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Best Age For Disneyland (Let’s Plan A Disneyland Trip!)

Are you wanting to plan a family vacation to Disneyland? Wondering what the best age for Disneyland is?  

You are in the right place!

We are going to help you decide what the best age to go to Disneyland is.  There are lots of different opinions on the best age to take a child to Disneyland, but I plan to give you some solid facts to help you make your decision. 

I am a mom of 4 kids.  We have been to Disneyland more times than I can count, and no we do not live in California!! 

I have had the experience of bringing babies, toddlers, little kids, big kids, and teenagers.  I am excited to share with you what I believe is the best Disneyland age! 

In this post, I will break down age groups and list out some important tips and tricks that will save you money based on age, as well as the best Disneyland rides for toddlers and kids.  We will dive into park logistics and the amenities offered. 

Let’s figure out what the best age for Disneyland is!

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Babies at Disneyland

Disneyland babies are the best! If you are wondering if Disneyland with a baby is a good idea, let me put your mind at ease. 

I wouldn’t say going to Disneyland with an infant is the perfect Disneyland age if you only have 1 kid.

However, if you have other kids taking a baby to Disneyland may be your only option.  It will be okay! Planning a Disneyland trip with babies and younger kids just takes a little more planning! 

Disneyland Babies Get Free Park Entrance

One great thing about bringing a baby to Disneyland is that they are free.  YES! Kids under 3 get in free.  

This is a great way to save money.  

Baby Care Center

I nursed all of my kids, so leaving the baby with grandparents was not an option.  Disneyland has a fantastic nursing and changing area.  These areas are fully staffed with amenities to help parents. 

  • Comfortable chairs for nursing
  • Tables for changing
  • Feeding areas with high chairs
  • Kitchen sink, bottle warmers, and microwave

There is an awesome vending machine full of everything that you could ever need, making taking your baby to Disneyland easy. 

Vending Machine is Stocked With

  • Formula
  • Babyfood
  • Juice
  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Sunscreen
  • Pacifiers
  • Medicine 

The Baby Care Center is located at Main Street USA at Disneyland and next to Ghirardelli at California Adventure on the Pacific Wharf. 

Every bathroom at Disneyland has a changing table. So if you just need to change a quick diaper you can find the nearest restroom.

Disneyland Babies Strollers and Equipment 

Toddlers at Disneyland

Babies at Disneyland need a stroller!  Disneyland is very stroller friendly! There are places to park your strollers as you go on rides, so you don’t have to worry about them.  

 

Kids under two at Disneyland will not be able to walk long distances. If your baby is younger you could wear a baby carrier but as they get older a stroller is probably your best option. 

In case it rains we highly recommend a rain sleeve for your stroller. We did a Disney day in the rain and this was a lifesaver.  

Hot Tip For Taking an Infant to Disneyland

You will need to take a break during the day, believe me!

Don’t go into your Disneyland experience thinking that you are going to be there at the rope drop and then close the park.  

There are so many hotels that are near Disneyland.  If you wanted to splurge, the Grand California literally has a park entrance from the hotel and out to Downtown Disney.  (You can save a ton of money through David’s Vacation Rental)

Toddlers at Disneyland

Toddlers at Disneyland

Toddler at Disneyland is where it starts to get fun as a parent.  Of course, you might have the occasional meltdown but overall the experience is going to be great.

A lot of the same information that applies to Disneyland babies applies if you are coming to Disneyland with toddlers.

Free Park Entrance Disneyland with Toddlers

I did mention that kids under 3 get free admission.  This is UNDER 3  so once your child turns 3, you have to pay for a ticket. 

One of the best tips I have is to come to Disneyland right before your child turns 3.  A month before. This will save you money plus your child will have a little more fun at this age compared to 2.  

Take a Nap

Toddlers need naps! Your day will be so much better if you plan to go back to the hotel and nap. 

Let the kids swim at the hotel and then let them rest.  This will help avoid meltdowns. I typically do this during the hottest times of the day. 

 You can go back to the parks later that night refreshed and ready to go. 

Ask For Some Disney Magic

Disney magic happens all the time. Our toddler fell asleep while we were waiting in line to meet Rapunzel. 

