Shanghai Disneyland with kids
The kids at the entrance to Shanghai Disneyland.
Playback isn’t available here. Open the film on Vimeo ↗
Originally published April 2022. Trip details reflect past visits; check current park terms and policies before planning.
Maybe you’ve noticed we are huge Disney fans… maybe not. Either way, you’re here!
We’ve visited every Disney park around the globe with kids (many multiple times) and think of it as one of our favorite places. It’s not always the happiest place on earth, though.
Let me share our tips and tricks for a successful Disney family vacation if you are considering your first Disney trip.
*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Opinions shared are my own, and I only endorse products I support. By clicking on any of the links below, I may get a small commission if you purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. I appreciate your support.*
Original video: Watch the YouTube video.
No matter which park you visit worldwide, there are some good things to know. You can find loads of articles specific to the park you want to visit, like this one which I did on Disneyland Paris.
This applies to both weather and crowds. Knowing the best time to visit will make a big difference in your (first-time) experience!
Did you know there are crowd calendars for many Disney parks worldwide? Here’s one for Disneyland Paris and one for Disney World. (You can also check on Google and type in “crowd calendar Disneyland ____.”)
Lower-crowd dates depend on the resort, school holidays, events, and the year. Treat crowd calendars as estimates and check the specific park’s calendar before choosing your dates.
The weather should also be checked for the time you want to visit. We went to Orlando in October and sweated through all our clothes. It was different when we went to Paris in November and had to wear several layers of clothes to even last through an afternoon of freezing temps.
I think booking a package with Disney brings extra magic. It also brings a lot more cost! However, having done the budget and the expensive route, I would rather go less on Disney visits and make them more magical by staying on the property.
What benefits do you get from staying in a Disney property, especially with kids?
I’m the first to acknowledge that this may not be in your budget. And that’s OK! We’ve done plenty of Disney visits while staying in a more affordable hotel. After all, if you just are going to sleep there, it doesn’t matter that much.
It comes down to the number of days and what else you want from your vacation. If you are going for two days and will hit the parks all open hours, your hotel matters less. A nice hotel would be good if you return for an afternoon nap/break time/pool time. If you are staying 5-6 days and want to get a vacation on your Disney vacation, a nicer hotel can go a long way!
If you are choosing to stay somewhere else, here are my tips:
You might also want to consider Airbnb. Check out our article on the differences between Airbnb and Hotels.
Check out these amazing off-property options!
Here are some of the great deals for hotels near Disneyland, California:
If you’re going to Disney Florida with kids, I check these hotels:
Off-property hotels can offer savings, but compare current quotes for the same dates, room capacity, taxes, parking, transport, and included benefits. The old nightly ranges we listed are not current quotes.
One of your main goals before your vacation: build excitement!
A lot of the Disney magic comes in anticipation of going. Make a paper chain and tear off a ring each day. Buy some t-shirts on Etsy or your t-shirts! Whatever sounds fun, start the magic at home.
We built our excitement as a family by listening to Disney songs on Spotify while driving and watching Disney movies before we went.
A Disney visit can involve a lot of walking, so plan footwear and rest breaks that work for your family.
Check the climate and forecast for your particular resort and season; Paris and Tokyo can be cold. With that in mind, here is a general list of the things you should bring for your first trip:
If you plan to send purchases or supplies to a hotel, confirm its current receiving, delivery, and storage policy directly before ordering.
You’ll want room in your suitcase to bring souvenirs home, so don’t overpack!
Check the current rules for your exact resort before packing. Restrictions can differ by location, item size, and accessibility needs. The examples below are reminders to check specific park policies, not a universal Disney-wide prohibited-items list:
Check your particular resort’s food, drink, and container rules before packing snacks and water. Food costs vary by park and purchase; the original post’s $50 family-of-four snack estimate is not a current quote.
If a particular restaurant is important to your plans, check its current booking window and reservation requirements on the official park site or app. Dining windows differ by resort and may also depend on hotel stays; availability can change.
You will have to pick times, which can be hard to pick when you haven’t been before. You’ll be tired, so a late afternoon meal with the kids might be better than a later time so you can rest earlier.
Learning how to even ride a Disney park ride can intimidate the best of us. Factor in the many “gamification” items Disney does with their rides, and it’s a learning curve!
Check the current queue options for your resort. Walt Disney World currently offers Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Single Pass, and Premier Pass; the old Genie+ name is out of date. Other resorts have their own paid or included systems, so do not assume that “FastPass” is available or free.
Honestly, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Go experience the park first. Your first visit can be equal parts overwhelming and amazing!
Original Instagram post: View the post.
If you are an early riser, check your park’s official opening and entry information and plan your arrival around its rules. Queue access and procedures vary by park and attraction.
