takingthekids

Though Disneyland is a land for all ages. The problem is satisfying the kid in you, and your kids. If you have really small children 3 and below there are some things to consider. First, are they really ready to go to Disneyland? Many small children just can't handle the park. I have watched small children scream scared out of there wits by Pirates of the Caribbean, and even scared to death of Alice in Wonderland. Think twice if they will really get the entertainment out of the park. A two year old might have a better time at grandmas for a couple days. While you go with the older kids.

If you are bringing really small children remember some important information about the rides. The main being that they can do none of the thrill rides. Small children will also not be able to do a 15 hour day in the park. For this group I really strongly recommend traveling with an extra adult perhaps grandma or another family you can vacation together with. This way you always have one person who can take the kids while you go on the big rides. Grandmas are awesome because they will take the baby or really tired little ones back to the hotel while you go on rides as a couple or with the bigger kids. This brings me to the next part of age.

Mixed age groups. You really need to think very hard about how you are going to survive. If you have a child that can only go on small rides and children who can hit everything and are dying to hop from ride to ride for 15 hours straight conflicts arise. Patients is a very interesting thing with kids they can wait in line for a 3 hours to go on a ride but can't wait for 10 seconds while you decide which line to get into. The idea of switching between rides one for the little kid then one for the older one doesnít work that well, especially when one wants Dumbo and the other wants Space Mountain.

There are several solutions one let the older ones go on their own with direction to meet back somewhere for lunch or dinner. One great way to ensure the timely return of your children is make sure they have no money on them and have to come to you for money and food. Those stomachs will ensure a prompt return.

The hard part is when both ages must be with you at all times then perhaps splitting up. This is why multiple family vacations work out so well.

If you are taking teenagers. Let them go on there own don't even attempt to keep up. If you are techno parents I have one really great idea. If you have a pager or your kids have one call the pager provider before you leave and get Anaheim activation for that month. Or bring your cell phone (if it is a really small one) or rent a couple cell phones for a week. They are really not expensive.

Now you send them off with a pager or cell. Someone can get out of line at any time and call you at whatever pay phone you are at then get back in line. Or have them call your cell phone. This may seem like over kill but Disneyland is big and lines are long. You will always be able to check on your kids and they have more freedom because they can always say "we have been in line for Indy for 2 hours and are about to get into the temple" and you can head there and meet them at the exit instead of them looking at a watch and being forced to give up on 3 hours of patience because you must meet back at the Blue Bayou at 6:00.

OK you have troop gathering systems in hand, you have packed, now how to get there.

By all means FLY! The quickest easiest way to travel, and the turbulence can be an E-ticket ride in itself.

But if you are going to pack into the mini van and drive down I recently watched a report on family road trips on 20/20 they had 2 child psychologists to discuss problems and solutions with the family road trip.

The idea of mom and dad in the front seats and the kids in the back destroying each other. Well that is out. Parents need to sacrifice the front seat for the sanity of all. If one parent rides in the back just about all of those behavior problems disappear. Bring story books (perhaps ones that are featured as rides in Disneyland) read to those kids, have some activities. Basically keep them entertained. Don't worry they will sleep a lot of the time anyway but if you are there problems won't happen. Threatening to sit back there is not good enough just start out in the back with your children. You will make to the Magic Kingdom in one piece, and no one will have gotten into big trouble... yet.

Next be ready to go slowly . Don't plan on setting a land speed record for getting to Disneyland. Stop when ever you feel like it, or the kids feel like it. If someone has to go the bathroom, find a place where they can perhaps run around for a while. There is a lot of tension and excitement for that trip up, and that equals energy. (don't worry the trip back they will sleep all the way from pure exhaustion)

And yet another idea, this is hard on one member of the family but it works. sleep all day the day before have the car packed ahead of time. Then leave for Disneyland at 1:00 am or so. Basically leave early enough to reach your hotel by 11:00am so that you drive in darkness and arrive as the sun is heading up. This will keep kids a lot calmer and quieter, and you will not travel with the sun at its highest point baking the car and your nerves. Air conditioning does not repair the mental stress of the sun being out and you being in. This is how I go to Disneyland I am the one that drives it really works out well if... you are doing at least 2 days in the park. Oh yeah extra car tip, plan 15 min of non car time for every hour of drive time. When you eat try Denies or a restaurant with waiters and waitresses. It costs a little more than a big mac and takes longer but it will relax you for the next step of the trek.

