Diapers? Check. Wipes? Check. Mickey ears? Going to Disneyland with a baby can be challenging, but a little prep and planning go a long way in turning what can be an overwhelming experience into a hoppy family memory. We've got some advice for taking your tadpoles and toddlers to “The Happiest Place on Earth” that will ensure the whole family has a great time!
Top Secrets for Going to Disneyland with a Baby
One of the best parts about bringing a baby to Disneyland is that they are free through 2 years old. So you'll want to take advantage of having a baby or 2-year-old in the park. You can expect to move a little slower with a baby or toddler, but you can also experience boundless joy in the simplest experiences. It's a whole new world seeing it all through your baby's eyes. Our hopful advice will help make your day easier and more magical. Hip, hop, hooray! If you have bigger babies and preschoolers, also hop over to our Disneyland Park Plan for toddlers and preschoolers.
For toddlers with a longer attention span, parades make for an amazing experience. Lily loves the colorful costumes and characters. Because we have to get in place early, we try to use that waiting period as nap time or snack time in the stroller.
For shorter attention spans, dance parties require a lot less waiting time and are a quick way to see a lot of characters from that safe toddler distance. Plus, it's a great way for toddlers to get the wiggles out.
What to Bring for a Baby at Disneyland
The Southern California sun is strong, so plan ahead to protect your baby’s skin and bring layers. Cool mornings can develop into hot days, and then temperatures return to chilly in the evenings.
Dress your baby in layers and bring the following:
- Extra outfit (so spills and diaper blow-outs don’t ruin the day — because, hey, spit-up happens!)
- Sunscreen
- Sun hat
- Blanket to shade from the sun or provide extra warmth
- Stroller
- Stroller cover on rainy days
- Formula and bottles/bottle liners
- Spillproof sippy cups
- Baby food/snacks
- Your baby spoon
- Diapers
- Wipes (beyond diaper changes, you will need to keep your little tadpole’s hands and face clean)
- Baby shoes (some rides require your baby to wear shoes)
- Optional: Baby carrier/sling
- Optional: Stroller fan on warm days and a portable sound machine
- Hand sanitizer
- Pacifier with a clip (so you don't lose it)
Should You Bring Your Own Stroller to Disneyland or Rent?
This topic is complex enough that we devoted an entire post to using a stroller at Disneyland. Whether you rent or bring your own may depend on cost and convenience to you. Disneyland rental strollers go for $18 per day. You can rent a double stroller for $36 per day. When taking two small children, I find it easier to use a baby carrier to attach my littlest one to my chest, keeping my hands free while I push the toddler or preschooler in a stroller. Ah, the days with Lily in the sling!
You can also rent a stroller (and even baby equipment!) from an off-site rental company. Scooter Bug is Disneyland's recommended off-site rental company. You can also find rentals from other companies, such as City Stroller Rentals. Scooter Bug is an official Disneyland partner, and its products can be dropped off at a Disneyland hotel even if you are not there.
Keep in mind that your slightly older children, who may have recently outgrown a stroller, might enjoy hitching a ride now and then when their legs get tired. Even strollers with a standing platform for older siblings can help give their legs a rest and keep them close to you in a crowd.
You can rent strollers at the stroller rental location next to Disneyland Park. The Disneyland rental strollers are hard plastic and do not recline. They are better for toddlers who can sit up on their own rather than infants.
If you bring your own stroller, you will have to remove the baby and fold the stroller before boarding parking trams and buses. The first row of each parking tram car has seats that face each other and extra legroom, which makes it easier to fit with the folded stroller.
Another option if you do not want to load a stroller onto the tram is to walk from the structures. That is easiest for one adult traveling with little ones. Go to the second level of the Pixar Pals parking structure to take the pedestrian bridge to Downtown Disney. You can walk to Disneyland through Downtown Disney. It's about a 15-minute walk.
All of that may be enough motivation to stay at a hotel within walking distance. Also, be aware that as of May 1, 2019, strollers must be no larger than 31 inches wide and 52 inches long. Many, but not all, strollers meet these guidelines. There may be some exceptions for strollers that are also used as wheelchairs.
