You may be surprised by how much you can do with a baby at Disneyland. And children two years and under are free, so that’s even more reason to bring your little ones to the Happiest Place on Earth! I happen to believe that babies at Disneyland really add to the magic. Seeing their little eyes focus and lock in on all there is to see really is a truly special experience.
Seeing characters, watching parades and live shows are all fun for babies. And finding a spot away from the crowds and letting your little one toddle around can be a great way to spend the day.
It’s not all just wandering around with a baby and watching from the sidelines, though. There are so many attractions that don’t have a height requirement that the entire family can enjoy, big and small! For the most part, rides that allow for all heights can also accommodate baby wearing (which is great if you have a wee one who falls asleep in their carrier, that way you don’t have to risk waking them up when you transfer them out). However, I have experienced Cast Members requesting that the baby face a certain direction or be removed entirely from the carrier – so make sure to check with the Cast Member operating the attraction and follow their guidance for the safest practice at that time.
Rides in Disneyland with no height requirement (confirm with Cast Member at attraction for guidance on babywearing):
Alice in Wonderland
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
Disneyland Monorail
Disneyland Railroad
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world”
Jungle Cruise
King Arthur Carrousel
Mad Tea Party
Main Street Vehicles
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mark Twain Riverboat
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pinnochio’s Daring Journey
Pirates of the Caribbean
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin (fairly certain this one has never allowed babywearing and for good reason – it is a wild ride)
Sailing Ship Columbia
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Rides in Disney California Adventure with no height requirement (confirm with Cast Member at attraction for guidance on babywearing):
Golden Zephyr
Jessie’s Critter Carousel
The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
Pixar Pal-a-Round (Swinging and Non-Swinging)
Toy Story Midway Mania!
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
Another important tip for bringing your baby to Disneyland is to be familiar with the Baby Care Centers. There is one located in each park (at Disneyland you’ll find it at the end of Main Street by First Aid, in DCA it’s by Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop in Pacific Wharf). These are amazing resources for caregivers with littles at the parks. You can purchase necessities you may have forgot or run out of (think diapers, wipes, pull-ups, formula, pacifiers, etc) at vending machines inside each location. They also include quiet spaces for nursing, pumping and bottle feeding. Clean high chairs and a nice kitchen area with sinks and microwaves are also available for your feeding needs. There are clean changing tables and child-sized potties (children must be under 42” to utilize these restrooms). These centers are invaluable for families traveling with babies and toddlers, so make sure you utilize them during your trip!
Make sure to have a comfortable (for you & baby) stroller and carrier to travel through the parks with ease. A reclining stroller can come in handy if you’re going to be at the parks during naptime, and there are plenty of quiet spots to try and get baby to take a rest. My favorite spot in Disneyland is inside Main Street Cinema (dark, air conditioned, benches for sitting and usually has low crowds) and in DCA it’s Animation Academy (also dark & air conditioned, plus there are so many places to explore you should be able to find a place away from the crowds). Another top tip is to actually leave the parks and spend some time exploring the lobbies of the Disney hotels. You don’t need to be a hotel guest and there is plenty of comfortable seating, beautiful grounds and good restaurants to grab a bite while baby sleeps.
You will find ample stroller “parking” throughout the parks, but note that often Cast Members will relocate strollers to consolidate them to an area that allows for better traffic flow. So don’t be alarmed if your stroller isn’t exactly where you left it! I like to have some easy to find marker on my stroller (a balloon, a bright tag on the handlebar, a glow bracelet for nighttime spotting are all good ones) to avoid any stroller mixups.
And the most important thing to remember when bringing your baby to Disneyland – and this is actually the most important thing for visitors of all ages – is to relax and have fun! Try to take some time to slow down and enjoy watching the magic unfold.
