DISNEYLAND WITH YOUR TODDLER: IS IT WORTH IT?
So I got tons of DM’s on Instagram with so many questions about Disneyland and whether or not it’s worth going and taking your toddler with you. I thought it would be better to post a blog entry detailing our experience rather than answer each DM individually.
Let me start off with what you will expect with the new Covid-19 guidelines enforced at the park:
1.) No Trams/Parking
Yup, you heard that right. There are no trams to take you to and from your car. You have to park at the Mickey and Friends structure and walk about a mile and a half to the park entrance. Wear comfortable shoes. This walk is exhausting especially with a very active toddler that refuses to sit in her stroller. The line to get into the structure and pay for parking was unusually long, get there early. You should allot yourself 1 hour from waiting in line to pay for parking and walking the marathon to the entrance.
2.) Masks
You HAVE to wear a mask (at least until June 15th 2021.) The Disney employees are nazi’s when it comes to your mask. They will sprint from across the park and tell you to put it over your nose if they see it not covering your entire face. They do not care if it is a hot day. Please do not be rude to the employees, they’re just doing their job. If you do not want to wear the mask, I highly recommend not going until this mask thing is done and over with; you made a conscious decision to go knowing there is a mask mandate so please don’t be a Karen. If your child is older than 2 years old, they do not care, they will ask you to put a mask on them. My baby girl is 2.5 and she is not the type who will wear and keep a mask on, so I flat out lied and said she will be 2 in a month. I have no shame in my game.
3.) Disney APP
You’re going to need to purchase your tickets online. The ticket booth is not available for purchasing on the day of; do not stroll up thinking you can buy a ticket because you can’t. You can do this on the Disney App. You need this app.
4.) Mobile Orders
Like I said, you need the Disney App. Part of their new guidelines is their “NO TOUCH” policy where you pre order the things you want to eat and pick it up at your designated time. You go to the app and select the place you want to eat, it will give you a pick up time which is usually 45 minutes to 1 hour AFTER you made your purchase. The only thing you can stand in line and purchase are those churro and popcorn carts and that’s about it. REMEMBER to give yourself 1 hour heads up before you want to eat anything. Very unnecessary and extremely aggravating if you ask me.
5.) Designated Dining Areas
When you are ready to eat you will have to look for a designated dining area and eat there. You are no longer allowed to eat your ice cream while walking to your next ride. Yup, you read that right. This is the only area you’re allowed to take your mask off ONLY if you’re eating and drinking.
6.) Capacity
The capacity is at 35%. The crowds were not as overwhelming as it was pre-covid, still busy though so don’t get too happy.
7.) Rides and Lines
Every ride was open except for Indiana Jones and Matterhorn. Honestly, who cares. Those rides give me a concussion anyways. Expected wait times ranged from 5 minutes to 45 minutes. If you’re going with your toddler, sit on the gentle rides such as small world, tea cups and dumbo. Avoid the others.
8.) Baby Diaper Changing Station
On main street next to the Photo Supply store, there is a baby center where mamas and dads can take their babies to change their clothes and diapers and sit in a cool room to feed them.
9.) Sunscreen
We totally ended up eating shit because we forgot sunscreen. Trust me, take it with you.
10.) Stroller
If you’re going with your toddler, take a stroller. If you forget it, they have a stroller renting station.
OUR DAY AT DISNEY WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD
Taking into consideration their pain in the ass guidelines and their Nazi Germany rules, Arianna did better than we had expected. Once we got inside the park, mickey and friends were out greeting the guests while practicing social distancing. The smile and happiness they brought to my girls face was worth EVERYTHING. Arianna is not the type of child who likes being restrained so while at close range, we took advantage of the limited capacity and let her roam around. She felt right at home and walked around like she owned the damn park.
There were no shortages of tantrums thrown. She lost her mind when she got hungry, she lost her mind when she got sleepy, she lost her mind when we had to leave (all to be expected.) When it came to her nap time, she was not having it at all; nothing in the world can make her happy at that point. We were surprised that she napped over an hour and a half which kind of saved us for the rest of the day. Gave us time to relax and recharge.
When it came to the rides she loved, Dumbo, Tea Cups, Small World. We had the unfortunate experience of sitting on the Roger Rabbit ride in Toon Town which traumatized her. It was very loud, rough and dark for her. So after that, she got scared of sitting on any other ride. She was not able to handle it after that. (Lesson learned)
We had the park hopper tickets which we realized was a huge waste because there is not much for anyone her size to do. It is a bit too adult-ish for a two year old.
Overall, the main thing for us was to see her reactions when she saw all her Mickey and Friends which we did and her happiness is what we were there for; if you were to ask me if going to Disneyland with your child who is under the age of 5, is simply not worth it. You are better off waiting for your kid to reach 5 years old, that way they will understand more, enjoy more and be better behaved than a 2 year old.