Now that the Disneyland security checkpoints have moved to the perimeter of Downtown Disney, you have more flexibility when renting a Disney stroller. You can take a rental stroller between parks and Downtown Disney restaurants and shops (but not hotels). If you want to transport your sleeping baby to your hotel within walking distance, you’ll want to have your own stroller.
Be smart with your stroller inside the theme parks. A stroller can conveniently hold all of your baby supplies, but don’t leave any valuables in it. It is important to park your stroller only in a marked stroller parking area. If you don’t park smart, a cast member may relocate it for you, and that’s no fun to figure out when you return.
People often ask if it’s better to take a small umbrella stroller or a larger stroller, and while a larger stroller is a little harder to maneuver in crowds, it’s easier on the body, maneuvers terrain (such as curbs and trolley tracks) better and holds more stuff, so we always opt to take our best and hardiest stroller to Disneyland. We personalize our stroller because so many strollers look alike! Wagons of any kind are not allowed at Disneyland (but there are some exceptions for some disabilities). Some people bring a Buggyguard stroller lock to prevent the theft of valuable strollers.
Take Advantage of the Disneyland Baby Care Centers
Missing supplies can cause a meltdown for you and your baby. Don't fret! The nurses at the Disneyland Baby Care Center have got you covered. Run out of diapers or wipes? Lost your pacifier? Out of baby food? Need baby medicine? You can restock at the Disneyland Baby Care Center. You'll find a vending machine with all of the baby supplies!
The Baby Care Center in each park has several free services, as well. There are several clean padded changing tables, private rooms with rocking chairs for nursing, powered stations for pumping and high chairs, bottle warmers and a microwave. This quiet oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the park is just what babies and parent need. You can even see a picture of baby Walt Disney inside!
If you need to pump milk, you’ll need to bring your own pump. You can store it at the Baby Care Center in Disney California Adventure or at the nurse’s station next door to the Baby Care Center in Disneyland. The park cannot store milk for you, but you can get ice from a restaurant. Frozen water bottles last a long time and work well to keep milk cold. The Baby Care Centers also have filtered water to mix formula, bottle warmers and a microwave to warm up food.
Have a potty-training toddler? When Lily was training, she loved the Baby Care Center’s tiny potties that were just her size (for guests under 42 inches). She even got a sticker for using the tiny potty! There's a toilet with a manual flush, which can be a big deal for you if your little one is terrified of the loud toilets that automatically flush when they least expect it. (We bring Post-It Notes to stick over the sensor when using the larger potties in the park.) The Disney California Adventure location also has a family restroom, which is lacking from the older Disneyland Center.
Even though every restroom in the park has a baby changing station, take advantage of the Baby Care Centers in both Disneyland (near the first-aid station off Main Street) and California Adventure (to the left of Ghirardelli chocolate and ice cream store). Plus, if you wander off without a child, this is also where children wait for lost parents to come to find them.
One thing to note. You cannot bring strollers into the Baby Care Centers. So if you are one adult caring for multiple little ones, we recommend the companion restrooms instead. You can bring your stroller and multiple children inside with you so you can keep everyone contained while you change a diaper or use the restroom yourself! Plus, the companion restrooms have manual flushers, which work better for little ones with sensitive ears who can find the regular restrooms with automatic flushers a bit noisy, unpredictable and scary. Find out more in our best Disneyland bathrooms post.
Feeding Baby at Disneyland
While you'll want to bring your own baby food (or buy some at the Disneyland Baby Care Center), you can buy milk in the parks, as well as yogurt, cheese, fruit and other foods an older baby might need. You can find toddler meals for guests under 3 at many park restaurants. I always find having some Cheerios or crackers with me goes a long way in entertaining a baby or toddler. The squeezable baby food pouches are easy to use at Disneyland. Older babies may be able to eat off your plate.
Several restaurants sell Power Packs, which are great for toddlers. They come with a Danimals drinkable smoothie, mandarin orange, vegetables, crackers and a small beverage (such as milk). You can mobile order them and take them to go.
