Last month we became Disneyland Annual Passport holders — a surprise Christmas gift from our families — and we finally went for it. While at the parks I got a lot of questions about how Arlo handled it, tips for visiting with a one-year-old, and whether it was worth taking him so young. Short answer: yes. He loved it. We learned to lower our expectations — Disneyland with a one-year-old is very different than visiting as a couple — but seeing the parks through his eyes was completely magical.
I compiled everything we learned on this trip along with hotel recommendations and age-appropriate ride suggestions. I’ll update it as we discover more. I had no idea how many Disney fans were following along and it made me so happy. Many of you are planning trips — Disney for life!
The Best Disneyland Hotels
If your budget allows, staying on property is ideal. The Grand Californian was the most recommended hotel to us. It has a private entrance to the park, so you can pop back to the room for naps and return easily. There’s also the charm of a Disney-branded hotel and the always-important Mickey waffles.
For a budget-friendly option, we stayed at Homewood Suites and loved it. We had a studio suite with a full kitchen, which is a huge help with young children. The larger room allowed us to put Arlo to sleep around the corner and still use the living area. They offer full suites too if you prefer separate sleep space. Breakfast and Wi‑Fi were included, which were two major deciding factors for us. The hotel is also one block from the Toy Story parking lot, so it’s an easy walk to the Toy Story shuttle to Disneyland — incredibly convenient.
Our Favorite Disney Gear
If it’s your child’s first trip, getting embroidered ears at the park is a wonderful keepsake. Several stores do this; we had Arlo’s embroidered at the Mad Hatter on Main Street. They have a large selection for adults if you want matching ears.
If you prefer to prepare ahead of time, affordable Disney clothing can be found at places like H&M. Freshly Picked Disney moccasins are great shoes for little ones, and there are boutique ear options if you want something unique.
Must-Bring Essentials
In addition to your usual diaper bag items, here are things we used frequently:
- Sunscreen
- Water bottles
- Snacks (mini protein/energy bars, string cheese, tangerines, pretzel crisps)
- Layers — mornings and evenings in California can be chilly, so bring easy layers
- Blanket — useful while waiting for parades
- Small activities or a busy clutch to keep little hands occupied
Lower Your Expectations
If you’ve only done Disney kid-free, immediately adjust your expectations for how much you’ll accomplish. We rode three rides over two half-days and had a fantastic time. The rest of the time we wandered, watched the parade, enjoyed the Animation Courtyard, and showed Arlo the sights. If your child has more patience, you might do more, but pacing is key with little ones.
Consider Half Days
We planned half days on purpose so we wouldn’t push Arlo. Since we live locally and now have annual passes, we didn’t feel the need to cram everything into a single visit. This worked great: we checked into the hotel early, let Arlo nap, then headed into the park around 2 p.m. and stayed until about 8 p.m. The next day we arrived at opening and left shortly after lunch so he could nap in the car on the way home. Arlo isn’t a great stroller napper yet and gets cranky without rest, so protecting nap time made the trip much more enjoyable.
Easily Collapsible Stroller
If you use park shuttles, bring a stroller that folds compactly. Carrying a large stroller plus a toddler and a diaper bag is tough alone. We’ll bring our travel stroller next time because it folds quickly for shuttle boarding. Also remember you often leave strollers unattended while boarding rides, so avoid bringing your fanciest model. That said, larger strollers have good under-seat storage for bags and souvenirs, so weigh your priorities.
Baby Care Centers
Each park has a Baby Care Center with nursing rooms, changing areas, feeding spaces, microwaves, and seating. I hadn’t used one yet, but everyone I talked to recommended it as a great quiet place to feed or change a child.
One-Year-Old Friendly Rides
Many rides at Disneyland allow lap-held children when there’s no height restriction, so you’ll have plenty of options if you manage the lines well. Some of our favorites were Astro Blasters (Disneyland) and Toy Story Mania (California Adventure). Both are baby-friendly and interactive — they have game elements that Arlo enjoyed.
If you plan to do Toy Story Mania, try to make it your first stop at park opening or get a Lightning Lane/Genie+ reservation early, as those fill quickly. Walk-on classic attractions like Snow White, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, and Monsters, Inc. are great too but often have long lines. The Little Mermaid ride at California Adventure typically has shorter waits and was another hit with Arlo.
Find Short Lines with the Disneyland App
The Disneyland app is excellent for checking current wait times before heading to a ride. Arlo’s patience waned after about 20–25 minutes in line, so using the app to target shorter waits is essential. Fast passes / Lightning Lane options help too, though those can disappear quickly in the morning.
The Animation Courtyard
The Animation Courtyard in Hollywood Land at California Adventure is an indoor atrium with large screens showing classic Disney songs and animation clips. It’s one of my favorite spots — great for cooling off, for a quiet break, or for letting a crawler explore briefly if you’re comfortable with that. Arlo loved watching the screens and dancing to the music; it was a nice change of pace away from stroller or arms the rest of the time.
The Pixar Play Parade
Parades can require patience, and very young kids often won’t sit through a long wait. We recommend finding a spot about 45 minutes before the parade starts; you can usually sit while waiting. Standing and holding a small child often gives them a better view. A blanket makes waiting more comfortable — we wished we had one. Bring small quiet toys or a busy clutch to keep little hands occupied. Once the parade started, Arlo loved it.
Meeting Characters
The Disneyland app isn’t always perfectly accurate for character appearances. If you want a specific character, ask a cast member in the park for exact times and locations. Characters typically appear for limited periods, so if you see a lineup forming, move quickly. Paradise Gardens often features rotating Pixar characters, and Mickey, Minnie, and other staples appear frequently across both parks.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Those are our tips so far. We’ll add more as we learn — we’re already planning another half-day trip this Friday!