LIMITED TIME ONLY!
Close Banner
Free Dining plan
SAVE UP TO $124
GET MY TICKETS
Home / Blog / Cities & Family Travel / Our Guide to Visiting Disneyland with Grandparents

Our Guide to Visiting Disneyland with Grandparents

by Mommy Frog on January 27, 2025
Los Angeles

Disneyland with Grandparents - Pinterest imageThe magic of Disneyland extends to all ages. Whether you are the coolest grandparent around, making a multi-generational trip to Disneyland or are a person trying to find what your grandparents will enjoy at Disneyland, you've come to the right place. We've made many Disneyland trips with Grandma and Grandpa Frog. There is no generalizing a grandparent these days. Some grandparents want to ride all the roller coasters while others come to the parks for the vibes, nostalgia, entertainment, characters and watching their grandchildren light up with joy. Where else can multi-generational families go where everyone is guaranteed a hoppin' good time? Not only that, it's always helpful to have an extra set of loving hands with you when taking little ones to Disneyland. We give you our best advice and tips in our guide for going to Disneyland with grandparents.

Right now, you can save up to 35% on select stays at a Disneyland Resort hotel from Jan. 7, 2025 through Sept. 26, 2025! All Disneyland® Resort hotels are fully refundable when canceled at least 7 days prior to check-in. Ribbit!

Tips for Visiting Disneyland with Grandparents

Our grandparents' guide to Disneyland is a great resource for grandparents themselves as well as people traveling with multiple generations. Here are our tips and advice for a great visit to Disneyland with grandparents, great aunts, great uncles, favorite neighbors or the older loved ones in your life. (Because sometimes we adopt grandparents by choice.)

1. Schedule Breaks

Whether you have small children or grandparents in your party, you're going to want to budget some breaks into your day. If that means taking extra time to sit on a bench with a snack to people-watch, enjoying a sit-down meal or making a trip back to the hotel for a nap, your party will appreciate some rest time. (Lily has some advice on where to take a nap at Disneyland.)

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Grandfather with grandkids

We recommend getting an early start at park opening, and then taking a break or nap in the afternoon. Come back for the nighttime entertainment — or not. It's your choice!

Be sure to expect a lot of bathroom breaks as well. Point out all the restrooms as you pass. Grandpa Frog may need as many bathroom breaks as a potty-training toddler, so plan the bathroom visits into your day. Our post on the best Disneyland bathrooms may help. Also update yourself on the First-Aid station, near the Baby Care Center at Disneyland or Chamber of Commerce at Disney California Adventure. It's a place to lie down, get some anti-inflammatories or visit if you encounter any medical issues.

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Meal at Wine Country Trattoria

2. Schedule Table-Service Dining

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Woman with birthday cake

It's much more relaxing to sit down and enjoy a table-service meal than to walk around with a tray of food in search of a table. A table-service meal serves as a break to rest tired legs and flippers. It gets you out of the sun or rain. It allows someone else to serve you for a bit. Plus, if anyone is celebrating a birthday, you can order a cake when you set up the dining reservation! Here are some suggestions for further reading about table-service dining in the parks, Downtown Disney and the hotels.

Most character dining buffets take about an hour and a half to eat and see all the characters, who, for the most part, come to you. That sure beats standing in line to meet them! And there are great food options for all ages. We highly recommend booking one during your trip.

3. Slow Your Roll

If you visit Disneyland with grandparents or small children, you need to move at a slower pace than if you were just visiting with older kids, teens or young adults. Don't leave Grandma in the dust. Slow your walking pace. We promise that means that you'll see more magic hoppening around you when you are not racing through the parks.

4. Take Steps to Skip the Lines

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Phone by castle

There are many ways to manage lines and lower wait times at Disneyland. Here are our favorites:

Lightning Lanes — Use an optional paid service to skip the standby line. Save money by purchasing tickets with Lightning Lane Multi Pass (as the price can go up when you purchase in the park).

Rider Switch — If some party members do not want to ride or are not tall enough to ride, you can take turns babysitting and allow the second party to ride using a shorter line.

Single Rider — For parties (ages 7 and up) willing to split up to fill in available seats, you are rewarded with a much shorter wait to ride.

Location Return Times — Some older rides at Disneyland have queues that cannot accommodate a wheelchair or mobility device, or they have steps. Ask about a Location Return Time if you need assistance so you can wait for the ride outside the line and then return to an accessible entrance when it's time to ride. Disney California Adventure has accessible rides so no Location Return Times needed.

Rope Drop — Nothing beats arriving by park opening at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure to get the shortest wait times of the day. Plus the cooler temperatures are perfect.

Early Entry — Remember when we just said that nothing beats Rope Drop? Well, there is something even better than Rope Drop. People who stay at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels can access select attractions at one theme park 30 minutes earlier than even the rope droppers. So Early Entry (for those who qualify) beats Rope Drop. Read up on it so you know which park hosts Early Entry the day you visit.

