Disneyland is fun at any age, but 9 is pretty magical.
A few weeks ago, my little family of three strolled down Main Street. We passed old-fashioned shop windows full of Disney souvenirs. The air smelled like freshly baked cookies and caramel apples. And my son was smiling. In that moment, life was perfect.
After a weekend exploring Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, there are three things I’ll definitely do next time, and two things I wouldn’t.
I questioned bringing a backpack, but it was a lifesaver
I wasn’t sure if I needed a backpack at Disneyland, but I definitely did. Southern California heat is no joke. My bag gave me an easy place to store sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, phones, and water bottles. Initially, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to take my backpack on rides and I’d have to leave it unattended, but that never happened. My bag did get a little wet on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, but everything inside stayed dry.
Also, I opted for a fun, colorful bag that I was happy to carry around. My Adidas and Farm Rio collaboration backpack has a fun print with palm trees and big green toucans, and it was much more comfortable than carrying a heavy tote bag around the park all day on just one shoulder.
A character breakfast was a highlight
My family dined at the Storytellers Café at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. A character breakfast isn’t something I would normally choose, but my sister recommended this one, and I enjoyed it so much more than I expected.
The park is so big, and it can be hard to spot my son’s favorite characters while at Disneyland. At the character breakfast, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Chip & Dale mingled with kids (and their parents) and danced up a storm — all while my son ate pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse.
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass was absolutely worth it
I initially felt bad about the idea of the Lightning Lane — you spend money to skip the line — but I’d do it again. The wait times for popular rides can run up to two hours. With the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, we reserved our first ride, Indiana Jones Adventure, when we entered the park. Later, during our reserved timeframe, we still had to wait, but for a much shorter time — only about 10 minutes.
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass took a little advanced planning — every two hours you can reserve another ride — but it was totally worth it. Next time, we might even opt for the Premier Pass. It’s more expensive, but it lets you ride the attractions you want, when you want, without having to schedule a time to ride.
However, we tried to do too much each day
There are so many fun rides at Disneyland — far too many to go on in one day.
Every aspect of Disneyland (and Disney California Adventure) is so carefully designed, from the gorgeous gardens to the imaginative lands, the background music, and the live entertainment. It shouldn’t be rushed. When you’re rushing, you miss things.
Next time, I’ll pause more often to appreciate the scenery — actually stop to smell, or at least look at, the roses — instead of rushing to get to the next ride.
Next time, I’ll make sure to book a lunch reservation
There’s a fine line between overplanning and not planning enough. My biggest mistake during our weekend at Disneyland was not booking lunch reservations. My initial plan was to just pick up quick snacks when we were hungry. After all, there are plenty of places to choose from. But the park is big, and Anaheim is hot. My family hit a wall midday, and the bottles of water, plastic cups of fresh fruit, and bags of salty snacks didn’t cut it.
We did try to dine at a restaurant to get out of the heat and rest our legs, but every place we approached was just too busy. Next time, I’ll book a lunch reservation so we can relax together over a meal and refuel for more adventure. A reservation also guarantees we can eat at more popular restaurants, like the Blue Bayou Restaurant or Oga’s Cantina.
Next time I’m at Disneyland, which will be very soon if my son has a say, I’ll slow down, stop for lunch, and soak it all in.
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