OK your at Disneyland

When you go into the park let your children take you on a tour of the magic kingdom. Give them the map let them call the shots. They will hit what they want and you will never hear "But I wanted to go on that ride and now its to late because I had to go on your ride"

Also first thing in the morning send someone off for reservations. The Golden Horseshoe and The Blue Bayou require reservations to be made in the morning (before 10:00 am) in person in order to see them later in the day. The Golden Horseshoe is a nice show for the kids. They have an interesting menu including a quarter watermelon, slice of 5 layer cake (to feed the family) drinks and chili in a bread bowl. It is very air conditioned and a nice way to relax for a bit before hiking around for another 4 hours. The Blue Bayou is a parents only activity. Dinner is $40 after dinner, drink, dessert, and tip. The food is better than some 5 star restaurants and it is recognized as one of the best restaurants in the LA area. This is not park food. The service is incredible and the ambiance of being outside in front of an old southern estate in the eternal night of the bayou is incredible. Listen to the crickets and watch the fire flies. Wave to people on The Pirates of The Caribbean boats. I always go to dinner here once when I visit the park. Small children do not understand this restaurant so don't bring em. (make 7:00 dinner reservations and toss them in the 3 hour Indy line at 6:55.) It takes a couple hours. I like to sit back and enjoy a Mint Julep while watching the water slowly drift by.

OK you have your reservations, the kids are taking you through the park what are the little things. Beverages. Bring cash prepared to spend it don't be cheap when it comes to buying more drinks for everyone. If you realize how much energy you are expending you understand that it needs replenishment. Get the bottled water with squirt tops like real bike water bottles, 1 for each of the kids before entering the park (water bottles in the park are $2.00 for the small ones.) Many of the restaurants have ice water machines for filling glasses of water out in the eating area, you can refill you water supply there. One of these restaurants is the River Belle Terrace. And before each big line hit the rest room. Trust me you may not really need to before the wait but once you reach the ride you will be glad you did.

Steer the kids towards big rides in the morning and the late evening.

Fantasmic

Bring a blanket or towels & have mom or someone who is tuckered out stake out a spot 3 hours before the show (I am not kidding on this one you really need to this 3 hours before the show) Then let the rest of the group ride and do whatever and have them return 20 or 30 minutes before the beginning so that they can "report back on what they did" and so you will all be ready before the lights are dimmed. Then Prepare to be amazed.

OK you've done it. Tossed, turned, eaten, waited and been amazed

Souvenirs and other things

Disneyland has a great service. When ever you buy something you can have it sent to your hotel room if you are in the Disneyland Hotels, or to a pickup spot in the front of the park. Then at the end of the day you take your pick up tags to the claim center outside the front gates and pick up your souvenirs. I have done this and it is great. you carry nothing around in the park and it is all there waiting. Many times they spend extra time packaging it for the trip home. (this is a free service)

Leaving the park.

Well first thing is do not leave directly after any event like Fantasmic or Light Magic. Go on one more ride while the initial crowd stampedes the gates. Take the monorail back to the Disneyland hotel if you can. Basically relax no need to make getting to the car or hotel more stressful. And please drop the idea of driving home. It is not possible even if you try resting. I had a bad experience with some friends driving back to a hotel that was 8 miles from the park. We all where to tired to drive and could not figure our where we where going out of pure exhaustion. Staying at a hotel with tram service to the park. All the Disneyland based hotels have some form of direct transportation for their guests. Use it.

Congratulations that's it you have done the Disney thing and the kids will wait 2 entire days before begging you to go back.

Well Now that you are ready for the pilgrimage to the Magic Kingdom let offer some summary thoughts.

1. Plan ahead but be ready to scrap all of those plans on a whim.

2. Take it easy let things just happen, you will be amazed how well Disneyland takes care of you.

3. Bring lots of KODAK film, and fire away. Film is cheap admission is not.

4. Have fun let Walt Take You In.

And remember this It all started with a mouse.

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