Mobile Order — Most quick-service restaurants offer mobile order. You can skip the line to order and pay by ordering food ahead of time in the Disneyland app.

5. Take Advantage of Entertainment at Disneyland with Grandparents

Disneyland with Grandparents - Straw hatters with Pluto

Grandma Frog loves a parade. We make sure to schedule a parade viewing on every visit. Take a look at the top Disneyland shows and the entertainment calendar to put some shows in your itinerary. Hop over to our Disneyland dining packages posts to see if these are options that might make your stay a little easier. Some dining packages lessen your wait time for shows, give you a better view or even allow you to have a chair for some shows (like the premium Fantasmic! package at River Belle Terrace or the World of Color Dessert Party). Because standing a long time or having to sit on the ground and get back up can be challenging for some guests. But also stop to enjoy smaller musical and singing acts hoppening around the park.

6. Decide the Best Park to Visit

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland Multi-gen family on Winnie the Pooh

The parks each offer something different. Which park is best for grandparents? If you have only one park to visit, then you have to choose the original Disneyland Park. This park is full of all the nostalgia and old-school, classic Disney attractions. It's home to great shows such as Fantasmic!, fireworks and smaller acts throughout the park all day long.

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Flag retreat

If a grandparent is patriotic or a veteran, you can't miss the Flag Retreat in Town Square, usually about 4:30 p.m. each day. There is so much to do in Disneyland Park, especially when it comes to rides for all ages.

If you have more than one day, definitely visit Disney California Adventure as well. This park is home to the amazing World of Color show. It's also home to several festivals such as Lunar New Year, Food & Wine Festival, and has so much entertainment and food during Disney Festival of the Holidays. It has a separately ticketed Halloween party called the Oogie Boogie Bash on select nights in the late summer and fall — what grandparent is not tickled to get to trick-or-treating again for real?! And the grandkids are hoppy to be in a group costume with the grandparents. Does it get any better than that?

This park offers a different experience than Disneyland, making it worth a one-day visit for the grandparents. There are several nice restaurants, and this park has more adult drinks. Plus, the theme park is attached to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, making it easy to pop in to enjoy the fabulous lobby and restaurants (or get back to a room for a rest).

7. Find Rides Everyone Can Enjoy Together

Disneyland with Grandparents - Family on Jungle Cruise

One of the best things at Disneyland is that there are so many rides the entire family can enjoy together. Here are our top choices that will please grandparents and the entire crew.

Best rides and attractions for grandparents at Disneyland:

Thrill-seeking grandparents will love:

  • Indiana Jones Adventure
  • Space Mountain
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Tiana's Bayou Adventure (we recommend a poncho and even shoe ponchos)
  • If you brave the Matterhorn Bobsleds, save your back by not leaning back against the seat. Instead, hold onto the bar in front of you and lean slightly forward. The right side is a little gentler than the left.

You have to climb a steep curved staircase for Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, but you can ask for an alternate experience. Always speak up at the ride entrance if you need extra time in loading and unloading for any ride. You may be directed to an alternate queue or loading area. Sometimes they can slow the ride to give you more time.

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Monsters Inc ride

Best rides and attractions for grandparents at Disney California Adventure:

Thrill-seeing grandparents may also enjoy Incredicoaster and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Foodie grandparents will enjoy Food & Wine, Lunar New Year and Disney Festival of Holidays.

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland Mom and daughter at Food & Wine

8. Know When to Divide and Conquer at Disneyland with Grandparents

If there is a ride that is not for Grandma and Grandpa, break up. Find a gentler experience for the youngest and oldest family members while the more adventurous riders get their thrills. If Grandma wants a nice dining experience while the grandkids only want pizza and chicken tenders, divide up so everyone gets what they want. Remember, grandparents, this is your vacation too, so be sure to speak up about your interests.

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Grandma and baby at ball in Tomorrowland

Grandparents also make great babysitters when the rest of the family wants to go on a ride. They can watch baby and take a rest while everyone else goes on something the oldest and youngest family members are not interested in. Grandparents and tadpoles both appreciate the simple joys in the parks.

9. Save on Hotel Stays

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - View of Disneyland Villa

There are many great ways to stay at and around Disneyland. Did you know that you can save on Disneyland Hotel Villas when you purchase through Undercover Tourist? You can also book suites with several bedrooms and themed signature suites through Disney! Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa has a great, relaxed vibe that is perfect for grandparents. It's got a high-end resort feel and is close to the parks.

You can also book at great family hotels near Disneyland to save money.

10. Consider a Wheelchair or ECV

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Family gathered around grandfather in ECV

Even if the grandparents don't use a mobility device at home, you might find yourself putting in several miles a day. A wheelchair or ECV can rest those legs, avoid falls and help you avoid standing in long lines at Disneyland Park. We have a whole post on using a wheelchair at Disneyland. You can rent manual wheelchairs and ECVs each day at Disneyland or rent from an off-site company to save money and time. When you rent off-site, you can take the ECV back to your hotel. Some companies deliver right to your hotel.