We decided to step out of the 45-60 minute line and give up.  The worker noticed and told us to go wait in the air-conditioned area next door and when our toddler woke up we could be at the front of the line. 

Disneyland Rides with Toddlers

There are so many Disneyland attractions for toddlers and babies!  I am going to list out the Disneyland baby rides that do not have height restrictions that you can take both babies and toddlers on.

There are a ton! Once you take a look at this list you will realize that there is plenty to do at Disneyland with toddlers and babies.

Toddler rides at Disneyland

What Rides Can Babies Go on at Disneyland?

There are a lot of baby rides at Disneyland.  You will find most of them in Fantasyland.  I would say around 5- 6 months when your baby is starting to engage, laugh, a sit up on their own is when you would take them on some of these rides. 

Baby-Friendly and Toddler Rides at Disneyland

Fantasyland

  • Alice n Wonderland
  • Casey Jr. Circus Train
  • Dumbo
  • Sleeping Beauty Castle (Walk-in) 
  • It’s a Small World
  • King Arthur Carousel 
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Mr. Toads Wild Ride
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Pinnocios Daring Journey
  • Snow Whites Enchanted Wish
  • Story Book Land Canal Boats

Frontierland

  • Mark Twain Boat Ride
  • Sailing Ship Colombia
  • Tom Sawyers Island

Main Street

  • Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
  • Main Street Vehicles
  • Main Street Cinema 

Adventureland

  • Tarzan Treehouse
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Enchanted Tiki-Room

Critter Country

  • Winnie the Pooh
  • Davy Crockette’s Explorer Canoes

Mickey’s Toon Town 

  • Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railroad

New Orleans Square

  • Pirates of the Caribbean (it is dark so use your own judgment, if your baby needs a nap this is a good one.)

Tomorrowland

  • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • Disneyland Monorail
  • Finding Nemo Submarine 

California Adventure Rides for Kids

California Adventure ride for kids

There are not as many Disneyland California Adventure rides for Babies/toddlers but there are a few that make it worth visiting both parks. 

  • Monsters Inc Mike and Sully to the Rescue
  • Turtle Talk with Crush
  • Mickey’s Philharmagic
  • The Little Mermaid
  • Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
  • Toy Story Midway Mania
  • Jessies Critter Carousel
  • Pix a Pal Around
  • Web Slingers Spiderman Adventure 
  • Luigi Rollickin Roadsters

Rider Switch

One of the best things Disney does is a rider switch.  If your baby is too young or short to go on a ride, one parent can go on the ride and then the other parent gets a turn.  

If you have older kids, your kids get to ride the ride two times in a row.  It is pretty awesome! 

Disneyland for Kids 3-9

Disneyland with kids

I grouped kids 3-9 together because that is a child ticket price. We are going to break down the best age to go to Disneyland within this group.

Best Age for Disneyland 4-6

Ages 4-6 is the best age for Disneyland! This is where the magic begins! The excitement to see the princesses and other characters is amazing! 

All of the Disneyland rides for toddlers and babies are still on the table plus you get to add a few roller coasters if your kids are tall enough.

I feel like if you want your kids to like Disney as they get older, taking them when they are younger is where you are going to create the memories that keep wanting them to come back.  

Best Age to Go to Disneyland 7-9

Right behind 4-6 years old, I think the best age for Disneyland is 7-9.  Your kids are still excited to experience all of the Disney magic.  By 9 your child can probably ride all of the rides at both Disneyland and California Adventure. 

We typically do Disneyland more and at the age of 10 we do a special 10-year-old trip to Disney World with each of our kids. 

This is because we are located in Utah so going to Florida is a lot farther than California.  

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Your kids are only little once and if you want them to have the bibbidi bobbidi boutique experience the younger the better.

I found that by age 8 they start to age out of princess! It is a sad day! Don’t wait, if this is something you want to do!  

I would say the best age for Disneyland Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is age 6.  

Disneyland with Kids Hot Tip

Disneyland can be expensive but when your kids are younger, you can make it really special without spending too much money.

Before you arrive at the park, head to the Dollar Tree. You can get lots of Disney souvenirs ahead of time.  

You can also go to Walmart or Target and purchase shirts to wear on your trip.  We also like to have shirts made on Etsy 

Another really cool thing to experience is the Disneyland Halloween Party.  Kids 3-9 are the best Disneyland age to experience this event. 