Best Disneyland Rides for Babies
So you have a well-fed, comfortable baby at Disneyland. Now comes the fun! What will you and your baby enjoy? Parents love that Disney designed rides with families in mind. Most family-friendly rides in the Disney parks can accommodate at least two adults and a small child, or one adult and two children. Since a baby often makes three, this arrangement makes everyone’s ride so much easier than deciding how to split up.
You may be able to take a baby in a chest carrier on most rides without a height requirement, but be willing to remove it if a cast member asks you to for safety reasons. Disney is always re-evaluating ride safety, so expect that policies on baby carriers may change.
The best Disneyland attractions for babies:
- Pirates of the Caribbean (cool, long, dark and relaxing — good for nursing, although it can be scary for older children and there are two mild drops)
- "it’s a small world" (repetitive song and visual stimulation for baby; AC for you)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
- Jungle Cruise
- Parades
- Dance Parties
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- Disneyland Railroad
- Sailing Ship Columbia
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Main Street Vehicles
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Alice in Wonderland
- Mad Tea Party (don't spin too fast!)
- The Enchanted Tiki Room
- Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (a gentle ride, but this does have a shooting component)
- Storytelling at the Royal Theatre
- Haunted Mansion (a slow-moving ride, but it is dark and can be scary to toddlers)
- Mickey's Toontown
Jungle Cruise humor might be over the heads of toddlers — and some adults — but those animals sure look real, so taking that trip is kind of like getting in a quick trip to the zoo. Most rides in Fantasyland are safe for a baby, but Lily finds Pinocchio and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride a little scary. What is scary to a baby and to a toddler can change frequently. An infant may not be fazed by a ride that can terrify a toddler, so just keep that in mind. You will probably want to avoid taking your little one on Disneyland’s scariest rides.
The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is gentle enough for baby, but baby needs to be able to look through a porthole to see the action, and it can get dark and loud. We have seen some babies and small children get overstimulated or scared, so you’ll have to decide based on how well you know your baby.
Mickey’s Toontown, which is perfect for toddlers who need to move, has a refurbished playground area and sensory garden. Guests of all heights and ages can enjoy the new Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway ride. There are interactive play areas and green spaces for tadpoles to play and run around. Your "Little Goofs" (6 to 23 months) can play amongst babies their own size in a fenced area with padded climbing areas behind Donald's Boat.
If you need a quiet spot to take a sensory break, there is a quieter cave area in Toontown with benches and artificial turf to escape to for some downtime. We have taken tired toddlers there for lunch and it worked out way better for them than sitting at a table.
In Tomorrowland, there is a large, wet granite ball that can toddlers can touch and spin. Pixar Pier also has a large granite Pixar ball across from the Pixar Pal-A-Round. Letting your toddler take advantage of these experiences will help get the wiggles out so that the stroller will be a welcome rest — a win-win!
Another favorite for older babies is the Disneyland Railroad, which can also help you get around the park. If you are taking the train round-trip, park the stroller, but if you are using the train for transportation, you will have to fold the stroller and bring it with you. Toddlers especially love the stretch between Tomorrowland and the Main Street, U.S.A. station, where you can see animals and dinosaurs.
The Best Disney California Adventure Attractions
Over in Disney California Adventure, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is a great spot for tots to let off steam. With netting to climb and slides to tackle, they'll enjoy the great outdoors. The peaceful Grizzly Peak area has white noise from waterfalls, making it also a great place for a stroller nap.
Disney California Adventure attractions are less catering to very young babies, but there is still plenty for them to see and do in the park. The best California Adventure rides for babies and baby-friendly attractions include:
- Disney Junior Dance Party!
- The Little Mermaid — Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
- Pixar Pal-A-Round (a unique enclosed Ferris wheel that has both rocking and non-rocking gondolas)
- Jessie's Critter Carousel
- Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
- Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
- Golden Zephyr
- World of Color (breathtaking show for guests of all ages)
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
- Sights of Cars Land
- WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
Toy Story Midway Mania can accommodate a baby between two parents, but hold on tight for some unexpected movements. This 3D-ride-meets-video game may be a little challenging if you have to hold a small baby and use both hands to operate the game.