If you rent a chair or ECV, you'll have a place to sit to watch parades, nighttime spectaculars and more. There are some special viewing areas for wheelchairs. Be sure to ask a cast member about them.

11. Avoid Crowded Times

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Grandma in Grammy shirt with grandkids

Most people plan their vacations when the tadpoles are out of school or when the parents are off work. But you can choose the best days to visit by consulting our crowd calendar. Avoid the hottest months — July through September.

Avoiding crowds can help prevent overstimulation, long lines and risk of bumps and falls. That being said, you want to visit when there is plenty of entertainment and other hoppenings in the parks, because Disneyland is more than just rides. Our best times to visit Disneyland post will help you navigate those other factors (such as weather and events or holidays) that make it a good time to go. Grandma Frog never misses the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival in the spring. But she also loves the magic and lights of Holiday Time. So we try to find the least crowded days to visit when those events are running. And those visits avoid the hottest months of the year, so it's perfect for her.

12. Get Up to Speed on Technology or Let Someone Else Manage the App

Disneyland is a little different compared to 30 years ago when you just showed up and winged it. Now, you need to purchase tickets in advance and make a theme park reservation. You need to use the Disneyland app or site to book dining in advance or use the app in the park to find walk-up availability.

The Disneyland app is not only helpful but a necessary tool to navigate your day these days. Grandma Frog is not tech-savvy. So I manage her day at Disneyland (and her theme park reservations). I link her ticket to a MagicBand+ so she has a ticket on her wrist and nothing to worry about, and I do all the scheduling and mobile ordering on her behalf. For my group, I'm the scheduler! But your grandparents may be up to speed. Sometimes grandparents take the grandkids without the parents, so they do need to know the basics to get around. Our Disneyland app post can help you get started!

You'll find park tickets digitally in the app. That's also how to find park wait times, check in for restaurants and book Lightning Lanes. You can see the map and make sure a ride is open before you walk all the way there. So it can save you some steps as well.

13. Pack Smart

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - grandmother and mother feed baby

Layered clothing is the way to go at Disneyland. You'll want a light jacket or sweatshirt in the morning and T-shirts for the afternoon. Don't froget the sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, walking shoes, bandages, anti-chafe products, refillable water bottles, pain relievers, medications and more.

Grandma Frog always brings the best snacks for the tadpoles. She's always pulling something good out of that Mary Poppins-like bag of hers. And believe or not, but it saves us time and money since we do not have to stop to buy as many snacks. Plus, it keeps the tadpoles busy and less hangry in lines (or while waiting for a show or parade).

14. Stop for Disney PhotoPass Photos

Our Grandparents Guide to Disneyland - Magic Shot with balloons

You are making family memories. Take the time to capture them in photos. If anyone in the group has Lightning Lane Multi Pass, all the PhotoPass photographs are included. So toadally take advantage of that. But even if you do not opt for the Multi Pass, you can have the PhotoPass photographer take your photos with your own devices. Be sure to ask for MagicShots for some extra surprises! You'll never regret taking photos with your loved ones.

15. Make it a Suprise!

We've heard stories of grandparents who gave their grandkids a trip to Disneyland ... and then surprise! Grammy and Poppy showed up too! What's better than a gifted trip to Disneyland? Being at Disneyland and finding out that your grandparents are there too! Even if you do not go for the surprise element, a Disneyland trip does make an excellent gift. Nobody is sad to receive Disneyland tickets or a Disneyland hotel stay as a gift. It's the gift that always fits, it's always in style and nobody is going to return it. But in case you do need to return it, Undercover Tourist Disneyland tickets have a 365-day return policy that offers some great peace of mind.

If you ever plan a trip as a holiday gift — but plan to visit after the holidays end — be sure to check out the Kids Ticket Special Offer to save hundreds of dollars on visits in January, February or March, or the Adults at Child Prices offers that run from time to time. And if you live in SoCal, the 3-day California Residents ticket makes a great gift with a lot of flexibility on visits from January to mid-May. In summer, look for good deals on summer tickets!

Do you have any other questions or concerns about going to Disneyland with grandparents? Feel free to ask in the comments section below. If you want to save on Disneyland tickets, hotel stays and more, your froggy friends can hook you up with the best deals, including tickets with Lightning Lane Multi Pass!

Related: All of the Magical Reasons to Stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel

Related: The Best Time to Visit Disneyland

Hoppy planning!

Keep hopping, Mommy Frog!
View Comments

Leave a comment

Search blog articles

About Undercover Tourist

Undercover Tourist is the leading supplier of online discount tickets to Orlando, Florida-area attractions, including Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando Resort™, SeaWorld® Orlando, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort and more.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get the inside scoop on theme park news, planning tips, concert and sports announcements, special offers and much more!

Park Plans

Our step-by-step guides will save you up to 4 hours a day.