When my girls were two and four, we visited Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, California. I grew up in LA and have been to Disneyland dozens of times, so for me, there was no choosing between Disneyland vs Disney World. I’ve taken them back every year since, and it’s one of their favorite places. I’ll share the rides and activities they loved, and why we chose the Disneyland Park over Walt Disney World resort. If you’re planning a Disney trip are are in between Disneyland vs. Disney World with small children, I’d urge you to consider a Disneyland trip.

Disneyland vs Disney World With Young Kids

Disneyland is the first and original Disney theme park, and is a better option if you’re looking for easy. It’s smaller, but the Disney magic is just as magical. And when they’re little, they don’t know the difference anyway. The biggest difference is size. The Disneyland Resort is about 0.8 square miles, while Walt Disney World is roughly 43 square miles. That makes Disneyland much more approachable, especially for a first Disney trip with little ones. You can easily see the highlights of the main park in a day. A smaller resort means a shorter trip and spending less money, so this alone makes Disneyland the clear winner for a first trip.

Another bonus is being able to add on some time in Los Angeles or San Diego. You’re also dealing with a Southern California climate vs. Florida, which is often hot and rainy.

Here’s my complete guide to why I chose Disneyland in Southern California over Disney World in Florida.

A Guide to Each Disney Lightning Lane Pass at Disneyland

Which one is worth it?

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Disneyland vs Disney World

Since I grew up in Los Angeles and have only been to Disneyland, it felt really nostalgic taking my girls there. I know the parks very well so navigating our way around was pretty easy.

Disneyland is significantly smaller than Magic Kingdom, and has two theme parks vs. four. You can easily do both parks in one day with Lightning Lane Premiere. I’ve done this several times now. But if you want to save and enjoy more than one day of magic, two days and the Multipass is fine. It worked well for us, but you’re going to spend a lot more time on your phone, and certain rides fill up fast.

Disneyland vs California Adventure

If you’re in-between the two theme parks, I would choose Disneyland to start. Yes, there aren’t as many rides or parks, but again, if it’s a first time, Disneyland is a great place to start, generally a bit less crowded, and the California parks are easier to navigate.

Disney California Adventure park has some great options for adults and older kids. My kids love Pixar Pier and Cars Land, especially Radiator Springs Racers. It’s one of the best rides in both parks. Plus, it’s got that west coast flair.

Where to Stay

Disneyland has 3 on-site hotels to choose from. There’s The Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and all are within walking distance to the parks. We just took a short walk through Downtown Disney District and we were right there, and staying at a property hotel also gets you early park entry for rope drop..  The Disneyland Resort Hotels are the most convenient, but they’re very expensive for what they are.

I chose The Disneyland Hotel since it’s less expensive than the Grand Californian, and I wasn’t crazy about the lodge decor anyway. We stayed in one room with two full beds, and each shared a bed with one of the girls. I didn’t love it, and I know there are perks, like the Magic Hour where you get early entry to the park. It’s only 30 extra minutes, and we’re not early risers.

For our next two trips, we stayed at the JW Marriott Anaheim which I found to be much nicer. Non-Disney hotels are much more my vibe, and we paid $200-300 less per night. We payed for a ticket and just drove to the park, which was honestly really nice at the end of the day.

Planning Your Trip

When purchasing a park ticket, a park hopper multi-day ticket is a great way to experience both parks. We bought multi-day tickets with park hopper, and added Lightning Lane tickets to each day. When you schedule your park reservations, you’ll be able to choose which pass to add on to each day. You’ll avoid waiting in long lines for all Lightning Lane rides, which is so worth it. I’d recommend the Premier for one day, and the basic one for your second day.

How Many Days Do You Need at Disneyland?

It depends on your kids’ ages and whether you’re adding Lightning Lane. Here’s what’s worked for us:

One day: If you’re short on time, you can see both parks in a single day with the Lightning Lane Premier Pass. I’ve done this several times now. It’s a full day and a big splurge, but it’s absolutely doable and well worth it.

Two days: This is the sweet spot for most families. With a two-day Park Hopper ticket and the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can enjoy both parks at a more relaxed pace. You’ll spend more time on your phone booking rides, and some fill up fast, but it’s a great way to save.

Three days: With toddlers or kids who still nap, three days gives you room for shorter park days, hotel breaks, and early bedtimes. We did three days on our first trip when my girls were 2 and 4, and it honestly felt like too much. I was exhausted at the end of our trip.

Anything more than three days at Disneyland is more than you need, especially with young kids. That’s one of the biggest perks over Disney World, where most families stay a full week.

