8 Things You Need to Know Before Going to Disneyland with a Baby

I grew up about 20 minutes away from Disneyland, and spent the majority of my childhood in Disney princess dresses. So, it was a full-circle moment when my husband and I took our 11-month-old son to the Happiest Place on Earth. And while some warned that he might not fully appreciate it, the joyous screams and smiles were enough proof that this was maybe his most favorite day yet. (The next day, I asked if he wanted to go back on the flying elephants—aka the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride—and he signed “More.”) 

I learned quite a few tips and tricks from experienced Disney parents beforehand, and took my own notes during our visit. Below, my top recommendations for doing Disney with a baby in tow.

Blake Bakkila

1. Check the Infant-Safe Rides Ahead of Time

The Disneyland website and app have filters you can toggle to see which rides are appropriate for kiddos. My husband looked up the list before we got there, which made it easier to pick and choose which ones we wanted to go on. The “Any Height” option will show you everything that’s okay for your baby, and we were surprised to see that there are 64 total attractions. My family’s itinerary included the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Storybook Land Canal Boats, and the aforementioned Dumbo ride. Our son loved it all, and was surprisingly unfazed by the two semi-significant drops on Pirates!

Because we were only there for the afternoon and evening, we didn’t have time to wait in some of the longer lines, like Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Peter Pan’s Flight, and sadly, the classic It’s a Small World was closed for refurbishment.

2. Monitor the App for Wait Times

Babies aren’t the most patient when it comes to extra-long lines (and who can blame them?), but you can mitigate that by checking the app for the shortest wait times. These are frequently updated, so you can monitor your favorite rides and hop on during a lower-traffic moment.

David McNew/Getty Images

3. Pack Snacks, Water, and Extra Clothes

You can never go wrong with packing more than you need, and Disney allows you to bring outside food and beverages (so long as they’re nonalcoholic and not in glass containers), which is a budget-friendly advantage. My son has started solids, but he’s not quite ready for the full kid’s meals, so having his favorite snacks and sippy cup on-hand was particularly helpful. 

Fortunately, we didn’t experience a blowout, but hey, accidents happen. We brought two extra outfits and a jacket, which we put on him when it got a little chilly toward the end of the night.

4. Order Your Food Ahead of Time

I didn’t do this, but I wish I had when we had to wait about 25 minutes to order our food from Alien Pizza Planet (which I knew as Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port back in the day). On your app, simply place your order and walk over to the designated pick-up location. You’ll notice most restaurants have a “Mobile Order Pick Up” sign to help you navigate to the correct spot.

5. Visit the Disneyland Baby Care Center

I’m still nursing, and I really appreciated the convenience of the Disneyland Baby Care Center. Located right off of Main Street, U.S.A. (turn right, and it’s next to First Aid), you can sit in a comfortable chair to nurse, feed your baby in a highchair, or use their changing tables or toddler-size toilets. If you forgot anything, there’s even a vending machine with essentials like formula, diapers, wipes, and more that you can purchase with a credit card. 

Fair warning: The diaper changing line was pretty long, but if you don’t want to wait, nearly all Disneyland restrooms have baby changing stations, too.

Getty Images

6. Have Trust in the Stroller Parking Areas

I don’t know how we would’ve done this day without our stroller, but I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive about leaving it in the stroller parking area before each ride. That said, there are Cast Members observing the area for parents’ peace of mind.

If you’re bringing a stroller from home, just make sure it falls under the requirements (31″ x 52″) and keep in mind that wagons are not permitted. Don’t want to bring your stroller along? You can also rent one.

7. Watch the Fireworks Near City Hall

We were pushing it with our little one’s bedtime, but we couldn’t miss out on the fireworks. Thankfully, a friend recommended watching from the beginning of Main Street, U.S.A., which gave us the perfect view of the show and easy access to the nearest exit.

Blake Bakkila

8. Manage Your Expectations and Have Fun!

I reviewed some message boards and loved how one mom framed it: Keep expectations low! Babies thrive on routine, and a day at Disneyland is a major deviation from their typical schedule. My son was living his best life, but we were lucky that he didn’t miss a nap that day. Plus, we were only there for the afternoon and evening (4 to 9:30 p.m.), and the abbreviated timeline was the perfect primer for future trips to D-land. To celebrate the occasion, you can also get a “1st Visit!” pin for your baby, and we couldn’t resist snagging a pair of infant Mickey ears, too.