So to be fair I have a 16 months old, so not quite a toddler but not a baby anymore. I can imagine a two or three year old being a whole different story when visiting Disneyland, but this is my experience with a pre-tot.

1. Do not skip nap time! – We planned our lunch around nap time. I found a shady quiet-ish corner, pusher her around in her stroller until cries turned into snores. We took that time to have a nice sit down lunch and thanks to our friend being there, went on one of the roller coasters while our friend watched the kiddo sleep. It was awesome! Of course then it was her lunch time after she woke up, but was much easier to concentrate on her without having to juggle feeding ourselves as well.

2. Disneyland has a baby care center! – I think this is great, especially for people with small babies. This is a full staffed room that gives parents with children a bit of privacy and quiet down time. There are nursing rooms with chairs, changing room, feeding area with highchairs, a kitchen with a microwave and sink, a main room with TV, and even an on-site shop that offers formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, over-the-counter medication, and pacifiers for purchase. There is one located in Disneyland at the end of Main Street by First Aid and another in California Adventure next to Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop. Such a great idea!

3. It’s a Small World! – Don’t be afraid to try some of the kiddie rides (we were!). I worried about the kid having a meltdown mid-ride, leaving us trapped! This did not happen…phew! She loved The Little Mermaid ride and The Small World ride. Watching her look in amazement and clap along made these rides amazing vs. when I would go on these sans-children and find them annoying. It will open your eyes watching them see all this for the first time. Of course you know your child best so don’t push it if you don’t think they’re ready.

We took is easy and didn’t try to cram too much into the day. We’ll definitely be back to try a few more child friendly rides. Luckily, because we live nearby, we have the luxury to be back soon. If this was not the case I would recommend having a hotel room nearby for a home base and making a two day trip so that you can space things out a bit. Either way, make sure you find your inner child while letting yours enjoy the experience of Disneyland!