10 Best Toddler Experiences at Disneyland

Posted on March 29, 2015 by lesleycarter

Regardless of age, Disneyland is at the top of every child’s list. It’s the experience of a life-time. Disney got it right when they labeled it magical and the Happiest Place on Earth. There’s so much to see and do that it can be overwhelming, especially if you only have a one or two day pass. Here are the 10 best Disneyland experiences for toddlers. Although they are geared toward younger kids, they are fun for the entire family.

1. Crown Jewel Theatre at Disney’s California Adventure

The Muppet Vision 3D is temporarily taken over and reimagined as the Crown Jewel Theatre where you can laugh and sing along to a timeless retelling of Frozen. Two Arendellian Storytellers host the festivities and introduce each magical musical number, complete with Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff joining in the fun. Guests, of all ages, are encouraged to sing along with a few favorite Frozen tunes. (Let’s face it, we all know the songs by now.)

2. ANNA & ELSA’S ROYAL WELCOME AT DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK

You have to wander into this wondrous wintry moment where you can come face-to-face with the magnificent sisters from Frozen. While this is still considered a temporary experience, I can’t see Disney changing it for anything else. Kids are in love with Frozen, and it surpassed The Lion King as the top grossing animated film for Walt Disney Animation studios. Still, you don’t want to tell your child they could have meet Elsa and Anna but they missed it. I didn’t want to take that chance.

3. A Bug’s Land at Disney’s California Adventure

This area includes three rides for toddlers that you can experience rather quickly since the lines tend to be short. Tuck and Roll’s Drive’Em Buggies, Flik’s Flyers, and Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train will take less than 30 minutes to ride but offer big fun for little ones.

4. Aerial’s Undersea Adventure at at Disney’s California Adventure

Step into your “clam-mobile” and visit favorite characters and enjoy unforgettable music form the animated classic, The Little Mermaid. You slowly descend to an underwater world where you’re met by Ariel, Prince Eric, Sebastian, Flounder, Scuttle and the wicked sea witch Ursula—a towering figure 7.5-feet tall and 12-feet wide. Ursula can be a little scary so be prepared to distract your child with other characters if they get nervous. The unforgettable songs like “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and “Kiss the Girl” make the ride worth it.

5. Disney Junior – Live on Stage

Perfect for preschoolers, Disney Junior characters, including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy, Minnie, Doc McStuffins, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates, all perform together on one stage. The show is short enough to hold your toddlers attention and long enough to make the short weight worth it.

6. Mickey’s Fun Wheel at Disney’s California Adventure’s Paradise Pier

This huge Ferris wheel provides a great aerial view of the park. Opt for the mild swaying gondolas rather than the swinging, scarier ones. You’ll thank me for the advise.

7. Disneyland Railroad

All children love a choo-choo train. You can climb aboard or disembark at Main Street U.S.A., Tomorrowland, Mickey’s Toontown, or New Orleans Square. The entire ride is a relaxing 18-minutes onboard an authentic steam-powered train or you can hop on and off at different locations.

8. King Triton’s Carousel at Disney’s California Adventure’s Paradise Pier

Most kids love carousels and the lines are never long. Triton’s underwater-themed carousel offers such choices as seahorses, whales, and other ride-able sea creatures. Even adults can relax and enjoy the wind in their face on this joyful ride.

9. Mickey’s House and Meet Mickey at Mickey’s toontown

Long lines and a cramped tour of this famous mouse’s house can’t scare you off. It’s a Disneyland must to meet Mickey and get a photo.

10. DUMBO THE FLYING ELEPHANT IN FANTASYLAND

Soar high in the sky on a fanciful flight above Fantasyland aboard Dumbo the Flying Elephant. The line-up is usually long for this ride so head over early to beat the crowd.

What is your toddler’s favorite experience at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure? Share below in a comment. Maybe I forget something that should have made the top ten.

32 thoughts on “10 Best Toddler Experiences at Disneyland”

Shelby on March 29, 2015 at 11:00 am said:

I actually preferred the California Disney to Orlando’s. I have not yet met anyone who agrees with me, but it is just so clean and pretty compared to Orlando. So glad you got to sing all the Frozen songs…everyone knows them. You are so right. 🙂

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- lesleycarter on March 30, 2015 at 8:43 am said:
  
  I agree with you, especially with California Adventure. One of my favorite things about living in Southern California is how clean everything is. A friend and I have a running joke that we’re in LOST (the tv show) because it’s too good to be true living here.
  
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  - Shelby on March 31, 2015 at 6:16 am said:
    
    Haha that is awesome. What a wonderful way to feel about your city 🙂
    
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- Fran on April 10, 2015 at 11:36 am said:
  
  At the end of this month (April) Ill be in California for a week, and would love to go to Disney with my son. He is 5 years old.
  
  What would you recommend? What park and what type of attraction? I ama completely lost…
  
  Thanks a lot
  
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kcg1974 on March 29, 2015 at 12:27 pm said:

Your little one is adorable! So enchanting! Thank you for this. I hope to take my grand-daughters soon. 🙂

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- lesleycarter on March 30, 2015 at 8:43 am said:
  
  Thank you! I’m rather fond of her myself 😉
  
  How old is your granddaughter?
  