If that’s not appealing, wait it out a bit. Enjoy other parts of the park or your hotel and go in the afternoon and evening. Waits change by attraction, date, weather, and events. Use the official app’s live waits rather than assuming every line gets shorter later in the day.
Entry screening is used at many Disney theme parks, but the process and bag rules vary. Check the current official entry guidance for the specific resort you plan to visit.
While Disney is magical for families, it is, first and foremost, a for-profit business. Never forget this! You will shell out serious cash in the park AFTER you practically took out a loan to get there.
With kids, I recommend giving them their cash (maybe the money they earned in advance for the trip) or a strict budget to spend (one item less than $30, for example). Put the pressure on them to manage their budget and stick to your guns. They may buy in the first gift shop and whine for the next 15 you have to pass through. It’s a good life lesson… don’t buy anymore!!
Disney parks do give you bang for your buck… You cannot do everything without multiple days in each resort park. You will leave many things untouched between rides, parades, character greetings, random entertainment options, and eating.
That’s OK! You’ll likely go back.
Just set a goal of maybe one “must-have” for each family member, and you’ll leave satisfied.
As I mentioned above, you are walking A LOT at Disney. While this helps combat the delicious Disney snacks you’ll want to try, your body might not be too happy after the first day. You might have blisters, sore muscles, or chafing (hello, inner things- ouch!). A product like this can help!
The official park app may offer planning tools such as maps, wait times, dining reservations, or mobile ordering. Features differ by resort, so check which app serves your destination and what it currently offers.
Download the app for your destination before you get to the park, and connect to park Wi-Fi where available.
Some U.S. parks offer complimentary birthday buttons. Ask Guest Relations about current availability and where to pick one up. Celebration buttons are different from collectible trading pins.
When you check the hotel you are staying in, mention it at the desk. Or you can go to customer service in the park and ask there.
You will be OK visiting all the Disney Parks as an English speaker, but you will also hear other languages outside the US. For example, the ride instructions or audio in the ride will be in a different language.
If a child or another member of your party cannot ride, ask the attraction’s Cast Member whether Rider Switch or a similar service is available. Participating attractions, eligibility, group size, and procedures differ by resort.
Where a turn-taking service is available, the Cast Member can explain who waits with non-riders, who may ride next, and whether another member of the party can join them.
Some attractions can involve a long wait for a much shorter ride. Actual waits differ by park, attraction, date, and time.
I remember on our first trip to Disney, realizing that we were only doing around two rides a day with our very young children. Two rides!
Why do we spend so much time waiting in line and paying for expensive food? It’s hard to put into words, honestly! It’s similar to how we sometimes kill ourselves getting ready for Christmas, wrapping gifts, prepping, and losing sleep for the 1 hour of opening gifts.
Or think about Thanksgiving… we slave away hours and hours for a meal that is done in an hour or less. Why? Because the memories of that day, the gathering of the people you love, are magical.
Disney just makes magical memories with your family. Those five minutes of the ride are really, really good. Disney does an amazing job on its attractions. Also, the waiting in line part can be great too! There are things to see as you wind around in line.
I know, I know… a Disney vacation might be about the time with the kids.
We have FIVE KIDS, which means a lot of different height restrictions, ages, etc. It feels unfair, at times, to make everyone skip a ride because the “little kids” can’t do it. Rider Switch may be an option, depending on the attraction’s current rules.
We hired a babysitter in Anaheim just for our Disney vacation from Care.com. I have shared before about hiring a babysitter on vacation and how to do it. It was amazing!
We could take only the older kids out for afternoons, give the little kids a day of rest, and even go on dates at Disney without the kids for the evening! It was like three vacations in one. This is more common than you might think in California and Florida. Especially in California, which tends to stay open later, you can extend your fun with a babysitter helping.
What did you think of our tips for your first Disney trip? If you are a Disney veteran, what did we miss? Leave in the comments below and have a fabulous trip to Disney!!
Xoxo,
Leslie
✈️ Book a budget-friendly flight to Disneyland on Booking.com, Skyscanner, Kiwi.com, or Expedia
Find a nice hotel for your Disney vacation from Booking.com, Expedia, or Vrbo, (we also love Tripadvisor and Hotels.com)
Discover other exciting activities nearby from GetYourGuide, Airbnb Experiences, or Viator
Rent a Car on Expedia Rental Cars
✅ Get insured while traveling with World Nomads
Gear links in this guide include a GoPro, a Sony camera, and three DJI drones: DJI FPV, Air, and Mini. Amazon links may open a search or a regional alternative. Confirm the exact camera or drone model shown before purchasing.
Check out your travel necessities from a comprehensive list of all the 7Wayfinders Travel Must-Haves. Click Here!
Our Review Of All Disney Parks Around the World
Weekend Trip To Disneyland Paris With Kids
Visiting Disney World During COVID: Finding Your Magic in a Pandemic
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