Disneyland with Tweens

Best Disneyland age

Most children when they hit 10-12, are ready to experience all of the rides at Disneyland.  But still do not mind going on the classic kid rides. 

There is still plenty in the park for tweens to do.  The parades, shows, characters, and rides will keep them busy.  

It is really a good age for Disneyland because they will be able to stay longer and play harder! 

Disneyland with Teenagers

Best Age for Disneyland

The first time I went to Disneyland was 19.  I am ashamed to admit it but I was not super impressed.  What!!!  

Well, I didn’t start loving Disneyland until I had kids of my own and saw the magic and fun through them.  

If you do not bring your kids when they are younger, they will not have the magical expectations that make Disneyland great.

Establish Disney Lovers

Now if you have done your job and given your kids the Disneyland magical experience when they are younger they will still eat it up when they are teens.

My 15-year-old went on a school orchestra trip and I have never seen a group of kids so excited to be at Disneyland! 

They wanted all the Disneyland souvenirs such as sweatshirts and Loungefly Bags and even wanted to sport the Mickey Ears.  

At this age, they will be more about Disney gene + so they can get in the Lightening Lanes and spend time at Star Wars Land and other new attractions.  Not to mention enjoying all of the best food at California Adventure and Disneyland with mobile ordering. 

They are less about meeting characters and more about going on rides.  My daughter was able to go on every single ride with Gene+.  

Best Age for Disneyland - Adults

Disneyland for Adults

This is where Disney gets ya.  If you grew up going to Disneyland the likelihood is that you will want to keep going even as an adult. 

It is the happiest place on earth after all! Disney really does everything right.  It is clean, the service is spectacular, and they work hard to make your experience really enjoyable. 

As a company that focuses on family fun.  Disneyland is a great vacation for all ages including adults. 

Disneyland Girls Trip

I was able to go on a Disneyland girl’s trip and it was so fun! Disneyland without kids was new experience for me and we could really focus on rides and enjoy our time

Disney World has more attractions and parties that cater to adults but what I have seen is that Disneyland has a special place in the hearts of those who grew up experiencing the magic.  

There are a lot of nicer restaurants at Disneyland like the Blue Bayou and Napa Rose that really cater to adults. Club 33 is an inclusive dream for many adults that love Disney as well. 

Best Age for Disneyland

Best age for Disneland

So to answer your question, any age is the best age to go to Disneyland. However, my favorite age to go to Disneyland with kids is between the ages of 4-6. I think this is the magical sweet spot.

Now that my kids are getting older, it is still a lot of fun because we can now go on all of the rides and open and close the parks. Although Disneyland Tickets are a lot more expensive.

I even enjoy going to Disneyland without kids. I think the most important thing to do is to have a plan or Disneyland itinerary to help plan your trip. 

I hope this helps you decide what the best age for Disneyland is for you! I am sure you will have so much fun!  

Facebook Group

If you have any questions about upcoming trips, come join me in my private Facebook Group This group is a place where you can ask any question about your upcoming trip and help others plan their trips.  It is also a place where I put travel deals.

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15 Comments

  1. I am impressed with everything Disneyland offers for babies! A vending machine for baby supplies? That’s amazing! And there are so many rides they can go on! But I’m not surprised to see that Kindergarten (or so) is the best age for Disneyland! They love the magic!

  2. Disneyland had very little of this when we went back in 2015! We went off peak and saw very little young children there, like babies etc. It was more between the ages of five and eleven. And then you had our age bracket, mid-twenties couples / friends all acting like big kids.

    I would go back in a heart beat!

  3. I have been to Disney World as a young couple, with my young children, adult children, and now grandchildren. Any age is the best age for Disneyland and Disney World.

  4. Such wonderful information for people traveling with kids! I know plenty of people who have wondered about the ages of their children and if it’s good to go with them.

  5. This is a great resource for those going to Disneyland with babies and toddlers. My 2 1/2 year old granddaughter would have fun there.

  6. Yes, that was very helpful to understand the different ages and how they would enjoy Disneyland. I remember being a young teen and enjoying the rides.

  7. We will be exploring Disneyland soon with a variety of these ages. Thank you for breaking each age group down and sharing what they would enjoy.

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