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  - kcg1974 on March 30, 2015 at 8:57 am said:
    
    Well, my oldest just turned three in the middle of March. Then, I have four more under the age of one. They keep me young and often tired. Lol!!!!! 🙂 🙂
    
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    - lesleycarter on March 30, 2015 at 9:17 am said:
      
      What? Really? That’s fantastic! Heading over to your blog now to follow along more regularly.
      
      🙂
      
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      - kcg1974 on March 30, 2015 at 9:28 am said:
        
        Love to have you, Lesley! Not always about the kids, but they are a HUGE part of my life. 🙂 🙂
        
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A. I. Sajib on March 29, 2015 at 12:47 pm said:

I’m totally in love with the bug’s life experience! I wish someday I can visit this!

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Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on March 29, 2015 at 1:01 pm said:

May be one day you and Athena will get to see Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It is so super child friendly. All of the area resorts are here in Florida! Have a great week! Cheryl

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- lesleycarter on March 30, 2015 at 8:45 am said:
  
  I visited Disney World in Orlando when I was a child. I’d love to bring Athena, but in all fairness, I want to bring her everywhere 😉
  
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  - Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on March 30, 2015 at 8:48 am said:
    
    That’s what makes you a great MOM!
    
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backuphill on March 29, 2015 at 1:18 pm said:

I gotta say Peter Pan’s Flight is pretty great and my daughter loved it as much as I do!

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- lesleycarter on March 30, 2015 at 8:46 am said:
  
  We didn’t go on that one. Is it ok for toddlers? How only is your daughter?
  
  Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll try it next time for sure.
  
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  - backuphill on March 30, 2015 at 8:52 am said:
    
    The first time I took my daughter she was five. The black light makes the colors bright and I she liked that her socks and shoes glowed. It is a fairly slow ride, though if your daughter hasn’t seen Peter Pan the ride may not make much sense.
    
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Let's CUT the Crap! on March 29, 2015 at 1:21 pm said:

I want to go. If the grand kids can tear themselves away from their electronic toys, they can come too, 😀 😀

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- lesleycarter on March 30, 2015 at 8:47 am said:
  
  It’s now part of the world we live in, isn’t it? My whole family would be out of a job if it didn’t exist, though, so we can’t complain. AND I wouldn’t have met you 😉
  
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White Dragon Golf on March 29, 2015 at 3:32 pm said:

We first took our kids to Disneyland back in the 70’s. Then you could stay in a motel just across the road, with an easy walk to the gates. Since then we have taken the kids and the grand-kids to Disney World, with great experiences every time. Now we have great-grand-kids, so I suppose we will be arranging another trip in the not too distant future.

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dwdirwin on March 29, 2015 at 4:57 pm said:

I think the only ride we haven’t all been on is Mickey’s Fun Wheel. I guess I’ll have to bite the bullet and make us all go on the non-swinging ones 🙂

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pelicanguy6 on March 29, 2015 at 5:14 pm said:

Actually, I think kids are far better off exploring outdoor places with friends. Disneyland is a bunch of bells and whistles and nothing more.

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- lesleycarter on March 30, 2015 at 8:48 am said:
  
  Kids love bells and whistles, don’t they? 😉
  
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aishpandey on March 30, 2015 at 4:36 am said:

I wanna build a…….uhh the line is very common now. Good article! 🙂

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The Simple Beginner on March 30, 2015 at 4:15 pm said:

Oh yay! I love the Ariel and Mickey ferris wheel with a twist to it and his Toontown attractions! I’m always a kid when I stepped into Disneyland!

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quirkywritingcorner on March 30, 2015 at 7:48 pm said:

Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
I’d like to see the Bugs’ land!

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twoblackdoggies on March 31, 2015 at 4:02 am said:

I love Disneyland!

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Mountainstroh (Tony) on March 31, 2015 at 7:09 am said:

Mine, when wee. also loved the story book boats, the railroad next to Dumbo (I think I can I think I can!) and the Pooh ride! (but then my wife also loves the pooh ride so I am not sure it counts as a toddler fav! great post!

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The Guat on March 31, 2015 at 8:55 am said:

That’s so funny we just went last week to fulfill two Sandbox List Adventures in one! My six-year old son loved STAR TOURS and building his own light saber, but his bucket list item was becoming a Jedi…he went to Jedi Training Academy and battled Darth Maul in Tomorrowland. Duuuuuuuude. And my three-year old loved Dumbo ride too, but the parade with all the princesses near It’s a Small World was at the top of her list seeing them and saying hello … Dude if she could do a cartwheel she would.

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- lesleycarter on March 31, 2015 at 9:08 am said:
  
  The parade! I can’t believe I didn’t include the parade. I think I’ll need to do a re-write.
  
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paranoiasnfm on April 1, 2015 at 2:46 am said:

❤

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la casa di ulisse beb on April 3, 2015 at 2:37 pm said:

I would nominate you for the Liebster Award, hopefully it will increase your followers
https://cosedelmare.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/feeling-honoured-the-liebster-award-discover-new-blogs/
bruna

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A. Blake on April 5, 2015 at 7:35 pm said:

I loved our vacations to Disney in Orlando and miss them much especially since my boys are now men! Enjoy these great times!

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