kid-time at Disneyland that much better!

Growing up, my Dad was the designated "babysitter." Because my Dad gets sick on rides pretty quick, he was always in charge of watching whatever kid was too little for certain rides, or the kid that still needed naps! So we have developed a list of some of our favorite places to let kids nap, the best bathrooms without lines, kid-friendly rides, etc.

TIP:  Napping Locations:

Disneyland

• Rancho del Zocalo Restaurant across from Tom Sawyer's Island
• If you want a nice, outdoor, central location, this is the one for you! The food is good, and cheaper than other locations and there is plenty of seating for you as the baby naps!
• Honey Bear Restaurant across from Splash Mountain
• This restaurant is a hidden jem! Not only is is quite and hidden away, but it has some of the most unused bathrooms in the whole park! Hurray for diaper changes! 

California Adventure

• Grand Californian Hotel
• Anyone can go inside and find a nice quiet bench or go into the lobby for some big comfy couches. Plus, it's BEAUTIFUL inside!
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail across from the Grizzly River Run
• This is a nice area because your older kids can run around and zip-line, slide, and climb around whilst you and the other kiddos take a nap! 

Now if YOU are in the need of  a rest, and your kiddos are still going strong, I have one last recommendation! 

TIP: Go to the Aladdin show at California Adventure! It is an air-conditioned, 40 minute production that is FANTASTIC. You might not even end up sleeping because it is so entertaining! The genie keeps things funny and fresh for the adults, and the special effects will leave the kids in awe! We love taking the time out there during the hot hours of the day!

Time Savers for The Young, The Few and The Brave: Single Rider Lines

Now that my family visits Disneyland so often, we frequently have a set list of rides we all individually want to hit. But because we know the ride so so well, we don't really like to wait in line. For those of you like us, I have a surprise for you! Readers, I bring you:  Single Rider Lines. The Single Rider lines allow you to go straight to the front of the line of a ride, and wait to feel in empty spaces where a full party does not take up the full car, boat, raft, or train.

TIP: Use these lines when it is not important for you to be on the ride at the same time as your group. This is a good tip for frequent visitors to Disneyland. You can just meet each other at the end.

*Note: Sometimes you will get lucky and you and someone else in your group will make it on the ride at the same time. I can't promise anything, but you may be surprised!

Unfortunately there are not many rides at Disneyland or California Adventure that off "Single rider" accessibility but they do make quite a difference in your day and wait time!

Disneyland:

• Splash Mountain- In order to get into single rider, you must go IN the exit. Go all the way inside until you reach the loading area, go to the right and cross over the little bridge that all the logs are going under, and you've made it! Welcome to the front of the line.

California Adventure:

• Grizzly River Run- This ride requires a special pass that is handed out by one of the Cast Members at the front of the regular line, near the Fastpass Entrance. All you need to do is approach them, get the ticket, and then go up IN the exit again.   

• California Screamin'- This ride has it's own sign for the single rider line, so just look for it near the front entrance.

• Radiator Springs Racers- You will see another sign for the single rider line here, but be WARNED. It can get extremely long, as in the same wait as the regular line. So if you don't want to get Fastpasses for this ride as I recommended, jump into the single rider line instead!

• Goofy's Sky School- Just like Grizzly River run, this requires getting a slip from the Cast Member, and then going IN the exit.

*Disney Advertises 2 other rides with a single rider line that my family does not use: 

For additional information on rides visit: Disney's Single Rider Line

TIP: Now some people have also been curious as to why some of the rides have 2 regular line entrances, and I would LOVE to tell you guys the secret! At Disneyland, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Matterhorn have 2 lines to choose from, ready to know why?

Pirates of the Caribbean: The ride itself is no different, both lines lead to the front and eventually join together. HOWEVER, the RIGHT line is significantly shorter! Do not be fooled! The left line actually wraps behind the building before joining up with the right side. So go right!

Matterhorn: The two lines for this ride make ALL the difference. The left line takes you farther inside the mountain, has more hills and goes much faster. The right side stays more outside the perimeter of the mountain, and goes slightly slower. Both are fun and usually the line wait is about equal.

TIP:  Indiana Jones has a short line split just as you are heading up the stairs to get into the jeeps. My family has noticed that the left side ALWAYS moves faster! So go left!

Happy Single Riding!