We find that babies best enjoy slow dark rides with a lot of colors and music, such as The Little Mermaid — Ariel's Undersea Adventure.There are smaller shows and musical entertainment opportunities throughout the park that an older baby or toddler may enjoy. Look for Operation: Playtime — featuring the Green Army Patrol in Paradise Gardens Park. There is also a lot of family-friendly seasonal entertainment during Holiday Time and Lunar New Year.
Tools to Make Your Day Easier with a Baby or Toddler
Even though many rides at Disneyland can accommodate tadpoles as young as newborns, there are a few rides in the parks that have a minimum height requirement. For those rides, you definitely want to take advantage of Rider Switch so that all of the taller guests can take turns riding/watching the baby without doubling the wait.
To use Rider Switch, bring your entire party to the attendant at the entrance of the ride. Determine who is riding in the first party and who the supervisor and guest will be to ride second. The attendant will scan the park tickets of up to two people, giving them a return window after the first party returns. When the second adult takes their turn, they can bring a guest with them. If you have older children with you, they can ride with the first parent and then one can ride again with the second parent while the baby and caregiver sit out. Just be sure to scan all tickets before riding the first time. It can be challenging to balance the needs of older children and a baby, so point out how bringing the baby to Disneyland is the ticket to even more fun for the other kids in the family!
Bubbles!
Whether you BYOB (Bring Your Own Bubbles) from home or buy a souvenir bubble maker in the park, do not underestimate the power of bubbles on a toddler. If you need to occupy a toddler while the rest of the family is on a ride, bubbles are the perfect solution. The bubbles can come in handy for easy entertainment while waiting for a ride or a parade. The same goes for light-up toys at night. Chances are, all of the other kids in the area will enjoy the bubbles, too. Use the bubbles as a motivator: “If you climb in the stroller, you can hold the Bubble Wand.” It usually works for babies ... sometimes husbands too! Balloons are also a popular choice to keep a toddler mesmerized.
Balloons also make a toddler particularly hoppy. Tie it onto your stroller and let your toddler hold the string. You'll get some more joy out of the balloon even after you leave the park. We usually get at least several weeks of enjoyment from our Disneyland balloons.
Mobile Order
Don't stand in long food lines. Mobile order food in the Disneyland app so you just have to pick it up when it's ready.
Nap Time Help for a Baby at Disneyland
Disney is very stimulating to everyone, especially little babies. You are going to move a lot slower than expected with a baby, and you’ll need to take breaks. When your tadpole needs a break, use the quiet Baby Care Centers to regroup or find a shady, quiet area for a stroller nap. Use nap time in a stroller to wait for family members on bigger rides or even eat a meal in peace — it is your day too! Leap and I used to love walking Pixar Pier and enjoying a treat or fizzy drink while taking in the sights as the tadpoles rested in the stroller. Your baby will enjoy the simple pleasures of taking time to watch the ducks or to observe fun sights such as colorful, tiny doors that are just their size near Alice in Wonderland.
Three to four hours is a long time in the park for a baby, so if you are staying in a nearby hotel, it is worth taking a break from the park to let your baby nap and provide downtime so you can re-enter the park refreshed for round two. Be sure to keep yourself and your baby hydrated.
We discovered that a sound machine really makes a difference in allowing a baby to nap in the stroller in the park. If I only had a pressed penny for every time another parent exclaimed to us, "Why didn't we bring our sound machine?" A stroller fan on a hot day toadally helps too!
With these tips for going to Disneyland with a baby, you can have a successful and fun day with your little one on the best Disneyland rides for babies. Once baby is hoppy, then you can relax and enjoy yourself too. Now, it's your turn: Share any tips you have learned about caring for your baby at Disneyland in the comments below!
Related: Top 10 Tips for Using a Stroller at Disneyland
Related: Practicing Good Health and Wellness in Theme Parks
Hoppy planning!