Disneyland with Young Kids

I highly recommend bringing a stroller if your kids are five and under. The next time we go, we’ll bring our now three year-old, and I’ll bring a double stroller so the girls can take a break when needed.

For the basics, I packed an extra outfit, sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, and snacks for the kids each day. These stroller hooks were great for hanging our backpack and extras, and I kept my phone, wallet, and hotel key in a crossbody. And wear your most comfortable sneakers.

Disneyland Tips for Parents

Use Rider Switch. If one child is too small for a ride, one parent rides while the other waits with the little one. Then you swap without getting back in line.

Find the Baby Care Center. It’s on Main Street and has changing tables, a nursing room, and a quiet spot for a break.

Mobile order your food in the Disneyland app to skip long lines at lunch.

Watch rides on YouTube before you go. My girls knew exactly what they wanted to ride, and what felt too scary, before we ever got there.

Our Schedule with a 5 and 7 Year Old

I went back with my girls at ages 5 and 7, and it was such an easy trip. We used the Premier Lightning Lane pass on day one. It added a lot to the cost of our tickets, but we got so much done. On day two, I booked the more affordable pass, and it was still a great experience. I wrote an in-depth post comparing both passes, and I’d highly recommend getting one for any Disney park.

We still brought a stroller for all the walking, but there were no naps to plan around, the girls were brave enough for more adventurous rides, and they loved pin trading.

Planning your days

Since I know the parks so well (like to the point that I can tell you where every single ride is within each land), I didn’t really plan. But – I knew that with two very young children, we would want to start with the simplest rides in Fantasyland. I would do this with any child under 6. But — if you aren’t booking Lightning Lane, go directly to the rides you’re most excited about. Rise of the Resistance is where I’d go first, but I also always book Lightning Lane because it’s well worth it.

The Best Rides for Toddlers

Casey Jr. Train
Dumbo
Small World
Teacups
Jungle Cruise
Little Mermaid
Carousel
Peter Pan is one of our favorite rides

The best rides for Little Kids

Small World
Teacups
Alice in Wonderland
Dumbo
Autopia
Haunted Mansion
Winnie the Pooh
Both Toy Story rides (there’s one at each park)
Jungle Cruise
Emotional Whirlwind at CA adventure
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Rides to Avoid With Little Kids

Any/all fast rides. Most of those start at 42″ anyway.

Pinocchio is a very dark ride, and far too scary for little kids.
Pirates of the Caribbean is another dark and scary ride.
Haunted Mansion can also be hit or miss.
Mr. Toad is pretty scary, and no one knows who he is anyway.

The Best Place to Meet Disney Characters

Meeting Minnie and Mickey mouse was a highlight for both girls. As soon as you walk into Disneyland, head through the tunnel on the right. There’s usually a character meet and greet toward the back right. We saw Mickey, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, and Chip and Dale there.

We also had luck running into characters throughout the park, including Mickey and Minnie right outside It’s a Small World. Toon Town is a great place to see them, too!

For princesses, go to Royal Hall in Fantasy Faire, the round building to the left of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Margot’s life was made when she met Rapunzel there. Over at California Adventure, the Toy Story characters at Pixar Pier were a favorite.

You can also book character meals both inside and outside of the park, which is the perfect rest day activity.

The Food

Dining at Disneyland is… not great. But it’s theme park food, so I didn’t expect much. We had pizza from Alien Pizza Planet and chicken tenders from Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland. Neither was great, but the kids didn’t mind. On my most recent trip, we actually grabbed lunch at Downtown Disney when were headed to California Adventure from Disneyland. The food is a lot better there, and it’s right between the two parks.

You’re allowed to bring food in, so I always had applesauce pouches and other snacks. There are a few stands with bananas and fresh fruit if you want healthier options, but don’t skip the treats. The Dole Whip outside the Tiki Room and the churros are so good.

Character Dining at Goofy’s Kitchen was cute, but you’re paying for the experience and not the food. Still, a fun experience and a wonderful last adventure the morning of your travel day home.

Would I Recommend Disneyland With Young Kids?

A mom once asked if I’d go with just a 2.5-year-old. Honestly, I don’t think I would, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. If your child knows and loves the Disney characters, and doesn’t have a problem taking stroller naps, go for it. My youngest will be four next year, and I think he’s finally ready.

Disney is expensive, so unless you live in California or Florida, I’d wait until your youngest is at least 3 or 4. But whenever you go, start slow and keep it simple. Even when you’re exhausted, watching the magic through their eyes is truly one of the best things you’ll ever do as a parent.

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